4.5. I like my horror with a comedic twist, so Rachel Harrison's quickly becoming my go-to author during Spooky Season. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I've grown to love her dark, twisted, sarcastic sense of humor; she reminds me of Grady Hendrix in that way. She also creates jaded, snarky, smart heroines that are easy to root for as they get themselves into increasingly weird, terrifying situations. I'm also a big fan of how Harrison makes a familiar trope feel original and fresh; this is the case with this trope of going back home to one's estranged, extremely religious family only to have something creepy happen. (Don't read any synopses before you start this book--I've had issues with marketing blurbs before, but the publisher did a solid job being informative yet cryptic with this one.) Also, don't be put off by the slower pacing in the beginning--it REALLY picks up later, especially in the last quarter of the novel.

This is the year of humorous horror stories! And I love it.

This was perfect blend of satire, horror, and cults/slashers/nostalgia over 70s+80s horror movies. Definitely had its hilarious moments, and some weird vibes, but I really appreciated this story. Nothing to share - go into it blind, and do trust the process - the gloomy MC, is definitely NOT crazy. Maybe just a bit, but you just have to find out why.

Thank you PRH Audio for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Berkley for the gifted copy!

I've had Rachel's previous 2 books on my tbr for quite some time, and let me just tell you, I bumped them up to the top of my spooky season reading list. Black Sheep was such a fun read, and although it wasn't completely what I expected, I still really enjoyed it!

Vesper leaves her family and the religious organization (dare I say, cult) that she grew up in days before her 18th birthday. She has spent the following years trying to move on with her life, but when she receives a wedding invitation in the mail, she decides to pay a visit to her home and family.

Of course, nothing has changed, and things are actually getting weirder. As the story unfolds, we find out why Vesper wanted to leave, and why she is the proverbial "Black Sheep" of the family. It definitely wasn't what I expected, and the ending had me saying WHATTTTT a couple times.

There are parts that are a bit corny (what horror story isn't?) and parts that are beyond creative. Making Vesper's mom a horror movie actress was brilliant, because I couldn't tell what was an act and what was her real personality. And the creepy props around the house both made me laugh and then glad I don't have them at my house!
I'm glad I saved this one for spooky season!

The story is fine. Most will love it. This author has a distinct style that I’m just not excited about: campy horror-lite. It felt more like silliness to me than dark comedy.

There are big themes of church trauma and toxic relationships. It was a tough read for me from the halfway point on, just from the perspective of someone deconstructing. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s good time here, truly, but I had a tough time separating my Pentecostal childhood upbringing from the content of the story and as a result, it was a stressful and unsettling reading time for me. More so as the book progressed. Just being transparent here 🫣

Rachel Harrison's style shines through in her latest release. She manages to keep you engaged in eerie, uncomfortable horror while managing to pop in humor at the same time.

Vespar is a flawed MC, who struggles with her upbringing and how to engage with her family after being essentially excommunicated. Vespar's return is complicated by the unraveling of family secrets.

This was a delightfully fun and quick read just in time for spooky season! It's giving me chilling adventures of Sabrina meets paranormal activity next of kin vibes and I’m here for it. Vesper is not your average woman. She's left her family because of religious differences and you're thinking oh, they must be amish or something but nope, that's not it lol. I won't say much because spoilers but this was great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own.

This was a wild ride. I went into without reading the synopsis (as I prefer to with anything in the thriller/suspense/horror vein), and it was fascinating to begin reading this book thinking it was about fundamentalist Christianity, only to realize it was about a Satanist cult. This had some very wise, moving quotes that stuck with me, and I found Vesper to be a compellingly complex, morally gray character. I read this in a day; it was highly engrossing!

Vesper, the estranged daughter of a scream queen, is a twentysomething waitress at a cheesy chain restaurant. When she receives an invitation to return to the hometown she was banned from upon her exit six years prior, her suppressed memories and feelings come to the surface as she decides to accept. How will Vesper's arrival at the farm be received and will she learn the true identity of her father?

This is a different breed of horror novel than I typically associate with the genre. It is a slow-build, character-driven story that creeps up on you as you become immersed in Vesper's reality. It explores the rejection of community and family values and the acceptance that who you are doesn't have to be dictated by where you came from.

And then there's the horror. It's disturbing and gruesome and worth the wait.

If you've ever felt like you didn't fit in, this one's for you. Vesper is a relatable MC with a stubborn streak that you can get behind as she is plunged back into the midst of her nightmarish origins.

Rachel Harrison can’t lose. Seriously. I adore her writing style. Though none of her books have managed to top her debut for me, Black Sheep is my second-favorite book of hers. It’s devastatingly funny, emotionally weighty, and tense in a way that will not let you stop turning the pages. I’m just mad that I waited so long to start it!

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies of this book.

A horror film star. A cult. And an abundance of family secrets.

Tis the season for all things macabre and sinister, and Black Sheep hits ALL the dark and creepy notes.

In this wholly unique premise with sharp-edged writing, Harrison delivers a dark and twisted family drama full of gore and laden with dark humor.

