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Freedom's Just Another Word...
A compulsively readable novel that will be easy to devour in one marathon sitting. — Kirkus Reviews, Star Review
Jake Doyle used to be famous.
Twenty years ago, his Chicago political column was syndicated in two hundred papers, but he had an affair — and a son — with his intern, and lost it all. Now he writes a local column and drives for Uber to pay his bills.
Jake is playing out the string when his tranquil world is turned upside down. His biracial son — an ambitious entrepreneur — is marked for death by a street gangster, his alcoholic daughter is pregnant and wants an abortion — which his ex-wife is determined to stop at any cost – and his boss, a wealthy publisher, wants Jake to give up his column to help him run for president.
Jake believes in gun control, but he wants to protect his son. He believes in his daughter’s right to choose, but that belief looks different now that it’s personal. And he wants to keep writing his column without interference, but he also wants one more chance to be famous again.
“The best book I’ve read this year.” — Lex Allen, READERS’ FAVORITE
“Jammed with terrific characters, expert prose, and an overall feel-good wholesomeness, this is a book to savor.” — PRAIRIES BOOK REVIEW
“Len Joy cultivates a gritty self-realization in his character which makes him both flawed and likeable from the beginning.” — MIDWEST REVIEW
“Joy’s storytelling prowess is exceptional.” — US REVIEW
Jake Doyle used to be famous.
Twenty years ago, his Chicago political column was syndicated in two hundred papers, but he had an affair — and a son — with his intern, and lost it all. Now he writes a local column and drives for Uber to pay his bills.
Jake is playing out the string when his tranquil world is turned upside down. His biracial son — an ambitious entrepreneur — is marked for death by a street gangster, his alcoholic daughter is pregnant and wants an abortion — which his ex-wife is determined to stop at any cost – and his boss, a wealthy publisher, wants Jake to give up his column to help him run for president.
Jake believes in gun control, but he wants to protect his son. He believes in his daughter’s right to choose, but that belief looks different now that it’s personal. And he wants to keep writing his column without interference, but he also wants one more chance to be famous again.
“The best book I’ve read this year.” — Lex Allen, READERS’ FAVORITE
“Jammed with terrific characters, expert prose, and an overall feel-good wholesomeness, this is a book to savor.” — PRAIRIES BOOK REVIEW
“Len Joy cultivates a gritty self-realization in his character which makes him both flawed and likeable from the beginning.” — MIDWEST REVIEW
“Joy’s storytelling prowess is exceptional.” — US REVIEW
- GenresFiction
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2023
256 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Len Joy
11 books43 followersLen Joy had an idyllic childhood, growing up in the gem of the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua, New York. As a typical small-town boy, he had a wide range of interests, most involving sports. He lettered in four sports in high school and went off to the University of Rochester with dreams of becoming a football hero and world-famous novelist.
When he awoke from those dreams, he switched his major from English to Finance and quit the football team, but started dating one of the cheerleaders – Suzanne Sawada. Three years later they were married, and four decades later, they still are.
They moved to Chicago where Suzanne became a corporate lawyer and Len, with his MBA and CPA, became the auditing manager for U. S. Gypsum. Despite the thrill of auditing gypsum plants, Len found himself wanting a different challenge.
He bought an engine remanufacturing company in Arizona and for fifteen years commuted to Phoenix. Despite the travel, he managed to stay married and have three kids. While flying, he read hundreds of novels, which renewed his dream of becoming a world-famous author.
In 2004 he wound down his engine business and started taking writing courses and participating in triathlons.
While world fame remains elusive, Len has made advances in his writing career.
His third novel, EVERYONE DIES FAMOUS, was published by BQB Publishing in August 2020. KIRKUS described it as a “…a striking depiction of small-town America at the dawn of the 21st century.” It won 1st Prize in the 2020 Top Shelf Book Awards for Southern Fiction and a Silver Medal in the IBPA Ben Franklin Awards for Midwest Region fiction. It was also a Book Excellence Award winner in the category of Aging.
Kevin Wilson, NY Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here and The Family Fang had this to say: “Len Joy's Everyone Dies Famous is a clear-eyed examination of how we live in an uncertain world. By creating imminently understandable characters and skillfully linking them to a specific landscape, one that is so evocatively described, he shows us all the ways in which we're connected, how fragile those threads are. In clear prose, Joy does real work here. I'm grateful for it.”
Joy’s first novel, AMERICAN PAST TIME was published in 2014. KIRKUS praised it as a “darkly nostalgic study of an American family through good times and bad, engagingly set against major events from the ‘50s to the ‘70s as issues of race simmer in the background…expertly written and well-crafted.” It was the 2019 Readers’ Favorite gold medal award winner for Fiction – Sports and took 1st Prize in the Top Shelf Book Awards contest for Fiction – General.
His second novel, BETTER DAYS (2018) was described by FOREWORD Reviews as “a bighearted, wry, and tender novel that focuses on love and loyalty.” KIRKUS called it “a character-rich skillfully plotted Midwestern drama.” It was the 2019 Readers’ Favorite silver medal award winner for Fiction – Sports and was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards in the category of Fiction: Midwest.
Today, Len is a nationally ranked triathlete and competes internationally representing the United States as part of TEAM USA. His three kids (a son and two daughters) have grown up and moved away, although the daughters return frequently to Evanston to do their laundry and get legal advice from their mother.
When he awoke from those dreams, he switched his major from English to Finance and quit the football team, but started dating one of the cheerleaders – Suzanne Sawada. Three years later they were married, and four decades later, they still are.
They moved to Chicago where Suzanne became a corporate lawyer and Len, with his MBA and CPA, became the auditing manager for U. S. Gypsum. Despite the thrill of auditing gypsum plants, Len found himself wanting a different challenge.
He bought an engine remanufacturing company in Arizona and for fifteen years commuted to Phoenix. Despite the travel, he managed to stay married and have three kids. While flying, he read hundreds of novels, which renewed his dream of becoming a world-famous author.
In 2004 he wound down his engine business and started taking writing courses and participating in triathlons.
While world fame remains elusive, Len has made advances in his writing career.
His third novel, EVERYONE DIES FAMOUS, was published by BQB Publishing in August 2020. KIRKUS described it as a “…a striking depiction of small-town America at the dawn of the 21st century.” It won 1st Prize in the 2020 Top Shelf Book Awards for Southern Fiction and a Silver Medal in the IBPA Ben Franklin Awards for Midwest Region fiction. It was also a Book Excellence Award winner in the category of Aging.
Kevin Wilson, NY Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here and The Family Fang had this to say: “Len Joy's Everyone Dies Famous is a clear-eyed examination of how we live in an uncertain world. By creating imminently understandable characters and skillfully linking them to a specific landscape, one that is so evocatively described, he shows us all the ways in which we're connected, how fragile those threads are. In clear prose, Joy does real work here. I'm grateful for it.”
Joy’s first novel, AMERICAN PAST TIME was published in 2014. KIRKUS praised it as a “darkly nostalgic study of an American family through good times and bad, engagingly set against major events from the ‘50s to the ‘70s as issues of race simmer in the background…expertly written and well-crafted.” It was the 2019 Readers’ Favorite gold medal award winner for Fiction – Sports and took 1st Prize in the Top Shelf Book Awards contest for Fiction – General.
His second novel, BETTER DAYS (2018) was described by FOREWORD Reviews as “a bighearted, wry, and tender novel that focuses on love and loyalty.” KIRKUS called it “a character-rich skillfully plotted Midwestern drama.” It was the 2019 Readers’ Favorite silver medal award winner for Fiction – Sports and was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards in the category of Fiction: Midwest.
Today, Len is a nationally ranked triathlete and competes internationally representing the United States as part of TEAM USA. His three kids (a son and two daughters) have grown up and moved away, although the daughters return frequently to Evanston to do their laundry and get legal advice from their mother.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 14, 2023
A lot happens to and around Jake Doyle, the narrator and central figure of Freedom's Just Another Word by Len Joy, a novel packed with twists and turns and overlapping plotlines.
A once thriving columnist and former Pulitzer nominee, writing for the Chicago Tribune, Jake was a casualty of new ownership. His daily column's syndication ended and its frequency cut to twice a week, with a corresponding cut in pay. He drives for Uber to retain his lifestyle and good-sized house in Skokie, Illinois.
Being an able journalist, Jake presents the events verbatim, reporter-like and remains objective for the most part. Not an easy feat considering how much Liberal-conservative, leftwing-rightwing positions factor into the interpersonal conflicts.
Hot button topics like abortion, disdain for Donald Trump and his potential challengers for the 2020 election, and in particular gun laws, are consistent themes. As are abstract ideals such as loyalty, family, decency, and so on. Jake's centrist stances often make life awkward and contradictory for him, being at the center of everything and everyone. In this he is as much mediator and facilitator as he is protagonist.
To summarize each plotline, or even choose a couple, let alone how they or their characters overlap, would take too long and risk spoilers. Instead I'll describe the major characters and their situations, more or less in order of appearance.
Beginning with Jake Doyle, who is like a politically correctly processed Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom of the Updike novels, equally flawed, a little more pleasant, not a selfish, but also not as introspectively edgy. Aging, out of shape, on the verge of being an alcoholic, the impacts of his past mistakes give him a worldly perspective. This along with his innate objectivity enable him to act in the best interests of those he loves, but not always avoid bad choices.
Next his daughter, Charlotte, early thirties and a journalism student, recently accepted into Stanford. However, an unplanned unwanted pregnancy threatens to hamper her studies. She takes after her father in almost every way, except she is unequivocally leftwing.
Jake's ex-wife and Charlotte's mother, the indomitable Tawni, classy, blonde, sexy, whose politics are firmly on the right. She is dating an influential, wealthy lawyer who advocates both for and against Jake's children in separate situations, one example of characters filling multiple roles in the plot(s).
Enyart, Jake's pal, ex-Marine, bartender and owner of The Charcoal Oven, located stumbling distance from Jake's home. Enyart is conservative, an admirer of Tawni, but more open minded. He also operates a boxing gym where he trains Jake's son, Devante.
Amanda, who Jake meets at The Charcoal Oven, a stenographer and lesbian, there with her girlfriend, a lawyer. Amanda keeps herself fit, has a mind of her own, is a good cook, is tidy, and provides Jake a modest source of income renting a room in his house, as well as a positive sounding board for Jake and others.
Then we have Monique, mother of his illegitimate son, an innocent victim killed by gun while waiting for a bus. She converses with Jake in his sleep, sometimes caringly, sometimes argumentatively. She is unique in being an unreal element in a realistic novel. She is the woman Jake truly loves/loved and he misses her.
Devante is Jake's son by Monique, industrious, busy with a job and running a small rib shop, and with ambitions of becoming a boxer. At Enyart's gym, Devante spars with a parolee gangbanger named Jamal who isn't pleased when Devante gets the best of him. Jamal returns for revenge and is rebuffed but gets away, leading to tragic consequences that instil guilt in Jake.
Jake's columns about the Jamal-Devante incident and fallout touch liberal nerves and draw enmity with the Tribune. But they elicit praise elsewhere, including at a ceremony for Tawni where he steals the show, to her chagrin. Then via a popular blog called Freedom's Just Another Word, and again following an appearance on a live streamed show in which the host's attempt to put Jake on the spot backfires.
Jake's consistent honesty impresses the newspaper owner, Tim O'Neil—a fictional Sam Zell and self-styled democratic improvement on Donald Trump—who recruits Jake to be his press secretary for a presidential run. It's a great opportunity financially for Jake, but morally dubious, and his resistance introduces further complications to his life.
These characters and elements (and more) intertwine to make for a dense plot, but one that's not convoluted for it is assembled clearly. Dialogue does carries much of the story and in that sense the novel often reads like a screenplay. In other ways like reporting, which makes sense, the narrator is a journalist, and dates, times, and locations are given at the start of each chapter. This creates a consistently quick pace that comes at the expense of deeper character development.
Jake, in spite of his grief over Monica, his crumbling career, and the stress of all that happens, does seem to lead a charmed existence until the end. The actions of his own doing that mess up his life only do so much damage and never bring him to despair. In fact, his screw-ups are often rewarded and his consequences are rescued by opportunity. Hard feelings between characters seem ephemeral with his circle. His actions and those of others don't generate the long lasting bitterness one might expect, only the actions of outsiders.
The last part and denouement felt like a rush to reach the climactic ending, and to me it felt as if the plot sprawl got out of hand. The summarizing wrap-up of many stories felt more abrupt than even the quick pace to that point.
Nonetheless, the writing is crisp and Jake's voice is constant, fitting for a journalistic narrator. What really stood out was the author's skill weaving his characters and events in a way ensured the reader could grasp the story, without being overly simple about it. And then doing so while also maintaining a degree of neutrality that avoids polemics without sounding as if self-consciously trying to avoid polemics.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A once thriving columnist and former Pulitzer nominee, writing for the Chicago Tribune, Jake was a casualty of new ownership. His daily column's syndication ended and its frequency cut to twice a week, with a corresponding cut in pay. He drives for Uber to retain his lifestyle and good-sized house in Skokie, Illinois.
Being an able journalist, Jake presents the events verbatim, reporter-like and remains objective for the most part. Not an easy feat considering how much Liberal-conservative, leftwing-rightwing positions factor into the interpersonal conflicts.
Hot button topics like abortion, disdain for Donald Trump and his potential challengers for the 2020 election, and in particular gun laws, are consistent themes. As are abstract ideals such as loyalty, family, decency, and so on. Jake's centrist stances often make life awkward and contradictory for him, being at the center of everything and everyone. In this he is as much mediator and facilitator as he is protagonist.
To summarize each plotline, or even choose a couple, let alone how they or their characters overlap, would take too long and risk spoilers. Instead I'll describe the major characters and their situations, more or less in order of appearance.
Beginning with Jake Doyle, who is like a politically correctly processed Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom of the Updike novels, equally flawed, a little more pleasant, not a selfish, but also not as introspectively edgy. Aging, out of shape, on the verge of being an alcoholic, the impacts of his past mistakes give him a worldly perspective. This along with his innate objectivity enable him to act in the best interests of those he loves, but not always avoid bad choices.
Next his daughter, Charlotte, early thirties and a journalism student, recently accepted into Stanford. However, an unplanned unwanted pregnancy threatens to hamper her studies. She takes after her father in almost every way, except she is unequivocally leftwing.
Jake's ex-wife and Charlotte's mother, the indomitable Tawni, classy, blonde, sexy, whose politics are firmly on the right. She is dating an influential, wealthy lawyer who advocates both for and against Jake's children in separate situations, one example of characters filling multiple roles in the plot(s).
