Thank you for the advanced copy of this book.

Overall it was really enjoyable and there were elements of the novel I loved! Particularly the setting and atmosphere. The yearning between Lawrence and Franky kept me hooked.

Occasionally the writing felt unfinished and I found myself having to re-read passages to understand what was going on. But at the same time I found myself highlighting such hard hitting and polished quotes. I wish it could have been 100% consistent in that.

I have decided to DNF this one at 50%.

Going into this read, I saw that it was compared to Twin Peaks (my favorite show of all time), so I was STOKED. When going into any media comparing itself to Twin Peaks, I am hoping that this is solely based off of vibes and not the similarities to the story, if that makes sense. I want to FEEL how I felt watching Twin Peaks for the first time, totally unsettled and like I am in a complete fever dream, with a little bit of quirkiness and dark humor throughout. Unfortunately, I only felt bored and frustrated with this read, which was the reason I ultimately decided to discontinue reading this.

Additionally, my e-read was a bit off. The first page was jumbled letters, and each chapter began very strangely with the first letter of the chapter name in the paragraph above. I ended up figuring out what was going on, but it did make it quite confusing to read in the beginning.

Thank you for the opportunity to read Veal!

4.75

setting: USA
Rep: lesbian protagonist and side characters; indigenous side character; one-armed side character

From the first page I knew this was going to be a good time and I'm so glad I was proved right! It reminded me a bit of The Haunting of Velkwood and a bit of Voice Like a Hyacinth, two queer horrors I loved, and fans of those should definitely pick this up. Super queer, great atmosphere, and I liked the is it real or not aspect of the horror element.

Veal is an inventive, genre-blurring horror story with a compelling core concept and a monster that functions as a striking metaphor for toxic masculinity and the patriarchy. While the symbolism is front and center, the narrative still manages to pull you in with urgency and stakes.

The heart of the book lies in the dynamic between Lawrence and Franky. Their relationship is intentionally messy and emotionally charged, and while the banter between them didn’t always land for me, I still found myself surprisingly invested in their fate. There were moments where the chemistry felt uneven and the tone of Lawrence’s internal narration clashed with the rest of the prose—but at the same time, their bond had enough depth and development that I genuinely cared about their relationship.

The writing style flips between lyrical and conversational, which sometimes created jarring mood shifts, especially in scenes where humor was layered into otherwise serious or horrific moments. For me, the sudden tonal shifts occasionally broke the tension and made it difficult to stay immersed in the horror atmosphere. While some readers might interpret this as dark humor or camp, it honestly didn’t work for me.

That said, the story is undeniably gripping. I found myself turning the pages quickly, ready to face the monster head on. Despite some tonal inconsistencies and character interactions that didn’t always feel organic, Veal has a unique voice and a fresh take on horror.

3.5 stars

I wanted to like this more than I did. Don't get me wrong I liked it, it was a interesting lesbian horror story about yearning, misogyny, and trauma. I would recommend it if you're looking for a new horror book to read for sure but something about it just didn't "click" with me. The dialogue felt a little stunted, the pacing was off, and the themes were very redundant to the point where I was thinking "ok we get it" towards the end of the book.

There was a lot of promise here but unfortunately it just didn't stick the landing for me. I'm sure this will find an audience when it comes out, and I'm excited to see what others think about it then.

Girl the longing in this book. *Sweats*

Overall this was a fun read, very character centered very lesbian. Like Sapphic books are harder to come by in general but being the all around main focus? Yes please give me more.

The characters were a little much at times but overall there was a lot fleshed out to them and the lines they have, had me rereading several times. Ugh, love it.

The horror was there and not overdone. The message behind the book as a whole was very THERE, and was a little much at times. However it's a message I vibe with so I get it.

The journey with these girls was a blast and the ending was good when you got there. Overall a nice sapphic horror that will be joining my slowly growing collection.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Delicious.

"Your loophole of safety has become a noose."

Mackenzie Nolan's new novel is about Delores "Lawrence" Franklin. She move to the town of Mistaken Point to attend university with her best friend however the other reason is that the town is famous for the disturbing murders of many young women. Taking on a part time arcade job, Lawrence meets Franky. Soon she realises that Franky believes there is a monster responsible for the murders. Pippa who is Franky's closest friend joins the ranks and all four of them spend the summer trying to piece together the truth behind the violent acts and the monster that is at large.

That lingering unease when you know something is different to what is being portrayed echoes from the outset of this book. In this case its not just the back story of each of the characters but also their dynamics with each other make this an addictive and intriguing story.

The horror aspect of this story did well in bringing an intense and unsettling atmosphere to every encounter between these characters and that of the evil that is taunting them.

Deeper than that is the highlight on generational trauma and pain. The way these people have had to endure so much and although it may seem they are working through it, many aspects suggest the opposite.

This was an interesting and addictive read that I did enjoy.

I LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK.

for fans of the fear street movies and i saw the tv glow - this is one of, if not my favorite book of the year. writing and prose was so fucking beautiful, intriguing plot and lovable lesbian!!! characters, everything about it just so so tasty and juicy and incredible. i had the greatest time. can't recommend this book enough. i took a month to finish it because to be honest i fell so in love with this little world and these characters that the thought of finishing made me sad so i kept putting it off. which is high compliment. this is gonna make a kickass queer camp horror classic movie someday and i will be seated.

[3.5 stars]

Lawrence runs away from her previous capitalist lifestyle, and her parents expectations of her, to start a new in the small town of Mistaken Point with her best friend Stasia. There, she meets Franky, and learns about the gruesome murders that have taken place over the last year. The culprit has been caught, and yet the women of Mistaken Point are still feeling haunted.

The first couple of pages were a little tough to get through, but once I was in the book; I was IN. It was such a page-turning read, and I never wanted to put the book down, stayed up reading WAY past my bedtime. For a long time I expected the book to be a 4-5 star read, but there were elements that just started rubbing me the wrong way.

There were a lot of repetition in themes, conversations, and interactions between the characters, that didn't progress them or the story over and over again in the book. I really disliked the ending of the book. There were so many theories floating in my head that were a lot more exciting than the straightforwardness of the resolution. And I had the same experience with the themes in the book. I kept reading more into the themes and conclusions than was explored in the book, which ultimately felt redundant and lacking depth towards the end.

I did really have so much fun with the book in general, which is why I rated it so highly despite my disappointing feelings overall. The banter and dialogue was very cleaver, and exciting to read. It was also so refreshing to read about four very different lesbians bonding, creating such tight friendship and support with each other. One of the big highlights of the book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and ECW Press for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review<3

I feel very conflicted. A lesbian monster story? Sign me up! Although I feel that it was left unfinished.

You follow a girl named Lawrence who moved to a new town with her friend. She gets a job at an arcade and instantly crushes on the hot lesbian owner Franky.

Their relationship aggravates me a tad lol. I wish Lawrence didn’t come off so obsessed, and clingy, however it is pointed out in the story during a conversation between them so at least it was acknowledged. Just something about the relationship between all of the girls felt slightly frustrating to me. Like, I wanted to like them, but they also made me mad.

I did really enjoy the monster aspect, but the way it ended has me questioning everything.

I also wish there was more clarity and resolution on the murders. Who really did them? Especially the last one? So many unanswered questions. And I’m fine letting my imagination wonder, but with this story it’s hard to do that.

There were definitely some spooky gruesome scenes in this, and I loved that.

The scene in the apartment with the monster was awesome, and I wanted more!

Overall I do think I enjoyed it. I just wanted more. A better conclusion & more likable character traits.

Thank you Netgalley and ECW Press for the arc!

A horror novel that tackles misogyny, generational trauma, the threats women face, and features a group of lesbians teaming up to take down a monster should’ve been right up my alley. But unfortunately this didn’t end up working for me. While I really appreciated what the book was saying, the execution held me back from being able to love it.

I ended up feeling like the book was very slow and repetitive, like a lot of the scenes were accomplishing the same task or certain conversations were happening over and over again. Also, I felt like more needed to be done to convince me of the connection between Lawrence and Franky. And while I agreed with what the book was saying thematically about misogyny and violence against women, I felt like the ways it was incorporated into the horror plot was too on the nose. Some of the conversations or explanations ended up feeling clunky and a little bit corny.

While this book overall wasn’t a winner for me, it still did have some scenes and aspects that I appreciated. There were some great moments of tension with the monster and nice scenes of queer camaraderie.

DNF – While I didn’t personally connect with the storytelling style, there’s a lot in the heart of this book that others might really appreciate. The premise has promise, and I can see it resonating with readers who enjoy a more unconventional narrative approach. This one just wasn’t the right fit for me.

Okay, I literally don't know what this was. It was a pretty quick DNF for me.
I am still really thankful to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access.

A bit repetitive but in the end a very nice book. The writing style is really nice and a bit original. Would love to read more from Nolan.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

For horror fans this book isn't going to be something that will jump out and scare you. This is a book where there horror is created by grief which isn't going to scare you in the same way like a regular horror book will. I would say this book is closer to psycological horror where the further details you gain from the story the more horrific it becomes. I found this story to be absolutely fantastic. I have seen some reviews where other readers have had difficulty getting used to how this book is written. But as someone who is very much so in their own head and is constantly having thoughts, ideas, and dialogue, running through my mind. It didn't feel that much different from being in my own head with this main character. I found the writing in this book to be jaw-droppingly beautiful. There were many periods where I had to stop and re-read or just stop to soak in the phrasing and turn a phrase in the descriptors within this book. If you are somebody who loves yearning, or you love a character who is all consumed in their infatuation, to the point that they may be thinking about consuming their love interest. This is the book for you. I rated Veal 5 out of 5 stars, and I cannot wait for this book to come out in October. So I can have my closest friend who is a big Scooby Doo fan read this, because I think she would absolutely adore this book. I also think if you are a fan of stranger things, x files, Twin Peaks, or scooby doo. I think you would really enjoy this story.

A meandering monster hunt set in a small town, with the backdrop of Serial Killers and Sexism. The writing is pretty at face value; the scenes felt very cinematic, like I could definitely imagine this as a Limited Series type of show, but it also felt a bit bland? Part of the reason may be the pacing, as the central mystery, the monster roaming the town and possibly endangering the lives of women everywhere, felt quite dragging, and the build-up to it was whelming, to say the least. However, when the monster finally DOES show up in the flesh, I finally felt like I was enjoying the story. Unfortuantely, that doesn't happen until we're well into the book, but when it finally appeared I was like yes!! Terror and fright and dread!! Emotions at last! The friendships were very good but the central romance wasn't a strong point for me. I just could not understand why Lawrence was so down bad for Franky like... girl... get up? We do get to see her make some (snail-paced) progress, and the progression would probably have been fine if told through 3rd Person, but instead we are graced by First Person Simpering for an Ice Queen, which is good if you're into that. If you lack the forebearance though... good luck. I will say though, each character stood out in their own way, and I love an entirely female main cast like this one. Stasia and Lawrence (she's funnier when she's not simping) were my faves, gifts fhat kept giving, etc.

It's honestly a bit hard to pin this book in terms of genre, the horror and supernatural elements are more metaphorical than not. There isnt much in the way of gore, but the story itself is waterlogged with societal gravitas. For those who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a tinge of the supernatural, this may be less of a miss and more of a hit. The fun, well-written female cast is just the cherry on top (or the consolation prize, in my case).

Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I enjoyed this one! The writing style was my vibe, I ended up finishing the book in one sitting! The one thing I didn’t like was the repetitiveness throughout. It kind of hammers you over the head with “we have trauma”

"You're not veal. You're not trapped in this box, stuck from growth. I'm letting you out, I'm freeing you from this."

Unfortunately, I did feel a little stuck reading this book. I love the writing and the actual ethos of the book, but the plot line and the pace of the book were lacking. I wanted to love it more than I did. I wanted to love it like I love any angry girl lit. But this just missed the mark unfortunately. The entire story happened in less than 20 pages and the rest was just filler.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I don’t think I’d necessarily recommend this to anyone, but if someone I knew was reading it, I would be excited to see their opinion on it.

I love a good surreal small town and this book definitely delivers.
The novel follows two friends who move to a college town and become involved in a monster hunt. It has a compelling cast of characters, each with their own secrets. The main four are the backbone of this story and by far the most intriguing aspect.
A large part of the novel is a simmer that slowly builds tension through vague signs of a monster lurking in the corners. The plot boils over near the end however, I'm not entirely satisfied with the ending. It feels almost like a copout, but it could come down to personal preference.
The book does make up for this in the atmosphere. The depiction of a small town is uncomfortably accurate, especially with the community's response to a tragedy.
I think this novel will definitely find an audience in those who enjoy complex characters and a chilling surreal atmosphere.

I feel conflicted about Veal, which is more or less a queer re-telling of the boogeyman. I loved the characters and their backstories. I felt endeared to them immediately. Although, I found the inclusion of Pippa being native halfway through the story to be a little…poorly executed. Where I think the story could have become more clear is if the characters were being targeted because they were queer or because they were women. Based on their backstories, I expected queerness to play a much larger role than it did. We saw more from a misogyny standpoint. We also never really landed on why the victims were “legal” and around that age range, which was mentioned several times. What really took me out of the reading experience was the dialogue and some of the internal monologue. It was painfully awkward. Overall, interesting concept, execution not fantastic.