Books › Just In Case
Just In Case
350 pages
An eccentric, dread-tinged exploration of a teenager trying to outrun his own mortality through sheer force of reinvention.
What it feels like
This young adult novel offers a deeply eccentric and anxious reading experience, plunging you into the mind of a teenager suddenly hyper-aware of life's fragility. The mood is a unique blend of surreal quirkiness and creeping existential dread, driven by a protagonist who attempts to outsmart fate through a complete reinvention of self. As he navigates new romance, an imaginary canine companion, and the constant, looming threat of tragedy, the narrative maintains a brisk, tense energy. It feels both darkly humorous and genuinely unsettling, capturing the profound paranoia that can accompany the transition into adulthood. It will delight readers who enjoy character-driven stories that tackle heavy themes of fatalism and mortality with a wry, offbeat sensibility.
- Mood
- tense
- surreal
- dread-tinged
- eccentric
- Tone
- anxious
- fatalistic
- quirky
- wry
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the fragility of life · reinvention of self · navigating adolescence · inevitability of fate · sibling bonds
- The writing
- The prose balances quirky, surreal humor with a palpable undercurrent of existential dread.
- The arc
- A sudden awakening to mortality propels a frantic attempt at self-reinvention, leading to a tense navigation of love, fear, and the inescapable pull of fate.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate eccentric, character-driven young adult fiction that wrestles with existential anxiety and the messy realities of growing up.
Content notes
- child endangerment
- existential anxiety
- paranoia
About the book
Justin Case is convinced fate has in for him.And he's right.After finding his younger brother teetering on the edge of his balcony, fifteen-year-old David Case realizes the fragility of life and senses impending doom. Without looking back, he changes his name to Justin and assumes a new identity, new clothing and new friends, and dares to fall in love with the seductive Agnes Day. With his imaginary dog Boy in tow, Justin struggles to fit into his new role and above all, to survive in a world where tragedy is around every corner. He's got to be prepared, just in case.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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