I must admit, it took me a minute to get into this story. It was all just so very strange, and I couldn’t get a handle on the shifting timelines, mixed media and odd characters—particularly the unreliable narrator. All that aside, this book is a classic Paul Tremblay, and I mean that in the best possible way. Here are my thoughts:
The gist: A group of friends reunite to make a low-budget arthouse horror movie that (aside from a few disturbing clips) never sees the light of day. It becomes a cult classic/cursed film, launching the one surviving cast member (starring as the “Thin Kid”) into notoriety. The story flits from the 90s (during the making of the film) to the present (when the big-time Hollywood producers reboot the film). The chapters also flit from the MC’s narrations to screenplay scenes involving three sadistic teens torturing the “Thin Kid.” It gets pretty wild, especially when you discover their grand scheme!
The scares: I have to be vague because this book is too easy to spoil, but I will say that there are about five pages describing a horrifying scene (and the existential thoughts it conjures amongst the viewers). Do you remember that scene from “It Follows” when the terrified teens watch and wait for a monster to cross through the threshold? Well, this part of the book is even scarier! Oh, and I should mention there is some serious body horror going on here! We’re talking severed fingers, bloody torture and third-degree burns—yeesh!
The characters: I’ll be straight with you. The MC and his group of filmmaker friends (Cleo, Valentina and Karson) are not likeable. Yet somehow, I was still fascinated with their stories and yearned to know what led to their fate. It got to the point where it was hard to tease them apart from the demented characters they played on screen. This also includes the MC, who has no direction, drive, self-worth or purpose. He lets others push him around, which never ends well for anyone, does it?
The ending: I’ll keep this short and free of spoilers, but I will say that the ending was ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING! Of course, there’s some ambiguity regarding the supernatural Vs. mental illness, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Overall: This book is unsettling in so many ways! Not only am I bothered by the motives of the filmmakers, I’m also questioning the thoughts I didn’t even know I had whilst enjoying my favorite horror movies. This is next-level horror that I didn’t see coming. Well done, Mr. Tremblay.
Number six on my 31 Books of Halloween countdown (yikes—I have some catching up to do!), is a total dud that I should’ve DNFed: When Ghosts Call Us Home). Yowza—this was a real turkey, which is such a disappointment because the premise checks all the boxes: A haunted sea cliff mansion; a viral found footage movie; and a haunted girl searching for clues to her missing sister whilst starring in the second installment of the ill-fated viral movie. There’s so much to unpack here, so let’s get cracking:
What I liked: The cover art is stunning! It’s so beautiful and creepy with elements of the story—ballet shoes, ocean waves, haunted houses—woven in. Chef’s kiss to the artist.
The scares: It’s weird. Even though all the horror elements were there (evil demon, possession, ghostly masquerade balls, etc.), this book was anything but scary. This book is 95% inner monologue, and I just grew tired of being inside Sophie’s head. Every page is packed with repetitive emotional descriptions of fear and dread, causing my eyes to glaze over. I get the feeling this author was trying to channel Eleanor from The Haunting of Hill House, yet the execution was all wrong.
The main character: While trudging through this thing, I realized that I need to veer away from mopey teenage characters. We are inside Sophie’s head the entire time—and it’s a total downer, man. There’s very little dialogue, so the periphery characters are barely even one-dimensional. There’s nothing to like about Sophie, other than her steadfast quest to find her missing sister. But even then, I ask why? The missing sister, Layla, put her through hell while filming her notorious movie, which makes me wonder why we should care about her salvation?
The viral film: I’m having a VERY hard time believing that a teenage kid could have the wherewithal to create a hit film with no background in filmmaking whatsoever. I mean…there’s special effects, crazy horror movie angles, epic dance scenes. How is any of this remotely believable? Also, we get no information about how she filmed, edited, and distributed this thing all by her little self. I get that demonic forces are at work here, but do they have skills in Final Cut Pro? And then the “V-Head” cult following was just absurd. Adding to the ridiculousness is some sort of dark website that challenges users to follow “The Path” to find the missing sister (insert eye roll emoji here).
Overall: I’d complain about wanting my money back, but I read this thing for free thanks to my best friend, Libby! Despite its alluring premise, the pacing is slow and drab. A lot of action is packed into the ending like the author needed to rush through it to meet a deadline. I didn’t understand how everything was resolved so quickly, but to be honest, I was just relieved it was over. Yeesh.
I saw this book featured on BookTube and knew I just had to read it! I mean how could you go wrong with ghostly dolls, a haunted English estate, and a Ouija game gone bad? Here are my thoughts:
The gist: After an ill-fated Ouija game (there’s an app for that!), Sophie goes off to stay with her uncle and cousins in a secluded estate that once served as a boarding school for girls. Sadly, the aunt is unavailable because she’s in a mental health facility! Spooky things happen when creepy dolls whisper to themselves and things go bump in the night!
The scares: For a YA book, this is pretty darn scary! When I got to the part where the dolls–the Frozen Charlottes–started whispering bad things to each other, I had to look over my shoulder a few times just to be sure I was truly alone. I love that the story is set on an island shrouded by fog and mystery–such fun! Then there’s the parrot, Dark Tom, who randomly screeches and rants about murder and mayhem. Yikes!
The mystery: I’ll admit, I saw the twist coming a little early on, but that didn’t detract from the suspense, especially when the evildoer started to spiral. This book has some intense body horror scenes involving eyeballs and needles. After reading this, I’m going to stay far, far away from porcelain dolls.
Overall: This is an atmospheric ghost story that’s just perfect for spooky season. I loved the ending, which hinted at another installment in the series. We haven’t seen the last of these mischievous, murderous frozen Charlottes!
I’ve watched enough true crime to know that some people are wired to do very, VERY bad things—like torturing a small animal, then casually enjoying a happy meal. The fact that these humans exist creeps me out, and allegedly Patric Gagne is one of them. And boy is she happy to tell you all about it in her book, aptly titled “Sociopath.”
Before we get into this, I’ll warn you that we’re dealing with a highly unreliable narrator who wears her “HELLO! I’M A SOCIOPATH!” name badge with a bizarre sense of pride. This “memoir” was not what I expected, mainly because her stories just don’t add up, thus making me question whether she’s actually a sociopath. I have theories (*cough* narcissist *cough*), but I’ll leave it at that. Here are my questions. If you have any insight, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Why is She So Proud of This Label? If I took a shot of whiskey every time she said, “I’m a sociopath,” I’d be wasted before reaching the second chapter. It baffles me how someone could easily latch onto this highly stigmatized diagnosis because it’s, well, creepy. I’m also baffled at how forthcoming she is with this information—even around her coworkers. Yikes. When she described herself as a “Wednesday Adams” breaking into houses with her pet ferret, things started to get clearer. She likes being different and edgy. Oh, don’t we all.
Does She Really Want to Go to Jail? I found it laughable when this extremely privileged girl claimed she wouldn’t mind going to jail because it would be more freeing. I sure wish she could’ve been caught just once while stealing cars so she could get a taste of that life. Little Miss Thang grew up in luxury, and she was hired at her daddy’s big-time Hollywood record label company without any experience. All this bravado about going to jail is just hilarious. Can someone please call her bluff the next time she breaks into a house?
So, Is She a Sociopath? It’s been fascinating reading the commentary by armchair psychologists in the Goodreads threads, but who am I to judge…or diagnose? However, I do question her motives, one being she’s way too eager to get that sociopath diagnosis, which eventually happens when she convinces her psychologist to administer some sort of test, which I’m sure she answered with a clear agenda. Why is this? Would another diagnosis (like..say..narcissistic personality disorder) be more mundane? Based on my honorary doctorate in forensic psychology (by way of murder podcasts), I know sociopaths just DO NOT CARE about having meaningful relationships. They also don’t give a fig about how they’re being perceived by others unless if there is something to be gained. Patic does, in fact, care. In social settings she is extremely self-conscious about not fitting in, but why? If she feels nothing for others, why does it matter? She expresses her love for her parents, her sister, and even her ferret. She’s also a mother and a wife, claiming she “feels a different type of love.” How does this make sense when you read through the classic symptoms of sociopathy in the DSM-5? Perhaps she’s right that so much is unknown about this diagnosis, but I still question her agenda.
Are These Stories Even True? I have a hard time believing that a 40-something can recant word-for-word conversations from her early childhood days. Some of these stories are so outlandish, they seem more like scenes from a bad Lifetime movie—particularly her altercations with a blackmailing schemer and a toxic coworker. Again, we’re dealing with an unreliable narrator who tells you in the opening chapter that she is manipulative AF, so all bets are off.
Are Her Credentials Legit? I’ll be honest; I haven’t done a deep dive into her academic history, but many others have. For someone who brandishes her Ph.D. title loud and proud on the cover, you’d think she’d talk a bit about her research on…oh, I don’t know…sociopathy??? Seems rather odd that she didn’t go there, but then again, she did confess that she’s a liar and a manipulator.
Overall Thoughts: This was a dark read, but not in a fun way. This felt like a waste of time because I wanted more expert knowledge about the innermost thoughts of a true sociopath. But all I got was a bunch of overindulgent drivel about the trials and tribulations of self-absorbed rich girl who wants SO BADLY to go against the mainstream. I have a hard time understanding how a sociopath can feel immense uncomfortable pressure from apathy. Is this really a thing? I can understand how sociopaths might struggle with isolation, but do they really ruminate about apathy?
Another question is why resort to bad things like stalking people, breaking into houses, and hurting precious kitty cats? Why not do adrenaline-junky stuff like jumping out of airplanes or running ultramarathons? It’s unsettling to think that some people can only get joy from doing dark things. Whether or not Patic is a true sociopath is anyone’s guess, but I am 100% convinced that she is creepy. My advice to anyone is to run far, far away when someone boasts about their dark personality disorder. Even if they’re not speaking the truth, keep running in the opposite direction!
The gist: Raf and his sister, Brianna, are dealing with a LOT! Their incarcerated mother is about to come home and possibly derail their lives again, and they’re being tormented by an evil force that kills children under the red moon. It’s up to Raf to break the curse before he becomes the next victim of the Caretaker–mu ha ha ha-HA!
What I liked: This book has some faults (we’ll get into that later), but the author did an amazing job with Raf. I absolutely loved this character for many reasons. He’s a fighter and a fierce protector of his sister. Their relationship gave me Dani and Max vibes from Hocus Pocus, and I could almost hear the musical score during chase scenes in the haunted forest. So, if you’re looking for a YA spooky season read, this is it!
What irked me: I loved everything about this book except for the moral of the story. The Caretaker is scary, but the more threatening dark force looming over these kids is the soon-to-be-paroled incarcerated mother. We get bits and pieces of the chaos, negligence and child endangerment Raf and Brianna endured, and I’m not okay with any of it. Raf is justifiably angry and fearful, yet his grandparents and sister just keep pestering him to embrace his mother with open arms. I’m glad this is a work of fiction, otherwise, I’d fear for their safety. Who knows what could happen when the mother falls of the wagon and whisks them away to some chaotic drug den. Come to think of it…shouldn’t she be in some sort of treatment facility or halfway house for recovering addicts instead of returning straight home to her children? As nice as it sounds to forgive and move on, life just doesn’t work that way, and I feel like this book sends the wrong message to people. Here’s my message: Don’t pressure or shame others who aren’t ready or willing to forgive. Child abuse and neglect is serious, and I don’t think the author handled this very well. Period.
The spook factor: On a scale from one to ten, I’d give this an eight on the spook-o-meter. We’re dealing with witchcraft, a child-killing demon, a haunted pond, and even a demonic furry toe! Again, perfect for Halloween reading.
Overall: Aside from the problematic morality tale, I really enjoyed this creepy adventure. I’ve seen this storyline a time or two in movies (ex: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps), but a few new elements were added to the mix to keep it fresh–including a spotted shape-shifting kitty named Balam. I recommend this to fans of R.L. Stine and Mary Downing Hahn.
Next up in my 31 Books of Halloween reading roundup, I’m reviewing Riley Sager’s latest twisty thriller, Middle of the Night! This might be somewhat of an unpopular opinion (y’all are hard on him on Goodreads!), but I love his work. This one is great for spooky season because there are a lot of paranormal elements weaved into the mystery, including a creepy “science” institute just around the block, creepy figures lurking in the woods, and cryptic messages from the dead. Here are my thoughts:
The gist: Our protagonist, Ethan, camps out in his backyard and wakes up to find the tent slashed and his best friend gone! Thirty years later, he returns to his childhood home and finds himself in the middle of a mystery when his dead best friend, Billy, sends messages from beyond the grave. He soon learns many people in his upper-class suburban neighborhood have something to hide—including Billy.
What I Liked: The paranormal element took this mystery to the next level. I love a good ghost story, especially when restless spirits are seeking justice! What more could you ask for during spooky season? I also loved that this story took the safest place you could think of—an upper-class, tight-knit suburban neighborhood—and turned it into a place of nightmares! This is the kind of book that makes me check my windows and doors at night…which is a good thing because I’m a weirdo who loves being scared.
What Irked Me: My one and only gripe is the overly precocious kid. When Ethen moves back home, he reunites with his former babysitter, and crush, who is the mother of a highly intelligent, well-read child. Why do authors use this gimmick so much? Maybe this is a way to add to the kid’s likeability, but I find it to be unrealistic and annoying.
Thoughts on the main character: Ethan is a little mopey and withdrawn, yet I warmed up to him when he started interacting with the kid genius next door. We don’t really know much about him, other than he worked as a teacher, yet he doesn’t care too much for kids. Now that I think about it, it was hard connecting with a character who has zero interests and passions. He just chose that profession to follow in his dad’s footsteps. Mostly his entire life has been haunted by that fateful night, so that’s about all we know about him. There’s a side plot involving his wife, but I figured out the “tiwst” to that little mystery right away.
Overall thoughts: This is a solid paranormal thriller packed with shady suspects, making me wonder about the neighbors I wave “hello” to while walking my dog. I’m just glad I don’t live within walking distance of a creepy science institute hidden deep in the woods.
October is here, and I’m excited to embark on my lofty 31 Books of Halloween reading extravaganza! First up is my most recent read, “The House that Horror Built.” The premise and the cover drew me in, so why not give this author one more chance? I DNFed “The Horseman” because it was the silliest version of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that I’ve ever encountered, but perhaps it could’ve been a fluke, right? Not so much. This one was a supreme dud as well. Let’s get into it:
The Gist: A downtrodden single mom, Harry, takes a job as house cleaner for a famous horror movie director. Imagine a disgraced Wes Craven who stopped making slashers due to a scandal involving a missing wife and son. Ooooh—intrigue! His house if full of movie props that torment Harry while she’s dusting and mopping.
What I liked: I really wanted to like this book because the setup is just so creepy cool for us horror movie fans who would love to have a peek inside a legendary director’s creepy mansion. So, the one and only aspect of this book that won me over was the spooky haunted mansion atmosphere.
What irked me: This book is a slow burn, and not in a good way. The burn was more of a spark that fizzled out almost immediately. Most of it had to do with Harry’s backstory, which seemed like a lot of filler that had little to do with her situation in the haunted mansion. Then, when the plot starts cooking toward the tail end of the book, I was hit with such a silly ending that was, quite frankly, unimaginative. I was hoping for some sort of resolution for Harry and her precocious 14-year-old son, Gabe (seriously, no kid talks like this), but it all came to a screeching halt. Rude!
What confused me: Okay, I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty good at adding single digits. When Harry and Gabe moved into the director’s sprawling mansion, they had to put a twin bed in the library for the kid. Umm…how is this a mansion? Another thing that perplexed me was Harry’s financial predicament. She spotted the well-to-do biological father in town, so she can easily find him and sue him for child support. Why was this not a thought, especially when they were teetering on the verge of homelessness?
Overall thoughts: This book was a complete waste of time. If you want an atmospheric haunted house book, check out “Naomi’s Room” by Jonathan Aycliffe or “Woman in Black” by Susan Hill. Plus, you can never go wrong with the classics by Shirley Jackson and E.F. Benson.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with this ARC! One look at this cover—and the title—and I knew I had to read this cute little book filled with adorable dogs romping around a Brooklyn park. This is a very cute little book that delivers feel-good dog stories without the tears and tissues at the end.
I enjoyed following the stories of the dogs and their families, who are all going through life’s challenges. Even though this is a fun and fluffy book of dog stories, we’re dealing with some weighty issues—from dealing with a mom in rehab, to living with anxiety amidst major life changes, to losing a best friend.
I can see a lot of youngsters finding at least one relatable character in this ensemble cast of dog lovers. My only gripe is that it’s too short, and I want more dog park fun! I highly, highly recommend this one for parents who like to read to their kiddos. The illustrations are super cute, and I’m sure this will be a gorgeous hardback once it hits the shelves on November 5.
I just want to give a shout out to my good friend, Laurie Eden, for publishing her third children’s book–copyedited by yours truly! It’s packed with gorgeous illustrations and fun info about sightseeing attractions in Vegas, baby Vegas!!!
It’s always a good time traveling with these pups to some of our nation’s most exciting cities. If you’re not familiar with this series, your kiddos are in for a treat! In this installment, you get to travel alongside her rescue dogs to some of the most entertaining and historical landmarks in Vegas. Who knew that “Sin City” could be so kid-friendly? In addition to catching the travel bug, your youngster will learn more about the importance of dog rescue, an issue that is very near and dear to my heart. Oh, and did I mention that the illustrations are gorgeous? Chef’s kiss to the author and the illustrator!
These books would make great gifts, so buy a copy ahead of the holiday rush! Here’s a link to her Etsy site.
I don’t mean to brag, but I bought this book at a BookPeople author event starring none other than Joe Lansdale! He is always entertaining at his book signings, and I’m happy to note that he is super nice to his fans. I fumbled while asking him a question about “The Donut Legion” and he took it all in stride. Seriously, y’all, I’m terrible at any kind of public speaking.
I’m also happy to report that this is a stellar Hap and Leaonard mystery filled with evil villains–including a sinister woman with purple eyes. Side note: I had no idea people could be born with purple eyes, but after a quick Google, I discovered that these natural beauties exist in the world, and Elizabeth Taylor was one of them.
Aside from that fun trivia fact, I really enjoyed this new installment, especially the colorful East Texas characters. I had family in Gladewater, so I can attest that the people over there are WEIRD, and I have no doubt Lansdale gets plenty of material whenever he leaves the house. As per usual, the pacing is great, the wisecracks are snappy, and the murder scenes are grisly. But what I love most about these books are the main characters. Hap and Leonard are rough and tough, yet they have soft underbellies that show when they do things like taking two young kids under their wings at the boxing studio. That said, they can be a**holes too, especially toward the beginning of this book when they turned down a potential client who later ended up burnt to a crisp–yikes!
Out of guilt, Hap and Leanord decide to take on her case, which involved two missing girls. Soon enough, they learn this is so much more than a simple missing-person’s case when they find clues leading to a highly organized crime ring. Things escalate VERY QUICKLY, when the bad guys catch wind of Hap and Leonard’s investigations. It’s a good thing they have connections (mainly the sharp-shooting Vanilla) because these killers are BAD NEWS! I’ll leave it right here to avoid spoilers, but I will say that this is one heck of a ride that I didn’t want to end. I’m interested to see what happens in the next book because Lansdale just dropped a bombshell about one of the main characters that could change everything!!!
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 