Table of Contents
- Date Published:
2025 - Length:
335 pages—Listening Time: 9 hours 5 minutes - Genre:
Fiction, Mystery - Setting:
Present day, rural Minnesota - Awards
Giller Prize Longlist 2025; Edgar Award Nominee 2026; RUSA CODES Listen List 2026 - Languages:
English - Sensitive Aspects:
Ableism, grief, bullying, confinement, death, gun violence, violence, police brutality, mass/school violence, sexual abuse, sexual grooming, teen pregnancy, discrimination, intelletual disability, cognitive impairment, Tourette's Syndrome, and strong language - Movie:
As of March 2026, there are no official announcements regarding a movie adaptation in development for The Sideways Life of Denny Voss. - Recommended for Book Club:
Yes!
I’ll admit it right out of the gate: I fell hard for Denny Voss. Not in the swooning, hand-over-heart way you might for a romance hero, but in that quiet, protective, please-don’t-let-the-world-hurt-him way that sneaks up on you halfway through a really good story. You know how Forrest Gump managed to turn a box of chocolates into a philosophy of kindness, or how Eleanor Oliphant taught us the quiet heroism of loneliness? Denny belongs in that lineage—gentle souls whose minds run a little sideways but whose hearts run true.
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy isn’t a novel you just read; it’s one you walk alongside. Even though Denny's world is slightly off-center, it somehow manages to be more clear than ours. He narrates life the way only someone who hasn’t learned to hide from truth can—straightforward, painfully honest, and sometimes hilariously offbeat. One minute you’re laughing at his logic; the next, you’re blinking back tears because it suddenly hits too close to home.
What I loved most was how the author never turns Denny’s limitations into a lesson or a pity parade. There’s compassion here, sure, but also grit and a bit of mystery. The story hits that perfect balance between tender and tough—like honey over burnt toast. You keep reading not because you expect a grand twist, but because you can’t bear to leave Denny figuring things out alone.
If you’ve ever felt a bit out of sync with the world—or loved someone who sees things through a different lens—this book will find you. And once it does, good luck putting it down. Denny Voss may live a sideways life, but don’t be surprised if he ends up walking straight into your heart.
On the surface, Denny’s life in rural Minnesota looks quiet enough. He’s thirty, lives with his elderly mother, helps make ends meet by cleaning up roadkill, and spends a lot of time with George, his blind and deaf Saint Bernard. But Denny’s world has never been especially simple, because a developmental delay caused by an accident at birth has shaped the way he moves through life and the way other people respond to him.
The story unfolds through Denny’s memory as his court-appointed therapist walks him through the events leading up to a murder accusation. Along the way, Denny revisits a string of mishaps that keep escalating in the worst possible way, including the time he kidnapped a neighbor’s cantankerous goose and the time he accidentally helped a bank robbery unfold. Each episode seems to begin with Denny trying to do the right thing, but somehow the situation veers off course before he can stop it.
As the legal trouble builds, the novel also circles around Denny’s family life and the people who have always been around him. His mother, Nana-Jo, his cousin Angus; and a small circle of loyal friends all matter to the shape of the story, especially as Denny is pushed toward more independence. The book uses those relationships to reveal how much of Denny’s life has been protected, managed, and interpreted by the people who love him.
At its core, the plot follows Denny as he tries to untangle the events of the past year while also facing the more serious question of who is really responsible for the murder at the center of the case. The structure moves back and forth through flashbacks and courtroom pressure, letting the reader piece together how each strange, funny, and sometimes painful turn fits into the larger mystery. By the time the story reaches its end, Denny is no longer just explaining what happened; he is also being forced to confront his family history, his place in the world, and the consequences of all the sideways turns that got him here.
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is a strong fit for Readers with Wrinkles followers because it blends heart, humor, emotional depth, and a memorable voice in a way that appeals to thoughtful readers. Here is why I think you will connect:
Denny is the kind of character readers remember long after the last page.
