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Slasher Summer
Not yet published
Expected 13 Aug 26When Patrick invites his old high school friends to stay at the remote Portnoy cabin for the weekend, they couldn’t be more excited.
‘80s cult flick Slasher was filmed at that location, and the Horror Film Club has always wanted a peek inside. Preppy Patrick, jock Jason, cheerleader Tiffany, stoner Freddy, goth Jennifer, nerdy Michael, and good girl Carrie may have occupied different social strata in high school, but were united by their love of horror movies.
But when night falls, and the eponymous masked killer is spotted, the reunion takes a deadly turn. The friends discover their tires deflated and the phone line disconnected, and soon they’re being stalked by a mysterious assailant. Is someone trying to make their Slasher experience as authentic as possible?
One thing is for sure–this is one summer they’ll never forget.
Slasher Summer is a fun, twisty horror romp that pays tribute to classic slasher movies–and also affirms that the real horror is never being able to escape who you were in school.
‘80s cult flick Slasher was filmed at that location, and the Horror Film Club has always wanted a peek inside. Preppy Patrick, jock Jason, cheerleader Tiffany, stoner Freddy, goth Jennifer, nerdy Michael, and good girl Carrie may have occupied different social strata in high school, but were united by their love of horror movies.
But when night falls, and the eponymous masked killer is spotted, the reunion takes a deadly turn. The friends discover their tires deflated and the phone line disconnected, and soon they’re being stalked by a mysterious assailant. Is someone trying to make their Slasher experience as authentic as possible?
One thing is for sure–this is one summer they’ll never forget.
Slasher Summer is a fun, twisty horror romp that pays tribute to classic slasher movies–and also affirms that the real horror is never being able to escape who you were in school.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
E.L. Chen
13 books84 followersE. L. Chen is the author of Summerwood/Winterwood, Sweetside Motel, Slasher Summer, and One of Us Is Already Dead. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her son and many TBR piles. Find more about her at elainechen.com.
**Disclaimer: I resurrected this account to support my fellow writers, so everyone gets 4 or 5 stars.**
**Disclaimer: I resurrected this account to support my fellow writers, so everyone gets 4 or 5 stars.**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 753 reviews
July 15, 2026
fun, but not super fulfilling
2.5 stars
this review is spoiler free!
꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷ what to expect ꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷
✃ 7 ‘friends’ from high school reuniting at a remote cabin in their early twenties
✃ all 7 members were a part of a horror movie fan club – the Jumpscare Society – in high school
✃ each character is named after an iconic horror movie (we have Carrie, Jason, Freddy, Michael, etc.)
✃ multiple pov. though written in third person, we do get to follow different characters each chapter
✃ per all 2000s horror movies, they encounter a killer that wants to pick them off one by one
✃ per every 2000s horror movie, this was slightly (purposefully) cheesy
✃ per every 2000s horror movie, we have all the stereotype friends hanging out (the stoner, the jock, the nerd, the person of color (also the queer one), the edgy one (also queer), the straight hot girl, and the Final Girl)
꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷ my thoughts ꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷
the set up was honestly very fun. i love horror movies and games, so i was really excited for this as my Summerween read. i expected just a *little* bit more than i received.
the action didn’t really begin until halfway through the book (around page 150). most of the first 50% is getting to know our characters, and this felt a little… TOO stereotypical? i think that perhaps we spent a little too much time on everyone. some depictions of the characters almost felt YA, which i didn’t love.
as for the writing, it wasn’t necessarily bad… but we did love to harp on the same things over and over. The Final Girl can’t die, the stereotypes of each person, the lack of weapons, etc, etc.
in the premise of this book, it does mention that this story is an ode to 1980s slasher films and, while i can see why it says that, it definitely felt more like an ode to mass-produced, low-budget 2008 horror movies rated PG-13. this isn’t a bad thing at all, but it didn’t scream old slashers to me.
i'll admit, the last 10-15% kind of lost me. all of the reveals felt pretty predictable and the end scenes were just… not my favorite.
it was all fine, but this is just like any horror movie i watched as a teen – a good time for a few hours, more cheesy than scary, and overall pretty forgettable.
i'd recommend for a quick summer read or as a palate cleanser! great for Summerween.
2.5 stars
this review is spoiler free!
꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷ what to expect ꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷
✃ 7 ‘friends’ from high school reuniting at a remote cabin in their early twenties
✃ all 7 members were a part of a horror movie fan club – the Jumpscare Society – in high school
✃ each character is named after an iconic horror movie (we have Carrie, Jason, Freddy, Michael, etc.)
