Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book that I ever read by this author. The reason I decided to pick it up is because I made a promise to myself to read more genres outside of my comfort zone, one of these genres being horror. The synopsis also intrigued me.

I would say that the beginning of this book was the most interesting to me. I read that first 50ish pages so quickly. After that my interest started to fall off again until something happened in the plot. The last third wasn’t too bad either. Where this book suffers is the middle.


At times it was also hard to follow where the plot was going. I think that would be its biggest weakness. Overall not bad for my first book from this author and I will be reading more of his work in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Saga Press for the pre-release copy of I Was a Teenage Slasher. This is my honest review.

This was my first Stephen Graham Jones, and it definitely made me want to pick up the Indian Lake Trilogy sooner than my planned schedule. (Yes, I plan my reads. Yes, I have a spreadsheet. Don't judge me.)

The concept and execution of this one are really interesting. Honestly, the twists are made known straight from the beginning, but getting there is quite entertaining. I loved the whole "slasher is an infection" idea, and Jones really nailed a great story, which is shocking when so much information is revealed right at the start.

I don't want to spoil much, but I think if you like slasher movies and horror, you'll enjoy this one.

Review of eGalley

It was 1989, the summer between his high school junior and senior years in Lamesa, Texas, that seventeen-year-old Tolly Driver went to a party at Deek Masterson’s . . . and everything in his life changed. With his best friend, Amber Dennison. Used to being outsiders, Tolly drinks too much while Amber chatted with another guest.

It isn’t long before the definitely-drunk Tolly finds himself manhandled and strapped into a lounge chair near the pool.

And then the long-dead Justin Joss arrives . . . .

=======

In a story told by Tolly, the narrative is, at times, quite humorous despite the blood and gore. As the events in this absorbing horror tale pay homage to slasher films, the reader is treated to a captivating tale that is part horror, part rambling narrative, part coming-of-age. Along with the slasher-doings, the narrative speaks to friendship, to the feelings of being an outsider among your peers. It touches on handling tragedy, and emotion. It’s a treasure-trove of teen-age angst, both scary and heartfelt.

Fans of the author will find much to appreciate here as will those who enjoy their horror with a bit of humor and confession.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Saga Press / S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#IWasATeenageSlasher #NetGalley

This is an absolute masterpiece! An extremely riveting read full of wit and dark humor. This has an 80s slasher vibe but is told from the perspective of the slasher. And not just any slasher, but a friendly, somewhat reluctant slasher, Tolly Driver. And as far as main characters go, Tolly is easily one of my favorite fictional characters ever. It was so much fun rooting for the slasher. Everything from the plot to the setting to the character development was flawless. I highly recommend it; it is easily one of my top reads of 2024 so far.

I appreciate this author and their writing. This is just not the book for me. I didn't enjoy it, I thought the beginning was so boring. And all the talking about gas and drills, totally lost me.

I literally scream every single time I see SGJ puts a new book out or has a new release coming up. When I saw this was releasing soon as I had the opportunity to read this as an earc I lost my composure. I read this is a sitting, ate 👏🏼 it 👏🏼 up 👏🏼. This book was fast paced, chair gripping and addictive! This is final girl meets slasher & that old school horror camp and gore gold ⭐️ like we’ve been fed in the previous books by SGJ and 🤌🏼 perfection is how I would describe this. The depth and detail that SGJ puts into his stories, backdrops, characters…it’s brilliant. I will always be a Stephen Graham Jones stan.

Thank you @netgalley and @sagapress for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this novel. To see how Tolly changes, over a few days, from a normal nerdy kid to a slasher bent on revenge is fantastic. Jones remebers the teenage years and this sense of authenticity rings true in every line of this story. Tolly's immaturity and lack of motivation, the heart rending loss of his father, his protectiveness and love for his mom and best friend, even while undergoing this horrific change, all while keeping his teenage view of life- is great.
I love horror films and novels and I was a Teenage Slasher is A+ By breaking down the formulaic plot line of every 80's slasher film and using it as the basis for Tolly's story is ingenius. Graham Jones also gives us strong female characters, hilarious asides, and a strong sense of place.

Quick synopsis: A man recounts his time as a 17 year old teenage slasher 17 years after the start of his slashing. The kicker? It’s a knowledgeable telling of how slashers are supposed to operate, based on the movies. Our slasher knows he is a slasher but does not want to be one, and cannot control his behavior.
Review: This book was probably one of the most original books I have ever read. It took a while to get into because it seemed like typical teenager who killed a few people whatever big whoop. However, this book became very supernatural very fast. I got extremely invested in the story and finding out the ending. The only qualm I have about this book and why it lost one star is I feel like some parts were boring and repetitive and it could have been more shorter. Overall, highly recommend for an original experience if you like horror books!
Thank you @netgalley and saga press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available July 16th, 2024

This was really hard for me to get into at first, but once I started I couldn’t stop. It’s told as a sort of confessional of, get this, a teenage slasher. It’s also almost like a love letter at the same time. It was honestly great, it leans heavily into the slasher tropes which I love. I’m a sucker for slasher movies.

I love Stephen Graham Jones SO much. His books are an instant buy for me. As soon as I heard about this book it was pre ordered. In my cart and paid for. I was so stoked for this title and I was pre approved to read this and I couldn't believe it. I am so freaking grateful. I read this and YA'LL!!!! Its Stephen Graham Jones for sure. Its so good. I am so excited to also read this on audible and have the physical copy to display on my shelf.

It’s 1989 in Lamesa, Texas, and the teens are showing up dead. Tolly Driver is an awkward 17-year-old who has a good head on his shoulders…until he’s cursed to start killing for revenge. After being hazed by his classmates at a pool party, he becomes possessed with the urge to kill them for revenge. Tolly doesn’t want to be a slasher, but he cannot resist these urges….and he’s ready to tell his story.

I honestly went into this book expecting your typical run-of-the-mill slasher story, but since this is Stephen Graham Jones we’re talking about, naturally this story was a refreshing take on a tired genre that is full of action and emotions. I really liked experiencing the slasher story from the killer’s perspective, because it was so fascinating (and heartbreaking) watching Tolly struggle to fight his urge to kill people. I know this is a slasher story, but it actually has some really strong monster story elements too: the idea of knowing there is evil lurking within you, you cannot do anything to stop it, and you can only sit back and witness whatever carnage it makes you inflict on others. Most slashers have no issue with the violence they commit, so it was really interesting and emotional knowing the main character here is helpless and unable to stop himself. He’s such an endearing main character who truly has a heart of gold, and I found myself completely heartbroken by the end of the book. I also found his friendship with his best friend Amber to be so incredibly sweet and authentic.

This is definitely a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of a slasher. It’s rare that you find yourself rooting for the killer, but once you meet Tolly you’ll have no choice but to love him. “I Was a Teenage Slasher” is fun, inventive, and full of emotion! Grab a copy when it releases on July 16th! 🔪

We’ve seen through the eyes of the final girl. Now we get the viewpoint of a reluctant slasher. Gory, funny, and sad. This author never disappoints.

I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones follows Tolly Driver and his best friend Amber during the summer of 1989. Tolly and Amber are on a thier way to a party and this is where Tolly's problems start. Tolly being Tolly gets drunk and makes a fool out of himself. A group of marching band students decide to teach him a lesson and tie him to a chair using the belts off of their marching band uniforms. While all this is going down the kid that was killed in a freak accident is back to avenge his death. Somehow Tolly gets a drop of his blood in a cut and now he is a teenage slasher too. This book brought back a lot of memories for me since I myself was a freshman in high school in 1989. The music, tv, and movie references were great and poped up in the perfect way. I did a webinar with Stephen Graham Jones a few weeks back and he had a slide show of Lemesa, Texas what it was like in 1989. He even had a picture of Amber's VW Rabbit. This book was a trip down memory lane for me. I have not gotten to all of Stephen Graham Jones book but he is an author that I want to read more of. I read Only the Good Indians last fall and fell in love with his writting. If you are a fan of T. Kingfisher or Grady Hendrix you will want to read I Was a Teenage Slasher. Thank you to both NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

I Was a Teenage Slasher is a thrilling rollercoaster of horror and nostalgia. Jones masterfully blends classic slasher tropes with fresh twists, delivering a gripping and adrenaline-fueled read from start to finish. With compelling characters and heart-pounding suspense, this book is a must-read for horror aficionados seeking a modern take on a beloved genre.

While Stephen Graham Jones is known for his final girls, he comes from the other side of the mask in this title. Tolly Driver is just your average West Texas teenager before coming face to face with a real life slasher, turning his entire world on its head. This book has everything I love about Stephen Graham Jones, both the horror genre saavy characters and the beautiful and heartbreaking friendships. I don't cry at most horror books, but this one definitely had me choking back tears.

What I loved about this story was the setting--the small town Texas vibes and how it bled throughout the pages (no pun intended). The slasher story itself wasn't as engaging as some of SGJ's other work, but it was a fun ride nonetheless. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun take on the slasher genre.

I can now never meet Stephen Graham Jones, because I will make a fool of myself and say something really absurd like "I REALLY LOVE YOUR BRAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ABSORB SOME OF ITS BRILLIANCE."

Anyways, the book came in from an angle I very much did not expect, and it was, as always, brilliant character work and so clever and GOD, I cried a couple times.

4.5 rounded up to 5

What a fun ride this one was!
This story is being told as an autobiography written by "the teenage slasher", Tolly, 17 years after it takes place.

Tolly was living in West Texas in 1989, just making the best out of life in a small town with his best friend, Amber. He is a good kid, has a great relationship with his mother, but is grieving the loss of his father. Amber and Tolly end up at a classmate's party, when all hell breaks loose. Their lives after this evening are never the same.

Amber notices that Tolly starts to exhibit characteristics known to slashers in horror movies. She hopes she is wrong, but the more she tests her theory, the more signs point to it being true.

True to Stephen Graham Jones' style, this story is told through stream of consciousness writing, which at times can feel like you are in the head of someone with ADHD. Don't think too hard about it. Just strap in for the ride, and soon enough you will get into the groove of his thought patterns. I find that his style really lets us see, think, and feel as if we ARE that character in his novels. That said, this is a very character-driven story. I could tell that SGJ was reliving a lot of his childhood in this setting, and the passion was contagious. This was a unique take on slashers - viewing it almost as a disease that can be "caught". It allowed the reader to experience the horrific kills through the eyes of the killer....but without all the hate and disturbed thinking. The only reason I took off a half-star was that I thought there were some minor pacing issues and repetitiveness with some of the scenes. The horror and gore was excellent, but this one still tugged at my heartstrings. Is there a sub-genre of horror called Horror with heart? If so, this is it!
Thank you to netgalley for providing this book to me early!

Thank you so much to Saga Press and Stephan Graham Jones for this wonderful book! It was about Tolly Driver, a boy living in Lamesa Texas in 1989. He is a normal kid full of hopes and dreams and friendships, and also happens to be cursed with bloodlust for revenge. After something happens at a party, Tolly is infected with the need to become a slasher and right how he was wronged. His normal life is about to be turned upside down, and he isn’t sure if he can stop it.

Thoughts: This book was about being an outsider. I loved that the perspective is from the mind of a killer, who also has humanity and is trying to figure out who and what he is. I loved the way this book is written, almost like a letter or confession to whoever finds it. The story pays homage to the horror genre, and uses emotion and humanity to create a nostalgic and heartwarming story about a teenager murdering his classmates. You know, tale as old as time.

Jones is a phenomenal writer and I could see how much of himself he poured into Tolly as a character. His relationship with Amber and the way she kept him anchored to humanity was beautiful, and I thought lots of themes were explored well. The way the book talks about being an outsider, dealing with tragedy, and the nuance of friendship, all while delivering the shock and gore of a horror novel. 4.5 stars!

If you want nostalgia and horror, you need to check this one out. This was a coming of age, gory, slasher that I could not get enough of. I freaking loved Tolly and Amber. They were the typical teenagers growing up in a small town, trying to figure out what they wanted to do in life. Well that all changes pretty dang quick with one very interesting party. Amber is a total horror movie junkie and I love how she explains everything that is happening. I loved that the book was done almost like a biography with the slasher. It made me root for the slasher until the very end. And the ending?! Why did I want to cry?! What have you done to me Stephen Graham Jones?! I will be thinking of this book for a long time and it will definitely be at the top of my fave books for the year