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Human of the Year
Released from a Maryland prison after nearly twenty years served for a crime he committed during high school, Matt is reunited with his younger sister, Jenny. Matt has to prove to his parole officer, his family, and himself, that he can survive as a free man for the first time in his adult life, while facing the challenges of re-entry into a world that drastically changed during his sentence.
Knowing that reaching the first year without retuning to prison is critical to Matt's long-term odds of staying out permanently, Jenny brings him to live with her husband Hector and young daughter Julia, neither of whom Matt has ever met.
Despite Jenny's best efforts, she struggles to integrate her brother into the life she's built, and to protect him from people who think he belongs back in prison-including their parents.
Realizing that they have grown up into strangers, the siblings seek support from their community of family, friends, and colleagues.
Knowing that reaching the first year without retuning to prison is critical to Matt's long-term odds of staying out permanently, Jenny brings him to live with her husband Hector and young daughter Julia, neither of whom Matt has ever met.
Despite Jenny's best efforts, she struggles to integrate her brother into the life she's built, and to protect him from people who think he belongs back in prison-including their parents.
Realizing that they have grown up into strangers, the siblings seek support from their community of family, friends, and colleagues.
477 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2026
About the author
Beka Wueste
4 books10 followersBeka Wueste is an author whose family drama, “Human of the Year,” earned a Kirkus Star, with the review calling it, “a patiently detailed and heartfelt book about a challenged family and forgiveness.” Her debut novel, “The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior,” earned praise as a “deeply introspective and emotionally resonant novel” (-Kirkus Reviews) and “an explosive fictional debut… an emotional rollercoaster,” (-Reader Views). Her second novel, “Fireflies in a Jar,” was welcomed as, “warm, funny, and quietly heartbreaking.” (-Midwest Book Review).
In 2025, Beka’s debut short story collection, “My Side of the World
and Other Tales of Death” was a finalist for Short Story Collection of the
year in the the Reader Views Reviewer Choice Awards.
She is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her visual work frequently in regional and national shows.
Born in Texas and raised in Virginia, Beka earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and an M.A. in art history from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
An enthusiastic traveler, avid reader, nature lover, lifelong cinephile, and collector of music on vinyl, Beka lives with her husband and their rescue Shiba Inu in Northern Virginia.
In 2025, Beka’s debut short story collection, “My Side of the World
and Other Tales of Death” was a finalist for Short Story Collection of the
year in the the Reader Views Reviewer Choice Awards.
She is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her visual work frequently in regional and national shows.
Born in Texas and raised in Virginia, Beka earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and an M.A. in art history from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
An enthusiastic traveler, avid reader, nature lover, lifelong cinephile, and collector of music on vinyl, Beka lives with her husband and their rescue Shiba Inu in Northern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 12, 2026
Jenny Keegan has spent years fantasizing about this moment, but now that it’s here, she is terrified that she is going to screw it up. Her older brother Matt is being released from prison after serving twenty years for a crime he committed as a teen, and he’ll be living with Jenny, her husband, and daughter. She is hopeful he will successfully reintegrate, but not everyone is particularly joyful about Matt’s homecoming—Jenny’s parents want nothing to do with their son. Some members of their small community believe he should still be behind bars.
Matt’s whole world was upended when he was sentenced, but inside he’d clung to silence, predictability, and routine. Being released means navigating a whole new world that has changed drastically since he was a teen. Beyond the day-to-day challenges, Matt grapples with a deep sense of displacement. While he is doing all the right things—meeting with his parole officer, working, and staying out of trouble, the chance of rearrest is always on his mind. One person in particular would do anything to make sure he goes back to prison.
Human of the Year by Beka Wueste is a highly affecting work of literary fiction about the obstacles individuals who have been incarcerated face upon returning to society, including recidivism, limited opportunities, and the challenge of repairing fractured relationships. The author has cleverly alternated perspectives between Jenny and Matt, allowing readers to understand and empathize with each character’s unique position. Wueste’s writing explores themes of family, grief, and forgiveness.
This novel was emotionally charged with a heavy emphasis on building character relationships. As Matt reenters society, he quickly realizes that silence and keeping the proverbial walls up around his heart may have kept him safe in prison, but it doesn’t do him any favors as a free man. If he wants to move forward and connect with others, he must challenge his reticence and allow himself to be emotionally vulnerable. Matt’s tendency to withdraw prompted me to reflect on what I would do in his position—would I be honest with others and risk being rejected for my checkered past, or would I keep everyone at arm’s length and miss out on developing personal connections? The author has done an excellent job of highlighting Matt’s struggles, prompting readers to reflect and ask themselves difficult questions.
I applaud the author for examining such a divisive topic and allowing readers to see things from many perspectives. As much as I cheered for Matt’s success, I could also sympathize with the naysayers (particularly an angry community member whose family had been personally victimized by Matt’s actions), as well as Jenny’s loving yet resentful feelings toward her brother, and Matt’s parents’ layered emotions. This is the type of novel that will have a profound effect on its readership’s outlook. If you’re looking for a transformative novel, teeming with flawed but root-worthy characters, Human of the Year by Beka Wueste should be at the top of your reading pile; it just might be the book of the year!
Matt’s whole world was upended when he was sentenced, but inside he’d clung to silence, predictability, and routine. Being released means navigating a whole new world that has changed drastically since he was a teen. Beyond the day-to-day challenges, Matt grapples with a deep sense of displacement. While he is doing all the right things—meeting with his parole officer, working, and staying out of trouble, the chance of rearrest is always on his mind. One person in particular would do anything to make sure he goes back to prison.