✃ multiple pov. though written in third person, we do get to follow different characters each chapter
✃ per all 2000s horror movies, they encounter a killer that wants to pick them off one by one
✃ per every 2000s horror movie, this was slightly (purposefully) cheesy
✃ per every 2000s horror movie, we have all the stereotype friends hanging out (the stoner, the jock, the nerd, the person of color (also the queer one), the edgy one (also queer), the straight hot girl, and the Final Girl)
꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷ my thoughts ꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷
the set up was honestly very fun. i love horror movies and games, so i was really excited for this as my Summerween read. i expected just a *little* bit more than i received.
the action didn’t really begin until halfway through the book (around page 150). most of the first 50% is getting to know our characters, and this felt a little… TOO stereotypical? i think that perhaps we spent a little too much time on everyone. some depictions of the characters almost felt YA, which i didn’t love.
as for the writing, it wasn’t necessarily bad… but we did love to harp on the same things over and over. The Final Girl can’t die, the stereotypes of each person, the lack of weapons, etc, etc.
in the premise of this book, it does mention that this story is an ode to 1980s slasher films and, while i can see why it says that, it definitely felt more like an ode to mass-produced, low-budget 2008 horror movies rated PG-13. this isn’t a bad thing at all, but it didn’t scream old slashers to me.
i'll admit, the last 10-15% kind of lost me. all of the reveals felt pretty predictable and the end scenes were just… not my favorite.
it was all fine, but this is just like any horror movie i watched as a teen – a good time for a few hours, more cheesy than scary, and overall pretty forgettable.
i'd recommend for a quick summer read or as a palate cleanser! great for Summerween.
June 24, 2026
The description of this book isn't misleading, Slasher Summer is a love letter to 1980's horror films. In this book seven friends from high school reunite to catch up and have some fun, but find it isn't too much fun when someone is trying to kill you!!!!!! Before the you-know-what hits the fan, I could not help but notice that the friends are made up of characters which reminded me of the movie, The Breakfast Club. Yes, this book is very much a love letter to the '80's.
Cedar Lake Fall (does this remind you of Camp Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th?) was the location where the SLASHER, the 80's campy horror movie, was filmed. The seven friends not only were in a group called "The Jumpscare Society", but they also played the cast of SLASHER during midnight showings. Yes, if you are getting strong Scream 2 vibes you are not alone. So, when their friends get together at the cabin where SLASHER was filmed. They hope to reminisce, have fun, and talk about their lives since high school, but instead find themselves in a horrific situation...
This book reads like a movie and the author brought on the thrills and chills in this campy horror book. It's entertaining, full of characters who love horror films and trying not to repeat mistakes their "character" made in horror films. The entire book I was trying to figure out who the killer might be and was shocked at the reveal. I love it when this happens. Plus, the ending!
This book is not titled a YA book, but at times this did feel like a YA novel. That is not necessarily a bad thing; I just wanted to point that out. This book does have some horrific scenes, but I didn't find any of them to be that bad or that gory.
Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cedar Lake Fall (does this remind you of Camp Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th?) was the location where the SLASHER, the 80's campy horror movie, was filmed. The seven friends not only were in a group called "The Jumpscare Society", but they also played the cast of SLASHER during midnight showings. Yes, if you are getting strong Scream 2 vibes you are not alone. So, when their friends get together at the cabin where SLASHER was filmed. They hope to reminisce, have fun, and talk about their lives since high school, but instead find themselves in a horrific situation...
This book reads like a movie and the author brought on the thrills and chills in this campy horror book. It's entertaining, full of characters who love horror films and trying not to repeat mistakes their "character" made in horror films. The entire book I was trying to figure out who the killer might be and was shocked at the reveal. I love it when this happens. Plus, the ending!
This book is not titled a YA book, but at times this did feel like a YA novel. That is not necessarily a bad thing; I just wanted to point that out. This book does have some horrific scenes, but I didn't find any of them to be that bad or that gory.
Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 9, 2026
4.75 stars rounded up.
This was phenomenal. If you pick any slasher book up this summer, it should be this one. We're following a relatively large cast of characters, but EL Chen did such a fantastic job of making sure they all had their own personalities. This was a true slasher book. I was creeped out while reading this, flicking lights on and closing blinds because I felt scared and creeped out. It's not often a book can do that to me. The isolated setting and the history of the slasher movie being filmed at the cabin just really added to the atmosphere. As did the blood and gore of the slashings. I had a blast reading this.
I also loved the character names being a nod to some of the classic horror movies (Carrie from Carrie, Jason from Friday 13th, Michael from Halloween, Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Tiffany from Chucky, Patrick from American Psycho, Jen from Jennifer's Body?! and even Sidney (the van) from Scream.)
This was phenomenal. If you pick any slasher book up this summer, it should be this one. We're following a relatively large cast of characters, but EL Chen did such a fantastic job of making sure they all had their own personalities. This was a true slasher book. I was creeped out while reading this, flicking lights on and closing blinds because I felt scared and creeped out. It's not often a book can do that to me. The isolated setting and the history of the slasher movie being filmed at the cabin just really added to the atmosphere. As did the blood and gore of the slashings. I had a blast reading this.
I also loved the character names being a nod to some of the classic horror movies (Carrie from Carrie, Jason from Friday 13th, Michael from Halloween, Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Tiffany from Chucky, Patrick from American Psycho, Jen from Jennifer's Body?! and even Sidney (the van) from Scream.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
this was the perfect slasher novel for me aka someone who adores horror stories but has no ability to actually watch horror movies 🔪
slasher summer: the annual festival in otherwise-sleepy cedar lake, celebrating the cult-classic 80s horror flick, slasher, which was filmed at a local cottage deep in the forest. this year, seven friends reunite four years after their high school graduation for one last hurrah at the slasher cottage.
they are the former members of the jumpscare society, a club that coalesced in high school school over a mutual love for horror films. back then, they'd play the shadow cast of the slasher film at their local theatre, spraying the audience with super soakers filled with reddish water. patrick is the preppy straight-A student. jason is the handsome jock. tiffany is the queen bee cheerleader. jen is the rebellious goth. michael is the bumbling nerd. freddy is the goofy stoner. and carrie, she's the Final Girl—virginal, demure, and inspiring of all sympathy.
but the group didn't part on good terms, four years ago. and when they receive a phone call in the cabin—You're all going to die tonight—and discover all their cars' tires slashed, the seven of them must figure out a way to survive the night... or suffer the same fates their shadow characters did.
🔪 ◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
i thoroughly enjoyed this novel and devoured it over two days. slasher summer riffs on classic tropes in a dark and campy manner—a convenient lack of cell service; incapacitating the killer without checking to see if they're dead dead; the wide-eyed final girl; and all the characters named after iconic horror movie protagonists—while still allowing space for subversion. it's a self-aware book, with the characters commenting on their own identities as people of colour, as queer people, as women—and how they'd typically be treated in horror films: eliminated, early on. i appreciated this self-awareness, which allows us readers to relish in the tropes without them feeling too overdone.
moreover, seven characters can easily become an unwieldy cast, but slasher summer tackles it formidably. each chapter of the novel alternates between a different character's POV, so we get glimpses into everyone's heads and backstories. (it's another layer of subversion, in my opinion: that we get to see the nuances that lend individuality and humanity to each person.) and i found myself invested in everyone. and although i was able to predict a key part of the ending, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book—because we're thrown off and misled just enough that i started to doubt myself, too.
lastly, it was very fun reading horror by a fellow chinese canadian who's based in toronto! this was my first story by e.l. chen, and i already know it won't be my last.
many thanks to crown publishing and netgalley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
slasher summer: the annual festival in otherwise-sleepy cedar lake, celebrating the cult-classic 80s horror flick, slasher, which was filmed at a local cottage deep in the forest. this year, seven friends reunite four years after their high school graduation for one last hurrah at the slasher cottage.
they are the former members of the jumpscare society, a club that coalesced in high school school over a mutual love for horror films. back then, they'd play the shadow cast of the slasher film at their local theatre, spraying the audience with super soakers filled with reddish water. patrick is the preppy straight-A student. jason is the handsome jock. tiffany is the queen bee cheerleader. jen is the rebellious goth. michael is the bumbling nerd. freddy is the goofy stoner. and carrie, she's the Final Girl—virginal, demure, and inspiring of all sympathy.
but the group didn't part on good terms, four years ago. and when they receive a phone call in the cabin—You're all going to die tonight—and discover all their cars' tires slashed, the seven of them must figure out a way to survive the night... or suffer the same fates their shadow characters did.
🔪 ◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
i thoroughly enjoyed this novel and devoured it over two days. slasher summer riffs on classic tropes in a dark and campy manner—a convenient lack of cell service; incapacitating the killer without checking to see if they're dead dead; the wide-eyed final girl; and all the characters named after iconic horror movie protagonists—while still allowing space for subversion. it's a self-aware book, with the characters commenting on their own identities as people of colour, as queer people, as women—and how they'd typically be treated in horror films: eliminated, early on. i appreciated this self-awareness, which allows us readers to relish in the tropes without them feeling too overdone.
moreover, seven characters can easily become an unwieldy cast, but slasher summer tackles it formidably. each chapter of the novel alternates between a different character's POV, so we get glimpses into everyone's heads and backstories. (it's another layer of subversion, in my opinion: that we get to see the nuances that lend individuality and humanity to each person.) and i found myself invested in everyone. and although i was able to predict a key part of the ending, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book—because we're thrown off and misled just enough that i started to doubt myself, too.
lastly, it was very fun reading horror by a fellow chinese canadian who's based in toronto! this was my first story by e.l. chen, and i already know it won't be my last.
many thanks to crown publishing and netgalley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2026
This is such a delightful Horror-fueled romp through some classic Slasher imagery, tropes, characters and lore.
It reminded me of The Last Final Girlby Stephen Graham Jones. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered a hardcopy so I can read it again and annotate all the references.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
It reminded me of The Last Final Girlby Stephen Graham Jones. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered a hardcopy so I can read it again and annotate all the references.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
July 6, 2026
DNF @79%
I loved the camp/lake setting. I loved the cover and the 80’s vibes.
The characters were bland, it was hard to keep up with each one. Sometimes the chapters would drag.
Meh 🫤 disappointed. This was one I was really excited for this summer.
**Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review. **
I loved the camp/lake setting. I loved the cover and the 80’s vibes.
The characters were bland, it was hard to keep up with each one. Sometimes the chapters would drag.
Meh 🫤 disappointed. This was one I was really excited for this summer.
**Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review. **
July 12, 2026
If Scary Movie were turned into a book, this is exactly how it would feel… cheesy, self-aware, and full of nostalgic humor. It doesn’t take itself seriously, which makes it an easy, fun read.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2026
In high school, seven students who all were in different cliques formed a theater group called The Jumpscare Society where they reenacted a horror film called Slasher each year.
After not seeing each other since graduating high school, they meet up for a weekend in the house where the original movies was filmed before it’s scheduled to be torn down.
What they end up experiencing is anything but a relaxing weekend catching up.
This book played on a lot of the stereotypical cast members in slasher flicks and I also liked that each of the characters were named after a prominent character from a horror film:
Jason the jock
Tiffany the cheerleader
Patrick the prep
Jen the goth girl
Freddy the stoner
Mikey (Michael) the nerd
Carrie the virgin
Another thing that I appreciated with the casting was using characters of different ethnicities and sexual orientations to make it more reflective of the times (well, at least modern times up until the past year and a half).
It also mentions a neighboring city called Fairvale, which I’m assuming was a reference to the fictional city in Psycho.
I try my best not to judge a book by its cover (both literally and figuratively), but I will admit that in this case the cover was definitely a selling point.
What’s not to love about a retro looking VHS cover that gives both 80’s horror and Stranger Things vibes?
Whoever designed this deserves an award!
I think that this book will provide a lot of nostalgia for some Gen Xers and Millennials who enjoyed 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s horror flicks like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
It’s marketed as a remake of 80’s movies, but felt more like 90’s to me since I wasn’t allowed to watch “scary” movies until the mid 90’s.
This was definitely written to be more satirical and nostalgic than scary.
A horror aficionado looking for something scary enough to keep them up at night may be disappointed.
The first half of this book was a slow burn, but the second half was all popcorn thriller with a great ending.
I definitely had fun with this one…it read just like watching one of my slasher movies from the 90’s.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC to review in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
After not seeing each other since graduating high school, they meet up for a weekend in the house where the original movies was filmed before it’s scheduled to be torn down.
What they end up experiencing is anything but a relaxing weekend catching up.
This book played on a lot of the stereotypical cast members in slasher flicks and I also liked that each of the characters were named after a prominent character from a horror film:
Jason the jock
Tiffany the cheerleader
Patrick the prep
Jen the goth girl
Freddy the stoner
Mikey (Michael) the nerd
Carrie the virgin
Another thing that I appreciated with the casting was using characters of different ethnicities and sexual orientations to make it more reflective of the times (well, at least modern times up until the past year and a half).
It also mentions a neighboring city called Fairvale, which I’m assuming was a reference to the fictional city in Psycho.
I try my best not to judge a book by its cover (both literally and figuratively), but I will admit that in this case the cover was definitely a selling point.
What’s not to love about a retro looking VHS cover that gives both 80’s horror and Stranger Things vibes?
Whoever designed this deserves an award!
I think that this book will provide a lot of nostalgia for some Gen Xers and Millennials who enjoyed 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s horror flicks like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
It’s marketed as a remake of 80’s movies, but felt more like 90’s to me since I wasn’t allowed to watch “scary” movies until the mid 90’s.
This was definitely written to be more satirical and nostalgic than scary.
A horror aficionado looking for something scary enough to keep them up at night may be disappointed.
The first half of this book was a slow burn, but the second half was all popcorn thriller with a great ending.
I definitely had fun with this one…it read just like watching one of my slasher movies from the 90’s.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC to review in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
July 15, 2026
Disappointments in life are inevitable. I've had plenty - I'm often a fool for believing the hype, I fall for it every time. I even rushed to try vegan meat free sausages because of the buzz around them (tasted like a grandma's beach worn flip flops) - but nothing makes me feel so depleted as wasting hours on a novel that fails to deliver.
This is actually my second review for the same novel (originally posted in June) but I accidentally deleted my original review.
On paper, theoretically I should enjoy this novel. It's a horror which of course is a genre that I've grown to love, and it promised to be a nod to the classics particularly from the 80s and 90s, my favourite era. But I am struggling to find any redeeming qualities at all (similar to that vegan sausage - seriously why does it have the texture of sawdust?)
There are plenty of nods to previous horrors, particularly slashers, it doesn't take much to find a nod to past movies like ‘Halloween’ or ‘Chucky’, but stumbling across these countless nods, is really where the fun ends within this novel.
It takes way too long to get into any sort of rhythm, with the first half of the book trying to develop its very unlikeable characters (of which there are too many) and when the supposed ‘horror’ begins, it's too corny to be taken seriously. There is a fine line between satirical and cheesy and this has more cheese than a margarita pizza
The extremely stereotypical characters were a major stumbling block for me, I understand that much alike television and movies today, the writing industry is trying to be more diverse and inclusive of different people regardless of race, gender and sexualities - and that's a positive change for which I applaud - but, this novel is inclusive just for the sake of being inclusive. It doesn't feel natural, it feels pointlessly forced.
