Synopsis

The Daddy Diaries is a humorous and poignant novel about a relationship between a stay at home dad and his two preteen kids. When his wife goes to work full time in a beach town in Florida, Jay must acclimate to life in the south. With a rich but stupid older brother, a lunatic townie friend and a teen son who’s ready to know what a “threesome” is, Jay’s world is thrown about as far as California to Florida.

Review

The book is billed as being funny, but I really didn’t think that was the case. It is an honest look at a stay at home dad dealing with a teenage son that is moody and dealing with normal teen angst (as we can all remember especially if you have a teenager), along with his young daughter (who isn’t a teen yet!) and a wife that wants a 3rd child.

I was very annoyed with several characters including Ray and Lizzie who aren’t married but have a daughter together and they are too wrapped up in their own issues to be good parents, yet don’t want anyone else helping them out. There is also Cam, who is the older brother, who is also very selfish and wrapped up in himself.

I felt like Jay was a very compassionate father in his actions with his children and his friend’s children. I thought he was portrayed as very down to earth despite the circumstances. He struggled with who he was and what he wanted to do with his life – much like many of us!

The book was good and an honest look inside your average family.  We give it 3 1/2 paws.

About the Author

Joshua Braff is the author of three novels, The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green, Peep Show, and The Daddy Diaries, published May 5, 2015. The Daddy Diaries is a memorable take on contemporary fatherhood and a clear-sighted look at how the upending of traditional marital roles can affect the delicate balance of familial love. Braff’s work can also be found in The Huffington Post and in multiple anthologies. He has an MFA from St. Mary’s College and lives in Northern California with his wife and two children. Visit his website for more information.

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