"Please Fear Me" by Jennifer Love is a mesmerizing psychological thriller that hooks you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go. Love’s masterful storytelling and intricate plot weave a tale of suspense and mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The protagonist’s journey through a maze of fear and uncertainty is both chilling and captivating. Love’s characters are well-developed, with deep emotional layers that make their experiences and motives intensely relatable. The tension in the narrative is palpable, with each chapter revealing new twists that keep the reader guessing.

Jennifer Love’s writing style is both sharp and evocative, creating an atmosphere that is as eerie as it is compelling. Her ability to craft a story that is both psychologically complex and intensely thrilling is impressive, making "Please Fear Me" a standout in the genre.

"Please Fear Me" is not just a thriller; it’s a deep dive into the darker aspects of the human psyche. Jennifer Love has created a novel that is both intellectually engaging and heart-poundingly intense. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a story that challenges the mind and keeps the adrenaline pumping.

This book wraps a plastic bag around your head and asks you to breathe. It’s punchy and smart, dark and real, carving out the feelings of teenage girlhood and stretching it out across the page. It doesn’t slow down or wait for you to catch up, if you want on you have to jump.
The hypnosis of idols and the hunger of young infatuation in this world of circus acts and advantage takers will make your jowls slacken and salivate, turning each page faster and faster as you sniff out the heart and clamp around it with force. The beginning will enlighten you and the ending will shatter you like the exit wound of a bullet. Smidge’s story looks unique from afar but many of us hold the same pieces inside of ourselves.
Love has done something interesting with the genre of dark contemporary fiction, as well as the genre of queer fiction. She has taken both of these pieces and twisted it into something entirely unseen, ripping apart the venn diagram trap that queer contemporary fiction often falls into — the queer life = dark life intersection — and making them separate wholes. She fosters a reading environment where there is no disclosure about queerness, no long-winded discussions on someone’s identity, it just simply is. As a queer dark fiction lover, this new world Love participates in is freeing. I am disappointed that this is a debut, only because that means there isn’t more of Love to devour right now.

Please Fear Me is a compelling debut that navigates the turbulent waters of trauma, addiction, and the quest for belonging. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Smidge, we are thrust into a world where reality and fantasy blend seamlessly, reminiscent of the atmospheric allure found in works like The Night Circus.


The novel begins with Smidge's harrowing decision to escape her mother’s verbal abuse and addiction, propelling her into a journey of self-discovery. Smidge's path leads her to a shelter where she meets Violet, a character as enigmatic as the circus they eventually join. Their bond is the heart of the story, showcasing the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the need for connection in a world that often feels hostile.

The writing is evocative, capturing Smidge’s inner turmoil and the surreal landscape she traverses. The first half of the book is particularly gripping, delving deeply into Smidge's relationship with her mother and her initial encounters with Violet. The emotional depth and the vivid portrayal of their struggles create a powerful narrative that keeps readers invested.

As Smidge and Violet become entangled with the circus, the plot thickens with layers of intrigue and suspense. The circus itself is a character, imbued with a sense of eerie magic that both captivates and unsettles. The ringmaster’s presence adds a dark, mysterious element to the story, challenging Smidge’s perceptions and pushing the narrative into darker territories.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the ending somewhat unsatisfying, as it leaves certain character arcs, particularly Violet’s, feeling incomplete. The lack of closure may be intentional, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the characters' lives, yet it leaves a lingering desire for a more definitive resolution.

Despite these minor shortcomings, Please Fear Me"is a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. It delves into themes of addiction, identity, and the intricate dance of relationships with a raw honesty that is both refreshing and poignant. The narrative's non-linear structure, while occasionally confusing, adds to the sense of disorientation that mirrors Smidge’s own journey.

Even after finishing this book and thinking about it for a day I’m still not sure how I feel about it. The writing was great, a stylised voice reminiscent of coming of age classics such as A Catcher in the Rye, and Smidge’s internal world is often both unique and relatable. Anyone growing up as a woman or femme presenting person knows the predatory nature of men and the things you learn to do to appease them in order to stay safe.

That being said, the lack of closure at the end wasn’t enough for me, I felt that after a whole book about Violet she needed to be revisited at the closing. It felt strange that after all the build up she was just gone with barely a goodbye. I guess that was the point, that the life they lead is unpredictable and fleeting, but I thought she would have her own little finale too.

Anyway, a promising debut, but left me a little hungry for more. Thank you to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

honestly the first half is about a 3/5 star for me *even with the typos which make this a hard read. the second half i could not finish. theres so much potential with an aid to help check grammar and punctuation.. and plot. because of so many things i am rating this 1/5 stars

A very heavy, weighted book but good none the less. It kept me staying up late reading until it was finished.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.

A strong debut with a hint of The Night Circus in its setting but brimming with originality, Please Fear Me weaves complex themes of addiction, verbal abuse and family ties into its creepy (i say that with love!) fantasy setting.

Tired of the verbal abuse from her mother’s addiction, 15-year-old Smidge leaves California in search of something bigger, something better. At a shelter, she joins forces with Violet—“born into a world that perceived her incorrectly”—happy to follow her direction as they navigate the oddities and difficulties of the new world around them. They may not have a lot but they have each other. Lost and looking for a place to call home, they come across a circus where Violet quickly falls under the spell of the enigmatic ringleader while Smidge remains skeptical and concerned about the “sins” of her past.

Since my first true book love, <I>Water For Elephants</i>, I have this deep nostalgia and curiosity for circus stories so when I saw this book’s description I knew I had to read it. It didn’t disappoint. On the surface it’s a story about misfits, drifters, and outcasts but it is so much more layered than that. This story is full of heart, chaos, the unknown, and the unexpected. It surprised me in the best way possible.

It’s a weighty novel but more than anything, it is deeply heartfelt while it explores the complexities of love and family, blood and otherwise. Both girls have extensive wounds and insecurities from trauma created by their families which shines through on nearly every page. Readers witness both Violet and Smidge struggling to find any sense of identity or belonging.

“As the days pass here, I’m learning that the circus is a great place to be if you don’t know what you want.”

This book is a profound study on addiction, love, family, friendship, and belonging. There were places where I wanted a little more exploring and I couldn’t help but notice a couple plot holes but otherwise, this is a fiercely tender debut novel and it moved me in ways that I didn’t expect.

Thank you Fairlight Books and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/05/2024!

*Quote from advanced readers copy and subject to change before publication*

Please Fear Me was an interesting read. Love crafts a novel that expertly discusses love and guilt in our relationships. This book offers profound insight into the cost of art, and with short chapters, this book is a relatively quick read.

It felt as if Please Fear Me took a while to ground itself and decide what exactly its message was. I would've loved a greater focus on the concept of Smidge yearning to return home from the earlier chapters- and it feels as if the book doesn't pick up until they join the Circus. I also found myself confused by some of the back-and-forth time jumping and often had to reconsider whether Smidge was talking about something currently or in the past.

Please Fear Me is still an excellent insight into performing femininity and a beautiful exploration of female relationships. Therefore, I rated Please Fear Me 3/5 stars.

The first half of this book bowled me over, I was there for every single word.
The relationship between Violet and Smidge, the relationship between Smidge and her mother.
It was all so fascinating.
Then enter the ringmaster, and I felt that I didn't fully get it.
The book for me didn't quite live up to the promise of the first part.
Non the less , still an excellent read.
Thought provoking throughout.

When I tell you I couldn't put this book down and pretty much read through it without stopping I mean it. I really enjoyed this one. Violet, who is one of the performers, was such an interesting character to me, and for some reason, I wanted to know everything about her. Smidge is an amazing main protagonist and so entertaining to read about. I loved the tension between the characters and the whole concept. The eerie persona around the ringmaster and how they move around the book and interact with characters kept me reading. These three characters had such interesting dynamics and relationships with one another and I really enjoyed reading it. It was a gripping book that was well-paced and had interesting and complex characters and topics to explore.