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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

Published by HarperAudio

Narrated by Ginnifer Goodwin

4/5

()

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
Now Is Not the Time to Panic: A Novel

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Reviews for Now Is Not the Time to Panic

4/5

325 ratings9 reviews

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  • 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 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.
  • 5/5
    It kept me guessing how it was going to end.
  • 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
    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."
  • 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
    90s nostalgia galore. Excellent characters and heart. And very enjoyable!
  • 5/5
    A fun quick read, that leaves you thinking about how your past shapes you.