Feminist horror with Midsommar and Stranger Things vibes? Erm, yes please. This is one for the elder emo gals who are still into Avril Lavigne, Zoey 101, The Simple Life and just want to feel heard haha. This book dives deep into girlhood, body image, toxic friendships, and the weirdness of feeling like an outsider - and what it means to reclaim your power. There was so many quotes in this specifically relating to body image which related to me so much.

The woodland/cabin setting is always a vibe for me, and the mix of cults, powerlifting, and antler gore were a great combo.
If you can deal with the pr*ck that is the bf, this may be your next read! Definitely would recommend this on the light/beginner scale, this is my second book by this author and she’s now going on my auto-buy list.

This is exactly the kind of snappy, fast paced horror I hoped it would be! Schlote-Bonne’s writing is smooth and engaging, with a morally suspect but simultaneously endearing FMC. I especially liked the dual timelines! I’d like to see a tad more internal reflection at the end, but overall, this was a creepy yet captivating read!

I was super pumped when I got this ARC, because the story and vibes just sounded so intriguing. It was very *Midsommar* which is a movie I love.

So, let’s start with the good! Again, super interesting plot and I loved the way the author talked about trauma and its lasting effects. There was a lot of good horror moments and I loved how the author intertwined the past and present stories.

Now, here’s the thing- this was a very short book (only about 200 pages) which did make the story feel a bit short and underdeveloped. I feel like if the author would have made the story longer and gone into more detail, it would have elevated it. Also, I found the main character a bit flat- like, even as a kid I was like “who is this girl?” 😅 The inner thoughts and dialogue all just felt the same.

So yes, definitely an interesting story, and I did lowkey like the ending. You know I love a good “good for her” moment 🤣 But also, make sure you go in expecting a quick and supernatural book.

I won’t lie—I went into this one a little skeptical… and holy shit, it did NOT disappoint.

We follow Sabrina, a survivor who witnessed her friends murdered at camp, and now we see how she lives her life after the trauma. At first, it sounds like a sad, straightforward survival story… but here’s the thing: maybe Sabrina isn’t exactly a nice person. Hm.

What I loved is how we watch her story unfold, and—at least for me (everyone’s POV can be different)—I ended up rooting for her. By the time we got toward the end, I was literally yelling, “LET’S FUCKING GO.”

One of the strongest parts of this book is how it doesn’t simplify anything. It’s not just “good vs. evil” or black and white. Some people have families, communities, and cultures that shape them—and what looks horrifying to an outsider might feel normal, protective, or supportive within those systems. Sometimes we fight against the current. But what happens when we stop fighting?

And then there’s the female rage. This story is unapologetic in showing how women who settle, who get bullied or abused, are judged. And when they finally stand up for themselves? Suddenly they’re “evil.” I LOVED IT.

This book won’t be for everyone—it’s messy, it’s angry... but in a nice way (does that make sense?)

I think I just found my new favorite horror author!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Tatiana Schlote-Bonne for an ARC of her upcoming book, The Mean Ones!

From the very first page I knew I was about to embark on a journey kind of like “Goosebumps” but for grown ups.

Sadie endured a horrific childhood trauma at a summer camp where two of her friends were brutally murdered and has lived with PTSD ever since. We bounce back and forth between the timeline of the year of summer camp versus present day 17 years later.

“What if you gave up this idea that you have to be normal, and instead, you embraced everything you’ve been trying to resist?”

Sadie has struggled her entire life with the events that unfolded that summer which in a way made her a sort of “Final Girl” after she survived that awful night. Or is she?

I absolutely loved everything about this book from the quick pacing to the twists and turns I did not expect! I finished this book in less than a day. I think we have a new voice in horror that everyone will quickly become a new fan of.

I can’t wait to see future novels from Tatiana!

Thank you Netgalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s “The Mean Ones” is a blood-soaked, brilliantly unhinged summer camp horror book that combines cult folklore and psychological trauma into something wholly fresh, fiercely unsettling, and oddly cathartic. With its haunting dual timelines, unreliable narrator, and creeping dread, this book doesn’t just earn a place on your horror TBR—it carves it in with a sacrificial dagger.

The story follows Sadie (formerly Sabrina), who witnessed the brutal murder of her friends during a summer camp trip in 2006. Now an adult haunted by PTSD and emotional instability, she heads to a remote cabin with her dismissive boyfriend Luke—only to confront a past that refuses to stay buried. The narrative alternates between the past and present, gradually peeling back layers of grief, cult terror, and psychological unraveling until the final pages hit with a shocking—and weirdly satisfying—twist.

Sadie is a raw, painfully real character. Her internal monologue is messy and scattered in a way that feels entirely human, and her unreliable narration keeps you on edge. You’re never quite sure if she’s losing her grip on reality or if something truly supernatural is afoot—and that’s exactly where this book shines. The deer-masked figure? Genuinely chilling. The cult promising eternal youth? Pure folklore horror gold. The ending? Think Midsommar —creepy, unhinged, and somehow… empowering.

The supporting cast is designed to provoke—Luke, in particular, is a standout in toxic mediocrity—but the real star here is the atmosphere. Schlote-Bonne perfectly captures the creepy camp nostalgia (complete with ghost stories and s’mores), then corrupts it with gore, twisted rituals, and psychological horror. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing tight, and the pop culture references are a welcome bit of levity in an otherwise dark spiral of violence and trauma.

Overall, “The Mean Ones” is more than just a slasher; it’s a character study wrapped in folklore, soaked in blood, and stitched together with raw emotional honesty. It’s unflinchingly brutal yet often darkly funny. It’s the kind of horror story that lingers long after you finish it.

When I read this author's debut YA novel, I knew that I needed to keep an eye on any future works. When this one was announced I was totally ready. THIS WAS INSANE! I loved every moment of it. I had trouble putting it down. Now this is a camp slasher with a super dark twisted plot. It's told in past/present POV but honestly it's needed. I don't have anything bad to say about this book. If you're a fan of slashers, creepy shit in the woods, and cult activity DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK.

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this ARC. This book will be out in September of 2025. Make sure to add it to your list. And if you've never read a book by this author, do yourself a favor and read this one AND "Such Lovely Skin."

I couldn't put this book down. Genuinely creepy with unsettling imagery. I enjoyed the author's examination of abusive relationships and how they shaped Sabrina/Sadie. It was easy to see how she ended up in a relationship with someone like Lucas, and why she remained friends with Allie and Blakely despite them being "mean ones." I do wish we gotten a little more insight into her relationahip with her mother, but overall, the novel was well crafted and excellently paced. I highly recommend this book, as well as the author's previous work, Such Lovely Skin.

The Mean Ones is a gripping psychological horror that sinks its claws in early and never lets go. Tatiana Schlote-Bonne masterfully blurs the line between trauma and the supernatural, keeping readers questioning what’s real right up to the jaw-dropping end. Sadie is a hauntingly complex protagonist, and the creeping dread builds beautifully with every chapter. Eerie, emotional, and shockingly empowering—this is a must-read for fans of dark thrillers with a razor-sharp edge.

The Mean Ones is a dark, surreal descent into trauma, memory, and the monsters we carry—both real and imagined. Schlote-Bonne blends psychological horror with cult thriller elements in a story that keeps you questioning what’s real until the very end. Think Midsommar meets Final Girl Support Group, with a twist of internal madness.

Sadie (formerly Sabrina) is a compelling and complicated protagonist, trying desperately to live a normal life while her past claws its way back through whispering voices, haunting visions, and a creeping dread that never quite lets up. The dual timelines—past and present—are woven skillfully, slowly revealing the layers of what really happened at that camp seventeen years ago. It’s not a comfortable read, but that’s kind of the point.

Some plot elements stretch believability (particularly how certain characters behave or are treated by authorities), and a few moments felt more strange than scary—but overall, this book delivers on psychological tension and disturbing atmosphere. The ending had a satisfying edge, with just enough ambiguity to linger after closing the book.

Highly recommended for fans of horror that leans introspective, disturbing, and emotionally raw.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for an ARC of The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne in exchange for an honest review.
This book is told in alternating timeliness set in 2023 and 2006. .In 2006 Sabrina is at camp with two mean girl friends Allie and Blakely and in 2023 she's living with her boyfriend but Sadie is hiding a secret past.
As much as I wanted to love this book, that wasn't the case. The ending felt extremely rushed, and I just don’t feel like it was completely planned out well enough to have the impact the author going for.
I recommend to someone wanting a quick, creepy read,

Sadie is hiding a secret violent past from her boyfriend. Sadie formally Sabrina always goes along with whatever anyone tells her to do, her friend Allie, her mother, her boyfriend. This book is told in alternating chapters set in 2023 and 2006.In 2006 Sabrina is at camp with two mean girl friends Allie and Blakely. In 2023 Sadie is in the woods with her boyfriend Lucas and his friends Eli and Heather. Sadie has never told her boyfriend about her PTSD, scary visions and what happened to Allie and Blakely at camp. Sadie is an unreliable narrator because it isn't clear if her visions are all in her head or there really is a malevolent evil demonic entity and a group of cult members worshipping it. The story gets really interesting as the mystery unfolds.

Hear me out… this book is for the weird ones. The people who have never fit in. Who were made fun of for being anything other than “basic.” The person in a friend group that was always the butt of a joke or the easy target. This book, although terrifying and disturbing, gave the person who always felt “off” a voice and a place to be themselves.

Sadie, who decides at the end to embrace her crazy, sheds the forced identity to “fit in” and “be normal” and finally finds joy and peace amongst the living (and the dead) and never looks back.

I ate this book up and I can’t wait to see what else the author comes up with.

Now THIS is horror done well.
Maybe it’s the fact that I relate to Bina a little TOO well, but dang was this well written.

This is a terrifying story that I would in fact also consider a coming-of-age thriller of finding yourself when you’ve hit your past for so long.

What an insane ride. Sadie is a physical therapist assistant who loves body building and is just trying to maintain her normalcy she’s created for herself with her boyfriend, Lucas, as she’s settling into herself at 29.
One weekend she and Lucas are invited by their best friends to go camping in the woods! Would sound super exciting, right? Unfortunately, Sadie’s “Other World” keeps slipping more into reality and she’s having a hard time distinguishing what’s real. The voice in her head, Damon, assures her it’s the right thing to do, but her PTSD can’t help but reminding her that the last time she was in the woods, her two childhood best friends were murdered right in front of her at camp…. I wouldn’t want to go either.
Sadie, who’s created a new life from her previous as Sabrina, is not wanting to revisit those haunting memories. After push comes to shove, Lucas encourages her that they need to go. Bad memories aside, the weekend starts off well enough, until Lucas finds a creepy little doll made of hair and teeth, which should be impossible considering it looks the exact same as the one Sadie found at 12 years old. This starts us uncovering what really happened at camp 17 years ago. Was it a cult that killed her friends? Is the voice in her mind that she’s fallen in love with real, or just something she created to cover up the real horrors she experienced? Is it all happening again?

I wish I could read this again for the first time. I was genuinely scared for the first time reading a book. As advertised, it really is a thrilling mix of vibes from Midsommer and Final Girls Support Group.
Is Sadie the final girl without even trying?

This was a great young YA I WILL RECOMMEND!!! I love it and felt like that the young and old will love this read as much as I did

Omg another stunner from this author! This scared the hell out of me. It’s culty, creepy and twisty. The dual timeline helps weave the story so nicely, and my millennial heart loved all the references from my childhood. I really related to the FMC feeling like an outsider her whole life and wanting to be “normal”.

Thank you so much to Creature Pub and the author for providing me an eARC to honestly review!

📖(𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍):
𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢 • 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩 • 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 & 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 • 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 • 𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 • 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 • 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 • 𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 • 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 • 𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚 • 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙥 • 𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙥 • 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 • 𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣 • 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 •

🦌:
If I said I couldn’t set this one down, I’d be lying, but it’s not because I wanted to. I wish I could have read this from start to finish in a single sitting, but I’ve been one sleepy person lately.

📖:
Back to this amazing book! It’s one of those reads that sucks you in from the very start. I was engaged the entire time, and my interest and attention never faltered!

There were moments where I questioned my own grip on reality - that’s how involved I was with Sabrina or “Bina’s” (Sadie) episodes.

Sadie, formerly known as Sabrina, has more than she ever dreamed of: A handsome boyfriend, a job she enjoys, her health and weightlifting.

However, her perfectly constructed life hides the inner turmoil Sadie fights with privately.

Sadie has visions that are triggered by stressors and the PTSD she has from her childhood. These visions are super creepy and nightmarish, yet comforting to her.

I don’t want to give too much away to avoid spoilers, but I do recommend reading this book when you can.

Read this if you enjoy:
-𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳
-𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨
-𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ✍️ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴
-𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴
-𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘩!𝘵
-𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
-𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴

Loved it - a great shorter horror with enough twists to keep you hooked. Reminded me a little of chilling adventures of Sabrina.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I love the cover so much and midsommar is my go-to comfort movie, so I was so excited to read this!

3.5 stars

Oh boy are these characters unlikeable. I actually found myself having zero sympathy for the MC because of the people she chose to put herself around. Yeah, pre-teen loneliness and adult PTSD, but I just couldn't feel bad for her. I found myself boo-ing way too often as I read.

Towards the end, things just didn't make sense. Why would the police completely ignore the only witness's story, even if it seemed wild? They were on board with the cult angle, but somehow her reporting the name of the demon being worshipped was too much?

The end made it all worth it though! Love those "for the girls" vibes.

Sadie survived a harrowing ordeal at summer camp when she was younger- an ordeal that left her two friends dead. After years of working towards being "normal", she is still having PTSD related hallucinations. When her friends invite her boyfriend and her to a cabin in the woods, things that happened nearly two decades ago begin happening again.

This was my first read by this author, and it was right up my alley; I enjoyed every second of it. It was fast paced and easy to get sucked into. The back and forth of past and present timelines was done perfectly. I could imagine this being turned into a tv show that I would be obsessed with.

My only gripe is that it was a little too simplistic/short. Written a smidge too YA for an adult book for my liking. I wanted more of everything (mostly because I really enjoyed it, not because it was necessarily missing anything)- the horror, the lore, the why. Will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future!

I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC!