Javier De Lucia
Javier De Lucia is an award-winning author of contemporary literary fiction, weaving richly layered stories that combine dark, biting humor with profound explorations of the human experience. His debut novel, The Wake of Expectations, and its follow-up, A Pleasant Fiction: A Novelistic Memoir, blend personal introspection with universal truths to capture the bittersweet realities of love, loss, and the search for identity.
Having come of age in the 1990s, Javier’s work has a distinctive Gen X flavor. Yet, his stories deal with themes that are relevant to any generation: friendship, family, and the redemptive power of human connection, as well as existential questions about meaning and resilience. His characters are complex and authentic—flawed and profoundly human—inviting readers to find reflections of themselves in the narrative.
Javier’s work is not just an exploration of the past, but also a bridge to the present, offering readers a chance to reflect and critique; to discover and connect with the extraordinary within the ordinary.
Calvin "Cal" McShane should have the world by the balls.
He's just been accepted into his dream college, and his parents have won the lottery. But instead of celebrating, he finds himself drifting further from the people he loves and the future he imagined.
Set in a time before smartphones, when connection meant looking across the table instead of into a screen, The Wake of Expectations is a funny, heartfelt, and deeply human exploration of dreams deferred and dreams derailed, the courage to choose your own path, and the transformative power of love, friendship and self-discovery.
Mature themes and adult humor are woven throughout, so reader discretion is advised.
2025 Maxy Awards Book of the Year
2025 Firebird Book Awards Winner - Coming-of-Age
2025 Literary Titan Award Winner
“It’s poetry with teeth. And it lingers.”
“His words crackle with emotion… It’s meant to cut. It’s meant to hurt. And it does, in the best way.”
—Literary Titan
Read the full review by Literary Titan: https://literarytitan.com/2025/04/29/the-wake-of-expectations/
“Highly original and engaging...raw and honest in a way that's hard to look away from.”
“A poignant meditation on adolescence, identity, and the often-painful process of growing up.”
—International Review of Books
Read the full review by International Review of Books: https://booksgosocial.com/2025/04/03/the-wake-of-expectations-by-javier-de-lucia/
"[A] genuinely impressive achievement... a laugh-out-loud funny, deeply felt reading experience, and I so hope it connects with future readers as it has with me."
— Former Senior Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins & Little, Brown
⭐ More Praise for The Wake of Expectations ⭐
"A humorous and poignant exploration of ambition, family dynamics, and the search for personal truth."
"The novel is richly infused with 1990s nostalgia, using pop culture references to create an immersive and authentic backdrop for Calvin’s coming-of-age story."
"Calvin McShane’s journey is a compelling meditation on the tension between dreams and reality, artistic ambition and familial obligation."
"The witty banter and humorous exchanges between Calvin, Ben, and Jake add levity and entertainment value, particularly in their discussions about sex, relationships, and pop culture."
"The novel succeeds in balancing humor with heartfelt moments, ensuring that even its most absurd moments carry emotional weight."
"Comparable in tone to High Fidelity and The Catcher in the Rye, this novel blends biting humor with moments of introspection, offering a unique perspective on young adulthood."
A Pleasant Fiction: A Novelistic Memoir
will be released on July 1, 2025
eBook available for pre-order on Amazon now!
https://a.co/d/dmtFNtP
Is this all there is?
Calvin McShane has lost everyone who made him who he is. As he prepares his parents' home for sale after their deaths, he navigates the rooms of his childhood one last time—sorting through his family's belongings, unearthing long-buried memories, and reckoning with the weight of what was said, what was left unsaid, and what was never truly heard.
Set in the quiet spaces between loss and remembrance, A Pleasant Fiction is an immersive and unflinchingly honest novelistic memoir, blending lived experience with literary storytelling. With raw vulnerability and emotional depth, Calvin revisits his past—his complicated family, his long-abandoned musical ambitions, and the friendships that shaped him—searching for meaning in what remains.
Literary Titan Gold Award (5 Stars)
“This is a novel about what it means to grow up and grow older. And for those who have loved and lost, it rings painfully and beautifully true.”
"A Pleasant Fiction elevates the series from charming autobiographical fiction to something far more profound."
- Literary Titan
Read the full review by Literary Titan: A Pleasant Fiction: A Novelistic Memoir | LITERARY TITAN
Five Stars from Readers' Favorite
"A mesmerizing novel written as a memoir that powerfully illustrates how we carry fragments of our past with us."
- Divine Zape, Readers' Favorite
"...the author fills the pages with passages that capture the characters' humanity and are infused with realism... The skillfully crafted first-person narrative voice grips the reader and never lets go."
- Ruffina Oserio, Readers' Favorite
"...this lesson-filled story is a must-read for anyone who enjoys realistic tales about family, friendship, and the complexities of life."
- Luwi Nyakansaila, Readers' Favorite
"The non-linear structure allows readers to understand the book's lessons and themes better."
- Doreen Chombu, Readers' Favorite
5-Stars from Matt McAvoy Book Review!
"Personal, profound and poignant...Javier explores so profoundly and intuitively into Cal’s mindset he is either an incarnation of the writer’s psyche, or Javier is a tremendously decent writer; I already know the latter is true, and I am pretty sure about the former."
-Matt McAvoy
Read the full review: "A Pleasant Fiction" by Javier De Lucia
International Review of Books
"This book doesn’t just make you feel—it makes you recalibrate.”
"A quietly powerful read that reminds us that the capacity for joy and goodness can persist, even under the heaviest of burdens."
“This book compelled me to reflect deeply on my own values—on what truly matters beneath the surface noise of daily life.”
“An inspiring and humbling read.”
- International Review of Books
Read the full review by International Review of Books: Book Review: A Pleasant Fiction: A Novelistic Memoir by Javier De Lucia
⭐ More Praise for A Pleasant Fiction⭐
"A powerful and moving exploration of family dynamics, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The author's honest and vulnerable voice, combined with their skillful use of language and imagery, creates a compelling and unforgettable reading experience."
"The author's writing style is conversational and informal, yet sophisticated. The use of humor and self-deprecating wit keeps the tone light despite the serious themes explored."
"The author doesn't shy away from difficult emotions, portraying the complexities of grief, frustration, and love with unflinching honesty."
"A powerful and emotionally resonant exploration of family, illness, and loss."
"The novel succeeds in creating an intimate and deeply felt reading experience that lingers with the reader, offering both a poignant and cathartic journey through grief and reconciliation."
Sign up for Javier’s mailing list and receive a free eBook or pdf copy of the definitive companion guide to the Gen X literary diptych everyone will be talking about—Coming of Age, Coming to Terms.
This 380-page volume includes:
50 original essays exploring key characters and themes
Character guides with Jungian archetypes and D&D moral alignments
A comprehensive chapter-by-chapter synopsis
16 reprinted thematic blog posts curated for deeper insight
Whether you’ve read The Wake of Expectations, A Pleasant Fiction, or both, this is the guide that makes it all hit harder.