Critical Acclaim for It Rhymes With Truth
Named to the 2024 Notable 100 list by Shelf Unbound
Rated one of the top 50 literary fiction novels of 2024 in the BookLife Awards
“Miller’s curveball coming-of-age tale lands in the strike zone.” –Publishers Weekly
“The nature of memory is interrogated at every turn, and the possibility of love is never denied in It Rhymes With Truth, a poignant novel about a cross-generational friendship.... With equal parts wit and tenderness, Rich Miller’s heartfelt novel looks for answers to the question of loneliness in the relationship between a young boy and an old woman. It Rhymes With Truth burns with compassion and delights in all of the absurd, beautiful, and painful ways that people try to care for one another against the crushing weight of alienation.” –Clarion Reviews [5 Star Rating]
“Miller’s deeply felt tale illustrates how life’s greatest challenges always arrive before we’re ready for them, and how they shape us into the people we become…. A masterfully controlled tear-jerker of a novel about found family.” –Kirkus Reviews [starred review]
“Miller’s storytelling is charming and contemplative... subtly showcasing the defensive psyche of a child shaped by a rough childhood. A vital, moving novel.” –BookLife/Publishers Weekly [Editor's Choice]
“Touching, humbling, and thought-provoking, It Rhymes With Truth is a beautifully written piece of fiction…. A homeless eight-(and a half)-year-old boy. A lonely retiree. A relationship borne from solitude and a future saved by compassion. It is the balance between light and dark, humor and introspection, loneliness and friendship, vulnerability and resilience that adds layers of authenticity and emotional depth through the story, inviting us to reflect on our own lives and relationships. It Rhymes With Truth by Rich Miller has something for everyone, and its message will remain with us long after we’ve reached the final page.” –5 Star Review by Reader Views
“A thoroughly engaging novel…. This book is wonderfully fresh, with a breezy style that incorporates song lyrics, drawings, and comical footnotes. Ruth is especially original and funny.” –Booklist [Starred Review]
“The novel delves into themes of loneliness, friendship, healing, and self-discovery. It highlights the profound impact small interactions and gestures can have in shaping a person’s identity and understanding of the world.” –IndieReader [IR Approved rating]
“You made me cry. What a lovely book in ways that shouldn't be lovely. You made me feel deeply about these very flawed people, and that is what books are supposed to do.” –Jenn Bailey, award-winning author of Henry, Like Always and co-author of the forthcoming The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau
“[A] thoroughly engaging novel—by turns, funny, thoughtful, sweet, and sad…. This book is wonderfully fresh, thanks to the author’s breezy style incorporating song lyrics, drawings, and funny footnotes…. The book’s conclusion is heart-wrenching as the pieces of the story fall into place.” –Blue Ink Reviews [Starred Review]
“I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading It Rhymes With Truth.... [The novel is] an absurd and unforgettable tour de force.” –Readers’ Favorite [Unanimous 5-Star Reviews]
“It Rhymes With Truth is a heartfelt literary work that leaves a lasting impression, making me eager to read Miller’s future works, and to recommend this to fans of accomplished character-led dramas everywhere.” –Readers’ Favorite [Unanimous 5-Star Reviews]
“It Rhymes With Truth by Rich Miller is a truly original tale, masterfully rendered by a gifted storyteller clearly born to the craft.” –Readers’ Favorite [Unanimous 5-Star Reviews]
“It Rhymes With Truth is provocative in the sense that it asks important questions without ever leading the reader to conclusions: What is the nature of love? What are its limits? What makes a family a family? What is the price we must pay for doing good deeds? Are some people truly evil, or is their meanness born of pain? In so doing, Miller makes his readers integral characters in the narrative by demanding that they think for themselves to find the hidden truths the story offers.” –Readers’ Favorite [Unanimous 5-Star Reviews]
“With a mischievous wit and a cast of characters as quirky as they are endearing, Rich Miller's debut novel hurtles toward a heart-wrenching confrontation with the truth.... The writing is superb, and including the narrator’s artwork makes it even more enjoyable. Rich Miller has crafted a heartwarming tale that will resonate with readers, using quirky characters, sparkling dialogues, exquisite prose, and a deft exploration of genuine human connection.” –Readers’ Favorite [Unanimous 5-Star Reviews]