"And in the darkness, Mallory burned."

The author's words at the beginning of the book explain more than my words ever could. The story is dark, and terrifying, and I definitely couldn't read it after dark. But it's also about the terror of coming out, and it's incredibly well written.

The author shares, "In this book are some things that truly scare me because they can hurt me: homophobia, transphobia, gender dysphoria, religious extremism, conversion therapy. They are terrifying because they are very real, they have sharp edges, and I can't control when I encounter them."

As hard as it was to watch these characters endure homophobia, I will let you all know there is a happy ending so you can safely voyage into this book and know that your faves will be okay (heart hands emoji)

The Haunting of Hill House meets Riverdale with a completely queer twist, this story manages to be horrific and sad, yet heart-warming and optimistic, all at once. Though it was tough to read at times due to the blatant homophobia and transphobia, the happy ending made it all worthwhile for both the reader and the wonderful characters. The plot is brilliantly conceived, weaving horror into themes of self-discovery and acceptance. It never once lost my attention and was exceptionally well-written.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

"Come Out, Come Out" by Natalie C. Parker is a powerful and timely anthology that celebrates queer joy, resilience, and identity. Featuring a collection of stories across various genres and styles, Parker brings together diverse voices that explore the LGBTQ+ experience with honesty and depth.

Parker's curation is thoughtful and inclusive, showcasing a range of perspectives and narratives that highlight the beauty and complexity of queer lives. Each story is imbued with emotion and authenticity, offering glimpses into moments of love, discovery, and self-acceptance.

The anthology celebrates the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, while also addressing important themes such as acceptance, empowerment, and the ongoing struggle for equality. Parker's writing is both poignant and uplifting, making "Come Out, Come Out" a poignant tribute to queer identity and resilience.

Overall, "Come Out, Come Out" is a must-read for readers seeking stories that celebrate queer voices and experiences. Natalie C. Parker's anthology is a heartfelt and empowering collection that resonates long after the last page is turned, making it an essential addition to LGBTQ+ literature.

3⭐️ for me on this one. It had a great coming of age and a lot of LGBTQIAP+ representation with a few different love stories. There was just not enough horror for me it felt like that was secondary to the love story and family hardships it talked about and as that was good, it just seemed like little bits of horror were thrown in as an after thought at the end. If what happened at the end had been throughout the whole book it would've been a much higher rating for me. I still appreciate the opportunity to read this early before getting released

The cover and synopsis of this book left me intrigued, I was hooked. Kind of a slow burn at first getting into it, then enjoying the ride to the end. I think the representation in this book was done so well for a YA horror. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group and Natalie C Parker for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF’ed at 34 pages.

This just wasn’t working for me. The multitude of character descriptions that are back to back to back and so flat it was like looking at Skyrim NPCs paired with the poor and amateur writing style of the first few chapters worked against the enjoyment or curiosity of the premise. Saying that a characters eyes were “a kaleidoscope of sepia and copper” is literally saying the same thing twice and reads as unnecessarily purple prose for the sake of it. Perhaps if this wasn’t the fourth description of a background character in less than two pages it would’ve had been so grating, but the way the author crafts character appearances and interactions is stilted.

But the biggest flaw was the wonky tone and tense in the prologue. While the synopsis tells you that the main characters forget the events of the night in the woods, the book quite literally throws that at you in the middle of a scene in the prologue and the way in which that happens was so jarring and poorly executed that I had to reread the page three times to fully understand.

This doesn’t feel like a seasoned author’s writing to me and I regret that even the glimpses of horror set up we had was equally as generic.

A layered and thoughtful story of young LGBTQIA+ experiences in a small town.

The supernatural horror part, however, takes quite some time to get going. It starts slow, just showing up in small bits every now and then as the characters navigate their lives. For a while, it almost feels a bit as if these two stories are separate. It’s all actually rather disjointed and confusing at first, the horror elements seem almost thrown in. When it does make sense, it’s very interesting. I wish the supernatural storyline had started making sense a bit sooner. Some of the secondary characters and their relationships feel rushed as well. But the relationship between the 3 main characters is solid, and their struggles within their small town while learning who they are is well fleshed out.

Overall, the theme of this book and this sort of representation is so important. All of the resources at the end are a fantastic addition.

From the cover to the story line I was hooked. If you’re a fan of horror this is definitely one for you and you won’t be disappointed

Wow! What a great book! I love queer horror so much and this was no exception. For being YA, it didn’t shy away from serious topics, and I would definitely check the trigger warnings before reading.

The two main characters were very relatable and it pained me to see them struggle and it warmed my heart to see them thrive. I was so invested in their stories and I liked how they were connected, but yet each of their stories was independent and they both felt fully fleshed out and developed.

I liked that even though there were scary moments in the woods or when the characters were being tormented by ghosts, I found myself more terrified when the characters were dealing with their parents.

Such an amazing book to read especially during Pride Month and I hope everyone picks it up in August when it officially releases!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before publication on Aug 27 2024. Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker.
YA Horror about Queer/Trans Teens dealing with their coming out/realization of who they are! Something happened to their friend Mallory 5 years ago and Fern and Jaq completely lose memory of it and their lives are changed because of the Patron Saint of the woods. Mal's ghost isn't going to lie down and take it and wants her friends to remember who they are.
Lovely story of friendship and coming out even though it wasn't all roses with their families. Fern the beautiful curly-haired blonde who feels she is stuck in the wrong body and is better playing Danny Zuko in the Grease School Musical instead of Sandy and Jaq who shared her first kiss with Mal realizes she is more attracted to women instead of her boyfriend John.
Was slow in some parts and a bit back and forth in time period but it was well paced, easy read, and earmarked with which time you were in when reading. Will definitely read more from this author.

thank you to netgalley for the eARC.

i have very few words, wow being the main one. the cover is gorgeous, the synopsis is interesting and the characters were well written.

this one was difficult to rate since i wasn’t sure if i thought it was a five star read or not. in the end, i gave it four stars since i went back and forth for so long.

i don’t want to say too much, but the story was really good. i fell in love with all the characters and their own stories. i hope to read more from this author.

This story takes the very real great fear of coming out due to homophobic Christianity and turns it into a thriller book about 3 girls who are not what their parents want them to be. The beginning starts with the two main girls completely forgetting their friend and only knowing that they knew of her and that she was troubled and ran away. Then one day they start to remember the way they were before. This book kept me turning the pages

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I haven't read a YA book with people in high-school in a while so I was hesitant, but a queer horror sold me on starting it. When I tell you I was scared, I mean I didn't want to change my laundry at night because I was scared to get out of my bed!! The love stories with each character are so cute, and the parents are believebly horrendous. Definitely recommend!

Natalie C. Parker's "Come Out, Come Out" is a compelling and haunting novel that masterfully intertwines themes of identity, friendship, and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly tranquil small town, the story follows Fern and Jaq, two seniors who have spent years burying their true selves and the traumatic events of their past.

Parker’s writing shines in her portrayal of Fern and Jaq's journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The characters are richly developed, their internal struggles and evolving identities depicted with nuance and sensitivity. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationships, both with each other and with the ghost of Mallory, whose tragic fate becomes a catalyst for their transformation.

The novel's eerie atmosphere is beautifully rendered, with the abandoned house in the woods serving as a chilling metaphor for the secrets and fears that Fern and Jaq have hidden away. Parker's descriptions are vivid and immersive, drawing readers into a world where the past and present collide in unsettling and unexpected ways.

"Come Out, Come Out" is not just a ghost story; it’s a powerful commentary on the societal pressures that force individuals to conform and suppress their true selves. Parker boldly addresses the erasure of gay, queer, and trans identities, providing a narrative that is both a critique of these oppressive systems and a celebration of the resilience and strength found in friendship and chosen family.

This novel is a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing one’s true identity and the transformative power of confronting the past. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a story that is both deeply moving and thought-provoking. Natalie C. Parker has crafted a dark, yet ultimately hopeful tale that will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.

This was excellent. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. The plot was a little bit unrealistic at times, but definitely worth reading.

♡ Queer Horror
♡ Self-Acceptance
♡ Angst with a Happy Ending

I’m so happy to have read this. The hype was even better than I was expecting. The way this story was told was really enjoyable and the queerness was so fantastic in this book.

I loved how all the flashbacks to past memories were written and the character development was great. Seeing how the lines of reality and the horror aspect blurred—the main characters knowing they were different than the expectations their parents shoved at them and the main characters unlocking their past as they tried to avoid the nightmare of what their futures could be—it was written so well. It was tense and definitely angst with a happy ending vibe for sure.

This book touches on some topics such as religious bigotry, homophobia/lesbianphobia throughout, and several mentions of conversion therapy. It’s not pretty to read at some parts but it was written so well! The self-acceptance that finally took over near the ending felt so satisfying. It showed how the main characters became more themselves as the story progressed, finally fighting for their best life… quite literally.

A very well-done look at queer teenagers settling into their identities and learning how to defend themselves, particularly against their own families and a rigid religious community. I also loved how it deconstructed "the closet." This is often the first "safe space" a queer person has, but how safe is it when the lie festers within us and touches every part of our lives?

Some of the vibes reminded me of Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus with the religious trauma and conversion camp horror. This is more of a coming-of-age YA than horror, though, and I could've used more scares. That said, I finished reading this at midnight and the sounds of my house shifting started to frighten me. I'm apparently a baby with creepy stuff.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before publication on Aug 27 2024. Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker.
YA Horror about Queer/Trans Teens dealing with their coming out/realization of who they are! Something happened to their friend Mallory 5 years ago and Fern and Jaq completely lose memory of it and their lives are changed because of the Patron Saint of the woods. Mal's ghost isn't going to lie down and take it and wants her friends to remember who they are.
Lovely story of friendship and coming out even though it wasn't all roses with their families. Fern the beautiful curly-haired blonde who feels she is stuck in the wrong body and is better playing Danny Zuko in the Grease School Musical instead of Sandy and Jaq who shared her first kiss with Mal realizes she is more attracted to women instead of her boyfriend John.
Was slow in some parts and a bit back and forth in time period but it was well paced, easy read, and earmarked with which time you were in when reading. Will definitely read more from this author.

This was super far fetched but kind of tied together in the end?? I’m not a huge fantasy person but i can tolerate it in doses and even though this was pretty fantastical it didn’t bother me that much.

a thing that happens when i write reviews is i criticize an aspect and realize it’s like that on purpose and actually pretty genius so the character development actually made a lot of sense for this.

i feel like in queer ya there’s two romance tropes which are : mysterious new girl love interest (my favorite example this year is girls night by i.s. belle) or rival turned crush (i have read two of these in the past two days) and sure enough these are the tropes for the two main characters. as usual i prefer preexisting chemistry and thought the rivals to lovers storyline was much less rushed and had better chemistry.

also love the title. overall had an average experience reading this. liked but didn’t love. it did have to overcome a lot of my harsh criteria for acceptable ya, especially as a fantasy which it did so that is impressive.