Book Review: Edward Adrift

Edward Adrift by Craig Lancaster
April 9, 2013
Amazon Publishing
307 pages
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Source: NetGalley for honest review

Book Blurb:

It’s been a year of upheaval for Edward Stanton, a forty-two-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s lost his job. His trusted therapist has retired. His best friends have moved away. And even his nightly ritual of watching Dragnet reruns has been disrupted. All of this change has left Edward, who lives his life on a rigid schedule, completely flummoxed. 

But when his friend Donna calls with news that her son Kyle is in trouble, Edward leaves his comfort zone in Billings, Montana, and drives to visit them in Boise, where he discovers Kyle has morphed from a sweet kid into a sullen adolescent. Inspired by dreams of the past, Edward goes against his routine and decides to drive to a small town in Colorado where he once spent a summer with his father—bringing Kyle along as his road trip companion. The two argue about football and music along the way, and amid their misadventures, they meet an eccentric motel owner who just might be the love of Edward’s sheltered life—if only he can let her.

Endearing and laugh-out-loud funny, Edward Adrift is author Craig Lancaster’s sequel to 600 Hours of Edward.

My Review:

Find my 5 Star review for 600 Hours of Edward here.

In this superbly written sequel to 600 Hours of Edward, Craig Lancaster has once again captured my heart following another humorous, touching, and endearing journey with Edward Stanton. It's three years since 600 Hours of Edward, and Edward, our hero with Asperger's syndrome and OCD, is not having a good year. He's lost his job, his best friends have moved away, his health has declined, his therapist has retired, and he's out of his routine. Now he has embarked on a road trip to see Kyle who is in trouble, and this journey ends up holding not only answers for Kyle, but Edward as well.

What I love about this book and Edward's journey is that once again Craig Lancaster has captured all the humanity of Edward. Despite the many challenges Edward must face, he continues to be the unique, kind-hearted, honest, and genuine guy I loved in the first book. Yet here, he grows beyond who he was, yet still remains true to himself. We experience so much along with Edward: his tears and trepidation, his courage and compassion, his honesty and honor, his love and laughter. I cannot say enough good things about Edward Stanton. And once again we have a lovely cast of secondary characters, each with their own unique relationship with Edward, who added so much to the journey.

Bottomline: Edward Adrift is an absolute gem of a book, and the perfect follow-up to 600 Hours of Edward. Once again, Craig Lancaster has captured the endearing and unique spirit of Edward Stanton and taken us on a journey of self-discovery and shared humanity. I laughed, I cried, and I rooted for Edward. I highly recommend this sequel.

5 STARS

Book Links:

AMAZON   *   GOODREADS