Lockjaw sinks its teeth into you from the very first page and refuses to let go. Cerilli has crafted a YA horror debut that is as captivating as it is chilling. When Chuck Warren meets a tragic end at the old abandoned mill, his friend Paz knows it was no accident and makes it her mission to hunt down the monster lurking under the town before it claims more victims. What follows is a haunting tale told from multiple perspectives across shifting timeframes that will leave you checking over your shoulder.

Cerilli excels at developing an atmosphere that drips with dread. The small town setting feels claustrophobic as danger and deceit lurk around every corner. The characters - Paz, Chuck, and their tight-knit group of friends - come alive on the page, bound by their childhood pact even as supernatural forces threaten to tear them apart. The reveals in the final act are satisfyingly twisty.

From the evocative prose to the themes of friendship, trauma, and marginalized identities, Lockjaw announces the arrival of a bold new voice in YA horror. This spine-tingling and masterfully told tale, reminiscent of classics like IT and Stranger Things, is a 4.5 star debut destined to be devoured by genre fans. Just try to silence its eerie echoes rattling around your brain long after you've turned the last page.

Cerilli invites us to witness how a group of children attacked for being different can be themselves even in a world falling apart and that does not end in a tragic ending. A feat for the new generations who suffer but can be protected and loved in these pages.

As I read Lockjaw I kept thinking to myself 'oh this is so SMART!' Reading was like...doing a really satisfying puzzle, or a complicated knitting pattern that comes together and you go 'oh I see what you did there!' I loved the way things kept coming together, the way that every word and every little hint we got seemed to deliberate and yet fit so well - I never felt like I wasn't understanding what was happening, i was just enjoying the experience.

There are so many things I loved about this book that I can't quite get them all straight - the experience itself was one (sitting in the back room racing through the last 100 or so pages, entirely engrossed) but there was also the setting - the perfect encapsulation of the 'burbs with the sepia-toned nostalgia turned on its head. I'd read descriptions of things that in another book would be presented just like a fond memory but worked so well to heighten the sinister feeling of Brindlington. The two sides of the comfort-discomfort coin worked so well!

And the characters oh my... the way they all come together and apart, the way we get to see all their relationships, to know them all at different stages throughout the book. I was blown away by how real every character felt, how sometimes I'd get a really strong sense of a character from a brief description.

Lockjaw is a book I'm going to enthusiastically recommend to everyone I know, and one I know I'll want to return to again and again.

This book was captivating and tells important lessons . The writing was well written and the plot was fast paced . The diversity of the characters was excellent. However I thought it had too many povs. So I'll give it a 4

Lockjaw, deftly blends trans horror with diverse characters and spine-chilling storytelling. Breaking new ground in the genre, it delivers crucial life lessons without patronization. Gripping from start to finish, Cerilli's expertly crafted characters seamlessly contribute to a haunting narrative that skillfully navigates shifting timelines and perspectives, revealing shocking twists that linger.
This stands as an exceptional benchmark in trans and horror, promising an enthralling journey for readers seeking a profound and chilling experience.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

It's honestly hard to believe this is a debut novel. There are all these kids, well drawn out, breaking my heart. There's the small town, with its problems and the underlying violence. My heart broke more than once reading this. I do have a soft spot in my heart for these kinds of creepy, insulated stories. This book isn't just about the story but all the stories behind the story, as a good horror novel should be.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this early

This book was beautifully written and tells important lessons in an unused genre for these lessons, thus dissing them to newer readers. The diversity of the characters was excellent with each character feeling unique cohesive and not shoehorned in to tick a box

You say trans horror and I say where can I get it? Lockjaw is an absolutely incredible debut that I could not put down. It was equal parts horrifying, intense, and captivating. I can't wait to see what else Matteo L. Cerilli comes out with if this is his starting point.

Every now and then, a book comes along that promises to haunt you. I finished LOCKJAW over a week ago, and I still can't get it out of my mind: the characters, the too-familiar setting, the quiet & sinister atmosphere.

For starters, Matteo L. Cerilli's debut is *ambitious.* It's spun from multiple timelines and perspectives, yet it never gets confusing. Each piece falls exactly where it needs to, leading to a slow-build reveal of shocking, heart-rending twists that DO. NOT. QUIT.

What is it about? Rage. Belonging to a place that does not want you. Identity, friendship, small-town secrets, and what it means to be (and defeat) a monster. It's gritty, beautiful, and devastating in equal measure, and I'm anxiously awaiting the brilliant tales Cerilli is guaranteed to tell next.

Trans, Canadian horror? PLEASE.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

I usually struggle with jump around timelines, but it worked so well for this intense and propulsive debut novel. There was something about the writing and the way Cerilli tells the story that just had me entranced.

Lockjaw was a dark and gritty ya horror that dives into coming of age, understanding oneself, racism, and the power of friendship, all interspersed with this truly eerie presence lurking in this town.

I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us in the future. I’m hoping Cerilli dives into adult horror at some point. It could be amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and PRH Canada for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Lockjaw” is the standard all queer horror should be held to. Equally on par with Andrew Joseph White’s work, this story of what it’s like to grow up different in a small town, and the monsters that will hunt you, will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride.

It was a masterclass in not only story writing, but story crafting as well— every chapter a puzzle piece, put down exactly where it is meant to be. Nothing is revealed too early, nothing is cheaply kept from the readers for dramatic effect— everything is told to us exactly when it should be.

I have no notes, truly. Everyone go order this book. Anxiously await its release. Because it will bite into you, and it will not let go.

Death is neither the beginning nor the end for the children of Bridlington in this debut trans YA horror book for fans of Rory Power and Danielle Vega.

Fantastic and incredibly well-done. Great atmosphere and characters.

I love horror so I wanted to give this book a try! As soon as I was resung it had me hooked and I couldn't put it down.