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hectaizani's review against another edition
2.0
I requested a complimentary copy of The Fear from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This review was difficult for me. The Fear started out with so much promise. Ash and Jack, a lesbian couple had just moved to Austin, TX to escape their disapproving families and start their new married life. Their thought was that Austin is progressive and they'd have an easier time not being judged for their sexuality. So far, so good.
On their first day in their new home they went to a local event and met with a hate crime in the parking lot. Jack's mental health spirals and Ash is left in a care-taking role. Cue the pandemic. Now Ash has to deal not only with Jack but also with a global crisis. Seems legit. Still with me?
Here's where the two stars comes in. Even though I could tell that the author was trying to keep his story together it jumped the rails. The dialogue gets repetitive, I got less and less sympathetic towards Jack's incessant ranting and more and more just wishing it was over. The story itself takes a very weird turn and we end on both a cliff-hanger and a "what the heck did I just read?" This is a highly character driven story that fails to engage the reader with the characters. Although I felt some sympathy for their plight at the end of the day I just didn't care what the outcome was going to be.
Overall, I'd have to classify this as torture porn as much of the book is spent fetishizing the trauma inflicted on a lesbian couple. My bad for not realizing from the synopsis that the main protagonists were lesbians as penned by a male author. Just like most lesbian porn created by male directors the primary audience is going to be men.
This review was difficult for me. The Fear started out with so much promise. Ash and Jack, a lesbian couple had just moved to Austin, TX to escape their disapproving families and start their new married life. Their thought was that Austin is progressive and they'd have an easier time not being judged for their sexuality. So far, so good.
On their first day in their new home they went to a local event and met with a hate crime in the parking lot. Jack's mental health spirals and Ash is left in a care-taking role. Cue the pandemic. Now Ash has to deal not only with Jack but also with a global crisis. Seems legit. Still with me?
Here's where the two stars comes in. Even though I could tell that the author was trying to keep his story together it jumped the rails. The dialogue gets repetitive, I got less and less sympathetic towards Jack's incessant ranting and more and more just wishing it was over. The story itself takes a very weird turn and we end on both a cliff-hanger and a "what the heck did I just read?" This is a highly character driven story that fails to engage the reader with the characters. Although I felt some sympathy for their plight at the end of the day I just didn't care what the outcome was going to be.
Overall, I'd have to classify this as torture porn as much of the book is spent fetishizing the trauma inflicted on a lesbian couple. My bad for not realizing from the synopsis that the main protagonists were lesbians as penned by a male author. Just like most lesbian porn created by male directors the primary audience is going to be men.
alittlemixofvix's review
4.0
This was interesting and emotional reading as not only is it set during a pandemic, but also touches on issues like homophobia, racism, and mental health. I was engrossed from the start and completely invested in the lives of Ash and Jack.
I enjoyed the tweets at the start of each chapter and it really reminded me of the truth of what happened in the real-world. The story gets darker and darker as it continues but I could well believe something like that could have happened given enough time – there are some hateful people in the world but also on the mental side of things. I felt everything along with Ash, her frustration, her pain, her anger, and her acceptance, but she definitely ended up a much more patient, resourceful, and moral person than I would have.
The only reason I knocked a star off was because I wished the story stopped at the end of chapter 20. I just felt chapter 21 came out of nowhere and was completely removed from the rest of the story which did taint my reading experience slightly.
Overall a really good but emotionally wrenching story that just felt so real. I can’t wait to read more by Spencer Hamilton.
I enjoyed the tweets at the start of each chapter and it really reminded me of the truth of what happened in the real-world. The story gets darker and darker as it continues but I could well believe something like that could have happened given enough time – there are some hateful people in the world but also on the mental side of things. I felt everything along with Ash, her frustration, her pain, her anger, and her acceptance, but she definitely ended up a much more patient, resourceful, and moral person than I would have.
The only reason I knocked a star off was because I wished the story stopped at the end of chapter 20. I just felt chapter 21 came out of nowhere and was completely removed from the rest of the story which did taint my reading experience slightly.
Overall a really good but emotionally wrenching story that just felt so real. I can’t wait to read more by Spencer Hamilton.
michael_benavidez's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of the book by the author, however I also bought the fucking thing to have some skin in the game.
Why?
Cuz it's a good book. Also I like having physical copies of the things I'm reading. Screens hurt my fragile eyes.
A Pandemic Horror Story is what it's labeled as, and as such it's pretty timely in its narrative. Whether it affected me because I'm a Texan, I'm a minority that's faced a few of the things the characters here have gone through, or because the Covid pandemic has yet to reveal any end in sight, I am still uncertain.
As it is, the story takes our two protagonists, a newlywed couple that each have baggage of their own to work on, through the beginnings of the Covid crisis and works it into something...more.
