The Last Good Halloween, A Novel
My debut novel, The Last Good Halloween, was released in late 2013. In 2014, it was a finalist for a High Plains Book Award. For those of you who don't know much about the book, here's the back cover description my publisher came up with:
"Like most teens, Kirby Russo doesn’t want much out of life: a stable home, a few friends, some sense of direction and purpose. And a cocktail now and then. And maybe a quiet bathroom where he can rub one out when the need strikes. But his world’s upended when he comes home from computer camp to find his stepfather gone and his mom sleeping with a neighbor. In short order, he recruits two friends to join him on a trek to track down his stepfather and convince him to rejoin the family. Never mind the fact that they’re at that age where you take yourself seriously, but no one else does. And never mind the fact that none of them own a car—when you steal one from a family member, it’s really more like borrowing. (Especially if they won’t know it’s gone.) And never mind the fact that Kirby doesn’t know as much about his home life as he thinks he does."
And here's what the reviewers are saying:
"Part Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Cromley’s book will make you laugh out loud and at the same time think carefully about the fragility of being a teenager." - Montana Magazine
"Not too many of us would like to be 15 again. But we can all enjoy a road trip through life written as well as Giano Cromley has done with The Last Good Halloween.” - Billings Gazette
"I found myself caring about these characters to an amazing degree, and Cromley induced this sympathy without employing an ounce of sap. That’s quite a feat." - Lastbestnews.com
"...the story and tone have a timeless feel, and Kirby's struggles with self-exploration are very relatable. Overall, the novel's strength lies in its evocation of how it feels to live in a sometimes-disappointing world. A well-structured, enjoyable tale about growing up and letting go." -Kirkus Reviews
RECOMMENDED. "It gets a lot of things right about the teenage experience: the bad decisions, the awkward sexuality, and the narrow-minded perspective... [t]here's a powerful irony in Kirby's search for a father in a country that supposedly had a clear patriarch." -Newcity
"Mr. Cromley has a light touch and a keen ear for dialogue. His observations on adolescent life may not be piercing, but they ring true. Kirby steers his way through life with an endearing blend of awkwardness, personal charm, humor, anger and defiance, trying, at least, to every day get a little better." -The Billings Outpost
The book is available through numerous on-line merchants or in fine bookstores everywhere. If, however, you're interested in obtaining a signed copy, you can click on the "ADD TO CART" button below and order it straight from me. However you choose to get your hands on it, I hope you enjoy the read!
"Like most teens, Kirby Russo doesn’t want much out of life: a stable home, a few friends, some sense of direction and purpose. And a cocktail now and then. And maybe a quiet bathroom where he can rub one out when the need strikes. But his world’s upended when he comes home from computer camp to find his stepfather gone and his mom sleeping with a neighbor. In short order, he recruits two friends to join him on a trek to track down his stepfather and convince him to rejoin the family. Never mind the fact that they’re at that age where you take yourself seriously, but no one else does. And never mind the fact that none of them own a car—when you steal one from a family member, it’s really more like borrowing. (Especially if they won’t know it’s gone.) And never mind the fact that Kirby doesn’t know as much about his home life as he thinks he does."
And here's what the reviewers are saying:
"Part Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Cromley’s book will make you laugh out loud and at the same time think carefully about the fragility of being a teenager." - Montana Magazine
"Not too many of us would like to be 15 again. But we can all enjoy a road trip through life written as well as Giano Cromley has done with The Last Good Halloween.” - Billings Gazette
"I found myself caring about these characters to an amazing degree, and Cromley induced this sympathy without employing an ounce of sap. That’s quite a feat." - Lastbestnews.com
"...the story and tone have a timeless feel, and Kirby's struggles with self-exploration are very relatable. Overall, the novel's strength lies in its evocation of how it feels to live in a sometimes-disappointing world. A well-structured, enjoyable tale about growing up and letting go." -Kirkus Reviews
RECOMMENDED. "It gets a lot of things right about the teenage experience: the bad decisions, the awkward sexuality, and the narrow-minded perspective... [t]here's a powerful irony in Kirby's search for a father in a country that supposedly had a clear patriarch." -Newcity
"Mr. Cromley has a light touch and a keen ear for dialogue. His observations on adolescent life may not be piercing, but they ring true. Kirby steers his way through life with an endearing blend of awkwardness, personal charm, humor, anger and defiance, trying, at least, to every day get a little better." -The Billings Outpost
The book is available through numerous on-line merchants or in fine bookstores everywhere. If, however, you're interested in obtaining a signed copy, you can click on the "ADD TO CART" button below and order it straight from me. However you choose to get your hands on it, I hope you enjoy the read!