TW/CW: Drinking, language, death of parents, anxiety, homophobia, depression, panic attack, toxic relationships, death by suicide (attempt), bullying, family drama, gory scenes, blood, cancer

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After sitcom star Willow tweeted herself into infamy and had to be dragged blind-drunk out of a swimming pool, her agent shipped her off to the woodsy and wonderfully anonymous confines of Camp Castaway. Tucked away in the trees of upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults in desperate need of leaving behind their mistakes, their social media accounts, their lives. No real names, no phones…no way to call for help.Willow is relieved to find that her fellow campers seem okay. To her shock, her own favorite actress is here, sitting by the campfire and roasting a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when a terrifying woman pops shrieking from the wardrobe in Willow’s room. Soon after, one of the campers vanishes
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Loving that cover 🙌🏻
2. Pansexual rep
3. Love that the chapters change names when it is the victim that dies
4. Kept me guessing
5. Loved the creepy vibes
6. Very atmospheric

What I Didn't Like:
1. Canceled mentioned so much
2. Insta-romance popping up after a day
3. Ending felt weird

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

We don't even know who our main woman is because she is never introduced to anybody instead she introduces herself at camp to Tye as Willow, the character she's been playing for so long. I wonder if this is going to come back that maybe this was her whole personality and she's disconnecting from reality because she's constantly being this fictional character.

I found it weird that the camp groundskeeper was able to recognize the people that got there. I've never heard of a camp prelooking at people before they show up, but perhaps he knows her from her show that is aimed at kids. I'm still sus of his actions.

It's crazy that a person that is staying at the camp is missing but the lead counselor doesn't even really care where he's at. He's been missing for a full day and she's pretty much like no Buck's fine. Bebe is like the camp mom and she pretty much holds the whole camp together. Her nonchalant attitude about a person missing though is 100% completely insane.

So Bebe has a sister, Sadie that has mental problems and then attacks Willow in her room.

Keeping count we currently have;
• A random sister character attacking people with vague words
• Buck is missing
• Texts being sent out about a "she"
• Seems like gay people are being sent to this camp to be killed

As you progress in the book we learn that "Willow" is never allowed to be herself. She always has to be on and be this image of the character on tv. Even when she's with her boyfriend she had to order the right food, or not want to watch a horror movie, or even talking about what she does in her free time. It gets to the point where she can't even tell people about her sexuality, that she is queer.

One of the two people that are sending text back and forth about the murders is definitely love bombing the other one to do all these killings.

Now Kat is the one that's been killed. Seems like she had a disagreement with another influencer named Roxanne and Roxanne tormented her to the brink of wanting to take her own life.

It's like day two and Willow is in this relationship with Dani already.

We finally figure out what Willow said that got her quote canceled. She said "better luck next time", which is a motto of the show she was on whenever she messed up as a defense towards the government going against gay marriages. Misty is mad at Willow for being different than the image she had portrayed on tv and on social media. This takes us back to the conversation that was brought up about parasocial relationships. I'm just happy that Willow admitted her faults and who she is.

Dani is apart of the gossip goblin that destroyed Willow's life. After Willow blows up at Dani of course Dani acts like she's the victim and actually gets mad at Willow telling her maybe she'll get her wish and it will be the end of the world. Can I just take a second and say how hilarious it was hearing that Willow was shocked that Dani wasn't the person that she's known for - brace yourself all of 3 days. Who knows someone... really knows someone after 3 days???

Willow runs into Juniper and Juniper tells her that she needs to get over what's happened to her because it's not the end of the days. She then tells her in a hundred years no one will remember any of this but it's weird because she uses an analogy of Bettie Davis' issues and drama as an excuse of how they overcame things, but it's been almost a hundred years since that happened so it seems like a moot point.

Just too odd that Buck is the only surviver but everyone else thst was taken has ended up dead.

Loved how Juniper went out. She fought the person and then even went out with a "cut" before being killed by the ax. Fantastic death. If this was Dead Meat she'd get the award for best death.Like a true badass she didn't die this way.

Dani had the photo Willow's brother and she happened to miss everything going on. She is apart of everything. She is planting doubt into Willow's mind by saying Misty had the photo and fame id's.

Misty was a catfisher and was on Catfish the show when someone tracked her down. {{{ First of all it doesn't work like that. I was actually contacted by my old pen pal that o stopped talking to when MTV casting got ahold of me because of him. The team from Catfish called and said I was being asked to do the show and they would pay me. I said no and that was the end of it.}}} They can't legally put you on tv without your consent. So this whole character development for a Misty is not even right.

You're telling me that it's the preacher. The preacher that is in his 60s/70s and is able to run, have super strength, and survive an accident. Also there were 4 women and none of them could take down one man??? He manages to kill Bebe (his daughter), Juniper, and Misty. Okay then. Dani is alive.

We still need to know who is working with Bebe's father (the texts).

The ending - sigh. Kurt is the one helping the preacher to kill everyone. Of course Courtney, Kurt's sister dies by suicide. Isn't she like the 4th person in this book that has either attempted or completed it? I wish the author would be more creative in those deaths.

Ahhh Willow is Rebecca. Now we have an actual name for her.

Final Thoughts:
I would say my main issue with this book is that there is a killer on the loose and people are disappearing, but it seems like "Willow" has a one track mind with just being with Dani. It's completely hit over your head constantly that Willow wants to be with her. Anytime they're alone or doing anything Dani can literally touch Willow and that's like the whole focus of the scene now. It really took me out of some creepy scenes that I think would have been great if this insta-romance wasn't there.

Book was fun! Kept me guessing the whole time. I loved how creepy some parts were and the characters trying to figure out what was going on.

I didn't like the ending. I thought the texts between Kurt and preacher were flirty more than two people working together. Plus I find it impossible to think a man in hus 60s or 70s could behind so many things thst wound take strength.

PS i seriously couldn't stop singing "Heads Will Roll" from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you get a chance watch the music video for it. So great!

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Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Heads Will Roll
Josh Winning

Ok, so ...

I grew up on R.L. Stein and Fear Street and then early King in my teens.
And I've continued my reading of horror throughout the years.
While I love literary horror and weird, speculative, horror-adjacent stories, it's really nice to read something that reminds you of all the feelings you first had when you grew to love horror, and the things that made it so cool to you as a kid... just in a more grown up context. That's what this felt like.

It felt like watching one of my favorite slashers in my room, at 14 years old, in the early 90's... super late at night. I loved it.

I will be recommending this to anyone who is looking to just have a blast with a super fun, gory horror novel.

4/5

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Group, and Josh Winning for this ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.

"Willow’s worst nightmare was being cancelled. But the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation."
This was the perfect summer read that will have you turning the pages untill the very end. The book was written really well and had amazing characters in it. The campfire story of knock-knock Nancy was the perfect scary story to be told around the campfire. I look forward to reading more books by this author. This one had an unsettling mood from the beginning and if you hear a knock then you will know what comes next. I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend this one to any horror reader but especially to those who love a good summer slasher. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this spine-chilling read in exchange of my honest review of Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning. Make sure to get this book before Heads Roll.

Willow's world crumbles in an instant when a careless tweet transforms her from a beloved TV star into a pariah. Desperate to escape the relentless online onslaught, she seeks refuge in the secluded Camp Castaway. As the campfire crackles and the eerie legend of Knock Knock Nancy unfolds, Willow finds herself trapped in a nightmare where reality blurs with superstition.
Initially, the novel builds suspense at a leisurely pace, allowing readers to connect with the characters before the terror truly begins. Once the first victim disappears, the story explodes into a heart-pounding race against time, with the body count rising and the killer's identity shrouded in mystery. The author deftly weaves a critique of modern cancel culture into the narrative without overshadowing the thrilling plot.
A masterclass in suspense, this book is perfect for those seeking a chilling escape on a cold autumn evening.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

what’s it about? ⬇️

Camp Castaway is an adult summer camp out in the woods where you go to disconnect from the world--including your phone--and truly focus on self awareness and healing. So when a popular sitcom star get canceled for an ill-advised tweet, she can think of no better idea than losing herself in the woods for a week and trying to separate herself from her recent string of rotten luck. Upon arrival, campers are instructed to lock away their phones and to choose a new name to go by, so why not Willow? She's been playing the character for years, and everyone already has a hard time separating her from the role she's been playing, so while it may not be the healthiest choice, it is the one that's made.

But when Willow begins to realize that others at Camp Castaway may also be hiding some alarming secrets about the reasons they've come out to the woods and the local urban legend of Knock-Knock Nancy hangs over them and their stay, some campers may start to lose their heads. In the literal sense. Can Willow and her unlikely group of friends survive their blood-soaked night and solve the mystery of Camp Castaway and its haunting past, or will they be next on the chopping block?

my thoughts? ⬇️

I have always loved a good summer camp slasher, and this one delivered in so many fun, interesting ways! Generally in these kinds of stories, you're watching a group of teenagers make all the wrong choices and be butchered, but Josh Winning chose to place adults at the heart of Heads Will Roll and god, I adored that choice. The stakes all felt so much higher with a group of adults and and their biggest mistakes following them around, and the reality of all of the messes they were dragging with them helped to ground the story even as the campiness of the genre took hold and things went completely bonkers.

I wouldn't say that the twists were particularly unexpected or that I loved every aspect of the story, but where I will say I really loved Josh Winning's choices was with his characters. They were interesting and diverse and so, so messy, and honestly, Juniper is my hero and always will be. So if you love an extremely campy camp slasher story full of wacky twists that finds its heart and it's base in reality in the realism of its characters, you should definitely check this one out.

based on your other likes? ⬇️

If you like any of these listed below, I think you might enjoy this and vice versa!

🪓 Friday the 13th (any of the Jason Vorhees movies will get you in the spirit for this one.)
🪓 Final Girls (movie, movie-goers trapped in a movie, interesting family and friendship dynamics, is anyone safe? probably not.)
🪓You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron (summer camp slasher vibes, lgbtquia+ themes, similarly unexpected twists)
🪓 The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan (summer camp slasher vibes, lgbtquia+ themes, big betrayals, a larger evil than you'd expect is looming.)
🪓 The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson (okay, yes it is the fourth in a series, but trust me. whole series is amazing, this is the summer camp-iest one. tons of mystery solving and character deep dives.)
🪓 The Counselors by Jessica Goodman (summer camp murders, deep and solid female friendships, incredible storytelling.)
🪓 Summer's Edge by Dana Mele (cabin in the woods vibes, everyone is hiding something, messy friendships and their inner workings, things are not as they seem.)

trigger warnings ⬇️

death, murder, gore, violence, body horror, blood, injury/injury detail, car accident, homophobia, suicide, religious bigotry, child death, death of a sibling, death of a loved one, bullying, confinement, grief, trauma, abandonment, mental illness, medical content, cancer, drug use, drug addiction, panic attacks, misogyny.

This book was so silly and campy and fun! It definitely had some twists.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

I started out liking this but then it just became just like all the other summer camp killing sprees. I didn’t even find the humor.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest opinion.

This was a really well executed summer camp slasher. I liked that the characters were all given 'shameful' secrets and were not the cliche clueless characters that are normally in these stories. I loved the plot, the characters, and the twists strewn throughout.

If you're a first time slasher reading looking for one to try, i think this would be a good option. It's not as gory or descriptive as some others in the genre.

*Thaank you Netgalley and Putnam Books for the eARC*

This one was good, but found myself getting distracted often and having to reread many passages.. I wish it was a bit more fast paced

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning was a quick, creepy thriller to read. I liked that the story was a non-traditional killer at a camp story. I liked the concept of the story, the setting was well described, and I liked the mystery of figuring out who the killer was. I will say something that was done in the story that j typically dislike in books is when the main character early in the book keeps vaguely saying they did something bad, but you don't find out what the bad thing was until 3/4ths into the book. It doesn't need to be pointed out repeatedly for the reader to understand that the MC has a secret. Also, Willow for me was an unlikeable character. She was supposed to be the most developed character, but her growth ended up feeling very slow and then suddenly rushed. Juniper was a likeable character and had some well written scenes. The book touches strongly on "cancel culture," mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, identity exploration, self-esteem, and the pressure of fame. Overall. I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to others.

*SPOILER ALERT*
Also, I'm still not sure how the preacher, who was supposed to be an old man surviving in the woods for decades, was so strong and agile. I mean he was supposed to be pretty old, older than Bebe and Sadie with their silver hair, but he was stronger and faster than both of them. I am aware Kurt was the other killer, but we're also told when the Preacher helped kill and decapitate people. Also, the fact that multiple healthy young people couldn't defend themselves against an old guy and Kurt was just baffling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Most people attend summer camp for the fun of doing outdoorsy activities and spending time with others. When Willow sends a thoughtless and poorly-received tweet, her life as a television star desintigrates and she’s eventually sent to Camp Castaway: a summer camp designed for adults yearing to escape their mistakes while providing complete isolation from the outside world.

Heads Will Roll is good take on the summer camp slasher genre, with interesting characters, a couple of red herrings, a camp ghost story, a dash of dark humor, gorey deaths and even some poignant meditations upon cancel culture, mortality, accountability and the difficulties of living authentically.

Willow is sympathetic character as she struggles to adapt to her new existence as a pariah following abandonment by those who were closest to her. While some of the campers receive more focus than others, such as Dani and Willow’s idol and former-actress Juniper Brown, the cast is far from the typical bland horror movie cut-outs who simply exist to be slaughtered.

Heads Will Roll is initially medium-paced, with Willow gaining-what she believes-is a better understanding of her fellow campers. Tension starts to mount when a camper disappears, but once the first body is discovered, things barrel ahead quickly. The identity of the killer felt slightly convoluted and while some of the twists are somewhat convenient, they don’t detract too strongly from the narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This was pure summer slasher camp at its finest!! Loads of fun. Very Scream meets Friday the 13th meets Candy Cain Kills. Unplug and enjoy your stay at Camp Castaway!

Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning I was trying to get through the book the best I could but I could not finish it I don’t know why but I have a visceral reaction to those who want acceptance but Dominic‘s up what others feel and believe throughout the book the author mocked religion and even an actual picture of Jesus Christ and although be at the Caucasian version with blue eyes I just cannot support that if you want to be respected then respect everyone whether it be their religion race sexuality ET see. it really is sad because I was enjoying this book but it seems the author has it out for Christian religion or at least has no problem marking my beliefs in those of other Christians not all Christians are fanatical but all Christians do worship the same God and that includes Jesus Christ. It’s sad that in the world where someone who considers their self a wicken witch gets more respect than someone who believes in Jesus Christ who historically died for our sins. I respect everyone’s belief religion race sexuality ATC so why can’t everyone respect mine.

HEADS WILL ROLL is a perfect summer thrill and chill - a shrewd analysis of cancel culture, complete with axe-wielding gore.

Josh Winning's last novel, BURN THE NEGATIVE, was one of my favorite horror novels of 2023. After conquering the cursed film genre, the author, a clear fan of the genre he writes in, sets his sight on the summer camp slasher. In HEADS WILL ROLL, the campers at Camp Castaway are all adults. They've all been cancelled in their home lives for a transgression. And they're all here anonymously, without phones. But as Sitcom star Willow checks in and meets her peers, ghost stories are revived, mutilated dolls heads start popping up, and soon, other campers start to literally lose their heads. What actually is Camp Castaway? What secrets live on its land? And what force is trying to cancel these folks for good?

I read this book in one breathless day, having been absolutely hooked by its propulsive plot. Winning keeps the story moving with switching POVs as campers meet their fates. Short, punchy chapters will keep you going. Fans of slasher fiction will savor a lot about this novel: The seemingly random, ruthless, motivation-less murders, the secrets that spill out of the idyllic setting, and the flipping of stereotypes about who lives, who dies, and who gets to tell their story (Hamilton reference, I'm sorry!) I'm going spoiler-free here, but I'd have loved a beat longer marrying the horrors that previously existed at the Camp with the ones in the present timeline. I loved the revelation around Nancy, and I think fans of the genre will be satisfied by the gruesomeness that unfolds in it. Overall, a great read and a fun way to spend a hot, chilly, or chilling summer night!

READ IT IF YOU LIKE
- Final girl slasher novels (Like... Final Girls, or Final Girls Support Group)
- Critiques of cancel culture
- Fast-paced, action-packed novels

It was a bit of a slow burn. Good twist. I enjoyed it!
Great slasher read.
Will recommend it. NetGalley, thanks for sending it to me!

I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book as Josh Winning's last book, Burn the negative, was one of my favorite books of 2023. Unfortunately, this one was just okay for me. I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book, but it was kind of just an average horror novel up to that point. I still am still anxiously awaiting his next one, though!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The characters ranged from likeable to unlikable. I was surprised just how quickly I found myself in the book. I actually finished the book within a day. The writing flow was steady and smooth.

This was a 5-star read for rhe 1st 2/3 of the book. It was the killing of a character that made me take away a point. While I understood that this was a slasher book and ppl would die, I cannot accept/get behind the killing on this character. Am I being petty? Probably. However, it was this one little tidbit that I just couldn't accept.

I like the author's style and am looking forward reading more by him.

#HEADSWILLROLL #NETGALLEY #JOSHWINNING

2 Stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

Riley Sager was the reason I started a "men writing women (derogatory)" tag. But this book is going to be my new example.

Willow is an actress who starred in a long-running teen/young adult sitcom, but was fired recently after being "cancelled" online for writing a supposedly awful thing on Twitter. The whole book is told from her perspective as we go with her to a remote summer camp for adults who want to escape reality and their problems for a little while.

I'm going to start off with what I liked, so that after this paragraph, it helps to understand why I'm so disappointed. What I liked about the book was really just the last 20%. That's when it truly felt like a summer camp slasher book. The other 80% was just boring whiny white people. If the whole book was as good as the last 20%, I would have rated this higher. But, alas. It was spooky, scary, thrilling, and terrifying. It really did feel like I was watching an 80s slasher bloodbath.

Now for the bad part.

This is such a rich, white person fantasy that it was so hard to connect with the characters, especially Willow. We're told over and over again that the tweet ruined her life, destroyed her relationship, ended her career, and cost her everything. But when the tweet is actually revealed, it's such a fucking nothing burger. She made a bad joke at the wrong time and instead of just explaining, she allowed herself to be "cancelled."

Say what you want about cancel-culture, but it focuses so much on the wrong things and, most of the time, goes after petty issues between a few people that happen to blow up at the wrong moment. The whole time I'm reading this book, I'm thinking of all the real things that are happening in the world and the worst thing to ever happen to Willow is that she had to leave social media and lose her job (while still being rich as hell.)

Another 5⭐️ horror read from this author! Literally the most perfect horror for me and my taste and I cant wait for the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/GP Putnam’s Sons for early access to this in exchange for an honest review.

Good thing this book is set at a summer camp for adults, because it is quite camp. I feel like I had so many “you cannot be serious” moments. This book was giving silly, goofy vibes , like a teen slasher, a la Nightmare on Elm Street, Cabin in the Woods, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, and Evil Dead. Frankly, I was really enjoying this book.

But then we had the discussion about her brother. And the scene about her ex. And the scene about Courtney. Those parts in particular totally shifted the tone of the book. I do feel like these conversations were well done, but they felt like excerpts from a different book. I struggled to understand if this book wanted to be a drama/serious or silly/goofy. I think the tone and pacing was just a bit mismatched.

The thrill scenes were also pretty well done. I think these were the highlight of the book. “Cut,” she muttered, as the blade descended. ICONIC.
I would still recommend this book for the right reader. And I wouldn’t discount any future work by Winning. This was a creative idea – I just wish it had been executed a bit differently. I hope in the future, Winnings leans more into the silliness. I feel like the horror/comedy genre is seriously lacking, and Winning could be onto something.

My nit-picky judgements: 1) The comment of Tye having a “bronze torse that would make Zac Efron start a juice cleanse.” Don’t like that line. 2) Bebe is so out of touch to the point her character is just not believable. Lady is delulu. Furthermore, the name Bebe belongs on r/tragedeigh. 3) The softball scene, all I could picture was Twilight (queue Supermassive Black Hole by Muse).