Start Without Me audiobook

What would holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas be without family drama? This book covers one Thanksgiving Day in the lives of Adam and Melissa, two strangers who meet on this more-than-stressful-for-them day.Adam is working in a bank and trying to live a sober life. He had been quite a successful musician but the life on the road and a broken love has led him to alcohol abuse. He hasn’t spent a Thanksgiving with his family in years and although this is the year he really wants to try, he’s not sure he’s strong enough to get through the day without messing things up again.Melissa is a flight attendant who has married into a rich family that she’s never felt a part of. She and her husband have had some recent difficulties and she knows a holiday with his family will be a stressful one. Plus the secret she’s carrying is a difficult one to deal with.I had my reservations about this book at first. I didn’t immediately connect with the characters and thought it was just going to be a road-trip book with two unlikeable characters trying to sort out their family issues. And actually that’s what it is. But it’s the mark of a talented author who can take that type of premise and turn it into such an emotional journey for the reader. The author writes with a realism that is completely believable and human. I realized that I didn’t have to like these characters or understand their decisions in life to connect with them. Their humanity touched me. This author knows how to twist his characters around his readers’ hearts.Recommended.This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes:The stillness of the house was deafening somehow—like all the sleeping people were vibrating at a frequency only he could hear: his family, ringing in his ears.They’d been fighting daily lately, like it was a setting in their relationship they didn’t know how to turn off.Marissa’s temper had a velocity such that she only knew she’d lost it about the same time everyone else did.I don’t even recognize you anymore, with this persona you have now, of this like, like, rich soccer mom, this Burberry Nazi or whatever you’re supposed to be.My Review:I struggled through this oddly compelling train wreck of a story, yet similar to arriving at the scene of a massive train wreck, morbid curiosity kept me from looking away. Adam and Marrisa were strangers who lived on opposite sides of the United States but met while traveling on Thanksgiving Day; both were in the midst of yet another heinous screw-up. The only thing either one of these characters had seemed to master was the art of poor decisions. These people were toxic, and it was no wonder, their histories had been poison. Yet I couldn’t stop reading. They ultimately ended up joining forces after the request of a ride, which had the effect of kicking an impending strong wind into hurricane category. The overwhelming majority of the characters mentioned in this story were not likable or admirable people while most were, in fact, self-serving, obnoxious, and reprehensible. Despite their best intentions and hopes, each stop the pair made during their nightmarish Thanksgiving holiday, and each additional family member that was visited was more abhorrent than the last. I kept hoping for a turnaround and had my fingers crossed while watching closely for some redeemable quality to surface, but knew better than to hold my breath – I would have asphyxiated. Yet I couldn’t put my Kindle down, Mr. Feldman’s prickly yet often amusing and emotive storytelling held me in place and kept me invested and intrigued, loathsome characters and all. While reading this unusual and conflicting chronicle, I couldn’t decide whether to despise him or admire his skills, I finished his work feeling a little of one and a considerable amount of the other.

I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of this stunning novel. I loved everything about it-- the characters, their stories, the gorgeous writing, and the effortless way Joshua Max Feldman creates such tension and drama from a seemingly random act of fate: two strangers, both facing a crossroads in life, start a conversation in an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving Day. From that one conversation, and over the course of one day, everything will change. Adam and Marissa pulled me in from the first pages, and I know they will stay with me. The premise and the timeline seem so small, and yet this novel packs an emotional punch. There is darkness and despair but above all else, hope. I read the last page with a huge smile and thought, "Damn. That was an incredible read."

Pardon me while I compose myself, because this was a really emotional book to read. In fact, because of recent life events, I had to set this aside for a while because it was a little bit too much. Trust me when I say, that's a compliment of the highest order to Joshua Max Feldman. Start Without Me is breathtakingly beautiful. It's a love letter to all the people out there who are holding it together the best they can, while struggling to find their happiness in a world that seems to overlook them. It's all about finding another person, even fleetingly who accepts you and pushes you in equal measures. In other words, Feldman's book is about life. Both the good and the bad.What first struck me about this story was honestly how upset I kept getting at Adam. It's funny how when a character is flawed, perhaps in a way that hits home, you want to scream at them to be more perfect. We expect our characters to make all the right decisions when, in fact, they should be just as human as we are. Adam was definitely rough around the edges. I loved that you could see the earnest, desperate person underneath all of that rough facade though and, eventually, it endeared me to him. When he met Marissa, and I found myself loving her as well, the story really took off for me. These two had such different lives, such different problems, and yet they managed to band together long enough to prop each other up during a difficult time.The dialog in this book was spot on. The snippets of life lessons, spouted again and again because they are what you're supposed to say to people who are struggling struck me hard. However it was the deep conversations that were had in this book, the ones that were messy and emotional, that really did me in. I've always been one of those people who feels the need to fix problems for other people, even while I'm piling up my own problems behind a closed door. Watching Marissa and Adam, two lost people who found one another, continuously do this same thing just pummled me. How do you hide from what you're storing behind that door, when the person you're trying to help keeps opening it up? Argh. I'm still thinking about some of the scenes in this book.Long story short, if you want to read something that is perfect and happy this isn't the book for you. However if you want to read something beautiful, gritty, and full of hope, then Start Without Me should absolutely be on your reading list. It's the kind of read I think a lot of people need around the holidays, and I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to read it. It wasn't an easy read, but it was a necessary one.

Growing up, family dinners and holidays were far and few between. Between having much older siblings who lived on the opposite side of the country with their own lives and the clear tension that drew a line in the sand between my parents, the holidays were never cheery Christmas songs and sitting down at the same table. That was until I met my husband and I saw how the other side lived. Suddenly, my tradition of never worrying about where to be on Thanksgiving turned into three full Thanksgiving breakfast, lunch and dinners split between people who genuinely wanted to be around each other. Shock to the system.I identified with Start Without Me on such a personal level. Set over a single day, Thanksgiving, a day meant to be spent surrounded by loved ones either enjoying their company or enduring awkward conversation. Instead for Adam and Marissa it's a day to run away from everything, his alcoholism and repeat offender disappointment and hiding her pregnancy filled guilt of cheating from her man-child of a husband. Two complete strangers meet happen chance at an airport bar and embark on a journey of mistakes, regrets, resentment, and personal strength.This book touches on some very sensitive subjects from mental illness, alcoholism, adultery, suicide, drug abuse and abandonment. So, if these are trigger warnings for you, stay clear. If you're like me and you relish imperfect protagonists and having their issues hit you straight in the chest, well, HAVE I THE BOOK FOR YOU.Feldman's talent for writing shines in the darkness of his characters taking their stories and bringing you down in the pain with them to really feel the hurt. The utter realism of their struggle connected with me. My only regret is that this book only lasts for one day when I want it to last forever. Not in the forever sense that I want Adam and Marissa to be in pain forever, but for me to relate with characters like this on such an incredibly emotional level.

Amazing. In the vein of the movie "Home for the Holidays" except even more dysfunctional and interesting. I loved it.

Big issues are explored using families and holidays to see how things can be bigger than just one person.When Adam decides to go home for Thanksgiving after years of avoiding his family for his music and drinking, he knows he shouldn’t expect much. They have all seen him at his worst and he feels that no matter how hard he tries, he won’t be able to get anything right. Marissa is dealing with troubles in her marriage and being a flight attendant always away from home doesn’t make things any easier. After she runs into Adam in an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving morning, the two end up forming an unlikely bond dealing with their past, families, and what will happen as they go forward. Holidays can be hard dealing with family and all the drama that comes with the stress of seeing those that are supposedly on your side. Joshua Max Feldman shows this with the interesting dynamic between Adam and his family mixed with Marissa and her family. Circumstances beyond their control bring them together. This is not your typical feel good holiday story; there is much more downheartedness to the characters than upbeat and positive. I found both Adam and Marissa very depressing. They were both going through a lot and some of their attitudes and actions made sense; however, some of it though just made me want to smack them and tell them to get a grip and move on with their lives. I will say that the book was a good length and kept to a good pace making it easy for the reader to turn the pages quickly and see what the outcome might be. I would recommend this for a very mature audience as the language can be very mature and the sexual aspect as well. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

** spoiler alert ** I received Start Without Me as part of a Goodreads giveaway.Adam Warshaw is a formerly successful musician and recovering alcoholic attending his family's Thanksgiving following rehab and a prolonged estrangement. When the holiday morning begins inauspiciously, he flees, intending to fly home to San Francisco and lick his wounds. At the airport, he meets Marissa, a flight attendant in a troubled marriage, pregnant following a one-night stand, who is attempting to make her in-laws' picturesque but uncomfortable dinner. The two make a connection and impulsively set off on a trip to return Adam to his parents' house and Marissa to her own obligation. Over the course of the day, however, the two learn more about each other and together experience the pain and disappointment that comes from family life and expectations.This was a lovely, engaging narrative. There was ever any huge question of where it was going, but it's emotionally affecting without being overly heavy, and deals with comedic moments with a nice touch. The characters are fantastically drawn, and Feldman really has a gift for immersing the reader in a scene. I also appreciate that he didn't veer too heavy into cliche and stick Adam and Marissa together--the ending was a perfect combination of happy and bittersweet. Very well done--looking forward to reading more from Feldman in the future.

This was a great book - especially one to read over the Thanksgiving holiday!Adam and Marissa meet by chance at an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving morning. Adam, a recovering alcoholic, former musician, is headed home to his parents' house. He knows he's been a huge disappointment to his family and is stressed about what is to come. Marissa, a flight attendant, is married into a rich family, complete with class and race issues, with a husband who is content to not have a job while trying to write screenplays. Both have so many issues and secrets but form an immediate bond while trying to figure out how they will spend the day. Family issues take front and center, of course, but so do trying to figure out how to make peace with the past, the role friends take, and who we call family.Highly recommended - totally enjoyed it!

I enjoyed this as a quick read for the weekend. This book is about Adam and Marissa, two strangers who meet on Thanksgiving running away from stressful situations. They are both in situations where they have to face reality and their choices made. They face choices both past and present. Family who are their biggest critics yet biggest supporters. Some of the book made you think what would I do in this situation? Most of the time you really can't answer until you are faced with whatever it is yourself. I found myself rooting for them both to have a happy ending and the way it ended left it open so maybe there will be sequel or maybe Joshua just wanted the story left open ended so you could come to your own conclusions on how the story ended. Either way I would recommend this one.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.Adam is a former musician and recovering alcoholic who is home for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years. Marissa is a flight attendant whose marriage is strained and who is also pregnant from an impulsive one-night-stand. In an airport restaurant on Thanksgiving morning, Adam and Marissa meet. Over the course of this day with high emotions and expectation, these two strangers will form an unlikely bond as they deal with their family ties, their pasts, and the choices that will determine their way forward.Overall It's a slow book, but it's a good one. I'm not sure about the characters, they didn't make me like them.

I received this from a Goodreads giveaway. This was good. Based on the jacket cover and premise, I fully anticipated a Tropper type read. It wasn't. It was much more "real" and deep. Thus, the conclusion was also very much more satisfying because you knew the characters deserved where they reached in the story. I definitely recommend this to nearly everyone because every family has "that relative" and this is a great story offering insight to the battle "that relative" has fought or is currently still fighting.

This book might not have come to my attention if it hadn't come to me as a gift. And I'm very glad it did. The whole book takes place on Thanksgiving day, so it was certainly timely (I finished it the day before TG), and also extremely well constructed, with a lot of velocity, and a good baseline groove holding it together, compelling characters, effective back stories, and most important to me, new understandings of the discomforts of family dynamics, and who would have guessed that new insights into that old story could be possible?