Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Rachel Harrison for the much anticipated copy of Black Sheep. This book was nothing like I expected and classic Rachel Harrison. It’s about Vesper, a girl who left home at 18 and never looked back. She needed to escape her religious community and even though she knows she can never return, is invited back for a wedding. Hosted on her family farm, Vesper assumes she is being given special treatment to return.

But is the invitation something more? She can’t help but wonder if it may be a trap. Despite her feelings, she decides to return and risk interacting with her mother, the forever cold ice queen and former horror film star. But when Vesper’s homecoming brings up a decades old secret, she is forced to look at who she is and where she’s come from.

Thoughts: Let me just say, this book is nothing like I thought in any way. OMG I LOVED IT. It was so twisted and dark and PERFECT for spooky season! This book is so creepy and so much fun. I loved Vesper as a main character- she was strong and cynical and interesting. Her mother, the horror star, was awful and cold and macabre and I loved all the horrifying movie props around their house.

I read this in a few hours and I couldn’t put it down. I loved how the title tied into the story and the turns the story took. I think there were some parts that got a bit repetitive and a few plot holes that could have been explained better, but I enjoyed the book a lot and gave it 4.5 stars!

A young woman receives an invitation to attend the wedding of her old boyfriend and previous best friend. When you think the story is about one thing, it quickly turns into something else. We soon learn that our protagonist ran away from her past and the cult she was raised in. This is where the story gets even stranger.

Not the author's best work and may only appeal to diehard fans.

Upon turning 18, Vesper made a decisive break from her rural life and religious family, embarking on a new journey in New York City, never looking back. Her departure came with a harsh warning that she would no longer be welcomed back into the deeply religious community.

Seven years later, a surprising invitation to her best friend Rosie and ex-boyfriend Brody's wedding reaches Vesper. Despite her cold relationship with her horror film star mother, Constance, who always treated her with indifference, Vesper feels an internal pull to attend the wedding.

Rachel Harrison delivers another captivating tale with "Black Sheep"! Once again, she proves herself as a master of original and enthralling storytelling. I found myself engrossed in the book, finishing it within 24 hours. As in her previous works, "Black Sheep" strikes the perfect balance between dark humor and horror, all centered around a strong and compelling female protagonist.

Rachel's writing skillfully makes the story feel incredibly authentic, akin to watching a movie unfold. The book holds a few heartwarming moments, but the horror elements are undeniably spine-chilling, leaving readers terrified.

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Black Sheep. I adore Rachel Harrison's work, and this one is a new favorite. Without giving away too much, the book touches on nature versus nurture, religious zealotry, narcissism, and forgiveness, with healthy doses of snarky humor sprinkled throughout. It's a fun ride and is difficult to put down. It will likely be just as hard to forget. 4 stars

In this crazy world we’re living in, it seems like people are more willing to identify who they are in relation to their parents and to their upbringing. There is more of an understanding of the trauma that your family can leave you with, and this book was a perfect abstract for it!

Vesper left home six years ago. She left everyone behind and started over, far away from her famous mother and her religious trauma, a religion she never identified with.

When a wedding invitation for her beloved cousin arrives, Vesper is compelled to go back. She wants to be there for her cousin Rosie, but going home means revisiting a lot of things she doesn’t want to remember… like her mother, Constance, a woman who was never particularly motherly.

This book is a doozy, for sure! What Vesper finds upon her return home is the truth to who she is and what it all means. And it’s a freaking MESS! I absolutely LOVED Vesper! She embodies everything I love in a Maine character! She is sassy and strong, even though she doesn’t always recognize her strength.

From beginning to end I was FULLY immersed in this world, in the depths of this book and I definitely wasn’t ready for it to end. I could have stayed in this story forever to see what more there could have been.

I went in a little cautious at first with horror genre. But I was pleasantly surprised! Over all an entertaining read. Vesper is 23 and pessimistic in her everyday life as a waitress perhaps maybe she is struggling with her self identity but then we find out she actually has a complex past. Her mother Constance movie star/religious cult leader, was a huge influence on her upbringing. When Vesper heads home for a wedding we find out what’s at play. The book has a heck of a suspense, thriller aspect to it but also has a huge religious cult like theme. A daunting religious past a Jessica Lange, like mother. This book gave American horror story vibes. I would definitely recommend the author and her books but I have to admit this was a bit unusual read. Overall entertaining!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my favorite Rachel Harrison book yet; I usually read her books in one sitting and this one was no exception. She's an auto-read author for me, so I requested this book without even looking at the synopsis, and thus I had NO idea where it was even going - the religious cult being Satanists was my first shock, and Vesper's dad reveal?? WHAT??? I definitely recommend going into this one knowing nothing, but would also warn readers who have religious trauma that this might be a bit TOO real; Vesper's experiences are so close with what I've heard from folks who escaped similar situations (though not with Satanists). But her ending - her revenge! - is very satisfying.

I have been all over the Place with Harrison's books. Cackle is one of my all time favorite books and The Return is one of my least so I had no idea what to expect with one. I loved it! It was fun, campy and strange. I had a great time with this book.

Another win from Rachel Harrison. A great balance of horror, humour and a young lady finding out who she is along the way. I didn't know much about the story going in, and I'm glad I didn't as it made everything that much more of a shock. Harrison is a fabulous author, so much wonderful description in the book without being too drawn out. Can't wait for her next!

I love love love anything Rachel writes. Such Sharp Teeth was impeccable and she’s found herself a lifelong fan. Vespers journey is brutal, dark and a little strange but worth every second.

Rachel Harrison is such a favorite for me and Black Sheep is another winner. The body horror sticks with me (that part from the Return!!) but the horror isn't out to ruin your life--if this is the start of the "horror lite" genre, I'm here for it. Beach reads for goths?

I absolutely devoured this book and can't wait to recommend it.

This review gives away an early surprise (from chapter 3).

This book was campy and creepy and a super fast, super fun read.

Young-twenties Vesper returns to the uber-religious community she fled years ago; she can’t resist seeing the betrayal in person when she learns her cousin is marrying her ex. Vesper doesn’t know who sent her the wedding invite or why—one of many mysteries she’ll unravel when she goes home to her family of Satanists.

I haven’t read anything else by this author but will definitely read more from her. At points, I found myself thinking of the movie Ready or Not (which I loved). I’ll be recommending this to friends who like horror and everyone during the fall, when we all seem to crave spooky stories.

Ohhh, this is a good one. My introduction to Rachel Harrison, who I’ve been dying to read for awhile now, did not disappoint. I’m a huge fan of the horror genre and if this was rated on a scale of ‘can read home alone at night in the dark’ to ‘sleeping with the lights on,’ this is definitely closer to the former. But if you’re a fan of horror lite or new to the genre, you cannot go wrong with this one! It’s impossible to describe without spoiling so all you need to know about this is it’s about a 24 year old woman returning to the extremely religious town she fled 6 years ago after receiving an unexpected, mysterious invitation her cousin’s wedding considering she was ostracized by her family. You really should go in blind aside from that! There were a lot of hilarious lines that kept the mood light, despite some heavy themes and gruesome scenes. I loved the pacing, general plot, and the writing. This is going to be PERFECT for horror and non-horror fans alike who are looking for a spooky read this fall. Highly recommend! I can’t wait to read her backlist now.

4.5 ⭐️

I did not know much about this book going in: I knew it was horror, that it involved a young woman going back to her deeply religious family for her cousin's wedding, and that horrible things ensued. I didn't know WHAT sort of religion the family practiced, or what sort of horrible things would befall our heroine upon her return. The themes alone, however, intrigued me enough to want to read the book, and while the book bewildered me in places, I'm glad I went for the ride.

This book will be appreciated by those who have or are currently deconstructing their religion. It begins as fairy normal tale of a young woman estranged from her family, turns into a sharp critique of religion and examination of deconstruction, and finished as a really fun adventure-y horror novel. There are dry sarcastic one-liners throughout that actually made me pause and go, "Okay, that was funny," despite the dark subject matter.

Not a book for those easily offended, but a really fun romp if you're up to the ride. I'll be thinking about this one for awhile.

To be completely honest, when I got this book I had confused this author (Rachel Harrison) with another author (Rachel Hawkins) and was less than thrilled when I realized what I had done. I had read Harrison’s debut novel The Return and found it very disappointing. But, I had Black Sheep and it sounded interesting, so I thought I would give the author another try. I’m so glad I did.

Although this is supposed to be a horror novel, I never found it all that horrifying. I thought it was more in the campy, tongue-in-cheek, roll your eyes along with the main character type of horror. You know, the fun kind. I thought the writing was really good and fast paced. The main character was snarky but still easy to root for. The other characters were there to support her but we didn’t see nearly enough of them, especially her aunt and cousin. As for the plot, it was clever with several twists and turns and it’s definitely best to start this book knowing as little about it as possible.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

What ! A ! Story!
I guarantee a surprise when you pick up this horror lite novel. "Horror Lite". as I don't think you will look under your bed before
you go to sleep but you might think twice before you mess with your neighborhood waitress!

Vesper is living her millennial life as a waitress in a sports bar trying to make ends meet. She left her strict, religious community at age 18 and never looked back. A little surly, a lot angry, Vesper isn't sure who her father is but knows the mystery could be solved in the cult-like community. When a work incident threatens her employment and she receives a mysterious wedding invitation from her beloved cousin from the cult, she decides to put her weariness aside and visit her home and family again.

The wedding is a strange affair and she receives very little attention from her famous Scream Queen Horror Actress mother. But Vesper soldiers on hoping to learn a bit more about herself and her biological father. What transpires next will shock you and surprise you ! If you like a bit of comedy with your horror, a bit of reality injected into your lore or just feel like You are the outcast in your family, Black Sheep is for you!
#berkley #RachelHarrison #BlackSheep #Cult #ReligiousCult

Vesper is leading a pretty dull life as a waitress, but at least it's better than the religious community she grew up in. She's determined to let the past go, but a surprise wedding invitation lures her back in to the toxic beliefs of her family that might be more true than she imagined.

I'm usually a fan of horror, but this book didn't quite land for me. There's a point when the main character discusses a horror film and describes it as not knowing if it's camp or serious, and that's how I felt about the book. The tone at the beginning of the book feels a little silly and sarcastic, but by the end it's incredibly serious and dark. I don't mind a novel's more serious moments sneaking up on me, but I didn't feel the transition from the first half to the second half was done as well as it could have been.

The main character, Vesper, is a tad unlikable, but in a way I found pretty enjoyable. She's the only character in the book that I felt had any depth, though. The other characters read quite flat, which usually doesn't bother me in a genre book, but the slow action of the beginning of the book made this more noticeable. Overall, the book just didn't come together for me, but I'm fully willing to accept that I'm simply not its reader.

The one thing I think was done with true excellence were the horror descriptions, from the macabre movie props to 'real-life' horror. That wasn't quite enough to save it for me, though.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Rachel Harrison for the ARC of Black Sheep to read and review. This book was great! It went in a direction that I did not expect and it was so refreshing to hear this story told from that viewpoint. The main character was essentially a grouch, but the author did not make her unlikeable and her sense of humor and sarcasm was at times hilarious.

I really enjoyed this novel!

Generally, I love everything that Rachel Harrison writes; but I believe this is her best novel to date. It has a plot twist that I didn’t anticipate and is a roller coaster of a ride from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Reading Rachel Harrison is like reading a beach read for a dark soul. I always enjoy reading her books and become fully submerged into the story.