This book is not only funny and sarcastic but sensitive at times. Andy Abramowitz has done a great job of telling this story. Is it possible to come home again? You decide.

Darling at the Campsite earned my investment right away. The prose reads effortlessly--without seeming to try to coax or convince the reader of anything. I found myself immersed in a tale where the stakes are obviously and immediately high, but with a narrator whose ease of telling made me relax into the story. This is a strength of Andy Abramowitz's. I recall the same easy, canter-like pace of writing in The Beginner's Guide to Freefall.

I am always a little wary of committing to stories that have at their center a protagonist's return to a place he or she left after a devastating betrayal because I know the pressure will be on for them to forgive said betrayal. Less capable authors can be heavy-handed with that plot point. But the craftsmanship evident in the structure, the sure-footed sentences and syntax, the subtle, deft humor and pathos of the central characters in this story were more than enough to make up for what can be a tiresome trope. Abramowitz rescues it by balancing the scales convincingly and leverages the trickster-like nature of memory to turn the concept of betrayal on its head. This forced me to rethink my loyalties and my own ideas about the protagonist, but not so much that I stopped rooting for him.

The story was ultimately redemptive and surprising. Every character was allowed complexity, no matter how minor or how seemingly incidental to the story. The resolutions felt real and earned while the overarching sadness was allowed to be there and accepted. I read this in one sitting and would happily read any other Abramowitz title on the strength of the writing in this one.

This book is a seamless blend of humour and melancholy. It tells the story of being thrusted back into the past and seeing that it might not be quite as you left it. It will make you tear up, unclear whether from sadness or laughter. It reads like a poignant Adam Sandler rom-com (emphasis on the com), if Adam Sandler was a record-store owner.

Protagonist, Rowan Darling went through an exceptional arc that I LIVE FOR. This was a very character-driven book especially in the first half. The plot wasn't as present but I enjoyed it regardless. This book made me laugh out loud more times than I thought possible. Just when I thought a book this hilarious couldn't make me cry, there I am with two fat teardrops running down my cheeks. This book has arguably, the most well-wrapped up, full-circle ending I have ever read in a contemporary.

Andy Abramowitz's prose is phenomenal. This book is littered with quotes that are frame-worthy. The subtle details in the writing makes for such an immersive reading experience, like I'm sitting in the Darling living room, watching everything unfold. Surreal.

I think a more mature audience will definitely resonate well with this book. I highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a hilarious yet moving read filled with the realness of adulthood overflowing with comic monologue.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a refreshing read if you like quirky small-town shenanigans, mixed with familial and romantic complications. The author does a wonderful job of making the characters well-rounded, authentic and relateable. The story is sad, funny, honest and well-written - but does meander a bit, even to the point of dragging at times. The very very very slow growth of Rowan, the main character got a bit tiresome, but overall I would recommend, and will look out for other books by this author.

Nicely done story of coming home again. Rowan was estranged from his brother and from the town of Maybee. But then his brother died and he finds himself in Illinois. His old friends Margot and Skid are still there but that's tough fro him. This is trope-y but different- it's usually a woman who leaves a failing business or relationship in the "big city" and finds the future at home in a. small town. Abramowitz has turned this on its head and written a sweet tale of a 33 year old man learning what's important. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC,

Darling at the Campsite is an emotional gut punch that dives into the intricacies of human relationships. The story is one we've read before (death in the family, estranged family dynamics, etc), but Andy Abramowitz writes with such beauty and grace that I was captivated from page one.
This novel really resonated with me. As the main character is dealing with the tragedy of losing a loved one, he is also struggling with friendships that he lost and this need to flee from his hometown. As the narrator dives into his own memories and the nostalgia that comes from returning 'home', I felt transported to my own past. What it feels like to sit in your old bedroom, what it feels like to stand in your old backyard, 'grown up' and different. The novel tackles that concept of growing and becoming a new person and all of the things we tend to leave behind. There is such an insightful examination of one's past in this book that really hit home for me.
Andy Abramowitz writes characters and dialogue so vividly and seamlessly. There are moments when my heart would twist because of the raw conversations happening between two characters. Like, does it help to listen to the favorite songs of our pasted loved ones? Or, what does it truly mean to lose a friend you once considered like family?
For a reflective view of growing up, nostalgia, and forgiveness, I can't recommend Darling at the Campsite enough.

This is a new author to me. And I just loved this writing style! This was a great cute book! A story about family. Friends and love this was right down my alley.
I felt these characters to be so relatable and real! That's what I enjoyed the most!

DARLING AT THE CAMPSITE is my second read by this author, and it did not disappoint. This novel a slow burn - it takes awhile to get rolling and then you’re in the middle of it for quite some time before you figure out what’s left. Not my favorite by Andy Abramowitz, but still a solid read for anyone who enjoys books about overcoming yourself, your family, and the regrets you’re trying not to have.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book ended up being more emotional than I had expected. I enjoyed the characters. The pacing was a little slow but sometimes that is just what a reader needs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a huge fan of Jonathan Tropper and mourning the fact that he's been dedicating his time to screenwriting instead of writing novels, I'm constantly seeking out authors who write similar to Tropper. That's a big ask. I read Andy Abramowitz's two previous novels and he comes really close. His writing is funny, touching and thought provoking. You can't help but root for his loveable losers. I really enjoyed Darling at the Campsite. The characters were honest, relate able and fun to get to know. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from Andy Abramowitz. Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Darling at The Campsite
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First of all, thank you so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Andy Abramowitz for approving my request to read this lovely book! I rated it 4 ⭐️’s!
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Darling at The Campsite really showed that you shouldn’t leave it too late to let someone know how you feel, but on the flip side, that you don’t have to figure your life out at such a young age.
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Rowan’s brother sadly dies and upon returning home for his funeral, he learns ALOT. His relationships, whether that be with family, friends or lovers aren’t what he thought them to be. His perspective has been biased based on experiences throughout his 33 years, but once he’s back in Maybee, his reunion with his past shows everything in a different light.
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This book had me hooked! I wanted to make sure Rowan got the ending I thought he deserved. I needed to know what happened! I would definitely recommend this book to others!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

3.5 stars

This is a quick and enjoyable - if predictable - read that will please most folks who enjoy novels about 30-something men's self-explorations.

Rowan is in his early 30s, but he is also still very much trapped in high school. Near the end of high school, readers learn very early on, Rowan loses his girlfriend and his best friend...when they find each other. So much of the novel hinges on this great event in Rowan's life, and this is surprising because it was a very long time ago. While Rowan appears stunted in many ways, it seems natural that his most believable relationship is with a 14-year-old kid. They have a lot in common emotionally and - to some degree - socially.

Also early in the novel, Rowan experiences the death of an immediate family member. The death of this person becomes the impetus for his return to the hometown he fled after the Great High School Disaster, and he predictably returns to his hometown to learn what anyone who has ever been to an AA meeting could have told him: pulling a geographic never works. You're still you no matter where you go, Buddy.

I did enjoy this novel, and Patti and Lulu are standout characters, but the love triangle storyline (from 15 years ago but also somehow still now) grew tiresome, as did Rowan's very slow growth. VERY. SLOW. He has a lot of work to do.

I'll look forward to more from Abramowitz. The style and atmosphere really work for me here, but I am happy to let Rowan grow somewhere else at this point.

Great book better than i expected, i loved the characters and i read this fairly quickly. I look forward to more titles by this author

DARLING AT THE CAMPSITE: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so so good! Refreshing and filled with all the mid-mid-life crisis angst.

Note: I was provided an arc in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing!

Quirky With Heart. This is one of those books where it doesn't seem like much is happening other than a loveable loser continually losing... except then you find its real heart, even amidst the continual "what the fuck" situations. If you're a fan of slower paced, zany, small town explorations... you're going to love this one. If that isn't normally your thing, you should still try it out, because this is a good example of that kind of story. Because sometimes people *do* wait until they're in their 30s to find out what they really want out of life. Even if it is both the same as and yet completely different from everything they ever imagined. Very much recommended.

Rowan Darling must return to his hometown of Maybee, Illinois after the death of his brother. This is the one place he never wanted to go back to, where he lost the girl and his best friend. He grapples with his past and ponders and future and the idea of is it really true you can’t go home again? I enjoyed this novel.

Darling and the Campsite by A. Abramowitz, published by Lake Union Publishing is a full length, stand-alone.
This book by this new to me author is a great read, well written that gave me all the feels. A story about love, family, friends and more wrapped in a great story, full of twists and turns.
4 beautiful stars.

What a fabulous story about friends, family, love and forgiveness. Rowan is a fascinating character and his story speaks to what happens when we leave home and hold a grudge with those left behind.