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Entering the American Nightmare
Imagine waking up to a world where your freedoms vanish overnight. What choices would you make? When violence goes unchecked, can ordinary people rise above their fears? How does it feel to be hunted like an animal on the very same streets you grew up?
Izzy is an average Mexican American teenage girl, whose world shatters in an instant—a brutal murder, a seismic revelation, and the erosion of basic freedoms. The government morphs into a predator, stalking her family and countless others. In a society where heinous acts go unpunished, the darkest elements rise to power.
As Izzy and her family flee toward the border, danger lurks at every turn. Every stranger becomes a potential threat, every street a battleground. But it’s Joe—the enigmatic man with unwavering resolve—who poses the greatest danger. His mission gains unexpected momentum when a U.S. congressman’s announcement sends shockwaves through their fractured reality.
In this desperate struggle, Izzy confronts humanity’s true nature. She learns who to trust and who hides behind social masks. The fears that once haunted her soul now materialize. Welcome to the American nightmare.
*Authors Disclaimer* This Novel's subject matter can be at times, disturbing. This novel includes graphic descriptions of violence, death, and abuse (physical, mental, and SA) which may be triggering to some individuals.
Izzy is an average Mexican American teenage girl, whose world shatters in an instant—a brutal murder, a seismic revelation, and the erosion of basic freedoms. The government morphs into a predator, stalking her family and countless others. In a society where heinous acts go unpunished, the darkest elements rise to power.
As Izzy and her family flee toward the border, danger lurks at every turn. Every stranger becomes a potential threat, every street a battleground. But it’s Joe—the enigmatic man with unwavering resolve—who poses the greatest danger. His mission gains unexpected momentum when a U.S. congressman’s announcement sends shockwaves through their fractured reality.
In this desperate struggle, Izzy confronts humanity’s true nature. She learns who to trust and who hides behind social masks. The fears that once haunted her soul now materialize. Welcome to the American nightmare.
*Authors Disclaimer* This Novel's subject matter can be at times, disturbing. This novel includes graphic descriptions of violence, death, and abuse (physical, mental, and SA) which may be triggering to some individuals.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
1097 people want to read
About the author
Josh Jamieson
2 books10 followersI am a father, husband, and a Jack of all trades. Well, maybe not ALL, but many. When I am not putting wild words on pages, I enjoy family time, cooking/eating, video games, and gripping television. My writing style mimics such greats as Dean Koontz. Highly detailed, from numerous points of view, and fantastic worlds.
I am a simple man. I enjoy entertaining people. In fact, I believe entertaining people, making them FEEL, is one of the best things we can do as humans. Bringing a smile to ones face, or maybe some laughter, or even (good) tears - Is a fantastic feeling, and something to be celebrated.
So, all I can hope for all of this adventure, is to entertain some people! I have a dark side, as well as a goofy side, and pretty much everything in between. Sometimes, I have triggering concepts, so read at your own risk. I try to VERY clearly warn. So it is not ALL of my writing, just some.
I hope you enjoy something today! Have a great day and best of luck in all of your endeavors!
I am a simple man. I enjoy entertaining people. In fact, I believe entertaining people, making them FEEL, is one of the best things we can do as humans. Bringing a smile to ones face, or maybe some laughter, or even (good) tears - Is a fantastic feeling, and something to be celebrated.
So, all I can hope for all of this adventure, is to entertain some people! I have a dark side, as well as a goofy side, and pretty much everything in between. Sometimes, I have triggering concepts, so read at your own risk. I try to VERY clearly warn. So it is not ALL of my writing, just some.
I hope you enjoy something today! Have a great day and best of luck in all of your endeavors!
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 19, 2025
“He wanted—no—needed to be free.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:
1.5🌶️
Very unique book. Loads of fun, and very busy plot. Good characters and even better writing! The author is super nice! He’s sending me a physical ARC and I cannot wait! Totally recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:
1.5🌶️
Very unique book. Loads of fun, and very busy plot. Good characters and even better writing! The author is super nice! He’s sending me a physical ARC and I cannot wait! Totally recommend!
February 8, 2025
This book was so hard to put down . It hooks you pretty fast . It absolutely makes you angry ! It’s so heart wrenching.How on earth can others be so horrifying! I’m looking forward to the next books !! I absolutely love this line . “We don’t mind living our peaceful lives working hard to live here . We do what we have to do to have a life worth living . “
March 24, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for choosing me.
Before I get into the review part of the book, I’d like to thank Josh Jamieson for writing this novel, for doing it with grace. This is a topic that isn’t simple to talk about, much less write about and you did. Based on the dedication, I know this is something close to your heart and I can only hope that your book finds its way into the right hands time and time again.
I rated it 5 stars, but I wholeheartedly believe this book deserves an infinite amount of stars. It is without a doubt a relevant book. EVERY SINGLE PERSON with a brain and a non-racist heart living in America needs to read this book NOW. Scratch that, every single person alive right now with a brain and a non-racist heart needs to read this book NOW. It needs to be read; it needs to be discussed and it needs to be shouted about.
