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F.it
James Anderson is a teenager and a high school senior, exhausted by expectations and staring down a future he cannot see or plan for. Everyone wants answers from teachers, parents, friends, and his ex-girlfriend. But all he has is a fog thick enough to choke on. So he falls back on the only philosophy that makes sense f*ck it.
One wild night turns into a chain parties, mistakes, heartbreak, and a girl on a balcony who feels like both trouble and clarity. Caught between who he was and who he might become, James is pulled into the messiest and most exhilarating year of his life.
As friendships strain, consequences stack, and love collapses and reforms in unexpected ways, James has to decide whether f*ck it is freedom or just another way of running from himself.
Raw, intimate, and sharply funny, F.it is a coming-of-age story about pressure, escape, and the terrifying possibility of choosing your own path.
One wild night turns into a chain parties, mistakes, heartbreak, and a girl on a balcony who feels like both trouble and clarity. Caught between who he was and who he might become, James is pulled into the messiest and most exhilarating year of his life.
As friendships strain, consequences stack, and love collapses and reforms in unexpected ways, James has to decide whether f*ck it is freedom or just another way of running from himself.
Raw, intimate, and sharply funny, F.it is a coming-of-age story about pressure, escape, and the terrifying possibility of choosing your own path.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2025
6 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Smith
1 book5 followersFormer teacher, cigarette swirler by aesthetic, Guinness enthusiast by devotion. I’m drawn to stories fuelled by youth, existential grit, rebellion, disillusionment and the kind of characters who spiral beautifully while trying to figure out who they are.
I love rugby and spend most weekends yelling at games, despite a playing career generously described as below mid. When I’m not writing, I’m in the ocean hoping it fixes me, or standing on top of a small Cape Town hill pretending it was a real summit.
I love rugby and spend most weekends yelling at games, despite a playing career generously described as below mid. When I’m not writing, I’m in the ocean hoping it fixes me, or standing on top of a small Cape Town hill pretending it was a real summit.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2026
This book is a comforting, easy read that makes you want to go back in time and give your younger self a big warm hug, and let them know that they're going to be okay!
Once finished, you'll find yourself returning to the story in order to truly understand the complexity of the characters.
Once finished, you'll find yourself returning to the story in order to truly understand the complexity of the characters.
January 29, 2026
I don't really know where to begin so I guess I'll just start with five gold stars for the five golden reading days it took to finish this book cover to cover. Honestly, it's a slightly emotional read, but one that feels familiar and that I know I'll revisit in the future. On the one hand my younger self resonated so deeply with the central character and on the other hand I felt like slapping my forehead everytime he did something profoundly counterintuitive. And that spectrum of emotions made me realise how fantastic of a read this is from a generational point of view. I found it so relatable for my teenage/young adult years but yet it made me realise how the self-inflicted foreheadslap of the 'seniors' that loomed over me in those years felt (now that I'm one of those [hip] 'seniors'). And all at the same time, it somehow can cater to 'all audiences'... well, maybe beyond elementary grades.
There are so many layers to this book that I feel no matter the age I'm at, I will feel comforted by the story. It captures how stupid decisions unfold, how there is actually a logic (albeit sometimes a touch misinformed) behind every behaviour or reaction. It captures how complex emotions are even when they seem pretty straight forward at face value. It reminds the reader that youth isn't just a passing phase, but a chapter in one's life that is a product of choices and surroundings, where a lot of those are choices that were simply wrapped up in poor judgment because we all had to learn by trial and error at one point... and those choices are - for better or worse - a part of that person later on, not just a product of the past. Lastly, it reminds an older reader to retain some grace and patience with others because everyone has their own internal dialogues. And to go back to points 1 and 2 about stupid decisions and complexity, it effortlessly reminds the reader that the logic behind an action always has multiple sides to it.. not 2 like a coin, but like a 20-sided DnD die alongside individual advantage and disadvantage throws.
This book honestly kept me a bit on the edge while also feeling comforting, kind of like when you watch someone slip on ice and grit your teeth for the inevitable damage to come, but then they recover in the last second. And that genuine discomfort x reassurance made it pretty difficult to put the book down once you get started, hence my 5 day stint, which I find is a rare balance to find in new books these days that aren't smut.
