The Book of Joe

The Book Of Joe is a 2004 novel by Jonathan Tropper that followed the return of Joe Goffman to his hometown of Bush Falls, Connecticut due to his father's illness. Since he made it rich by writing a disparaging novel in a thinly-veiled version of it, most of the townsfolk hate him. He struggles to reforge his connections with family and friends and move past the events of what occurred in his final year of high school.

This book contains examples of the following tropes:

 * Always Second Best: Joe felt his father always felt closer to his older brother Brad thanks to Brad's sporting prowess.
 * Closet Key: Sammy for.
 * Cool Uncle: Joe. Called out for being a little too cool by Brad.
 * Domestic Abuse: What Carly suffered during her marriage.
 * Driven to Suicide:
 * Dysfunction Junction: Most of the main characters are dealing with significant issues.
 * Gayngst: Sammy and
 * Girl Next Door: Carly
 * High School Sweethearts: Brad married his  Joe and Carly were once this too.
 * Hot Mom: So much so Lucy featured in his book.
 * Jerk Jock: Sean Tallon, to psychopathic extremes and Mouse his sidekick and later town sheriff.
 * Maybe Ever After: Carly and Joe at the end of the book.
 * Missing Mom: Joe and Brad's mom.
 * Most Writers Are Writers: A significant sub-plot follows Joe's attempts to write his next book.
 * Sex with the Ex: Carly and Joe eventually reconnect and it leads to this and an implied relationship.
 * Stacy's Mom: Sammy's mom Lucy.
 * Invisible to Gaydar:.
 * "Well Done, Son" Guy: Some of Joe's issues definitely stem from his perceived inability to win his father's approval.