Kevin Wilson’s Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a compelling and heartwarming exploration of the transformative power of art, friendship, and the complex journey of self-discovery. Known for his unique narrative voice and ability to blend humor with poignant themes, Wilson delivers a novel that resonates deeply with the struggles and triumphs of adolescence and the lasting impact of creative expression.

Set in the summer of 1996, the story centers on Frankie Budge, a sixteen-year-old girl navigating the challenges of adolescence in the small town of Coalfield, Tennessee. Frankie’s life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Zeke, a new boy in town who shares her passion for art. Together, they embark on a secret project that begins with a simple phrase: “The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us.” This phrase, coupled with their unique illustrations, becomes a viral phenomenon, sparking curiosity, fear, and chaos in their community.

Wilson excels in capturing the intense emotions and uncertainties of adolescence. Frankie is a vividly drawn character, full of the insecurities, ambitions, and intensity typical of her age. Her journey from a shy, introspective teenager to someone who finds her voice through art is both relatable and inspiring. Zeke, with his mysterious background and artistic sensibilities, complements Frankie perfectly, and their bond forms the emotional core of the novel. Their friendship, marked by creativity and a shared sense of adventure, highlights the importance of finding kindred spirits during formative years.

The novel’s setting in the 1990s adds a nostalgic layer, and Wilson captures the era with authenticity, from the cultural references to the lack of instant communication that heightens the story’s tension. The small-town dynamics are portrayed with nuance, showing how quickly rumors and panic can spread in a close-knit community.

One of the novel’s central themes is the power and unpredictability of art. What begins as a private project between two friends evolves into something much larger, reflecting how art can escape its creator’s control and take on a life of its own. Wilson explores the dual-edged nature of creativity: its ability to connect and inspire, but also to provoke unintended consequences. This theme is particularly relevant in today’s digital age, where content can go viral and impact lives in unforeseen ways.

Wilson’s writing is both accessible and profound, blending humor with moments of deep reflection. His prose is crisp and engaging, capturing the inner lives of his characters with empathy and insight. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, driving the narrative forward and deepening the reader’s connection to the characters.

Now Is Not the Time to Panic also delves into the idea of identity and the search for meaning. Through their art, Frankie and Zeke explore who they are and who they want to become. The novel examines the lasting impact of youthful experiences and the ways in which they shape our adult selves. Frankie’s retrospective look at that pivotal summer, as an adult, adds a layer of introspection and maturity, highlighting the enduring influence of those formative years.

In conclusion, Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of adolescence, the power of art, and the complexities of personal growth. Kevin Wilson’s ability to blend humor, emotion, and thought-provoking themes makes this book a standout. It is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the transformative power of creativity or the intense bonds of youthful friendship. Wilson’s novel is a testament to the enduring impact of art and the importance of finding one’s voice, making it a must-read for both young adults and adults alike.

Underrated in Kevin Wilson's oeuvre. Really strong in its own right, and has just the right amount of John Darnielle to it.

A book with a weird awkward main character? Yes please. Kind of takes you back to your own weird and awkward teen years. I enjoyed this book and the writing style. Very unique and weird in the best possible way.

I think to love this book, I would've had to love the characters more. Sadly, I didn't care much about Zeke or Frankie, and less about their artistic project.

This did remind me a lot of Hank Green's Carl's duology, so I'd definitely recommend it to fans of that book. There were moments in this I enjoyed and bits I loved, but on the whole it didn't affect me as much as I was hoping.

thank you ecco and netgalley for the arc! did i ignore it for 1.5 years? yes. do i still appreciate it? yes! (plz send me more arcs, i am a different person now <3)

let me start by saying that i did not approach this book in an attempt to be a hater. sometimes the hater life just chooses you, and it certainly has chosen me. i really enjoyed nothing to see here when i read it a few years, and i did genuinely think i would enjoy now is not the time to panic as well. unfortunately, this one just fell flat for me.

most of my issues with this book stem from the fact that i did not care about the nonsense phrase at the heart of this weird little romantic adventure. it is truly just nonsense, and no amount of repetition made me invested. i never got it. after reading kevin wilson's writing process for this book and the fact that the phrase existed in real life from one of his friends who passed away, i felt more tied to its inclusion as the foundation of this novel. however, i don't necessarily think that the circumstances of the writing process should make up for the experience i had as a reader. while i can empathize with kevin wilson over the loss of a friend and appreciate that this book serves as a sort of tribute, i still did not really enjoy the book.

i did think the relationship between frankie and zeke contained a lot of sweet and wholesome moments, and i did root for them as people but not as a couple. bring back platonic friendships in novels, i beg. i also felt that the present-day timeline did not work. the stakes weren't as high as the 90s escapades, the resolution wasn't satisfying, and i felt too disconnected from the characters. i almost wish the novel was just in the span of the one summer and the reader was left to speculate about what would happen in the future. instead, the half-baked future plot points were more disappointing than rewarding.

all that being said, this book is fine. it was a quick read, i found myself mildly entertained, and i don't regret my time spent. i think this book does have an audience out there, i am simply not a part of it. :)

Now Is Not the Time to Panic is a book that made me think a lot as I was reading it. It really had me thinking about the things we create and put out into the world and the way we lose control or power over it once it’s out there for everyone to see/consume/share. While most of this book took place pre internet/social media, it seems even more relevant now. I also really loved the author’s note and how much I felt it added to the story. And while it’s not my new favorite book - it still has me considering a tattoo: “The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives and the law is skinny with hunger for us.” Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Libro.fm for the free ebook and audiobook to review.

Well, I simply loved this book! Wilson perfectly captured a feeling and delivered it in a concise, binge-worthy, gripping tale.

Do you ever have times when you can feel a moment from your past in your soul? Think: the last day of school before summer break, your backpack has nothing of value left in it, it's warm, you did nothing at school because there was nothing left to teach, and you step off the bus in the afternoon, run down your street feel speed barreling towards home and the endless summer that lays before you. Because at that age, summer was endless. That feeling in your chest that is so tangible you could reach in and grab it but also intangible that it leaves you with a bit of en oui because you know you'll never feel it play out in real life ever again? That's what Wilson was able to capture and give his readers.

This is the story of two teens over the course of a 1990's summer, sharing love, and art, and a secret that would shape their lives. It's mental health, and coming-of-age. It's first loves and nostalgia, and longing.

Read this book. Listen to the audio if you can. I will endlessly recommend this book!

This is a wonderful tale for creatives and artists who want a mystery, a coming of age story and a setting in the mid-90s!

Kevin Wilson won my heart with Nothing to See here. So I'm kicking myself for not reading this one sooner because it has the same warmth and relatability and humor. In this story, we follow Frankie, a teenage girl just trying to make it through a boring summer in the 90s (before the internet was everywhere). She makes a friend in Zeke, a boy visiting his grandmother for the summer. Together they hang out all summer and get to know each other and themselves. They're both artists and they create something, something that takes on a life of its own and now Frankie and Zeke have to live with all of the consequences.
The writing in this is just beautiful. While the characters as a whole may not be relatable, especially for today's teens that don't know a world before smart phones, I believe all readers could find a piece of their teen self in either Frankie or Zeke. They are optimistic and the world is their oyster, until it's not and they have to face it and learn about themselves through the process.
It's just great. Go read it. It's a quick read that will stay with you for a long time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco publishing for an advance digital copy. All opinions are mine.

Engaging, atmospheric, and utterly entertaining. This is a recommended purchase for most fiction collections.

Kevin Wilson! I haven't been reading male authors much because ... IYKYK, but I will always read Kevin Wilson. His Nothing to See Here is my favorite book of all time, so I was excited to read this one. It felt like a trip back in time. Picture this ... It's 1996 in a very small town in Tennessee called Coalfield (which happens to be a stone's throw away from me right now). There is a super weird 16-year-old artsy girl who is awkward and has no friends and doesn't really know how to make friends. Nooooo, that doesn't remind me of anyone in the room I'm in alone right now. Well, that would have been me if I hadn't been brainwashed to believe in jesus and had my youth group friends.

I digress! Kevin Wilson has a way of writing female characters that is so surprising. Normally if men are writing a female main character, I pretty much immediately DNF. But Wilson's characters are deep and complex, and his books are SO EMOTIONAL. Get ready to cry, y'all.

The narrator for the audiobook (Ginnifer Goodwin!) did a fantastic job infusing the emotion in her narration. My only beef would be that she pronounced some things differently than we would here in this part of Tennessee, but no biggie.

