Reviews - 11/22/63 | The StoryGraph

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13.1k reviews for:

11/22/63

Stephen King

4.32 AVERAGE

cargrossi's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

why am I so sad after reading this book? life is so unfair :( I got bittersweet feelings, I guess like life itself. It always amazes me how Stephen King keeps writing stories like this, with all the research and details and it shows how much of a great writer he is, this book is amazing, there's no way you'll convince me this didn't actually happen, it's just so real ..

kaik's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

mcsheehan222's review against another edition

5.0

Review by Dana Scully

11/22/63 is Stephen King at his most controlled, most human, and—ironically—most timely. This isn’t just a story about a man trying to stop the assassination of JFK. It’s a story about what happens when you tamper with time, with fate, with the small and seismic moments that shape lives and history alike. And it’s told with such precision, you almost believe it could happen.

Jake Epping is no superhero—he’s a teacher, armed with nothing but decency, determination, and a door to the past. The way King builds the world of late-1950s and early-‘60s America is immersive and intimate, right down to the cigarette smoke and the Cold War unease. And as someone who’s seen firsthand how the fabric of reality can bend under the weight of the unexplained, I found the story’s treatment of time travel refreshingly grounded—and hauntingly plausible.

What elevates 11/22/63 beyond a genre exercise is its heart. The love story at its center is tender and tragic, and the emotional toll of Jake’s mission is as heavy as the historical implications.

5 out of 5 stars. A beautifully written, deeply moving, and eerily resonant novel. Not just one of King’s best—it’s one of the best in modern speculative fiction.

franbiggin's review against another edition

5.0

emotional medium-paced

leezreading's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable

11/22/63 pulled me in from the first chapter and didn’t let go. I thought I was picking up a time-travel story about saving JFK — and while that’s the hook, this book is so much more. It’s about the weight of the past, the love we find along the way, and the heartbreaking truth that not everything can (or should) be changed.

Stephen King’s writing completely transported me to the late 1950s and 60s — you can almost hear the music, taste the food, feel the small-town life. The characters, especially Jake, felt real and complex. I cared so much about them that by the end, it absolutely wrecked me — in the best way.

It’s a long read and there were parts that could have been a little tighter, but honestly, I didn’t mind slowing down and living in the story a little longer. The ending left me feeling devastated but also… at peace. Like some things are meant to be, even when they break your heart.

This book will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend if you’re ready for a story that’s not just about history — it’s about life, love, loss, and acceptance.