‘Supermarket’ Book Review: A Story About Young Romance & Mental Health

Following his success in the music industry, ‘Logic’ takes a different path in his journey as an artist. Under the name ‘Bobby Hall,’ he writes Supermarket, his debut novel. In a two-part literary sequence, Bobby writes about the story of a young man much like himself. Drawing inspirations from real life experience, Bobby creates Flynnagin E. Montgomery, a young man at the lowest point of his life.

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Washed-up Author

The first part of the book utilizes elements often found in young adult novels. However, it began with the actual end of the book, something that more often than not rarely happens. The characters, on the other hand, are typically the ones who fit under the young adult premise. There was the rebel, Frank, whom Flynn met as he began his job at Muldoon’s, the supermarket. Also, there was Mia, the lady he fell in love with as he worked there. The novel has a string of other characters, but they are mainly there for either comic relief or supporting roles.

Flynn’s narrative begins with his break up from his longtime girlfriend, Lola. Flynn was a writer, but he never finished any of his great ideas, hence the breakup. After entering a depressed state, his mom (whom he lived with) pushed him to do something productive with his life. With most of his submissions to various publishers turned down, Flynn found it hard to write again. However, an opportunity presents itself when Ed Nortan II, president of a publishing company, offers him a chance to publish his work.

Hands-on Writing Experience

The book deal pushes Flynn to write about a person who worked at a supermarket who would eventually end up robbing the place. To find inspiration, he decides to work at an actual supermarket, Muldoon’s. Once there, he uses the people he met as the basis for the characters in his novel. Flynn lost himself in how life at the supermarket could be a routine. He also got preoccupied with his romance with Mia, his coworker. Flynn almost lost sight of his purpose, which was to write a book.

Eventually, Flynn finishes the novel. However, the finished book was not the only thing Flynn accomplished. Flynn discovers that he lied to himself so much that he could not distinguish the what is real versus what he wrote on the novel. Flynn convinced himself that some characters, like Frank, were real. The truth was Flynn made up Frank as his main character but since his process of writing involved hands-on experience, he, in turn, did everything that Frank did in the novel. Flynn robbed Muldoon’s, just as much as Frank did.

The Asylum

Flynn wakes up to two years after the robbery. He suffered a psychiatric breakdown that saved him from going to jail but landed him a spot in Mayberry Psychiatric Hospital. In the span of his time there, Flynn relived the events that led up to the robbery, assigning roles to the patients and the staff of the hospital for them to play. The world went on without him, but he did not necessarily fade away. The book he wrote became a cult classic as his case became a national issue. Flynn’s loved ones, namely his mom and Mia, visited him often as well. Still, he is a patient in the hospital. However, his awakening had much promise compared to his previous ones, showing the potential for his recovery.

Flynn decided to take his life back from Frank. He perhaps thought about the things he could do, the places to go to, and the people he could spend time with at that point. His time at the asylum probably only contained him, not healed him, despite Dr. Olivia Cross’ best efforts. With a little encouragement from Red (who turns out to be Frank, wtf), Flynn finally decides to take matters into his hands and kill Frank for good.

In a beautiful yet chaotic chapter, Flynn and Frank faced off. The fight for which persona’s dominance happened in the most fitting arena: Muldoon’s. Supermarket ends with Flynn emerging victorious, successfully ridding himself of the persona that took two years of his life from him and his loved ones.

‘Supermarket’ Book Review Final Verdict

Bobby’s original writing is anything but ordinary. His creative journey took him to points he likely did not think of ever reaching, such as becoming an author. Bobby’s Supermarket is full of fourth-wall-breaking and unexpected twists, accented by the thrills of young romance and the pains of adulting. Also, Bobby presents mental health in such a way that readers can generally understand it but crafted carefully enough to represent a severe matter. Bobby’s Supermarket is the best example of how a creative mind who crafts a story in a way it has not done before manages to create a work of art that audiences receive well.