Shockingly, this is the first book I read by Rachel Harrison. I own some of her other books, I have others in my online carts, but this was my first foray into her writing. And it did not disappoint!

After breaking away from her family and their strange beliefs, Vesper receives an invitation to come back and she decides to go. Because why not? What does she have to lose? Plus, she still wants to find out who her mysterious father is once and for all. However, after being there for only a short amount of time, she quickly confirms that it was a huge mistake to come back....a horrifyingly huge mistake.

I was immediately drawn to the main character, Vesper. Although she's cynical and self-centered, her personality didn't bother me. It was endearing somehow and entertaining. After getting to know her more, her personality traits were also completely understandable.

Throughout the first chunk of the story, even though I was entertained and hooked, I was left wondering how this was a horror story. But then realization came in hot. Literally.

I appreciated Vesper's independence and her insistence to challenge the beliefs she was born into. Even though she makes poor decisions here and there, at her core, she's a good, strong person.

This book is PERFECT for spooky season and one that you'll likely fly through. I had a lot of fun with it.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for access to this arc.

I'm not usually one for horror. I don't like horror movies and don't watch them (a coworker also hates them but watches them for the delicious thrill of being scared shitless by them). I rarely read books with the label but after checking out the excerpt for "Black Sheep" something compelled me to give it a whirl. Vesper Wright learns an important lesson. Not "you can't go home again" but in her case "you shouldn't go home again."

I liked how the book serves up some faux horror in the various movie props that Constance has accumulated over the course of her career and which she insists on displaying all over the house. Growing up with that must have been difficult. The true nature of the cult is revealed suddenly and with – dare I say? – glee. I’ll try not to spoil things and will admit that I had read some reviews that hinted enough to give me an idea of what to expect but it still took me aback to see it in black and white. Yes, I know devotees actually exist but the people in the book are *devoted*.

Faux horror gently slides into the realms of discomfort as Vesper remembers her upbringing – something she had just thought of as “normal” while growing up. That’s bad enough but the toxic relationship she has with her mother is another form of awful. Is it better to have a Mommy Dearest or a mother who ignores you when she can and makes it clear she wants little or nothing to do with you when she can’t?

Things get real at the end. And by “get real” I mean get messy and horrid. Since the book is told in first person POV, it’s clear that one person survives after things go to hell in a handcart but this person will have scars (real and mental) for life and a whole lot to discuss with a therapist (which happens). Vesper might be seen by some readers as unlikeable (her co-workers call her Your Highness) but she gets shit done and often others don’t like this sort of person. There were a few times when I thought, “Really, Vesper? How could you be this naïve about your life?” I enjoyed the book but I’m still not someone who is going to go looking to read horror books.

The nitty-gritty: An unexpected and bloody homecoming awaits the protagonist of Black Sheep, Rachel Harrison's latest, a thoroughly entertaining surprise of a story.

“All happy families are alike, I thought. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Once again, Rachel Harrison has surprised and delighted me with an outstanding story that did not take the expected path, but veered off into something altogether unique and horrifying. This is also the part where I mention that this is a spoiler free review, and by that I mean I’m not divulging the big reveal, which happens about 20% into the story. This is going to make it very difficult to review the book, because I want to talk about everything. But I went in completely blind, and I think you should too. There are plenty of spoilery reviews on Goodreads if you want to know more.

Vesper left her home and family behind six years ago, after growing up in a strict, religious community that demanded complete obedience and devotion to the church. Since then, she’s been working dead end jobs trying to make ends meet, but it’s been a struggle finding her place in the world after spending eighteen years having all your decisions made for you.

But one night, after a horrible shift at work, Vesper comes home to find a fancy red envelope sitting on her doorstep. When she opens it, she’s shocked to see a wedding invitation from her family, inviting her home for the wedding of her best friend Rosie and her ex-boyfriend Brody. When Vesper left, she knew she’d never be welcomed back, because once you leave the church, you can never return. But now she has been invited back, although it’s a mystery as to who actually sent her the invitation.

Vesper decides to attend the wedding, despite her misgivings, but the siren call of familiarity and home is hard to resist, even though deep down she knows it’s a bad idea. And guess what? It turns out to be a terrible idea, because Vesper is walking into a situation she knows nothing about and can’t control. And when her long lost father shows up at the reception, Vesper’s world is turned upside down. Getting through the awkwardness of the wedding is one thing. Making it out in one piece is quite another.

Black Sheep is a horror story with supernatural elements, although I can’t really say more than that without spoiling things. The author drops little hints in the beginning about the nature of those elements, and I knew right away that something was off with the religious cult Vesper came from (although Vesper herself insists it isn’t a “cult,” but that word seems to fit so I’m using it). But most of the horror stuff happens near the end, and up until that point this is mostly a story about family ties and trying to break away and live your own life. Take out all supernatural elements and you have a funny, emotional and very awkward story about how hard it is to go home, especially if you’ve left on bad terms.

Rachel Harrison has a talent for writing quirky, interesting female protagonists, and Vesper is one of my favorites. The story is told in first person from her point of view, and her thoughts are messy and chaotic and full of emotion and uncertainty. Vesper isn’t always likable and she doesn’t always get along with people. Her observations about life are caustic and full of black humor, but inside she’s still a vulnerable little girl seeking love and acceptance. There’s a lot of emotional turmoil surrounding Vesper’s mother and father, and they were both fantastic characters as well. Constance Wright is a famous “scream queen,” a horror movie actress with a macabre decorating style. (Her house is full of horror movie memorabilia and props and other spooky furnishings. Think the Addams Family and you’ll have a good idea of what sort of environment Vesper grew up in!) She’s also an extremely cold person with very little love for her daughter, although their interactions were hysterically funny at times. Then there’s the big mystery of Vesper’s absentee father, who left when she was a child. All Vesper knows is that she loves him dearly and wants to find him, but Constance refuses to give up any information about him. I figured out who he was almost immediately, but that didn’t take away from the fun of watching the clues unfold.

To call this family “dysfunctional” is an understatement, but I loved that the author explores themes that everyone can relate to, no matter how normal you think your family is. And because this is a story grounded in religion (but don’t let that scare you off—it’s not what you’re thinking), Harrison touches on faith and belief (and non belief) and how it isn’t always healthy or normal. Vesper has to come to terms with the way she’s been raised and the huge, awful secrets she discovers at the wedding, and I thought the way she came out on the other side was very well done.

The story gets weirder and weirder as it progresses, and the climax was over-the-top but absolutely perfect. Harrison’s vivid writing brings Vesper’s and her strange family’s stories to life, and I guarantee you won’t want to put the book down once you start reading. This one’s a winner, folks. Don’t miss it.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

This is absolutely everything that I could’ve wanted in a book. We have a cult, religious horror but flipped to be about Satanism and escaping that religion, family drama, romantic drama, a Scream Queen, a house filled with oddities, and Satan himself. Cancel all of your plans for September 19, and read this book. You will not regret it.

Rachel Harrison was becoming a favorite of mine, and with this novel, she solidified that I will read whatever she writes.

I have so many notations from the book and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy to add notations, as well as to add to my very meager pink horror collection, and I already have plans to give this as gifts.

This was weird, poignant, and spot on. I loved it, and in case it wasn’t obvious, this is a 5 star read that should be firmly at the top of any spooky season TBR.

Many, MANY thanks to #NetGalley and #Berkley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. My gushing over this novel is my own opinion and is completely warranted.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for my e-ARC of Black Sheep!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🐍 ever escaped from a cult
👩🏻 never got along with your mother
💭 have moved things with thoughts alone
🏚️ grew up in a house of literal horror memorabilia

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Nobody has a “normal” family, but Vesper Wright’s is truly...something else. Vesper left home at eighteen and never looked back—mostly because she was told that leaving the staunchly religious community she grew up in meant she couldn’t return. But then an envelope arrives on her doorstep. 
 
Inside is an invitation to the wedding of Vesper’s beloved cousin Rosie. It’s to be hosted at the family farm. Have they made an exception to the rule? It wouldn’t be the first time Vesper’s been given special treatment. Is the invite a sweet gesture? An olive branch? A trap? Doesn’t matter. Something inside her insists she go to the wedding. Even if it means returning to the toxic environment she escaped. Even if it means reuniting with her mother, Constance, a former horror film star and forever ice queen.
 
When Vesper’s homecoming exhumes a terrifying secret, she’s forced to reckon with her family’s beliefs and her own crisis of faith in this deliciously sinister novel that explores the way family ties can bind us as we struggle to find our place in the world.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a cool book focusing around a cult that took a twisty spin I didn’t quite see coming! I loved Vesper! Sure; she’s a bit cold and aloof, but deep down she doesn’t want to hurt people, she just wants to be alone, and after an upbringing like hers, I couldn’t really blame her. I went into this one blind (other than knowing it was a horror novel of sorts) so I was pretty blown away by all of the twists and honestly had no idea how this one would all play out! It was nice to see Vesper take her life by the reins in the end though. If you’re into cults and horror, I recommend grabbing this one!

This book takes a very unique twist on the cult plot line and I loved it! Shocking within the first 10 percent and then it just keeps getting weirder in the best way possible.

While, I thought sometimes things felt rushed and a bit messy…overall? It was a fast and easy read that kept me guessing.

I would recommend to all my friends looking for a thriller palette cleanser that goes a direction you may have not seen before.

If I go down a rabbit hole on the internet its often on cults, as I am so fascinated by them. From their leaders to the followers, cult are a mystery we will never truly understand the "why."

Harrison has written a book that highlights a Satanic Cult, it members and rituals. This devilishly delicious story tells the tale of one that got away, only to be lured back by her family. Travel to hell and back, as you won't be disappointed.

Thank you Berkley for the complimentary copy.

This borderline realistic horror is a hard book to review without spoiling/revealing too much. I thought about DNFing this book when I hit the lull in the middle, but I decided to keep reading to see where this one would go. While it did take a different direction that I was expecting, I did really like the direction it did go in; however, I wish there was more of that. There was a flashback of an incident and two that happened in the present, but that was it and I wanted more. I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance that was present in this one and I don't feel like it added anything to the story. This one did actually creep me out so much at one point I had to look at my window to make sure no one was there, which is what I want from horror novels. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy horror novels and books about cults.

On the surface, Vesper Wright might seem like your typical angsty twenty something. Equipped with a sinister wit and a devil may care attitude, Vesper still oddly relishes her present day, humdrum lifestyle-the devil you know and all that. But you’d be happy with the mundane too if you grew up how Vesper did-the world she comes from anything but boring.

When Vesper left home she vowed never to return, come hell or high water. But hell might just freeze over when she gets an invitation to her cousin Rosie’s wedding. Rosie was always her favorite relative, but Vesper can’t help but feel a little bit salty about who she is marrying-Vesper’s ex. Still, Vesper is confused. After cutting ties with her family’s religiously devout beliefs, it was understood there would be no turning back. But with this invitation comes journeying back to a world Vesper left behind, even if it will hurt like hell to do so.

Black Sheep is a part darkly comedic, part classically derived horror story. Vesper is a truly cynical soul with little happiness in her life, missing her father when, speak of the devil, he returns. But her irreverent attitude takes on deeper meaning once you learn the environment she grew up in, taking family drama to a whole other level, truly making the devil shine in its dirty little details.

The perfect fall read, Black Sheep is a fiery farce about dysfunctional families, and one hell of a tale at that.

Short synopsis: Vesper left home and her highly religious community at 18, never to look back. That is until she gets a wedding invitation for her cousin Rosie. Now she trying to reconcile while finding more about her family’s hidden secret.

My thoughts: In efforts to not spoil the big reveal, I’ll keep this somewhat vague. The main reveal and twist just wasn’t for me. The story itself was fun and filled with dark humor, family drama and secrets, and a bit of gore, but the main topic is just off setting for me.

I can picture a number of people really enjoying this, and being excited by the twist and family secrets. It reads really quickly and the characters definitely added to the darkness of the story, especially Constance and her Horror film star occupation.

Read if you love:
- Religious Cult vibes
- Rebellion
- Strong female characters
- Dark humor
- Horror books

“Black Sheep” by Rachel Harrison is simply a hell of a ride. The story takes you on a sinister narrative about how family ties can keep us from being our full selves and the restrictive nature of religion and faith. From the very beginning, as soon as Vesper is introduced, you know something isn’t quite right. As soon as we are introduced to her fundamentalist Satanist cult of a family, we know exactly what is happening or do we?  The surprises and revelations within the novel are what make this story so compelling.

Vesper struggles and that is part of what makes her character so intriguing. She loves her family even as she rebels against their restrictions. But it is the revelations and secrets that they keep from her that make for the sinister pace and compelling story as Vesper tries to escape her father and the influence of both him and her mother, of her upbringing. Whether supernatural or not, this story demonstrates that sometimes the love of family can be suffocating. 

If you love stories about the supernatural and the devil, this novel will be a hell of a ride. It is compelling and Vesper is charismatic in her rebellious nature. The themes of family, religion and faith are revelatory and will make readers think. I love the pace of the story and how Vesper discovers the truth about her father, her family and herself, and how strong she really is when she cuts ties with her family and their restrictions.

Read if you like:
📚 Horror
😆 Dark Humor
⭐️ Satanic Vibes
🏘️ Religious Cults
😡 Feminine Rage
👨‍👩‍👧 Messed up Family Dynamics
🌀 Rebellious, Strong, & Angry FMC’s

Do you ever get absolutely sucked in and fascinated by the stories of people who grew up in cults and left and how their life is after leaving and the intricacies of what they grew up believing? If so, this book is for you!

The pacing of this book was absolutely perfection! Before I knew it, I had binged half of the story, and finished it in two days!

I absolutely loved our FMC, Vesper! She was twisty, grumpy, angry, full of rage, and absolutely haunted by her childhood and the community she left behind at 18. This becomes even worse when she receives an invitation to the wedding of her ex-boyfriend and her cousin from the community she grew up in. So, when she gets this invite, obviously it boils her blood, maybe a little bit literally, and she can’t stop herself from feeling the rage associated by this relationship, and the fact that she lost her shitty job that night is the perfect storm for her to decide to go back home to the cult she left, and to attend the wedding of her ex boyfriend and her cousin/former bestie.

Another piece of her escape was escaping her horror movie star mother (who she can’t really escape as she looks just like her) who was a neglectful ice queen mother who just seemed to not want to be a parent. This bad relationship with her mom is further complicated as her mom won’t tell Vesper about her dad so she doesn’t really know who her dad is or anything about him, but has memories of a loving and caring man who left and she never knew why…. But, by going home and attending the wedding, she is about to open a huge can of worms, and get answers to questions she may wish she never sought the answers for…

Sometimes living in the dark, is better than the answers we seek and the potential trauma that comes with those answers… at least that’s very well the results for Vesper as things start to get weird not long after she returns home.

If you liked The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, appreciate dark humor, like horror, some gory vibes, and learning about the inner workings of cults I highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much Berkley for my ARC of this one!

The newest book by Rachel Harrison is definitely different than any book I've read recently. Main character Vesper is returning to her unconventional home after years of estrangement to attend a family wedding. Vesper is an awesome badass character who is tough as nails, but has issues with her mother, a cold horror film actress, and her father, who left years ago and whom she hasn't seen since. Once she gets to the family home, things do go swiftly downhill. The story is entertaining and original, and I couldn't wait to finish, in particular one chapter where I just couldn't believe what was happening. A few gory scenes, but an otherwise unputdownable thoroughly enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

We can all agree, I'm sure - family can be the worst.
Vesper left home at 18 - determined to never return.
Recently fired from her job - she gets an invitation to an upcoming wedding. Her best friend and high school boyfriend are getting hitched. Vesper is not pleased.
Her family has been leaders in their local church for generations. Vesper has no interest in continuing the tradition. The secret of her parentage is reveled - sucking Vesper back into their world.
Will she rejoin the faith?

first ever horror book: ✅

i heard about this one on a a zoom influencer event with @berkleypub and the author sold it SO WELL that i was like “welp, guess i’m reading horror now!!!” she even DMed me to tell me she didn’t think it was that scary so i should be fine…

and i actually was! the plot twisted in ways i did NOT see coming (let’s just say the devout religious community is worshiping less of a heavenly being and more of… hellish one) and i actually learned a lot about a people group and way of believing that had previously been so unknown to me! (my little exvangelical self kept feeling like i was going to get in trouble for reading a book about satanists hahaha)

i almost wish this book DID scare me a little more, because i’m not quite sure what it is that classifies it as horror, except for all the satan stuff? i mean, that probably does it…

the plot got a bit unbelievably wild for me towards the end and felt more on the cheesy/too dramatic side for me to fully immerse myself in it, but overall, i’m glad i took a chance on this one and tried something out of my genre comfort zone!

Harrison flips the script on religious zeal with this tale a of a woman who fled her hometown because she didn't believe in the Lord. The Dark Lord. The slowly ratcheting dread and strong female lead will likely appeal to fans of women's fiction and horror.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison is an unusual novel! In some ways, it reminded me of Sign Here with its nods towards hell and Satan.

I walked into this one knowing practically nothing. I was intrigued for the first 10% and then struggled through the next 40% wondering when things would take off and happen. I found the main character to have repetitive complaints and not a lot of action occurs in the first 50%, but after that?! Buckle your seat belt, because it becomes a wild ride!

Vesper is estranged from her family, but when an unexpected wedding invitation arrives, Vesper knows she's walking back into hell's mouth. Cult culture through and through in this novel. Vesper's return is beyond bizarre and from it she remains haunted. Odd things start to happen, she feels watched, and why is she looking more wild by the day?

Black Sheep is worth a read and since the US seems to have decided Halloween must be a day away, this book got me in the mood for Spooky Season!

A huge thank you to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio for granting me access to this title!

I received a gifted galley of BLACK SHEEP by Rachel Harrison for an honest review. Thank you to PRH Audio, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

BLACK SHEEP follows Vesper, a young woman who left her family behind when she turned eighteen, knowing she wouldn’t be welcomed back to their close knit religious community. When she gets an unexpected invitation to the wedding of her cousin Rosie, it isn’t clear who sent it, Still, it seems to be welcoming her to return to the family farm for the occasion. She decides to make the trip back in spite of some reservations, never expecting the dark secrets that will come to light.

I didn’t know much going into this one and I didn’t even read the synopsis before starting the book. I just knew that I’ve really enjoyed Rachel Harrison’s past books, so this was an auto read. I think going into this story without knowing too much ahead of time about Vesper or her family was probably the right decision so I’ve kept my synopsis here fairly brief.

I enjoyed Vesper as a character and her natural suspicion and cynicism. Learning about how she grew up in this community and her reasons for leaving made her personality make a lot of sense. She’s always been a bit different and that comes through as well in the way people treat her and the surprise they have for her return.

Once the background of the group she was raised in comes to light in the book, I did find a lot of the rest of the book to be a little bit predictable in places. Still, it was an enjoyable read and a wild ride of a book! It kept up the dark humor that I’ve come to expect from this author.

I think this one will be great for spooky season reading while being a little bit different than the usual as well!

Horror fans will appreciate the tropes in this one. The twists are pretty easy to suss out before they're fully revealed but the main character is snarky enough for you to root for her until the end. Really good twist on a cult story.

Another great one from Rachel Harrison. Her prose and voice are stronger than ever, and she's back with another great protagonist. This one is sarcastic, sad and born in a religious cult. It's awesome. I loved most of the creative decisions and often found myself wound in the spell the story cast. I love how she weaves together an awesome story and then blindsides you with horror. The emotional connections established with the characters rocks, and then she scares the dickens out of us. Highly recommend for contemporary horror readers.