Book description
By an award-winning writer of short fiction, a devastatingly powerful debut novel of hero-worship, first love, and betrayalJustin Bailey is seventeen when he arrives at the shop of legendary muscle car mechanic Nick Campbell. Anguished and out of place among the students at his rural Connecticut high school, Justin finds…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Spark and the Drive as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I was immediately taken by 17-year-old Justin Bailey because, like him, I didn’t have a strong father figure who could teach me how men were supposed to behave. So when he lands an internship at a legendary muscle car shop, it seems like a dream come true until it quickly becomes clear that his new mentor is equally vulnerable to tragedy.
As his hero falls, Justin falls right along with him—easily lost in his surroundings and eager to accept one justification after another until he succumbs to the darkest of temptations. As a protagonist, his only saving grace is understanding…
From Richard's list on bad boys we love or love to hate.
If you love The Spark and the Drive...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like The Spark and the Drive?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 93 books like The Spark and the Drive.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,366
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Spark and the Drive, you might also like...
Deadly Revenge
Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with…
The Duty of Memory
Separating the true stories from the myths, The Duty of Memory provides a deeper understanding of the diverse motivations that drove ordinary people to join an underground network of French Resistants despite terrible odds and horrifying consequences.
This book takes the reader inside the true story of men and women…