A beef with the story itself: I cannot suspend disbelief long enough to believe that coalfield had a Walmart LOL! They don't have one even no--that I know of--but they've got a pretty spiffy Dollar General. :)

Thank you, Kevin Wilson, for this absolute gem (and all the others)! Thank you to the publisher, narrator, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

I loved Wilson’s first book, and I am always down for a book written in Tennessee, so I was delighted to receive this book. Overall, this one is made for contemporary fiction fans looking for a coming-of-age theme with a side of mystery.

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for sharing this book with me.

First let me apologize for delayed review. I had read 51% then stopped. I’m not sure why- thinking it was around time my brother had failing liver/kidney. So I started from the beginning and finished in 3 days. Now Is Not The Time To Panic is very well written and structured. Frankie and Zeke are two teenagers whose lives collide one summer. Zeke is the artsy nerd recently moved into Frankie’s town with his mother (cheating dad). He finds Frankie (loner girl) at the local pool and their lives become tangled in this powerful novel about teenage rebellion, emptiness, wanting to belong, secrets, acceptance, art, death, friendship, and so much more. Dual timeline with majority taking place ‘that summer’ in the 90’s when mysterious art and quote hung around a town goes viral. Thank you NetGalley and Ecco Pub for ARC in exchange for my review

Funny and lovely. The relationships here were beautiful and lived-in. I appreciated the perspective. And I love how the author manages to slip in humor without making things cheesy. His writing is just so human.

Wilson perfectly captures the boredom of small town life and how something so small as a flyer can get magnified to hysterics when there is very little else to occupy your mind. Anyone who's a member of a neighborhood social media group surely has seen this happen. +1 for the 90's nostalgia- thanks for the memory trip.

I loved this book! This was the first book I read by the author and now I'm busy reading the author's backlisted books.

Two sixteen years old teenagers hold each other with their differences, unique aspects to the world, shared hates for their own dads, their sadness, resentments, and extraordinary abilities.

Frankie’s whole life changes when a young, nerdy, artsy boy Zeke moves from Memphis with her violin prodigy mom after his dad’s cheating. They are both outsiders, loners. When Zeke asks her to spend the summer by creating art, it seems like an innocent offer.

Frankie decides to use Xerox copy machine that her brothers stole, which left broken at their garage. Zeke fixes the machine and a few tries later they start creating their own posters: they even add a few drops of their own blood and suddenly those epic words appear on Frankie’s mind: “The edge is shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us.”
After they finish, they start making copies, posting them around the town. The poster goes viral and lots of things happen. It is deemed by many as “troubling street art” and “Satanic”.

The story alternates to the present time where their past comes back to them..because no one ever knew who made the poster as it was a secret.

You need to read this book to experience it. So good.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tender coming-of-age story infused with humor. Frankie and Zeke are indelible characters, both young, both artistic, both weird. Wilson's writing style is charming and witty and he does a terrific job of balancing that with some of the more somber moments in Frankie's and Zeke's journeys. Set in 1996 in rural Tennessee, it tells of Frankie and Zeke conspiring to create posters with an odd saying. These posters lead to what is known as the Coalfield Panic, a nod to their town and the hysteria created by the posters. Jump forward to 2017 and Frankie is an adult, a writer, a wife and mother. A reporter contacts her wanting to know about 1996. Will this upend Frankie's carefully constructed life? Read on to find out. Recommended.

This was a semi-odd book that started to really grow on me as the book went on. I think it captures the desire to be cool, not even necessarily fit-in but have your own special thing. It certainly captured the awkwardness of being a young person and not quite understanding sexual desires (yours or others). It shows that you can make major impacts and certain things will stick with you throughout your life. This book hit on the same note that I felt Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick also did. Had similar feels to Perks of Being a Wallflower and while it did hit home for me in some ways, I think had I read this book in high school or my early 20's I would have been enamored. I did enjoy it but I'm at a different phase in my life, *late* (eek!) 30's and my reading style has evolved in some ways. Nonetheless, I enjoyed how odd yet familiar this book was.

I really enjoyed this book! It really captured the feeling of being young and feeling so, so weird. I loved the commentary on art and the different ways that culture catches on.

Zeke and Frankie are outcasts that find each other. They spend one summer hanging out, having fun together, and creating an art project that eventually gets out of hand. Zeke creates the artwork and Frankie writes the quote. Thanks to a stolen copier, her brothers' idea, she is able to make many copies of the poster. Zeke and Frankie decide to take the copies and spread them around the town. What comes next is total chaos and a summer that no one forgets. This is the second book I have read from Kevin Wilson and now I want to read more.