A Crippling Fear is a work of fiction in the dark comedy, slice of life, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers owing to explicit language, violence, and sexual situations throughout. Penned by author Ashton Rogers, this is a refreshingly dark and humorous take on the challenges life throws at us and the resilience required to face them. Our protagonist is Bryan Hatcher, who faces a series of misfortunes from a painful breakup to a series of comedic mishaps. Bryan's journey is one of growth and self-acceptance as he confronts his fears and insecurities head-on. The witty and often absurd situations he finds himself in keep the reader entertained while also conveying meaningful life lessons and discussing physical disabilities from a fresh perspective.

Author Ashton Rogers has crafted something truly unique in this deeply engaging novel. What sets this book apart is its ability to blend humor with deeper themes of self-discovery and resilience whilst also tackling somewhat tricky issues of disability representation, which lesser authors might have taken down a gimmicky or stereotypical route. The character of Bryan is relatable to anyone who has felt that life has a way of knocking them down, no matter how hard they try, and it’s his deeply humanizing aspects, mistakes and troubles that allow us to get on his level. The camaraderie between Bryan and his best friend David also adds depth and some fantastic dialogue to the story, showing the importance of friendship in navigating life's challenges. Overall, A Crippling Fear is a delightful dark comedy that reminds us that even in the face of adversity, humor and resilience can go hand in hand. Rogers has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a highly enjoyable read and one I would not hesitate to recommend.

This week I’ve been enjoying Ashton Rogers’ dark comedy novel A Crippling Fear, which is aimed at a more mature audience due to its contents. This is a witty and well-observed tale that follows protagonist Bryan as his life goes from bad to worse in a series of bad breaks that see him suddenly single and unemployed. Desperate for any job going, Bryan manages to land a nursing job for which he is incredibly unqualified, only to find himself in love with the very person he needs to deceive to hold on to his new and only income stream. As the situation spirals further out of control, the lies Bryan has to tell to keep the charade going get bigger and bigger as he threatens to be buried by it all.

What made Bryan’s journey so wickedly enjoyable to read was not just how the universe kept finding new ways to make his life difficult, but how Bryan’s unscrupulous strategies for keeping the plates spinning ended up compounding the problems even further. It’s a delightful irony that honesty could save Bryan from a lot of problems if only it wasn’t due to dishonesty that he was there, to begin with. Ashton Rogers expertly utilizes that irony to create some brutal yet hilarious twists throughout the narrative. This is carefully mixed with dialogue that feels perfectly authentic, even when pushed to a comedic extreme, and the dynamic cast of characters to create A Crippling Fear – an engrossing and darkly entertaining comedy tale.

A Crippling Fear by Ashton Rogers revolves around Bryan, a man struggling with a quarter-life crisis who needs a job, a girlfriend that doesn't have other boyfriends, and a dependable fast-acting anti-diarrhea medicine. While David seems to have everything in the world fall into his lap, Bryan is left scouring the help-wanted ads to find work for which he is woefully unqualified. The wife of a disabled former athlete provides what appears to Bryan to be a dream job. His boss, Deborah, is smokin' hot, and Trevor, a paraplegic baseball hero of Bryan's, is just as happy to have a carer who won't abuse him. Things get explosive for Bryan, quite literally, when Deborah starts to play the field and some below-the-belt low blows start to fire up with both Bryan and Trevor.

I really, really needed a laugh, and Ashton Rogers gave me plenty to smile about in A Crippling Fear. Bryan is the guy you want to root for, partly because he is so desperately pathetic that you need him to thrive so you can avoid further secondhand embarrassment, and partly because he's deserving of a break. Rogers nails the writing by balancing intelligent wit with slapstick scenarios and keeping the dialogue feeling authentic. This authenticity extends to Bryan, who, despite being the quintessential underdog, is still fallible enough to make choices that have the potential to hurt others the same way he has been hurt and do it being aware of this. Rogers fleshes out even the moderately ancillary characters, Christopher being the standout, whose hard times are reflected in atrocious personal hygiene and who would certainly go to prison if the world were run by the fashion police. Overall, Rogers has gifted us with a fantastic piece of fiction that I have no doubt will entertain all who pick it up. Very highly recommended.

I enjoyed Ashton Roger's other titles and this one was no exception. Funny from beginning to end. Couldn't put it down. The relationship between Bryan and David was the best part. I love a good underdog story.

I thought it was great. Very funny. The bromance between Bryan and David is perfect.

Weird And Wonderful! A wild ride from start to finish, “A Crippling Fear” is equal parts horrifying, hilarious, and poignant. The dynamic between the two main characters is phenomenal, offering a realistic look at brotherhood and the lengths one might go through to protect their loved ones. While there is much enjoyment to be found in the story arc involving a paraplegic ex-baseball star, the most profound moments were the divulging paths the brothers found themselves on; each with their own hardships, goals, and triumphs. Readers get to experience their separate, but similar, courses as they struggle to figure out who they are and what they want out of life. Relatable and affecting, we are along for each heartache and failure. If you’re looking for a story that tugs at your heartstrings, yet still knows how to pull a laugh from the darkest corners of your soul, “A Crippling Fear” is definitely the book for you.

Hilarious! Almost Died Laughing. It will be really hard to write my thoughts on this without spoiling the plot. But, this book was the funniest thing I have read in a long time. Filled with a lot of dark humor and slapstick, the whole thing keeps you guessing what else will happen next. Some of the plots I thought I had figured out turned out to be a complete surprise. The characters and how they interact with each other will make you laugh out loud. The Author seems to have a few other books out, and after reading this book, I'm definitely going to check them out.

A wild ride from start to finish, “A Crippling Fear” is equal parts horrifying, hilarious, and poignant. The dynamic between the two main characters is phenomenal, offering a realistic look at brotherhood and the lengths one might go through to protect their loved ones. While there is much enjoyment to be found in the story arc involving a paraplegic ex-baseball star, the most profound moments were the divulging paths the brothers found themselves on; each with their own hardships, goals, and triumphs. Readers get to experience their separate, but similar, courses as they struggle to figure out who they are and what they want out of life. Relatable and affecting, we are along for each heartache and failure. If you’re looking for a story that tugs at your heartstrings, yet still knows how to pull a laugh from the darkest corners of your soul, “A Crippling Fear” is definitely the book for you.

I laughed my ass off.

This book has a great mix of slightly juvenile humor, adult situations, and teasing intrigue. The author has a good instinct for just when to dangle a new thread to keep you engaged. It was a refreshing break from some of the longer drawn out novels I've read recently.