Our protagonist Joseph Bogart is a man in his thirties, living alone in a rented flat in London. His daily routine revolves around work and home. With a history of unsuccessful romantic relationships in the past, he limits his social interactions to the bare minimum even with his office colleagues and though he yearns for company, Joseph hesitates to fully engage with others spending most of his free time watching reality television. When he meets ten-year-old Aaron, the son of his new neighbor, their unlikely friendship and Aaron’s innocent inquisitiveness motivate Joe to not only open up but also look inward and confront issues that have burdened him for years. As the narrative progresses we get to know more about Joseph, his family and relationships and the events from his past that have cast a long shadow on his present, holding him back from experiencing all that life has to offer. As Joseph navigates through his past trauma and personal losses, his friendship with Aaron, who is often left in Joseph’s care by his negligent mother, proves to be a catalyst that inspires Joseph to take stock of and make an effort to exact change in his outlook toward life.

Narrated in the first person,My Name Isn’t Joe by James Thomas is an emotional journey that touches upon themes of mental health, loneliness, grief and healing. The author paints a vivid picture of what is like to struggle with loneliness and depression and how important it is to be kind to oneself and one another in such situations. Needless to say, there are moments of intense grief and sadness in this story but there are also heartwarming moments where the author injects a good dose of wit, humor and wisdom. This is a slow and quiet read and though I took a while to adjust to the pace, I soon became engrossed in Joseph’s story. The prose is beautiful and the narrative flows seamlessly. I like how the author ends this on a hopeful note instead of tying everything together in a neat bow, which would have been unrealistic. Sad but hopeful, heartwarming and relatable, this is a book that made me shed more than a few tears but also made me smile. I would recommend reading this one slowly to fully appreciate the character and his journey. This is the kind of book that inspires pause and reflection. James Thomas writes beautifully and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )