Evan S. Porter, an author who lives in the East Cobb area and whose debut novel is being developed into a Netflix film, has a second book on shelves. "A Last Time for Everything," published by Dutton, went on sale Tuesday, July 21.
The novel follows Arthur and Wren, a Baltimore couple who have been together 10 years and are still living in the same Craigslist-furnished one-bedroom apartment they moved into after college. When a surprise pregnancy upends their routine, they dig out an old bucket list and set out to chase their most outlandish dreams before parenthood takes over.
Their adventures include risking mascot-induced injury to get on the Baltimore Ravens jumbotron, spending a "ridiculously inflated amount" on a childhood dream birthday at Chuck E. Cheese, attempting to skydive, house-hunting in the suburbs, and an encounter with a baseball-bat-wielding grandma.
"I think the heart of the book is really about how hard it has become to just be a person and how that only gets amplified when you become a parent," Porter told East Cobber in a profile published Friday, July 17.
Porter calls the story a "lovers to lovers" romance, meaning the couple starts and ends together, growing closer through each misadventure. In a March 23, 2026, Goodreads post, he described the book as a "spiritual prequel" to his 2024 debut "Dad Camp," exploring the phase of life that comes before the one in his first novel: young adulthood, being adrift, and fearing the next steps.
"Dad Camp," also published by Dutton, tells the story of a father who signs up for a week-long retreat at a rundown summer camp to reconnect with his preteen daughter before she starts middle school. According to a Deadline report from August 2025, Adam Sandler's Happy Madison and Shawn Levy's 21 Laps are developing a feature film adaptation for Netflix, with screenwriter Kevin Jakubowski writing the script. No further production updates have been announced.
Before turning to fiction, Porter worked as a blogger for Upworthy from 2015 to 2018 and spent three years as lead copywriter and director of content at Atlanta-based digital marketing agency Nebo. He has also contributed to Parents Magazine, The Onion News Network, and The Good Men Project, and runs the parenting blog "Dad Fixes Everything." He lives with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs.
Porter will appear at a free, drop-in book signing for "A Last Time for Everything" at FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Suite 138, Woodstock, about 20 minutes north of East Cobb, on Saturday, July 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be served.
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, July 25, 2–4 p.m. — Evan S. Porter drop-in signing, FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main St., Suite 138, Woodstock. Free; snacks and drinks provided.
