A queer Appalachian thriller with supernatural elements that will take you on a rollercoaster of a read!

This was incredible! Even more than the author's first two books, this one is so rich in atmosphere and setting. AJW mentions in the foreward and acknowledgments that this one is borne out of his own upbringing and hometown and you can absolutely feel that in every line. This is an angry, messy love letter to the imperfect places and people imprinted on our hearts and I adore it.

The prose is stunningly brutal, uncompromising in a way that lends itself beautifully to the shape of the story. The pace is breakneck - whenever I read a book by this author I have to set specific time aside because I know I won't be able to focus on anything else till I've seen it through! There's also fantastic queer and neurodivergent representation across multiple characters throughout the story.

I can't recommend this one enough, it was simply phenomenal!

AJW never misses and this one wasnt any different. Unlike his other novels which have a more horror theme, this one is more of a dark thriller. This book has some CONTENT Warnings so please read them before starting. However, this book touched my heart. As a queer, neurodivergent person myself, I feel seen everytime I read AJW's books.

I couldn’t end up finishing this title due to my own personal sensitivities. (The political climate in Appalachian areas can really be that cruel and cold.) But I will say it felt like an authentic portrayal with a main character I was truly rooting for.

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Andrew Joseph White is back again to give me the anarchist trans book of my dreams. He never disappoints. This is my third book from him, officially making him an auto-buy author. Compound Fracture also doesn't miss the body horror that is quickly becoming AJW's signature, and full of palpable rage. I loved every second of it.

Andrew Joseph White should be an autobuy author for anyone who loves the queer horror genre at all. But also to autistic folks who want to see themselves reflected in authentic ways, for those that love grubby (affectionate) trans characters and for all those that go into books with no expectations.

Compound Fracture matches any expectations you have and excels them. The storyline was a little predictable but even knowing the possible ending from the beginning didn't make this journey less thrilling. I won't say I had a great time or that I enjoyed this because this story was Messed Up, however, AJW will make a horror/thriller fan of me yet.

Awesome! I love the rep, I love the language, I love Appalachia.I was worried about the dog more than the humans for sure. It was so dark but not unenjoyable.

This book in particular is violent and brutal in every way imaginable but weaved in hope on every page. also it's incredibly beautifully queer.

I've always considered myself a fast reader. I have been able to breeze through countless books ever since I was a kid, it's just who I am. But I swear AJW's books are my kryptonite (case in point thank you netgalley and peachtree teen for the arc I'm so sorry it took me this long). In my head, I keep thinking that because they're technically YA they are going to be easier reads and I mentally plan for that but these are not just any YA books because they are very heavy and emotionally taxing but once I get through them they are always so worth it.

I was excited about this one and thrilled to get an advanced copy. The history and culture of Appalachia interest me a lot, in part because of my proximity to it. There’s been a history of socialist movements and worker solidarity in many areas that still permeates the culture, but also a strongly conservative lean in the impoverished rural communities that could (and have in patches of history) benefit most from these movements. The book description seemed to promise a nuanced exploration of these elements without glorification or erasure of the bigotry just because the people perpetuating it are victims in their own right. The cycle of violence, and the lofty ideals struggling to manifest in a dirty reality, all weaved through a thriller/horror plot line literally haunted by the bloody, cyclic history (not to mention the bonus of exploring trans and queer culture and identity in this environment through a gay, aromantic trans protagonist), what a pitch.
It just didn’t fully stick the landing in my opinion. While Miles has a strong sense of his principles, politically, and awareness of the large-scale issues in his community, the morality and motivations for the violence done in the story proper by him and his generation were shallower. A lot of complexity was left to the past and to infodumps about history, culture, and ideologies, rather than deeply integrated into the narrative.
It came to a head with the ending where I felt the underlying problems of Miles’ community that went beyond the sheriff and his abuse of power were somewhat brushed off. All the handful of bad people who were really seduced by violence (unlike Miles who only liked it a little) were gone and so the conservative populace would rally behind the socialists and queers? I know that’s not exactly what the ending wants to say. It’s trying to be a hard-won, but hopeful look at the cycle of violence finally ending and a marginalized person being able to carve out space for himself in a home he cares for. But (despite the literal gore and death) it was maybe too clean for a story that paid lip service to many complexities. There are acknowledgments of the racism, misogyny, queerphobia, and all the hatred, trauma, and pain that go far beyond and far deeper than the feud that gets the main focus and the resolution in the end. With all that put out in the open earlier in the story, but not worked on, I’m wondering where it all went.
Sometimes I think I’m asking the wrong thing from a story when I’m unsatisfied with the direction or the ending, but in this case, I do believe I wanted mostly the same thing the story was trying to give, I just wanted it to go deeper and to give more.
There was a lot to like — the portrayal of the setting, the political awareness, Miles’ journey to understanding himself as autistic, his pride in his home and insistence on making it better, the realistic writing of his family’s imperfect yet unconditional love — but also potential left untouched.

A brilliant look at the queer, revolutionary Appilacia that has always existed. The power structure may be conservative and cruel, but the people are as strong, smart, and rebellious as anywhere else in the world.

This book was once again amazing! Andrew Joseph White always manages to write a book that is so heartwrenching and yet somehow hopeful. I love all of his books dearly and this one was certainly no exception!

AROMANTIC TRANS AUTISTIC MC!!!!!!!!!

I get asked ALL the time by folks offline what kind of books I read and my response is always "as long as it's queer, I'll read it" and I feel like this book really embodies that. I'm not a thriller or horror fan necessarily but this book, and the authors previous, are so unabashedly queer that I was obviously gonna read them and I'm so glad I did because wow, wow wow wow are they fantastic.

I loved Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth but because I'm not a horror person, I often was a little grossed out by the gore and Compound Fracture has it's fair share of blood and gore but it is more of a thriller than a horror. I also really want to throw this book at people who claim that reading isn't political and that our very existence isn't political. Our entire lives are political and the choices we make and the media we consume is a political choice. Andrew Joseph White does a fabulous job explaining that and really pushing that fact home in this book.

I about lost my mind when I realized this book has an aromantic trans autistic main character because we genuinely do not have enough quality books with aromantic representation. This book is about Miles and his family and this generations long feud in his hometown. Started years and years ago, his family and another powerful one in town have this blood feud where members from each family are constantly harming the other. It began with Saint Abernathy and his role in the strikes and workers rights and his murder by law enforcement. Now Miles is the target of the current sheriff and his son.

This book is still very heavy and not for the faint of heart but it also has so much humor and love at the core behind the violence and the tragedy. There's a dog named Lady, who is safe and sound at the end of the book, and some wonderful friendships discovered and explored. There's a powerful display of family dynamics and what it can truly be like to come out in a small town.

I do recommend checking out the content warnings of which there are many before diving into this book, but I genuinely think this is a book that everyone should read and that everyone could find enjoyment in.

I really love the books by Andrew Joseph White because they have the right amount of horror for my taste. AJW showed my that YA horror is able to transport the kind of horror I love: psychological, emotional and diverse.

However I had some problems getting into Compound Fracture. I totally realize that is has something to do with my mental health at the moment of reading and how this book is in some way separate from the other two. It's more real, more grounded in reality and that wasn't what I needed at the time.

Nonetheless I enjoyed the complex relationships that AJW is able to create and how his main characters have always something from him inside them. That and the setting of the time with the not so subtle critique on certain American politics walked me through the novel.
I had to remind myself from time to time that it's set in the US because some things Miles fought for are totally normal for me as a German person. And I really liked how it got me focused again on the critical time our world is inside right now. So much will depend on the next elections and AJWs book came at the right time to remember the people in America.

Unfortunately "Compound Fracture" is the least great books by AJW just for my personal taste. On another note it is the most important.

AJW is a master at creating dread. Just like in The Spirit Bares its Teeth, I found myself reading through squinted eyes, afraid of what horrors come next. Compound Fracture is a love letter to Appalachia in a way I’ve never seen done before. Very timely, it tackles political issues in the Trump era of US politics. While a bit on the nose at times, Compound Fracture is a book that will resonate with many.

Let me start this off by saying the dog doesn’t die.

Ok… what a crazy ride this was. I was sick to my stomach in the first twenty pages and it just kept up until the very end. That might sound awful, but that was exactly what I was looking for when I started this. My compliments to the chef because I am not a horror girly, but I want to be, and I think Andrew Joseph White does a fantastic job writing horror that is still palatable for people like me. There were some scenes that made me put my phone down, run my hand down my face, and dramatically make retching noises.

Aside from the horror aspects, the writing was beautiful. The story itself digs into themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships. It was so interesting to see Miles coming out as trans to the people in his life and watching them try to adjust and react through the entire book, all while the rest of the plot is unfolding. Also, as someone who is autistic, I related a lot to Miles. There aren’t a lot of protagonists with the same kind of inner dialogue as him, so I felt very seen. Overall, this was an excellent book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with an eARC of Compound Fracture in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first time I've read a book by Andrew Joseph White, and now I understand why his work has been so highly regarded. Compound Fracture stands out as a politically and emotionally resonant tale that draws me deep into the brutality that its characters are willing to commit. Rather than portraying such violence in a glossy and idealistic fashion, it's able to dig into the bloody and messy truth of it all. I find it to be evocative of the neo-noir revenge film Blue Ruin, which handles its own violence in a ruthless manner (definitely worth giving that movie a try).

Miles makes for an enthralling protagonist whose journey of realizing his autism is something that personally hits me as somebody who's most likely autistic, but hasn't been officially diagnosed yet. It's a major element of Miles's arc that I'm glad is able to be smoothly woven in with the rest of his tale rather than come across as something that adds too much unwieldy bulk to the book—a book that's additionally capable of nimbly displaying its socialist politics and its fury with our two-party system. We have the Republicans who are blatantly bigoted, and then we have the Democrats who try to appear like they're humanitarians, but actually don't give a shit about us, either. This disillusionment is an experience that I've had to confront for some time, and it helps this book connect with me that much more strongly. Kudos to the writing for the supporting characters around Miles, too, like his parents, because they add more nuance to his local community and make it feel lived-in.

Overall, I'm officially rating Compound Fracture 4.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 4 stars. I can't wait to check out more of White's work.

Another rage-inducing masterpiece by Andrew Joseph White. I love Miles and hate everything he's forced to go through. Compound Fracture is gritty, violent, and haunting, everything I've come to expect from one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend it.

i received this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and, like Miles, i am going to be blunt.
Compound Fracture is incredible. it gripped me from quite literally the first page and every page after. Miles , i feel, is the epitome of morally gray. i think the whole thing might be, actually.
the discussions about class politics and generational blood feuds and community and police brutality were so raw and honestly addressed. we cannot control the environment we are brought up in, and when it’s do or die, what else is there to do but fight back?
Miles is so incredibly strong and brave and real, even if he didn’t ask for it, even he didn’t want to be. he saw the bigger picture, in that nobody chooses the life, the family they are born into, good or bad. pests don’t choose to be , but they are, they must be dealt with regardless. i just saw so much of myself in him. in his views. his thoughts and discussions with dallas about him being autistic were a sort of deja vu. i just loved every second even if i was squirming at some of the body horror. stunning novel, everyone should read it. also lady is the baddest bitch dog on the block. anyway, here some quotes i liked from the last 30 pages, bc that’s when i started writing them down lol.

“one last gasping sob as i force my body to work with me. no time to have a breakdown. no time to think too hard.”

“i think he deserved it. in the grand scheme of things, i think he didn’t.”

“there’s a funeral for noah, because he was a child, and if you want my opinion, he was a victim of this as much as i was.”

“what’s law enforcement except a group of people legally allowed to hurt you without cause? i don’t trust no one with that kind of power.”

I have thus far loved EVERYTHING Andrew Joseph White has written, and this is no exception to that rule. I loved the creepy Appalachian vibe, the slow descent into even wilder events. I started with his debut Hell Followed With Us, named The Spirit Bares Its Teeth my number 1 book of 2023, and this is for sure in my top 10 of this year!

4 stars? This is my least favorite AJW book so far, but that’s not because it’s bad by any means. I think I’ve enjoyed his more fictionalized worlds, but this one was a lot more real. I also prefer supernatural aspects and it to be horror (didn’t realize it was a thriller). I will always love AJW’s writing style though, and I still really liked the story!