This was such a deceptively dark read. I anticipated a thrilling story but not one as sinister as this quickly proved to be. This fictional family is as called into question as their real-world equivalents. It exposed many of the racist and classist systems, politics, history, and ideologies that this community, and many like it, are built upon.

I thought it was interesting to observe the girl's relationship as the story unfolded and watched as it evolved. I liked the social satire aspect of this story but found it to be a bit slow in the start.

This was a trip. Tension laces every word. I can’t say I exactly liked this, but it certainly kept me firmly in its grips until the very end. I’m not a big thriller fan, but once and awhile like to read one that sounds intriguing. And if I’m going to read a thriller, it has to be of the twisty, mind f*ck variety. This checked that box for sure.

Creepy, slow burn, social horror, with great cultural commentary on race and parenting. I loved the ending, but some might find it polarizing.

DNF at 40 %

I'm just not liking this.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dutton Books for my advanced copy of Cherish Farrah.
I will not be rating this book.

This book shook me. 4.5 stars. It is quick paced weird dark ride that is probably going to stick with me for a while. It sounds cliche but I could definitely see this as a book. I love it.

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have very mixed feelings about this one. How can one not appreciate a story of teen sociopaths and a story akin to that old demented Kate Winslet movie, Heavenly Creatures. Shiver inducing with a car accident that you don't want to see, yet can't look away. I don't agree that it's like Get Our or When No One is Watching, but it does have a not so dissimilar look at power dynamics and racial tension. Although I enjoyed elements of the book, something about it felt flat, like I was watching from a distance rather than fully immersed in the story as I prefer. In the author's defense, it is a debut and I'll be interested to read future books as she develops as a writer.

Let's put it this way, Jordan Peele would LOVE this book (and so did I). CHERISH FARRAH explores the relationship between two black teenagers, Cherish and Farrah, who have been BFFs since the 4th grade. Cherish is the adoptive daughter of two white parents - they are so attentive to her that Farrah claims she is WGS (white girl spoiled). Some of the wealth and attention spills over to Farrah, and she loves it. But when Farrah's family loses their house and her father accepts a job out of state, Farrah is determined to remain in the comfortable glow of Cherish's family. Farrah is always one step ahead - anticipating easily how others will behave and respond to her actions. As Farrah tries to cement her place in Cherish's family, however, odd things begin to happen. With and ending impossible to anticipate, Morrow gives us an enthralling, shocking story that kept me hooked til the very last page.

This book is incredibly slow for about two thirds of it and then packs a punch at the end. I don't quite know what I thought of that yet, it's somehow simultaneously shocking and so implausible that it didn't pay off for me.

The two girls at the centre of this are really compelling and that's definitely what kept me going. It just didn't push forward as quickly as I would have liked. But the eerie tension is definitely there and it keeps you hooked just enough to stick with it. It had me reeling at some moments and I won't forget it any time soon.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cherish and Farrah are best friends. Farrah discovers that she was chosen by Cherish's parents for a particular reason, and the friendship between the girls is threatened.

The ending is explosive.

This has been one of my favorite reads this year so far. My first time reading a Bethany C. Morrow book and I have to say that I am eager to read a lot more from this author. I have heard this described as a social horror book, and it is being compared to the movie "Get Out." That description piqued my interest right away.

Bethany C. Morrow writes in a very lyrical yet mysterious way that will leave you hooked from the very first page. In this book, the author explores the intricate friendship dynamic of two black teenage girls; Cherish and Farrah. Cherish has been adopted by wealthy white parents that dote on her, while Farrah struggles to keep up appearances with classmates at the private school both girls attend. When Farrah's parents hit a financial bump, Farrah starts spending more time at Cherish's place, and the lines of the tight knit friendship get even more blurry. Farrah strives for control above all, and she enjoys asserting this control over her gullible best friend. But as Farrah spends more time with the Whitman's and becomes more ingrained in the family dynamic, she realizes she might not have any control in this situation at all. Maybe all this time it's been Cherish and the Whitman's who have been pulling the strings.

My favorite books revolve around unhinged female friendships and let me tell you, that's exactly what this book is. Add in a dash of social horror and commentary, and I know it's only February, but this is a strong contender for my favorite book of the year.

Lots of books have been pitched as a comp title to Get Out, and this is the only one that I think really hits that mark. To me it was like Get Out meets Jennifer's Body and it is pure perfection.

This novel is a slow build with an explosive conclusion. The author truly takes their time, sharing every single thought of our mai character which can at times feel exhausting. However it leads the reader to question so much, even given the level of detail we have. The novel brings up many questions of race and class and has you guessing until the very end. Well written,

This buzzy book has been categorized in a newish-to-me genre of social horror, which I found really appealing and interesting! The comparison to Get Out is an apt one - it is a slow-burn creeping feeling that keeps you unsettled and off-balance until you realize what the heck is going on!

This is my first Bethany C. Morrow book, but it won't be my last. I'm not sure what I expected, but what I got was so much more than I thought I would get.
Scary and believable!

This excellently-crafted book is claustrophobic and terrifying. From the beginning of the story as Farrah finds out her family home is being foreclosed on, we are trapped in Farrah's intense inner monologue that centers around staying in control and "wearing a mask" to appear unfazed, something that has been instilled in her as a young Black woman. Farrah feels she has won the battle when her parents agree to let her stay with her best friend Cherish, who lives a sheltered and privileged existence with her doting white parents. Things seem great at first, but bad things start happening to Farrah, driving a wedge between her and Cherish, and blurring the lines of control.
There is a lot packed into Cherish Farrah, but the author's tight writing style keeps it from flying into total chaos, just.

This book is complex on so many levels. So dark, so strange, yet so compelling. Having been a fan of this author's YA works, this adult fiction was quite a ride!

I found the narrator to be really off-putting, making it hard for me to really want to keep reading. Her tone was at once privileged and kind of bratty, but also wanting of pity? The story of this teenage semi-friendship just didn't draw me in. DNF around 10%.

I started this book then I got sick and the main character was just messing with my head so much so I put it down lol. I'm glad I went back and finished it though.

It was not what I was expecting, it was so trippy. This had some strange occurrences happening in the Whitman's house. Though Farrah whose the only one narrating the story is in control, she's is Cherish's best friend and she is the best thing for her. Or that's what she leads us to believe.

Everything Farrah thinks is happening might be happening but there is something else going on.

This is somewhat of a retelling but I can't tell you of what without giving it away. Wow it was intense!

Thank you penguinrandomhouse and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Wow, what a dark, shocking, complex story this was! The story is a slow-burn, but definitely worth the wild journey it takes you on. Farrah has an obsession with being in control. When things start getting weird while living with her best friend’s white adoptive parents, Farrah needs to make sure she has the control.

The characters were unlikable, flawed, and well-developed. Bethany C. Morrow beautifully crafted a jaw-dropping social horror that left me on the edge of my seat.

There are very few books that fit their comps so well as Cherish Farrah.

This book gave me the emotional upheaval of Get Out (as promised) and the intensely dark inner monologue that was My Sister the Serial Killer. If I could erase my brain and meet Cherish and Farrah all over again I would gladly do so.

In two words this book provides: emotional damage.

Everyone, pick this up. That's all.