If you’re building a spooky season TBR, and looking for some new thrillers to add to it, Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison would make a great addition. It’s creepy, twisty, shocking, and will make your spine tingle! I really liked the overall vibe of this novel. It was so easy to read, and flowed quite nicely. I was intrigued by Vesper’s storyline immediately. She’s a total badass, tells it like it is, and doesn’t take crap from anyone. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that she has a dark and shady past, and I was itching to know more about it. I honestly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I gotta say that the conclusion went a little off the rails in my opinion. But only because it really picked up on the horror, and that’s not really my thing. In my opinion, this novel was very light on the gruesome guts and gore, so that’s probably why it worked well for me.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Slower-moving thrillers
- Character-driven novels
- Religious cult culture
- Dark family secrets
- Epic twists and turns
- Shocking reveals/conclusions
- A touch of horror and gore
- Gritty main characters
- Family drama and dynamics

Overall, this was a very entertaining read, and perfect for spooky season. I need to seek out the author’s backlist now because I really like her style. Black Sheep is out TODAY, and I give it 4/5 stars!

I alternated between the book and audiobook for this one. The audiobook was narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker. She was excellent. I'd like to check out more books that were narrated by her. She really brought the main character, Vesper, to life and gave her personality such a real feel. This book was considered horror but it was more horror in the culty, slow burn, messed up, twisted family life kind of way. I was into it. There was dark humor. It was twisted and entertaining. My recommendation, like others, would be to go in blind. If you like cult books with some secrets becoming exposed, pick this up.

Out NOW.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Vesper Wright left her religious community at 18 but returns to attend the wedding of her cousin/bff Rosie six years later. Vesper is a waitress barely making a living.

Vesper is a fantastic character. The book has some excellent twists and plenty of daddy issues to deal with. Great read and I highly recommend it.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison is an one of its’ kind horror that will captivate any reader with witty writing, dark humor & a deeply entrancing & unputdownable story.
The author somehow puts heart & humor into horror, but don’t worry, they don’t forget the drama, fright or ghastly gore . To be honest, I read this horrifying delight & ended up asking for more. If you could’ve seen my face as I read, my eyes glued in shock to the pages, this is the opposite of a bore with it’s uniquely ghastly galore.

Black Sheep is the horror of the year & deserves to go on any horror lover’s TBR lists!

Black Sheep is a perfect if intrigued by
🖤 Captivating & Twisted Horror
🖤 Daughter of a Horror Movie Icon
🖤 Journey of Self Discovery
🖤 Escapee a Staunchly Religious Community

Right before her 18th birthday, Vesper flees her family, friends & town for a plethora of valid reasons & doesn’t look back. That is until she receives the wedding invitation of her first & only love, her ex, to none other than her childhood best friend/cousin. The adventure that is awaiting Vesper is wickedly unexpected & filled with secrets, lies, betrayal & answers to question she never even knew to ask.

This is like nothing I’ve ever read before & I mean that in the best way. I was transfixed. This is the type of story where I think the less you know, the more shocking & fun of a read can be had.

If you’re looking for a dark & twisted horror with a wildly interesting main character in a gripping stay-awake-until-3am-to-finish story, Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison is the read I highly recommend!

Massive thanks to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Content Warnings: This book mentions &/or contains death of animal, gore, injury & murder.

This is a story about fathers. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

I adored this book! I’m 0% surprised because @rachelharrisonsghost is always brilliant and I’ve yet to not love anyone she’s written …. But this one hit right in the paternal attachment issues, and I was incredibly invested. The humor kept it from being too dark, but the story still had a delightfully creepy edge.

Thank you so much @berkleypub @netgalley & @prhaudio for the e & audio copies!

"A cynical twentysomething must confront her unconventional family’s dark secrets in this fiery, irreverent horror novel from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle."

If you read the synopsis on this book and think you have an idea of the twisty story that lies ahead - no you don't. The synopsis is brilliantly written to include just enough information to pique interest but not enough to prepare you for the twists that are about to unfold. The first twist is revealed pretty early in this book, but that's just the beginning so buckle up! I had no idea the direction that this book would go, which made each twist so much better.
I'm purposely vague about this story because it is best to go in blind. So I'll leave you with this - I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, it was twisty, and kept me on the edge of my seat. This is the perfect book to add to your spooky season (or any season) reading list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @PRHaudio and @berkleypub for the gifted copy of this book.

Hello again dear reader or listener, with a big thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for approving my request for an eArc of this novel, I am finally getting to review an author I’ve had my eye on for a while. My thoughts remain honest as always.
Black Sheep is Rachel Harrison’s latest Contemporary Horror with a dash of dark humor, and if you know me, dear reader, you’ll know I freaking love dark humor. Add to the mix, our protagonist Vesper being an ex-member/survivor of a religious cult, and I simply couldn’t resist.

Cults aside, I’m pretty sure Harrison wrote this book for every person in their twenties out there; perfectly encapsulating our shared experience of identity and existential crises mixed in with the utterly conflicting yet inseparable feelings of almost desperately loving our family members while at the same time needing the space to figure out who we are separate from them, or, in some cases, despite them. Eventually trying to understand if this new person we are fits with how we were seen until then by others as well. We are struggling y’all. Vesper is described as cynical and snarky, and, while I spent the vast majority of this book going “what a mood”, I would argue that is the result, not only of her context, which I will get into in a moment, but also of that once again universal feeling we all go through in our twenties when we are finally becoming emotionally mature enough to understand the people we grew up with are not the flawless and perfectly put together figures we thought. I’m not saying it begins at that age, but it is around this decade that we can both see the flaws and understand them, and eventually decide how much of it we are willing to accept as immutable and workable, how much we are willing to try and change, and whether it is even worth trying. While still wanting to belong to what used to be or feeling some nostalgia for it. This is obviously more nuanced for every individual but the general vibe and feeling is there regardless of background or circumstances be they positive or negative.

Harrison manages to bring this gloriously confusing and chaotic mix of inner turmoil to the page with and added frank and no punches pulled commentary on organized religion and cults which I found on point at each turn.

Waxing philosophical aside then, I’d characterize this book as more vibes and inner thought driven than plot. We the reader are well and fully immersed and hooked by Vesper’s inner dialogue. Sometimes it even takes over the scene happening in that given moment, and while that does on occasion make the running action on page feel a mite disjointed, it is also a very good lens into what stream of consciousness feels like when your mind is on overdrive compared to the speed with which things are happening around you in that moment. Very much a duck on a pond example, calm on the surface, pedaling like mad underneath. Vesper’s initial attitude and ongoing swing between, cynicism, pragmaticism and trying to be nicer if not apathetic despite it all, creates a truly stark and blunt picture of the inner darkness that we are all prone to sometimes whenever we are feeling wronged. It validates any time we have an inner mean streak, that we’d be perfectly excused in having given the circumstances, but we keep it locked in and try to act the better person, even if said mean feelings are warranted. Her development throughout the novel and how it all concludes felt organic and satisfying in a way that made perfect sense to her character after everything she goes through in the story. With the exception of one earlier scene, I felt like the epilogue was my favorite part of the whole novel actually, pushing across the sense of nostalgia, ache, and the overall unsettling yet intrigued and morbid fascination you feel when you watch/read true crime stories some years after the fact.

As for the scene I mentioned, while I cannot go into details because spoilers, Harrison expertly wove that whole chapter, building the creeping tension, anxiety, betrayal, and eventual horror, as Vesper goes through the motions in what feels like a fever dream due to what is happening and how it came to it. In fact, while I spent most of this book amused by the snark or intrigued by how things would develop next, I never actually felt any surprise or shock at any of the twists, as I felt I knew what to expect at every turn. I’m not saying this is a predictable or boring book, nor a tame psychological horror. Quite the contrary, it’s not for the faint of heart when it comes to body horror and other kinds of trauma. However, being a fan of the genre for a long time, I have built quite a tolerance for it all so I am aware that what I now find expected and not particularly goosebump inducing, others may even physically react to. Harrison also did an incredible job at was showcasing what it means to be and feel utterly helpless and yet allowing spite to push you forward. As I said utterly satisfying.

As for some things that didn’t work too well for me, firstly I found that while Harrison opens up the way for an interesting side plot between Vesper and her mother Constance (and oooh the discourse that can be done there is again superb) she doesn’t fully deliver it, almost as if she forgot about it or preferred to save her word count for the main plot resolution. Which I’m also feeling conflicted about, because on the one hand as I said, I wasn’t surprised by what was happening and it works out. But at the same time, it felt over the top near the end, as if she were trying to hit all the known tropes and going full out on the chaotic and hysterical nature of everything. It makes sense, given the previously mentioned fever dream quality of those last chapters but I personally would’ve liked something more nuanced and dark to fit the initial vibe of the whole book, rather than the madness that felt almost cult horror campy in the chapters leading up to the epilogue. Another way to explain without spoilers would be to say the vibe of this book went from Rosemary’s Baby to Cabin in the Woods.

