Candyland
Jim Antonini
Pump Fake Press (2026)
ISBN: 979-8234119971
Reviewed by Rachel Dehning for Reader Views (09/2026)
Candyland by Jim Antonini is a drama, more of a tragedy, and the sequel to his previous novel, Bullets for Silverware; both follow Michael, a young pharmacist from West Virginia turned doctoral researcher, now in Boston and needing to rediscover himself after intense and life-altering events that happened to him while in West Virginia. Michael meets an acquaintance from his past- Roger, a local musician in a well-known band- and he doesn’t need to rely on himself any longer to have new experiences; Roger takes care of that all on his own. Through a slew of new and some old characters he meets and interacts with, and a sudden, mysterious murder, Michael learns more about himself, loyalties, and the true nature of man.
Candyland is binge-able and binge-worthy; it keeps you on your toes through its unpredictability and situations that may bring out an audible “gasp!” The story is fast-paced, a page-turner, and all the other words reiterating that it’s not boring, sluggish, or dense. The story is character-driven, but not primarily, since past and present events are the driving or halting forces toward the character’s development. I compared the dialogue to Gilmore Girls, with trademark quick banter that easily fills a page as their conversations go back and forth in a delightful manner. Many aspects of the story read as believable, with realistic situations such as navigating external and internal complications (relationships, emotions, PTSD, losing a job, how childhood has shaped adulthood), and other situations that could also be real, but less likely (living through a near-murder of self, taking care of a murderer by themselves to save a friend).
Candyland is for a mature audience, with language, sexual content, and violence mentioned throughout the story. For me, I was hooked on Michael and figuring out the next thing that would happen to or with him, since I found him to be a fun character, albeit one who gives in to pressure rather quickly; but hey, that’s how the experiences and fun happen. With Candyland being a sequel, it is worth noting for the reader that its predecessor, Bullets for Silverware, is not a required reading to understand this story, as the author includes situations from the first book within and intermixed with the content of this story as a reminder and reasoning for Michael’s actions and choices. Based on my experience with Candyland, I am interested in checking out Antonini’s other books, as I have a good feeling I would love them equally as much.
At a Glance: A character-driven contemporary drama with tragic elements follows a young pharmacist rebuilding his life in Boston as friendship, trauma, and a mysterious killing complicate his search for stability. Mature content includes strong language, sexual situations, and violence.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: contemporary drama, psychological fiction, trauma and recovery, murder mysteries, complicated friendships, fast-paced character stories, witty banter, morally messy characters, mature fiction