3.5 stars

“Everyone has a story in Johnston. Even those who came wandering through for a day or a week or to stay. We're all wrapped up and gauzed in the battles of life and have somehow found ourselves washed ashore here in the middle of nowhere.”

Blue Graffiti by Calahan Skogman transported me into a rural town in Wisconsin called Johnston. The cadence and flow of the story mimic the ebb and flow of life in this town. It can be bleak, cold, dark, and snowy in one chapter and then bright, humid, and scorching hot in another. The main character, Cash, grew up in this town and in each chapter we learn about how deep his roots lie in this broken pavement along the sidewalk of Johnston. We meet Cash’s closest friends, neighbors, bar buddies, some distant family members, and a love interest along the way. I really didn’t understand the romance aspect of this book and the relationship between Rose and Cash. They both had dysfunctional family drama growing up, but their relationship felt Insta-love and I just longed for a deeper connection that mirrored the novel.

This book is so different from the typical romance read and has a poetic style to it as well. We can find Cash retelling about his childhood and the trauma he endured in one chapter while hanging out in the bar with his buddies in another. It was definitely different from what I normally read so it took some time to get used to the way the chapters were written and the writing style as well. Also I kept picturing in my mind Charlie Thurston narrating Cash’s dialogue and I really hope he narrates this book. 🤞🏼

Overall this was an interesting start for a debut novel and I’m curious what is next for Skogman. Thank you to Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This isn’t going to be for everyone bc of the poetic writing style and how character focused it was but I thought it was a beautifully written love note to small town America. The dialog is what stands out the most to me regarding writing. Mirroring a John Steinbeck take on quick dialog was a cool asset to compliment the poetic prose. I wasn’t as compelled by the characters as I hoped I would be and in a character driven story, that’s a bit tough to sit through. You can tell Calahan comes from a poetry background so the prose is pretty but the character work is missing something for my own personal taste. Excited for Cal regardless of my liking of this book! I’d still want to pick up the next book he writes!

“Blue Graffiti” may be the most authentic story I have ever read. Callahan Skogman depicts real living through Cash and his small town life in Johnston. The story walks through many parts of Cash’s life - the lives of the Johnston townsfolk, navigating grief, relatable family and friend relationships, the ups and downs of working, and finding love. This novel does not fit into one box, yet it will have something that could resonate with any reader.

I am from the south, not quite the Midwest area of Johnston. But reading this story brought me right into the small town that my family is from. In our world, the spotlight is on the big players of the world. But life is really made up of the real people who play a part in our lives in those daily small moments. There is nothing more fascinating than a simple person living a simple life, understanding what drives them - their faith, their family. This story is an ode to those people.

“Blue Graffiti” was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I am so thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

First of all thank you thank you thank you to Calahan, Unnamed Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read the book in advance. I've been wanting to read this book for so long and it's definitely one of my most anticipated releases of the year so, once again, thank you!
The writing in this book is phenomenal. The description of the small town, of the people, the place, the details of everything left me in awe. I could really see myself in that town, at Jimmy's chatting with Rose. The descriptive writing paints such vivid images in my mind. I cried in a specific part toward the end.
I have to highlight two parts:
This description of him "There’s some fight to my blue eyes now. The layers of ice shine off the bathroom lights."
and this description of love "I need a woman to play the piano on me.". I've never seen someone describe love like this. When you read the book, you'll understand the quote better in the context of the rest of his thoughts.
The only thing that didn't make it a 5 stars for me was the pacing. It takes a long time Cash and Rose's romance to grow legs and walk. I wish it would've been sooner. But I think the idea of the book was to really have the story of Cash (his past, his present, his struggles) and I totally get that and that was well done.
I just would love more of their romance.
But I totally recommend the book, for sure!!!

2* disappointing

Described by others as breathtaking, heartbreaking, raw or emotional - but I couldn't get into it. Cash seemed to spend his time getting drunk and suffering with a hangover. I thought the plot might become more interesting when he met Rose, unfortunately by then I just didn't care what happened. Have I missed reading the book of the year? I'll never know. DNF.

I can't recommend Blue Graffiti but it seems other readers think differently and have rated it highly.

eARC generously supplied by Unnamed Press and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Oh, I so wanted to love this. The writing was incredibly atmospheric and nostalgic, but it just wasn’t for me. The plot was sluggish and I found it repetitive at times. While I really enjoyed Cash’s character, I struggled to connect on a deeper level and I think that’s because the writing just wasn’t for me. Beautiful atmosphere, just a struggle to connect!

Thank you NetGalley and The Unnamed Press for the ARC.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about this book but towards the end, Calahan Skogman's 'Blue Graffiti' really surprised me. The book centres on the main character, Cash, who lives a mundane life, doing his job and meeting up with his friends, until he sees a mysterious woman in the small town. The story doesn't always focus on Cash's desire to know who this woman is, but it explores the secrets and sad stories of the people around him. The chapters are short and focus on each character, briefly talking about the tragedies or happy experiences they've gone through. I loved all of the characters and the developments, especially Cash, who has gone through something horrific and deals with it in his own ways-some of which are not entirely healthy, but he's coping with it.

The writing is beautiful and poetic. Skogman is quite descriptive of Cash's inner thoughts. I think it helps the reader understand his scattered mind.

Really great book! It was a surprising read. I can't wait to read more of Skogman's work.

“I wept for everything. I wept enough for every kid that ever found something to cry for. All the lonesome souls like me”



“I saw the stars and the moon and felt universal in anguish. I had no ability to sort it out, but it was there, in the blues, and I knew. And I know it now, ever-still"



This is completely different to anything I've ever read in the past. I went into it expecting romance. It is not a romance. It’s so much more than that. I have been anticipating this book since Calahan announced he was writing it, I can’t actually believe I was accepted for the ARC on Netgalley. It’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I love his poetry and this did not disappoint. I hope he continues to write and I’ll eat all of it up!



Calahan is a poet, his writing is simply exquisite. The way he describes the turmoil of losing a parent will always stick with me. Cash is struggling with the mundanity of his life. He talks about the people in the quiet town of Johnston with such adoration and respect. It makes you think of the “little people”, the people who go about their daily life without fanfare. People like my mother who worked every day so that me and my sister wouldn’t lose our home, who go to work and don’t want anything more than to provide for their children. These smalls towns are built up with people like these but all we see are the people on social media bragging about what they can afford. After reading this book you won’t be the same, it will make you think about your neighbours, the people who serve you in the shop, the people you say hello to in the street. Everyone is in their own story.

“We are born into this big mess with a purity, with a goodness. No hate, no anger. It’s only over time, with the pain that comes through the course of life that we get strapped with all the unfortunate things that happen to us. What a shame. We grow older and more careful, hardened and quieter. But every once in a while, you’ll catch a glimpse of yourself in another and maybe you’ll feel like you’re flying”



Skogman’s writing is poetic and dreamy. The way he wrote the love scenes are some of the best I've ever read in a book. The romance is a teeny, tiny part of this story but it is done with tenderness and affection. It’s the kind of book you sit down and read and have to sit afterwards with your thoughts because you don’t quite know what you just read. It isn’t romance or plot heavy but it’s full of heart and soul for a town and characters who are so realistic you could pass them in the street.



Thank you to Netgalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own

Thanks to NetGalley and The Unnamed Press for the opportunity to read Blue Graffiti by Calahan Skogman. Melancholy and beautiful.

This is probably one of the best books I’ve read. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s lost a loved one and to anyone who’s angry at their parents for what their parents did to them. Also for people who are still trying to figure things out, people who are looking for something without knowing what that something is.

I can only compare the feelings I’ve had when reading this book with The Outsiders (and maybe Wait Until Spring, Bandini?). I remember reading that book and just feeling broken and full, just being grateful that I had experienced it. Blue Graffiti has me feeling that same thing. The writing is just spectacular and the story is so mundane that it is heartbreaking. Like, the main character goes through things you’ve probably gone through or know someone that’s been through it, and it makes this intimate story feel so small and so universal.

Story-wise, there isn’t much to this book. Blue Graffiti is an intimate reflection on the tragedy of being human. Cash has lived all his life in middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin, has odd jobs here and there, and meets his friends at the same bar his own father used to get drunk at. This may not seem like a lot, but Skogman really just went all out and made this into a tale about surviving and forgiving the sins of our fathers, faith, and (yes) having the blues.

