Group Therapy: A Slush Pile Novelette

by Jason Nickey

The opening Novelette from the collection 'Slush Pile', now available as a solo release.Group a form of psychotherapy in which a group of patients meet to describe and discuss their problems together under the supervision of a therapist.

... but what if that isn’t enough? For Bobby and his new friends, it wasn’t. Hellbent on revenge, they decide to track down their abusers and work their problems out in a different way.

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gory, emotional, and chock full of vengeance. Not too bad for a story about sexual assault. Not too much to dive into with a review, but it was very satisfying. People paying for the lifelong traumas that they inflicted on others just does my heart good. Yeah, I understand that it doesn’t fix anything, but it sure doesn’t hurt, either. My only gripe here is that I felt it ended too soon, on a bit of a cliffhanger. I wanted to see more from how the story would progress, including possible grief, regret, etc. Just to show more of the aftermath of what our characters chose to do here. Would have taken this from being a very good story to a great one. Still a very good outing from Jason Nickey.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book creeped me right out, so bravo to the author for being able to do that in 40 pages.

[Jessie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a story. Several survivors of sexual abuse come together after meeting at group therapy to enact their own personal revenge on their abusers. We get to see 2 of them get their revenge and I couldn’t help but cheer them along! Can’t wait to hear the stories from the other 2! Some sickening moments include a machete up the bum and colostomy bag feeding. Like wtf. Where do these rancid ideas come from? Either way keep em coming I love feeling sick 😂

[Riann · Rating 2 out of 5]

chocolate capri sun

[Amy Moo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great but weird book by Jason Nickey!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Intense, dark, disturbing, brutal but gratifying short story. Read it in about 25/30 minutes and loved the ride. TW!!

[Harris Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

only 40 pages, but with a punch! This was short and scary. loved it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short story that was a ride! So intense and emotional. Bobby's story made me so anxious and filled me with dread! Brilliant revenge story!

[Angel Hawks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to be friends with these characters. Judge me if you want. 🤷🏻‍♀️ If you ever need ideas for other offenders, I may, or may not, have some for my own two. Thank you for writing this, and giving me a chance to see a little justice served, even if it is make belive.
A very well written story that left me wanting more.

[Lexisbookishburrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Thoughts:

The cover page isn’t kidding when it says extreme story. The book follows a group of sexual assault survivors that form their own support group based around getting revenge. It’s gross, gruesome and revolting but you just can’t look away.

The story is short and a fast read, took me less than an hour to finish it between all my note taking. It’s full of revenge and despair. What happens to the main character is just heartbreaking but the book offers a sort of cathartic reprieve.

A wild read for sure but ultimately satisfying of a read by the end. I enjoyed the story but would have loved to see more of it fleshed out.








SPOILERS












Thoughts While Reading:

I’ve never understood the notion behind forgive your abusers so you can move on. I feel like there’s better ways to “heal” from situations like that instead of being told you have to forgive the person who hurt/wronged you to move on. I disagree heavily. I get it’s so you let go of the hate and hurt but I’m not sure if I was in a situation that called for something like that I could just forgive the person. I’d want to try and move on and heal but I could never forgive them for doing what they did. I guess each person is different but I just find it upsetting that people say the only way to move on is to forgive your abusers.

I can see how this book could be cathartic for survivors of sexual abuse.

Jeez, the cover wasn’t kidding when it said extreme story. The torture scene with Heather was brutal.

Poor Bobby. I don’t think this book had any trigger warnings in the beginning but if any book could use some this one for sure should especially for chapter six. Poor Bobby for not only experiencing what he did at eleven but watching his neighbor die slowly like that in front of him as it was happening. Whatever they end up doing to this guy like they did to Heather’s wont be near enough of what he deserves.

I didn’t think this guy could be more disgusting than he already was. His own son? He picked Bobby because he looked like his son? Revolting.








Final Thoughts:
Gruesome and revolting but ultimately satisfying of a short read.

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…squeezed the bag, filling his mouth with liquid shit like a chocolate Capri-Sun.” 😭🤮

Group Therapy was part of Jason’s short story collection, Slush Pile. I’ve raved about it before in reviews, so when I found out he was putting it as a standalone, I was super pumped and now hope it gets the love it deserves! 🤌🏼

It has a relatable factor that I think EVERYONE can attest to. But in a nutshell, what would you do if group therapy wasn’t working so you decided to start your own group therapy with a few other people who also felt the same and went through similar f*cked up experiences?! 👀 Would you guys just chill by the campfire and sing songs OR would you seek revenge on those who have scorned you?! Find yourself reading what feels like a vigilante warpath with some solid body horror and unhinged torture. 🤌🏼 Beyond that, this story really is a DEEP one. It’s a heavy hitter for sure and I’d love to see it get more hype. Plus there’s some solid gag worthy moments. 😂

[VibekeN · Rating 4 out of 5]

”He took so much from her, but now, she was taking it back.“

A group of SA survivors attends therapy. Bobby is angry, and restless. He connects with three others who feel the same. Together they break away from the group and start having their own meetings–in an abandoned factory.

We follow Bobby’s perspective throughout the story, and it is so well done. Nickey has a real talent for drawing the reader in, and keeping you locked in all the way.

At just forty pages, this novelette is a quick read, with a strong punch. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something short, intense, and full of revenge.
Trigger warning.
Enjoy!

-Vibeke.

[SeveredTherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathartic and honest.

First thing: The end of chapter 6 almost broke me. Reading it felt like looking in a mirror.

The book itself was a bit back-and-forth with the timelines and it felt jarring for a second, but once I got to the end, it all made sense.

There were a few issues in there, but nothing terrible. Missing words, errant commas, nd things like that.

The gore was minimal, with the horror being more psychological and involving SA. Well written and didnt fetishize the interaction.

Overall, it felt like a release of anger and closing the book on the past.

4.75 out of 5 severed thumbs-up.

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts as a support group quickly spirals into something far darker—and more cathartic. In this gritty, gripping novelette, Bobby and a band of trauma survivors realize that talking isn't enough. So they take justice into their own hands. 🩸🧠💬
Part therapy session, part revenge fantasy, Group Therapy dives deep into pain, healing, and what happens when the system fails you. Nickey doesn't pull punches, and this story lingers long after the final page. 🔥

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short novella about s****l abuse survivors getting revenge on their abusers in a very graphic way. Very graphic, but for some reason didn't really gross me out since I don't have a ton of sympathy to people like that. Definitely trigger warnings for that kind of stuff, and in general not a happy read.

[Erica smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

You get what you deserve

I feel like these books are vile but in this case I would love it if we could do this to all the sick vile people out there instead of putting them in jail . great read!

[Notthatjc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hurt people, hurt people

Not for the light hearted. Group Therapy, tells the tale of the other side of the aisle. For some, talk doesn't quite bring the catharsis that vengeance can and some need to burn it all to rise like a Phoenix

[Tabitha Bechtel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short horror book. It doesn’t have any trigger warnings but it definitely should. I mean it’s horror so it’s going to have gore in it so just expect that in pretty vivid details. Kinda disappointed I didn’t get the last two revenge stories.

[Alice Caryer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, who doesn't want to cut abusive POS' balls off?

[Justine Gradwohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 the only happy endings I will tolerate 🥳 this is what should happen in real life situations but… 👀

[marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this isn’t horror this is self-help

[Tiffany Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

No More Capri Suns

This is not my normal genre, I went out of my box to read this one recommended by a friend. The writing style is amazing, my own ability to hold the contents of my stomach? Not even remotely close to 4 stars.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love revenge stories and this didn't disappoint.

[Caitlin Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

dark

Check trigger warnings. This book wont be for everyone. Definitely more splatter punk. Easy, quick read though. Will probably read others in the series

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story about sexual assault and getting revenge. A lot of short stories I have read recently would be great as novels, and this is one of them! Gory and graphic so check trigger warnings.

[kellyjo walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a story! Full of emotion. Gory and powerful.

[Crys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revenge on the men who had previously SA’d them? Heck yes! I dig it 😍

[Rhonda Ofstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Group therapy I see it said extreme short story. I didn’t realize that really mean extreme horror story. Trigger warnings as well. I like it as it’s different story how u want to do revenge

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy. Just don’t see why we couldn’t have a longer hook with all of the characters. You get so involved you just want more. Brutal and absolutely gross which made the book

[melanie garcia yang 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because i’ll always be on the side of making predators pay for being a POS 🥰