The writing style was terrible - I've seen some reviews compare the style to that of a YA Novel - honestly I think that's offensive to Young Adult novels, a large portion of them at least have substance to them, this does not.
Writing aside, I just really didn't enjoy the story. Half a novel wasted on teen soap opera drama, just to be left with a terribly poor and easily predictable ending.
Sadly, my least favourite read so far of 2026, ranking lower on my list than the instructions on my IKEA wardrobe of which I still don't understand how to put together
This is actually my second review for the same novel (originally posted in June) but I accidentally deleted my original review.
On paper, theoretically I should enjoy this novel. It's a horror which of course is a genre that I've grown to love, and it promised to be a nod to the classics particularly from the 80s and 90s, my favourite era. But I am struggling to find any redeeming qualities at all (similar to that vegan sausage - seriously why does it have the texture of sawdust?)
There are plenty of nods to previous horrors, particularly slashers, it doesn't take much to find a nod to past movies like ‘Halloween’ or ‘Chucky’, but stumbling across these countless nods, is really where the fun ends within this novel.
It takes way too long to get into any sort of rhythm, with the first half of the book trying to develop its very unlikeable characters (of which there are too many) and when the supposed ‘horror’ begins, it's too corny to be taken seriously. There is a fine line between satirical and cheesy and this has more cheese than a margarita pizza
The extremely stereotypical characters were a major stumbling block for me, I understand that much alike television and movies today, the writing industry is trying to be more diverse and inclusive of different people regardless of race, gender and sexualities - and that's a positive change for which I applaud - but, this novel is inclusive just for the sake of being inclusive. It doesn't feel natural, it feels pointlessly forced.
The writing style was terrible - I've seen some reviews compare the style to that of a YA Novel - honestly I think that's offensive to Young Adult novels, a large portion of them at least have substance to them, this does not.
Writing aside, I just really didn't enjoy the story. Half a novel wasted on teen soap opera drama, just to be left with a terribly poor and easily predictable ending.
Sadly, my least favourite read so far of 2026, ranking lower on my list than the instructions on my IKEA wardrobe of which I still don't understand how to put together
July 6, 2026
"And anyway, she was too pretty to die."
A 1980s-based horror slasher taking place in the small town of Cedar Lake, where a cult classic film, Slasher, took place, and seven friends stay at the cabin it was filmed in. Six of them know each other very well, while the other has been an outsider since graduation. However, not all of them can be final girls.
This was so much fun! It reads exactly as watching a slasher movie feels, and it has all the usual slasher characters and tropes. There's the jock, cheerleader, stoner, etc., and this book perfectly encapsulated what watching a mid-slasher feels like!
It's not going to be a new favorite book by any means, but it's so quick to read! There are a lot of slasher movie references, even down to the cast's names, so it truly is a love letter to the 80s slasher classics we know and love!
You get the POV of every character, so it's pretty easy to distinguish which character is which. I find this hard to do when you have more than three POVs, so to successfully do all seven characters uniquely is great! This book was so fast-paced and easy to get sucked into. Every time I picked it up, I binged a giant section of it.
July 13, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
honestly such a fun, easy horror read. It gave major classic slasher vibes but still felt modern and fresh, which I really liked. The whole summer setting mixed with the creepy, tense moments, had that 80’s horror cabin slasher trope which i enjoyed, was giving friday the 13th setting with scream vibes
The pacing was solid, not too slow but not rushed either. I would say it was predictable but that didn’t take away from the fun of the book
The characters were decent, not super deep, but they fit the vibe of the story and worked well for a slasher-type plot. I wasn’t overly attached, but I was still invested enough to want to know what happened to them
Overall, if you like quick, entertaining horror with summer camp/slasher energy, this is definitely worth the read. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s fun, addictive, and perfect for getting into a spooky mood
honestly such a fun, easy horror read. It gave major classic slasher vibes but still felt modern and fresh, which I really liked. The whole summer setting mixed with the creepy, tense moments, had that 80’s horror cabin slasher trope which i enjoyed, was giving friday the 13th setting with scream vibes
The pacing was solid, not too slow but not rushed either. I would say it was predictable but that didn’t take away from the fun of the book
The characters were decent, not super deep, but they fit the vibe of the story and worked well for a slasher-type plot. I wasn’t overly attached, but I was still invested enough to want to know what happened to them
Overall, if you like quick, entertaining horror with summer camp/slasher energy, this is definitely worth the read. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s fun, addictive, and perfect for getting into a spooky mood
July 16, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advanced copy of the ebook, I bought the paperback for myself lol, and I also listened to the audiobook on Spotify while reading along.
This was just as much fun as I was hoping it would be! A classic slasher with a fun twist and plenty of gruesome deaths. I loved all the drip-fed reveals and red herrings as we wondered just who is the slasher, and I love the twist on the final girl. It had some major Scream vibes but with a fun setting of an old cabin on a lake this time around (the setting reminded me of Until Dawn, along with the cast of characters!), plus there's the horror homages in all the character names haha this book really is a love letter to horror and it's a fun one at that! And the ending!! I loved it, so fun.
This was a really cinematic slasher as well, I was really able to picture everything. The audiobook was really well done too, with a different narrator for every character - each chapter is narrated by one of the main characters. I was a little overwhelmed by that at first but you really do get to know each character and it wasn't as overwhelming as I'd thought it would be - I was able to keep everyone straight by the halfway point.
I want this as a movie so bad, it would be so fun!! I'm also curious as to who everyone's favorite character is, if you've read this book... for me, it's a tie between Patrick and Carrie.
I can't recommend this love letter to slashers enough!
*I read this for my Summerween reading vlog! https://youtu.be/zdH5DSA7OAI
This was just as much fun as I was hoping it would be! A classic slasher with a fun twist and plenty of gruesome deaths. I loved all the drip-fed reveals and red herrings as we wondered just who is the slasher, and I love the twist on the final girl. It had some major Scream vibes but with a fun setting of an old cabin on a lake this time around (the setting reminded me of Until Dawn, along with the cast of characters!), plus there's the horror homages in all the character names haha this book really is a love letter to horror and it's a fun one at that! And the ending!! I loved it, so fun.
This was a really cinematic slasher as well, I was really able to picture everything. The audiobook was really well done too, with a different narrator for every character - each chapter is narrated by one of the main characters. I was a little overwhelmed by that at first but you really do get to know each character and it wasn't as overwhelming as I'd thought it would be - I was able to keep everyone straight by the halfway point.
I want this as a movie so bad, it would be so fun!! I'm also curious as to who everyone's favorite character is, if you've read this book... for me, it's a tie between Patrick and Carrie.
I can't recommend this love letter to slashers enough!
*I read this for my Summerween reading vlog! https://youtu.be/zdH5DSA7OAI
June 9, 2026
1.5/5 (Rounding Up for GoodReads)
I want to say that this book has been on my watch-list FOREVER, and was thankful enough to get an ARC copy through NetGalley.
The book follows a group of friends who are getting back together for a reunion of their HS horror movie club, The Jumpscare Society. They rent a cabin in the woods and from there things go down hill with a killer that has revenge on their mind. Or so they think …
Pros: I liked how each chapter was a different characters point of view. I think it worked very well seeing how each character viewed the events that were going on. One POV picked up where the other left off. I also, thought the ending was very fitting and on par for the trajectory of the book. It sent everything else up for a sequel.
Cons: right off the bat the books starts really fast with a gang of characters and backstories that kinda made me feel like I was outside looking in and missing something. I do not feel that this book is in the horror genre. If so then it is more YA horror. This definitely fits the thriller description with some bloody moments. The tropes were played well and at times too well. A lot of issues were harped on and beat into the ground (the photo, Micheal’s muscles, people being better than others). The characters conversations also, felt really awkward and inorganic. I found myself having the say it out loud because it didn’t sounds right. Some of the things the characters said were quite cringe at times and not things real people would say. A lot of whining as well. I’m not sure if that was the character playing their role and if so bravo but, it made me back to skip certain characters chapters. This might be controversial but, outside of the setting there was almost no “slasher summer” vibes. I never got the feeling that I was on summer break being chased by the slasher.
Overall, the book was just alright. I can see a lot of people liking it and gaining a cult following. I wish there could have been some tweaks and there might be since I didn’t read the final version. Although, I can see this being a CLASSIC slasher summer book once it comes out and gets some hype around it. Props to E. L. Chen for writing an underrated underrepresented theme.
I want to say that this book has been on my watch-list FOREVER, and was thankful enough to get an ARC copy through NetGalley.
The book follows a group of friends who are getting back together for a reunion of their HS horror movie club, The Jumpscare Society. They rent a cabin in the woods and from there things go down hill with a killer that has revenge on their mind. Or so they think …
Pros: I liked how each chapter was a different characters point of view. I think it worked very well seeing how each character viewed the events that were going on. One POV picked up where the other left off. I also, thought the ending was very fitting and on par for the trajectory of the book. It sent everything else up for a sequel.
Cons: right off the bat the books starts really fast with a gang of characters and backstories that kinda made me feel like I was outside looking in and missing something. I do not feel that this book is in the horror genre. If so then it is more YA horror. This definitely fits the thriller description with some bloody moments. The tropes were played well and at times too well. A lot of issues were harped on and beat into the ground (the photo, Micheal’s muscles, people being better than others). The characters conversations also, felt really awkward and inorganic. I found myself having the say it out loud because it didn’t sounds right. Some of the things the characters said were quite cringe at times and not things real people would say. A lot of whining as well. I’m not sure if that was the character playing their role and if so bravo but, it made me back to skip certain characters chapters. This might be controversial but, outside of the setting there was almost no “slasher summer” vibes. I never got the feeling that I was on summer break being chased by the slasher.
Overall, the book was just alright. I can see a lot of people liking it and gaining a cult following. I wish there could have been some tweaks and there might be since I didn’t read the final version. Although, I can see this being a CLASSIC slasher summer book once it comes out and gets some hype around it. Props to E. L. Chen for writing an underrated underrepresented theme.
July 11, 2026
Vibes were there but the repetitive writing style and the constant reference/analysis that the characters are “in a horror movie” really kills all the suspense
Did Not Finish
June 30, 2026Reads like YA, maybe it is YA. Wasn’t for me
June 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWNNNN!!! Felt like a classicccc summer slasher/horror story and it was so funny but also had my heart literally racinggggg! I really enjoyed all the POVs too!!
July 12, 2026
Everything you love about slashers in print form. I loved every second of this bloody rampage, complete with a creepy cabin in the woods, an ink black lake, axes, machetes, and a strategically placed pom-pom. Now give me the sequel.
February 25, 2026
ARC Review - 4.75/5 WOW. WOW. WOW!
The book’s slasher references feel authentic sprinkled throughout, homages fitting for members of a high school horror club. It will keep you guessing and doubting your own judgement as you try to unmask the Slasher alongside the Jumpscare Society, as they are picked off one-by-one.
The members of the J.S play into typical 80s archetypes and the group themselves are well aware of their Breakfast Club. Yes, cliché and obvious, but at no point does it feel tired or over-used. It works perfectly, and often feels meta. Preppy Patrick, goth Jennifer, popular Tiffany, jock Jason, innocent Carrie, geek Michael and stoner Freddy have secrets and reflections to come to terms with when reuniting for the first time since high school. These are sometimes unexpectedly thought provoking and give insight to the characters that upon some deaths, leave you wanting more that you can't have. Their inner voices are distinctive and well written, leaving you annoyed and humoured by Tiffany's selfishness, rolling your eyes at Patrick's need for control and laughing out loud at Jen's bold quips - to name a few.
Some of the deaths really do hit hard, which was unexpected as I try to never get invested in slasher characters (due to the genre rules that no one is safe - aside from the final girl, as the book literally reminds you throughout). This is real testament to how Chen wrote the group and their individual dynamics. I was pining for a certain duo to get together.
I could see this playing out in all it's campy, gory glory in my head. The ending had me gagged and gutted (just like some of the characters) and I will be reading more from this author, "XOXO".
The book’s slasher references feel authentic sprinkled throughout, homages fitting for members of a high school horror club. It will keep you guessing and doubting your own judgement as you try to unmask the Slasher alongside the Jumpscare Society, as they are picked off one-by-one.
The members of the J.S play into typical 80s archetypes and the group themselves are well aware of their Breakfast Club. Yes, cliché and obvious, but at no point does it feel tired or over-used. It works perfectly, and often feels meta. Preppy Patrick, goth Jennifer, popular Tiffany, jock Jason, innocent Carrie, geek Michael and stoner Freddy have secrets and reflections to come to terms with when reuniting for the first time since high school. These are sometimes unexpectedly thought provoking and give insight to the characters that upon some deaths, leave you wanting more that you can't have. Their inner voices are distinctive and well written, leaving you annoyed and humoured by Tiffany's selfishness, rolling your eyes at Patrick's need for control and laughing out loud at Jen's bold quips - to name a few.
Some of the deaths really do hit hard, which was unexpected as I try to never get invested in slasher characters (due to the genre rules that no one is safe - aside from the final girl, as the book literally reminds you throughout). This is real testament to how Chen wrote the group and their individual dynamics. I was pining for a certain duo to get together.
I could see this playing out in all it's campy, gory glory in my head. The ending had me gagged and gutted (just like some of the characters) and I will be reading more from this author, "XOXO".
July 6, 2026
this one was unfortunately very disappointing.
things i liked:
1) slasher. i like slashers and this slasher did contain slashing.
things i didn't like:
1) the characters were total caricatures of what people are actually like. this felt very YA with how much this book tried to commit to the character tropes.
2) character motivations made no sense
3) the writing was subpar. there was very little sense of tension and it was just hard to stay rooted in the story in certain scenes. for example, we are in a brutal murder scene but with the way its written, it felt like we were talking about something as mundane as the weather. like girl, your limbs are getting axed off, lock in!!!!!
4) the thesaurus was getting used and abused in this one
5) painfully predictable ending
6) i'm no horror expert, but one thing i value a lot is when the reader can be very rooted in the setting. to me, this is what makes the difference between a horrifying thriller and a true horror. the tension in the setting should be palpable. this book set it up in a way where i thought that was where we were going (a horror cabin) but we barely spent any time in the cabin??? and when we were in the cabin, we spent so little time there that there was no way to pick up on the intricacies of the setting that would become important later. i dont know if this makes any sense, but it annoyed me a lot. when i realized that a majority of the book was in the woods, i was so annoyed at the missed opportunity of the horror cabin.
things i liked:
1) slasher. i like slashers and this slasher did contain slashing.
things i didn't like:
1) the characters were total caricatures of what people are actually like. this felt very YA with how much this book tried to commit to the character tropes.
2) character motivations made no sense
3) the writing was subpar. there was very little sense of tension and it was just hard to stay rooted in the story in certain scenes. for example, we are in a brutal murder scene but with the way its written, it felt like we were talking about something as mundane as the weather. like girl, your limbs are getting axed off, lock in!!!!!
