This Was Not the Plan: A Novel

You’ll find yourself cringing at single dad Charlie’s missteps and cheering at his successes in Cristina Alger’s This Was Not the Plan. In the second novel by Alger, the story of a workaholic 1-Percenter who finds himself suddenly in a position he’s never faced before will make you laugh even as it pulls at your heartstrings. Alger’s writing is as precise as it is in depth; each word contributes perfectly to the story, and the relationships are complex, raw, and real, making this a bittersweet novel featuring exactly the right amount of dysfunction and truth.

Written with wit and humor, this novel has believable characters and a storyline that flows smoothly. The chapters are short, making it easy to take a break and pick up where you left off, but you’ll find yourself wanting to find out what comes next for Charlie and his sparkle-loving son. An uplifting tale, the story is of a man surfacing for air while being surrounded by people who’ve been handing him life jackets for as long as he can remember.

Fun yet emotive, this is a book I’ll be recommending to friends as a perfect rainy Saturday read.