"Black Sheep" was not my favorite of the novels that Rachel Harrison has written. Other than what Vesper's religious background actually was (wasn't expecting that), the rest of the novel was fairly predictable.

I still don’t know what to think of this book. It follows a girl who has left her community of Satanists but finds herself being pulled back. It was…something. I think I liked it? Maybe? 🤷‍♀️ The least helpful review I have ever done 💀

This was so snarky and fun and kept me guessing! I had suspicions, and they turned out to be mostly correct, but it is an absolutely pitch-black hell of a ride the whole time anyway. My first Rachel Harrison, but certainly not my last!

This was a short and quick read but I really enjoyed the story. It took a little bit to get into things and understand but I loved the build up. And the fact that her mother is an actress in horror movies was a great addition to the story. Definitely need to read more of her books!

i finished this one back in October & thought it was a great read for spooky season! this book was intermixed with dark humor, twists, and gore. it’s equal parts gruesome as it is light-hearted, immersing the simplicity of real-life, small world problems with the horrors of a satanic cult. this is a great book if you don’t loooove the spook of a typical suspense novel, but still want something relatively chilling.

i enjoyed the characters in this book, specifically our main character, Vesper. while she comes from a super bizarre & morbid upbringing, she goes through the same every day problems as the average girl. I thought her relatability as a main character made her super likable and made the story even more enjoyable and fun to read. this was my first @rachelharrisonsghost book, and I will definitely be reading more from her!

thank you to @netgalley & @berkleypub for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book!

Honestly, this one was a book I ended up not finishing. I had high expectations because I love reading about cults, but it somehow missed the mark for me. Maybe at another time.

Having read Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison the past two #spookyseasons, I feel safe to say her books now help usher in a season of great reading and so look forward to them. They put me in the mood for more thrills and horror to come in the fall.
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When I received Black Sheep, I went blindly into it, knowing I would been entertained and I was. I loved the surprises I got in this one, especially because I didn’t know what I might expect going in. Because of that, I am not going to detail much of the plot.
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Basically, Vesper is a young woman, estranged from her family since she left home years ago. When she receives a wedding invitation to the wedding of her former best friend to her ex-boyfriend, along with a hand written note to please come home, she goes, with revenge dress packed and an “I’ll show them” attitude.
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Because this author takes the simple and makes it fantastic, there is a whole lot more than the dress that Vesper will be unpacking when she returns. Horror, dark humor and a wild story thoroughly entertained me in this quick read.

Release Date: September 19th, 2023

Alright, buckle up, folks, 'cause "Black Sheep" is gonna take you on a wild ride.

In the world of horror, this one's hitting shelves, rocking the genres of General Horror, Occult & Supernatural, and Supernatural Thrillers. It's packing themes of family, religion, religious trauma, mothers & daughters, estrangement, weddings, and secrets & lies.

Now, listen up—this book is like a suspenseful poker game. The synopsis is holding its cards close, and trust me, you want to go in blind. I took the plunge with zero spoilers, and let me tell you, it paid off big time. Everything clicked into place perfectly, and it was a chef's kiss kind of experience. So, stay clear of reviews that spill more beans than the back of the book, mine included. Spoiler-free zone here.

My reading journey? Oh, it's one of those classic horror setups we all love. Main character reluctantly returns to her small town for some big event—could be a wedding, a funeral, a family bash. Reconnecting with old flames, bumping into familiar faces, you know the drill.

In "Black Sheep," Vesper gets the surprise invite to her cousin's wedding. She's been away, dodging a toxic mess with her mom and nursing a hefty grudge against her religious upbringing. But duty calls, and Harrison's setup hits you with peak religious trauma vibes. If you've been in that space, you know the rollercoaster. It's a mix of triggering and cathartic, and diving into religious stuff in a horror setting? Feels downright good.

After a jaw-dropping reveal, there were moments where the pacing took a breather. I was hungry for more development between characters, a bit more juice in the MC's relationships. One connection, in particular, felt like it deserved more spotlight, and I was a tad bummed it missed its moment.

But then, we hit a certain point, and the build toward the climax and that big ending? Wild ride, my friends. My initial investment paid off in spades. "Black Sheep" is a clever, fun, well-crafted tale, earning its spot in my Rachel Harrison collection. She's a straight-up Insta-buy author for me.

Final word? Rachel Harrison's got a fan base, and we keep coming back for her unique, female-centric horror. "Black Sheep" is the real deal, delivering exactly what we crave.

If you're vibing with "Reception" by Kenzie Jennings, "Jackal" by Erin E. Adams, or got the chills from "Mexican Gothic," you're in for a ride. Grab this one, and let the thrills commence.

"Black Sheep" by Rachel Harrison is a uniquely gripping horror novel that dives deep into the wild world of Vesper Wright's family. You know Rachel for her awesome storytelling and she doesn't disappoint here. Totally unexpected. If you're into gripping horror that keeps you guessing, "Black Sheep" is a must-read. Rachel Harrison nails it again with a story that'll stick with you long after you've put the book down.

Harrison writes such fun, humorous, horror books that I simply cannot help but devour them all... almost as if I’m eating something bloody delicious and creepily satisfying in Hell’s Gate.

I love the name of our main character, Vesper. She returns home to attend the wedding of her cousin. But the reunion is contentious as Vesper left when she was 18.. and in this religious family, if you leave, you are not allowed to return. This allowance comes to light and Vesper learns that she plays a pivotal part to her family and this community. Now how does she reconcile all this news and will she fulfill the role set out for her?

This is a wonderful look into cult-like family dynamics - with a smattering of blood to keep the horror lovers satiated. I loved being in Vesper’s head. Harrison is brilliant in bringing such dark humor into her work with pacing that makes for a very fast and enjoyable read. So, light horror lovers come hither and pile up your cart with her books and enjoy thyself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙘𝙮𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮’𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮, 𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡.

I read Cackle a while ago and enjoyed it, I was looking forward to reading this one. I don’t normally read books that center around cults, but this one has such an interesting premise.

I enjoyed the sarcastic humor in this story, but I feel like the horror elements weren’t as strong. I may have gone into this book with the wrong perspective and that may be why it doesn’t work for me. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, I just wasn’t the intended reader.

The writing was super fun though! I could definitely see myself picking more up from this author. Vesper was also an interesting character to follow, and I enjoyed the family dynamics in this. While I didn’t enjoy some elements of the book, I can definitely see how other readers will enjoy this.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

A young woman has to deal with her family's dark secrets. She grew up in a satanic cult, and escaped as soon as she could. Now, her family has reached out with a wedding invite. She decides to return and face her family again.

A wickedly fun horror novel. Fast-paced story and interesting characters. Fans of Rachel Harrison's other books are sure to enjoy this one too.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a new twist on the cult story. It had me in the beginning but it got ridiculous by the end. If you like horror and are looking for something unique I think you’ll enjoy it but it wasn’t a total winner for me.

I think Rachel Harrison is a new favorite author of mine! I read this one TWICE! & listened to the audiobook version. It was such a different, fresh concept that I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this title! #netgalley #blacksheep

Author Harrison releases 'Black Sheep'

"You know, you're not pretty enough to get away with being as you are," Vesper Wright's co-worker tells her in Rachel Harrison's new book, "Black Sheep." "And you're really pretty."

Vesper, a cynical twenty-something-year-old, is a server at Shortee's, the type of restaurant where she sings "Happy Birthday" to small children early in the evening—and no she doesn't like doing that no matter how sweet the kids are—and fight off obnoxious drunks later at night. The daughter of Constance Wright, the elegantly beautiful star of such horror movies as "Bloody Midnight" and "The Black Hallows Coven Investigation," Vesper always denies being related when Constance's fans notice how much she looks like the star.

But if working at Shortee's is like a version of hell for Vesper, where she grew up is another take on it—a devil worshipping society in a small, isolated community in which her mother is one of its most exalted members. But family is family and Vesper finds herself overwhelmingly drawn to returning home without totally understanding why she's doing so. The compelling reasons though include an invitation to the wedding of her best friend Rosie who is marrying Vesper's first and only boyfriend and losing her job at Shortee's. The latter happens after Vesper's inappropriate reaction when an extra side of nacho cheese strangely explodes as Vesper serves it to a guy who is harassing her. It's one of many strange incidents that happen to those who wrong Vesper.

It's been five years since Vesper left home but little seems to have changed when she first returns to the large home full of ghastly props from the movies Constance has starred in.
Vesper and her mother have never gotten along, the mother seemingly hostile and rejecting her only child. And that hasn't changed nor has Rosie's love of her best friend and her fiancé, Vesper's ex-boyfriend's remaining attraction to Vesper—they exchange a kiss the night before his wedding.

It's not an easy homecoming. Vesper has always blamed her mother for not letting her father be more a part of her life. Her mother has always been cool and distant and that hasn't changed either.

As the town readies for the big wedding, Vesper has hopes that she can reconcile with her family.

"She goes home because she wants things to change," says Harrison, the author of "Such Sharp Teeth" and "The Return" which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. But all the changes are for the worse and even the return of her father doesn't help as she realizes there's something sinister planned for her and she tries to fight against what the town—and her family and friends—have planned for her.

Vesper needs to summon up all strength and courage to fight back and it is her mother that gives her what she needs to do just that.

This was so much fun! Much different than I expected. It had some horror elements to it, but it managed to be a horror book with fantastical things happening without ever feeling ridiculous. I really loved the direction this took, I was hoping the entire time that it would be going in this direction. Not quite a 5 star book but a high enough 4 star reading experience that I picked up all of Harrison’s other books and am looking forward to reading them! 4.5 stars!

Rachel Harrison can do no wrong. I loved our wry MC and at first I thought it was going to be another "run of the mill" cult story. Well, this was certainly an unexpected cult! I love her balance of humor and bite, and she will continue to be an auto read author for me.

This was so much fun to read! Vesper's characterization was so relatable throughout, she's one of my favorite characters I've read about this year I think. I also really loved her mother, the horror movie star with a heart made of ice. Complicated mother/daughter relationships are usually a hit with me, and that's not even taking into consideration the rest of Vesper's family/town/life! Definitely not a place I'd want to visit, that's for dang sure!

Wow I don't know what I was expecting with this story but I got a whole lot more than I bargained for, but in a good way. I liked how Rachel Harrison really used her literary writing skills to create a story for us but also to brig to light and talk about some deeper issues while doing that. I enjoyed reading this but I will say as a person with a strong faith in God, it was a times a bit difficult to read. I feel that you need to go into this book with a really open mind and just read it for what it is and not let your own beliefs get in the way of a really good story.

4.5⭐!!!
Weird but good! Love that I enjoyed it more than I expected and look forward to reading more by Rachel Harrison!

Vesper is a waitress and is let go after a rowdy drunk customer burns himself by molten nacho cheese she nuked in a microwave. 😂 🧀

She hated the job anyway and also dreaded returning home to Hamlet of Virgil, New Jersey for her old BFF/cousin Rosie's wedding where she thought she escaped when she was 18.

Under normal circumstances, once you leave the strict religious community where Vesper was from, you're out for good. Six years have passed, and they must have forgiven her for leaving or made an exception for the wedding?🤔

Black Sheep is dark and disturbing in a fun way. Part family drama and part horror with bits and parts that made me laugh helped lighten the mood and give a nice balance. I didn't know what I was getting into and enjoyed it so I won't say much about anything else! This is one crazy place to call home that's for sure. 🫣

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the DRC.