Truthfully, I think this book is very well-written and developed with vivid descriptions and scene-setting, perfect for fans of horror. For me, I keep getting too scared to continue reading... I would like to finish the book eventually, but for now all I can say is that Stephen Graham Jones does too good of a job telling a scary story, even with the humor that is peppered throughout.

Stephen Graham-Jones is a legend in the horror genre, already. The Only Good Indians was a fantastic story, and this one is even better. I didn't think it was possible, but it is.
The story is an homage to the slasher subgenre of horror, and it is a fresh tale and take on the tropes and structures we have come to expect.
To say too much about the plot would be to do a disservice to the story.
The point of view is really fun and interesting, and it is actually a love letter to the horror genre itself.
I am excited for the second book to be released, and I urge anybody who loves a grisly horror tale to pick this up immediately!

This book is a masterpiece. This another horror masterwork from one of the greatest writers in the genre. I had the privilege to read it early and I could not put it down. This is a slasher that is also a masterclass in slashers. It's dark, it's funny, it has heart and lots of horror. I can't recommend this more highly.

I really enjoyed this book! Jade was an interesting character and the story itself kept me hooked. ************************************************************

I am a huge fan of SGJ and think he's one of the most creative, vibrant writers around. However, though I enjoyed this book, it didn't land for me quite the same way as his past works. Part of this is on me, b/c I think I read it too fast because the plot was quite propulsive. However, Jade just seemed way too confident in this concept of a slasher come to life. Also, I felt the end happened so fast that action kind of got blurry for me. That said, I will totally show up to read the sequel (part 2 of a planned trilogy I believe).

Although I completely respect and admire Stephen Graham Jones' talent as a writer, I think I have to admit that maybe I'm not his target audience amongst horror fans.

I tried so very hard to not let the gore bother me, but it just does. Similar in style to The Only Good Indians the violence towards animals may be necessary in a way, but I just can't...

Thank you to Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Stephen Graham Jones is, in my opinion, the best writer of our era. I don't say that lightly. His ability to weave stories around familiar tropes in ways that turn the world to a different angle and then tie the ropes of that weave right to our heartstrings is unparalleled. The title of this novel could describe his whole career. This book, like his others, is full of heart. I've been reading Stephen's work almost since his debut, even the most obscure of small-press releases, and I wondered how he was going to follow The Only Good Indians, which I consider a modern classic. But Stephen just keeps getting better.
Recommend this title for your library patrons who are fans of Stephen King, Peter Straub, and classic horror movies, especially if they are looking for horror that is more cerebral while maintaining a true appreciation for the genre itself. This is literary horror that does not look down its nose at the "horror" part, but cherishes it.

I really loved the idea of this book. I feel like I’ve read a lot of books lately with a focus on the “Final Girl” and I am all in on focusing on the strength and perseverance of some bad ass women. Unfortunately it just didn’t work for me with this one. The plot itself was promising I just had a really hard time with the writing style. It was very much like you’re reading Jade’s stream of consciousness and that style always falls flat for me. The bouncing around of thoughts can either make you feel more connected to the character and the story, or it can totally take you out and I am definitely in the latter category.

Stephen Graham’s Jones books all seem to have very interesting and unique plots, so this definitely won’t hold me back from checking out more of his work, but this one just unfortunately was a miss for me.

This book was unfortunately a DNF for me. I couldn’t get into the style of the author’s writing, nor the premise of the book. I had to shelve it as not finished due to the lack of interest I was feeling.

Jade’s story is an homage to slasher films and the final girl trope. Jade imagines her life into a real slasher film where she aims to be the final girl.

Stephen Graham Jones consistently gives good, fun horror. I love his sense of humor that shines through each of his books, and the way he so clearly delights in the gruesome and gory. While I didn't always read horror, I have always watched it, so MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW feels even more geared toward me. There are so many excellent nods and references (particularly to 80s horror films, Jade's preferred era) that absolutely tickled me. What a beautiful, bloody ride. Can't wait to read book two!

The opening of this book is a classic of this genre.. Two foreigners decide to go out onto Indian lake and that's where the real horror begin. The lake is also where Jade Daniels steals a boat and attempts suicide, for which is she given community service for stealing the boat.

A love letter to the horror genre, this slasher is full of hundreds of references to horror films, which serve an important purpose because that is how Jade understands the world. Behind the on screen horror, there is real trauma that she is running from.

However, soon her encyclopaedic knowledge of slashers comes in handy as a real killer comes to her small town and she must follows the plot and uncover the killer.

It was fun, well written, explores themes of trauma, growing up Native, identity, and girlhood in all its messiness.

It is a must read!

I absolutely love Stephen Graham Jones his writing is beautiful. I actually got this book as a gift shortly after receiving it here. So I feel like the final girls trope is so entertaining and just pulls me in. I was so back and forth between characters and to seeing who actually done it and what's going to happen next. I'm pretty sure I rated this 5 stars!

Chaotic and Tedious, all at the same time.

I really thought I would enjoy this one and am pretty disappointed that I couldn't connect with it.

Jade is a great character but the constant, in-depth discussion of every slasher movie was just too much. Have you seen that meme where the guy is standing by the white board filled with hundreds of cards and strings connecting all of them? This story felt like that meme. I got whiplash as the characgter's thoughts were all over the place. Yet when she would land on a thought, she would spend eternity chasing it down.

I was mentally exhausted with this one.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I had an incredibly hard time getting into this book and ended up DNFing around 25% of the way in. Outside of the prologue, I found the beginning of the book to be incredibly slow and found that I would constantly put it down with no desire to pick it back up. I also had a really difficult time connecting with the writing style.

Stephen Graham Jones is right up there with Grady Hendrix in the horror with a touch of humor category. Horror movie buffs will enjoy this book. I am very excited that there will be a second book.

My Heart is a Chainsaw was an epic love letter to the slasher genre of horror movies on the surface, and a desperate survival story of a damaged teenage girl at the center. I wanted to love this story, Jade, Proofrock.. But the pacing was beyond slow, physically reading it was next to impossible, I had to listen to the audiobook to get through it. The majority of the first 75% are Jade's horror trivia ramblings and desperate hope and desire to be apart of real-life slasher action. It's not until the last quarter of the book that things really pick up and the truth of Jade's trauma comes to light. And then like most horror movies it just ends without real resolution, obviously setting up for a sequel. I think with editing and focus the story could be amazing.

Stephen Graham Jones' My Heart is a Chainsaw is a beautiful love letter to horror movies, in a way that is perhaps more meta than the Scream franchise, with heart to boot

The novel asks this question: What if your life suddenly turned into a slasher movie? For most of us, that idea is fodder for our most terrifying nightmares, but Jade Daniels is thrilled by the prospect in Stephen Graham Jones’s My Heart Is a Chainsaw.

The thrill comes in the form of two Dutch tourists who have been murdered at Indian Lake near the site of a development that marks the steady encroachment of the rich people from across the lake into Jade's community. Because of this she realizes something nasty is afoot thanks to her genre experience. More people die — only rich ones. She’s on the scene graduation night at the lake, where popular rich girl Letha Moondragon stumbles on the desiccated corpse of another victim. Jade knows her tropes — she’s found her final girl. She knows she must offer a hand to Letha — and she must prepare herself for the final battle. Jade might not believe she’s final girl material, but she’s definitely up to the task of trying to prepare Letha for the final battle.

The novel tackles gentrification, addiction, and colonialism. And it also works as a metanarrative about the horror genre and its influence on society. It's a one of kind, thought provoking slasher.

As a fan of the classic horror genre of film, My Heart is a Chainsaw hit all the nostalgic feelings. I loved the essay sections where our main character was earning school credit by analyzing film. There’s a real life horror movie unfolding, and leave it to the real life horror loving outcast to try and save the day!

I did not finish this book. I made it about a quarter of the way through and the story was just going nowhere. A rambling girl talking about serial killers but nothing really happening in those pages