~thank you to netgalley & the publisher for gift in me an arc of this book~

adam cesare does it again! this book was filled with thriller & horrifying moments. just like the first book I found myself sucked into the storyline and rooting for our main characters. there was some toe curling moments of horror & I ate it up. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first but I still enjoyed it nonetheless and I can’t wait to see what Adam cesare comes up with next! Highly recommend for october & spooky time! 🖤🤡

"Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives" by Adam Cesare is a pulse-pounding and exhilarating sequel that builds upon the success of its predecessor with even more thrills, chills, and surprises. Cesare's masterful storytelling and knack for horror create a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

At the heart of the novel is the return of Frendo, the iconic killer clown whose reign of terror once again descends upon the small town of Kettle Springs. As new characters are introduced and old wounds are reopened, Cesare expertly weaves together multiple narrative threads, ratcheting up the tension with each page turn. The result is a relentless rollercoaster of suspense and dread that will leave readers breathless.

One of the sequel's greatest strengths lies in its exploration of the aftermath of the events of the first book. Cesare delves into the psychological impact of Frendo's rampage on the residents of Kettle Springs, as they grapple with trauma, grief, and survivor's guilt. The characters are fleshed out with depth and complexity, making their struggles feel all the more real and relatable.

The pacing of "Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives" is relentless, with each chapter propelling the story forward with breakneck speed. Cesare expertly balances moments of quiet introspection with heart-pounding action, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The result is a gripping page-turner that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth behind Frendo's return.

Cesare's writing is visceral and evocative, immersing readers in the nightmarish world of Kettle Springs with vivid descriptions and chilling imagery. From the ominous cornfields to the eerie silence of the abandoned amusement park, every scene is brought to life with intensity and atmosphere. Cesare's ability to create a sense of dread and foreboding is unparalleled, making this sequel a worthy successor to the original.

In conclusion, "Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives" by Adam Cesare is a thrilling and satisfying follow-up that will delight fans of horror and suspense. With its compelling characters, relentless pacing, and spine-tingling scares, it offers a chilling and unforgettable reading experience. Cesare proves once again why he is a master of the genre, delivering a sequel that is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting his next terrifying tale.

a lot of times horror sequels seem to deflate a perfectly wonderful story and jerk the reader (or watcher) around on a grab for attention and money.
not clown in a cornfield, though—but y’all stay safe out there.
this may be controversial, but i think i might have liked this one better than the first one! i can’t wait to see this series in the big screen.
perfect for fans of slasher films, halloween, and sticking it to The Man a bit.

thank you so much for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
i’m such a huge fan and it was better than i could have hoped!

Quinn has tried to leave the Kettle Springs massacre behind her. She's moved back to Philadelphia, she's started college, and is doing okay. Rust and Cole keep in touch, and even come visit for Halloween. Unfortunately, they are attacked by someone new in a Frendo mask, due to the circulating rumors that the three were the ones acutally behind the massacre, and have gotten away with it. After her father is attacked, Quinn, Rust, and Cole must return to the scene of the crime, and face their past. I love a good slasher book, but I also love seeing what happens to the survivors. How do you move on? And with conspiracy theories running rampant in our culture now, I really enjoyed the plot of this one. Definitely a good popcorn horror. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first in this Series (despite, or perhaps because of, the gasping fear and numerous jump scares and evil conspirators), but truly, 2 is even more exciting!
The LGBTQ+ rep is STRONG; the evil is both more widespread (as author Cesare riffs on some of the downfalls of the Internet in fomenting conspiracy theories, false beliefs, and mobs), and perhaps even more sneaky (if that's possible). What I like about both CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD and CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD 2: FRENDO LIVES is that SO MUCH THOUGHT went into these novels!!! Mr. Cesare didn't sit down and splash a bucket of blood-red paint here! Yes, people get hurt--badly. Some--many--die. Yes, violence. Yes, Splatter...but not in the service of the blood-drenched page! This is seriously and intricately thought out. Look beneath the surface: there is culture commentary here, dysfunctional families, crazy marriages, greed, war-legacy paranoia, survivalism, skewed interpretations of the Constitution.
There is also everybody's favorite "Sarah Connor" character, Quinn--who has got to be one of THE most kick-butt female protagonists I've read! And then, the ending!! I can imagine 3 or 4 books spiraling off from this! Just from THAT ENDING!!!

Not as good as the first one but still a fun read. Parts really had me scared! I think this is a perfect read for a spooky summer.

When you’re nostalgic for a fun, funny 80’s horror vibe, this book is just your cup of multicolored bozo flavored tea with more than a touch of gore for seasoning. I find myself needing to go back and read the previous book so I can reread this one and enjoy it all the more, but being a fan of books that show the truely disturbing side of clowns, I find Frendo to be a amusing and worthy addition to the sub genre of clown horror along side characters such as the killer clowns from outer space and Pennywise. The level of plot, tension, twists, and witty conversation are all highly appreciated and well deployed.

CESARE can't be stopped!
Another huge home run for me. Think I Know What you Did Last Summer 2 or Scream 2. CIAC 2 serves up like the sequel to a great modern horror flick.
I want more!
#friendoneverdies

Clown in a Cornfield had me gripping the edge of my seat. So I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read Clown In A Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives. Clown in a Cornfeild 2 is set a year after the first book and it takes us back to the surviving characters from book one. We get to see how they are dealing with the fame associated with surviving. Unfortunately, they aren't able to put it behind them for too long. A new threat has popped up to upend their lives once again, wearing a familiar mask. Nothing creepier than clowns. Please give me more from this series or this author, I absolutely love them.

Friendo is back! Clown in a Cornfield 2 was just as crazy and gory as the first one. I was glad to see our main characters from the first book return and see how they make it through Friendo Lives. To put it simply, this book was just pure fun and extremely entertaining. If you enjoyed Clown in a Cornfield, please read this. You won't regret it!

What can I say, I'm a HUGE fan of the Clown in a Cornfield series! Loved the sequel almost as much as I loved the first one. Great twists and turns. Can't wait to see the next one.

I loved the first one so much! I was beyond excited for this one. Unfortunately this one fell flat for me. I really wanted to love this one too, but it was a little to similar to the first one and it didn't have my attention like the first one did either. I will definitely still read everything that this author writes and I hope that the talk of this coming to Netflix is true. This would make a really great series or movie. Thanks to the publisher for my copy!

What: a KILLER follow up to “Clown in a Cornfield”
About: after the killings in book 1 finish, the broken cast of survivors returns and so do the clown killings.
Features: this is NOT some “kids book” that pulls away from intense scares, kills, and violence. While marketed as YA it's as impactful as any awesome slasher horror in existence.
Assets: the psychological trauma felt is almost its own character, examining the PTSD and life-altering after effects of gong through a life threatening ordeal.
Obstacles: may feel too real for some readers
Who it’s for: those who think Scream movies are lame.

This sequel was just as thrilling as book one! I really loved it and Adam Cesare really outdid himself in this thrilling sequel to the first novel. If you love books/movies with clowns, then you don't want to miss this one!

I first hear of Adam on TikTok and had to give him a try. I was not disappointed . I love the horror genre and this book was so fun and scary!

Clown in a Cornfield 2 was just as good as the first book as we continue to follow the survivors of the horrible massacre. Quinn, Rusty and Cole are all trying to find a sort of normal in their lives after what happened but the disbelieving audience online isn’t letting them forget what happened and everyone has a theory of what really went down when the clown attacked. Once they’re all brought back to Kettle Springs the nightmares begin again.

I didn’t think that the sequel could surpass the first book but it really did. I had such a great time following all the different points of view that kept switching between the survive trio and a few different towns people because it felt like the story was flying by with each change of POV. I felt like every time I would get comfortable with a character that the author would switch to a totally different POV and I would again be absorbed in the story. I really enjoyed how much scarier and suspense filled this one was compared to the first one as the main character go head to head with friendo the clown and his followers again. I found this story to be extremely entertaining and nail biting as I rooted for my favorite characters and I could totally see this story being made into a film or show. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the digital copy.

What a fun sequel! I wasn’t sure where this story could go and not be too derivative of the first book but I was pleasantly surprised. Our survivors from the original once again find themselves targeted, but this time by a whole new Frendo. Those who spend any amount of time online will find this to be a timely story of one of our more modern horrors.

I will read anything Adam Cesare writes. I was approved for this ARC but I had already pre-ordered the book so I was gonna have my hands on it regardless. And I hate clowns so that's saying something.

I had very high expectations for this one, and though it didn't leave up to a Scream 2 level of success for me, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good slasher with a side of social commentary.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley, the publishers and author for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Frendo returns and I truly hope we see more of him. I love love love these books! Adam Cesare is one heck of an author and I plan to watch for more of his works.

I loved the first book, and this one is just as good. Felt like I was "reading" a movie. Lots of slasher action, humor, and some great twists and turns. Loved it!