Hard Times by Boyd, Jeff

Hard Times

An extraordinary crime novel from a rising star, that follows the ripple effects of a tragic shooting...
$47.34 USD
$89.99 USD
$47.34 USD
Please hurry! Only 975 left in stock
Author: Jeff Boyd
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: $47.34
Hard Times by Boyd, Jeff

Hard Times

$89.99 $47.34

Hard Times

$89.99 $47.34
Author: Jeff Boyd
Format: Hardcover
Language: English

An extraordinary crime novel from a rising star, that follows the ripple effects of a tragic shooting throughout a Chicago community from the view of the teachers, police officers, and students impacted

"A deeply satisfying story with as much, heart, grit and history as the city that it's set in." --Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming

Buddy Mack has been caught in the middle of two worlds at war.

As an English teacher at a South Side, Chicago, high school lauded for its football team, but at risk in every other way, he tries to instill a love of literature. While all of his students face challenges, he's especially concerned with a trio of boys who test him to no end but are full of promise and heart: Zeke, the football star; Truth, the sweet-talking charmer; and Dontell, Buddy's most promising student.

At home, his wife, Chrissy, a successful corporate lawyer, is ready to upgrade to a big house on the North Side and start a family, but Buddy's torn over the implications. And the closest person he has in his life to talk to is Chrissy's little brother, Curtis, a corrupt Chicago cop.

When the two worlds collide in a shocking moment that rocks the school, Buddy has to choose a side and fight for all he holds dear. Hard Times takes stock of what it means to be there for your people whether you want to or not and unflinchingly confronts the American Dream--a moving, engrossing, and necessary read.

Author: Jeff Boyd
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: 03/17/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.20w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781250348456


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 12/26/2025 pg. 1
Publishers Weekly 01/26/2026
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2026
Booklist 02/10/2026

About the Author
Jeff Boyd is the author of The Weight. He is a former Chicago public school teacher and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He lives in New York with his family.

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.