Thank you to Celadon Books, MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC/ALC!

Our narrator, a Biracial Black man, is reeling from the sudden death of his teenage son. One. Day, he receives a letter from an attorney stating he just inherited a plot of land from his estranged grandfather. So he travels to a beach town south of where he is currently living and finds much more than he expected. He is stunned to find out he is now the owner of a former plantation passed down by the men on his mother’s side of the family. This alone is difficult, but combine it with the strange experiences he begins to have while there, ends for shocking results.

I feel like this story deserves its own moment of silence; it was just that profound. The emotion was raw and thought-provoking and although I tend to stay away from “heavy” reads, I am so glad I gave this one a listen. John Vercher expertly blurred the lines of reality and fiction, in a way that reminded of Gabino Iglesis’ “Devil Takes You Home”. I am in awe of how well message of this story - the difficulty our narrator faced as a Black man, becoming a plantation owner - was embedded in every bit of the story, as he struggled to tell what was real and what wasn’t. Interspersed with bits of dark humor, this story will stay with me for a LONG time. It deserves each and every star! I look forward to seeing what John Vercher does next!

On audio, Dion Graham was PERFECTION! He perfectly embodied these characters and brought them to life. If you listen to audiobooks, you know what I mean when you hear “the voice” - one that causes you to automatically look for audiobooks read by the same narrator. I eagerly am doing the same for Dion Graham.

”Devil is Fine” releases June 18, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Devil is Fine by John Vercher is a literary fiction novel that explores many different themes. This book is essentially about a man struggling to come to terms with his grief after the death of his son. He talks to his dead son and reflects on his life. While I did feel empathy for the main character I did struggle to find him likeable. He was so stuck in his grief that he came across as self absorbed at times. I did enjoy the progression of the plot. There was almost no point where I could predict what would happen next. I liked the unexpected twists. I did get bored throughout the story but the excellent writing was enough to keep me interested until the end.

If you're looking for a deep and thoughtful story with themes of grief, family tragedy, fatherhood, race, and a little bit of the paranormal then Devil is Fine is for you!


Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of a man wheeling in grief, a man whose mistakes have dominated his life, who hits bottom and finds his way back. For most of the novel, you won’t like this man, and you will be unsure of the line between psychological and physical illness and reality.

He has lost his son, the fruit of a one night stand with a friend, a son with whom he could never connect. He is not going to earn tenure if he can’t find a publisher for his second book, but times have changed and no one cares about “racial narratives”. As a biracial man with a black father and white mother, he has struggled with identity all of his life.

He discovers he has inherited a plantation from his mother’s father. It was to go to his son. He makes the trip to the shore, intending to sell the land. After seventeen years of sobriety, he accepts a drink, which does not go well with his Lexapro. He has a blackout, walks into the ocean, and is stung by a jellyfish. His leg becomes infected. He learns that there are bodies of masters and slaves on the plantation grounds.

As he plummets in a downward spiral, haunted by visions and ghosts, he gains a few friends. He faces up to his past, and inspired by his recollected son’s sharp insights and understanding, finds the courage to change.

I delighted in reading such a unique novel, so dark and darkly humorous, so deep and psychologically and culturally rich.

Thanks to Celadon Books for a free book through NetGalley.

I thought I knew how my review would go until the final paragraph. I was going to say this is a book about grief, finding yourself, racism, slavery, being biracial, and then jellyfish? I don't know how to rate this book or even review it. I actually was able to get a physical ARC from the publisher and it is a short book. The book opens with a funeral procession. It is the funeral for the narrator's son. We get flashbacks with the son and the narrator talks to us the reader but it is more that he is talking to his dead son. The narrator has a black father and a white mother. His white grandfather leaves him some beachfront property that we find out used to be a plantation. He has to reconcile his whiteness with his blackness. I feel like this book was maybe trying to be too much. There were so many issues happening to the narrator, so of course he then tries to drink his sorrows away. I guess I can add alcoholism and drug abuse as well. I wanted to keep reading to try to figure it all out but I don't know if I did. What did I just read? It is very trippy. John Vercher is a fantastic storyteller.
-Rationalization the mother of procrastination.

-"You don't stop being afraid of things when you become a parent. You stop showing your fear the way you used to is all."

This was an absolutely stunning novel by John Vercher. It combines elements of mystery, fantasy, and tragedy in a beautiful narrative about a grieving biracial man who inherits a plot of land from his white great grandfather. It explores the complexities of father-son relationships through an ongoing one-sided conversation between the narrator and his son.

Throughout the story the narrator deals with visions and various odd physical experiences. At no point did I ever know where the story was going next. The flashbacks and fantasy-like elements were really well done.

My favorite part of the novel was the gorgeous prose. There were so many vivid descriptions and lots of quotes that made me gasp or stop reading to reflect. I’ll be recommending this book to everyone.

Let me preface this review by saying that this book is way out of my usual genre. I am definitely not the intended audience for this book.

Devil is Fine is about a biracial man who is struggling with the sudden death of his teenage son. The narrator learns that he has inherited some land, a former plantation, from his white mother’s father.

The story sounded interesting which is why I chose to read it. I often enjoy fiction/historical fiction books. This author, however, lost me with the portions in italics and all the jellyfish talk. The story just didn’t go in the direction I anticipated.

I did thoroughly enjoy the fact that the narrator is talking to his son during the entire book. And I also loved the chapters with the father/son flashbacks.

Bottom line, this book is written beautifully and I am sure other people will absolutely love it. Other readers will love all the symbolism but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC.

“If your devil is real, send me to him. If I got to choose between your God and the devil, then the devil is fine. Send me to him so I can haunt you and yours until all your dying days.”

I chose this book to review based on its description and author’s credentials – after quickly scanning the internet and finding positive blurbs regarding his previous work, I dove in. I was pulled in immediately and not disappointed with the experience.

The novel opens somberly with a divorced man attending his teenage son’s funeral and it’s clear he has strained relations with his ex-wife and parents. Utilizing the stream-of-conscious/inner voice technique, we learn quickly that he is haunted and gain insight into the protagonist’s points of view, hear his inner thoughts, and understand his emotions, actions, and motivations. This choice worked well because the novel is deeply layered and is influenced by religious, political, social, economic, and racial aspects – all blending together in a dizzying dysfunctional mess of a man grappling to make sense of it all: father-son relationships, challenges to faith/religion, survivor’s guilt. Via the lens of academia and the publishing industry, we see him deal with diversity, equality, and inclusion issues, identity politics, the desire to belong, and the bi-/multi-racial conundrums of navigating difficult spaces as “other.”

These are heavy, multi-dimensional topics alone; so when he discovers he has inherited land (specifically a former slave plantation) and gruesome discoveries on said land, his problems are exacerbated to the point of otherworldly delusions. The use of humor, word-play, witty monologues/dialogues, insightful observations is where the author shines brilliantly – akin to (in my opinion) the comedic stylings of Percival Everett and Paul Beatty. The witticisms, vulnerability, and wholesomeness of the protagonist made him a likable character (in fact, the entire cast was richly flushed out very well) – I was rooting for him from the beginning through the end.

I enjoyed this offering tremendously and will add this author’s previous work to my backlog.

Thanks to the publisher, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

I had no idea what to expect from this book going in, but this was an incredible story with beautiful prose. I was hooked from the very first page!

Our biracial narrator has recently lost his teenaged son. This book, told in a stream of consciousness style, follows him as her learns to navigate his grief and his new life--he blames himself for the loss of his son, his job situation isn't what he wanted, he's divorced, and he's tired of being told writing about Black issues isn't "trendy" anymore. This is a story about loss, about grief, and about finding strength within yourself and learning how to heal when you haven't had those role models or a support system to help you.

There are stories in this book that can resonate with anyone, there are stories that are difficult (but necessary) to read. And there are bits that I found a bit unrealistic in a practical sense, but still entertaining, nonetheless.

It was witty, it was emotional, it was relatable (even for me as a white woman that doesn't have kids!), and it was beautiful. If you're looking for a book to make you feel something, and something that truly speaks to what it means to be human, then this one is for you.

In Devil Is Fine, John Vercher introduces us to a biracial college professor trying to come to terms with his son's death. Following his son's death, he learns that he has inherited land from his white side of the family. The land was the site of a plantation. How will a black man deal with owning land that was likely worked by slaves? To fully comprehend his inheritance, he decides to visit the property. As he travels, he remembers events from his son's life. Strange events begin occurring and he loses track of time. What could be happening to him?

Devil Is Fine is a unique story of legacy, heritage, and relationships, Does evil taint an area where tragedy occurred? Can people sense evil? This book examines the interaction of past and present, relationships, and race. Full of surprises, we are rewarded with a satisfying ending.

The narrator’s son has died, and he finds out that the teenage son had inherited land from an estranged grandfather who had passed.
Traveling several hours away and with every intention of selling the land, he discovers that it was a former plantation owned by the men on his white mother’s side of the family. As a biracial Black man struggling with his identity, this is more than he can handle. Will he sell the land passed down through the generations or try to reclaim this painful legacy and start anew?

Overall, this was an ok read. I struggled with the constant flipping between past and present and found the whole novel confusing and sometimes dragging. The build-up felt like it was meant to connect the reader to the narrator's pain by allowing little peaks of the past. Unfortunately, I wasn’t motivated to continue reading and stopped short almost halfway through.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

At no point was I ever sure what was going to happen next in “Devil is Fine” by John Vercher. Vercher’s latest release felt like an acid trip at times, as readers witness a man, grieving over the loss of his son, begins to witness things that directly contradict reality. It was just the right amount of weird, it did not overload the senses.

One of the things I loved the most about this book was the writing itself. Vercher is truly a master of his craft. I felt myself sucked into the book by his writing alone.

There is so much humanity in this novel. Imperfection of the family is a constant. The main character is unlikeable in many regards. However, I still felt for him, as I felt like I went through his struggled alongside him. It is difficult to not feel for someone who is losing his mind.

Overall, Vercher wrote a captivating and thought provoking novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Will post my reviews to social media 2 weeks prior to release.

I was thrilled to pieces when I was gifted a print copy of this from Celadon Books and a digital copy through NetGalley. This was a book that has been on my radar and that I wanted to read. While not my normal kind of read, let me say, the hype is real and this is the kind of book that will be loved by book clubs for years to come.
This is a novel of so many topics layered together perfectly – grief, love, addiction, pride and shame. There are so many unforgettable characters in this novel. I would love to see it adapted into a movie. The grief that the father has for the death of his son is real and raw. I just really would like to see everyone read this to share and to talk about. You will be surprised at how pertinent this is, how beautiful, how poignant. (and you will understand why there is a jellyfish on the cover)

Not sure how to put my feelings about this book into words. Emotions I am not sure about.
The life of a biracial man who inherits a plantar from his grandfather. He is struggling with grief from the unexpected loss of his son.
Heartbreaking and compelling story.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this book.

The narrator is a bi-racial black man that is reeling over the death of his teenage son. He is now divorced, lost his job, unsure of his place and an author that unable to write. He is having panic attacks, delusions and turning to drugs and alcohol. An inheritance of a property that at one time was a plantation holds a history and secret which is discovered and gives him insight and a purpose.

Thank you Celadon Books.

Oh this was fabulous! Honestly when Celadon reached out wanting me to review this, I was hesitant. I hadn’t heard of the author or book before and I figure why not? Glad I did!

We get such a tragic, but honest story of a mixed race person. A whole cast of strong characters. Did I want to scream at the MC at times? Yes. Did he have growth? Heck yes!

Listen though, this book will not be for everyone and that’s good. It is there for those who need it. It is very meta, perhaps too much so at some points. I still recommend this one though!

Thank you to Celadon Books for the physical ARC and NetGalley for the eARC! Thank you John Vercher for this story! This review is given in honesty in exchange for the ARCs.

Devil is Fine by John Vercher releases June 18, 2024!

What an absolute pleasure it's been to read John Vercher's newest novel "Devil is Fine" -- ON SHELVES June 18th (right after Father's Day which adds to its perfection). This novel is a love letter, an amends, a heartbreak of missed opportunities delivered from father to son. But it's also a study in grief, pain, addiction, pride, and shame. It's a beautiful work of so many layers.

With the release under one month away, I hope this review helps to amplify what a beautiful and important book he has written. I've read both of John Vercher's prior novels--character-driven stories of conflict and redemption. This man can truly write some unforgettable characters and storylines. His real-life voice is very present in his writing -- intelligent, funny, sharp, powerful.

Both of the prior books were notably well-written and interesting (great plots, memorable characters, big stakes) so I had a positive feeling before starting this third release.. I first had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version - narrated by Dion Graham - who was simply superb. I cannot recommend this option strongly enough. Dion Graham brings these rich characters to life -- his reading nuanced and just perfect.

I also hope it's adapted to film (or, like many books nowadays, to a series) because the material demands to be told in all modalities.

I was recently provided with the electronic copy of the book (thanks #Celadon and #NetGalley) and will reread it (not entirely uncommon but only revisited in alternate formats when the material is absolutely stellar.

This book is stellar and totally worth it!

The characters in "Devil is Fine" are very authentically drawn and multi-dimensional. From the unnamed narrator -- a guilt-ridden, quick-witted writer/professor -- to the diverse and stellar cast of supporting and colorful characters in his world). Some of this gang includes a traffic flagger, rideshare driver, dive bar owner and her one unforgettable customer from "The Thristy Scholar" bar (not a misspelling)! Some of the most emotionally resonant moments take place in that very bar (and some of the hottest "literary" burns 🔥-- thank you, Clarence). The supporting players in this genuine "hero's journey" are layered, vulnerable, and unforgettable.

I won't get into the plot too deeply (other reviews have and that's what the synopsis is for). Briefly, this is a guilt and shame-ridden man who has lost his son in an car accident (for which he feels personally responsible) and, throughout the novel, he is attempting to outrun, outjoke, and outdrink his fear. He lacks, in his own words, "bravery" and the novels opens with the funeral of his young son. He literally cannot breathe due to panic attacks, and Vercher's writing made me hold my own breath in these poignant moments.

Following the funeral, a series of heavy events unfold surrounding issues of race (in the present and throughout history), the frenetic shifts in societal support, conflict and politics in academia and the broader world, the growing chasm of divisiveness everywhere (Vercher appropriately calls the "movement du jour") and the reality that America's roots are not remotely objective (to say the least).

And -- on top of all of these issues and topics -- these lies a supernatural, other-worldly component in the telling. And jellyfish. Real and powerfully metaphorical and symbolic.

This book is an absolute knockout. The ending lands, heartbreaking but also hopeful, and a legacy is left. For me it felt like nesting dolls of interrelated pieces that come full circle -- ohhhh how I loved that magical flagger. In my own life, nothing touches a moment of compassion from an unexpected source—and this book has many!! Perfectly depicted.

I invite readers to embark on a LITERALLY transformative journey with a character I rooted for in every possible way. Beautiful. Read it on 6/18 and also experience the audiobook. Oh, Dion. And hopefully we'll be able to see it come to life on the screen (the story itself SO rich and ready for adaptation). Thank you #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio via #CeladonBooks. Just loved this one

Macmillan Audio ALC
This was heartbreaking and tender look at loss of a teenage child from a father's POV, who is having such an understandably hard time. This book explored fatherhood, blackness, culture shifts, and other points - that would be a spoiler if mentioned - in such a uniquely voiced way. The book almost read as a stream of consciousness sometimes and coupled with Dion Graham's narration, made it such a gripping story. It also got a bit weird at times, and I honestly didn't mind it too much. At first I was a bit lost, but it did start feeling like the right thing to fit this story. This is one that will stick with me for a while, and I am so glad I got to listen to the audiobook because the performance really added so much depth to this story.

