Promising Young Man

<p><strong>A Modern Caulfield Meets Harold and Maude with an ADHD Twist-Raw Darkly Witty Achingly Real</strong><br><em>BookLife Reviews</em> Editor's Pick - <em>BlueInk Review</em> Notable Book (Starred) - <em>Kirkus Reviews</em> Get it</p><p><br><strong>Oscar Danielsson is eighteen brilliantly ADHD and about to ruin his life-again.</strong></p><p>He <em>looks</em> like a promise waiting to be kept. His biggest fear is everyone discovering he's not what they expect at all. Between his spectacular mistakes self-medicating and overwhelming existential dread hiding in his room feels safe even if it means blowing high school graduation. Then one hazy mistake too many launches Oscar on a mysterious cross-country road trip with his free-wheeling Grammy who's done playing by the rules... and living a lie. Leaving behind his girl crush beloved dog and all his comforting vices is <em>torture</em>. But Grammy's secret changes everything-and Oscar discovers one of his own.</p><p><br><strong>Oscar is the defiant anti-hero you can't stop rooting for. Grammy is his unlikely wingman.</strong><br><strong>Together they're almost okay.</strong><br><br><strong>2026 In the Margins Top 10 Fiction Book</strong> <em>Promising Young Man</em> is a powerful exploration of belonging that doesn't shy away from the messy truth of growing up or growing older. Perfect for readers who loved: </p><ul><li><em>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</em></li><li><em>The Virgin Suicides</em></li><li><em>I'll Give You the Sun</em></li><li>And anyone in high school college or deep in their career who's ever felt like a square peg in a round world or watched someone they love struggle to fit in.</li></ul><p><br><strong>The writing and dialogue are so on point... the book is sweet and endearing with something for everyone.</strong><em> - BlueInk Review</em> (Starred Review)<br><br><strong>Axel's writing crackles with energy and hard-won insight capturing Oscar's inner monologue in a way that feels both authentic and deeply relatable.</strong> -<em>BookLife Reviews</em> (Editor's Pick)<br><br><em><strong>(Henry Fielding's) Tom Jones suggested that the world no matter how messy ultimately has answers. Promising Young Man does the same. </strong>- Windy City Reviews</em> (Recommended)<br><br><strong>I love this book.</strong> - Jill Wine-Banks author <em>The Watergate Girl </em>MS NOW legal analyst<br><br><strong>Beautiful read... Oscar's voice is unforgettable.</strong> - Doug Bolton author <em>Untethered: Creating Connected Families Schools and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation</em><br><br><strong>Oscar is breathtakingly real and appealing...</strong> - <em>The BookLife Prize</em><br> </p><p><strong>A deeply moving sharply observed account of a troubled young boy's journey of self-discovery on the cusp of adulthood. With its candid absorbing and often witty intergenerational plot </strong><em><strong>Promising Young Man</strong></em><strong> is truly enjoyable and will appeal to readers of all ages.</strong> - Sarah C. Maza Member American Academy of Arts & Sciences Professor of History Emerita Northwestern University<br><br><strong>a quiet masterpiece</strong> - Samuel Durr Learning Specialist William C. Goudy Technology Academy (a 2025 Top Magnet School of Excellence)<br><br><strong>a powerful story of survival resilience and hope</strong> - Nathan Chung Founder and Host #DisabilityDisrupted Podcast</p><p><br>Dark humor ~ Road trip adventure ~ Intergenerational friendship ~ ADHD representation done right<br><br><em>Contains mature themes including mental health struggles substance use suicidal ideation and self-harm.</em></p>