Not what I was expecting from the synopsis. While the author writes well, I’m sorry that I had to DNF this one. Wasn’t an easy decision but the plot was extremely slow and didn’t have the thriller vibe or any foreshadowing that it was to come.

I really loved this book!! It had so many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!! This was my first book by this Author, and it won’t be the last!! Quick read!! Highly recommended!! You won’t be disappointed!!

I read so many good reviews of this book, and I really like social horror, so I thought for sure this would be a great one for me to read. We’ll get to my opinions on that soon enough, but ultimately, I think this one was just way too slow for me.

As we know from the synopsis, Cherish and Farrah are the only two Black girls in their country club community. Cherish has been adopted by a very wealthy white family, and Farrah’s parents just had their house foreclosed on, so while her father is working in another state, Farrah moves in with Cherish and her family.

So far, so good, but I was waiting for the horror! The social commentary! The big twist! Basically, I was waiting for the thing that led to a “Get Out” reference in the synopsis.

That thing really never came. This was just the story of two young girls with an intense but interesting friendship until about 75% in, when finally something happens. I never got that big twist, or anything that would blow me away. The ending had a slight bit of horror, a bit more social commentary, then it had a strange fantasy-like ending. I don’t like when non-fantasy books end up that way, because it almost feels like the author didn’t know where else to go.

This was a decent story, it was so slow at getting to the point. I enjoyed the read, but as a whole, this one was just average for me. 3/5 stars.

(Thank you to Dutton Books, Bethany C. Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

In all honesty, I'm pretty conflicted in regards to my feelings on this book.

For one, this was a slow burn that burned REALLY slow. Like....too slowly, honestly. This took me a long time to finish, because even at the 40-50% mark, I was still waiting for something to actually happen. The first half consisted mainly of Farrah's internal narrative, which was difficult to decipher. Looking at the synopsis and early reviews for this, I was expecting a lot more horror and thrills, but that ultimately didn't happen.

At the same time, I know that this is meant to be a slow burn and that Farrah is supposed to be a complicated and paranoid character. I just didn't really get into the book until the last 20% or so, and I felt disconnected from the characters because we spent so much time just in Farrah's internal monologue. In this way, I really struggled with the book, and spent the majority of it being confused and a little bored.

Despite these qualms, there are several aspects of this that are really well done. Not everyone liked the 'big twist', but I thought it was really compelling and chilling. I liked the commentary present in the portrayal of Cherish's parents; these people who so clearly see themselves as woke and unproblematic, when often their words and actions contradict that sentiment.. Lastly, I enjoyed the final scene. It lived up to the horror I was expecting from the rest of the novel. Still, there are many unanswered questions I am left with about the characters and story.

Overall, this is being marketed as a social horror novel, with some likening it to Jordan Peele's Get Out. I can see how the insights on race and performative 'wokeness' are comparable to Get Out, but as a social horror Cherish Farrah just doesn't stack up.

In conclusion, I'm confused as to how I feel about this. I think there is merit to checking this one out for yourself, and hopefully being aware of how slowly it unfolds will help you stay invested. Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This publishes 02/08/22.

You know how you're reading a book and you're just waiting for the good stuff to start? With this one I wasn't even fifteen percent in and it got to the good part. This is how you do a slow burn right. I admit that this won't be a book for everyone but I gotta say I dug it, it was very unique and intelligently written. I was so invested I was able to read it in a couple of sittings even during the busy holiday season. I see many reviewers calling this a young adult book and it is, but it isn't your typical YA...the main characters just happen to be teens but I think anyone at any age would enjoy it for what it is, an excellent physiological thriller with a pretty amazing ending that threw me for a loop and I loved how dark this was. There is also a lot of social commentary about race and class consciousness but that's not what I focused on, it was just really good story telling, kudos to the author.

This was trippy! It’s not your typical thriller so if you’re looking for something more conventional to the genre you might be disappointed, it’s a lot more cerebra and about the atmospheric, anticipatory dread, which I think absolutely worked! It’s a very slow burn read, creating a sense of wrongness that I swear sometimes I could hear the creepy string instrument used in A24 movie trailers because something is just Off, with Farrah, with the family she’s inserted herself in, with her mother, etc. I haven’t read any of The author’s Ya books yet, but I was told a Song Below Water is similar in its slow-burn-ness that pulls everything together at the end in a way that makes you feel absurd for questioning “how is this all gonna tie together, how is this gonna end?” In the first place. This definitely did that, it built up that atmosphere and kept me guessing because I had no idea what we were building to, and then I hit the last twenty percent. That’s when the text really grabs you by the throat and slams you into OH HOLY SHIT territory that made all the slow build up worth it.

It’s definitely more deliberately paced at the beginning and I can tell that’s not gonna be for everyone, hell early on I thought it wasn’t for me, but it ended up being worth it and I recommend this if you’re cool with that kind of pacing and want something to make you say YO WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST READ by the end.

I was very excited about this one based on the blurb. However, it didn't live up to my expectations.

The pace was WAY too slow. I just couldn't get engaged with the book. There was too much telling, and a lot of focus on the toxic friendship. There was not much on the thriller/horror angle. I kept waiting for a massive plot twist to surprise me, but it never happened.

Social horror. Where you been all my life????

Seriously, though, this is quickly becoming my favorite genre. Many thanks to Jordan Peele for being the catalyst behind this movement because without him paving the way books like Cherish Farrah probably still wouldn’t be getting published.

Cherish and Farrah are the only two black girls in their gated community. They are as close as sisters – to the point where when Farrah’s parents lose their house Cherish’s family says why doesn’t Farrah just move in with them??? Farrah’s own parents don’t seem so keen on the idea, especially when Farrah falls ill and they aren’t informed. But Farrah doesn’t want to leave the lifestyle she has become accustomed to behind and is willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure the Whitman family knows she is quite possibly a better choice than their own adopted daughter.

To Bethany C. Morrow, allow me to say . . . .

NOOOOOOOICE!

While I did have a pretty good idea of what was going on as soon as the book was given to Farrah, it didn’t make the pages turn any slower and I will happily admit that by the time this sucker was over I was still sweating bullets. A slow rolling YA thriller that has your brain going one direction and abruptly takes a hard left.

I am not sure where to begin with this book- what a wild ride! Cherish and Farrah are best friends, they live and die for each other and have since they were kids, but that isn’t exactly true. Each has a secret, only one of them is more in control than the other, or is she?! This post may seem cryptic, because it is….that is the only way this books allows. I thought this book was terrifying in so many ways, some real and some not, but Farrah’s voice and perspective are haunting, chilling and beautiful. Told in the authors signature poetic style (her YA books have the same style) Farrah’s voice is unique and disturbing. It is an absolute MUST READ book about love, sisterhood, racism, abuse and the screed up society we live in.

This ok was one completely wild ride. I am not positive what I was expecting but it was not this. I will say the book started a little slower than I would have liked. But overall this book had a great creepy feeling that lingered with me after I finished it (think Get Out). This book is about two friends Cherish and Farrah who are closer than sisters. Farrah’s life has been falling apart as her mother lost her job and they lost their house so she has been staying with her best friend. Farrah and Cherish are both Black, but Cherish is adopted by white parents and is what Farrah calls “White Girl Spoiled.” Farrah is working hard to reassert her control over her life but the harder she works the more things seem to fall apart including mysterious illnesses. The writing of this book was excellent and the tone was creepy.

Thank you so damn much Dutton for this eARC approval!

So I absolutely loved A Song Below Water and A Course Rises by Bethany Morrow!
Very excited when I seen a new novel by her.... But this is a bit different than the other two
And I loved it because thriller is my favorite!

Cherish Farrah is the absolute best I've read in awhile!
The writing here is phenomenal and so damn intriguing I was hooked and put my kindle down only a handful of times before I finished it. Her writing in this novel draws the reader in and encourages lots of page turning.
So fascinating and atmospheric.
The characters are all well-rounded and developed, even the side characters.
Cherish Farrah was absolutely incredible and exceeded all expectations I had.
I was blown away with the intensity and narration. Morrow's talent is amazing!

Thank again for this eARC! It's one of my favs and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read it! 😘

This book was truly amazing. It started a little slow but when it picked up I could not put it down! I found myself having a physical reaction to the store. My heart raced in certain parts and my pulse quickened during others. I’m so happy that I decided to pick this one up. Also thankful to the publishers for my review copy. Can’t wait until it hits stores in January. I’m buying all my friends copies.

I really did not enjoy this book. It fell way below the mark and pointless. For the entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking, "where is this going?" "why was this book even written and for who?" I almost didnt finish so many times.

I was conflicted by the book: On the one hand it’s incredibly grim and dark, and quite tricky to understand in parts. You spend a good percentage of the book trying to understand the protagonist and why she is the way she is, which is incredibly frustrating. But on the other hand, there’s something magnetic about the writing and the characters that keeps you engaged to the end, where you’re rewarded with a reveal that I doubt many readers could predict. An intriguing book that’s worth a read, but has its flaws.

The writing in this story was phenomenal! It was dark and risky. I really enjoyed this book. It was not what I was expecting but it was right up my alley.

It's a slow-burn thriller that has a big twist at the end. I feel like it's a cool new unique concept and story. I'm not the biggest fan of slow-burn thrillers. I'm more into fast pace but overall it was an interesting story.

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars. This was an interesting thriller/horror novel (light on the horror) and it kept me captivated until the end. The end was okay but I struggled to understand it. Thank you publisher for the early copy!

Very slow read and it I don't feel like I ever really got into the book. I feel disconnected from the characters. There is a lovely tension and an impending doom feeling but it is just so slow.

I wasn’t crazy about this book. It was too slow to get started and I didn’t think it lived up to its potential. Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley.

I would have enjoyed this book much more if the beginning were more engaging...this book was slow to start. Even at the 40% mark, I kept wondering when things were going to pick up. I kept at it because of the good reviews, but ultimately, this one fell a little flat for me.

I did enjoy the themes of toxic friendships and overbearing families, and the ending was stunning and so well done. I think if the exposition had grabbed me a little more, I would have been more invested in the story.