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Popular
High school can be one of the most challenging times in our lives. Fitting in and being accepted are priority in a time when we barely even know who we are. Some people will go to great lengths to establish a name for themselves. There has always been a dark side to the education system. Often times darker than many may realize. Follow the lives of senior students who can show you just how dark High School can actually be.
131 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2024
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Lebold
27 books49 followersAaron Lebold is an author of psychological horror, sometimes dabbling in extreme elements. His love of the genre began at an early age with all the best slasher films. Writing has always been something of interest but he didn’t make any serious attempts at it until 2017. Since that time he has completed several novels and novellas. His short stories can be found in various anthologies by various publishers. Some of his short stories have been narrated for the Cryo-Pod Podcast. His novel “Born Sick” took second place at the Godless 666 awards for best novel of 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 1, 2025
This narrative is both disturbing and heartbreaking, as it exposes the harsh realities of bullying. The story centers on two disparate cliques: the Goths and the popular athletes. When one of the Goth students expresses interest in joining the football team, the athletes respond with hostility. The tryout serves as a catalyst for a series of appalling incidents, which escalate rapidly. Readers are advised to review the trigger warnings before proceeding, as the book contains graphic and disturbing content.
October 24, 2024
Oh, to be popular.
Popular is a novella that dives into the critical life point of a typical teenager.
Am I cool enough?
Aaron Lebold focuses on two crowds— jocks featuring pretty girls and the goth kids. These two groups end up clashing in the most brutal and unexpected of ways after one of the goths decides to try out for the school football team.
Bullying plays a vital role in pushing this story forward— and the harassment is ultimately what pushes the bandmates of Satanic Fetus Eater over the edge.
Drugs, murder, and absolute carnage fill the pages quickly— perfect for any splatterpunk lover. This is a simple, quick, and cruel read that captures your attention from the beginning. If you’re into books on vengeance and taking revenge, then this one is for you. I always enjoy work by Lebold and continuously wait for new releases— you won’t be disappointed.
Popular is a novella that dives into the critical life point of a typical teenager.
Am I cool enough?
Aaron Lebold focuses on two crowds— jocks featuring pretty girls and the goth kids. These two groups end up clashing in the most brutal and unexpected of ways after one of the goths decides to try out for the school football team.
Bullying plays a vital role in pushing this story forward— and the harassment is ultimately what pushes the bandmates of Satanic Fetus Eater over the edge.
Drugs, murder, and absolute carnage fill the pages quickly— perfect for any splatterpunk lover. This is a simple, quick, and cruel read that captures your attention from the beginning. If you’re into books on vengeance and taking revenge, then this one is for you. I always enjoy work by Lebold and continuously wait for new releases— you won’t be disappointed.
September 6, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
August 6, 2025
Were you popular in high school? If I was, it was probably for all the wrong reasons. I was the weird kid who stuck safety pins in his face & drew boobs all day. (My, my how things have changed.) I was raised on high school horror as well, & was saddened to not see anything cool like that play out IRL. Luckily, I have books like Popular by Aaron Lebold to take me back & show me how high school could have been WAY more interesting. Instead of a place I just pissed a bunch of nuns off & played Pokémon all day in. (I’ve grown so much since then.) If you think you’ve watched or read fucked up high school bully stories, think again.
Quick Synopsis:
It’s high school. The cheerleaders & the jocks vs. the goth kids. It’s a tale as old as time. A petty nasty rumor begins to spread & a tragic turn sets off a horrifying sequence of events. From a truly fucked up band practice to one of the most gut-wrenching ways to go viral I’ve witnessed on paper. The events of one week will forever go down in history & still haunt those who survived.
Just as I thought the high school horror genre felt like it was getting a bit boring & one note, Lebold comes and shuts me up. With multiple POV’s that fully encompass each character relatively quickly and expertly done, it makes for even more of the fucked up events hit that much harder. Lebold has proven to be an incredible storyteller that can go extremely dark and brutal with this story. Some scenes are still quite vividly living in my head. I honestly wouldn’t have thought he had it in him, but I’m just getting all kinds of proven wrong today, it seems. If you can handle it dark, heavy, & bloody: I highly recommend it. Just be warned, this story may make you want to home school your kid. 🤷🏽♂️
Quick Synopsis:
It’s high school. The cheerleaders & the jocks vs. the goth kids. It’s a tale as old as time. A petty nasty rumor begins to spread & a tragic turn sets off a horrifying sequence of events. From a truly fucked up band practice to one of the most gut-wrenching ways to go viral I’ve witnessed on paper. The events of one week will forever go down in history & still haunt those who survived.
Just as I thought the high school horror genre felt like it was getting a bit boring & one note, Lebold comes and shuts me up. With multiple POV’s that fully encompass each character relatively quickly and expertly done, it makes for even more of the fucked up events hit that much harder. Lebold has proven to be an incredible storyteller that can go extremely dark and brutal with this story. Some scenes are still quite vividly living in my head. I honestly wouldn’t have thought he had it in him, but I’m just getting all kinds of proven wrong today, it seems. If you can handle it dark, heavy, & bloody: I highly recommend it. Just be warned, this story may make you want to home school your kid. 🤷🏽♂️
August 17, 2024
Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2024/08/17/popular/
Popular by Aaron Lebold is a dark, compelling, soul-crushing story of the darkness and horrors of high school social structure. Lebold pulls no punches as he unapologetically delves into these things society is loathe to acknowledge. And he does it with obvious skill.
When I say he “pulls no punches,” I am referring to the extreme and controversial, some would say taboo content. This is not for readers with trigger lists. This is unabashed and deals with subjects tragically rooted in reality (which, of course, makes it that much more horrifying).
Lebold’s characters, while clearly representative of “THAT” person or group of people from high school, are nonetheless vivid, engaging, and realistic. Their genuine emotional responses (good, bad, and ugly) contribute heavily to the evocative experience of the read. Another contributing factor is, of course, Lebold’s writing. But for me, these are the skillful delivery of the story itself—the subject matter, the story, the realism are what ultimately tightened my chest and had me whispering in horror under my breath.
Popular is a daring, powerful, brutal tale of social travesties and horrors we keep firmly locked away. Full of gut-clenching tension, gasp out loud moments, and merciless brutality, it’s an absolute must-read for those with strong constitutions.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2024/08/17/popular/
Popular by Aaron Lebold is a dark, compelling, soul-crushing story of the darkness and horrors of high school social structure. Lebold pulls no punches as he unapologetically delves into these things society is loathe to acknowledge. And he does it with obvious skill.
When I say he “pulls no punches,” I am referring to the extreme and controversial, some would say taboo content. This is not for readers with trigger lists. This is unabashed and deals with subjects tragically rooted in reality (which, of course, makes it that much more horrifying).
Lebold’s characters, while clearly representative of “THAT” person or group of people from high school, are nonetheless vivid, engaging, and realistic. Their genuine emotional responses (good, bad, and ugly) contribute heavily to the evocative experience of the read. Another contributing factor is, of course, Lebold’s writing. But for me, these are the skillful delivery of the story itself—the subject matter, the story, the realism are what ultimately tightened my chest and had me whispering in horror under my breath.
Popular is a daring, powerful, brutal tale of social travesties and horrors we keep firmly locked away. Full of gut-clenching tension, gasp out loud moments, and merciless brutality, it’s an absolute must-read for those with strong constitutions.
August 13, 2024
This author has a plenty ideas and Popular is a pleasant surprise. Writen as young adult horror story, Popular leads us in a world of teenagers in high school. Bad people are popular, beautiful and rich, and good people are poor and disrespected. Well, is this the real truth? Loraine wants the relationship with Chad, who is popular and in relationship with Jessica, the most popular girl in the school. She is out of his league, but keep insisting to get close to him, even he doesn't want her.
The events slip from the control, victims became aggressors, and a real horror happens.
As in previous books, the author keeps tense atmosphere, raise the blood pressure to readers , until the end.
Recommended to horror fans.
The events slip from the control, victims became aggressors, and a real horror happens.
As in previous books, the author keeps tense atmosphere, raise the blood pressure to readers , until the end.
Recommended to horror fans.
October 13, 2024
First off, if you have triggers, be very cautious with this book. This book made me cry and made me angry! I guess that’s why it was such a good book because you feel emotions while reading this book. Lebold takes the dynamics of high school cliques and takes them to the extreme. This book just reminded me that high school can suck for some kids and it hurts. I will remember this book for a long time.
April 23, 2025
High school could be hell for some and heaven for others. A splattered lesson of the impacts of bullying, turning a blind eye and the futures that could come for actions without thinking about consequences. Gotta say though the satanic star and murder reminded me of the acid king murder from the 80’s.
PS: look up Ricky 6 on YouTube and you can see where I’m coming from
PS: look up Ricky 6 on YouTube and you can see where I’m coming from
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2024
Enjoyable brutal read about bullying in high school and the violent revenge that goths take out on the school football team and after one of them gets raped in the showers, plenty of gore to keep splatterpunk fans like me happy 😀🔪
August 15, 2025
Popular is a story that makes you want to drop kick a chicken into a windmill. It's always the cliché story of jocks and cheerleaders bullying the different, less popular groups of kids. This time, they chose the Goth kids. What happens next is payback time. Who's gonna win?
August 3, 2024
Loved every minute of this book. Highly recommend it.
October 30, 2024
The kids that go to this high school will need a lot of therapy after this one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews