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
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Black Buck

Mateo Askaripour

399 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction contemporary race challenging dark funny fast-paced
The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Stranger

Albert Camus

3 hours, 27 minutes • audio • 1942

fiction classics literary dark reflective medium-paced
Endling by Maria Reva

Endling

Maria Reva

10 hours, 48 minutes • audio • 2025

fiction lgbtqia+ literary challenging dark funny medium-paced
Bound & Tide by A.K. Caggiano

Bound & Tide

Villains and Virtues #5

A.K. Caggiano

7 hours, 44 minutes • audio • 2024

fiction fantasy romance adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)? by Zach Zimmerman

Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?

Zach Zimmerman

148 pages • paperback • 2023

nonfiction essays lgbtqia+ funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
Will by Will Smith, Mark Manson

Will

Will Smith, Mark Manson

16 hours, 17 minutes • audio • 2021

nonfiction memoir emotional reflective medium-paced
Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget by Kurt Vonnegut
Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget
—
Kurt Vonnegut

Slagtehal fem eller børnekorstoget

Kurt Vonnegut

207 pages • paperback • 1969

Shadowghast by Thomas Taylor

Shadowghast

The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea #3

Thomas Taylor

352 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction fantasy middle grade adventurous mysterious medium-paced
A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre

A Leopard-Skin Hat

Anne Serre

122 pages • paperback • 2008

fiction literary challenging emotional reflective fast-paced
Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges

Fictions

Jorge Luis Borges

184 pages • paperback • 1944

fiction classics magical realism short stories challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced