I binge read this in one sitting and then just sat there, horrified. This isn't a *bad* thing, but I found myself being punched in the heart several times.

Firstly, I just want to give a big shoutout to @netgalley and @ceejthemoment for allowing me to give an early review on this book, it’s my first attempt at getting to be a real reviewer, so let’s get into it, shall we?
I have SO many thoughts about this story but I can’t give too much away,
even though I really want to, 🫠but I just wanna start this off by saying that if you’re a fan of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’, I think this book is definitely for you. However, be warned, this book is slightly more disturbing with way less pages to get through, okay maybe more than just “slightly”..🫣
But I think that’s one of the things I loved about this book! Being just under 400 pages yet it said so much.
I laughed, I cried, and at times I was speechless at what I was reading because it hit so hard.
I knew I loved C.J Leeds’s writing when I read ‘The Maeve Fly’ earlier this year, but after reading this one she has possibly become one of my favorite authors, and I know she for sure wrote one of my favorite books of 2024.

If you’re into catholic school girls losing and then finding their way again. Or the tale as old as time about a near and future apocalypse,then you’re going to enjoy this book.
It hits all the horror junkie marks!
It was gross, it was sad, and it was possibly one of the most through provoking books I’ve ever read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- and I wish I could give it more but then it would just seem like I’m sucking up😂
but seriously, you guys need to read this book!
Coming to this spooky season: October 15, 2024
Thank you again for letting me get an ARC of this book. Hopefully this is the first of many, as long as I didn’t bore anyone too badly with this review 😅

First off, thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC!

This book was an absolute gut punch. I loved CJ Leede’s debut, Maeve Fly, and had high hopes for this follow up. I think this second novel is on a whole different level.

Maeve fly kept us on the edge of our seat, with how unhinged our main character was. The thread throughout “American Rapture,” at least for me, was just how much my heart broke for Sophie, the whole time.

Having grown up in a similar religious landscape as Sophie, I related so much to the feelings of guilt, shame and fear that the church left her constantly battling against, amongst everything else going on around her. CJ nailed those complex emotions and the constant back and forth of wanting something more out of life and feeling deeply wrong for feeling that way.

When you set all those feelings against the backdrop of a virus that spreads across the country, indiscriminately causing the infected to violently act on their sexual urges, you get so many layers of both chaos, confusion and contemplation for our main character.

There’s so much heart and emotion in this story, and I definitely teared up on more than on occasion, but we still got that edge of your seat momentum that kept me glued to the page. I can’t recommend this enough. A very easy five stars.

Holy shit. This was intense.

End of the world and a virus that makes people violently sexually attack others? Sounds like it could be cheesy, right? Well..this definitely was not.

Like many other readers, I’m tired on the Covid adjacent stories. We lived through it and I really don’t want to keep being reminded of it. But while this is a virus book with all the classics of quarantine zones and quickly spreading infection, it was so well written that I didn’t roll my eyes at it.

The main character was so infuriating at times but Leede made us fall in love with her from the beginning. The whole book is full of likable characters, though. Which makes it that much more gut wrenching to read.

No one is safe in this book. NO ONE. Check trigger warnings if you have a hard time with death or murder of certain groups.

I have struggled to read anything pertaining to a virus outbreak since COVID, I never really consider it a trigger but it definitely makes me feel some type of way so I usually avoid the theme. This book made my pandemic experience feel like a trip to the beach. Holy. Fucking. Shit. This was gnarly. Gruesome and horrifying. Parts felt like a fever dream. 👀 I couldn’t put it down.

I’m a big fan of religious themes in horror and seeing a crisis that’s so familiar through the eyes of someone repressed by religion was incredible. Sophie coming to terms with how different the world is and can be from what she’s always known, dealing with the guilt and shame her religion instilled in her, and growing through such tragic times gave me so much hope for her. Hardly the best time to have a sexual awakening though 😅 Barghest was the epitome of good boy, I would level cities for him. 😫

CJ Leede knocked this out of the park, I am so excited to see what else she has in store for us. This book has left me completely GUTTED. I very nearly frisbee’d my kindle. I hated it and I loved it. I loved it so much.

American Rapture, on the surface, is a horror novel about a lustful virus that spreads across the US. (If you're someone who can't handle sexual assault or rape depictions, I suggest skipping this one.) But this book is also about grappling with desires in a world where lust is deadly, finding yourself and your truth after being raised Catholic and sheltered, and coming to grips with the beauty and wretchedness of being human, all amid a national pandemic.

While apocalyptic stories aren't my usual go-to read (or watch), I found this book compelling and traumatizing... but in the most beautiful, heart-wrenching way. Leede's descriptions are visceral, poignant, and altogether immersive—exactly what you want from a horror narrative.

I recommend American Rapture to anyone looking for a coming-of-age horror with smatterings of religious trauma, unique pandemics, and a diverse cast of characters.

This is a pulse pounding, unrelenting, gut wrenching horror novel. It has elements of grief horror, loss, guilt, and religious oppression while also being a full on blood drenched apocalyptic story.

