One decision can change everything. In Simple People by Paul Martin Midden, two long-haul truck drivers go about their daily routines until they cross paths. Ahmed Winslow carries the weight of a difficult childhood but has been quietly living a somewhat double life. Eleanor “Ellie” Hornby has moved out of her parents’ home and found freedom and purpose in a traditionally male-dominated profession. Their separate lives eventually intertwine. Both must face personal struggles and the decisions that shape who they become. Their journey shows that even small choices can have lasting consequences. Will it all be worth it for Ahmed? And will Eleanor find the life she's been searching for?

Simple People was an interesting read. The pacing was steady, and every section added something important to the story. It allowed me to get to know the characters better, which I wanted to do. Ahmed was very complicated. It was clear that the scars from his childhood never really left him. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but it was like he just couldn’t stop himself. He never came across as someone unwilling to work, which made his choices even more thought-provoking. The ending surprised me. I imagined it would go a different way, but I appreciated how it turned out. Paul Martin Midden's writing was clear, direct, and easy to settle into. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes stories about ordinary people facing difficult decisions. I finished the book glad I had taken the journey, and thinking about this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." It is a reminder that our past may influence us, but it doesn't have to define our future.

Simple People by Paul Martin Midden follows Ahmed Winslow and Eleanor Hornby, two truck drivers who couldn't be more different. Ahmed grew up caught between fighting parents and wants nothing more than peace and quiet. Eleanor, on the other hand, comes from a loving home but feels the pull to find her own path. When they end up working for the same trucking company, an unexpected connection starts to grow between them on the long hauls. But Ahmed is keeping a secret. He has a counterfeiting hobby he's convinced himself is harmless. However, things change when he heads to Mexico to launder his fake bills, and misfortune comes knocking at his door. He befriends a friendly expat couple who turn out to be more trouble than they are worth. What happens next makes Ahmed and Eleanor rethink all their decisions.

Author Paul Martin Midden did a fantastic job of creating a believable story with such realistic characters. I really enjoyed Ahmed and Eleanor, and loved how the author gives them ample page space to tell their stories. Ahmed's backstory of growing up in a house full of constant fighting between his parents explained why he wants to build such a quiet life for himself. It made me root for him even as his secret hobby had me nervous the whole time. Eleanor is such a warm character compared to him. I loved watching their unlikely bond grow over the course of long drives. It felt natural and perfectly paced rather than rushed. The Mexico storyline added some much-needed tension to the plot. David and Marcy are unsettling characters, and I didn’t like them immediately. Simple People is a great novel and very entertaining. I cannot give it less than 5 stars!