Alissa Reviews: Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting – Clare Pooley

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting is told from multiple perspectives, from the viewpoints of a group of strangers who ride the train every day, yet never interact. They have all noticed each other, and even have nicknames for each person, based on their assumptions of each one’s appearance. One day, when Piers (Iona’s nickname for Piers: Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader) chokes on a grape, their unspoken code-of-commuting-in-silence is broken when they jump into action to help Piers. Throughout the book, the characters are drawn together, forming a community and unexpected friendships as they navigate their commutes on and off the train. The travelers, ranging in age from a young student to middle-aged Iona, do not expect that they would have much in common with each other. Each one has their own struggles and messy lives, and their stories unravel as they begin to rely on each other and build strong connections and bonds. One quote that sums up this book perfectly is, “This entertaining novel reminds us that people are seldom who we think they are at first glance, and that community can be found just about anywhere.” I enthusiastically recommend this book!