Member Reviews

This book had a veery important message and it was interesting to read from character's perspectives who are going though such tough and intricate journeys. I do think the metaphor of coming out of the house, while simultaneously trying to come out to their families and accept themselves as who they are was a little heavy handed and obvious. I wish that this was done with a little more nuance and subtlety but an interesting concept nonetheless.

I haven't read many stories featuring a genderfluid character, so i appreciated being able to see a little more inside their head. I think that the message is important, i just wish the execution was a little more gripping. It felt a little bit like i was reading too much of a memoir, and not enough of an actual fiction story.

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A 5 star Horror for me. I typically don't have any issue reading horror but this one freaked me out. It had JUST enough paranormal going on that I was scared half the time. This book touched on a LOT of heavy topics related to identity and queer-ness. SO MUCH homophobia so PLEASE check triggers! That being said, this was the top horror of the year for me so far. I loved the relationships, the found family, the gore. It kept me guessing. There were twists that I didn't see coming, which for a YA, I feel like, is super rare. I enjoyed this SO MUCH!

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I really enjoyed this story of two teens coming to accept themselves and choosing to be who they are even in the face of hardship and rejection from others. I loved that that the horror elements of the novel had real meaning and significance in their connection to the very real horrors faced by queer teens every day. I do think the more traditional horror aspects fell a bit flat and weren't as built up/suspenseful as they should have been, but I was ok with being pulled in a more emotional/thoughtful direction with the other themes, and enjoyed the journey the characters went on.
Thank you Penguin Teen for this ARC.

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Coming out can be scary, but Natalie C . Parker makes it a horrifying experience! If you grew up reading Scary Stories to tell not the Dark , you will love this book !

The story tells us about a group of girls that are trying to unlock lost memories . Their friend was said to runaway , but they’re not quite sure . I love that the author gives us different queer representations , and the different issues individuals may encounter.

The girls are desperate to be accepted and remember there is a said entity that can help them … so they think …

Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a story that has a bit blood and coming to age .

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I really wanted to love this book. It has such a good concept and the title/cover art is amazing. Unfortunately I DNF’ed at around 25%. The writing wasn’t doing it for me. The story starts out in a very intense moment that we, the reader, learns is in the past after we manage to get through some chapters talking about auditioning for a musical. I was pulled out of the story really fast when it became clear that the action was going to slow down from there. There were a few jump scare moments that happened after that point but they felt predictable and not all that scary. There were also too many secondary characters introduced all at once. I found myself not caring who anyone was and hoping we’d get back to the action sooner. I was going to try to push through but found that once I hit the bonfire scene and the moments after that I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen and didn’t care to keep pushing through the story to see if I was right. I might not have been the right reader for this but I am sad because I was looking forward to a solid queer YA horror book. During to not completing the book I will not be posting review to Goodreads, StoryGraph, or Amazon as this does not feel fair to the book or author. Thank you for this ARC.

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I always appreciate a good YA horror and this one delivered. It was written really well which is the most important aspect of a good book to me. The storyline kept me invested throughout the book. Lastly the characters were interesting to read about and it was fun to see where they would end up at the end.

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This book was so magical and beautiful. In our world right now this is what we need a book that fights for acceptance of all. Also loved that it was a paranormal style book and have you seen the cover that's beautiful. This was a lot of story to take in but also super easy to read and get lost in if that makes sense. I loved this book so much and I want to give this to some of my friends when its published.

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This book was a very quick read, and hit on some very heavy topics. I don't think I could give this book a proper review, but I will definitely recommend as a must read book. 3.75

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I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker is a third person multi-POV YA Queer horror. Former friends Fern and Jaq haven’t spoken in five years, since the death of their friend Mallory. Only, they don’t even remember they used to be friends or what happened the night Mallory died. When they finally start getting their memories back, they remember more than their friendship; they can finally voice that they are Queer.

A major theme of the story is ‘coming out’ and how so many people are not safe enough to do so. With a Pacific Northwest setting in a high school, spaces you’d think would be more progressive, Mal, Fern, and Jaq are in a Queerphobic community that has forced them into the closet for years. Mallory’s death isn’t really commented on by the community anymore but they do make note of when a student is kicked out by his parents for coming out as Queer. Katelyn, their classmate, came out as a lesbian in middle school and is the most openly ‘out’ character in the book and the very reason that Jaq, Mal, and Fern started becoming friends as the closested Queer kids in class.

Another running theme is the ‘gay awakening.’ When Fern and Jaq start getting their memories back, they call it ‘waking up’ and it does feel like they came out of a long dream that was dragging them down. Fern starts to accept their feelings for Katelyn and starts to figure out their gender identity (genderfluid) while we get flashbacks of Jaq and Mal’s first love and Jaq starts falling for a new girl in town named Devyn. Jaq is held back by her religious parents and her long-term boyfriend while Fern is unsure how to discuss things with their well-meaning but stuck-in-the-binary thinking mother.

Fern comes from a theater-loving family and gets the role of Sandy in the senior musical but Katelyn gets the role of Danny during the gender-blind casting. Originally, Fern was jealous because Katelyn would get all of the attention until they came to terms with wanting the role of Danny because it gave them a way to explore their gender. As someone who is also non-binary, I really related to Fern using the arts to explore their gender and I know other people who have done the same. It’s very common and will allow a lot of teens to see themselves in Fern.

Content warning for depictions of Queerphobia, brief depictions of self-harm, and religious trauma.

I would recommend this to readers looking for YA Queer horror where the horror has a lighter touch and fans of horror exploring the trauma of coming out

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"Come Out, Come Out" by Natalie C. Parker is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity and friendship. The story revolves around Mallory, who mysteriously disappears, setting off a gripping search led by her friends Jaq and Fern. As they delve into Mallory's disappearance, they uncover hidden truths about themselves and the shared secret that binds them. Parker skillfully combines a touch of speculative fiction with contemporary issues, creating a richly detailed world that enhances the narrative. The characters are well-developed, with Jaq and Fern’s personal journeys adding depth to the story. The novel’s emotional resonance is heightened by the characters’ complex relationships and their struggle to reconcile their identities with the secrets they hold. "Come Out, Come Out" stands out for its compelling storytelling and insightful exploration of friendship and self-discovery.

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So So good. I don't know if I was looking for a horror book about queer girls who are haunted by an evil spirit who forces them to live a straight life but here we are. Some parts had me crying, some had me smiling and altogether left an incredibly moving read about living one's most authentic self.

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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. If youre a horror fan but also like books with real meaning, then this one is for you. This book sends out a really important message regarding acceptance, not only of yourself but of others, specifically in the LGBTQ+ community. Not only was it horror in the scary Paranormal sense, but also in the real life sense of not being accepted by your family and community. It also sends out strong messages of friendship, family, and love. There are many important things to take away from this novel. I'm not going to get deep into them as I think this is an important one to read for yourself. I'm rating this 4 stars as while I did overall enjoy this book, the beginning was a bit slow for me and I struggled a little but to get into it. Once the story picks up though, I flew through the rest. I'm really glad I gave this one a go.

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"Come Out, Come Out" by Natalie C. Parker is a compelling and evocative tale that masterfully blends elements of suspense and self-discovery. The narrative follows its protagonist as they navigate the complexities of identity, acceptance, and the courage to reveal one's true self in a world that often resists change. Parker's prose is both lyrical and gripping, drawing readers into an emotional journey that is as much about personal growth as it is about unraveling a mystery. The characters are richly developed, their struggles and triumphs resonating with authenticity and heart. This book is a poignant exploration of the themes of love, fear, and the relentless pursuit of one's truth, making it a standout read in contemporary fiction.

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I wanted to love this and at times, did. It had great themes represented throughout and beautiful metaphorical layers. However, the actual “horror” aspect didn’t hit for me.,

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This book surprised me in a good way! Well written and great representation. I always say I don't like thrillers until I read one and say this was amazing. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded. I liked the alternating points of view. Overall, it was an exciting read and I'm interested in reading more from Natalie!

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firstly, i want to thank netgalley and the publishing company for granting me a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review. always so, so grateful everytime i get accepted for one.

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i want to start by mentioning that overall, i love the way the author wrote the struggles the queer community faces when it comes to homophobia. homophobia has many different forms and faces. there's subtle homophobia, internal homophobia and then sometimes people are uneducated about what they're saying and don't realise that the words slipping from their lips are indeed homophobic.

there's so many little intricate details in this book that i'm grateful for how the lgbtqia+ community is shown within the margins of this book.

let's get to what the reasoning is behind my rating.

while i loved the concept of this book i feel like it was executed in an interesting way. it started out super slow and was very character driven, which often times i do love in a book. especially if we're setting a scene or for instance in a fantasy book and we're describing intricate world building.

however, i this moved at a very slow pace and didn't start to truly pick up and get to the 'horror' aspect until the last few pages which felt rushed.

come out, come out is a fantastic title and if you read this book you will find out why.

come out, come out is about three teenagers that venture into a dark forest one night for fun (not my idea of fun. if i can't see, it ain't for meeee!) and when they come out agan, only two of them ventured back into the light. however, the two that went into the forest and came back out have no recollection of the events that transpired when they were in the forest--which is super intriguing.

the two character's that escape from the forest live in a relatively homophobic town where everyone knows everyone, no secret is truly a secret and this is where the play on words with come out, come out comes in. however, i will let you figure that out for yourself.

do i still reccommend this book? absolutely. it's a coming of age that discusses many topics that are discussed within the queer community. i must mention that although this is labelled as a 'horror' book and i saw someone compare it to the writings of andrew joseph white--it is not what i would label as horror and no where near the level of andrew's writing. this 'horror' i would suggest to someone that isn't big on reading scary sorts of stories and it's perhaps their first one.

again, i would like to thank netgalley and the publishing company for extending me a copy og this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the E-ARC!

I loved this read. The cover and description got me first and then it really delivered on it’s promises. This one had horror vibes and a foreboding sense of haunting supernatural entities but also complex and in depth exploration of characters journeys with self-acceptance, coming of age, and coming out. The representation was diverse and well done, I loved the characters and I loved how varied the levels of acceptance the side characters showed at the end. The book was well written and kept me hooked all the way through. The double meanings and metaphorical journey worked so well to show how queerness is treated when religion is used as a weapon. I will definitely be picking this one up when it comes out.

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Perfect for fans of Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle.

Not all stories are happy and not all stories are sad - this is one that is just “real”. There is pain, acceptance, exploration, desire, dreams, loss, fear, ever after, and the unknown - all of which makes this a great story.

Full of great moments and characters it takes you back to High School and not knowing what to do when your life is mapped out for you…and when it is not a life you want.

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love the title 😉

This story is deep it dive in the difficulty of a queer identity in a not so well society in a small town. There’s a lot of trauma and courage playing into this.
also like how the characters get into they own true friendships and identities as they get older.

The horror elements was interesting. Evil spirits granting them wishes. It could be more better.




Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House for the early arc. 🫶🏻

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"Come Out, Come Out" by Natalie C. Parker is a chilling and heartfelt dive into the complexities of queer identity set against a backdrop of supernatural horror that will leave you breathless. This book masterfully weaves a tale of fear and self-discovery, spotlighting the trauma and courage of queer teens in a world that often demands they hide who they are. The story of Fern and Jaq's struggle with their identities and the haunting specter of their past is both spine-tingling and profoundly moving. Parker's ability to blend real-life horrors with ghostly terror is unparalleled, creating a narrative that is as much about confronting inner demons as it is about battling otherworldly ones. If you're a fan of Kayla Cottingham or Ryan La Sala, you'll find "Come Out, Come Out" impossible to put down—this is modern YA horror at its best, with an important message about the power of friendship and the courage to live your truth. 🌈👻📚

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