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
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

Dark Rise

Dark Rise #1

C.S. Pacat

451 pages • digital • 2021

fiction fantasy lgbtqia+ young adult adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Overgrowth by Mira Grant

Overgrowth

Mira Grant

17 hours, 27 minutes • audio • 2025

fiction horror science fiction adventurous dark tense medium-paced
Treasures of AC/DC by Jerry Ewing

Treasures of AC/DC

Jerry Ewing

64 pages • 2012

nonfiction music informative medium-paced
Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm

George Orwell

3 hours, 12 minutes • audio • 1945

fiction classics dystopian literary dark reflective fast-paced
If It Bleeds by Stephen King

If It Bleeds

Holly Gibney #2

Stephen King

434 pages • paperback • 2020

fiction horror mystery short stories thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

Woman in Suite 11

Lo Blacklock #2

Ruth Ware

15 hours, 11 minutes • audio • 2025

fiction thriller mysterious tense medium-paced
Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

Shark Heart: A Love Story

Emily Habeck

416 pages • digital • 2023

fiction literary magical realism emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier

Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard

Peter Nimble #2

Jonathan Auxier

484 pages • paperback • 2016

fiction fantasy middle grade adventurous fast-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
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Wild Dark Shore

Charlotte McConaghy

302 pages • digital • 2025

fiction literary dark emotional mysterious medium-paced