If I Survive You

by Jonathan Escoffery
If I Survive You cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Contemporary Fiction
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  • ID: 4054
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780008501259
  • Publisher: HarperCollins UK
  • Published: 2023-02-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

If I Survive You is a critically acclaimed novel that has been shortlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. Praised by literary giants like Diana Evans and Ann Patchett, this book delves into the complexities of family dynamics and cultural identity. The story unfolds through the eyes of a Caribbean-American family navigating life in New York, offering a rich tapestry of humor, heartache, and resilience. /n/n The novel's prose has been lauded for its brilliance and depth, with reviewers highlighting its ability to capture the essence of human experience. It's a story that resonates with themes of survival, love, and the enduring bonds of family, making it a must-read for those who appreciate contemporary fiction with a unique cultural perspective.

Reviews
Reading Writing and Me · 2023-11-25
intimate 4.50

The book is lauded for its expansive yet intimate portrayal of a few characters over time, making it a deeply personal and engaging read. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to weave together a rich tapestry of experiences in a relatively short span.

They found the book to be a truly expansive story that covers a lot of ground in just 260 pages. The reviewer is impressed by the author's ability to create an intimate portrait of a handful of people, making their experiences feel deeply personal and relatable. They also note the book's exploration of themes like family, identity, and the immigrant experience, making it a rich and rewarding read.

Quick quotes

    This is a truly expansive story through time and experience for only 260 pages.

    It is also an extremely intimate portrait of a handful of people.

    The book is a rich and rewarding read that explores themes like family, identity, and the immigrant experience.

The Guardian · Madeline Whittlesey · 2023-02-02
compelling 4.00

The collection is praised for its vivid portrayal of family dynamics and the immigrant experience, with a unique narrative style that keeps readers engaged. The stories are both heartbreaking and humorous, offering a nuanced look at identity and survival.

This reviewer highlights the collection's ability to balance humor and tragedy, creating a compelling narrative that resonates deeply. They appreciate the author's use of the second person, which adds an intimate and immersive quality to the stories. The reviewer also notes the collection's exploration of themes like family, identity, and the immigrant experience, making it a standout debut.

Quick quotes

    The stories are both heartbreaking and hilarious, offering a nuanced look at identity and survival.

    Escoffery’s use of the second person adds an intimate and immersive quality to the stories.

    The collection is a standout debut that balances humor and tragedy, making it a compelling read.

The New York Times · Sarah Lyall · 2022-09-16
extraordinary 4.25

The collection is praised for its raw and unflinching look at family tensions and personal struggles, with a unique narrative style that keeps readers engaged. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to create a panoramic depiction of the immigrant experience.

They found the book to be an extraordinary debut collection that offers an intensively granular yet panoramic depiction of what it's like to try to make it in a new country. The reviewer is impressed by the author's ability to create a rich and nuanced portrait of a young man grappling with family tensions and personal struggles. They also note the book's exploration of themes like identity, survival, and the immigrant experience, making it a standout debut.

Quick quotes

    If I Survive You is an extraordinary debut collection, an intensively granular, yet panoramic depiction of what it's like to try to make it.

    The collection offers a raw and unflinching look at family tensions and personal struggles.

    The author's ability to create a rich and nuanced portrait of a young man grappling with family tensions and personal struggles is impressive.

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