**Features:**
- A biracial main character coming to terms with his grief, identity, and a complicated family history/legacy
- Explores themes of loss, grief, addiction, identity, fatherhood, and disenfranchised groups finding their voice
- Set in a US northeastern coastal town
- Heavy and reflective with moments that push the edges of reality

One can be haunted by many things in many ways, and this narrator experiences almost every way possible. This story starts with an emotional drive to his son’s funeral and never really lets up from there. However, the narrative style gives it a calm, reflective feel despite some of the more intense moments. I am not the biggest fan of the main character, but I think a lot of the complicated feelings I have about him are intentional.Through this character, Vercher masterfully manages to capture your attention and empathy while still leaving room for thoughtful criticism. This story pushes the edges of reality though it never completely crosses into the realm of paranormal or fantasy. Both this and the heaviness of the story mean that this book isn’t really for everyone. However, if you are looking for a read that is equally beautiful and tragic with just a sprinkle of paranormal oddity mixed in, I would highly recommend this book!

**Pro: Grief you can feel**

After the death of his son, the unnamed narrator of this story receives a notice informing him of a plot of land that had been left to his son by the narrator’s grandfather. While the narrator tries to piece together what to do with the land and the dark family history it reveals, he is also under threat of losing his job due to his failure to publish. The story bounces back and forth between the present and past memories and is written as a one-way conversation the narrator is having with his deceased son. The style gives this a very somber, reflective feel even as dramatic things continue to happen to the narrator in the present.

Due to the style of writing, the reader gets to see the narrator at his most vulnerable throughout. Though I expected the narrator to try and make excuses or present a skewed picture of things, it is quickly clear that the narrator’s goal is to be honest and critical, especially with himself. In this way, we live through his grief not only emotionally, but physically as well. We experience his panic attacks, night terrors, sleep paralysis, and other physical manifestations of his inner turmoil in a visceral way. This book is definitely one of the best representations of immense grief and how all-consuming it can become.

**The Breakdown: A hard man to like**

The narrator of this story is easy to empathize with, but hard to actually like. Despite being vulnerable and introspective when describing things to his son (and the reader), his external actions and dialogue are very different. Though some of what he says and does are understandable for someone grieving, the vast majority reveal him to be a somewhat self-centered and callous individual. Though he reflects on these moments, it is clear for some of them that there is still some disconnect. For others, even when he realizes the harm done, he doesn’t seem to learn and attempt to adjust his behavior. We do eventually see some growth in the present, but it feels almost arbitrary after all of the harm that has already been done.

Though I ended up not really liking the narrator for most of the book, I was still really invested in his story. There were a lot of things I could empathize with and I found some of his reflections and introspection to be extremely powerful. Healing and change are a process, and I think a tragic character like this really highlights that point. Despite all of his flaws, the narrator is still someone that I wanted to succeed in finding his place.

Impressive emotive first person writing. The narrator's internal dialogue on grief and relationships is very relatable. The history that the main character uncovers is weaved seamlessly into modern problems that we still struggle with today, the main characters own emotional recovery, growth and mental health. 'Devil is Fine' is, in general, a father's conversation with his deceased teenage son. It's a part of the grief process that we all recognize. As a reader if you enjoy character-based plots this is for you. It's slow but this novel will stick with you.

"DEADLIFT
I don’t
know how to weigh loss
But I do know how heavy it is."

Devil is Fine
4/5

It is a little difficult to articulate my feelings about this book. From the first chapter of this book, everytime I would read it, there would be an uncomfortable pit in my stomach. Sometimes it was from the devastating relationship between a father and son, other times it was because of the heart wrenching discoveries made, and other times it was because I was annoyed at the main character. Here is the thing though, I really enjoyed this novel. John Vercher is an incredibly talented author with a gift for constantly making the reader question what is happening.

This story follows a bi-racial narrator after the tragic death of his son. The narrator is an author, who inherits his white grandfather's plantation. The plantation calls to the narrator and many difficult discoveries are uncovered there. This book is literary fiction with some light horror elements. There were many times that I was unsure what was reality while reading. I especially liked the horror imagery used as it related to the narrator’s body. The discussions the narrator has with his son through this book, especially towards the end are very moving but as a parent, also very devastating. While this book made me uncomfortable for most of it, the end did bring a feeling of peace. Overall a beautiful, thought-provoking read.

Thank you @celadonbooks and @netgalley for this ARC.