Rachel Harrison has quickly become one of my favorite modern horror writers. As a millennial woman, her characters and viewpoints really resonate with me and I think others will feel the same way. While this was not my favorite title of hers (I am just obsessed with The Return), I think readers will enjoy the themes - both conceptually and literally.

A good spooky setting for Halloween. Did someone say Satan? It wasn't so much jump scare as it was a good spook of a story. It's not your usual book, though, so be aware that things aren't always as they seem to be!

I really love Rachel Harrison's books! She is just so good at bringing the creep factor into all of her work!

I loved Such Sharp Teeth, so I had high hopes for this one, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s got that kitschy, darkly funny vibe she does so well, mixed with just the right amount of horror to keep things interesting.

Vesper Wright is a character you can’t help but root for—snarky, cynical, and wrestling with her unconventional family’s dark secrets. Returning home to attend her cousin’s wedding, Vesper is pulled back into the toxic, religious environment she fled years ago. The tension between her need for closure and her unease about facing her past is palpable throughout the novel. Plus, the horror elements, while not overwhelming, are perfectly woven into the story to give it that sinister edge. I thought this was a breeze of a read and I was hooked from beginning to end!

Black Sheep is not so much a horror novel as a novel with horror elements; it's a story about reckoning with upbringing and breaking free from expectations. Vesper receives an invitation to a wedding at the community where she was raised and from which she has been estranged/shunned. She attends, and then the story gets moving and doesn't stop until the (satisfying) ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

"It's a cruelty of life that we can never protect our innocence. We can only watch ourselves lose it in retrospect. Scream at memories."

Anything by Rachel Harrison is always so unique, but this title caught me off guard when the plot finally dropped. It was dark and gritty and full of the human process. I will forever recommend Rachel Harrison and this book. The cover gave the plot away with such subtlety, and I love the juxtaposition with the lamb references. Solid 10 out of 10 read.

I wanted to like Black Sheep more than I did, and it's a testament to Rachel Harrison that I stuck with it, mostly just for the snarky narrator's voice and the fun set up.

Unfortunately, I found the Spirit Halloween Satanism to be a bit tedious, and eventually I grew mad at the narrator for not knowing what was going on when it was very obvious. After the first "twist," the plot didn't really leave many surprises and just kind of fell flat.

Rachel Harrison has quickly became a go-to author when I need a good horror book. After reading Cackle, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one!

Black Sheep had me hooked right from the beginning, and I loved how dark and strange this one was. I can’t wait to read more from her backlist and her upcoming release soon!

Side note: this one isn’t for everyone. Please check TW.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an egalley for review. Rachel Harrison is a go to author for me an this does not disappoint. What starts off as a coming of age, finding your place in the world novel (and when you boil it down, this is the core story), takes a darkly funny twist when Vesper goes home for her cousin's wedding. Vesper's family is not like other people's family. Vesper's father is not like other people's fathers. For a fun take on cults, religion and Satanism, read this.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’ve only read Cackle by Rachel Harrison and loved it. But because it was more of a cozy horror book, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy her more hard-core horror, but this book was insanely fun. Once the fun twist is revealed (about 20% in), I was hooked and flew through this book.

Vesper has left her religious cult family behind and is living on her own in NYC. She works at a restaurant, lives a pretty boring life, but at least she can follow her own rules. However, her cousin is getting married and Vesper is invited back for the event. This is rare because once someone leaves the cult, they never get to come back. Vesper decides to attend, and the reader fully understands just what the cult is about.

This book was excellent. Vesper is a great main character, funny, strong, cynical, and sure of who she is. But her family is also strong, so she struggles with wanting to be a part of their lives but trying to distance herself from the cult. Loved this book.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison was fantastic and I told all my friends to read it!! I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

This was so good! If you love dysfunctional families, cults, and secrets in your horror novels then you should check this out! Even though this is a horror book, I like that there are funny parts along the way. It makes for a really enjoyable read.

I devoured this book in a day! It was so good and fun. I was instantly sucked into this novel and was pleasantly surprised with all the little twists throughout. Not the kind of cult I thought I was getting going into this book and that honestly made it that much better!

A fun reverse Prodigal Son story. Anyone who's ever been in organized religion will have a giggle.
Vesper is a character that anyone who has left their lifelong religious affiliations can relate to. Vesper misses her honored place but also depises the entitlement.
Family secrets, seeking approval from her mother and lost love all makes for a fun and relatable journey.

Rachel Harrison is one of the best at keeping you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around Vesper and her crazy family. Vesper's mother, Constance, who Vesper doesn't get along with at all, is a horror movie queen and a Satanist, and her father is often absent. In fact, the whole town is Satanic. They live in a small town called Hell's Gate. Vesper left the town when she turned 18 because she doesn't believe in Satan.

She comes back for a visit to attend the wedding of her ex-boyfriend to her best friend. Of course, she doesn't stay in the town very long because of the issues with her mother, so she heads back to New York City.

A week later, her father visits her in NY and brings her home for a special birthday party. What happens next is full of suspense and horror. You won't believe what you just read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC! I am very grateful and happy to explore everything this author will write in the future as well!

"Black Sheep" by Rachel Harrison is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its unpredictable twists and turns, delivering a satisfying blend of horror and psychological suspense.

Black Sheep follows Vesper, a young woman who left her super religious family 6 years before the book opens. When you leave the small town or Virgil and their church you are not allowed back. She grew up with her mom, horror star Constance Wright, but never knew much about her dad. When Vesper gets an invite to her best friend/cousin Rosie's wedding, she's surprised and even more surprising she decides to go.

Just like everything else I've read by Rachel Harrison I loved Black Sheep. I don't want to say too much as I think going into this book partially blind is great.


Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was my first book by this author and I’m so excited to read another one! I highly recommend going into this one blind. I’m so glad I did because I feel like it made the story even more shocking for me. I’ve always been fascinated by stories surrounding cults and that’s what initially drew me in. The writing was fantastic and the pace kept me flipping pages from start to finish. The characters were super interesting and made the story even more entertaining! Thank you to Berkley and Rachel Harrison for my gifted ARC!