For the many years that I've been reading, one realization has always come to mind for me after putting down any book: Everyone has an unknown story. Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley perfectly depicts this truth. Pooley's characters — Iona, Piers, Sanjay, Emmie and Martha — are people we can imagine passing on a sidewalk, and within them, we find intricate thoughts and emotions that may at times mirror our own. These characters all take the train to get to their respective destinations, and they form relationships with one another after Piers, a man Iona describes as having too much pride, ends up choking during the commute. This becomes a catalyst for a series of events pulling them together. Some are having mid-life crises, while others are juggling teenage dreams. Their five different stories intertwine with one another to create a full picture, with each...