This is Just Exactly Like You: A Novel

By Drew Perry

Book Overview

A darkly humorous debut novel of suburban survival and life's occasional miracles When Jack Lang impulsively buys a second house directly across the street from his own, his wife Beth leaves him-and their six-year-old autistic son, Hendrick-to move in with Jack's best friend, Terry Canavan. Jack tells everyone in his life he's okay, but no one believes him. Not his employees at Patriot Mulch & Tree in suburban North Carolina, not Beth herself, and not Canavan's estranged girlfriend Rena, who arrives on Jack's doorstep to see how, and whether, he's bearing up. When Jack starts letting Rena further into his life, and when Hendrick suddenly starts speaking fluent Spanish-stunning everyone-it becomes apparent to Jack that the world is far more complicated than he believed. As Drew Perry's characters change houses, partners, and perceptions, Hendrick emerges from his shell in unexpected and delightful ways and becomes, at times, this witty and winning debut novel's center of gravity-he's parenting the confused grown-ups as often as they are him. Perry's fresh and funny insights into marriage, autism, parenthood, and sub?urban ennui (not to mention mulch) create a landscape that will charm and captivate fans of Tom Perrotta and Jennifer Haigh.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670021547
• ISBN13: 9780670021543
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Viking
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.3" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

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!