Looking for David
A Novel of Friendship, Redemption, and Second Chances
by Dany Vana
- Literary Fiction
- Upmarket Drama
- Coming of Age
- Contemporary Israeli Fiction
The Book
A tour guide on the road to nowhere. A bullied teen in need of a role model. An unlikely friendship that will change their lives forever.
Mickey Cohen is almost forty, and his life is going nowhere fast. A former programmer who walked away from a successful tech career, he now works part-time as a Jerusalem tour guide with his best friend Yoss, living in a moldy apartment and spending his days drinking and smoking. After a bad night in the emergency room, Mickey is sent to therapy for his clinical depression and must make drastic changes to escape his downward spiral.
The opportunity arrives when Nicole, a sharp-tongued young woman chaperoning her sick best friend’s son, hires Mickey for a five-day bar mitzvah tour of Jerusalem. David, an awkward teen constantly bullied at school, desperately needs guidance and confidence. As they explore Jerusalem’s ancient alleys, hidden lookouts, and the wintry majesty of the Dead Sea, Mickey and David form an unlikely bond. But while Mickey helps David find his confidence, Nicole fears that the secret she is keeping will change the course of their trip, and their lives, forever.
Why This Book Matters
Looking for David is an emotional, captivating, and often darkly funny story of friendship, redemption, and the healing power of love. It is a dual coming-of-age story: a teenager learning to stand on his own, and a man in his forties finally learning how to live, and perhaps how to become the father he never allowed himself to be.
The novel offers an honest, compassionate portrayal of depression and recovery, helping to break the stigma around mental health without ever losing its warmth or humor. Its unexpected family revelation gives the story a powerful emotional core, while the tour-guide perspective turns winter Jerusalem into a living character, seen through the eyes of a local who knows its secret corners.
For international readers, it offers Israeli fiction beyond politics: an intimate, character-driven drama with universal themes of broken men, found family, and second chances, in the tradition of Fredrik Backman and Nick Hornby.
About the Book
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction / Upmarket Drama / Coming of Age
Published in English | Approximately 80,800 words
For readers of A Man Called Ove, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, and About a Boy, Looking for David is a moving and darkly funny novel about a depressed Jerusalem tour guide, a bullied teenager, and the friendship that saves them both.
Author
Dany Vana
Dany Vana was born in 1960 in Rehovot, Israel. He has had a varied career in the tech industry, teaching, security, and other fields, and studied electrical engineering, computer programming, psychology, and behavioral sciences. A writer since elementary school, he is married with two children.
Looking for David is his debut novel. “I’ve lived and breathed this book for many years,” he says. “This book is like a puzzle made up of fragments of memories, things I wanted to do or say but couldn’t.”
His message to readers: “Follow your heart. Don’t give up, stay true to yourself and chase your dreams.”
Rights Status
Translation Rights Available (all languages)
English-Language Publishing Rights (US and UK) Available
Film Rights Available
Audio Rights Available
Comparable Titles
This book is suitable for readers who enjoyed:
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
- About a Boy by Nick Hornby
BISAC Categories
- FIC019000 – FICTION / Literary
- FIC045000 – FICTION / Family Life / General
- FIC043000 – FICTION / Coming of Age
Themes
- Redemption Through Connection
- Fathers, Sons, and Mentorship
- Depression and the Path to Recovery
- Found Family and Second Chances
- Breaking Cycles of Trauma
- Bullying and Finding Confidence
- Jerusalem as a Character
- Mortality and the Courage to Love
Keywords
For readers interested in:
- Upmarket literary fiction and book club novels
- Coming-of-age and friendship stories
- Father-son relationships
- Mental health, depression, and recovery in fiction
- Stories set in Jerusalem and Israel
- Contemporary Israeli fiction in translation
- Heartwarming, darkly funny character-driven novels
- Fans of Fredrik Backman, Gabrielle Zevin, and Nick Hornby
FAQ
What is Looking for David about?
A depressed Jerusalem tour guide forms an unlikely bond with a bullied American teenager during a five-day bar mitzvah tour, while the teen’s chaperone hides a secret that could change both their lives.
Where and when does the story take place?
In Jerusalem and around the Dead Sea, over five days in winter.
What genre is this book?
Contemporary literary fiction and upmarket drama, combining emotional depth with humor and accessible, character-driven storytelling.
Has this book been published before?
Yes, this book has been published in English.
How long is the book?
Approximately 80,800 words.
Who will enjoy this book?
Readers of literary fiction and book club novels, fans of coming-of-age and friendship stories, and readers who enjoyed Fredrik Backman, Gabrielle Zevin, and Nick Hornby.
Rights Agent's Notes
Looking for David belongs to a category with a strong international track record: warm, emotionally rich novels about broken men redeemed by unexpected connection, as seen in the global success of Fredrik Backman and Gabrielle Zevin. Its authentic Jerusalem setting adds a fresh backdrop, while its themes travel easily across cultures.
Its honest treatment of depression and recovery gives it timely relevance, and its book-club appeal, combining humor, heart, and a powerful family revelation, makes it a strong fit for publishers of upmarket and commercial literary fiction. All translation rights are available.