Sadie sees and hears things no one else does. Her therapists chalk it up to PTSD from the horror she experienced years ago at summer camp—but Sadie’s not so sure. Especially since she’s started to find a strange sort of comfort in the man’s voice in her head.

When she and her boyfriend get invited to a weekend getaway at a remote cabin, Sadie is instantly on edge. The setting is far too similar to the place where her friends were brutally m*rdered. But she’s buried that part of her past, keeping the truth from everyone—including her boyfriend.

As the weekend unfolds, eerie things begin to happen, and Sadie starts to spiral. Is it her mind playing tricks or is someone—or something—really after her?

I love summer camp horror and creepy folklore, and this book delivered on both! It’s got that classic slasher-at-summer-camp energy with some darker twists. I flew through it in just two sittings. It’s fast-paced, super creepy, and honestly just a blast to read.

The writing leans a little YA at times, but the themes and content are definitely adult. The lifting/gym representation was great - though some of the references were so cringe (intentionally - just gym bro things)

The ending was 10/10, I was shoooook.
Such a fun, spooky ride!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

First off, I have to say—the cover totally grabbed me. It was so gorgeous I couldn’t resist requesting the book. And wow… just wow. It completely blew me away.

What really surprised me (in the best way) was how refreshing it felt. I loved that even though the characters are in their late twenties, they still had that fun, slightly chaotic energy you usually find in YA thrillers. A lot of books written from an adult perspective tend to come across a bit stiff or overly serious—but not this one. It had all the maturity you'd expect, without losing that spark. Because let’s be real: deep down, we’re all still teenage girls in our 30s, right? ;) The writing was smooth, super engaging, and just easy to get lost in. I honestly couldn’t put it down.

The plot was awesome—really well done, with some great twists. And the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss!

It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited to give a book a full five stars. This one’s definitely going to stick with me for a long time. Loved it!

I have been on a roll lately with reading books about female rage, and I don’t regret a thing. This book is fantastic! I’d categorize as “Good For Her.”

Sabrina witnessed a horrific and impossible to explain event at summer camp when she was a kid. Now, as an adult, she’s dealing with the aftermath of it. All she wants to do is be normal for once in her life, but is being normal really all it’s cracked up to be?

I loved Sabrina’s character. She felt so real, very authentic, and I could relate to her struggle to fit in both as a child and as an adult. [Spoiler] The way she slowly comes to accept herself and all her flaws was perhaps the most touching part of the book.

I think my favorite part of the book though was the parallel between the real monsters in her life and the things she saw in her head. Facing one meant facing the other, and I thought that was brilliant. [Spoiler] Also, I was VERY happy to see Lucas go.

The Mean Ones is psychological horror at its finest.

I cannot express how obsessed with this book I was!!! Camp feminist horror with flashbacks? Yes please!! Spooky cult but seductive man creature? Yes please!!!

Tatiana’s writing is so vivid and immersive, I felt like I was right there with the characters. The eerie atmosphere gave me chills and the dual timelines added so much depth, with one giving me a nostalgic feel. The mean girl energy throughout made the drama and tension even more intense. This book totally sucked me in! It’s dark, gripping, and absolutely unputdownable!

Tatiana is a genius and I simply cannot get enough of her work; I can only ever hope to see more from her. Truly, this was a perfect summer camp, folklore, cult horror book.

One of my favorite things about how Tatiana writes is just showing the endless stream of thought, how our very own minds can jump from one subject to the next or make connections that are so miniscule. Not only did Tatiana achieve this in The Mean Ones, but she also achieved it in Such Lovely Skin.

This makes her characters, especially Sadie, feel so absolutely real. She's just trying to live a normal life after an incredibly traumatic event. We see and feel her struggle and frustration. We can sense her fear and unease; it is truly just so well done. While this book is short (200+ pages), it is all encompassing. The timeline switching flowed really well and I felt the ending was truly an ending, but in that cool way where it could be over, but there could also be more.

If Tatiana Schlote-Bonne doesn't get a movie deal for this book one day, I will riot. This book had the best dialogue. If you're looking for a summertime horror book with incredible folklore/cult elements and the funniest line I've ever read, be sure to read The Mean Ones.

First I wish to thank Netgalley and Author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne for an advanced e-copy of The Mean Ones.

From the start, I was hooked. There is something about crimes happening at a summer camp that sparks an interest within me.. Saying that I may sound crazy, but hey, leave me alone!

The Mean Ones is a fast pacing, single POV Horror Story featuring 29 year old Sadie who witnessed her friends being murdered during summer camp 17 years ago. She hears dead animals talk to her, sees things that others can't see and sometimes enters a world only she can see.. or is she the only one?

I really enjoyed the story from beginning to end, especially the character development for Sadie. I also appreciated that the two stories, 2006 & 2023 covered only a couple of days, making it easier to follow both timelines.

Overall, this was a strong read and I am happy I discovered Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and was able to review a new genre.

Wow! I finished this in one sitting and had so much fun reading it. After reading and loving Such Lovely Skin, I was beyond excited to be added to Tatiana’s street team. I KNEW this would be amazing but it exceeded expectations.

The Mean Ones starts with a steady pace that sinks its claws in, hooking the reader from the start. As the story progresses the pace picks up, making me anxious to learn what exactly happened in the past and what the heck was going on in the present. I love a book with dual timelines and The Mean Ones does this well.

The ending was completely unexpected and made me smile. I only wish there was more of this book for me to read. I will be looking out for more books from Tatiana Schlote-Bonne. Highly recommend to horror fans looking for gruesome, vivid imagery and honestly just a really good time. Thanks goes to the author, Creature Publishing & Netgalley for the ARC!

Wow. This book started out as a typical summer camp slasher, but morphed into something more. This whole book read like a fever dream and I loved every damn second of it. Schlote-Bonnie’s writing is addicting, atmospheric, graphic, disturbing, and just so freaking good. I had no idea where this book was headed, but I was 100% invested in the journey. This story was unhinged, and Sadie was one of the best unreliable narrators I’ve encountered in a while. Told in dual timelines that blended seamlessly to create and full picture and story, the past and the present sections were equally as addictive and interesting. And the ending was wild and not at all what I expected. It was honestly just everything. This book was just *chef’s kiss*, the gore was amazing and perfectly done, the story was so damn creative, and the overall vibe of this book was eerie. One of the best horror books I’ve read in a long time.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter!!!
I seriously could not put it down!

The seamless transitions between past and present timelines kept me fully engaged and flowed perfectly, and the way it handled mental health and PTSD was powerful and deeply affecting. I ached for our main character and was able to relate to her as well which made it hit even harder for me.

And the vibes? The vibes were everything!!
Campy. Spooky. Slasher 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. It was giving everything I needed in a creepy read, and then some.

The ending had me gasping, jaw on the floor, and even celebrating…. Basically pure chaos but in the best way.

I already know I need a physical copy of this for my shelves. This one’s going to haunt me in the best way.

The slasher camp book that I didn’t know I needed in my life till now. This book was perfection. As I was reading it, I was able to envision everything that was happening. I absolutely loved the dual timelines in this one because it gave me insight as to what she experienced when she was young. I was able to understand why she struggled with her mental health and how she handled her horrific experiences that she had endured. This book is very dark and full of mystery! It includes horror, gore, trauma and murder. This is a fast paced read that has both unlikable and likable characters in it. Lucas annoyed me sometimes throughout the story, but I can understand him because of the lack of communication from the female main character in the story. This also deals with friendships and how toxic they can be! It is written in the female main characters’ perspective. I really enjoyed the pop culture references and the camp setting!

“The Mean Ones” is about a young girl named Sabrina that watched her best friends get murdered at camp, when she was young. She is older now and goes by the name Sadie. Her and her boyfriend named Lucas go on a trip to a cabin in the woods. As the story unravels, a big twist comes along and left me in shock! Overall, I give this a 5 out of 5 stars rating! I highly recommend this to anyone that likes to read horror books that have gore and a camp/cabin scenery! This is a fictional novel that you do not want to miss out on!

Content warnings include grief, murder, death, violence, mental health (primarily PTSD), abuse and gore.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and Creature Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is set to be published on September 30, 2025!

"Sadie's Echo" is a thrilling read about trauma and self-discovery. It follows Sadie, a 29-year-old physical therapist assistant, who hears voices from dead animals and a strange male voice. Her therapist attributes it to PTSD from witnessing her friends' murders as a child.

Things escalate when Sadie and her boyfriend, Lucas, head to a cabin for a couples trip. Her visions worsen, and a creepy figure starts stalking her. The story keeps you guessing—are these just her fears, or is something more sinister at play?

Lucas is sweet but has a darker side when angry, adding tension to their relationship. The pacing is fast, and the suspense keeps you hooked as Sadie fights to regain control of her life. Overall, "Sadie's Echo" is a chilling psychological thriller worth reading!

For a book about mean girls Tatiana Schlote-Bonne manages to humanize the titular mean ones. As a reader you both sympathize with a pair of murdered girls while also recognizing the casual cruelty children inflict on one another.

We get so much more than just a complicated tale of twisted friendship and guilt.

We also get a wild and delightfully fun horror treat that touches on themes of abuse, isolation and mental illness all while avoiding bludgeoning us over the head with these messages.

A horror story successful of both the text and the sub text.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc of this book.

This was book! it was really well written, and one of those stories where you just want to know more and keep reading.
The ending surprised me as I was not expecting that at all but at the same time I quite enjoyed the way the story wrapped up.
Also the dual timeline/POV really worked here too.

This novel begins as a standard slasher story. A girl is the only survivor when her two best friends are brutally killed at summer camp when she was a child. Now, years later and having effectively changed her identity, her past will catch up with her.

But it's not what you might think. This isn't your traditional slasher. Sadie is the main protagonist and we experience certain episodes which she attributes to her PTSD from watching her friends get slaughtered. But are they really hallucinations?!

Sadie is a great character. She's traumatized and finds solace in being with her boyfriend who is not really a nice man. He's narcissistic and temperamental often engaging in childish outbursts. But she finds protection in the familiar.

When her boyfriend decides they are going camping with another couple, Sadie's anxiety and fears bubble to the surface. But what's going to happen there is a twisty turny event which leaves you with your mouth hanging open.

This is a fantastic novel of survival, trauma, and feminine rage told in a blood chilling narrative that will have you guessing the terrifying secrets throughout. I highly recommend it.

I was so impressed by this book. I finished it in a matter of hours, it was so good.

The book focuses on Sadie/Bina as she is trying to navigate a normal life where the trees and dead animals don’t talk to her. As a young girl she witnessed her two best friends be murdered. Diagnosed with PTSD she used the gym and lifting as a form of keeping the voices and visions of the other place at bay until her and her boyfriend Lucas are invited to stay in the woods with their friends.

I was intrigued by Sadie’s past and what followed after the tragedy. The author did an amazing job with the representation of mental health. I do wish Sadie would have stuck up for herself more; Lucas was grating on my nerves at all times.

The ending I wasn’t expecting at all, it came as a shock but I 100% enjoyed how it finished. You won’t expect it just like I didn’t.
A definite must read, you have to add it to your TBR list, I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Creature Publishing for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

A big 4.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for approving me to read this, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This a short horror story with cult-y slasher themes. We get two time lines during this book which I enjoyed, felt like reading two versions of the story playing out in a way that had symmetry.

The mixture of mental health and supernatural themes gave this a fever dream like vibe. It’s hard to know what’s real for our FMC and what’s her trauma controlling things.

That ending caught me off guard, but I’m not even mad at it. Feminine rage for the win.

I I had such a good time with this book. I finished it in one day because I could not put it down. The book follows Sadie, as she navigates her traumas of a summer camp horror haunting her on her adulthood. The book flips from adult to child timeline every chapter slowly revealing to the read what happened back then and how it directly connects to Sadie's present. There is also some top tier monster designs to look forward to as well while reading. The ending was also satisfying.

This was very well written.

A story about a woman whose best friends were tragically murdered... Now she hears, things. Diagnosed with PTSD, she uses exercise and weight lifting to take her mind off of her hallucinations.

After she goes on a trip into the woods with her boyfriend, we find out there is more going on as things unravel.

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!

I was so engrossed in this book right away. Sadie/Bina was such an interesting main character and it was fascinating to see her childhood and how that led to her self-consciousness and people pleasing. There was a solid balance of supernatural unease and real-life horror - the dual timeline really added to this and kept me reading. The book did a great job of capturing the fraught and emotionally charged friendship between preteen girls, and the hierarchy that exists there.