Back in high school, Rem Bruxvoort and his best friend Gene Pawlus were in a punk band. But while The Bubbling Samovars once rocked the Greater Milwaukee DIY scene, and even recorded an album, their fame petered out with adulthood. 

Now it’s 2021, the pandemic is more or less under control, and while Gene has found his place as a happily married tech entrepreneur, Rem is in the midst of a midlife crisis and a rough separation with his ex-fiancee. When Gene’s dad dies in his retirement home, the two bandmates reconnect. And Gene’s sister, Julie, a quiet poet deep in the indecision of midlife as well, moves into her dead father’s house and strikes up a close friendship with Rem. 

As the story unfolds through these three characters’ shifting points of view, another point of view character, known only as “The Man,” lurks in his van on the periphery, swearing to enact revenge on Gene for a perceived slight years in the past. While Rem and Julie hit it off over long philosophical meanderings and dissertations on the arts (a classic love story), “The Man” interjects the tension of a thriller into the quiet town of Palmera Cay.

Andrae’s second novel is a masterclass on shifting perspectives, a seamless slide from one character’s consciousness to another. Though Rem, Gene, and Julie are generally in agreement on points both aesthetic and philosophical, each offers a unique personality. Rem is fed up with square middle-class life while Gene is comfortably married, happy in his successful career. Julie, like Rem, is also stuck in a moment of questioning her trajectory, a time of life when she is ready for drastic change. Though Rem remains the focus character, all three protagonists emerge as complex humans with similar but intricate ways of seeing the world. 

However, the agreeableness between these three characters tends to slow the pacing of the story and makes conversations such as Rem and Julie’s monologues about lesser-known films flag. Conflict takes a backseat much of the time when Rem, Julie, and Gene interact. And while Rem’s points on society and politics may be valid and his description of esoteric films accurate, they sometimes come off as didactic asides or exposition directed at the reader rather than building tension or furthering the story itself. While Rem’s asides may slow the pace, the ominous character of “The Man” serves up enough tension to carry the story.

Contrary to Rem, Gene, and Julie’s agreeableness, “The Man” is slovenly, driven by a weird logic toward violent acts. Armed with a gun and his pothead side-kick Dino, his point of view appearances become more frequent as the book winds on. He turns from distant menace to disturbed psychopath chapter by chapter, making the second half of Rem’s Chance an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter. While Rem, Gene, and Julie are the focus of the book, “The Man” emerges as the primary driving force that turns a quiet story about midlife crises into a life-or-death thriller. 

Dave J. Andrae’s Rem’s Chance is a wonderful blend of both quiet and loud, at times as placid as a Sunday morning stroll, but with a background din raucous enough to wake a neighborhood. It doesn’t hurt that his writing is clean and clear and that the understanding and empathy he holds for his characters goes soul deep. While Rem’s Chance moves slowly and the array of factoids may not be every reader’s cup of tea, it’s still easy for a reader to reenter the fictive dream and dive headlong into a world of middle-aged weirdos all trying to slap together a meaningful life.

Rem is on the tail end of a failed relationship, tapping away at a novel and microdosing to get through the day. Gene has a comfortable, suburban life as a web developer. In high school, they were bandmates in the punk rock band The Bubbling Samovars, the only worthwhile art either of them has ever produced. When Gene’s father dies, an unexpected encounter leads the two erstwhile bandmates to reconnect and reflect on the paths they’ve taken by their mid-40s.

Dave J. Andrae’s REM’S CHANCE is, in some ways, an extremely conventional novel: it is, fundamentally, about straight male anxiety about aging; romantic fulfillment with women is a primary indicator of success; and even the other thematic markers, like being in a punk band in high school, feel slightly more like a throwback to Gen X concerns. But the text squeezes out enough charm to set itself apart and make it worth reading. It is, first off, an early-pandemic period piece, and although this doesn’t overwhelmingly affect the plot (nobody is ever in quarantine after an exposure), one-off references to 2020s culture (like a “sexy stuck container ship” Halloween costume) are suitably weird and often genuinely funny.

The text is also structurally sound. A major subplot involves a misanthrope who murdered his stepmother and her partner, and is now squatting in her house while distracting himself with video games and junk food (it’s Florida). For much of the page count, it’s unclear how this subplot relates to Rem and Gene, but in addition to providing some unsettling, threatening undertones to the text, it also provides an additional foil for the protagonists: Rem is positioned between this violent misanthrope on one side and the fully conventional Gene on the other. All of them are seen in the context of Gene’s dead father; while cleaning out his house, the characters reflect on the habits of an older generation of men and the effluvia they accrue. This is still basically a story about straight men feeling anxious about aging, but it’s a smartly constructed and complex story nonetheless.

The prose may throw some readers. The overall style is fluid, rich, and tongue-in-cheek, ranging between the bluntly observational and deeply psychological—which allows it to draw out the absurdity of the circumstances and often landing in quips like, “Gary prided himself on not being delusional.” There are some awkward turns of phrase as well—there’s nothing grammatically wrong with “his living space had probably been in need of being spruced up”—but there’s no reason for it to be so clunky. Still, they don’t impact the flow of the text at large.

The dialogue has two distinct modes. One is plain and naturalistic; the other is more elevated. At times, characters enter a kind of fugue state and deliver stilted, performative monologues on themes like life or art, interrupted only by token asides from a listener. In an early example, Gene considers his own emotional state upon the death of his father, noting outright a few sentences in that “I’m feeling several things at once, to the point that it’s almost as if I feel nothing at all.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—many of these characters are anxious and reflective, and deliberate performativity isn’t inappropriate for them—but it can be jarring. Accepting the switch from naturalistic dialogue to these hieratic interludes requires a certain amount of buy-in to the overall absurdity; and, in that regard, REM’S CHANCE doesn’t feel like it convinces the reader to buy in quite as effectively as it could.

Overall, though, REM’S CHANCE takes a well-established literary form and successfully updates it for the older, millennial man negotiating the modern era.

REM’S CHANCE, by Dave J. Andrae, is a fun, weird meditation on life and death for older millennials.

A chance encounter sees old friends reunite, old flames rekindled and old passions explored anew. Rem Bruxvoort is at a liminal place in his life. Middle aged, separating from his fiancé and still feeling the fallout of the pandemic one year on he is a character that is somewhat adrift until a chance reunion with a former bandmate that leads to a search for a lost master tape and opens more doors. Rem’s Chance offers us a snippet of these character’s lives, reflections on the past and how things have changed and rediscovering the passions of their youth. Simmering underneath however is a mystery of a threat, “the man” driven to take retribution against one of the other characters. The storyline flows well, and the perspective changes allow the significant characters to develop more depth. The mystery running parallel to Rem’s story and his reunion with Gene adds an interesting twist but I felt that the main themes of the book focus on nostalgia, a reclaiming of the past and rediscovering the things we loved when we were younger that got lost amongst the mundanities of adulthood. I liked the comparison between Rem and Gene’s characters, how one becomes quite bland but successful in society’s view, and one who is perhaps not where society expects him to be at the start of the book but has a more solid foundation of personality. Rem seems to always stay true to who he is and I believe in the end may be the most happy of the characters. Almost like a coming of age but with middle-aged characters, I felt that was the key takeaway message. Overall, I found Rem’s Chance to be an interesting read and I think that it would appeal to readers of both contemporary and mystery fiction.

There’s something a little bit different about this entertaining, light-hearted book, in that it is so talky and arty, almost to the point of bohemian, that it is perhaps most accurately described as literary fiction with a subplot – if there can be such a thing.  For the most part, it is about an ageing former band-member who gets in touch with old acquaintances, and starts to think about forming a new band and launching old material, in what might be considered something of a midlife crisis.  The long dialogues which accompany this journey, primarily about music and film, are so profoundly discoursed that Quentin Tarantino would sit up and pay attention, the characters particular aficionados in movies of even the most trashy of genres – at points you might expect them to start speaking French and light up a cigarette.  Therein lies the literary element of the book.

But then the book’s genre is well and truly bent out of shape by the inclusion of a ruthless, brutal killer out on a mission of vengeance against our utterly unaware protagonist, running parallel to the main storyline.  It is not an unwelcome divergence; indeed, why not mix up expectations?  It was an intriguing plotline to watch developing, even if at times I did ask myself: what actual relevance has this subplot to the rest of the book?  The killer is utterly unrelated in any way to events, as is his arc and overall quest.  It feels rather that there are simply two different strands running alongside each other, which intersect momentarily when the time comes.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining.  Indeed, life is strange, and unexpected, unexplained events happen for no more than some deranged perceived adversity.  It is interesting to read, ultimately, though actually tricky to discern on which hand this book is at its best, when following the artistic discourse or the psycho killer.  That said, if you are looking for a book which falls firmly on either side of this genre divide, you’ll probably be disappointed; I think it’s fair to say that Andrae’s book is firmly aimed at the rest of us – those who are happy to mix in a little bit of both.

I did enjoy reading Rem’s Chance, even if I wasn’t entirely certain why.  It just felt cosy, with enough suspense dangling like a carrot to keep you moving along.  It is not coy in any way, nor brash; it simply, confidently is, and that’s always inspirational to read.  I know Andrae can write well, pleasant and engaging, having read his work previously, and this is more of the same: intelligent writing for a more discerning, intellectual reader.

Mix a cross-generational romp through music and morality, flavor it with the reality of a midlife crisis, punk band politics, and leftover pandemic nightmares, and inject a healthy dose of romance and what do you have? Rem’s Chance. 

Dave J. Andrae’s novel embraces so many subplots and subjects that its allure actually lays not so much in a predictable linear progression as in its series of literary and social reflections. These embrace the psychology of aging and life meaning, contrasting these insights against the values and observations of an also-aging society. 

Andrae is adept at depicting the politics of racial relationships, whether it be between an Arab man and a white woman or the nefarious intentions of a stalker who has Gene Pawlus in his crosshairs for Gene’s role in his brother’s undoing. 

Relationships breed more relationships as Rem’s friendship with Gene’s sister Julie leads to an unexpected romantic development that moves from friendship and philosophical waxing into something more. 

Wry tongue-in-cheek humor flows through these events which will especially please astute readers of satire and irony, as in the scheme evolved by a member of PonziTech Industries. 

Musical references drive the plot, which simmers with talent and unresolved dreams that motivate Rem and those around him to make novel choices in the interest of musical creativity. Music is one of the redemptive forces affecting Rem’s course in life, introducing facets of achievement, success, and new revelations that push him through his middle-age crisis and into new opportunities. 

Andrae ultimately portrays not one, but four lives transformed (Gene, Nadine, Rem, and Julie). His attention to building each character as individuals whose clashing and dovetailing goals intersect to add high drama and growth to the plot, results in a compelling vision of change that’s hard to put down. 

Libraries interested in fiction immersed in psychological and literary strengths will find Rem’s Chance a powerful, compelling acquisition. 

Through his novel Rem's Chance Dave J. Andrae mixes together elements of crime fiction and character analysis and sprinkles them with a little touch of Gen X romance. This mixture will likely make the readers go, 'Wow!' for some, while others will frown at this bland taste.

Rem, of course, is the soul of the story. Instead of simply creating a protagonist that is just like us, Andrae writes a character that is both human and interestingly multifaceted. As for Rem, his constant low self-esteem and his challenges with Dita depict an experiential account and make the reader connect with him. We observe the flashes of a charming, witty person under the layers of misanthropy, constantly trying for change.

The novel adopts a typical crime fiction motif and mixes it with some new-era concepts. The "man," who remains unnamed and keeps hovering in the background, helps to create a classic noir mood, while the satirical tone prevents the plot from being too depressive. The merging of the light-hearted tonalities prevents the story from turning into a classic genre's boring retelling. Andrae paints a really bright picture of a bygone era, which is probably something that Gen X readers will pick up. Allusions to pop culture and historical circumstances of a particular age interject the realities of those bygone years and provide the reader with a comfortable nostalgia for past days when life was much simpler (or possibly just seemed to be simpler).

While the novel's ability to mix genres is its main benefit, it might also be its con. For those who look for one genre only or for those who prefer a romance story with plenty of detail, there will probably not be enough to satisfy their needs. Sometimes this change may irritate and mess up the storyline. Through the character of Rem, the inner world is favored to the extent that the outer world is almost forgotten. The scenery does not seem like the actual place but a mere backdrop for the proceedings. The deeper presentation of the society and economy of this region could have added shades and flavor to the game.

The editing was amazing. I did not find any errors at all. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, the highest rating. Rem's Chance is an enchanting piece for the audience, who will love the character-driven story with an addition of mystery and a big spoon of nostalgia.

In Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae, Rem has a tough time with his lover, Dita, who becomes his ex-fiancee. He meets an old friend, Gene, when an unfortunate event brings them together after many years of not speaking to each other. It is the day that Gene discovers his father is dead. To escape the quarrelsome Dita, Rem finds refuge by sleeping in his car. He happens to be parked right outside the house of Gene’s deceased father. Later, Rem sees Gene’s sister and immediately, there is a romantic vibe between them. They soon become an item. In the background, another character has killed people he loathes and gets into trouble. Eventually, all the events draw these characters together.

Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae is an enjoyable and leisurely read with the elements of murder, mystery, revenge, and a love story. It contains some adult romantic scenes suitable for mature readers only. Music lovers will enjoy this book as there is plenty of information and references to musical instruments such as rock music. Andrae reveals a prodigious amount of knowledge on movies that will be pleasurable to those who recognize them. The drama and action revolving around the antagonist will be satisfying as the antagonist portrays believable, real-life antisocial behavior. Rem has some long conversations with his new love interest and their dialogue helps to develop their relationship. Readers might enjoy the philosophical talks. The author has a good grasp of how to build suspense in this novel.

Capturing the quiet struggle of a resilient generation with scathing wit and emotional depth, Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae is a sardonic portrait of a generation.

A washed-up musician plagued by worst-case-scenario thinking rediscovers an almost forgotten passion when he embarks on a quest to uncover the past. After serendipitously running into an old bandmate in the midst of a tragedy, Remy Bruxvoort is catapulted back into the memories of his rock ‘n’ roll youth with Gene and Dusty, the other members of The Bubbling Samovars.

Setting aside his daunting ambition of writing a novel, and the painful stress of separating from his ex-fiancee, Rem begins to fixate on the current location of the master tapes from their short-lived band. In his mind, if he could somehow remaster and put out their never-released album, a missing step from the ladder of his life could finally be slid into place.

As Rem puts it early in the novel, “The Bubbling Samovars, aye, that was my best band, I can see that now… Maybe someday, somehow, the world will notice.” This single line encapsulates the story – a thought-provoking attempt to resurrect (or bury) the past in search of validation in the present. That theme applies to both the reunited protagonists and the sinister white van-driving villain, with his murderous impulsivity and decidedly incel-like qualities. The mirrored relationships of Rem/Dita and Gene/Nadine swirl around similar motifs, inextricably tied to the past, but playing out in starkly different ways.

An offhand philosophical manifesto for Gen X-ers and elder millennials, this novel is an unadulterated peek at the paradox of aging gracefully, the bittersweet siren song of nostalgia, and the unsettling sense of slowing down in an accelerating world. Brushing against dozens of contemporary themes, from the vitriol of online trolls and the pitfalls of masculine connection to the isolation of the Covid pandemic and midlife crises in their modern forms, this feels like an extant memoir of a collective moment.

Appealing to the “Goldilocks latchkey kids of the Information Super Highway,” the book doesn’t shy away from pop culture takedowns and the head-scratching trends of recent decades, and addresses them with a vivisecting wit that would make Chuck Klosterman proud. Laced with devastating turns of phrase and a casually nihilistic undercurrent, the writing is relentlessly honest and consistent in its tone, pleasurably blurring the line between author and protagonist. That raw authenticity is difficult to fake, and impossible to miss for readers who appreciate bursts of profound commentary between the ugly and banal moments of reality.

From an editorial perspective, the book is propelled forward by refreshingly clean and purposeful prose, without repetitive sentiments or wasted words, aided by a premium on original phrasing and gutshot lines that will blindside unsuspecting readers. The dialogue crackles with tension and personality, while the musings on artistic frustration/elation for writers and musicians are delivered with the clarity of lived experience.

All told, Andrae has a voice that demands attention. From the arrhythmic heart of an apathetic nation comes a thought-provoking masterstroke of cultural critique.

Amid a post-pandemic slump, forty-six-year-old Rem Bruxvoort finds himself stuck in Florida with his ex-fiancée and in a rocky relationship while trying to move forward. When a chance encounter reunites him with former bandmate Gene, they seek to revive the past, sparking a quest to locate their lost master tapes. Meanwhile, Julie, Gene's sister, escapes her mundane life to join them, reigniting old friendships and exploring new possibilities. Little do they know that a mysterious figure lurks in the shadows, harboring dark intentions. He is nameless, only referred to as “The Man.” As individual storylines intertwine, Dave J. Andrae's Rem's Chance delivers entertainment that combines humor, romance, and intrigue against the backdrop of Gen X angst and gritty crime.

With witty prose and colorful cultural references, this blended-genre novel promises a well-structured, page-turning journey filled with philosophical musings, band dynamics, and the pursuit of redemption. Readers are on edge as they wonder if the characters will uncover the truth about ''The Man'' or if he will enact his revenge with disastrous consequences. Rem's Chance by Dave J. Andrae intricately weaves a tale of characters whose lives intersect amidst tension and introspection. Through skillful storytelling, Andrae captures the essence of his characters, particularly Rem and the unnamed man, offering readers a glimpse into their multifaceted personalities and inner turmoil. Rem, the narrative's focal point, emerges as a character of depth; his tumultuous relationship with Dita is a canvas for exploring themes of love, insecurity, and self-discovery. Rem's reflective nature and emotional vulnerability resonate throughout the narrative as he struggles with past mistakes and uncertainties about the future. His interactions with Julie reveal a longing for intimacy and connection tempered by a sense of responsibility and moral ambiguity. In contrast, the unnamed man exudes an air of mystery and detachment, pursuing a solitary existence fraught with internal conflicts and external pressures. His strained relationships and troubled past hint at a soul facing personal demons. Despite his flaws, the unnamed man possesses a specific adaptability and resourcefulness that makes him face life with pragmatism and resourcefulness. The setting is finely drawn, and the characters are intriguing. There is no dull moment in this balanced and deftly executed tale.