Session 9

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

I really enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. I liked the characters! Great writing style and I liked the storyline. This book kept me guessing. I finished it in one sitting.

This was absolutely insane, no phun intended. It had those eerie, creepy vibes from the very beginning and my heart kept beating faster and faster. When I realized what was going on my jaw dropped and I felt nauseous. This was such a wild ride. Bingeable and nervewrecking. You’re ment to feel confused and frustrated. Enjoy the ride.

This book managed to stay true to the move and still be entertaining and worth the read.

I enjoyed the subtle eeriness of the book and I found the way that they switched so quickly between characters to be delightful when I was worried that it would be jarring. I liked that they kept the atmosphere of not really knowing what was going on or who to believe at any given time and I think they did a wonderful job intertwining the sessions within the rest of the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book both to people who have seen the movie and those who have not. (Go watch the movie, too, though!!)

‘Session 9: The Official Novelization’ by Christian Francis is everything a fan of the original film could hope for—and more. Francis skillfully transports the terror and atmospheric dread of the 2001 cult classic into written form, and the result is utterly gripping. As someone who loved the eerie tension of the movie, I was thrilled with how the novel deepens the story, offering chilling new insights into the characters and the disturbing history of the Danvers State Hospital. The way Francis expands on the original screenplay is masterful, breathing new life into the horror while remaining faithful to the essence of the film. This book is a must-read for horror fans, whether you're familiar with the movie or discovering its dark secrets for the first time. Prepare to be haunted all over again. Perfect for spooky season!

A terrific book. Once I started I could not put it down. Session 9 is one of the most underrated horror movies of all time. To be honest, I wasn't sure how a novelization would work since the movie is so atmospheric and the setting plays such a huge part. However, the book does an outstanding job of effectively painting a picture of the setting and atmosphere. This book is a worthy companion to the movie for anyone that has already seen the movie and, at the same time, is a terrific read for anyone that hasn't yet seen the movie. Highly recommended.

This was a wonderfully done novelization for a movie that I really enjoyed. It did everything that I was looking for from a good novelization, it added to the story and fleshed it out better. I thought Christian Francis has a strong writing style and it told the story perfectly. It was suspenseful and glad it was what I wanted from this type of book.

If you liked the televised version, you will love this.
It stayed spot on, and somehow to my shocked, managed to keep that same creepy vibe.

I've watched it x so I had to snag this to see how it stacked up.
Books are always better but this one, I wasn't sure how it would translate over, and I'm impressed.

Creepy and gripping, and a side bonus is you learn more then you did if you watched it, which, I am always wanting more when something is really good.

Good news is, you don't have to watch or read first imo to enjoy either one!

I really liked the film of this novelization, so when I saw that this had been written, I just knew I had to read it!

Abandoned insane asylum - check
Creepy, foreboding atmosphere - check
Tension between friends/colleagues - check

Session 9 is about an abatement crew sent in to clear asbestos from the abandoned Danvers state institute, with a slight back story of patient Mary Hobbes thrown in for good measure.
What could go wrong?

It's a perfect read for spooky season just around the corner.

Thank you to the publisher for granting early access to this book via Netgalley.

With the backdrop of a real abandoned mental hospital. Session 9 is briliantly creepy and even though I watched and enjoyed the classic film years ago this book made me want to watch it again

It is fantastically creepy, the eerie setting made the hairs on my neck stand up and with twists and shocks this book is enough for the upcoming Halloween season.

It is well written and I loved it ...

I watched the film years ago but couldn’t remember the ending so when I saw this was a written novelization, I jumped at the chance to experience this for the first time again. And boy did it deliver!

Absolutely creepy. Set in an abandoned insane asylum over the course of about a week, a cleaning crew is sent in to clean asbestos from the building but an eerie foreboding ambiance surrounds the building. With added details to the characters and setting it sets a tension fueled pace and the more I read the more I had questions about what was going on under the surface until it finally clicks. The ending really delivered, and now I have to go watch the movie. This was great and so perfect for spooky season.

I have not seen the film so I didn't have anything to compare this book to. There was a great storyline with a very creepy, almost immersive setting. I will definitely be checking out the movie now!