Black Sheep comes out today, September 19th and, regardless of its tonal change toward the end, it is the perfect read for anyone in their twenties hah, but also for anyone who wants that good dose of cultish vibes with a side of body horror and a good serving of existential crisis intertwined with some paranormal shenanigans of the organized religion type to go along with their autumn or Halloween reads.

Until next time,
Eleni A. E.

Rachel Harrison can do no wrong in my opinion. Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth are in the pile of favorites and I was so excited to read Black Teeth. I didn’t even bother to read the synopsis, I just knew I would love it.

When I say I inhaled this book, I truly mean it. I didn’t stop to eat, to sleep, to do anything other than finish this book. I went in blind, and I highly suggest you do the same. The first twist in the book, I did not see coming but I loved it and the second one was just as satisfying. The last bit had me literally holding my breath, and that doesn’t happen often.

Vesper is the black sheep of her highly religious family and left her religion (and ultimately family and community) in search of a “normal” life. She ends up alone, in a dead end job. She’s in search of her father that she hasn’t seen in 14 years, as he was not a member of her religion and thus shunned from the community. When an unexpected invite to a family wedding leaves her in shock and seeking revenge, Vesper finds herself heading home. Without giving anything away, what follows is gloriously chaotic.

Rachel Harrison has a way of writing characters who I can’t help but love. They’re imperfect, kind of damaged, witty. I adore that her stories are full of dark humor and satire and am always excited for the latest book. Black Sheep is one of my favorite reads this year, and just in time for spooky season. A big thank you to Berkley Publishing for my ARC. Black Sheep is available today. 🖤

This was an unconventional horror take on a family’s deepest dark secrets based on the daughter, Vesper. After escaping her family for so many years, she is drawn back home by a simple wedding invitation of her best friend marrying her ex-boyfriend and her first love. She returns home to reunite with her family and uncovers some truths about herself and her family that had been hidden from her. This included some dark humor mixed with a bit of horror and while it was entertaining, it fell a little flat for me. There were parts I was really invested in and then parts that seemed to drag a bit for me. I loved the concept and the cultish trope. If you are on the fence about horror, I think this would be a good read as it’s not really a “scary” read and as I said it is entertaining and should not leave you with nightmares.

Rachel Harrison does it again. Black Sheep is a wickedly fun story about a woman named Vesper Wright, who vows never to go home again. But, when an unexpected wedding invitation comes in the mail, she decides that she will go back one more time. When Vesper gets there, nothing is as she expected.

I don’t want to give too much away, as this novel would best be read without knowing too much! However, I will say that Vesper’s family are a cast of interesting and unique characters, the story is dark and atmospheric, Vesper has a sense of humour that I love, and the exploration of religion and belief is fascinating. A well written, addictive and terrifying novel. I highly recommend.

Read if you like:
✨ Cozy Horror
✨ Exploration of religion and belief
✨ Family Dynamics
✨Humour
✨ Atmosphere

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for my ARC on exchange for an honest review.

Another PERFECT spooky season read from the Queen of horror. I love Rachel Harrison's books and this latest about Vesper, a young woman born into a Satanic cult who returns home for her ex boyfriend's wedding only to discover she's the actual daughter of Satan and her father has big plans for her upcoming birthday. Creepy and culty and all things unputdownable. This was great on audio and I couldn't read it fast enough! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really liked the idea of this book but it got way too corny for me. I wish the story had gone dark and not silly. The protagonist was also so unlikable that I didn't care what happened to her. 2.5 stars. I will talk about this on the podcast but not feature a review on the website.

You know when you grab a book based on the author and don’t even read the synopsis? Then you start the book and think one thing is going on until a mind blowing reveal happens, and you’re like, “OOOOHHHH!” Well that was me with Black Sheep. I recommend going into this book as blind as possible because it makes that moment all the more impactful which is why I’m not even including the synopsis.

Harrison has a way of writing horror novels that draws the reader in right from the start and keeps them on their toes throughout. This book had some dark topics, but wasn’t too gory which is how I like my horror books. I really liked the main character, Vesper, and was so intrigued by her family’s history. As mentioned above, there was a big twist at the beginning than some other surprises thrown in throughout the book. The ending was crazy in a good way, and I loved the epilogue. There was so much suspense and a sense of foreboding throughout the book that I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

For me, a compelling main character is the most critical factor in a book. It’s what tips the book into the five-star category, regardless of genre. I found a compelling character in Vesper. She’s fierce, darkly cynical, funny, and engaging, and she made this story excellent. This story abounds in dark humor.

