4.5 stars rounded up

Stephen Graham Jones writes literary horror with thoughtful themes and great characterization that really work for me. My Heart is a Chainsaw is a love letter to slasher films, social outsiders, and great teachers who can be a lifeline to struggling teens. The story centers a biracial indigenous (Blackfoot) girl named Jade who is obsessed with slasher films and believes one is about to play out in her small mountain town.

I'm not all that familiar with the slasher genre, but I loved My Heart is a Chainsaw. What helps is that the book is structured with these Slasher 101 papers the main character has written that introduce you to the main themes, tropes etc. of the genre. This is a slow-burn story that is intricately plotted with painstaking character work. It deals with trauma, gentrification, abuse, difficult family relationships, and of course, revenge. My only real complaint is that one of the final reveals needed a little more buildup to make it feel like a logical progression. But that's relatively minor.

Overall, I really loved this character driven horror novel. I don't think it's going to work for everyone- it's not action-packed (though it certainly has its moments! omg the gore!) and Jade isn't a "likeable" character. She's prickly, damaged, strange, and very much an outsider in her town with only a few people still keeping her tethered (like her wonderful history teacher). But I think if you let her, she'll really grow on you.

It is interesting because the narrative is entirely from her perspective and she's kind of excited to get to live through a slasher cycle, only occasionally really worrying about all the people who will die. She says at one point something to the effect of "everyone dies, but first they [people in a slasher] really live". Her characterization is incredible, regardless of whether you "like" her or not. (and by the same token, she wouldn't care whether you like her anyway) I thought it was a beautifully crafted story.

Adri eloquently discusses this book in great detail and you should read their review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Do be aware there are a LOT of content warnings including the obvious gore, violence, death, but also attempted suicide, neglect, and sexual abuse (not on page). The audiobook is great, I listened and read a long at the same time which was a really good experience. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was scary and atmospheric and suspenseful and great! I look forward to suggesting this book this Fall for horror lovers!

This was the book I expected Grady Hendrix's The Final Girl Support Group to be. Both books are similar, but My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones is a legit slasher horror story in itself, whereas Hendrix's book feels like it features a paranoid character in a Caroline Kepnes thriller (not bad company, to be clear).

Jade has had a difficult childhood but her encyclopedic knowledge of classic horror films has equipped her with, if I may borrow a line from Liam Neeson, "a special set of skills" to use against an actual slasher that has come to her small town.

It's a great homage to horror films and a solid story in itself. There are moments that both pay tribute to horror fans and show how the genre allows them to cope with difficult circumstances. I'm feeling generous today and since Stephen Graham Jones is one of the best horror writers we have, this one gets five stars.

I really enjoyed this! An absolute love letter to slasher films, I loved Jade and her extensive slasher knowledge. This book had so many interesting characters and I loved the ghost stories that came with this old Idaho town.

The writing was very flowery and I feel like the book could have cut a solid 100 pages without taking away anything from the plot. I was disappointed that some things mentioned never amounted to anything, they were just fluff.

But overall I thought the story was fun and definitely left me feeling spooked.

TW: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Rape

Jade Daniels is a loner— she is the town pariah, her father abuses her, her classmates think she’s a freak, and her mother has abandoned her. She retreats to her inner world of slasher films, where things make sense to her: the wronged will seek their just revenge and that a final girl will always triumph over evil.
When gentrifiers come to Proofrock with plans to raze Camp Blood and build mega mansions for themselves, and blood is spilled into Indian Lake, Jade knows the town is about to experience its own slasher story. Thanks to her obsession with horror movies, her school pranks, and her off-putting behavior, Jade must work overtime to get the town authorities to believe her and prep the one she has deemed “the final girl” before more blood spills.
I love this book in a big, bad way. Stephen Graham Jones’ love letter to horror and slasher films hit the right notes for me. While not as extensive as SGJ, I am crazy for slasher movies and have cut my teeth on them since childhood. His wealth of knowledge is shown through Jade throughout the book and reminded me of some flicks that I haven’t seen for years.
The “Final Girl” trope has been done a lot lately; in fact, this is my 4th final girl book this year alone. My Heart is a Chainsaw is the best written of the ones I have read by far. In creating Jade Daniels, SGJ has created a character who was real and flawed, who was lonely and wanted a family and home. She was the absolute best part of this whole story for me.
If I must state one issue that detracted from the story for me, it was the history reports from Jade that were included between chapters. I realize that these were included not only to fill in the town’s backstory but also to educate the non-slasher fans. While they were a novel inclusion, it killed the book’s momentum for me and made it difficult for me to want to finish the book at times. I would have preferred more Jade and less filler.

Big Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can handle a lot but this had me spooked! Wow! Excellent horror that I think all fans of the genre are going to love as it is definitely a love letter to the genre.

I really wasn't sure how I would feel about this book because it's really not the kind of book I go for however, surprising it was good and I enjoyed it. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm open to reading more. Jade takes us into her own world where you're not really sure what to expect. I would recommend this book and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest reveiw.

Jade Daniels is an Indigenous slasher-obsessed senior in high school trying to survive in her small Idaho town. She’s got a loser dad, a dirty job, and she just might not graduate after all. A moneyed housing development is being built across the lake, right next to the now defunct Camp Blood. The lake is full of legends and fifty years earlier there was a massacre at the camp and Jade can’t help but think this is all a pretty good set-up for her very own slasher movie. Has Jade been watching too many movies or is there a killer on the loose?

Let me just say that any book that makes reference to My Bloody Valentine (the movie, not the band) and the 1986 Marc Price vehicle Trick or Treat at the outset knows who its audience is. There were 150 horror movies referenced that I found with another few nods to movies like The Breakfast Club and Grease peppered in along the way. There’s a lot of fan service here and that’s ok – if you are the kind of reader that sees themself in Jade. I don’t know how it will play to a more casual horror fan.

The re-read value is high either way – one time through for the clever plot and delightful protagonist and at least one more time to take note of all the movies that run from slasher classics and introductions to "holy shit dude, no one remembers 1981’s Night School." I’ve seen more than one Twitter user say they felt like My Heart is a Chainsaw was written specifically for them and I think on some level, it was. Stephen Graham Jones has seen into my VHS collection and thus, into my heart.

Jade is an absolute delight and intensely relatable. She builds walls around herself with her outré (for Proofrock, Idaho) tastes even as she longs to be understood by someone – anyone. Throughout the novel, we get to read snippets of extra-credit assignments Jade has turned into her history teacher and one of her favorite adults if there is such a thing. Horror studies nerds will recognize her extra-credit as a Carol Clover-inspired treatise on “The Final Girl” and slasher rules/psychology.

Something much deeper lingers under the surface of this novel. It’s not just slasher movies and jump-scares, untrustworthy adults and rebellious teens. Without jumping into spoilers, one of the things I found most fascinating about My Heart is a Chainsaw is the way in which the novel is concerned with place and land and ownership vs. conservation vs. stewardship. An undercurrent of this novel feels to me like a commentary on (or asking us to question) the way our stories about place and the land we inhabit inform not just the way we relate to the land but also the way those stories inform our communities.

This was one hell of a fun ride. Satisfying, smart, and sure to hold a very special place on many a horror fan's bookshelves.

Haunted by an abusive childhood, Jade Daniels yearns for the day she can put her slasher knowledge to work in her small rural lake community. When Letha and her family arrive in town to help develop an upscale community, Jade discovers her final girl and realizes a bloodbath must soon be coming. The story is told in a stream of consciousness, which really allows you to get into Jade’s head. At times, it made it a little hard to follow but by the end of the book I appreciated how authentic Jade’s narrative voice was. The plot is little slow to build but the second half of the book drivers with constant action and brutality. Yes there is gore, but beneath its’ violent exterior, this book is emotionally raw and heartfelt. Once certain truths are uncovered, it makes it hard not to connect with Jade and find meaning beyond the blood. This is the kind of book that really grows on you after you’ve had a chance to think about it. Also, I have to mention that I thought I knew slashers before reading this book but I was completely wrong! There are constant references to classic films and some of them went right over my head. The good news is I now have a long list of movies I still need to watch. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with an e-galley!

A great new take on the final girl trope with Native American representation and social commentary smartly merged into the story.

If you are a horror lover as much as I am and if you happen to love slashers, you will definitely have a blast with this book. Between the main chapters we find some 101 Slasher for beginners inserts that were my favorite thing from the book. The way SGJ knows the genre and how he can explain and go through all the tropes was so much fun to read. I have to warn you though that if you have not watched many of the classics there will be spoilers ahead for those movies.

Since we have already established that SGJ is an expert when it comes to slashers, he delivered an exciting, interesting take on the final girl trope and gave it a twist. Really enjoyed seeing all the Native American cultural elements in the story.

As for the characters I love when we get someone like Jade, that as a main character was so polarizing. When I get characters I can not quickly decide if they are all good or all evil, it makes me all the more excited as a reader and I loved to discover who Jade really is throughout the book.

This book is all things nasty and graphic and everything a good horror should be. But the author does rather rely on the reader's knowledge of previous horror films and books as he does throw them in frequently. I guess I "got" around half of them, I'm a mostly Freddie, Jason and Michael kinda gal and not as obsessed as some. But for me, I think that was enough. But, that said, every so often my interest in others, unknowns, was piqued that it did bring me out of the story to make a note for further investigation which meant that my time with this book was maybe not a smooth as it could/should have been.
I've already said it's nasty and, well, it hits the ground running there! If you are not sure then I would recommend you try the sample first.
So, we meet Jade - half-Indian 17 year old girl who is completely obsessed with slasher movies. So much so that she sees evidence of this all around her and is forever casting people in various roles, specifically that of Final Girl. Her fears come true when fiction becomes fact in the small town of Proofrock and she, together with FG Letha set out to save the town. Well Jade does, Letha has a different agenda of what (who) needs saving...
I have to say that it is a bit of a slow burn initially but there is a lot of setting up to do before we reach the peak and it becomes a downhill race to the gory end. It is worth sticking with though as once it gets going, phew... what a ride!
And the ending is perfect. And a bit emotional...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This book is not like anything you have ever read before. There really is no comparing My Heart Is A Chainsaw to any other book that I know of....and I read alot!!! From page 1, Jade Daniels pulls us into her world. Jade's life has never run smooth. She plays out her daily life against the background of her favorite horror movies. The bloodier, the better. Every interaction is measured against a movie scene....and then, life starts to imitate art.
Stephen Graham Jones has developed a fascinating background for this character and plays her in such a manner that you FEEL her pain, fear, confusion....all of it is part and parcel of her slanted view of life. A REALLY great book. *****

I had such high hope for this book because I love horror/thrillers, but sadly this one was just not for me. I considered not finishing it, but I wanted to give the full book a chance since it was one I was so excited about. I loved the idea of it, especially all the references to slasher movies, but the actual plot and characters just did not excite me. It took me forever to read and there were parts that I just felt like I did not understand. Sadly, I would not recommend this one.

If you’re looking for great October reads, look no further. May I present My Heart is a Chainsaw. (And the Only Good Indians, while we’re at it.)

This book was just… fun. Well. For someone who loves horror. If you’re a horror film fan who loves slashers, this one is for you. (If you also enjoyed Survive the Night, particularly the references, please read this one too.)

I loved the main character. I loved being in her head. I loved reading her horror essays at the end of every chapter. She is one of my all time favorite final girls. She absolutely *made* this book and I’m so glad she did.

And I loved the absolute left field the ending of this book came from (in a good way). My favorite thing about Stephen Graham Jones books is that they all feel like a fever dream. And this one is no exception. They are all bananas, in the best possible way. Especially the ending of this one. I'm still thinking about it.

And the only reason why this ended up being a four star and not a five is because I didn't totally love the last chapter. I wish the wrap up for this story had been just a little bit different? The last chapter didn't totally feel like it fit nor did really wrap up the book in a way that satisfied me. But other than that, I absolutely loved this book!

So if you also grew up on a steady diet of horror and are impatiently waiting for the best season, add this book to your tbr. It’s worth it. Because “it’s almost October though, and horror is my religion.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review. It was such a pleasure!

“My Heart Is a Chainsaw” was a challenging read in the sense that the writing style did not translate well and was very slow paced.

It was hard to pay attention and left me often having to reread sections due to the flow of the narrative.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read this story and leave my review voluntarily.

If you are a horror movie buff, you should read this book! The book follows Jade, a girl who is nothing less than obsessed with horror and lives in the small town of Proofrock. With a abusive, drunk for a father, she uses horror as a way to block out the abuse and escape reality. As soon as she sees Letha, who is the new girl in town, she casts her as the Final Girl in a slasher she knows is about to become reality in her small town.

Overall, I liked this book! It serves the horror genre well and I really enjoyed all the movie references. If you are one who has not seen a lot of horror films, such as Friday the 13th, Freddy vs. Jason, Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, you may want to watch them before reading the book so it doesn't spoil it for you. Since I have seen all these films, I really enjoyed this part of the book, along with the letters written to Mr. Holmes in between each chapter. They were humorous at times and a nice addition to the book. Stephen Graham Jones does a nice job of tying in Native American culture in a way that is appreciated, my only complaint is that the book felt very drawn out at times. I feel a good portion of the middle of the book could have been condensed for a better story. Had it not been a bit drawn out and boring in for a significant amount of pages, I probably would have given this 5 stars. In the end, I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. It is a must read for the spooky season!

Thank you to NetGalley, GalleryBooks/Saga Press for an ARC of this ebook.

Jade is a teenage girl dealing with her upbringing of abuse and neglect. She is angry at the world and finds refuge in the world of slasher movies. When the perfect final girl moves to town she is sure that a real life slasher cycle is about to begin in her town. Then people start showing up dead, and here we go. A fun slasher fan girl moment has arrived.

This book is going to be a hit for fans of slasher movies, and it delivers a very original spin on the genre. It touches on social issues, brilliantly involves the local lore of the area, all wrapped up within a slasher love song.

The story is a bit of a slow burn, but delivers on one of the most intense and cinematic climaxes that horror novels have to offer. No really, that ending is bound to go down in the slasher history books.

I highly recommend this book. Especially to those who love slashers and don't mind a slower start to establish great character development and set up one wild ride.

I don't typically like horror novels but Stephen Graham Jones is the exception. With an abundant knowledge of slasher films and a plethora of gore to go around, he writes a novel not for the weak of stomach.

Jade, a seventeen year old half-Indian who lives with her good-for-nothing, abusive father, lives in a sleepy lakeside town where nothing happens. Except for decades ago there was that one time when numerous people were killed at the now abandoned camp, fondly referred to as Camp Blood. Jade, a self proclaimed horror film aficionado, knows everything about them, especially ones where a masked killer seeks revenge but the final girl saves them all. As she moves through her mundane days, narrating life in Proofrock like one of her horror movies, hoping something exciting will happen, actual bodies start to appear, the first rising from the lake that local legend Stacey Graves supposedly ran across without sinking. As Jade narrates events, hoping newcomer Letha will be the final girl, Jade's true nature emerges the closer we get to the end. Despite her hard exterior and massive amounts of black eyeliner, all Jade wants is a real family, love and protection as the truth about her past seeps out.

This book is intense, raw, gory, gripping and reaches a level of intensity toward the end and I couldn't put it down, I had to know how it ended! The cover, with the hint of red peeking through the gash, lets you know that something is coming, that this is not your typical horror story. I did know some of the horror movies and directors the author referenced but there are so many I had no idea existed. I was a kid of the 90s so I knew all about the Scream films and how much that movie played with horror tropes. I loved how this novel tried to follow those but also question if the events would really play out like a film, because the events at Proofrock aren't real life, right? The possibility of fiction becoming reality might be more than the small town can handle.

My sincere thanks to the publisher and the author for the extraordinary opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

An ode to horror movie lovers everywhere, this book places an outcast horror movie lover into the middle of her very own slasher. Jade Daniels doesn’t have friends, has no family ties that she is proud of, and has nothing in life except her beloved slasher movies and the lessons they’ve taught her. When she becomes convinced that her small town is about to become the site of a real life slasher, she dedicates herself to helping prepare the obvious final girl for her upcoming performance. This final girl is kind, and rich, and new to town - and Jade knows she had to prepare her for the horror that is coming.

As the story continues and we learn of the horrors of Jade’s own life, the story takes on several layers as we follow the bloody events as they take place as well as the horror movie lessons Jade both teaches and experiences for herself. A story of final girl resilience, obsession, and finding comfort in the strange…this was a fantastic read!

I had really high hopes for this book. As a fan of horror films and the slasher genre, the premise of this book sounded really appealing to me and I was excited to start it. However, after reading the prologue I immediately got a sense that this was going to be a struggle to get through. There is something about the writing style that just wasn't clicking with me. Then I moved on to the first chapter and after reading for almost an hour I was not even half way through the chapter. Everything just felt very slow and sluggish. I was struggling to get through it.
In reading other reviews, I realized that the entire first half of the book is very slowly paced. As much as i like the the idea of the story, I know I will not enjoy reading this book and am just going to DNF it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.