This Is Where I Leave You

Judd Foxman returns home after his father's death to sit shiva with his dysfunctional family for seven days. His wife has left him for his boss, his siblings are at odds with each other, and his mother is a celebrity therapist who overshares details about her children's lives. The seven-day mourning period forces the Foxman family to confront long-buried tensions and resentments while living under the same roof. As they process their grief, they must navigate complex relationships with spouses, exes, neighbors, and each other in their childhood home. The story alternates between present-day interactions and Judd's memories of his father and family history. Through these parallel narratives, we see how past events and choices continue to impact the adult siblings' lives and relationships. This novel examines the bonds of family obligation versus genuine connection, and questions whether tragedy can repair what time and distance have broken. It balances dark humor with raw emotion while exploring themes of loyalty, grief, and the possibility of second chances.

Readers describe this novel as both hilarious and heartbreaking, with most appreciating the balance of humor amid serious family drama. The dialogue and family dynamics feel authentic to many readers, who connect with the messy relationships and imperfect characters. Readers liked: - Sharp, witty writing style - Realistic sibling relationships - Balance of comedy and emotional depth - Relatable family dysfunction Readers disliked: - Excessive sexual content and crude humor - Too many subplots - Some found the ending unfulfilling - Male protagonist's self-pity "The humor hits hard because it comes from a place of truth," notes one Amazon reviewer. Others mention the book drags in the middle sections. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (191,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (3,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (900+ ratings) Most readers who enjoyed the book specifically mention laughing out loud while reading, though some found the crude humor overwhelming.

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📚 Author Jonathan Tropper wrote much of the novel while sitting in a local Starbucks near his home in New York. 🎬 The book was adapted into a 2014 film starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, and Jane Fonda, with Tropper himself writing the screenplay. 🏠 The seven-day shiva period depicted in the book is a Jewish mourning tradition that brings family members together to remember the deceased, though Tropper has noted his own family never strictly observed this custom. ✍️ The novel's complex family dynamics were partially inspired by Tropper's experiences growing up as one of five children in a Jewish household in New Rochelle, New York. 💑 Before becoming a full-time writer, Tropper worked in creative writing education and ran his own direct mail business, experiences that occasionally inform the professional lives of his characters.