Sadistic, sinister, disturbing, poignant, brutal, heartbreaking, enraging, tear-inducing, soul-shattering, and horrifying are words that I can use to describe this book. I cried, so much for these fictional characters that at one point I doubted I'd ever be able to stop crying. The fear I felt for them, the sadness, and later the rage was all too much to withstand without freeing my emotions. This story resonated so strongly with me; Izzy is such an amazing character. I absolutely fell in love with her and hoped for her and her family against all odds. Even knowing that I was setting myself up to have my heart broken repeatedly I still continued on, because I had to finish part one of her story- of her family's story. It would be wrong to not finish (and trust me there were times where I had to put the book down and take a deep breath before continuing on her journey). These were fictional characters, and yet this very thing happens to so many immigrants in this country that I call home in real life that it felt as if I was reading the news not reading a novel. If we don't stop the madness this is exactly what will become of the American Dream. As a daughter of two immigrants this story hit home. I can't say I've lived anything close to what Izzy and her family experienced, but I have experienced racism and it isn't okay. I'll say it again this book needs to be read and discussed. Repeatedly. It is eye-opening and it will decimate you, but it is necessary. This could be someone's life; who am I kidding, it is a lot of people's lives. Not just here in America, but around the world.
Before reading the book I strongly suggest checking and re-checking the trigger warnings – there are quite a few throughout the book. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget Izzy and her journey. I’m quite certain it will remain in the back of my mind for the rest of my life. The fear and hatred in this book will never stop haunting me. Joe and his unnecessary hatred, Jimmy and his bravery and then later his cowardice. Izzy and her family fighting for their lives. Zack and his act of solidarity for virtual strangers. The greed. The racism. The abuse. The courage. The strength. Every bit of it was BRUTAL. I felt like I was the one living it and not reading ink on a page. This book is worth the time. It will be hard to get through (because it is heavy and raw and in your face about the topic it discusses), but even more difficult to put down. It doesn’t hold back, it doesn’t pull any punches and it kicks you while you’re down over and over and over again, but somehow by the end of part one you are still breathing. I will definitely be looking out for parts two and three.
Before I get into the review part of the book, I’d like to thank Josh Jamieson for writing this novel, for doing it with grace. This is a topic that isn’t simple to talk about, much less write about and you did. Based on the dedication, I know this is something close to your heart and I can only hope that your book finds its way into the right hands time and time again.
I rated it 5 stars, but I wholeheartedly believe this book deserves an infinite amount of stars. It is without a doubt a relevant book. EVERY SINGLE PERSON with a brain and a non-racist heart living in America needs to read this book NOW. Scratch that, every single person alive right now with a brain and a non-racist heart needs to read this book NOW. It needs to be read; it needs to be discussed and it needs to be shouted about.
Sadistic, sinister, disturbing, poignant, brutal, heartbreaking, enraging, tear-inducing, soul-shattering, and horrifying are words that I can use to describe this book. I cried, so much for these fictional characters that at one point I doubted I'd ever be able to stop crying. The fear I felt for them, the sadness, and later the rage was all too much to withstand without freeing my emotions. This story resonated so strongly with me; Izzy is such an amazing character. I absolutely fell in love with her and hoped for her and her family against all odds. Even knowing that I was setting myself up to have my heart broken repeatedly I still continued on, because I had to finish part one of her story- of her family's story. It would be wrong to not finish (and trust me there were times where I had to put the book down and take a deep breath before continuing on her journey). These were fictional characters, and yet this very thing happens to so many immigrants in this country that I call home in real life that it felt as if I was reading the news not reading a novel. If we don't stop the madness this is exactly what will become of the American Dream. As a daughter of two immigrants this story hit home. I can't say I've lived anything close to what Izzy and her family experienced, but I have experienced racism and it isn't okay. I'll say it again this book needs to be read and discussed. Repeatedly. It is eye-opening and it will decimate you, but it is necessary. This could be someone's life; who am I kidding, it is a lot of people's lives. Not just here in America, but around the world.
Before reading the book I strongly suggest checking and re-checking the trigger warnings – there are quite a few throughout the book. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget Izzy and her journey. I’m quite certain it will remain in the back of my mind for the rest of my life. The fear and hatred in this book will never stop haunting me. Joe and his unnecessary hatred, Jimmy and his bravery and then later his cowardice. Izzy and her family fighting for their lives. Zack and his act of solidarity for virtual strangers. The greed. The racism. The abuse. The courage. The strength. Every bit of it was BRUTAL. I felt like I was the one living it and not reading ink on a page. This book is worth the time. It will be hard to get through (because it is heavy and raw and in your face about the topic it discusses), but even more difficult to put down. It doesn’t hold back, it doesn’t pull any punches and it kicks you while you’re down over and over and over again, but somehow by the end of part one you are still breathing. I will definitely be looking out for parts two and three.
September 15, 2025
Entering the American Nightmare is an intense, gripping, and thought-provoking read that pulls you in from the very first page. Josh Jamieson has created a chilling world that feels disturbingly real—a place where freedoms vanish overnight, trust is shattered, and survival is the only option. I found Izzy’s journey especially powerful. She starts as an ordinary teenager, but the way she’s forced to face brutal realities and make impossible choices really hit me. The emotional weight of her story stays with you long after reading. The mix of suspense, danger, and raw human emotion kept me turning the pages, and the pacing never let up. What makes this book stand out is how it doesn’t shy away from tough subjects violence, injustice, and fear but instead uses them to explore resilience, trust, and what it means to fight for freedom. It’s dark at times, yes, but that’s also what makes it so impactful and real. If you’re looking for a dystopian thriller that challenges you to think while also keeping you on the edge of your seat, this is definitely one to pick up. A powerful story that lingers long after the last page.
August 18, 2025
Entering the American Nightmare by Josh Jamieson is a raw and unsettling exploration of society’s darker realities. The book doesn’t shy away from exposing uncomfortable truths, and that is precisely what makes it so gripping. Jamieson’s writing is sharp, unfiltered, and thought-provoking drawing the reader into a narrative that feels both urgent and necessary. It challenges perspectives, pushes boundaries, and leaves a lasting impression long after the final page. This is not just a book to be read, but one to be absorbed and reflected upon.
September 11, 2025
What an intense and unforgettable read! This book doesn’t just tell a dystopian story, it makes you feel every ounce of fear, desperation, and strength that Izzy goes through. The author captured the collapse of freedom in such a chillingly realistic way that I often had to pause and catch my breath.
Izzy’s journey is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. She’s thrown into impossible circumstances, yet her determination to survive and protect her family kept me hooked page after page. The writing is raw, emotional, and unflinching in its portrayal of violence and abuse, but it never feels gratuitous, it feels necessary to understand the stakes.
What really stuck with me was how human the characters felt. You see people’s true colors come out under pressure: some rise to the occasion, others reveal terrifying sides of themselves. That mix of trust, betrayal, and survival made this story not just gripping but hauntingly believable.
If you’re looking for a dystopian thriller that cuts close to reality, pushes you to question what freedom really means, and keeps your heart racing the whole way, this is absolutely it.
Izzy’s journey is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. She’s thrown into impossible circumstances, yet her determination to survive and protect her family kept me hooked page after page. The writing is raw, emotional, and unflinching in its portrayal of violence and abuse, but it never feels gratuitous, it feels necessary to understand the stakes.
What really stuck with me was how human the characters felt. You see people’s true colors come out under pressure: some rise to the occasion, others reveal terrifying sides of themselves. That mix of trust, betrayal, and survival made this story not just gripping but hauntingly believable.
If you’re looking for a dystopian thriller that cuts close to reality, pushes you to question what freedom really means, and keeps your heart racing the whole way, this is absolutely it.
September 17, 2025
A chilling, fast-paced ride that feels all too real. Izzy’s journey tore at my heart her fear, resilience, and desperate hope are painfully relatable in a world spiraling into chaos. This book doesn't hold back; it punches hard with raw violence, haunting truths, and moments of quiet humanity. Unsettling, emotional, and deeply thought-provoking. Not an easy read, but an important one.
June 17, 2025
An absolutely compelling read from start to finish! This book is deeply character-driven, filled with jaw-dropping plot twists, and delivers graphic, edge-of-your-seat moments that keep you hooked. I’m eagerly awaiting Book 2, set to release on July 4, 2025!
August 8, 2025
I am a huge fan of dark dark content and this was a subject that was uncomfortable for me to read (in a good way.) The author is local to me and he sent me this book for an honest review. the first few chapters help set the tone for the book. I highly recommend checking in to trigger warnings if you are sensitive to content. Some words and phrases were hard for me to read and made me feel physically uncomfortable. The theme of this book exposes racism and bigotry. As someone who hasn't dealt with either subject, it made me uncomfortable and emotional for some characters. It is one of those books that leave you thinking about situations for a while.
April 9, 2025
This book shook me. The American Nightmare is intense, emotional, and honestly terrifying because it feels way too real. Izzy is just a regular teen when everything collapses—her freedom, safety, and sense of trust. The story dives into a dark version of America where survival means questioning everything and everyone.
It’s not an easy read—there’s violence, trauma, and some seriously disturbing moments—but it’s powerful. Raw, gripping, and hard to put down. Definitely check the trigger warnings, though.
It’s not an easy read—there’s violence, trauma, and some seriously disturbing moments—but it’s powerful. Raw, gripping, and hard to put down. Definitely check the trigger warnings, though.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews