Following the Kettle Springs natives from the first installment in the duology, Clown in a Cornfield 2 shows the gang all grown up: fresh out of high school, adjusting to adulthood, healing from the trauma that they endured in Tillerson's B-field a short year ago. Quinn, Cole, and Rust seem to be moving in the right direction. Trying to move on, trying to get past 𝙞𝙩. Dealing with the "fans" and conspiracy theorists that incessantly shovel their opinions onto the internet and into the world is forever ripping the scab off the wound. Escape routes and weapons training and paranoia take up a larger portion of their day-to-day than they'd prefer but, it beats the alternative. This knowledge proves itself practical when tangible danger in the form of Friendo supporters and sympathizers make themselves known in Kettle Springs. They seem harmless at first, internet trolls. Over time they prove to be violent, deadly. It's adamant the gang stays on their toes, FRIENDO LIVES.

Clown in a Cornfield 2 is a campy slasher that serves as a soundboard of the times: misinformed villains basing their actions off of conspiracy theories that ~must be true~ because they saw them on the internet. This take is a direct parallel of what Americans have been living through for the past 5 years or so.

QANON and similar factions are an infection, festering and drawing in droves of misinformed people, filling their heads with misinformation that leads to divisiveness and brutality. The Friendo fiends mirrored this sentiment exactly and throughout the first few chapters, I expected to roll my eyes. I didn't, Cesare makes it work. I love the complexity of the conspiracy theorist narrative, it allows for twists that would be harder to occur if things happened in a more straightforward way.

Friendo's Posse is sneaky and vast, using multiple tactics to capture Quinn, Cole, and Rust. Imagery in CIAC2 is stronger than the first book in the series. The scenes are graphic: no sense is spared from the gore described. Unpredictable (or at least for me ok) twists added intrigue to the plot, rounded out with an ending that rings true to the characters and their developments. The perfect Summer or Halloween read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and Adam Cesare for an ARC of this title!

3.5 stars rounded up

In the follow-up to Clown in a Cornfield, we follow Quinn, Cole, and Rust as they continue to be terrorized by various Frendos. The first book ended with a great set-up for a part two, and this definitely delivered. There was such a sense of dread and terror since there were so many Frendos and you never knew who was in on it and who you could trust.

This was definitely plot-driven rather than character driven, and while I enjoyed how fast the story flew by, I would've loved to gotten to know our main characters a little better. We got a few glimpses of how they were traumatized by the events of the previous book, but there could've been a lot more. There are so many POVs that we really only spend a little time with each person. I also enjoyed the slasher action that was quite descriptive and gross; it reminded me of slasher films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Overall a solid sequel!

FRIENDO LIVES! He surely does and I hope this series continues for at least a few more sequels. Friendo in space? I digress...I love how this sequel started right after the first. I love how Cesare takes the time to catch us up on what everyone has been up to and how the trauma from that night has affected them all in different ways. I found some of the dialogue a little cheesy and some of the plotlines for certain characters a little forced and eyeroll worthy but overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. It is one of the best slasher novels I have read in a while. Cesare really makes you care about the characters as much as you care about the inventive killings!

This is a good sequel, and begins a year after the events in the first book. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll like this as well. The action picks up right away and moves at a very quick pace. It truly feels like you're watching a slasher sequel movie, and had enough small twists to keep it interesting. And just like any good slasher, the ending makes you look forward to the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and Adam Cesare for providing me an ARC.

Quinn, Rust, and Cole are still reeling from their traumas when it seems to be starting anew. The stakes are higher than ever, and no where is safe. Frendo is back, this time with a new armed posse of fanatical supporters. A violent and timely tale with thinly veiled yet effective subtext that should resonate. It's a breakneck slasher sequel that doesn't waste any time getting to the action and suspense. Cesare understands slashers- and more importantly, slasher sequels- really well and crafts a strong narrative around the hardened survivors from the first novel. The introduction of Jerri provides a fresh new perspective while seamlessly tying back to previous events. In true slasher sequel style, the body count is higher along with the brutal deaths that hurt.

Whereas Clown in a Cornfield was a fun YA slasher, this sequel is a more mature, robust, and thrilling continuation that somehow improves upon its predecessor.

Hey now, this is how horror sequels should go! A step up from the sleeper hit original novel in every way, this one is bloodier, scarier, and according to my daily Twitter feed, realer as well. Whereas the last one was blunt in its examination of MAGA culture in small town America, this one is even more unabashed in its depictions of QAnon-esque truthers and January 6-level chaos. The first half is surprisingly patient while it catches us up with Quinn, Rust, Cole, and Glenn, and introduces a crew of new characters; and the buildup more than pays off with a second half that is absolutely relentless - seriously, once I hit the 50% marker, I couldn't put it down. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the first novel, and maybe it's the ill repute of sequels, particularly in the horror genre, but I was even more surprised by this one. A (violent) delight.

I was so excited when I saw there was a sequel to Clown In A Cornfield!I loved the first book! I mean who wouldn't?! Killer clowns?! Ummmm yes please!!! There is something about clowns that are outright creepy. Maybe it's the sinister smiles they have or the fact that you don't know the creepo behind the clown makeup really is.

The premise of part II Frendo Lives was a great one. Like most sequels its a revenge story. Also like most sequels, the first is usually better. I didn't "love" this book, but I still enjoyed my time while reading it. I loved the Halloween/ Autumn setting. I also really enjoyed the parts of the story that took place in the "haunted cornfield" attraction. I think what let me down in this story was the lack of chills & thrills that the first book delivered. Now don't get me wrong I will still read parts 3, 4 & 5 if they ever come to fruition. I hope they do because I do like the characters in the these books.

Before I close this review let me also praise the cover of the book. Creepy?! YES!

May Frendo indeed live on, so that we may have more books in this series!

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives is fantastic!! If you enjoyed the first in the series, you are sure to be thrilled from beginning to end with the sequel. Perfect for slasher and horror fans! If you want a romping good time with scares throughout, this is the book series for you! Please keep making more in this series! This is a series that would make an excellent tv show or movie series. Be sure to check out Clown in a Cornfield in time for Halloween! You won't regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins as well as the author for this ARC.
#NetGalley #HarperCollins #AdamCesare
Am I the only one who notices the Scream parallel? Whatever! I LOVE it! I loved the first one and I loved this one. I loved all the horror tropes that the author unabashedly uses, such as, I don’t know, THE KILLER CLOWN SEQUEL!!! It’s gory. It’s delicious. It’s everything.
This author is gifted with the characters. I can tell by the way I loved the characters that were vile as opposed to the returning protagonists. Love me some Quinn!!!! Each character fulfills a horror trope, much like Scream. Honestly, I thought the clowns in this volume were scarier than in the first book. The violence has stepped up here too. This series is slasher gold!
Overall, read this. If you liked the first book, read this one.

I am absolutely obsessed with the Clown series. I was so, so excited for book 2, but also a little apprehensive because the first one was SO good. I was worried the second wouldn't live up to the first. I didn't need to worry--Book 2 scared the pants of me as much as Clown 1. I am a teen librarian and we purchased several copies because it was in such high demand at our library. It is my go-to recommendation for horror fans and it holds immense crossover appeal for adults. It perfectly meshes 80s slasher and horror, with a basis in social commentary and mixes it with today's climate. (Which is chilling and while I would love a third, I also don't really want life to inspire a third, if you get what I'm saying.) I can't wait to see what Adam does next and I hope he sticks with YA Horror for awhile.

I will start by saying I loved the first book! I was so excited when I saw this was coming out but honestly it took a lot for me to finish it. The premise has the baybrook three trying to get on with their lives will still living in the shadow of Frendo. I loved the what the heck moments in the book and I will say the final few pages of the book almost made this four stars!

I posted a full review of this book on my Goodreads (linked below!!) but wanted to leave an official review here as well!! I was so excited to get approved for an ARC of CIAC 2 (my first ARC ever yeehaw!!!!) since I absolutely adored and flew through Clown in a Cornfield this past October. I would say that this sequel lived up to the slasher/gore/horror hype that CIAC brought me, but when it came to character development or anything really outside of the fast-paced horror plot, I wasn't able to connect with it as well as the first book. Rust was as badass and steadfast as he was in CIAC, and getting to know Jerri was the best, but Quinn and Cole were very static this time around (and Cole was EXTREMELY annoying but he is a teenager boy so what was I expecting) and I don't feel closer to them despite spending another entire book with them. I wanted character growth and relationship development between the main trio more than just about anything else and was pretty disappointed in that department. But Adam Cesare knows how the hell to write some amazing suspense slasher moments and build up the dread of a story over time, and I will absolutely read any other books he puts out, especially if that book is CIAC 3! Thanks again for this ARC, Netgalley—what a fantastic first ARC experience!

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first book in this series was wild. Creepy clowns are my favorite. So, naturally I had to read it. I was beyond excited when I learned there world be a sequel and I've been hoping to get my hands on a copy ASAP. And, here we are...

So, let's talk book 2! We're picking up shortly after the events if the first book. So, read that before starting this one or you may be a little lost.

My initial reaction is HOLY COW. This one moves fast and is quite violent, but in a different way than the first was. The methodology of the Friendo army has changed, but it's just as unsettling.

I was sad having to put this down because I wanted to just devour it. An excellent follow up to the first.

My full review of this will be in Rue Morgue magazine shortly after publication. For now - I LOVED this book and I absolutely hope beyond all hope that Cesare gets the chance to keep playing in this world. We need a Frendo franchise.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy!

4.5 stars! I was approved for this ARC and I dropped EVERYTHING to read it. Clown in a Cornfield was one of my favorite reads last year and I was stoked to hear that there would be a sequel. I was super impressed with this slasher sequel and would just ✨die✨ if the series would continue. (In a good way.)

I was a bit stressed for the first chunk of this book, there were so many different people and perspectives to keep track of and they would jump around a bit, but after awhile (and after a few people were killed off) it was smooth sailing and slaying from there.

Adam Cesare really knows how to do an epic kill scene. If you like slashers, clowns, and campy horror, you should absolutely pick up this series.

Oh my goodness this book was amazing! I was such a huge fan of the first book you always get nervous the sequel won’t live up to your expectations but I was genuinely so happy with how this one turned out! Having the story set a year from the previous and showcasing how the characters were unable to outrun what happened but also the conspiracy theories was such an interesting twist! I really hope these books set turned into a movie or a tv series some day because they would be perfect!

Adam Cesare is a genius. He can make the most cinematic books come to life on the page and creates deep, intriguing characters to root for from the very beginning. Make more! Create more! Write more! FRENDO LIVES!!!!!!! Can this series just be a GD franchise now? Please? MANIFEST THIS, YOU CLOWNS.

A fun sequel that follows in the slasher vein of the original. Reminds you of the over-the-top violence and action pacing of the Friday the 13th movie franchise.

The good: this book delivers on having a solid premise (particularly for a slasher sequel) that feels very prescient for the time, as well as some well-written scares and violence.
The bad: I just didn't engage with the characters as well as I did in the original.
Overall, a fun read for fans of the first book.

This series really is the Scream-esque slasher delight in the modern day. A little heavy on explanation in the first 25%, but once the action starts it’s full speed ahead. So much fun!