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One of the Ten Best Books of The New York Times Book Review Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize Now a miniseries from Hulu starring James FrancoON NOVEMBER 22, 1963, THREE SHOTS RANG OUT IN DALLAS, PRESIDENT KENNEDY DIED, AND THE WORLD CHANGED. WHAT IF YOU COULD CHANGE IT BACK? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King—who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer—takes readers on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it. It begins with Jake Epping, a thirty-five-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching GED classes. He asks his students to write about an event that changed their lives, and one essay blows him away—a gruesome, harrowing story about the night more than fifty years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a sledgehammer. Reading the essay is a watershed moment for Jake, his life—like Harry’s, like America’s in 1963—turning on a dime. Not much later his friend Al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. And Al enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson, in a different world of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere. From the dank little city of Derry, Maine (where there’s Dunning business to conduct), to the warmhearted small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love, every turn is leading eventually, of course, to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and to Dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful, and where history might not be history anymore. Time-travel has never been so believable. Or so terrifying.

In the annals of American history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, stands as a watershed moment, a tragedy that shook the nation to its core. Stephen King, the master of storytelling, delves into this pivotal event in his captivating novel, "11/22/63: A Novel."

The protagonist, Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Maine, finds himself drawn into a time-travel portal that transports him back to 1958. Armed with the knowledge of the impending assassination, Jake embarks on a mission to prevent it and alter the course of history.

As Jake settles into his new life in the past, he befriends Sadie Dunhill, a librarian, and together they navigate the complexities of their situation. Jake's efforts to alter the past, however, have unintended consequences, leading to a series of unforeseen events.

Stephen King's "11/22/63: A Novel" is a gripping tale that seamlessly blends historical fiction, suspense, and romance. With his signature storytelling prowess, King weaves a narrative that explores the intricate relationship between destiny and free will, the weight of history on the present, and the profound impact of individual actions on the grand tapestry of events.

The novel delves into the intricacies of time travel, the paradoxes and complexities that arise when attempting to change the past. King masterfully uses this device to explore the fragility of history and the ripple effects of seemingly insignificant choices.

Through Jake's journey, "11/22/63: A Novel" also serves as a poignant exploration of loss, grief, and the enduring power of love. Jake's relationships with Sadie and others he encounters in the past add depth and emotional resonance to the narrative, making the stakes of his mission all the more palpable.

With its rich cast of characters, intricate plot, and thought-provoking themes, "11/22/63: A Novel" is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, time travel stories, and anyone captivated by the enigma that is John F. Kennedy's assassination. Stephen King once again demonstrates his mastery of storytelling, crafting a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers to ponder the what-ifs of history and the boundless possibilities of time.