Demonic haunting but *make it Gen-Z*
I mean..lets go, press play baby! this was a fantastic YA horror that touched on important themes such as grief, guilt and identity whilst managing to be creepy, humourous, tense and touching all at the same time, I love horror that focuses on the darkside of social media and I thought this was an utterly unique storyline that was executed well, Viv was a relatable character and the depth of her authenticity is what made this such an engaging read, for me this was a story about facing our fears and ultimately letting them go lest they destroy our lives.

4.5 ⭐

"Such Lovely Skin" is a ya horror novel written by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, here at her debut.

What a delightfully eerie book! Fast, captivating and engaging, it pulled me into the vortex of the narrative and pushed me to finish it in a few hours. Seriously, thanks to the stimulating pace, short chapters and thrilling story, I couldn't tear myself away from the pages, eager to know!

The sinister, dark and ominous atmosphere of the tale won me over! I don't usually scare myself with horror books (unlike movies of the genre), but I admit I found it amazing! I really liked the idea of a demon who chooses its victims through a game, taking on their appearance and destroying their lives. I found it a modern twist, really well handled, which leads to some interesting reflections on the use of social media. The inherent part of the horror game thrilled me so much with its detailed, curated and vivid descriptions and its intricate mechanism. But then do we want to talk about the more classic elements of the genre? Sudden macabre visions, creaking, rustling and other treacherous noises, eerie shadows, sinister lighting effects, and much more (in a possible film adaptation, there would be material for many jump scares!)! These are all components that I adore and that I found definitely incredible! Also, remaining on the topic of movies, this book has vibes and scenes that reminded me of "The Ring," a movie I appreciate a lot!

The story proceeds full of action and events, without moments of boredom or heaviness, resulting in a deeply immersive experience. The tension is palpable, the scary moments are convincing, but the novel does not stop there. No, "Such Lovely Skin" deals with important themes such as the death of a loved one, grief, and guilt, treating them intensely. In practice, I found it a great mix of tense situations, touching moments and lighter, funnier scenes!

Viv, protagonist with her only first person pov, convinced me. Determined, intelligent, and courageous, she struck me with her frailties, with the guilt that consumes her. She seemed to me incredibly realistic in her representation, in her evolution, in the way she decides to face her fears, her secrets, and her demons! I also enjoyed the secondary characters and the pinch of romance present!

All in all, "Such Lonely Skin" is a fantastic ya horror novel that I recommend to fans of the genre!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What if The Ring and Jumanji had a baby? I never thought I needed an answer to this question but here we are. No, actually that’s not a fair comparison because even though Such Lovely Skin creeped me out like few stories ever managed to do before it, it is at its core a very powerful story about grief and guilt. Let me explain.

The reason why I watch horror way more than I tend to read it is because horror at its core has a simple formula: something creepy disrupts the protagonist’s normal life, the protagonist overcomes the monster, and life returns to normal. Schlote-Bonne took that predictable formula and used it to her advantage. Viv, our protagonist’s “normal life” starts with her dealing with the guilt of the accident that killed her little sister. Her monster is a demonic dopplegänger she accidentally welcomed into her life by confessing her secret to an NPC. Already, as you can see, Such Lovely Skin follows the horror formula but a distorted version of it so when the plot reaches the final step it unfolds in a unique and exciting way that I haven’t seen in horror so far. Of course, I can’t explain this in detail because of spoilers but you’ll understand what I mean and appreciate the author’s work when you read the story.

I am not usually someone who gets scared easily but this one really creeped me out in a good way. It’s a horror story after all. Not just because of the fantastical nature of the threat but because of how grounded it felt. Schlote-Bonne’s use of video games, social media, and tech in general, made the danger feel so real and so imminent because the attack can happen at any time. This also helped me try to figure out a solution alongside Viv and share her frustration whenever she failed and whenever she had to face the consequences of her failure to confront the demon.

As for the characters, I loved them all. Viv’s pain felt so real and her struggle to confront her demons—both literal and metaphorical—was my favorite part of a book that gave me a lot to love. I also loved the exploration of how her defense mechanisms against her pain often led to more pain, trapping her in a vicious cycle she struggles to break free from. Ash was another standout character for me. I really can praise the character work for the entire day but what can I say more than that Schlote-Bonne made me care deeply about a character we didn’t even see in the story.

Such Lovely Skin is an incredible debut by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and while it delivers spectacularly on its horror aspects I encourage you to dig deeper into the themes of this narratively rich story.