Always love Rachel Harrison's work, and BLACK SHEEP is yet another perfect example of her to inject feminism into modern horror. Compulsively readable, compelling, and just the perfect amount of gross to satisfy.

Rachel Harrison is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are always unique and every one she writes is so much fun! I didn't expect that from a horror novel but once you read a novel from this author you'll understand that horror can be lovable too!

A great reveal, which won’t remain unspoiled when the book reviews come out. Loved reading this cold, going in knowing nothing. You might too! Try it!

#BlackSheep #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel. A must read! Love Rachel Harrison! Her books just keep getting better and better!

Black Sheep focuses on estranged Daughter, Vesper. She has run away from a cult and struggling day to day. But, the invitation to her cousin and ex boyfriend's wedding brings her back. Honestly, this book is perfect for fans of the most recent Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It's not so much scary, but a little gruesome and heavy on the social commentary of what is normal. It's a quick and enjoyable read.

Yes, yes, yes! Black Sheep is so good. So many good twists, super creepy and incredible characters. Recommended for those who enjoy other Rachel Harrison books and horror/mystery genres.

This went in a totally different direction than I expected. Rachel Harrison has done it again with another edgy, creepy read. Vesper grew up in a very religious family who she was happy to escape from. Out of the blue she is invited home to a family wedding and when she goes she begins to realize her whole life is not what it seemed. I definitely do not want to give out spoilers but this was a devilishly good read 😉
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Having escaped a stifling religious community at age 18, Vesper finds herself stuck waitressing in hell: a family-friendly chain restaurant with sticky food, huge cocktails, and entitled customers. Ironically, everyone she meets reacts badly to her ‘princess’ attitude, unaware of her lineage as the lookalike daughter of Scream Queen Constance Wright. She has no plans to return to her mother’s isolated New Jersey home until a grisly workplace incident results in her being fired. After six years with no contact, she reluctantly returns for her cousin’s wedding, but not without an agenda.

Suffice it to say, all is not as it appears in Vesper’s hometown. To reveal more of the plot would deprive readers of the story’s first great twist. Many more follow in this cathartic and gut-wrenching tale of family reunion and relationship closure.

Black Sheep is another top-tier entry for Rachel Harrison’s body of work, though it doesn’t touch the righteous fury of Such Sharp Teeth. Highly recommended for RH fans, elder goths, people with bad attitudes, and fans of classic slasher films. The rich imagery hints at a cathartic visual adaptation that could write itself.

I really enjoyed this creepy story. For me it was a quick read that was very atmospheric but not so creepy that I won’t be able to sleep. I love all of Rachel Harrison’s books and Black Sheep definitely didn’t disappoint!

This was my first novel by Rachel Harrison and it definitely won't be my last, I loved the characters and the places in this book were so real I could see them. Hilarious and a little creepy.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

3 stars

I haven’t much cared for Harrison’s previous work. However, this one changed my mind a bit! It was fast paced, had a good plot, and good characters. I rated it average.

I loved this book!! Rachel Harrison is such a talented author and Black Sheep has climbed its way to my favorite book of the year so far. I finished this story so fast, I’m sad it’s over. Vesper is a wonderful character and the entire plot is compelling and constantly keeps your attention. Can’t recommend it enough!!

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel. Everything that Rachel Harrison writes is smart, clever and WEIRD! I don't think horror with heart was a thing before Harrison came on the scene, but I am here for it! Black Sheep is another modern horror story with a fun, early unexpected twist that sets the scene for the rest of the novel. It also includes a badass, strong female main character which has become a signature in Harrison's novels. This was a wild ride that I devoured in one day! Rachel Harrison continues to solidify her place as an auto- read author for me with every new release!

Fantastic as always from Harrison. Her books are just a delight: darkly funny, well-written, totally readable. I loved the main character in this one. One of my favorite books of the year so far.

It's official- Rachel Harrison is my favorite author. She's laugh out loud hilarious; her books have just enough creepiness without being difficult to read; and she makes you really root for characters that aren't typical heroes or heroines. I think her writing gets better with each book, as this one is probably my new favorite. I've said it before about other writers, but when I say I can't wait to see what Harrison writes next, I GENUINELY mean it. I. Cannot. WAIT! 5 out of 5 starts, easily.

This was a great perspective on cult-like communities. I was not expecting a supernatural element, but I was not mad about it either. It was a great read.

I really loved this one. Rachel Harrison does a great job of putting a spin on family drama. I loved Harrison’s first book - The Return - and this one feels so much like it fits into that realm. A fast read, this one will make you feel better about your own family issues. Can’t wait to see where she goes next.

I usually enjoy devouring Rachel Harrison's cult classic styled horror novels one after another. I cannot help myself but to finish them in one sitting. The pacing is always fast, riveting, and heart-throbbing. The heroines are broken but resilient, powerful, embracing their inner strengths to heal and become their own heroes. They seem like the best distributors of feminism manifest, embracing their superpowers without needing the approval of a man to find their way in the world as we hear them roar!

In this book, we are introduced to Vesper, who also carries the main characteristics from the author's usual style. She left her family behind to find her way in the big city at a young age. But in her mid-twenties, she is still struggling in her waitressing job, has no real friends, and acts reserved, too straightforward, and a little mean, which doesn't help her to connect with other people. The night she's wrongfully sacked from her job, she finds an envelope at her doorstep that might have been sent by her eccentric family she left behind. It seems like she didn't achieve a great job because they knew where she was living from the beginning. Inside the envelope, there's a wedding invitation belonging to her cousin and only best friend, Rosemary, and her first love and first kiss, the boy she loved, Brody. They are getting married, and a special note under the invitation tells her she's missed a lot, summoning her to this special occasion.

Vesper gets angry and feels betrayed. Of course, she decides to join the wedding even though she never thought to return back to the family farm. Because her family is not only an eccentric religious group, but they are also a powerful satanic group. She is also not happy to spend time with her neglectful ice queen mother, who is a very famous indie horror movie scream queen. But she finds herself attending the rehearsal dinner as all eyes are drawn to her.

Besides her estranged relationship with her mother, Vesper tries to find the traces of her father, who is her childhood hero and who disappears out of her life after Vesper makes a confession to him. She doesn't know his true name to find out his whereabouts. But she realizes attending the wedding will open up a can of worms she never thought. When she finds out the ugly truth about her family that she cannot digest, she is pushed to make a decision: run as fast as she can or be part of this madness! What will Vesper do?

Overall, it's a brutal, dark, strange, and a little gory but also entertaining horror novel with parts of Harrison's brilliant dark sense of humor (I snorted a laugh each time Sweet Child O'mine played!).

I'm looking forward to reading her another epic horror release sooner!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this brilliant book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.