Losing a spouse early on in a young marriage is something that most people will hopefully never have to deal with, but Tom McAllister’s debut novel, The Young Widower’s Handbook, approaches the topic with all the gravity and candor it deserves. The book is a touching and soulful meditation on those left behind after a devastating loss.
Hunter Cady’s wife has just died of an ectopic pregnancy gone horribly wrong. Criticized as aimless even before his wife dies, Hunter loses the sense of purpose that she had given him and spirals into despair. One night, he decides to take her ashes and go on the cross-country road trip they had always talked about. Running away from the mess of his life, he takes her on a journey to spread her ashes on the West Coast. As he crosses the United States, he tries to find meaning and work through his grief.
This novel is a raw and touching look at one man’s desperation to find meaning in a life where he is missing a vital piece of himself. I hope myself and my readers never have to experience it firsthand, but I do think that McAllister has managed to expertly capture the agony of such a loss. He also manages to weave in humorous moments and well-developed side characters, as well as a deep exploration of Hunter’s character in the aftermath of losing his better half. The book is a touching examination of grief that looks at how to find meaning once your world has been shattered.
Review by Shannon Wood
Adult Services Librarian
Nordonia Hills Branch Library