Sophie is sixteen when a virus turns the world on it's head and very quickly runs out of control. Her entire life has been extreme religious indoctrination. She knows very little of the world as she has been raised to follow God's teachings and only those teachings. Her twin brother was disowned by her parents after discovering that he was gay and she's always looking for him.

Once the shit hits the fan, Sophie must leave her home to find her brother, hoping he's still alive. This virus is always fatal and those infected spread it as much as possible in some horrific ways before succumbing to it.

The author does a fantastic job with combining this almost coming of age story with the terrifying gory action of this new world she finds herself in. There's plenty of brutality, plenty of blood. But there's also plenty of heart and thoughtfulness.

We're going to meet some amazing characters along the way and they'll be with us through most of the book. Of course, not all of them will make it through. This is especially emotional with a few of them as the reader has gotten to know them. On more than one occasion I found myself saying, "NO....". when certain characters left us. That's the power of the author's writing. She made these characters feel so real that I thought of them as real beings.

This is a superb horror novel and one that will be on the best of 2024 lists at the end of the year. I highly, highly recommend it.

R.I.P. Barghest

i am sort of conflicted about this book. It was well written and I grew to really care about the characters. The premise is wild in a good way. A pandemic comes and those infected get so horny that they become violent, murderous killers.
Sophie is a 16 year old raised in an extremely religious household. A catholic household. Her parents are basically cult members and she is very restricted in what she's allowed to do and consume. Very sheltered. Unhappy and knows nothing about nothing. When the pandemic comes to her families door she makes the first step. She takes her mom's car and drives. In a bid to find her twin brother who has gone missing.
I think this was well written and I am proud of Sophie for opening her mind. To me personally this book paints Christians in an overly crazy way. I say this as a horror loving Christian . Although I understand that the Author was drawing parallels with the extreme right in the U.S. And Sophie's experience growing up wasn't an uncommon one.
Other then that this book was engaging and well written. The ending was bittersweet. So much loss. So much unknown in Sophies future but also she has hope and is ready to take on her life. This book definitely isn''t for the weak of heart. It is a ride! I enjoyed it although I had some reservations. But that's just me. Not every book is for everyone. The chapter titles are clever. The structure is good and I came to care about the characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this E Copy of the ARC. All opinions are my own.

As someone who was a big fan of Maeve Fly, I jumped at the chance to read Leede’s newest offering. And while Maeve Fly was a blast to read, American Rapture is a major departure and, dare I say, CJ Leeds’ masterpiece.

I’m a massive horror fan, and what I love about horror like American Rapture is the amount of heart and soul, as well as a stark reflection on the human condition it provides. Beneath the apocalyptic horror surface is a coming of age story about a young girl seeing the world for what it is after living a sheltered, Catholic existence, both the beautiful and horrifying parts all at once.

I got the sense that this story was very personal to the author, especially after reading the author’s note at the end. Leede’s passion for this story and what it intends to tell us is evident and so powerful. Some
people look down on extreme horror and think it’s all about senseless violence, but this book is proof that horror media is so gorgeous and so absolutely necessary in exploring what it means to be human. I’d even argue that it’s the rawest and realest way to examine our own truths, as well as our personal morals and values. This book accomplished that and so much more.

THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE AND IT'S HORNY !!!!!
Bible following/God fearing good Christians stay away from my review as it is unapologetic as this book is. CJ Leede's "American Rapture" ignites the page with a fiery apocalypse. As a horny virus ravages America, transforming the infected into feral beings consumed by desire, our God fearing good - christian Sophie embarks on a harrowing journey through the midwest to find her family amidst chaos.

Leede's previous work, "Maeve Fly," didn't quite hit the mark for me, but "American Rapture" devours expectations with gusto, leaving no crumb behind. This novel is a tantalizing cocktail of horror and religious fervor, where the end of the world collides with unbridled lust in a manner that's both audacious and provocative.

For aficionados of horror, this book is an unapologetic descent into madness. It's as if "It Follows" collided head-on with the Mayan apocalypse fever of 2012, with a generous sprinkling of religious terror for good measure. The book feels as a VIRGIN giving IMMACULATE birth to the Anti-Christ at-least that's how I felt.

In conclusion, "American Rapture" is a wild, feverish ride that earns a solid five stars for its audacious storytelling and unapologetic exploration of taboo themes. Brace yourself for a journey that's as thrilling as it is controversial, as Leede fearlessly takes readers to the brink of madness and back again. This book was a wild ride I would enjoy any day.

This book gutted me.

It was such a beautifully, tragic story. It was so easy to root for and get attached to the main characters. I especially enjoyed the growth of Sophie among so much destruction - she deserves all the good things. I also enjoyed that the book had background before the chaos started that you were able to get a good understanding of Sophie and her upbringing going into everything. I'm still sitting with the ending so I'll probably update my feelings on that once I figure them out.

This book is filled with so much loss and so much hope and I will definitely be buying a copy and doing a reread once it's published.

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

How to write the best post-apocalypse novel of 2024:

1.) Come up with the most twisted pandemic imaginable: one that turns you into a feral, lust-filled maniac.

2.) Tell your story from the POV of a girl so enveloped by Catholic repression that she feels like an alien the moment she's forced to leave the nest. Sophie is a modern-day Carrie if ever I've read one.

3.) Set your story in the most liminal space in America, the midwest where highways stretch on for eternity (almost as an illusion) and billboards either remind you to stop at Cracker Barrel or warn you of the next rapture. This is a sexy, modern take on the American gothic.

4.) Give your lead the best damn doggo imaginable. A consummate protectorate that compels Sophie to tap into her most atavistic instincts as she grows into a survivor and a young woman.

5.) Devastate me over and over again. Because this new America is a hellscape indeed.

F*cking brilliant, CJ.

this book has such heart. it's so different from Maeve Fly and i mean that as a compliment. i adore them both, but in wildly different fonts. it almost feels like two different authors wrote these books, but at the heart of both is an author deeply dedicated to her craft, who approaches the page with such tenderness and heart.

cj leede takes you through the full range of human emotion in this novel. the characters will climb inside your heart and call it home (then rip it out by the roots). the premise is gripping; the storyline propulsive; the atmosphere utterly engrossing. i felt like i was THERE with sophie for so much of the book. and sophie! my god, what a lovable protagonist. it takes a lot for me to enjoy post-fundamentalist coming-of-age books (when you've lived it, it all just kind of makes you want to walk away, ya know?), but sophie's story felt familiar yet somehow fresh.

i'm so thankful for the work leede put into this book; it's evident that she really, really cares about the story. i worked 4 out of the 5 days i was reading this book and kept sneaking pages as often as i could. i don't regret a second i spent with it. i want it to be october so i can hold it in my hands.

What to expect: Found Family, Coming Of Age, Final Girl/Survivor Girl, Apocalyptic/Pandemic Horror, Open ending

American Rapture follows the story of Sophie, a 16yo who was raised extremely sheltered in a religious household. A virus sweeps the US and she is thrust, alone, into a world full of death and violence. If she somehow survives the plague, she still has to ellude the red-cloaked terrorists who have taken the plague as a sign from God to cleanse the Earth of "sinners".

Sophie finds love and comradery with a new type of family while on the road to try find her twin brother. She starts unpacking her trauma and embracing the secular world outside the bubble she was raised in.

The story is extremely fast paced. In the beginning there is a looming dread, then the virus shows up in her town and the moments of peace become few and far between. I binged this read and have been ruminating on it for days. Leede forces readers to look at the pain of grief, religious violence and internalized shame.

*I read an advanced review copy from Tor Nightfire via NetGalley. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

Sophie, sixteen and from a very religious family is searching for twin brother Noah as the world around her is falling apart. A virus is spreading across the Y.S. Which makes people insane with lust. The end is nigh. Can Sophie and her group find safety?

In the wrong hands this book could have been an unreadable mess, and probably nothing but a great big trigger warning, and I would hope that most people are not interested in reading a book chock full o’ rape. However Leede deftly pulls this off, and actually turns it into something good.

In fact, this could even work as YA for the mature. There’s a good group of young characters (including the bestest boy). Religion is portrayed as a generally terrible thing and the billboard “the most powerful position is on your knees” is given two very different meanings.

There were some nice swipes at those who attempt to ban books from libraries and places that try to outlaw drag. In fact, nearly every book I’ve read recently has contained a great dig at Trump and/or Republican policies, regardless of the subject of the book. It’s nice to see that nearly all authors unite in their belief that these right wingers are nuts and it’s important that they be stopped.

I loved the Author’s Note, too. My husband and I have experienced that loss ourselves recently. It’s so hard, and there’s nothing quite like it. Book is recommended.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book fucked me up. In a good way. In the best way. I’m haunted. It’s heartbreaking, disturbing, tragic, devastating, and somehow hopeful. Sophie mirrored so much of myself and my thoughts from so long ago. I eat any book with religious trauma up. After reading Maeve Fly last year, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this author. A book that ripped my heart out and put it back in I did not expect.

First we say we love Barghest. I saw so many reviews say this and I mirror it. What a good boy. Literally everyone was so amazing. I loved Cleo the most. Fitting the big sister role who could tell you amazing life advice and then show you how to kill someone. Ben was solid and I’m so glad they found each other. Maro as well. He’s a real one.

Having the main character be 16 was a good move. We see everything through the eyes of a child. She’s frightened and questioning everything she’s ever known. Sinning, Hell, Heaven, God. Who’s good and who’s bad. What makes us rotten? At the root of this, Sophie is searching a hellscape for her twin brother. Her other half. The one her parents tossed aside. She is risking everything to find him. I was sobbing through this. I will say I loved this book and it is a favorite and nobody can tell me otherwise. Another great entry for C.J. Leede.

Absolutely incredible. American Rapture is a metaphor for human survival and a lesson on living your life on your terms while you have it. If the world was ending, would you like how you spent your life so far? Would you like how you're spending it now? And the themes of faith and control were *chef's kiss*. Leede makes you feel at home, rips your heart out, and puts it back together all at once with an ending full of hope. Hands down one of the best books I've read this year, and I can't wait to have it in my hands in October.

Imagine your coming of age story takes place amidst a zombie apocalypse. Everything you’ve been taught is true about the world is dramatically unravelled in a week, amongst a hellscape of death and destruction. But because of your “sinful” thoughts, you can’t help but wonder if God’s wrath upon the world is all your fault.

