This book was absolutely not for me but it will absolutely be for somebody. I think I went into this expecting it to be something it isn't, which is a me thing. I expected Horror, but I didn't expect bleak to the point of hopeless. I expected messy, but I didn't expect a lack of nuance. I expected to be shocked, but I didn't expect to squint at my iPad and wonder what the point was. In the end, this is a grim, nasty, obviously personal story about a transgender man who doesn't bend to the will of the power at hand. It has a distinct voice, and Crane is easy to love, but I think this is almost a bit too over-the-top for me to consider good. Granted, what's not for me will be for someone else. I think the content note at the beginning of the book is a bit too modest. And while I do think this is an interesting story, I'm not sure if it's actually a good book. It's gritty, polarizing, blatant, buggy, brutal, ostracizing, and morbid. I wouldn't call it political, despite the author marketing it as such, and I personally don't think the author should be publishing this under the same name as his Young Adult titles.

This wasn't for me. But it's for someone. As a Horror title? As a squick title? As a "oh, you really went there, huh" title? You might enjoy it.

EDIT: After sitting with my thoughts about this book and reading other reviews, I did come back to edit my star rating. I personally just did not vibe with this or find it all that thought provoking or generally appealing. It's ultra-personal on a level that should not have been published without refinement and deep-dives into the meaning of the overall story, in my opinion. As a transmasc person myself, I just kinda sighed at this book and said to myself "this should've been kept in Andrew's diary".

Uff. I don’t think I was prepared for just how gruesome this book is. I loved Hell Followed With Us and was expecting a similar vibe from this, but White made the jump into adult horror from YA and held absolutely nothing back. If you read this, I recommend an empty stomach.

I’ve never read an ending that was simultaneously so viscerally horrible and yet hopeful. I think the mental images are permanently scarred on the insides of my eyelids. Part of me would like to forget that I ever read this. It’s gross and heavy and I do not feel good having read it... but I think that’s exactly what you’re meant to feel.

I cannot bring myself to give this five stars because of the mental state it’s left me in and the fact that there wasn’t ever a point where I enjoyed what I was reading; however, I do think White accomplished exactly what he intended, so in being unapologetically and perfectly what it is, it may deserve that fifth star.

The horror aspects of this were HORRORING which is exactly what I was wanting and I loved them. The autistic and trans representation and exploration is so needed rn as well.

However, this fell flat for me in many places. I think worldbuilding could’ve been explored more, and many times I felt the main character was a little flat—maybe that’s the point though?

Overall, 3 stars. I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this but ultimately isn’t a fav! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC ✨

I don’t even know where to begin on a review for this one. Saying I “enjoyed” it doesn’t feel appropriate, but it is definitely going to stick with me for a long time. So incredibly timely, visceral, and painfully well-written! I will eagerly read anything Andrew Joseph White writes.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC! Now, this isn’t the typical type of book I gravitate towards but I thought the synopsis was intriguing. It’s a dark, haunting, freaky and fascinating horror story. Please read the trigger warnings before picking it up. Perhaps not the perfect book for me but I can definitely see this book blowing up and finding its people.

When I saw the bright bold letters "Alien meets Midsommar" I was intrigued. Alien is one of the most monumental achievements in both sci-fi and horror, and not just for creating the Xenomorph even though that is pretty cool. Not many people realize it's about the horrors of forced pregnancy ,the invasion of bodily autonomy by a hostile force, and the trauma surrounding it.

From then on we've had so many horror stories about unwanted and forced pregnancy correlating with themes of identity lost and body invasion. And you know what? It's rightfully so because the act of pregnancy itself seems horrific and so sugarcoated that we really don't have deep honest discussions about it. I love horror as a genre because it takes these everyday scenarios and shines a bit more truth on the matter.

After I finished this book though, I think we have a worthy successor to Alien.

This book really packs a punch in terms of body horror and tying in current political events (specifically the fall of Roe V Wade and the rise of redpill ideology). It felt hopeless and bleak but the writing was so captivating that I couldn't put it down. The descriptions of body horror are amazing and I refuse to believe that this is the author's first "adult" book. And those last 2 sections of the book? Won't be forgetting for a while.

Woah. I need to sit and meditate on this. But also I don't. This was so heavy, especially the commentary woven in this. This is the type of book that makes you read reviews.

Oh man oh man. I read this because I wanted to branch out and read something really different. And boy did I. I’m… shooketh might be the best word I can use to describe this book. At no point did I know how Crane would react to a certain situation and I’m happy my brain does not think that way. This book is also extremely scary because it shows how messed up our world can get under certain circumstances.
Overall thoughts on the books: disturbing and horrifying.

As a huge fan of AJW, I am thrilled to be reviewing his newest release.

While I found all of AJW's prior works particularly horrifying, this novel shows a real sense of creative freedom in the adult age range. It was very challenging to read at times due to Crane's situation and mental and physical struggles, but this is why I value AJW's voice in publishing. Horror as a genre should be thought-provoking and move us in some way, even if it's a flinch backward, because it shows us what we have to be scared of.

I appreciated, as always, AJW writing a contained story (not that horror often does series) because I felt like it contributed greatly to the claustrophobic nature of Crane's situation and the time-sensitivity of a pregnancy. Crane choosing not to speak also greatly delivers on the feeling of insularity as well as provides much-needed neurodivergent representation, which AJW never misses on.

I knew going in that AJW would be focusing on, and prioritizing themes of reproductive abuse and he definitely delivered on this goal. Overall, I felt like some of the supernatural or otherworldly elements could've used a bit more fleshing-out in terms of explanation, but I do think the ambiguity of the "hive" worked despite some confusion.

This book has one of the most jaw-dropping endings I've ever read and overall I can't wait to continue to support this author!

As a big AJW fan, I was extremely excited for his adult debut. Although this doesn't claim the throne for my favorite of his works, I was certainly impressed. This book is NOT for everyone, and I would strongly encourage readers to check trigger warnings before going into this one. However, if you are prepared to deal with the heavy content, it's an enthralling and evocative novel. Though some of the content is viscerally upsetting, it never feels gratuitous. AJW continues to be a favorite author for me largely because of how well he represents the experience of mentally ill, trans-masculine autistic characters. I particularly enjoyed the nuanced portrayal of Crane as a non-speaking character. I expect that this is a book that will prompt a lot of discussion amongst readers. I'm still thinking about some scenes weeks after finishing.

Pregnancy horror is really the worst for me because I already find the details of even healthy, wanted pregnancies to make me squeamish. But on top of that, White expertly brought out the unique horror of a forced pregnancy with a trans man — the sickening loss of bodily autonomy, the elements of forced detransition, the mix of dysphoria and body horror Crane feels just from the pregnancy inevitably progressing down its natural course. Despite the sci-fi/fantasy elements, the main horror is all grounded firmly in reality. Crane is trapped in an abusive relationship that is facilitated by his community (read: cult). He is betrayed, manipulated, and violated by the people he thought were his salvation, and isolated from anyone who would help him. He's forced to carry this pregnancy to term even as he's unraveling and spiraling into his violent intrusive thoughts and thoughts of suicide. All because the hive wants the child for its own purposes and sees Crane as nothing but a body to use.
It was unsettling to see someone already so unwell, pushed and pushed to the absolute extremes of what he can handle, exposing all the raw, disturbing corners of his mind. And it was more sickening to watch how the people around him saw all this happening to him and didn't just turn away, but went ahead and helped keep him in the situation that was killing him.
The ending pulled off a shocking, though not entirely unexpected, escalation to the horror with Crane's actions after the birth of his child. I was unsure near the end how the story would deal with following through on its premise and forcing Crane to give birth, what would happen to the child, and could it fit the tone and themes without going overboard? And it certainly delivered on that end. It was awful and pulled no punches, but gave enough insight into Crane's mind in that moment that, through his jumbled thoughts, he had a sort of twisted but understandable logic behind his actions.
There were other parts of the ending that came and went too quickly for my tastes. Crane's parents, for example, felt tossed in with how briefly they made an appearance. There were some threads that needed to be tied up a little more to be satisfying.

This book was…a lot. Fast paced. Eye opening. Gruesome. It was such a hard read, but absolutely worth it. I anticipated it being brutal and extremely gory—I am familiar with Andrew’s prior work and have enjoyed all of it—but the thing that impressed me the most was Crane’s contradictions. So relatable, and so very human.

If you like horror with lots of triggers (A LOT OF TRIGGERS) threaded through with whip-smart social commentary, you’ll probably love this book.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an early copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to Saga Press for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

How delightfully horrid...

This book is such a poignant commentary on today's society and misogyny and transphobia. It really keeps you thinking, in both the classic horror way and the existential crisis way. It makes you think about the things that get under your skin...literally. And it makes you think about the ways that society has built you...literally.

I don't know how to talk about this book without giving away too much. Go into it blind, you'll be horribly delighted to do so.

(please check trigger warnings first)

You Weren’t Meant To Be Human is a gut punch to all AFAB trans and nonbinary individuals in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. You Weren’t Meant To Be Human follows Crane, an autistic transman who joins a group of parasitic aliens that provide him with a home only to bend their “love” in order to coerce a child from him. This novel is full of physiological horror of being forced to carry a child to term and being imprisoned in a body you have no control over. While it’s full of fantastical horror (crawling bugs that burrow into skin, realistic depictions of abuse, the fear of potentially watching friends be murdered) the real horror stems from a lack of control that mirrors current life in America’s society.

I went into this hearing of people being sick on their stomachs at depictions of childbirth and the last few chapters following, however nothing disturbed me more than the noncon scene in the livestock exchange and Crane’s desperate attempts to take control of his life.

This book read both quick (AJW has had excellent practice making action rapid fire) and slow-placed (waiting as Crane went through trimester after trimester was grueling and the anxiety was amplified by the reader also feeling a lack of control). In a time where trans and nonbinary individuals are being attacked on all fronts, this was the true to nature horror we’ve all been waiting for. This book made me and my fears feel seen in a time where the oppressors are playing the victim card.

Amazing work. White has done it again and this has to be his best horror novel yet. That ending almost gave some splatterpunk novels a run for their money!

This book follows Crane, a gas station worker who bangs his coworker, both of whom are also members of a cult controlled by invasive worms that can crawl under your skin and lowkey control you. Oh and they want him to have their baby? Well as a trans man, that's literally the last thing crane would ever want.

My literal only sadness with this novel was the baby not being a pile of worms. What made up for it was that ending that for those who have read Dead Inside before was quite reminiscent! Seriously though, thank god we got closure on all levels honestly.

This is definitely one horror novel I insist you should read if alien worms sounds like a hella interesting read cause it is.

This book had me hooked within the first few pages and I finished half of it in one sitting before realizing it was past midnight, and I did in fact need to sleep. I then proceeded to finish it the following weekend because I needed to know what was going to happen. It's the darkest book I've read this year, and was very worth the read. It's traumatic, relevant, and heartbreaking all at once. Crane does not want to be pregnant, and yet his hive forces him to be. Crane broke my heart so many times reading the book, knowing that he was being forced into something that he did not want and more than once thought it would be better to be dead than pregnant.

Heed the trigger warnings as you go in, because they are needed. I feel like this is one of the most relevant books to come out this year given everything that has gone on in the United States within the past 5 and this is set during an unspecified time period, but a relative future. White does such an amazing job not only writing the fear of it all but also how things could've or would've been for Crane had he been able to terminate and get away from where he was. A real, raw, and amazing read for sure.

This is one of those books that can completely alter your brain chemistry. From the beginning to the very end this is a brilliant thrill ride of a novel that also delves into the trans experience in a way that is absolutely remarkable and vital. But at the same time it is a brutal, unrelenting novel of survival and horror. It’s amazing. Read it!

Never thought I'd get to say that I read a book about a cult centered around sentient worms and flies, but here we are. You Weren't Meant to be Human was AMAZING! Andrew Joseph White has written 3 YA horror novels over the years, but this is his first entry into the adult horror area. And WHAT A DEBUT. This book was overwhelming in everyway possible that can be good and amazing. It claws its way under your skin and will live there forever. There were so many moments where my jaw was on the FLOOR. THE FLOOR.
Crane, a young autistic and mute trans man, has had a rough go at life to say the least. On his last attempt at ending his life, he is brought into the fold of a cult that centers around a sentient mass of worms and flies. And he is able to become the man he wants to be, all thanks to The Hive. He unquestioningly works for The Hive. He's even found a companion. But one day he finds out he is pregnant, and it's the last thing he could possibly want for himself. And to his horror, The Hive is insistent on him keeping the baby.
As a woman who never wants children, the idea of getting pregnant horrifies me. I can't imagine the terror of it not only being unwanted but harmfully dysphoric for someone like Crane. Crane's pain was palpable on every page of this book.
This has to be Andrew Joseph White's best work yet!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press for giving me the chance to read this book. It was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and it did not disappoint.

Crane is "one of the grateful ones". Within his hive's community, he has been given a chance to transition and live a life where he can finally be himself. He finds a connection in Levi, a killer who mostly sees him for who he is. When Levi gets Crane pregnant and the hive demands the child at any cost, Crane sets off a chain of events that will have you grasping for breath.

This book is visceral, unflinching, and dripping with body horror. The invasive, parasitic nature of the swarm mirrors the terrifying reality of pregnancy; how it can feel like your body is no longer your own, how you're treated as a vessel rather than a human being. That fear is palpable on every page. The hive's unwavering devotion to its survival also serves as a poignant metaphor for religious systems or institutions that seek to control individuals' bodies to preserve their power. It's brutal, disturbing, and challenging to read at times. Yet, it's undeniably effective in the way it evokes dread and forces you to think about autonomy, sacrifice, and the cost of survival. It's the kind of story that will linger with you long after you've finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press/ S&S for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

Seeing AJW debut with adult fiction was very exciting after reading Compound Fracture. I went into You Weren’t Meant to Be Human with uncertain expectations. I knew we would veer slightly sci-fi, but I wasn’t sure how much. This story was grounding and relatable. I love AJW’s characterizations and writing style above all else. Aside from a pace that was slow at times and an ending that seemed rushed, this was a win to read.