CHERISH FARRAH is a slow burn in the best way, because the payoff is absolutely wild. This intense social horror explores race, class, and friendship through the lens of teen best friends Farrah and Cherish, who must navigate both a country club community and each others' lives. Fans of Alyssa Cole's WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING and Oyinkan Braithwaite's MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER will surely enjoy this original novel.

I did not finishing Cherish Farrah, despite the very interesting pitch (Get Out + My Sister the Serial Killer) because reading this was just so, so annoying. It's partially my own fault for picking up a YA book knowing fully well I don't usually like YA books, but I hadn't realized it was YA when I requested this advance copy, and decided to power through it. But I just couldn't stand the voice of the narrator, and so at 30% in I decided to give up; the plot had not moved on at all, which is fine for me if the main character's narration is compelling, which this was not. It was almost comical in its attempt to sound dispassionate, powerful and manipulative - we're supposed to believe this teen girl is basically a psychopath who wants to use her friend and her family to get access to their privileged lives, but she just sounds insufferable, braggy and not particularly effective at her manipulation. I could not get into the story or the main character's mind because it just sounded so... cartoonishly supervillain. I hope this will be a better fit for other readers.

Thank you to Dutton for an ARC of Cherish Farrah, publishing 2/8/22.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Although the premise was intriguing, the plot was too slow-moving and the introspective voice of Farrah was very wordy. The characters Cherish, Farrah, even their friends and family were extremely unlikeable and pretentious. Although this characterization fit with the storyline, it was unenjoyable to read about them. Nothing happened in the book until about 75% in, and I was never invested in the story. Overall, the story was odd and unsatisfying.

This book is a dark look at a friendship that's not what it appears to be, set in the super-privileged world of a family that's also not what it appears to be. The narrator is a sociopath who finds meaning in every gesture, flick of the eyes, twitch of the lips, and frankly, it's exhausting. There are some interesting messages buried inside the twisted tale, but the overall tone and narrative voice made this book unpleasant without a sissifying payoff to make it worthwhile.

Farrah thinks she’s in control as she manipulates her way into her best friend Cherish Whitman’s house. But Farrah will quickly learn that not everything is how it seems.

Both Farrah and Cherish are the only black girls in their wealthy community, but they have one big difference: Cherish is adopted and has white parents, and Farrah has black parents. As Farrah’s parents begin to sense something is wrong with the Whitman’s, they also believe something is not quite right with Farrah.

As Farrah becomes more and more unstable in her environment, she tries to gain her control back-leading to a horrifying truth.

Okay so I was going to give this book a solid 2 stars, I couldn’t piece together what was happening while I was reading it-but I also couldn’t put it down. While writing the summary, I realized that not being able to piece what was happening was 100% intentional and it deserves some credit for that because it was well done.

However, this type of story is just also not my favorite type of story & there was some pretty graphic events that made me nauseous and uncomfortable. One specific instance seemed unnecessary and was just gross, so that’s why it’s not quite a 4 star read!

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE ERIE READER // eriereader.com

We all know someone like Farrah: calculating, manipulative, and always seems to get her way, no matter the situation. Thinking she’s invincible, Farrah does as she pleases, with one word dominating her life and her choices: Control. But how can she control what she doesn’t know?

As one of two Black girls in her country club community and the only one with Black parents, Farrah Turner has seen the difference between her family and the others in her community, including her best friend, Cherish Whitman. Adopted by a wealthy white family, Cherish’s parents often indulge their daughter’s every whim and desire. Farrah uses this to her advantage, finding she can often exploit this privilege of her best friend’s familial position.

When things take a turn for Farrah’s family and foreclosure on their house occurs, she’s determined to regain control by staying with Cherish in the Whitman’s home as well as manipulating herself further into their lives.

Strange things begin to happen, though, and Farrah’s control quickly spirals away from her. Fever dreams, severe illness, and tensions running high with those outside the family all cause Farrah to become increasingly suspicious of what could really be taking place.

The commentary on race and class in Cherish Farrah cannot be missed, nor should it be. Morrow’s storytelling paints a stark contrast between the picture-perfect exterior on which we see the benevolent white family who adopt a Black child, and what’s really going on under the surface.

Morrow has made the interesting decision to tell the story in Farrah’s voice, even though she is a character whose manipulation and deceit often paint her in an unflattering light and can lead readers to potentially consider her an unreliable narrator. In any other setting, this choice would have fallen, but in this psychological, social horror, it adds much more intrigue than any concretely “good” character could bring.

One of the most intriguing phenomenon this novel brings is the slow burn of the story, leading readers into the thick of it before realizing how deep they’ve gotten, by which point it is too late to turn back, and they’ll be on the edge of their seats right until the end.

I was so excited for Cherish Farrah before it even began. But then I began reading and I became obsessed. Morrow's book is an intimate and intense look at the intricacies of friendship. How we let our families and friends see pieces and jagged edges of us. The lives we conceal from others. Cherish Farrah is about the masks we make in order to stay in good graces and survive. Morrow delivers fascinating and intriguing character dynamics from the very beginning. All the little ways we create an image of ourselves and calculated chaos.

I cannot spoil too much of Cherish Farrah for you, but just know that I was moved, alarmed, and fascinated all at once. There are layers upon layers of secrets, hints of unreliability, and simultaneous wants and dangers. Throughout the book, I lost sight of exactly who was in control. These calculated phrases and retractions, statements and accusations. Cherish Farrah manipulates truth and perception.

As usual, Bethany Morrow has crafted something hauntingly addictive and thought-provoking.

This social horror is dark and tense tale full of complex relationships, obsession and bone-chilling real-life fear. Each character is a mystery, and it's impossible to know who to trust - they're written perfectly in a way that even if you don't like them, you're completely invested in them and where they're going next.

A curiously cerebral, dream(nightmare)-like story that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.

Interesting tale of two young women entwined together in social horror. This is probably best read by the YA/NA crowd who will appreciate some of the small details that did not resonate with me. What did resonate was the anger which rose off the page. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I know I'm the odd one out but this wasn't for me.

This is a hard book to review. I don't have the words to explain what it is about. I think the back of the book is a bit misleading,making you think you are going to get some more horror elements, even though it is billed as social horror.
With that said it completely suffocating and dark to read. I think a lot of this book could use a bit more details and fine tuning to make it more understandable. Despite what is the twist of the book ,which sadly is predictable once it is presented, I still felt I don't know completely what was going on with Farrah.

Cherish is the black daughter of a very wealthy white couple. Farrah, her best friend, is black and her parents are as well. Together, these girls seem to have it all. Then Farrah's mom loses her job, and their house is foreclosed on. Forcing them to make some changes which include leaving Farrah behind with her best friend Cherish and her parents to live. What seems like a perfect situation, goes wrong when lots of strange things start to happen.

*Thank you to Bethany C. Morrow, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/cherish-farrah/

“She isn’t just the home I’ve chosen; I’m the one who mattered. I’m the one who saw her. When she thought she was comfortable in the life her parents made for her, even with their hair and skin care classes, and their social awareness, and the way they’ve been intentional in raising a healthy, protected Black daughter. They made her vulnerable. They gave her a void, and I filled it.” –Farrah Turner, Cherish Farrah

If you are expecting a light, funny novel about two Black girls in a white community who become best friends, this book isn’t it. Cherish Farrah is dark and gets darker. Told from the point of view of Farrah, we only see what she sees and she is not a reliable narrator. We only hear what her thoughts are; they are dark and creepy.

Bethany C. Morrow has created a masterpiece where the plot line is creative and terrifying but familiar in an uncomfortable way. Farrah and Cherish have been best friends since they were five; the only two Black girls at a private school in a white country club community. The only difference between them is that Farrah’s parents are Black and Cherish’s adoptive parents are white; with Farrah sometimes telling her she was just like a spoiled white kid. When her parents become bankrupt and must sell their house in this privileged community, Farrah goes to stay with the Whitmans, who treat her like a second daughter. She becomes increasingly jealous and enraged that her parents can’t even keep a house while Cherish lives in oblivion and never has to want for anything. Farrah is increasingly manipulative, needing control at all times. “Control” is always on her mind. Especially with her mother, whom she calls Nichole Turner rather than Mom. As the book gets creepier, we start to understand what is really going on in the Whitman household and that maybe Farrah is just the one who receives consequences for Cherish’s actions.

Cherish Farrah stars off slowly. As the reader, I couldn’t determine if Farrah was a psychopath or a victim. It is a slow burn and well worth the wait when it picks up towards the middle of the book. This is a “social thriller”, meaning a film or book genre using suspense and horror to augment instances of oppression in society. The plot includes a lot of questions regarding race, friendship, lies, and class differences. We engage with both characters; though we only hear from Farrah. Morrow is skilled with her words as we can feel the tension slowly building between each character, which brings us to a conclusion that is both jaw dropping and also a little weird.

As one of the most talked about books of the year, this was incredibly sinister, with each character having something to prove, and not in a good way. Yet, they were all likable and easy to empathize with. It is a book you want to look away from but are mesmerized by what you think is going to happen. As the reader, I certainly won’t forget Cherish Farrah for a long time.

Just no. I wish I had DNFed this book, and the intriguing synopsis is the only reason I didn’t. It’s painfully slow, and is almost written as a stream of consciousness, which isn’t a style that works for me. Even 3/4 of the way through the book, I still felt confused about most of what was going on, and while the big twist is fantastic, I was just over the whole thing by that point and wanted it to be done. Cherish didn’t have much of a personality and Farrah was honestly just a mess of a character, so I didn’t even find their creepy relationship interesting. I’m sure this book has an audience, but unfortunately it wasn’t me.

The first 35% was kind of slow but from then on it take off and I couldn’t put it down. It was gripping with an underlying eerie-ness that doesn’t go away. Then it was all straight up messed up! I read that it’s compared to Get Out and so I kept thinking of the movie. Which I guess is similarish. It was nothing like Ace Of Spades, this was darker. The ending is definitely something I was not expecting, at all. Ever. And I’m still left with a “whhaaaat” after it’s been a bit to process.

Cherish and Farrah become similar to sisters due to being the only Black girls in attendance at their private academy. When readers meet the characters, they are in quite different social standings. Cherish is considered WGS (White Girl Spoiled) due to being adopted by White, ultra-wealthy parents and Farrah is on the brink of a move due to her family home being foreclosed and mom losing her job. Throughout the novel, Farrah utilizes manipulation and tact in attempts to salvage her lifestyle and remain with Cherish. However, as the plot progresses, Farrah begins realizing she is not the only one pulling the strings in order to get her needs met.

Let me preface by saying this not my typical genre of book but the promise of a social horror was too good to pass up. I was excited to experience the weaving of social themes into a fiction plot. I wanted this to be good but it just fell flat for me. The writing made this book difficult to read. I understand Farrah is an intelligent individual, however as this book is written in her perspective the language used seemed unrealistic and was not easily digestible. More on Farrah, she was overall not an enjoyable character to spend time with. She simply seemed spoiled and out of touch, she orchestrated this whole thing just because she didn’t want to move with her parents. Finally, the plot took a long time to create, I felt like I didn’t know where the book was going for the first hundred pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!

This is a charged young adult speculative novel about a young woman named Farrah. She and her friend, Cherish, are the only two Black girls in their very white community, but Cherish’s adoptive parents are very well off and white. Cherish and Farrah have a complicated, at times, antagonistic friendship, but Cherish’s parents really want Farrah to be a part of their daughter’s life. Farrah own home life has been challenging; her parents don’t have a lot of money and are struggling to hold on to their jobs and their home. Farrah exerts what little power she has an moves in with the Whitmans, but something isn’t right. Strange illness and afflictions begin to take hold of Farrah. This is a slower burn of a novel, which may or may not be worth the payoff at the end. Overall, an apt look at race, class and social order. Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Incredible! I found this rather bone chilling and felt so on edge when reading. So refreshing to read a horror story with diverse characters opposed to middle class white couples in the suburbs of London.

Cherish and Farrah was sooooooo good. I didn't even realize that this book was supposed to be a thriller until about 15% in when I started to get a creepy/eerie vibe and reread the pitch. It was like a Jordan Peele movie about female friendship. The characterization was spot-on, the vibes were immaculate and the prose made the book unputdownable.

Most ARC (advanced reader copies) of books I am invited to read from @netgalley are from authors I’m unfamiliar with and don’t have covers. This allows me to go into the read judgment and bias free.

Bethany Morrow’s “Cherish Farrah,” is a story of control between two black teenage girls. Cherish who was adopted by wealthy white parents and Farrah who becomes her best friend. Together they seem to have it all, until Farrah’s parents lose their jobs and their house is foreclosed forcing them to make some major changes. They leave Farrah behind with her best friend Cherish and her parents Brianne and Jerry Whitman. The book is told through Farrah’s eyes and all she has her eyes on from the beginning is control. Farrah works hard to make sure she doesn’t have to leave the lifestyle she is accustomed to with the Whitmans when her parents decide to move out of state. The Whitmans adore both girls and treat Farrah as their own. Cherish and Farrah’s friendship is more like sistership in the way they care for one another. However things are not always how they appear, and control can be manipulated in many ways. This book was chilling and unexpected. Kept me on the edge of my seat once I figured out things weren’t as simple as they seemed. Dark and twisted, with reflections on race and class, a thriller that starts with a YA feel but quickly turns to heavier subject matter.

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This may have teenage main characters, but it is pretty dark. The author herself states that this is an adult social horror book but it could go either way. A mature young reader may find this entertaining, but it is geared toward the adult reader. If you enjoyed A Song Below Water it has her same beautiful writing style, but it is not the same.

This follows Farrah in the wake of parents unfortunate change in financial situation. She is used to living at a certain standard, so naturally she feels personally attacked and like she has lost control when her home is put up for foreclosure. Her best friend Cherish is the only other Black girl in their country club community and private school, but Cherish was adopted by white parents. While Farrah is used to a certain level entitlement that her parents wealth affords her, Cherish is a whole different level of spoiled and protected from the world. Farrah is determined to regain control of her life, and she has decided that she is going to manipulate her way into Cherish's family to do it. The longer she stays with Cherish, the more she finds that something is not quite right. The control she thought she had continues to slip away day by day as Farrah is plagued with illness and injury that have no explanation. To say more would be a spoiler.

I thought the characters were wonderfully portrayed here. Farrah comes off as a spoiled brat, while Cherish is portrayed as naïve. They are both spoiled in different ways, and their parents have tried to protect them from the horrible things in the world. Their relationship as best friends is complicated and intense. None of the characters are very likable, but you are quickly drawn into the story. The story starts of a bit slow but as things progress they get pretty dark.

This is a wonderful yet dark exploration into class and race. It is suspenseful and as far as psychological thrillers go, I had no idea what was going on until it happened. The story progresses fairly slowly. It keeps you on your toes waiting for things to happen. I enjoyed it!