*American Mythology* by Giano Cromley is a raw, reflective, and quietly powerful novel that hit me much harder than I expected. It’s a story steeped in memory, masculinity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive—about our families, our country, and our own identities.

The narrative unfolds with a slow-burning intensity, pulling you into a deeply personal reckoning that feels both intimate and universal. Cromley’s writing is understated but precise—he knows exactly when to twist the knife and when to let silence do the heavy lifting. There’s a lot of emotional weight here, but it never feels forced. Instead, it builds naturally, layer by layer, until you're immersed in something much bigger than one man's journey.

What really stood out to me was how the book explores legacy—not just what we inherit, but what we choose to carry forward and what we try to leave behind. The relationships are complicated, especially between fathers and sons, and the way Cromley captures those tensions felt heartbreakingly real.

*American Mythology* isn’t flashy or overly dramatic—it’s honest, unflinching, and deeply moving. It made me reflect, and it stayed with me long after I turned the last page. A quiet triumph.

American Mythology is fun adventure set in the wilds of Montana. Jute and Vergil, along with Vergil's daughter Rye, Dr. Marcus Bernard and budding documentary filmmaker, Vicky Xu set out to find Bigfoot. It's an engaging read and a delightful story with a few scares and laughs along the way.. I really like the ending and felt it fit very well with the novel's tone.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

If you're looking for a summer read that blends humor, heart and the elusive North American Wood Ape (commonly known as Bigfoot), then this is the book for you. Filled with a cast dynamic characters and just enough creeping suspense, American Mythology had me laughing and biting my nails in equal measure.

Cromley weaves a beautiful tale of adult male friendship that is deeply refreshing in the context of a destructive "male loneliness epidemic" plaguing our society. Outcasts are embraced here and people are given permission to believe in magic. This has the feel of an instant classic.