The Locked-Away Life by Drew Davies

Over the past few weeks I have been listening to the story of Esther, an older woman living alone and away from society in her large house, and Bruno, a young man she hires to teach her how to use the internet.

It’s a story that manages to be heartwarming without getting saccharine: Esther is lively and sharp-witted while Bruno is caring but guarded, and the two build a friendship as they spend time together during their lessons. Both characters have a bit of mystery and hurt that they need to work through, and my main critique is that I don’t feel either of their stories is paced or played out in an entirely satisfying way. For Esther’s part, we repeatedly hear snippets of her past that we can piece together, but it all happens so piecemeal that as a result her growth and resolution also feels a bit uneven and incomplete; Bruno, on the other hand, has a gutting experience that plays out strikingly on the page, but the aftermath feels a bit rushed — summarized more than experienced — and wraps up faster than I’d like.

All in all, this is an enjoyable book (and wonderfully narrated as an audiobook!) that’s recommended if you’re looking for a story of human connection, love, and support from seemingly unlikely friends.