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Jack Is Not the Problem
What readers are saying.
"Jack is not the problem is an entertaining and funny book about entitlement, privilege and the herd mentality." Debbie, Amazon.
"It throws a spotlight on the misogyny we have seen in recent times, and takes issue with it through a pacy, well constructed story. And yes, I did laugh out loud." DL West, Amazon.
"It's rare for me to get pulled into a book quickly these days, but the author drew me in immediately with his deft, descriptive writing and strong character development." Wendie, Goodreads, USA.
"I really enjoyed this book and I really liked Jack, his family and friends. The book is erudite, often funny and has a lot to say about the chaos and black heart at the centre of the internet." Laura, Goodreads, UK.
Blurb.
Jack Thornton believes himself an ordinary teenage boy, living an ordinary teenage life in the most ordinary of teenage ways. He is sure he has average intelligence, average looks, and an average level of popularity. But he has a plan for life, a simple path to a well-paid mundane job to achieve a life of respectability and comfort. But through the relationship of his best friend Charlie, he meets Becca, who has smarts and a tongue and an edge to her intelligence. She sees the present and future in ways he cannot. She feels her voice is important. But her past is what weighs her down, what gives her a weakness in the strength of personality she puts out on show.
Becca is serious and driven, and she is chasing a position of importance. Jack, desperate to spend more time with her, becomes part of her team, offering his help, with which he wants to propel her to her goals. Soon he realizes that she means more to him than he could ever have known. But a new boy on campus with money, popularity, and a gift for verbal influence, uses all his power to bring her down and destroy the lives of his friends and family. Jack must set out to use parts of his personality he has always hidden to show how he feels and fight back against the manifested effects of the misogynistic worldview of too many men around him.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2024
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Ben Dunn
10 books18 followersBen Dunn is a writer. He has written Thrillers, Comedies, a Murder Mystery as well as Young Adult Fiction.
He has made audiobooks and written for the BBC in collaboration with an animation company.
He writes most days and is vaguely annoyed by people.
He has made audiobooks and written for the BBC in collaboration with an animation company.
He writes most days and is vaguely annoyed by people.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 23, 2024
This is totally not my kind pff book so it took me a little while to get through it. It starts out kind of slow but the stage has to be set for anyone to understand what is going on in the book.
We start with Charlie and Jack going to a party with a bunch of other students from their university. Charlie is the popular one, Jack , not so much. Charlie finds a girl names Sally and they go off on their own leaving Sally's friend Becca and Jack to get to know one another. They are both kind of quiet but they decide they like one another and start hanging out. A boy named Theo is throwing the party and Jack learns that Becca and Theo have a past but not much else is learned in that first meeting.
While at University Becca decides she is going to run for student representative and Theo decides to run for the same office. Theo is the one who throws the parties with the free booze and food so therefore is the more popular of the 2 and Jason, Becca's designated political observer, feels that hands down, Becca will lose to Theo. Then Theo throws another one of his boozy parties and things go sideways. The party and what happens afterwards show the reader who has the power and the money to make things happen and make things disappear. Those without the power and money are made to look like they are in the wrong and golden boy Theo is made to look like he is in the right. Theo constantly acts like a martyr throughout the rest of the book even though he is the one going around from place to place with his father having to throw money around and clean up his messes. Most people would not fight back but not Jack. Jack decides on a plan to take Theo down and since Jason's wife is an attorney, Jack has the law backing him up.
It's an interesting read and makes me reflect on a lot of situations in the world today about who is in power and why they are in power and how they stay in power and how those without money and without 'friends' in high places end up as the lowly people being controlled by those with the money and power.
I had a hard time with the grammar in this book but perhaps it has something to do with where the author is from.
I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
We start with Charlie and Jack going to a party with a bunch of other students from their university. Charlie is the popular one, Jack , not so much. Charlie finds a girl names Sally and they go off on their own leaving Sally's friend Becca and Jack to get to know one another. They are both kind of quiet but they decide they like one another and start hanging out. A boy named Theo is throwing the party and Jack learns that Becca and Theo have a past but not much else is learned in that first meeting.
While at University Becca decides she is going to run for student representative and Theo decides to run for the same office. Theo is the one who throws the parties with the free booze and food so therefore is the more popular of the 2 and Jason, Becca's designated political observer, feels that hands down, Becca will lose to Theo. Then Theo throws another one of his boozy parties and things go sideways. The party and what happens afterwards show the reader who has the power and the money to make things happen and make things disappear. Those without the power and money are made to look like they are in the wrong and golden boy Theo is made to look like he is in the right. Theo constantly acts like a martyr throughout the rest of the book even though he is the one going around from place to place with his father having to throw money around and clean up his messes. Most people would not fight back but not Jack. Jack decides on a plan to take Theo down and since Jason's wife is an attorney, Jack has the law backing him up.
