Skip to main content

Member Reviews

short review: mouth watering imagery I'm starving

actual review:
i love trans anger entangled with horror and blood so much, I pretty much flew threw the pages. not all of this book is coherent but it's also messy teenagers. I loved the embrace of monstrousness, the way Benji is allowed to be angry as are the teenagers around him. I was immediately gripped and I finished it pretty fast because the arcs and the descriptions were so delicious. the cover fucks so hard, love is stored in the transgenderism<3 can't believe I'm saying this but more body horror, pretty please?

why not more stars then? There's a lack of coherence in the plot(or maybe my brain is just bad at comprehension), it's an amazing idea but it hinges entirely on chance to happen, like it's just too convenient for help to arrive at the exact right time and a lack of consistency in the story. I loved the fallout and the way abusive relationships are explored but I didn't buy the actual romantic plot line. I really wish Nick was more fleshed out like an actual autistic person stimming in a book literally cannot contain myself can you imagine his power if we saw him more?

I'll definitely pick up other books by Andrew though I think I'll understand more on a reread. I think there's crossover appeal, if you liked the prose of dowry of blood or wyatt from the witch king you should pick this up!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Horrifying in the best way. Gripping story of finding yourself and finding your power in the face of a hateful and oppressive world. Loved it.

Was this review helpful?

Hell Followed With Us is not only the angry queer horror of your dreams, but also a dark and deeply fascinating take on the end of times. An Evangelical Christian cult has unleashed Armageddon and killed billions, their goal being to eradicate humanity entirely. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji was raised in the cult and is a valuable asset to them, having been infected with a bioweapon that they intend to use to eradicate what's left of the human race. So when Benji runs away and takes refuge at what remains of Acheson LGBTQ+ Center with a group of queer teens, the cult isn't willing to let him go so easily.

Something about body horror seems to really resonate with trans audiences, myself included, and the connection between body horror and the trans experience was so beautifully clear in this book, I could've cried. Benji's desire to be seen as a monster, if only to avoid being perceived as feminine or a woman, especially in his particular circumstances, really hit home.

Was this review helpful?

If you want a book that reads like playing Resident Evil or The Last of Us, this ones for you!

I was very excited for this book, but sadly it wasn’t quite what I expected. My main thing was the amount of body horror and gore. I knew it was in here, it was one of the things that drew me to this, but I didn’t expect the huge amount of it. Barely a page passed without some disgusting body descriptions. It was really overwhelming for me, and by the end I honestly got tired of it. And then there was all the angst and tragedy, I came for trans anger and This book left me just really sad. Every terrible thing possible happens and by the end theres no hope. And then there was just alot of things in this book that just didn’t make sense to me, mainly with the climax. How did theo transform in minutes when it took benji weeks? whats with the dream scape? why did so many people act nonchalant to his transformation when he is supposedly looking like a huge monster?

I do think theres an audience for this, one I hoped I would be a part of but sadly am not. If your interested in reading please be aware of how dark and gorey it is, because I’m a horror fan but this was to much for me. I will say as someone with severe religious trauma, it was healing to see a trans boy wipe out hundreds of evangelicals
———————————-
Rep: Trans boy, autism, mental health, mlm, characters who use neopronouns, side POC, nonbinary, sapphic, aromantic, trans fem
CW: violence, gore, arson, mass murder, genocide, death, body horror, transphobia, forced detransition, religious abuse, cults, child abuse, self injury, suicide, lots of vomiting

Was this review helpful?

WoW! I have never read anything like this before in my life!
Andrew Joseph White executed HELL FOLLOWED WITH US.
The atmospheric storytelling and stellar writing was spot-on and I could almost feel the fire blazing off the pages! This was the kind of book that had me ignoring other things in my life in order to finish it.
The best YA horror book I've read. And I'm betting it will be a favorite for so damn many! As it should be.

Peachtree Teen,
Seriously thank you for this eARC.
I truly appreciate it.

Was this review helpful?

Wow. That was… wow.

I’m so grateful to have gotten an arc of this because serious this book was incredible. Not only was there trans rep but also autistic rep and all the other good kinds of rep. It was amazing and gory and gross and just so so good.

As an autistic trans masc person with religious trauma, I feel like this really satisfied a itch that was deep in my brain. There was so much anger and hurt and sadness poured into this book that mirrors some of my own and I’m so thankful it exists. Not only for other trans people that went through the same thing, but for cis people to read and maybe understand a little of what some of us feel.

This is great amazing stunning spectacular. I literally tore through it. Look up trigger warning before you read this obviously but I definitely recommend checking it out once it comes out.

Was this review helpful?

I went through the book so fast that I actually had to force myself to read it more slowly so I can enjoy it and be with the characters more. I think this is what people mean when they say that a book keeps them on the edge of their seats. The characters and world-building are worth noting too! I have nothing else to say this was such a fun read and I'm just speechless.

Was this review helpful?