This book was a wild ride and I loved every second of it. The ending = amazing, the flashback chapters = amazing, the character development = amazing! I loved the twists and turns and how it was such a simple book with trauma at the beginning and by the end it was a magical crazy time. I don’t want to spoil anything, but take this advice - read this book if you love a horror story that leaves you guessing what’s going to happen next til the very end.

This is the perfect book for anyone looking for a classic summer camp slasher with a dark supernatural element. I was honestly a little surprised I liked this book as much as I did, especially since I think the writing was a bit weak in the beginning, but it very quickly redeemed itself. It was all perfectly creepy and the author did a fantastic job in really building up the tension and giving us the scenes that we were working towards. Of course, from the beginning the reader knows that Sadie's friends are murdered at camp, but it is somehow still a shock once we reach that point in the story. We don't know exactly what happened but we had been getting hints of it throughout the book, so to finally see the truth was very fulfilling. Additionally, while I did kind of predict the plot twist, it was well done as the author left clues throughout the story, so that it really did make sense in the end.

Truly the best part of this book was how grounded in reality it was, despite also having a strong supernatural element. Really this story is just about Sadie finding her strength inside herself despite so many people in her life not believing in her or not allowing her to grow. As someone who dealt with mean girls as a kid (not to the extent Sadie did, but it was still very upsetting at times), I really saw myself in Sadie at times--just wanting to have friends but being so confused why those so-called "friends" were treating me that way. It was nice to see a protagonist who wasn't perfect but was no less deserving of real love and care, whether it was from friends, family, or a romantic partner.

I would saw the biggest flaw of this book is that it's honestly too short. I think the pacing was really great, but I would have loved to be able to explore the supernatural elements and how it all came to be and how it all ended. I think towards the end it was kind of shoved to the side a little just so that the author could end the book. However, what we got was amazing and ultimately still satisfying.

Definitely check trigger warnings, specifically for gore and domestic abuse, as there are some dark themes.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and Creature Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy. The story is set in dual timelines and each chapter is short, which is great for a faster pace read. The character development is strong and you will be rooting for a certain character in the end! If you like slasher-horror camp films, then you have to give this book a chance.

Sadie has quite the different invisible friend than most ever have had. Instead of hearing a regular voice, she hears a distorted man who often encourages her to do some pretty morally skewed things (even if she doesn't act on them). She also hears dead animals speak, so there's that! As an adult, her biggest remembrance is seeing her best friends get murdered from underneath a bed at summer camp as teens. With a different name and hopefully a different life, Sadie attempts to escape her past and the voices simultaneously- and it was a joy to get to read about her experience in doing such a thing. When the voices come back to her, as a now 29 year old, we have to figure out alongside her what she will do to fight them off and discover the "truth". I will leave it there- both because I think you probably can't resist such a synopsis, but I also don't want to spoil the entire book. This is Schlote- Bonne's first adult novel, and what a wonderful entrance she has made. I loved the unique role of reading from the POV of a weight lifter, and I especially enjoyed seeing how different this one would be from her previous YA Horror. This book did not disappoint. It's quite unlike anything I've read before, and I can't wait for her next. If you like Yellowjackets, mysterious animals, or summer camp slashers- check it out asap. Thanks so much to Tatiana and the publisher for the chance to read early and give an honest review.

Let me start by saying I could not put this book down! I was TOTALLY invested from the very start. When I couldn't read, I was thinking about reading this book.
The duel time lines was done so well. It never felt abrupt or confusing. And each one was just as engaging as the other. The descriptions of the atmospheres were so vivid. I felt like I could see them. Seeing events unfold from Sadie's (Sabrina's) perspective was chilling, and it was so entertaining seeing her fight the two sides of herself.
Although most of what was happening felt fantastical, I was completely sold that this was all a possibility in reality.
I don't want to give anything away because this book is definitely something you want to experience for yourself. I wholeheartedly recommend grabbing this one the moment it publishes in September. You will not regret it. I can't wait for more!

Thank you, @netgalley, @creaturepublishing, and @thebuffwriter for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once I started this book I was not stopping until it was completed! Sadie (Sabrina) has a whole lot more then PTSD going on! Seeing and hearing dead animals and her deceased childhood friends is so much more then your basic trauma.This book is unsettling and fast passed. It starts off running and does not stop. There are triggers like child death, animal death, bulling, sexuality, mental and physical abuse and some gore. Overall intriguing and well structured with dark and scary moments. Never expected that ending. This book will have you questioning reality.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
***
"So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered."
***
This was incredible. The story itself was compelling and fast paced, and the writing was visceral and gory! This was everything I want in a short, feministic, horror story! I will absolutely be watching for more form Schlote-Bonne.

Review posted to GoodReads, Tiktok, and Youtube.

Despite not quite vibing with the main characters voice, I enjoyed this! It was a quick read, a little bit spooky, and overall just a fun horror.

This is a duel timeline horror about Sadie. She watched the brutal murder of her best friends and now in adulthood is dealing with PTSD symptoms that she tries to ignore and hide from everyone in her life. Chapters alternate between her childhood summer camp trip that ended with her friends murders, and a current day trip to a weekend in the woods getaway with some friends.

I found the main character Sadie's voice to be a little bit "quirky millennial" which is not my favorite, but definitely works for some people. Her inner monologue kind of reminded me of Davi's in How to Become A Dark Lord or Die Trying by Django Wexler (in style, not in context). I also found her and her friends to come across as VERY young in the current day parts of the book. I think this book would have been better if instead of 30, they were all like 18, seniors in high school, and in their first real relationships rather than semi-established adults. I think it would have made Sadie's complicity in her relationship more believable, and the ending more fulfilling.

The things that didn't quite do it for me was the quirky millennial voice and the writing felt a little bit YA to me (which makes sense, this is Tatiana's first adult novel). Mainly, my biggest problem is that this book is marketed as feminist horror and says the main mean girl, the one who is seen as the most promiscuous, is this way because her dad abandoned her. Granted this was said by Sadie when she was like 12, but the story would be no different if it didn't mention his abandonment (multiple times). With it being feminist and duel timeline, there could have been just one or two sentences current day from Sadie about how maybe her meanness came from insecurity and wanting to have some sort of power? It felt a little icky to me.

You know what, hell yeah! This was not the book I was expecting it to be in the best way. It was very easy to read, with humour and pop culture references interwoven throughout. A dark feminist horror with a unique take on a cult/camp slasher; the ending in particular was such a vibe.

Thank you NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC in exchange for review.

This book SHOOK me! I went in pretty blind and when I say I devoured this book…. It consumed me.
It is about Sabrina who survived a massacre that killed her childhood best friends at camp. Seventeen years later, she has built a new life under a new name. She must had her true self from her boyfriend. But when she and her boyfriend are invited to a remote cabin with friends, her unsettling visions and whispers she hears becomes worse. She soon realizes that past horrors do not stay buried.
I loved how the narrative moves between past and present. This is one that you won’t be able to stop turning the pages.

I was hoping that I would be approved for an ARC and I abandoned everything I was reading when I found out that I was.

It was amazing! Thought I had guessed the plot and I was over the moon when I realized that I had not. Great pacing! For horror enthusiasts and the “female rage is always justified” girlies, this is perfect! The powerlifting references were spot-on, as was the cynical mindset of an early 2000s girliepop. ✨

The Mean Ones is like if Mean Girls took a hard left into a horror movie—with claws, shadows, and trauma lurking behind every snarky smile.

The exploration of PTSD and Sadie’s (FKA Sabrina) internal struggles are handled with sensitivity, adding depth to the horror elements. In fact, the true horror is in the complexities of long held trauma.

The book is let down by its predictability and the pacing . wobbles, and some character moments feel more like plot devices than emotional punches. It’s fun, sharp, and eerie, but not quite as deep or haunting as it could have

Horror with a side of high school hierarchy and emotional baggage.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Mean Ones is a brilliantly unhinged blend of horror, dark comedy, and cult chaos that completely subverts expectations. Told through dual timelines—2006 and 2023—it follows Sadie, the sole survivor of a traumatic event at summer camp, as she navigates adulthood marked by anxiety, grief, and hallucinations that blur the line between past and present.

Tatiana Schlote-Bonne masterfully layers tension and humor, keeping the reader on edge while delivering sharp, clever writing and genuinely unsettling moments. The psychological horror hits hard, but the story never loses its darkly fun tone. What really stands out is the way the author avoids the usual “cult survivor” tropes, instead offering a bold and surprising narrative turn that redefines the genre.

With rich character work, an eerie atmosphere, and a plot that gets darker—and funnier—with every chapter, The Mean Ones is perfect for fans of horror who don’t mind a little blood, a little sass, and a whole lot of morally gray chaos.

I could not put this book down! It had all of my favorite things, cults, psychological horror and bad men reaping what they sow. There were two timelines that kept me on my toes the entire read and was perfectly paced, revealing twists and turns at the right moments.

Anyone who enjoys Yellow Jackets, American Horror Story, Promising Young Woman will eat this up!

*I received an advance copy from Net Galley.

The Mean Ones is an intense, darkly atmospheric thriller that grabbed me from the start and never let go. Sadie/Sabrina’s journey through her traumatic past and present is full of twists, turns, and spine-tingling moments. The way Schlote-Bonne weaves PTSD with supernatural elements kept me on edge, wondering if what Sadie was experiencing was all in her head or something far more sinister.

Sadie is a deeply sympathetic character, haunted by the loss of her best friends and burdened with eerie visions and voices that only seem to get worse. The tension between what’s real and what’s imagined adds an extra layer of intrigue, and the slow unraveling of Sadie’s past kept me hooked. The setting, a remote cabin in the woods, ramps up the isolation and danger, making everything feel that much more claustrophobic and terrifying.

While the pacing was a bit uneven at times, with some slower moments that stretched my patience, the psychological tension and suspense were more than enough to keep me turning the pages. I especially appreciated the way Schlote-Bonne portrayed Sadie’s relationship with her boyfriend, Lucas—he’s sweet, but there’s something off about him that gives the book a lingering sense of unease.

The supernatural and psychological elements are deftly combined, and the ending is satisfying, if a little open-ended. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that blend reality with the paranormal, The Mean Ones will keep you thinking long after you've finished.

At first I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. The book starts off with Sadie and Lucas who are both gym rats. Not an issue really but when the book first started there was a good amount of description into their gym habits and it wasn't something that I was looking forward to continuing reading. It thankfully didn't continue throughout the whole story. I also immediately realized that I didn't like Lucas.

This book is unsettling, fast-paced, and pretty gripping. I wasn't completely blown away by the character dialogue but it was bearable. There are some unlikable characters within this book but there were some satisfying endings. I loved the eerie air that this story had. While reading, I just kept waiting for something bad to happen. I knew it was coming but I wasn't exactly sure what it would be or when.

This book had two timelines: a before and a present day. It was done really well and there wasn't any confusion while switching between the two. It felt seamless and both timelines added to the story. I loved the deer woman and the unease that her appearance brought.

This was overall a fun and quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

TW: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts

I've seen this book around and was just too happy to be able to read it before the release date. This is the horror thriller I didn't know I needed.

Plot = awesome
Characters = awesome
Mystery = perfect

I enjoyed this book way too much. The author did a really good job with the pacing - we go from past to present with each chapters. The ending is just amazing, and I didn't see it coming.

Pick it up if you like:
- Suspense with your horror
- Summer camp slasher vibes
- FMC trying to be strong and rebuilding herself
- and there is some romance in there. I won't spoil anything but will just say *mind blowing*

📖 Bookish Moments:
Sinister, eerie, and spooky—The Mean Ones sucked me in asap! Sadie has done everything to distance herself from her traumatic childhood. Her boyfriend really pushes them to go to a couples trip to a remote cabin, and things start to spiral.

Once they’re at the cabin, everything starts slipping. Sadie keeps flashing back to when her best friends were murdered, and it’s disorienting. I felt so bad for young Sabrina, what she went through was horrifying! The tension between her and Lucas starts building, especially once Sadie begins seeing someone. He gets mad anytime she brings things up, even in front of the other couple. Not going to lie though, I did laugh when she kept comparing things to The Descent movie!

As you get more of the flashbacks, it becomes even more clear how disturbing that event was! And the aftermath of the murders was awful for her as well. From those flashbacks, it’s clear her mom was definitely not winning mother of the year.

I will say that I was surprised by how it all wrapped up. It didn’t go the way I expected, but I lowkey loved the ending. There was a feminist feel to it and Sadie was finally free. But it was graphic and disturbing. The comparison to Midsommar is 100% accurate!

🖤 What You Can Expect:
• Childhood trauma
• Creepy cabin trip
• Unreliable narrator
• Voices in her head
• Feminist Horror

📅 Release Date: September 30, 2025
Disclaimer: Thank you to Amanda Manns and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

Wow. Wow. Wow. If you want a book that will grab you by the back of the neck and throw you into the deep-end of the pool this is the book for you. An amazing horror novel that makes you sympathize with the main character through all her faults and questionable choices. The parallel timelines made me giggle when I saw 2003 under chapter two. Many times when I’m reading a dual timeline book I’m left favoring one over another, but this one is a perfect balance. Chapter by chapter built each timeline equally that increased the tension steadily throughout the novel.
*SLIGHT SPOILER*
This made me feel like how so many people did after watching Midsommer… good for her… oh maybe I’m susceptible to cults. 10/10

*The Mean Ones* by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne is a dark, gripping exploration of power, revenge, and the complexities of human nature. The narrative is sharp and captivating, with characters that are deeply flawed yet compelling, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Schlote-Bonne’s writing is both raw and poetic, creating an atmosphere that is tense and thought-provoking. A bold, unapologetic story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page—perfect for readers who enjoy deep, character-driven fiction with a twist.