there is a lot to unpack with this sometimes unserious yet emotional story. the main character, david, is a previously best selling novelist who is struggling to find the creativity for his next big hit. his strive for perfection, to become what he once was at the peak of his career, caused his relationship with the love of his life to crumble and he is now trying to piece his life back together by doing the one thing most of us do to get over someone - getting under someone else. except when david wakes up the morning after having a whirlwind one night stand, his prince charming is laying next to him in his bed very much dead.

this is the catalyst that sets off a chain of absolutely ridiculous events that you really have to suspend your disbelief to go along with. but if you can push through it, i think you'll end up having a good time like i did! the "mystery" aspect of this book is the overarching plot but as that's going on in the background, the book tackles different layers of loneliness and sense of self by exploring the meaning of foundation. because david was raised by an immigrant parent and stepmother, his family and home life had never really been the ideal environment for a closeted gay kid. he never truly formed friendships that lasted past college, and because he'd been consumed by his work, entered and had been through adulthood without forming many new connections. the only person he can really count on is his literary agent, stacey (who was, without a DOUBT, my favorite character). without anyone else to really cling on to, to support him, especially because he is the one who doubts himself the most, he is floating through life without really living. i thought the author did a great job of capturing those moments of feeling like you're on autopilot without direction and no one to hold your hand through it who truly understands you.

stacey and david try to cover up this death through a series of unfortunate and completely unbelievable events, but that was my favorite part of the book! i loved watching them form a genuine friendship outside of their working relationship. and i have to say, stacey is a fucking ICON. i want to be her!!! she was such a charismatic and chaotic person, but the only one holding it down while david was constantly losing his shit.

"david, there are only two things you should never ask a woman - how many fake designer pieces she owns and whether she's killed any of her husbands." STACEY THE WOMAN YOU ARE!!!!!!

the final third of the book does bring a somewhat satisfying conclusion in what happened the night that david can't remember, and there were some twists and turns that i fully was not expecting. there were times that i didn't like david because a handful of his decisions and actions felt very selfish, but his character came a long way at the end of the book - i fully appreciated the growth he showed, especially in the last scene!

this was fun wild ride that was totally insane but i did enjoy the deeper meaning behind it all. i'll be keeping an eye out on what this author will be writing in the future!