The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson was a fun and thought provoking novel.  It is a story about friendship and family.  It is a story about forging your own path.  It is a story about loving those closest to you even when they are hard to love.  I have always enjoyed Hutchinson's books, and this one was no different. 

 The Past... is the story of two friends, Dino and July, who were once best friends.  But during the last year, their once strong bond has disintegrated.  Dino's family owns a mortuary and he is tasked with the job of preparing July's body when she suddenly and shockingly dies.  The death of his ex-best friend has caused Dino to wonder why they ever stopped being friends in the first place.  When July suddenly sits upright on the gurney and begins speaking to Dino, they have a chance to figure out what happened to their friendship....while at the same time trying to understand why July is no longer among the dead.  While her body continues to rot away, the two of them have to determine what went wrong in their relationship and decide if it's worth saving.  Dino and July are two unforgettable characters that will help us remember that friendships aren't always perfect, but the good ones are always worth saving. 

From Amazon:

 “A fearless and brutal look at friendships...you will laugh, rage, and mourn its loss when it’s over.” —Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation

“Simultaneously hilarious and moving, weird and wonderful.” —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award–winning author of The Serpent King

Six Feet Under meets Pushing Daisies in this quirky, heartfelt story about two teens who are granted extra time to resolve what was left unfinished after one of them suddenly dies.

A good friend will bury your body, a best friend will dig you back up.

Dino doesn’t mind spending time with the dead. His parents own a funeral home, and death is literally the family business. He’s just not used to them talking back. Until Dino’s ex-best friend July dies suddenly—and then comes back to life. Except not exactly. Somehow July is not quite alive, and not quite dead.

As Dino and July attempt to figure out what’s happening, they must also confront why and how their friendship ended so badly, and what they have left to understand about themselves, each other, and all those grand mysteries of life.

Critically acclaimed author Shaun Hutchinson delivers another wholly unique novel blending the real and surreal while reminding all of us what it is to love someone through and around our faults.