Years ago, Fern, Jaq, and Mallory were best friends. Raised in conservative families, they can only be open with each other about their queerness. However, Mal disappeared and the other two have no memory of her or that night. A chance encounter at a bonfire unlocks memories though and a potentially vengeful spirit that seems determined to keep them pretending to be straight.

This took a little to get into, but then it picked up a lot! It definitely is not as outright spooky as I thought it might be - I think those parts where could have been amped up even more to really get at the creepiness of the situation. The horror is definitely more the psychological horror of hiding one true's self.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the last year, I've read a lot of queer horror that either involves religious conversion therapy or with a forced closeting element, etc. and this joins them on that list.

The first fifty present I found to be incredibly slow in establishing the gender and sexuality dynamics of each of the main characters (Fern, Jaq, and, sometimes Mallory), that I considered DNF-ing it completely and not give feedback to it. Yet I did want to see where this went enough to follow through with finishing it, and it turned out alright. The themes themselves interested me more at times than the actual story progression and what was happening to Fern and Jaq.

Now this might have been my mood, the writing, or simply I did not wholly jive with what the story was as it vaguely reminded me of another queer horror in how it just left me empty inside here and there.

I would recommend this to people who have enjoyed Trespass Against Us or if anyone wants a younger comp title for Camp Damascus.

This book felt like two separate books: there’s the horror component, and then there’s the queer closeted teen component as well. Now, queer horror is a well-established genre, so there’s no reason why the two themes can’t work well together, but as a whole, it’s a bit disjointed.

Both protagonists are likeable: Fern is the last of a series of flower-named sisters, and it is FINALLY her turn to be the lead in the school musical, but gender-blind casting for Grease throws her for a loop. Meanwhile, Jaq has been dating John for a few years, and they are supposed to go to Baylor together, but Jaq wants to make her own decisions.

On the horror side of the plot, there’s some creepy local lore about a benevolent patron in the woods who grants wishes, but be careful what you wish for— sorry not sorry about the cliche.

I always feel bad about saying this, but I think the book would make a lot more sense if it was a limited series. There would be much more room to flesh things out and the flashbacks and narrative shifts would make a lot more sense. There would be plenty of room for both of the plot components to shine.

I would recommend Come Out, Come Out. This book has a solid foundation, and it is very supportive of the queer community.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Penguin/NetGalley.

An urban legend goes terribly wrong. Jaq, Fern, and Mallory are great friends who all realized they are a little different from what their parents and society expect them to be. One night, they snuck into the abandoned house in the woods that is rumored to be haunted by the Patron. Also rumored is that if you make a wish and offer up a sacrifice, it will come true. One night, they do just that, and Mallory doesn't make it home.

Jaq and Fern continue living their lives, and five years later, at a bonfire in the woods, everything changes. Memories come back, feelings come back, and it's like they've been living a lie for the last five years. Jaq realizes that she doesn't love her boyfriend John in the same way he loves her. Fern realizes that maybe they don't want to be a her, and they'd like the opportunity to figure things out. Both have religious families that won't listen, and the war between what they are and what is expected begins to eat away at them. It all leads to one spectacular fight with The Patron, and the courage to change their lives to what they want them to be.

A young adult story about finding your voice and listening to it, about figuring out what you are and what you want to be—a story about deciding no longer to be a prop in someone else's story. Filled with bold characters and a creepy undertone, this is a worthwhile read for struggling teens who also like to be a little scared.

Come Out, Come Out is a bit difficult for me to review because there is a lot I liked about it, but also a lot more I wanted it to do.

The overall story is that three teens in a small, relatively conservative town develop a friendship based largely on their respective hidden queer identities. They become besties until something strange happens in the woods, leaving one of them missing and the other two with no memory at all of ever being friends or of their queer identity.

A large chunk of this book is a coming-of-age story, which is fine…except for the supernatural element that keeps popping up. It almost felt like two separate genres were fighting to exist, leaving both feeling just slightly underdeveloped. I wanted a larger horror element; it felt like that’s where the book also wanted to go, given the creepiness of the beginning. Yet, the bulk of the story is the two remaining teens sort of just learning how to exist in their identities — which is awesome and I love books like that!! But not when we’re leaving a creepy supernatural element off to the side, only to return to full force at the end.

I think this is a good book, but could have been great. I will likely add this to my classroom library because the topics it touches on are so important, and Natalie C. Parker writers with a beautiful amount of empathy for her young protagonists.

Basically, I recommend this but also recommend that you tamp down expectations for something spooky/unique on the horror side of things. Stay for the thoughtfully done characters.

A creepy house in the forest, a missing friend, and 2 girls with incomplete memories.

I was ready for a good creepy read. And while I did find the house interesting, I didn't find this as creepy as I'd hoped. This felt more of a coming of age, these three girls sorting through their emotions and feelings and finding first love (but love that their parents wouldn't accept).

I did love the addition of the play - the idea of nonbinary roles. I liked a few of their little moments as they tried to sort their emotions. But I had definitely hoped this would have more spooky feel - and there are definitely a few creepy moments - it just wasn't the full focus of the plot. Cute, sweet and I did love the sweet moments of new love.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was so unputdownable. I loved the way that it tackled the issue of queer people who actually can’t be out due to safety reasons, and their various feelings about not being able to come out.

I loved this beautifully written book. You know it’s a good read when the author is able to make you love/ hate characters. And while I loved the main characters I absolutely hated all of their parents at one point or another. This is a haunting paranormal thriller with great heart.

FANTASTIC! Truly its sooooo good! From following both of the narrators to finding out the truth about what happened and why it was amazing! The mystery of trying to figure out what caused them to lose their memories and why suddenly they have access to their memories again after so many years and why they're being haunted. Truly this book will keep you guessing to the end! It does have a happy ending but also has a very real ending for a lot of people and the author did a fanstastic job with giving these characters life and explaining how not everything is all sunshine and rainbows despite what social media tries to tell you. If you're a fan of mystery and haunted things and trying to figure things out before the characters this book is def for you!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I hate that books like this have to exist, but I’m so glad this book exists. Mallory, Fern, and Jaq are friends who explore the woods. Mall never comes out, and Fern and Jaq have no memory of her or their time in the woods.

At a party, they both go back into the woods, and their memories begin to return. Turns out, all three identified as queer in some form (gender fluid, gay, pan, etc) and those memories were taken from them.

This book deals with religious trauma, gay conversion, and parents who refuse to accept their children for who they are. While this is horror due to supernatural elements, the worst horror in the book is the one that is real and present for many LGBTQIA+ kids. This book was really wonderful, but also really difficult to read because of the real-life horror so well represented.

A dual POV LGBTQ+ book set in what is modern America, but in a very conservative town. Both our main characters are struggling with their sense of self, and their sexuality. One unsure if they're she/her or they/them or even he/him. Another struggling with whether they want to be with their longtime boyfriend or possibly explore their feelings for a fellow female castmate in their school play. However as soon as Fern and Jaq stumble into the forrest they're reminded of their somewhat dark past, and not sure if they truly will be able to discover who they truly are without exploring who they were, and who they lost.

I loved the LGBTQ+ themes in the book and the positivity surrounding it (believe me there were negative aspects also sadly), but overall, the book was good. I wish the ending was a little more explained about how they broke the curse with The Patron I was a little confused, but overall enjoyable.

As I am a bit wimpy when it comes to genuine horror,I feel this books’ category could’ve made its own. Societal horror?… Real life? It’s probably a book I would’ve completely drowned myself in back when I was still trying to figure everything out in my teenage years, as I still found myself “in the feels” years later.

This book encapsulates so many different emotions, so much love (giving, receiving, and for oneself), so much growth, and what a community really can be. With horror sprinkled in short bursts, it really brings you through the emotional spectrum and on a true adventure through the MC’s own journeys.

This book was good! I liked it but didn’t love it. I definitely see potential in it and look forward to seeing what else the author does.

Okay I loved this contemporary horror. I feel that the suspense was great. The thing about horror is that it always gets you where you're uncomfortable. I feel like, as far as conversion therapy and LGBTQ issues, this book is truthful and will make you squirm. Phenomenal writing, and the characters were great. I highly recommend this.

4.75 ⭐️

Come Out, Come Out was everything I wanted in a modern horror novel. With nods to classic tropes and all the eerie, unsettling elements that make contemporary horror so compelling, I couldn’t put it down.

Fern and Jaq have spent years burying the past—especially the night their best friend Mallory disappeared in the woods. But when a spirit resembling Mallory returns, seeking revenge, they’re forced to confront not just the truth of what happened that night but also their own suppressed identities. This is a chilling, emotional story about the horrors of erasure, the power of found family, and the courage to reclaim yourself.

As someone who came out at thirteen, this story hit me on a deeply personal level. The horror wasn’t just in the looming presence of the Patron—it was right in Fern, Mal, and Jaq’s homes, making the terror feel all too real. That eerie closeness amplified every fear within me, making the story even more gripping.

I saw so much of myself in all three characters and felt deeply for their journeys. I especially connected with Fern—LIGHT SPOILER****there was a moment when they were forced to say things they would not have otherwise, and it resonated with me in a way that felt raw and honest. Though the Patron forced their hand, Fern said things that are unfortunately all too real proclamations of scared queer people without the support to come out.****

This book was perfection to me—a beautiful blend of relevance, fear, the paranormal, and an all-too-real kind of horror. I’m so glad I took the time to read it.

I received an advance reader copy of Come Out, Come Out in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Natalie C Parker presents a queer YA horror with Come Out, Come Out. The story is told in altering perspectives and timelines, following friends Fern, Jaq, and Mal. When Fern and Jaq accompanied Mal into the woods five years ago, she died, but they can't remember anything else about what happened. Only that something is different. And that something is trying to kill them too.

Full disclosure: I had very low level investment in this book when I tried to read it and waited for the audiobook release to be able to give it a fair chance. I fully read the book via audio, sometimes with immersion.

This book also has content that could be harmful to some readers. The horror is surrounding lack of familial support for queer kids, conversion camps, homophobia, and transphobia. Please read with care.

Each of the main characters have a different experience with queerness, which was welcome. I identified most with Fern as they worked through dysphoria and finding the pronouns and physical presentation they liked best. This building of queer identity, not just for Fern but for Jaq as well, was important content to include for a YA age demographic.

For me, the actual story content was a bit mid as the more important or greater power of this book was in the representation.

I would still recommend this book to the target age demographic and older and intend on working through reading Parker's backlist books on my shelves.

I love when a book I'm reading for the first time makes me nostalgic for another era of my life, and Come Out, Come Out catapulted me back to being 16, discreetly buying queer books in order to better understand a part of myself that wasn't necessarily accepted. I just know that this book would've meant so much to that version of Liv.

While this is classified as horror, I found it less scary (as a bit of a wimp) because of how tied to societal issues the horror is. This is a really heartfelt book about accepting yourself when others around you won't accept you, the power of queer community (especially in less accepting places), and what it really means to love someone, yourself included. It is aptly named as it focuses on the coming out of our two main characters, who are both queer people--one nonbinary and bi, the other a lesbian, both need to come out to themselves and the world. The coming out and acceptance of oneself is the meat of this book and I found it to be quite emotional. The horror aspects were done in a way that enhanced the story too. I think going into it pretty blind is the best way to approach this book because the characters themselves are starting out pretty blind, but I really loved this one and found it to be incredibly heartfelt. I'd recommend this to anyone, but especially recommend if you're queer and have been/are still in a place that is keeping you in the closet.

OMG??? I have literally never read a book like this before. It was both horrifying and uncomfortable in the way that it was meant to be. I loved the way this book presented the messages being shared with this, it was such a creative way to approach the concept of coming out. I do wish we got deeper character connections, but overall I loved this book.

The cover and synopsis of Come Out, Come Out instantly grabbed my attention, and once I started reading, I was hooked. The pacing is a bit of a slow burn at first, but once the story picks up, I was thoroughly invested. It’s one of those books where the suspense and mystery build steadily until you're on the edge of your seat.

What really stood out to me was the representation. As a YA horror novel, it could have easily leaned into the genre's typical tropes, but Parker did something special here. The themes of self-acceptance and embracing others are woven through the story so thoughtfully. It’s a fresh and important perspective in the horror genre, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community.

The message about acceptance, both of yourself and others, is powerful and resonates long after you’ve turned the last page. Come Out, Come Out is not just a great read for horror fans, but for anyone looking for a book that balances thrilling moments with real meaning. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good horror story with depth and heart.

This book wasn’t much of what I was expecting, I wish there was more too it. I felt like the middle and ending could have had more to it. I think it was just bland and could figure out what was going to happen.