A love letter to slashers! Stephen Graham Jones does it again. Teenage Slasher films are my favorite so when I saw what SGJ’s new book was about, I knew I had to request it. It’s a perfect mix of slasher horror and supernatural horror. Great job SGJ!

Once a teenage slasher...always a slasher. Jones delivers a heavily genre based fictional memoir where main character Tolly Driver reminisces back to his high school days about how and when he became Lamesa Texas' infamous teenage slasher.

"Three, two, run," Strappy is coming for you.

ITS NO SECRET I THINK SGJ WRITING STYLE IS PURE GENIUS BUT THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK. HE OUT DID HIMSELF YET AGAIN. THE AMBIGUITY. THE HUMOR. THE WIT. THE NOSTALGIA. THE INTRIGUE. UGH JUST EVERYTHING. ITS SO FREAKING ENTERTAINING EVEN THO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AND HAD TO SUSPEND MY BELIEFS HERE AND THERE. IT HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME A FAVORITE. GOD DANG. ITS SO FREAKING GOOD. SERIOUSLY YOU GOTTA READ IT.

Id like to extend my hugest gratitude to stephen graham jones saga press books and netgalley for the early ride in rabbit around Lamesa and for taking me back to 1989. I had the best of times and absolutely no suckiest of times 🖤

It’s 1989 in Lamesa, Texas, the smallest of small west Texas towns. Big hair and mullets are in and Guns n Roses and Ratt are on the radio. Seventeen year old Tully Driver and his best friend Amber Big Plume Dennison are outsiders but they have each other. Tully is a good kid, but short on ambition. One night he and Amber go to a party. And everything changes for Tully. He becomes a killer, out for revenge. Here is his story.

This is a lovely, gory, heartbreaking book about best friends and small towns. It reads very autobiographical…I got the sense there’s a lot of Jones in Tully. I’ve read the Indian Lake trilogy, but for my money this is the best thing Jones has written…so much heart here. In fact, the story is ever written as a sort of love letter to Amber. Oh, and Tully’s wonderful mother. And the family of sorts that works at the hardware store. And the stereotypical teen villains which reminded me so much of the kids from CARRIE (can you believe that book is turning fifty?!?) If you like Stephen King, if you like any sort of horror even the least bit, read this book. You won’t regret the time spent.

This book was completely outside of my comfort zone. I don’t lean in to horror books - they just aren’t my vibe. But I wanted to give this one a try. How could I not with that cover?

This book is written as an autobiography of a teenage slasher. You know, like from classic horror films. Final girls and all. He became a slasher after a horrific prank was played on him. To make things right, he had to kill everyone involved. His best friend Amber was there to help guide him through it.

This was an absolutely wild ride! There were a ton of characters and a lot to keep track of, but this one kept me turning the pages. I truly didn’t know what was going to happen and that final twist was so very good.

The descriptions of the killings were not for the faint of heart and that final set up. Shivers. So creepy. Overall I really liked it, no matter how weird or outside of my comfort zone it was! I’d totally read another book by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stephen Graham Jones' best book yet. Period.

For fans of FREAKY, HAPPY DEATH DAY, SCREAM and GINGER SNAPS, this one's for you.

I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER is a total knockout. I want to say it reads like a love-letter to the slasher genre. But I feel like that would diminish this book's value. It's much more than clever pastiche or brilliant, albeit effortless meta-textual exploration. It's alive with the beating heart of Tolly Driver, one of the most lovable horror protagonists I've ever encountered.

Tolly is a 17-year-old kid still reeling from the loss of his father. These days, he feels like an outsider looking in on his small town and his even smaller-minded classmates. His best friend and maybe love interest, Amber, part Native-American, understands this feeling all too well. One night, they head out to a party, when a series of horrifying events leads to Tolly becoming cursed... with revenge!

Slowly but surely, Tolly Driver turns into a slasher villain. Imagine Peter Parker awakening to his Spidey senses... only he's turning into Jason Voorhees instead! Against his will, Tolly begins killing his classmates.

Amber, who is an expert on the genre, helps Tolly navigate his newfound "powers". She soon becomes torn between protecting her classmates and protecting Tolly from himself. Their relationship is at the core of this story. It's beautiful. It's nostalgic. And it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last sentence. I promise. I've never before found myself rooting so hard for a slasher to survive the day.

Truly, the best horror novel I've read in quite some time, and one I will be re-visiting for years to come. SGJ, I bow to thee.

As I delved into "I Was a Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones, I found myself transported to the dusty streets of 1989 Lamesa, Texas. The author's vivid descriptions painted a picture of a small, close-knit community dominated by the industries of oil and cotton. From the outset, it was clear that this was not just another run-of-the-mill horror tale, but a nuanced exploration of the human psyche through the lens of a slasher narrative.

The protagonist, Tolly Driver, initially comes across as a typical teenager, grappling with the challenges of small-town life and the weight of unfulfilled potential. However, as the story unfolds, Tolly is cursed with a thirst for revenge, thrusting him into the role of a killer. What intrigued me most about this novel was the unique perspective it offered—the story is told from the viewpoint of the killer himself, as he writes his own autobiography. It's a daring narrative choice that adds depth to the traditional slasher formula.

One aspect of the book that particularly resonated with me was Jones' exploration of the outsider experience. Tolly's journey is marked by a sense of unfairness and alienation, themes that are all too familiar in the real world. Through his portrayal of Tolly, Jones captures the complexities of human nature and the ways in which societal pressures can push individuals to extremes.

That being said, my enjoyment of the novel was not without its reservations. While the first half of the book held my attention with its fresh take on the slasher genre and engaging storytelling, I found myself struggling to maintain interest during the middle portion. The pacing seemed to drag, and Tolly's character, initially intriguing, began to grate on my nerves.

Despite these shortcomings, "I Was a Teenage Slasher" still managed to deliver some thrilling moments, particularly in its depiction of the titular character's "fun" kills. Jones' knack for crafting suspenseful scenes shines through, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

In conclusion, "I Was a Teenage Slasher" is a mixed bag—a novel that offers both innovation and frustration in equal measure. While it may not have fully lived up to my expectations, I commend Stephen Graham Jones for his willingness to push the boundaries of the genre. For fans of horror fiction looking for something a bit different, this book may well be worth a read. As for me, I'll continue to support Jones' work, eagerly awaiting his next venture into the world of the macabre.

This being my first read by this author made me realize what I was missing out on. The writing style alone is reminiscent of classic authors, delivered so eloquently and detailed that the reader is pulled into the story. Each character takes their role of naive parents, cocky teenagers, and, of course, the final girl. Entering the mind of the teenage slasher, we see their thoughts and struggles, the motivation, and the inner turmoil that is taking place. This was such a unique story full of pain and, of course, blood while taking every cliché in the slasher universe and twisting it sideways, making it its own. A great, memorable read that stands out in every way imaginable, I give this four and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Saga Press, for this ARC.

The Run-Down: In I Was a Teenage Slasher, Stephen Graham Jones boldly inverts the slasher genre in this heartfelt, yet frequently confusing, horror entry.


Review:
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones is a retroactive perspective of a former teenage slasher, Tolly Driver, who was cursed to murder for revenge at the age of seventeen after a party goes very wrong. Jones fully adopts the voice of Tolly, even down to his typing style (Tolly underlines italicized words and uses a double en-dash for an em-dash). It takes a skilled author to write a novel in the style of an amateur, but Jones mostly pulls it off. Tolly’s desultory and uptalk-riddled narration adds a certain level of charm to the story, and it highlights the tragedy of Tolly’s situation—even though he is cursed to murder his peers in a universe-ordained act of revenge, he’s still a goofy, astray kid at heart.

The narration in I Was a Teenage Slasher will not work for everyone, however, as it requires a certain level of concentration to understand. The setting, action, and characters of the story move at a rapid pace without visible markers for transition between them—this, coupled with constant references to specific pieces of mechanical equipment or set pieces, often results in a confusing and frustrating reading experience. Tolly’s reflection on his life alternates between the profound, irreverent, and tragic; this book is concerned with the loss of innocence and agency in a world that expects people to play certain roles. Unfortunately, the frequently bewildering plot mechanics of Tolly’s slasher role often undermine the depth and clarity with which Jones explores these themes.

The heart of the story, however, lies in Tolly’s character and his relationship with his best friend, Amber. Jones nails the awkward, aimless nature of Tolly’s seventeen-year-old character as he navigates the death of his father, high school bullies, and his transformation into a movie villain. At his side is his loyal friend Amber, who recognizes Tolly’s cursed state for what it is and does her best to guide him through his path from dopey teen to violent murderer. Their relationship lends this story its heart, humor, and tragedy, and ultimately results in a surprisingly poignant ending to a book riddled with groan-worthy jokes and gag-worthy slasher horror.

You might like this book if . . .
· You are a fan of slasher movies
· You want to read a unique take on the slasher genre
· You want to read a book that will make you laugh, scream, and cry

You might not like this book if . . .
· You don’t have a strong stomach for gross-out horror
· You find the narrative style—written to mimic Tolly’s unfiltered, amateurish, and confessional writing style—distracting or irritating
· You want a horror book that you can enjoy with your brain off


Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! SGJ does it again. Another entry in what feels like a masterclass in slashers. This book’s DNA feels like the culmination of his previous works, making it feel both familiar and brand new. A treat for his constant readers and a great introduction for new readers. This one does it all. It showcases Jones’ obsession with slashers while also breathing air made of the weirdness and idiosyncrasies that make his work stick with you, rattling in your head, for so long. Can’t wait for the next one. Can’t believe I’m alive at the same time as Stephen Graham Jones and Caitlin Clark.

“You think big thoughts when you’re seventeen.
Big, stupid thoughts.”

And these thoughts, stupid though they may be, often are, they’re kinda how we all survive the genre that is high school. But what if you’re suddenly thrust into a whole other genre? And what if that genre is horror? I mean, the high school genre is a bit of that in its own way, yeah, but still. One day it’s surviving high school, the next it’s just surviving.

Best of times, right?

Since we’re now in Horror-land, though, it’s all as the croupier says: rien ne va plus.

No one’s safe, and getting slashed, that’s something I suspect we’re all actively wanting to very much not happen, but what if that horror dial got cranked to Spinal Tap levels and not only do you have to witness the carnage, but have to be the one causing it? More so, what if you can’t stop? What if there’s a very definite end, but that end still has you on one side of a blade and another living, breathing human on the other?

“Ghosts aren’t the only ones who have to stick around for unfinished business,” after all.

You’re a slasher. You didn’t ask to be, but you are. From here on out it’s masks and blood and knowing however much you limp, how shot or torn up you are, it’ll never keep your hands clean, nor your conscience.

But maybe you’ll have the best best friend ever, though, too. Like Tolly. Maybe you’ll have an Amber Big Plume Dennison on your side, someone who can still see you in you, someone who’ll give you a piece of humanity to remember, to cling to. Someone who’ll give you memories “you don’t measure in minutes or miles, but by how much of yourself is still in” them.

Slashers may not die easily, but love is immortal.

Schting!

4 stars

What's it like to creep around in a teenage slasher's brain? Well, you, too, can find out the answer to that question - and find yourself surprised in some ways - in this aptly named effort from the inimitable Stephen Graham Jones!

Tolly Driver, the fantastically named m.c., is the titular teenage slasher. The novel is set in the late '80s, and those of us who lived through that time will all find added appeal in the author's exceptional rendering of place. While the desolation and unbearable expectations of this Texas town are at the center, so are the times, along with what it's like to be a contemporary high schooler. Tolly recounts pivotal experiences - his own and others' - that reveal the terrors of his nemeses and the rationale for his subsequent choices and behaviors. These scenes are memorable and, in some ways, visceral, and they meet the definition of horror in more ways than one.

Structurally, this very much FEELS autobiographical. Readers get right into Tolly's mind and perspective and experience his repeated memories and minor gaps. What I came to love most about this book is the relationship between Tolly and the final girl, and while I did have some periodic struggles with the pacing and structure, I never lost interest in or focus on this aspect. I also really appreciated how vulnerable Tolly is. This isn't a quality I expected to associate with him, but so many details of his character, even down to the pervasiveness of a serious allergy, reinforce this element.

This is a unique read that I enjoyed for the horror elements but even more so because of the character study and that aforementioned specific relationship. It's does seem like today's teens are wilding out, but this book is a good reminder that they have nothing on those of us who survived young lives in the '80s.

I really wanted to live this book as I am a huge fan of this author and his Indian trilogy.
But alas, I couldn’t even get a third of the way through. I did not like the story structure or how it was told - frankly, I couldn’t even discern if it was the narrator’s imagination, fact or fantasy. I love a good slasher/serial killer novel more than any other genre but….
I am not soured on this author but this was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this highly anticipated ARC. What else can be said? Dr. Jones consistently gives us the finest horror. I loved this book: the gore, the emotions and slasheryness all layered into one entertaining and captivating story. An absolute auto buy author for life <3