This story takes the very real great fear of coming out due to homophobic Christianity and turns it into a thriller book about 3 girls who are not what their parents want them to be. The beginning starts with the two main girls completely forgetting their friend and only knowing that they knew of her and that she was troubled and ran away. Then one day they start to remember the way they were before. This book kept me turning the pages

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I haven't read a YA book with people in high-school in a while so I was hesitant, but a queer horror sold me on starting it. When I tell you I was scared, I mean I didn't want to change my laundry at night because I was scared to get out of my bed!! The love stories with each character are so cute, and the parents are believebly horrendous. Definitely recommend!

Natalie C. Parker's "Come Out, Come Out" is a compelling and haunting novel that masterfully intertwines themes of identity, friendship, and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly tranquil small town, the story follows Fern and Jaq, two seniors who have spent years burying their true selves and the traumatic events of their past.

Parker’s writing shines in her portrayal of Fern and Jaq's journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The characters are richly developed, their internal struggles and evolving identities depicted with nuance and sensitivity. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationships, both with each other and with the ghost of Mallory, whose tragic fate becomes a catalyst for their transformation.

The novel's eerie atmosphere is beautifully rendered, with the abandoned house in the woods serving as a chilling metaphor for the secrets and fears that Fern and Jaq have hidden away. Parker's descriptions are vivid and immersive, drawing readers into a world where the past and present collide in unsettling and unexpected ways.

"Come Out, Come Out" is not just a ghost story; it’s a powerful commentary on the societal pressures that force individuals to conform and suppress their true selves. Parker boldly addresses the erasure of gay, queer, and trans identities, providing a narrative that is both a critique of these oppressive systems and a celebration of the resilience and strength found in friendship and chosen family.

This novel is a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing one’s true identity and the transformative power of confronting the past. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a story that is both deeply moving and thought-provoking. Natalie C. Parker has crafted a dark, yet ultimately hopeful tale that will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.

This was excellent. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. The plot was a little bit unrealistic at times, but definitely worth reading.

♡ Queer Horror
♡ Self-Acceptance
♡ Angst with a Happy Ending

I’m so happy to have read this. The hype was even better than I was expecting. The way this story was told was really enjoyable and the queerness was so fantastic in this book.

I loved how all the flashbacks to past memories were written and the character development was great. Seeing how the lines of reality and the horror aspect blurred—the main characters knowing they were different than the expectations their parents shoved at them and the main characters unlocking their past as they tried to avoid the nightmare of what their futures could be—it was written so well. It was tense and definitely angst with a happy ending vibe for sure.

This book touches on some topics such as religious bigotry, homophobia/lesbianphobia throughout, and several mentions of conversion therapy. It’s not pretty to read at some parts but it was written so well! The self-acceptance that finally took over near the ending felt so satisfying. It showed how the main characters became more themselves as the story progressed, finally fighting for their best life… quite literally.

A very well-done look at queer teenagers settling into their identities and learning how to defend themselves, particularly against their own families and a rigid religious community. I also loved how it deconstructed "the closet." This is often the first "safe space" a queer person has, but how safe is it when the lie festers within us and touches every part of our lives?

Some of the vibes reminded me of Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus with the religious trauma and conversion camp horror. This is more of a coming-of-age YA than horror, though, and I could've used more scares. That said, I finished reading this at midnight and the sounds of my house shifting started to frighten me. I'm apparently a baby with creepy stuff.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before publication on Aug 27 2024. Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker.
YA Horror about Queer/Trans Teens dealing with their coming out/realization of who they are! Something happened to their friend Mallory 5 years ago and Fern and Jaq completely lose memory of it and their lives are changed because of the Patron Saint of the woods. Mal's ghost isn't going to lie down and take it and wants her friends to remember who they are.
Lovely story of friendship and coming out even though it wasn't all roses with their families. Fern the beautiful curly-haired blonde who feels she is stuck in the wrong body and is better playing Danny Zuko in the Grease School Musical instead of Sandy and Jaq who shared her first kiss with Mal realizes she is more attracted to women instead of her boyfriend John.
Was slow in some parts and a bit back and forth in time period but it was well paced, easy read, and earmarked with which time you were in when reading. Will definitely read more from this author.

This was super far fetched but kind of tied together in the end?? I’m not a huge fantasy person but i can tolerate it in doses and even though this was pretty fantastical it didn’t bother me that much.

a thing that happens when i write reviews is i criticize an aspect and realize it’s like that on purpose and actually pretty genius so the character development actually made a lot of sense for this.

i feel like in queer ya there’s two romance tropes which are : mysterious new girl love interest (my favorite example this year is girls night by i.s. belle) or rival turned crush (i have read two of these in the past two days) and sure enough these are the tropes for the two main characters. as usual i prefer preexisting chemistry and thought the rivals to lovers storyline was much less rushed and had better chemistry.

also love the title. overall had an average experience reading this. liked but didn’t love. it did have to overcome a lot of my harsh criteria for acceptable ya, especially as a fantasy which it did so that is impressive.

I am in love with this book! It has such a unique but timeless horror element involved throughout! There are some really important topics covered throughout ranging from talking about dysphoria to homophobia. It had some great representation throughout!

YA vibes + creepy PNW ambience + multiple POV + multiple timelines + horrible parents + found family

Three friends went into the woods, and only two came out. Five years later, Fern and Jaq are merely acquaintances with no recollection of that night. They're also struggling to accept and acknowledge their true selves in their conservative, homophobic small town.

But suddenly, they're forced to reckon with it all — what happened to them that night, why they can't remember, and who they really are. Told across two timelines and three POVs, this book delves into the challenges LGBTQ+ youth experience and how it can be its own sort of horror.

I wouldn't personally classify this book as horror, though, so much as true-to-life YA with supernatural elements. That said, I did get sucked into the spookiness, especially reading late at night. I love a good atmospheric creepy-woods tale, especially when it's set in the Pacific Northwest. A fairly fast-moving, easy read, it was hard to put down. When I reached the end, I had mixed feelings; I won't spoil anything here, but suffice it to say I both appreciated the ending and wanted more creep factor.

A few small quibbles:
—While I understand the town was highly religious, it's still the Pacific Northwest in, presumably, present day. Some of the parents' actions and mindsets felt very not-of-this-time to me.
—I wanted more insight into the supernatural side of it all. We got a little, but not nearly enough to satisfy my craving for creepiness.

I loved this. Like thank you so much Netgalley. I enjoyed reading this and I can't wait for it to come out so I can buy it.

Come out, come out is another stunning five star YA queer horror read. I didn't even realize I was nearing the end of this book until it was over. I loved those character's journeys, and this book has a unique supernatural villain that quite literally forces queer people to be straight/cis. I liked seeing the support(despite some horrible parents) that the characters receive at the end and feel hopeful for them.

This was quite the book. I won’t lie, the beginning pages of it turned me off to a point where I almost DNF’ed it. Once I got past the first 20-25%, though, it became so much better. And it was refreshing to see this particular take on the possible pitfalls of revealing who you really are to people who are not going to support you.

Parents who are only concerned about what they’ll look like to others are not the type of parents that an LGBTQIA+ person should keep in their life. Remember: you can choose a new family for yourself. One that’s made up of support and love. And isn’t that much better than trying to stick with birth parents who refuse to accept you for who you are?

I’m gay and came out at the age of 14 (in 1992). My mother wasn’t a mom to me. I no longer talk to her, and my life is so much better as a result. Meanwhile, I know other LGBTQIA+ individuals who are still trying to keep their relationships alive with their parents, despite being treated like shit because of the way they were born. They’re constantly hurt by the actions of their parents. I feel badly for them, and I wish they could learn to prioritize their truth over their parents’ feelings. Because I’ve gotta tell you—you are the only person that will always be there. So, you really have to take care of yourself first.

This book brought me to tears by the end, but they were good tears.

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

This book was PHENOMENAL! I love that the difficulties of coming out was woven into a horror story. A lot of times, it can definitely feel like that! It just made sense to me as a bi woman who still can’t come out to her own family. There’s a lot of trauma involved in being under the rainbow umbrella, and this book perfectly captures that with allegory. It was a wonderful read and I loved the characters like I knew them personally! An amazing and heartfelt piece of art, kudos to the author for such a masterful story.

Oh, I loved this. The visceral description of choking on words or being trapped in outfits that suffocate was so very real- made my heart pound. I thought this was a lovely, chilling, taut, and meaningful book.

This story follows three characters. We get the perspective of two of them at the present and the third characters pov is three years prior to current events. I liked Fern and Jaq, I could see where a lot of their anxieties come from especially as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Mallory’s character felt underdeveloped and I felt she had the most potential in this story. While the book claims to be a spooky time only 5% of the book takes place in the haunted woods or gets tones of horror. A lot of of the story is navigating Fern and Jaq’s sexuality and the horrors of their conversation Christian families reactions. I did like how safe spaces are navigated in this book and how they can be just a mask and sometimes even more toxic than those places we seem as unforgiving. This will be publish on Fabel, Lemon8 and GoodReads 06/30/24 at 8:30 pm.

"Come Out, Come Out" dives into a world where societal pressures force three friends, Fern, Jaq, and Mallory, to hide their true selves. The abandoned house in the woods becomes their sanctuary, but a night of terror leaves Mallory gone and Fern and Jaq with a chilling amnesia.

Five years fast forward, these friends navigate seemingly normal lives until Mallory's vengeful spirit appears, forcing them to confront the past and the secrets they buried. As the haunting unfolds, memories resurface, revealing their true identities and desires.

This novel transcends the typical ghost story. The "delightfully dark" atmosphere underscores the harsh realities of a world that ostracizes LGBTQ+ individuals. The author challenges these systems, advocating for self-acceptance and the strength found in chosen families.

What the book does well:

Compelling characters: The characters' struggles for self-discovery resonate with readers. The haunting serves as a catalyst for their journeys towards authenticity.

Social commentary: The story cleverly weaves in a critique of societal norms that suppress LGBTQ+ identities.

Themes of friendship and found family: The power of chosen bonds provides emotional support and courage as the characters face their demons.

Potential areas of interest for readers:

Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with a supernatural twist.

Those who appreciate strong themes of friendship and self-discovery.

Fans of young adult fiction that tackles social issues.

Overall, "Come Out, Come Out" is a captivating and thought-provoking novel. It offers a hauntingly beautiful exploration of identity, wrapped in a suspenseful narrative.

I feel like this was more of a lgbtq+ coming of age story rather than a horror one. I think this book did a great job of navigating important topics, showing love, friendships, and found family. However, It felt a little rushed especially towards the end where the last 10-15% is just action packed. There was very little horror throughout and felt VERY YA to me.


I received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book from which so many people will benefit! As a straight-passing adult, I wish I had had this book in my conservative religious youth. Parker does an excellent job showing us her protagonists’ queer journeys, and the Patron was a delightful way to add a bit of a scary hook. I definitely want to look up the author’s other work now.

Ohhh very much up my alley this book!! Horror novel that the hype was real. Very interesting tale!!

10/10 recommend