American Rapture spoke to me on the deepest of levels as someone who managed to break free from the idea that we are inherently sinful and must be meek, subservient and repentant to escape eternal damnation. Even more specifically, it speaks to me as a woman who wholeheartedly rejects and rebells against the notion that the world’s stability should fall on my unfaltering, pious shoulders because of my wickedness and inherent pull toward evil since “the beginning.”

Everything about this book feels calculated and intentional in the best way. Each character represents a part of our FMC Sophie’s literal and figurative journeys to unlearn her reality and reclaim herself. Sophie’s parents, brother, Maro, Barghest, Cleo, Ben and his mom, all exist to help her discover and eliminate pieces of her own identify in order to move forward and start fresh in this new world. The simple act of a librarian sneaking Sophie books completely changed the trajectory of her story, allowing her to entertain ideas outside of her immediate comprehension. Even the most heart wrenching, terrible things this book has us (and Sophie) experience feel important, painful, and necessary.

In the current setting, the worst thing that can happen is quite literally, to be overtaken by lust, as a victim or a perpetrator. Watching Sophie learn to decipher between normal feelings and a ravaging disease when she’s been taught to condemn herself for existing in her own body is fascinating. Watching her grapple with the complexity of good and evil as it exists outside of her “beige” living room, church and school is relatable and helped me remember the jarring nature of discovering all of life’s shades of gray for the first time.

American Rapture tackles some amazingly complex themes through the eyes of a teenage girl with such accuracy and poignancy that I could not put it down. It is a great work of science fiction and horror, but I think, more importantly, a fantastic coming of age story for any little girl taught that she was Eve, and should spend her life atoning for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

CJ Leede has set up a truly horrifying apocalyptic scenario; a rampant epidemic of a virus that creates insane strength, hunger and lust. Violent raping zombies.

Sixteen year old Sophie was raised in a deeply religious home and community. This strict Catholicism suppresses her emerging curiosity and intelligence. When the virus hits, she is forced to go out alone to find her twin brother who was excommunicated, disowned and sent away.

Gory, terrifying, emotional. This is a coming-of-age horror novel that has big goals, examining religious cults, modern conservatism, the divisive and angry American political climate, censorship, self-acceptance, parental abuse, sex, God, Hell, found family, sin and forgiveness.

Leede builds a great cast of characters, flaws and all, and Sophie is a real teenager, anxious, dramatic, intelligent and yet annoying, stubborn, ignorant and full of unexpressed passion. And I loved her commitment to her new collected family and dog. I found myself wanting more of this ‘quest for safety, family building’ part of the story and less of the running from TWO villians, the zombies and the new religious nuts purging the earth of sinners.

There were scenes that were scary, scary SCARY! Some of the most terrifying scenes I have ever read. Which I loved as an avid horror reader.

In all, a well-written, modern and intelligent post-apocalyptic love story that scared the living poop out of me.

Oh, wow. American Rapture is gripping, I finished it over the course of two days in which every moment I spent not reading it, I was thinking about it. I can’t remember the last time a book called to me so urgently.

Wow what a great read! The character work is some of the best I’ve seen in horror. I haven’t read Maeve Fly but it was on my radar but after reading this it is next on my list.

We follow Sophie who is growing up under extreme religious indoctrination where she is taught that basically every thing you do is a sin and the devil will get to you because of it. Her brother Noah gets taken away because his parents find out that he may be gay.
People start coming down with a sickness that is rapidly spreading across the states. Causing strange reactions and from there horror ensues.

From the first pages of this book I wanted to take Sophie and Noah away from their parents so I could love them the way they should have been. They felt so real and my heart just breaks for them. Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #AmericanRapture

Opening the pages of American Rapture we found ourselves wondering how CJ Leede would even come close to writing a story that is a good as Maeve Fly? Well, she did. American Rapture is a grim, gore-filled, heart-wrenching post-apocalyptic journey that will sit with us long after closing the book.


In American Rapture we are taken on a thrilling and blood-soaked journey through a post-apocalyptic America following a unique pandemic. The story follows Sophie, a young Catholic girl, as she navigates a world plagued by a virus that transforms the infected into feral beings consumed by lust. Leede gives us a perfect blend of a coming-of-age story with gruesome action and outright horror. A truly pulse-pounding horror novel.

CJ Leede's writing is nothing short of exceptional, which comes as no surprise to fans of Maeve Fly. She takes themes like survival, family, and sacrifice and weaves them together for intense and graphic scenes that left us horrified, captivated and surprised. Fans of Leede's writing will know she does an extremely amazing job at character development and this is no different in American Rapture. She takes Sophie from an innocent girl to a survivor willing to do whatever it takes to protect her loved ones.

Leede does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of this new world, including a death towards the end that will hit some a bit hard, making for an immersive and unforgettable reading experience.

While the book is blood-soaked and gruesome, American Rapture has a nice balance of gore and heart. Some scenes are over-the-top intense, while others show more heartfelt moments for a perfect balance. There are plenty of bloody moments that will make even seasoned horror fans cringe, there are also moments of tenderness and vulnerability that add depth to the story. Leede manages to evoke a range of emotions from readers, from fear and disgust to empathy and hope.

Leede takes a typical post-apocalyptic story and turns it on its head. A devote Catholic virgin girl has to fight off humans turned into lustful creatures that are mysterious to the secular world let alone a sheltered 16-going-on-17 year old girl. American Rapture is not for the faint-hearted, but for those willing to brave its dark and twisted world, it rewards with an unforgettable journey filled with terror, heartbreak, and ultimately resilience in the face of unimaginable horrors.

CJ Leede's American Rapture is a front runner for our top-novels of 2024. Keep an eye out for year-end awards, this novel should be taking home a ton of them.

What a blast. So this is about Sophie, a teenager raised in an incredibly conservative family, told from her perspective, as a pandemic spreads. The virus, later called Sophia, has both flu like and sexual rage phases. There's a lot of zombie/virus/body horror stories/movies I thought of at that description, but I think this actually falls somewhere between the religious fanaticism of John Water's 'A Dirty Shame' and the spitting sadism of 'The Sadness'. Also, make this story a movie, it would be so good.

And I loved it.

Sophie is a great POV character that tries to understand the world around her and continues to position things from the perspective of someone who hasn't experienced anything--or is told it's all sin.

I loved Leede's previous book, 'Maeve Fly', and continue to see her strong writing style and applaud her for the creative use of violence.

Side point: I loved the Wisconsin setting. I haven't been there but the setting is so well described it felt like the reader was there. Also, the Trixie Mattel reference, legitimate question: does she know? I think she'd love to know she's referenced in a horror book like this.

Side point spoiler: <spoiler> I really enjoyed the ending but I see that it could upset folks. To that, I'll say it's an apocalypse horror story. You have to know what you're getting into and that in such stories, no one is safe. The religious fanaticism feels accurate to the kinds of extremes seen during Covid 19, and while it is A LOT, it forces the reader to confront the danger and horror head on. </spoiler>

"How to recognize the last moments before the world ends:
1. You won't"

A nearly nonstop whirlwind of dystopian fear.

This was amazing. A perilous, bloody, painful journey of a 16 year old girl and the friends she meets while trying to navigate the end of the world and come out the other side alive.

Sophie is 16 and has been raised in relative religious isolation by strict Catholic parents; she is naive to the world outside her sealed bedroom window. Her only reprieve is the library, where she reads How-To books and occasionally smuggles titles she has been forbidden to read, thanks to a kind librarian (thank the universe for librarians!). When a strange virus starts affecting people, Sophie realizes the world is much bigger than she ever believed, and is violently thrust into its jaws.

I experienced such a range of emotions that by the time I reached the final page, I had whiplash. I held back tears and seethed with rage.

Sophie's POV is sometimes disjointed and choppy, almost a stream of consciousness...but what teenage girl's experience ISN'T confusing and disjointed? Throw in a pandemic, religious guilt and shame, and discovering you know nothing about the world. The parallels to our own American experience are frightening, and I think that's what makes this work as a horror: humans are the real monsters.

Female MC, Bi/Queer rep, Black, Indigenous, and Latino rep.

Thank you to CJ Leede, NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this advanced copy for review.

Trigger warnings below (beware: spoilers!)
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TW: brief SA, animal death, body horror including sexual horror

Quick synopsis: A 16 year old catholic girl is navigating her religion, puberty, and a nationwide pandemic of a virus that causes people to be extremely horny and canabolistic and then die.
Review: I had the best time reading this book I can’t even describe but the vibes were just there. It was extremely fast paced and I never wanted to put it down I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. There is a lot of grief and death in this book which seems to be a point the author was making. As humans, we are immortal and we live with death everyday, we will die, our loved ones will die, it’s all very sad and hard but also very human.
Thank you @netgalley and @tornightfire for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Releases October, 15 2024

CJ Leede. Why you play with my heart like that!? I never expected a horror novel, which it still is, to pain my soul the way this did.

Coming of age/ end times, apocalypse vibes/ gory, bloody, nightmare fuel/ an exploration of religious hypocrisy/ things that torment your heart and soul (I'm so serious about that one).

A hundo percent one my favorite books this year. Different vibe than Maeve Fly which speaks to Leede's diversity in the horror genre. I'm so fucking impressed.
Thank you for once again reinforcing why I love the horror genre. And thank you to the Nightfire team for making my day every time I get mail from you guys--it has been a bright spot during this period in my life 🖤

This book was incredible. I loved Maeve Fly, and while this is vastly different, I cannot get over how invested I got into Sophie's life. The character development in this book was SO good and it made the ending that much more heartbreaking and beautiful.

We follow Sophie, a devout Catholic, trying to navigate the end of world; a fast spreading virus that turns people into horny, zombie like creatures. She grapples with her faith, watching her family fall to this virus, and trying to figure out if she too is infected or just a repressed horny 17 year old.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor and @ceejthemoment for the ARC!!! Keep an eye out for October 15 when this beauty hits shelves!

American Rapture was a unique coming of age story following the onset of a global pandemic. The story flowed along with characters that have such unique depth and backstories, The author’s note at the end of the story made one of the most difficult scenes in the book understandable, but not easy to progress. I hope there is a sequel to this story!

Whoa…this book gave me all the emotions, and all the feels. It is rich in character development, plot, life complexities, and gore-lots of gore. And it is a cautionary tale of living in fear of the world around you. Our protagonist, Sophie, is a teenager who, after living in a strict, sheltered Christian bubble, is thrust into a world she wasn’t ready for. Her struggles, questions, feelings (physical and emotional), and doubts are at the heart of this apocalyptic novel. The pandemic, itself, is gruesome and sadistic-reducing the human population to violent, sex-crazed meat suits. But they are not the only thing the survivors have to fear. Leede gave us not one, but two, villain groups in the novel, and left the reader teetering between hope and despair. And the ending? Guy-wrenching. It was hard to read.

I loved everything about this book, and couldn’t put it down. This is a must read for horror/dystopian fans who love not only gruesome plot lines, but ones with tons of heart.

Release Date: October 15 2024

For now, I'll just let the star rating speak for itself because I don't have the words to express how much I loved this.

100% buying a physical copy

RTC!

I read this book in approximately two days. There are no good stopping points. You must just inhale it (while savoring it somehow). You won't want to put it down, so... just be prepared for that.

American Rapture follows Sophie as she navigates this bonkers pandemic that turns people into sex-crazed zombies, more or less. And I should mention that Sophie has grown up in a VERY religious family. Needless to say, this is truly traumatic for her.

I loved every single character and how well fleshed out they were. I loved seeing Sophie grow and change through the story. I was along for the absolutely wild ride that is American Rapture. I have also pre-ordered the book (I actually pre-ordered it before I was approved because CJ Leede is auto-buy for me after Maeve), and plan to reread it immediately upon receiving it in October. It will be an excellent spooky season read.

The way CJ is able to build out these incredibly intriguing, complex, and real characters in what is arguably a short novel (or maybe it just felt short for me because I would read 500 more pages of this haha) is impressive. On top of that, they will pull on your heartstrings BIG time. I was blown away by how much I loved this. It's definitely dark, gory, and freakin' brilliant. So smart.

Thank you NetGalley & Tor Nightfire for the advanced copy that I inhaled.

Review: American Rapture by CJ Leede (5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Summary:
In American Rapture, a terrifying virus sweeps across America, transforming the infected into feral, lust-driven beings. Sophie, a devout Catholic, must navigate this hellish Midwest landscape in a desperate quest to reunite with her family. As the world crumbles around her, she learns that some fates are far worse than death—especially when dying a virgin seems like the least of her worries.

Review:
SO GOOD. CJ Leede's American Rapture is an exhilarating plunge into a world where faith is tested, sins are laid bare, and survival is a moment-to-moment struggle. The story profoundly explores themes of sin and faith deconstruction, resonating deeply with anyone who has questioned their beliefs in the face of chaos.

Leede crafts a hauntingly vivid post-apocalyptic landscape that is both nightmarish and compelling. The tension is palpable, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you follow Sophie's harrowing journey. Sophie's character is beautifully complex, her inner conflict and resilience making her a truly relatable protagonist. Her struggles with faith amidst the apocalypse reflect a raw, honest exploration of belief systems under duress.

The narrative doesn't shy away from heartbreak. There are moments when CJ Leede shattered my heart with certain deaths, but this serves to remind us of the brutal reality of Sophie's world—mirroring the unpredictable, often cruel nature of life itself.

American Rapture is a masterful blend of horror and introspection, pulling you into a world where the end times force a reckoning with personal demons and societal norms. It's a chilling, thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page. If you're looking for a horror novel that delves deep into the human psyche while delivering pulse-pounding thrills, this is it. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC!

I read Maeve Fly last year and was obsessed, so my expectations for American Rapture were high. This was horrifying in a totally different way, and did not let me down! It’s a coming of age story with a heaping portion of religious trauma, apocalyptic action and gruesome horror moments. I truly cared about our main cast of characters, especially the sweet dog.

Propulsive. Intoxicating. Bloody.
“I am adrenaline. I am fire. I am a girl desperate to stay alive.”

The flu is making its way through America but this isn’t your average flu. Sophie, a sheltered and well-behaved Catholic girl, is just trying to make it through the awkwardness of her teenage years; feeling ashamed and embarrassed when faced with the secular world. But when this “flu”—causing manic and lustful behavior in the infected—makes its way to the midwest, Sophie will have to do more than just face the secular world… She’s going to have to fight it, causing her to question everything she believes.

I love books with religious themes but they make me shake with rage because of their insanity and how close to reality it is sometimes. Very dystopian/apocalyptic which isn’t usually my cup of tea but alas, I loved it. Leede’s storytelling is distinct and refreshing; it’s hard not to gobble up her stories even if they tend to be slightly repulsing at times.

Compelling reflections on faith, sexuality, identity, mortality, and the freedom of choice.

A dark but brilliant novel.

Thank you Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Out 10/15/2024!

Thank You Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the arc.

This book was certainly one hell of a ride. Something about Horror and religious guilt always makes for an amazing story.

The care and attention that was put into setting in this book really puts it in a league of its own. From a small town, to a desolate county. I loved every second of it.
The cast of characters were amazing. Their dynamics with one another were one of the best aspects of the story. I love when apocalyptic books have that one scene where everyone is happy before the storm. This one didn't disappoint.

I find that books involving deadly viruses tend to deconstruct your thoughts on the world and rebuild them in a different way than before. I think its success in doing so is a clear sign of its incredible writing.

Definitely one of my top reads of the year.

After reading Maeve Fly and it being one of my favorites of 2023, I could not wait to get my hands on CJ Leede's next book. Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it early!

American Rapture is a wild, enthralling ride with a lot of heart. The ending gave me the same ache I felt at the end of Maeve where you want so much for the character especially after all they've been through. I cannot wait to read Leede's next book.

Wow. This novel had me speechless. Part bildungsroman, part religious horror, I was hooked from the start. This gripping page-turner digs deep into religious shame, guilt, oppression, and trauma, but ultimately still manages to be hopeful and uplifting.

When a pandemic rages across the United States, the afflicted are stricken by feverish, basal lust before they die. Raised in a highly religious and isolated environment, Sophie has always had a curious mind. Now, faced with visceral carnality, she's forced to deconstruct her beliefs as she flees through a burning world while trying to stay alive and find her brother.

This novel doesn't shy away from religious trauma in all its forms: a highly patriarchal, oppressive family structure, sexual repression, conversion therapy, and more. Within that environment, Sophie is faced with the horrors of fledgling womanhood, living in a body that feels uncontrollable, constantly at war with her forbidden emotions, sensations, and desires.

While I found this novel less gory than Maeve Fly, these realistic, plausible, utterly human horrors were far more disturbing and unsettling. From radio personalities whipping the religious right into a murderous frenzy to the keening grief and loss amidst a pandemic with no end in sight, there was a persistent sense of fear, paranoia, and mistrust. This was an incredibly compelling read and I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time.

American Rapture is a riveting post-apocalyptic horror novel about a teenage girl who has been repressed by overbearing Catholic parents her entire life. Then the apocalypse happens. A virus that leads to uncontrollable lust and sexual violence. American Rapture follows Sophie as she tries to survive both the apocalypse and overcome the guilt and repression that she was subjected to by her Catholic faith.

Leede does a fantastic job of both keeping the plot moving but also giving us time in the MC’s head. I am not a 16-year-old girl but I was able to relate to and empathize with Sophie because of how well she was written.

This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you angry (like seriously so mad at some of the awful people), and it might make you vomit during one particular sticky scene 🤢 American Rapture is not Maeve Fly - they are both very different books and they should be. But they are both fantastic and show Leede’s range with her writing. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

American Rapture will be released on October 15th from Tor Nightfire.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the advanced eBook in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a wild ride from beginning to end, and I read it in entirely one sitting. I'll be recommending it to so many people, because I genuinely believe that CJ Leede is a modern master of horror. I can't wait for the next one.

This book wrecked me completely. It means so much to me in so many ways. I'm going to say it now - it's my number one book of the year, and yes I know it's only June. This book has my soul.

I grew up Catholic and homeschooled, isolated from everyone and everything and I really relate to Sophie, at least my inner child does. I didn't have a good home life. As an adult, I relate with Cleo so much and I absolutely adored her. Also, the Spotify playlist CJ made for Cleo has my heart and I've been listening to it on repeat since finding it.

This is such a heavy story with so many deep and dark topics, but it was also extremely healing and validating. I'm so very grateful to CJ for this story and appreciate all the heart she put into this. There were multiple times I screamed "how are you in my head right now?"

CJ is one of my all time favorite authors now. She was one of my favorites already for Maeve, but this just further solidified that standing for me and bumped her up on my chart.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

A scathing critique of religious control of women and purity culture through the lens of a covid-era plague apocalypse. What if lust and attraction could end the world?—A truly unique addition to the zombie apocalypse genre.This plague really takes that rape apologist semtiment that "men can't help themselves" to the extreme. Be prepared for sexual assault and graphic descriptions of violence, gore, and sexual content.

The midwest version of "sad beige houses for sad beige children", teenager Sophie feels like a bystander in her own life. Other people decree what she can do and when. This overarching control stems twofold: from the small religious town weighing expectations down heavily upon her as well as her own micromanaging parents. Falsely believing that keeping their daughter incredibly naïve and sheltered from what they deem as <i>secular society</i> would keep her safe, Sophie is wholly unprepared to navigate social settings or the public.

Were it not for the copious hours she spends reading guides and how to books—as she couldn’t read the vast majority of what resided in her library—she definitely would have had an even rougher go of it. These tips and tricks she's memorized do come in handy when things go awry in action focused scenes, yet they don't help the all-encompassing awkwardness that is Sophie trying to talk to her peers. At times she's so sheltered and out of the loop she comes off as almost robotic until her religious guilt chimes in reminding her not to want for more or to belong.

