Title: Some Bright Nowhere
Author: Ann Packer
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (published as a Knopf/Harper title)
Genre: Literary Fiction
Year of Publication: 2025
Date of Publication: November 11, 2025
Pages: 256
ISBN-10: 0063421496
ISBN-13: 978-0063421493
Audiobook Narrator: Will Damron
Summary of Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer
Eliot and his wife, Claire, have been married for nearly forty years. Together, they raised two children in a quiet Connecticut town. They’ve weathered the ups and downs of a long life spent together.
Now, eight years after Claire’s cancer diagnosis, the end is near. It’s time to gather loved ones and prepare for the inevitable and her time in hospice. Over the years, Eliot has become Claire’s caregiver and he has done so with love and care. He has learned tenderness that goes beyond even his life as a devoted husband.
But just as he settles into their last weeks together, Claire makes an unexpected request as her dying wish, and that is for her two friends, not her husband, to care for her. She asks Eliot to move into one of her friend’s homes while that friend, along with another, becomes her caregiver. Her wish leaves Eliot reeling and completely flips the world he thought he understood.
Main Plot & Characters
- Eliot: He is married to Claire and they have been married for many years. Eliot is a devoted husband who finds himself reflecting on his role as caregiver, partner, and the life he built. He is Josh and Abby’s father.
- Claire: She is Eliot’s wife who is dying from cancer. Her unexpected request forces difficult questions about love and truth.
- Josh and Abby: They are Eliot and Claire’s adult children.
- Holly: Claire’s oldest friend. Holy is adventurous.
- Sussan Simmons: She was Claire’s friend who she met in a breast cancer support group.
- Michelle: She was Claire’s college roommate. Claire, Holly and Michelle are all close friends.
- Stuart: He is the ex husband of Holly who lives in California.
- John: Elliot’s friend from his cooking club.
Writing Style
We were nervous that this book was going to make us sad and put us in our feeling because the blurb mentions that Claire is dying from cancer but we were pleasantly surprised to see the direction the author chose to tell the story from. Without a doubt, you will be uncomfortable, you will cry, and your emotions will pull you in different directions (including anger) but it’s a story that definitely needed to be told.
The author tells the story from Elliot’s perspective and we found this to be refreshing because we haven’t read a lot of books that are from the point of view of the husband of the person who is dying. Most books we have read focus on the children or the individual who is dealing with the disease and how it has affected their own lives. But even more importantly, the story was not only about the fact that Claire is dying but about what we want to offer people, be it assistance, help, or attention, versus what people truly want or need from us. By the end of the book you are guaranteed to think about how you would like to spend your last days on earth and with whom, if you know the end is near.
There are parts of the story where you may find yourself extremely mad about how Elliot is being treated but there are also parts where you’d wish he would just focus on himself alone or let go and learn to trust others to handle what is needed, and above all, understand that it is not about him. We loved the fact that through Eliot’s character, the book highlights the loneliness that many men face.
This is definitely one of those stories, where you have to go through each character and try and see things from their point of view instead of just concluding they are being selfish.
Memorable Quotes
- “This is only a little part.” “Of us. Just because it’s the end, doesn’t make it bigger.” — Claire
- “Some bright nowhere of broad fields and sunlight that was my idea of heaven. — Elliot reading the poem sent to him by John.
- “People talk about each other….It’s what we humans do.” — Claire
- “…because they wanted to share the work.”
Final Thoughts on Some Bright Nowhere
Some Bright Nowhere is a beautifully written book. It’s a story of relationships, control, loneliness men face, how our upbringing affects us, how we perceive ourself versus how others see us, and how well we know the ones we love. Ann Packer gives us a story that makes us reflect on the unexpected turns in long relationships, on life, and the possibility of an afterlife.
Make no mistake, this book will get you upset because it forces you to ask some hard questions and you may even consider setting it aside. It’s one of those stories that if you read with your book club, things may get heated as people will have different takes on how the story plays out, which in our opinion means the author has done an excellent job in starting a conversation (however difficult).
Overall, we enjoyed reading this book. Through Eliot’s struggles, it really gave us a chance to think about how we offer help, how we listen, and how we might want to be cared for ourselves. It’s a painful and in our opinion necessary read but it is certainly not for everyone.
Rating
Characters ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Plot ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Writing ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Book Cover ★★★★★ (5/5) Audiobook (Narration only) ★★★★★ (5/5)
Overall ★★★★☆ (4/5)
What are your thoughts on Some Bright Nowhere? Have you had a chance to read it and if you have what did you think of Claire’s decision, Eliot’s reaction, and how her friends handled the situation? Share your thoughts and until next time, keep turning those pages.
Authors
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