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Heads Will Roll
A chilling slasher from a razor-sharp horror voice, perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and the
Scream
franchise
If you hear her knock, it’s already too late . . .
Willow is in need of an escape.
A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.
She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.
It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.
They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.
Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it . . . .
Knock, Knock, Knock.
If you hear her knock, it’s already too late . . .
Willow is in need of an escape.
A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.
She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.
It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.
They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.
Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it . . . .
Knock, Knock, Knock.
Audible Audio
First published July 30, 2024
228 people are currently reading
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About the author
Josh Winning
5 books318 followersJosh Winning writes popcorn fantasy and horror novels that are full of heart, hope and humour, with a love for 80s movie puppets, 90s slasher flicks and gay Final Girls. He identifies as queer, and believes in the power of positive representation. After growing up in a small Suffolk town and struggling to find LGBTQIA+ characters to relate to, he now writes books filled with queer joy.
Josh has worked as a film journalist for Radio Times and Total Film, interviewing the likes of Miss Piggy and Goldie Hawn, and he is co-host of the Charmed Chat podcast. His books include The Shadow Glass, Burn the Negative (which was long-listed for a Bram Stoker Award), Heads Will Roll, and Be Still My Unbeating Heart. He lives in East Anglia with his partner and their talking cat Penny.
Josh has worked as a film journalist for Radio Times and Total Film, interviewing the likes of Miss Piggy and Goldie Hawn, and he is co-host of the Charmed Chat podcast. His books include The Shadow Glass, Burn the Negative (which was long-listed for a Bram Stoker Award), Heads Will Roll, and Be Still My Unbeating Heart. He lives in East Anglia with his partner and their talking cat Penny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,077 reviews
October 1, 2025
Heads Will Roll; phenomenal title and equally phenomenal cover. Sadly, the story inside didn't quite blow my hair back, but for the most part, I had a good time with it.
This involves a group of characters who have gone to stay at Camp Castaway. Basically, it's a Summer Camp for adults who desperately need to separate themselves from social media for one reason or another.
Our main character, who goes by Willow, is an actress who has recently been canceled due to an poorly-worded tweet. Something, at the time, she felt was funny, turned out not to be received in the nature she intended. Thusly, she lost her job, her fiance, and any semblance of her regular life.
As she checks into Camp Castaway, she can't wait to be separated from her phone, to go by an assumed name and to be able to forget about everything going on out there.
The beginning of the book is mostly meeting all the camp residents and finding out a bit about why each of them is there. We also get a bit of history behind the camp and the family who has run it for years.
We also get a few scenes interspersed here or there that show us in no uncertain terms that there is an unhinged killer on the loose, and they happen to be stalking and eliminating the residents of Camp Castaway.
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The first 25%, I was invested. I was interested in the concept of this camp and I liked getting there and meeting some of the other campers.
I also enjoyed the very first scenes where we were exposed to the menace stalking the camp. I wanted more of that. Instead we sort of veered into the personal drama sector for way too long for my tastes.
Some may call this a slow burn, and I guess I can see that. I love a slow burn though, but IMO, you have to keep it progressing at a steady clip; keep adding, keep building.
To me, this didn't really feel like it was doing that. I want that fire to grow. If I'm adding kindling to it through an entire story it should build some nice big flames by the end.
This was like a pile of wood assembled at the beginning, with a tiny flame that around 80% had gasoline and a lit match thrown on it.
I was bored after the first 25% until around the 80% mark. That should be impossible with an ax-murderer on the loose, but here we are.
Luckily, it did really come alive for me in the last 20%. It fact, that last 20% was so good, I bumped it up a full star. I just wish it could have been that consistently off-the-walls the whole way through.
Just because this didn't necessarily work for me the entire way through, doesn't mean it won't work for you. I would urge anyone with interest to give it a go.
I've read quite a few other reviews at this point, and many, many Readers are really enjoying it. And like I said, even for me, that last little bit almost made the slog through the middle worth every minute.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I enjoyed this more than the other novel that I've read from this author, so we're definitely on an upward trajectory!
This involves a group of characters who have gone to stay at Camp Castaway. Basically, it's a Summer Camp for adults who desperately need to separate themselves from social media for one reason or another.
Our main character, who goes by Willow, is an actress who has recently been canceled due to an poorly-worded tweet. Something, at the time, she felt was funny, turned out not to be received in the nature she intended. Thusly, she lost her job, her fiance, and any semblance of her regular life.
As she checks into Camp Castaway, she can't wait to be separated from her phone, to go by an assumed name and to be able to forget about everything going on out there.
The beginning of the book is mostly meeting all the camp residents and finding out a bit about why each of them is there. We also get a bit of history behind the camp and the family who has run it for years.
We also get a few scenes interspersed here or there that show us in no uncertain terms that there is an unhinged killer on the loose, and they happen to be stalking and eliminating the residents of Camp Castaway.
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The first 25%, I was invested. I was interested in the concept of this camp and I liked getting there and meeting some of the other campers.
I also enjoyed the very first scenes where we were exposed to the menace stalking the camp. I wanted more of that. Instead we sort of veered into the personal drama sector for way too long for my tastes.
Some may call this a slow burn, and I guess I can see that. I love a slow burn though, but IMO, you have to keep it progressing at a steady clip; keep adding, keep building.
To me, this didn't really feel like it was doing that. I want that fire to grow. If I'm adding kindling to it through an entire story it should build some nice big flames by the end.
This was like a pile of wood assembled at the beginning, with a tiny flame that around 80% had gasoline and a lit match thrown on it.
I was bored after the first 25% until around the 80% mark. That should be impossible with an ax-murderer on the loose, but here we are.
Luckily, it did really come alive for me in the last 20%. It fact, that last 20% was so good, I bumped it up a full star. I just wish it could have been that consistently off-the-walls the whole way through.
Just because this didn't necessarily work for me the entire way through, doesn't mean it won't work for you. I would urge anyone with interest to give it a go.
I've read quite a few other reviews at this point, and many, many Readers are really enjoying it. And like I said, even for me, that last little bit almost made the slog through the middle worth every minute.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I enjoyed this more than the other novel that I've read from this author, so we're definitely on an upward trajectory!
July 30, 2024
A great slasher at summer camp story.
This is the classic story, but well executed.
I liked that the characters were adults with their more or less shameful secrets and not just a bunch of clueless teenagers.
The pacing was great, the characters well executed and the ending satisfying.
I found some little plot holes looking back but I was so engrossed in the story while reading it that it didn't really matter at the time.
If you are into slashers, it is definitely worth reading!
This is the classic story, but well executed.
I liked that the characters were adults with their more or less shameful secrets and not just a bunch of clueless teenagers.
The pacing was great, the characters well executed and the ending satisfying.
I found some little plot holes looking back but I was so engrossed in the story while reading it that it didn't really matter at the time.
If you are into slashers, it is definitely worth reading!
October 12, 2025
One tweet was all it took for an actress to lose everything.
Her TV show. Her fame. Her career.
Her fiancé. Her best friend. Her home.
To escape the online hate, she flees to upstate New York and checks into Camp Castaway – an isolated, adults-only retreat for those looking to disconnect from technology. Here, no one knows her real name. She goes by Willow (the character she played in the Sitcom she starred in).
But the camp’s peace doesn’t last long. Something sinister lurks in the woods – someone with an axe to grind, determined to make the campers pay for their sins.
Heads Will Roll was campy, clever fun – a slasher story with a strong mystery core and a deliciously gothic atmosphere. I loved the eerie summer camp setting and the “campfire tale” element of Knock, Knock, Nancy, which added a perfectly spooky layer. With eight campers, three staff members, and a few others thrown in, there was no shortage of potential victims – or suspects. The fact that everyone was using aliases, including our main narrator, kept me guessing over who was telling the truth and who was hiding dark secrets.
In terms of content, this one was relatively tame for a slasher. It leaned more into mystery, drama, and character-driven tension than graphic horror. The kills were handled with restraint — focusing more on fear and emotion than blood and gore — and much of the story revolved around missing campers, secrets revealed, and desperate chases through the woods.
The ending was exciting, twisty, and genuinely surprising – though admittedly a bit far-fetched. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief, but it’s worth it for the emotional punch. I didn’t expect to tear up during a slasher, yet the final chapters caught me off guard in the best way. I also enjoyed the mixed-media elements and the sharp pop culture references sprinkled throughout.
If I had one critique, it’s that the campers felt a little young for their supposed mid-20s to early-30s. Their dialogue and backstories might have fit better with a college-age cast, but that was a minor quibble.
