A review by haileyhardcover
You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Uff. I don’t think I was prepared for just how  gruesome this book is. I loved Hell Followed With Us and was expecting a similar vibe from this, but White made the jump into adult horror from YA and held absolutely nothing back. If you read this, I recommend an empty stomach.

I’ve never read an ending that was simultaneously so viscerally horrible and yet hopeful. I think the mental images are permanently scarred on the insides of my eyelids. Part of me would like to forget that I ever read this. It’s gross and heavy and I do not feel good having read it... but I think that’s exactly what you’re meant to feel.

I cannot bring myself to give this five stars because of the mental state it’s left me in and the fact that there wasn’t ever a point where I enjoyed what I was reading; however, I do think White accomplished exactly what he intended, so in being unapologetically and perfectly what it is, it may deserve that fifth star.
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