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.

This book is technically YA, but I would honestly recommend that adults read it, too. I really liked this book and the way it addresses homophobia, identity, and friendship. I was invested in each character's POV and their strong character developments throughout the book. Along with their personal LGBTQIA+ identity journeys, I liked the urban myth plot that was intertwined and how it all came together in the end. Such a great book, and I'd 100% recommend it to everyone!!

This was a pretty unique book, pretty different than the typical YA horror. It kept me reading, the characters were well depicted, and overall I enjoyed this book!

I liked the idea of the horror component more than the reality. The story was gut wrenching enough thinkinking how badly Fern’s mother treated them without needing that layer. I think this was a really done story of self discovery against parental/ religious disapproval.

This was an interesting ya dark academia, but it just didnt work out for me. I couldn't get hooked to continue reading, and I'm sad because really had high hopes for this.

This was a surprisingly dark story of transphobia, homophobia and child abuse, but it's also really hopeful, and has constant moments of light to get through the dark ones. It's made clear at the start of the story that Jaq, Mallory and Fern are Queer - but five after only two of them emerge from the forest, they seem to be living straight, cis lives, leaving the reader to puzzle out what happened.

The vibe often reminded me of Grease, the relationships and dated ideas mimicking the musical Fern is particpating in, in the story. The horror elements are frequent, and I liked how well balanced the story overall was, I really grew to love the characters and I was devastated by some of the events in the ending. There was one moment I felt was a little too tied up neatly that lost a star, but overall I loved this.

This book was amazing, and the horror elements were done quite well and created a strong sense of suspense. At times the book felt too real, as the elements of conversion therapy, and hiding being queer. It reminded me of my teen years when I was still figuring out myself. The book was masterful.

2024 had a lot of great Queer horror books, COME OUT, COME OUT included. This story had a lot of real moments, a lot of dark moments, but somehow it also highlighted a lot of hope and positivity if you looked for it. Interesting and good read!

This book was just not for me and I'll be DNFing it - it doesn't really have anything to do with the author. I was approved for this request and I'm not a horror reader, so the characters and plot didn't really work for me. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

I loved this book! It perfectly captures the eerie vibe of towns that aren’t quite right. Jaq and Fern, former best friends, are drawn back together after Mallory’s disappearance and a haunted house in the woods stirs up old memories. A fantastic queer YA horror!

Before I start, I do want to warn readers: This book contains some major religious trauma, specifically related to queerness and conversion therapy. It's an emotionally taxing book, so be sure to check the triggers and take care of your health.

With that said, this is an important book. It's terrifying because it's so real. The setting and the atmosphere and the paranormal elements certainly added to the horror elements, but what really made it horrifying was the elements of reality. The religious trauma, the conversion therapy, it all made it deeply unsettling and deeply emotional.

I gave this a 3.5 rounded up. I thought the representation of the lgbtqia community was beautifully done.

3.5 but rounded down. i loved the characters and the writing was lovely. i also loved the representation of lgbt kids and struggling with homophobia not just at home but in the town you live in and how to navigate that. i just felt the overall message of the book was getting pounded into me way too much way too often when it was very obvious from the beginning.

This was a horror but didn’t feel horrorish. Atleast not boo scary but more so social horror. When the memories from the girls started to come back it lured me and i couldn’t wait to find out what Happened.

I loved this book. One of my favorite tropes is about towns that aren’t quite right and this did not disappoint. Jaq and Fern were once best friends, along with a girl named Mallory. Mallory disappeared a few years back and Jaq and Fern are basically strangers, but they can’t seem to recall what happened to cause their falling out. Add in a haunted house in the woods and a spirit that may or may not be their old friend, and you get an excellent queer YA horror.

Begging Freeform/The CW for an adaptation because I think this would translate so well!

This book was really good and interesting. I was hooked the entire way through. I rated this one a 4 stars. I would recommend reading this one.

5/5⭐️ I didn’t know what I was expecting from listening to this book! I felt like we were going down a rabbit hole that we couldn’t get out of! Lo and behold we get a story about teenagers dealing with parents not able to process their gender identity and sexuality by making them do conversion therapy! Like it was a lot! But this is real life! And it’s not always talked about! I love the way the author written this in a mystery/thriller style and that reveal towards the end was chefs kiss! So good!

Fantastic book with lovable characters that you just want to protect. I loved it so much. Three teens go into a house, two come out not knowing what actually happened and it kicks off from there. This book is some of the best kind of horror.

I want to wrap these characters in hugs as they go through their baby gar journeys. Thank you for sharing them with us.

This is a poignant queer YA horror novel about a group of teenage friends who discover a haunted house in the woods. Initially, they see it as a safe haven, but soon realize it is a perilous trap meant to change them. The book tackles serious issues such as homophobia, transphobia, toxic family dynamics, and hate speech, which may be difficult for some readers, but it also mirrors real-life challenges.

The story itself was engaging, and I appreciated the representation of queer experiences. It effectively delves into the emotional struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, which I found compelling. However, I initially chose this book because it was labeled as horror, and I felt disappointed by that aspect. The horror seemed secondary, so I’m giving it a rating of 3.5 stars.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the ARC.*