The Best of Adam Sharp

By: Graeme Simsion

Narrated by: David Barker

Two decades ago Adam Sharp's piano playing led him into a passionate relationship with Angelina Brown, an intelligent and strong-willed actress. They had a chance at something more - but Adam didn't take it.

Now, on the cusp of turning 50, Adam likes his life. He's happy with his partner, Claire; he excels in music trivia at quiz night at the local pub; he looks after his mother; and he does the occasional consulting job in IT. But he can never quite shake off his nostalgia for what might have been.

And then, out of nowhere, from the other side of the world, Angelina gets in touch. What does she want? Does Adam dare to live dangerously?

Set to the soundtrack of our lives, The Best of Adam Sharp follows along with emotion and humor as one man looks back on his past and decides if having a second chance is worth the risk.

©2017 Graeme Simsion (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

One of Glamour magazine's "Most Anticipated Books of 2017"

"An extraordinary literary treat that reminds readers the best things in life have nothing to do with plans." (20 Must-Read Books for Spring 2017, Redbook.com)

Very Interesting!

This is very much a reflective book and I really liked it. My only problem was that I was expecting a Rosie type book, which was so amusing. Mr Simsion is such a good writer and the narrator Mr Barker was wonderful. I will be 70 this year and I can very much relate to the book.

Such a rollercoaster of emotions!!

For a book that ends with "it was going to be alright," this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster.

Adam and Angelina and Claire and Charlie were beautifully flawed. Their relationships and inter-relationships kept me loving and hating each of them at different times throughout this book. The story was engrossing and uncomfortable. It was happy and said and life affirming and many times, just downright wrong. Buckle your seat belts for this one!!

The narration was equally as stellar. The only thing that was missing was an Australian accent for Angelina and Charlie.

By the time this book ended, I was ready to get off the ride but man, was it thrilling!!! (Not in the way of a mystery whodunnit thriller but in a life-just-punched-me-in-the-throat thriller.)

Thumbs down

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No.

What was most disappointing about Graeme Simsion’s story?

The whole menage-a-trois, go ahead and have sex with my wife thing, didn't seem believable and got seedy. It wasn't sexy or romantic, just sort of disturbing.

Do you think The Best of Adam Sharp needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

Don't buy this because you like The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project was funny and clever. This book had no funny moments, it is a no-frills "one that got away" novel. What this book has a lot of is pop music references, chronic, relentless pop music references. If that's the kind of thing that you enjoy in prodigious quantity then this is your book. For me however, it felt like torture by the end.

Really good

I found unexpected insights into relationships in this sensitively told story. A definitive reccommendation. The narrator's voice is totally sublime. As All in all I was sorry to come to the end!