4.5 Stars

Living in the suburbs is hell! Suburban Hell begins with four friends spending their movie night together. They are excited to build a She Shed. A place to call their own, no husbands or kids to bother them. When they go out to christen the plot with a drink, something gets let loose, and the neighborhood as they know it begins to unravel. Now they have to save their street and all who live on it.

This book was so much fun! It started a bit slow for me. It took until around the 20% mark to get going, but after that, I had a great time reading. I can’t believe this was a debut book! There are some really spooky moments in this story and a ton of humor. It reminded me a lot of the movie The Burbs. Not in terms of the plot, but how it made me feel. Creeped out but happy.

I would reread it again and highly recommend adding it to your fall TBR!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for my gifted copy!

Amy, Liz, Jess and Melissa are best buds in their suburban neighborhood. They rely on each other to get through the PTA women trying to get them to volunteer. During a home improvement task, they unleash a demonic force and they’ll never be the same.

Darn.. I wrote the wrong pub date in my spreadsheet and missed pub day! Once I realized I picked it up and sped through it! Once you start this one you can’t put it down. I didn’t think it would be scary since I heard it’s funny, but it is totally both! It takes talent to make something funny and terrifying at the same time! I wish there were more books like this one.

“It was the She Shed that started it all, a blissfully ignorant idea that transformed our cheerily suburban enclave into something demonic. The suburbs were hell… literally.”

Suburban Hell is available now.

I got lured in by some great reviews on Instagram, plus the fantastic cover and fun premise: A group of suburban mom friends are forced to battle a demon/ghost when it possesses one of their own. Unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to my expectations.

{{{{{ There are some light spoilers ahead }}}}}

This book was not scary. AT ALL.

For a book that focuses heavily on the importance of establishing and maintaining female friendships, especially as an adult and a mom, the group’s friendship felt situational, forced, and shallow. None of them seemed to actually like each other very much. Melissa and Jess were constantly rude to each other and they were all patronizing and condescending to Liz about her gross pink box wine — if they’d joked about it properly it could have been really funny, but it just came off as mean and dumb.

The characters were boring middle aged (assumed white) suburban lady stereotypes. Liz was the Martha Stewart Mom, Melissa was the Hard-Ass Career Mom, Jess was the CrossFit/Exercise Mom (stepmom), and Amy was the Vaguely Unfulfilled Mom Looking for More. Also, unclear on why Jess needed to start 98% of her sentences with “Yo!” - that got annoying real quick.

Also, Amy was kind of a jerk. She constantly whines about her neighbor Heather and her Mean Mom Mafia (or whatever she called it - can’t make myself flip back through to find the exact phrase), but Amy and her friends were just as (if not more so) snotty and judgmental and cliquish (which, again, I could have appreciated if they were funny).

This book could have been hilarious and scary and so much fun, but instead it was a tedious slog to get through, and the exorcism may as well have been on an episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, but more boring.

Book Details:
-Genre: Horror Comedy
-Published this past week
-Set in the Midwest
-Features suburban moms and demonic possession

Pacing
This book was a really fast and engaging read. It had a lot of comedic elements about living in suburbia / imagining suburban moms fighting a demon.

Horror
This book is very light horror. It has some gore, some scary elements, and demons, but if you are looking for something with more intense horror, this might not be it. In general the stakes felt pretty low in a lot of the creepy scenes. Connected to this, I wanted a more intense ending.

Overall
If you want a fun, quick horror comedy read for spooky season, this could be a great pick! It isn’t anything super mind blowing and can be a bit predictable, but it was fun to read if this fits into your niche!

Is there such a thing as a cozy, horror novel? This would make a good read for someone who is contemplating a cross over from thriller and suspense novels to horror. There is the element of a demon, creepy voices and odd occurrences but never dives into full bore body horror. You get a sprinkling. Not a full course meal.

Amy, Liz, Jess and Melissa live in a rich neighborhood outside of Chicago. They're tired, over worked and get by on appetizers and wine. When Liz decides to build a she-shed in her backyard she unleashes a demon with a backstory of resentment.

As a kid who was reading Stephen King by age 13 I needed more in this book. I wish the book had been pushed to a darker level. But readers who can only handle light horror may find this to their taste and feel that it's closer to a 4 star read.

I did enjoy the commentary in the book about female friendships. It showed a the need for women to rely on each other during periods of parenting young children and supporting each other unconditionally without judgments. The back of the book has really great discussion questions that would work well for a book club. I could see this book being used successfully for a book club October read.

Suburban Hell is the first foray into horror for author Maureen Kilmer. The story features Amy and her friends. Melissa and Jess as they try to save their other friend Liz, from the clutches of a demonic creature in their otherwise very average suburban neighborhood.

I loved the idea of a bunch of average suburban moms trying to deal with PTA. Drama will also fighting demons and this definitely brings you that. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the women and I thought that the story was pace pretty well. It did tend to kind of drag during like the middle third but I love the ending and I thought the beginning was nice as well.

Well I definitely wouldn't call this book Scary. It's more of like a satire horror but it's a fun read. I did get a little annoyed how the book just kind of accepted that a lot of the men in the situation are kind of helpless and so it was left to the women kind of. But at the end of the day that's probably accurate to life so that's not necessarily a mark on the creator just more so I would have liked to see more supportive husbands. Maybe I don't know. Otherwise, it was a good read. Other than the pacing. I would say it's a decent book and if this sounds like something you're interested in, definitely pick it up

A great and campy read that horror and non horror lovers alike can enjoy and appreciate. If you enjoy Grady Hendrix, you’ll love this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC

I absolutely loved Suburban Hell and found it to be a fun and unique horror novel! It gives me the vibes of older horror movies, which I LOVED. I loved the mix of true horror themes compared to the "horrors" of everyday life. I cannot wait to pick this one up and read it again!

I loved the idea of demonic possession taking place in the suburbs. And yet, I felt this book dragged.

A group of moms in the suburbs finds strength from their wine nights in the face of typical suburbia drama. But the breaking of ground on a new she shed releases a demon that possesses one of the girl gang members.

I loved the focus on female friendships and the strength that comes with them. Anyone that has had that friendship group will definitely relate and connect with that message.

The biggest problem was that it was too long. The various horror related things that happened just kept going. A library was visited for books on possession AND THEN a bookstore was visited later for more books on how to do an exorcism. I think it could have been tightened up and chiseled down to make something a bit more cohesive.

There were also a few chapters that ended “if I knew what was going to happen I never would have __________” which I found unnecessary. That kind of reflection was fine for the first chapter but happened a few more times making the sentiment redundant.

Mostly fine. Just too long.

Suburban Mom's take on a paranormal haunting of one of their best friends in Suburban Hell. Its NOT enough we have the home owners association, mini-vans ad crazy neighbors but NOW we've got to fight the evil spirits.

YES suburban Mom's can do it ALL and fit it on the calendar!

When one of the ladies decides she wants to build a She Shed, ALL Hell breaks loose in the sub-division. The hole unearths a spirit that takes over one of the ladies, so her friends come to her rescue. But first there are Targets runs, PTA events, block parties and kids to shuffle around to save her life.

This debut novel was absolutely funny, and the levelheadedness they maintained while fighting demonic spirits was spot on in the lives of Moms. Nothing can keep this group of womanfrom staying on track with their daily family calendar of activities and errands.

Thank G.P. Putnam's Son for the ARC of this novel to read and review.

I don’t know why the first word I think of to describe this book is “cute”, but I can’t think of a better way to describe it! Horror isn’t supposed to be cute, but I mean it in the sense that this whole book was kind of a cute wink and nod to the genre itself. This is the author’s horror debut, so to me it felt like she was dipping her toe in … I usually like my horror on the more gritty side, but again, this was cute.

The book centers around our protagonist, Amy, a newly-suburban mom who would have lost her mind without her new neighborhood friends, Melissa, Jess and Liz. Moving to the Chicago suburbs was something she wasn’t happy about, but this squad of wine-loving, worn out mothers who she can relate to make it much more bearable. Until they decide to build a “She Shed” in Liz’s back yard and Liz … changes …

I loved all the the pop culture references, and that it was set in the Midwest without being about farmers. Awesome little references were strewn all throughout, and there was even an “Ope” said, so we are right on point there. For me, this book did have a couple slices of cheese, but for the most part, it was relatively funny. There were definitely a few genuinely creepy parts as well, though!

I’m usually not one for ghost stories (too hacky most of the time) or things dealing with demonology/witchcraft (you shouldn’t mess with demons - I know, I’m such a Melissa!) but since this is also a humorous story, it was fine in this case. There are a few sad topics lightly touched on, and the writing was excellent, so it all came together and worked. 3.5 stars, rounded up for being a debut! I’ve now read my first cute horror book - and it wasn’t too bad.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, Maureen Kilmer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Amy, Liz, Jess, and Melissa are all suburban moms who managed to find each other amidst the craziness of the perfect PTA moms. They get together regularly and are the perfect support for each other. Until, that is, one of their new home projects unleashes a demon and all of a sudden the ladies find themselves protecting their perfect suburban life from demonic possession.

I just finished this book and it is such a fun read! It is told from Amy’s point of view, who moved to the suburbs from the city because of their expanding family. I love how much I related to her situation where she’s trying to be a good mom, a good suburban resident, and trying to get back into the workforce. I felt her frustration every time she applied for a job and didn’t get it. I also love how much she cares for her friends. As an implant myself I can understand how hard it can be to adjust and still not feel 100% comfortable. And to top it off she now has to learn how to fight a demonic possession!

When I first started the book, I kept thinking about THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES by @gradyhendrix because of the great group of women and their different personalities and the fact that their husbands mostly took a backseat to the story.

I love stories where ordinary people like a housewife or working mom come face to face with the supernatural. It makes you wonder how you’d deal with the situation as far-fetched as it seems 😆.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun and entertaining read! It can be creepy and sad at times, though. Also, this is the second book in a week that I’ve read where there’s been death of bunnies/hares. So take that as you will. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Trigger warning for drug addiction and demonic possession.

Such a fun read!
I will be looking out for this author.
I loved reading this while getting my workout going, made time fly.

I was really excited for everything about this book. From the excellent cover to the blurb, it seemed like the horror comedy of my dreams. I mean, I’m not usually into suburban mom books, but you can’t tell me that suburban moms battling a demon and causing general chaos doesn’t sound fun as hell.

Unfortunately, it was not fun as hell. In fact, it was rather…slow and boring? Turns out, Suburban Hell is way too heavy on the Suburban and way too short on the Hell. I find myself disappointed that the book doesn’t live up to its premise, and it was slow enough/lacking enough in action that I never found myself excited to pick it up and finish it.

It’s not actually a *bad* book, though I did feel uncomfortable about the way it handled some mental health issues, including addiction. There was a side plot about the main character’s sister dying of an overdose that honestly seemed pretty unnecessary and wasn’t given the care it needed to justify it being included in the book, in my opinion. The back story of the demon also made me feel like mental health was thrown around a little carelessly in this story.

Overall, I imagine this book will have an audience who will really enjoy it, and even relate to it. That audience just won’t be most people who pick it up looking for horror, it will be the suburban moms the book is about.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and Maureen Kilmer for providing me a free copy in exhnahy for an honest review.

Amy Foster is living the Illinois suburban “dream”-a hardworking husband, two sweet children, a beautiful home, and is still looking for a new job vs. the stay at home mom gig. But the best part? She has Liz, Jess, and Melissa—three close neighbor-friends with whom she has monthly movie nights and a long running group chat. They even are about to have their own she-shed, built in Liz’s backyard, christened with box wine one summer night.

But as the summer progresses, Liz starts acting strange. Weird smells, horrific behaviors, and downright terrifying occurrences and injuries start happening. It’s not long before Amy suspects that this is less coincidence and more demonic. With the help of Melissa and Jess, Amy makes the decision to not let her neighborhood and her friend circle go down without a fight. Even if it means she has to wage war with a demon to save it.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. This was a marvelous book, if Desperate Housewives met The Exorcist, hilarious and endearing and downright gross in spots. This was absolutely a winner, written basically in my own backyard with lots of Illinois/Chicago suburb references and genuinely endearing characters. I want friends like this myself, a group of ride or die mom besties who aren’t going down quietly.

This book was stellar and I am SO HAPPY I started spooky season with this gem. This book is OUT NOW as of 08/30/2022 and you should absolutely get your hands on it as soon as possible!

When Amy Foster moves to the suburbs, she doesn't expect to summon a demon when she puts a shed in the backyard! Yes, I said that correctly. This is a darkly humorous book that was so fun to read!

Suburban Hell is a fun jaunt into dark comedic horror. The story is told from the point of view of Amy, one of a group of four friends and neighbors who get together for movie night. Well, it's not so much a movie night as it is drinking wine and talking. Liz, one of the group, decides the group needs a dedicated space away from all the responsibilities of being a mom, wife, and just life in general.. Once construction begins on a future She Shed, hell is unleashed.

The story is a fun read. Is it scary? Not entirely, but I think the humor of it all tempers any fear factors there may be. I mean, who wouldn't laugh at demon possession and exorcisms...right? Right?

The characters are fun. Amy and her friends are genuine in their failures and strengths. There is a real camaraderie between them despite being very different people. This book is as much about friendship as it is surviving the hells of suburbia, literally and figuratively.

I really liked this book. It's a lot of fun. Fans of The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires will really enjoy this book. A dark playful read and one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review Suburban Hell.

The cover artwork for this book is beautiful and eye-catching, and what initially got me interested to read! This book is perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, in that it deals with demonic themes in a comical (and thrilling) way! I love suburban America being the setting for horror books, as it's so relatable and makes you think the story could literally happen anywhere. 4 neighbors become fast friends, and are excited about building a "She Shed" on the property of one of the women's yards. As the groundbreaking commences, one of the women experiences a change that's apparent to everyone. The plot flowed well, and I didn't forsee what would happen, which was great! I liked that the evil begins affecting the narrator's children, and I also like that we got some history on the town for why things were happening. I loved the ending. All in all, great book (the most fun you'll have reading about possession!) and will be recommending to others!

I feel like we are starting to see more of this kind of Horror, and I am not mad at it. While it still has the horror elements to it, there is also this layer of humor involved which I think gives it a horror lite type of feel. It's a fun debut and I'm glad I read it. I think people will enjoy this one.

This is the story of four women who live in the suburbs and became quick friends. They are always there to help each other out with the children., almost like sisters. They get together at least once a month for Mom time and on one of these nights they come up with the idea for a She-Shed to be built in Liz's back yard. On the night after they christen the start of building something noticeably starts affecting Liz. She just isn't acting herself and cutting herself off from the group which is totally not like her. This story is of how the remaining three friends come together to figure out what is going on.

The characters in this book made me long for friends like this. They were so close and always checking in with each other. They are the kind of friends I would love to have. I think the author did an excellent job of pulling us into the story, making us feel like we were right there. Definitely a thriller I will recommend to others.