Overall, Heads Will Roll was an atmospheric, entertaining read – part slasher, part mystery, part emotional redemption arc. Josh Winning’s writing was sharp and engaging, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of his work.
Her TV show. Her fame. Her career.
Her fiancé. Her best friend. Her home.
To escape the online hate, she flees to upstate New York and checks into Camp Castaway – an isolated, adults-only retreat for those looking to disconnect from technology. Here, no one knows her real name. She goes by Willow (the character she played in the Sitcom she starred in).
But the camp’s peace doesn’t last long. Something sinister lurks in the woods – someone with an axe to grind, determined to make the campers pay for their sins.
Heads Will Roll was campy, clever fun – a slasher story with a strong mystery core and a deliciously gothic atmosphere. I loved the eerie summer camp setting and the “campfire tale” element of Knock, Knock, Nancy, which added a perfectly spooky layer. With eight campers, three staff members, and a few others thrown in, there was no shortage of potential victims – or suspects. The fact that everyone was using aliases, including our main narrator, kept me guessing over who was telling the truth and who was hiding dark secrets.
In terms of content, this one was relatively tame for a slasher. It leaned more into mystery, drama, and character-driven tension than graphic horror. The kills were handled with restraint — focusing more on fear and emotion than blood and gore — and much of the story revolved around missing campers, secrets revealed, and desperate chases through the woods.
The ending was exciting, twisty, and genuinely surprising – though admittedly a bit far-fetched. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief, but it’s worth it for the emotional punch. I didn’t expect to tear up during a slasher, yet the final chapters caught me off guard in the best way. I also enjoyed the mixed-media elements and the sharp pop culture references sprinkled throughout.
If I had one critique, it’s that the campers felt a little young for their supposed mid-20s to early-30s. Their dialogue and backstories might have fit better with a college-age cast, but that was a minor quibble.
Overall, Heads Will Roll was an atmospheric, entertaining read – part slasher, part mystery, part emotional redemption arc. Josh Winning’s writing was sharp and engaging, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of his work.
June 4, 2024
3.5
@ThatGirlWillow causes a furore with a tweet three weeks ago and as a result sitcom star Willow loses the lot, not least her job. Her agent sends her to the isolation of Camp Castaway in upstate New York. This place is very different as here, this summer camp for adults gives inmates the opportunity to leave their lives behind and in particular, their mistakes. There’s a complete social media detox because there are no phones. All those there are anonymous, their names are changed as part of the process. Is this a chance for our once upon a time star? She discovers the other campers are ok with one late arrival shocking her as it’s Juniper Brown, her favourite actress. What is the actor who drops off the Hollywood scene ten years ago doing here? Then, several odd and disturbing things happen with one camper going missing. What is going on?
Summer camp horror? Do the contents follow through on the promise of the cover? In part yes as it’s certainly true of the first half where there’s plenty of creep to keep you reading on especially in the ‘shape’ of local legend in Knock-knock Nancy. At this point, there’s an abundance of atmosphere not least caused by the isolation of the camp. The fast paced plot seems to be building well, there’s some fear factor and imagery that gives me the heebie jeebies.
Then, for some reason the pace slows far too often and there’s repetition with regard to Nancy. It becomes gory, there’s plenty of slashing and ‘rolling’ but I don’t feel any tension and I should be freaking out but I’m not. It’s hard to take it seriously as it becomes whoops there goes another one with a lot of frantic dashing about. Understandably. Maybe it’s the author’s intention that I don’t take it seriously?? I don’t know! In addition, the dialogue in the second half is flat and cheesy.
It redeems itself towards the end with a few good twists but the ending seems unresolved.
Overall, there’s plenty of action, it’s fun and if you like slasher movies it does capture that vibe.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
@ThatGirlWillow causes a furore with a tweet three weeks ago and as a result sitcom star Willow loses the lot, not least her job. Her agent sends her to the isolation of Camp Castaway in upstate New York. This place is very different as here, this summer camp for adults gives inmates the opportunity to leave their lives behind and in particular, their mistakes. There’s a complete social media detox because there are no phones. All those there are anonymous, their names are changed as part of the process. Is this a chance for our once upon a time star? She discovers the other campers are ok with one late arrival shocking her as it’s Juniper Brown, her favourite actress. What is the actor who drops off the Hollywood scene ten years ago doing here? Then, several odd and disturbing things happen with one camper going missing. What is going on?
Summer camp horror? Do the contents follow through on the promise of the cover? In part yes as it’s certainly true of the first half where there’s plenty of creep to keep you reading on especially in the ‘shape’ of local legend in Knock-knock Nancy. At this point, there’s an abundance of atmosphere not least caused by the isolation of the camp. The fast paced plot seems to be building well, there’s some fear factor and imagery that gives me the heebie jeebies.
Then, for some reason the pace slows far too often and there’s repetition with regard to Nancy. It becomes gory, there’s plenty of slashing and ‘rolling’ but I don’t feel any tension and I should be freaking out but I’m not. It’s hard to take it seriously as it becomes whoops there goes another one with a lot of frantic dashing about. Understandably. Maybe it’s the author’s intention that I don’t take it seriously?? I don’t know! In addition, the dialogue in the second half is flat and cheesy.
It redeems itself towards the end with a few good twists but the ending seems unresolved.
Overall, there’s plenty of action, it’s fun and if you like slasher movies it does capture that vibe.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
4/5 ✩
“It’s shown me the reason I keep going back to horror movies, the reason they’ve sustained me for so long. It’s because horror isn’t about fear--it’s about love. It’s about seeing people at their absolute worst and still caring. Still fighting”
QUICK SUMMARY
Heads Will Roll is a campy and nostalgic slasher story, drawing inspiration from beloved queer and/or horror narratives while delivering a commentary on the modern online landscape. Though there is a predictability to aspects of the narrative, there are still enough surprises to keep things interesting, and such heart in the storytelling that left me satisfied despite some occasionally underwhelming characters or plot points.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 7/10
E: 9/10
A: 7/10
D: 8/10
S: 8/10
Total: 7.80/10.00
“It’s shown me the reason I keep going back to horror movies, the reason they’ve sustained me for so long. It’s because horror isn’t about fear--it’s about love. It’s about seeing people at their absolute worst and still caring. Still fighting”
QUICK SUMMARY
Heads Will Roll is a campy and nostalgic slasher story, drawing inspiration from beloved queer and/or horror narratives while delivering a commentary on the modern online landscape. Though there is a predictability to aspects of the narrative, there are still enough surprises to keep things interesting, and such heart in the storytelling that left me satisfied despite some occasionally underwhelming characters or plot points.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 7/10
E: 9/10
A: 7/10
D: 8/10
S: 8/10
Total: 7.80/10.00
July 29, 2024
I consumed this book in record time. I love, love, loveeee a creepy summer camp story and this one delivered!
Our narrator has worked her way to the top and landed her own Netflix show but that came to an abrupt halt when she thoughtlessly tweeted something and became the latest victim of cancel culture. Now her agent is sending her away to Camp Castaway for two weeks. When she arrives, the camp is beautiful and serene with cozy cabins surrounded by a thick forest. There’s only one road in, one road out, and no cell service—it’s a place to escape to. Having lost her job, her fiancé, her best friend, her money, her home, she welcomes the camp with open arms but when other campers start to disappear, she senses that something is off at Camp Castaway.
This novel stays true to the slasher genre while weaving in some social commentary, leaving readers with a fascinating meditation on LGBTQ+ rights and cancel culture. From the first few pages, I was deeply invested. The characters and the plot were well written and the story unfolds in a way that is truly addicting and so fun to read. With strong imagery that plays like a movie, this is a horror story that is guaranteed to leave readers satisfied. Some pieces follow rather predictable tropes but slashers follow rules, don't they? It's kind of what makes it so fun.
Would recommend to readers who love slashers, summer camp vibes, incredible world-building, and thought-provoking horror stories.
Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 07/30/2024!
Our narrator has worked her way to the top and landed her own Netflix show but that came to an abrupt halt when she thoughtlessly tweeted something and became the latest victim of cancel culture. Now her agent is sending her away to Camp Castaway for two weeks. When she arrives, the camp is beautiful and serene with cozy cabins surrounded by a thick forest. There’s only one road in, one road out, and no cell service—it’s a place to escape to. Having lost her job, her fiancé, her best friend, her money, her home, she welcomes the camp with open arms but when other campers start to disappear, she senses that something is off at Camp Castaway.
This novel stays true to the slasher genre while weaving in some social commentary, leaving readers with a fascinating meditation on LGBTQ+ rights and cancel culture. From the first few pages, I was deeply invested. The characters and the plot were well written and the story unfolds in a way that is truly addicting and so fun to read. With strong imagery that plays like a movie, this is a horror story that is guaranteed to leave readers satisfied. Some pieces follow rather predictable tropes but slashers follow rules, don't they? It's kind of what makes it so fun.
Would recommend to readers who love slashers, summer camp vibes, incredible world-building, and thought-provoking horror stories.
Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 07/30/2024!
October 10, 2024
I mean… LOOK 👀 at this cover!! Holy hell! It screams… spooky 👻 season!! Thank you so much @putnambooks for this absolutely gorgeous gifted copy!!! Guys… I fricking LOVED it!! 5 slasher stars!! 🔪🖤 🩸
Sooo I am definitely in my Horror era… and this my friends was perfection. 😍 This is my first @joshuawinning book and let me tell you I can’t wait to read Burn The Negative!! Why did I love it?? Listen to this…
Camp ⛺️ Castaway.. A summer camp for adults to escape their lives… and their mistakes… deep in the woods.. isolated…no cellphones… no way out… What could go wrong? 😳😂 I think you know the answer to that… EVERYTHING!! 😂😳😳😳
This was so creepy…crazy… atmospheric… I loved it! The Final Girl vibes were off the chain.. and I was here for it!! Slasher fans… this takes it to a whole new level. The scene in the BMW… I felt the adrenaline literally running through my body. Fight or flight people!! 😳 It was intense!! 👏👏
Even though this was slasher city… it was so much more. The characters were so well developed.. that I felt connected to them. I actually cared if they lived.. or died. 😳 SO many surprises. 😳🫣🤯😱
Sooo I am definitely in my Horror era… and this my friends was perfection. 😍 This is my first @joshuawinning book and let me tell you I can’t wait to read Burn The Negative!! Why did I love it?? Listen to this…
Camp ⛺️ Castaway.. A summer camp for adults to escape their lives… and their mistakes… deep in the woods.. isolated…no cellphones… no way out… What could go wrong? 😳😂 I think you know the answer to that… EVERYTHING!! 😂😳😳😳
This was so creepy…crazy… atmospheric… I loved it! The Final Girl vibes were off the chain.. and I was here for it!! Slasher fans… this takes it to a whole new level. The scene in the BMW… I felt the adrenaline literally running through my body. Fight or flight people!! 😳 It was intense!! 👏👏
Even though this was slasher city… it was so much more. The characters were so well developed.. that I felt connected to them. I actually cared if they lived.. or died. 😳 SO many surprises. 😳🫣🤯😱
October 3, 2024
If I ever had the chance to spend weeks at Camp Castaway, I’d gladly, and without hesitation, take that chance. Ugh, I need a break from my stressful job and everything else. I want to relax, disconnect, and indulge in the calmness of nature. If only.
Well, enough with the dramatics. This book is a classic camp slasher. It made me think of all the slasher flicks I watched growing up. The atmosphere, the suspicious characters, and the kills were executed well. Sure, there were a few plot holes along the way, but I’m willing to forgive and look past that because the good scenes outweighed the bad.
One minor complaint? Why’d my favorite character have to be killed off, though? I would’ve wanted that person to survive, but it’s a slasher flick, so I guess the more bodies, the better.
For fans of slasher movies, this book is for you. For us!
Well, enough with the dramatics. This book is a classic camp slasher. It made me think of all the slasher flicks I watched growing up. The atmosphere, the suspicious characters, and the kills were executed well. Sure, there were a few plot holes along the way, but I’m willing to forgive and look past that because the good scenes outweighed the bad.
One minor complaint? Why’d my favorite character have to be killed off, though? I would’ve wanted that person to survive, but it’s a slasher flick, so I guess the more bodies, the better.
For fans of slasher movies, this book is for you. For us!
October 12, 2024
ARC for review. To be published July 30, 2024.
Willow (not her real name) is (was) the star of “We Love Willow,” a sitcom, but she’s been cancelled and now she’s jobless, homeless, fiancé-less and friendless, all after drunk tweeting and falling face first into a pool (like it would be that easy.) Her agent sends her to Camp Castaway in upstate New York, a sort of rehab for those with image problems like hers, a place where no real names are used and there are no phones allowed….a so no way to call for help when things go wrong. And boy do they go wrong.
Things start off well, Willow’s favorite actress is at the camp, but soon a camper disappears and Willow is receiving threatening messages. Are people getting canceled permanently?
A bit of a slasher film in novel form, don’t expect great literature here. Plus it’s a bit long. Not bad though, and it’s definitely clear what to expect going in, so it’s a bit of fun….a beach read, maybe.
Willow (not her real name) is (was) the star of “We Love Willow,” a sitcom, but she’s been cancelled and now she’s jobless, homeless, fiancé-less and friendless, all after drunk tweeting and falling face first into a pool (like it would be that easy.) Her agent sends her to Camp Castaway in upstate New York, a sort of rehab for those with image problems like hers, a place where no real names are used and there are no phones allowed….a so no way to call for help when things go wrong. And boy do they go wrong.
Things start off well, Willow’s favorite actress is at the camp, but soon a camper disappears and Willow is receiving threatening messages. Are people getting canceled permanently?
A bit of a slasher film in novel form, don’t expect great literature here. Plus it’s a bit long. Not bad though, and it’s definitely clear what to expect going in, so it’s a bit of fun….a beach read, maybe.
August 12, 2024
TW/CW: Drinking, language, death of parents, anxiety, homophobia, depression, panic attack, toxic relationships, death by suicide (attempt), bullying, family drama, gory scenes, blood, cancer
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After sitcom star Willow tweeted herself into infamy and had to be dragged blind-drunk out of a swimming pool, her agent shipped her off to the woodsy and wonderfully anonymous confines of Camp Castaway. Tucked away in the trees of upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults in desperate need of leaving behind their mistakes, their social media accounts, their lives. No real names, no phones…no way to call for help.Willow is relieved to find that her fellow campers seem okay. To her shock, her own favorite actress is here, sitting by the campfire and roasting a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when a terrifying woman pops shrieking from the wardrobe in Willow’s room. Soon after, one of the campers vanishes
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Loving that cover 🙌🏻
2. Pansexual rep
3. Love that the chapters change names when it is the victim that dies
4. Kept me guessing
5. Loved the creepy vibes
6. Very atmospheric
What I Didn't Like:
1. Canceled mentioned so much
2. Insta-romance popping up after a day
3. Ending felt weird
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
We don't even know who our main woman is because she is never introduced to anybody instead she introduces herself at camp to Tye as Willow, the character she's been playing for so long. I wonder if this is going to come back that maybe this was her whole personality and she's disconnecting from reality because she's constantly being this fictional character.
I found it weird that the camp groundskeeper was able to recognize the people that got there. I've never heard of a camp prelooking at people before they show up, but perhaps he knows her from her show that is aimed at kids. I'm still sus of his actions.
It's crazy that a person that is staying at the camp is missing but the lead counselor doesn't even really care where he's at. He's been missing for a full day and she's pretty much like no Buck's fine. Bebe is like the camp mom and she pretty much holds the whole camp together. Her nonchalant attitude about a person missing though is 100% completely insane.
So Bebe has a sister, Sadie that has mental problems and then attacks Willow in her room.
Keeping count we currently have;
• A random sister character attacking people with vague words
• Buck is missing
• Texts being sent out about a "she"
• Seems like gay people are being sent to this camp to be killed
As you progress in the book we learn that "Willow" is never allowed to be herself. She always has to be on and be this image of the character on tv. Even when she's with her boyfriend she had to order the right food, or not want to watch a horror movie, or even talking about what she does in her free time. It gets to the point where she can't even tell people about her sexuality, that she is queer.
One of the two people that are sending text back and forth about the murders is definitely love bombing the other one to do all these killings.
Now Kat is the one that's been killed. Seems like she had a disagreement with another influencer named Roxanne and Roxanne tormented her to the brink of wanting to take her own life.
It's like day two and Willow is in this relationship with Dani already.
We finally figure out what Willow said that got her quote canceled. She said "better luck next time", which is a motto of the show she was on whenever she messed up as a defense towards the government going against gay marriages. Misty is mad at Willow for being different than the image she had portrayed on tv and on social media. This takes us back to the conversation that was brought up about parasocial relationships. I'm just happy that Willow admitted her faults and who she is.
Dani is apart of the gossip goblin that destroyed Willow's life. After Willow blows up at Dani of course Dani acts like she's the victim and actually gets mad at Willow telling her maybe she'll get her wish and it will be the end of the world. Can I just take a second and say how hilarious it was hearing that Willow was shocked that Dani wasn't the person that she's known for - brace yourself all of 3 days. Who knows someone... really knows someone after 3 days???