The writing style is very choppy and lacks deeper descriptions or thoughts from our protagonist, which is intentional and highly successful in my opinion. Bored and miserable in a lackluster, unimaginative life Sophie coasts by and dissociates, while secretly longing for the freedom to make her own choices. Her coming of age arrives during the apocalypse, a taste of freedom surrounded by sweat, cum, and terror... oh and lust zombies can't forget about those.

This one is for all the girlies who are angry and have christian religious trauma. Midwest small towns are a breed all their own, and wow I know people personally who were raised like this. If you had religion used to hurt and control you, while the creed of purity culture hung overhead, I think you'll take something from this story. Also if you're a victim of SA and someone used religion to punish or shame you for your victimhood please know it wasn't your fault and you did nothing wrong. Surviving isn’t a crime any more than existing is.

TW: violence, sexual assault, homophobia, religious trauma and control, character death (parents, children, found family, pets)

A towering, complicated, emotional thrill ride through an American Hell. By digging deep and pushing boundaries, CJ Leede has produced what is easily her best work to date. The sleaze of "Maeve Fly" replaced with the massive feelings of a you g girl raised in a strict Catholic household in the Midwest. Half brutal post apocalyptic adventure, half introspective musings on what it means to alive. Excellent!

Hands-down my favourite horror novel to date! Religion and pandemic really are the most terrifying combination.

What a horrific and beautiful book! I am plagued with emotions that I did not expect to have. Sadness, fright, hope, and happiness course through me. Following the main character as she navigates so many new experiences is one of the best coming-of-age plots I’ve read. Add in a fantastic found family and I am absolutely here for every page. I am already excited for a reread.

Please be warned, as beautiful as it is, this is a graphic and horror filled book as well.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and author CJ Leede for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Obviously I loved American Rapture. CJ is beyond talented. This book was full of heart, terrors, self exploration, grief, shock, all the feelings, etc., etc. I think we can all agree that a pandemic is scary but the real fear is the human component. I have nothing bad to say about this… although I wish there were some specific survivors. Leede has done it again!

First kills & first kisses converge in this soul-wrenching struggle for survival. With American Rapture, C.J. Leede has securely cinched her spot as one of my favorite architects of modern horror.

Horrific lust zombies aside, Sophie's world is painfully relatable for anyone who grew up being constantly reminded of the threat of eternal damnation. You don't need your body to be overtaken by a demon in order to be possessed— religious indoctrination is perfectly capable of possessing a person on its own. Baptized in blood, Sophie's awakening is bold and inspiring, and you'll be cheering her on all the way. All shame & oppression be damned!

Like Sophie, I was raised in the church, a culture of sheltering children from the vital knowledge of the world under the guise of protecting them. I was taught nothing about my anatomy or the workings of my body and I was in no way protected by my ignorance, but rather rendered extremely vulnerable to harm and woefully unprepared to face the dangers of society. I resonated deeply with her journey of having to relearn everything that her parents and church ingrained in her mind, as I endured the same deprogramming at her age. Reading American Rapture was emotional & cathartic in the best of ways and Sophie's story is certain to stay with me for years to come.

All of my thanks to Netgalley, Tor Publishing, & Tor Nightfire for the ARC!

"I am changed, and I am new, and in the darkest darkness of my life, we stand in lethal color."

American Rapture is one of those books that is going to stick with me for a long time. This is the aching, confused, coming of age story we all know so well, wrapped in the trauma of oppressive religion, and the horror of a viral apocalypse.

Sophie narrates beautifully, in ways that make us feel real and big feelings. We feel the horror, the loneliness, the desperation, the wanting. We're all rolled up and turned around in the chaos inside her, the questions she's being forced to reckon with, and the new people in her life that are equal parts confusing and loving.

Truly terrifying in parts, hauntingly beautiful in others, American Rapture is everthing I want in a horror novel.

Another fantastic book by CJ Leede! This was gripping, gory, and endlessly creepy. It reminded me faintly of an incredibly disturbing version of the movie Zombieland. I couldn’t put it down, and wish it didn’t end! I actually SCREAMED when I read the final paragraph.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this incredible book!

I am sick to my stomach in the best way. I’m throwing up crying. 10 stars.

I’ll attach my GR and instagram reviews when I am emotionally well enough to perceive this book again.

Thank you so much to Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire, NetGalley & CJ Leede for this ARC of American Rapture.
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I'm a huge fan of CJ Leede's writing style - Maeve Fly is my favorite read of 2024 (and the book that single handedly brought me out of my self imposed reading hiatus). This is CJ Leede's second novel and it did not disappoint! This was such a fun read - the story is absolutely amazing and I just fell in love with the characters right off the bat. This book brought out so many nostalgic feelings for me - especially the feelings you feel when you're a teen and just discovering and learning the rules of love.
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This book is heavily based around Catholicism and how sometimes beliefs can be absolutely detrimental to a person. That being said, I feel like CJ Leede did an excellent job writing about Catholicism without it sounding mocking, judgmental or degrading. There are a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes because sometimes the church/religion denies you salvation even though you've done a kindness.
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I do want to add a content warning to this review because there is an animal death scene is this book that is rather long/horrific - so please be aware of that. The book absolutely could not live without the scene as it complements the story.
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I highly recommend this book. The apocalypse in the story is so unique and STICKY - what a wild ride!