His sarcastic, self-deprecating humor masks a fundamentally decent human being who wants nothing more than to re-connect meaningfully with those closest to him. When he impulsively deserts the posh suburb where he was raised for a humble city apartment, in order to be near the sexy but unconventional, German-born Erica, a woman he remembers from high school who now works in a feminist bookstore, his tyrannical father and other relatives are horrified. Slowly but surely, a mature romantic relationship grows between Charlie and Erica. The numerous complications that ensue—from family disputes, to run-ins with the police, misunderstandings between the couple, and the death of Charlie’s beloved grandmother—only serve to add suspense and comic touches to the story, which takes some unexpected twists and turns before its satisfying conclusion. Even the minor characters are warmly human, and Charlie’s slightly cynical, humorous voice is surprisingly engaging.
You don’t need to know or care anything about golf to find yourself rooting for Charlie and Erica to overcome the various obstacles and find happily ever after. REMEMBER BIG is light entertainment that is well-written and funny.
A balanced mix of humor with darker elements, REMEMBER BIG is filled with characters you won’t soon forget.
Reviewed by Jean Gazis for IndieReader