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In O’Brien’s novel, readers encounter the dysfunctional Francis family: Louie, the father; Helen, the mother; and Lulu, the adult daughter. Helen has died of cancer, and Louie and Lulu have never gotten along. But Helen, who hasn’t gone to heaven and is in some type of limbo, watches over the two of them, fretting about them. Louie, who has always enjoyed drinking, is drinking even more, and his Republican values have become MAGA values. He loves Trump and hates Nancy Pelosi and the liberals, which includes his daughter. Lulu has a steady girlfriend, and Louie makes fun of Lulu’s politics and her “butch” haircut.
Lulu is an assistant manager at a bookstore. For her part, Helen was a closet Democrat and hated Trump. Louie now spends more time at his local bar, where he gets involved with a twenty-nine-year-old bartender, Cristall. Louie, meanwhile, is in his late sixties. Cristall is also a drug addict. As their relationship develops and Louie’s drinking gets worse, chaos ensues to the point of Lulu filing for temporary conservatorship of her father.
This funny yet purposeful book explores the problems of addiction, unresolved grief, the issue of politics between people, dysfunctional families, and LGBTQ+ issues in a humane manner. The three main characters are written in their own voices, and their opinions are interesting, human, sad, and humorous. Besides the main characters, many affidavits are given by both Louie and Lulu’s sides of the aisle regarding the conservatorship request, which adds flavor to the reality of the desperate situation the family is in. The ending is apropos, and the book will have the reader wanting to hear more from this author. Ultimately, this is a fun read for all.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review