This book is raw and visceral and there are so many layers to the story that have really stuck with me since I finished reading. Something that immediately drew me into the story was AJW's writing and characterization. I was quickly invested in our MMC, Crane, and exploring the circumstances that led to him seeking out the hive.
From the start of the story, we are made aware of the core conflict that Crane will face and the true horror and trauma of the story spiral from there. The story very much leans into the struggles, both internal and external, that Crane is suffering through. The lack of control, the uncovering of truths, and the shattering of expectations really disrupt Crane's entire world. And as he is going through his own personal struggles as well as being forced into a painful situation, the story opens up more and more to the visceral and horrific aspects of the story.
I found that Crane's internalized struggles really added so much depth and empathy to the story. I couldn't help but to feel hopeful and want to fight for Crane to have any version of a happy ending. The story really managed to blend the emotional and physical aspects of the story effortlessly. We see relationships devolve, his entire worldview get shattered, and his internal sense of self starts to crack all while dealing with a variety of violence. This book really tackles the "hive mind" and how far we can go and what we might do to truly fight for ourselves.
While so much of this story is harrowing and heartbreaking and visceral, I found so much of it compelling--largely due to AJW's characterization and the heart of the MC.

I was surprised at how little we really got to see and explore the nature of the hives and the larger role of the worms/flies. While I grew to appreciate the sort of haunting presence and looming threat they posed (especially in contrast to what Crane initially views as a haven for himself), there were a handful of questions that I kept circling back to--especially in regards to how they came into "power" and how these hives were established and what their end goals might have been.

Overall, this is a dark, haunting story that doesn't shy away from anything. Having read other AJW books, his adult debut does not disappoint.
Probably 4.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press (S&S/Saga Press) for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best books I've read all year, and probably also the most gory book. This is a heavy read, but so so important in the topics it covers. Please check your TW, this does cover many triggering subjects. I can't recommend this book enough. This book follows Crane, an autistic trans man, who is a part of an alien worm cult, and unknowingly becomes pregnant and is then forced by the cult to carry the pregnancy to term. This book beautifully, terrifyingly, and tragically, covers a wide range of topics that are so important to read about, such as the trans experience, the forced pregnancy experience, and the lack of rights women and trans people have over their bodies.

Thank you to Sage Press Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book that I had to take a minute and process what I read before I could even think about talking about it. Now that I have thought about it I can safely say that I loved this book, even if I did think it was a bit intense at times. Andrew Joseph White was already a master of horrific stories in the YA world, so I was excited to see what he could do in the adult space, and oh boy he did not disappoint.

Huge thanks to Saga for the eARC of You’re Not Meant to Be Human!!

As an OG Andrew Joseph White fan™️, you can imagine how excited I was to finally have an adult book from him!! And it absolutely did not disappoint.

I will preface this by saying the normal horror / extreme horror warning: do your research before reading for what all is in here. Literally from page one we’ve got some…things…happening…so.

This book felt like it took all my thoughts and views on pregnancy and put it to page in the exact, disgusting way I’ve always wanted. It’s gross and alien and does not shy away from any details.

I REALLY enjoyed Crane as our main character and his choice to be ???. We spent a lot of time in his head and that’s exactly how I like to know a character anyway.

Did I give this 5 stars? Yes. Will I be recommended it? Only if I know your tastes well LOL.

What a rough and I mean rough read!
I knew that going in and I had to take my time with this for my own sanity but holy hell was this book just amazing. Andrew Joseph White does it again, how? I don't know. He always manages to grip me and drain me dry of all emotions. This book was so many emotions wrapped into a mind blowing book.
5 stars

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Well, holy shit. This book is raw and gristly and unsettling and like nothing I've ever read before. A favorite part of all of Andrew's works is how well he portrays the violence and wrongness of dysphoria and this one definitely brings that theme to a whole new level. His ability to make the reader feel emotions along with his characters is truly powerful. An intense exploration of gender dysphoria, autism, and the lengths one will go to to find a place when the world is not made for them.


Thank you S&S and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

WOW!
This was my first book by Andrew Joseph White and it did not disappoint at all! I was hooked from the beginning and it kept me on my toes.

The character development for everyone is well done. I went through a whirlwind of emotions from hate, love, confusion, angry, sadness, and even the need to want to step in and do something. I also felt creepy and eerie and definitely look at worms and flies a little different now.

The storyline was amazing. There was never a dull moment. I highly recommend reading!

Thank you to Netgalley, Andrew Joseph White, and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I get into this review, a warning. This book, while it knocked my socks off, is FULL of triggers and trigger warnings. Please proceed cautiously if you intend to read it, and take care of yourself.

Wow. This book was incredible. I did not inspect an Appalachian insect death cult horror to become one of my favorite reads of 2025, but this was a breathtaking masterclass is grimdark, horrific fiction. White wrote this with such an incredibly personal voice, speaking from experience about the Trans and Autistic life. The authenticity layered into this book is astonishing.

I loved this book for so many reasons, but the thing I'm gravitating towards most is the characters. None of them were "good" people. None of them made "good" choices. They just made the choice they felt was available to them at the time. Crane was, at times, insufferable. But he wasn't meant to be liked. Stagger was terrifying and creepy, but he was paradoxically often one of the most lovable characters.

I loved this book. And like Crane did for Jess, I hope he got his good ending. I hope he gives himself permission to choose.

I am both blessed and damned to have the honor to read this ARC.

This is an incredibly brutal look at a man stripped of his identity, agency, sanity, and any support system he could have had. Crane is not ok for most of this book. It could be argued that he’s never been ok, and it’s a question of if he ever will be, especially after everything that happens.

Every part of this book broke my heart and hurt me deeply. It was a masterpiece of a nightmare, and a horror to read. I’ll gladly put a copy of this on my shelf, where it will sit and never ever ever be reread.

Read the trigger warnings. Believe their warning. And if you can, please (CAREFULLY), dive into this hell of a book.

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Holy. Cow. What else is there to say about this book? It was just as gruesome and horrifying as promised, with that dark yet still hopeful ending. Andrew Joseph White knocked it out of the park again, as expected.

I especially love the look into being trans and being mentally ill, and the constant feeling of wrongness that comes with that. The way the main character is at times desperate for pain so that the outside matches the inside- AJW manages to put such difficult intricacies into perfect descriptions. Everything was dingy and gross in the best way.

I do wish we had spent more time with the Hive, learning what it is and why it exists. But, that’s not a big enough problem to drop my rating below five stars. Gonna sit here and vibrate in my seat until the next book comes out.

Having read Andrew Joseph White’s YA horror, I knew he was going to come hard in his adult debut. I was not disappointed.

Crane is a young man not that far into transitioning, living with a violent boyfriend and part of a cult with a pretty disturbing leader. He’s autistic and nonverbal. A couple of decades into the future, things are not better for transgender people or people with disabilities. Nope. This may take place in a dystopian future, but this is also a book that reflects the messed up world we live in right now.

From page one, you are on notice that the body horror will be intense. Bodily autonomy, or the lack of it, underpins the entire book. If you have trouble with body horror revolving around pregnancy or childbirth, make sure you are prepared before reading. If bugs or worms aren’t your thing, be prepared. I cannot go into all the trigger warnings, but suffice it to say, this isn’t for the weak of heart.

There were parts where I hated reading this book. But dang, did it make an impact.

Sickening in the best way! This book set out to show the dark sides of mental illness and all the ways someone can be abused in a relationship, including reproductive abuse, and it did not shy away from the ugliness at all. This is a rough read at times, content wise, but it definitely one that is going to stick with me for a long time.

My only issue with this book is that I wish we got more details about how the Hive works and where their power comes from. I spent a lot of time at the beginning trying to piece it all together and it just ended up being a bit of a distraction from the main story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Idk wtf I just read but I loved every second of it. One of the best books I’ve read this year! 10/10 recommend… unless you’re squeamish; then proceed with caution.

thank you to the publisher for providing an early review copy.

this book is disgusting. the entire time i was reading, i felt grimy, covered in an ick that couldn't quite come off. white's ability to craft an atmosphere so uniquely soiled, so futile is especially stellar in this novel. i often wonder if the level of gore in his books classifies them as upper ya or if they should be something higher, just because of the way they freaked me out. i shall worry no longer, those are definitely ya, and he can and will write bolder and filthier than before.

this is a distinctly adult book, but it still has the classic characteristics of an andrew joseph white book. an autistic, trans male main character, a love story, a happy ending despite it all, these are all things that made me love his work the first time and that made me love this one.

please, please heed the trigger warnings on this one. it is disgusting, it is gory, the main character's intrusive thoughts made me feel seen in a way that makes me think i should talk to my therapist, and you NEED to take care of yourself when reading.

i hope crane is doing well, i now need a shower.

"Nobody knows a thing about the hive. That’s the truth of it. Nobody knows if they’re aliens or demons or some horrible natural thing that’s crawled up from the earth’s crust a few decades ago. If they came from space or another world or the dirt."


4.5 stars.

This book combines two things I love:

1. Demon alien worm bug overlords with mind control powers.
2. A toxic age gap relationship with an older guy "who looks like an extra from American Sniper or Zero Dark Thirty."

And one thing I absolutely hate:

Pregnancy.

Especially pregnancy after the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Talk about an American horror story.

If you're down for a visceral, absolutely disgusting horror read, then this book is perfect for you.

I'm someone who can imagine characters and settings in vivid detail and this had my stomach churning to the point where I had to share these disgusting descriptions to my bookish socials. I don't wanna experience grossness (and a hot problematic boyfriend who might or might not be SA'ing the MMC in several scenes) in my own little vacuum. Everyone needs to suffer along with me.

On a serious note, I absolutely loved how this entire thing was a metaphor for the absolute trauma that comes with being pregnant as someone who doesn't want to be pregnant.

I don't know the trans man experience with pregnancy, but as a cis woman who wants nothing to do with pregnancy, this is one of my biggest nightmares.

This book really brought to life the absolute body horror that is pregnancy and giving birth. The pregnancy portion of the novel grossed me out even more than the demon alien bug worms. Thanks for reaffirming my choice to never ever get pregnant and give birth.

Pro-choice for life. Reproductive freedom for all.

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.

My first thought is what the fuck did I just read lol. This was my first Andrew Joseph White books and I absolutely understand why people love his work so much. This book was exceptionally well written, the horror absolutely kept you gagging and disgusted.

Unfortunately, this book was simply not for me. The characters outside of Crane fell very flat for me and for the most part it was hard to tell some of them apart. There were a couple lose ends and normally I don't mind that but I think this book needed a one year later epilogue or something similar to really wrap up.

I do think this book is perfect for people who really love body horror, bugs, and symbolism.

Unfortunately I DNF’d this after two attempts to read it and both times I just can’t stomach it. The triggers I think are just too much for me at this point in life. This is definitely more of a me problem than the book problem.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Y’all, this one wrecked me. Upon finishing You Weren’t Meant to Be Human I spent an extra hour just reflecting on the human experience and what it means to be a person with the ability to get pregnant. Yes there was gore, dread, and disgusting moments, but it was so much more. Andrew Joseph White’s portrayal of forced pregnancy, cult mentality, and self hatred was unflinching.

First, I have to warn fans of AJW’s YA horror books that his adult debut has a very different tone. While the YA novels have doomed premises and gore throughout there is also overwhelming love from found family or blood relatives and sweet side romances. Human has very little of that and the relationship Crane finds himself in is not sweet in any sense. While I don’t personally think this book is any more gross than his YA, many reviewers think it is.

As for the book itself, it just hits hard. There is quite a long portion of build-up that I do believe is necessary to truly feel and understand the ending. It instills the feeling of dread, drives in the utter betrayal the main character, Crane, feels, and gets the reader to really question what the motives are of all these characters. Then when the climax of the story reveals itself in true horror fashion the ending left me screaming at the pages.

To be honest, I can’t say much else without writing spoilers. I ended up loving this book and everything AJW put into it but will be extremely difficult to recommend as there are so many moments that may trigger even the most mentally sound individuals. Do not go into this book lightly.

See review links below...

https://www.tiktok.com/@connor_matthew/video/7546711909932731678?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7508068891794556446

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/H6LraHpZeZg

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOPCk36kgzZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I honestly don't even know what to say about this book. It's incredibly good on a craft level, but it's also just so hard to read. Devastating, visceral, violent, incredibly sad. There are scenes in here that hold such an immeasurable emotional weight that I actually sobbed or had to look away, collect my thoughts, leave the story be for a while.
It's the story of Crane, a trans man in the middle of an alien invasion of sorts - it's never exactly explained what these worm hive beings really are. These beings make Crane part of their hive and it's the first time he's actually able to live as a man, be called a man by the people around him. He's living with what turns out to be one of the most horrible loathsome I-need-you-to-die-a-thousand-brutal-deaths men of all times, Levi, and basically on page 1 we know it's a toxic abusive (physically, sexually, emotionally) relationship. I cried for Crane before we were even a few pages in, and it only got worse from there. The one happiness Crane still feels is to be finally seen as the man he is - and that image of himself gets shattered when he falls pregnant.
I freely admit that I've actually never really thought about trans men and pregnancy. I know the positive stories that hit the media, but I've been sheltered from the horrors of unwanted pregnancy and all the self-worth issues that come with it. So Crane's story hit me like a truck and left me numb in the end. The is no romanticising of pregnancy, it's brutal, it's destructive and Crane can't escape because his alien overlords want him to carry to term and Levi enforces their rules with all the brutality of a psychopath.
The horror of this book is less the alien swarm and more the emotional and physical destruction of Crane, his hopes and wants and needs, his sense of self. It was absolutely devastating and also felt highly personal.
I left this book feeling like I learned something, understood something deeply human. I also left this book feeling like I needed to stare at an empty wall for a while.

Beware the trigger warnings, but if you can stomach them - please read this book. You won't forget it.