I really enjoyed this novella from Sarah Langan. Langan is the author of many acclaimed novels, so I've been wanting to check her work out for some time. This novella seemed like a promising gateway, and I really enjoyed her style. The story moves briskly with a captivating narrator. A woman sees her enemy from high school become a successful TV personality and wants to do what she can to bring her down. But the story raises questions of how much can we trust our own memories; how much do we know about our own past?

The story left me excited to check out more of Langan's work.

I thank Netgalley for providing me with a free e-galley of the book in return for this honest review.

My synopsis: Janet Chow is a freelance journalist for fuckfeed.com. She lives with her roommate Punk Rock Dean whom she dislikes. Her life isn’t really going anywhere and Janet believed she “could have been someone. I could have made the world better.”
Madam Pamela is a celebrity psychic who is loved by the masses. She conducts video psychic readings for those who have lost a loved one. She’s rich and successful and her fans are call themselves ‘Pam-a-maniacs’.

Janet went to Sewanhaka High School with Madam Pamela aka Pam. Pam was her high school enemy and believes she is the reason she didn’t get into university after an incident exposing Janet as disturbed. Janet has a personal vendetta and wants to expose Pamela as a fraud. She’s bitter and jealous of Pamela as “she was me. I was her. She’s taken my life.”

My review: This is the best novella I’ve read so far. The cover completely drew me in! It is a strange and chaotic book which I liked, but not entirely easy to follow at points. I do wish there was more, as felt some gaps in the story needed plugging. I enjoyed the letters and drawing of Mr Holmes. The storyline about her mother was good, but I wish there was more character development of Janet so I could connect with her more.
I understand the end of the world is near, but how or why specifically, it’s not really explained? The ending lacked and was far too abrupt. I’m personally not a fan of cliff hangers and this ended on one hence not 4 stars. It is a horror but not scary just more creepy, so I would recommend this book even if you don’t like a horror!

This book is wild ride- reality descends slowly from oddness to madness, while our narrator Janet, deeply dysfunctional and heavily traumatised, is spurred on by a seemingly unexplained hatred to uncover her old schoolmate, Pam. And this is done so well. I loved how everything built to a confusing chaotic mass before the pieces started to slide into place, how Janet finds clarity and understanding as the world around her is turned on its head. Her voice is distinctive and sharp, even with her foggy memory and unreliable narration, and I felt a deep sense of empathy with her as she went on her absurd mission to uncover what she believes to be the truth.

The narrative voice is the highlight of this book, the comedic timing paired with her deep cynicism makes this such an enjoyable read. This book is full of deeply flawed people with vibrant personalities, and their interactions and relationships are at the heart of the story. In only 100 pages I cared for almost every single person in this book. The storyline itself was absurd and surreal in a convincing way- I never once felt it was too far fetched despite it being, irrefutably, far-fetched. It’s such a colourful book and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I picked this book up blind by judging its cover and boy, am I glad that I did.

Pam Kowolski is a Monster is a short read with big impact about a woman who finally has enough and sets out to expose her old high school rival for the fraud she is.
We all have that one person from high school that we irrationally hated and roll our eyes at when they come across a social feed, and Langan taps into that relatable frustration while crafting a beautiful reflection on identity, memory, the passage of time, and lost potential. The tension builds and builds as the story progresses and by the time of The Big Reveal I was ravenous but utterly unprepared for what happens.
There is also a touch of the surreal and a lot of laugh out loud moments (Congo… ha!) interspersed through our narrator’s quest for vengeance, and I don’t think she or the reader expect the beautiful moments of connection she finds along the way.
This book wasn’t what I was expecting, but what I got was so much more and I didn’t want it to end. No notes! Do yourself a favour and give it a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

Over 20 years ago, Pam Kowolski did something to embarrass Janet Chow in high school, a dark incident that eventually derailed the future Janet had envisioned for herself. Now, Janet realizes that the famous Madam Pamela, a famous internet psychic whose recorded sessions have gone beyond viral, is in fact that very same Pam Kowolski. And there's a frenzy leading up to Pamela's upcoming special event, where she promises all will be revealed. With someone of a journalistic background, this is Janet's chance to finally get revenge, and expose Pam for the fraud she is.
I was not prepared for a story like this. It was truly unique and unlike anything I've read before. Sarah Langan has been at the top of her game with her most recent novels, and this novella is no exception, as it's absolute peak writing.

Fasten your seatbelts and keep your hands inside the vehicle because this book is a wild ride!! 🎢

Our narrator, Janet, who’s fed up with her life and angry at the world, discovers her former classmate Pam has become an extremely successful tv psychic. While “Madam Pamela” is creating waves of mass hysteria as she builds suspense for her Big Reveal, Janet sets out to prove it’s all a hoax. Along the way, she reconnects with people she once knew, starts to uncover childhood memories that have been tainted by trauma, and ultimately learns the past isn’t always what it seems.

I also want to add that I love the cover art!

Thank you to NegGalley and the publisher for this ARC!!

Book Review: Pam Kowalski Is A Monster by Sarah Langan
Rating: ★★★★★

This novella was such a breath of fresh air. I read it over the weekend and couldn’t get enough. The character development was chef’s kiss—I was fully invested in Pam and totally hooked waiting for The Big Reveal.

Loved the dark humor, the strange supernatural touches, and the overall vibe. It’s weird in the best way and totally original. If you’re into stories that blend suburban drama with eerie twists, this one’s a must-read.

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

This story is ugly and uncomfortable, bitterness oozing from every line. A story for those of us with "so much potential" who never saw it through, who found it easier to cast the blame backward than to dare to look at what's in front of us. If I had to sum it up in a sentence, it would be a Taylor Swift lyric - "I'll stare directly at the sun but never in a mirror."

But waiting at the edge of all the anger and the bitterness is a glimmer. It's not hope, exactly, but a direction. A place to look.

Easily one of the hardest-hitting books I've read in a long time.

This is the first book I've read by Sarah Langan, but I hope not the last--I loved this! This novella is an eerie horror story, but it's really about the everyday horror in our own lives, our pasts, and our memories. I don't know exactly what to say about it, because I think you should just read it and find out for yourself, but I would recommend it for people who enjoy reading about damaged characters with all their very human foibles and pain, and exploring what made them that way. The story is told with a biting humor by a protagonist who begins to recognize herself as a not-so-reliable narrator as the story progresses. Read this book!

How can it end like that!! Arrrrr!!

I wasn’t sure about this at first, 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!

I really liked this quick read. I was able to read this book in one sitting and zipped right through it. I loved the dark humor in the bizarre story. I also want to mention that the cover is absolutely perfect. I am always down to read a revenge story but this turned into so much more.

A story about faulty memory, blame, trauma and celebrity psychics in a world gone crazy.

Who is the monster? And who gets to decide whether we are a monster?

Weeks after finishing it, I am still thinking about this book and what it all means.

I am a sucker for kitschy horror (hello Grady Hendrix, hello Ainslie Hogarth’s Motherthing) — suffice to say I was ensnared by the gorgeous cover art and the thrilling, fun description. What I didn’t expect was for Pam Kowolski is a Monster! to hit me right in the feels.

Through the eyes of a somewhat unhinged narrator, we taste jealousy, bitterness, anger, betrayal, sadness, and reconciliation, by way of an engrossing story that begs to be devoured thanks to its brevity and ease of writing. Themes of female friendship and trauma are prevalent, using the horror genre skilfully to reconstruct the truth of the past. Entertaining the reader while simultaneously breaking their heart is no easy feat, but Sarah Langan accomplishes it oh so delectably in Pam Kowolski is a Monster!

For horror fans, but also for anyone who needs to face the monster within.

I'll tell you, I really wasn't sure where this story was going when I first started. I also wasn't sure if Janet was sane or not. I really enjoyed her inner monologue. Langan has a way with words that causes me to highlight multiple sentences as I read. Short and sweet and wishing there were more! I recommend this to all horror fans.
Thank you to Netgalley and RDS Publishing for the chance to read and review early! I look forward to more books by Sarah Langan.

Because of the cover, title, and overall premise, I expected a campy horror story. I’ve read Sarah Langan’s work before, and I know that isn’t her typical style, but I thought she’d changed course. I wasn’t entirely mistaken. There was a darkly humorous starting point to Pam Kowolski Is a Monster, but this novella ventured into deeply disturbing territory quickly, with a sheer veil of sadness draped over all of its violence. Despite the horror of it all, there was a beautiful unraveling that took place as Langan examined trauma and memory, the haunting agony and angst of young, fragile friendships, and the way our understanding of the past can change as we mature.

The character growth of the embittered narrator was remarkable. It’s hard to believe this novella only hit 120 pages, as so much happened throughout this deranged journey. While I initially thought Janet’s caustic attitude proved that she was the true monster of the story, I eventually began to believe she might be right about Pam Kowokski. This story completely messed with my head, but it also surprised me and challenged my thinking.

Pam Kowolski Is a Monster made a tremendous impression upon me, and I’d like to reread it soon. Processing it with what has now been revealed, I can see it through a newly cleansed lens. Sarah Langan possesses great insight into human behavior, and I love the way she weaves that into her impactful stories.

I am immensely grateful to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes you just want to read a book that is pure fun, and if you’re in the mood for a quick read that really packs a punch, then allow me to introduce you to PAM KOWOLSKI IS A MONSTER! forthcoming from Sarah Langan and Raw Dog Screaming Press. KOWOLSKI is a fast-paced novella, but don’t mistake its small page count for a small story, because if anyone knows how to wallop you in only about 120-odd pages, it’s Sarah Langan—and she does not disappoint in this totally unhinged, absurdly delightful ripper of a novella. It’s a middle finger to social media influencer culture that pulls in the televangelist / telepsychic heydey of the 90s in a pulpy, poppy, glorious mess with a narrator so petty and so human that she’s simultaneously completely horrible and totally relatable, making you question your own grudges and memories. This one is a ride that pushes you up, up, up to the veeeery top of the rollercoaster, then lets go so abruptly that your pulse hangs in your throat you while you enjoy the fall.

Will feature on my personal blog and in my BookTrib Chill Quill May edition.

Pam Kowalski Is A Monster by Sarah Langan, Jane Chow thought she would be a famous journalist writing exposes that out the fraudsters and bad actors of the world but instead she lives with a stoner who has a bad cough works at a job she cannot stand in one day while scrolling through social media sees the person she blames for it all… Pam Kowalski. To make matters worse Pam’s life is awesome she’s the world’s psychic sweetheart and people just cannot get enough of her and she claims that she’s going to let the world see what she sees and this is all more than Janet Chow can take. she calls her old online newspaper and offers an expose on Pam Kowalski and claims she can get an interview. They can’t say yes fast enough. as far as Janet can remember Pam Kowalski made fun of her and her dead mom in the anger she feels for her fuels her but is everything she remembers actually what happened? Due to Janet’s trauma there’s a lot she forgot in life and while investigating Pam certain things are going to jog her memory and in the end the person to blame, may not be Pam at all. this was such an awesome read I loved Janet’s whole negative personality and I totally got what the author was putting down and it was so enjoyable. I did think it would end differently but still enjoyed all of it the beginning the middle and the end it is a short fast read but all so entertaining. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author this one is definitely included and can’t wait to read more from her.#NetGalley,#RDSPublishing, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #saraLangan, #PamKowalskiIsAMonster,

A short novella with unhinged,fast paced narration, a mix of psych-thriller, mystery and supernatural elements. An enjoyable read, would probably only take you 2 hours max to finish. Super engaging, you wouldn't want to take your eyes off the book.

I'll post a review on Goodreads/fable/insta by June I promise

This novella certainly packed a punch. I identified with Janet in so many ways and felt extreme sympathy for her this was an excellent story.

I loved this book!

The story follows Janet (an unsuccessful journalist) who blames Pam (a famous psychic she knew in high school) for her life not going to plan. As she aims to expose Pam as a fake via a new article, things get weird... like really weird.

Set in the near future, this book is similar to our world today but more bleak and technologically advanced in a totally realistic and scary way. This setting made the book feel like a Black Mirror episode and I got those vibes throughout.

I won't spoil the plot too much but this book genuinely creeped me out (and I read a lot of horror). The atmosphere was so creepy and, at times, depressing and felt totally believable. I was genuinely gripped and didn't want to put this book down (to the extent I actually wanted my bus to be late so I had more reading time). I needed to find out what really happened between Pam and Janet.

Overall, if you're a fan of Black Mirror, feeling creeped out or just weird and wonderful horror, Pam Kowolski is a Monster! is definitely for you!

Thank you NetGalley and RDS Press for this Advanced Reading Copy