Dollface

by Lindy Ryan

Barbie meets Scream with a 90s nostalgia twist in this horror romp from Bless Your Heart author Lindy Ryan.

Horror author Jill has just moved to suburban New Jersey, hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and maybe not weird everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. You know. Make some real friends.

But then a plastic face-masked serial killer begins slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill is slowly wrapped into a killer’s murderous spree, until she might just be the last woman standing.

A delightfully murderous novel that is equal parts scathing and salacious, Dollface will win you over with its gossip and gore, one body at a time.

“A whimsical, bloody, unsettling suburban slasher with an unexpected twist." – New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Serial Killer

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Lindy Ryan is an award-winning author, anthologist, and short-film director whose books and anthologies have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. Several of her projects have been adapted for screen. Ryan is the current author-in-residence at Rue Morgue. Declared a “champion for women’s voices in horror” by Shelf Awareness, Ryan was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2020, and in 2022, was named one of horror's most masterful anthology curators. ​Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Ryan currently resides on the East Coast.​​​ She is a professor at Rutgers University.

Reviews

[Court Zierk · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A good slasher reminds me of childhood. Not because I was ever pursued (nor was I ever the pursuer) by a masked villain, but because it reminds me of all those nights I secretly consumed those 80s slasher classics while my mom slept unknowingly above.

In such a saturated genre, it’s hard to find stories that aren’t simply retreads of the many that came before. While this definitely has its tropey elements, they are stitched together into a unique tapestry of horror comfort. I loved how the killer doesn’t always kill. I loved the many nods to genre memorabilia. I loved the characters, warts and all. And I loved the imperfectness of the conclusion. Nothing is ever black and white in this many shades of grey world, and this book understands and honors that truism in every way.

[Sidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

after 22 my darling husbands, 22 Jilly beans, 11 creaky-not-creepy houses, 5 bride of frankenstein/frankenstein references and 4 Just don't invite any crazy, knife-wielding lunatics into your houses i'm glad to be done with this book.

my biggest issue is the way this is marketed as Barbie x Scream....just because it's a "slasher" that does not make it like Scream & it's getting old how often this type of comparison is being used when marketing these type of books. We can write slashers without having to compare them to the legendary franchise...it's ok to call a slasher a slasher & leave it at that.

this was extremely repetitive and highly predictable by chapter 6 I knew 95% of the plot. Did I see the ending coming? no, no I did not. Did I feel stupid for not seeing it coming? yes, yes I did. Who would of thought there would be twist at the end where another killer is revealed. *gasp*

I think the only enjoyable part was Darla she is so unapologetically crazy, but her character wasn't enough to save the book for me. Jill is just so...annoying. Her constant "omg I don't want people to look at me & judge me for wearing a Jack Torrance shirt" really started to get on my nerves by the third time it was mentioned. If you are not comfortable being in public in horror attire then maybe just maybe you don't love horror as much as you claim to or MAYBE just don't wear the shirt in public?

Also, I feel like the author could have done more research on the horror genre. If you're writing an mc & make it a point, multiple times, to claim the mc writes horror & is a horror fanatic I'm expecting you to reference more than the most basic mainstream horror out there.. I don't know how the mc can claim to be a horror aficionado & forget or not know who Stu Macher is but this is really unforgivable....you market it as scream this scream that, reference scream a few times in the book &...the mc...doesn't know..half of one of the most iconic duos in the slasher genre???

I would call this horror for weenies or horror for people that have never picked up a horror novel before, which is fine, but I don't see how people who consume a lot of horror media could enjoy this especially with how repetitive & predictable it is

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.

3 stars

Horror lite, maybe….with sex heavy? Not that there was a ton of sex or that it was particularly pornographic or anything, it’s just that if there’s sex in a horror book it often has something to do with the plot, but, here, just a married couple getting it on. Anyway….

This was actually a kind of cute story following Jill, a horror author, who is desperate for inspiration for her sophomore book and who has just moved with her Coast Guard member husband and young son to New Jersey. She immediately gets involved with her overly friendly neighbor, the P.T.A. and the not-so-nice women who serve on the board. Then it appears those women may be the targets of a killer. Is this Jill’s next subject?

The women all kind of ran together for me, and I guessed who was guilty, but I thought this was fun enough and I loved Jill’s passion for horror.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

DOLLFACE doesn’t just serve lewks—it slays, literally. 💋 ⁣
⁣
I got into @lindyryanwrites ‘s writing ever since her fun horror duology launched with Bless Her Heart. Once I saw this ICONIC cover for her 2026 novel, DOLLFACE, I knew that I needed to read it asap! Thank you @minotaur_books for this gifted copy!⁣
⁣
Barbie meets Scream in the bloodiest PTA meeting ever. When horror author Jill moves to suburban New Jersey, she just wants to settle into her new normal, while also on deadline for her next horror novel. While she begins to settle into Brunswick, she starts befriending local PTA moms and omg wow, New Jersey isn’t so bad! That is, until a plastic-faced killer crashes the carpool. DOLLFACE is glossy, gory, and totally unhinged in the best way!⁣
⁣
This book is a full dedication to 80s and 90s slasher films, specifically Scream. If you love the Scream franchise, DOLLFACE is the book for you. This book expertly infuses camp, slasher (have I mentioned that already? 😏), and small town scandal. Don’t take DOLLFACE too seriously and enjoy the ride! My first 5 star 2026 read! STARS: 5, PUB: 2/24/26⁣

[sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 2 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: PTA moms get slashed
🎶 Song: still alive - demi lovato
📖 Favourite Quote: "Books make it easier not to feel lonely, even if all your closest girlfriends are fictional."
📚 Would I recommend? meh
💬 tldr thoughts: nothing groundbreaking

In the package:
📦 horror movie references
📦 PTA committee
📦 slasher

Plot: Jill, a horror author, and her family move to suburban New Jersey where she gets recruited into the new PTA committee at school. A plastic face-masked serial killer starts to slash one member at a time and Jill is trying to figure out if she's next.

Thoughts: I wanted to love this one so badly. The first chapter was honestly so promising and hooked me right away. It's described as "Scream meets Barbie" which is totally me, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it. I figured out the twist about 75% into the book, the characters were not likeable or relatable at all and it just didn't feel juicy enough despite the story following suburban moms in a PTA committee. I was expecting more craziness, more drama, and more slashing. Instead, the writing fell flat and a little too predictable. There was also just an overload of horror movie references.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wacky tale of suburban PTO moms and murder. The new mom on the block is our main character, Jill. For a short book, this one is kind of chaotic. I really enjoyed Darla and the other mom characters, even though Jill was pretty insufferable. It reads a bit like YA, it goes deep on storylines that go nowhere and rushes through the development I was eager for. A few scenes genuinely cracked me up. Still, I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue and would try other books by this author. The pacing in this one seemed off for me, but I think others may really enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this buzzy ARC! Book to be published 2/24/26.

[Erica★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to pick up this “Barbie meets Scream” novel, as it sounded right up my alley and like a fun, original take on a slasher. Unfortunately, it fell a bit short for me. The writing leaned very heavily into cutesy, overly detailed descriptions, which took away from the tension and slasher elements I was hoping for. One particular pet peeve was how often the phrase “creaky-not-creepy” was used to describe the main character’s house it became distracting after a while. Overall, the story was just okay, though I did appreciate that it was set around Halloween.

The book follows Jill, a horror author who moves to a small town with her family and quickly befriends the moms in her son’s PTA group. As a serial killer begins targeting women in the community specifically those in the PTA, Jill finds herself unable to escape her own tragic childhood past.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2026

[michelle ࣪ ִֶָ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so bad. 'Barbie meets Scream' was made for me, nothing could appeal to me more. But it wasn't what I'd been hoping for.

A great premise but the unlikable characters and predictable plot made it impossible to get invested. You'll know who the killer is and what's happening within a few chapters. Even the 'twist' at the end was something I had a feeling about a few chapters prior to the reveal, and it didn't feel particularly well thought out. For a horror novel comparing itself to an iconic slasher like Scream, there was shockingly little actual slashing going on. The writing was repetitive at times, and at others it felt messy and a little too hard, and it just didn't work for me.

Darla was a fun character, maybe the only one, and I think she should have been allowed to be a little crazier. It could have leaned in to the camp a bit more.

There was also a line where there was no respect put on Stu Macher's name, and that was the greatest offense to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was trying to be too flowery and descriptive that it ended up coming off as weird and awkward, making it hard to connect to it. It also had the problem of treating the readers like they're stupid and hand feeding elements and commentary to us. The dialogue was incredibly stilted. The main character wasn't fun or interesting either. It should have had more fun with itself.

It wasn't exactly groundbreaking. Trust me when I say you'll guess who it is and be 100% correct lmao Mostly boring and I fear so much more could have been done with the plot than what was given. I will give credit that the gore was a nice touch and got pretty nasty.

Thank you to St Martins and netgalley for the arc.

[Emily Poche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Doll face by Lindy Ryan is the story of a horror writer seemingly landed down in the middle of a situation out of her own stories; suburban New Jersey. Jill, a horror novelist with a tragic family backstory, is new to the neighborhood and finds herself taken under the pastel colored wing of her peppy next door neighbor. Just as Jill becomes an unwitting participant in the PTA, things take a turn for the strange as a doll-faced killer starts systematically killing and maiming the women in town.

Before I make any criticism of this book, let me take a moment to give the well deserved praise this story deserves. When writing the actually gory, violent scenes, the author has a knack for truly dynamic violence. There is an excellent sense of heightened fear and some of the discussions, especially of the body horror is excellently executed. If this book was judged only on the moments of murderous frenzy, it would be a must read.

However, I found that this book fell flat in many ways that kept me from fully enjoying the story or buying in to the narrative. One of the biggest issues is that while there are more twists, one of the major reveals of the book can be clocked from the first few chapters. If you’re going to have a reveal so obvious in the beginning, there should be some subversion of the trope to pull people in. Sure, you could wait things out to the bitter end, but for a lot of readers, this is going to feel slightly tedious and worked over.

Another significant issue that the book faces is that beyond the first chapter, there’s very little exploration of the main character’s family trauma. When it pokes its head out later in the story, it feels a bit like we’ve travelled from point A to point K without much real work in between. The first chapter is so feverish and powerful, but it really then disappears until much much later in the story with a somewhat outsized way.

The last, but least important criticism of the book is that this book is set in present day. The main character, Jill, is a horror movie lover who hates wearing eyeliner. This is treated like she’s a complete pariah, like no other person before. There are so many references to a The Shining tee shirt that it makes it seem like she’s doing something truly subversive. In this day and age, cookie cutter moms aren’t quite so prevalent as they used to be. Plenty of moms like horror movies, goth stuff, and avoid makeup. It’s just not this major outlier the way the author treats it like. This means that our major character gives off really off putting not-like-other-girls vibes.

I wanted to love Dollface. It has a fun concept, and at times some stomach-churning gore. This is a 2/5 book, with a lot of lost potential.

[Syndrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun novel as long as you don't walk into it expecting anything super serious or groundbreaking. And instead of saying it's Barbie meets Scream, I think it'd be more accurate to say it's Mean Girls meets Scream (although I wouldn't consider it a true blue slasher novel, so the Scream comparison isn't that great either).

I liked the general use of satire here and how it doesn't really seem to take itself too seriously — there aren't any hidden messages in here, the story is what it is. There's some moments of dark humor in here that might get a chuckle out of you, and the overall vibe gets pretty campy at times too. I also enjoyed having the mini chapters from the killer's perspective during each of the attacks to change things up a bit.

The downsides for me were just that the writing felt a bit awkward at times as well as repetitive with a lot of recurring jokes and one-liners. There's also a problem of the overall plot being quite predictable, even the "surprise" ending. I think throwing in another red herring or two along the way would've really helped so that the reader might second guess things a bit more (although our MC, Jill, also honed in on her own guesses rather quickly as well).

Overall if you're looking for a quick fix serial killer mystery, and don't mind dealing with some snobby PTA moms, then you might want to give "Dollface" a shot! Just keep in mind that this is more of a fun entertainment read than an in depth murder mystery. For me, this was a nice break from the heavier novels I've been reading lately so I did enjoy it even if it wasn't a total knockout.

(Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror author Jill moves to New Jersey and is trying to fit in with her new neighbors and PTO but a doll faced masked killer starts picking the women off one by one.

Scream + Barbie? Sign me up! This was fun, wild, and outrageous. Enjoy all the horror references, the creaky-not-creepy house, and all the ridiculous antics of suburban housewives and the PTO.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

[Morgan Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you thought PTA moms couldn’t get scarier, along comes Dollface.

Jill, a horror author struggling to come up with an idea for her sophomore novel, has just moved to New Jersey with her husband, Rob, and their eight-year-old son, Tanner. Out of her comfort zone in Stepford suburbia, she quickly becomes embedded in the elementary PTA after being strong-armed by her over-eager neighbor, Darla. All is new to Jill, but otherwise what she expected from the suburbs. That is until a masked serial killer starts targeting the PTA members.

Between trying to find time to call her needy little sister, Kitty, doing anything to break her writer’s block, and getting her family settled after a cross-country move, Jill is stretched thin. But that doesn’t stop her from trying to figure out the killer before she becomes the Final Girl.

As a fan of 90’s and early 00’s slashers, this was made for me! I found it fun, unnerving and gory enough to scratch that horror itch, and a little bit campy.

I also found Ryan’s writing to be easy-to-read, full of dark humor, great inner dialogues, and full of nuggets for horror fans. While the twist wasn’t totally unpredictable, I did find it very well done and it kept me enthralled.

Overall, like it markets itself, it’s a great read that feels like Scream x Barbie - I’d recommend it.

For all the fans of final girl slashers, this one’s for you! Available for purchase on 2/24/2026.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy!

[Katie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 6 stars I would! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this masterpiece.

Horror isn’t necessarily a genre I gravitate towards but this book had me at the edge of my seat till the very last page. Some scenes were a little too gory and graphic for me but that was only because the author does such a great job of describing the scenes.

I would absolutely recommend Dollface to anyone who loves thriller, horror, or really just Halloween in general. I will definitely be picking up more books by Lindy Ryan!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

If you’ve ever thought suburban moms were intense, Dollface takes it to a whole new level. Think PTA drama, plastic smiles, and one seriously twisted killer.

Lindy Ryan’s Dollface follows Jill, a horror writer who moves to a quiet New Jersey suburb—until a masked killer starts targeting the local moms. Billed as Barbie meets Scream, it’s a darkly funny mix of gossip, gore, and suburban secrets.

This was my first read by Ryan, and I immediately connected with her sharp, witty writing. She blends dark humor with fast-paced horror, using snappy dialogue and vivid descriptions to capture the glossy yet sinister vibe of suburbia. The tone hits that perfect mix of campy slasher energy and biting social commentary. I loved how the humor and satire kept things entertaining even as the story got bloody. Jill’s sarcastic voice added just the right amount of bite, and the pacing made it an easy binge. That said, a few parts leaned a bit too far into camp, and some of the side characters felt more like stereotypes than fully developed people. Still, it’s a wildly entertaining suburban slasher packed with gossip, gore, and attitude.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[a. · Rating 2 out of 5]

dollface is a book with an interesting premise.

but i feel the execution was just not on the level of what was said in the blurb. jill was a great character. i really enjoyed her and even darla. especially darla. she was all over the place but i really enjoyed her whenever i could. the book starts off strong, and it pulls you in, but by the 60% mark of the book, something just fizzles. the writing was not even the issue. ryan’s writing had that humorous tone, satire, and wittiness. it was just that the execution of the plot and the barbie and scream vibes that i looked forward to felt like a miss to me. and you could guess the killer very easily.

thank you to netgalley and st. martin’s press for the ARC!!

[Liza Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise of the story more than I did the actual execution. I feel like the bar was set pretty high with calling it a scream + Barbie book, but I don't think it actually met those expectations for me. The plot felt like it was moving rather slowly up until the end and it was pretty predictable from the 15% mark.

[Alora Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wild, gruesome, and chaotic. I really thought I had it all figured out but this author definitely threw me for a loop with the last twist. I also really enjoyed how hilarious this book was (ya know, in between some of the grossest scenes I’ve read in a while). And on the note of gross, new fears have been unlocked. Finally, I really loved the characters, especially the main character…and the golden retriever. Keep this on your list, because it’s coming your way February of 2026!
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the description of Barbie meets Scream and 90s slasher nostalgia moved this book to the top of my list. It definitely delivered. Loved all the horror book/film references. I half guessed the ending, thinking it was too obvious, but it surprised me. This was a very fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

[ambersometimesreads]

barbie meets scream??? netgalley if you can hear me, ACCEPT ME FOR THIS

[Amanda Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book being marketed as Barbie meets Scream is a disservice to both original properties. The book was very repetitive and the plot very predictable while also nonsensical in places. Not worth your read, friends.

[Karen Vasey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 25%-This was all over the place. The first chapter felt like a fever dream which then transitioned to a chick lit horror story where a tshirt sporting Jack Torrence rom The Shining was mentioned way too many times in the span of six chapters.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ava · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’ed 5% in.

The first chapter was so strong and visceral—then we skip to the present and everything goes to shit.

So many horror references are cramped into the first few pages, bloating the narrative. It’s overkill and feels cheap.

I simply cannot get over how millennial-mommy the MC and her sister feel. I wanted to dunk my head in boiling water.

Even so, thank you very much to NetGalley, Lindy Ryan, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for all the girlies that grew up reading Fear Street and are now living that #momlife. Is it predictable? Yes, but so was Fear Street and you’ll enjoy this journey far more.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s 1am so I can’t form words for a review but huh, interesting ending. I predicted half of it so props to the author for throwing a wrench in my thoughts. Didn’t 100% see that coming.

[brook.talks.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

《 ARC REVIEW 》

☆☆☆☆☆

I just finished Dollface by Lindy Ryan, and this is a suburban slasher novel that you should definitely add to your TBR! It gets released on February 24th, which gives you plenty of time to brush up on your horror pop culture. There are references galore, and I loved every single one!

Horror author, Jill Marshall, and her family move to a quiet suburban town in New Jersey. It's a lovely area with cookie-cutter houses and manicured yards. But soon, she realizes that that her next-door neighbor, Darla, is a little odd. Like Stepford wife, kind of odd. She's perfect, she acts perfect, and everything about her life seems perfect, so when she insists that Jill should join the PTA, Jill can't help but say yes. Darla explains that the last homeowner of Jill's new house, Patti, was also a member of the PTA. Darla's overbearing, but seems sweet, so Jill goes with it. She's just happy to have a new friend that doesn't seem terrified that she writes horror books.

She goes with Darla to a PTA meeting, and Jill knows she won't fit in. She always has a horror fun fact, and knows her serial killer coffee mugs are out of place in this new territory of polished moms who prefer gossip and nail appointments to gory tales and slasher movies... or so she thinks. After the first PTA meeting at a local café, the barista that helped them (albeit very rudely) gets murdered, and then, one by one, the PTA members start getting brutally attacked. Jill has to use her expertise in the horror genre to start piecing everything together, and figure out who is doing this. Anything to keep from becoming a Final Girl herself.

This book was awesome! It drew me in with the tagline "Barbie meets Scream with a 90s nostalgia twist," and kept me entertained the whole time. It's not necessarily a new take on horror, but instead takes the classic slasher route. It's a book with a ton of classic horror references, sarcasm, gossip, and gore. I thought it was brilliant, and devoured it! I finished it in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindy Ryan has written a horror novel that manages to scare you, discusses childhood trauma, focuses on mean girl culture, and addresses the many roles women continue to play in society. This book is excellent. It is a five star read that will leave you questioning what you know about the people around you.

Jill has just moved her family from Texas to New Jersey after her husband receives a job transfer. She has a lot of unpacking to do, and she has a horror novel to write. She is an author. After meeting her very friendly neighbor, Jill quickly becomes a new member of the PTA. Soon after, the terror begins.

A killer begins terrorizing the small community of Brunswick. Jill’s mind is used to plotting and figuring out the end of the story. She begins to try to solve this mystery. The alleged killer in this one is very creative - in fact, they are downright terrifying. The members of the PTA are their target.

This book is sharp, scary, funny at times, and thought-provoking. Lindy Ryan writes meaningful horror that comments on society. This one focuses on women - how we treat one another, beauty standards, our role as a mom, and balancing work/life responsibilities.

This book is full of incredible horror references - I loved them! They were used within the context of the story, and they made the story even stronger and scarier. This book was made for people who love horror. You will not see the end coming!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this one early! It is incredible! This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2026. It will be released on February 24th. Preorder it now!

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’d give it 2.5 stars but rounding down bc it’s more similar to my 2 star reads than 3.

I want to start out positive because there are plenty of things to like about this book! This was a pretty fun slasher. It reminded me a bit of Suburban Hell with the PTA mom group in their 30s. I see the Barbie x Scream vibes, but I’d say to manage your expectations… more Barbie than Scream, BUT the horror/gore scenes were good! Those were my favorite parts of the book and I did actually squirm once or twice. The opening chapter was also haunting and ominous and set a much different tone than the subsequent camp that was delivered. There are also lots of (if not a little on-the-nose) genre references throughout, which I appreciated.

Now the big but: the writing *wasn’t* my favorite. For being a pretty short book, it felt significantly repetitive… at first I thought it was supposed to be in a funny way (and maybe it is!), but as the book continued, I started to think the author just didn’t feel the audience was smart enough to piece together this obvious plot?? Or remember the running jokes between characters? Idk, imo, definitelyyyy could’ve cut some pages to make it novella length, and then I think it could’ve been a 3 star for me, or at least make me more willing to round up to 3! When I think of slashers I think tight, break-neck pacing; something I should be compelled to read in one sitting. This book didn’t hit that mark for me. I also found our main character sweet but dumb - ope. Poor Jilly Bean.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book! It is set to release 02.24.26!

[Casey Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a suburban mother who genuinely does not fit the mold at all in my town, I really enjoyed this! Not only is it a very entertaining slasher (which I’m starting to learn, I really love the slasher genre), it touches upon relatable feelings. From motherhood, to suburbia, to childhood trauma, to writer’s block, to the “mean girl” mentality many women never grow out of, to military spouse life, to sisterhood, to being different…there’s a lot within the pages that a reader could potentially find themself in. I know that I did! And on top of that, it was a wildly entertaining story! Jill, a horror author and mother of one, moves to suburban NJ with her husband’s new Coast Guard station. Worried she won’t fit in with her black clothing and Jason Voorhees mugs, Jill’s overly friendly neighbor Darla wastes no time in pulling her into the PTA mommy sphere. As a doll faced killer starts torturing the mommies, Jill quickly realizes she has more to worry about than fitting in, as she might be next. Very entertaining, loved the chapters from the perspective of the killer (those had my heart racing), a twist that I didn’t see coming, and a husband who, if men are actually like that, I might consider it. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-ARC! Book releases 2/24/26!

[lacie goodlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and minotaur books for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review. as someone who loves horror, i really wanted to love this book. a book that is marketed as “barbie meets scream” has to be fantastic, right? unfortunately, i feel like marketing it in that way built up my expectations for something that this book just wasn’t. it’s a slasher book that follows a group of PTA moms. i’m not sure how that equates to barbie/scream, but okay. as for the writing and the book itself, i just thought it was very predictable and repetitive. our main character, jill, was also so annoying to me. i wanted to connect with her as another horror fan, but her constant “oh no, i hope no one thinks i’m weird because i have jack torrance on my shirt” was just irritating. overall, the idea was there, but it just didn’t work for me.