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The 52 Book Club's 2025 Challenge - hosted by the52bookclub

Breaks the fourth wall
The fourth wall is an imaginary wall that separates the reader from the characters. We as the reader can see and understand the story, but usually characters don't know of or acknowledge the existence of a reader. When a character breaks the fourth wall, they're removing the barrier between the reader and themselves.

In literature, there are a variety of ways a book may break the fourth wall. One of the most common ways perhaps, is addressing the reader directly. (Think of the famous line from Jane Eyre: "Reader, I married him.")

Narrators may address the reader with side comments or an authorial intrusion. (For example, in The Princess Bride, the narrator uses asides marked in parentheses to comment on the story.) 

Breaking the fourth wall is also commonly used in metafiction. Metafiction intentionally references the work's fictional nature. An example of this is when the narrator or characters are aware of or acknowledge that they are fictional characters. 

While there are a variety of interpretations as to what breaking the fourth wall looks like within literature, for this prompt, we're looking for books that break the barrier between reader and character. It may be something occurring constantly within the book, or only a line or two sprinkled throughout. If you think that's happening in the story, it counts toward this prompt! 
All books added
If It Bleeds by Stephen King

If It Bleeds

Holly Gibney #2

Stephen King

393 pages • paperback • 2020

fiction horror mystery short stories thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin

The Kingdom of Gods

Inheritance Trilogy #3

N.K. Jemisin

16 hours, 58 minutes • audio • 2011

fiction fantasy adventurous dark medium-paced
Faking It by Portia MacIntosh

Faking It

Portia MacIntosh

320 pages • digital • 2021

fiction contemporary romance lighthearted fast-paced
Imperium by Robert Harris

Imperium

Cicero #1

Robert Harris

384 pages • hardcover • 2006

fiction historical thriller informative tense medium-paced
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

The House of My Mother

Shari Franke

7 hours, 9 minutes • audio • 2025

nonfiction memoir emotional reflective sad fast-paced
Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down The Last Remaining Lesbian Bars In America by Krista Burton

Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down The Last Remaining Lesbian Bars In America

Krista Burton

320 pages • digital • 2023

nonfiction lgbtqia+ memoir travel funny hopeful informative medium-paced
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn and Related Readings by Mark Twain

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn and Related Readings

Mark Twain

416 pages • 1997

fiction classics adventurous funny fast-paced
The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits

The Rest of Our Lives

Benjamin Markovits

240 pages • hardcover • 2025

fiction literary emotional reflective medium-paced
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

Madwoman

Chelsea Bieker

326 pages • hardcover • 2024

fiction literary thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

The Lost Sisters

The Folk of the Air #1.5

Holly Black

50 pages • digital • 2018

fiction fantasy short stories young adult emotional reflective fast-paced