4 stars

This is my first Sarah Langan book, and if this is her regular, I’m all in. I loved this, it had everything that was promised. It was engaging with great characters and just enough humor and creep factor.

Sarah Langan does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in the genre. The concept was everything that I was looking for and worked as a funny and creepy feel. The characters were so well written and was invested in what was happening.

I am rapidly becoming a diehard Sarah Langan fan. This was a weird, twisted, fabulously entertaining tale with an ending that I at first found frustrating, but upon further consideration actually think worked wonderfully well. It's a thought-provoking and hilariously dark story, full of bitterness and grudges and psychics and insanity - in the best possible way. Her writing is engaging and accessible and her characterizations are spot-on, as is her pacing.

This was a very fun read! I enjoyed following the FMC trying to make sense of today and trying to remember the past she had pushed to her subconscious. It was definitely more fun than horror. I wish there was a bit more at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.

If you like your horror punchy, strange, and full of personality, you must pick up Pam Kowolski is a Monster! by Sarah Langan. Janet knows her life was meant to be something else. She should have had a better job, have been people in her life, just better in general. And it all goes back to one girl in high school, Pam Kowolski. Janet hasn’t seen or her from Pam in eons, but Pam graces Janet’s screen as a highly successful psychic with loads of buzz. That can’t be right, can it? As Janet seeks to uncover how such a truly horrendous person could land where they are, the threads of reality begin to fall away for Janet, leaving her with one hell of a reckoning with both Pam and herself.

May I just start off by saying this story is WEIRD with the most capital W in one of the most unique ways possible. Being privy to the events that unfold and the examination Janet holds regarding Pam (and herself) is nothing short of interesting. It’s hard to know what’s up and down given Janet’s unmistakable personality, but this adds a layer of extreme uncanniness to every situation.

And uncanny this story is. I’m still debating the ending in my mind, figuring out what all this story is saying. There’s a lot of things Sarah Langan throws our way regarding the fallibility of memory, trauma, anger, repression, and reckonings. But perhaps the clearest idea I leave this story contemplating is cruelty. Cruelty towards others, ourself, how isolating such a thing is. A passionate dedication (undecidedly malevolent or candidly obsessive) that will leave the whole world to burn.

Paw Kowolski is a Moster! by Sarah Langan is such a unique story that offers an equally unique reading experience, and I highly recommend if you prefer to sit with your stories for a while.

Janet feels that Pam ruined her life in high school and her life has been bad ever since. One night, she realizes that high school Pam is Madam Pamela, a famous psychic. Pam is rich and famous, all the things Janet should have been if Pam hadn't ruined her life. She sets out to ruin Pam and expose her as a fraud. But as Janet retraces her childhood, she realizes Pam may not be the fraud after all.
The synopsis pulled me in expecting a fun revenge story but, the ending left me with too many questions.

This is a deep book although very short. Can we really trust our memories of our youth? It is a little wierd but really makes you think.

The FMC clearly is a little mentally unwell & has a bee in her bonnet about an old school friend that she thinks ruined her life due to an act at school, she believes this created the path to failure for her. She’s decided she’s going to write an article to destroy her & bring her down.

Pam is a psychic, she’s built a career from it & is successful. She’s told everyone there’s going to be a big reveal and it’s driving people to suicide and madness.

Jan’s quest brings her self discovery, memories that were long forgotten & she begins to question herself & Pam’s motives.

This was fab, fast paced, twisty, enough shock value parts & the end!! Cliff hanger end which is naughty!! Looking forward to seeing if there is anything else about this in the future!

This novella packs a punch. It had me from start to finish and I absolutely loved the ride.

Streaming psychic phenomenon Pam Kowolski is everywhere. Janet Chow, a befuddled aspiring journalist, sets out to write a takedown piece as revenge for Pam ruining her life back in school all while Pam’s Big Reveal looms closer.

This story is gripping and wildly entertaining. I loved the dark humor and supernatural elements. It was also thought-provoking and made me ponder how and what we choose to remember both good and bad.

This truly unique gem of a novella is a must read if you’re into creepy quirky vibes and great storytelling and characterization with a twist. Also, bonus points to the awesome cover art!

Excuse me now while I run to read more works by Sarah Langan.

Thank you to @sarahlangan, @rdspress and @netgalley for the ARC.

For some reason this book could not keep me engaged, it took me a while to finish it even though it's a short read. Unfortunatly, this book was not for me. Thank you NetGalley and RDS for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Raw Dog Screaming Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is a 100ish page novella told in the first person of Janet. As the story goes on, we learn how unreliable she is as a narrator.

Something about this book kept my interest and me on edge. I got an unnerving feeling that only continued until the open-ended ending. There’s detailed descriptions of gore, suicide, and supernatural elements that aided in the prickly feelings I got.

This book also ends without any real resolve and some parts left up to interpretation, which I liked overall, but it also made me scream.

Read for
🔮 Novella
🔮 Unreliable Narrator
🔮 Psychic and Supernatural Abilities
🔮 Revenge Story
🔮 Horror and Dark Humor
🔮 Journalistic Exposé

OVERALL

Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. It’s outside of my usual genre, but it kept my attention and I wanted to know how it would all play out. This is definitely for horror and gore lovers, but also be warned that this turns out to be a dark story with deep trauma that is uncovered.

This was my first read by Langan and I need to seek out out more of her work because this was great. It’s surreal horror with this darkly comedic plot that made for such an interesting story. I easily blew through this in a few short sittings.

Pam Kowolski is a Monster is the story of Janet. She’s a bit of an unlikable narrator and has that bizarre unpredictability that makes it difficult to divert your attention. Janet isn’t super happy with her life and she discovers a former classmate has found extreme success with her paranormal business. Janet becomes determined to destroy her credibility for perceived wrongs from years prior. There’s also this apocalyptic WTF vein woven throughout. The book is set in the near distant future but the lackadaisical way in which some elements are introduced is very compelling.

I did feel as though I wanted a bit more from the ending. I enjoyed the entire read but if ambiguous books aren’t your vibe I’d sit this one out. All in all a really solid read. If you enjoy unhinged narrators in a setting that always feels a bit off, I’d recommend this one. The horror aspect is there but it’s more of the bass line in a great song. You feel it more than it being told to you. All in all a solid novella that I definitely can recommend.

A nice little creepy novella. Sarah Langan has a great hand at writing characters/narration that's just a little bit cracked, easing you into things being <i>ever so slightly</i> off in a way that's quite satisfying and takes a subtle kind of skill (more than a real balls-to-the-wall crazy). A kind of thing where you're left wondering "Is this supposed to be unreliable? Or are things supernatural? Or what?" for a long time - or at least, long on the scale of a novella. Things are left a little more unresolved than they would probably need to be in novel length, but it works. Get in, get out, leave you a little spooked.

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This little novella was entirely unexpected but extremely enjoyable!
What begins as a seemingly straightforward case of a long-standing grudge festering into an intense revenge plan changes into something much more complex and heartfelt during this 120 page book.

Janet and Pam used to be childhood friends, but after an incident in high school, the pair's relationship changed drastically. Now, Janet is a journalist without much to show for herself and Pam is a highly successful psychic who is watched by millions worldwide. As Janet sets out to seek justice for her past self and expose the truth of Pam Kowolski - the entire world finds itself entering a period of great transformation.

Janet's repressed memories and hidden grief gradually work their way into the plot in a way that is palpable to the reader as the story builds to its transformative ending. Things get strange, and the whole journey feels vaguely surreal, which is complimented nicely by Sarah Langan's captivating writing style, infused with dark humor. This was the perfect length for a strange novella that packs an unexpected punch. Also has themes of loneliness, grief, and the occult.

Thank you so much to @rdspress for the eARC of PAM KOWOLOSKI IS A MONSTER! PAM KOWOLOSKI IS A MONSTER comes out on May 21, 2025!

This book had me with both its cover art (😍😍😍😍) & the fact that Sarah Langan, author of one of my favorite books GOOD NEIGHBORS, penned it! So, it comes to no surprise that I found this novella engrossing & just an all-around good time.

I don’t know what I expected with PAM KOWOLSKI — this was a WILD ride & impossible to predict. The dark humor was *chef’s kiss* & the supernatural elements definitely hit. Our main character, Janet, leans into unhinged territory which is always A+.

PAM KOWOLSKI is a fast-paced & entertaining novella that can easily be read in one or two

Janet Chow's life hasn't turned out how she had hoped since high school and she blames Pam Kowolski. She is completely without direction and her hope for a career in journalism has gone nowhere.

When Janet realizes that Pam has become a famous online psychic who is about to predict her 'big reveal, she's determined to prove to everyone that Pam is a fraud. There's no way Pam Kowolski's psychic powers are real and Janet plans to write an article to take Pam down and exact her revenge. When Janet starts to dive into her past, closely linked with Pam, she realizes there are some things she can't remember, or perhaps she doesn't want to. Perhaps Pam Kowolski knows more than most people should.

A smartly written and reasonably short read that deals with childhood trauma, friendship (gone wrong), with a smattering of the supernatural to keep you intrigued about what's really going on. I love this book cover and title which attracted my eye - I'm so glad I read this sassy, darkly funny and slightly frightening read. An original work which I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.8/5
This novella hooked me with its quirky blend of dark humor and surreal vibes. Janet’s sharp, sarcastic voice made her a relatable antiheroine navigating decades-old grudges with biting wit. The slow unveiling of the past kept me turning pages, and I appreciated the blend of psychological suspense with just enough paranormal flavor to keep things unpredictable. As for weak spots for me, I wish memories were a little longer and gave more school moments and deapth of personal conflict. Also I needed more closure or explanation; the abrupt finale left me feeling a bit shortchanged.
Anyway, it was unique and refreshing read. Thanks NetGalley, Sarah Langan for opportunity to read that ARC!

This book has a unique premise and takes a spin on the idea of blaming one's problems on a person from the past. The main character, Janet, is not very likeable, but that's not necessary. I do like the pace of the novella, but I did not connect with the story and writing as much as I thought I would. The cover immediately drew me in.

journalist seeks to expose a celebrity psychic aa a fraud in Pam Kowolski is a Monster. As Janet pursues this story, girl drama and childhood trauma from her own past gets uncovered as she was friends with Pam back in school.

Langan is masterful in world building while blending over the top scenarios with critical analysis of celebrity psychics. The lines between belief and disbelief of the supernatural power of unexplainable events get blurred.

This is truly an addicting read!The zany nature of of the book made for an addicting read. However, be warned of a suicide depiction, classroom bullying and attempted child abuse. But once you start reading you won't want to stop.