This Is Just Exactly Like You: A Novel

by Drew Perry

Book Overview

"Richly imagined, beautifully written, and completely absorbing. I found myself spellbound, turning pages well past my bedtime. What a fine, fine book." -Tim O'Brien

After Jack Lang impulsively buys the house directly across the street from his own, his wife, Beth, has finally had enough. She leaves him- and their six-year-old autistic son, Hendrick-for Jack's best friend, Terry Canavan. Jack tries telling everyone he's okay, but...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143118609
• ISBN13: 9780143118602
• Release Date: March 2011
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.9" x 0.9" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

This is Just Exactly Like All of Us

E.M Forster stressed, "only connect" and the characters in Drew Perry's novel damn near get it. Merchant-Ivory should obtain film rights to "This is Just Exactly Like You" because like in many of their works destiny isn't on the side of the protagonists. There is so little standing in the chasm between what it would take to reconcile the trajectories of these individuals that it's painful -- and funny. The reason this theme is valid is because we've all been been there. Perhaps we are prideful or think karma should toss us a bone but we sabotage the very action that could resolve conflict. Why are humans like this? In my experience the secret to readable literature is character-driven plot. From the title alone we anticipate the utterance of those words and by the time they are, we feel the exasperation; feel it by identifying with both the speaker AND the the one at whom it was directed. A fine example of foreshadowing. Perry is technically proficient, yes, but without strain. The further one gets into this saga the more one gets into this saga ... it is engrossing and the mark not merely of a writer but of an author. I eagerly await his next opus. I don't even remember the last time I felt that way.

Laugh out loud funny

I loved this book!!! Kudos to whomever chose the book cover---it perfectly sets the tone of the story. From the title, 'This is Just Exactly Like You', to the 'Caddyshack'ish'-like cover, I hoped this would be a witty book. It doesn't disappoint!! The words and characters flow easily over the pages. You will find yourself totally absorbed in the lives of Jack, Beth and Hendrick, especially Hendrick, that you will have a hard time putting this book down. I could go on and on but--hey--stop reading this review and buy the book!!!!

This is just exactly right.

I picked up This Is Just Exactly Like You completely blind. Knew nothing about it or its author. And about five days later, I feel like a made a bunch of new friends. Perry's characters are nuanced and complex. They're funny, they're maddening, they make bad decisions and they live their lives. They find themselves in an impossible bind and we get to watch them untangle. Perry takes us along for a funny, heartbreaking, bumpy and wonderous ride. I loved it, start to finish. This is the best novel I've read this year. I hope Perry's working on another.

Wonderful and memorable book!!

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I finished it 2 days ago and I'm still thinking about it. Loved the characters; especially Jack. You will not regret buying this book. P.S. The picture on the cover is relevant to the story.

Wonderfully quirky

Drew Perry has created a wonderful, quirky, and thoroughly enjoyable novel that I could not put down. Rarely do I read a book in less than two days, but this one grabbed me and demanded my full attention. THIS IS JUST EXACTLY LIKE YOU is a well-written and delightfully crazy (yet always believable) twist on familial dysfunction and upheaval. Things go terribly wrong in Jack and Beth Lang's marital home. When Beth moves out, Jack's worlds (both internal and external) tilt and spin in ways he never could have dreamed. Surprises abound as this book unfolds, and at the heart of each one is a little boy named Hendrick--Jack and Beth's autistic son who is also brilliant. Among the many things I enjoyed about this book was Mr. Perry's insight into the complexities of relationship polarities and emotional stand-offs. There are many good lines in this book, and it's in their simplicity that Jack and Beth's core issues are revealed. One of those lines is, "I don't understand why you always get to decide what's OK." Not wanting to put any spoilers here as I'm the first to review this book, I'll end by saying this: if you long for a unpredictable story that's as funny as it is deeply human and thought provoking, then read this book!