Later Days

by Chip Jacobs

Now a USA Today Bestseller and winner of the General Fiction prize at the 2025 American Writing Awards. In an evocative follow-up to his Los Angeles Times bestselling Arroyo, Chip Jacobs returns with a gripping tale of brotherhood, recklessness, and footloose souls in the anything goes of late-seventies Southern California. 

As their elite, all-boys prep school turns coed, transforming from suburban Lord of the Flies to gender-roiled soap-opera, two unlikely friends—Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond—alternate rescuing each other from self-destruction amid troubled home lives. Eager to maximize their era as invincible seniors at Stone Canyon Prep, they and their pals commandeer Bob’s Big Boy, explore the secret world beneath Caltech, stumble into a possibly-supernatural lab animal, and grapple with near-ODs at a playoff game. Just as our heroes manage to graduate, their bond is shattered by a wild gunshot that'll haunt them for decades.  

Twenty years later, Luke is a high-powered journalist with a nosediving career, while Denny, a visionary software engineer, is socked by a terminal diagnosis. Desperate to make amends for that coyote shot, Denny guilts his estranged friend into helping him, all climaxing with a Hail Mary bid to demystify mortality, with an assist from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, while reconnecting with what matters most.

Later Days is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Perfect for readers drawn to rollercoaster friendships, forgiveness, and the raw beauty of life skimming its edges to Near-Death Experience. With insight into Pasadena’s buried histories and the psychological baggage of growing up in the shadows of “Great Men” fathers, Jacobs’ second novel is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually sharp.

Genres: Coming Of Age, Historical Fiction

344 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Chip Jacobs is an acclaimed author and prize-winning journalist, praised by Publisher Weekly as "an exceptional storyteller." His forthcoming novel, "Later Days," the follow-up to his Los Angeles Times bestselling "Arroyo," will be published in 2025. On the narrative, nonfiction side, Jacobs wrote the riveting, true-crime book, "The Darkest Glare," and the biography "Strange As It Seems," an Indies Book of the Year finalist. He is also the co-author, with William J. Kelly, of two environmental social histories: the international bestselling "Smogtown" and its sequel, "The People's Republic of Chemicals." He has contributed pieces to anthologies, as well, among them "Los Angeles in the 1970s: Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine." Jacobs' reporting, meantime, has appeared in the L.A. Times, the L.A. Daily News, CNN, The New York Times, the Southern California News Group, L.A Weekly, and elsewhere. He has won seven Los Angeles Press Club Awards and multiple literary honors, including from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, The Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, Booklist and Foreword magazine's best books in genre, and the Shanghai Book Awards. He is currently at work on the story of the Long Beach Freeway (710) fight, the longest, fiercest highway battle in US history, and several Hollywood projects. Jacobs, a graduate of the University of Southern California, garage-band guitarist, and Beatles fanatic, lives in the L.A. area.

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect Later Days to hit me the way it did, but wow, this story crawled under my skin and stayed there. Chip Jacobs perfectly captures that bittersweet magic of youth, those wild senior year adventures that feel untouchable in the moment, only to show how life, loss, and guilt have a way of echoing decades later.

Luke and Denny’s friendship is messy, loyal, hilarious, and heartbreaking in all the best ways. Jacobs doesn’t just tell a story, he makes you feel it. From late-night diner takeovers and near-disasters under Caltech to the gut punch of a single gunshot that changes everything, I was hooked. And when the story jumps twenty years forward? It’s raw, real, and downright soul-stirring. Watching two broken men try to repair what time and silence destroyed, while wrestling mortality itself, felt so human.

This book made me laugh, ache, and pause to think about the people who shaped me, the regrets we carry, and the forgiveness we rarely give ourselves. If you’ve ever had a friend who saved you… or lost one you thought you’d never lose, this story will find you.

[Kristi C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaways, and I am thankful to Wildbound PR and Chip Jacobs for the opportunity to learn about a new book and author.

It took me a bit to read this after winning because I wanted to read the first book, Arroyo. You don’t need to read that first, but I am glad I did and enjoyed that one as well. I listened to the audiobook version but then ended up buying the physical copy so I own both.

This was a well-written book, and I appreciated so many of the nostalgic references. I also liked the setting, having spent some time in that part of the state. The writing kept my attention, always wanting to know what would happen next, with a wide range of emotions! I would read another book by Jacobs.

Not that it took away from the book at all, but I did notice quite a few typos.

*I received this book from a free giveaway, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Book Review: Later Days by Chip Jacobs ⭐
“Later Days” is a heartfelt, sharply observed story about friendship, forgiveness, and the fragile line between youth’s invincibility and adulthood’s reckoning.
Chip Jacobs takes readers from the chaotic energy of 1980s prep-school life—where boys at Stone Canyon Prep grapple with identity, rebellion, and heartbreak—to the sobering realities of adulthood twenty years later. Luke and Denny’s friendship feels raw and real, full of both laughter and regret. Their journey—from reckless teenage adventures to confronting mortality—captures that aching nostalgia of looking back and asking, “What if?”
Jacobs beautifully blends humor, tragedy, and introspection. His writing is cinematic and deeply human, filled with Pasadena’s hidden history and emotional truth. The story’s mix of coming-of-age chaos, midlife reflection, and near-death mystery gives it both heart and philosophical depth.
“Later Days” is perfect for readers who love stories about lifelong bonds, second chances, and how even the most broken friendships can find redemption.
⭐ 4.5 out of 5 stars – moving, smart, and unforgettable.

BookReview #LaterDays #ChipJacobs #FictionReads #LiteraryFiction #ComingOfAge #FriendshipStory #Forgiveness #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #BookishCommunity #BookRecommendation #MustReadNovel #EmotionalReads #PasadenaFiction

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, emotional and brilliantly written.
Man could I relate to this story. I saw glimpses of my own classmates in the vividly described characters. The time period, (I graduated high school in '77 in So Cal) and locations (I've been to Vromans's many times and used to attend All Saints for a period) took me back to those days. But the best part of the story was the relationships the characters have with each other. It's the ups, downs, resentments, guilt, and ultimately, the underlying love they have for each other that captured my heart. This is one of the most compelling and honest coming of age stories that I've read. The author has a way with words that pull you in and hold you tight for the duration. While I have a personal connection to the time and place, those connections definitely are not needed to enjoy this story. This one's special and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the author, Rare Bird Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different take on life/death

A booked based on a group of friends growing up in the 60s and 70s, has many different challenges for them to face. Luke the main character, deals with the loss of his mom at a young age, the loss of his dog and many loved ones and many struggles. Friendships that don't make it. There is one friend that he truly wants to rekindle the old friendship with, but fax many tough challenges along the way. Things have changed and they are not the same people. This is a good read for teens and up, especially those believing in life after death. It definitely has twist and turns that keep you wondering what could possibly happen next. Chip did an awesome job on this novel. Can not wait to read more of his stories!

[Bruce Ferber · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

Richard Feynman, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and Bob’s Big Boy together again for the first time? It’s all possible in the world of LATER DAYS, the new coming-of-age novel from Chip Jacobs. An affectionate portrait of the angst-ridden journey from adolescence to adulthood, Jacobs provides copious amounts of hijinks alongside the inevitable tragedies that find their way into life’s mix. As in his debut novel, ARROYO, the setting is Pasadena, California, a place the author knows as well as Ray Davies knows Muswell Hill. Readers who lived through the seventies will be reminded of a template that included Jansport jackets, the AMC Gremlin, and a popular flooring choice known as linoleum. Jacobs superfans will delight in the mention of characters (both bird and human) from his first book. As for new readers? Step into the halls of Stone Canyon Prep and enjoy the ride with Luke and Denny.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to help a friend? Later Days by Chip Jacobs is a coming-of-age novel about friendship, adolescence, and the harsh reality of becoming an adult. Thirteen-year-old Luke attends Stone Canyon Prep (an elite all-boys school) and is a target for schoolyard bully Lance (aka “D-Rex”). When mysterious classmate, Denny, steps in to rescue him, the two form an unlikely friendship that takes them beyond the present, into a future that neither of them can predict.

This story is set in the late 1970s, which I felt was a real treat! The cultural references scattered throughout the narrative enrich the school setting and create a feeling of nostalgia for those familiar with this era. For example, this clever description of the boys’ hairstyles made me laugh out loud at one point: “There was shoulder-length hair (though nothing Aerosmith-long-crazy) and shaggy Chia-Pet fros…” The mention of Chia Pets (grow-your-own terracotta figurines, sprouting chia seeds that resemble hair) helped me to imagine a late 1970s setting.

