It's spooky season and I am here for all the queer horror stories. This was more about real life horror, living in a small, homophobic town with unsupportive parents and having to play a part to survive. There are paranormal parts and I wish they'd played a larger role, but I still found this intense and a bit scary at times.

I really enjoyed this book, the representation of sexuality and gender identity as a horrific monster was one so eye opening to those who are dealing with trying to find themselves and also very sad to know that there are children, young adults and adults that are dealing with this on a regular basis. I could never imagine shunning my own child because they are trying to figure out who they are, and loving who they love. I loved the horror aspect of this book and the creepy, unsettling vibe throughout the entire story. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker is a captivating exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of friendship in a contemporary setting. The narrative follows a group of teens as they navigate their personal truths and relationships, emphasizing the importance of acceptance and understanding. Parker’s writing is poignant and engaging, skillfully capturing the struggles and triumphs of coming out. With its relatable characters and heartfelt moments, this book resonates deeply with readers, making it a must-read for anyone seeking stories of love and self-discovery.

I had high hopes for this book but I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it either I just kinda feel eh about it. I love the lqbtqia+ representation and how the other shows some struggles that often come with being queer. However I found myself kinda bored throughout the story. You start by being introduced to Fern and Jaq then you find out they had a friend named Mallory who “ran away”. They don’t remember the night she went missing, but Fern and Jaq were with her that night. The only thing they remember is going into the woods. As the story progresses they start to remember bits and pieces of things that they had forgotten.
I feel like this lacked the horror element I was looking for.

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker was a brilliant portrayal of a real-life horror to which some young people are subjected. The supernatural element was used cleverly to amplify the terror they faced. In reality, being queer for some can be a life-or-death situation.
Some reviewers mentioned that the book was a little light on the horror aspect, and although I can see their point, I believe the entire story was so well-balanced between the real and the mystical. The mystery of what happened to the girls in the woods immediately captured my attention. The story that unfolded is significant to the queer community. At the heart of this tale is the power of being true to oneself in the face of unmitigated fear and hate, often perpetuated by the conservative religious community. Sadly, some young people under the control of their parents aren't afforded this freedom. The importance of unconditional love and acceptance to our mental health cannot be understated. This book evoked a range of emotions and was thought-provoking. It stuck with me long after the final page.
Please note the trigger warnings stated by the author. 
The character development and setting descriptions, as well as the exploration of the roles of family, church, and community in the lives of the main characters, were so well done. It was immersive. 
I am sorry for those who have had to face these trials in their lives and for those who haven't. I recommend reading about them so that you can better support those who have. 
The ending was bittersweet, as we grieve, and also find hope for the future. 
I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading more by Natalie C. Parker. This is probably one of my favorite books of the year.
#foundfamily #dysfunctionalfamily #religiouspersecution #oppression #horror #homophobia #familyrejection #theater # actor #artist #pansexual #gay #queer #leabian #nonbinary #genderfluid #Washington

A rollercoaster of emotions!
A brilliant story with strong theme about trauma and persevering through it.
A group of girls suffer a traumatic event that comes to haunt them years later. I won’t spoil too much for those looking to add new titles to their spooky season TBR but I will gladly say that if you wanted a I Know What You Did Last Summer type book, grab this one.

This was horrifying-both in the haunting and in the fraught relationships these teens deal with due to their sexuality. Queer horror is often so reflective of society and this book is not different. I especially loved Fern and her tenacity. This was a perfect read to get into the spooky season.

Come Out, Come Out
Natalie C. Parker

This engrossing novel is the exact kind of book I wish existed when I was a queer kid in the 90's, obsessed with horror, desperately searching for characters that I could connect with ... Stories that I could identify with ... And ones where I could hear echoes of my own experiences.

Come Out, Come Out (GREAT queer horror title) is a book that's heavy with heart. It's a novel that brought with it a lot of nostalgia.

I wasn't expecting a YA horror novel to have so much to say ... A story about finding your voice ... finding family in those who love and accept you for exactly who you are ... and learning to accept yourself, and become comfortable in your own skin ...

A really beautifully told queer horror novel ... One I'm really grateful exists ... for all the queer kids looking to see themselves in the stories they escape into.

4.75 / 5

Natalie C. Parker's Come Out, Come Out is queer horror excellence. Perfect read for that teen in your life who prefers spooky atmospheric tales. Parker's talent in depicting an in-depth look at the struggles one experiences at a time when who you are is not what it seems truly lifts this story above the rest. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This queer horror YA novel by Natalie C. Parker is already a hit with my students! Taking life as a queer teen in an oppressive, conservative small town and using the horror genre to show just how difficult that life is works extremely well. In addition, the characters are complex and well-developed; the writing is vivid and beautiful; and the heart (surprisingly) strong. Highly recommend!

This is the exact kind of book secretly queer 16 year old me absolutely needed - I loved every single second of it and will definitely be recommending it

Oh the plot complexity, relatable characters. When it is so difficult for you but so easy for others.
I loved the concept of erased memories of Mallory - eerie and definitely built the sinister aspect.
Jaq and Fern have avoided each other for years - with a weird tingle. After the woods grants their memories, they struggle to maintain their hetero lives. And what happened to Mal?
A very complex plot, cruel reality and great tension between love interests.

"Come Out, Come Out" is a haunting and beautifully crafted YA horror that intertwines the themes of queer identity and friendship with spine-tingling supernatural elements. Written with both sensitivity and a sharp edge, this novel follows Fern and Jaq, two teens who have spent years hiding their true selves and their painful past in the wake of a tragic event that left their friend Mallory missing.

The narrative skillfully oscillates between past and present, revealing how the trauma of their childhood—marked by both friendship and fear—shapes their lives as seniors on the brink of adulthood. The emotional depth of Fern and Jaq’s experiences is palpable, capturing the fear and isolation that often accompany queer identities, especially in unaccepting environments. The abandoned house in the woods serves as a powerful symbol of both refuge and dread, a place where secrets fester and the past refuses to stay buried.

As the story unfolds, the chilling appearance of Mallory’s spirit serves as a catalyst for the protagonists to confront their past and the dark truths they've buried. The gradual unraveling of memories not only heightens the tension but also fosters a poignant exploration of self-acceptance and the complexities of love. The way the haunting forces Fern and Jaq to rediscover their identities and desires is both thrilling and deeply moving.

The author does a remarkable job of addressing the systemic erasure of LGBTQIA+ identities while wrapping it in a captivating horror narrative. The friendships in the novel are beautifully rendered, showcasing the strength and resilience found in found family, and emphasizing that the true monsters often lie within societal structures rather than the supernatural realm.

The prose is evocative, creating a rich atmosphere that immerses readers in both the beauty and the terror of the woods, while the horror elements are deftly woven into the fabric of the characters' lives. This is modern horror at its best—where the emotional stakes are as high as the supernatural threats.

In summary, "Come Out, Come Out" is a powerful exploration of queer identity wrapped in a spine-tingling tale of terror. It resonates with anyone who has ever felt the need to hide who they are and reminds us of the strength found in truth, love, and friendship. This novel is a must-read for fans of LGBTQIA+ literature and horror alike, delivering a poignant message that will linger long after the final page. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for letting me read an advanced copy!

I will always appreciate and respect a book with content warnings. Especially one that covers such heavy topics within the horror genre.

Something I liked throughout my read was the balance of horror in the supernatural sense as well as the characters personal lives, and how that carried out towards the end in terms of support given to each other. Fern and Jaq went through some messed up things and the way they handled remembering Mal and such key points in their lives only to have to pretend to still be the same person was such a rough thing to read.

The pacing took a while to get into, which wasn't helped by my kindle formatting. the balance was well done for the most part but towards the end, things felt rushed when they decided to try and learn more about what happened to Mal. I get that they were both trying to figure out how to survive knowing two versions of themselves in such an evil town, yet the consistent avoidance of that pushed things in an odd pace. Though I did like the contrast of the character endings, where they both get to be more themselves with different results that doesn't surround itself around a spooky house.

"A rose is a rose is a rose. ... But even a common rose has thorns."

Thank you Penguin Teen for an eARC to review.

This book was a wild and creepy ride. It also was very current with what is currently going on with the political climate, which makes me so sad that people are not allowed to be themselves.

This book follows Jaq, Fern, and Mallory as they process through being queer in a town where that "isn't allowed". The three friends are exploring their identities as they enter high school, but when Mallory's parents see her kissing a girl and they plan to send her away their world is about to change.

I really enjoyed how the author traversed Fern exploring their identity throughout the book as they regained their memories about what happened in the woods that fateful day. The author switched back and forth between pronouns as Fern switched back and forth between remembering themselves- and honestly it was really cool. It helped me feel like I was in the characters head a little bit as they processed.

The concept of this book was heartbreaking and unfortunately a realistic truth for some kids as they want to come out to their friends and family. I loved that as the characters regained their memories they started trying to live and speak their truth, but the Patron wouldn't let them (such a scary concept). The side characters were also a really big component of the characters learning to be themselves. Frank's diner made me so happy.

If you like horror books I would definitely check this one out.

I absolutely love haunted house stories. Adding that this is a queer young adult book just makes it better. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will be looking out for more work from this author. We need more YA horror!

I really wanted to like this one but I unfortunately did not. To be completely honest, it’s just so boring.

In a split moment everything changes for two teens, when a night at a party ends up in the woods. Two people who barely know each other have their minds ripped open and realize that nothing is as it seems and they have lost five years of identity, self-ness, and their own friendship…never mind the third person of their triad. Where is Mal?

I have so much I want to say and I’m going to try and do it without giving anything away. Come Out, Come Out in many ways is a realistic horror book. What does this mean for the reader? Be prepared for face-to-face collisions with homophobia, transphobia, conversion therapy, famial abuse, and bullying. Natalie C. Parker not only throws the light on, but invites the very boogie man of every rainbow’s nightmare out into Fern, Jaq, Mal, and others’ lives and does not let up.

Then we have the fantasy horror aspect of the book and the ghosting intersectionality of homophobia through the years and how it infects, never lets up, and grows insiduously. Yeah, don’t go into the woods kids…just don’t. Also, “Hello!!! Listen to every word of every nursery rhyme before singing or speaking it!!!!!” (smh)

I will say that even though this story is a thriller, it is also about the power of friendship. The bonds that are formed and don’t let go. For me, I think everyone needs a Mal in their life. She is just pure fire. I love her. Her humor is contagious and I was laughing out loud. She’s a fighter even when everything is stacked against her. As I’m typing this I’m crying because she is just that amazing. She is someone I want as a friend right now in this world going crazy and you don’t know whether to go back in the closet or not. Mal, for me, has come along at just the right time.

Yes, there are other main characters (chuckle). Each of them are on their own path and it is not easy. My heart hurt so bad at times and I also cheered so hard with each success. There are some romances going on too. So freaking sweet and thoughtful are the romantic partners that you can’t help but root for everyone. I will say that Devyn makes my heart thump too and that Jaq definitely has a type (chuckle).

I simply love this book because of the friendships. It hurts to read the horror aspect, but it’s written so well you can’t stop reading. This was a read in one-go for me. Come Out, Come Out is perfect for the spooky season because it’s a nightmare come to life.

I really liked this book for what it was but I think I just went in expecting it to be more scary? It was quite slow in the beginning but once I got to know the characters, I was pretty invested! I think this was a great look at the difficulty of coming out as a teen while also being surrounded by people that are unsupportive. It was also a great story of found family and learning to love and accept yourself and the people around you! I think the twist of the mystery was really impactful and I very much didn’t expect it but it was perfect for the story! So definitely one I recommend but don’t go into it expecting scary horror!

This book truly surprised me in how invested I was as I kept turning the pages. it is beautiful, tragic, reflective, and hopeful in terms of finding your true family.

COME OUT, COME OUT tackles very sensitive topics for those who are queer and trapped in unsafe environments. Its realism in religious extremism shows how even though there has been a lot of progress in the more recent decades, there are still plenty of bigots who weaponize religion and refuse to accept the identities of their loved ones.

I loved how Natalie C. Parker personifies this hatred through the past events which left the two surviving characters forgetful of what occurred five years prior to the beginning of the story. Parker also does a great job of making it easy for readers to comprehend the horror scenes since that is something many people, myself included, tend to struggle with.

This is a true five-star read for me!