Jem Calder’s writing career took an impressive turn when acclaimed author Sally Rooney reached out to him after reading a short story he submitted to a literary magazine she was editing. This story marked Calder’s first completed work and eventually became part of his 2022 collection, Reward System, which explores the lives of young adults in an unnamed city. The collection garnered significant acclaim, being recognized as a book of the year, with Calder praised as one of the most talented young writers in contemporary fiction.
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Calder's debut novel, I Want You to Be Happy, builds on themes from his collection, including the complexities of modern love, millennial dissatisfaction, and societal challenges. Early reviews feature endorsements from notable authors like David Szalay and Andrew O’Hagan, who appreciate Calder’s insightful work.
The novel opens with 23-year-old Joey meeting 35-year-old Chuck at a bar, leading to a complicated romantic entanglement. While Joey becomes emotionally invested, Chuck struggles with unresolved feelings toward his ex-fiancée. This dynamic reflects the broader anxieties of young adults navigating relationships in a society marked by economic instability. Calder articulates that this situation mirrors a growing trend of commitment phobia linked to modern financial realities, where goals such as homeownership and family are increasingly unattainable.
Calder notes that characters like Chuck represent a demographic of men facing midlife disillusionment, often feeling outdated and unfulfilled. He emphasizes that the lack of stability in their lives manifests in emotional avoidance and shallow relationships.
Calder, who has worked various jobs while writing, finds motivation in balancing his writing with day-to-day work. His writing process, which includes alternating perspectives between Joey and Chuck, captures their shared experience and mutual literary influence. He acknowledges that the relationship energizes both characters creatively, paralleling his own experiences in his personal life.
The underlying power dynamics in Joey and Chuck’s relationship evolve throughout the novel, revealing Joey as the more talented individual. This theme resonates with Calder’s earlier work and addresses the shifting dynamics in various fields, including the arts, where younger women are often taking prominent roles.
Calder cites writers like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Yates as key influences, inspiring his style characterized by emotional depth and incisive observation. The novel’s setting is intentionally vague yet references specific locations and consumer brands, illustrating characters’ preoccupations with modern consumerism and instant gratification.
The portrayal of addictive behaviors among Calder’s characters raises questions about the nature of addiction in contemporary society, where such behaviors are normalized. Calder acknowledges the shared struggle of readers for attention amid prevalent distractions of modern life.
While Calder is sometimes labeled as a voice of his generation alongside peers like Rooney, he insists that his focus remains on capturing the authentic human experience rather than directly critiquing capitalism. His priority is to write realistically about the absurdities of contemporary existence.