Thank you to Peachtree Teen for the e-ARC of Hell Followed With Us!

DNF @ 40%.

I am so sad that I didn’t love this one. I love love love the Queerness of it & the concept is phenomenal, but I was so bored reading this and struggled to even care what was happening/about the characters.

I devoured this book. Quite literally couldn't stop reading it. A trans boy living in a dystopian society terrorize by an evangelical eco-fascist cult called The Angels is being turned into an instrument of destruction-- but when he runs away he realizes he gets to choose whose destruction be becomes. There are some haunting parallels to Christian Nationalism and our own current issues, but with full-on dystopian and body horror twists that fit all too horrifyingly into the story and themes. I feel like I could gush about Hell Followed With Us for ages.

A perfect example of why this book and its writing will stick with me: Andrew Joseph White carefully chooses not to disclose Benji's deadname for the first two-thirds of the book. When we finally learn it in the final act, the horror of hearing a name that feels so wrong strikes the reader almost as much as it does Benji. My God, that's good writing.

I loved this book. Idk why it took me so long to read it it. But it was so good! I need the physical copy. It literally had me in from sentence one.

This was one of the most incredible books that I've read but couldn't finish. The body horror is a LOT... but it's happening as a metaphor, against a backdrop both brutal and believable.

Beautiful, dark, and creepy. I love a story with a found family storyline.

This book had me hooked and I read through it in a night, not able to put it down. The setting, the characters, and all the horrors were described so perfectly. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.

Far too young adult for me and was overall not impressed with the story. the hype surrounding the book maybe dampened my enjoyment which is a shame, but although it wasn’t for me, i think it’s definitely a good introduction to young adult horror — especially for queer & neurodivergent folk.

Loved the representation in this book. It's a horror and I was certainly horrified at multiple points. I enjoyed the concept and the anger. For me it lacked slightly on the character development front. I felt like I was still missing a lot of information about the world, even at the end.

Here is a book review of "Hell Followed with Us" by Andrew Joseph White, based on the information I found:

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Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White is a visceral and unapologetic exploration of faith, queer rage, and the struggle for survival in a world ravaged by fundamentalist hatred. The story follows Benji, a 16-year-old transgender boy who escapes the cult that raised him - the same cult that unleashed a deadly plague upon the world, seeking to bring about Armageddon (The Story Sanctuary, Hell Followed With Us Wiki).

Benji's journey is a powerful allegory for the trauma of religious indoctrination and the struggle for self-acceptance in the face of hatred. The novel does not shy away from explicit depictions of violence and body horror, reflecting the brutal realities of Benji's experiences (Content Warnings - Andrew Joseph White, Bookshelf Soliloquies). Yet, amidst the carnage, the novel finds a way to be a testament to the power of queer resilience, community, and the unquenchable desire to thrive even in the bleakest of worlds (Bookshelf Soliloquies, The Nerd Daily).

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

This book absolutely took hold of me from the first chapter, found family will always be my favourite trope, but religious trauma comes a close second!

We have had this book in stock for our store and sold out in days so will stocking more!

Hell Followed With Us is a book that grabbed my attention from the moment I laid eyes on its intriguing cover. Without even reading the description, I dove headfirst into its dark and gripping narrative. Let me tell you, it was a journey unlike any other.

Dark doesn't even begin to describe it. This YA novel delves into themes of violence, gore, and religious persecution with an unapologetic honesty that captivated me from start to finish. Some might think these elements are just for shock value, but they serve a crucial role in shaping the story's powerful narrative.

At the heart of the tale is Benji, a transgender protagonist who escapes a sinister cult that groomed him to be a weapon of destruction. As he navigates a world ravaged by chaos, he finds solace and camaraderie in the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, where he meets Nick, a fellow survivor who accepts him for who he is. Their bond becomes the driving force behind Benji's determination to protect his newfound family.

What struck me most about this book is its uncanny parallels to our own reality. White masterfully draws connections between Benji's harrowing journey and real-world struggles, particularly the exploration of identity and the dangers of religious extremism. As someone who has grappled with similar issues, I found myself deeply moved by the authenticity of Benji's character and his relentless quest for survival.

But perhaps the most compelling aspect of Hell Followed With Us is its portrayal of redemption and resilience. Benji's transformation from a pawn of destruction to a beacon of hope is nothing short of breathtaking. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit.

This book has left an indelible mark on me, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come. It's not an easy read, but it's one that's absolutely worth it. I urge anyone who's willing to embark on a journey of darkness and redemption to pick up a copy of Hell Followed With Us. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Absolutely breathtaking, this is a book that sticks with you in a harsh but lovely way. The religious aspect was difficult to read for me personally sometimes, but it was so well written that I had to power through.

This story has all the bite and teeth it promised. I really enjoyed how the virus elements played into the dystopian world and political system; how emotionally connected Benji and Nick became and how that was put across to the reader; and the general imagery of the novel. I haven't read something as gripping or punchy as this in a long time - an excellent debut novel!

I won’t lie, this story is everything my religious trauma wanted and needed it to be and then some. I love Andrew’s books and can’t wait for the next ones!

This is an incredible book that takes you on such an emotional journey! Wow! I really loved it a lot and am glad that I read it. I know that I'm two years late, but I do get through to all the books at one point. Go read this!

Dare I say I think I loved this even more than The Spirit Bares Its Teeth? Benji and Nick are everything!

The journey that this book takes you on is stressful and heartbreaking but so hopeful at the same time.

This one took a long time to read. But it was incredibly intricate and I catch myself thinking back on it constantly. One I will reread again and again. I think something new could be gained from this each time. The concept is what drew me into this but the writing is what kept me there. I'm a huge fan.

This was nothing of what I expected yet it was everything and more.
It's definitely not for the faints of heart with the many body horrors, violence and hard situations, but if you have a strong stomach, don't miss the opportunity to read this book. The journey it takes you is not what you think or guess, and it will surprise you at every turn. I was so scared at every page because I didn't trust the story to keep the characters safe. I was worried and I was screaming and then the book was over and it was fantastic. A must read.

OBSESSED! This was so so good. I was blown away. Such an amazing example of queer representation. I loved the main character so much.

This was an absolute fantastic read and I loved it. It was a stunning debut for Andrew Joseph White and I can’t wait to see everything else he comes out with. His second book looks extremely creepy and stunning as well. Within the first, maybe 10? 5 even? percent of reading this book I knew it would be a 5 star read and the author a top author. He had such a way with words that I kept wanting to read.

I love the post-apocalyptic genre. Give me it in any format and with any origin story. Virus, alien apocalypse, ton of natural disasters – I don’t care. Two of my favourite things in this genre is a) people creating communities. Getting together, living in a school or small neighbourhood. These people creating a school for the children. Anyone who has medical experience setting up a “hospital”. Give me all of it. B) the environment taking over man-made structures. Give me grass all over parking lots. Vines and ivy growing all over buildings. I love it.

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This book had both of that in spades and I was here for all of it. The community building here was done by an LGBTQ+ centre – which I thought was excellent. I felt so much for these characters and I was happy to do that. The author did a great job at that and I hope his next book will also feature characters that I love almost immediately.

Benji and Nick were two fantastic characters and were a big reason I didn’t want to stop reading. I loved that we got both of their povs and were able to know them more (than just dialogue). Even if we just had Benji’s pov I would’ve been happy because we got to know Nick through the dialogue and his interactions with Benji.

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The plot was fantastic. The author definitely has a way with words that make you keep reading and keep you invested in the plot. Almost every chapter had me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to know more about the beginning of everything. So if he ever wanted to write a novella… I’d be right there.

The gore was so well-written. Extremely visual in the writing and pulled no punches at all. Extremely descriptive but done amazingly well, which made it all the better to read it. Tying the gore and the post-apocalypse so closely to religion was a great choice. White certainly didn’t hold back but I didn’t mind it at all because I know religion often isn’t kind to those who don’t tick their boxes. This is a dark book and it dealt with very dark themes, specifically church-related but it was done really well.