A fun reverse Prodigal Son story. Anyone who's ever been in organized religion will have a giggle.
Vesper is a character that anyone who has left their lifelong religious affiliations can relate to. Vesper misses her honored place but also depises the entitlement.
Family secrets, seeking approval from her mother and lost love all makes for a fun and relatable journey.

Rachel Harrison is one of the best at keeping you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around Vesper and her crazy family. Vesper's mother, Constance, who Vesper doesn't get along with at all, is a horror movie queen and a Satanist, and her father is often absent. In fact, the whole town is Satanic. They live in a small town called Hell's Gate. Vesper left the town when she turned 18 because she doesn't believe in Satan.

She comes back for a visit to attend the wedding of her ex-boyfriend to her best friend. Of course, she doesn't stay in the town very long because of the issues with her mother, so she heads back to New York City.

A week later, her father visits her in NY and brings her home for a special birthday party. What happens next is full of suspense and horror. You won't believe what you just read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC! I am very grateful and happy to explore everything this author will write in the future as well!

"Black Sheep" by Rachel Harrison is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its unpredictable twists and turns, delivering a satisfying blend of horror and psychological suspense.

Black Sheep follows Vesper, a young woman who left her super religious family 6 years before the book opens. When you leave the small town or Virgil and their church you are not allowed back. She grew up with her mom, horror star Constance Wright, but never knew much about her dad. When Vesper gets an invite to her best friend/cousin Rosie's wedding, she's surprised and even more surprising she decides to go.

Just like everything else I've read by Rachel Harrison I loved Black Sheep. I don't want to say too much as I think going into this book partially blind is great.


Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was my first book by this author and I’m so excited to read another one! I highly recommend going into this one blind. I’m so glad I did because I feel like it made the story even more shocking for me. I’ve always been fascinated by stories surrounding cults and that’s what initially drew me in. The writing was fantastic and the pace kept me flipping pages from start to finish. The characters were super interesting and made the story even more entertaining! Thank you to Berkley and Rachel Harrison for my gifted ARC!

Anything Harrison writes is a win. She has the ability to create flawed protagonists that I want to punch and drink whiskey with. Black Sheep is similar to her other horror novels in terms of the horror tropes. She's not going to give a lot of jump scares, but she will put you in horrific situations. Highly recommend.

Such a great read for the lead up to Halloween! 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

At eighteen, Vesper left her very strict, extremely religious community knowing the consequences: she would never be accepted back into the insular sect. She works as a miserable chain restaurant, convinced he’ll is having to sing the trademark birthday song.

She is shocked to receive an invitation to her cousin’s wedding, and even more surprised to find the groom-to-be is Brody, Vesper’s former love. With half an eye to causing trouble, Rosie decides to return for the wedding. What she learns about herself and her family challenges her identity and all her beliefs, forcing her to reckon with the pull of family and tradition against her own sense of self and survival.

While I thought aspects of the book were predictable, I nevertheless really enjoyed reading it because Vesper has such a cynical, wry voice that she uses to try to hide her loneliness and vulnerability. She is beyond nature vs. nurture: she has to ultimately learn if she is tied by her family and community bonds or if she can stand by her own values.

Oppressive religious faiths (cults) always interest me, and here I was fascinated by the rituals and demands that ensnared the followers. Ultimately, it is Vesper’s story, though, so the novel doesn’t include some of the motivations that drive other characters like Vesper’s mother, something I was very interested in.

Saying anything more, I think, would be too revealing, but I will advise you to avoid spoilers! This is my favorite Harrison book so far because of Vesper and the tight plotting of the book, so I would recommend it if you have enjoyed her other books or you are looking for a good Halloween read for October!

"Black Sheep" was not my favorite of the novels that Rachel Harrison has written. Other than what Vesper's religious background actually was (wasn't expecting that), the rest of the novel was fairly predictable.

I still don’t know what to think of this book. It follows a girl who has left her community of Satanists but finds herself being pulled back. It was…something. I think I liked it? Maybe? 🤷‍♀️ The least helpful review I have ever done 💀

This was so snarky and fun and kept me guessing! I had suspicions, and they turned out to be mostly correct, but it is an absolutely pitch-black hell of a ride the whole time anyway. My first Rachel Harrison, but certainly not my last!

This was a short and quick read but I really enjoyed the story. It took a little bit to get into things and understand but I loved the build up. And the fact that her mother is an actress in horror movies was a great addition to the story. Definitely need to read more of her books!

i finished this one back in October & thought it was a great read for spooky season! this book was intermixed with dark humor, twists, and gore. it’s equal parts gruesome as it is light-hearted, immersing the simplicity of real-life, small world problems with the horrors of a satanic cult. this is a great book if you don’t loooove the spook of a typical suspense novel, but still want something relatively chilling.

i enjoyed the characters in this book, specifically our main character, Vesper. while she comes from a super bizarre & morbid upbringing, she goes through the same every day problems as the average girl. I thought her relatability as a main character made her super likable and made the story even more enjoyable and fun to read. this was my first @rachelharrisonsghost book, and I will definitely be reading more from her!

thank you to @netgalley & @berkleypub for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book!

Honestly, this one was a book I ended up not finishing. I had high expectations because I love reading about cults, but it somehow missed the mark for me. Maybe at another time.

