I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill - OPTIONAL

I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill, 400 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: R (81 swears, 16 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Five years ago, the case of the Trojan Mask Murders was closed when Deuce was found dead with a gun in his hand, assumedly having killed himself over the guilt of what he had done. But at the death of Deuce’s uncle, Sampson, someone posts about knowing Deuce was innocent—the only person other than Sampson to suggest it. Pryce, having just finished his first year at university majoring in journalism, starts his own investigation based on that statement and follows the story.

Pryce makes mistakes as he chases down the truth, and those are my favorite parts of his story. The twists and turns and mess of secrets Pryce unveils feels like so many other books in this genre, and Pryce stands out because Emill lets him feel like the amateur journalist sleuthing around that he is. Everything else was still enjoyable to read, and readers will scoot to the edge of their seats as they get sucked in with every page, all those feelings typical of this genre.

The majority of characters are Black, and several significant characters, including Pryce and Isaiah, are gay. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, including mentions of underage drinking; kissing; illegal activity; mentions of nudity, pornography, pedophiles, and sex; and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, and for mentions of domestic violence, child and sexual abuse, rape, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson