Flux

By Jinwoo Chong

Book Overview

A New York Times Editor's Choice Best Book of 2023 by Esquire, Apple Books, HuffPost, GQ, Cosmopolitan, and Goodreads.Finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut NovelVCU Cabell First Novelist Award
"Brazen, exhilarating, fun, and surprising I couldn't predict where this novel was going, but I was definitely along for the ride." -- Ling Ma, author of Severance

A blazingly original and stylish debut novel about a young man whose reality unravels when he suspects his mysterious employers have inadvertently discovered time travel--and are using it to cover up a string of violent crimes . . .

Four days before Christmas, 8-year-old Bo loses his mother in a tragic accident, 28-year-old Brandon loses his job after a hostile takeover of his big-media employer, and 48-year-old Blue, a key witness in a criminal trial against an infamous now-defunct tech startup, struggles to reconnect with his family.

So begins Jinwoo Chong's dazzling, time-bending debut that blends elements of neo-noir and speculative fiction as the lives of Bo, Brandon, and Blue begin to intersect, uncovering a vast network of secrets and an experimental technology that threatens to upend life itself. Intertwined with them is the saga of an iconic '80s detective show, Raider, whose star actor has imploded spectacularly after revelations of long-term, concealed abuse.

Flux is a haunting and sometimes shocking exploration of the cyclical nature of grief, of moving past trauma, and of the pervasive nature of whiteness within the development of Asian identity in America.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1685890342
• ISBN13: 9781685890346
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Melville House Publishing
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Mind Bending Story About Life and Memory

Flux is a thoughtful and mind-bending novel that explores how our memories, identities, and stories are shaped by the media we consume and the comfort we cling to. Told through the life of one man at three different stages, the story weaves personal growth, nostalgia, and hidden truths into a layered and emotional journey. It asks deep questions—how much of our past is real, and how much have we quietly edited to fit who we want to be? The book blends science fiction, emotional drama, and pop culture commentary in a way that feels both surreal and deeply personal. At its heart, Flux is about the stories we believe, the ones we tell ourselves, and the hard truths we sometimes avoid. It’s a challenging, creative, and strangely comforting read that invites you to reflect on your own life and the quiet compromises you’ve made along the way.