Everything Is Temporary
by Jon Cohn
I enjoyed the book. It did seem I had read the book a few years ago. I am sure that is not the case.
It was a fast moving, able to finish in a day.

Sarah is a loving wife and mother to a very calm and collected husband. Sarah gets a phone call that flips their whole world upside down. Fun loving daughter grows distant, husband because impulsive and secretive. Everything connects to a past that was refused to be talked about. What will the story by Tom Barnes Reveal and is it true or just a story?

This story gave me so many Krampus vibes and feelings. Taking magical fun-loving things, we treasure as a child and turning them into scary terrifying nightmares.

This was a fast read with a story line that jumps back and forth between the present and the storyline from the past in the "book."

Is Emma really hiding what is going on?
Is Tom Barnes telling the truth or has he finally cracked?
Can Sarah get to the bottom of it and save her family?

Read now to see for yourself!

I always appreciate a good horror spin on Christmas. This story doesn't take place on Christmas but the holiday's imagery is a major point of the story.

The book had me hooked from the opening chapter. Its plot moved quickly so once your attention is hooked, it's possible you will want to finish the story in one sitting.

The main characters seemed distinct and stood out on their own. With such a fast pace, you have to hope that the character development doesn't suffer. I feel like it did not suffer in this book. You are able to get solid ideas of the personalities of all of the main characters.

If I had to compare the plot of this story, I would say it gives similar vibes to Stephen King's IT. But it is not as long as that monster-sized novel. So this is a great fit if you want a quick horror read, especially with a holiday-twist to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Deadbolt Books for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available November 2,2023!

This is the perfect holiday horror book to add to your Holiday TBR! Talking Christmas trees, a living toy army, a monster a literal monster as Mrs Claus? Like hello epicness! This was a wicked horrifically fun read that Inwill be buying my teen for her stocking. It’s gory goodness in a holiday horror shell. A thrill ride from start to finish!

This book took me by surprise with just how enjoyable it was. It nods toward King’s It with some of the themes, but it actually manages to stick the landing with the characters as adults. And, of course, there’s a nod to King’s son, Joe Hill.

Aside from the nods, the author wrote an original story that was fun and, at times, intense. He also wrote a few killer sequences involving all manner of Christmas toys/candy. Think like Krampus, but even better.

Highly recommended for horror lovers! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

4.5 stars

This story truly exudes creativity and I always have a deep appreciation for narratives that feature book within a book, especially when the author skillfully weaves them together. Even the subtle foreshadowing of the book cover's significance at the story's conclusion impressed me! This marks my second experience with this author's work, and I find myself continually engrossed and enamored by his flowy writing. I fully intend to explore his other books and eagerly await any future releases.

In this tale, we embark on a journey with a family coping with the recent loss of their daughter's best friend, whose sudden death leaves a shadow over their lives. To complicate matters, the husband begins to exhibit enigmatic behavior, possibly tied to events from his childhood. The narrative unfolds from there, with the wife's efforts to piece together the puzzle, alternating with chapters from a book the husband has authored, describing events of his life which don't seem to be rooted in reality, but could be connected to what's going on today.

I relish the intrigue of this particular narrative trope, where uncertainty surrounds every revelation, allowing readers to unravel the mysteries alongside the characters. Every moment of this experience was deeply enjoyable. The story also offered moments of spine-tingling suspense, creating a richly atmospheric ambiance that lends itself perfectly to cozy winter holiday reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I'm so thankful that I've been introduced to this author because I cannot wait to read more from him.
The description and cover art drew me into this title, and I am so incredibly glad that it did.
It shares the vibes of "IT" by Stephen King (minus the clowns) mixed beautifully with "NOS4A2" by Joe Hill (minus the vampire aspect).

It starts with an introduction to the Barnes family (Tom, Sarah, & Emma). Emma has a terminally ill best friend, Maya, who dies suddenly one night after spending the day with her BFF Emma. Following the death of her best friend, Emma becomes more isolated from her family as she processes this loss. It's all typical teen angst stuff, until one day her parents get a call from a local shopping mall to let them know Emma had vandalized some mall property, and they needed to come pick her up. While at the mall, Tom notices someone strangely familiar and starts to fly off the handle. The cause of which isn't revealed right away.

Author Jon Cohn perfectly weaved together the story from Tom's past with the present. His descriptions were fantastic, and each scene played out like a movie in my mind. (hint - this would be an AWESOME movie).

Anyway - I cannot give enough praise to this author for this title.
10 out of 10 would absolutely recommend to anyone who loves strange, mystery, spooky, Christmas horror.