On a general note, it was well-written, well-paced, funny, transparent and unique. For one of the first few books I've read in 2026, it's going to be interesting to see what matches it throughout the remaining year in terms of enjoyment. From a more critical eye so I don't just relentlessly gush about the book, there were some terms or references that aren't common in North America despite it being set in the States. This was SO infrequent but it occasionally distracted me as I tried to reckon with why culturally American kids were saying 'keen' or what Hoity Toity is and that it wasn't the expression that was intended, but ostensibly a fragrance. But all it did was teach me some new things that represented other global youths', probably taking from the authors South African background. It ended up being kind of a cool melding of cultures, especially since a lot of the characters were written with varying cultural backgrounds in mind.
I have no single doubt in my mind that whatever book comes next is going to be worth the read, and I'm a bit annoyed I don't have something else to automatically jump to from this author. I could honestly just do a spin off novella about Andi or, fuck it, even Angelo, because I'm sincerely so into how the author builds his characters from a first person POV. Alas, I've got to wait. But if you're reading this review and haven't picked up the book yet, you don't have to wait to read this book. And take it from me (even if you don't know me), I think you won't regret just trying it out, i.e., fuck it.
There are so many layers to this book that I feel no matter the age I'm at, I will feel comforted by the story. It captures how stupid decisions unfold, how there is actually a logic (albeit sometimes a touch misinformed) behind every behaviour or reaction. It captures how complex emotions are even when they seem pretty straight forward at face value. It reminds the reader that youth isn't just a passing phase, but a chapter in one's life that is a product of choices and surroundings, where a lot of those are choices that were simply wrapped up in poor judgment because we all had to learn by trial and error at one point... and those choices are - for better or worse - a part of that person later on, not just a product of the past. Lastly, it reminds an older reader to retain some grace and patience with others because everyone has their own internal dialogues. And to go back to points 1 and 2 about stupid decisions and complexity, it effortlessly reminds the reader that the logic behind an action always has multiple sides to it.. not 2 like a coin, but like a 20-sided DnD die alongside individual advantage and disadvantage throws.
This book honestly kept me a bit on the edge while also feeling comforting, kind of like when you watch someone slip on ice and grit your teeth for the inevitable damage to come, but then they recover in the last second. And that genuine discomfort x reassurance made it pretty difficult to put the book down once you get started, hence my 5 day stint, which I find is a rare balance to find in new books these days that aren't smut.
On a general note, it was well-written, well-paced, funny, transparent and unique. For one of the first few books I've read in 2026, it's going to be interesting to see what matches it throughout the remaining year in terms of enjoyment. From a more critical eye so I don't just relentlessly gush about the book, there were some terms or references that aren't common in North America despite it being set in the States. This was SO infrequent but it occasionally distracted me as I tried to reckon with why culturally American kids were saying 'keen' or what Hoity Toity is and that it wasn't the expression that was intended, but ostensibly a fragrance. But all it did was teach me some new things that represented other global youths', probably taking from the authors South African background. It ended up being kind of a cool melding of cultures, especially since a lot of the characters were written with varying cultural backgrounds in mind.
I have no single doubt in my mind that whatever book comes next is going to be worth the read, and I'm a bit annoyed I don't have something else to automatically jump to from this author. I could honestly just do a spin off novella about Andi or, fuck it, even Angelo, because I'm sincerely so into how the author builds his characters from a first person POV. Alas, I've got to wait. But if you're reading this review and haven't picked up the book yet, you don't have to wait to read this book. And take it from me (even if you don't know me), I think you won't regret just trying it out, i.e., fuck it.
December 31, 2025
I have found my new favorite anti-hero in James. I laughed at his ridiculousness, cried at his vulnerability, was angry at him, but also wanted to hug him as he wobbled his way through his story.
What a rollercoaster of a ride this read was!
I had to stop reading a few times because of the sentence gems in the writing - you know those sentences that just stop you in your tracks and you have to surface from your immersion in the story to let them sink in? This book is so well written. It’s not a story it’s a journey.
