Eric Larocca at his Eric Larocciest - i feel like i say the same thing about his books, if you liked one you’ll probably like at least most of his others; if you didn’t like one he probably isn’t for you.

He’s cemented himself as one of my fav horror authors from the past few years and i’ve given most of his stuff 5 stars, Wretch is possibly his darkest novel so far. He writes gruesome, dark, detailed horror that usually revolves around queer or queer-adjacent characters, and touches a lot on sexual identity and grief. This book is best going into blind, but like i said if you’ve enjoyed other works from Larocca you should like this one too.

I've read a lot of LaRocca and really enjoy his writing. Aside from Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, this is probably my favorite of his. My stomach churned at multiple points, but not due to any of the goriness - purely because of the gritty bits of what it means to be human and grieving and the complexities of that grief!!!

Horrified. Absolutely horrified!!!

holy hell, eric larocca has done it again. dripping with gorgeous, disgusting prose, queer longing, and visceral, painful depictions of grief, wretch shocked me through and through. loved the nestled narratives that i've come to expect from larocca's work, little nesting dolls of story within, but the gut punch of this story is truly the final chapters. twist after twist after twist had me reeling in the final pages. excellent, as always.

Can someone please check on Eric Larocca and make sure they're okay? The heartbreaking and potent way they write grief has got me worried about them.

This book follows Simeon, who finds himself wrecked and lost after the death of his husband. While stumbling through the back alleys of the internet, he comes across an unconventional support group called The Wretches. As he's drawn their fold, he learns of a way he might be able to see his beloved husband again, but the cost might be more than his soul can carry.

Grief horror is probably my favorite subgenre, and Eric LaRocca does it extremely well. This book is full of palpable pain that practically drips off the pages. This is not a feel good book, and if you're looking for an easy, happy, fun reading experience, look somewhere else. This book is a kick to the stomach and will knock the wind right out of you. LaRocca is a writer who knows how to twist the knife and make you hurt.

If that sounds like something you can deal with, then definitely check this one out because it's a masterclass of loss in book form

Grief has so many ways of showing itself; it can be the time old symbolism of a cardinal, finding a picture you forgot about of a loved one, or it could be through finding what once was lost in ways you did not know were there. What do we do with those moments of grief showing up? Some revel in it and allow the feelings to wash over them, marinate in the memories, and let the feelings of loss lessen over time. Simeon Link is not one to marinate in the catharsis of grief - he wallows in it, wishing he could see his late husband one final time, and not knowing how to properly process this insurmountable loss. The story that unfolds is a twisted, unrelenting look at the lengths Simeon goes to in order to see his husband one last time, while also forcing him to confront the real life disorder his grief has caused.

‘Wretch’ comes out March of 2026 and if you’re a horror fan, you cannot miss this! Eric LaRocca is truly the master of his craft and is constantly upping the game with each new story he releases into the world.

5 stars

LaRocca is back at it again with a highly divisive book, I’m sure. It’s always quite hard to say I’ve loved his books when they touch on such heavy topics, but I do love them. He handles the subjects he chooses, with care, and an absolute beautiful writing style. The horror is so real and palpable. He seems to just get better and better with each book.