Reboot

A Novel

By: Justin Taylor

Narrated by: Justin Taylor

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR

A raucous and wickedly smart satire of Hollywood, toxic fandom, and our chronically online culture, following a washed-up actor on his quest to revive the cult TV show that catapulted him to teenage fame

"A performance full of wit and rigor"—New York Times Book Review

David Crader is a has-been. A former child actor from the hit teen drama Rev Beach, he now rotates between his new roles as deadbeat dad, recovering alcoholic, and occasional videogame voice actor. But when David is summoned to Los Angeles by Grace, his ex-wife and former co-star, he suddenly sees an opportunity for a reboot—not just of the show that made him famous, but also of his listless existence.

Hollywood, the Internet, and a fractured nation have other plans, however, and David soon drinks himself to a realization: This seemingly innocuous revival of an old Buffy rip-off could be the spark that sets ablaze a nation gripped by far-right conspiracy, climate catastrophe, and mass violence.

Reboot is a madcap speculative comedy for our era of glass-eyed doom-scrolling and Millennial nostalgia—and yet it’s still full of heart. It’s a tale of former teen heartthrobs, striving parents, internet edgelords, and fish-faced cryptids, for anyone who has looked back on their life and wanted—even if but for a moment—to hit “reset.”

Lyrical Ninjitsu

Not sure how to write this up. There is so much to enjoy in this story, it’s hard to pick any one element. But the alliteration and creative ability of the author leaves one’s ears and mind in a state of awe.

There were a few twists and turns that caught me off guard and made me chuckle. Its heartwarming theme is one that resonated with me, especially the parts about my own glory days. Parts of the story hit really close to home, making me consider my own Reboot.

Definitely worth the read.

Diminishing Rewards

I really enjoyed “Reboot” until the end when the wheels came off. The fictional memoir is filled with Chinese boxes and innumerable pop culture references. Taylor writes with terrific skill and is wickedly funny. He also is not a bad narrator (I usually dislike authors’ unskillful reading of their own work). The end snaps from the bizarre to the syrupy conventional, so an otherwise delightful read ended with disappointment.