The Jungle Within by Charles M.

by Charles M.

When Evan and Katie said “I do”, they expected to navigate life together side-by-side. But when a car accident and a tawdry affair disrupt life as they know it, Evan and Katie are forced to venture on alternate paths, alone.In the darkest depths of an unforgiving coma, Evan fights to survive the treacherous jungle of his mind. He embarks on a spiritual journey to understand the meaning of life and the beauty of death…forcing him to face his deepest fear.Meanwhile, Katie ventures through her own guilt. On a strenuous moral journey, she juggles the consequences of infidelity and the strain of caring for her unresponsive husband.But are their paths truly separate? Or are they simply on parallel journeys that are destined to converge?

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Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book to read because first the book cover drew me in and second the story sounded good. I started reading this and the terrible event that transpired with Evan was horrible. I could just imagine the grief that Katie felt. Thus the reason she acted and did the things she did. Yet, I thought the ending was sad and I had wished that Katie thought she had a different outcome in her situation. Although, my favorite parts of the story were actually with Evan and his spiritual journey through the jungle. What is really amazing about this is when I first heard the word "spiritual" I was like "oh no". This is because I have my faith and the "spiritual" one is not always in line with it. Sometimes it can be too far out there kind of like sci-fi. However the "spiritual" journey that Evan took was meaningful and enlightening. I could picture how the jungle looked and for it I think that Evan came out of it a stronger person. This book is worth checking out.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

What are those internal battles we fight? What does our sub-conscious tell us? What is in that in-between of life and death? This novel provides rich symbolism around religion, morals/ethics, and the confines of our mind. At first, I thought it was the typical story of spouse has an affair, realizes it is wrong when it is too late, and spends the rest of the novel trying to redeem themselves. However, I found the intricacies of both Katie and Evan’s thoughts and processes fascinating and eye-opening to the choices we make as well as the consequences of those – no matter the intent. Intent vs. impact – 2 different things. It is a brilliant metaphor of surviving the jungle in one’s mind. The deep, dark, and mysterious parts of life that we ignore, don’t understand, or don’t know existed. But this isn’t just when we are asleep or in a coma, one’s poor mental health can also be a jungle, in which Katie suffers greatly in the present and awake. So intriguing was this connection between two people that found a way to communicate in the deepest parts of their minds where they were unable to together, awake, and present.

Life, death, fate, all infused smartly in the story. One of my favorite quotes was ” As long as death was lurking, then nothing else in life could hurt him? A concept that could affect the entire world. That would mean that the burden was being alive. Living was the real struggle…” Everything does die, we just don’t know when/how or sometimes even why in most cases. My own mind is thinking critically about these huge concepts and bigger picture ideas that go beyond me as an individual.

In terms of our soul and our earthly body, wow. I am not sure I have the words or capacity to put those thoughts down as I am still reflecting on the takeaway. Evan, when speaking with Qala, was told “Your mind, in conjunction with your soul, is you. One is temporary, and the other, forever. Unfortunately, Evan, this you….is the part that is temporary. This part dies. I am the other half…the other half that connects everything in the universe. I am the part that lives on forever – the part that never dies.” Beautifully written, along with several other metaphors and out-of-body experiences detailed elegantly.

Read The Jungle Within if you like the themes of:

Fate
Life and Death
Infidelity
Guilt
Survival
Mental Health

[Darra · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we began the book it was rather dry. More of a matter of fact. The emotions of the deer kind of confused me. However once the characters were introduced, that changed dramatically. I was enthralled how the story evolved with awful decisions and life changing moments.

Lets start with Katie. I think Sunny explains her feelings for her in the first sentence quite accurately. Many might think that she is a flawed character that tries to redeem herself. But the damage was done. She knew what she was doing. Although she knew she was making a mistake, I don't think that she cared. The only reason why she ended it was because of what happened to her husband. Deep down she was not a great person. There were times I felt for her. Such a difficult situation she was in. However that was her fault. Even though she took the brunt of the guilt, I think that she should have. Not saying to crash was her fault. It was her actions that she could not take back that made her selfish and I did not forgive her, even at the end.

Evan was a great guy. Right from the beginning. This is his journey and how he planned to get out to the life he once knew. It is hard to imagine being inside your head, alone while people wait for you in the real world. It was an amazing journey that makes you think if this could really happen. What goes on when people are in a coma. Hearing people around you and not being able to do a thing. It was a bit heartbreaking how he was helpless and was fighting for his life. To return to the mess Katie left him.

In the end, it did not become any easier for Evan. However the ending may surprise readers. Not every story is a happily ever after wrapped up in a bow. This is a story about what could really happen in life. It is believable. I actually liked it more because of this. The Jungle Within stuck with me. A story unlike others and left me with more questions about life and how it can change within a minute.

