janet chow was supposed to be a big deal. back in high school, she had the ambition, the attitude, and the “I’m-better-than-you” energy to match. fast-forward twenty-something years, and, uh… she’s a walking L. her journalism career? dead. her motivation? MIA. her best accomplishment? knowing exactly how long she can ignore an email before people think she died. and then BAM—in walks Pam Kowolski. Pam freaking Kowolski. Janet’s high school nemesis, a former nobody who somehow finessed her way into becoming America’s favorite psychic-slash-guru-slash-cult-leader. Pam is rich, famous, and predicting the end of the world, and people are eating it up. meanwhile, Janet is struggling to eat three balanced meals a day.

well obviously, Pam’s a fraud. she has to be. no way did the girl who once wore Crocs to prom just wake up one day with supernatural powers. Janet smells a scam, and as a (former) journalist, she sees an opportunity: expose Pam, ruin her empire, and maybe—just maybe—reclaim a shred of her dignity. only problem? the deeper Janet digs, the weirder things get. the past isn’t as simple as she remembers. Pam’s predictions start feeling…a little too real. and the more Janet obsesses over proving Pam wrong, the more she starts to wonder: what if she’s actually right?

THIS BOOK WAS WILD! it's giving Unhinged Millennial Journalist vs. TikTok Psychic With A God Complex. it was hilarious, snarky, and just creepy enough to make you double-check your horoscope. if you love messy main characters, high school grudges that never die, and existential dread with a side of “oh sh*t, maybe the world is ending,” then this one’s for you.

10/10 recommend.

In this freaky creepy novella, a woman is forced to confront her past and realizes she might be an unreliable narrator of her own life.

Set in the near future (2031), a woman working in a warehouse while trying to be a journalist sees something shocking. A psychic who goes by the name Madame Pamela is wildly successful. She's built an empire on her readings. But our protagonist knows this woman. And their relationship in school was marred by... something.

Now our protagonist sees a chance to right some wrongs by doing a hit piece on Pam, calling her out as a fraud. But with a big Livestream coming up which promises to show things humans shouldn't see, suicides are up and acts of senseless violence dominate the country.

Is Pamela a fraud or is she bringing the end of the world? And what exactly happened as a child?

This novella is a twisty psychological horror and features some fantastic scenes which are horrific to think about. You're never quite sure what motivated this hatred of Pam from the protagonist but eventually we'll gain some insight as to what actually happened as children.

This book ends abruptly but leaves it to your imagination about what comes next. I actually enjoyed that for this book. I highly recommend it.

The Day the Big Reveal Never Came...

Janet Chow hates her life, though she is loathe to admit it. Her dazzling aspirations and world-changing journalist dreams have become little more than fuel on her never-ending fire of self-loathing and her hatred and anger toward others. She's middle-aged with nothing to show for it: she has no life experience, has been in the same dead-end job for years, and lives in a rundown apartment with a stoner roommate she despises, and who equally despises her. The only thing that keeps her going is her unhealthy relationship with her television and her ongoing grudge against whatever narc ended her college admission at Northwestern.

Enter world-famous medium Madame Pamela, lovingly donned by Janet as "one of the many crackpots who charged exorbitant fees for psychic video readings," A.K.A. Pam Kowolski, Janet's old high school nemesis. What comes next is a crazed tell-all revenge plot, in which Janet aims to uncover Madame Pamela as the fraud she is, derail her upcoming "Big Reveal," and gain the justice she so rightfully deserves for her ruined life.

But when Janet starts to dig around into her high school past, she begins to learn that nothing is as she remembers. Is Pam Kowolski really the beginning of her villain origin story, or has Janet been to blame all along?

Langan's novella is “Sharp Objects” if it were perpetually trashed off dollar-store shots of whiskey and Adderall. It's witty, dark, compelling, and most of all, addictive. But this novella is not without its own dose of self-hatred, because for some reason, you just can't stop reading. And rooting for a main character that's kind of unhinged?

But there are way more questions left than answered when all is said is done. Plot points that were alluded to but never resolved, trains of thought that were started but never finished. Where was the closure? Where were the explanations to half-begun stories?

I love me an unreliable narrator, but when every avenue of storyline ends in a question mark, what is the point of reading? I surely can't find one. It's almost as if the author wrote a brilliant first half of the story, and then gave the rest to an AI to come up with the lackluster ending.

If this had been a novel, I'd like to think that the storyline would've connected better, instead of leaving so many loose ends.

PAM KOWOLSKI IS A MONSTER!: 1.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc.

This cover drew me in even before I realized it was by Sarah Langan.
I absolutely loved this horror novella and highly recommend this one.
Was def over too fast

Thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the advanced copy.

This novella caught my eye with a fun cover and intriguing blurb. I normally wait for a few reviews first but given this was a novella I figured it couldn't be a big waste of time at least - and I'm glad to say it wasn't at all!

Sarah Langan has written something special here. It's a work on memory and self-esteem, and how getting lost in your head, in your own thoughts, can make you your own worst enemy. The horror is multi-layered and very effective, as we see the effects of Pamela's "big reveal". It's difficult to discuss without giving away too much - this story is short enough to be consumed within an hour, and meaty enough to leave you thinking about it for days. Or weeks. I know it'll be on my mind for a long time.

Langan is an excellent writer as well, with vivid descriptions in the now and murkier in the past, only getting clearer as the main character learns the truth as well.

This kind of gives some things away but it's similar to: Nightbitch, American Psycho, Pulse/Kairo (the films)

I really wish this wasn't as short as it was!
A quick-witted and sharp novella that most 40 somethings could relate to 😂
Ok, maybe just me .... I share a few sentiments of Janet's

What a weird, witty, and strange novella! I really enjoyed this book and was hooked by the casual, conversational tone and truly unsettling sequences throughout. Creepy moments along with a jaded, sarcastic unreliable narrator? Yes, please!

Janet is trying to score an interview with her high school nemesis, Pam Kowolski who is now a famous psychic about to do a big reveal of what the future holds--and it doesn't seem good. As Janet researches and digs further into her own and Pam's past, it just gets crazier and more disturbing. I really wish this one had been a full-length novel. I wanted more.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Witty, clever, unsettling, and downright eerie- this is the kind of novella that will stick with you long after the last page. The perfect blend of humour and horror.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing | Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing an eARC of Pam Kowolski is a Monster! prior to publication.

Thank you for providing me with an ARC. I gave this novella 4 stars. It was an engaging and fast-paced read.

Each chapter had me second-guessing my suspicions about Janet, but most of my theories turned out to be wrong. The story kept me interested, and the cover was appealing as well.

Though it's a short book, it was exciting enough that I found myself wishing for a prequel to explore the characters more deeply.

Overall, it was a quick, suspenseful mystery.

Sarah Langan's first book I read was so serious, but her second book was amazing because I loved the situation and characters she created. This is one of my favorite books of this year so far. Even though it's barely over 100 pages, I felt very intensely about the main character and my feelings changed a lot as I learned more. about her and as events unfolded. There are some tropes, like not remembering certain important events from childhood, but they are handled very cleverly. I could related to so much here: not living up to my potential, trusting people I shouldn't, holding misplaced grudges. This was so well done. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this fantastic little horror

I’ve enjoyed Ms. Langan’s writings since The Missing.
This particular novella was one of my least favorite. While I still love her writing style and wit, I found this confusing.

What a firecracker of a novella, firstly the cover art is *chefs kiss* I enjoyed this so much, I love a darkly humourous disturbing read and this was exactly that, I want to keep my review short as to not spoilt it for others as it is a quick read! Highly recommend to horror fans or weird fiction lovers!

Janet and Pam went to high school together, where Janet had memories of Pam ruining her social life. Now, many years later, Janet figures out that Madame Pamela (a popular medium) is her high school enemy, Pam Kowolski.

Janet sets out to expose Pam for the lying con artist that Janet knows her to be. An odd thing starts to happen, though, as Janet realizes the world is quickly becoming a different place.

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. However, with it being only 120 pages, it’s still worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.