He’s kind, observant, and deeply human, and the story lets us see the world through his perspective rather than treating him like a problem to solve. That kind of character-centered storytelling is exactly the sort of thing readers tends to love: a book with a heart, not just a plot.
It treats difference with empathy instead of pity.
The novel centers on a neurodivergent man with developmental delays and gives him agency, complexity, and dignity. For mature readers who appreciate books that handle sensitive subjects thoughtfully, that makes the story feel both meaningful and respectful.
It offers the kind of layered storytelling book clubs love.
Beneath the humor and quirks, there’s a murder mystery, family secrets, and emotional reckonings unfolding at the same time. That gives readers plenty to discuss, which is ideal for a Readers with Wrinkles audience that enjoys rich conversation starters.
It balances heavy themes with warmth and wit.
Reviewers consistently note that the book mixes serious material with humor and lighter moments, so it never feels relentlessly bleak. That balance tends to resonate with readers who want emotional substance without losing the pleasure of reading.
It explores family, community, and belonging.
Denny is surrounded by people who love him, and the novel keeps returning to the question of what makes a true family. That found-family warmth is often a sweet spot for seasoned readers, especially when it’s paired with small-town atmosphere and human messiness.
It feels socially aware without becoming preachy.
The story touches on prejudice, abuse, gun violence, and the way society dismisses people who are vulnerable, but it does so through character and story rather than lecture. Readers who enjoy fiction with substance will likely appreciate that it has something to say while still being readable and engaging.
It is emotionally rewarding.
Multiple reviews describe it as poignant, funny, heartwarming, and moving, which suggests it delivers the kind of “laugh, ache, think” reading experience many seasoned readers seek. That emotional range is especially appealing for followers who like books that leave them with something to feel and talk about. I got teary several times while reading.
Great fit for book clubs
This is especially well-suited to Readers with Wrinkles followers who enjoy literary-leaning fiction, big-hearted protagonists, and stories with enough depth to linger in conversation after reading. It is the kind of novel that works beautifully as a book club pick because it invites discussion about empathy, justice, family, and how people are judged by the world.
Get Holly Kennedy Books
Canadian author, Holly Kennedy’s novels deliver heartfelt, emotionally layered storytelling with memorable characters, timely themes, and the kind of depth that keeps readers turning pages long after the lights go out.
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Because The Sideways Life of Denny Voss blends a heartfelt, funny voice with small-town mystery, family secrets, and a protagonist who is underestimated by others, these read-alikes lean toward books with empathy, humor, and emotional depth. Here are some books similar to it.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
A neurodivergent narrator tries to make sense of a troubling mystery while navigating a world that often misunderstands him. It has the same mix of innocence, tension, and a deeply individual point of view. - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This novel follows an isolated woman whose plain routines hide serious emotional wounds. Like Denny’s story, it balances humor with sadness and gradually reveals how much kindness matters. - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A gruff outsider’s life is slowly transformed by unexpected connections with his neighbors. It has the same big-hearted, small-community feel and a protagonist whose rigid image conceals real vulnerability. - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
Three lonely people in a rural Oregon town find healing through unlikely friendship and a shared purpose. If you liked the gentle, community-centered side of Denny’s story, this is a strong match. - A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
This novel centers on an unusual young man whose difference shapes everyone around him. It blends tragedy, humor, fate, and moral complexity in a way that may appeal if you liked the emotional ambition of Holly Kennedy’s novel. - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
An ordinary man sets out on a strange journey that becomes a meditation on regret, hope, and second chances. It shares the same tender tone and the sense that a seemingly simple man can hold a surprisingly large emotional world. - Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
A young narrator with special needs tells a moving story about loyalty, memory, and survival. It’s shorter and quieter than Denny’s novel, but it captures the same respect for a narrator who sees the world differently. - The Maid by Nita Prose
A socially awkward protagonist gets pulled into a mystery that tests how others see her. If you enjoyed the suspense plus the compassionate framing of Denny’s perspective, this one fits nicely.
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