The Bright Lands needs a focus. Is this a mystery, a horror novel, a commentary on small-town life, an exploration of suppressed sexuality and how that might become something evil and dangerous? I suppose it could be all those things, but in this case, none of them were done well, none of them felt like THE theme, and the uneven pace of the story along with the sheer numbers of characters became distracting. Most of he characters were not fully developed, and in some cases, the dialogue felt forced - perhaps most grating was the tendency for characters to break into a dialect, seemingly just to remind the reader that the story takes place in Texas. Somewhere in the second half of the book, Kimbra suddenly has a moment where we get her thoughts laid out for us in italics: “Better think if something, darling, he’s almost here,” a jarring piece of inner dialogue which pulls the reader right out of the story. The book needs a focus, and some serious editing.

I heard someone say this book is Friday Night Lights meets Stranger Things and...yep! The ending of this book was a wild ride, and I'm so grateful to have taken it. This is very unique, but I think most readers will find something to enjoy as long as they don't mind a little spook!

I really liked this one! It definitely had an old school Stephen King/Dean Koontz vibe to it: small town, large cast of characters, plenty of secrets, and an underlying evil preying on an unsuspecting town.

The good: for all of the male characters populating the book, the ones who were really fun and most interesting were the females. Kimbra was the MVP out of all of them, though, and would have liked a different ending for her. Bethany started out like your typical town bitch, but had more layers than I thought I'd get from her. And Clark was just the perfect foil for all of the shady goings-on in town. And the pacing, even though almost 500 pages, was brisk. Short chapters and lots of action and character moments made it go by fast.

The eh: for all of the build up for the evil preying on the town...we didn't get as much of it as we should have. It makes a few brief appearances and then is rushed out of the door at the end. Would have loved to see it wreck a little more havoc. We also don't get a full sense of an ending for any of the characters, which a brief epilogue would have worked nicely. And that final scene with Clark made me want to know more!!!

But overall, a really good debut novel.

Friday Night Lights meets Stephen King. Many reviews will say this....and for good reason.

John Fram knows what he's doing and this almost 500 page book proves it. Small town football, missing boys....there's so much to write about but I don't want to spoil this for anyone.

Just go in blind. It's.....*chef's kiss* perfect.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

John Fram carves quite a niche with his debut, The Bright Lands, a gothic football thriller steeped in LGBTQ+ themes, all snuggled under an umbrella of supernatural horror. Sounding like an impossible camp mash-up, The Bright Lands admirably lives up to Fram's "Stephen Queen" moniker. The nickname breeds curiosity, and the work stands on its own.

Texas is about God and football, not necessarily in that order. Joel Whitley lives a successful, openly gay life in New York, escaping the small town of Bentley 10 years ago after suffering a public homophobic ambush. His younger brother, Dylan, is currently team quarterback with a million-dollar arm, poised to give the Bentley Bison a state championship. Football towns are notoriously solicitous of star athletes (as they chew them up and discard them) and Joel heads back to the "rotten rind of a town" when Dylan surprisingly says he wants out.

Then Dylan disappears and Joel finds strange goings-on in Bentley--money, drugs, secret weekend trips, cover-ups, set-ups and whispers of a mysterious place called the Bright Lands. To uncover the horrific truth, he'll need to face sheriff's deputy Starsha Clark, his first and final girlfriend, whose brother Troy also disappeared from Bentley when Joel did, never to be seen again. There's "nothing quite like the smell of Texas in the hours before some fresh calamity," and Fram cooks up some strong Southern aromas as Joel, Starsha and a few surprising characters join forces to uncover the evils behind generations of Bentley tragedies.

STREET SENSE: This book is nutty. In a really good way, mostly. I'm not usually into supernatural arcs, and this one definitely had a Stephen King feel to it, but as far as those go I liked how it was wrapped into the story. I don't think the story needed it, per se, but it's not my story to tell. I thought the characters, back stories and past/present disappearance mysteries were more than enough and really well done. I dug the LGBTQ+ bent and the fact that the characters were just themselves. Some were gay. Obviously a bit of a deal in Texas, but I really liked how Fram just told the story from various perspectives with authority and no fanfare, if that makes sense. It felt authentic, is I suppose what I'm trying to say. I'll be really curious to see what Fram does next, because this was a fun one.

COVER NERD SAYS: I love this cover and it's the reason I asked to cover the book. I knew little about the story. The moody image, football lights and spooky title font all made me want to KNOW what was inside. I also like that the cover includes all the necessary information (even more, with a hated blurb, but at least it's not glaring) but is still spare and lets the title and image carry the day. Whoever picked the title font gets a gold star.

This is a campy horror story set around a football team in small-town Texas. The main character, Joel, is a gay man who moved away to New York City so that he could live without judgment. I found myself wishing that the entire story was told through his point of view, as his character was most compelling,

While the book started off with a strong couple of chapters, I found there to be a few too many characters, introduced too quickly. It was hard to keep the characters straight or to feel connected with them.

I stopped reading about 20% of the way into the book, as it just didn't hold my interest. This may appeal to those who love campy horror, though, and I admit that my patience these days with books is limited. If something really doesn't grab me right away, I move onto something else.

I do think the author has an interesting style and real potential, and I'd be game to try reading something else of his in the future.

I thought this book was promising. We love a good "small town is actually screwed up" story especially if we get compelling LGBT rep. This was not that... The characters ranged from flat to just okay. The dialogue and a lot of the plot felt like a cheesy television crime drama. It was WAY too long and dragged out. And just when I thought it was going to be a wholly mediocre read <spoiler> this took a turn and went supernatural. </spoiler> Unless I missed something, I think that's supposed to be the twist/surprise? Let me just say it's a bold choice. Will some people love it and appreciate the book more because of it? Yes. But there's also going to be people on the other side of the spectrum who really have no interest in that sort of plotline. Basically ruined the plot for me because I just could not care less.

The Bright Lands by John Fram
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Bentley, Texas is a town that lives and dies by high school football... perhaps even literally. Joel Whitley escapes Bentley after high school following a traumatic incident that publicly outs him to his close-minded community. Now thriving in New York City, Joel puts his past squarely behind him... until mysterious texts from his little brother draw him back to town. Dylan Whitley is Bentley’s golden child, a high school quarterback adored by his classmates and the entire town alike. Except Dylan doesn’t want to play football anymore. When Dylan disappears, Joel and the sheriff’s deputy are determined to find out what happened. In the process they uncover seriously dark and twisted secrets about the town, including the Bright Lands, a mysterious place that is known to only the chosen few.
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Hey John Fram, you are an evil GENIUS. This book is a wild ride. The Bright Lands is like if Stephen King and Tim Riggins had a queer baby. It’s shocking, intriguing, and WTF-inducing... in the best possible way. I really can’t say much more because spoilers, but trust me... read this one. This novel is a well-written mystery meets horror debut. I cannot wait to see what Fram does next! Thank you @hanoversquarepress and @netgalley for my advanced reader’s copy. The Bright Lands comes out this Tuesday 7/7, make sure to pick it up! 🏈

“Dreams are just our souls going for a swim at night..."

Joel Whitley is a man with an alternative lifestyle who grew up in the small football-crazy town of Bentley, Texas. Ten years ago, after being publicly shamed, he left the town behind and headed to New York City. There he was able to live his life openly and he became a successful financial analyst.

After receiving some disturbing texts from his younger brother who is the star quarterback for the Bentley high school football team, Joel heads back to a town he vowed never to return to. By the time he arrives, his brother Dylan has disappeared.

Working with his old "girlfriend" Sheriff's Deputy Starsha Clark he tries to figure out what is so WRONG about this small town - with its many disappearances, the terrifying nightmares everyone in town is having, and the secrets held by so many.

This was a different book than I expected. For some reason I missed that it was a horror novel and thought it was a murder thriller. And it was horrific, to be sure.

The ending chapters in this book literally made my stomach churn. If you have a weak stomach, I would not recommend this book.

I received this book from Hanover Square through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

What I knew about this book going in was that it was being compared to Friday Night Lights which i loved. Other than it's set in a small Texas town obsessed with football, I didn't see other similarities. Main character Joel returns to his hometown in Texas to find his younger brother, star quarterback of the football team, missing. What follows is a lot of shifting character perspectives which I had a hard time keeping straight. As we become privy to the horrible childhood Joel had in this town, there are aspects of sexuality, violence and paranormal activity introduced. To me, this book wasn't quite sure what it wanted to be and also felt very YA like in it's writing style which also isn't my preference. The story took a turn for the ridiculous in the last quarter and I skimmed, this just wasn't for me. Had it been a straight murder mystery, I might have liked it more

Did not like this book at all and did not finish it. Too much violence and what is up with dropping the word "what" from the phrase "what the f---"? So many times the author used "the f---" instead.

🏈review🏈 ⁣
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i’m full of feelings: many thanks to @netgalley and @hanoversquarepress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!! wow so. essentially this was like southern football toxic masculinity meets all of the gays meets some grade a horror!! and i’m here for it!! i was pulled into the story and spat out by the end feeling exhausted but happy i went on the journey!!! truly could not have predicted nor ever thought of this tale myself!!! i miss sports but this is NOT a book for sports lovers ok it is very dark and wonderful but REALLY not about football!!! there were a dizzying number of POVs and names at times that i had some trouble tracking (so did @janaireadsbooks my fav gay booksta) but besides that i thought it was crafted and written with much care, and wouldn’t hesitate to buy it for any dark story fans in my life!!!!!! so if that’s you!!! here ya go!!! ⁣
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random but applicable emoji: 💸⁣
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might appear in a nightmare score: 😰😰😰⁣
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surprising kick ass ladies score: 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻⁣
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star rating: 🌟🌟🌟💫✨ (3.75/5)⁣
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goes well with: genuinely being shocked at the amount of gays and wondering how you (who assumes all are gay until proven guilty) didn’t see a plot twist, having an intense debate about naming a child whiskey, trying to convince your dad and brother that toxic masculinity is not an insult to them just a corrupt system issue in our gender binary system, checking to make sure there is not a monster under your bed (which is full of yarn for knitting anyways so idk where the monster would go)⁣
6m

The Bright Lands by John Fram
Available July 7, 2020

Content warnings for sexual assault, sexual abuse, and homophobia.
Buckle up! This is a wild one!
When Joel Whitley’s younger brother leaves him a cryptic text message, he knows it’s time to return home. The hometown that drove him away with it’s bigotry and small mindedness. Bentley, Texas loves it’s football and it’s players are town royalty. Bentley also loves it’s secrets. When Joel’s brother goes missing, he knows there is more going on than his brother running away. Trying to find an ally in Bentley is a complication that Joel doesn’t know if he can handle. Friends from his past have to reckon with their own tragic memories of a similar disappearance and the police seem oddly uninterested in taking any clues seriously. As Joel comes closer to understanding what happened to his brother, a dark and deadly force threatens to tear apart the entire community.
The Bright Lands is full of twists and turns and small town secrets. It’s a chilling look at the effects of hero worship and allowing young men to get away with horrific behavior solely because their athletic ability provides others with joy. Full of complicated characters, The Bright Lands shows us what happens when everyone has a secret to protect and the lengths they’ll go to protect themselves.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

If David Lynch, the king of multi-layered CREEPY SH*T created a small town football-loving movie, it would look a Hell of a lot like this book. All the creep vibes. Chills on your spine creep vibes. Hello, I inhaled this book in one sitting. What starts out as a family tragedy, quickly spins into so many dark and twisted layers of a slowly unveiled what/who/why/when. The pacing of this book could not have been more perfect in my opinion. Each chapter rapidly transitions from one POV to the next. The timeline is seamless in these transitions so you’re living the story with the town.
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💣People. When it was revealed what “The Bright Lands” are ..... the floor was blown out from under my feet. I. Did. Not. See. That. Coming. I’m that cocky reader that prides myself on “solving it” early on in a book. Yeah, that didn’t happen here. Not even close.💣
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Small town gay fiction. Family drama. Suspense thriller to the extreme. HORROR. This book checks so many boxes off my personal reading preferences list. 🤩 The end quarter was a bit polarizing (and I loved every word of it).

Friday Night Lights meets mystical, corrupt energy in a small town Texas football community.. the book is well written and I enjoyed it up to a point. The mystical undertones didn’t work for me. .

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for a digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is an interesting read. It's suspense, thriller, crime, and horror all rolled into one. This sucked me in right from the beginning.

Joel Whitley left small town Bentley, Texas ten years ago. He never wanted to return after being publicly shamed for being gay. But, one supposed mistaken text from his younger brother, Dylan, and Joel feels like something is not right with his brother and makes the trip home. Joel finds that not much has changed in terms of the townspeople and his being "different."

When Dylan goes missing, Joel and Sheriff Deputy Clark (his one-time girl friend) are determined to find his brother. In doing so, they uncover a lot more secrets of the town that some men would like to keep buried.

There was a definite Friday Night Light feel to this book along with a supernatural element. Why was everyone having bad dreams all of a sudden? This book is long, but nothing felt unnecessary to the plot. The ending was wild and I as shocked at some of the outcomes. This is definitely a wonderful debut.

It might be too soon to call John Fram's The Bright Lands a new Friday Night Lights - but I think it will come to be taught side by side with sports epic! In this novel, readers are introduced to a South struggling with a lot of familiar baggage: religion, race, sexuality, and the lure of brutal sports as both the source of hometown glory and possible escape. The main character, Joel, has returned home because of a mysterious text sent by his brother, a star football player. Back in town, Joel grapples with his past mistakes and his identity: "he had so many people to fool if he wanted to be safe in this town. If he wanted to retain a little dignity, a little decency. If he had any hope of being loved. He didn’t think about Ranger’s promise of revenge. He thought only of Dylan and Clark and his mother, of the people he held dearest, and of the pain they would feel if they ever were to learn how extensive his lies had always been, how crooked his heart." The novel is fast-paced, changes viewpoints often, and the characters have distinct voices. You'll keep turning to solve the mystery, of course, but also because you will find yourself wanting to spend time with these flawed creations.

HUDDLE UP BOOK LOVERS, there’s a new bad ass, debut author in town and his name is John Fram. I binged The Bright Lands over the span of two nights and it was the creepy, dark, LGBTQ+, football, horror story that I did not know that I needed in my life. With a vast array of characters and more twists and turns than last season’s LSU vs University of Texas game, Fram flexes his writing prowess and proves he is an author to watch.

In the small town of Bentley, Texas, football is king and Dylan Whitley is having the best year of his life as the town’s star quarterback. But all is not as it seems, and Dylan reaches out to his estranged brother, Joel, for help right before he vanishes after winning a big game. Alarmed by Dylan’s disappearance, Joel returns home to Texas to help search for him, bracing himself to face the monsters of his own who ran him out of town so many years ago. Nothing can prepare Joel for the secrets that he uncovers and I promise you, NOTHING will prepare you for that absolutely insane ending.

The first ¾ of the book is an incredibly atmospheric build that lays the groundwork for the small town’s corruption, the rampant homophobia that is so deeply embedded in the Bentley residents, and the evil being that is haunting the town. The last quarter of the book will definitely spark discussion among readers as it is completely over the top in every imaginable way. But it worked for me and I could not turn the pages fast enough. Just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, Fram took it to the next level and left me like 🤯🤯. I can't wait to read what he writes next!

Title: The Bright Lands
Author: John Fram
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

The town of Bentley holds two things dear: its football, and its secrets. But when star quarterback Dylan Whitley goes missing, an unremitting fear grips this remote corner of Texas.

Joel Whitley was shamed out of conservative Bentley ten years ago, and while he’s finally made a life for himself as a gay man in New York, his younger brother’s disappearance soon brings him back to a place he thought he’d escaped for good. Meanwhile, Sheriff’s Deputy Starsha Clark stayed in Bentley; Joel’s return brings back painful memories—not to mention questions—about her own missing brother. And in the high school hallways, Dylan’s friends begin to suspect that their classmates know far more than they’re telling the police. Together, these unlikely allies will stir up secrets their town has long tried to ignore, drawing the attention of dangerous men who will stop at nothing to see that their crimes stay buried.

But no one is quite prepared to face the darkness that’s begun to haunt their nightmares, whispering about a place long thought to be nothing but an urban legend: an empty night, a flicker of light on the horizon—The Bright Lands.

John Fram seems to have a knack for creating believable, sympathetic characters and embroiling them in unbelievable situations. I had to stop reading at one point to make sure the author wasn’t Stephen King or his son, because it had that creepy sort of feel to it. But King’s novels—including the giant spider and the clown in the sewers—are more believable for me than the premise of this novel. Despite the compelling prose, the unbelievability of the main plot idea made me lose faith in the author to a certain extent.

John Fram is from Texas but now lives in New York. The Bright Lands is his debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

I really wanted to like this one but I had to DNF at 35%. I had a hard time connecting with the characters or caring about what was going on. And while the writing is good, the mystery element wasn’t hooking me. I have heard great things about this book and know people who love it, so I’m hoping it’s just a situation of the wrong book at the wrong time. I will try to read it again at another time and hopefully I will enjoy it more then.