Going into this book, I knew one of the key themes would be religious trauma, which utterly fascinates and baffles me. Harrison skillfully defies expectations and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is expertly crafted, building tension and anticipation to a shocking climax of action and raw emotion. And the ending? Simply fantastic.

Discovering my first Harrison book was a game-changer. Now, I'm eager to delve into her backlist. Brace yourselves! Black Sheep has all the makings of a cult classic.

Read this if you like: cults, religion, religious trauma, mothers & daughters, estrangement, secrets & lies, dark humor, horror.

Vesper left home to escape her very religious upbringing. She is struggling through her twenties and dealing with her anger and hurt from her toxic parents, one an absent father and the other an unloving mother who happens to be a famous scream Queen. She decides to return when she gets an invite to her best friends wedding to Vespers ex-boyfriend. What secrets are uncovered shake her and force her to address her family and her faith.

This book was so crazy and so good:) Perfect for spooky season. I really liked Vespers character and was so surprised by the twist in the beginning. It was a little campy, smartly witty, and entertaining.

Thanks to @netgalley @berkleypub for an arc for review.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison presents a horror comedy about a woman who returns home for her cousin's wedding to her ex-boyfriend. Cue all the awkwardness, family drama, and dark secrets.

First off, this book is snarky as hell and really does a fantastic job at nailing dysfunctional family dynamics. However, to get into my major gripe with this story, I'll have to get onto major spoilers, so consider yourself warned.

The story was hilarious and had me up until its first plot twist where, at a celebratory dinner, we learn that Vesper's family are a bunch satanic cultists.

Now, this premise could inherently work, but its execution here within the story fails miserably. Even if you want to look at Satan purely from a character perspective his actions don’t make sense within the novel—like how does the guy who rebelled against authority end up with authoritative cult??? Why is Satan unironically going with the whole sacrificial lamb motif when that’s God’s shtick? Why is he becoming more like his father? There’s so many parallels that could have been done there but weren't explored.

I get that the author was trying to tie lambs in with the whole “black sheep” theme, but the religious aspect feels haphazardly thrown in. There’s an apparent lack of understanding and awareness here to make this a clever, satirical play on fundamentalism, which I feel is a major missed opportunity. I mean, the whole rebellion motif of both Satan and Vesper rebelling against their parents and having daddy issues was right there, ripe for the taking!

Overall, I was frustrated that this book didn't live up to its full potential. While, yes, the story is a fun read and manages to capture what it means to be the black sheep of the family, it still thematically drops the ball on other core parts of the plot.

If you enjoy cult books then this one is for you. It was fast paced and the plot was unique. I was invested in Vesper’s character so much so that I didn’t want to stop reading. I went into this one completely blind and I would recommend to do the same. It was entertaining, odd, and with moments of dark humor. If you’re a fan of cult books, horror and stories about toxic family relationships check this one out; it’s the perfect spooky season read.

Ok, this was so much fun! One of my top favorite reads of the month and I’m super surprised that it’s a horror title! Fast paced, juicy, thrilling, and fun— I never saw the twist coming and when it did I gasped! Unlike anything I’ve ever read—just in time for spooky season!

Obsessed. So happy I went in blind to this. The twists and surprises were amazing. I feel like this was a unique horror and I was completely enthralled by it

This was one of my favorite books so far this year!! I have never read anything by Rachel Harrison before, but catch me checking out her entire backlog of books.

Black Sheep is the story of Vesper, an eccentric girl who escapes her family’s cult. Out in the real world, she is working a job that she hates and thinks she has left her past behind her for good.

Dun dun DUN…. Until she receives an invitation to the wedding of her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend. Yupp. I, being relatively sane, wouldn’t have gotten near that wedding with a 6 foot pole. Vesper, however, decides it’s a great idea to head back to the family farm in search of closure.

Upon arriving at the farm, Vesper stumbles into much more than an awkward wedding. She finds herself wrapped up in something much more sinister. I found myself saying “Oh. Oh noooo.” every few pages for the last 30% of the book. Wild ride.

I recommend going into this one as blind as possible because the twist near the beginning made me go ~ooof.~ Check this one out if you like reading about cults, religious trauma, horror, scream queens, and family drama.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing, and the author for the ARC of this insane title!!**