Enyart, Jake's pal, ex-Marine, bartender and owner of The Charcoal Oven, located stumbling distance from Jake's home. Enyart is conservative, an admirer of Tawni, but more open minded. He also operates a boxing gym where he trains Jake's son, Devante.
Amanda, who Jake meets at The Charcoal Oven, a stenographer and lesbian, there with her girlfriend, a lawyer. Amanda keeps herself fit, has a mind of her own, is a good cook, is tidy, and provides Jake a modest source of income renting a room in his house, as well as a positive sounding board for Jake and others.
Then we have Monique, mother of his illegitimate son, an innocent victim killed by gun while waiting for a bus. She converses with Jake in his sleep, sometimes caringly, sometimes argumentatively. She is unique in being an unreal element in a realistic novel. She is the woman Jake truly loves/loved and he misses her.
Devante is Jake's son by Monique, industrious, busy with a job and running a small rib shop, and with ambitions of becoming a boxer. At Enyart's gym, Devante spars with a parolee gangbanger named Jamal who isn't pleased when Devante gets the best of him. Jamal returns for revenge and is rebuffed but gets away, leading to tragic consequences that instil guilt in Jake.
Jake's columns about the Jamal-Devante incident and fallout touch liberal nerves and draw enmity with the Tribune. But they elicit praise elsewhere, including at a ceremony for Tawni where he steals the show, to her chagrin. Then via a popular blog called Freedom's Just Another Word, and again following an appearance on a live streamed show in which the host's attempt to put Jake on the spot backfires.
Jake's consistent honesty impresses the newspaper owner, Tim O'Neil—a fictional Sam Zell and self-styled democratic improvement on Donald Trump—who recruits Jake to be his press secretary for a presidential run. It's a great opportunity financially for Jake, but morally dubious, and his resistance introduces further complications to his life.
These characters and elements (and more) intertwine to make for a dense plot, but one that's not convoluted for it is assembled clearly. Dialogue does carries much of the story and in that sense the novel often reads like a screenplay. In other ways like reporting, which makes sense, the narrator is a journalist, and dates, times, and locations are given at the start of each chapter. This creates a consistently quick pace that comes at the expense of deeper character development.
Jake, in spite of his grief over Monica, his crumbling career, and the stress of all that happens, does seem to lead a charmed existence until the end. The actions of his own doing that mess up his life only do so much damage and never bring him to despair. In fact, his screw-ups are often rewarded and his consequences are rescued by opportunity. Hard feelings between characters seem ephemeral with his circle. His actions and those of others don't generate the long lasting bitterness one might expect, only the actions of outsiders.
The last part and denouement felt like a rush to reach the climactic ending, and to me it felt as if the plot sprawl got out of hand. The summarizing wrap-up of many stories felt more abrupt than even the quick pace to that point.
Nonetheless, the writing is crisp and Jake's voice is constant, fitting for a journalistic narrator. What really stood out was the author's skill weaving his characters and events in a way ensured the reader could grasp the story, without being overly simple about it. And then doing so while also maintaining a degree of neutrality that avoids polemics without sounding as if self-consciously trying to avoid polemics.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2023
In Freedom's Just Another Word, we journey through life from the eyes of Jake, a distinguished writer, a man of great intellect, and a keen observer of the human condition. Jake is no stranger to the world of literature, having gained considerable repute as a successful columnist with the Chicago Tribune in a column christened "Jake's Corner." His storytelling prowess is not just exceptional, but it has also earned him a Pulitzer nomination for his investigative reporting on corruption within city council.
Jake's character is painted with nuanced layers, making him endearing and relatable from the onset. His past experiences, his perspectives, and the decisions he makes, all contribute to his portrayal as an astute gentleman who attracts admiration and camaraderie.
The book captures the reader's attention by seamlessly weaving events that mirror the gritty realism of life - the loss of friends, family dynamics, love, marriage, and the full spectrum of societal issues. One of the highlights is Jake's intriguing and slightly unconventional romantic entanglement with Monique. Their love story, marked by their age difference and eventual separation, adds a unique facet to the narrative.
Jake's commendable nurturing and love for Devante, the child borne out of his relationship with Monique, underscore the vital role of a father in a child's life. This relationship serves as a potent reminder that parental involvement is essential, regardless of the parent's relationship status.
As the narrative unfolds, we find ourselves deeply immersed in Jake's world, riddled with complexities and variegated characters. The character sketches are vivid, from Jake's children, each with distinct personalities, to the other characters who add color and depth to the narrative. Charlotte, Jake's daughter, strikingly mirrors her father, both physically and in character, providing an intriguing contrast to her mother. The author's rich descriptions enable the reader to visualize the characters vividly, enhancing the reading experience.
Other characters such as Tawni, an engaging yet occasionally vexing individual, and Devante, an optimistic and driven young man, enrich the storyline. Even the less likable characters like Jamal, Lucy Hall, Carlos, Bianca, and Reynolds contribute to the gripping nature of the book.
Freedom's Just Another Word will undoubtedly appeal to readers who relish slow-paced narratives with intertwining storylines. The book, written in a captivating journal-like format from a first-person perspective, traverses a wide array of themes from death, law, and education to relationships, crime, love, and even sports like boxing. The only point of contention might be the cliffhanger ending, which leaves the reader yearning for more. Nonetheless, the book remains a compelling exploration of life's multifaceted realities.
Jake's character is painted with nuanced layers, making him endearing and relatable from the onset. His past experiences, his perspectives, and the decisions he makes, all contribute to his portrayal as an astute gentleman who attracts admiration and camaraderie.
The book captures the reader's attention by seamlessly weaving events that mirror the gritty realism of life - the loss of friends, family dynamics, love, marriage, and the full spectrum of societal issues. One of the highlights is Jake's intriguing and slightly unconventional romantic entanglement with Monique. Their love story, marked by their age difference and eventual separation, adds a unique facet to the narrative.
Jake's commendable nurturing and love for Devante, the child borne out of his relationship with Monique, underscore the vital role of a father in a child's life. This relationship serves as a potent reminder that parental involvement is essential, regardless of the parent's relationship status.
As the narrative unfolds, we find ourselves deeply immersed in Jake's world, riddled with complexities and variegated characters. The character sketches are vivid, from Jake's children, each with distinct personalities, to the other characters who add color and depth to the narrative. Charlotte, Jake's daughter, strikingly mirrors her father, both physically and in character, providing an intriguing contrast to her mother. The author's rich descriptions enable the reader to visualize the characters vividly, enhancing the reading experience.
Other characters such as Tawni, an engaging yet occasionally vexing individual, and Devante, an optimistic and driven young man, enrich the storyline. Even the less likable characters like Jamal, Lucy Hall, Carlos, Bianca, and Reynolds contribute to the gripping nature of the book.
Freedom's Just Another Word will undoubtedly appeal to readers who relish slow-paced narratives with intertwining storylines. The book, written in a captivating journal-like format from a first-person perspective, traverses a wide array of themes from death, law, and education to relationships, crime, love, and even sports like boxing. The only point of contention might be the cliffhanger ending, which leaves the reader yearning for more. Nonetheless, the book remains a compelling exploration of life's multifaceted realities.
June 26, 2024
I don’t remember how I first learned about Freedom’s Just Another Word by Len Joy or how it ended up on my TBR stack, but I do remember being intrigued by its exciting synopsis. A book about a disgruntled journalist who gets tangled up in life-or-death drama and scandals? Count me in!
Overall, the novel was pretty entertaining, and its pacing will keep you reading until the very last page while you unpack a few mysteries. I would recommend reading this book until its very last page, too, as something intense and unexpected happens on the very last page, making me wonder if there will be a sequel to this novel.
The protagonist’s voice was direct and simple and appropriate for a journalist, much like a Hemingway-type overtly masculine yet bookish kind of figure with a hero complex. Joy also does a pretty good job tackling heavy issues (abortion and gun control) from a mostly bipartisan perspective, which is no easy feat. In fact, I would have liked to see those topics written about more by the protagonist, as well as other media outlets and journalists in the book. In the end, however, the protagonist’s plight didn’t resonate as much as I wanted or expected it to, as I never found myself truly rooting for him or caring about what happened to him, unfortunately.
At times the dialogue in the novel also seemed a bit forced and as if there was really only one person speaking most of the time and not multiple characters. All the characters seemed to speak and act the exact same way. And a lot of the characters, especially female characters, were a bit one-dimensional and fell flat, like they were puppets in a somewhat chaste masculine fantasy, and seemed a bit redundant. The protagonist visiting bars and restaurants in nearly every scene also seemed a bit repetitive and unnecessary, as did details like how much he enjoyed Crown.
I will also say that I am glad the novel had the ending that it did because otherwise it would have read too much like a fairytale, with the protagonist’s life and relationships coming together so perfectly and idyllically.
I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy a simple masculine-leaning narrative without a lot of fluffy language. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. If you can get behind the protagonist and appreciate his plight, you will devour this book.
Subscribe to Daily Drafts & Dialogues to receive more book reviews and posts about reading and writing in your inbox every day: dailydraftsanddialogues.substack.com
Overall, the novel was pretty entertaining, and its pacing will keep you reading until the very last page while you unpack a few mysteries. I would recommend reading this book until its very last page, too, as something intense and unexpected happens on the very last page, making me wonder if there will be a sequel to this novel.
The protagonist’s voice was direct and simple and appropriate for a journalist, much like a Hemingway-type overtly masculine yet bookish kind of figure with a hero complex. Joy also does a pretty good job tackling heavy issues (abortion and gun control) from a mostly bipartisan perspective, which is no easy feat. In fact, I would have liked to see those topics written about more by the protagonist, as well as other media outlets and journalists in the book. In the end, however, the protagonist’s plight didn’t resonate as much as I wanted or expected it to, as I never found myself truly rooting for him or caring about what happened to him, unfortunately.
