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Johnny Ruin
If a tree falls in a forest and Jon Bon Jovi is with you when it happens, is it still a figment of your imagination?
Haunted by the idea that he is somehow broken, the narrator – a depressed, heartbroken, thirty-something writer – embarks on a journey through his own mind with his spirit guide, Jon Bon Jovi, for company.
From the redwoods of California to a crumbling New York City, they travel the highways of our narrator’s memory, an imagined America, where his thoughts are tangled with fragments from the songs and movies that shaped him, and where he can’t help but replay scenes from his doomed relationship.
When his ex-girlfriend turns up demanding that he forget her, he must decide whether he’s ready to let go…
Haunted by the idea that he is somehow broken, the narrator – a depressed, heartbroken, thirty-something writer – embarks on a journey through his own mind with his spirit guide, Jon Bon Jovi, for company.
From the redwoods of California to a crumbling New York City, they travel the highways of our narrator’s memory, an imagined America, where his thoughts are tangled with fragments from the songs and movies that shaped him, and where he can’t help but replay scenes from his doomed relationship.
When his ex-girlfriend turns up demanding that he forget her, he must decide whether he’s ready to let go…
- GenresMental Health
185 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2018
5 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Dan Dalton
1 book16 followersDan Dalton is a writer and journalist based in North London.
His debut novel, Johnny Ruin, is coming out with Unbound in the UK (March 22nd 2018) and Hoffman und Campe in Germany (November 17th 2017).
His debut novel, Johnny Ruin, is coming out with Unbound in the UK (March 22nd 2018) and Hoffman und Campe in Germany (November 17th 2017).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 28, 2019
It feels strange to say that I enjoyed reading a book that is centred on a suicide attempt but bear with me while I try to explain. Dalton takes us inside the mind of his main character in a way that makes us feel such a close connection with him, despite never knowing his real name or what he looks like. It is impossible to read certain sections of the book without a smile on your face.
The disjointed fragments of narrative are hugely effective, given that the protagonist believes himself to be dead or dying and is experiencing his existence outside of a sense of time. I really did think this was such a clever writing technique.
I would say that this book is like the movie It’s a Wonderful Life but with a lot more sex! (Maybe steer clear if that’s not your thing). The book chronicles Johnny’s relationship with a woman named Sophia, from them getting together to breaking up and the after-effects of all this. It was all extremely relatable, reading Johnny’s ruminating thoughts as he tries to come to terms with his emotions.
The book has a bleakness to it but there is also a dark humour throughout the pages. I couldn’t help laughing at Johnny’s adventures with Jon Bon Jovi.
And I really appreciated the ambiguity of the ending. I will say no more, you’ll have to read it for yourself ;)
Overall, this was an unusual but intriguing read that I could not put down. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to read more books about mental health!
This review originally appeared on The Paperback Piano.
The disjointed fragments of narrative are hugely effective, given that the protagonist believes himself to be dead or dying and is experiencing his existence outside of a sense of time. I really did think this was such a clever writing technique.
I would say that this book is like the movie It’s a Wonderful Life but with a lot more sex! (Maybe steer clear if that’s not your thing). The book chronicles Johnny’s relationship with a woman named Sophia, from them getting together to breaking up and the after-effects of all this. It was all extremely relatable, reading Johnny’s ruminating thoughts as he tries to come to terms with his emotions.
The book has a bleakness to it but there is also a dark humour throughout the pages. I couldn’t help laughing at Johnny’s adventures with Jon Bon Jovi.
And I really appreciated the ambiguity of the ending. I will say no more, you’ll have to read it for yourself ;)
Overall, this was an unusual but intriguing read that I could not put down. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to read more books about mental health!
This review originally appeared on The Paperback Piano.
April 13, 2018
An astonishing debut! Johnny Ruin zips along mercilessly, unflinchingly, with scenes plucked straight out of the best nostalgia inducing road trip movies you’ve never seen.
You’re stuck in the hero’s head alongside Jon Bon Jovi, here a smack talking, enigmatic spirit guide of sorts, traversing a landscape of undulating emotion. The writing is packed full of humour and is at times brutal. And what lies at the heart of it all is an achingly tender meditation on lost love, lost friendships, mental health, and toxic masculinity. Imagine an adult version of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ and I think you might be half way prepared for what’ll come.
Also, there’s a dog who’s undoubtedly ‘a very good boy’.
A fantastic, unexpected read, and I simply cannot wait for more from this author.
You’re stuck in the hero’s head alongside Jon Bon Jovi, here a smack talking, enigmatic spirit guide of sorts, traversing a landscape of undulating emotion. The writing is packed full of humour and is at times brutal. And what lies at the heart of it all is an achingly tender meditation on lost love, lost friendships, mental health, and toxic masculinity. Imagine an adult version of Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ and I think you might be half way prepared for what’ll come.
Also, there’s a dog who’s undoubtedly ‘a very good boy’.
A fantastic, unexpected read, and I simply cannot wait for more from this author.
August 23, 2019
Sometimes life gets tough and you need Jon Bon Jovi to see you through the darker times, and that is exactly what happens in Johnny Ruin as he's left to mourn a relationship and all the depression and misery that may bring with it. It's a brilliant example of how twisted a mind can become as it processes changes and how replaying moments from the past can either clarify the situation or just muddy the waters.
I loved the way this story is told - the voice of the narrator is clearly struggling with his mental wellbeing and you're taken along for the ride - it's very dark, often explicit but it's a process he needs to go through and he uses the 'help' of Jon Bon Jovi as that takes him back to a happier time of his life and remembers how hearing his songs made him feel.
I found it fascinating to hear the thoughts of a bloke going through depression and grieving the loss of loved ones - it's not all rainbows and unicorns and seeing how dark the mind can turn when you feel there's no hope was quite disturbing. I keep remembering the phrase 'life is consequences' which features and that becomes very apparent as he looks back over his life and past relationships. It brings him comfort to remember happier times.
This was a gritty, angry, reflective book full of dark humour and I loved the raw honesty of the character throughout.
I loved the way this story is told - the voice of the narrator is clearly struggling with his mental wellbeing and you're taken along for the ride - it's very dark, often explicit but it's a process he needs to go through and he uses the 'help' of Jon Bon Jovi as that takes him back to a happier time of his life and remembers how hearing his songs made him feel.
I found it fascinating to hear the thoughts of a bloke going through depression and grieving the loss of loved ones - it's not all rainbows and unicorns and seeing how dark the mind can turn when you feel there's no hope was quite disturbing. I keep remembering the phrase 'life is consequences' which features and that becomes very apparent as he looks back over his life and past relationships. It brings him comfort to remember happier times.
This was a gritty, angry, reflective book full of dark humour and I loved the raw honesty of the character throughout.
August 19, 2020
Okay, I will admit Johnny Ruin by Dan Dalton confused me. It was in the best possible way. I mean how many books that discuss mental health use a mystical figure of Jon Bon Jovi as a spirit guide? Not many, I can tell you.
The story is about a man struggling to deal with his mental health – this is at its very base level but what is developed throughout the narrative is that our protagonist looks at the things that have happened in his life that have been catalysts to his depression or the things that have led to his depression. It looks at how mental health problems are not quick fixes, they are constant and rolling and you will have good times and bad times. It looks at how the pit of despair can be so vast that you can only see the darkness and not the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chock full of metaphor and allegory, Johnny Ruin is a great short read for anyone who is able to suspend their disbelief. If you struggle with that then Johnny Ruin may not be for you. If, however, you wish to get a more in-depth look at depression then this may give you a small insight into what it is like for one person.
Johnny Ruin by Dan Dalton is available now.
The story is about a man struggling to deal with his mental health – this is at its very base level but what is developed throughout the narrative is that our protagonist looks at the things that have happened in his life that have been catalysts to his depression or the things that have led to his depression. It looks at how mental health problems are not quick fixes, they are constant and rolling and you will have good times and bad times. It looks at how the pit of despair can be so vast that you can only see the darkness and not the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chock full of metaphor and allegory, Johnny Ruin is a great short read for anyone who is able to suspend their disbelief. If you struggle with that then Johnny Ruin may not be for you. If, however, you wish to get a more in-depth look at depression then this may give you a small insight into what it is like for one person.
Johnny Ruin by Dan Dalton is available now.
June 27, 2019
An interesting concept for an even more interesting subject - depression, heartbreak, loneliness, forgiveness. The book is told from a first person perspective: a male, on a quest to find himself. I actually really enjoyed the 'stream of consciousness' type of writing, where the narrator floats in and out of present day observations and past life stories. I have suffered with bouts of depression and anxiety for most of my adult life and I thought the author's descriptions of the symptoms and feelings were very accurate. As a female, I found it very hard to identify with the narrator since so many of his stories and observations were motivated by sex, drugs, brotherhood and just general masculine ideals; this book is saturated with male-ness. For that reason, I found myself wanting to skip ahead or roll my eyes at certain parts. Overall I enjoyed the exploration of the narrator's journey but could not fully enjoy the meaning.
August 3, 2018
I don't know. I guess I liked the candid description of a post-break-up depression. The fallacy being to build your whole world around someone, which means that it is this whole world that crumbles when things fall apart. The short sentences, short paragraphs style I find appealing, it is a trend in literature, I think, and one I am into - one I also use in my own writing.
But the whole Jon Bon Jovi thing was like a joke or metaphor that got out of hand, fun at the start, but then it got increasingly weird, like an extended conversation between stoners.
Can't really recommend it, in the end. Maybe only if you are going through a break-up, and it hurts like hell.
But the whole Jon Bon Jovi thing was like a joke or metaphor that got out of hand, fun at the start, but then it got increasingly weird, like an extended conversation between stoners.
Can't really recommend it, in the end. Maybe only if you are going through a break-up, and it hurts like hell.
May 31, 2025
I can't tell if this book is good or if I just relate to the main character and his thoughts a lot at this current moment in time. It's a book club book that I didn't expect to like based on the blurb... And I kinda don't know if I do like it but so much of what Johnny says, feels, and thinks post his break up is so relatable that it had me reading on to find more similarities.
Early chapters are by far the best, I think it loses its way a bit in the middle but sticks a solid landing. I don't think I'd recommend the book... I'm unsure if I'd read it again... But there's something about it, I guess the author is right. Any book is a self-help book, if you read it right.
Early chapters are by far the best, I think it loses its way a bit in the middle but sticks a solid landing. I don't think I'd recommend the book... I'm unsure if I'd read it again... But there's something about it, I guess the author is right. Any book is a self-help book, if you read it right.
March 22, 2018
The words are beautiful. You feel like you know place and time, like you have been in Johnny Ruin’s world before. It is familiar Americana and DD’s purposeful use of US tropes so you know the setting is a bit magical, a bit other-worldly. It’s a boysy book. But the kind of boysy we need more of – the main character is strong yet vulnerable and desperately sad as we (and he) come to understand how hard life can be. His tenderness is an antidote to toxic masculinity. Great, strong stuff. It lives on in my mind.
August 27, 2018
Strange and intense, often heart-twistingly melancholy, sometimes veering off into a howl into the abyss, yet shot through with lightning bolts of hope and a wicked, often self-deprecating sense of humour; the story unspools, pulling the reader along inexorably in it's wake, revealing its layers like peeling of an onion skin, ending ambiguously.
Also - to save this review from turning into a poem - it's full of quotable lines; my personal favourite (and one I happen to wholeheartedly agree with) is this: "Talking to yourself is just practice for conversations you haven't had yet."
Also - to save this review from turning into a poem - it's full of quotable lines; my personal favourite (and one I happen to wholeheartedly agree with) is this: "Talking to yourself is just practice for conversations you haven't had yet."
March 26, 2018
Such a refreshing, honest view on how todays society deal with heartbreak and mental illness. The author has a poetic style of writing that pulls at your own heartstrings and memories.
