Get our latest staff recommendations, award news and digital catalog links right to your inbox.
Later Days
By Chip Jacobs
Published by Rare Bird Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
USA Today Bestseller and winner of the 2025 American Writing Awards Prize for General Fiction! In an evocative follow-up to his Los Angeles Times bestselling Arroyo, Chip Jacobs returns with a gripping tale of brotherhood, recklessness, and footloose souls in the anything goes of late-seventies Southern California.
As their elite, all-boys prep school turns coed, transforming from suburban Lord of the Flies to gender-roiled soap opera, two unlikely friends—Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond—alternate rescuing each other from self-destruction amid troubled home lives. Eager to maximize their era as invincible seniors at Stone Canyon Prep, they and their pals commandeer Bob's Big Boy, explore the secret world beneath Caltech, stumble into a possibly supernatural lab animal, and grapple with near-ODs at a playoff game. Just as our heroes manage to graduate, their bond is shattered by a wild gunshot that'll haunt them for decades.
Twenty years later, Luke is a high-powered journalist with a nosediving career, while Denny, a visionary software engineer with plenty of explaining to do, is socked with devastating news. Desperate to make amends for that misbegotten bullet while he can, Denny enlists his estranged friend's help, culminating in an unforgettable meeting with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross that helps them decode what existence means while reconnecting with what matters most.
Later Days is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Perfect for readers drawn to rollercoaster friendships, forgiveness, and the raw beauty of life skimming its edges to Near-Death Experience. With insight into Pasadena's buried histories and the psychological baggage of growing up in the shadows of "Great Men" fathers, Jacobs' second novel is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually sharp.
As their elite, all-boys prep school turns coed, transforming from suburban Lord of the Flies to gender-roiled soap opera, two unlikely friends—Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond—alternate rescuing each other from self-destruction amid troubled home lives. Eager to maximize their era as invincible seniors at Stone Canyon Prep, they and their pals commandeer Bob's Big Boy, explore the secret world beneath Caltech, stumble into a possibly supernatural lab animal, and grapple with near-ODs at a playoff game. Just as our heroes manage to graduate, their bond is shattered by a wild gunshot that'll haunt them for decades.
Twenty years later, Luke is a high-powered journalist with a nosediving career, while Denny, a visionary software engineer with plenty of explaining to do, is socked with devastating news. Desperate to make amends for that misbegotten bullet while he can, Denny enlists his estranged friend's help, culminating in an unforgettable meeting with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross that helps them decode what existence means while reconnecting with what matters most.
Later Days is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Perfect for readers drawn to rollercoaster friendships, forgiveness, and the raw beauty of life skimming its edges to Near-Death Experience. With insight into Pasadena's buried histories and the psychological baggage of growing up in the shadows of "Great Men" fathers, Jacobs' second novel is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually sharp.
About The Author
Chip Jacobs is a genre-crossing author and prize-winning journalist. His first novel, Arroyo, about Pasadena, California's mysterious Colorado Street Bridge, was a Los Angeles Times bestseller, CrimeReads most anticipated book and Independent Book Publisher Award honoree. Among his other books are the international bestselling Smogtown, which he co-wrote with William J. Kelly and is under development for a streaming series, the acclaimed black-comedy, true-crime story,The Darkest Glare, and the Indies Book of the Year Finalist, Strange As It Seems. Jacobs’ reporting and subjects have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Marketplace, CNN, LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Daily News , and elsewhere. Learn more at chipjacobs.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Rare Bird Books (September 22, 2026)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781644285947
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
“A powerful portrait … that simmers with maturity, life expectations and dreams, and satisfyingly unexpected evolution.”
– Midwest Book Review
"One-part Dead Poets Society and two-parts Lord of the Flies … Jacobs perfectly captures the specific textures of the era … without indulging in That ’70s Show’s cartoonish nostalgia … An honest, emotionally rewarding (narrative)."
– IndieReader
“Emotional and brilliantly written … One of the most compelling and honest coming of age stories that I’ve read … This one’s special.”
– David Morgan
“Heartfelt, sharply observed story about friendship, forgiveness, and the fragile line between youth’s invincibility and adulthood’s reckoning … — Moving, smart, and unforgettable.”
– Cassies Book Reviews
“Later Days is more than a novel, it’s a reminder that even after everything falls apart, there’s still room for grace, humor, and second chances.”
– Book Reviewer Nurse Jackie
“From wild teenage nights to the hard truths of adulthood, this story blends humor, heartbreak, and hope in a way that lingers long after the final page.“
– Book Reviewer Marilyn Gon
“Jacobs has created a lyrical coming of age mottled with the complexities and fragility of growing up…a compelling tale of … the bond that ties us forever.”
– For the Love of the Page
“Humor, drama, and a poignant coming-of-age tale … an enthralling read.”
– Readers’ Favorite
“The writing here is not just immersive, but also deeply emotional and raw; we are not just spectators, but we feel.“
– Book Reviewer Susan J. Ballard
"Jacobs hits paydirt with stirring descriptions of SoCal’s eccentricities."
– Publishers Weekly
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): Later Days
Trade Paperback 9781644285947
-
Author Photo (jpg): Chip Jacobs
(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
Later Days
By Chip Jacobs
Published by Rare Bird Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Join our mailing list!
By clicking 'Sign me up' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the privacy policy and terms of use.
