by James Frey
First published 2004
Damaged by addiction and trauma, James stumbles through life after rehab, afraid to connect. Then the larger-than-life Leonard reenters his world, offering both danger and salvation. Leonard takes James under his wing, teaching him to live boldly and pursue his writing dreams. As their careers take off, a shocking turn of events tests the limits of their bond.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, addiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: United States
368 pages · Hardcover · Riverhead Books
Content warnings: addiction, mental-illness