Definitely my favorite book of the year. I will be reading it again because it’s that good. I will also be keeping a close eye out for another by this author. What a debut novel. What a talented writer. Well worth the five stars. Pity there aren’t more to give.
What a rollercoaster of a ride this read was!
I had to stop reading a few times because of the sentence gems in the writing - you know those sentences that just stop you in your tracks and you have to surface from your immersion in the story to let them sink in? This book is so well written. It’s not a story it’s a journey.
Definitely my favorite book of the year. I will be reading it again because it’s that good. I will also be keeping a close eye out for another by this author. What a debut novel. What a talented writer. Well worth the five stars. Pity there aren’t more to give.
Review of advance copy received from Author
phenomenal read!
January 25, 2026
I think I may have read my favorite book for 2026 and it’s only January and I’m not even questioning it. I loved this story. I loved the characters. This book is about life and growing up and it is so nostalgic and meaningful. I laughed out loud, I cried, I got angry and I panicked right along with the main character. This should be on everyone’s list to read. Amazing, amazing debut novel. Looking forward to reading anything that JM Smith publishes!
January 22, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book! Well done Jade 👏
From nostalgia at the messiness of life at that age, the all too true pressure of “what is next”, the uncertainty, the fear and friendships that help get you through.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really enjoyed and connected with the character Andi. It felt like I knew her, like a best friend.
A true work of art and I’m quite sad it’s finished. F.It 2???
From nostalgia at the messiness of life at that age, the all too true pressure of “what is next”, the uncertainty, the fear and friendships that help get you through.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really enjoyed and connected with the character Andi. It felt like I knew her, like a best friend.
A true work of art and I’m quite sad it’s finished. F.It 2???
January 9, 2026
A super nostalgic read for anyone who was adventurous in high school. The book maintains a fairly mellow pace throughout and is easy to dip in and out of during the day. I got through it quite quickly (hence the 4 star review), so I’d say it’s perfect for light readers in their early 20s. Be warned of the plot twist at the end though – leaves you wanting to go back and reread certain chapters in light of the new information!
December 27, 2025
PHYSICAL: A fantastic debut novel by South African author, J.M. Smith is a teen drama, historical fiction - sharing a glimpse of a teens life during 2011.
Having lived through the era of reckless “fuck it moments” myself, around about the same age as James Anderson was during the set scene in the book - I can say with honest truth, I was taken back in time. The details of the memories were incredible.
The MMC feels like someone I know, someone I knew, someone I can be best friends with, someone you’d want to experience life with, someone to look up to, while they are following their dream - even when it goes against the grain.
J.M. Smith has written and edited the storyline with such intent! Each chapter has been created to pace you with the characters heads space and energy.
I laughed. I got angry. I cried (uncontrollably). A true 5 star read!
Having lived through the era of reckless “fuck it moments” myself, around about the same age as James Anderson was during the set scene in the book - I can say with honest truth, I was taken back in time. The details of the memories were incredible.
The MMC feels like someone I know, someone I knew, someone I can be best friends with, someone you’d want to experience life with, someone to look up to, while they are following their dream - even when it goes against the grain.
J.M. Smith has written and edited the storyline with such intent! Each chapter has been created to pace you with the characters heads space and energy.
I laughed. I got angry. I cried (uncontrollably). A true 5 star read!
January 31, 2026
Brilliant
This is the author's first book. Im much older than "Jim" the main character. But even though the book is set in America, it took me back to being in my late teens early twenties. Really enjoyed the group dynamics. We all
know someone like those described. If you've ever played Rugby. You'll love bits of this. All in all. A good thoughtful read. Just to add. Not been paid for giving it a 5/5. I really enjoyed it..
This is the author's first book. Im much older than "Jim" the main character. But even though the book is set in America, it took me back to being in my late teens early twenties. Really enjoyed the group dynamics. We all
know someone like those described. If you've ever played Rugby. You'll love bits of this. All in all. A good thoughtful read. Just to add. Not been paid for giving it a 5/5. I really enjoyed it..
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews