Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Never thought I’d find myself crying for a slasher at the end of a book, but here we are.
Stephen Graham Jones, may your pillow always be cool. You can do no wrong in my book.

This is a truly special book. There is nothing else out there like it. Stephen Graham Jones brings his unique style to yet another nuanced and dimensional character that we can't help but connect with, even though he's technically the bad guy.

This was an interesting take on the classic "slasher" tale by Stephen Graham Jones.

I found it refreshing to see the friendship of Tolley, a good kid turned slasher, and his best friend Amber.

After nearly dying at a party at the hands of his bullies, Tolley is saved by a kid who was presumed dead years ago. He shows up and starts killing Tolley's bullies. During this, a drop of the killer's blood lands on Tolley, infecting him with the slasher motive.

I thought it was also interesting how the characters incorporated different tropes from slasher films into their planning process.

While there were many interesting things about the book, I felt as though some of it felt flat. I liked it but I just didn't love the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for this ARC.

Stephen Graham Jones can do no wrong. He doesn't need to keep convincing me of that, and yet, I'm eternally grateful he continues to try.

I Was a Teenage Slasher is a darkly twisted and thrilling exploration of revenge, guilt, and identity, all wrapped up in the bloody framework of a slasher story. Set in 1989 in the small town of Lamesa, Texas, the novel follows 17-year-old Tolly Driver, a good kid with big potential who’s about to be cursed to kill in a quest for vengeance. What makes this story stand out is that it’s told from Tolly’s perspective, and instead of being a victim or hero, he's the one doing the killing.

Jones pulls off a unique twist on the classic slasher formula. In this book, Tolly isn’t just a mindless killer—he’s a teenager trying to come to terms with a curse that forces him to carry out violent acts. It’s a fascinating journey into the mind of someone who’s trapped by forces beyond his control but also grappling with the choices that come with this power. The horror here isn’t just about the bloodshed (though there’s plenty of that), it’s about Tolly’s internal battle to find meaning in an unfair world. As usual, Jones perfects the mix of coming-of-age angst and slasher horror.

If you’re a fan of slasher films and love when a story flips expectations on their head, I Was a Teenage Slasher is a wild, bloody ride with surprising depth and soul. It’s a sharp and bloody take on growing up in a world that doesn’t seem to care about the underdog—except, in this case, the underdog is a killer.

This was a bit of a slog at first because it was slow as hell but it definitely got good about 80 pages in and it was a ride. It did something I wasn't expecting and basically showed the nature of turning into a serial killer as more of a curse or uncontrollable disease you catch that has no cure other than to complete the horror movies cycle with all of the tropes. I'm talking having a final girl, don't have sex, splitting up, a killer's seeming immunity to injuries and otherworldly stamina. All the things you see in books become a reality to those affected, regardless of if it's something they would never do. That's the nature of this affliction. It affects the newfound killer and the circle of people he must kill. It bends all of their actions and personalities. In short, the concept was COOL AS FUCK!!! It still has its slow moments but its more bearable due to these other elements. I'm glad I got to read this because I had no idea where this memoir style book was gonna go and I like where it went. It was a story well told, just make it past the setup and dryness of the first 80 pages and you're gucci.

Thanks for the arc netgalley! :)

As distinctive an authorial voice as Stephen Graham Jones has, the prose he executes in I Was a Teenage Slasher felt different so the adjustment period for me was even longer than usual getting into the story. Once I was in, however, I was completely compelled by Tolly Driver, our titular teenage slasher protagonist. Told from a first person perspective, the novel is equal parts horrifying and moving: from the inciting incident to the final showdown, Stephen Graham Jones plays with and in the genre he knows and loves so well, honoring it while pushing its boundaries, with the exploration of grief and loneliness in the midst of gore and violence of the slasher horror was so wonderfully balanced.

I really enjoyed the idea of the book. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and I wish there was more to the plot. The chapters were very long and I felt myself just wanting to finish the book just to finish it. Overall an okay read.

I have come to the conclusion that this author is not for me. This is the third book of his that I have not been able to finish. I have nothing bad to say about the writing. I just could not get into the story. I made it about 60 pages in before I lost interest.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e galley

In this ridiculous clever book, we follow a slasher who never intended to become one and wind up rooting for him to the end. I was shocked by how well this conceit worked for me, and I loved the Texas setting and could feel Jones’ connection to that place. It was palpable.

If you enjoy slasher films, especially those with a strong sense of place, you owe it to yourself to read this one!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing a prepub copy for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

This was an interesting take on the genre. It was moody and confusing and just really well done. Buddy reading this was a fun way to do this too so you could talk things out.

“Cartoon princesses have little birds that flit around them every morning, and whistle sweet nothings to greet the new day? Imagine what a slasher must wake to?”

It’s no secret that Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favorite authors, and this book just added to why. His ability to make a slasher book both horrifying and beautiful, gory and touching, horror and coming of age is next level genius.

Entirely from the point of view of reluctant, teenage, slasher Tolliver, this was incredibly unique and worked perfectly for this story. Experiencing the horror of what is happening, but also the emotions, love and friendships was a wonderful ride. Incredible.

While I was sad when this one was over, I cannot WAIT for his next historical horror, vampire novel. All of my favorite things.

It’s been a truly great year for SGJ fans between this one and The Angel of Indian Lake. I especially love that he wrote this one to clear his head between books 2 & 3 of the Indian Lake Trilogy. I really loved that this one was written in a confessional style, and it instantly made the underdog antihero protagonist relatable. SGJ is obviously incredible in incorporating slasher film tropes in his writing. But there was also so much heart in this one and I thought it went quite deep as it explored the dynamics in a small Texan town and felt really personal. Since it was set in ‘89, there were also a lot of nostalgic elements to this. While it’s easy to be reminded of Jade Daniels reading this one, Tolly stood strong on his own.

As for the audio, the confessional style worked so well as an audiobook and I really enjoyed how Michael Crouch captured the personality of Tolly. Things get pretty off the rails sometimes in this one and SGJ is always great at setting the scene and making it feel very cinematic. I personally love that on audio, but if it’s harder for you to visualize that on audio, you might want to opt for an eyeball read instead.

Jones skillfully weaves together humor and horror, exploring themes of identity, societal expectations, and the impact of media on youth culture. The narrative is both entertaining and thought-provoking, offering a fresh take on familiar tropes while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. With its clever writing and memorable characters, "I Was A Teenage Slasher" is a delightful read for fans of horror and coming-of-age stories alike.

I'm going to start suing Authors for emotional distress and damage

1989 small Texas town, teenage Tolly Driver was just trying to fit in. He had no idea that the events at a high school party would change his life, ending many others.'

This book was profoundly raw. The afterword mentions this is the closest to being autobiographical of all his books, and the detail and vulnerability really proves that true. I cried so many times during this book, but heavily throughout the ending. Tolly is one of the most heartbreaking characters I've ever read and I just wanted everything to be okay for him. He reminded me of myself as a teenager, grew up in a small country town, felt outside, complicated. The details made this book feel real and so, so sad. My new favorite from SGJ

DNF at 30%.

I tried physically reading the book. I tried listening to the audiobook. I cannot get into this book. It is hard for me to follow. It is a little random. It is written like a journal entry at times and I do not like the writing style or word selection.

I wanted to love this book, but I can’t get over the writing or into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to the ARC of this book. I truly appreciate the opportunity.

I Was A Teenage Slasher is the first book I have read by Stephen Graham Jones but I guarantee it won't be my last. I loved the way the story weaved between the current day and the 1980's when he became a slasher due to forces and events outside of his control. Tolly and Amber's relationship as they navigated his changes, the attacks and finding his Final Girl was a wonderful representation of friendship and unconditional love. The final pages had me in tears.

Stephen Graham Jones continues to deliver. This book is absolutely engaging. You get the story from the perspective of a serial killer/slasher. The first-person account is both chilling and enticing...as you weave your way through the world with the lens of a monster.
The pacing is a little clunky for the subgenre of horror Jones is writing...but it can be forgiven because of how enthralling and unique the writing style is.
Definitely recommend checking this one out.

Probably not as popular as Jade Daniels, but Tolly does the job! This one is definitely easier to follow along to than the mind of Jade, but that's Jade for you. I did enjoy this one although some parts did drag. It can be overwhelming when killers go back and forth on their timelines. It felt at times a bit confusing but I like SGJ beautiful mind regardless.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. It was exactly what I thought it would be going into it and nothing like it at the same time. The concept was interesting and the characters were great. The story overall followed along like a slasher movie, which I enjoy. I just... can't put on finger on it. I wanted to love it so much, but i found myself see how much was left until it was over. maybe it was the prose? everything flowed and with all these positive elements you'd think I'd have a higher rating, but i can't bring myself to give more three stars. It was a good story, but not great.

Stephen Graham Jones is one of, if not my favorite, horror author today. I say this at the start of every review to set expectations because I feel his Goodreads ratings are criminally low. If you like THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS or MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, this will be right up your alley.

I always appreciate the clear love Jones has for slashers and how he incorporates different elements and references into each of his works; this book is no different and in fact may rely on some of these tropes and devices more than his other titles. It's another slow burn, as are most of his novels, but the twist and climax are heart-pounding in a way I've come to expect from Jones. Another winner to me!