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coffincandy 's review for:
You Weren't Meant to Be Human
by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This horrific, emotional story is a punch to the gut, and it’ll make you ask yourself “wtf did I just read” in the best way. I actually had a nightmare after I finished this book, which never happens to me with any horror media!
The visceral descriptions in this are not for the squeamish. They were some of my favorite parts of this novel. The horrors, particularly the body horrors as they relate to pregnancy, are endless & unapologetic.
This book is packed full of commentary on identity, bodily autonomy, reproductive rights & healthcare, domestic violence, self-harm, the trans experience, and the autistic experience. The protagonist is interesting to follow as you become increasingly horrified by his circumstances.
The world-building, however, leaves a lot to be desired. There is not enough explanation of when the swarms invaded, what they want, how they are able to hold authority/power over others, how humans in other areas feel about them, etc. This book is described as “Alien meets Midsommar” & I wanted to see so much more of that!
This was my first AJW & I will definitely read more of his work!
*There are content warnings at the beginning of the book (general) as well as on AJW’s website (more detailed)
**Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to this ebook
The visceral descriptions in this are not for the squeamish. They were some of my favorite parts of this novel. The horrors, particularly the body horrors as they relate to pregnancy, are endless & unapologetic.
This book is packed full of commentary on identity, bodily autonomy, reproductive rights & healthcare, domestic violence, self-harm, the trans experience, and the autistic experience. The protagonist is interesting to follow as you become increasingly horrified by his circumstances.
The world-building, however, leaves a lot to be desired. There is not enough explanation of when the swarms invaded, what they want, how they are able to hold authority/power over others, how humans in other areas feel about them, etc. This book is described as “Alien meets Midsommar” & I wanted to see so much more of that!
This was my first AJW & I will definitely read more of his work!
*There are content warnings at the beginning of the book (general) as well as on AJW’s website (more detailed)
**Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to this ebook