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The Blackhole Kids
250 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2025
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 17, 2025
Holy shit balls this was a wild ride. As someone who is very very un-punk I learned a lot from this book. It was a totally different world than the one I know. This story was sad, angry, violent, tragic, and heartbreaking.
The main character was incredibly flawed. He fell in to peer pressure, he was unsure of himself, rude, selfish, hypocritical, destructive, and self sabotaging. Yet, even with all these flaws, you root for him the entire way through. He’s just a kid who’s been through way too much for one lifetime. You want him to get better, to learn, to make friends, form healthy relationships, to take the leap in honesty. You care for him but are also severely pissed off at him a good chunk of the time. He’s a very well written character.
O’Neill masterfully captured someone’s life spiralling so out of control that rock bottom keeps getting deeper and deeper. He also explored the after effects of a lifestyle consisting of homelessness, drug abuse, and severe mental illness.
I seriously recommend reading this. It’s so good.
Can’t believe this is his first published book. Can’t wait to read more from him in the future.
The main character was incredibly flawed. He fell in to peer pressure, he was unsure of himself, rude, selfish, hypocritical, destructive, and self sabotaging. Yet, even with all these flaws, you root for him the entire way through. He’s just a kid who’s been through way too much for one lifetime. You want him to get better, to learn, to make friends, form healthy relationships, to take the leap in honesty. You care for him but are also severely pissed off at him a good chunk of the time. He’s a very well written character.
O’Neill masterfully captured someone’s life spiralling so out of control that rock bottom keeps getting deeper and deeper. He also explored the after effects of a lifestyle consisting of homelessness, drug abuse, and severe mental illness.
I seriously recommend reading this. It’s so good.
Can’t believe this is his first published book. Can’t wait to read more from him in the future.
December 23, 2025
The Blackhole Kids is gritty, bleak, and darkly humorous. I couldn't put it down. As a former opioid addict and teen punk, I found it a little too relatable (triggering) and shed a tear or two here or there. It made me want to reach out to some old friends that I suffered through addiction with, and visit the graves of those who didn't make it out. Rarely have I experienced that with a novel. Needless to say, I'm impressed by this debut by a local Hamilton author!
June 29, 2025
My heart goes out to the main character. He's unlikeable but I was rooting for him the whole time!
January 8, 2026
It was a really cool feeling from the very first chapter when the narrator is nostalgia-blasted into the past seeing the squeegee kids. I knew I was going to like it from just the first few pages.
Throughout the whole narrative J L never loses this ability to blast you back into the past. Nostalgia trips are palpable, and I felt the narrators joy remembering when I switched from CDs to MP3. The way he is able to evoke memories of long lost friends hit true.
It was also a weird feeling for me to be actively pulling for a main character who I thought was a pretty shitty person. I'm usually not able to do that. No matter how many times the narrator dug himself a hole that was easily avoidable with a few simple words or actions, I still kept cheering for him.
Jocelyn was def my favourite character.
Very well written and it was really hard to put down. Would definitely recommend!
Throughout the whole narrative J L never loses this ability to blast you back into the past. Nostalgia trips are palpable, and I felt the narrators joy remembering when I switched from CDs to MP3. The way he is able to evoke memories of long lost friends hit true.
It was also a weird feeling for me to be actively pulling for a main character who I thought was a pretty shitty person. I'm usually not able to do that. No matter how many times the narrator dug himself a hole that was easily avoidable with a few simple words or actions, I still kept cheering for him.
Jocelyn was def my favourite character.
Very well written and it was really hard to put down. Would definitely recommend!
October 28, 2025
Such a unique narrative voice & from the very first chapter, I was hooked. Dark but funny with such stunning use of language. Definitely took me out of my own world. Our narrator quickly & easily falls into excessive alcohol & drug use after the death of his best friend, pulled into the punk scene. He succumbs to the follies of youth, but we recognize it seems he doesn’t belong there. Jocelyn is the most redeeming character & I was always happy to read the chapters where she was included. Some of this seems very real life & i’d be interested to know how much from the author’s own experience. I was patiently waiting for redemption for our narrator. Just wanted to give him a hug & steer him in the right direction. Impressive for a debut. Excited to see what more this author has in store for us!
August 25, 2025
Dark and witty. Such a nostalgia trip.
November 1, 2025
This book made me feel like I was dragged through a gutter.
November 1, 2025
I know the author!
December 15, 2025
This new author is fantastic, you keep rooting for the narrator and can’t say more as don’t want to give any spoilers. Looking forward to reading more of this gifted Canadian author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews