Absolutely devastating in the most brilliant way. The writing is stunning—lush, poetic, and deeply unsettling. The body horror here is next level—grotesque, relentless, and weirdly beautiful. The Hive and its followers are disturbing enough, but it’s the emotional horror that really wrecked me.

Crane’s story gutted me. The last 10% had me full-on spiraling—I was U P S E T. It’s personal, it’s bloody, it’s horrifying, and it says so much about identity, survival, and the cost of “salvation.” I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. A.J.W. is absolutely an author I’ll keep following.

This is legit my new favorite book but it's also extremely horrific, disturbing, and gross so???? be warned but also join me??

You Weren't Meant to Be Human is a masterpiece of queer horror and I mean that with 100% of my heart. It is the perfect way to explore horrific yet human topics such as forced pregnancy, self harm, suicide ideation, toxic relationships, and combining them with a cult that is lead by a mass of flies and worms. There is very little joy in this book, but for some reason it just really struck home with me.

I could literally write essays on how much I adore this book but I will just say - AJW is an incredible author and the way he writes the trans autistic experience feels so revealing and raw. I love love love it. 6 out of 5 stars. I am disgusted, I cried, I questioned my life choices, and I cheered. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!! <3 <3 <3

5.0 stars

I’ve always love White’s books for being so horrific you can’t look away, but taking away the restraints of YA has turned it up to a thousand. This entire book, despite being about alien worms, hits so close to home and it’s not hard to tell why. Watching Crane suffer through a pregnancy that is not only unwanted, but is one of his greatest fears, was gut-wrenching. Add onto that the fact that the only source of comfort for him during this time was a man who’s own body was being hijacked by space-worm-fly-insect-creatures and the pain doubles.

Hard to read in the best way, this horror novel does not shy away from the grotesque or uncomfortable. But it also doesn’t start very far from reality. Yes, there’s aliens, but most of the books horror can be found in our own world right now, and that’s always been what horror does best. What a phenomenal fucking novel.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the advanced access to this novel! Be ready for Sept. 9th to get your hands on a copy!

This was an extremely brutal read - as it SHOULD be. Dealing with bodily autonomy, autistic nihilism, domestic abuse, the grim state of the world - it is bleak and dark. And yet! And yet, there is survival and there is community and there is love here, still. It is still dark and perhaps the most visceral book I've read in a long time, but it felt right.

I was full-body cringing and flailing by the end because of how gruesome it becomes - PLEASE heed the trigger warnings. But if you can stomach it, this is a primal scream from existing in the world that you don't belong in and that will take it all from you if you let it. But you don't have to let it.

If you enjoyed Andrew Joseph White's YA titles, you'll want to pick this one up as well and if the world feels a bit like a festering hive taking away your autonomy you should also consider picking this up.

dark. disturbing & visceral but so so so good! with the state of the world right now, especially with politics, this definitely hits harder. I couldn't even imagine going through what crane went through being a trans man & being forced to carry to full term. I could really feel how hopeless he felt throughout the whole book. my heart really broke for him, by the end I was holding back tears. he deserved soooo much better & I was ready to jump into the pages & beat Levi's ass!

the writing was incredible, the body horror is gross, the hive & its minions are disturbed. the last 10% had me messed up, I was U P S E T! I can't wait to read more from AJW.

I can’t tell if AJ White found out a way to trigger most of my fears of pregnancy as a trans man or if all our fears are under the same umbrella. My mom got pregnant with both my brother and I “young” and “on accident” as they say. There was no conversation we ever had about sex ed, high school, boys, the future that didn’t have “don’t get pregnant” attached like a warning. I think she was trying to do a “beyond scared straight” thing with me. we also used to watch 16 and pregnant and she would tell me all the things that you couldn’t do when you had a kid, especially when you had a young. I have been primed to be scared of pregnancy. on top of that - being a frequent flyer at the hospital for disabilities and being black, queer, and afab… I know the gamble when it comes to medical professionals. this book is a horror novel that combines all that for me in a bloody disgusting way. it messed me up. it’s like when you watch your first wildly violent french horror film. you’ve never seen anything like it and part of you hopes you won’t ever again. holy shit.

Wow this book was a lot. It was so so good tho. The absolutely raw feeling of being trans and being so uncomfortable with your body that you wish the worst would happen so you won't look the same anymore. The unapologetic violence and pure anger over the people who have wronged you. They did this to you. This book does not shy away from making you squirm, while reading with a main chatcater so morbidly curious you also become morbidly curious. Andrew Joseph White really hit the nail on this one being his debut adult horror novel. It was disturbing and unsettling and amazing.

4.5 stars rounded up

This was absolutely disgusting, like absolutely just fucking weird. Please read the trigger/content warnings before reading this but holy shit, this is EXACTLY what I want from an adult horror. I actually needed to take breaks when reading this because it’s so so well written and so utterly disgusting that you’ll have a physical reaction to what you’re reading. And the ending?? Cathartic, but in a, “I need to stare at a wall for a few hours” kind of way. Amazing horror novel, I need Andrew Joseph White to purely focus on adult horror in the future, but I will never read this book again and I need a physical copy in my home.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy.
I’ve been looking forward to reading AJW’s debut adult horror. White excels at inner monologues, high-level concepts, and slowly building tension through his writing. These are all elements I have come to expect from his work. My main interest in seeing his writing growth was how the ending would be handled. It’s a discordant ride there, with a satisfyingly dark and gore-filled conclusion. There were plenty of moments that had me gasping in shock while staring at the page.

There are a few issues I have with this novel. For one, the elements of bestiality were an unnecessary inclusion to this novel. They added nothing to Crane’s intrusive thoughts and pregnancy fears. Truly an awful choice. Following that point, the blurb and marketing of an “alien invasion” and Crane doing “anything” to make his pregnancy stop are not accurate. Crane was passive and frustrating to read at times. I wanted a more active main character.

The least cohesive part was Crane’s parents showing up at the end. There was zero, and I truly mean zero, set-up for this. They appear as a plot device and disappear after a quick conversation. Crane showcases some of his past through the narration, however his relation with his parents is woefully underdeveloped. Crane’s actions vs his internal monologue remain at constant odds with each other.

I had similar issues with Crane’s friends. Up until the 30% mark the novel is slow and it sets you up with the hive, Birdie, and Aspen. Then it violently swings back to the gas station to focus on Jess. The pacing picks up after this and hits its stride with 70% and beyond being a rapid-fire read. This was when I finally felt like I was reading the gripping horror I came looking for. Which Jess was an excellent addition snapping Crane into the present, and the ending with her and Crane and the pickup truck was fantastic with ripcord tension. Which was then crashed by his parents.

Characterization aside, the overall themes and body horror work well. This book is gritty, slow burn, and intense. I would hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone that isn’t already a AJW fan. I think it requires the context of his previous works. It’s a brutal read, and I appreciate that White does not flinch away from discussing heavy topics. While this book is an interesting attempt at expanding his collection, I would much rather AJW return to YA. I don't find that adult horror suits his writing style.

A vile, beautifully written testament to the human condition. Absolutely stomach-turning, with an ending not for the faint of heart, "You Weren't Meant to be Human" is a master-class in body horror. I don't know how to describe the atmosphere of the prose except for "humid"; wet and squishy, intestinal, perfectly suiting the content of the prose. While the pacing was by some metrics slower, the narrative never dragged-- White's writing, on both the micro and macro levels, is just too good for that. Magnificent.

*Thank you Saga Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

What a wild ride that was. I always feel incredibly impressed by books that are able to make me feel such a vast range of emotions and are able to elicit such visceral reactions from me. It’s very dark and deeply upsetting and at times was hard to read, but I’m really grateful that I continued to the end. It is unapologetically what it is, and does not shy away from anything no matter how twisted or dark it might seem, and honestly I think, in particular in our modern political climate, books like these are absolutely essential. If after reading the content warnings and understanding what you’re in for, you think this is something you can handle, I absolutely recommend this book.

I love Crane so much. It’s hard for me to articulate, especially without spoilers, but he is just an absolutely incredible character, and I saw a lot of myself reflected in his thoughts. All the characters in this book are wonderfully fleshed out and deeply interesting, even the ones we don’t spend much time with. The web of relationships is so messy and toxic, at times it felt like watching a car crash that I just couldn’t look away from.

This book is one that I feel I will be thinking about for a long time after finishing. I’ve held a lot of respect for AJW since I read *Hell Followed with Us,* and after reading this book that has multiplied infinitely. As I said, this book is dark and messy and emotional and doesn’t shy away from very hard things, but it’s an incredibly important story nonetheless.

(Reiterating one more time, this is one where the content warnings are mandatory before reading! Even if you think you can handle it without knowing, read them anyway!! Trust me!!!!)

super excited to have gotten the arc for this. but boy this book is fucked up, graphic, disgusting, and uncomfortable. absolutely read the content warnings, especially if you're read his previous books and are expecting something similar. i think i need some more time to sit on my opinion of this book.

Andrew Joseph White's You Weren't Meant to Be Human is a potent and unflinching dive into body horror and the anxieties of marginalized existence, particularly for trans and neurodivergent individuals. Building on his acclaimed young adult works, this adult debut is a visceral and deeply personal statement.

The novel plunges readers into a nightmarish Appalachia where "hives" of worms and flies offer desperate humans a gruesome salvation in exchange for loyalty and corpses. Among these followers is Crane, a trans man seeking escape and a chance to transition, even if it means silence and an unconventional life within the hive. His fragile peace is shattered when he becomes pregnant by Levi, a fellow hive member, and the hive demands the child's birth. This terrifying demand propels Crane into a desperate struggle against the very community that offered him refuge, leading to a devastating and bloody spiral.

The book has intense and often nauseating body horror. White is lauded for his ability to translate the lived experiences of neurodivergence and gender dysphoria into a truly horrifying and deeply resonant narrative. The horror isn't just external; it's intricately woven with Crane's internal struggles, making his journey both empathetically painful and viscerally disturbing.

Beyond the grotesque, You Weren't Meant to Be Human is praised for its profound social commentary. It explores themes of bodily autonomy, control, and the "othering" of marginalized bodies in a hostile world. The book adeptly captures the intersection of alienation and dysphoria with unflinching honesty, asking readers to confront their definitions of humanity when societal veneers are stripped away. The narrative is described as raw, intense, and emotionally honest, with Crane serving as a complex and sympathetic protagonist whose internal world, although often painful to witness, is meticulously crafted.

In essence, You Weren't Meant to Be Human is a must-read for those who appreciate horror that is not only terrifying but also deeply meaningful, using the genre to explore profound human experiences of identity, survival, and resistance in a world that often seeks to control and diminish. It solidifies Andrew Joseph White's position as a significant voice in contemporary horror, particularly for his unique ability to intertwine the grotesque with the deeply personal.

I'm always a sucker for a story set in Appalachia and this one was so unexpected. It's one of the most eerily empathetic books I've ever read, with a lot of subject matter I didn't expect, but also unexpectedly learned quite a bit from. Be aware of the content of this book.

It's not an actual alien invasion lol. It does what a I want a horror to do for me.

Ooof, all the trigger warnings. This is a seriously dark book about the body horror of pregnancy. Read all of the listed warnings carefully, then hold on to your stomach and dive in. Crane, a transman who is mute and barely passed actively suicidal, is in serivce to the Hive, essentially a creepy bug cult. When his not-really boyfriend gets him pregnant and he is unable to terminate, Crane's misery kicks into high gear. This book goes into depth about the horrific things we consider normal about pregnancy, to the point where the most disgusting things aren't the creepy bugs eating corpses or the act of burning a face into boiling water, but the indigities and pain of bringing apregnacy to term. Brilliant and necessary, esspecially after the fall of Roe v. Wade and the ascendancy of Cristian Nationalism that relegates those assigned female at birth to constant child bearing.

“You Weren’t Meant to Be Human” is Andrew Joseph White’s first adult novel, and it’s a visceral, haunting, and emotionally complex read. Marketed as Alien meets Midsommar, that comparison isn’t far off. This is folk horror with teeth, body horror with purpose, and speculative fiction that feels all too real.

The story centers on Crane, a trans man living within a fanatical cult known as the Hive, where he is forcibly made to carry a pregnancy. White, a trans man himself, brings deep authenticity to Crane’s experience, which makes the horror hit even harder. The body horror elements are intense, but never gratuitous. They serve the story’s emotional and political core. There are many content warnings (all thoughtfully outlined at the beginning), but none of the trauma here is written for shock value. It’s written to say something.

As someone who became even more fiercely pro-choice after having my own child, I found White’s portrayal of bodily autonomy (and its violent denial) deeply resonant. The novel is unflinching, but not hopeless. And though it is deeply disturbing at times it is also powerfully cathartic.

This is a book that will not be for everyone, but for those who can engage with it, it offers a necessary and harrowing kind of empathy. White has crafted a fiercely personal horror story that’s as political as it is emotional and I admire the hell out of that.

[4.5 stars; my second most anticipated book of 2025, and it did not disappoint!!]

if this book had a smell, it would be the metallic scent of thick black blood. if it had a physical form, it would be festering masses of thick worms slithering between your fingers or wriggling beneath your skin. if it had a taste, acidic bile burning your throat. that said, it was probably my least favourite of the a.j. white books i've read - but that doesn't really mean a lot since i adored all of them. it was almost perfect, except it wasn't, but i can't fully explain why without spoiling some things, so i'll refrain from that till its published :p

anyways, fuck him, for making me have a disgusting lump in my throat and the vague feeling i was about to throw up at any given point during the six hours i spent reading this. yes that includes the breaks i had to take to breathe & drink water & remind myself i am Fine (unlike crane) (poor guy)

this book both subverted my expectations entirely, and also exceeded them? i don't know, there's a lot going on in my brain, but all i can say is READ READ READ!!! ajw is such a great author, i rarely ever feel such physical emotional reactions while reading as i do with his books tbh

i will be SEATED for the announcement of his next release 🫡🫡

A dark, disturbing, and compelling read. A mix of invasion of the body snatchers and a handmaids tale. A great response to current political climate with a horror twist

So this book is AJW’s first adult horror, be mindful of that if you’re into his YA stuff, and it really shows. The book is about Crane, a selectively mute autistic trans man and one of the human servants to a pulsing, swarming mass of bugs that lives in the manager’s office of a West Virginia gas station. Crane’s life and his world collapses when this hive demands he continue with an unwanted pregnancy, presumably for use in its own nefarious purposes.
I’m on the record as enjoying really atmospheric horror. I’m not a huge action and super tight plot structure girlie when it comes to horror. I like it when the vibes are deeply uncomfortable and I have to sit in them. A slow burn, if you will. This book absolutely delivers on that. This is a political horror, it’s about the way that masculinity is shaped under patriarchy, it’s about the way fascism uses birth to propagate itself. Because of that, the central question of the narrative and its answers are kind of peripheral to the story itself: why is this happening. Why? Because they can. Because they always fucking do. The bugs are like, eugenics and white supremacy as expressed through control of reproductive freedom for uterus havers. But I really do think the main draw of this book is emotional. It’s really interior to the main character, aided along by the fact that Crane doesn’t speak, he hasn’t spoken since his severe autistic burnout post high school, and it keeps the narrative really close, you get a front row seat to a man destroying himself so the world can’t destroy him first. It’s nasty as hell, it’s deeply political, it’s a cry not so much for help but just so someone will hear it before the inevitable bloody end. And yet I also interpreted it as hopeful, at the very end. I had a blast, I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, I think what would have taken it to a 5 star for me would be more exploration of a particular character called Stagger, everything his existence implies is so juicy and I would like more of it please.

This was not what I expected, but I still mostly enjoyed it. I thought with the description it was going to lean into the sci fi elements, but the term alien invasion definitely felt misleading and this was mainly focused on trans body horror, which probably was my favorite part so it all worked out well. However, some of the parts that weren’t body horror felt very random/not cohesive, such as his parents showing up, which felt very out of the blue. Another element that I really disliked in here was the brief mentions of bestiality… I know they were included sometimes as intrusive thoughts but felt a very unnecessary element considering all the other disturbing elements
this was going to be a 3.5, but the end was simultaneously horrific and so right, so bumping it up to four.