Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel
    Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel
    Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel
    Audiobook6 hours

    Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel

    Written by Kevin Wilson

    Narrated by Kevin Wilson and Ginnifer Goodwin

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    An exuberant, bighearted novel about two teenage misfits who spectacularly collide one fateful summer, and the art they make that changes their lives forever

    Sixteen-year-old Frankie Budge—aspiring writer, indifferent student, offbeat loner—is determined to make it through yet another summer in Coalfield, Tennessee, when she meets Zeke, a talented artist who has just moved into his grandmother’s house and who is as awkward as Frankie is. Romantic and creative sparks begin to fly, and when the two jointly make an unsigned poster, shot through with an enigmatic phrase, it becomes unforgettable to anyone who sees it. The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us.

    The posters begin appearing everywhere, and people wonder who is behind them and start to panic. Satanists, kidnappers—the rumors won’t stop, and soon the mystery has dangerous repercussions that spread far beyond the town.

    Twenty years later, Frances Eleanor Budge gets a call that threatens to upend her carefully built life: a journalist named Mazzy Brower is writing a story about the Coalfield Panic of 1996. Might Frances know something about that?

    A bold coming-of-age story, written with Kevin Wilson’s trademark wit and blazing prose, Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a nuanced exploration of young love, identity, and the power of art. It’s also about the secrets that haunt us—and, ultimately, what the truth will set free.

    Editor's Note

    Heartwarming power of art…

    Bored of small-town Tennessee life, artsy teens Frankie and Zeke create an offbeat poster with an eerie message, inadvertently sparking local and national attention. Over two decades later, their long-time secret is threatened when a reporter contacts Frankie about the “Coalfield Panic of 1996.” Wilson’s (“Nothing to See Here”) heartwarming latest bursts with 90s nostalgia, the promise of youth, and the power of art.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateNov 8, 2022
    ISBN9780063272651
    Author

    Kevin Wilson

    Kevin Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Nothing to See Here, which was a Read with Jenna book club selection; The Family Fang, which was adapted into an acclaimed film starring Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman; and Perfect Little World; as well as the story collections Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award; and Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, Southern Review, One Story, A Public Space, and Best American Short Stories. He lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife and two sons.

    More audiobooks from Kevin Wilson

    Related to Now Is Not the Time to Panic

    Related audiobooks

    Coming of Age Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Related categories

    Reviews for Now Is Not the Time to Panic

    4/5

    458 ratings17 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Kevin Wilson is an inspired writer. Loved his book Nothing to See Here, which had me laughing out loud (would love to see a movie adaptation!) So listened to Now Is Not the Time to Panic as a follow up. So glad I did, while not as hilarious, this book is heartfelt and dare I say ‘philosophical’ Frankie is a great character, the story is unique and had me sitting in my car long after arriving places just to continue listening.
    • 4/5
      I'm giving it 4 stars because my main issue is with the narrator (really annoying, I know). I loved "Nothing to See Here", and loved it more because the narrator was so good. The accents weren't Middle TN perfect, but perfect enough to be real. This lack of accent, in this book, is incredibly frustrating. Coal-field, the small town referenced, is pronounced "Coe-field." Like David Allen Coe.
      I am not done with the book and I'm not sure if I can. I'm trying.
    • 2/5
      It felt like a never ending loop. I wanted to like it and the last little bit redeemed it slightly but overall I just really did not like this book. I tried.
    • 5/5
      90s nostalgia galore. Excellent characters and heart. And very enjoyable!
    • 4/5
      Interesting! I don’t know how you could let something like that happen.
    • 4/5
      The book was entertaining but not as humorous as his first book. This book had more depth but was still kind of weird. Quirky. I’m actually not sure what to make of it. Would I recommend? Sure as the author’s writing is very good.
    • 4/5
      I was between 3 and 4 stars, even thinking about a half star, but the author's note solidified 4 stars. I usually read for the story and if I get the message it's a bonus, but thinking about the themes of art and how something in a friendship can mean so much to one person but to others it's not as impactful really resonated with me.
    • 5/5
      This book meant more to me than I can even put into words. The entire book is simply perfect and so raw. I fully relate both in the memories of my adolescence and also still as the awkward teenager who has aged solely by the passing of time. Because deep at the very center of my core, I'll always hear
      The edge is a shanty town filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us. ♥︎
    • 5/5
      It kept me guessing how it was going to end.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful story. The characters draw you in, and the way things evolve (and get out of hand!) Is believable to someone who grew up in a small town in Kentucky. I can easily see how bored people could totally blow something out of proportion! I can't wait to read more of the author's work!
    • 5/5
      It is such a joy to encounter a writer who can capture and reveal the truth of the coming of age experience. Frankie and Zelle are so real, and the story of the power of their art adds another layer of drama and excitement to the classic story of young summer love. Secrets, family, identity, moving on- it’s all here- written beautifully and offered sincerely.
    • 5/5
      This book was brilliantly written and the audiobook narrator was very good. A 90s coming of age story about art, community, and identity. It was not a heavy read, I had a good time with it and was engaged and entertained from start to finish. A memorable read and a little philosophical. I liked it alot.
    • 3/5
      This was an okay story. I found the constant speaking of “the line” to be a little annoying. There had to be more to the story than the line but that seemed to be a major key. The line in some ways was a character in this story. I liked the creative elements but I wished there was more of it. I had a hard time connecting with the obsession or the need to speak the line constantly and the need for Frankie to post their art everywhere for years and years to come.
    • 5/5
      A fun quick read, that leaves you thinking about how your past shapes you.
    • 5/5
      I found this a beautiful and quirky and heartfelt coming of age story. It's the second title I've listened to by Kevin Wilson and I am now completely in love with his writing. He has such compassion for people, but he tells his stories without getting maudlin. He keeps it real and just slightly off center. I loved the narration also. It is absolutely worth your time to look through Wilson's singular lens into the human condition.
    • 5/5
      Another gem by Kevin Wilson. The story unfolded beautifully and it kept me engaged until the very end. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      This was such a heart-warming coming of age story. I absolutely love this author's writing style. His somewhat twisted humour makes me burst out laughing in the most random places. I truly love how he brought the character's awkward natures to life in a way that you could truly empathise with them. Now I too have the tagline stuck in my head, and in the same way that it took on a life of its own for all those who encountered it, it has also taken on its own life, its own meaning for me. "The edge is a shanty town filled with gold-seekers. We are fugitives and the law is skinny with hunger for us."