The Rest of Our Lives

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025

By: Benjamin Markovits

Narrated by: Eric Meyers

A TLS, FINANCIAL TIMES AND TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR

'Feels less like reading a novel and more like sitting in a car beside a dear friend . . . a profoundly moving experience' ANN PATCHETT
'Deeply human . . . a beautifully quiet and devastating book' SARAH JESSICA PARKER
'Funny, wise and knowing' CLARE CHAMBERS

When Tom's wife had an affair, he resolved to leave her once their children had grown up. Twelve years later, after driving his daughter to university, he remembers his pact and keeps driving West to visit friends, family and an old girlfriend.

But he also has secrets of his own - trouble at work and health issues - and sometimes running away is the hardest thing to do.

What readers are saying about The Rest of Our Lives:
'What a powerful tale; a really unexpected treasure.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Highly recommended if you want to read something real and something that will resonate.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The best novel I've read this year.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The perfect mix of funny, poignant and thought-provoking.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Deeply heartfelt and engrossing . . . I can't stop thinking about it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'It packs an emotional punch . . . I know Tom will stay with me for a long time.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved it - almost a coming-of-old-age story.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2025 Benjamin Markovits (P)2025 Faber & Faber

Loved it!

In the end, after sharing in the intimate details of this family’s history and the current lives of Tom and Amy, Tom was my friend, a very close friend.

Easy listen

I love Tom. He is so human. I would like to go on a trip like him and look up all my old friends.

Insomnia Cure

Trouble sleeping? This is the novel for you.
A dull, dreary road trip across a characterless landscape. Unless you happen to be interested in how tall people are, to the nearest inch. Everyone we meet on this boring journey is measured in inches. This writer is obsessed with height. Every product named, every sock and t-shirt itemised.
Nothing happens. Not helped by the soporific narration - like listening to a shopping list.
I felt duty-bound to persevere because it was short-listed for the Man-Booker, kept waiting for the pay-off. But no, I have thrown in the beach towel from Walmart, measuring about 5' 61/4", maybe 2 hours from the end.
A snore.

Boring boring boring

Story went nowhere. Didn’t see the point of it and didn’t care about the characters