The Gum Thief (P)

In The Gum Thief, bestselling author Douglas Coupland delves into the quiet despair and unexpected connections that shape our lives. Roger, a middle-aged aisles associate at a Staples store, is resigned to his repetitive, soul-crushing existence of restocking paper and other office supplies. Then there’s Bethany, his much younger co-worker, who is beginning to realize that her future holds the same mundane fate: a life of shelving Post-it notes and lost dreams.

However, when Bethany finds Roger’s notebook—filled with his musings, fantasies, and the strange ritual of chewing gum—something unexpected sparks. Their lives, once devoid of excitement or purpose, are forever changed as they find themselves connected through the odd, reflective art of storytelling and the quiet rebellion found in the smallest acts of defiance.

The Gum Thief is an offbeat, darkly humorous, and tender exploration of loneliness, lost opportunities, and the strange moments of transcendence in everyday life. Through Roger and Bethany’s unlikely connection, Coupland shows how even the most mundane lives can hold hidden depth and unexpected bonds, as two ordinary people search for meaning in a world that often feels disconnected. This novel is a brilliant meditation on the small but powerful ways we affect each other’s lives.