Human of the Year by Beka Wueste is a highly affecting work of literary fiction about the obstacles individuals who have been incarcerated face upon returning to society, including recidivism, limited opportunities, and the challenge of repairing fractured relationships. The author has cleverly alternated perspectives between Jenny and Matt, allowing readers to understand and empathize with each character’s unique position. Wueste’s writing explores themes of family, grief, and forgiveness.
This novel was emotionally charged with a heavy emphasis on building character relationships. As Matt reenters society, he quickly realizes that silence and keeping the proverbial walls up around his heart may have kept him safe in prison, but it doesn’t do him any favors as a free man. If he wants to move forward and connect with others, he must challenge his reticence and allow himself to be emotionally vulnerable. Matt’s tendency to withdraw prompted me to reflect on what I would do in his position—would I be honest with others and risk being rejected for my checkered past, or would I keep everyone at arm’s length and miss out on developing personal connections? The author has done an excellent job of highlighting Matt’s struggles, prompting readers to reflect and ask themselves difficult questions.
I applaud the author for examining such a divisive topic and allowing readers to see things from many perspectives. As much as I cheered for Matt’s success, I could also sympathize with the naysayers (particularly an angry community member whose family had been personally victimized by Matt’s actions), as well as Jenny’s loving yet resentful feelings toward her brother, and Matt’s parents’ layered emotions. This is the type of novel that will have a profound effect on its readership’s outlook. If you’re looking for a transformative novel, teeming with flawed but root-worthy characters, Human of the Year by Beka Wueste should be at the top of your reading pile; it just might be the book of the year!
November 2, 2026
Human of the Year by Beka Wueste is the story of siblings Matt and Jenny. Matt is newly released into his younger sister’s care after nearly 20 years in prison for drug trafficking at his high school. The harsh sentence is driven by a student death as a result of his drug deals and lead to the then 17-year-old being tried and convicted as an adult. Jenny loves him unconditionally as seen in her heroic efforts to help Matt successfully re-enter life outside. The story, told from their differing perspectives, is essentially about their journey together but always separate. Matt’s journey, feels perilous, fraught, and necessarily sad from day one as he is swept up in his sister’s determination to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Jenny is perfect for this uphill battle. She is all in. Whatever Matt needs, whether he agrees or not, she will get for him. Consequently, with everything fully invested in her brother, her energy, time, and sacrifice, the reader waits nervously for the last straw to come for Jenny.
This is a story of possibility. The constant question for brother and sister – Will he make it?
Overall, Wueste’s story is engaging, heartfelt, and oftentimes painful. The novel feels like a blueprint against recidivism. Take one-part perfect sister, a perfect job, a perfect brother-in-law, and perfect parole officer, and add Matt’s own efforts to honor his sister’s sacrifices and you have the recipe for post incarceration success. Still, the reader knows that below the surface nothing and no one is perfect.
Wueste is a talented writer. Her prose is spare and her character dialogue is rich. This story is fully realized and takes place over the year that will test both siblings. Wueste handles the two points of views gracefully, allowing the reader to experience Matt’s journey through both their eyes. Human of the Year is full of great characters made real by dialogue that stays with the reader. Those conversations are open, honest, blunt and revealing.
I love this story. It is a quick full read that will have the reader diving in immediately into Matt’s and Jenny’s lives.
Jadi Z. Omowale
Author of Soul Look Back in Wonder
Jenny is perfect for this uphill battle. She is all in. Whatever Matt needs, whether he agrees or not, she will get for him. Consequently, with everything fully invested in her brother, her energy, time, and sacrifice, the reader waits nervously for the last straw to come for Jenny.
This is a story of possibility. The constant question for brother and sister – Will he make it?
Overall, Wueste’s story is engaging, heartfelt, and oftentimes painful. The novel feels like a blueprint against recidivism. Take one-part perfect sister, a perfect job, a perfect brother-in-law, and perfect parole officer, and add Matt’s own efforts to honor his sister’s sacrifices and you have the recipe for post incarceration success. Still, the reader knows that below the surface nothing and no one is perfect.
Wueste is a talented writer. Her prose is spare and her character dialogue is rich. This story is fully realized and takes place over the year that will test both siblings. Wueste handles the two points of views gracefully, allowing the reader to experience Matt’s journey through both their eyes. Human of the Year is full of great characters made real by dialogue that stays with the reader. Those conversations are open, honest, blunt and revealing.
I love this story. It is a quick full read that will have the reader diving in immediately into Matt’s and Jenny’s lives.
Jadi Z. Omowale
Author of Soul Look Back in Wonder
October 29, 2026
Such a great book! Not something that I would normally read but it was wonderfully written. I couldn’t put it down. I just had the pleasure of meeting the author last weekend as well. Can’t wait to read more books by her.
June 9, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and I truly enjoyed it! As a social worker who lives in Maryland the book really resonated with me (who doesn’t love a book set in their home state?!)…it was very obvious to me from the beginning how much research Beka did on this topic to capture the truly complex emotions and situations faced by individuals and their families during re-entry. Seeing how all of the characters experience growth, together and individually, was really heart warming…I have so much adoration for so many of the characters Beka has created. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a contemporary fiction that’s maybe a little different in premise than what you’re used to…and who knows, maybe you’ll even learn a little bit about the experience of re-entry and the challenges faced by not only the folks who were previously incarcerated but their friends and loved ones as well!
August 22, 2026
A well-written story on a subject few have tackled - re-entry after incarceration and its impact on not just the former inmate but his family as well. Penned with a deft hand, this was a delightful read. The characters felt real and relatable and I came to care for them and their individual story arcs. The plot overall was well devised and realistic. Penned with a deft hand for both narration and dialog, this was overall a delightful read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews