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Fascination
Some people lose themselves slowly, in increments so small they barely notice. A job that requires a different version of you. A version of yourself that learns to perform rather than feel. A life that looks exactly right and fits exactly wrong.
Callie Wylie lost her parents and one of her best friends within three years. And somewhere in the wake of grief and survival, she came face to face with a quieter loss she hadn't seen the version of herself that wanted things simply because they delighted her, took up space without apology, and never once waited for permission.
The version she'd built to survive no longer worked. And the version she used to be felt impossibly far away.
The turning point comes on the Oregon coast, in a seaside arcade she'd been visiting since childhood. Standing alone at the same game she'd played a hundred times before, rolling the same little ball across the same worn board, something shifted. She's not performing or producing, or proving anything. She's just there, fully there, feeling something she'd forgotten how to feel. Fascination. The feeling she'd been chasing without knowing it. Permission to want a different life, and the quiet realization that she's the only one who can give it to herself.
Fascination is a memoir about grief, identity, and the long road back to yourself. It's about what gets quietly dismantled when you spend years surviving instead of living, and what becomes possible when you finally stop. It's about the unglamorous daily decision to keep choosing yourself, the grief that cracks you open enough to let the light back in, and the courage it takes to want something different when you've spent years doing everything you were "supposed" to do.
This is a book about reclaiming your wonder. About the quiet bravery of building from broken, and the long, messy, beautiful work of becoming yourself again.
Callie Wylie lost her parents and one of her best friends within three years. And somewhere in the wake of grief and survival, she came face to face with a quieter loss she hadn't seen the version of herself that wanted things simply because they delighted her, took up space without apology, and never once waited for permission.
The version she'd built to survive no longer worked. And the version she used to be felt impossibly far away.
The turning point comes on the Oregon coast, in a seaside arcade she'd been visiting since childhood. Standing alone at the same game she'd played a hundred times before, rolling the same little ball across the same worn board, something shifted. She's not performing or producing, or proving anything. She's just there, fully there, feeling something she'd forgotten how to feel. Fascination. The feeling she'd been chasing without knowing it. Permission to want a different life, and the quiet realization that she's the only one who can give it to herself.
Fascination is a memoir about grief, identity, and the long road back to yourself. It's about what gets quietly dismantled when you spend years surviving instead of living, and what becomes possible when you finally stop. It's about the unglamorous daily decision to keep choosing yourself, the grief that cracks you open enough to let the light back in, and the courage it takes to want something different when you've spent years doing everything you were "supposed" to do.
This is a book about reclaiming your wonder. About the quiet bravery of building from broken, and the long, messy, beautiful work of becoming yourself again.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 19, 2026
OH MY GOD!! I absolutely devoured this book!!
Kennedy, your writing is so captivating and easy to get lost in! And Callie?! GIRL. She is so incredibly relatable. I genuinely felt like I was right there experiencing everything alongside her. The anxiety, the stress, the emotions, ALL OF IT! The way these feelings were written made everything feel so real, and I found myself completely invested in her story.
I love a book that makes me feel like I’m experiencing the story rather than just reading it, and this one did exactly that! I couldn’t put it down!
Also, I have to share what might be one of my new favorite quotes:
“I just assumed I was talented, and everyone went along with it.”
ICONIC.
Kennedy, your writing is so captivating and easy to get lost in! And Callie?! GIRL. She is so incredibly relatable. I genuinely felt like I was right there experiencing everything alongside her. The anxiety, the stress, the emotions, ALL OF IT! The way these feelings were written made everything feel so real, and I found myself completely invested in her story.
I love a book that makes me feel like I’m experiencing the story rather than just reading it, and this one did exactly that! I couldn’t put it down!
Also, I have to share what might be one of my new favorite quotes:
“I just assumed I was talented, and everyone went along with it.”
ICONIC.
October 31, 2026
I’m not exactly someone who loves to sit down and read a book, but Fascination had me turning pages and I couldn’t put it down! Callie’s writing style is funny, honest, and incredibly relatable, taking you through the beautiful, heartbreaking, unexpected, and sometimes downright ugly parts of life. Having grown up alongside Callie, I recognized so many experiences and memories woven into these pages, which made it that much more special. I also love that Kennedy, her ghostwriter, is recognized and celebrated rather than hidden behind the scenes; after meeting her at the book signing, I can see why they make such a great team. So proud of you, Callie, and so happy this story is out in the world!
October 29, 2026
Callie's story is vulnerable, relatable, and wonderfully authentic. She is not afraid to share the good, the bad, and the ugly about life. Her personality truly shines through in her words and makes the book that much more captivating. I felt as though I was sitting with in person, and listening to her directly. It takes incredible talent to be able to draw the audience in like that! 10/10 would recommend to anyone!
October 26, 2026
I am not the biggest reader. I read this entire book in one sitting! It was incredibly inspiring to hear about Callie’s story, the grief, trials and tribulations she overcame. I felt all the emotions reading this book cover to cover, it left me feeling inspired to get out and live a little more!
November 5, 2026
Inspiring, relatable and real."Stop waiting" "you never needed permission" "so GO F***ING LIVE" 🤟😝
November 6, 2026
This book is particularly interesting in its in-depth exploration of the process of grieving and the impact of death of loved ones. It's quite comprehensive in that respect. I found its treatment of the impact of the loss of loved ones on one's priorities, focus, and sense of being particularly interesting.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews