Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: The audio is incredible, it is full cast, sound effects, and really brings the story to life. The narrators did a wonderful job with this and I highly recommend.

Review: This book is for fans of "Daisy Jones and the Six," with some rock, end of the world vibes, and damn good fun. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are written well There is also an air of mystery, the whole time you're trying to figure out if the ex-boyfriend is the antichrist or if a creepy religious cult is just after him. There is a lot of commentary on music, the power of music, and the fears of major religious groups have about the power of music.

I am giving this book four stars. I really enjoyed it and it felt like something was slightly missing. I think I was hoping for more "devil, satanic, end of the world vibes." If you are hoping for a lighter version of that then this would probably be a 5 star for you!

Lily Lawlor’s ex is the Antichrist, and it all started with a punk band, a riot, and a body count. Years later, after fame and silence, Lily finally breaks her silence to tell the story: one of love, death, prophecy, and the end of the world. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not but this is the version they’re sticking to.

This felt like a wild mix of Preacher and Warrior Nun, with a splash of Almost Famous - the strangest combination, but somehow it totally works. There is a lot going on in this book, and it’s as chaotic as an angsty teen (enter references to Avril Lavigne and pop-punk - yes they’re in the book) watching a GWAR concert. It also gave me a bit of nostalgia for the 90s grunge pop scene which I was totally into.

The audio production itself was great, fantastic voice actors all round but I did get confused about who was speaking at times. Totally the fault of my own brain. It took me a while to figure out who was who, especially at the start. The constant shifting points of view were a bit disorienting, but in the end, that structure actually gave the story a really good pace.

I liked all the characters overall, but I would have loved to see the conflict between Drake’s humanity and his role as the Antichrist. I felt like it only scratched the surface and I wanted to see more of that internal struggle and how it shaped his choices. But I did like how he came across as one of those annoying exes you just can’t seem to get rid of, and those moments gave Lily a bit more fire in their messy dynamic.

Garth, though, completely stole the show for me. Every time he appeared, the story lifted - his dry humour, tenderness with Ramona, and grounded presence gave the whole thing some much-needed sweetness.

This was my first DiLouie book (I was wanting to listen to Episode Thirteen because I heard the audiobook is really creepy) and it won’t be the last! 3.75/5

Thanks to Hachette Audio and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My Ex, the Antichrist follows Lily Lawlor and Drake Morgan who form the 90's Pop Punk band The Shivers. Misfortune, death and anarchy follow the band, culminating in Lily confessing to a murder that occurred a decade after the band first formed. Fast forward to present day, Lily and the band have now agreed to an interview, detailing the events.

I couldn't help but see similarities between Daisy Jones and the Six when I started this book, albeit a different decade and a different genre. I do love a good rock band story, so I wasn't mad about the similarities at all. The story took a much different turn however and I enjoyed the ride. There was fun, action, religious references and a bit of romance thrown in.

The full cast audiobook was great, and I enjoyed the personality that each voice actor brought to their characters, which was appreciated to help keep track of the multiple POVs.

Overall, this was an unexpected fun read, recommended for those who enjoy a rock band read with a horror vibe.

The audiobook was an ARC, with expected release date 1 July 2025. Check it out!

What happens when you start a band with your hot, mysterious crush... and he turns out to be the literal Antichrist? You get “My Ex, the Antichrist,” a book that cranks every dial to eleven, lights it all on fire, and asks you to hold its beer. It’s part religious fever dream, part coming-of-age collapse, and all gloriously unhinged.

Told through an oral history interview style (think “Daisy Jones & the Six” if the devil had groupies), it’s the story of Lily Lawlor, a religious college dropout turned punk-rock goddess, who co-founds the Shivers with Drake Morgan, a man so charismatic he might just bring about the apocalypse. Literally. In 1999, their Battle of the Bands ends in a riot and multiple deaths. In 2009, Lily walks into a police station and confesses to murder. And now, the whole band is finally telling their story.

Let’s start with the audiobook because holy hell, it’s an experience. Lisa Flanagan embodies Lily with this shaky resolve that cracks open at the exact right moments. Jesse Vilinsky and Alexander Cendese bring the band’s internal chaos to life with bratty charm and layered rage. Pete Simonelli as Drake? That man’s voice should come with a warning label. It’s low, velvety, and just unsettling enough to make you wonder if he is about to start the end times between guitar solos. The full-cast audio doesn’t just enhance the story... it is the story. The interviews, the snippets, the music? It’s like bingeing a cursed documentary podcast that might possess your speakers.

The band dynamics are peak disaster found family. Romona is a feminist drumming firestorm with loyalty issues and a bat to grind. Eric, the bassist, starts out idolizing Drake but ends up having the most emotionally satisfying arc of them all. Julian, the renegade priest turned frontman, preaching redemption... or something darker... mid-riot, drawn into the fray with his bible and broken faith. Even Malcolm, their bumbling manager, is heartbreakingly real. And then there’s Lily. Co-dependent, devout, volatile, brilliant. Watching her ping-pong between loving Drake, fearing him, rejecting him, and nearly destroying the world because of it is exhausting in the best way.

But let’s be real. The pacing stumbles in the middle. There’s a chunk where it’s all haunted metaphors and sermon-style monologuing, and it starts to feel like you're trapped in a theology class run by Tumblr. The emotional weight lands best when it’s grounded in the band's relationships and messiness, not the heavy-handed “music is prophecy” sermons. When it leans too hard into the religious discourse without the character momentum behind it, it starts to plod.

That said, when it works, it slaps. The horror isn’t guts and gore... it’s existential. People don’t just attend Shivers concerts. They black out, lose control, forget what happened, then wake up to devastation. A man burns down his neighborhood. Rogue priests hurl themselves into mosh pits, like spiritual warriors chasing chaos. The power in the music is real, but no one knows if it’s holy or hell-sent. And through it all, there’s this haunting idea that love can’t stop destiny... but maybe it can name it, scream at it, and try to outsing it.

Is it horror? Not really. Is it satire? Not exactly. It’s more like religious trauma wrapped in eyeliner, distortion pedals, and some excellent stage lighting. The real horror is how good DiLouie is at capturing what it feels like to be nineteen and think you can save someone who’s actively dragging you to hell.

This is a 3.5-star riot. Because it's bold and weird and beautifully messy. Because the full-cast audiobook turns chaos into art. Because the Shivers are the most dysfunctional, lovable band of possibly-doomed misfits this side of Revelations. And because you know you’d still show up front row at one of their shows. In one of their t-shirts.

Massive thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the early access to this full-cast fever dream. I’ll be lighting a votive, cranking the volume, and pretending my ex didn’t also summon the occasional existential crisis. May the next ARC arrive with less fire and brimstone... but just as much screaming.

From the synopsis, I thought this book was gonna be kinda stupid. But, I’m gonna be honest with you guys, this was such a fun read. It’s a unique concept (although I swear I’ve seen a movie or show that’s kinda like it?? Maybe it reminds me of the band from Jennifer’s Body in a way?? I’m not sure!) but, throughout the book, I became attached to the characters, the story, and the theme. There were some sorta stupid parts in it, but it was stupid in a fun way so I didn’t mind it. There are horror elements in it, but it’s not “scary”. You know what to expect from it from the beginning and it doesn’t disappoint. Overall, I had a great time with it! I would recommend this to anyone who likes funny horror because that’s what this was to me.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Unless, of course, her ex turns out to be the actual Antichrist. Sounds like a fun premise, right? Well, buckle up, because this one takes a nose-dive straight into the fiery pits of missed potential.

I thought I would get a supernatural comedy-meets-horror with biting wit. Something sarcastic and fun. Instead I got a relentless, clunky sermon dressed in faux-clever dialogue, like being trapped in a Twitter thread that doesn’t know when to quit. Subtlety? Never heard of her. This book hits you over the head like it's wielding a flaming Bible. The metaphors are tortured, the pacing’s all over the place, and the “satire” feels more like your snarky friend who won’t stop monologuing at brunch. Yes, we get it. The ex is evil. Truly. We were on board the first five times.

The protagonist is supposed to be a hot mess with a heart of gold, but she ends up reading more like a Buzzfeed quiz result. And the Antichrist? Less charming-devil and more moody-influencer-who-went-vegan-for-a-week. There's no nuance here, just broad strokes of caricature and sass with no substance. It plods from set piece to set piece, each chapter feeling like déjà vu from the one before. There are moments where you can see the ghost of a good book trying to claw its way out... but it never quite makes it past the gates. I kept thinking of a line from one of my favorite shows, "What was your favorite part?" "The heavy-handedness." That was my least favorite part, though.

This should’ve been a guilty pleasure. Instead, it became a literary exorcism. With some ruthless editing and a little less screaming into the void, this could’ve been something deliciously dark and devilishly fun. But alas, the devil’s in the (lack of) detail.

✨ 5 MF STARS ✨
Thank you to NetGalley and the audio gods for this unhinged, chaotic, deeply fascinating ride into religious warfare, rock bands, and the damnation of mankind. My Ex the Antichrist is everything I didn’t know I needed.

🎸 Eric — my sweet bassist boy. Watching him idolize both Drake and Julian only to realize he could be a good man without their shadow? That arc hurt. His ending broke me a little, but I love how fully he found himself.

🥁 Romona — drums, anarchy, and feminist power wrapped into one. She was all heart, rage, and loyalty. She rode the band’s madness with her middle finger up the whole time, but her unwavering presence for Lily? Beautiful. And her arc? Phenomenal.

🔥 Drake — yeah, he’s literally the Antichrist. His performances awakened the most primal, destructive parts of people (a man burned down nine homes after one show?!). But he fought his fate longer than I expected, and his love for Lily gave him a haunting sort of humanity. Can you love the Antichrist out of someone? I’m not sure, but I loved watching Lily try.

🎤 Lilly (Lilith) — trapped by religion, saved by music. She was the moral compass in a band full of chaos, the first to question their power, and the only one who ever said no. Her co-dependency with Drake, her fling with Romona, her brief love for an archangel (iconic)… in the end, her choices changed the world. Humanity lives in her.

🌟 Julian — frontman #2 and the Bringer of Light. He wasn’t here for a long time just a good time, but he burned bright and gave all he had. A tragic king.

📋 Malcom — the poor manager. He never quite fit, but honestly? The band wouldn’t have existed without him. He held it all together even when no one else could.

🕊️ I’m a sucker for books that dive into spirituality and religious war, and this one scratched every single itch. Music as a weapon? Angels and demons in a tour van? Yes please.

🎧 The audio? Chef’s kiss. Every voice brought these characters to life in all their messy, holy, hellish glory.

QOTD: Would you rather fall in love with an archangel or the Antichrist?

This is my 5th book by this author and honestly my favorite so far by him! This one was so fun and cliche in the best way possible. My Ex the Antichrist was like Daisy Jones and the Six only with Satan.

I was really excited going into this book with the interview format! I really loved that for Daisy Jones and the Six, so I was even more stoked to read a horror book with a similar set up.

Although I appreciate the level of work that goes into the multi-narrator audio, this story fell flat for me. I just felt like nothing really happened and there wasn't enough character development for me to care about the things that did happen. I love religious horror, I love multiple POV's, and I love music, so I wondered - why am I not enjoying this? As mentioned, each POV lacked background to create a likable character, the religious aspect was almost too much and also not enough in some ways, and where was the horror or suspense? Additionally, coming form a DIY punk/emo/hardcore background, I found the whole music element very, very cheesy. But, that is truly a me issue. I am picky and sometimes pretentious when it comes to the descriptions of music and music scenes, especially when it comes to an alternative genre.

This was a miss for me, but I don't think that will be the case for everyone. It has an audience, I was just not a part of it.

This was so well-written with a lovable bunch of losers, a perfect found family, experiencing the joys and heartache of “making it big” while wondering if your lead singer is the anti-Christ.

I have no idea how DiLouie managed to make this book so gotdam fun while also being terrifying! It is the ultimate good vs evil with a bunch a flawed kids who just want to make music and find a little joy.

The audiobook with a full cast was an EXPERIENCE. Although I will definitely get a hard copy of this book, I am glad I listened to this first. So well done.

This was nothing like I was expecting, this is not a horror novel. But a slow burn mystery, however it was really good and kept me intrigued till the end.

So here we go, the premise, we follow Lily a religious, sheltered college dropout who accidentally starts a rock band with the antichrist. But he is also really cute and charismatic, so let's roll with it, he can't be such a bad guy overall, right?

The story is compelling and the characters are super interesting and well flesh out, they are all an integral part of the plot and fun to follow around. For the most part this is just contemporary fiction, about the characters forming the band and giving concerts (some weird ones with demons as back up dancers, I must admit that was pretty cool), why the light mystery of who really is the antichrist and if he is really that bad. Around 70% things start to get way more crazy and we do have some spooky and creepy scenes alongside all those campy parts we had till then.

I overall really enjoyed the book and I think it would make for a great campy horror film. I won't say this is an amazing novel, but it's super entertaining and fun so give it a chance, out of the three books I've read so far by the author this one is my favourite. Its expected to be publish on July 1, 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️ 1 star
My Ex, The Antichrist by Craig DiLouie

This book had such an exciting premise—how could a story with that title not deliver? Unfortunately, it never lived up to its potential. The pacing dragged, the characters felt flat, and the plot, which could’ve been darkly hilarious or sharply satirical, was instead mind-numbingly dull. I kept waiting for the moment it would take off, but it never did. So far, this is the most disappointing read of my 2025 list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Battle of the Bands meet apocalyptic evil.

1999, the year before Y2K, the ending of the world as we know it, Lily meets Drake and along with a few misfits, they formed a band called The Shivers. They receive success in their music, but is it because of their talents or is it all the doing of their and leader Drake, who they later learn is not who he seems and creates havoc where he goes. Lily and the other band members will have to navigate and find their way out of this one if they want to survive the impending apocalypse.

The premise of this book initially drew me in, and while the first half set up the characters and storyline, it felt a bit repetitive towards the middle. The ending did pick up the pace more, fast-paced with more action, though, so overall, a 3 stars read for me.

The narration of the book was very well done. In fact, the documentary/podcast style is what kept me listening. If it was a physical/ebook format, I don't think I would be drawn in as much.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I really loved it!!! It felt so refreshing reading it and definitely got me out of a reading slump. Highly recommend it!!

My initial interest in this book was motivated by wanting to see how the cliche rock star getting mixed with something devilish could be reinvented and fresh. Having grown up enjoying the metal and rock scene, I figured this could be a fun nostalgia trip. I ended up disappointed by how cringe this story felt. Unfortunately, I never felt a sense of danger or cared much for the character's wellbeing and was a little confused by how the characters would under-react to extreme situations happening around them. Having said that, the is some good here. The voice narrators did a great job at portraying the goofy characters and expressing emotion. DiLouie is very talented at writing stories with multiple POV's, and weaving between their inner thoughts and interactions between each other. 🎧

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchet Audio for this Advanced Listener Copy.

(3.5 stars rounded down to 3)

From the offset this gave me Daisy Jones and the Six turned up to 11 vibes!

The story was something I hadn't really come across before and was really intriguing and some moments really drew on the horror side.

The main characters were strong and I felt myself rooting for our main one even if she had done something bad. The side characters didn't really quite as strong as as an audio listener I did get them confused a few times.

Overall this was a fun listen and kept me engaged throughout. It just lacked a bigger ending for my liking this the rating of 3.5 stars!

A clever and twisty take on horror, romance and doomed relationships with a punk rock playlist.

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 10 hours and 12 minutes
🎤: Lisa Flanagan, Jesse Valinsky, Alexander Cendese, Pete Simonelli
The full cast narration of this audiobook was one of the highlights of my listening experience. The format with which this was recorded narrated was super interesting and unique and kept me entertained. I really liked the musical additions as well as the interview style format.

Themes:
💫: Toxic relationships
💫: Never giving up

Representation:
🖊️: punk rock scene
🖊️: 1990's early 2000's nostalgia

Tropes:
💗: Teenage dirtbag
💗: Pop culture


🥵: Spice: 🚫
🧟‍♂️: Gore: 🚫
Potential Triggers: religion framed as sanctuary **check authors website/social media

Short Synopsis:
Lily Lawless has made some questionable decisions in her life, but the worst one of all was dating her ex Drake, who is also the antichrist. Following Lucy and her other bandmates interview style, we learned about the rise, fame and fall of The Shivers. A punk rock band in the late 1990s to early 2000s. A fall that had apocalyptic consequences that lead to Lily confessing to murder.

General Thoughts:
This is a book that is definitely outside of my wheelhouse. While I have read campy horror in the past, it is not something that I naturally gravitate towards. But this one was actually pretty fun and the full cast of narrators and introduction of punk music definitely helped.

There were definitely POVs that I cared about more than others. And there was definite distinction between points of high action and downtime. During the times where the action was more subdued, and the POV weren't as interesting. My mind tended to wander. Which definitely took me out of the story. But when the book was in times of high action, it was absolutely entertaining, and I could not stop paying attention. I just wish it hadn't been as stark of a difference between the two.

The interview style with which this was recorded was super unique for me, and I really enjoyed it. I really liked that type of style where I felt like I was almost listening to a documentary.

The real shining aspect for me was the characters. They all felt super unique and like they had their own agency. They all had their own thoughts, opinions and characters. None of them bled into each other and had their own roles within the story. Lucy Lawless was super interesting and I felt very relatable to her through a good portion of this novel. Everyone has dated somebody shitty, which is super relatable. Granted not all of them ended up being the antichrist. But I can feel that way at times lol

Overall, I would say that this was a super unique interesting premise that didn't completely work for me in all aspects, but was definitely more interesting than it wasn't. I would read something else by this author. I feel like if anything it is an entertaining quick read that breaks up denser books.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a free audiobook via NetGalley and Run For It. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook
I'm not sure what I expected this book to be like. I don't think I thought it was actually about the apocalypses and anti-christ. I thought overall the book was pretty good and the story was fun. I really loved that they had a full cast for the audio book. They also announce their names again every new chapter so that was helpful. It did sound like a band being interviewed which made the book more fun. I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. Overall a decent book but not a horror book. It was more of a thriller in my opinion.

I was lucky enough to have both the ebook and the audiobook and was able to do an immersive read. The audiobook had a full cast and was very well done and kept me listening. After you get through the first 25% the story picks up. To me it was more of an interesting read/listen rather than scary. I would recommend the audiobook hands down. Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing me an ARC all opinions are my own.
4 star

3.75 stars
I REAAAALLLY wanted to love this one. It’s a solid rock-horror tale with definite “We Sold Our Souls” vibes (which I adored), but the horror was a bit too mild for my taste—I was craving more blood, more chaos, more well ANTI-CHRIST. That said, it was still a good story. The audio production was top-tier, with multiple narrators that brought the band to life. The interview aspect of how it was written was super cool too!

We’ve all had bad exes—Lily Lawlor’s just happens to be the Antichrist.

In 1998, Lily and Drake Morgan start a punk band. He inspires faith in some, fear in others. Lily believes.
In 1999, a Battle of the Bands ends in tragedy—one murder, three dead teens, and a riot no one forgets.
In 2009, Lily, now a superstar, walks into a police station and confesses to murder.
Now, for the first time, the band is ready to talk.

Prophecies. Death. Love. The apocalypse. Maybe it’s all true. Maybe it’s all myth.
Either way, they’re finally telling their story—and they’re not backing down.