I tagged along with the narrator & Jon Bon Jovi on the emotional rollercoaster that is Johnny Ruin & struggled to put it down; I felt a common ground during several parts of the book & gasped in the parts with a twist.
Already looking forward to the next offering from this talented author.
I tagged along with the narrator & Jon Bon Jovi on the emotional rollercoaster that is Johnny Ruin & struggled to put it down; I felt a common ground during several parts of the book & gasped in the parts with a twist.
Already looking forward to the next offering from this talented author.
April 28, 2018
Unreadable disjointed crap.
I supported this through the crowd funding, and I know this is the risk you take with that sort of thing (it isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed with a project)
From the other reviews here and elsewhere on the internet it’s clear some people like the book but I just can’t get past the weird style. Make sure you read a sample chapter before committing to this
I supported this through the crowd funding, and I know this is the risk you take with that sort of thing (it isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed with a project)
From the other reviews here and elsewhere on the internet it’s clear some people like the book but I just can’t get past the weird style. Make sure you read a sample chapter before committing to this
October 7, 2024
This book has been helpful to me. I already can’t get it out of my head. I love the comparisons to Eternal Sunshine and It’s a Wonderful Life (but with less snow and more raw lust)
It’s fragmented and disjointed in the sense that the main character is taking a journey through his own mind, examining his memories, experiences, thoughts under a microscope alongside none other than Jon Bon Jovi.
It’s fragmented and disjointed in the sense that the main character is taking a journey through his own mind, examining his memories, experiences, thoughts under a microscope alongside none other than Jon Bon Jovi.
March 22, 2018
I loved this book. Its a beautiful journey looking into the soul of the narrator. Its raw, real and will make you look back at the events that have shaped who you are. Definitely recommend to anyone, highly recommend listening to Bon Jovi or Joy Division while reading.
May 28, 2018
I’m not a particular fan of Jon Bon Jovi or his band, but I am a fan of brilliantly written, original riffs on the human condition, and this book delivers. Our narrator embarks on a US road trip of the mind, with JBJ as a somewhat unreliable spirit guide. As they travel through non-contiguous states, and states of mind – Indiana/Jealousy is followed by Pennsylvania/Violence – memories play on a loop; an appalling road accident in which his best friend dies, the traumatic break-up of the all-consuming relationship that we just know that, in spite of his best efforts, will continue to define him.
This hugely inventive novel deserves to do well, and I’m really looking forward to more from the author.
This hugely inventive novel deserves to do well, and I’m really looking forward to more from the author.
March 22, 2018
Well, this was one helluva ride.
I used to read Dan Dalton's Buzzfeed articles avidly, and always connected with his style - particularly when he'd write about relationships. He manages to find that sweet spot between heartbreak and humour, and JOHNNY RUIN, his first novel, is no different. A road trip through the mind of our heartbroken narrator, accompanied by that wise sage, Jon Bon Jovi? That's both bonkers and brilliant, at the same time.
With the spirit of FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS and ON THE ROAD, JOHNNY RUIN is full of heart and imagination by the bucketload.
I used to read Dan Dalton's Buzzfeed articles avidly, and always connected with his style - particularly when he'd write about relationships. He manages to find that sweet spot between heartbreak and humour, and JOHNNY RUIN, his first novel, is no different. A road trip through the mind of our heartbroken narrator, accompanied by that wise sage, Jon Bon Jovi? That's both bonkers and brilliant, at the same time.
With the spirit of FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS and ON THE ROAD, JOHNNY RUIN is full of heart and imagination by the bucketload.
April 12, 2018
Road trip? Raw talent? Yes please!
When you laugh, sob and hope through every state, as the road trip across America drives, rattles and gallops to it's conclusion. Beautifully crafted and all through the mind of our narrator.
Read it and then read it again!
When you laugh, sob and hope through every state, as the road trip across America drives, rattles and gallops to it's conclusion. Beautifully crafted and all through the mind of our narrator.
Read it and then read it again!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews