Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

What's in Hope's Back Pocket by Eric Matluck is a literary novel that follows Eskander Mora, a man who lives with the conviction that the universe begins and ends in his mind. To him, nothing exists unless he imagines it, and every experience is filtered through this belief. As his life unfolds, the boundary between thought and reality grows unstable, forcing him to confront the unsettling possibility that everything could disappear with him. Meanwhile, in the broader world, Del van Loo emerges, and he's a determined political leader seeking to reshape a fractured society by invoking a return to moral clarity and order. As Eskander’s inner reality begins to crumble, Del’s outward quest for control intensifies. “...increasingly he was convinced that she hadn’t been kidding—and his inability to decide whether he really had invented her and the rest of the world around him or whether it had simply been put there.”

What’s in Hope’s Back Pocket by Eric Matluck is a delicately crafted novel that takes some time to get into, but does ultimately reward patient, thoughtful reading. The writing is subtle with a lot of philosophy, and deliberately paced to allow characters to evolve naturally without forcing a resolution or moral clarity. Matluck resists easy categorization, favoring ambiguity over pat answers, most present when Eskander is questioning his own biases, comparing himself to Del van Loo, of whom he disapproves, and trying to determine if his resistance to change is simply generational or indicative of deeper prejudice. Eskander’s inner world is depicted with striking realism, but rather than simplifying emotions into digestible takeaways, Matluck trusts the reader to sit with discomfort. The prose is quietly powerful, and the use of metaphors, like an old accordion evoking generational disconnect, is well done. This is a story that lingers, offering no certainties but many truths, much like life itself. Recommended.