Willow runs into Juniper and Juniper tells her that she needs to get over what's happened to her because it's not the end of the days. She then tells her in a hundred years no one will remember any of this but it's weird because she uses an analogy of Bettie Davis' issues and drama as an excuse of how they overcame things, but it's been almost a hundred years since that happened so it seems like a moot point.
Just too odd that Buck is the only surviver but everyone else thst was taken has ended up dead.
Loved how Juniper went out. She fought the person and then even went out with a "cut" before being killed by the ax. Fantastic death. If this was Dead Meat she'd get the award for best death.Like a true badass she didn't die this way.
Dani had the photo Willow's brother and she happened to miss everything going on. She is apart of everything. She is planting doubt into Willow's mind by saying Misty had the photo and fame id's.
Misty was a catfisher and was on Catfish the show when someone tracked her down. {{{ First of all it doesn't work like that. I was actually contacted by my old pen pal that o stopped talking to when MTV casting got ahold of me because of him. The team from Catfish called and said I was being asked to do the show and they would pay me. I said no and that was the end of it.}}} They can't legally put you on tv without your consent. So this whole character development for a Misty is not even right.
You're telling me that it's the preacher. The preacher that is in his 60s/70s and is able to run, have super strength, and survive an accident. Also there were 4 women and none of them could take down one man??? He manages to kill Bebe (his daughter), Juniper, and Misty. Okay then. Dani is alive.
We still need to know who is working with Bebe's father (the texts).
The ending - sigh. Kurt is the one helping the preacher to kill everyone. Of course Courtney, Kurt's sister dies by suicide. Isn't she like the 4th person in this book that has either attempted or completed it? I wish the author would be more creative in those deaths.
Ahhh Willow is Rebecca. Now we have an actual name for her.
Final Thoughts:
I would say my main issue with this book is that there is a killer on the loose and people are disappearing, but it seems like "Willow" has a one track mind with just being with Dani. It's completely hit over your head constantly that Willow wants to be with her. Anytime they're alone or doing anything Dani can literally touch Willow and that's like the whole focus of the scene now. It really took me out of some creepy scenes that I think would have been great if this insta-romance wasn't there.
Book was fun! Kept me guessing the whole time. I loved how creepy some parts were and the characters trying to figure out what was going on.
I didn't like the ending. I thought the texts between Kurt and preacher were flirty more than two people working together. Plus I find it impossible to think a man in hus 60s or 70s could behind so many things thst wound take strength.
PS i seriously couldn't stop singing "Heads Will Roll" from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you get a chance watch the music video for it. So great!
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After sitcom star Willow tweeted herself into infamy and had to be dragged blind-drunk out of a swimming pool, her agent shipped her off to the woodsy and wonderfully anonymous confines of Camp Castaway. Tucked away in the trees of upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults in desperate need of leaving behind their mistakes, their social media accounts, their lives. No real names, no phones…no way to call for help.Willow is relieved to find that her fellow campers seem okay. To her shock, her own favorite actress is here, sitting by the campfire and roasting a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when a terrifying woman pops shrieking from the wardrobe in Willow’s room. Soon after, one of the campers vanishes
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Loving that cover 🙌🏻
2. Pansexual rep
3. Love that the chapters change names when it is the victim that dies
4. Kept me guessing
5. Loved the creepy vibes
6. Very atmospheric
What I Didn't Like:
1. Canceled mentioned so much
2. Insta-romance popping up after a day
3. Ending felt weird
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
We don't even know who our main woman is because she is never introduced to anybody instead she introduces herself at camp to Tye as Willow, the character she's been playing for so long. I wonder if this is going to come back that maybe this was her whole personality and she's disconnecting from reality because she's constantly being this fictional character.
I found it weird that the camp groundskeeper was able to recognize the people that got there. I've never heard of a camp prelooking at people before they show up, but perhaps he knows her from her show that is aimed at kids. I'm still sus of his actions.
It's crazy that a person that is staying at the camp is missing but the lead counselor doesn't even really care where he's at. He's been missing for a full day and she's pretty much like no Buck's fine. Bebe is like the camp mom and she pretty much holds the whole camp together. Her nonchalant attitude about a person missing though is 100% completely insane.
So Bebe has a sister, Sadie that has mental problems and then attacks Willow in her room.
Keeping count we currently have;
• A random sister character attacking people with vague words
• Buck is missing
• Texts being sent out about a "she"
• Seems like gay people are being sent to this camp to be killed
As you progress in the book we learn that "Willow" is never allowed to be herself. She always has to be on and be this image of the character on tv. Even when she's with her boyfriend she had to order the right food, or not want to watch a horror movie, or even talking about what she does in her free time. It gets to the point where she can't even tell people about her sexuality, that she is queer.
One of the two people that are sending text back and forth about the murders is definitely love bombing the other one to do all these killings.
Now Kat is the one that's been killed. Seems like she had a disagreement with another influencer named Roxanne and Roxanne tormented her to the brink of wanting to take her own life.
It's like day two and Willow is in this relationship with Dani already.
We finally figure out what Willow said that got her quote canceled. She said "better luck next time", which is a motto of the show she was on whenever she messed up as a defense towards the government going against gay marriages. Misty is mad at Willow for being different than the image she had portrayed on tv and on social media. This takes us back to the conversation that was brought up about parasocial relationships. I'm just happy that Willow admitted her faults and who she is.
Dani is apart of the gossip goblin that destroyed Willow's life. After Willow blows up at Dani of course Dani acts like she's the victim and actually gets mad at Willow telling her maybe she'll get her wish and it will be the end of the world. Can I just take a second and say how hilarious it was hearing that Willow was shocked that Dani wasn't the person that she's known for - brace yourself all of 3 days. Who knows someone... really knows someone after 3 days???
Willow runs into Juniper and Juniper tells her that she needs to get over what's happened to her because it's not the end of the days. She then tells her in a hundred years no one will remember any of this but it's weird because she uses an analogy of Bettie Davis' issues and drama as an excuse of how they overcame things, but it's been almost a hundred years since that happened so it seems like a moot point.
Just too odd that Buck is the only surviver but everyone else thst was taken has ended up dead.
Dani had the photo Willow's brother and she happened to miss everything going on. She is apart of everything. She is planting doubt into Willow's mind by saying Misty had the photo and fame id's.
Misty was a catfisher and was on Catfish the show when someone tracked her down. {{{ First of all it doesn't work like that. I was actually contacted by my old pen pal that o stopped talking to when MTV casting got ahold of me because of him. The team from Catfish called and said I was being asked to do the show and they would pay me. I said no and that was the end of it.}}} They can't legally put you on tv without your consent. So this whole character development for a Misty is not even right.
You're telling me that it's the preacher. The preacher that is in his 60s/70s and is able to run, have super strength, and survive an accident. Also there were 4 women and none of them could take down one man??? He manages to kill Bebe (his daughter), Juniper, and Misty. Okay then. Dani is alive.
We still need to know who is working with Bebe's father (the texts).
The ending - sigh. Kurt is the one helping the preacher to kill everyone. Of course Courtney, Kurt's sister dies by suicide. Isn't she like the 4th person in this book that has either attempted or completed it? I wish the author would be more creative in those deaths.
Ahhh Willow is Rebecca. Now we have an actual name for her.
Final Thoughts:
I would say my main issue with this book is that there is a killer on the loose and people are disappearing, but it seems like "Willow" has a one track mind with just being with Dani. It's completely hit over your head constantly that Willow wants to be with her. Anytime they're alone or doing anything Dani can literally touch Willow and that's like the whole focus of the scene now. It really took me out of some creepy scenes that I think would have been great if this insta-romance wasn't there.
Book was fun! Kept me guessing the whole time. I loved how creepy some parts were and the characters trying to figure out what was going on.
I didn't like the ending. I thought the texts between Kurt and preacher were flirty more than two people working together. Plus I find it impossible to think a man in hus 60s or 70s could behind so many things thst wound take strength.
PS i seriously couldn't stop singing "Heads Will Roll" from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you get a chance watch the music video for it. So great!
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 27, 2024
Most people attend summer camp for the fun of doing outdoorsy activities and spending time with others. When Willow sends a thoughtless and poorly-received tweet, her life as a television star desintigrates and she’s eventually sent to Camp Castaway: a summer camp designed for adults yearing to escape their mistakes while providing complete isolation from the outside world.
Heads Will Roll is good take on the summer camp slasher genre, with interesting characters, a couple of red herrings, a camp ghost story, a dash of dark humor, gorey deaths and even some poignant meditations upon cancel culture, mortality, accountability and the difficulties of living authentically.
Willow is sympathetic character as she struggles to adapt to her new existence as a pariah following abandonment by those who were closest to her. While some of the campers receive more focus than others, such as Dani and Willow’s idol and former-actress Juniper Brown, the cast is far from the typical bland horror movie cut-outs who simply exist to be slaughtered.
Heads Will Roll is initially medium-paced, with Willow gaining-what she believes-is a better understanding of her fellow campers. Tension starts to mount when a camper disappears, but once the first body is discovered, things barrel ahead quickly. The identity of the killer felt slightly convoluted and while some of the twists are somewhat convenient, they don’t detract too strongly from the narrative.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Heads Will Roll is good take on the summer camp slasher genre, with interesting characters, a couple of red herrings, a camp ghost story, a dash of dark humor, gorey deaths and even some poignant meditations upon cancel culture, mortality, accountability and the difficulties of living authentically.
Willow is sympathetic character as she struggles to adapt to her new existence as a pariah following abandonment by those who were closest to her. While some of the campers receive more focus than others, such as Dani and Willow’s idol and former-actress Juniper Brown, the cast is far from the typical bland horror movie cut-outs who simply exist to be slaughtered.
Heads Will Roll is initially medium-paced, with Willow gaining-what she believes-is a better understanding of her fellow campers. Tension starts to mount when a camper disappears, but once the first body is discovered, things barrel ahead quickly. The identity of the killer felt slightly convoluted and while some of the twists are somewhat convenient, they don’t detract too strongly from the narrative.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
June 13, 2024
thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam for providing a free arc in exchange for an honest review
plot twist: the real victims here are the readers.
up until the last 30% or so this book was shockingly boring for a slasher story, then the killer reveal came, and then it was just plain stupid. it's completely laughable that we were supposed to take that seriously at all. this author seemed to think that making the bad guy a big scary Christian would suffice to distract us from all the sense this book didn't make, because, like, Christians, amirite.💀
prior to the shitshow that was the killer reveal, this book was so dull and full of cringey pseudo self-help shit with all the depth of a post you'd find on instagram, and the characterization was so bland. if these characters were spices, they'd be flour.
it's normal to not really feel anything too deep for the victims in slashers; but we were clearly supposed to give a shit about these campers, with all their baggage and sob stories. but how can we? "willow" was there for exactly two days. that's not actually enough time for her or the readers to get to know anyone. her instalove type bullshit with dani was painful, and the "drama" that unfolded between them was pointless since they were over it in about five minutes. which was yet another thing that didn't feel realistic, considering what dani thought about willow and what willow dealt with as a result of dani's actions. i don't see anyone just being like "ah, it's chill, i'm over hatred and death threats because we spent a couple days in the ✨healing power of nature✨ and made out once!" fuck outta here. 😂
if this had all happened over a longer period of time, it would've allowed us to possibly get to know these characters better and maybe make their bonds somewhat believable, but two days is nothing. i also would have preferred to see a bit more distrust between the campers, some classic horror movie group paranoia and finger pointing. there was virtually no suspicion of each other among the campers, they mostly all just got super buddy buddy real quick and like... that's boring? and unlikely? again, this takes place over two fucking days. these people were perfect strangers 48 hours prior and then bodies start showing up, and for the most part no one is sus about their fellow campers? mmmk.
i was hoping for a fun, maybe slightly spoofy summer camp slasher. instead, this book took an ax to my brain cells.
plot twist: the real victims here are the readers.
up until the last 30% or so this book was shockingly boring for a slasher story, then the killer reveal came, and then it was just plain stupid. it's completely laughable that we were supposed to take that seriously at all. this author seemed to think that making the bad guy a big scary Christian would suffice to distract us from all the sense this book didn't make, because, like, Christians, amirite.💀
prior to the shitshow that was the killer reveal, this book was so dull and full of cringey pseudo self-help shit with all the depth of a post you'd find on instagram, and the characterization was so bland. if these characters were spices, they'd be flour.
it's normal to not really feel anything too deep for the victims in slashers; but we were clearly supposed to give a shit about these campers, with all their baggage and sob stories. but how can we? "willow" was there for exactly two days. that's not actually enough time for her or the readers to get to know anyone. her instalove type bullshit with dani was painful, and the "drama" that unfolded between them was pointless since they were over it in about five minutes. which was yet another thing that didn't feel realistic, considering what dani thought about willow and what willow dealt with as a result of dani's actions. i don't see anyone just being like "ah, it's chill, i'm over hatred and death threats because we spent a couple days in the ✨healing power of nature✨ and made out once!" fuck outta here. 😂
if this had all happened over a longer period of time, it would've allowed us to possibly get to know these characters better and maybe make their bonds somewhat believable, but two days is nothing. i also would have preferred to see a bit more distrust between the campers, some classic horror movie group paranoia and finger pointing. there was virtually no suspicion of each other among the campers, they mostly all just got super buddy buddy real quick and like... that's boring? and unlikely? again, this takes place over two fucking days. these people were perfect strangers 48 hours prior and then bodies start showing up, and for the most part no one is sus about their fellow campers? mmmk.
i was hoping for a fun, maybe slightly spoofy summer camp slasher. instead, this book took an ax to my brain cells.
October 13, 2024
I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath right away but instead the author sets the scene and the characters first and it is off to a bit of a slow start in that aspect. As we get closer to the end that definitely changes though and then heads are indeed rolling and there is gore and violence aplenty. My favorite character of them all is definitely Willow's favorite actress (Juniper?), and she was a badass until the very end.
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!
Read
September 12, 2024Like Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and a hundred others before it, Heads Will Roll is a summer camp slasher—this time in novel form, though a novel written by a film critic. Cleverly, this is a very contemporary novel that explores the trappings of fame and the toxic avenues of "cancel culture". Our protagonist was riding high in LA, playing the titular role in a hugely successful Netflix sitcom called We Love Willow, until she wasn't.
After being cancelled for a tweet, the details of which we don't learn about for a long time, she heads off to a summer camp for people wanting to get away from technology. There, she hears a campfire story about a girl who was beheaded, and now her ghost knocks on cabin doors looking for her head. Cue the slasher as campers start going missing one by one, and we even see their deaths play out from their own intimate perspectives.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-horror-n...
After being cancelled for a tweet, the details of which we don't learn about for a long time, she heads off to a summer camp for people wanting to get away from technology. There, she hears a campfire story about a girl who was beheaded, and now her ghost knocks on cabin doors looking for her head. Cue the slasher as campers start going missing one by one, and we even see their deaths play out from their own intimate perspectives.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-horror-n...
October 28, 2024
Oooo this was so much fun!! I loved everything about this. The author’s clear reverence for horror movies, the pop culture references, the connection I felt with the characters, the way I felt like I was right there with them dodging death & the gay romance at the heart of the book. I was correct about a certain big reveal! I won’t spoil but just know I have bragging rights. But it was still a delight to get the full picture painted for me because there were still surprises to be had. It’s fast paced and witty with no dull moments. I really have no complaints. This was perfect to me and I am so excited to check out more from this author in the future!!
June 10, 2024
I read Burn The Negative by Josh Winning last year and
LOVED it. It was a Hollywood/Cursed Movie horror book.
Heads Will Roll is a Summer Camp Slasher that pays tribute to tons of horror movies. So thankful that NetGalley approved my request to read this one early! I absolutely loved how aware this book was. It even had a Paul Tremblay reference which made me smile.
The book focuses on Willow, who is know for her Netflix sitcom We Love Willow. After one of her tweets goes viral (for the wrong reasons), her show is canceled, her fiancé leaves her, and she's getting canceled on the internet. She receives a brochure on a secluded camp in the New York mountains called Camp Castaway-or as she quickly dubs it Camp Cancelled. Everyone there seems to have a past/ present they're hiding from. Everything seems great when she first arrived, but when campers start going missing Willow gets suspicious. She starts investigating and uncovers some dark secrets about the camp and her fellow campers.
Overall I LOVED this book. It has great representation. It's cheesy and gory. I read this very quickly, finishing it in about three days. It's super addicting and definitely a novel you won't want to put down once you start it.
I gave this one 4 stars!
This book comes out July 30th, 2024 published by @putnambooks. Thanks again to@netgalley and @joshuawinning for the opportunity to read and review this book early.
LOVED it. It was a Hollywood/Cursed Movie horror book.
Heads Will Roll is a Summer Camp Slasher that pays tribute to tons of horror movies. So thankful that NetGalley approved my request to read this one early! I absolutely loved how aware this book was. It even had a Paul Tremblay reference which made me smile.
The book focuses on Willow, who is know for her Netflix sitcom We Love Willow. After one of her tweets goes viral (for the wrong reasons), her show is canceled, her fiancé leaves her, and she's getting canceled on the internet. She receives a brochure on a secluded camp in the New York mountains called Camp Castaway-or as she quickly dubs it Camp Cancelled. Everyone there seems to have a past/ present they're hiding from. Everything seems great when she first arrived, but when campers start going missing Willow gets suspicious. She starts investigating and uncovers some dark secrets about the camp and her fellow campers.
Overall I LOVED this book. It has great representation. It's cheesy and gory. I read this very quickly, finishing it in about three days. It's super addicting and definitely a novel you won't want to put down once you start it.
I gave this one 4 stars!
This book comes out July 30th, 2024 published by @putnambooks. Thanks again to@netgalley and @joshuawinning for the opportunity to read and review this book early.
April 10, 2024
If you like slashers you're going to love this fantastic novel. The name says it all. Heads Will Roll, and oh yeah, take that literally.
It's about a woman who had a hit Netflix show until a single tweet had her cancelled in the most extreme manner. She decides to go to a camp that promises digital detox and getting out in nature. There, she'll meet several characters who all have their own demons they're running from.
But soon, people go missing, decapitated bodies start piling up, and there's no way to escape this camp far away from civilization.
There's a lot more to the story than that but I'll just say it's well written and really dives into cancel culture and how it impacts others.
This book is like watching a great slasher film in your head while reading. There are a number of suspects, red herrings, and plenty of good ol' slashery goodness mixed with dark humor at times.
You definitely want to read this one and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It's about a woman who had a hit Netflix show until a single tweet had her cancelled in the most extreme manner. She decides to go to a camp that promises digital detox and getting out in nature. There, she'll meet several characters who all have their own demons they're running from.
But soon, people go missing, decapitated bodies start piling up, and there's no way to escape this camp far away from civilization.
There's a lot more to the story than that but I'll just say it's well written and really dives into cancel culture and how it impacts others.
This book is like watching a great slasher film in your head while reading. There are a number of suspects, red herrings, and plenty of good ol' slashery goodness mixed with dark humor at times.
You definitely want to read this one and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
June 30, 2024
Thank you so much to Josh Winning and Putnam for my copy of this book. This was a fun summer camp thriller about people who need to escape the public eye and detach from their social media. Camp Castaway is where Willow goes to recover from a bad tweet and getting canceled. She meets other people who need to leave behind their mistakes and fade into oblivion, but no technology means no way to call for help. When a woman comes screaming out of Willow’s wardrobe, she is spooked. Then one of the campers go missing, and campers start to literally lose their heads.
Thoughts: This was a super fun and campy thriller/horror book. I love the way Josh Winning writes and this book was extra fun on audio because of Willow’s internal voice. I love a killer at a summer camp, and read this book quickly. The short chapters made it so easy to consume, and it was cheesy and over the top in the best way. Yes, you have to suspend belief. Yes, it was a little too much, but I still loved it. 4.5 stars!
Thoughts: This was a super fun and campy thriller/horror book. I love the way Josh Winning writes and this book was extra fun on audio because of Willow’s internal voice. I love a killer at a summer camp, and read this book quickly. The short chapters made it so easy to consume, and it was cheesy and over the top in the best way. Yes, you have to suspend belief. Yes, it was a little too much, but I still loved it. 4.5 stars!
October 26, 2024
4.5 Stars
This was so good. I loved the slasher vibes, but that there was a bit of a deeper meaning to it. Discussions on cancel culture, social media as a whole, diversity and conversations about the LGBT community and how people within the community are treated by people outside of it, even in this day and age! I really liked the elements of mixed media in here as well. The audiobook was done really well, and really brought the story to life, and I was super invested in these characters. I had a great time with this.
This was so good. I loved the slasher vibes, but that there was a bit of a deeper meaning to it. Discussions on cancel culture, social media as a whole, diversity and conversations about the LGBT community and how people within the community are treated by people outside of it, even in this day and age! I really liked the elements of mixed media in here as well. The audiobook was done really well, and really brought the story to life, and I was super invested in these characters. I had a great time with this.
September 8, 2024
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, so when I saw this book at the library the last week of August, I thought it was fate: a summer camp slasher that I could definitely zip through right before Labor Day? This is just what I needed! (It wasn’t.)
This book was a slog to get through, which is ironic considering the story lasts about 48 hours. I thought we had been at the camp for at least a week, especially when one camper showed back up in a disheveled state with his hair “big, long, and matted.” Turns out he had been gone for about 24 hours at that point, so I’m not sure how his hair both grew and got so filthy in such a short period of time, considering he was only hiding in house. But I guess this made it feel more *horror movie* 🙄
Spoilers are ahead, so be warned
Willow, our main character, has been sent to Camp Castaway after she tweeted something shocking that got her entire show canceled, got her fiancé to dump her, and got the entire world to just absolutely despise her. The camp is designed to help people unplug entirely and rid themselves of their technology addiction, so campers are encouraged to pick a fake name. Willow goes with “Willow.” That’s the name of her character on “We Love Willow,” the Netflix show in which she starred for some undisclosed number of years. 👍🏻
This show is described as a goofy little sitcom: the kind of show where the main character is relentlessly optimistic and has a catch phrase and an imaginary friend. An interchapter showing a description of a We Love Willow episode heavily implies it is supposed to be akin to a Tina Fey joint. Maybe an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt vibe. Something goofy and silly and fun.
Here’s the problem. The actress playing Willow? My friends, she likes HORROR MOVIES. She eats her steak RARE. Furthermore? This actress? She’s BISEXUAL! Unfortunately she will NEVER be able to come out as a horror fan with food preferences who also isn’t 100% straight. Nope. Not in this day and age. Definitely not when starring in a show produced by Netflix. Definitely not as a person starring in a Tina Fey style show. And DEFINITELY not as a young woman in Hollywood!!!!
This truly was the most frustrating thing about this story. It is unbelievable that a woman in her mid-20s who is not a former child star, who didn’t come up through Disney Channel so isn’t beholden to some weird morality clause contract, whose show is on a streaming service that does not shy away from queer content, and who appears to be Gen Z (a generation that is the most open EVER when it comes to sexuality) would feel herself completely unable to come out as bisexual, let alone let people in the world know that she has interests that aren’t exactly in line with a fictional character she plays. This author is a former pop culture website reporter. How did he miss the rabid and rapt attention that fans and stans pay to their favorite actor’s every move? The ravenous hunger they have for any tidbit of that person’s real life outside of the spotlight? There is no way that fans would be disappointed to find out what kind of food this actress likes to eat, unless that food was live kittens! (And even then, some stans would probably try it themselves, just to feel closer to her.)
The tweet that got her cancelled was a response to an important LGBTQ+ protection bill not passing in congress. The community and supporters were upset, and Willow was, too! So she tweeted her support! And it got her cancelled
Oh, did you think that the tweet effectively outed her and all of her assumptions about staying in the closet were correct? Oh, no. No, no, not even a little bit. In fact, she tweeted “better luck next time!” - her catchphrase from her show - on an article about how devastating this loss was for the queer community. Here’s the problem, though. She did it *ironically* but some jerk gossip columnist TWISTED IT AROUND and made Willow come across as a homophobic right-wing jerk! I mean, how! How could ANYONE have seen that tweet and think that SHE was mocking the people who were disappointed in the lack of protections that had gone through congress??
Oh, everyone would think that? I see. Hmm. Well, it turns out that there is no possible way that someone could have interpreted that tweet in any way that would have made it read as supportive. Maybe if Willow was out, though! Let’s imagine if Lady Gaga tweeted that! …oh I see. People would assume that she was either changing her allegiance politically or was the most tone deaf person in history. Got it.
Yeah, I’m sorry, but I’m not on Willow’s side here at all. This tweet WAS tone deaf and wasn’t funny or sarcastic. She didn’t get dumped by her fiancé because he found out she was queer. He dumped her because he thought she was a bigot. Her show didn’t get cancelled because of morals. Well, it did, it’s just that the high ground seems to have been on the side of the production company and not Willow. The problem is that we, as readers, are supposed to be siding with Willow and I just don’t see how that’s possible! She didn’t get a raw deal. She fucked up and found out.
The author seemed to be trying to make some grand statement on cancel culture. How it’s gone too far, how it breaks people down when they didn’t do anything wrong. How it’s tearing the fabric of our society. He even tries to change the definition by the end to “murdered.” “Let’s talk about this person’s unfair cancellation” is used to promote a true crime podcast exploring the terrible murder of a teenage girl at the hands of her father. She wasn’t cancelled! Cancelling requires SOME amount of action on the part of the cancelled. It’s ridiculous to take the meaning and twist is so far that now we’re saying no one that’s ever suffered a cancellation deserved it.
Honestly, the only people that complain about cancel culture are the people who just want to talk and act with impunity. With a complete lack of judgement or critique or consequence for anything they ever say and do. This is not how the world has ever worked. Cancelling isn’t even a real thing! Gina Carrano still has acting jobs and a platform on the internet, even though she got fired from Disney. Louis CK is still a beloved stand up comic. Kevin Sorbo wasn’t being kept from Hollywood jobs because of his views, but actually from his poor acting skills. And Dave Chapell just keeps churning out million-dollar-earning Netflix specials to lament the fact that he’s just “not allowed to say anything anymore.” If people can be cancelled, how come I keep getting their junky issues shoved into my mailbox every day?
The main plot of the book is about a series of murders, but it was very hard to get into the who and the why because I just could not root for a woman who is railing against a system that forced her into a box when the box was coming from inside the house. (Horror movie reference! Don’t tell my fans, they’d be so disappointed that I have personal interests.) No one seemed to be telling her what to do or how to act, and the world being described where that was her reality is not the world that I have been living in. Willow made a huge mistake with that tweet. The mistake wasn’t speaking up about LGBT rights, as we’re supposed to believe, though. It was implicating herself as an actor for the wrong side of the issue, and the fact that she just could not see that this “cancellation,” and the consequences she suffered as a result, were entirely of her own making, made her the least sympathetic final girl I’ve met in a long time.
Also, can someone check on Sadie? I think she’s still in the cabinet under the stairs.
This book was a slog to get through, which is ironic considering the story lasts about 48 hours. I thought we had been at the camp for at least a week, especially when one camper showed back up in a disheveled state with his hair “big, long, and matted.” Turns out he had been gone for about 24 hours at that point, so I’m not sure how his hair both grew and got so filthy in such a short period of time, considering he was only hiding in house. But I guess this made it feel more *horror movie* 🙄
Spoilers are ahead, so be warned
Willow, our main character, has been sent to Camp Castaway after she tweeted something shocking that got her entire show canceled, got her fiancé to dump her, and got the entire world to just absolutely despise her. The camp is designed to help people unplug entirely and rid themselves of their technology addiction, so campers are encouraged to pick a fake name. Willow goes with “Willow.” That’s the name of her character on “We Love Willow,” the Netflix show in which she starred for some undisclosed number of years. 👍🏻
This show is described as a goofy little sitcom: the kind of show where the main character is relentlessly optimistic and has a catch phrase and an imaginary friend. An interchapter showing a description of a We Love Willow episode heavily implies it is supposed to be akin to a Tina Fey joint. Maybe an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt vibe. Something goofy and silly and fun.
Here’s the problem. The actress playing Willow? My friends, she likes HORROR MOVIES. She eats her steak RARE. Furthermore? This actress? She’s BISEXUAL! Unfortunately she will NEVER be able to come out as a horror fan with food preferences who also isn’t 100% straight. Nope. Not in this day and age. Definitely not when starring in a show produced by Netflix. Definitely not as a person starring in a Tina Fey style show. And DEFINITELY not as a young woman in Hollywood!!!!
This truly was the most frustrating thing about this story. It is unbelievable that a woman in her mid-20s who is not a former child star, who didn’t come up through Disney Channel so isn’t beholden to some weird morality clause contract, whose show is on a streaming service that does not shy away from queer content, and who appears to be Gen Z (a generation that is the most open EVER when it comes to sexuality) would feel herself completely unable to come out as bisexual, let alone let people in the world know that she has interests that aren’t exactly in line with a fictional character she plays. This author is a former pop culture website reporter. How did he miss the rabid and rapt attention that fans and stans pay to their favorite actor’s every move? The ravenous hunger they have for any tidbit of that person’s real life outside of the spotlight? There is no way that fans would be disappointed to find out what kind of food this actress likes to eat, unless that food was live kittens! (And even then, some stans would probably try it themselves, just to feel closer to her.)
The tweet that got her cancelled was a response to an important LGBTQ+ protection bill not passing in congress. The community and supporters were upset, and Willow was, too! So she tweeted her support! And it got her cancelled
Oh, did you think that the tweet effectively outed her and all of her assumptions about staying in the closet were correct? Oh, no. No, no, not even a little bit. In fact, she tweeted “better luck next time!” - her catchphrase from her show - on an article about how devastating this loss was for the queer community. Here’s the problem, though. She did it *ironically* but some jerk gossip columnist TWISTED IT AROUND and made Willow come across as a homophobic right-wing jerk! I mean, how! How could ANYONE have seen that tweet and think that SHE was mocking the people who were disappointed in the lack of protections that had gone through congress??
Oh, everyone would think that? I see. Hmm. Well, it turns out that there is no possible way that someone could have interpreted that tweet in any way that would have made it read as supportive. Maybe if Willow was out, though! Let’s imagine if Lady Gaga tweeted that! …oh I see. People would assume that she was either changing her allegiance politically or was the most tone deaf person in history. Got it.
Yeah, I’m sorry, but I’m not on Willow’s side here at all. This tweet WAS tone deaf and wasn’t funny or sarcastic. She didn’t get dumped by her fiancé because he found out she was queer. He dumped her because he thought she was a bigot. Her show didn’t get cancelled because of morals. Well, it did, it’s just that the high ground seems to have been on the side of the production company and not Willow. The problem is that we, as readers, are supposed to be siding with Willow and I just don’t see how that’s possible! She didn’t get a raw deal. She fucked up and found out.
The author seemed to be trying to make some grand statement on cancel culture. How it’s gone too far, how it breaks people down when they didn’t do anything wrong. How it’s tearing the fabric of our society. He even tries to change the definition by the end to “murdered.” “Let’s talk about this person’s unfair cancellation” is used to promote a true crime podcast exploring the terrible murder of a teenage girl at the hands of her father. She wasn’t cancelled! Cancelling requires SOME amount of action on the part of the cancelled. It’s ridiculous to take the meaning and twist is so far that now we’re saying no one that’s ever suffered a cancellation deserved it.
Honestly, the only people that complain about cancel culture are the people who just want to talk and act with impunity. With a complete lack of judgement or critique or consequence for anything they ever say and do. This is not how the world has ever worked. Cancelling isn’t even a real thing! Gina Carrano still has acting jobs and a platform on the internet, even though she got fired from Disney. Louis CK is still a beloved stand up comic. Kevin Sorbo wasn’t being kept from Hollywood jobs because of his views, but actually from his poor acting skills. And Dave Chapell just keeps churning out million-dollar-earning Netflix specials to lament the fact that he’s just “not allowed to say anything anymore.” If people can be cancelled, how come I keep getting their junky issues shoved into my mailbox every day?
The main plot of the book is about a series of murders, but it was very hard to get into the who and the why because I just could not root for a woman who is railing against a system that forced her into a box when the box was coming from inside the house. (Horror movie reference! Don’t tell my fans, they’d be so disappointed that I have personal interests.) No one seemed to be telling her what to do or how to act, and the world being described where that was her reality is not the world that I have been living in. Willow made a huge mistake with that tweet. The mistake wasn’t speaking up about LGBT rights, as we’re supposed to believe, though. It was implicating herself as an actor for the wrong side of the issue, and the fact that she just could not see that this “cancellation,” and the consequences she suffered as a result, were entirely of her own making, made her the least sympathetic final girl I’ve met in a long time.
Also, can someone check on Sadie? I think she’s still in the cabinet under the stairs.
July 18, 2025
A group of influencers are all escaping what had canceled them from social media as they gather at Camp Castaway for a cleanse away from the public ,social media and technology. When campers start showing up dead, the legend of Knock-Knock Nancy comes to life. The campers now have to survive the night while also confronting their dark pasts.
This was very slow going camp/slasher novel and nothing really happens until about 50% into the book then it starts to pick up a little bit.. The last 30% is where things really pick up and where I started to enjoy the story more. I felt the characters were flat and one dimensional no one really stood out to me and the story is very predictable. I also didn’t feel like it felt like a slasher novel until the last 30% of the book.There was a lot of pop culture references and found it kinda annoying. if you are someone who is maybe just getting into horror and really into influencers and social media I think this would be right up your alley.
This was very slow going camp/slasher novel and nothing really happens until about 50% into the book then it starts to pick up a little bit.. The last 30% is where things really pick up and where I started to enjoy the story more. I felt the characters were flat and one dimensional no one really stood out to me and the story is very predictable. I also didn’t feel like it felt like a slasher novel until the last 30% of the book.There was a lot of pop culture references and found it kinda annoying. if you are someone who is maybe just getting into horror and really into influencers and social media I think this would be right up your alley.
September 1, 2024
won in goodreads giveaway!
such a fun murder mystery. i loved the setting most of all, it made for such a good read.
such a fun murder mystery. i loved the setting most of all, it made for such a good read.
May 22, 2024
Cancel culture sends a sitcom star into a downward spiral, and she finds herself in an upstate summer camp for the ostracized. Everything is fun and lies until someone, or something, starts taking the campers out one by one.
When horror and humor complement each other, I’ll always say it’s a success, and I think the author nailed it. This book has such an 80s-90s slasher feel that gives enough nostalgia without ever coming across as “silly”—if that’s even the right word🤷🏻♀️. Winning uses the classic slasher tropes against a modern setting, and it just works.
The pacing is near neck-breaking; we just plowed through the plot, and I’m not even mad about it. If I had started this earlier in the day, it would’ve easily been a one-sitting read 🤌🏼
I totes appreciated the mid-story bomb drop; I think I even said “no fckn way” out loud but then tried to play it off like, “oh, yeah, I can see that 👀”. The plot twist at the end actually surprised me a little, so hella props.
The only thing I’m pulling back on a star for is that by the end, I still felt like there were some loose ends that could’ve been tied up, BUT in the defense of the slasher vibe, I guess it isn’t that big of a deal.
When horror and humor complement each other, I’ll always say it’s a success, and I think the author nailed it. This book has such an 80s-90s slasher feel that gives enough nostalgia without ever coming across as “silly”—if that’s even the right word🤷🏻♀️. Winning uses the classic slasher tropes against a modern setting, and it just works.
The pacing is near neck-breaking; we just plowed through the plot, and I’m not even mad about it. If I had started this earlier in the day, it would’ve easily been a one-sitting read 🤌🏼
I totes appreciated the mid-story bomb drop; I think I even said “no fckn way” out loud but then tried to play it off like, “oh, yeah, I can see that 👀”. The plot twist at the end actually surprised me a little, so hella props.
The only thing I’m pulling back on a star for is that by the end, I still felt like there were some loose ends that could’ve been tied up, BUT in the defense of the slasher vibe, I guess it isn’t that big of a deal.
July 31, 2024
Set at Camp Castaway, a place people can go when things go wrong and they need to get away from life for a while. Lots of commentary on social media, cancel culture, and how quickly someones life can be upturned by a gossip/hate post gone viral. I really liked the way these topics are explored among the camp members, as well as all the horror references dropped throughout the story. The kills were pretty fun and I enjoyed all the character pov's. Overall this was a very enjoyable summer read. I think a lot of slasher lovers will enjoy this one!
This book is out now in all formats.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Penguin, & the author for the e-galley!
This book is out now in all formats.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Penguin, & the author for the e-galley!
June 27, 2024
A good old fashioned slasher with a few modern twists.
I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and luckily it ticked a fair few of the boxes which I would call a necessity for a good compelling read, it even ticked a few I never new existed too.
Following the well trodden cliche of a group gather at a summer camp, this story delves deeply into the lives of a extremely varied collection of characters, each having fallen foul of cancel culture. All in an effort to rejuvenate or cleanse themselves of these modern issues. That's exactly where this tale starts to become darker, more foreboding, menacing as events unravell.
The author did a marvelous job of covering lgbtq issues but without making it become overbaring and undermining the narrative. This was a breath of fresh air for me, as many stories seem to get bogged down with similar topics lately.
Overall this was a fun, exciting read and one that is well worth checking out.
I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and luckily it ticked a fair few of the boxes which I would call a necessity for a good compelling read, it even ticked a few I never new existed too.
Following the well trodden cliche of a group gather at a summer camp, this story delves deeply into the lives of a extremely varied collection of characters, each having fallen foul of cancel culture. All in an effort to rejuvenate or cleanse themselves of these modern issues. That's exactly where this tale starts to become darker, more foreboding, menacing as events unravell.
The author did a marvelous job of covering lgbtq issues but without making it become overbaring and undermining the narrative. This was a breath of fresh air for me, as many stories seem to get bogged down with similar topics lately.
Overall this was a fun, exciting read and one that is well worth checking out.
July 30, 2024
It had its moments that were good, but majority of it felt like a 90s sci-fi movie with the commercials in-between and your young 10 year old self, would rather go outside and play because with the commercials and dull storyline your interest fades..
(My young, in the 90s, sci-fi tv channel addicted self can relate to this)
(My young, in the 90s, sci-fi tv channel addicted self can relate to this)
October 8, 2024
"Six strangers. Six people to deceive. Six people who could hate me on sight."
"Willow" had an unfortunate mishap on social media, which led to her not only being canceled but also becoming a target for online hate and bullying. As an actress and celebrity, she's sent away to both protect and heal her. Her hideout is Camp Castaway. No electronics of any kind, not even clocks.
At camp, she gets to know six others with similar stories and circumstances. She also gets to know the lore of the area: Knock-Knock Nancy.
When things get weird--knocks at the door in the middle of the night, letters carved in trees, missing campers--"Willow" can't help but wonder if the legend is somehow true.
"Horror never lied. It never assured you it would all work out. It never shied away from reality. Horror was different. Horror was honest. Horror hurt in the best possible way."
This was a gripping slasher. I loved every single character and wanted to know more about them. The legend was fun, and I was dying to know how it was involved with the shenanigans that started getting creepier and creepier. A wild ride with a riveting mystery.
“'Summer camps, man. When will people ever learn?'”
"Willow" had an unfortunate mishap on social media, which led to her not only being canceled but also becoming a target for online hate and bullying. As an actress and celebrity, she's sent away to both protect and heal her. Her hideout is Camp Castaway. No electronics of any kind, not even clocks.
At camp, she gets to know six others with similar stories and circumstances. She also gets to know the lore of the area: Knock-Knock Nancy.
When things get weird--knocks at the door in the middle of the night, letters carved in trees, missing campers--"Willow" can't help but wonder if the legend is somehow true.
"Horror never lied. It never assured you it would all work out. It never shied away from reality. Horror was different. Horror was honest. Horror hurt in the best possible way."
This was a gripping slasher. I loved every single character and wanted to know more about them. The legend was fun, and I was dying to know how it was involved with the shenanigans that started getting creepier and creepier. A wild ride with a riveting mystery.
“'Summer camps, man. When will people ever learn?'”
July 12, 2024
3.5 ☆
Heads will Roll is a horror slasher that takes place at a summer camp. everyone who goes to Camp Castaway are some form of celebrity or someone who just gets a lot of media attention and at the camp they’re promised a chance to leave all their problems behind. but when the other campers start turning up dead with their heads decapitated, the main character Willow is forced to figure out what’s going on.
i had fun with this one and Juniper was 100% giving Laurie Strode 2.0 and I was here for it! i liked how the author tackled cancel culture and the way society can (more often than not), be overly harsh to anyone who makes the slightest mistake. the mystery behind who the killer was wasn’t what i was expecting and i enjoyed the direction it took. even though the end picks up with the gore and kills, i never really felt any tension and the final scenes were a bit cheesy for my tastes.
➙many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Heads will Roll is a horror slasher that takes place at a summer camp. everyone who goes to Camp Castaway are some form of celebrity or someone who just gets a lot of media attention and at the camp they’re promised a chance to leave all their problems behind. but when the other campers start turning up dead with their heads decapitated, the main character Willow is forced to figure out what’s going on.
i had fun with this one and Juniper was 100% giving Laurie Strode 2.0 and I was here for it! i liked how the author tackled cancel culture and the way society can (more often than not), be overly harsh to anyone who makes the slightest mistake. the mystery behind who the killer was wasn’t what i was expecting and i enjoyed the direction it took. even though the end picks up with the gore and kills, i never really felt any tension and the final scenes were a bit cheesy for my tastes.
➙many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the arc, all opinions are my own.
September 9, 2024
★3.69 stars★
i will say... i did not expect THAT many heads to roll.
i will say... i did not expect THAT many heads to roll.
February 11, 2025
I feel like it tried to hard with the social statements and it took away from the horror aspects. It wasn't the best for building suspense, setting clues up or anything.
It was still enjoyable, but a hard book to place in what category it's trying to be.
It was still enjoyable, but a hard book to place in what category it's trying to be.
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