I've read a ton of books by RL stine and some are a ton of fun and others are a total flop. Unfortunately, for me this one falls into the latter category. I found Arnies character to be so unlikeable I almost quit reading. I didn't like the way the parents handled "dealing" or completely ignoring his behaviors either, even after getting the explanation at the end.

I really can't think of one redeeming quality of this particular read. The ending was abrupt and, to be honest pretty terrible. Even trying to put myself in the mindset of the intended readers age, there's no way I'd have cared for this one.

I can't be the only one that read a Goosebumps book as a child and was too scared to sleep for months!
I was so excited to receive a copy of this!
It was a short spooky book that I was able to read in one sitting.
Even though it's Middle Grade it still kept you guessing and I loved that! It just kept you turning pages!
This one was a story of Amy and her little brother Arnie who's nothing but a pest! Amy gets her revenge but things turn south quickly when there's more to Arnie then just his bad behaviour.
If your looking for some nostalgia or your wanting to gift someone special who loves a spooky read, this was great!

Amy is having her friends come to her house for a sleepover. Her friend Lissa’s has arrived early. Lisa has asked Amy if Marta is invited for the sleepover. Lissa is disappointed that Marta is as she thinks she is a snob. Meanwhile her younger brother, Arnie is planning to “prank” the sleepover. He has been having problems at school due to his accidentally hurting someone. For example he cuts a girl’s ponytail off. His dad is called to school. Even though the parents have talked to Arnie— he doesn’t pay any attention. He thought it was funny to cut off her ponytail. It’s one of his.less pranks that he did. He finally plays the last prank that Amy just can’t take anymore from him. What is the prank. She tells her mom that Arnie is a monster — not a normal little brother. She is so frustrated with her parents for not punishing him for his bad behavior, she has decided it is her turn to prank him. She comes up with the idea to cover her brother with slime at his birthday party. She figures he will be so embarrassed that it happen to him in front of his classmates, that he will think twice before pranking her. Lissa agrees to help her. What happens when she slimes her little brother? Is she glad that she did it? What did her mom say to her?

The story is scary and creepy at times. I couldn’t believe that she didn’t prank him before the time she does finally do it. I enjoyed the story as it remind me of the Goosebump series the author has written. The story is about family relationships, friendship, being bullied, and revenge. It is a fun book to read even during the scary parts.

Although I am a little older then the targeted audience for this book I still enjoyed it.
I enjoyed reading R.L. Stine books in Jr High and High School and still do. If your a fan a must read. This book bought back memoirs of all R.L. Stine books I still have as of today. This is perfect for this time of year. I recommend it to anyone 11 and up and it will make a great gift

Slime Doesn't Pay! by R.L. Stine is a middle-grade horror novel that dips into the horror a little more than his Goosebumps series. Slime Doesn't Pay! is a rip on the popular slogan Crime Doesn't Pay! This story deals with crime and slime so the title fits. The horror setup in the beginning is very good with a slumber party where a monster joins and then a break-in. The opening scene did give me some goosebumps when I felt the trapped isolation that the slumber party felt. The opening scene was the best and it went on for 60 pages, and it introduces the real monster of the story Arnie the little brother to Amy who throws the slumber party. Stine has written some horrible little siblings, Tara from Goosebumps: The Cuckoo Clock of Doom comes to mind, but Arnie is double the trouble, and in the end, you will want Amy to have her revenge. The story has a Stephen King's Carrie event that you can tell from the cover but with a twist. The ending is too long and overstays it's welcome. The ending made me roll my eyes because it didn't make sense and made the audience have to overlook a lot. The ending reminded me a lot of Goosebumps: The Girl Who Cried Monster which I felt ruined a generally scary goosebumps with an ending that you have to hold belief on a lot of things for the ending to work. This was my first non-Goosebumps book from R. L. Stine while I appreciate was a little scarier the novel could have been 40 pages shorter and wrapped up after one of the best twists from Stine. I read Slime Doesn't Pay! for free in exchange for a review thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing. Slime Doesn't Pay! was published on September 26, 2023.

Plot Summary: Amy hosts a slumber party with her friends and things get out of hand fast. Amy sees a monster with quills in her closet that ruins her homemade pizza, an intruder tries to break into her room that little brother Arnie set up. Arnie is a pest who likes to ruin his big sister's day, and he does time and time again. It happens time and time again when Amy has had enough and knows the perfect time to strike at Arnie's birthday party. The monster that is her little brother will be paid back and it will involve a recipe for slime on the internet, what could go wrong?

