Wow! I was not expecting this book for take me out emotionally. Beautifully written.
A story about latchkey kids and a town with dirty secrets. The trans and queer rep was unlike anything I have ever read.

This was... really, really confusing. So confusing that when the plot twist happened I went, "Oh, okay," and moved right on, only to realize that was the big moment of the book and the rest to come wasn't going to top that. Part of that was the fact it's not really a linear story (and you find out why as the story goes), but also because there were SO. MANY. CHARACTERS.

AND MANY OF THEM HAD CHAPTERS. THE DOG HAD CHAPTERS. WHAT???

Ugh. I thought this was going to be The One for me. I requested it thinking it would be the queer IT-adjacent story I've been wanting (because I love the movies, not so much the book for many, many reasons), but it just wasn't, and I'm sad about that.

It gets two stars for the rep, but without that it absolutely would have barely gotten a one from me. The horror wasn't well fleshed-out, the timeline was too slow for any kind of anticipation to build for said horror to even have any impact, and, again, there were so many characters that I started getting them confused for one another.

(Maybe that was the point so you couldn't tell what was going on until the end, but if it was, I did not like it one bit. And I sometimes enjoy being confused, as long as it's done well.)

(Cough Gideon the Ninth cough.)

By the end, I just didn't care anymore. There IS an author's note that helps explain why the story is the way that it is, and I wish I had read that first so I knew what I was getting into, but I'm not entirely sure that means I would have read it at all, honestly. If you change your mind about a story halfway through, maybe you should rewrite the whole thing to flow correctly together, because this really wasn't it.

Ugh. Anyway. At least the trans rep was on-point and didn't piss me off. You take what you can get, I guess.

This was a very weird and trippy book.
It wasn't really my style, so I think that's why I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC!

By the description this novel is right up my alley, but I just couldn't get into after 25%. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and some of the descriptions reminded me of Chuck Wendig's novels. I also liked the diverse characters and Paz's determination to find the monster. Judging by other reviews there's clearly an audience for this book, but it just wasn't for me.

Such a good book! Great for fans of IT. I love how the evil is portrayed and how the kids fight it.

As a reader who does not frequent horror, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading Lockjaw, but Matteo L Cerilli blew me away with this novel.

Following a ragtag group of individuals, Lockjaw tells the story of small-town prejudice, the harm it causes, and the necessity of change. While trying to kill the monster that haunts Bridlington, you're carried through the perspectives and experiences of "bad kids", queer and trans youth, and those who desperately want to fit in.

The writing is incredible, the pacing is solid, and I can safely say that Lockjaw is the first book to have a twist I was not anticipating. I was captivated the entire time I was reading, and felt myself taking a step back at times only to admire the characterization and prose.

I have only praise to share about this book, and I can't wait to purchase a copy so that I can read it over and over again.

First, I would like to thank Hear Our Voices for allowing me to be part of this book tour! When I started reading this book, I felt this could be a good introduction to a Stephen King novel, especially IT. The vibes were there, the plot, the monster, everything. During the book, I had the same feeling this is a shorter and less adult version of IT, although it had its horror moments, so don't take it lightly. I love the characters we meet, all the connections, and how the plot flows. It was not until that revealing point that i understood what was going on and i had to re-read a bit. The only negative point I had is that the author substitutes negative terms for the Queer community with things that rhyme or things that mean or explain it; for someone like me who reads English as a second language, it was hard, and sometimes I could not find the word and understand did because I don't know and don't use them.


I have a more detailed and video review here :D https://youtu.be/wEh6ywm-PaA part of the book tour

I’ve been dabbling more into horror, especially queer horror, because I’ve found it speaks to specific parts of my soul, so I was drawn to this book. But now I’m not sure how to actually feel about it. About halfway through I got really distressed, and very nearly DNFed, but then after reading the ending and some other reviews, I decided to keep going, and ended up reading the last half in a blaze. This does some really interesting things with small towns and the way people have a tendency to not look outside their own lives to see others’ suffering and pain. I did like the chosen family elements and the ending was a satisfying brightness to keep the book from being so open ended that the journey would feel too heavy. My heart broke many times for Paz and her friends and the way the community refused to see them, and I hope there really can and will be change for Bridlington. In all honesty, thinking on it more, the ending feels almost too positive and hard to see a town like that changing that much in a short time. I dunno, this was interesting and kept me engaged and I don’t think I regret reading it, but definitely some things that give me the bad-for-me discomforts.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Matteo L. Cerilli’s debut novel, “Lockjaw,” is a haunting and ambitious horror story that defies conventions. Set in the eerie town of Bridlington, this trans YA thriller delves into the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

When Chuck Warren dies tragically at the old abandoned mill, Paz Espino knows it wasn’t an accident. There’s a monster haunting their town, and Paz is determined to hunt it down. With her inseparable crew of friends, bound by a childhood pact, she embarks on a perilous mission. But the force of evil they face is greater than anything they imagined.

Cerilli’s storytelling is both absorbing and disorienting. The shifting perspectives and charismatic voice of the third-person narration draw readers into a small-town ghost story where monsters—both living and dead—haunt the streets. The characters are full-bodied, their struggles palpable. “Lockjaw” keeps you guessing with its creative storytelling, while its quiet, metaphorical approach adds depth.

 For fans of Rory Power and Danielle Vega, “Lockjaw” is a stunning debut. Cerilli weaves horror themes with thought-provoking metaphors, leaving us haunted long after the last page. Keep an eye on this incredible new author—I can’t wait to read more from him.

Sometimes the most chilling monsters are the ones we carry within ourselves. 🌿

I really enjoyed this!! I found that the timelines were easy to follow after you got the hang of them, and the characters really shined in their own ways. My fav is Beetle. I want more YA horror books featuring trans characters, and this was exactly what I hoped for!!! I just felt like the pacing in the begging was a little off and took me a while to get into, so that’s why it’s 4 stars rather than 5!

THOUGHTS

This book has such a different feel than any other YA horror that I've read, and I'm here for it! It's structured more like an adult horror, with an ensemble cast à la Stephen King, and the claustrophobic small town setting feels perfect for reading in the sticky summer humidity. Dark, unsettling, and far too real!


PROS
Ensemble Cast: It's rare to find an ensemble cast like this in a YA book--one comprised of various ages and temperaments. Each of these perspectives feels uniquely crafted, and they're all strong--so strong that I didn't once wish I was reading somebody else's perspective. Feeling the weight of this small town and its expectations on the shoulders of all of these characters who don't quite fit adds an incredible sense of pressure building throughout the book, to great effect.

Monstrous Metaphor: There are all kinds of monsters in this book, and the most insidious monster of all is the sort of close-minded, small-town bigotry that pervades. This book is steeped in claustrophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and a sort of happy-go-lucky "inclusivity" that really only includes those that play their expected part. This sort of insidious "monster"--the monstrosity of apathy, ignorance, and a toxic status quo--feels all too real, and it just buoys up the literal monster stalking these streets as well.

Devastating Twist: A little under halfway through this book, there's a revelation that turns everything up until that point on its head. I had to reexamine the timeline, the characters, and everything I thought about what was happening all along. And this twist is just the opening of a door into a deeply devastating reality. The picture gets darker, bleaker, and much more pointed. I don't want to spoil anything, but this book gets dark in a way that's as necessary as it is horrific.


CONS
Confused Timeline: While the twist I mentioned above does put some of my early timeline confusion into perspective, there are still scenes that feel a little too 80s and 90s nostalgic for a book that most definitely isn't set in those decades. As far as I can tell, this book is set mostly in or around 2016 (and later), and so this sort of retro small town vibe didn't quite jive with the much more up-to-date timeframe. Don't get me wrong. I liked the vibe of this small town. I'm just not sure any town still exists in quite this style in the 2010s and beyond.

Dog-Lovers Beware: If you can only read a book where the dog comes out alright on the other side, well... This one isn't for you. This one really isn't for you. You know who you are.

Pacing: The only real issue I took here was the pacing. Don't get me wrong. I think this book is nearly perfect, even in this regard. But there were a few times when the pace felt a little bit slow, and especially for readers in the YA market, this slower pacing might not be what someone's looking for. Did it drag? Not particularly, but it definitely wasn't constant action all the time.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9/10
Fans of Stephen King's Cujo will like this dive into a world of snapping teeth and foaming mouths. Those who adore Mary Downing Hahn's Deep and Dark and Dangerous will like this horror of twisting timelines and lies we tell to ourselves.

In a small town where roles of the townsfolk are prescribed through precedence, young Paz is the town scapegoat. Eleven years old, Paz is always in trouble. Everyone knows that if something is when, missing or wrong, Paz must be the cause.in contrast, Caleb, the police chiefs son, is the model citizen in this small town. When Paz’s classmate is bullied, Paz invites him to a late night meeting to initiate Chuck to her friend group, who are the town misfits. A horrifying accident befalls him, and since he was invited by Paz, she is at fault. Paz and her friends are sure there is an evil that killed Chuck. They are terrified, but are determined to get revenge and keep the town safe.

'But that was the best ending, one that forced them to be wholly brave and grow larger than they were. To split from their skin like cicadas seeking the sun.

Beetle looked at Asher and wished for no more scared kids!
—Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli

I didn't need to get far into the book before I knew Lockjaw was going to be a favourite. It's queer, neurodivergent, small-town summer horror for the weird kids.

It's about fighting back against the bullies and the bystanders and the world. It's about not knowing how to fight back. It's about finding other weird kids and being stronger together. Also death and murder and scary shadows, because it's horror.

The prose captured exactly the atmosphere of a quiet town in the dead of summer. I could see every scene play out in front of my eyes. It starts off slow, building up the mystery, then hits you with a twist, takes off running and never stops.

The twist was one of the best ones I've ever read; 1 was so close to figuring it out when it was revealed, that I felt both satisfied that I managed to guess at part of it, and shocked and surprised at the full truth.

It might be odd to say I recommend this book to people who've been bullied, but as someone who was bullied in school for being weird (autistic and queer), Lockjaw strongly resonated with me and my 12-year-old past self.

This is definitely a unique story and I liked the twists it took. At no point did I really know what was going on, or even who was dead or alive, because we're always getting new information that changes things. I think it's a cool idea, but I struggled to follow along at times.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for the copy.

A brilliant use of the horror genre, and its defining elements to craft this thought provoking narrative. Absolutely stunning.

Lockjaw is a twisty, YA horror with layers of story to tell.

Without giving anything away, I really loved the trans rep in this book and the small town setting. There was a definite ominous feeling of secrets and prejudices that permeated the book. There was definitely a lot of gore and horror at the forefront of this story. I loved the idea of this monster lurking beneath the town and the absolute denial of the town about what is really going on.

Ultimately for me, this unfortunately suffered from too many POVs. There were so many characters to follow that when the twist hit, it kind of felt like “wait did I miss something or was that intentional?” Following a smaller number of characters would have been a little more concise and effective.

Still a story that should be read and I think a lot of people will seriously enjoy this, not only for the representation but Cerilli’s storytelling abilities.

Was so excited to read this, but did the archive date change? I have it marked as the 11th and hadn’t downloaded it yet, so I missed out :/

Book Review: Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli

Lockjaw is a small-town horror about young people determined to destroy the monster that has taken over their town.

Bridlington is a small town of nine thousand with a dark past. After another child is lost to the evil that lives in the local abandoned mill, eleven-year-old Paz and her friends decide to take it on once and for all. But the obstacles in their way include the local sheriff, who has declared Paz a liar and troublemaker, and Paz’s own sister, who is resigned to the existence of the monster. Dragged into Paz’s declaration of war on the monster are newcomer Asher and his dog Bird, as well as local eccentric Beetle, who is back home on a break but eager to escape Bridlington again.

Lockjaw isn’t all it appears at first glance. It’s both a paranormal horror novel and an examination of intolerance, bullying, and the very human tendency to look away from injustice under the banner of “minding your own business.” Once you think you understand what’s happening, the author twists the story in a new direction. I recommend it to readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers and social horror novels.

Lockjaw is a YA horror book that touches on many important themes that are addressed in subtle ways that makes the reader really dive into what is happening in the story but also what has happened in the past and what is being left unsaid about both.

The good ole small town living isn’t necessarily so good for those who live there and don’t conform to certain standards that have been passed down from generation to generation and instilled upon them.

I enjoyed the part of the story of a friend group and found family, some of the characters were trying to work out who they were and who they wanted to be, while struggling to still fit in. It also grapples with the struggle of growing up and being yourself while still trying to survive through middle and high school.

This is one of those stories where you're not always entirely sure what is happening, but every minute is enjoyable. Once all the pieces started to click together I couldn’t put the book down and wanted to read it over again.

This may have been my first read from Matteo L. Cerilli but it certainly won’t be my last.

Like all good YA horror, Cerilli weaves real poignant issues into the horror of what on the surface is an idyllic community. Mixing just enough violence and gore with strong character development this is a solid bit of horror. We get the ghost out for revenge, the attempt to stymie change, bullies who get what is coming, and a few different redemption plots.

Cerilli writes some really engaging real characters, many of which don’t really know who they are at the time of the story. Building out full characters when those characters don’t know themselves yet, is a feat. Allowing the reader to learn and figure out who the characters are, as they grow and make choices for themselves is really interesting. Multiple characters question and/or actively live their queer identities in what feels like well rounded and authentic ways. Often (and it seems especially in YA) some authors are so desperate for audiences to accept queer characters that it becomes almost unreadable. Cerilli doesn’t do this at all, these characters are kids and teens first their queerness is a part of them, so we get them when they are strong and weak, kind and assholes.

My only real complaint with this book is how Cerilli plays with a partial dual timeline. In the first half of the book I struggled to keep the timelines straight and when they merge to the present, everything becomes clear. I just wish that the differences were slightly less subtle, not enough to throw off the reveal, but just enough to keep the reader engaged and not actively confused. I’m also not a fan of Bird’s story line, but that is just me and dogs more than a critique of this book.