Having read Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison the past two #spookyseasons, I feel safe to say her books now help usher in a season of great reading and so look forward to them. They put me in the mood for more thrills and horror to come in the fall.
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When I received Black Sheep, I went blindly into it, knowing I would been entertained and I was. I loved the surprises I got in this one, especially because I didn’t know what I might expect going in. Because of that, I am not going to detail much of the plot.
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Basically, Vesper is a young woman, estranged from her family since she left home years ago. When she receives a wedding invitation to the wedding of her former best friend to her ex-boyfriend, along with a hand written note to please come home, she goes, with revenge dress packed and an “I’ll show them” attitude.
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Because this author takes the simple and makes it fantastic, there is a whole lot more than the dress that Vesper will be unpacking when she returns. Horror, dark humor and a wild story thoroughly entertained me in this quick read.

Release Date: September 19th, 2023

Alright, buckle up, folks, 'cause "Black Sheep" is gonna take you on a wild ride.

In the world of horror, this one's hitting shelves, rocking the genres of General Horror, Occult & Supernatural, and Supernatural Thrillers. It's packing themes of family, religion, religious trauma, mothers & daughters, estrangement, weddings, and secrets & lies.

Now, listen up—this book is like a suspenseful poker game. The synopsis is holding its cards close, and trust me, you want to go in blind. I took the plunge with zero spoilers, and let me tell you, it paid off big time. Everything clicked into place perfectly, and it was a chef's kiss kind of experience. So, stay clear of reviews that spill more beans than the back of the book, mine included. Spoiler-free zone here.

My reading journey? Oh, it's one of those classic horror setups we all love. Main character reluctantly returns to her small town for some big event—could be a wedding, a funeral, a family bash. Reconnecting with old flames, bumping into familiar faces, you know the drill.

In "Black Sheep," Vesper gets the surprise invite to her cousin's wedding. She's been away, dodging a toxic mess with her mom and nursing a hefty grudge against her religious upbringing. But duty calls, and Harrison's setup hits you with peak religious trauma vibes. If you've been in that space, you know the rollercoaster. It's a mix of triggering and cathartic, and diving into religious stuff in a horror setting? Feels downright good.

After a jaw-dropping reveal, there were moments where the pacing took a breather. I was hungry for more development between characters, a bit more juice in the MC's relationships. One connection, in particular, felt like it deserved more spotlight, and I was a tad bummed it missed its moment.

But then, we hit a certain point, and the build toward the climax and that big ending? Wild ride, my friends. My initial investment paid off in spades. "Black Sheep" is a clever, fun, well-crafted tale, earning its spot in my Rachel Harrison collection. She's a straight-up Insta-buy author for me.

Final word? Rachel Harrison's got a fan base, and we keep coming back for her unique, female-centric horror. "Black Sheep" is the real deal, delivering exactly what we crave.

If you're vibing with "Reception" by Kenzie Jennings, "Jackal" by Erin E. Adams, or got the chills from "Mexican Gothic," you're in for a ride. Grab this one, and let the thrills commence.

"Black Sheep" by Rachel Harrison is a uniquely gripping horror novel that dives deep into the wild world of Vesper Wright's family. You know Rachel for her awesome storytelling and she doesn't disappoint here. Totally unexpected. If you're into gripping horror that keeps you guessing, "Black Sheep" is a must-read. Rachel Harrison nails it again with a story that'll stick with you long after you've put the book down.

Harrison writes such fun, humorous, horror books that I simply cannot help but devour them all... almost as if I’m eating something bloody delicious and creepily satisfying in Hell’s Gate.

I love the name of our main character, Vesper. She returns home to attend the wedding of her cousin. But the reunion is contentious as Vesper left when she was 18.. and in this religious family, if you leave, you are not allowed to return. This allowance comes to light and Vesper learns that she plays a pivotal part to her family and this community. Now how does she reconcile all this news and will she fulfill the role set out for her?

This is a wonderful look into cult-like family dynamics - with a smattering of blood to keep the horror lovers satiated. I loved being in Vesper’s head. Harrison is brilliant in bringing such dark humor into her work with pacing that makes for a very fast and enjoyable read. So, light horror lovers come hither and pile up your cart with her books and enjoy thyself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙘𝙮𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮’𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮, 𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡.

I read Cackle a while ago and enjoyed it, I was looking forward to reading this one. I don’t normally read books that center around cults, but this one has such an interesting premise.

I enjoyed the sarcastic humor in this story, but I feel like the horror elements weren’t as strong. I may have gone into this book with the wrong perspective and that may be why it doesn’t work for me. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, I just wasn’t the intended reader.

The writing was super fun though! I could definitely see myself picking more up from this author. Vesper was also an interesting character to follow, and I enjoyed the family dynamics in this. While I didn’t enjoy some elements of the book, I can definitely see how other readers will enjoy this.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

A young woman has to deal with her family's dark secrets. She grew up in a satanic cult, and escaped as soon as she could. Now, her family has reached out with a wedding invite. She decides to return and face her family again.

A wickedly fun horror novel. Fast-paced story and interesting characters. Fans of Rachel Harrison's other books are sure to enjoy this one too.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.