This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Apart from the fact that This Is Where I Leave You is wonderful, which it is, it also was the only thing that made a 5-hour flight to Phoenix bearable, since it was one of those times where I was trapped next to an obese man and the person in front of me put her seat back. And there were unhappy dogs. Suffice to say that I read Tropper's latest in a contortionist-like position.

But it was all okay because This Is Where I Leave You is laugh-out-loud funny and Tropper shows tremendous skill in writing dialogue. The premise starts off with the familiar - Judd Foxman's life is falling apart and his family is gathering together to sit shiva for his father. There's a fairly spectacular scene where Judd discovers his wife's infidelity that will make you laugh and cringe.

This could have been a lesser, lighter version of The Corrections: A Novel . But Tropper has his own distinct voice, and you find yourself honestly surprised at some of the twists. Even if you don't like all of the characters (Judd's siblings and mother have elevated selfishness to an art form), Tropper manages to make them human. You're rooting for the Foxmans.

A great choice, and if you enjoy it, also try Tropper's How to Talk to a Widower: A Novel (Bantam Discovery) .