How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathon Tropper

Doug Parker is 29 years old and a widower. He lost his beloved wife Hailey in a plane crash and can't seem to cope without her. Because he's not quite stressed out enough, he also has to deal with his pregnant twin sister Claire, who leaves her husband and moves in with Doug. And be a parental figure to his stepson Russ, who wants to live with Doug to escape his jerk of a biological father. Then there are all the single and divorced women in town who are throwing themselves at the newly "single" Doug, who's really not in the mood to start dating again. One of the funniest scenes in the book is when Claire starts vetting all the eligible women to decide who is worthy enough to date her heartbroken brother.

My favorite character in the book is Russ. Not only is he dealing with all the normal teenage angst but he's grieving the loss of his mother and trying to co-exist with a father who doesn't really want him around.  And yet, he manages to maintain his empathy and humanity.

You'd think this book would be depressing and sad--and parts of it are. But other parts are hilariously funny. And I loved the last scene--between Doug and Russ, who truly have become family.