Horror Books I Should Have LOVED

TL;DR

A booktuber discusses horror books that she thought would be five-star reads but ended up being disappointing and not meeting her expectations.

Transcript

hi everyone it's rachel back with the shades of orange and today i'm here to do what i hope will be a fun chatty video and that is talking about horror books that i thought i was gonna absolutely love because they checked all of my boxes they were full of my bookish buzzy words and when i went to read them well they missed the mark and they just di... Read More

Key Insights

• 😥 The reviewer had high expectations for the horror books discussed in the video but ended up being disappointed by various factors such as missed potential, a different genre classification, and unfulfilled promises.
• 🥺 Feminist horror and body positivity themes were not executed effectively in certain books, leading to a lack of impact and satisfaction for the reviewer.
• 😱 Heavy-handed social commentary and preaching in horror novels can detract from the story and create frustration for readers.
• ❓ Fragmented narrative styles can be off-putting and lessen the impact of disturbing or unsettling stories.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the reviewer's expectations for "Such a Pretty Smile" by Christy De Meester and why were they disappointed with the book?

The reviewer expected the book to be uncomfortable and disturbing, as the author's previous debut novel had been, but instead found it to be safe and tamed, lacking the intensity she was looking for.

Q: What genre did "Dead Silence" by S.A. Barnes end up falling into, and why did it disappoint the reviewer?

"Dead Silence" turned out to be more of a psychological thriller than a horror novel, which disappointed the reviewer. Additionally, the book had a predictable ending, making it even more disappointing.

Q: What did the reviewer expect from "Zone One" by Colson Whitehead, and why did it not meet their expectations?

The reviewer expected a literary zombie novel with social commentary, but felt that the book was overly preachy and focused too much on the author's opinions, detracting from the story.

Q: Why did "Eat Your Heart Out" by Kelly DeVoe, a young adult zombie fiction with body positivity themes, disappoint the reviewer?

Despite having many elements the reviewer usually enjoys, such as zombies and positive body representation, the book fell flat and was more cute than scary.

Q: What was the issue with "The Omen" by David Seltzer, a horror book about a child possibly being the antichrist?

The reviewer felt that the author spent too much time trying to convince the reader that the child was normal, resulting in wasted time and a lackluster twist that was not a surprise.

Q: What did the reviewer expect from "I Am Not a Serial Killer" by Dan Wells, and why were they disappointed?

With its premise of a man trying not to become a serial killer, the reviewer expected a more psychological exploration of the character's thoughts. However, the book was fast-paced and action-driven, which did not align with the reviewer's preference.

Q: Why did "Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates, a book from the perspective of a psychopath and serial killer, disappoint the reviewer?

Despite its reputation as a disturbing book, the reviewer found the fragmented narrative style annoying and distracting, which took away from their enjoyment of the story.

Q: What were the expectations for "My Best Friend's Exorcism" by Grady Hendrix, and why did it not work for the reviewer?

The reviewer expected to love the book due to its 1980s setting, female friendship themes, and possession/exorcism plot. However, they felt disconnected from the story and characters due to the author's narrative style.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The book "Such a Pretty Smile" by Christy De Meester, which focuses on feminist horror, fell short of the author's previous unsettling and disturbing debut novel.

• "Dead Silence" by S.A. Barnes, a space horror with a haunted house setting, turned out to be a predictable psychological thriller rather than a horror novel.

• "Zone One" by Colson Whitehead, a literary zombie novel that combines zombies and social commentary on capitalism, was disappointing due to heavy-handed preaching and a lack of focus on the story.

• "Eat Your Heart Out" by Kelly DeVoe, a young adult horror with body positivity themes, failed to deliver on its potential as it ended up being more cute than scary.

• "The Omen" by David Seltzer, a horror book about a possibly demonic child, disappointed the reviewer because it spent too much time trying to convince the reader that the child was normal.

• "I Am Not a Serial Killer" by Dan Wells, a horror novel about a man who fears he may become a serial killer, fell flat due to its fast-paced action style instead of a more psychological approach.

• "Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates, a book told from the perspective of a psychopath and serial killer, did not live up to its reputation as one of the most disturbing books as the fragmented narrative style was off-putting.

• "My Best Friend's Exorcism" by Grady Hendrix, a novel about possession and exorcism, did not resonate with the reviewer despite hitting all the markers of a story she should have loved.