Lights Along the Interstate by Adam Fike is a captivating story that follows a diverse group of passengers traveling by bus. Their journeys intersect with supernatural events and beings, each encountering seemingly divine circumstances. The bus is driven by a mysterious driver who collects people at a diner headed for the afterlife. Throughout their journey, he meets various characters, including an old man seeking freedom, a traumatized girl, a deceased trucker, a troubled young couple, and a man revisiting his past. All the passengers face life's hardships, temptations, and the consequences of their choices. In a surprising twist, Jesus and Satan agree to leave the passengers to their fate after Satan retires. Satan is weary of Jesus’ pretentious behavior and has fallen in love with a waitress who ultimately betrays him.

Lights Along the Interstate explores profound themes of life, death, and destiny. It prompts readers to reflect on the unexpected nature of death and its inevitability for everyone. The story is rich in symbolism and portrays the lives of diverse individuals, making it relatable to many. Set against a backdrop of chaos and silent grace, the narrative delves into mortality, hope, despair, and the search for meaning. Adam Fike’s writing has a lyrical quality, offering poetic reflections on American life and human nature. He uses humor and dark moments to keep readers engaged and encourages them to ponder the good and evil within us and how our morals influence our choices. I appreciated the unpredictability of the characters, which added intrigue to the storyline, making it clear that anything could happen. The author addresses social issues such as aging, foster care, religion, family dynamics, and complex relationships, providing commentary on both modern and traditional values. Overall, this is an interesting read that offers thought-provoking insights about life and the afterlife.

Do you ever sit on a bus and wonder about the other passengers? If you only knew their story, you might jump off the bus and run into the night. Lights Along The Interstate by Adam Fike is a novella about a bus journey. Along the way, the reader gets insight into some of the passengers. Without any spoilers, there’s a female reverend on her way to solve a mystery, an ex-priest looking for answers, and a couple of people who are a bit confused about where they are in the world. There’s also the Paradise Diner. This establishment is visited at one point during the bus journey, but it is more than just a meal break. The story of the owners and staff intermingles with those on the bus. Get ready for a road trip that you’ll never forget.

Lights Along The Interstate is for readers with an open mind. You might just meet some characters that will surprise you. The book has plenty of flashbacks, which set the scene for why that person is on the bus or in the diner at this time. This is not a sit-back-and-relax type of story; you need your wits about you and to be willing to concentrate. For those who pay attention, the story will delight. The characters are all fascinating, and one or more of them could remind you of someone that you know. The book contains adult themes, like gun violence and drug taking, so it isn’t for younger readers. Lights Along The Interstate is the kind of novella that has you contemplating life well after you’ve finished the final chapter.

Lights Along The Interstate by Adam Fike is an unsettling journey through the eyes of supernatural beings that quietly observe human free will, offering a story that is both descriptive and hauntingly plausible. As supernatural beings wrestle with their growing exhaustion over the destruction humanity brings upon itself, the stakes reach a high point when Jesus challenges the devil, proposing that Adam and Eve would have chosen differently had he resisted tempting them. In a bold twist, Jesus somewhat resets the cycle, placing Satan’s love interest in the role of a new “Eve". Each chapter reveals a new layer of consequence and revelation, with backstories drenched in trauma and despair. However, even amid hopelessness, moments of justice and redemption flicker like dim highway lights.

Adam Fike crafts characters whose presence, subtle at first, proves vital to the complete narrative. From a wandering bus driver escorting lost souls across the country to a waitress and a cook who are unknowingly part of a supernatural bet, every element has significance. The novel invites careful reading. If readers blink, they may miss something crucial. Temptation, justice, and ultimate depravity weave through every encounter, forcing readers to confront the profound influence that supernatural forces may have on human fate. The vivid scenes unfold like a movie, pulling readers into a world where destiny is constantly reshaped by choices, some seemingly insignificant, others catastrophic. The narrative is entertaining but also challenges perceptions of choice and consequence, leaving a mark on the imagination long after the final page. Readers who enjoy books about the struggle between good and evil that prompt fear, excitement, and wonder will love Lights Along the Interstate.

Lights Along The Interstate by Adam Fike is a collection of interconnected stories that follow a group of characters brought together by fate. An elderly man decides to leave his retirement home facility and join a bus ride without a destination in mind. Satan gives up his horns for a girl and announces his retirement in front of Jesus. A trucker's crush on a waitress at a diner leads to an unexpected shootout with deadly consequences. An orphan boy gets the opportunity to run a roadside diner because of his uncle. An orphan girl who grew up in an abusive foster home finds her sanctuary. A widow goes down memory lane and reminisces about her squandered opportunities to leave the place she grew up in until she finally does.

Unpredictable and, at times, surreal, Lights Along The Interstate is a fascinating anthology that follows a large cast of characters battling their own trials and tribulations. Adam Fike has crafted a captivating collection of loosely interlinked tales that constantly pull the rug out from under your feet. You never know what's going to happen next. Fike also has a distinct prose style that makes you feel like you're in the setting with the characters yourself, witnessing the events unfolding all around you. The worldbuilding is truly immersive, made all the richer with a sprinkling of supernatural elements that add to the surreal atmosphere of the setting. The characters are distinct and diverse, yet you will find yourself invested in every single one of their story arcs. Short story lovers are in for a treat with this book!