I would rate the book a 4.6. Original. It is hard to find a book that leaves you thinking more about life within itself.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared: It wasn't what I had expected by the title. After reading the back cover I realized this was a book that comes from what could be reality and it has so much emotions in it. The author captures you the minute you start reading. This being the author's debut novel isn't what you'd expect in a first novel. It's as though the author has been writing novels for a long time. The pace is just right. It's not too fast, where you can't keep up nor too slow where you get bored. Mr. M. didn't over describe the characters and scenes. They were realistic descriptions. As you turn the pages you keep asking yourself, What can happen next? What would you do if your spouse was lying in the hospital, possibly dying, and you have just finished a "one nighter" with a man you didn't love. You loved your husband. What led Katie to sacrifice her marriage and her husband for a few moments of pleasure? Would Katie be able to handle the guilt that was beginning to press in on her? She really didn't have time to stop and think this out, her husband needed her. The author gives you a wide variety of characters so every reader would find someone he or she could relate to. This or something similar may have even happened to someone you know or could it be YOU? The author gives you a lot to think on. Who's side are you on, Katie's or Evan's? Just about the time you think you know what's going to happen next, the author sends you spinning off track. A web of love, infidelity, and guilt spins you around. Life leads us into uncertainty every day. Is there hope for Evan and Katie, that is if Evan survives and Katie makes the right decision about her guilt. The book leaves you wanting more and as a good book does that, the reader can't wait for the second book.

I received this book from the author, Charles M. and PUYB in exchange for my unbiased view.

[Emily Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to the author, who provided a free copy of The Jungle Within in exchange for an honest review.


One night, while driving home, Evan Glover is in a terrible auto accident. For the better part of this book he is in a coma, and the “jungle within” is his struggle to claw his way back to consciousness, while his mind rationalizes both his injury and the events going on around him. I really enjoyed Evan’s time in the jungle, with his guide helping him and the specter of death lurking around the edges. Evan’s visions while he “slept” in the jungle paralleled what was going on in the real world, and I wondered just how much of it he was picking up through people talking to him or if he was truly getting a glimpse of the future. I genuinely liked Evan. He’s the quintessential “alright guy”.



If this author set out to create a female lead that the reader would despise on sight, then congrats, my friend, you have succeeded. I hated Katie with the fire of a thousand suns, for the entirety of this book. Nothing she did could have redeemed her in my eyes. She didn’t have a good reason to do what she did, and her depression and suicide attempts after the fact only seemed like whiny grabs for attention. I appreciate that she didn’t go ahead and get rid of the evidence of her misdeeds, but I kept hoping that someone would call her out on her crazy, and just maybe knock all of her teeth out of her head. I’ll admit I felt more relief than sympathy at the end of her part of the story.


The Jungle Within is Charles M’s debut novel. I found it well written, with an interesting story that flowed well.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got off to a little bit of a slow start. I was not really sure if I was going to like it based on the first couple of chapters. The book is written from Evan and Katie's POVs. It was definitely a little bit different once you get into the book.

I hated Katie from page one. I think she might be one of my most hated female characters ever. She is self centered and whiny. I am that person that can't excuse infidelity for any reason. I personally didn't think she had enough redeeming qualities by the end of the book to make me like her. Her story and journey just showed me that while she did have some remorseful thoughts and feelings for cheating on her husband, she still liked the attention she was getting and was still very immature.

I felt bad for Evan from the beginning. He seemed like he was that guy that was just happy go lucky and wanted to have the perfect American Dream life, a loving wife, a couple of kids, good job and nice house. On the outside that is what his life looked like minus the kids. Once Evan has his accident and is in the coma, the story picked up a little bit. Evan's POV is interesting because it is all in his head and he had no clue if he is alive or dead. He has to go through his mind and figure out what is going on, face his fears and decide if he wants to live or die. I actually liked a lot of what he went though and the realizations that he came to.

I think this book was really well written and the story intrigued me. It is a little bit different than most of the books that we normally read. I am giving this book 4.7 stars out of 5.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Evan and Katie had the picture-perfect marriage, it would seem.

While Evan lays unconscious after a terrible car wreck, Katie has an affair. Oh, wow.

“The symbol of their eternal love was broken.” (35)

Simple yet well-written, this soulful book immediately captures the reader, instigating deep empathy and profound thought. I felt bad for Evan and thought the guilt eating at Katie was well-deserved. The first chapter kicked off nice and strong, but then confusion settles in the second chapter when Evan wakes up in the jungle…literally! What!? I thought he was lying comatose in the hospital. How did we get to the jungle?

The bulk of the book centers on Evan struggling in the jungle (I still don’t know how he got there.) I guess the jungle was really more of a metaphor because in Katie’s POV, Evan is still comatose. So Evan is battling the jungle in his mind? Yeah, I guess. So that’s “the jungle within?” Mmm, okay then. Suddenly he’s Tom Hanks in Cast Away.

Basically we have two characters in the jungle with Evan fighting to wake up and Katie struggling with her sin. Obviously the book is heavy on symbolism and religion. The writing had a poetic feel and the jungle descriptions were quite vivid, however, the story line weakened my interest after the first few chapters.

[Margaret Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book. When I read the synopsis of this book I was very curious about this book and how much I would enjoy this book. Once I managed to get into this book I found that I was really enjoying the plot and that I could not put this book down. This book was very gripping and I was well and truly hooked when only a few pages in. I would highly recommend this book to any reader with an interest in fantasy books. This book will remain a permanent in my book collection. I feel that this is a book I could read many times and still enjoy it as much as the last time.

[SerialReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astounding debut novel! I am really impressed!
The fluid writing style and great characters made The Jungle Within a true page turner.
Charles M. is definitely an author to keep an eye on!