There's a very real element at play here. From the homophobia, the racism, the fear that this virus instilled in people at its beginnings, really deliver a fast pace beginning that slip into something in the lines of The Shining. It becomes a small scaled claustrophobic tale that hangs on the two main characters, where time ceases to exist. Time ceases to be a meaningful character as it wibble wobbles through, becoming less and less part of the plot as the mental health and situations begin to wibble wobble into insanity. Spencer writes in a way that seems like a nice slow start, and then shifts gears several times, speeding along into something that's expected and yet unexpected all at once.
This isn't to say it's without its flaws. I do feel like the beginning could have been stretched a bit further, getting a better grasp and full view of the characters, as well as the oncoming storm that is the Covid fear. There are certain things that did feel out of place in the very real world setting, that had it not been set in Texas, and having a grasp on what it's like here, it would not have been as believable as it was.
But these are just nitpicks, things that I would have liked to relish in more. however, as it stands, the story is a delicious read that may spike the anxiety (it did mine), and despite it's decently long length, a fast read.
Why?
Cuz it's a good book. Also I like having physical copies of the things I'm reading. Screens hurt my fragile eyes.
A Pandemic Horror Story is what it's labeled as, and as such it's pretty timely in its narrative. Whether it affected me because I'm a Texan, I'm a minority that's faced a few of the things the characters here have gone through, or because the Covid pandemic has yet to reveal any end in sight, I am still uncertain.
As it is, the story takes our two protagonists, a newlywed couple that each have baggage of their own to work on, through the beginnings of the Covid crisis and works it into something...more.
There's a very real element at play here. From the homophobia, the racism, the fear that this virus instilled in people at its beginnings, really deliver a fast pace beginning that slip into something in the lines of The Shining. It becomes a small scaled claustrophobic tale that hangs on the two main characters, where time ceases to exist. Time ceases to be a meaningful character as it wibble wobbles through, becoming less and less part of the plot as the mental health and situations begin to wibble wobble into insanity. Spencer writes in a way that seems like a nice slow start, and then shifts gears several times, speeding along into something that's expected and yet unexpected all at once.
This isn't to say it's without its flaws. I do feel like the beginning could have been stretched a bit further, getting a better grasp and full view of the characters, as well as the oncoming storm that is the Covid fear. There are certain things that did feel out of place in the very real world setting, that had it not been set in Texas, and having a grasp on what it's like here, it would not have been as believable as it was.
But these are just nitpicks, things that I would have liked to relish in more. however, as it stands, the story is a delicious read that may spike the anxiety (it did mine), and despite it's decently long length, a fast read.
shereadytoread's review against another edition
This book seemed like a cheap grab at political events of 2020 but demonized trauma responses and mental health issues in a lesbian couple.
justjussy__'s review against another edition
4.75
"I love hearing conservative Christians talk about how they aren’t going to let something invisible control their lives."
The Fear
Written by Spencer Hamilton
Quick Summary
A virus takes over everything, cities and countries shut down overnight. The Fear puts its sights on a married couple, Ash and Jack. Holed up in one small apartment that seems to be getting smaller by the day. As the days go by Jacks mental state slowly starts unraveling, shutting herself away and in fear of everything.
Final Thoughts
This is one claustrophobic fever dream.
Coming out of a pandemic, where my own mental health was not great this book hit hard. Spencer created a story you could see perfectly in your mind, maybe a little TOO MUCH for my imagination. Spencer... you know what I'm talking about. Hands down such a great pandemic book.
The Fear
Written by Spencer Hamilton
Quick Summary
A virus takes over everything, cities and countries shut down overnight. The Fear puts its sights on a married couple, Ash and Jack. Holed up in one small apartment that seems to be getting smaller by the day. As the days go by Jacks mental state slowly starts unraveling, shutting herself away and in fear of everything.
Final Thoughts
This is one claustrophobic fever dream.
Coming out of a pandemic, where my own mental health was not great this book hit hard. Spencer created a story you could see perfectly in your mind, maybe a little TOO MUCH for my imagination. Spencer... you know what I'm talking about. Hands down such a great pandemic book.
pbanditp's review against another edition
2.0
The Fear is a story of PTSD and paranoia set in the current COVID-19 quarantine lockdown. A married couple, Jacquline and Ashley, move to Texas to get away from family and to start life fresh. One of their first nights in town “Jack” is assaulted and it throws her into a bad spell. Lockdown hits and the girls struggle to survive as things get out of hand in their apartment complex.
I kept singing a line from Nirvana “just because your paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not after you”
This was a repetitive story and Jack’s delusions got old quickly.
I really did not like any of the characters except Mo and he was there for about 2 pages
I kept singing a line from Nirvana “just because your paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not after you”
This was a repetitive story and Jack’s delusions got old quickly.
I really did not like any of the characters except Mo and he was there for about 2 pages
marcushawke's review against another edition
5.0
I got this book not really knowing what to expect; just that it was a horror story set within the backdrop of a pandemic. I don’t even think I knew for certain that it was THE pandemic at the time. Considering when it had to have been written, this was either very convenient timing or a feat of unprecedentedly prescient forecasting. It deals with a number of uneasy but very real topics from racism, homophobia, trauma, degraded socio-political climates, asshole landlords (we’ve all been there, right?) and in many ways those are the real evils here. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: for true horror one need only look to reality
What I liked about this story the most was easily the relationship between the two main characters, Jaqueline and Ashley. It was real, sweet, loving, and tangible…until of course it wasn’t. Eventually things go completely to Hell, things turn bitter, raw, and disgusting in a few cases, and that’s really when I invested in this story. They were both explored thoroughly inside and out, quite literally in some cases. I revelled in the filth, hunger, and mania. I tune in for the picturesque couple hoping to make a new life for themselves because secretly I want to see it all come crashing down around them. I was certainly not disappointed.
It went places I really wasn’t expecting and I’m still puzzling over the ending a little bit, but in a good way. The best way, really. That’s the stuff that stays with you and THE FEAR definitely did that.
What I liked about this story the most was easily the relationship between the two main characters, Jaqueline and Ashley. It was real, sweet, loving, and tangible…until of course it wasn’t. Eventually things go completely to Hell, things turn bitter, raw, and disgusting in a few cases, and that’s really when I invested in this story. They were both explored thoroughly inside and out, quite literally in some cases. I revelled in the filth, hunger, and mania. I tune in for the picturesque couple hoping to make a new life for themselves because secretly I want to see it all come crashing down around them. I was certainly not disappointed.
It went places I really wasn’t expecting and I’m still puzzling over the ending a little bit, but in a good way. The best way, really. That’s the stuff that stays with you and THE FEAR definitely did that.
olliesbooksnbeads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Body horror, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Blood, Confinement, and Racism
whatemsreadingx's review against another edition
3.0
I have such mixed feelings about this book, hence my review of 3 stars because I felt that was the middle ground for me.
The Fear is very befitting of the current times, as it centres around our two female protagonists living through a global pandemic and heavily features how these two gay women are harassed and as such one becomes mentally ill.
I thought the representation of these various aspects would be too much, but Hamilton wove them all together to create a novel so exceptionally different to anything I'd read before.
I loved Ash and Jack right from the start, and I feel this only helped develop the bond I had with them further as Jack becomes more and more deranged and paranoid, leaving Ash to decide between saving herself or her wife. This was so well done on Spencer's part, I could feel the emotion pouring through the pages and there was a clear differentiation between Jack and Ash and how they were dealing with the pandemic.
You could feel Jack's paranoia and Ash's frustration in the writing.
Around 65% of the way through I felt that The Fear started to lose it's way and began to drag, I struggled to keep up with the plot and I grew increasingly frustrated with how I just felt lost.
For me this really brought the rest of the book down, which is a damn shame.
The ending really spoiled this book for me, I know it's survival instinct or survival of the fittest but it frustrated me so much that after everything we had been through we were lumped with that ending.
On the whole, the majority of this book was excellent, incredibly well written and provided a look into how our mental health can be impacted during the current pandemic. However, around 65% of the way through The Fear lost its way and I started to grow frustrated and confused.
The Fear is very befitting of the current times, as it centres around our two female protagonists living through a global pandemic and heavily features how these two gay women are harassed and as such one becomes mentally ill.
I thought the representation of these various aspects would be too much, but Hamilton wove them all together to create a novel so exceptionally different to anything I'd read before.
I loved Ash and Jack right from the start, and I feel this only helped develop the bond I had with them further as Jack becomes more and more deranged and paranoid, leaving Ash to decide between saving herself or her wife. This was so well done on Spencer's part, I could feel the emotion pouring through the pages and there was a clear differentiation between Jack and Ash and how they were dealing with the pandemic.
You could feel Jack's paranoia and Ash's frustration in the writing.
Around 65% of the way through I felt that The Fear started to lose it's way and began to drag, I struggled to keep up with the plot and I grew increasingly frustrated with how I just felt lost.
For me this really brought the rest of the book down, which is a damn shame.
The ending really spoiled this book for me, I know it's survival instinct or survival of the fittest but it frustrated me so much that after everything we had been through we were lumped with that ending.
On the whole, the majority of this book was excellent, incredibly well written and provided a look into how our mental health can be impacted during the current pandemic. However, around 65% of the way through The Fear lost its way and I started to grow frustrated and confused.