I’m deeply and utterly obsessed with the writing. This is a book you need to own and DESTROY because I felt like highlighting entire sections and dog-earing so many pages for easy access - but alas, I’m reading an e-ARC so that will have to wait. I found myself reading this book slowly but compulsively. It seems Skogman also writes poetry and you can clearly tell by how he writes because I found myself going over sentences multiple times just amazed and what he had done. Honestly, I am obsessed.

My biggest surprise was that I did not expect to end up choking back tears for half of this book. Well, maybe not ‘half of the book,’ but a few chapters had me on the verge of sobbing. I did not expect to care so much about Cash’s mother. And, damn, Cash’s dad? I don’t know. This was just so tough to read. I kept thinking back on people that I’ve lost myself. There are so many reflections on losing people because of death or because of choice, and it was just very touching and relatable.

My last praise will be a big one for me. I always say I’m a character-focused reader. I also put Stephen King on a pedestal because it doesn’t matter how good or bad his books are, King can introduce a character for two pages and then kill them, and you’ll care about that character. Well, Skogman’s right there with him. This book is a love letter to small towns and what are small towns if not their people? Cash would talk briefly about people that live or lived in the town and have you emotional about them, or you’d smile about them, or you’d worry. I often hate books that don’t manage to make you care about the main character after 400 pages, and here’s Skogman being like “yeah well, this character will only show up on this page” and here you are wanting to give them a hug.

Five stars (though I do want to say this book had some weird stylistic choices that had me raising an eyebrow but oh well we roll).

BLUE GRAFFITI is a poetic read of literary fiction with a little romance added centered around Cash and his life and friendships in the Midwest. Even though this typically isn't the style I'm drawn to reading, I am glad I read it. I can see people really enjoying the story and its unique style. Looking forward to reading the author's poetry as well.

Thank you to Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really applaud Skogman's foray into fiction. You can tell that he comes from writing poetry, because there's a very specific cadence and quality to this book that does suck you in. But it's also a little too reminiscent of other authors to feel sincere. Right about halfway through he namedrops Hemingway, Salinger, Fitzgerald, and Kerouac, and you're like, "yeah, that tracks."

I think he probably achieved exactly what he was going for with this narrative style, so that's why I still say good for him, and this is absolutely worth reading if those four guys happen to be your four favorite authors. But if that's the case, may I recommend you Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver instead?

This book was beautiful. The writing style was different from what I am used to, but in a good way! It sucked me in. The book felt so real and raw and emotional. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can reread it over and over.

So beautiful! It made me laugh, cry, smile... all the emotions.
I cannot WAIT to read more by Calahan!
Thank you SO MUCH for my copy - Netgalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Simply put; I'm not the reader I was prior to having read “Blue Graffiti” by Calahan Skogman, I of course mean this in the best way, though. I was kindly gifted an eARC of this breathtaking read by @unnamedpress (thank you for allowing me to read this breathtaking read early, I'm honestly still pinching myself, truly! 🥺🥹). Why am I not the same reader, though? Well, ever since the first page, I've had a hard time pulling myself away from “Blue Graffiti”, as someone who's ordinarily a chaotic mood reader - I read nothing else from starting and finishing Calahan Skogman's absolutely tender, poetic debut- now, having finished it, I literally feel that veering, vacating void that we feel once we finish books that we simply don't want to end- you know, the ones that join the ranks of all time favourites - “Blue Graffiti” in its exodus heartbeat, held me throughout its poignantly poetic, visceral, hopeful, heart wrenching journey throughout every turn of the page; the setting of small town-middle-of-nowhere Midwestern America, so much of Calahan's own beating heart embedded in his male main character, Cash (he's said that it's loosely based on his upbringing and an ode to his loved ones, I know right, my heart! 🥺🥹). I cannot begin to express how much I loved and appreciated the first person narrative in “Blue Graffiti”, as it felt like we were getting to not only see things through Cash's POV but feel things, too! The writing - so astonishingly (but not surprised - no, not at all), by how achingly tender Calahan's prose is, I mean I've always adored his poetry, but his prose is exquisite in equilibrium! I'm just….honestly….even though I've already read it, I'll be counting down the days for its release and celebrating this absolutely gem of a journey being released - you can definitely be reassured I'll be rereading it to no end and I very much cannot stop thinking about all things “Blue Graffiti” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A beautifully written novel that made me smile and cry; loved the wonderful, in-depth characters and felt like I was part of this incredible, heartwarming story. Looking forward to this author’s next masterpiece.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.