I don’t think I have ever used this space for book reviews, but I’ve read a couple recently that I can’t get out of my head. I’m going to start with You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith. I learned about it on Twitter where I happen to follow the author. I didn’t know he’s an author when I started to follow him. Reading an agent profile in Writer’s Digest, I saw he liked books like Station Eleven, which I’d just finished reading. I thought, while I don’t write that kind of story, a person who likes Station Eleven has to be pretty cool. Come to find out, he’s also a YA author.
When I saw this upcoming book with some retro themes that reminded me of being a teen, I want to get my hands on an advance review copy (ARC). Thanks NetGalley. I read it over a weekend in a couple of sittings — small breaks for food, sleep, and resting my no-longer-a-teen eyes. I just had to see where these characters landed, and how they worked themselves through things.
You Can Go Your Own Way is a story about Adam and Whitney, teens who carry a heavier burden than I remember carrying at a similar age. Adam is helping to support his family’s vintage pinball arcade with his mom after his dad’s death. Whitney is the social media manager for her father’s chain of eSports cafes. They were friends growing up, but enemies since they started high school. Now, on the verge of adulthood and college/career decisions, both are trying to figure out their next steps. After countless run-ins, they end up trapped at the arcade during a storm after crossing paths repeatedly.
This YA read is exactly what I wanted to read at 15, and just as enjoyable at 51. The main characters are simultaneously wise beyond their years and in need of some friendly guidance. The story is told from both Adam’s and Whitney’s perspectives, with alternating chapters; though it often feels like Adam’s story to tell. The supporting cast is delightful. I want to know as much about them as their world develops.
You Can Go Your Own Way is also a love letter. Philadelphia’s Old City is a significant character written with love. There is equal love for maker spaces, gaming, books, and music. This book is filled with pop-culture mentions. Adam’s attire, reflecting a musical past, is my personal playlist. Pop culture mentions are as much modern day as they are throwback.
Order it through your favorite indie bookstore (https://www.indiebound.org/independent-bookstore-day/map) or anywhere you like. It hits shelves November 2021. You Can Go Your Own Way is published by Inkyard Press / HarperCollins. Learn more details at https://www.ericsmithrocks.com/books-by-me.