This book knocked the wind out of me. It started off so innocent, with the cute happy family, and then slowly descended into madness. The mystery and intrigue were coming in hot, leaving me on the edge of my seat until the very end! Personally, my favourite chapter was "Intervention", where the horror really started dawning on Kyra (and I). I was always rooting for Kyra, especially after reading about her gut-wrenching nightmares, so the epilogue just shattered me. "Shiny Happy People" is one of those books where you're actually left wondering whether or not the heroine will succeed and hoping that she overcomes the enemy. I was really excited to receive this ARC, and and obviously I had a valid reason to be since it was a gob-smacking, poignant read.

Holy shit this may be one of the best books. I’ve read this year. Teens young adults they deserve quality horror two in this does just that a modern take on the body snatchers, but with the reality of power controlling through cult mentality that is shiny happy people love the ending. I think it was necessary and it very much made me reflect on how power contributes to what we expose an intake in our bodies

'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' meets 'The Faculty' with a pinch of 'The Substance'

"Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect... The one and only thing not to forget: You. Are. One. You can't escape from yourself."

My favorite f**king book of the year! ♥

It comes as no surprise that I didn't even hesitate when I was offered an early copy of this book. Clay is a wild man when it comes to horror, so I knew that I was in good hands. Would my mind be safe? No, probably not. I trust this man with delivering an earth-shattering horror tale that'll be loved around the world. So I trust him...

This book was so damn good. It started off good, so I got a little nervous when it got closer to the end. I was anxious that the end wouldn't live up to everything else, but it did. Holy s**t! It really did.

The story keeps your eyes glued to the pages and my brain kept telling me to read faster. Everything about this story kept me entertained. Never a dull moment and I never knew where this was going to take us next. It honestly had me on the edge of my seat and my jaw on the floor.

"Shiny Happy People' is my favorite horror book of the year. Nothing will top this for me. I can't wait for you all to get your hands on this book. Just promise me that you'll stay away from spore.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I went into Shiny Happy People intrigued by the premise, but I ended up not finishing the book. The writing style was really off-putting for me—trying too hard to be edgy or modern with lingo like “fam” that came across as cringey instead of authentic. It pulled me out of the story more than once.

On top of that, there’s a lot going on with the main character—too much, honestly—and none of it felt grounded enough to keep me engaged. The sudden introduction of a biotech company subplot felt wildly out of place and disconnected from everything else, like a random twist that didn’t earn its place in the narrative.

This book might appeal to readers who enjoy chaotic plots with a blend of conspiracy and dark satire, but the execution wasn’t for me.

Shiny Happy People is a haunting and intense YA thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Kyra's world is already fractured by her childhood trauma, and as she navigates high school, the introduction of a mysterious new party drug turns her life into a nightmare. The story skillfully blends psychological suspense with supernatural elements, creating a chilling atmosphere that keeps you guessing. I loved how the author explores themes of identity, trust, and the scars of the past—Kyra's internal struggles are as gripping as the external danger she faces. The characters are complex and relatable, especially Logan, whose quiet determination offers a glimmer of hope amid chaos. The tension builds steadily, leading to a shocking crescendo that left me eager for more. While I wished for a tad more resolution in some areas, overall, Shiny Happy People is a compelling, creepy read that's perfect for fans of dark thrillers and supernatural horror. It’s a disturbingly fun ride into the unknown!

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Clay McLeod Chapman’s “Shiny Happy People” is a genre-bending, paranoia-fueled YA horror thriller that starts as a commentary on Big Pharma and teen drug use but quickly mutates into something far more chilling: a sci-fi nightmare of alien plant invasion, mind control, and a creeping loss of humanity. What begins with a mysterious new drug infiltrating a small town high school spirals into a breathless, high-stakes story of survival, dread, and identity.

The book centers around Kyra, a sixteen-year-old still grappling with childhood trauma from her mother’s drug addiction. She’s anxious, disillusioned, and increasingly alienated—even before her peers begin to change. When a strange party drug starts circulating at school, promising to strip away negative emotions and “make you happy,” Kyra is one of the few who refuses to take it. But everyone else, including her brother and best friend, soon begins to feel... off. Happy. Too happy. Inhumanly happy.

Chapman captures Kyra’s voice with realism, even if her frequent slang abbreviations like “sched” for “schedule” can occasionally grate. Still, it’s this voice—blunt, anxious, and razor-sharp—that roots you in her growing fear and confusion. Kyra’s experience with anxiety is handled with authenticity and empathy, and her internal battles mirror the external ones she’s forced to confront.

What follows is a slow-burn descent into full-blown body horror and alien invasion. Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers for a newer generation. The drug’s side effects become terrifyingly clear: it doesn’t just suppress emotions—it overwrites people completely, replacing them with smiling, docile replicas grown from sentient, alien plants. There are moments of visceral horror, especially one jaw-dropping scene at a high school pep rally that will stick with you long after the final page.

Though there’s definitely a message here about the dangers of pharmaceutical overreach and society’s obsession with emotional control, “Shiny Happy People “never feels like a lecture. Chapman keeps the tension tight and the twists relentless. The last fifty pages are pure nightmare fuel, propelling the plot toward a heart-stopping, WTF-worthy ending that feels both inevitable and completely surprising.

Chapman’s first YA novel is a triumph of tone and terror. It’s deeply unsettling, occasionally weird, and full of the emotional intensity that comes from watching your entire world change—and wondering if you’re the only one who sees it. “Shiny Happy People” is as much about the monsters inside us as the ones replacing us, and it’s perfect for fans of dark speculative fiction with sharp social commentary.

Overall, this is a relentless and haunting mix of sci-fi horror and emotional realism. With body-snatching plants, sinister drugs, and a relatable heroine battling inner demons, “Shiny Happy People” is a must-read for horror fans who like their stories smart, scary, and disturbingly close to home.

I have read everything that Clay McLeod Chapman has written to date and this book falls right in step with his other incredible works. He takes on an entirely new subject matter in writing the main character as a high schooler, but I think he hits the nail on the head. He perfectly surmises the struggle of anxiety in a high schooler and the feeling of being lost and losing friends before he becomes classic Clay with plot twist after plot twist and an ending that left me with a “WTF?!” Thought echoing through my head.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Chapman has easily become one of my favorite authors and an auto-read for me, right up there with Riley Sager with his ability to make you question the reality of the world he created.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for garnering me access to this wonderful book.

Clay McLeod Chapman's first YA novel is an absolute blast. Taking a classic sci-fi idea and putting very much his own horrific spin on it, Chapman has made a book that readers 12 and up are going to love. Kyra is a very complex main character, and Chapman puts her in situation after situation where you have no idea how she's going to get out of them but her bravery and fight make you root for her the entire way. It's a dark story, filled with deep questions that teenagers all struggle with, but with the added horrors of... well I don't want to spoil it but it creates a palpable sense of paranoia throughout. There are some scenes, especially one involving a pep rally, that will forever alter the way I look at a few school situations.

The last fifty pages or so of this book left me breathless and literally on the edge of my seat. Just when you think it can't get any more stressful, Chapman ratchets it up another notch and ends the book on a moment that will leave you absolutely screaming.