There isn't. But there's a conscientious male nurse called Sanjay who Heimlichs the choker, Piers,  back to life. That's just the beginning of the chain of actions and reactions that changes the lives of a group of commuters on train. By the time "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting" winds down, readers will have enjoyed a bit of romance, break-ups, humiliation, trauma, career changes, and redemption. The cast of characters includes Sanjay the nurse, his crush Emmie, teenaged outcast Martha, and Piers, along with Iona and Bea, the love of Iona's life. 

The book is a reminder of the sweetness of human connection, something that is easy to lose in a world of virtual relationships. Iona is her own woman, a character with a strong voice, and a streak of independence. But when she needs her new friends, they rally around her, just as she ministered to them in their time of need. "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting" will be published June 7, 2022, by Pamela Dorman Books, and I look forward to purchasing a copy for the library. Fans of Frederik Backman's "A Man Called Ove" will enjoy Iona and her train mates.  

I received a pre-publication copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ​

The Boys in the Boat was hands-down my favorite book I read last year. The story of the University of Washington's crew team is one of sheer determination and grit. Most of the boys in the boat were working class kids. The University of Washington's eight-oar program was a work in progress. The schools that dominated the sport California and the Ivy League universities back east. But under coach  Al Ulbrickson and with a shell built by George Pocock, Washington was finally in contention for the national title. 

I'll just say here that I knew nothing about crew and in all honesty cared even less. The power of Brown's writing lies in his ability to educate and inspire his readers by focusing on the individual stories behind the boys in the boat, primarily Joe Rantz. 

Joe's childhood was filled with grief, abandonment, and poverty. His resilience in the face of all the trauma, combined with a work ethic that would not allow him to quit, got him into the University of Washington and onto the crew team. Although he was finally in the right place at the right time and had remarkable abilities, Joe's coach saw an inconsistency in his performance. For a team to win in a sport like this one required a level of trust in the others in the boat that Joe struggled with, given his past experiences. 

The Boys in the Boat has it all: riveting history, a setting primarily in the Pacific Northwest during the Great Depression and later Berlin under Hitler, compelling biography, a love story, and detailed explanation of what crew is and the process of building shells. The book is available for checkout at Moon Lake Library. 

Boys in the Boat was published June 4, 2013 by Viking Adult.