At times the dialogue in the novel also seemed a bit forced and as if there was really only one person speaking most of the time and not multiple characters. All the characters seemed to speak and act the exact same way. And a lot of the characters, especially female characters, were a bit one-dimensional and fell flat, like they were puppets in a somewhat chaste masculine fantasy, and seemed a bit redundant. The protagonist visiting bars and restaurants in nearly every scene also seemed a bit repetitive and unnecessary, as did details like how much he enjoyed Crown.
I will also say that I am glad the novel had the ending that it did because otherwise it would have read too much like a fairytale, with the protagonist’s life and relationships coming together so perfectly and idyllically.
I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy a simple masculine-leaning narrative without a lot of fluffy language. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. If you can get behind the protagonist and appreciate his plight, you will devour this book.
Subscribe to Daily Drafts & Dialogues to receive more book reviews and posts about reading and writing in your inbox every day: dailydraftsanddialogues.substack.com
June 22, 2025
In a world divided and politically charged as highly as any other moment of change in U.S. history, what does it mean to not conform to one 'side' or the other? How does that survive, and when do you show your hand, when as a journalist you are meant to come from a place of neutrality? How do you survive when you're part of a dying industry and carrying baggage of choices that would in today's media get you erased?
Jake Doyle is a newspaper reporter with a regular income facing all of these questions. With the world and his complicated family all rushing through their own problems, the last thing he wanted was to get embroiled in politics. Yet his attempts to be honest and explore the murky and sometimes uncomfortable truth seem to keep pulling him back. Job in jeopardy, single and wayward after a divorce, an awkward relationship with his children and his ex, still grieving over the one he considered his love, getting mixed up in gang violence and being tapped for a potentially high profile job were not on his bingo card.
What stood out as extraordinary to me is how well this book addresses how quick we are to make assumptions and create labels. early on, Jake mistakes a lesbian court stenographer and athlete to be completely anti-gun. Yet she finds herself completely in agreement with a conservative barkeep on the subject. It is Jake's interaction with her that nudges him to start truly seeing how many people may identify with a party or set of ideals but in practice wibble wobble in spaces enough to prove that as a collective we likely want similar things but can't stop screaming at one another to listen.
Despite the scandal, the reader can't help but feel for Jake and his family. I was really invested in how all of them would pull through the problems they faced. there were moments of victory and touching reaffirmation that completely tugged at my heartstrings. And, a court scene that fed my legal brain inclination.
That said, given the proximity of the book's narrative, 2018, some things might hit a little sour if you yourself are unhappy with the current state of things in 2025. it also deals with some very heavy topics. So if you're not in a great place you might want to put it off for a while.
Jake Doyle is a newspaper reporter with a regular income facing all of these questions. With the world and his complicated family all rushing through their own problems, the last thing he wanted was to get embroiled in politics. Yet his attempts to be honest and explore the murky and sometimes uncomfortable truth seem to keep pulling him back. Job in jeopardy, single and wayward after a divorce, an awkward relationship with his children and his ex, still grieving over the one he considered his love, getting mixed up in gang violence and being tapped for a potentially high profile job were not on his bingo card.
What stood out as extraordinary to me is how well this book addresses how quick we are to make assumptions and create labels. early on, Jake mistakes a lesbian court stenographer and athlete to be completely anti-gun. Yet she finds herself completely in agreement with a conservative barkeep on the subject. It is Jake's interaction with her that nudges him to start truly seeing how many people may identify with a party or set of ideals but in practice wibble wobble in spaces enough to prove that as a collective we likely want similar things but can't stop screaming at one another to listen.
Despite the scandal, the reader can't help but feel for Jake and his family. I was really invested in how all of them would pull through the problems they faced. there were moments of victory and touching reaffirmation that completely tugged at my heartstrings. And, a court scene that fed my legal brain inclination.
That said, given the proximity of the book's narrative, 2018, some things might hit a little sour if you yourself are unhappy with the current state of things in 2025. it also deals with some very heavy topics. So if you're not in a great place you might want to put it off for a while.
May 19, 2025
A mixed bag of a book. Jake is a flawed but endearing main character who is extremely lucky and unlucky with women. He is able to capture the love of a beautiful, decades-younger woman until he forces her to forego an abortion by telling her religious and domineering mother what is going on. At that time, he was married to an exceptionally beautiful, controlling, career-focused woman who divorces him. But later, another drop-dead gorgeous woman who was the ex-girlfriend of a billionaire falls instantly in love with him. Come on! Why do male authors keep writing these wet dream novels?
However, Jake is very principled about his journalism and becoming a good dad to the children he neglected in his earlier, drunken years. He supports his son‘s interests in expanding his ribs restaurant, and he is willing to take his daughter to an abortion clinic even though he doesn’t want her to abort her child. In contrast, his ex-wife wants to become her daughter’s guardian, declaring her incompetent and trying to get her institutionalized to prevent the abortion. Charlotte, the pregnant daughter, is not incompetent. She has conquered the alcoholism of her younger years and has been accepted into Stanford’s law school.
I loved how Jake stood up to his ex-wife, turned down a very lucrative job offer from a scummy, wealthy billionaire, and took a bullet a gang member aimed at his son. But this book is over-the-top in its portrayal of women and it’s efforts to paint Jake as a good guy. For example, he drives for Uber to supplement his weak journalism earnings, and one night during a heavy storm, he offers a night in his home to a woman he overheard having a fight with her girlfriend in a bar instead of collecting her expensive fare in the bad weather. He’s relatively clueless to how awful his offer would be to a woman today, and yet this woman accepts that offer.
This novel is fast-moving, but cliched and excessively politically correct in its checking off the boxes for diversity, lbgt characters, fathers’ rights, and token anti-Trumpism.
However, Jake is very principled about his journalism and becoming a good dad to the children he neglected in his earlier, drunken years. He supports his son‘s interests in expanding his ribs restaurant, and he is willing to take his daughter to an abortion clinic even though he doesn’t want her to abort her child. In contrast, his ex-wife wants to become her daughter’s guardian, declaring her incompetent and trying to get her institutionalized to prevent the abortion. Charlotte, the pregnant daughter, is not incompetent. She has conquered the alcoholism of her younger years and has been accepted into Stanford’s law school.
I loved how Jake stood up to his ex-wife, turned down a very lucrative job offer from a scummy, wealthy billionaire, and took a bullet a gang member aimed at his son. But this book is over-the-top in its portrayal of women and it’s efforts to paint Jake as a good guy. For example, he drives for Uber to supplement his weak journalism earnings, and one night during a heavy storm, he offers a night in his home to a woman he overheard having a fight with her girlfriend in a bar instead of collecting her expensive fare in the bad weather. He’s relatively clueless to how awful his offer would be to a woman today, and yet this woman accepts that offer.
This novel is fast-moving, but cliched and excessively politically correct in its checking off the boxes for diversity, lbgt characters, fathers’ rights, and token anti-Trumpism.
September 2, 2025
This was a free book available through Amazon Prime that I decided to check out after reading the description. The story started off great. The characters, while not particularly developed, were interesting enough to support several plots revolving around the main character Jake Doyle, a newspaper columnist with a dwindling career and a mess of a family situation.
The problem was the ending, which I won't reveal details about as I try to avoid spoilers in reviews. The short version was the book just stopped at a very pivotal point.
This is not the first book to employ that writing technique (if you can call it that) but for me it is a major turnoff. I don't like to try to guess "what happened" when so many outcomes were possible.
I give the book 2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3.
The problem was the ending, which I won't reveal details about as I try to avoid spoilers in reviews. The short version was the book just stopped at a very pivotal point.
This is not the first book to employ that writing technique (if you can call it that) but for me it is a major turnoff. I don't like to try to guess "what happened" when so many outcomes were possible.
I give the book 2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3.
May 30, 2025
At once blisteringly honest and tenderly observant, this novel stitches together the American cultural zeitgeist with the raw intimacy of family dysfunction. Len Joy doesn’t just write characters, he builds people, flawed and luminous, struggling with abortion rights, racial tensions, and political ambition. Jake Doyle is our reluctant guide through it all, his cynicism masking a desperate yearning for redemption and relevance. With prose that cuts like a scalpel and scenes that explode with emotional truth, Joy crafts a novel that transcends genre, part family drama, part political thriller, part meditation on aging and accountability. This is a novel that demands to be read with your heart wide open and your assumptions left at the door.
May 30, 2025
This is not a redemption story. It's better than that. It's a reckoning. Len Joy has created one of the most authentic protagonists in recent fiction, Jake Doyle, a man whose every decision is shaped by regret, longing, and a fierce, contradictory moral compass. The stakes are personal but massive: a son in mortal danger, a daughter’s crisis of autonomy, an ex-wife weaponizing ideology, and the seductive promise of political power. These threads converge into a brilliant and brutal tapestry of modern life. Joy doesn’t flinch from the hard stuff; instead, he dives headfirst into the gray areas where most of us live. This is fiction that feels more real than reality, and it lingers long after the last page.
May 30, 2025
From page one, this novel grips you by the collar and never lets go. Len Joy writes with the velocity of a crime writer and the insight of a psychologist. Jake Doyle is the perfect antihero, wounded but wise, desperate but determined, and watching him navigate a world that no longer cares about him is as painful as it is exhilarating. Whether he's dodging bullets or confronting decades-old mistakes, every page pulses with urgency. But more than that, Joy uses this narrative to ask the biggest questions: What do we owe our children? Our partners? Our past selves? This is a book that doesn’t just entertain, it implicates you. And you’ll be grateful for it.
May 30, 2025
There’s something rare and luminous about a book that can make you laugh one moment, cry the next, and then sit in silence just thinking. Len Joy accomplishes this with seeming ease. Jake Doyle is a hot mess of contradictions: a liberal who wants a gun, a father who keeps failing, a writer who can’t stop chasing the spotlight, and yet we root for him every step of the way. The dialogue snaps, the pacing sings, and the emotional arcs land with devastating clarity. In a cultural moment awash with noise, this novel feels like a deep breath of realness. It's a modern-day epic tucked into the life of one broken man trying to glue things back together.
May 30, 2025
This book is not just about one man’s reckoning, it’s about a nation’s. Through Jake Doyle, Len Joy channels the dissonance at the heart of contemporary America: the tension between values and reality, progress and nostalgia, identity and legacy. Jake’s personal trials are mapped perfectly against broader cultural and political themes, creating a layered narrative that is as intellectually satisfying as it is emotionally powerful. Joy’s command of language is matched by his unflinching moral vision. This is the kind of novel that could and should be taught in literature and ethics classes. It’s more than compelling; it’s essential.
September 28, 2023
Len Joy is an excellent storyteller. His protagonist Jake Doyle is a good man but he’s not perfect. He used to be famous (newspaper famous anyway) but now he’s driving for Uber and dealing with a street gangster, a pregnant daughter, an ex-wife who knows how to push all his buttons, and the ghost of the woman he truly loved. Joy does a great job capturing Chicago and of keeping the action moving and the pages turning. The characters are diverse, complicated and believable, my favorite combinations.
November 6, 2023
I first discovered Len Joy when I read DRY HEAT. I enjoy his style of writing as a story teller. I have read and enjoyed all of his books.
FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD is a hard-hitting novel in which few punches are pulled. Mr. Joy used many interesting characters in this book that are engaging and well drawn. The plot was woven together with seamless complexity. It is fast-paced, pulse-pounding, and supremely entertaining. There are many surprises and has an incredible ending.
I gave this book five stars because I could not give it more.
FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD is a hard-hitting novel in which few punches are pulled. Mr. Joy used many interesting characters in this book that are engaging and well drawn. The plot was woven together with seamless complexity. It is fast-paced, pulse-pounding, and supremely entertaining. There are many surprises and has an incredible ending.
I gave this book five stars because I could not give it more.
May 30, 2025
Len Joy delivers a searing exploration of a man grappling with the debris of his past and the chaos of his present in a novel that crackles with urgency and pathos. Jake Doyle, once a media titan, is now a faded voice in a noisy world, reduced to Uber fares and small-town opinions. But when life throws everything at him, family imploding, danger circling, and political temptation knocking, he must decide not just what kind of father or writer he wants to be, but what kind of man. Joy’s prose is unflinching and humane, drawing readers into a whirlwind of moral complexity, where no choice is easy, and no outcome is clean. This is not just a story, it’s a mirror held up to anyone who’s ever made a mistake and still dared to want more from life.
March 26, 2025
I found this book by putting Illinois into the subject heading because I’m moving there. And now I have discovered another author who is very good knows how to write knows how to keep you interested. The only problem I had with it was that his daughter, I think made the wrong choice but that’s as it is. This was written in 2023 so many references to the Trump administration I think I guess from 2016 anyway main character is a journalist and there’s politics obviously involved.
July 28, 2025
The book reads like a mystery but it's not from that genre. It's a novel about a reporter who is experiencing a declining career and a less than happy life. His ex-wife and he share a daughter and he has a son from a relationship outside of his marriage. Now he lives a lone, haunts bars, and writes a column for a newspaper.
The story is about a man learning the value of "character" and owning one's mistakes. It's a nice story with twists and turns.
The story is about a man learning the value of "character" and owning one's mistakes. It's a nice story with twists and turns.
March 8, 2024
Great characters
The protagonist is an antihero. I like these style books. The plot is engaging with lots of colorful characters. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it if you like well written dramas.
The protagonist is an antihero. I like these style books. The plot is engaging with lots of colorful characters. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it if you like well written dramas.
September 29, 2024
Newspapers and Politics
There is a " no ending" finish. Apparently the author got tired . The beginning has politics, then the character development begins. Good story until it wasn't. Wanted it completed.
There is a " no ending" finish. Apparently the author got tired . The beginning has politics, then the character development begins. Good story until it wasn't. Wanted it completed.
January 22, 2025
Newspaper writer and the truth
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Monique would talk to Jake at the beginning of each chapter. Jake ,his daughter,and son added humor within the realms of life. Thanks to the author too!
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Monique would talk to Jake at the beginning of each chapter. Jake ,his daughter,and son added humor within the realms of life. Thanks to the author too!
July 11, 2025
The End
So much waffling about it was impossible to follow any character, then it ended. Actually, the story just stopped. Abruptly.
So much waffling about it was impossible to follow any character, then it ended. Actually, the story just stopped. Abruptly.
September 25, 2025
Freedoms just another word.
Title didn't seem to fit the narrative. Ending wasn't an ending st all. Disappointing. Don't recommend to my friends. That's all.
Title didn't seem to fit the narrative. Ending wasn't an ending st all. Disappointing. Don't recommend to my friends. That's all.
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