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Pam Kowolski is a Monster!
If Janet Chow hadn’t been such a jerk to everyone at Sewanhaka High, they might have voted her Most Likely to Succeed. Twenty-plus years later, life hasn’t turned out how Janet expected. She’s rudderless, her career in journalism crashed, burned, and buried. How did it come to this?
But then one day, Janet recognizes her mortal enemy from high school—Pam Kowolski! Somehow, Pam’s become America’s manic pixie sweetheart, an online psychic predicting the end of the world. Pam’s rich, hawt, and famous, meanwhile Janet looks...middle aged. How did this happen? How did Pam Kowolski steal Janet’s life?
Janet knows the there’s no way a dumb ass like Pam earned her success. She’s lying about her powers. The world isn’t ending. Pam’s a FRAUD. It’s time for Janet to wake up and claim what’s hers by writing an article that TAKES PAM DOWN. But to reveal Pam, she’s got to dig deep into their shared past. There’s bad stuff back there, scary stuff, and the more Janet learns, the more she what if Pam Kowolski is right?
“A high school reunion is the end of the world in this slap-happy, upbeat carnival ride into the Apocalypse.”— Grady Hendrix, author of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
"…simply genius in the way it explores the changeable nature of memory and whether it’s possible to escape a traumatic past. No one writes defiant, damaged characters like Sarah Langan; no matter how they try to hide it, you see every bruise.” —Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor
“Creepy and manic, Langan’s mixed media novella will grip you, pull you in, and take you right to the center of its beating, bloody heart.”—Kate Maruyama, author of Bleak Houses, The Collective, and Harrowgate
“…totally unhinged, absurdly delightful, a ripper of a novella.”—Lindy Ryan, author of Another Fine Mess
“I couldn’t have loved this more. Funny, smart, disturbing, creepy. The novella that 2025 deserves.”—Paul Tremblay, author of Horror Movie
But then one day, Janet recognizes her mortal enemy from high school—Pam Kowolski! Somehow, Pam’s become America’s manic pixie sweetheart, an online psychic predicting the end of the world. Pam’s rich, hawt, and famous, meanwhile Janet looks...middle aged. How did this happen? How did Pam Kowolski steal Janet’s life?
Janet knows the there’s no way a dumb ass like Pam earned her success. She’s lying about her powers. The world isn’t ending. Pam’s a FRAUD. It’s time for Janet to wake up and claim what’s hers by writing an article that TAKES PAM DOWN. But to reveal Pam, she’s got to dig deep into their shared past. There’s bad stuff back there, scary stuff, and the more Janet learns, the more she what if Pam Kowolski is right?
“A high school reunion is the end of the world in this slap-happy, upbeat carnival ride into the Apocalypse.”— Grady Hendrix, author of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
"…simply genius in the way it explores the changeable nature of memory and whether it’s possible to escape a traumatic past. No one writes defiant, damaged characters like Sarah Langan; no matter how they try to hide it, you see every bruise.” —Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor
“Creepy and manic, Langan’s mixed media novella will grip you, pull you in, and take you right to the center of its beating, bloody heart.”—Kate Maruyama, author of Bleak Houses, The Collective, and Harrowgate
“…totally unhinged, absurdly delightful, a ripper of a novella.”—Lindy Ryan, author of Another Fine Mess
“I couldn’t have loved this more. Funny, smart, disturbing, creepy. The novella that 2025 deserves.”—Paul Tremblay, author of Horror Movie
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
About the author
Sarah Langan
51 books1,002 followersSarah grew up on Long Island, got her MFA in creative writing from Columbia University, her MS in environmental toxicology from NYU, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her family, two rabbits, and three chickens.
Her next novel TRAD WIFE is due out from S&S and Tor UK in Summer, 2026.
Her most recent works include A BETTER WORLD, GOOD NEIGHBORS, PAM KOWOLSKI IS A MONSTER, YOU HAVE THE PRETTIEST MASK, "Does Harlen Lattner Dream of Electric Sheep?," "Squid Teeth," "The Devil's Children," and "I Miss You Too Much."
*I acknowledge that I have massacred the punctuation surrounding the above quotations marks. I will now resume talking about myself in the third person.*
Her books have received favorite of the year distinctions from NPR, Newsweek, The Irish Times, Publisher's Weekly, and the AARP (best of the last five years).
She is also three-time Bram Stoker award winner for outstanding novel in 2007 - The Missing, outstanding short story in 2008 - The Lost, and outstanding novel in 2009 - Audrey's Door.
Blog:https://sarahlangan.com/blog/
Her next novel TRAD WIFE is due out from S&S and Tor UK in Summer, 2026.
Her most recent works include A BETTER WORLD, GOOD NEIGHBORS, PAM KOWOLSKI IS A MONSTER, YOU HAVE THE PRETTIEST MASK, "Does Harlen Lattner Dream of Electric Sheep?," "Squid Teeth," "The Devil's Children," and "I Miss You Too Much."
*I acknowledge that I have massacred the punctuation surrounding the above quotations marks. I will now resume talking about myself in the third person.*
Her books have received favorite of the year distinctions from NPR, Newsweek, The Irish Times, Publisher's Weekly, and the AARP (best of the last five years).
She is also three-time Bram Stoker award winner for outstanding novel in 2007 - The Missing, outstanding short story in 2008 - The Lost, and outstanding novel in 2009 - Audrey's Door.
Blog:https://sarahlangan.com/blog/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
November 17, 2025
Janet Chow is 40 years old and has nothing to show for it. She shares an apartment with an aging ex-rock star that can't stand to be around her. She works a thankless job for little pay. She hasn't been touched, not even a shoulder tap, in over a year.
Imagine her surprise as she's scrolling social media to come across her mortal enemy from high school, Pam Kowolski. Madame Pam is now a very successful psychic medium claiming she can predict the future. She'll be making a prediction in a few days time and that prediction will change the world and how we see it.
Janet, of course, thinks Pam is full of shit and she decides that taking her down a notch or two is what is needed for humanities sake.
Will she succeed? You'll need to read this to find out!
This was fun! Janet Chow is incredibly snarky so I found many moments inappropriately hilarious. Langan and I share the same humor for sure.
Where this book fell down for me was the end. I needed a little more explanation as to what actually happened because I haven't a clue at all.
Even though the ending was abrupt it was such a fun ride getting there, and being a huge Langan fan already, I'm willing to let her slide here. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for my complimentary copy.
Imagine her surprise as she's scrolling social media to come across her mortal enemy from high school, Pam Kowolski. Madame Pam is now a very successful psychic medium claiming she can predict the future. She'll be making a prediction in a few days time and that prediction will change the world and how we see it.
Janet, of course, thinks Pam is full of shit and she decides that taking her down a notch or two is what is needed for humanities sake.
Will she succeed? You'll need to read this to find out!
This was fun! Janet Chow is incredibly snarky so I found many moments inappropriately hilarious. Langan and I share the same humor for sure.
Where this book fell down for me was the end. I needed a little more explanation as to what actually happened because I haven't a clue at all.
Even though the ending was abrupt it was such a fun ride getting there, and being a huge Langan fan already, I'm willing to let her slide here. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for my complimentary copy.
April 2, 2025
this was phenomenal. a story that unexpectedly had me in a choke hold. a story about trauma, odd supernatural elements, and friendship that made me genuinely emotional. the writing was great, it felt like the perfect length for what it was. thank you to the publishers for the ARC!!
March 14, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
If there was a Big Reveal in my life, it would be an anticlimactic letdown because I exist on microcosmic scales. But I’m good with that, even if it means I’ll never be a world famous psychic, who may or may not be bringing upon the apocalypse on camera.
This book was a zippy, mind-melting jaunt. It left me feeling off consistently kilter with its surrealist quality, but never in a way that was unpalatable. I was captivated by its thrust, and I needed to know what the ending had in store. Although, that ending is where I think the story falls down. I didn’t enjoy its abruptness. I’m all for filling in some blanks, but there needs to be some surrounding material for there to be some blanks that need filling. This was really a non-ending for me, and it just didn’t work. I could have used another 30 pages to bring this story to a close.
If there was a Big Reveal in my life, it would be an anticlimactic letdown because I exist on microcosmic scales. But I’m good with that, even if it means I’ll never be a world famous psychic, who may or may not be bringing upon the apocalypse on camera.
This book was a zippy, mind-melting jaunt. It left me feeling off consistently kilter with its surrealist quality, but never in a way that was unpalatable. I was captivated by its thrust, and I needed to know what the ending had in store. Although, that ending is where I think the story falls down. I didn’t enjoy its abruptness. I’m all for filling in some blanks, but there needs to be some surrounding material for there to be some blanks that need filling. This was really a non-ending for me, and it just didn’t work. I could have used another 30 pages to bring this story to a close.
Read
July 15, 2025Dnf
June 19, 2025
Sarah Langan -- what a talent!!
💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙
This unique Horror Novella is a glimpse into one woman's life as she works through her complicated feelings in regards to her old high school nemesis, Pam Kowolski.
Janet, our MC, is a woman who once confidently believed her life was going places. Unfortunately, it hasn't panned out quite the way she expected.
Her journalism career is in the toilet, she has nobody to come home to at night, she's a lone wolf. How did her life turn out this way?
While she's not exactly sure, she can't help but feel like darn Pam Kowloski had something to do with it. That girl. Grrrrrrrrrr, even thinking of her gets Janet's hackles up.
Surfing mindless media one day, Janet comes across a super popular psychic predicting the end of the world. Sure, this could be a disturbing predication, but the predication itself isn't what has Janet's jaw on the floor.
This popular psychic is none other than Pam Kowolski!
Janet sees through her. This predication isn't even true, and Pam Kowolski is an absolute fraud. Janet will not rest until she can bring her down off her perfect pedestal.
But in order to reveal Pam as the con artist she is, Janet will have to dig deep into their past, uncovering things she may have conveniently forgotten.
This was an odd little story, but it was super compelling. I read this in a day, because I couldn't put it down. There was no way really to predict where it was going.
I've read two novels from Langan before, and really enjoyed both of them. Her writing is wild and wicked, but also quite subtle. It's not throwing a lot of body horror, or things of that nature, in your face.
I feel like Langan is very smart with her choices of how she builds out characters, and naturally reveals what's going on in their minds; their intentions and neuroses.
The vibes of this are unsettling, but it's really difficult to explain why. I think maybe they came mostly from the uncomfortable position of being in Janet's mind, and I loved how the truth was revealed.
There were moments that gave me chills, just from learning new insights and seeing how the puzzle fit together. I would def recommend this if you enjoy Weird Fiction; something you end up a little unsure how to classify.
It's surprising to me how much Langan was able to do in this with so few pages. Sometimes with a novella, I feel slightly unsatisfied, like I want more, but I didn't feel that way here. I thought this was the length it needed to be in order to be effective.
Thank you to the publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Sarah Langan was already an auto-read author for me, and this only solidifies that status more!
💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙♥️💛💙
This unique Horror Novella is a glimpse into one woman's life as she works through her complicated feelings in regards to her old high school nemesis, Pam Kowolski.
Janet, our MC, is a woman who once confidently believed her life was going places. Unfortunately, it hasn't panned out quite the way she expected.
Her journalism career is in the toilet, she has nobody to come home to at night, she's a lone wolf. How did her life turn out this way?
While she's not exactly sure, she can't help but feel like darn Pam Kowloski had something to do with it. That girl. Grrrrrrrrrr, even thinking of her gets Janet's hackles up.
Surfing mindless media one day, Janet comes across a super popular psychic predicting the end of the world. Sure, this could be a disturbing predication, but the predication itself isn't what has Janet's jaw on the floor.
This popular psychic is none other than Pam Kowolski!
Janet sees through her. This predication isn't even true, and Pam Kowolski is an absolute fraud. Janet will not rest until she can bring her down off her perfect pedestal.
But in order to reveal Pam as the con artist she is, Janet will have to dig deep into their past, uncovering things she may have conveniently forgotten.
This was an odd little story, but it was super compelling. I read this in a day, because I couldn't put it down. There was no way really to predict where it was going.
I've read two novels from Langan before, and really enjoyed both of them. Her writing is wild and wicked, but also quite subtle. It's not throwing a lot of body horror, or things of that nature, in your face.
I feel like Langan is very smart with her choices of how she builds out characters, and naturally reveals what's going on in their minds; their intentions and neuroses.
The vibes of this are unsettling, but it's really difficult to explain why. I think maybe they came mostly from the uncomfortable position of being in Janet's mind, and I loved how the truth was revealed.
There were moments that gave me chills, just from learning new insights and seeing how the puzzle fit together. I would def recommend this if you enjoy Weird Fiction; something you end up a little unsure how to classify.
It's surprising to me how much Langan was able to do in this with so few pages. Sometimes with a novella, I feel slightly unsatisfied, like I want more, but I didn't feel that way here. I thought this was the length it needed to be in order to be effective.
Thank you to the publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Sarah Langan was already an auto-read author for me, and this only solidifies that status more!
March 8, 2025
What a firecracker of a novella, firstly the cover art is *chefs kiss* I enjoyed this so much, I love a darkly humorous disturbing read and this was exactly that, I want to keep my review short as to not spoilt it for others as it is a quick read! Highly recommend to horror fans or weird fiction lovers! I'm a fan of Sarah and knew I'd enjoy this, I'd love it as a longer story 👀 just because I enjoyed it s'much
May 27, 2026
This novella hits on every level. The writing is fast-paced, emotional, and immersive. This world is one you know, a slightly exaggerated version of the world we live in that highlights the cracks we spend so much time looking away from. The character work is excellent, painting a portrait of a person who is struggling to understand herself, has always struggled to understand herself, who is so much more than what has happened to her but hasn’t been in the right places to learn that. The use of the supernatural and the surreal make everything more visceral and human, and draws you in. This is a story about learning how to exist in a broken world. It is about trauma, family, childhood, memory, relationships, and community. It isn’t trying to make any broad proclamations, nor is it casting judgment. Instead, it is offering a chance for us to remember that we all want the same things, to be happy, to not suffer, and yet for reasons out of our control we go about reaching those aims in all the wrong ways. We cannot choose what happens to us, but if we are lucky we can choose how to respond to it, and it is never too late to start.
August 16, 2025
Pam Kowolski is a Monster or is she?
The story started out interesting. Janet, a fourty-year-old woman finds that her classmate who has hurt her so badly, is Madam Pamela. When Madam Pamela, a psychic with a long list of followers, gets ready for The Big Reveal, Janet finds a chance to find the truth about her.
I was curious to know how Pamela wronged Janet and how she overcame all that. The past was a bit blurry and even Jane seem to be unaware of many things.
I enjoyed reading the story of the past. Of Pam and Janet. That was interesting and gives a view on who they really were.
I felt that the Big Reveal was a bit rushed. By the end of the story, things were suddenly speeding up. Also I was a bit confused as to what was really happening.
That said, the story was interesting enough to read and I don't regret reading it!
The story started out interesting. Janet, a fourty-year-old woman finds that her classmate who has hurt her so badly, is Madam Pamela. When Madam Pamela, a psychic with a long list of followers, gets ready for The Big Reveal, Janet finds a chance to find the truth about her.
I was curious to know how Pamela wronged Janet and how she overcame all that. The past was a bit blurry and even Jane seem to be unaware of many things.
I enjoyed reading the story of the past. Of Pam and Janet. That was interesting and gives a view on who they really were.
I felt that the Big Reveal was a bit rushed. By the end of the story, things were suddenly speeding up. Also I was a bit confused as to what was really happening.
That said, the story was interesting enough to read and I don't regret reading it!
July 2, 2026
I just spent 3 hours listening to this. Straight through. No pauses or breaks, barely a drink of water, while I worked on a stitching project. It occupied my mind, grabbed my attention, and did not let go. I have struggled with audiobooks for years. This past few months somehow I’ve been finding a way to hear them better. The right audiobook will grab me every time. Pam Kowalski is a Monster certainly did that. However, I believe it would have done the same if I’d read the pages because this is a compelling, can’t wait to get to the next moment story.
Sarah Langan gives us a book that may not seem like horror at first. It may seem a bit mundane and silly. A comic, like the cover art. Yet the further you venture into it the more unhinged, and yet creepily familiar it feels. This is a story about unhandled trauma and how it (literally) eats the world around you. Makes you lesser in ways you can’t even see. It poisons your mind and everyone you touch. Or at least that is what I got from it. It might also just be a pre-apocalypse story about where society is headed; not because of technology or war, but instead because of a bizarre monstrous magic or energy that overcomes people. However you look at the final twist of this story, one thing is for certain, it’s stunning, immensely well done, and will entrance the reader (or listener).
The thing it made me think of the most is a movie I adored called Late Night With the Devil. It starts off goofy, silly, and seemingly a hoax, but by the end it just stuns you with it twists, turns, and finale. That is what Pam Kowalski is a Monster does as well. In its own, different, yet similar way. If you love horror that emerges from our world in its own bizarre way check this out. If you love immense twists of a psychological but also that are slightly supernatural check this out.
Overall if you enjoy a good mystery, without feeling like you’re reading a ‘typical’ mystery (I have a real meh reaction to whodunnit stories) then definitely check out this little gem from Langan. It’s quick, efficient, and effective in its telling and definitely well worth a few hours one night when you don’t need to sleep until you’ve encountered the last line.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Sarah Langan gives us a book that may not seem like horror at first. It may seem a bit mundane and silly. A comic, like the cover art. Yet the further you venture into it the more unhinged, and yet creepily familiar it feels. This is a story about unhandled trauma and how it (literally) eats the world around you. Makes you lesser in ways you can’t even see. It poisons your mind and everyone you touch. Or at least that is what I got from it. It might also just be a pre-apocalypse story about where society is headed; not because of technology or war, but instead because of a bizarre monstrous magic or energy that overcomes people. However you look at the final twist of this story, one thing is for certain, it’s stunning, immensely well done, and will entrance the reader (or listener).
The thing it made me think of the most is a movie I adored called Late Night With the Devil. It starts off goofy, silly, and seemingly a hoax, but by the end it just stuns you with it twists, turns, and finale. That is what Pam Kowalski is a Monster does as well. In its own, different, yet similar way. If you love horror that emerges from our world in its own bizarre way check this out. If you love immense twists of a psychological but also that are slightly supernatural check this out.
Overall if you enjoy a good mystery, without feeling like you’re reading a ‘typical’ mystery (I have a real meh reaction to whodunnit stories) then definitely check out this little gem from Langan. It’s quick, efficient, and effective in its telling and definitely well worth a few hours one night when you don’t need to sleep until you’ve encountered the last line.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
March 14, 2025
Pam Kowolski Is a Monster starts out feeling like a slightly unhinged revenge story and slowly morphs into something much weirder. Janet Chow, once a high school overachiever, is now a washed-up journalist with nothing to her name but a pile of ignored emails and a grudge that just won’t die. Pam Kowolski.
Back in the day, Pam was a nobody. Now, she’s famous, rich, and recognized as a psychic guru who predicts the end of the world. Janet is bitter, broke, and not above a little righteous takedown. She’s sure it has to be a scam. So she sets out to expose Pam. The more she digs, the stranger things get. The past isn’t adding up the way she remembers, and Pam’s doomsday visions start to feel unsettlingly accurate.
This book is fast, sharp, and funny. At just 120 pages, it’s worth a try.
ARC through NetGalley
Back in the day, Pam was a nobody. Now, she’s famous, rich, and recognized as a psychic guru who predicts the end of the world. Janet is bitter, broke, and not above a little righteous takedown. She’s sure it has to be a scam. So she sets out to expose Pam. The more she digs, the stranger things get. The past isn’t adding up the way she remembers, and Pam’s doomsday visions start to feel unsettlingly accurate.
This book is fast, sharp, and funny. At just 120 pages, it’s worth a try.
ARC through NetGalley
March 26, 2025
Oof! Loved the synopsis, but could absolutely not engage with the material.
I found the beginning very drawn out, with a detestable narrator that I kept wanting to shout at. This ruined the reading experience for me, and I kept forcing myself to finish this story despite it not being that long.
The author is a fantastic writer, but this book and I just didn’t get along.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and RDS Publishing for a copy!
I found the beginning very drawn out, with a detestable narrator that I kept wanting to shout at. This ruined the reading experience for me, and I kept forcing myself to finish this story despite it not being that long.
The author is a fantastic writer, but this book and I just didn’t get along.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and RDS Publishing for a copy!
May 18, 2025
3.8/5
It was definetely interesting read. This novella left me in good mood cause I got everything. Girl who is a little obsessed over old school rivalry. Plus she is journalist. Plus jer old rival is now famous medium and nor ugly woman how it was in MC fantasies. No more spoilers.
It was quick read that gor me hooked and made me think if it's real, maybe not. If you ask me about tropes It can contain potential spoilers
Maybe I wish it was a little longer and gave me more school moments. Cause for me it felt strange, like we got one moment and that's all? I need to know deapth of that hate. But anyway it was refreshing read
Thanks NetGalley and Sarah Langan for ARC!
It was definetely interesting read. This novella left me in good mood cause I got everything. Girl who is a little obsessed over old school rivalry. Plus she is journalist. Plus jer old rival is now famous medium and nor ugly woman how it was in MC fantasies. No more spoilers.
It was quick read that gor me hooked and made me think if it's real, maybe not. If you ask me about tropes It can contain potential spoilers
Maybe I wish it was a little longer and gave me more school moments. Cause for me it felt strange, like we got one moment and that's all? I need to know deapth of that hate. But anyway it was refreshing read
Thanks NetGalley and Sarah Langan for ARC!
May 19, 2025
This little novella was entirely unexpected but extremely enjoyable!
What begins as a seemingly straightforward case of a long-standing grudge festering into an intense revenge plan changes into something much more complex and heartfelt during this 120 page book.
Janet and Pam used to be childhood friends, but after an incident in high school, the pair's relationship changed drastically. Now, Janet is a journalist without much to show for herself and Pam is a highly successful psychic who is watched by millions worldwide. As Janet sets out to seek justice for her past self and expose the truth of Pam Kowolski - the entire world finds itself entering a period of great transformation.
Janet's repressed memories and hidden grief gradually work their way into the plot in a way that is palpable to the reader as the story builds to its transformative ending. Things get strange, and the whole journey feels vaguely surreal, which is complimented nicely by Sarah Langan's captivating writing style, infused with dark humor. This was the perfect length for a strange novella that packs an unexpected punch. Also has themes of loneliness, grief, and the occult. 3.5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward case of a long-standing grudge festering into an intense revenge plan changes into something much more complex and heartfelt during this 120 page book.
Janet and Pam used to be childhood friends, but after an incident in high school, the pair's relationship changed drastically. Now, Janet is a journalist without much to show for herself and Pam is a highly successful psychic who is watched by millions worldwide. As Janet sets out to seek justice for her past self and expose the truth of Pam Kowolski - the entire world finds itself entering a period of great transformation.
Janet's repressed memories and hidden grief gradually work their way into the plot in a way that is palpable to the reader as the story builds to its transformative ending. Things get strange, and the whole journey feels vaguely surreal, which is complimented nicely by Sarah Langan's captivating writing style, infused with dark humor. This was the perfect length for a strange novella that packs an unexpected punch. Also has themes of loneliness, grief, and the occult. 3.5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
May 7, 2025
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Over 20 years ago, Pam Kowolski did something to embarrass Janet Chow in high school, a dark incident that eventually derailed the future Janet had envisioned for herself. Now, Janet realizes that Madam Pamela, a famous internet psychic whose recorded sessions have gone beyond viral, is in fact that very same Pam Kowolski. And there's a frenzy leading up to Pamela's upcoming special event, where she promises all will be revealed. With somewhat of a journalistic background, this is Janet's chance to finally get revenge, and expose Pam for the fraud she is.
I was not prepared for a story like this. It was truly unique and unlike anything I've read before. Sarah Langan has been at the top of her game with her most recent novels, and this novella is no exception, as it's absolute peak writing.
Over 20 years ago, Pam Kowolski did something to embarrass Janet Chow in high school, a dark incident that eventually derailed the future Janet had envisioned for herself. Now, Janet realizes that Madam Pamela, a famous internet psychic whose recorded sessions have gone beyond viral, is in fact that very same Pam Kowolski. And there's a frenzy leading up to Pamela's upcoming special event, where she promises all will be revealed. With somewhat of a journalistic background, this is Janet's chance to finally get revenge, and expose Pam for the fraud she is.
I was not prepared for a story like this. It was truly unique and unlike anything I've read before. Sarah Langan has been at the top of her game with her most recent novels, and this novella is no exception, as it's absolute peak writing.
May 2, 2025
This is the first book I've read by Sarah Langan, but I hope not the last--I loved this! This novella is an eerie horror story, but it's really about the everyday horror in our own lives, our pasts, and our memories. I don't know exactly what to say about it, because I think you should just read it and find out for yourself, but I would recommend it for people who enjoy reading about damaged characters with all their very human foibles and pain, and exploring what made them that way. The story is told with a biting humor by a protagonist who begins to recognize herself as a not-so-reliable narrator as the story progresses. Read this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the ARC.
March 28, 2025
Sarah Langan really gave us something special here. We follow Janet, who feels deeply wronged by Pam Kowalski, on her bite-sized, unhinged journey for revenge with some unexpected heart. Are things always as we remember them? Or are we victims of our own hells we create in our heads? Sarah combines humor & some dark themes into a mind-bending, weird read and I loved it. We stan a petty queen hehe. There is a lot to unpack in this novella and I will be thinking about it for awhile. Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Definitely give this a read when it publishes May 21, 2025!
April 6, 2025
I loved this novella! It was scary, witty, funny, and thought-provoking. We follow Janet, who wants to take down her old high school friend-turned-famous-psychic Pam Kowolski and expose her as a fraud. Langan’s writing is sharp and had me gripped on every word of this story. I love stories that play on how we remember things and Langan nails that feeling of being in the head of someone who is simultaneously so in her own head but also avoiding many of her own flaws and own memories. I will be checking out more of Langan’s work!
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press for sending me an ARC!
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press for sending me an ARC!
November 30, 2025
This is very much my type of book. Deeply unsettling and the way it unfolds for the reader make it totally brilliant. Love love loved this.
April 27, 2025
This novella certainly packed a punch. I identified with Janet in so many ways and felt extreme sympathy for her this was an excellent story.
March 21, 2025
Oh man, this story was a punch in the gut! So much going on and a fantastic mc that I was never sure if I loved or hated. Either way Janet Chow was perfectly created by Sarah Langan, whose writing I can’t get enough of. Her sardonic wit with a little bit of pulling on our heartstrings is what I look forward to every time I open one of her books. This was a wonderfully odd story of a woman (Janet) who felt wronged by a woman she went to school with (Pam Kowolski) who has gone on to become a huge celebrity psychic. She’s trying to write an expose on Pam to show the world what a phony she is. The question is, is this all real or is it fake? Janet is the perfect unreliable narrator and the odd characters she interviews for her story are off the charts weird! So much creepiness and just a perfect sense of dread throughout this book. I was just obsessed with getting to the bottom of this story, and I refused to put it down until I did. I loved this so much!!
May 30, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genuinely obsessed with this. I'm a sucker for a story with a deeply unwell, unreliable narrator, but (and this feels like spoilers even though I'll be vague) I love the way it turns, and I just love love love the ending. I really don't think enough books exploring really difficult issues have the most satisfying endings, but this one really did. It felt realistic in the most beautiful human way. I really loved it.
Genuinely obsessed with this. I'm a sucker for a story with a deeply unwell, unreliable narrator, but (and this feels like spoilers even though I'll be vague) I love the way it turns, and I just love love love the ending. I really don't think enough books exploring really difficult issues have the most satisfying endings, but this one really did. It felt realistic in the most beautiful human way. I really loved it.
May 18, 2026
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ Pam Kowolski Is a Monster! by Sarah Langan ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 3.75/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This novella has a strong hook. A former classmate turned famous psychic. A narrator who's convinced she knows exactly who ruined her life. A long simmering resentment that finally boils over. The setup works, and the story leans into memory, trauma, and the way old friendships can twist into something else entirely.
The unreliable narration is the best part. There are moments where the story tilts just enough that you start questioning what's real. I also liked the tension and the way it plays with perception.
The length holds it back in my opinion. Scenes move quickly and some transitions felt abrupt. I wanted more space for the emotional moments to land, especially around the friendship and the backstory. There are interesting ideas here, but they don't always get the room they need. It sometimes reads like the outline of a larger novel.
The ending is open and may divide readers. It's the kind of finale that leaves you sitting with your own interpretation. I, however, didn't mind the ambiguity.
Overall, it's a quick and interesting read with a strong concept and a narrator who keeps you guessing. I just wanted a little more development to match the ambition of the ideas.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
If you like:
✔️ unreliable narrators
✔️ friendship trauma
✔️ psychological tension
✔️ emotionally messy women
✔️ short horror
✔️ ambiguous endings
📅 Pub Day: Out Now 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from RDS Publishing. All opinions are my own.
➝ • 3.75/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This novella has a strong hook. A former classmate turned famous psychic. A narrator who's convinced she knows exactly who ruined her life. A long simmering resentment that finally boils over. The setup works, and the story leans into memory, trauma, and the way old friendships can twist into something else entirely.
The unreliable narration is the best part. There are moments where the story tilts just enough that you start questioning what's real. I also liked the tension and the way it plays with perception.
The length holds it back in my opinion. Scenes move quickly and some transitions felt abrupt. I wanted more space for the emotional moments to land, especially around the friendship and the backstory. There are interesting ideas here, but they don't always get the room they need. It sometimes reads like the outline of a larger novel.
The ending is open and may divide readers. It's the kind of finale that leaves you sitting with your own interpretation. I, however, didn't mind the ambiguity.
Overall, it's a quick and interesting read with a strong concept and a narrator who keeps you guessing. I just wanted a little more development to match the ambition of the ideas.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
If you like:
✔️ unreliable narrators
✔️ friendship trauma
✔️ psychological tension
✔️ emotionally messy women
✔️ short horror
✔️ ambiguous endings
📅 Pub Day: Out Now 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from RDS Publishing. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
Janet is kind of a jerk. She's not having a great time, living with a roommate who doesn't like her very much and working at Congo, an Amazon-like warehouse with bleeding-edge AI employee "support."
Madam Pamela is the most famous psychic in America. She's also Janet's old classmate, Pam Kowolski, and Janet knows she's a fraud. What better way for Janet to satisfy an old grudge and get her writing career back on track than to write the ultimate exposé to coincide with Madame Pamela's Big Reveal livestream?
But Janet's memories about school might not be correct, and Pamela might just be what she claims to be.
I think at this point I'll gobble up anything Sarah Langan writes. This novella is absolutely perfect. It's gutting in all the right ways. I loved hating Janet even as I regretfully could empathize with her quite a bit. The gradual reveals and slow descent were perfectly paced, and I ended up kind of emotional at the end. There was something off about the world Janet and Pam inhabit (other than the obvious), and I love how Langan refuses to pause and overexplain those things, instead just sprinkling them in frequently enough to unsettle us. And what a killer cover! My only wish is that it could have lingered over the end a little more.
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Madam Pamela is the most famous psychic in America. She's also Janet's old classmate, Pam Kowolski, and Janet knows she's a fraud. What better way for Janet to satisfy an old grudge and get her writing career back on track than to write the ultimate exposé to coincide with Madame Pamela's Big Reveal livestream?
But Janet's memories about school might not be correct, and Pamela might just be what she claims to be.
I think at this point I'll gobble up anything Sarah Langan writes. This novella is absolutely perfect. It's gutting in all the right ways. I loved hating Janet even as I regretfully could empathize with her quite a bit. The gradual reveals and slow descent were perfectly paced, and I ended up kind of emotional at the end. There was something off about the world Janet and Pam inhabit (other than the obvious), and I love how Langan refuses to pause and overexplain those things, instead just sprinkling them in frequently enough to unsettle us. And what a killer cover! My only wish is that it could have lingered over the end a little more.
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 29, 2025
Because of the cover, title, and overall premise, I expected a campy horror story. I’ve read Sarah Langan’s work before, and I know that isn’t her typical style, but I thought she’d changed course. I wasn’t entirely mistaken. There was a darkly humorous starting point to Pam Kowolski Is a Monster, but this novella ventured into deeply disturbing territory quickly, with a sheer veil of sadness draped over all of its violence. Despite the horror of it all, there was a beautiful unraveling that took place as Langan examined trauma and memory, the haunting agony and angst of young, fragile friendships, and the way our understanding of the past can change as we mature.
The character growth of the embittered narrator was remarkable. It’s hard to believe this novella only hit 120 pages, as so much happened throughout this deranged journey. While I initially thought Janet’s caustic attitude proved that she was the true monster of the story, I eventually began to believe she might be right about Pam Kowokski. This story completely messed with my head, but it also surprised me and challenged my thinking.
Pam Kowolski Is a Monster made a tremendous impression upon me, and I’d like to reread it soon. Processing it with what has now been revealed, I can see it through a newly cleansed lens. Sarah Langan possesses great insight into human behavior, and I love the way she weaves that into her impactful stories.
I am immensely grateful to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
The character growth of the embittered narrator was remarkable. It’s hard to believe this novella only hit 120 pages, as so much happened throughout this deranged journey. While I initially thought Janet’s caustic attitude proved that she was the true monster of the story, I eventually began to believe she might be right about Pam Kowokski. This story completely messed with my head, but it also surprised me and challenged my thinking.
Pam Kowolski Is a Monster made a tremendous impression upon me, and I’d like to reread it soon. Processing it with what has now been revealed, I can see it through a newly cleansed lens. Sarah Langan possesses great insight into human behavior, and I love the way she weaves that into her impactful stories.
I am immensely grateful to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
August 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for providing me with an eARC.
This was a fun, quick read. I was really interested in the premise but the execution let me down. I definitely enjoyed reading it and binged it in one sitting because of the easy writing and the fast pace of the book. It felt like a lot of themes were being pushed into one small book -- jealousy, revenge, horror, paranormal, friendship, random roommate situations etc. It took way too many tangents, that didn't make a lot of sense. I also found there to be a lot of unexplained things like what was actually causing all those events to happen and the ending was somewhat underwhelming. I would recommend this to those looking for a quick read about friendship and past trauma but slightly supernatural.
Thanks to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for providing me with an eARC.
This was a fun, quick read. I was really interested in the premise but the execution let me down. I definitely enjoyed reading it and binged it in one sitting because of the easy writing and the fast pace of the book. It felt like a lot of themes were being pushed into one small book -- jealousy, revenge, horror, paranormal, friendship, random roommate situations etc. It took way too many tangents, that didn't make a lot of sense. I also found there to be a lot of unexplained things like what was actually causing all those events to happen and the ending was somewhat underwhelming. I would recommend this to those looking for a quick read about friendship and past trauma but slightly supernatural.
May 5, 2025
Book Review:
Pam Kowalski Is A Monster
Sarah Langan
Rating: ★★★★★
This novella was such a breath of fresh air. I read it over the weekend and couldn’t get enough. The character development was chef’s kiss—I was fully invested in Pam and totally hooked waiting for The Big Reveal.
Loved the dark humor, the strange supernatural touches, and the overall vibe. It’s weird in the best way and totally original. If you’re into stories that blend suburban drama with eerie twists, this one’s a must-read.
Big thanks to Sarah Langan, NetGalley, and RDS Publishing for the ARC!
Pam Kowalski Is A Monster
Sarah Langan
Rating: ★★★★★
This novella was such a breath of fresh air. I read it over the weekend and couldn’t get enough. The character development was chef’s kiss—I was fully invested in Pam and totally hooked waiting for The Big Reveal.
Loved the dark humor, the strange supernatural touches, and the overall vibe. It’s weird in the best way and totally original. If you’re into stories that blend suburban drama with eerie twists, this one’s a must-read.
Big thanks to Sarah Langan, NetGalley, and RDS Publishing for the ARC!
April 14, 2026
Leave it to a girl from Long Island to write a horror novella about a famous psychic :-) A really well written novella about childhood memories, how we choose to remember them and of course a haunting. There were parts of this book that made the hair on my arms stand-up. Ever watch creepy youtube videos late at night with the lights off? Yeah.
Highly recommend
For fans of: Penpal by Dathan Auerbach // Come Closer by Sara Gran
Highly recommend
For fans of: Penpal by Dathan Auerbach // Come Closer by Sara Gran
June 30, 2026
Going into this, you think it’ll be about getting revenge and how much of a bitch Pam is. But as you get deeper, you realize it’s a tale about trauma, with Janet not remembering most of the tragic events of her childhood. I like how this was fun and airy, while still discussing important themes like longterm memory loss due to trauma.
May 10, 2025
Three and three quarter stars.
May 5, 2026
A super fun and unique horror novella. I didn’t read the blurb before starting, so a lot of the plot points really surprised me. Definitely recommend.
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