The Monk Upstairs: A Novel

By Tim Farrington

Heavenly Ever After?

When Rebecca Martin finds the love of her life, it's finally time to cross off one giant task from life's to-do list. But not so fast. The wedding is a minor disaster, the honeymoon doesn't get much better, and then the biggest shock of all—living together as monk and wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 17, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061749766

Tim Farrington

Tim Farrington is the author of Lizzie's War, The Monk Downstairs,—a New York Times Notable Book—and The Monk Upstairs, as well as the critically acclaimed novels The California Book of the Dead and Blues for Hannah.

Reviews for The Monk Upstairs

[debnance_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Where can a romance go when chapter one is a wedding? Surprisingly, this book goes into the heart of real marriage, the struggles that go with finding ways to get along with another person. In addition, it goes into the heart of real spirituality. For a light novel, it is unusually thoughtful.

[jules72653 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sequel to The Monk Downstairs. Mike the Monk move from downstairs, as Rebecca's tenant, to upstairs being her lover and husband. Now Rebecca's mother Phoebe lives in the downstairs apartment after suffering a stroke. This book is a delightful look at the relationships of Mike, Rebecca, Phoebe, Mary Martha and even the ex-husband Rory and his new family. I especially loved the repartee between Mike and Phoebe.

[aliastori · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really liked The Monk Upstairs, and should have left it at that.

[asiandivergal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I bought this book without being aware that it was a sequel, but I had no problem reading it as a stand alone. Interesting premise here: Tough, cynical Rebecca who is a little scornful of religion, settles into married life with a former monk, who finds himself dealing with the new responsibilities of married life, a stepdaughter, and a sick mother-in-law. Quite a surprising tender and under-rated book, I found myself settling in for a gentle and touching read about human relationships and everyday life - things that we tend to take for granted in life. It's easy to sympathize wth Mike (the former monk), as he struggles to handle his new life which introduces stress into his usual calm and contemplative nature. Touching and heart-wrenching, it features real human characters in real life situations. Quietly beautiful and full of inner strength - this is a book that deserved a quiet, undistracting environment to fully appreciate (I read this while spending a lazy sunny afternoon on an totally deserted island)

[bettyjo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The rest of the story from The Monk Downstairs...enjoyable but not life changing.