Book:
THE ONES WHO COME BACK HUNGRY by Amelinda Bérubé
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the Arc...Out July 2nd

Review:
3.5⭐
THE ONES WHO COME BACK HUNGRY was a thrilling adventure. From Jo losing her sister, to Audrey coming back from the dead etc, Amelinda Bérubé captures something different, something supernatural.  I went into this book with high expectations after reading the description. I was expecting creepiness, horror, and all out goriness. I felt like some of those points were reached in the way that seemed to be described, but there were spots that fell short. There were times where it moved slow, and was drawn out, but it did pick up in the end. Also this book wasn't creepy or horrorifyingly scary...it does take a lot to scare me so there's that, but some may think otherwise. THE ONES WHO COME BACK HUNGRY focuses on the supernatural. With the vampire-y part needing blood to live, it's kind of gross, which is to be expected.
THE ONES WHO COME BACK HUNGRY reminded me of something that would play on the SYFY network, so if you like supernaturally-science fiction books with gorey elements, then this book is for you.

What I Liked About It:
*the supernatural aspect

Bérubé does it again with another YA horror novel that surrounds sisters. Her other book, Here There Are Monsters is one of my favorite YA books of all time, and this one is just as good. The Ones Who Come Back Hungry has a cold, aching undertone pushed forward with the winter season the & has beautiful prose mixed in with outright horror. This book is for you if you like:

1. A deep POV main character unraveling a mystery while doing research about monster folklore.

2. Complicated relationships between sisters. Just imagine the Taylor Swift song “You Belong With Me“ but Cheerleader and Bleachers are sisters and the cheerleader has come back from the dead.

3. Revenants. Zombies. Vampires. Supernatural. Jo is very much working out what her sister has come back as and what works against them—just like a Sam & Dean case.

4. Exploring family dynamics/feeling like you’re not the favorite kid. Especially when you’re the artsy kid.

5. Bisexual MC rep.

6. The ebbs and flows of grief.

Really enjoyed this book, there were a few slow points inbetween however the ending really made up for it all. Such a great story teller and a very unique and different story to tell!

This book is an exemplary example of the fact that sometimes the scariest things are not the supernatural.

I feel like my brain was just removed from my skull, twisted like a dishrag, then shoved back into my head. It's just the right amount of dark and bloody, with a twist of guilt and familial trauma. It's a slow seep of blood, but wow is the slow burn worth it in the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Ones Who Come Back Hungry" by Amelinda Bérubé is a very unique thriller/horror YA book that provides a unique perspective on vampires while also exploring themes of loss and the complexities of sibling relationships. In this book, you won’t see any “Twilight” vampires. No, these are the undead that will rip you apart, and Bérubé’s descriptions throughout the book are absolutely amazing at establishing a sense of dread with these horrific, rotting vampires. I couldn’t get enough of the vivid imagery throughout. In this book, Bérubé explores both a unique take on the standard vampire but also emotional vampires, as in people in your life who drain you of your own energy, who use you for their own gain. I absolutely loved this exploration in the book as the main character, Jo, learns to become more independent from both toxic family and friend dynamics in her life.

Following the sudden death of her popular older sister, Jo finds herself grappling with grief and emptiness. However, her world is turned upside down when she discovers Audrey, her deceased sister, mysteriously returning from the grave with an insatiable hunger for human blood. Determined to keep her family together, Jo embarks on a desperate quest to find a cure for Audrey's condition, even as she struggles to navigate her own conflicted feelings and desires.

Bérubé's writing shines in this atmospheric and haunting story, drawing you into Jo's world and her desperate efforts to save her sister. The characters, particularly Jo, are richly developed and nuanced, with their struggles and motivations explored with depth and sensitivity. Sam, for example, has many flaws that are developed throughout the book, though he does have some redeeming moments towards the end. Jo's complex relationship with Audrey and her internal conflict between loyalty to her family and her own desires drive the story forward; their relationship is the central point of the story as Jo learns more about the expectations that weighed Audrey down and the complexities of her own life. I also liked the depiction of Jo’s mother, showing how grief develops in different ways while also showing how similar the two characters are.

The book also blends supernatural elements with themes of love and sacrifice, creating a thought-provoking story that lingers long after the final page. There is queer representation within this book with Jo and her best friend. The romance in this book was nice and subtle, not taking over the plot at all. The pacing is excellent with suspenseful twists and turns, especially when focusing on the vampire aspects in the book. I do wish the vampire aspect was developed a bit more, like with what caused Aubrey to transform, but overall, I really enjoyed the descriptions of the vampirism within the book. Aubrey’s transformation reminded me a bit of “Pet Sematary” with creatures coming back from the dead not completely the same.

Overall, "The Ones Who Come Back Hungry" is a very engaging story that will appeal to fans of horror and supernatural fiction, and stories of family dynamics. I definitely enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to read more from Bérubé.