Book Review: So Far Gone by Jess Walter. Content Warning.
Overview
"So Far Gone," published on June 10, 2025, by HarperCollins, is Jess Walter’s eighth novel, a fast-paced, comedic yet poignant road novel set in contemporary America. The story follows Rhys Kinnick, a retired environmental journalist who, disillusioned by a polarized society and personal failures, has lived off-grid in a cinder block cabin in Washington state for seven years. When his grandchildren, Leah and Asher, unexpectedly arrive at his doorstep, fleeing their stepfather’s ties to a Christian Nationalist militia, Rhys is thrust back into the world he abandoned. The novel blends dark humor, social commentary, and heartfelt redemption as Rhys embarks on a chaotic quest to rescue his family and confront the fractured state of modern America. Walter’s signature wit and humanism shine through, making "So Far Gone" both a thrilling adventure and a reflective critique of extremism, isolation, and the search for connection.
