While this was compulsively readable and extremely quick to get through (I read it all in one sitting), it was just fine. I have no strong criticisms of this book but also nothing that I really loved or that stood out to me.

I'd never read any Goldy Moldavsky before, but this was an intriguing mystery/YA/dark academia book unlike what I usually pick up. I found it a little hard to get into at first, but I ended up enjoying the characters and how it slowly grew more and more intense throughout.

I was hoping I'd enjoy this book but I just realized that this genre does not work for me. I am sure someone else would enjoy it if they are a fan of the genre.

The only other book I’ve read by Moldavsky is Lord of the Fly Fest. I liked that one okay, but I highly recommend The Mary Shelley Club. After a horrific event, Rachel moves and starts at a new school, where she really only has one friend and feels like she doesn’t fit in. That is until she realizes there’s a secret group at school that pulls off elaborate fear-based pranks, all harkening back to the horror genre.

I liked how the book slowly upped the suspicion and danger. Everything seems okay, if not a bit strange, at first, but Rachel soon realizes that there’s more to the club than she might have originally thought. I mean, nobody is supposed to actually get hurt, right? I really liked Rachel, even if I didn’t necessarily love the group she was part of, though you can’t say it’s not entertaining!

Mystery, horror references, dark academia, and Mary Shelley. You can’t go wrong.

It may have taken me ages to read this galley, but once I started I couldn't stop! Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my copy in exchange for the honest review.

Favorite quote: "If I was a monster, then so was everyone else in this club. And for once I didn't feel like such a freak. We could be monsters together." because it gives me Perks of Being a Wallflower vibes <3

My spoiler-free opinions below!

I thought The Mary Shelley Club wove together the world of horror films and a unique tale. I could envision this being adapted into it's own film and gaining a following. While I thought I had guessed the ending, I was wrong and pleasantly surprised. If more comes out in this world I think I wouldn't mind, although I think that the ending itself is a great nod to the fear of not knowing what comes next that we expect to find in horror flicks. I can't wait to read more by this author!

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky is a YA thriller involving a secret club centered around horror and slasher films. The story was really entertaining and one I could easily see adapted for film or TV. The characters play a game called ‘fear tests’ which are essentially elaborate planks that can be cruel and certainly dangerous. While I was reading, particularly early in the book, I was worried the characters’ choices and actions wouldn’t be questioned. But in the end, I thought the author did a good job of drawing you in, while raising questions about privilege. It was a pretty fun read and even though it was a bit predictable in some ways, the characters were interesting to read and the progression of the story. I recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read and slasher vibes that aren’t too scary.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Rachel Chavez has changed schools to Manchester Prep, after a violent event occured the year before (prompting her mom to find a new job and uproot them). Now, Rachel keeps to herself, she does not make waves, and has to be dragged places by her only friend, Saundra Clairmont. It is at one of these parties that a prank is played on a fellow student, which leads Rachel to become the suspected perpetrator (for laughing, because of her PTSD from her attack). Because of this Rachel is befriended by the true culprits of the prank, a group of kids who are part of The Mary Shelley Club. A club that runs Fear Tests, each member picking a victim that they have to scare enough for them to scream. Only, when they begin their tests, something seems to be going wrong, and someone in a mask appears to be stalking their club.

The book started off strong, hooking me in the first chapter; but, while it may be a quicker read due to formatting, it was much too long winded. Nothing really happens until halfway through the book. Mostly, it is a book about a girl suffering PTSD, who enjoys scary movies, and pranks. Not at all what I was looking for in a scary novel. Also, the writing came off as more middle grade than young adult. The metaphors are continuous, ofen adding nothing but cheese and eye rolls.

Rachel was the only character I found to be flushed out, but I still could not understand her motivation in joining a group who target victims (like she was). Her taking back her power seemed flimsy, if anything she should have been more sympathetic to their targets. Her ideas that they deserved it, without her knowing them, and having experienced what she did (unbelievable). Especially with how most of the group treats her, as though they don't want her there...

No real twists, annoying non-ending. Just nothing really to make this book stand out. I was sorely disappointed in the direction the author decided to take this book. I think the basic plot had promise, but the characters and writing did little to elevate the story. I felt the twist was kind of shoehorned in and our buddy read discussions actually pointed out much better plot developments that could have happened than what did happen.

Overall, The Mary Shelley Club was a pleasure to read. It resembles a cross between Are You Afraid of the Dark? and a slasher film from the 1990s, but with a little more drama. Even though I don't know anything about Goldy Moldavsky's prior books, she did a fantastic job of developing a unique horror story with likable characters in this one. There is enough suspense and unexpected turns to keep you turning the pages.┄★★★★✰

Last year there were two books on NetGalley that were about young women who were obsessed with horror films. The other book was not exactly to my liking and I struggled to finish it because it just didn't make sense for a variety of reasons. But The Mary Shelley Club was a fun ride, a good mystery, and actually took the idea of a horror movie obsessed character/characters and made it a likeable read.

The Mary Shelley Club is a mystery and an examination of how traumatic events can impact people. The mystery aspect was actually pretty well done. I didn't entirely guess what was going on though most of the conclusions the main character came to were actually logical. (In many mysteries, this is not the case.) Other people were just suspicious enough that everything made sense.

Overall, I really liked the book and would recommend it to teens and adults who like secret societies and mysteries.

The Mary Shelley Club was basically a horror game and if you think I'm not 100% down for that, you're wrong. This was literally everything I wanted in a book and it was incredible!

I don't know if maybe I've read too many YA horror novels, but I found The Mary Shelley Club to be awfully predictable. I am not sure how such an interesting premise ended up so flat.

I enjoyed the book and thought it was a lot of fun. I have already recommended this one to some of the teens in my library. I loved all of the horror book and movie references! And I thought it was nice and twisty.

It seems that I have had a love/hate relationship with horror stories this year. This one was great on the horror side but the characters were kind of meh. The story itself I did enjoy but the bad characters just over powered that love. I think that if you don't care as much about characters vs. plot you will enjoy this one.

Overall I wanted to enjoy this book but it felt like at times the author didn’t even know what story they were trying to tell and so the ending felt very choppy to me. There were also a lot of plot holes such as how a victim of trauma would be willing to inflict trauma on others.

While this is obviously a horror-buff’s book I think as a non-horror buff (just thriller fan) I was not this books target audience and it showed.

Overall I still enjoyed it but felt it could have been better.

The Mary Shelley Club was a fun, wild ride of a YA novel. Set against the background of a private, elite high school, the book provides tons of suspense and keeps you guessing until the end. Rachel is new to the school, having moved from Long Island after a traumatic event takes place at her home. She doesn’t fit in until one day she joins the super secret Mary Shelley Club and meets a group of students who love horror movies as much as she does. But the group doesn’t just watch movies, they all must participate in a game of fear tests of their creation. While Rachel is somewhat uneasy about the idea of terrorizing her classmates, she goes along with it until she realizes that the trauma from her past has not stayed in the past.

I wasn't the biggest fan of this book and it's hard to pinpoint why but it just didn't quite work for me.

4.5 stars. Saw meets Scream meets The Final Girl. Lots of twists and turns in this one and of course, left with a cliffhanger. I did figure out “who done it“, but I did not see the twist at the very end. This book definitely kept me on The edge of my seat. As a horror buff, I really enjoyed all the references to the many amazing and cheesy horror movies that I have seen over the years. I truly hope there is going to be a sequel to answer a lot of my questions. Trigger warning: violence, murder, home invasion

The ending was unexpected. The twists and turns were enthralling. I loved the incorporation of horror.

I wasn't a big fan of the protagonist but the horror aspect was decent. At times it felt like it was pandering to the audience but overall a decent read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.