3.5⭐
I liked that this book read like many of the supernatural TV shows I watched in my early 20s, It gave the reading experience a nostalgic vibe and kept me turning pages when I was struggling to stay invested in the story.
The writing style just wasn't a great fit for me but I feel like this could definitely work for the right audience.

Thank you for Tom O'Donnell, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Moonsick was a quick read about a girl trying to survive not becoming a werewolf. It was a interesting take on the apocalpse world.

So I really wanted to love this, the premise sounded so good-but it did not meet my expectations. This was another take on Covid, but with a werewolf virus. Also, the characters were all annoying from the start, and the dialogue was very dated.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Moonsick, by Tom O’Donnell, from St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Oh what fun!

I didn’t want this book to end. Really wish there had been more about the group out in the national forest. And more about the backstories of members of the VCTF. Sequel, maybe? But with some new and different characters?

All that said, this is the perfect novel for our times in a couple of ways: Takes on the monied interests of U.S. society, parallels the Covid-19 pandemic, nails (unfortunately) a certain sort of “bro” who joins ICE or the like.

I reckon if I were marketing the book, though, I would draw parallels to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and True Blood (esp the books) and The Vampire Diaries, instead of Teen Wolf. Never seen The Last of Us, but that tracks.

Delighted to know there is more out there for me to read by Tom O’Donnell. Sorry I’m late to his party. Because who wouldn’t want to hang with a dude who acknowledges that his kids are “just plain funny as hell”? 🥰

DESCRIPTION
The Last of Us meets Teen Wolf in this fast-paced horror debut about a young woman who realizes she's been turned into a werewolf and must choose to turn herself in or live a life on the run.

High school senior Heidi Mills seemingly has it all: a charming (albeit pompous) boyfriend, loving (wealthy) parents, and an acceptance letter to Harvard (well, not yet). With her mom and stepdad away on vacation, this weekend she’s going to host a rager at their mansion to celebrate the end of high school. There’s just one catch: she has to make it through the next 24 hours. The full moon is coming tonight, and the worldwide werewolf epidemic that’s been running rampant for the past few years will awake those who are infected.

Safe in her home, with its state-of-the-art lockdown system to keep the monsters out, Heidi expects to wait out the night. But when two intruders show up to loot what they think will be an empty home, the life of privilege, ease, and safety that Heidi has taken for granted comes crashing down. Suddenly exposed to the realities of this virus and the way that the rest of the world has been living all this time, Heidi embarks on a dark adventure accompanied by the mysterious— but alluring—boy who broke into her house. But as she fights to survive the underbelly of a post-pandemic society, she'll learn that not all monsters have fangs.

With flourishes of Wes Craven and The Purge, this horror novel is perfect for fans of Gradie Hendrix, Adam Cesare, and things that go growl in the night.

Didn't really care for this one. The werewolves are supposed to be a metaphor for the coronavirus pandemic, I guess. And how the rich people weren't as touched by the pandemic as the rest of us. I will fully admit to being biased—I wish we could move forward without the shadow of covid hanging over us ALL THE TIME—but this wasn't for me.

Also, the dialogue was terrible. Teenage girls don't call each other "dude." Teenage boys, sure, but I was a teenage girl and know teenage girls, and that just struck me as an odd thing to include. It also was painfully obvious that all the female characters were written by a man. They just didn't ring true.

For some reason I knew there would be a mention of Nicole or Nicci in this book so I kept reading (Nikki eventually shows up). Bonus points for Ron and Nevada. IYKYK.

Anyway, the book is fast paced. I liked that. The werewolf attacks are a bit weird. Why so much foul language? People talk like that, but mostly the ones who would become werewolf food.

This is not going to be the average werewolf fan’s cup of tea and may be a little hard to get into, but it was okay.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Moonsick!

This isn’t the kind of book I normally reach for, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. It was fun, unique, and had such a different tone than what I’m used to—and that made it a really refreshing read. The story kept me curious the whole way through, and I ended up enjoying it more than I expected.

A weird little ride in the best way.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars!

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Moonsick releases September 23, 2025

Having stayed home during the Lunar Cycle Curfew while the rest of her family vacations in Hawaii, Heidi falls victim to a home invasion and werewolf attack.

Not wanting to turn themselves into the VCTF to be indefinitely quarantined, Heidi and Cam must make it through the supermoon as newly infected werewolves, and then decide if they want to run off together in search of a cure, or try and survive amongst their friends and family without rising any suspicion.

This story was a bit contrived at times and didn’t pan out the way I was expecting it to, but I still found it to be decently entertaining, and I really liked O’Donnell’s unique take on a world navigating an ongoing pandemic from a deadly virus.

Wowie. Well, that was different! No, but really, this was a lot of fun. The characters were compelling and felt very realistic, considering the circumstances. But also... it was so funny!

I'm sorry, but I will never get over how hard I laughed when reading:
"What the *fuck* was that?" asked Cam.
"What?" said Heidi.
"You did some kind of rich-girl Jedi mind trick,"

I was going through something, and that one interaction of wit and irreverent humor turned around my whole day for the better.

I loved Heidi because, girl, I, too, would be crying that much. I would be crying WAY MORE. I say that, but my god, the girl was smart and resourceful, and despite everything, she never really lost her way. Cam is actually the sweetest. This poor, sad boy is just trying his best!!! I can't even get mad at him for his minor lapse in judgment because I would have been a wreck, too. (I also observe his mantra, and I'm paraphrasing here: "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." ERIK IS TERRIFYING!!! (An insanely cool, chaotic evil character, though!) Olivia is the friend we love, need, and want, but seldom deserve. I would go on about some of the other side characters who do deserve a mention, but I don't want to spoil some of the smaller twists and turns that were perfect popcorn moments.

There were a couple of nitpicky things here and there. An example could be *the confession* [redacted due to spoilers] or how the pacing felt a bit kinda rushed at the end—that being said... I had fun, so I don't care.

Very Enthusiastic Four Stars! I can't wait for the next one! (There will be a next one right?)

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating ⭐5
Spice 🌶️ 0
Cover 4/5

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review, that being said I will not let that affect the content of my review, My thoughts and opinions shared here are my own, and I am committed to offering a fair assessment that does not aim to detract from the author's work.

Moonsick is a young adult horror fantasy novel that plunges readers into a world ravaged by a global werewolf epidemic. The story centers on Heidi Mills, a seemingly privileged high school senior who is about to have her world turned upside down.

Heidi's wealthy parents are away on vacation, leaving her with the perfect opportunity to host a lavish graduation party at their mansion. However, the full moon is tonight, and a deadly, contagious werewolf disease has been spreading for years, transforming the infected into savage beasts. Heidi believes she's safe within her family's state-of-the-art lockdown system, designed to keep the monsters out.

Her illusion of safety shatters when two intruders, aiming to rob what they believe to be an empty house, break in. This event thrusts Heidi out of her sheltered existence and exposes her to the brutal realities of the werewolf pandemic and how the rest of the world has been struggling to survive.

As she navigates this terrifying new landscape, Heidi discovers she has been infected and begins to transform herself. Now a werewolf, she must make a difficult decision: turn herself in to the authorities or go on the run. This choice forces her to confront not only the literal monsters around her but also the monstrous duality within herself. Accompanied by the mysterious boy who broke into her house, Heidi embarks on a dark adventure where she learns that in a post-pandemic society, not all monsters have fangs.

I loved how COVID inspired this werewolf book, reimagining the werewolf mythos as a contagious, worldwide epidemic, that was a smart concept. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of Mr. O'Donnell's books.

I really enjoyed reading Moonsick. I read it in a weekend, wanting to know what happened. It reminded me of the movie, Werewolves. The movie left me wanting more as it didn't really tackle anything of substance, and it toyed with deeper ideas, but fell flat. However, I feel like Moonsick scratched that itch that I was wanting. I really liked that it explored how the pandemic impacted communities differently, especially different economic classes. And the characters were human in their reactions and motivations. I only wished the pacing had been a little more consistent. The ending/climax felt a little rushed in comparison with the rest of the book. Overall, I loved it, and I hope there is a sequel!

Moonsick follows eighteen year old Heidi as she navigates the last year of high school in a world that’s plagued by a virus turning people into werewolves. A robbery goes wrong and Heidi meets up with Cam, and they share a bond that’s held together by the changing world around them.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it in under two days, it was one of those books that was fast-paced and hard to put down. I would say the politics aspect of the story is very similar to The Monsters of Verity duology by V.E. Schwab (but with it’s own take on it!), which I liked. I do wish we got to see Heidi and Cam bond a little bit more throughout the book. I thought the characters were pretty interesting and based on the ending, I think this will be a series? I hope. If it is, I’ll definitely check the rest out!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

“Moonsick” is a young adult horror fantasy novel where a werewolf turns the world into a very scary place! A High School senior named Heidi, who is privileged, must come to terms with her new reality of where becoming a werewolf is a terrifying contagious disease! Heidi’s parents go on vacation and she hosts a party at her mansion in celebration of graduating high school. With the full moon tonight and the party tomorrow, a worldwide werewolf epidemic happens and it turns into a very deadly situation! This book takes us on a journey of her trying to survive this epidemic!

I felt this book had an interesting twist on an epidemic! This is a fast paced read that I found to be mysterious and intriguing. It comes with a lot of adventure that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next! I really enjoyed the overall structure and atmosphere of this book. It was thought provoking, flowed well and came with a clear thesis! It was easy to read and unique. This book is about survival, identity, transformation, social inequality, and explores the duality of monsters. Furthermore, this book also comes with a queer representation. This novel was well written and had clear themes! I was fully immersed while reading this. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include horror, transformation and fear. I think fans of the movies Twilight and Teen Wolf would really enjoy reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tom O'Donnell and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 23, 2025!

Moonsick is well written and clearly has a strong voice, but I just couldn’t get into it. The premise is interesting and the writing solid, but it didn’t really click with me. Might be a great fit for others, just not my kind of story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tom O'Donnell's “Moonsick” is a blood-soaked, breathless YA thriller that sinks its claws into you from page one and doesn’t let go. At once a survival story, a character-driven coming-of-age, and a sharp reflection on power, privilege, and pandemics, this werewolf story howls with energy and relevance.

The premise is deceptively simple: Heidi, a high school senior living a life of luxury and routine protection from the lycanthropic virus plaguing her world, finds herself infected after a botched robbery during the full moon. Teaming up with Cam, one of the would-be thieves who’s also been bitten, they go on the run, dodging a government task force and desperately searching for a cure. But what begins as a fight for survival quickly evolves into something deeper: a journey through a society where the infected are feared, hunted, and discarded.

O'Donnell's take on werewolves is refreshingly brutal—think Hemlock Grove or The Vampire Diaries, with body horror transformations that aren’t glamorized, but raw and unsettling. The world-building, which folds the werewolf virus into society’s daily operations (complete with swabs, curfews, and kill squads), feels eerily resonant in a post-pandemic age. There's a clear parallel to the handling of real-world outbreaks, showing how society protects the privileged and sacrifices the vulnerable. Heidi’s transformation as she goes from a sheltered, popular girl into someone reckoning with her own privilege and fragility is one of the book’s most satisfying arcs.

That said, “Moonsick” isn’t without its bumps. Some readers might find the beginning trope-heavy, like a high school party gone wrong and a rich girl in crisis, but the story uses its clichés knowingly, in a way that feels campy and self-aware rather than lazy. Some of the characterization, especially with the stereotypes, almost turned me off the book, but I persevered for the character growth and the thriller/horror elements. The love story element between Heidi and Cam is hit-or-miss; it adds stakes while others may find it underdeveloped or awkwardly timed.

Character likability may vary. Heidi and Cam are complicated, flawed, and occasionally frustrating—which might alienate some, but also grounds them in the chaotic reality they’re facing. The POV shifts between Heidi and another character can feel jarring at times, pulling you out of the fast-paced story.

Despite these imperfections, “Moonsick” thrives on its pace, atmosphere, and thematic depth. It delivers thrilling werewolf horror with teeth, while sneaking in smart commentary on societal decay, privilege, and moral ambiguity. It’s chaotic, it’s messy, and—most importantly—it’s fun. If you’re in the mood for a YA horror novel with claws, heart, and a bite of social relevance, “Moonsick” is a wild ride worth taking.

⭐⭐

MOONSICK by Tom O'Donnell

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the earc (Sept 23)

Heidi has it all: popular boyfriend, rich parents, etc. And the party of the year. One thing is in the way: she must make it through the full moon. When someone breaks in, she is infected and must team up with the boy who broke in in order to find the cure.
MOONSICK is a YA sci-fi-y book that pulls from   inspiration from a world overtaken with a virus and werewolves like in Teen Wolf. I don't know what I expected from this book, but it wasn't this. I guess witn it being compared to Teen Wolf I wanted more Teen Wold vibes. I don't know. MOONSICK didn't pull me in the way I wanted; or at least not as much as I wanted. This book was interesting: two people on the search for a cure so they wouldn't be werewolves forever after being infected. Honestly, the bulk of why I disliked this was the characters. The characters---even the main ones---were unlikeable. Not just a little. And the book read in a way that I didn't like as it back and forth between Heidi's pov and Erik's.
This ended like there might be a sequel, which I do feel is needed because this offered an unsatisfying ending.

3.5/5 stars
Read via NetGalley

Let me first say, I don't know if I'm the target audience for this book at 26 years old; but, I think I absolutely was 10 years ago. But then again, maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed the cringe factor of this book as much 10 years ago (blech boyfriend, perfect female lead, high school drama). This book reminds me of binging the Vampire Diaries tv show with my siblings and making fun of the cringy, overly dramatic "high school" vampires while also loving it at the same time. Yes, I'm saying the cringe is good!

This felt similar, but with this world it's kind of a COVID-esque werewolf pandemic nightmare. Don't ask me, I can't really explain.

Plot – 4/5, fast paced but at times felt underdeveloped (like the main characters' frontal lobes), feels mostly satisfying

Science/World – 3/5, like I said, don't ask me, I can't really explain. Werewolves + virus + pandemic + eat the rich! + reddit conspiracies

Characters – 3/5, wanted some more development from some of the characters as well as the relationships between them. Arch-nemesis? Super-mom or salty mom?? Okay, tell me more! The unlikable characters = very unlikable, so good work there

Vibes – 4/5, funny, cringy, gorey

Enjoyability – 4/5, lots of fun, wanted a littttttle more high school drama (above mentioned NEMESIS?)

Awesome name for a book, honestly. The book seems like it leaves room for a sequel. I'd probably read a sequel. I'd watch a series based on Moonsick, too (move over, Elena)!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

#netgalley #Moonsick

I don’t know about the Scream comparison, and I’ve never read Stephen King, but Moonsick hits like a silver bullet. It's a fast, fun, blood-slicked YA thriller with some sharp teeth and surprising depth. It’s messy, chaotic, and honestly? A blast.

The setup is simple: a full moon, a high-tech mansion, and a girl named Heidi who’s never really had to think too hard about the world outside her bubble—until she’s attacked. What follows is part survival story, part self-discovery, and has just enough blood and grit to keep things tense. Heidi and Cam are both infected after a robbery goes sideways, and the story really kicks into gear once they’re forced to navigate a world that treats werewolves as dangerous and disposable. Heidi's infected, freaked out, and on the run with Cam as they struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy to find a cure.

The transformation scenes are brutal in the best way, think Hemlock Grove or The Vampire Diaries, not glittery teen drama. Underneath all the violence and chaos, there’s a smart thread running through it: commentary about who gets protected, who gets ignored, and how the system only shifts when the powerful are personally affected. A moment tied to Cam's past really drives this point home.

The ending definitely leaves space for a sequel and keeps a few threads loose, but as a whole, the book sinks its claws in early and doesn't let go. It's just feral enough that when it winks and dares you to chase it, you probably will. I haven’t read YA in a while, and this reminded me how fun it can be.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

what an interesting book about the lycan disease and those that have it. It leads for another book and helping the resistance . Loved that she found love while dealing with a new disease and finding her tribe.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.