Adam Selzer - I'll Be Around <TRUSTED • 2025>

Furthermore, "I'll Be Around" serves as a fascinating bridge in Selzer's bibliography, connecting his fiction to his later non-fiction work as a historian and ghost tour operator. In the novel, the concept of being "around" takes on a quasi-spectral quality. Selzer has spent the better part of the last two decades guiding people through the haunted history of Chicago, separating myth from fact regarding figures like H.H. Holmes or the ghost of Resurrection Mary. He understands that a "ghost" is often just a memory tied to a specific location—an echo of someone who used to be there. In "I'll Be Around," he applies this historical and spectral sensitivity to the teenage experience. The hallways of the high school, the local hangouts, and the quiet streets at night are all haunted by the memories of who the characters used to be and the futures they are afraid to face.

In conclusion, "I'll Be Around" remains a hidden gem in Adam Selzer’s diverse body of work. It stands as a testament to his ability to treat the emotional lives of teenagers with the same respect, curiosity, and depth that he brings to archiving the history of a major American city. By weaving together music, memory, and the bittersweet nature of change, Selzer crafted a story that reminds us that no matter how much we grow or where we go, the people and places that shaped us will always be around. Adam Selzer - I'll Be Around

The central thesis of the novel revolves around the idea of presence and absence. How do we remain present in the lives of those we care about when time, distance, or death pull us apart? Selzer explores this through the lens of teenage friendships and first loves, capturing that specific, aching era of life where every emotion feels monumental and every ending feels like the end of the world. The characters in the book are collectors—of records, of stories, and of moments. They are desperately trying to hold onto a youth that is actively slipping through their fingers. Furthermore, "I'll Be Around" serves as a fascinating