**3 out of 5 Star Review: I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones**

*I Was A Teenage Slasher* by Stephen Graham Jones offers a unique and thrilling twist on the classic slasher genre, set against the backdrop of 1980s small-town Texas. The novel follows Tolly Driver, a seventeen-year-old who, after a cruel prank pushes him over the edge, embarks on a dark and twisted journey of revenge.

**Thoughts:**
What sets this book apart is its perspective—Jones tells the story from the viewpoint of the killer himself, giving readers an intimate look at Tolly’s descent into madness. This approach is both intriguing and unsettling, making it difficult not to root for Tolly even as he commits increasingly horrific acts. The 1980s setting is vividly realized, and Jones does an excellent job of capturing the era’s mood and atmosphere.

The book is packed with tension, gore, and a surprising amount of emotional depth. There are moments that genuinely tugged at my heartstrings, which isn’t something I usually expect from a slasher novel. Tolly’s struggle with his identity and the consequences of his actions adds a layer of complexity that elevates the story beyond just a simple horror tale.

However, the novel’s biggest drawback is its pacing. At times, the narrative feels drawn out, with certain sections dragging on longer than necessary. While the detail is appreciated, it sometimes comes at the cost of momentum, making parts of the book feel overly long-winded. This could make it a bit of a slog for some readers, especially those looking for a tighter, more fast-paced horror experience.

**Final Thoughts:**
*I Was A Teenage Slasher* is an inventive and compelling take on the slasher genre that will appeal to fans of both horror and coming-of-age stories. While the pacing issues prevent it from reaching its full potential, the novel’s unique perspective and emotional depth make it worth a read. Stephen Graham Jones continues to prove that he’s a master of blending horror with poignant storytelling, even if this one didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Written from the perspective of a teenager and very jumbled. It was very jumbled, run on sentences and crazed. Not exactly what I was expecting from this novel, however others may enjoy this style of writing.

This book was interesting- I kept saying to myself “WTH is happening?!” The character of Tolly was Holden Caufield-esque, so his narration was a bit challenging to follow/focus on. Would recommend to t hose who enjoy horror- the scenes were so graphic!

Thank you @SagaPressBooks #SagaSaysCrew for the free book!

This story has so much heart and goes deep. I loved it for that and for it's unique take on a slasher story. It's not your usual all gore all the time slasher tale, but delivers a deep look into the psyche of the killer.

I really want to like Stephen Graham Jones but I don't think his books are for me. I previously DNF one (I think it was My Heart Is a Chainsaw?) and I powered through this one but it was a struggle. I loved Tolly and his voice and his story and the unique premise and Stephen's writing BUT it was just sooooooooooooooooooooo slow.

This was my first SGJ book and it was wild, entertaining, and confusing. I enjoyed all the gory murdery scenes and the ending was perfect. However, as I'm new to his writing style I'm not sure if it's just this book or his others too, but there's a lot of stream of consciousness rambling. So much so that I found my mind often wandering and I don't know if I actually missed anything pertinent. However, with that said, it was still an enjoyable read.

Such a great concept about what happens when you accidentally become a slasher, all because of some damn peanut butter!

I enjoyed reading this book because it gives you the inside of the slasher killer in a unique and funny way. It explains how the killers are basically unstoppable and so fast. It’s basically a superhero origin story but with a slasher killer twist.

It’s up to Tolly and his best friend, Amber to see his new skills and how to stop himself from killing other people.

Great story. Great friendship between Tolly and Amber! A must read for the slasher fans!

This was my first book by this author and very much enjoyed it! Some parts were a bit far fetched but other than that this book kept my attention the entire time.

This was my first book by Jones and I can honestly say this was my favorite book so far this month. It always makes me so happy when a book is on my most anticipated list and once I read it its actually good! And this one does just that.

Ok so the best thing about this book was the writing style. This was a super cool way to look at the slasher horror genre. I don’t think I ever would have thought of something like this. And not only was it unique, it was also just a super interesting way to tell this story. I do wish that the lore was a bit more explained, besides just talking about that one drop in the very beginning, but eh, it got the job done. And Idk if its just because I have a peanut allergy and I love horror, but I was like “omg” freaking out when i saw that it all started because of a peanut allergy. I actually cried a little for that poor boy because that wasn’t bullying, that was just cruel. Like I’m convinced it wasn’t an accident. That was not ok.

The reason I loved the writing style in this so much was because of the way it examined one of my favorite genres. Every trope that comes with being in a slasher horror was present and seeing how it came to be was fascinating. And I don’t mean like the origin, I mean like seeing how it manifested in the villain. Because it is told through him after all. And no we don’t get all the juicy details like WHY he’s able to stay alive, but we do get the realization that he’s able to stay alive and they connect it with him being a slasher. This was so unique and I REALLY enjoyed this aspect of it.

There is also a small bit of romance in this that was a bit unexpected. No nothing ever happens, but the pining was actually adorable. It showed how important the last person is too. It was sad that they saw it before all this too. It was just super bad timing. I did realize that this made me feel sympathetic for him, and I realize that that’s how they probably trap me to begin with. By making sure that we have these feelings for him and meanwhile he’s out there killing people.

This was so interesting and so so good. I did want it to be a little more slashery and not so much like a diary, but it was still good. In fact I think I have added all of Jones’ backlist even if he doesn’t write YA. And if you’re wondering, the only thing I thought this was missing was a huge ass surprise at the end lol Unnecessary sequels are all the rage in this genre lol

Having just tried (and failed) to read My Heart Is A Chainsaw by Jones I was somewhat hesitant about this title as well, but I personally think this was the superior of the two novels. It's very clear that Jones loves slasher movies, and while both books show this, this one does it in a way I found much more interesting. It was fresh, it was interesting, and it was surprisingly heartfelt for a novel about a guy that kills a bunch of fellow teenagers. I also just enjoyed how playful and self-aware it was. I would very easily call this a meta novel, on par with the Scream movies (were they books), and overall it was just so much fun. I think my only real frustrations with the novel were 1) there were some things that were just repeated ad-nauseum. The main one being that they were in Lamesa Texas, in 1970-whatever. I get it. It's a racist, red, dead-end state. You don't need to remind me of this every few pages. 2) I didn't love the fact that there were no italics. I know it was supposed to be written on an old computer that could only underline, but I personally don't think that really added anything to the story, it just made it slightly frustrating. And 3) the big reveal at the end wasn't really all that big. Or, it was, but it wasn't a surprise. If anyone gets to that point and goes "Oh my GOD!" they just were not paying attention at all. But, those things aside I really enjoyed this novel. I've already written a shelf-talker for it at work, and will talk it up to anyone I can find. It was just so much fun, and all around inventive. I want to see Jones write more novels like this one, because it was top-notch.

SGJ continues to blow me away with each new release. He writes characters with so much heart and lovable humanity, and Tolly was no exception. Told from the perspective of the slasher, this felt like a love story to the horror genre in a way similar to 'My Heart Is A Chainsaw' was a love story to slashers. 'I Was a Teenage Slasher' is sure to be a new favorite among SGJ fans! (4.5 stars)

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review yet another Stephen Graham Jones book! I was A Teenage Slasher is an original take on the slasher memoir. Told from the point of view of a 17-year-old slasher himself. I love SGJ's writing style, though some of the transition didn't do much for me. This seemed to be more character focused & had me slightly struggling at the midway point. Whereas I usually devour his other works. None the less, filled with dark humor & slasher references- always coming out unique.

3.75 stars

Thank you Libro.FM for the #gifted audiobook and Netgalley for the kindle #ARC in return for an honest review!

Man, I really wanted to love this but the writing style is just not for me. I started this as a physical and really struggled with understanding the pacing of the writing. It just felt off and I could never fully grasp the story. The audiobook on the other hand was awesome! t was done quite well.

So what worked for me?
The character development was some of the best i have read. The main character, Tolly, is as imperfect as they come. But you understood that and grew with the character as the story went on. I love an imperfect character. One where you are rooting for the bad guy" the whole time. I also enjoyed the friendship between Tally and JD. Love slasher films!!! Unique plot. Hidden emotions behind typical actions.

What could have been better?
The writing style was really hard for me to connect with. i felt lost and confused and annoyed. So subtle and rambly. I did not want to DNF this because I have heard such good things, so switching the the audio version was a book saver. I felt like there wasn't enough transition from action to character to emotion to... anything? It if it had flown better, I think I would have stuck it out as a physical read. I think you will either love or hate the writing... but this kinda ruined part of the book for me an why I did not rate it higher.


Read if you like:
- coming of age stories
- unreliable narrators
- rooting for the underdog
- slasher films

SGJ is back on his bullshit.

I Was a Teenage Slasher has all the makings of a SGJ classic: signature voice, unflattering rural hometown, a story that swings straight for the heart. SGJ hits all his marks on this one, making it a fun and satisfying read, even if it did feel awfully familiar at times.

There's a slasher. There's a slasher expert that knows all the rules. Even the premise of the narrator being the slasher isn't new for SGJ. So while I did enjoy it, and thought it well done, I did have the feeling several times that I'd been here before.

I'd recommend I Was A Teenage Slasher to any fan of SGJ, or slashers, or to anyone interested in diving into either subgenres. For those familiar with SGJ and/or slashers, just know that, although done well, you will be walking along well treaded territory.

A gripping and provocative read that will captivate fans of dark, suspenseful storytelling, particularly those who enjoy coming-of-age tales, horror, and stories that explore the complexities of identity, community, and the struggles of growing up Native American.

Not my favorite book by this author. I’m a huge fan but this book just wasn’t for me. The story felt a little all over the place but I suspect that that was intentional to fit the narrator. The book is written as if the main character is writing down their story and sharing it. Very ‘Scream’ in terms of there being slasher tropes and rules that the characters are aware of and are followed. You follow the character as they realize they are living in a real life slasher and are taking on the characteristics of the different kinds of characters. Not at all the vibe I was expecting from this book but I loved the inclusion of the tropes, it gave the book an element of humor within the horror.

4.5 Stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

For my first book by Jones, I was surprised at how my first thought after finishing this was "are his others this good?" Only one way to find out.

Tolly Driver is a teenager in 1989 Texas. During a party where things go terribly, terribly wrong, he finds himself becoming something he and his best friend Amber can only describe as A Slasher.

I love the turn on horror movie tropes where we usually see the final girl's perspective. Instead, we see a Slasher who desperately does not want to be a Slasher, but forces beyond his will have other plans.

It took a bit for the story to get moving, but once it did...good god. I've been reading a lot of horror novels about Horror in Hollywood, but this was a pleasant change for me.

3.5/5!

🖤 Perfect 1980s vibes? Check!
🖤 High school angst? Check!
🖤 Slasher madness? Check!
🖤 Interesting reveals? Check!

I Was a Teenager Slasher is the memoir of Tolly Driver, who as the title suggests, was a slasher in his Texas hometown. Why? How? Tolly is ready to spill the details! I was captivated by Tolly’s story and the how this happened details told from his perspective. It was weird to like Tolly, but I genuinely couldn’t help myself. I swear that will make sense when you read it!

This book made me a fan of its characters and its setting almost instantly. I think it would have easily been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the pacing. There’s action, but it gets bogged down along the way with what felt like repetitive dialogue. I ended up switching over to the audiobook version and this was a much better match for me. Definitely recommend that format and staying through to the end to hear the acknowledgements read to you by Jones himself!

Tolly Driver is considered an outcast in his small Texas town. Given that he doesn’t fit in, he is subjected to a lot of bullying. That is, until a slasher comes to town and one by one, his high school peers are plucked away. 🔪

Whew! We don’t get many books with the POV of the serial killer so this one was a fun switch up for me!
Stephen Graham Jones once again shows his vast knowledge of slashers and the steps that every great slasher movie must take. 💀

I really enjoyed all the slasher-horror Easter eggs hidden throughout the book- along with how the author is obviously poking fun at some of the over-played tropes.
Even with all the gore and death in this one, there’s also a very heartwarming friendship that was a joy to read about.

This one is out today so be sure to pick it up! Big thank you to Saga Press and Simon and Schuester for the gifted copy 🧡

This was a really unique and captivating thriller! The way it’s told is very different from anything I’ve read but it definitely helps with the vibes of this book. I love that we get the killers pov and it’s really character unlike a lot of thrillers. I think this is a really fun read to get you out of a reading slump or into thrillers.