Very interesting book, having not seen the film I got a good image of what it's about. Suspense kept me reading til the end. Great view of characters. Although didn't quite get the ending, I feel this could be explained better but maybe the film does it, will give it a watch now. Overall good book.

This book kept me interested throughout it. The twist toward the end was so unexpected. Absolutely recommended. The characters you got to know really well as it went. Great storyline.

I'll be adding a review to tik toc soon

This was a fantastic adaption of the movie which follows the renovation of an abandoned sanatorium where strange happenings take place.
Session 9 is such a great horror movie and this novelisation did not disappoint.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded, how the tension increased with each paragraph and how the characters and setting were clearly explored prior to the events unfolding.
I think the movie still wins out on creep factor only because of the vocalisation of Mary's personalities.
This would be a great addition for horror connoisseurs or those looking for a Fall read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book, this is my honest review.

Like, oh my gosh, this book was an absolute ride! 💀 From the very first page, it’s giving you all the spooky vibes—like, that creepy abandoned asylum? Yes, please! It’s totally perfect for the spooky season, and I was legit holding my breath half the time. The tension just keeps building, and by the time you piece together what's really happening, your jaw is on the floor, babes.

What I loved the most? The way the author deepens the story from the movie. The film was already like, totally iconic, but the book brings in all these new layers of horror and character insights that made me obsessed! 😱 And seriously, the Danvers State Hospital? Still terrifying! The way it is described makes it feel like a character itself—so dark and eerie. I couldn’t put this one down, it’s like a horror binge-fest in book form!

Honestly, even if you haven't seen the movie, you'll be glued to this book. But also, you should totally watch it after reading because, like, trust, it’s such a vibe! It’s definitely 5 stars from me, and I’ll be recommending it to all my horror-loving besties! 👻🎃

Thank you SO much to NetGalley for the chance to read this gem in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was left speechless after finishing this book.

The setting, a mental asylum, immediately caught my attention. Learning that the book is actually a novelized version of a film made me eager to finish it quickly so I could watch the movie right after.

The story is well-written and descriptive without being overly lyrical. It’s straightforward but vividly paints the images in your mind. The author skillfully immerses you in the narrative, from setting up the atmosphere to helping you imagine the smells and sounds.

I didn’t expect to learn so much about the details of cleaning a building for renovation, but the book taught me that part, lol. Those sections of the story were a bit much for me, but I understand their importance.

I loved how the story transitioned between characters, especially in the final 50 or so pages. I can only imagine how this is portrayed in the film (again, I haven’t seen it yet). I also appreciated how each character’s struggles were conveyed—not in an overly wordy way, but in a way that still made you understand what they were going through. It was succinct but effective.

I didn’t love the ending, particularly how things turned out for Gordon. I expected him to have done it to himself, but who knows? Maybe he did…did he? Am I just missing something? Lol.

This is a perfect read for the Halloween season!

If you're hesitant about reading this book, take my advice and go for it! I found it immensely enjoyable, which feels odd to admit given its disturbing nature. The story's rich detail immerses you completely. Having not seen the film, I had no preconceived notions and now feel compelled to watch it for comparison. It's a relatively quick read that can be completed in a single sitting. Just when you believe you've solved the puzzle... you haven't! Prepare for an ending that will astonish you!

Well...this is everything my little horror heart needed! I have been on the hunt for the perfect spooky/horror book and this hit every mark on my check list! I never saw the movie but I think that's what the book that much better for me. I absolutely loved the creepy factor and this is one of my top horror reads!

This is one of my top movies, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of the novelization. This did not disappoint, just as creepy and unsettling as the movie. I think it's time for a rewatch.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book after having LOVED the movie. This did not disappoint and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I feel like the book added to the story more than I expected! I absolutely loved it

I devoured this. As a fan of the movie when I saw this I needed it and I finished it pretty much in one sitting. I felt like this matched the movie from over 20 years ago perfectly. I was engaged from the beginning and felt this had more horror than the movie. Something about reading horror versus watching it is better.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was a thrilling nonstop ride. I admit that despite being a big horror fan I never got around to seeing the movie Session 9, so I had no idea what to expect. This exceedingly well paced horror is not to be missed.

