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Make Sure You Die Screaming: A whip-smart debut about a genderqueer corporate burnout on a road trip across MAGA America
When their mother calls with news that their MAGA-pilled, conspiracy-theorist father has gone missing, the newly unemployed queer narrator of Make Sure You Die Screaming does what anyone would steals their ex-boyfriend's BMW and races from Chicago to deep-red Arkansas on a mission to kidnap their estranged father and bring him home.
Now, with a bottle of premixed margarita jiggling in the cupholder and the narrator's brand-new garbage goth bestie, Yivi, screaming through night terrors in the passenger seat, our hero hurtles toward a family reunion from hell. Along the way, they experiment with Yivi's mystery pills, elude a relentless stalker and outrun some cops who believe the narrator committed a tragic murder.
An unflinching interrogation of class rage, economic (im)mobility, gender expression, the rot at the heart of capitalism and the political bloodbath dividing so many American families, Make Sure You Die Screaming is the loud, funny, suspenseful road trip novel of our times.
‘Roars to life from page one and never lets up. It’s a Fear and Loathing for the generation devastated by the generation that brought us Fear and Loathing’ Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby
‘Carlstrom is a scary amazing writer. They took me on a joyride that had me holding on for dear life, utterly immersed in their exquisite prose and skewering humor. This iconic road trip novel is a balm for a bleak, uncertain world’ Vanessa Walters, author of The Lagos Wife
‘I loved every loud, messy page. Carlstrom is the first writer to make me feel better about my own life choices’ Sam Irby, author of Wow, No Thank You
‘Outrageous and funny and heartbreaking and redemptive, whether you’re grieving a person or a country, Make Sure You Die Screaming is the novel for you’ Holly Wilson, author of Kittentits
‘Carlstrom has written a book that feels incredibly of the moment, twining together anger and glee, hope and despair, alienation and community’ LA Times
‘Carlstrom’s unique voice is a breath of fresh air with just the right mix of humor and resigned cynicism with a dash of hope’ Associated Press
‘Carlstrom’s anarchic literary thriller may have one of the best titles of any book published this year… Carlstrom writes their characters with nuance and empathy’ Autostraddle
This novel contains depictions of drug and alcohol abuse, violence and domestic abuse.
Now, with a bottle of premixed margarita jiggling in the cupholder and the narrator's brand-new garbage goth bestie, Yivi, screaming through night terrors in the passenger seat, our hero hurtles toward a family reunion from hell. Along the way, they experiment with Yivi's mystery pills, elude a relentless stalker and outrun some cops who believe the narrator committed a tragic murder.
An unflinching interrogation of class rage, economic (im)mobility, gender expression, the rot at the heart of capitalism and the political bloodbath dividing so many American families, Make Sure You Die Screaming is the loud, funny, suspenseful road trip novel of our times.
‘Roars to life from page one and never lets up. It’s a Fear and Loathing for the generation devastated by the generation that brought us Fear and Loathing’ Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby
‘Carlstrom is a scary amazing writer. They took me on a joyride that had me holding on for dear life, utterly immersed in their exquisite prose and skewering humor. This iconic road trip novel is a balm for a bleak, uncertain world’ Vanessa Walters, author of The Lagos Wife
‘I loved every loud, messy page. Carlstrom is the first writer to make me feel better about my own life choices’ Sam Irby, author of Wow, No Thank You
‘Outrageous and funny and heartbreaking and redemptive, whether you’re grieving a person or a country, Make Sure You Die Screaming is the novel for you’ Holly Wilson, author of Kittentits
‘Carlstrom has written a book that feels incredibly of the moment, twining together anger and glee, hope and despair, alienation and community’ LA Times
‘Carlstrom’s unique voice is a breath of fresh air with just the right mix of humor and resigned cynicism with a dash of hope’ Associated Press
‘Carlstrom’s anarchic literary thriller may have one of the best titles of any book published this year… Carlstrom writes their characters with nuance and empathy’ Autostraddle
This novel contains depictions of drug and alcohol abuse, violence and domestic abuse.
Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 28, 2026
This is a fever dream of a road trip that smacks you right between the eyes from page one!!
Our genderqueer nameless narrator & is newly found ‘garbage goth’ BFF Yivi head off in a stolen car after receiving a frantic call from the narrators mother. They have pre-mixed margaritas, Coors light and Disarono amongst other substances to help them on their way.
They need to drive from Chicago to deepest Arkansa to find and kidnap (bring home) their missing MAGA movement supporting, conspiracy theorist father.
This novel explores themes of generational trauma, gender expression, substance abuse, mental health, grief, physical abuse and political divides all told with a darkly satirical undertone. The sarcasm in the narration makes the deep nature of the topics more palatable.
It felt very relevant to what is going on in the world currently!
This is certainly not for everyone, the narrator shares some very strong opinions and the BFF Yivi, is quite annoying. Ultimately the narrator seems to be a good person whose life lead them to poor choices which they are trying to navigate.
This book will divide opinion you will either be sat in that car with them or slamming the door shut, but I enjoyed the ride!!
Our genderqueer nameless narrator & is newly found ‘garbage goth’ BFF Yivi head off in a stolen car after receiving a frantic call from the narrators mother. They have pre-mixed margaritas, Coors light and Disarono amongst other substances to help them on their way.
They need to drive from Chicago to deepest Arkansa to find and kidnap (bring home) their missing MAGA movement supporting, conspiracy theorist father.
This novel explores themes of generational trauma, gender expression, substance abuse, mental health, grief, physical abuse and political divides all told with a darkly satirical undertone. The sarcasm in the narration makes the deep nature of the topics more palatable.
It felt very relevant to what is going on in the world currently!
This is certainly not for everyone, the narrator shares some very strong opinions and the BFF Yivi, is quite annoying. Ultimately the narrator seems to be a good person whose life lead them to poor choices which they are trying to navigate.
This book will divide opinion you will either be sat in that car with them or slamming the door shut, but I enjoyed the ride!!
November 22, 2025
I read this over the summer the first time and really enjoyed it. It’s been months but I haven’t stoped thinking about it. On second read (it’s a shorty) I have to bump my 4 up to a 5. It’s a really wild ride with two friends hitting rock bottom as they road trip to Arkansas in a stolen bmw (the only valid reason to drive a bmw imo.) It barrels through addiction, identity (gender and otherwise), millennial work burnout, and conspiracy theories. It touches on heartbreaking themes in a genuine way while poking fun at the absurdity of trying to make a meaningful life in America during late stage capitalism. Ugh this is why I love rereading a book that I can’t get off my mind. I highly recommend this.
January 5, 2026
‘ I am simultaneously experience a breakdown and a break up’. Holden’s on a road trip to kidnap his dad. Their relationship with Yivi is hilarious. The road trip constantly seems to go from bad to worse to utter carnage.
This story is smattered in hurt and trauma. The tension builds and builds and builds some more. I struggled to like any of the characters in the first half of the book. I found it really opened up in the second half and Holden and his mum became so much more likeable.
This book explores gender, sexuality, friendship and family and I really enjoyed it.
This story is smattered in hurt and trauma. The tension builds and builds and builds some more. I struggled to like any of the characters in the first half of the book. I found it really opened up in the second half and Holden and his mum became so much more likeable.
This book explores gender, sexuality, friendship and family and I really enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy
This novel follows the newly nameless non-binary main character on the road trip of all roadtrips. Together with their new acquintaintence, they steal their ex boyfriends BMW and travel to Arkansas on a mission to kidnap their missing father.
The whole story is a like a huge fever dream. When you think that it is as wild as it can get, you're proved wrong. Despite being absurd and completely ridiculous at times, it touches on some tough topics and is quite an eye opening story. With plenty of humour and nonsense, there is also sensitivity in the exploration of these topics. I really enjoyed reading this, it felt like I was in the car with them for the most part.
The whole story is a like a huge fever dream. When you think that it is as wild as it can get, you're proved wrong. Despite being absurd and completely ridiculous at times, it touches on some tough topics and is quite an eye opening story. With plenty of humour and nonsense, there is also sensitivity in the exploration of these topics. I really enjoyed reading this, it felt like I was in the car with them for the most part.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews