The Stuff What Actually Is
A Novel
by J.A. Nunn
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Pub Date Jun 03 2025 | Archive Date Jun 02 2025
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Description
The moving story of a young British immigrant who, drafted after Pearl Harbor and stationed in the Jim Crow South, begins to question basic assumptions about his adoptive country—as well as himself.
It’s 1942. Mervyn Gower, a college dropout and wannabe boxer, works as a locker boy at the Beverly Hills YMCA but trains under “Mugsy” Levine—part-time boxing mentor and full-time local gangster—at an LA gym closer to home. Despite Gower’s desire to fit in, he is forced to compete as “The Welsh Kid” and sees being drafted as his chance to prove himself a “real American.”
Assigned to a segregated Army base in the South, Gower finds a very different America from the one portrayed in the movies. It’s punctuated with “Colored Only” signs, civilians forced into internment camps, and better treatment of German POWs than Black US soldiers.
Inspired by real-life stories and backed by author J.A. Nunn’s thorough research, The Stuff What Actually Is explores the inner life of a young fighter as he recognizes the inequities he encounters, one bout at a time.
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781964721484 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 364 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Ashli R, Reviewer
Unflinching, beautifully written, and disturbingly relevant. J.A. Nunn nailed this one.
5/5 Stars — A Powerful, Unflinching Look at Identity, Belonging, and America’s Darker Truths
The Stuff What Actually Is took me by surprise in the best way. J.A. Nunn delivers a moving, deeply human story about a young man trying to find his place in a country he thought he understood — only to realize how much lies beneath the surface.
Mervyn Gower is an unforgettable protagonist. His journey from scrappy boxer and outsider to a man reckoning with injustice, prejudice, and his own complicity is handled with remarkable heart and nuance. The novel doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of 1940s America — from the blatant racism of the Jim Crow South to the shocking disparities between how people were treated based on race and nationality — but it also captures the quiet moments of courage, empathy, and awakening that can change a person’s life.
The boxing backdrop adds grit and urgency to the story, while the rich historical detail immerses you in a time period that feels both distant and disturbingly familiar. Nunn’s writing is sharp, heartfelt, and layered with meaning, making this not just a great historical novel but a vital reminder of the conversations we’re still having today.
If you’re drawn to character-driven historical fiction with social commentary and a beating heart, The Stuff What Actually Is is an absolute must-read.
#TheStuffWhatActuallyIs #NetGalley.
