So Far Gone

Bookseller recommendation

“I really enjoyed this book, parts of it made me literally laugh out loud! Very pertinent to what’s going on in the world right now! The narrator is very good! ”

— Anne • Needful Books & Things

Bookseller recommendation

“Rhys leaves society after punching his son-in-law in the face at Thanksgiving over a political argument. Several years later, his grandchildren show up at his remote house after his daughter has gone missing. The son-in-law has tried to move them into a conspiracy-theorist religious compound and Rhys is compelled to make things right. I was initially intrigued by the humorous commentary on current events and I stayed to the end for the great redemption arc of several characters. Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. I found this book to be a great companion to Fever Beach, which you should also check out ASAP. ”

— Jonny • Bromley's Books

Bookseller recommendation

“With similarities to Lulu Dean’s humor as well as savvy discourse on current politics, as well as echoes of Kevin Wilson‘s intense and quirky plots and sometimes leaning to the dark side, this novel is great fun! A diverse cast of characters, including an inquisitive and slightly exasperating nine-year-old, an excitable and intense ex-cop who really likes to stir shit up, some truly nasty white nationalists, some kind yet super badass Native American activists, and of course our main character- a hermit grandpa who’s really trying to better himself. Oh, and a side trip (see what I did there?) to a psychedelic music festival deep in the Canadian woods. What’s not to love?? You’ll laugh out loud, do several sharp intakes of breath, wax philosophical, and want to talk about and share this story with all of your friends!”

— Jen • Townie Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Rhys Kinnick is an unlikely grandfather figure, estranged from his family, and living off the grid in rural Washington. When his two grandchildren are deposited at his door, it takes a few minutes for him to recognize them, but he takes on the responsibility of their care seriously. Faced with a MIA daughter, a son-in-law who has enmeshed his family in a Christian cult, and with the help of some gun-toting friends, Rhys works to bring his family together again in this sometimes funny, sometimes gritty, and always entertaining look at family, survival, and loyalty.”

— Gail • Through the Fold

Bookseller recommendation

“The hilarious road trip novel I didn’t know I needed! After punching his conspiracy-theorist in-law and ditching his phone, Rhys Kinnick vanished off the grid. But when his daughter goes missing and his grandkids are in danger, he's dragged back into a fractured world that he tried to leave behind. ”

— Erica • Author's Note

Bookseller recommendation

“Rhys Kinnick decided to go off the grid when the state of the world and it's politics drive him from his desire to be part of it. When a situation with his grandchildren forces him back into the fold, a hilarious, adventurous and heartfelt romp ensures, with Jess Walter's pitch perfect delivery. An ideal summertime read. ”

— Casey • Bookshop Santa Cruz

Bookseller recommendation

“Loved this! I will be putting in my Staff Picks”

— Sheena • Polar Peak Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Walter introduces us to a sixty-something grandfather, an anti-hero who abandoned his family eight years prior and now lives off-grid in a secluded cabin. His uneventful existence is interrupted when his two grandchildren are unexpectedly dropped off at his doorstep, thrusting them into his care indefinitely. Gayle and I were captivated by the audiobook version (narrated by one of our favorite readers, Edoardo Ballerin) during our drive to the coast this summer. Even after arriving at the beach, we found ourselves unable to stop listening, yet simultaneously wishing the story would never end. ”

— Bob • Changing Hands

Bookseller recommendation

“There’s some surprising nuance here. Without being in any way cartoonish, the characters are who they are—but they also learn (painfully) and grow (reluctantly). ”

— Amy • Snowfort Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A cranky ex-journalist who has rejected society, a retired cop with questionable judgment, a father seduced by a cult-like militant religious group, and husband-and-wife Native American activists are just a few of the memorable characters in this hilarious, harrowing, and heartwarming story filled with commentary on today’s political and social climate. Edoardo Ballerini’s masterful narration brings protagonist Rhys Kinnick and the rest of the cast to magnificent life. ”

— Claire • Honest Dog Books

Bookseller recommendation

“An amazing reflection on change, families and how we struggle to maintain a grip on the chaos of life. It has an incisive journalistic grasp of the evangelical, conspiracy laden, anti-government movement, without minimizing the characters motivations for participation in it. All of the characters are full of life and the glorious contradictions of real people.”

— Cheryl • Last Chance Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“So Far Gone is the movie Taken with a lighter, more introspective touch—along with a lovable (and imperfect) cast of characters. ”

— Kerry • Books & Company