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!

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.

After seeing the eye catching cover and reading the synopsis I knew I had to move this novella to the top of my TBR.

I really enjoyed this author’s sense of humor. It was witty but dark and for me was what kept this book entertaining. I also loved how animated every character was written. They all popped off the page when reading. Janet Chow’s character was absolutely infuriating but entertaining nonetheless.

Unfortunately, as a whole I don’t know if this was for me. My main struggle was with the author’s writing style, it isn’t bad, it was just something I’m not used to so I was having a hard time connecting with the story. I think that was the main reason I felt detached. The story also left a lot of things unanswered which left me feeling unsatisfied when I finally did reach the end. I think this story needed to be longer so that it would have felt more complete.

Irreverent, punchy, odd, and deep. I really enjoyed "Pam Kowolski is a Monster!" by Sarah Langan, and am looking forward to trying others by Langan based on how much I liked this book! I was surprised at the emotional depth Langan managed to pack in with an on-the-face-of-things unlikeable narrator. Everyone's layered characters/personalities were very deftly revealed amidst some very funny and very dark scenes.

Let me start off by saying, WOW - this sure does pack a lot in for a novella!

The story: Janet Chow had aspirations to be a big time journalist when she was in high school. But now, as an adult, she’s barely getting by, and blames her lack of success and dismal life on an incident in high school involving her former friend, Pam Kowolski. When Janet discovers Pam is an extremely famous psychic years later, her she vows to expose Pam as a fraud. But little does she know that her revenge-fueled grudge mission to get this interview of lifetime will not only unveil the truth about her former friend, but the truth about her past as well.

This was a wild ride with a sarcastic, cynical, witty and fairly unhinged narrator filled with dark humor, supernatural spookiness, existential dread and end-of-world energy. I found myself laughing out loud in some places, genuinely creeped out in other places and still resonating deeply with some of the content. I only wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly because the writing was so good, I found myself wanting more.

Pam Kowolski is beautiful and talented and rich. Janet failed to live up to her potential and is none of those things. It’s Pam’s fault. She must pay for her sins.

A fantastic novella of unhinged revenge. For a novella there is a lot of building dread, and you can feel the growing crazy drip off the pages.

Very well written and entertaining. Sarah Langan is a must read author for sure and this novella hits on all cylinders.

Star Rating - 3.75

Wow, what a ride! I quite enjoyed this novella, it’s absolutely bonkers!

Janet Chow had ambitions to be a famous journalist but her reality is a stark contrast. She’s convinced that her high school arch nemesis, Pam Kowolski, a world-famous psychic who has predicted the end of the world, is the root of all her problems. As Janet sets out to ruin her successful career by outing her as a fraud, will she succeed, or is Pamela telling the truth?

The plot becomes increasingly farfetched, yet it never seems implausible. In the first few chapters, I did find Janet irritating, but the premise and writing of the book were good enough to keep me engaged. As I continued throughout the book, Janet’s narration finds a balance between humour, sarcasm and cynicism, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times reading this.

However, a few questions were raised as I read this that weren’t answered. I also felt that the book ended abruptly, leaving the story unresolved. The book builds up to this “big reveal”, which ended up being slightly anticlimactic for me. Despite these issues, it didn’t detract from the story, and I still really enjoyed it.

I definitely recommend reading this book if you want to read something surreal, a bit creepy and batshit crazy!

Thanks to Sarah Langan, NetGalley, and RDS Publishing for the ARC!

Pam Kowolski Is a Monster! by Sarah Langan - Review

What is life but one horror after another? Sarah Langan's part-scifi, part-horror novella is an exploration of survival in the times of horror. It is an exploration of what horror is, who percieves life and horror in which ways, how and what we rely on to survive.

As the world goes to shit, we see around us, the increasing reliance on and popularity of psychics, astrologers. Langan's novella is centred around this phenomenon - of belief and disbelief. Our narrator, Janet, is curious about one viral psychic called Madam Pamela, and basically loses her shit when she recognises the psychic Madam to be none other than her childhood frenemy Pam Kowolski.

Janet cannot believe Pam is now conning the whole world (she is so popular that even Janet's roommate watches Madam Pamela video streams constantly). Janet cannot believe that where Pam seems to have succeeded in life (she has a whole business empire built around her psychic persona), Janet herself is an abject failure, who cannot even call herself a "struggling" writer or journalist.

Well, obviously, this is Janet's one chance. She sets out to write an exposé on Madam Pamela, in the run up to her big "reveal" about the truth (really the end) of the world. There are manic sections, and flashbacks, as the world starts to burn around her and Janet slowly starts to remember parts of her childhood she had forced to the depths of her brain.

There is no clean conclusion, and the horrors continue to persist as the novella reaches the climax, and yet, just yet, you feel a strange glow because Janet has maybe, almost, started to heal.

Short and super fun, just the kind of absurd book needed for our times.