4.75 ⭐️

Come Out, Come Out was everything I wanted in a modern horror novel. With nods to classic tropes and all the eerie, unsettling elements that make contemporary horror so compelling, I couldn’t put it down.

Fern and Jaq have spent years burying the past—especially the night their best friend Mallory disappeared in the woods. But when a spirit resembling Mallory returns, seeking revenge, they’re forced to confront not just the truth of what happened that night but also their own suppressed identities. This is a chilling, emotional story about the horrors of erasure, the power of found family, and the courage to reclaim yourself.

As someone who came out at thirteen, this story hit me on a deeply personal level. The horror wasn’t just in the looming presence of the Patron—it was right in Fern, Mal, and Jaq’s homes, making the terror feel all too real. That eerie closeness amplified every fear within me, making the story even more gripping.

I saw so much of myself in all three characters and felt deeply for their journeys. I especially connected with Fern—LIGHT SPOILER****there was a moment when they were forced to say things they would not have otherwise, and it resonated with me in a way that felt raw and honest. Though the Patron forced their hand, Fern said things that are unfortunately all too real proclamations of scared queer people without the support to come out.****

This book was perfection to me—a beautiful blend of relevance, fear, the paranormal, and an all-too-real kind of horror. I’m so glad I took the time to read it.

I received an advance reader copy of Come Out, Come Out in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Natalie C Parker presents a queer YA horror with Come Out, Come Out. The story is told in altering perspectives and timelines, following friends Fern, Jaq, and Mal. When Fern and Jaq accompanied Mal into the woods five years ago, she died, but they can't remember anything else about what happened. Only that something is different. And that something is trying to kill them too.

Full disclosure: I had very low level investment in this book when I tried to read it and waited for the audiobook release to be able to give it a fair chance. I fully read the book via audio, sometimes with immersion.

This book also has content that could be harmful to some readers. The horror is surrounding lack of familial support for queer kids, conversion camps, homophobia, and transphobia. Please read with care.

Each of the main characters have a different experience with queerness, which was welcome. I identified most with Fern as they worked through dysphoria and finding the pronouns and physical presentation they liked best. This building of queer identity, not just for Fern but for Jaq as well, was important content to include for a YA age demographic.

For me, the actual story content was a bit mid as the more important or greater power of this book was in the representation.

I would still recommend this book to the target age demographic and older and intend on working through reading Parker's backlist books on my shelves.

I love when a book I'm reading for the first time makes me nostalgic for another era of my life, and Come Out, Come Out catapulted me back to being 16, discreetly buying queer books in order to better understand a part of myself that wasn't necessarily accepted. I just know that this book would've meant so much to that version of Liv.

While this is classified as horror, I found it less scary (as a bit of a wimp) because of how tied to societal issues the horror is. This is a really heartfelt book about accepting yourself when others around you won't accept you, the power of queer community (especially in less accepting places), and what it really means to love someone, yourself included. It is aptly named as it focuses on the coming out of our two main characters, who are both queer people--one nonbinary and bi, the other a lesbian, both need to come out to themselves and the world. The coming out and acceptance of oneself is the meat of this book and I found it to be quite emotional. The horror aspects were done in a way that enhanced the story too. I think going into it pretty blind is the best way to approach this book because the characters themselves are starting out pretty blind, but I really loved this one and found it to be incredibly heartfelt. I'd recommend this to anyone, but especially recommend if you're queer and have been/are still in a place that is keeping you in the closet.

OMG??? I have literally never read a book like this before. It was both horrifying and uncomfortable in the way that it was meant to be. I loved the way this book presented the messages being shared with this, it was such a creative way to approach the concept of coming out. I do wish we got deeper character connections, but overall I loved this book.

The cover and synopsis of Come Out, Come Out instantly grabbed my attention, and once I started reading, I was hooked. The pacing is a bit of a slow burn at first, but once the story picks up, I was thoroughly invested. It’s one of those books where the suspense and mystery build steadily until you're on the edge of your seat.

What really stood out to me was the representation. As a YA horror novel, it could have easily leaned into the genre's typical tropes, but Parker did something special here. The themes of self-acceptance and embracing others are woven through the story so thoughtfully. It’s a fresh and important perspective in the horror genre, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community.

The message about acceptance, both of yourself and others, is powerful and resonates long after you’ve turned the last page. Come Out, Come Out is not just a great read for horror fans, but for anyone looking for a book that balances thrilling moments with real meaning. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good horror story with depth and heart.

This book wasn’t much of what I was expecting, I wish there was more too it. I felt like the middle and ending could have had more to it. I think it was just bland and could figure out what was going to happen.

This book is technically YA, but I would honestly recommend that adults read it, too. I really liked this book and the way it addresses homophobia, identity, and friendship. I was invested in each character's POV and their strong character developments throughout the book. Along with their personal LGBTQIA+ identity journeys, I liked the urban myth plot that was intertwined and how it all came together in the end. Such a great book, and I'd 100% recommend it to everyone!!

This was a pretty unique book, pretty different than the typical YA horror. It kept me reading, the characters were well depicted, and overall I enjoyed this book!

I liked the idea of the horror component more than the reality. The story was gut wrenching enough thinkinking how badly Fern’s mother treated them without needing that layer. I think this was a really done story of self discovery against parental/ religious disapproval.

This was an interesting ya dark academia, but it just didnt work out for me. I couldn't get hooked to continue reading, and I'm sad because really had high hopes for this.

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker had a lot of potential, especially with its themes of queerness, identity, and friendship, but for me, the pacing and storyline just didn’t hit the mark.

The representation in this book is really well done, and I loved how it explored the characters’ struggles with their identities, especially in a world that constantly forces them to hide. The friendship between Fern, Jaq, and Mallory felt real and important, and the way they sought refuge in the woods was a powerful symbol of finding safety in each other. It’s the kind of representation I want to see more of in YA, and that was definitely a standout for me.
That being said, the pacing felt off and I struggled with the flow of the story. There were parts that dragged, especially in the buildup, and by the time the twists started to hit, I found it hard to stay invested. The ghostly haunting and the suspense around Mallory’s death didn’t fully grip me like I hoped it would.

Overall, while the representation was great and the message about embracing queerness and found family is powerful, the pacing and storyline didn’t quite work for me. I’d give it around 2.5/5 stars—definitely some good moments, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

This was a surprisingly dark story of transphobia, homophobia and child abuse, but it's also really hopeful, and has constant moments of light to get through the dark ones. It's made clear at the start of the story that Jaq, Mallory and Fern are Queer - but five after only two of them emerge from the forest, they seem to be living straight, cis lives, leaving the reader to puzzle out what happened.

The vibe often reminded me of Grease, the relationships and dated ideas mimicking the musical Fern is particpating in, in the story. The horror elements are frequent, and I liked how well balanced the story overall was, I really grew to love the characters and I was devastated by some of the events in the ending. There was one moment I felt was a little too tied up neatly that lost a star, but overall I loved this.

This book was amazing, and the horror elements were done quite well and created a strong sense of suspense. At times the book felt too real, as the elements of conversion therapy, and hiding being queer. It reminded me of my teen years when I was still figuring out myself. The book was masterful.

2024 had a lot of great Queer horror books, COME OUT, COME OUT included. This story had a lot of real moments, a lot of dark moments, but somehow it also highlighted a lot of hope and positivity if you looked for it. Interesting and good read!

This book was just not for me and I'll be DNFing it - it doesn't really have anything to do with the author. I was approved for this request and I'm not a horror reader, so the characters and plot didn't really work for me. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

I loved this book! It perfectly captures the eerie vibe of towns that aren’t quite right. Jaq and Fern, former best friends, are drawn back together after Mallory’s disappearance and a haunted house in the woods stirs up old memories. A fantastic queer YA horror!

Before I start, I do want to warn readers: This book contains some major religious trauma, specifically related to queerness and conversion therapy. It's an emotionally taxing book, so be sure to check the triggers and take care of your health.

With that said, this is an important book. It's terrifying because it's so real. The setting and the atmosphere and the paranormal elements certainly added to the horror elements, but what really made it horrifying was the elements of reality. The religious trauma, the conversion therapy, it all made it deeply unsettling and deeply emotional.

I gave this a 3.5 rounded up. I thought the representation of the lgbtqia community was beautifully done.

3.5 but rounded down. i loved the characters and the writing was lovely. i also loved the representation of lgbt kids and struggling with homophobia not just at home but in the town you live in and how to navigate that. i just felt the overall message of the book was getting pounded into me way too much way too often when it was very obvious from the beginning.

This was a horror but didn’t feel horrorish. Atleast not boo scary but more so social horror. When the memories from the girls started to come back it lured me and i couldn’t wait to find out what Happened.