It's an interesting read and makes me reflect on a lot of situations in the world today about who is in power and why they are in power and how they stay in power and how those without money and without 'friends' in high places end up as the lowly people being controlled by those with the money and power.
I had a hard time with the grammar in this book but perhaps it has something to do with where the author is from.
I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2024
I received a copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this book, it’s quick to read and often funny, I liked the characters very much and it has a lot to say about the malignancy at the heart of the internet.
Jack is 17years old and studying at a local 6th year college before going to university. He is lifelong friends with Charlie who is attractive and charismatic as well as simply being a nice person. Jack is his less attractive wingman but loyal friend. Charlie falls for another student Sally while at a party held by a rich student at the college Theo.
Jack is attracted to Sally’s friend Becca who has some kind of past association with Theo, however she and Jack become close.
Becca decides to stand for election as the student representative at the college so Jack offers to help, but Theo decides he is going to stand as well and as he is the provider of money for college parties and booze it’s highly likely that he will be elected. However Jack earns Theo’s enmity by opposing him on Becca’s behalf.
However something happens that changes all their lives and which forces Jack to consider the kind of person he is and the kind of person he wants to become.
I really enjoyed this book and I really liked Jack, his family and friends. The book is erudite, often funny and has a lot to say about the chaos and black heart at the centre of the internet.
I loved this book, it’s quick to read and often funny, I liked the characters very much and it has a lot to say about the malignancy at the heart of the internet.
Jack is 17years old and studying at a local 6th year college before going to university. He is lifelong friends with Charlie who is attractive and charismatic as well as simply being a nice person. Jack is his less attractive wingman but loyal friend. Charlie falls for another student Sally while at a party held by a rich student at the college Theo.
Jack is attracted to Sally’s friend Becca who has some kind of past association with Theo, however she and Jack become close.
Becca decides to stand for election as the student representative at the college so Jack offers to help, but Theo decides he is going to stand as well and as he is the provider of money for college parties and booze it’s highly likely that he will be elected. However Jack earns Theo’s enmity by opposing him on Becca’s behalf.
However something happens that changes all their lives and which forces Jack to consider the kind of person he is and the kind of person he wants to become.
I really enjoyed this book and I really liked Jack, his family and friends. The book is erudite, often funny and has a lot to say about the chaos and black heart at the centre of the internet.
November 24, 2024
Jack Is Not The Problem reminded me of the current US political situation - someone using vacuous promises & untruths to gain support. I spent a good part of the book being infuriated at the lies, deceit and entitlement that Theo oozed, and his mindless followers who were so easily hooked. I kept rooting for Jack & his friends to teach Theo a lesson.
Throughout the book, Jack Is called weird by his best friend, parents and even himself, but I thought he was quite clever and had a sharp tongue.
It's rare for me to get pulled into a book quickly these days, but the author drew me in immediately with his deft, descriptive writing and strong character development.
I received a copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Throughout the book, Jack Is called weird by his best friend, parents and even himself, but I thought he was quite clever and had a sharp tongue.
It's rare for me to get pulled into a book quickly these days, but the author drew me in immediately with his deft, descriptive writing and strong character development.
I received a copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 16, 2024
3.5 rounded up. I struggled a bit with this one and the dialogue at times was hard to follow but I think that may just have to do with cultural differences more than anything.
It was a slow start, and I never once rooted for anyone. Of course, the four along with Hannah and Jason should come out on top - because it is the right thing. But there wasn't much likeability about any of the characters, which was why the reading for me was a bit disjointed and slow-starting.
It was great to end in Theo getting what he deserved but it wasn't satisfactory - the last line gave me a good chuckle, though.
I received an advanced copy for free, and am reviewing this voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was a slow start, and I never once rooted for anyone. Of course, the four along with Hannah and Jason should come out on top - because it is the right thing. But there wasn't much likeability about any of the characters, which was why the reading for me was a bit disjointed and slow-starting.
It was great to end in Theo getting what he deserved but it wasn't satisfactory - the last line gave me a good chuckle, though.
I received an advanced copy for free, and am reviewing this voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 17, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book started a little slow, but picked up as the story went on. Jake was a relatable character - going through typical teenage emotions of liking someone and being unsure of if they like him back. And Becca is a strong, driven character who stands up for what she believes in, even in the face of adversity. As their relationship grew the story became stronger.
The book started a little slow, but picked up as the story went on. Jake was a relatable character - going through typical teenage emotions of liking someone and being unsure of if they like him back. And Becca is a strong, driven character who stands up for what she believes in, even in the face of adversity. As their relationship grew the story became stronger.
December 27, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book was short and kind of sweet in a weird way. The plot line was very interesting and could have been a really strong story. However, the vagueness of what all was happening, and even the reveal of what was happening, fell flat and left me more confused/annoyed than ready to stick it to the man. I will say I did love Becca and Jack’s characters, so they saved this book for me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews