“A folk horror flex that suplexes every summer campfire story you’ve ever heard, The Mean Ones gets its grip around the reader and crushes their skull.” —Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes

“Heartbreaking and infuriating, full of delightfully ghoulish, garish imagery. The Mean Ones makes the wilderness as frightening as memories of cruel adolescent laughter . . . and vice versa.” —Nat Cassidy, author of Mary and When the Wolf Comes Home

“Exquisitely creepy, eerily atmospheric and highly propulsive.” —Hildur Knútsdóttir, author of The Night Guest

“Wonderfully creepy. Schlote-Bonne’s terrifying novel will prey on your greatest fears and crawl under your skin.” —Monika Kim, author of The Eyes Are the Best Part

“Fast-paced and wickedly witty, The Mean Ones will keep you guessing until the devilishly satisfying end.” —Jacquie Walters, author of Dearest

“The Mean Ones is a sharply compelling exploration of emotional isolation and the unending echoes of childhood trauma. Schlote-Bonne’s adult debut is perceptive, nuanced, and impossible to put down as it hurtles readers toward its horrifying—and immensely satisfying—conclusion. Masterfully written!” —Kelsea Yu, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of Bound Feet and Demon Song

“The Mean Ones is bitchy and brutal, a true to its heart good-for-her narrative that leaves you clawing at the dirt and desperate for more. With Such Lovely Skin, Schlote-Bonne introduced herself as one to watch. With The Mean Ones, she’s solidified herself as one to remember.” —Dori Lumpkin, author of Antenora

“Skin-crawlingly scary. Schlote-Bonne cements herself as a brilliant new voice in horror.” —Cindy R. X. He, author of Perfect Little Monsters and This is Where We Die

“The Mean Ones is horror at its best. Think Evil Dead meets Hereditary. From its opening line to its shocking ending, there’s no looking away. Smart as it is scary, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne has firmly planted herself as a horror writer of our time. I’ll gladly follow this author into any dark corner she wants to take me.” —Paula Gleeson, author of Boney Creek and Original Twin

“Schlote-Bonne has crafted a masterful tale about mean girls, summer camp, and a demonic cult, all while delivering a powerful message that it’s okay to be different, that strong is beautiful, and to trust one’s inner voice.” —Lori Brand, author of Bodies to Die For

“Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s adult debut The Mean Ones is a taut and claustrophobic chiller that oozes sweat, blood, and the ferocity buried within every 'nice' girl. Trees weep and muscles twitch as our heroine drags us page by page through a nightmare that’s chased her for decades until we reach a conclusion as satisfying as it is well-earned; I loved every minute of it.” —Jaq Evans, author of What Grows in the Dark

“Splattered with blood and sincerity. If the consequence of being inauthentic is low self-concept, The Mean Ones showcases one woman’s journey to self-actualization by way of recognizing the gory truths of her past. Schlote-Bonne will have you rooting for Sabrina as she puts one foot in front of the other on an ever-darkening descent to salvation.” —Meg Ripley, author of Necrology

“Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s The Mean Ones crawls under your skin with visceral descriptions that bring your deepest fears to life. The dual timeline plays on our childhood fears, delivering the perfect dash of nostalgia. Creepy, unexpected, I devoured this book and loved every second of it!” —Marie Still, author of My Darlings and Bad Things Happened in This Room