Primarily set along the miles-long Thames Path in London, Roper's delightful sophomore effort (after Something to Live For) charts the reunion of two estranged childhood friends. On the eve of his 30th birthday, Theo is evicted from his parents' backyard shed, where he's been living for several years since losing his job. Meanwhile, his estranged childhood friend Joel, a successful television writer, harbors a hidden dissatisfaction with life. Before a betrayal over a girl when they were 16, both boys had formed a pact that when they turned 30 they would trek all 184 miles of the Thames Path. With that in mind, Joel sets out to mend fences with Theo, who eventually acquiesces. Joel, a recovering alcoholic, is hesitant to expose a secret to Theo concerning his health. The long walk unearths old resentments and childhood traumas, but also reinvigorates the men's friendship, culminating in a tear-jerking sacrifice. Their walk is interspersed with flashbacks that smoothly unfurl Theo's and Joel's inner fears, failures, and secrets. This endearing outing becomes a heartfelt meditation on male companionship, forgiveness, and navigating life's ups and downs. Roper's story shimmers. Agent: Alexandra Cliff, Rachel Mills Literary. (July)

Estranged childhood friends attempt to reconnect while walking the Thames Path. Years ago, in their teens, Joel Thompson and Theo Hern promised each other that one day they would walk the entirety of the Thames Path together. Now, about to turn 30, they haven't spoken in years and are in very different places in life. Theo moved back to his parents' house after having a quarter-life crisis, and they've just served him an eviction notice a week before his 30th birthday. Joel, in London, has been doing extremely well--impressive career in television, loving relationship with his high school sweetheart--except for one piece of news he's just received. Wanting to make things right with his old friend, Joel shows up on his doorstep on the morning of Theo's birthday, imploring Theo to finally walk the Thames Path together. Despite his reluctance and the still-fresh pain from their past, Theo meets Joel at the trailhead and the walk begins. Along the way, old wounds will be reopened, but maybe that way they can finally heal. Writing with both great humor and heart, Roper has a light touch that keeps the reader laughing even while he gently pulls on the heartstrings. Theo and Joel have hurt each other in the past, and their history of miscommunication and trauma feels incredibly real, but their longing for reconnection and nostalgia for what they once were also shines through. Even in hard moments, there is an element of farce, especially in scenes when Joel, Theo, and Joel's girlfriend, Amber, play around with who knows what secret. Although the end might not land with everyone, the story of two friends finding each other again will resonate with most. A funny and poignant portrait of friendship. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Theo Hern and Joel Thompson were friends once, but time and trauma have torn them apart. Now, about to turn thirty, Theo is being evicted from his parents' garden shed. Joel is a successful TV writer and producer but struggles with the aftermath of his alcohol addiction. As teenagers, Theo and Joel promised to walk the Thames Path, a 184-mile trail following its namesake river. When Joel finds Theo after all their estranged years, promising a TV deal for both of them if they do the walk together, Theo can't find a reason to say no. But Joel is hiding secrets about his own condition as well as their shared past, and it's unclear whether the two men will succeed--on the walk or in life. As in How Not to Die Alone (2019), Roper successfully mixes humor with melancholy. Joel and Theo's perspectives alternate, incorporating flashbacks which reveal both the depth and growth of their friendship. Bittersweet and full of heart, this book will appeal to fans of Jonathan Tropper and Matthew Norman.