Paint Dries as a Train Goes Off The Rails
by Nicholas Marchuk
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Pub Date Aug 22 2025 | Archive Date Aug 14 2025
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Description
When a freight train crashes into Connor’s neighborhood, the ensuing fire leaves him homeless. He shares a cramped hotel room with his restless yet magnetic coworker, Kara. Thrown together as they rebuild, it's easy for them to fall for each other.
When their cherished neighborhood is set to be demolished and replaced with a park, she leads Connor and his friends on a last-ditch act of defiance: a concert at the site of the accident, featuring the musicians who lost their homes, to prove their community is worth saving.
As friendships, relationships, and lives are strained, he confronts a simple question: What if giving all of something isn’t enough?
Featured Reviews
Louise G, Reviewer
I loved this. The writing style is a strange mix of very modern and very other worldly and it really works. Somehow, without actually saying much, the characters burst to life. You are immersed in their world, which is clearly a different world to your own as it is now but which is scarily probable, too. It’s also an interesting combination of funny and tragic. There are some genuinely funny incidents and some really giggle-worthy dialogue, but there is also a strong sense of the dystopian and the need to find hope in the hopeless.
Kate T, Reviewer
this book touched upon so much for me. but frustratingly for you its hard for me to put that into words without you all reading the words for yourself! it a feeling you get from the story, the way its told, the words used. its a vibe and sense of people, places and conversations had. its looks, stares and friendships. its awkward hugs and support for those you cherish and those you meet. its taking on thoughts and relating it to the world and to yourself. i want to make sense of what im saying but it does...when you read the book. because its a quiet book but loud in that quietness. there is more to it. and more to the notes you write in your heard as you read. i found myself pulled into this cast of characters. i was charmed by Connor and sometimes felt i related to him too much that it made me sad. and i was rooting for him throughout. and i just wanted to sit there in a chair ssssh the world and read his journey in this book play out.
the small observations that Nicholas has bought into this book is so good. it felt like i was seeing it all too. i loved feeling part of the banter and conversations between the group.
and the love in this book was again done quietly but still felt as powerful and as meaningful.
i dont know how to put it other than this was a gentle and thoughtful book that lingered in my heart for the whole time i was reading it. i felt like i should be playing a background song as i was reading it. or was there one playing in my head?
love it. and my review wont do it justice. at all.
