Reviews

Southern Gothic - Das Grauen wohnt nebenan by Grady Hendrix

procrasprincess's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 ⭐️

Good but grosser than I thought. Really liked the ending tho

rmacmillan92's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

deannak92's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars, this was the most bizarre book I’ve read so far, and yet it keeps you hooked throughout the entire story. I felt really sorry for Patricia through the majority of the book, her husband never appreciated her and back in those days it was just normal for women to never be right, shut up and just be housewives. This is listed as a horror suspense, but I felt it was more a thriller/drama. It’s a good read overall but I did wish there was more vampire elements.

cmhillner's review against another edition

5.0

Great surprise. This was much more than I expected from the hype and the title. This was hilarious but it was also very dark and fairly deep in it themes. The darkness of marriage and of female friendships along with class and race are explored. These aren’t extremely original themes but are explored in an extremely interesting and original way. It also has some very scary and disturbing scenes. This may not have anything profoundly new to add to the themes but the ride is great and worth taking.

baldistsommer's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jenni_elyse's review against another edition

3.0

I'm a sucker for vampires so this book appealed to me, but you don't even meet the vampire

Spoiler

(if you can even call him that)

until nearly a fourth of the way into the story. Fortunately, the ladies' book club was entertaining and I really liked them so I didn't mind. I thought the book had a lot going for it, besides the horror aspect. It was an interesting look at sexism, class, and race in the south during the 90s. I liked how most of the story played out.

Spoiler

Why were none of the husbands killed off?! They were the worst humans ever. I would even go as far to say they were as bad as the "vampire."

I wish the women were strong or cared enough to defy their husbands to help the black children instead of waiting until their own children were in danger. I'm disappointed in the ending. It felt anticlimactic.

Spoiler

I'm also disappointed the "vampire" didn't die and that whatever he implanted/impregnated Slick with just fizzled and never came to life.

Also, the attic is the worst scene I have ever read in my life! Way too many bugs! Talk about the heebie-jeebies!

apple0loving0shinigami's review against another edition

4.0

Crazy, disgusting, suffocating — just the kind of thriller I needed right now.

Before you start reading this book, check out the trigger warnings. Things get wild, in a bad, bad way.

chaoticallyreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

aparecium_library's review against another edition

5.0

Stunning we absolutely love to read it team.

loves a bad bitch woman putting a stupid ass immortal man in his damn placeeee

vibes were astounding and absolutely obsessed with the way grady hendrix writes so very excited to read everything by him now

khander84's review against another edition

4.0

grisly, amusing, vivid, engrossing

(consumed in audio format - narrated by the wonderful Bahni Turpin)