“Tracks” by Jesse Severson

Tracks

Jesse Severson
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8253248904
Reviewed by Jordan Durfee for Reader Views (06/2026)

First and foremost, I cried. Jesse Severson’s Tracks was so utterly beautiful and emotional and touching, I couldn’t help but cry, especially at the end. The narrative filled me with profound sadness, but even more, it filled me with profound hope. Centering on the friendship between two women, Kate and Maria, and how their best-friendship has evolved and changed over the years, the narrative also focuses on the effects of social media on mental health. Given the age we live in, and me being part of the “social media generation,” so many of Maria’s struggles I have either felt myself or witnessed in those I care about. I can’t express enough how brilliant and emotional this novella is; everyone must read it.

To get more into what made this novella great, I first have to address the writing style. Author Jesse Severson’s style, while at times simplistic on the surface, has a way of wheedling into your heart and mind. The novella was filled with truly profound sentiments and reflections, especially during what I have come to think of as the Narrator’s chapters, where readers are directly addressed. The narrator brings up short but impactful allegories, thoughts, and emotions regarding mental health struggles, the cycle of life, and the cycle of friendship. Are our relationships woven together by some higher power, be it fate or something else? Do we meet someone because they will change us, for worse or for better? Are relationships best when you fight for them, no matter where life leads, or is it best to let them fade? So many existential ponderings are brought up by the narrator, who intercedes between difficult or changing moments in Maria and Kate’s lives. The added philosophy between the chapters of Maria and Kate’s evolving lives and friendships made the emotions and the connection between the two of them far more impactful, shading their past and future actions in a new lens. The profound narration is a large part of what made this novel so emotionally impactful to me.

Not only was the writing a leading cause of why I loved this novella, but Maria and Kate themselves were the reason I loved it. While their characterization is tied to how they were written, the emotions I felt while reading about them were all my own. Maria, in particular, hit me hard. Many of her mental health struggles are ones I have witnessed within people I care about. Reading about the decline of her mental health hurt, as I just wanted to reach through the pages and help her. Thankfully, despite the chasm that starts opening, Maria has Kate. Life pushed them apart for a bit, but finding their way back to one another was the best thing for both of them. The ending of the book, the hopeful note their friendship leaves off on, made the tears start flowing. The two of them will be sitting with me for a long time; at the end of Tracks, they almost feel like friends.

All in all, I recommend Tracks by Jesse Severson to anyone and everyone, especially those who enjoy realistic fiction, journeys of mental health and friendship, and anyone who is seeking a bit of hope and support in their life. While profound sadness may be felt at times as you read, it’s nothing compared to the profound hope you will feel, too.