Unbelonging

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Sonia Thomas

Some historical novels lean on big moments and dramatic turning points. Unbelonging doesn’t really chase that. It stays with the people who are left to deal with what comes after, when the war is technically over but nothing actually feels settled. That’s what makes it stand out. It doesn’t treat history like a finished story, it treats it like something still unfolding in people’s lives.

Reading it feels steady but not easy. It doesn’t rush you, and because of that, the weight of what each character is carrying starts to build without you noticing at first. I found myself slowing down more than I expected, not because it’s dense, but because the emotional undercurrent keeps pulling your attention back. There’s this quiet sense that no one fully belongs where they are, and that feeling sticks.

The book keeps circling around identity and exclusion, but it doesn’t simplify either one. It shows how belonging isn’t just about where you are, it’s about how others see you and what you’re allowed to be. That idea doesn’t stay in the past. It reaches into the present in a way that feels a little uncomfortable, especially when you realize how little some things have changed.

David J. Jepsen writes in a way that feels grounded and unforced. The multiple perspectives give the story a wider lens, though it takes a bit of effort to keep track at times. Still, that structure works because it shows how different lives intersect without ever fully aligning. The writing doesn’t try to highlight every emotional moment, which makes the ones that land feel more real.

By the end, it doesn’t feel resolved, and that feels honest. It leaves you with a sense that belonging isn’t something easily given or found. It’s worth reading if you’re interested in the quieter side of history, the part that doesn’t wrap things up neatly.

About the Author

David J. Jepsen

David J. Jepsen is a historian and educator who pursued his lifelong passion for history after a distinguished 30-year career in journalism and corporate communications. In 2003, he left his professional career to enroll in the graduate program at the University of Washington, determined to transition into writing and teaching history.

Today, Jepsen teaches Pacific Northwest and United States history at Tacoma and South Puget Sound community colleges, where he finds deep fulfillment in engaging students with the past. He holds a master’s degree in history and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Washington. He resides in Gig Harbor, Washington.