In this novel we see a 5 man asbestos abatement crew trying to get the now closed Danvers mental institution ready so it can be reworked into a new government building. The job starts off normal enough until one of the crew happens upon tapes from a patients sessions in the hospital. Things quickly descend into chaos.

I'm not gonna lie, I had my hand covering my mouth the last 20 percent of this book. It was horrific, scary, and shocking. I will be thinking about this ending for a while. This book really nails the horror atmosphere and truly delivers. If you're looking for a good horror novel this Halloween then session 9 needs to be on your TBR.

I haven’t seen this movie since it first reached video. I remember being 12ish and being super creeped out watching this with my dad. I had pretty high expectations for the novelization.

Luckily, this delivered. I honestly have zero recollection of the film so that helped me not feel like I was doing an accuracy analysis. The pacing is great. There’s this ominous vibe right from the jump that only intensifies as the book continues. The characters were flawed but each had their merits.

The ending was great. Went from 0 to 100 pretty quickly and we’re given some fantastically creepy scenes. My only gripe with the novel which may have turned it into a five star read was that I really felt like this could have gone MUCH deeper. Novelizations give so much room for expansion and this didn’t go as far as it could’ve. Some of the characters motivations are still a bit murky and we’re left with much less backstory than we could’ve been given. I would’ve loved to see more buildup around the side characters and also gone into more detail with the mental deterioration.

Overall, it was a still a great read. I loved the vibe of the story and definitely will be looking for more novelizations. It’s a well paced story with major creepy vibes.

Talk about atmospheric horror!!!! The main character is Gordon who gets hired to do a major clean up of an old abandoned asylum. When he does the initial walk through with Bill he senses that something is off about the asylum but he is desperate for the job so he puts those thoughts aside.
The chapters go through each day of the week from the start of the work and each of the crew members experiences their own creepy and "off" moments but again they shrug it off and don't think much of it.
What I loved about the book is that you can just feel the tension and horror build up and you expect for them to just realize that something isn't right and to leave!!!
I absolutely loved the ending which was so chilling. This book had me at the edge of my seat. This is the perfect read now that the spooky season is upon us!!!!
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever wanted a book to be more like a movie?? Completely absorb you into the its world and let the real world fall away - THAT IS THIS BOOK!
What a world you fall in to - dark, eerie, creepy to the max. It kept my heart beating faster, my skin crawl and goosebumps to erupt all over my body in some places. I devoured this book in a day! Loved the writing style, the characters and the world... I need more!

Excellent novelization. I haven't seen this film in a while but from what I reme!here's while reading it was pretty damn good switch to book form which is so difficult to pull off. I was spooked from the start and plunged into the eerie, chilling world of this story.

I confess I have not seen the Movie Session 9, so after reading this I decided to at least peek at the trailer. I don't know that there are too many instances where a book is based off of a movie. The mind is such a powerful thing and I'll admit that the book helped me create a building far more sinister and the characters more colorful.
Brad Anderson had created a really creepy situation for a crew of asbestos cleaning professionals to find themselves in. The situational set up of a desperate crew to even take on such a building with it's history. The coined characters were very apparent with the jerk boss, the junkie and so on. The eerie build, where you know some seriously creepy stuff is going to go down, was fun and engaging. The gore was pretty spot on for the theme. The ending was slightly layered and pretty heart wrenching.
Now, take in Christian Francis' vision of this story and you can add layers of overall serious spooky factor and horrifically palpable nightmare scenes come true. You know something isn't right, something is very off. The basal feel of unease helped this novella give quite a venomous bite.

Electroshock therapy and invasive psychosurgery became one-size-fits-all solutions for noncompliant patients for the sake of ease. 7%

Every step they had taken into the asylum felt like a step into another world, a world where hope was not part of the building's fabric. 16%

'The other patients, they've been here so long, they've forgotten what the outside world looks like. I'm scared I might end up like them.' 37%

It sounded as if hell itself had a voice. All within the small body of Mary Hobbs. 84%

"I know you, demon!" the old woman shouted. 96%

"I live in the weak and the wounded." 98%

This book was a WILD ride. I was literally biting my nails while getting through it! I’m hard to spook especially with books but I couldn’t read this at night because of how terrifying this actually was to me! Another perfect spooky season read!