Andrew Scott Bassett’s Fishing for Something is a feel-good dramatic novel about forgiveness, redemption, and starting over. It is a story of the Barrett brothers, John and Audie, who are distant from each other yet find a lot of common ground when it comes to their existential woes. Abandoned by their father at an early age, John, the eldest sibling, learned to become the family breadwinner at 17. He is now a hardworking handyman contending with a marriage crisis. Audie is not exactly faring well with his personal life, and when he visits his older brother and their mother with the news of their father’s passing, their lives as siblings are about to change. Raymond Barrett has bequeathed his sons the sum of $100,000.00 that comes with a stipulation: They must go on a fishing trip across America and meet people that their late father requested. Why their father is asking them to meet people they have never known is a huge mystery for them, but it will pave the way for them to cross a new threshold.

Fishing for Something has a unique twist that will catch you off-guard, and this is how Andrew Scott Bassett effectively keeps you involved in the story from start to finish. Just ponder this question for a moment: If you are an absentee father who has never seen your sons for ages, and you know that they hate you, what would you do to make amends and make up for all the lost time? This is a heartwarming tale that addresses the contemporary social issue of estrangement that stems from abandonment by the ones we least expect to turn away. Bassett handles the family relationship with unbridled realism based on how the Barrett brothers interact with the people in their lives and with each other. It is a story that will renew your faith in family and in the power of forgiveness. In a world that does not owe you anything, this novel becomes a must-read for it may well help you re-evaluate your choices.

Fishing for Something by Andrew Scott Bassett is an intense family drama that is highly entertaining and readable. It centers around the Barrett brothers, who have issues with women and each other, and their father as well, who abandoned them long ago but has now just passed. If they are to receive their inheritance, they must accept a challenge, and that is to take a road trip together. As the brothers travel across the country on a fishing expedition, they deal with life, each other, and some unresolved problems. Audiences will connect with this family as they grapple with their troubles against the backdrop of a fishing trip. But as troubling as the subject matter sounds, there is also some romance, adventure, and lightheartedness. The author covers a wide range of relationships and emotions, from siblings to marriage to parents and children.

One special note of interest is that the author bases the novel in part on his own life experiences, which gives the novel a feeling of realism and edge. The plot is believable, the characters likable, flaws and all, and the author has a real talent for putting you into the setting and mindset of these characters, especially John. Building or repairing relationships takes time, and Bassett understands this. He doesn't have his characters magically resolving their differences and conflicts right away, or perfectly. Rather, he allows it all to build to a satisfying conclusion, amidst secrets and revelations that are surprising, to the characters as well as to the audience. If you have a family member that is estranged or know of one, chances are you will relate. Even though the story can be painful at times, you may be able to find a sense of closure, or at least that you aren't alone and that healing or reconciliation is possible at some point in the future. Fishing for Something by Andrew Scott Bassett is a very entertaining adventure that pulls on the heartstrings.

Great Review on a Great Book that kept me turning pages to see what possibly could happen next. I would recommend Fishing for Something to anyone that wants to read a book that keeps you guessing about what will the end reveal.