What I Liked: The book makes you hate Arnie and want his sister to get revenge. The Carrie moment was great and the way it was written was in slow motion. The book cover is great one of my favorites reminded me of The Garbage Pail Kids, which R. L. Stine did write a novel of, and maybe was influenced by. The big twist was a great one and pretty unexpected. The moment when Arnie starts acting nice was a great moment. I liked the YouTube video they watched to make the slime, which seemed pretty entertaining. I loved the scary opening scene where you the reader feel trapped in the house. I did like the comparisons to rich and poor and how much Amy is hurting since her family can not find a job, I wish this could have been expanded on more in the narrative.

What I Disliked: The third act after the big twist. The whole plot is for nothing since nothing matters after it. I hate the parent's secret that they can't even tell their family, but are cool with the world knowing in the end.

Recommendations: I have read 42 R. L. Stine novels which are all Goosebumps, this is my first non-Goosebumps book. It is kind of like an extended Goosebumps that is a little scarier. I feel Goosebumps are written for 8-10 year-olds and this story is for 9-11 year-olds. I will barely recommend this because of the excellent first scene and the big twist.

Rating: I rated Slime Doesn't Pay! by R. L. Stine 3 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

It was a fun book that brought me back to when I grew up with R.L Stein. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm way out of its target audience, so I'm sure kids will like it. Also, Arnie's parent's really need to work on their discipline methods.

5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“Slime Doesn’t Pay!” By R.L. Stine

📕 Edition: ARC ebook

This one is true to Stine’s signature style of spooky middle-grade tales. In this quick and fun read, Stine masterfully tells a tale of sibling rivalry gone awry.

Amy and Lissa's predicament with Amy's troublesome brother, Arnie, would be relatable to anyone with a mischievous sibling.

As the plot unfolds, the girls' quest for revenge takes a supernatural turn when they concoct a bucket of blue slime to humiliate Arnie. What ensues is a rollercoaster of chills and thrills as Arnie transforms into a genuine monster. Stine's knack for blending humor with horror shines through, keeping you engaged and entertained.

This one offers a perfect dose of middle grade horror and spooky fun, making it an ideal read for kids and fans alike of R.L. Stine's iconic storytelling.

Thank you @NetGalley, @rl_stine1 and @blackstonepublishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've always been a fan of the Goosebumps books, since I can remember! This one, once again, did not disappoint! Such a great and fun read!

Vibes:
Slime. Monsters. Siblings. Revenge. YouTube. Happy Birthday!

My review:
R.L. Stine gives us a tale of two siblings (a very bratty younger brother, and an older sister who seems to get in trouble for her brother’s shenanigans). Amy is tired of her brother, Arnie, getting away with everything, so she has a plan to seek revenge, and on his birthday…

This was an enjoyable tale of revenge (from a child’s perspective) and how parents just don’t understand. Through the majority of this story, I was glued to my seat – ready for the slime to drop, and it does, but not in the way you’d expect it to. There were twists and turns, and it was just weird…in a good way.

I’d absolutely recommend this for pre-teens and slightly younger. Like with Goosebumps (also written by Stine), this is children-approved, and also, as an adult reading this, gave me a little blast from the past to read something that reminds me of my childhood (I also had an obnoxious younger brother and used to get in trouble for stuff my brother did).

Fun times are ahead. Just stay away from the blue slime…

A fun Stine adventure with just enough of a scare factor... that you hope it never happens to you. When your younger brother is always ruining your life and acting like the worst monster of a kid, what would you do to strike backwith revenge? Maybe throw a bucket of slime on him -- and hope for the worst...?

Note about Content: A "very rude word" is used in the story. That's all it says, no other description.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.

Sam has a huge problem: Her little brother Arnie is out of control, pulls lousy and often embarrassing pranks, calls them "accidents" and never gets seriously punished for his deeds. When a burglar breaks into the house during Sam's sleepover, it's an Arnie scheme. When he tries to jump across a puddle and gets her new rain poncho muddy, he laughs it off … but it's another scheme. When an expensive video game appears in Sam's bag at the mall and she's accused of shoplifting, it's yet another one of his schemes. He's a monster, a danger, a threat to stability, an albatross Sam has to bear because her parents don't know how to discipline him.

When she reaches her breaking point, Sam decides to take matters into her own hands. It will involve embarrassing him in front of everyone he knows, and it will also involve batches of slime Sam and her friends learned to make on the internet. Will her plan succeed? Will Arnie back off? Or will the plan backfire letting him somehow come off smelling like a rose? R. L. Stine combines his quirky brand of suspense in a heist story that's one part Edgar Allan Poe and one part Goosebumps in the middle grade novel, Slime Doesn't Pay!

Siblings are the worst! If they're older than you, they can act like jerks. If they're younger than you, they can act like fiends. If you try to get back at them, it's usually you who gets in trouble. They get away with it all …

At least, this is the driving idea behind R. L. Stine's latest novel for young readers. It's not a terribly complex idea, perhaps, but it's one that's loaded with opportunities for solid drama. And spun through Stine's wicked imagination for shocks and suspense, it can attain some real heights of (age appropriate) horror.

However, there is more at play in the book that initially meets the eye. What initially seems like a cut and dried story of a girl's rivalry with her brother is also a creature feature since there are strange monsters leaping out of closets from time to time. However, the book itself attains a deeper resonance when we dig into the text.

One of the tricks Stine uses here is the unreliable narrator. Sam is our first person perspective on all events. The prologue opens with her trying to convince us that her case is justified. She's done something terrible, but if we only knew all the lead up to it, then we would surely agree she did the right thing. Or if not the right thing, then a justifiably bad thing. After all, in the same circumstance, we'd do the very same thing, right?

What follows is a two part book, the first one recounting all the rotten things Arnie has done, painted in as gloriously evil and inconsiderate colors as possible. The second part entails Sam's revenge scheme. Younger readers may not realize how efficiently Sam is slanting information, but adult readers accustomed to thrillers and suspense yarns will certainly see it. Right from the get-go, we are supposed to dislike Arnie and once we see his behavior through her eyes and the unfairness of his escaping punishment, then we are going to agree with her case. This is a complex idea, one that should offer parents the chance to initiate some interesting conversations with their kids.

It's a technique that rings loudly of Edgar Allan Poe's tales. The author employed such narrators exceptionally well in stories like "William Wilson," "Berenice," or "The Tell-Tale Heart," having a character who has been pushed to the edge recount the rationales for some poor (if not homicidal) choices. The psychology of such characters is as fascinating as the stories they have to tell. So it is here, where Sam's experiences rub shoulders with classic psychological horror yarns and cautionary tales.

One of the least convincing elements in the book is Sam's insistence on creatures appearing in her house or in her neighborhood. These are often beastly things, covered with quills or with clacking beaks, monsters that run on all fours that chase or bite our protagonist. They show up, disappear, are only ever witnessed by Sam. At first, they seem to be a way to spice up the narrative, an element to add a little fright to a narrative that might be too much about sibling rivalry or be dawdling too much on a sleepover. There are whole swathes of narrative without such creatures' appearances, and then like Philip Marlowe's man-with-a-gun they show up when things get slow to add some tension, possibly a chase. These elements culminate in the final half, building into something with the A-plot. Prior to that, however, they feel a little too artificial. A convenient way to write out of a slow spot.

Stine's style is as readable as ever. He is a wordsmith whose sentences flow with a deceptive ease. There are few bells and whistles to the prose, this isn't fiction delivered with complex grammar or vocabulary. Still, he can certainly make the stuff of middle grade suspense flow nicely and keep eager fingers turning the pages or tapping their eReaders.

As everything is processed through a first person narrative, there is a lovely sense of connection with Sam's experiences and encounters. We can empathize with the character, but even better we can feel for her friends and loved ones. And although it's easy to hiss at Arnie and wish him a taste of his own medicine, we can also develop a bit of empathy by reading between the lines and wondering what we aren't being told. The kid has problems, all right, and ineffectual parents who condone his bad behavior at every turn.

Stine's method to keep readers coming back for more involves liberal doses of cliffhangers. Just about every chapter ends either with a lead in to some kind of spooky action or a leading statement. The former will be resolved in the first couple of paragraphs of the next chapter, and the latter will entice a reader's curiosity to see how it all turns out.

Both of these are techniques the author developed across the classic Goosebumps line of books back in the day, and it's an effective means of keeping readers turning the pages. The rising action culminating with a zinger is a lot like the opening gambit building up to a jump scare in a movie. It's the scare itself that Stine splits in half. We invariably get a reaction (often of the narrator calling for help, gasping, screaming) and want to know what caused it. The explanation follows in the subsequent chapter, along with a release of tension (sometimes humorous and sometimes not) that then leads to another build across the chapter. Stine's history with television has given him a seemingly endless supply of these sorts of short, sharp shocks—one could almost imagine a commercial break running between the chapters.

Such a tactic may be effective, but its effects are short lived. A longer draw involves the leading statements technique, building a chapter not to some sudden explosion moment but to a "How could I know this would backfire so badly?" sort of expression. This brand of suspense gives us a bit of foreshadowing, a hint of the dark outcome on the horizon, and it allows us the time to indulge our own thoughts about what's coming. When the answer eventually arrives, the reader can greet it with an "Ah ha!" after indulging a far longer page count of building tension. The entire second part of the book is pretty much the answer to a leading question raised in the prologue, and to get there we have to read well over half the book.

Luckily, chapters are brief, seldom overstaying their welcome. The story is clearly designed to throw a few "Gotchas!" at the middle grade target audience. Adults reading this won't necessarily see anything that hasn't been done before or meet characters that are completely new constructions. Still, Stine's sense for narrative keeps us turning pages well, so we can vet the thing as essentially harmless for the younger readers in our lives. There's nothing particularly offensive in the book. The scares contained are less about goopy, gross-out monsters chasing young prey than about the kinds of terrible things some kids can get away with and brief meditations about how revenge schemes can go terribly awry.

Slime Doesn't Pay! is a classic cautionary tale about a young woman's justifications for making Bad Choices and finding worse choices waiting. It is generally a fun read, fresh ideas for young minds who aren't too versed in horror and suspense yarns and appealing to the nostalgia adult readers have for encountering this author's popular series in younger days.
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A special thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am still coming to terms with reading this book. Basically, I would read anything by R.L. Stine, and this was a no-brainer too. Stine manages to capture the complete "I am so done with this" in teenage girls, especially with annoying little brothers, so well that it alone, this constant tension between Amy and Arnie, kept me turning the page. I think pretty much any kid with an annoying sibling who just doesn't seem to get it will absolutely adore this book for that alone, coupled with monster mayhem and middle grade humour!

The perfect annoying little sibling story. I could do without the parents putting so much on the older sister, but it is a real thing that happens. It's still a very fun story middle grades will definitely get a kick out of it. No matter what kids still love slime.

What a fun read! Arnie is the little brother of your nightmares and I think every middle grade would love to read about him. His sister, Amy, has had enough and plans some revenge, will it include slime...?? I love that Stine writes for middle grade, but adds just enough nostaglia for the parent to love reading right along. Very fast paced read, feel like it will spark that joy of reading in a child that may have no interest. Great job again Mr. Stine. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for granting me such a fun reading experience!

I was a huge fan of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series when I was in elementary and junior high schools and was very excited to revisit some of that in this latest middle grade horror novel from the man himself, Mr. R.L. Stine. The writing immediately took me back to those early Stine books and I was drawn in instantly. Before I knew it, a couple hours had gone by (with a few interruptions from my kid) and the magic had drawn to a close. While I guessed the gist of what was happening and the ending was no surprise, there was still that magical Stine touch that kept me drawn in and turning the pages. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to the intended middle grade age group and maybe even those looking for a dose of nostalgia.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Two brand new R.L. Stine books two weeks in a row is just insane. We are so spoiled. Slime Doesn't Pay is a departure from the Goosebumps line and honestly just is not as scary or entertaining as those entries are. If you're a diehard Stine fine I recommend this one, otherwise just stick with Goosebumps.

Ever have that annoying little brother. You know, the one who does everything he can to make your life miserable. Well Amy has one who is ruining her life. She and her friend Lisa think it's time for revenge and find a blue slime recipe on YouTube. It all backfires immediately and creates a literal monster. Now they have to save the town from Arnie and can they save him too?
As always in perfect R.L.Stine style this story is the right amount of scary for us. I grew up with these stories and I love sharing them with my kids. You will love this one, especially if you have ever had that monster little brother or sister you had to deal with. Fast moving and keeps us intrigued to the very end. Enjoy this adventure.

Review to come on my blog on October 13th and also then on other places.

I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

One of the newest R.L. Stine books and of course I had to request it when it popped up on Netgalley! I just HAD to read this one. I was planning to read it in October, but in September I just couldn't resist it any longer, I just had to read it! 

Think you have an annoying sibling? Is he a real beast? Well, wait until you read about Amy's brother. That boy! In the prologue we get a hint of what is about to come, but it is much worse than you may think. He does stupid pranks, ruins her newest clothes, even puts an expensive game in her bag so she almost gets in trouble with the police, and there is a lot more. And he is not just horrible towards her, but to everyone it seems. Soccer? Much more fun to just kick balls into people's faces. Fighting? Sure. And there is more. You can see, he is a monster. A beast. At times a bit too much for me. It seemed so excessive. But it did make me 100% root for Amy (and her best friends) to get their revenge. To think of something BIG. Something so awesome that he would learn that his pranks go too far. I was just cheering at their plan! 

But what happens next? Well, that was a ride. Totally 100% R.L. Stine. The ending made me laugh, I guess that is a solution. XD 

I have to say that I already saw the twist coming. I mean, there were plenty of hints and I have been reading Goosebumps and R.L. Stine books since I was a kid. By now I know certain tells and hints. Haha. I didn't mind it though, I was just eagerly looking forward to it. 

The parents, at the end you get a bit more understanding for them, but for quite a bit of the book I was a tad frustrated with them. Especially since they didn't allow Amy to say anything bad or harsh about her brother but allowed him a lot more. Even laughed at things which I just found harmful and hurting. They do try at times, but sometimes I was like, yeah, what did you think your daughter was going to say or do? Just stand there and take it? You just cannot expect that. 

But did content get cut from the e-arc I received? Because my copy was just 110-ish pages, and according to other sources (Amazon/etc.) it should be 192 pages. I didn't miss any story so I am guessing bonuses or illustrations? Such a shame that so much was removed, I am kind of curious what it was and why. Since I am not buying the book (it is not 4.5 stars or higher after all) I guess I will just hope that Amazon or another site has a sample of the book so I can see inside a finished copy.

But despite things missing, I had a lot of fun reading this one! It was a truly classic R.L. Stine story with slime, evil brothers, and spookiness! I would recommend it, perfect for this season of spookiness!

I’ve got to give Amy credit. If Arnie was my little brother, I would have sought revenge much sooner than she did. Arnie is an absolute brat and their parents don’t even discipline him. He gets away with everything and Amy has just reached her limit.

“Arnie is ruining my life!”

It’s time for revenge of the sticky, oozy blue slime variety. Only things don’t exactly go to plan.

I’m old, so my introduction to R.L. Stine dates all the way back to the late 80’s, when The Babysitter had me not wanting to answer the phone (the kind that plugged into the wall). Having been indoctrinated for a couple of years by The Baby-Sitters Club, Stine also managed to turn me off babysitting for life.

I thoroughly enjoyed being terrified by Stine’s Point Horror books. By the time the Goosebumps books were published, though, I thought I was too old to read them and I’ve always felt like I missed out on something special.

Now I’m old enough to no longer care what anyone thinks of my reading list and this slimefest looked like the perfect reintroduction to one of my favourite authors from my childhood.

This read was just as fun as I’d hoped it would be. Amy’s voice is engaging and her struggles with a little brother whose behaviour had me considering an exorcism are relatable, even with the elements that don’t feature in that many childhoods.

I know kid me would have adored it as well, and probably would have mixed up a batch of slime to see what happened. Adult me has made note of where to find the list of ingredients, just in case.

I haven’t read enough R.L. Stine books to know if he sneaks in pop culture references but, intentional or not, when the creature bounded out of Amy’s closet, it brought to mind the Terror Dog we first met in Louis’ apartment in Ghostbusters. I then spent most of the book hoping a character would blurt out ‘He slimed me.’ But enough about my Ghostbusters obsession. I was also pretty chuffed that the horror movie director’s surname was Craven.

I’d like to think I’d brave Arnie to claim some of his mother’s Friday night homemade pizza. Minus the quills, of course.

I can foresee a Goosebumps binge in my future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a silly little story about a VERY naughty 8 year old boy (Arnie) who makes the lives of his family (particularly his sister, Amy) absolutely miserable. I sympathise with Amy completely, knowing what it's like to have an annoying younger brother who always seems to get away with everything. A fun horror-lite book for kids to enjoy, until they're ready for Stephen King ;)