Maybe most surprising about this book. It’s relatability. Vesper is a snarky, badass character full of angst. I found it easy to root for her as she battled old demons, internal and external, in search of self-acceptance.

My biggest suggestion: go in blind! This is a twisty story with clever reveals. Just as I thought I had a handle on the premise, Harrison would upend everything I’d expected.

Those jaw dropping moments made this one WILD ride perfect for spooky season.

🎧 This was my first read with Jeremy Carlisle Parker, but let me tell you… I will be seeking her out in the future. Her voice oozed emotion. This was not a reading. This was a performance. She embodied every detail of Vesper and brought the story to life.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
@RachelHarrisonsGhost
Pub date: September 19, 2023
5 stars

I’ve read all things Rachel Harrison and loved every word. Black Sheep is a love letter to horror fans everywhere. A feminist nod to strong yet broken women who come into their own, welcoming the female beasts they are. I saw this in The Return, Cackle, and again in Such Sharp Teeth; she knows how to write damaged yet powerful women with a horror premise that creeps up and I am here for it.

Vesper left home at eighteen to get away from her family’s religious cult but when she’s invited to her dear cousins wedding to her childhood sweetheart, she can’t stay away. And that’s all I want to say. I think every reader should go into this one as blind as can be. I’m glad I did because the shock was mind-blowing.

I cannot wait to see what Rachel does next!

My thanks to @BerkleyPub for this gifted copy

This book was unexpected. It has some pretty crazy twists in it. There was one line in particular that I reread a few times because it totally shocked me. It definitely kept me reading and for a long time I had no idea where the story was going. Definitely a book to check out when it releases September 12th!

This is a very bleak and creepy book. It gets into some pretty dark, occult elements, but it’s also witty, has some feminist plots, fascinating characters, and thrilling edge-of-your-seat moments throughout. If you can handle some pretty terrifying supernatural horror, this will be a good pick for your Halloween to-read list.

Vesper has just been fired from her latest job waiting tables at your standard American style chain sports pub (37 pieces of flair, maybe?) when she makes her way home to find a wedding invitation. To the wedding of her former boyfriend. To her cousin/former best friend with whom she was raised. The invitation comes as a major surprise, not only because of the bride and groom but also because Vesper was raised in an ultra-religious community and once you’re out, you’re out, and you are a pariah, never to be let back in again for any reason. So who has sent Vesper this invitation with its hand-written note, and why? And should she go back (of course she’s going back, that’s the whole book, right?)

Oh, the book was a tricky, delicious delight. To some extent the less said the better, and the first part of the book was the strongest, for me. Oh, and Vesper’s delightful mother, a famous scream queen with a houseful of props. So fun. And, again, can’t give too much about the story away but it’s equal parts horror and fun. Definitely recommended.

This is my first time reading Rachel Harrison but definitely will not be the last. The book was a bit of a slow burn but I loved it. I really was not expecting the twists that happened closer to the end of the book. It was interesting getting to know the main character and learn about her family. I read this in one setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to the publisher @berkleypub and @netgalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my hoe at review. And a big thank you to @letstalkaboutbookspromo for putting together the buddy read!

Rachel Harrison does it again! She has become an auto-read author for me. I read and loved Such Sharp Teeth last year and I knew she wouldn’t disappoint me this year.

When I was reading the opening chapters in the back of my head I was chanting, “please be a Satanist cult” and I almost screamed with delight at the first “Hail Satan”.

I loved our main character, Vesper. She has such an attitude and sass that works and isn’t annoying or overwhelming to read. I think Vesper is a true morally grey character considering her upbringing and how she interacts with the world.

I truly could not stop thinking about this book. And now I’m looking up more cult books to read into spooky season.

There were some plot twists that I did not see coming but after they were revealed they felt so natural. Like yes, of course! I should have guessed that.

All around Black Sheep was truly enjoyable and is the perfect cult read for spooky season!

One of the best cult books I have ever read. I couldn’t put this one down! I enjoyed that it wasn’t horrifying, but had horror themes. There are so many fun twists in this one!

This book was everything I hoped it would be. Dark, suspenseful, and witty. Rachel Harrison is an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Actually 4 1/2 stars.
Vesper finds an envelope on the doorstep of her apartment that has a wedding invitation for her cousin and former boyfriend. She goes to the wedding, returning to the house of her horror movie scream queen mother, Constance, where she grew up. Back to her religious community. Not just any religion, but one that worships Lucifer: Satanists. She will be forced to confront her family and community’s beliefs, where she finds that dark family ties bind her, that being the black sheep of the family may have more sinister truth then she realizes.

Rachel Harrison brings a story of family and faith that holds an undercurrent of horror. That sometimes shows we don’t know who we really are, until it might be too late. If Rosemary’s Baby was blended with Snow White, this book might be The Omen for the 21st Century.

I love this author's books. Her stories always revolve around a woman protagonist seeking independence, with a side of supernatural. While I can't say there were any big surprises in the plot, Rachel Harrison is hands down the quintessential cozy horror author.