This was an interesting one. Started a little slow and was a little predictable, but the narrative was well done and the story flowed smooth.

Sam just got married and on her honeymoon her mother in law Nadine gets hurt and they need to cut the honeymoon short and go help take care of her. So with her new husband and teenage daughter Emma they go to the Island to care for Nadine.

Everything seems great until things start happening with no explanation and with the creepy house next door. Is there a ghost? does someone sneak in to live there? Emma with her cousin try to figure out what's going on. When they get a warning that no one takes series all hell breaks lose. Sam gets deadly sick and no one can explain why its taking such a turn and the island and residents don't want anyone to leave. Why what's causing it? is this new family to good to be true?

This was a wild ride and had some really creepy characters. Gothic and Witchy vibes perfect to start off for Spooky season. I would of liked the ending to be a little longer I felt like I was shorted some more of the story. But a great edge of your seat story

Thank you NetGalley for the this Audio Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

What did I just listen to?? For real, I’m not sure how to even feel right now.
Supposed to be an adult horror but felt more like YA, as the characters were really immature and underdeveloped. The concept of the story was good, but again certainly not what I was prepared for. Horror? Yes. Cultish vibes? That’s a hard NO for me.
Overall just wasn’t my type of book. Oh, and that ending? I had to check to make sure something wasn’t wrong with my audio because that was VERY abrupt.

Overall 2.5 rounded to 3 stars, since the narrator did a good job.

Pub date: 24 September 2024

This read for as a YA horror, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just didn’t have the scary vibes I was hoping for when I requested to listen to the audiobook.

It was definitely unique and original. So that was a good thing! The narrator was great as well, with the differences between the two voices of the mother and the daughter. I listened at 2x and it was perfect.

The ending was decent, I am wondering if the author plans to right a sequel.

What a wild, weird story this one - and one that, frankly, I don't think the cover or title did justice... While I was immediately drawn in by both, the impression they gave me was of a much lighter story than the one I found. This is a layered, nuanced, snarky tale that I really enjoyed. For once, I think the comparables offered (Hide by White and Haunted House by Hendrix) were spot-on comparators - and I loved both of those also. Asher has done a really solid job crafting a world that is full of family and secrets and red herrings that threw me for a loop a number of times. I loved the exploration of family (found and made) and the nods to classic horror/gothic tales. This was a great find and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from Asher.

Very fun modern gothic, with almost folk horror touches (never trust the weird old people on an island who seem a liiiiittle too friendly…). And that ending!

Audio book has very good dial narrators voicing mother and daughter in opposing chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

Don’t Eat the Pie was fantastic! I wish I had listened slower or it had been longer! The story was spooky, and creepy while still being super addictive!

DONT EAT THE PIE by Monique Asher

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audiobook

Narration by Cady Zuckerman and Stephanie Willing was good.

3.5 ⭐️
A horror novel that begins with Sam as newly married and just wanting a normal family life for herself and daughter, Emma. Ben, Sam and Emma move to Edenic Camilla Island, to the house Ben grew up in, to care for his mom who has taken a fall. Things seem fine until they aren’t. The ominous house next door is where Ben’s first wife, Kristen died. The house next door is creepy and Emma begins seeing things, but despite her pleas, her mom doesn’t want to rock the boat with her new family. The messages that Emma is getting begin getting creepier and more dangerous. What are the secrets on Camilla Island that residents don’t want known? Everyone in Camilla Island has skeletons in their closets. And what’s up with the “pie party”?

This is a debut and I thought it was a decent read and I look forward to what Monique Asher has in store for us next. I felt this could be more for mature YA’s. It is a very dark and creepy read that touches upon, family drama, paranormal activity, evilness, domestic abuse, motherhood, trusting instincts, and not giving up.

What did I just read?! This book totally creeped me out. It was so atmospheric and unsettling. I recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrators did a great job!

I was first drawn to the book because of the title! I can definitely say you don’t want to eat the pie! I won’t go into it, so I don’t spoil the story, but the pie is a doozy! I’m getting creeped out again, just writing this review. The book is told from multiple POVs. There are lots of characters to remember, but they all add something important to the story. All of the characters really add to the “who can I trust” vibes of the story. My review is a little rambling, but it’s hard to completely put my thoughts about this book into words!

My only issue with the book was the very abrupt ending! I hope it means there is going to be a second book. I still need some answers. Definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy atmospheric horror evolving rituals and intergenerational drama.

Don’t eat the pie is a fast paced thriller that kept me wanting more. I will definitely read more by this author. Good for fans of YA. 3.5 stars

3.5 stars. This is a decent debut and I can see it some people loving it. I liked it, but it wasn't a favorite.

Some positives:
The opening chapters did a great job with establishing the atmosphere, tone and intrigue.
The snake imagery was creepy and uncomfortable.
The climax was fantastic and the very end was super memorable. That's going to linger in my memory.

Some not-positives:
I felt like the middle dragged a bit.
I didn't entirely understand the point of the multiple POVs. Emma's POV was great, but I was really underwhelmed by Sam's and I don't think it added much to the story. In fact, I think it hurt it. Also, weirdly, despite their POVs taking place in the same time period and being mother and daughter, they didn't seem to overlap a ton.
This felt like YA to me. Maybe that's just because I was more engaged with Emma's POV though.

I'd definitely check out more books from this author in the future.

Wet interesting book and premise! The cover is definitely eye catching I’ll give ya that! I did feel the story was a bit rushed and I had to keep restarting to make sure I was following. Narrator did amazing though!

Don't Eat the Pie is marketed as an adult horror book, but I had to double-check that it wasn’t a young adult novel. The plot from the blurb sounds amazing, but the execution feels rushed, poorly thought out, and extremely immature. Crazy things start happening with no buildup or clear reasoning, making the story feel chaotic rather than suspenseful. On top of that, the two main characters are insufferable, which makes it difficult to connect with the story. I’m sure this book will find its audience among horror fans, but it just did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
So the start of this book was kind of confusing and I had to keep re starting it. Then when I was able to follow it I was hooked! Definitely not what I expected and I really enjoyed it. I wish the ending had a bit more to it but otherwise this was a good one.
Narrator was good as well.

I think the concept of the book is good, but the execution wasn't the best. The plot felt a bit rushed, it didn't flow very well.

I do think the multiple POV's made the book a bit confusing. It was also hard to really connect with the characters. Both POV's explored very different things that almost made it feel like 2 different books that interlaced together.

I think it may have just been a case of the book wasn't for me. I do think some people will love this book but its not for me.

also note the book has a lot to do about pregnancy, Domestic Violence and more so make sure to go check the triggers!

I think this book started off very strong, then fell flat for me. It seemed as though weird things were happening but not in an order to keep me interested enough.

I choose to get an arc of this book solely on the cover. That pie and title had me hooked.
This book is the horror book I have always been looking for, so freaking creepy.
Reminded me of rosemary’s baby with all the creepy things going on. Characters seeing ghosts, a women gets pregnant after eating a pie, people behaving odd, no one wanting to tell anyone what is going on.

If you have the opportunity to listen to this audiobook this spooky season, you absolutely should. An idyllic island with a bunch of old ladies is the perfect place for such a horrifying story to take on place! It’s got paranormal activity, pie, Lilith, mystery, and just downright creepiness. Seriously, what more does one need? Extra points for incorporating the mysterious Roanoke Island colony!

Sam has finally found healthy love in her new husband Ben. She hopes this could be a fresh start for her and her daughter Emma, her child from her abusive ex. When Ben’s mother needs help, they all move back to Ben’s childhood home where Ben’s ex passed away while pregnant. This stirs up all sorts of feelings, especially when things don’t all seem to be as they appear…

Don’t Eat the Pie was mysterious, atmospheric, and character-rich. The audiobbook narrators did a great job bringing the voices of Sam and Emma to life. The gothic vibes were on point and I enjoyed the secluded island setting of the story.

Unfortunately this book felt very familiar and ultimately the ending fell short for me. The pacing was all over the place and it felt like we ran head-straight into a brick wall in the last few pages. The tropes were overused and nothing felt overly unique. I had high hopes for this book and it sadly fell flat for me

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 60%

I was lured in by the initial creepy vibes and the “something isn’t quite right here start to this book. However, the pacing of this one is just off since there’s so much telling without a whole lot of showing.