Set during the era of the Vietnam War, The Star Poolroom Boys traces the layered teenage lives of a high schooler nicknamed Fast Eddie and his thrill-chasing contemporaries in rural Alabama. It can be summarized well by tracing its juxtapositions: a slowly, methodically unspooling narrative of Eddie’s traumatic backstory, sandwiched around high speed car chases down a rural Alabama highway; Eddie—a backroads kid in one of the least educated states in the nation—possessing an immaculate vocabulary; a therapist with slicked back hair and prominent yellow teeth. Readers are brought along on Eddie’s tumultuous journey of self-discovery, a journey that spans just one afternoon and evening but contains multitudes.

The novel shines in its depiction of high school boys, their blunt statements, their need to test the boundaries of safety to keep their masculinity intact. It is a direct portal back to the popularity contests, the obsession over looks, and the complex social dynamics that characterize high school. The Vietnam War adds some texture to the plot as a mortal threat to the already topsy-turvy world of the main characters.

There was sometimes a feeling of “where is this going?” as author Edwin Charles dove into yet another memory from Eddie’s past, but by the latter stages the flashbacks had cohered, producing a through-line into the future. While there were no egregious copy errors, several sentences were missing punctuation and a few words were omitted from the novel. These served as an unnecessary distraction from the engrossing story surrounding them.

Those seeking a true window into another place, time, and life stage would do well to fasten their seatbelt tight before opening a copy of The Star Poolroom Boys.

[Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy in exchange for my honest review!]

This book quietly took me by surprise. Set against the backdrop of a small-town poolroom, it’s a deeply reflective story about growing up, holding on, and the unspoken bonds that shape us. The kind of read that doesn’t shout, but lingers—tugging at something tender in you.

Edwin Charles writes with a soft kind of strength, capturing the ache of nostalgia without ever overexplaining it. The atmosphere is rich and moody, full of dusty corners, late nights, and moments that feel pulled straight from memory.

If you love character-driven books that move slowly but leave an emotional mark, The Star Poolroom Boys belongs on your shelf. Quiet, heartfelt, and beautifully human.