“One of Us” by Dan Chaon is a dark tale about a traveling carnival filled with a collection of unique disabled men and women headed by a truly evil psychopath. It is also the story of young twins with the uncanny ability to read each other’s minds. When their mother dies and they become orphans they wind up on an orphan train and sold to the operator of the traveling circus, a circus where nightmarish events happen often!
This author is a master at creating heartbreaking and disturbing characters and unforgettable imagery. This book for me was so brutal that it actually kept me up at night. For this reason alone I’m giving it 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t like this book at all. It gave me the creeps. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.


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Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
Twins Eleanor and Bolt Lambkin have always been close, have been able to tell what each other was thinking. Now thirteen, their lives have taken a precarious turn when their mother dies and unknown uncle, claiming to be their father’s brother, shows up in Oberlin, Ohio.

With Uncle Charlie, things are unsettled at best. The man has a vicious temper and, after a poker game ends in murder, the twins decide to leave.

Though Uncle Charlie tries to find them, they make their way to the train station. They jumped off at Fingerton Depot and made their way to the orphanage. The orphans took a trip on the Orphan Train where they found new families in the small town of Shenandoah, Iowa. Eleanor and Bolt are “adopted” by Harland Jengling, owner of The Jengling Traveling Emporium of Wonders.

What does the future hold for Eleanor and Bolt as part of Jengling’s Emporium? And what of Uncle Charlie?

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Harland Jengling’s traveling carnival seems rather dark; this collection of disabled folks puts a spotlight on the narrowmindedness of the people who came to “gawk;” there is a distinct air of cruelty here. But the carnival folks seem happy to have a place and a family . . . and this is one of the central themes of the story: the family you make for yourself. Their backstories are often heart-wrenching and, at the same time, mesmerizing.

Uncle Charlie is vicious, a truly evil psychopath. But it’s the relationship between Eleanor and Bolt that lie at the heart of the unfolding story. Kt may be dark and strange, but it also speaks to survival and the deep bonds people develop.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Henry Holt and Company / Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley
#OneOfUs #NetGalley

My first book by this author (apparently I have been living under a pile of books).
Twins who have lost their mother are ‘adopted’ by Mr. Jengling, the owner of a traveling circus, the Emporium of Wonders. The year, 1915, and things are much much different than what we are used to today. The story mainly revolves around Bolt and Eleanor, the twins. That is until the true nature of the Emporium, and those who work there is slowly revealed.
I am not going to go into the plot (it is best to discover this one for yourselves), but I found myself having a tough time putting this book down. The fate of the twins is what initially drew me in. Then learning about the other members of the circus, along with the introduction of a supernatural element, kept me flipping pages. Choosing your family, trust, and making a life that works for you we are all explored. Oh, and a bad man, an unbelievably bad man who has nefarious plans for the twins!
Just to touch on the ending. I cannot say that I liked it, but I understood where the author was coming from. Sort of. This was a treadmill read for me and I was almost late for work until I finished. Worth it! 4.5 stars.

4.5 rounded up

I've been a fan of this author since my first Fiction Writing class in college. My professor introduced us to his short story collection, "Among the Missing," and used a couple of them to teach us technique. I've read everything he's published ever since, though that collection remains my favorite. It's incredible. As a side note, I still think about that professor from time to time and how helpful and encouraging she was. I hope that she's happy and thriving wherever she is now.

"One of Us" was a very strange and dark novel that I couldn’t stop reading. It was different from Chaon's typical material, both in style and content. But the quality was still top notch. I would describe this story as an adult version of "A Series of Unfortunate Events," only much more violent, and perhaps with a twist of Wes Anderson and told in the style of the Coen Bros. (All of these things are positive.) The basic plotline is a brother and sister, twins, who end up as orphans and are adopted into a travelling "freak show" as they try to evade a dangerous man claiming to be their uncle. There's more to it than that, of course, and the further you go the stranger it gets.

Charlie, the "Uncle," is a horrific, murderous villain who is a little bit Count Olaf and a little bit Patrick Bateman in the body of an old fashioned, mustache twirling monster. There’s a part where he’s literally crawling around on top of a boxcar train, spying on one of the twins from above, and I was picturing him like a big creepy spider. It felt sort of cartoonish and silly, but also for this particular story it worked? That wasn't even the weirdest thing that happened.

I liked learning the backstories of all of the carnival characters, though some of them were shorter than others. And many were tragic. The other side to this, also, is that I cared about these people and whenever harm befell them it was painful. Though I guess that was the point. As far as the twins go, Bolt was definitely my favorite of the two. Eleanor got on my nerves a little bit. She was interesting and complex, but also very selfish. Part of me related to her desire to just be alone with her books, though, and her hesitation to trust other people. And Chaon did give her character an arc that I didn’t fully predict. Bolt was just naturally a lot easier to love.

The title of the novel is a direct reference to the 1932 film “Freaks,” which isn’t exactly famous for a sensitive portrayal of people with disabilities. Chaon handles the subject in a more heartfelt way while also addressing the cruelty and narrowmindedness of the general population, mostly through the perspective of Uncle Charlie and the detailed backstories of the various characters. As a reader, you aren't there to gawk with the carnival goers. You are there to become a part of the family and feel their pain. And it's important to note that many of them are very happy to be who and where they are.

This ended up being a beautiful story about the good (and the bad) in people. I’m still not sure how I felt about the ending. I think I’ll say that I appreciated it, but I didn’t LIKE it. Many parts of this novel were oddly funny even amidst the darkness, and I appreciated the short sections in each chapter, which kept me reading for long intervals. "One of Us" is a bleak and bloody experience, with bright moments of respite and relief. It's well worth the journey if you, like me, appreciate a strange tale.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Domestic abuse/child abuse, Racism, Suicide, Self-harm, *Animal harm/death, Misogyny

Wonderfully written, deeply unsettling in parts, and full of unforgettable characters, *One of Us* pulled me in immediately and kept my attention on tenterhooks throughout.

This was my first time reading the author; it definitely won’t be the last.

A definite recommendation!



Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the DRC

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Weird. Wonderful. Wildly unsettling.

One of Us is an unforgettable blend of gothic horror, found family, and dark carnival magic that somehow feels both timeless and totally fresh. Dan Chaon masterfully weaves a twisted tale of grief, survival, and sibling bonds that run deeper than blood—or even thought.

Bolt and Eleanor are the kind of characters who stick with you: flawed, fierce, and completely entangled in each other’s fate. The Emporium of Wonders is a darkly dazzling refuge, packed with unforgettable characters and eerie beauty—think The Night Circus meets Something Wicked This Way Comes, but grittier, sadder, and sharper.

If you love your stories strange, beautifully written, and just a little bit haunted, this book is your ticket to something truly original.

My genuine gratitude to #netgalley and to #henryholtpublishing for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of #OneOfUs - Dan Chaon's forthcoming novel (due for publication on 9.23.2025). Since first reading #AwaitYourReply in 2009, I knew this was a writer to follow closely. His literary influences include people like Ray Bradbury and Shirley Jackson, among others, and his writing is intelligent, mysterious, dark, and filled with unforgettable details and memorable characters. Many of these characters share a trait of being on the outside - fringe - even uniquely (and disturbingly) "talented" and magical in their own ways. This latest novel included most of these factors but was wildly different in many ways as well.

This book, above all prior work, championed the fringe outsider and celebrated diversity in the most extreme and otherworldly ways. Without giving away too many details, the protagonists of the novel -- siblings Eleanor and Bolt -- are orphaned at a young age and, in true fairy tale misfortune, left penniless. But these are very special young characters. They are immediately preyed upon by their "Uncle Charlie Lambkin" -- a psychopath unlike anyone that Chaon has created in the past. The majority of the novel takes places around 1915 and the few years that follow and is primarily set in a traveling carnival (a setting where truly anything can - and often does - happen...some of it downright nightmare inducing).

I fell in love with many of the carnival characters and this is a novel that screams "what you see is NOT NECESSARILY what you get." The characters run deep and many are provided with backstories that are fascinating and heartbreaking to read. One of my favorite aspects of finishing the novel was the "Author's Note" section which lovingly lists the MANY references that were influential in the writing of this book. Sources dating back to the 30s and others from more recent years. Many having to do with the circus and for anyone interested in the MANY topics this novel weaves within its pages, the resources may become an entirely new adventure in reading and backstory. For instance, the Uncle Charlie character -- based on a true story and I'll be learning more about that soon. Books, films, directors, authors - some familiar, others not, but now on my radar as well.

Dan Chaon is incredibly talented -- one of the best, actually -- at creating dark and disturbing narrative tension, twisty plots, indelible characters, effortlessly impactful dialogue, and - most of all - imagery that will keep you awake at night. He knows scary, creepy, mysterious, the stuff that sticks in the back of your mind and never goes away.. And anything he writes, I will read, usually multiple times. I'm proud to have turned many friends onto this author and to have had the opportunity to tell him - via social media platforms - that he is a favorite. He is a supporter of fellow writers, a passionate music and film guy, and just seems like a kind and down-to-earth human who happens to write kick-ass novels. So thank you again and I HIGHLY recommend "One of Us." Preorder for 9/23/2025.

And I STRONGLY AND CONFIDENTLY recommend visiting Dan Chaon's entire collection of amazing novels and short stories.

This book is a fascinating tale of twins adopted by a traveling carnival in the early days 1900s. Every character in the carnival is fleshed out brilliantly, and even their uncle, an abhorrent man following the carnival to kidnap his niece and nephew, is given far more thought and attention than his character would get from lesser authors. The relationship of the twins and the turns that come in the second half of the book are honestly shocking and so original.

This book was best to say interesting. The plot and storyline were well developed by the author. The characters were well developed. This is a book which I would recommend to anyone who wants a change of pace in their reading.

This book unfortunately didn’t resonate with me. From the outset, I found it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. Despite the intriguing and fantastical premise that initially drew me in, I struggled to connect with the characters and their journeys. It felt like the plot was disjointed at times, which hindered my ability to immerse myself in the world the author created. I believe this response may stem more from my personal taste rather than any deficiencies in the author’s writing style or abilities. It’s clear that others may appreciate the book more than I did. Thank you for this ARC.

It is a great honor and delight to be the first person to write a review for this book on GR.
For me, a new Dan Chaon book is always an event. I requested this one on Netgalley the moment I saw it, without even knowing what it was about. That it is about a circus (one of my favorite subjects) was the perfectly juicy cherry on top.

Chaon is a terrific writer, whatever genre he chooses. Not that I would put a genre on this book. It's something like dark literary fantastic, and it is very much all those three things.
The plot revolves around a pair of young twins who end up orphaned and sold to man named Jengling (not Ring-ling any bells?) who operates a wonderfully esoteric circus. This is 1915, when some things were done.
The boy twin takes to it like fish to water, his strong-willed sister doesn't. And then there is the matter of their self-appointed uncle, a psychopathic killer, who is after them, trying to take them back.

This is a genuine circus of a novel in the best possible way - colorful characters, fun, and magic in the air. It's a wonderful show you won't want to miss.
Full disclosure: I didn't love the ending all the way. I think I wanted more for the main characters. But it had a beautiful poignancy that i appreciated and was well suited to the book, which was in every way a great read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

I have always been a fan of Dan Chain's. His writing is usually unique, strange, and stands apart from anything else you have ever read. I really enjoyed the plot in this one. I'm a big fan of traveling carnivals and freak shows. Add Dan's usual eccentric, one of a kind characters, you've got a bumpy ride through a surreal world of chaos. Loved it.

I am not really sure what I just read, but I do know that I was not a fan in the slightest. This book was all over the place and extremely odd.