We felt that the final book of the year called for a shift in tone, something that could be described as, say, a 'perfect example of joy-reading' (this is precisely what one early review had to say about this month's book). Now Is Not the Time to Panic is Kevin Wilson's fourth novel. For those who have read him previously, you will know that Wilson has a delightful capacity to create characters who are as peculiar as they are endearing, and to show readers how the bizarre is always lurking just beneath the surface of ordinary life. His latest novel is no exception.
The story introduces us to sixteen-year-old Frankie Budge — aspiring writer, indifferent student, offbeat loner — who is determined to make it through another summer in her small Tennessean town. She meets Zeke, a talented artist who is as awkward as Frankie is. Romantic and creative sparks fly, and when the two turn their teenage turmoil into a poster featuring an enigmatic phrase, it becomes unforgettable to anyone who sees it. Mass-hysteria is not what they were expecting (it is the pre-internet 1990s after all), but can artists ever control the way people respond to their work?
With an abundance of charm and nostalgia, Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a witty and buoyant novel about youth, creativity and life-altering friendship. We hope you love it!
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