This is an interesting and thought provoking book. Definitely gives off vibes of Get Out + Stepford Wives. I liked Jasmyn as a narrator, the story kept me guessing along with her at what was really going on. The last few chapters really ramped up the tension and led to a quick and upsetting conclusion. I was hoping for a different ending.

I paired reading this with the audiobook and found it really enjoyable.

Horror with a racial element is always so much more frightening and Nicola Yoon captures this so well.

Best-selling young-adult author Nicola Yoon releases her first novel for adult readers this week, and it’s a doozy — a creepy tale of suburban suspense set against a backdrop of racism and police brutality.

“One of Our Kind” tells the story of Jasmyn and King Williams, who move to a purposefully designed Black utopia known as Liberty, California. Jasmyn is expecting the couple’s second child, another son, and she appreciates living in a community where her boys don’t have to worry about being profiled or harassed for the color of their skin.

Jasmyn works as a public defender. And as the family settles into the new neighborhood, she feels torn between her life of privilege and her instinct to fight for social justice. When she tries to start a Black Lives Matter chapter in Liberty, she realizes that most of the residents would rather book spa treatments at the town’s wellness center than protest racial injustice. Little by little, she starts feeling like something’s not quite right.

This novel gives off serious “Get Out” vibes, along with “The Stepford Wives” and any number of other psychological thrillers that keep you guessing at what’s going on beneath the surface. Yoon’s characters talk honestly about race and the various strategies of speaking out or fitting in. When Jasmyn ponders why some women straighten their hair rather than embracing natural hairstyles, her husband deems her “Blacker than thou.”

Artful writing and pacing sustain the tension to the very end. And this is a story you’ll want to talk about afterward.

This Book has a good mystery . The main character Jasmyn and her family move their family to a Black Utopia in California. While she strives to be a social activist the rest of the community are interested in frivolous activities. The book is unsettling in the way that is a direct comment on our society. The ending is a surprise.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a unique dystopian. I like Nicola Yoon's books, she is a great story teller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I really thought I would like this one, but I found the main character very judgmental and unsupportive of other black people. I love a good dystopian novel and i was intrigued that this was also a commentary on race in America, but it fell flat for me.

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

I am speechless. This book made me angry, and at the same time it never left my thoughts. What is utopia? Why is being black a burden? I really don’t know what else to say without giving away the plot.
I was provided a digital copy from NetGalley for an honest review and this is as raw as it gets. I am going to have my bookclub read this because I think it will bring about a lively discussion.
Again, thank you NetGalley.

The sun was out, the day was beautiful, the neighborhood was filled with sounds of families enjoying their weekend. She stretched before setting out for a walk, waved to her neighbors across the street. It was peaceful being here, amongst people like herself, a place she felt safe. A perfect neighborhood.

One of Our Kind is a horror novel following Jasmyn and her family as they move to a new neighborhood with people just like them, a place they can thrive and grow as a family. But it’s not all perfection like she thought.

Following Jasmyn’s character in this book as she slowly realizes things aren’t quite right in her new neighborhood was eye-opening and thought-provoking. This is a social horror, dealing with social injustices and racial inequities that the Black community lives with. It was a slower paced story, but one I sat and read in an afternoon. This has been pitched as Stepford Wives meets Get Out and I can definitely see that comparison.

If you want a thought-provoking horror with social commentary and a dystopian feel, then you may enjoy reading this one.

I started this book fully intending to love it be as the description sounded so interesting and I’ve read other books by this author and loved them but that just wasn’t the case for me with this one.

The beginning started out pretty well and definitely had your typical ‘oh there’s definitely something going on’ thriller vibes but it just got a little too weird for me and unfortunately I decided not to finish it.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review.

This book was thoroughly disappointing. Nicola is such an amazing author that I had high hopes. As soon as I finished I quickly went to goodreads to see if other readers felt as put off by this book as I did (which was a resounding yes). It felt like it was going to be like "Get Out" and it ended up being a badly written police brutality obsessed Stepford Wives remake.

I always like books by this author and this one was no different. She has such a unique writing style and a beautiful way of looking at the world.

This dystopian horror was everything I needed and more. I loved the plot and the characters within.

This book really took you down the rabbit hole as the FMC starts finding out the truth and facts behind all the luxury and masks. The suspense is held rock solid from the very beginning until the very end and the tension at times is so thick and heavy there’s no doubt you could cut it with a knife.

10/10! This is probably one of my favorite genres and I couldn’t help but keep reading along and sitting right for a wild ride.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. This book was not really what I expected it to be and definitely deals with some sensitive racial issues. I’ve read books from this author before and this one seemed like a far departure from what she normally writes. I enjoyed most of the aspects of the story, was not expecting the ending at all! I would recommend to anyone who likes fiction going against societal norms and handling racial issues head on!

This novel was a nice foray into social horror for Nicola Yoon, but I found it pretty formulaic. I didn't find anything about it particularly shocking, and I think the entire premise is a little bit farfetched. Maybe it's just in that weird uncanny valley between spec fic and full sci fi, where it feels like the world is too real for the crazy science stuff to be happening.

This was my first time reading Nicola Yoon, and I received One of Our Kind as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing premise with its exploration of a seemingly perfect community hiding dark secrets. The plot is engaging, with a slow build-up of tension that keeps the reader invested. One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon is a dystopian horror novel set in the fictional, all-Black gated community of Liberty, California. The story follows Jasmyn Williams, a public defender, and her husband King, a venture capitalist, as they move to Liberty with their young son, hoping to find a safe and supportive environment. However, Jasmyn quickly realizes that the community's focus on luxury and wellness masks deeper, more sinister secrets. As she uncovers the truth about Liberty and its founders, Jasmyn's initial frustration turns to dread, and she must confront the reality that their new home may not be the utopia they envisioned. The character development, particularly of Jasmyn, is well-executed. Her journey from hopeful newcomer to determined truth-seeker is compelling. However, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with the broader narrative. The twists and turns throughout the story are effective in maintaining suspense, but some plot developments felt a bit forced and could have been more seamlessly integrated. The ending, while surprising, left a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. Overall, One of Our Kind is a decent read with a unique premise and strong central character. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Nicola Yoon as a writer in the dystopian horror genre. I'm curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #oneofourkind

This was quite a departure for Nicola Yoon—both in age category and narrative tone—so I was excited to see how she handled it. I am so impressed with how confidently she stepped into these discussions of race and class, etc., but unfortunately the execution wasn't my favorite. But I'll always give Nicola another read or ten, and can't wait to see what she does next in this Adult space.

This was a tough read. I thought the story was boring and many events didn't make sense to me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC which I agreed to read in exchange for an honest review.