There’s a tongue-in-cheek, ironic tone here, alongside an undercurrent of dry humor. For example, I particularly liked it when notorious bully, Lance (who has a lazy eye), enters the classroom and Luke describes him as “…a bigger, more muscled Lance in black, corrective glasses… My gut reaction: Buddy Holly reborn as a barbarian.”

It would be inaccurate, however, to think that the plot in Later Days is simply focused on adolescent fun and exploration. There are deeper, darker themes here, too. One of the main ones, I think, centers around the theme of friendship. Whereas Luke likes to play it safe and is afraid of getting into trouble, rebellious Denny isn’t afraid to provoke people. At one point, he even throws a milk carton at a police officer’s motorcycle, enjoying the fallout: “He immediately ducked down to savor the fruits of his provocation…” He enjoys experimenting with drugs and seems carefree, but, like Luke, his home life is an ongoing source of stress.

This is a character-driven story, with the many layers of Luke and Denny’s personalities being explored gradually, from youthful adolescence through to middle age. Like Luke, I really wanted to learn more about Denny as the plot went on, as he is very mysterious and enigmatic, giving little away about himself. When Luke strays into his bedroom, for example, he realizes that, here, Denny is able to express his true self: “His black-and-white poster of Alan Turing, Denny’s hero as father of modern computer programming, signified individuality.”

After reading Later Days, I was left with the intense feelings that come with a loss of innocence, which was as poignant as it was edifying. What makes Chip Jacobs a skilled writer, in my opinion, is his ability to inhabit a young adult mindset, refusing to shy away from hard-hitting topics such as addiction and mental health issues.

[S.W. Capps · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, I have LOTS of rules; as a reader, just one—make me feel something! With his latest novel, Chip Jacobs does that in spades. 'Later Days' is a trip back in time, a VHS tape, if you will, of life in late-’70s & early-’80s Los Angeles.

With stunning insight, the author paints a detailed landscape of high school angst, transient encounters, universal experience, and the tenuous bonds of friendship, leading main characters Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond on a journey that feels both painfully familiar and utterly fresh. This book will take you back to your youth quicker (and more effectively) than a Split Enz L.P.!

But it’s more than time travel. Later Days is a vivid reconstruction of the feelings that era produced—the joys, the fears, the ceaseless insecurity, and the promise. With a style that stirs echoes of early John Irving, Jacobs hands us a roadmap, a flashlight, and a cold Mickey’s Big Mouth, leading us through the underground tunnels of our adolescence and reminding us that life is as fleeting as the moments we share.

In the process, his richly-imagined characters don’t feel imagined; they feel real, full of the same flaws and foibles we all possess, with the author making no apologies for their deportment. Instead, he presents them in all their blemished glory, allowing the reader to pass judgment or forgive—the same quandary we face with our own friendships. And in the end, he leaves us with a powerful message of hope.

If you’re “approaching the interval between the last vestiges of youth and the commencement of the old people we might become”—to pilfer the author’s words—grab a copy of 'Later Days'! You’ll make some new friends. And further cherish the old ones.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chip Jacobs, the Author of “Later Days” has written an intriguing and captivating coming of age, and fictional novel. The timeline for this novel starts in 1976, and goes to the past and future, when it pertains to the characters or events. The story revolves around Stone Canyon Prep in California, an all boys private school. In this well written book, the author vividly describes the scenery, and the dramatic, complex and complicated characters. The author gives us a front row seat to view the instructors, and the various students. Being an all boys school, we witness the bullying, and the friendships formed and unformed. In this coming of age book, we get the opportunity to view the adventures or mis-adventures that the boys go on. Luke and Denny become friends, when Denny rescues Luke from a bully. During the course of the book, both seem to rescue one another. Both Luke and Denny have toxic home experiences, and try to find ways of dealing with them. They seem to have the opportunity to rescue one another. This is an opportunity for the boys to explore drugs, and other things that should not be explored. Eventually the all boys school becomes a coed institution. There are betrayals, secrets, and significant life events that change things.

Luke and Denny drift apart after a tragic incident. Twenty years later, Luke is a journalist, and Denny is a software engineer. When Luke receives a message to visit Denny, who is sick, the two meet again. I appreciate that the author discusses forgiveness, second chances, self- growth, and self-worth , faith and hope. I would recommend this thought-provoking novel to others.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Later Days by Chip Jacobs is a nostalgic coming-of-age book about two boys attending an elite prep school during the late 1970s. Like the characters, I graduated high school in 1980, so all of the pop-culture references carried me back to that carefree and reckless time of life. (Although there were a few slang terms that were out of context for the time, that removed me from the timeline momentarily.)

Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond, are the two main characters, and they experience all the ups and downs of adolescence together. I found the descriptions of teenage drama to be on point and the boys were true to age. Their friendship is described with warmth and humor, allowing the reader to invest in both boys. Unfortunately in their senior year, the boys experienced a tragedy that caused them to drift apart, and they soon lose track of each other.

But, twenty years later they reunite and try to reestablish a friendship. Denny is ill, and that, along with all of the misunderstandings between them make reconciliation anything by simple. Both characters are relatable, and the strains between them are believable.

Jacobs created a vivid world that feels both familiar and new. It is a story of friendship, how it grows and changes, the work it requires, and the pain it sometimes causes us. It is a true portrait of brotherhood, love and forgiveness, all wrapped up in a vivid era that carried me back in time.

Thank you @tlcbooktours for the #gifted copy and for including me on the tour for this book.

[Antony Wairiuko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pun-filled and Stirring

Later Days is a 406-page, 28-chapter book by Chip Jacobs. The September 2025 autobiographical book has three parts, with subtitled chapters. Part I has nine chapters, ranging from The Pit through The Milk Bomb to The Notable In-Between. Part II has 12 chapters, from Pilgrim Cindy through The War Wagon to Curse of the Wild Coyote. Part III has seven chapters, ranging from The Return through Real Death Experience to Hidden Stillness. 

Earlier on, the author recounts a March 1976 lower-schooling incident involving a notorious bully called Lance and typical teenage experiences. So, when Denny—a key character—unexpectedly helps him tame the bully, he asks the helper, “How did you get that black eye?” It prompts the cryptic reply: “A story for another time…Later days.” Thus, the book’s title.

The author’s personal experiences continue in the same vein, including more typical and eventful schooling experiences that evoke the reader’s memories. There are numerous mischiefs such as chapter five’s milk carton incident involving Denny, chapter seven’s thermos situation, chapter fourteen’s naughtiness and chapter nineteen’s caffeine scandal. And tragedies are in the mix.

The last section’s plot twist is heart-touching, especially where the narrator eulogizes his remorseful sidekick as “an incomparable cat” and Denny’s atonement and mental liberation after the rifle incident that terrorized Neil’s family. 

Pun-filled and stirring, Later Days’ raw coming-of-age narrative epitomizes the vanity of human actions and fragility of life.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on a trip back to the late 1970s and 1980s!
A story of the unlikely friendship between Luke and Denny, two boys growing up in Southern California, whose journey will captivate you and may cause you to reflect.

The writing here is not just immersive, but also deeply emotional and raw; we are not just spectators, but we feel these boys’ emotions and reactions in real time. Luke and Denny are both navigating the realities of teenage life, grappling with identity and acceptance. Yet they are also dealing with bullying and home lives with loss, heartbreak, and loneliness. Together, they act out in rebellion and wander in a hazy stupor, protecting one another as they go, barely graduating high school.

This is a powerful coming-of-age story that delves deep into the emotional complexities of friendship, exploring what binds us and what breaks us, second chances, and the weight of adulthood. The author's use of humor and pop culture references not only makes this book feel real but also keeps you entertained and engaged, balancing the deeper, more reflective themes that run throughout.

This book resonated with me, evoking memories of my high school days and friendships I’ve lost touch with. The yearbook predictions were a delightful throwback, reminiscent of the yearbook superlatives of my own school days.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @cjwriter for the #gifted book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Later Days by Chip Jacobs is an emotional and surprisingly humorous journey through friendship, regret, and the messy, unforgettable experiences of growing up. From the first chapters, the book captures the wild spirit of late-seventies Southern California, an era of rebellion, questionable choices, and strong bonds that feel like they’ll last forever. Luke and Denny’s friendship is the heart of this story, and their dynamic is both heartfelt and chaotic in the best way.

Jacobs balances well-timed humor with deeply emotional storytelling, especially as the story shifts into adulthood. The carefree exploits of their youth, sneaking around Caltech tunnels, run-ins with bizarre lab animals, and dangerous near-misses, contrast sharply with the ghosts that follow them twenty years after high school. The “coyote shot” becomes a defining fracture that shapes who they become, and the tension of forgiveness lingers throughout their reunion.

What stands out is how genuine these characters feel. Their flaws make them relatable, and their struggles with expectations, trauma, and mortality hit with unexpected weight. Jacobs writes with sharp insight, never rushing past the complexities of friendship or the pain of growing apart.

Later Days delivers heart, nostalgia, and reflections on what truly matters, making it a thoughtful coming-of-age novel that stays with you long after the final page.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Chip Jacobs pens a novel aptly compared to “Lord of the Flies” as he moves the coeds off the island and into the halls of high school. In a school of academically gifted, rich kids, Jacobs shows readers the intricacies of friendship, raw emotion, and familial strain.

As readers follow Luke Burnett, we’re introduced to the first coed class to grace this previously all-boys school, the class of 1980. This story of teenage angsts houses wild family traumas, uniquely entangled personalities, and a band of friends tied in inexplicable ways. Denny and Luke, Luke and Eddy, Eddy and Cindy, the friendships, funerals, and reunions weave a compelling tale of timeless memories, fragile moments, and the bond that ties us forever.

A classically intricate portrait of life in the 80’s, paired with the unique realities of the fictional teens within, Jacobs has created a lyrical coming of age mottled with the complexities and fragility of growing up. “Later Days” slowly builds the characters within from teens as they mature amongst the backdrop of suburban society through to some of their final days as they battle sorrow, sympathy, the path not taken, and the life that could have been.

“Later Days” is a turn of the decade, sandy embrace as its characters navigate life, friendship, family, and the future.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacobs follows up his bestseller "Arroyo," in his latest release. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Southern California, LATER DAYS is an emotionally charged coming-of-age novel that follows Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond, who attend the elite Stone Canyon Prep. Luke and Denny's friendship deepens over the years as they go through the highs and lows that accompany adolescence. Luke and Denny bond over teenage experiences such a bullying, girls, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. But tragedy strikes their senior year of high school and the close friends drift apart. Twenty years later, Luke works as a journalist and Denny is a software engineer. The estranged friends are reunited after Denny receives a concerning health diagnosis, and the two try to reconcile their friendship.

Jacobs's writing is vivid and immersive, transporting readers to 1970s SoCal. His added use of pop culture references and humor further captures readers interest. Luke and Denny's dynamic explores the emotional complexities of friendship and the weight of adulthood, making them characters that readers will be able to relate to. Jacobs's latest is a labor of love and a tribute to the nostalgic places and things he writes about.

[Rare Bird Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Later Days is one of those rare books that feels both deeply personal and quietly expansive. Later Days by Chip Jacobs blends memoir, cultural observation, and a kind of restless searching that never quite resolves—and that’s part of what makes it work.
Jacobs writes with a journalist’s eye for detail but isn’t afraid to let things get messy or unresolved. The book moves through Los Angeles (and beyond) in a way that feels lived-in rather than curated—there’s grit, nostalgia, regret, and flashes of clarity that hit harder because they’re not over-explained.
What stood out most to me was the tone: it resists easy redemption arcs. Instead, it lingers in the in-between spaces—aging, creative identity, relationships, and the uneasy question of what comes next after the “main event” of youth has passed. Some passages are sharp and funny; others feel almost like fragments of a longer internal conversation.
It’s not a conventional narrative, and readers looking for a tight, plot-driven memoir might find it a bit meandering at times. But if you’re open to a more impressionistic, reflective experience, there’s a lot here to connect with.
Overall, Later Days feels honest in a way that isn’t always comfortable—but is often rewarding.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this coming of age story that also focuses on friendship.

The book is set at a prep school and begins when the main character, Luke, is in 8th grade.

The read has three parts with the first two parts taking place in the late 1970s through 1980, Luke’s senior year.

We get lots of pop culture references of the time which I loved. We also see the friendship between Luke and Denny and the antics that are part of their high school time.

Part Two of the book is the boys’ senior high school year. The big change is the all boys prep school becomes co-ed.

After reading about their high years, I became fully invested in what was happening with the friends in Part Three of the book which takes place 20 years later in the year 2000.

The book has a bit of the otherworldly as a character in the read claims she is reincarnated and kind of backs it up. The title itself, LATER DAYS, references something otherworldly, but I won’t spoil that for you.

The book also references ARROYO(another of Chip’s books) with characters and events from that book. You certainly don’t need to read ARROYO first but it’s an interesting read and quite different than this one.

[TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Chip Jacobs’s Arroyo back in 2019, and it’s so cool he revisited those characters with a follow-up, Later Days. I also think this story can stand on its own with just enough backstory included.

Luke and Denny attend a fancy all-boys prep school in Southern California. They are opposites in many ways but the best of friends. Their high school days are filled with antics and lots of drama.

Years later, Luke is now a journalist, and Denny is a software engineer. The two are estranged, but when Denny receives a terminal illness, they reunite. If you love a coming-of-age story, and are looking for something refreshingly unique, this one’s for you. Its honest and deeply human rendering of friendship is a time warp and perfectly executed. It’s a story of second chances, mended friendships, and hope. I want to see Denny and Luke on screen!

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chip's writing is always so vivid with descriptions and character depth. Transporting us to the late 70's to an all boys prep school, we meet Luke and Denny. The two are quite opposites and yet they became great friends after Denny rescues Luke from the known bully. Both come from tumultuous home lives and easily connect as boys often do, running through the streets of California when drugs are at an all time high. And thus begins the back and forth of them saving each other through the years until twenty years pass and Luke who is now a journalist gets summoned to visit Denny who has become a software engineer and is quite sick. This novel explores the depth of friendship, childhood, growth and forgiveness. I enjoyed quite a few of the 70's and 80's references as well as that we got to see who they were as adults. This novel really encompasses everything about friendship through life; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for another invite for this author. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chip Jacobs’ Later Days starts out as a love letter to the 80’s, and ends as an emotional ode to an intertwined set of lives.

We kick off at Stone Canyon Prep. Our cast are teenagers, filled with youth and exuberance. There’s a hint of nostalgia as the author recollects experiences that would have been universal to all who grew up on those times. But as the story goes on, it becomes much more real. They grow into the present day, like so many more of us. We see the characters mature, and much like real life, we lose the air of nostalgia that came with the earlier parts off the story. But that doesn’t mean the story becomes bad. Like life, it transforms. Days with friends are replaced by nights in the office. Their problems go from school bullies to terminal illnesses.

Later Days is a trip down memory lane, written by an author who is obviously intimately familiar with the times, and an ode to friendships and relationships that last forever.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

LATER DAYS is a coming of age story taking place in the late 1970's that brought me back to my high school days. Thank you @cjwriter @rarebirdsbooks and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the #gifted book and this is my honest opinion.

The story is broken into three sections. It is 1976 and Luke and Denny are in 8th grade and become unlikely friends. We follow their antics and the ups and downs of their friendship and their troubled home lives. The second part Luke and Denny are seniors in high school. Together they deal with their home lives, experience alcohol, drugs, and heartbreak while barely graduating high school. The third part takes us 20 years later. They are adults spending long days at the office. A reunion occurs when one of them has a terminal illness.

The author brought me right back to high school and these characters could have been my classmates and friends. This is a story of relationships and friendships. Some that we lose and some that last forever.

[John Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more than just a coming-of-age story because the high school years comprise a bit more than half of the book. The rest deals with the middle-aged years and draws a sharp contrast and comparison between two very different periods of life. "Later Days" centers on two friends, Luke and Denny, and their hot-and-cold relationship through time. Chip Jacobs does a marvelous job detailing the late 70s, when the teenage years take place, and uncovers expressions or feelings that I had forgotten growing up in that era. Two promising lads whose lives seemed destined to be heading in opposite directions, the boys are far from perfect, and their acts of mischief are almost criminal. But for all the promise they held, life happens and doesn't turn out the way they expected. To say more would spoil it. This book is rich in detail, with nuanced characters and credible situations. A thought-provoking read.

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that feeling when a book sweeps you back into another era and makes you feel everything? That was Later Days for me. Chip Jacobs delivers a nostalgic, emotional ride through 1970s Southern California, following the messy, loyal, and unforgettable friendship between Luke and Denny. From wild teenage nights to the hard truths of adulthood, this story blends humor, heartbreak, and hope in a way that lingers long after the final page.

Told across past and present, it’s a coming-of-age story about second chances, lifelong bonds, and the echoes of the choices we make. Raw, reflective, and packed with heart, this one surprised me in the best way.

If you love books about friendship, redemption, and looking back on the moments, people and experiences that shaped us, this is one to add to your list.

[Donna Emperador · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about lifelong friendships

In LATER DAYS, Chip Jacobs takes the reader on a journey through the lifelong friendships of a group of California prep school boys.

The story starts during their school years in the 1970s with bullying, influential teachers, sports, and teen antics. The author makes numerous references to news stories and pop culture, causing nostalgia for readers alive during that era.

The story follows the friendships after the school years when people usually lose touch and then find each other again. It focuses on themes of forgiveness and being there in time of need.

LATER DAYS is a must-read for anyone who grew up in the 70s or 80s or anyone who is lucky to have a lifelong friendship.

The author also surprises the reader with an unusual ending, which will have you thinking outside the box.

[Misty Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Later Days, we are introduced to two unlikely characters, Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond, who spend their high school years with their group of friends, not only getting an education in school but also outside. Traveling all over town, they experience alcohol, drugs, getting each other out of scrapes, all the while dealing with family trauma.
In later years, we also see reunions between the guys and the death of friends, as well as the tenacious friendship between Luke and Denny. No matter what happens, they stick together. The author writes as if he's greatly familiar with the 80s and the nostalgia of his memories.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Later Days is a nostalgic and emotionally charged ride through the wild spirit of 1970s Southern California and the haunting echoes of friendship gone awry. Chip Jacobs paints Luke and Denny’s bond with warmth and honesty, capturing both the reckless freedom of youth and the painful reckonings of adulthood. The novel’s blend of humor, tragedy, and metaphysical wonder keeps the story engaging from start to finish. Though a few scenes feel overstuffed with detail, the book’s emotional depth and vivid sense of place make it a compelling exploration of forgiveness, memory, and the fragile ties that define us.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chip Jacobs provides an endlessly bleak yet humorous and all too familiar look back at the problematic themes of coming of age in the late 70's and early 80's. Totally relatable, I winced my way through it scarred by own memories of growing up in that difficult era. As life goes on, and bonded by their unique style of generational trauma, Denny and Luke fumble their way into adulthood and wind up dealing with the greatest challenge of all. I love Chip's writing style and this is my favorite book of his so far, but the other two were also five star reads so take the time and enjoy the ride. It's so worth it.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I loved, loved, loved "Arroyo," I didn't bother to read the blurb for "Later Days" before buying it. I'm glad I didn't know any details.

Even though my public school days ended long ago, this prep-school story reminded me how idiotic and reckless teen boys could be. (That was 90% of their charm.) The depiction of the school staff members was particularly well done—it made me remember several outstanding teachers I had over the years. (And that one gym teacher who probably wanted to kill me.)

And—joy of joys—there was both a callback to "Arroyo" partway through and a dusting of perfectly appropriate magic at the end.

[wellreadtraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Chip Jacobs book Arroyo so I was thrilled to learn he had a new book out. My husband grew up in Arcadia/Pasadena and we visit often so it’s fun to read about the streets I know or locations I’ve been too. Later Days is a look back on growing up and struggling to belong, to find your people. The book starts out with the main character Luke getting bullied at school and being saved by a classmate. The two form an unlikely friendship that cares through adulthood, but it doesn’t lack trails, suffering, and a whole lot of heartbreak.
Later Days will have you reminiscing your childhood and thinking of the people and places that shaped you.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book and cannot stop thinking about it. The title is PERFECT! Parts one and two were a coming-of-age story for a group of mostly guys who attended an elite prep school in California. It was a page-turner for many reasons, but hearing the story from an adolescent guy’s perspective was unique since, to date, the coming-of-age stories I’ve read have been from the female perspective. Part three allows readers to catch up with the crew 20 years after graduation. It made me laugh, cry, and really think. All the stars for this incredible book!