I thought this book would be great but it fell woefully short. I did not enjoy reading it and will not be recommending it to anyone ever.

I enjoyed the newspaper pages; those were interesting if a little repetitive. I genuinely could not tell you what happened at the end. Just when I started to get a grasp on what was even happening in this book, it was over, with no indication of really what had happened or why. The last three pages are office memos that were incredibly hard to read on my Kindle because the text was meant to be like a typewriter except it was low on ink and the letters were only half-formed. This could’ve been a really cool book; unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Based on this cover, I was hooked!! The art is amazing and I felt like this would be a great story. However, it did not turn out that way. I didn’t like this story at all. I felt like there was no cohesion with the two POVs and it didn’t come together for me. Some of it came off as funny, which I believe is what the author was going for, but a lot of it did not hit the mark. Wouldn’t recommend sadly.

This just wasn’t for me unfortunately. I didn’t connect with the writing style, it was not really what I was expecting based on the blurb and cover, and before I was even half way through I had to convince myself to pick it up to keep reading.

**3-Star Review for "Hot Singles in Your Area" by Jordan Shiveley**

"Hot Singles in Your Area" by Jordan Shiveley is an intriguing blend of post-modern horror and dark humor that tackles the mundane realities of day jobs while hinting at the monsters that lurk beneath the surface. The novel follows Noah, a character desperate to escape the grim realities of his current job, who stumbles upon an opportunity that promises an escape—only to find himself entangled in something far more sinister.

Shiveley’s use of bleak humor and sharp social commentary sets the stage for a world that feels both familiar and unsettling. The City of Silence, where Malachia roams the desolate streets, is painted with vivid imagery and serves as a gripping backdrop for her quest to find her missing girlfriend. The intertwining fates of Noah and Malachia create an intriguing narrative that explores themes of personal desperation and the darker sides of human ambition.

While the premise is captivating and the writing is inventive, the pacing occasionally falters. Some plot developments feel rushed or underexplored, leaving readers wanting more depth in character motivation and connection. Additionally, certain horror elements may not land with the impact that might be expected, diluting the overall tension that could have elevated the story further.

Nevertheless, "Hot Singles in Your Area" offers a fresh take on horror intertwined with everyday struggles, showcasing Shiveley's unique voice and creativity. It's a thought-provoking read for those who enjoy a blend of dark humor and existential exploration with their horror. While it may not fully hit the mark for some, it certainly provides an intriguing ride for readers seeking something different.

The layout of this book on kindle was terrible. Like I got to the end of the first bit with Noah and then it went into the newspaper type pictures which were badly formatted, I had no idea whether I was reading more plot lines or why it was set out like that. When I got past Malachi’s first bit and then more of the formatting appeared, I decided this wasn’t the right way to read this book. I also feared for my thumb constantly pressing the next page button.
This book has mixed reviews so not sure whether I am intrigued enough to find a written copy.

I wanted to love this so much. However, I had a hard time following the story and what was going on. This one just didn't click for me.

I really enjoy the concept of this book. It’s an interesting take on something that has become a staple of recent horror—the supernatural workplace. The characters are interesting and fit the story really well. This book has a lot of interesting design aspects, which didn’t translate well on my e-reader, and I wonder how much I missed because of it. This has to be the first book in a series. It set up a lot of world building and tone, but not much actually happens in it. It’s an entire book of exposition without much real plot. I enjoyed this book, but I found myself frustrated by where it ended. The plot was just starting to pick up and then it ended.

I should have DNFd this but I've already DNFd one book this month and this was pretty short I thought powering through was the better option. It wasn't. The writing is so convoluted and purposefully obtuse there's barely even a story to be told here because of it. Miserable experience.

This book is definitely not for everyone, but I found it fascinating. The unconventional structure—jumping between two wildly different characters and incorporating strange visual elements—added to its eerie, satirical tone. Noah’s story was deeply relatable, while Malachia’s surreal world was oddly compelling, though the abrupt ending left me wanting more. If you’re open to experimental formatting and dark social commentary, it’s worth checking out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for the ARC.

While I really enjoyed it, I can see how this book can be for a very specific taste. It's untraditional in its physical format; while alternating between two main characters in drastically different worlds, it also uses images of an advertising section of a strange newspaper, and later, there's chapters that repeat and surround the narrative -literally- in darkness, just the word darkness. I think I get the story, and I like the use of body horror in a satire on capitalism and bureaucracy. Noah's side of the story is relatable, having done the janitorial work before, and gone through that desperate job search for something margianlly better. As bizarre and nonsensical as Malachia's world is, there is a sense of logic to it that I loved digging into. I kinda wish it were a bit longer, specifically with the ending. It feels like it ended when the plot was about 75% through, and then implied the rest of the adventure in the three corporate letters discussing the main characters. I'm not entirely clear on what happened, and it would have been more satisfying to continue reading it from their perspective. If you don't mind the abstract formatting, I'd definitely recommend this one.

The pictures interrupted the flow of the story due to their placement, feel like they should only be at the beginning or the end of a chapter. I'm also not too sure on the structure of the writing, the characters were intriguing but the story lost me a bit at points due to the flow/structure of the story.

Fragmented and frequently frustrating, there's some lovely prose buried in this novel - hopefully next time it'll have more room to breathe.

Christ on a fucking bike ...I couldn't make heads nor tails out of this one. I thought I was getting weird horror but instead I got indecipherable horror. Like I felt that I couldn't quite grasp how the two pov's came together as one. Malacais story felt like a complete drag

Initially drawn in by the stunning cover and promise of queer representation, I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the writing style didn’t click with me. Rather than immersing me in the story, it became a constant hurdle, making it difficult to fully engage. I found myself struggling to vibe with the prose, which felt more like an obstacle than an enhancement to the narrative. While I can appreciate what the author was going for, the execution just didn’t work for me.

A horrifying and hilarious spiral through the fiery depths of corporate drudgery. This literary equivalent of your 2:47AM insomnia chases fever dreams and plot threads through the rabbit holes of Shiveley's mind, surfacing only occasionally to wink at the reader before dragging them back through the looking glass. Do you still have all your teeth? Are they YOUR teeth? Count again.

For lovers of horror, potatoes, and inventive formatting,

This was alright. I wasn't super intrigued by the prose or characters, but enjoyed the plot. I will look out for future novels by this author.

Honestly, I waited too long to read this one, and I'm really sad about it.
It expired for me on Netgalley and I couldn't get to it in time. I will have to find some other way to read it. :(

Hot Singles in Your Area captures the tone of satire beautifully! I laughed, I snorted, I shivered and gagged at gross bits.

Where the story lost me was at the end. Due to formatting issues with the ARC (which I never deduct stars for), I couldn't read the final piece at the end and was unsure if this story just ended with no real explanation of what happened or if it's the first in a series. Overall, I think it would have been better focusing only on Noah and leaving Malachia for a different book.

This was a very strange and creepy read overall but I absolutely loved it and I would love to read more by the author.