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

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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.