Favourite Book of January: Frank & Red by Matt Coyne

At the end of every month I like to look back to see what my favourite book of the previous month was. While it can be difficult to decide, January had a clear winner. Frank & Red is a beautiful story about a grumpy old man and an enthusiastic six year old with a trampoline. Not only was it my favourite book of January, but one of my new favourites of all time. Not only did it check the two measures I have for easily deciding if a book has made an impact on me, which are making me cry, and occupying my thoughts for a significant time after finishing it, but it had so much more. Vulnerable characters that find their way to a little corner of your heart? Check. Real human connections? Check. A book that makes you wish characters were real so you could give them a big hug and tell them everything will be allright? Check. Matt Coyne has made an impression on me with his debut novel and I intent to read a lot more by him. 

The story follows an old man, Frank, whose deeply rooter sorrow in losing his wife has made him secluded and a real grump. One day, six year old Red moves in next door with his mom, since his parents just got divorced. They are both struggling in their own way, and find unexpected companionship in each other. Despite Frank’s reluctance to let Red in, the latter’s persistence eventually warms the old man up. Red wriggled his way into Frank’s heart the same way this book and its characters did into mine.

While the novel has a strong plot that kept me intrigued, especially in the second half, Coyne’s real strength lies in his character work. Both of the protagonists are round, fleshed-out and go through an inner transformation. While the initial premise can be seen as stereotypical, grumpy old man meets happy kid who turns his life around, the characters overcome these stereotypes as we learn more about them. This goes beyond the two protagonists, as we also see how Red’s mom is struggling to provide her son with a stable and happy home, while going through her own life changes after divorce. Even Red’s classmates who don’t appear in a lot of the novel, feel like more than side characters towards the end.

Coyne portrays different human connections: between a parent and a child, husband and wife, friends, neighbours, classmates and even strangers. Every connection feels very real, and characters are vulnerable because we can see the person behind the facade. The combination of character work and realistic human connections is what made this book so wonderful for me and why it has stayed with me since the last word.

I think it is great for people who enjoy Frederik Backman, since it reminded me of A Man Called Ove. However, both are incredible in their own way and have a unique take on the premise. If you like reading about vulnerable characters, seeing them overcome their challenges, connect to each other and you want a story that warms your heart, you should pick up Frank & Red. And if you do, please let me know your thoughts.