4) the thesaurus was getting used and abused in this one
5) painfully predictable ending
6) i'm no horror expert, but one thing i value a lot is when the reader can be very rooted in the setting. to me, this is what makes the difference between a horrifying thriller and a true horror. the tension in the setting should be palpable. this book set it up in a way where i thought that was where we were going (a horror cabin) but we barely spent any time in the cabin??? and when we were in the cabin, we spent so little time there that there was no way to pick up on the intricacies of the setting that would become important later. i dont know if this makes any sense, but it annoyed me a lot. when i realized that a majority of the book was in the woods, i was so annoyed at the missed opportunity of the horror cabin.
July 11, 2026
I had a blast!🔪🎃🖤
This was the perfect book to get you into the summerween vibe. It’s described as a campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, and I couldn’t agree more because it definitely paid homage to them with all the references, elements, and tropes.
We have seven friends reuniting in the sleepy town of Cedar Lake for a weekend of fun, but is it really though? THINGS REALLY HIT THE FAN.
Everyone has a huge personality with an interesting past. I love how diverse the characters were and how chaotic things turned out. I was questioning everyone’s motives.
I caught myself laughing out loud at their actions and inner monologues. At times, it reminded me of my favorite franchise: Scary Movie.
It’s gory, fast-paced, and didn’t feel scary more thrilling than anything. It left me second-guessing myself about who the killer might be. Then, when the reveal came, I was surprised.
Overall, I enjoyed this so much, and the writing felt atmospheric/motion-picture. It’s nostalgic in a way and everything I look for in a fun horror/thriller novel. DEF REC!! 🖤
This was the perfect book to get you into the summerween vibe. It’s described as a campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, and I couldn’t agree more because it definitely paid homage to them with all the references, elements, and tropes.
We have seven friends reuniting in the sleepy town of Cedar Lake for a weekend of fun, but is it really though? THINGS REALLY HIT THE FAN.
Everyone has a huge personality with an interesting past. I love how diverse the characters were and how chaotic things turned out. I was questioning everyone’s motives.
I caught myself laughing out loud at their actions and inner monologues. At times, it reminded me of my favorite franchise: Scary Movie.
It’s gory, fast-paced, and didn’t feel scary more thrilling than anything. It left me second-guessing myself about who the killer might be. Then, when the reveal came, I was surprised.
Overall, I enjoyed this so much, and the writing felt atmospheric/motion-picture. It’s nostalgic in a way and everything I look for in a fun horror/thriller novel. DEF REC!! 🖤
July 3, 2026
4.25 I had the absolute best time reading this book!!! It’s truly the epitome of an 80’s slasher but without the bigotry 🙌 it’s perfect for Summerween but would also be fantastic for spooky season. This was such a great book to kick off my slasher summer season with. It’s absolutely an homage though so don’t go in expecting it to rewrite the genre because it won’t but it will give you a bloody good time!
I have seen reviews that say it’s predictable and all I can say, my brethren in christ, the majority of slashers are formulaic as fuck. It’s like going into a Final Destination movie and being shocked everyone dies.
I have seen reviews that say it’s predictable and all I can say, my brethren in christ, the majority of slashers are formulaic as fuck. It’s like going into a Final Destination movie and being shocked everyone dies.
July 15, 2026
Checked all the boxes for an 80s inspired slasher. Quick, fun read that while predictable was still thrilling. It had lots of nostalgic references, quirky characters, and bloody scenes. It had a great pace not too fast or too slow. If you enjoy cheesy slasher movies this book is for you.
July 6, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ This is the perfect summerween book — I had the best time reading it!! It’s a campy, nostalgic slasher story that definitely feels like an homage to iconic 80s and 90s films. This book was like a mix of Scream and The Breakfast Club, and that was the perfect combination for me. It was full of classic slasher references and tropes, and I loved how it was a satirical take on the genre that still kept me guessing until the end.
I loved this diverse cast of characters. They’re named after classic horror movie characters, which was such a fun touch, and they reminded me of The Breakfast Club. We have the nerd, the jock, the preppy guy, the good girl, the cheerleader, the goth, and the stoner. We jump between each character’s perspective, and it was done really well. We learn about their backstories, personalities, and their potential motives. I was constantly going back and forth between who I thought the killer was and who I could trust, and there was a reveal that totally caught me off guard.
This was exactly what I hoped it would be and perfectly captured that classic horror/slasher movie feeling. It’s not a literary masterpiece, but what it is is a love letter to slasher films — it read like a movie, and it was so much fun! It was fast-paced, atmospheric, nostalgic, and thrilling, and the humorous moments also made it feel reminiscent of Scary Movie!
This was such an entertaining read, and if you’re a slasher horror movie fan, I highly recommend picking this one up!!
I loved this diverse cast of characters. They’re named after classic horror movie characters, which was such a fun touch, and they reminded me of The Breakfast Club. We have the nerd, the jock, the preppy guy, the good girl, the cheerleader, the goth, and the stoner. We jump between each character’s perspective, and it was done really well. We learn about their backstories, personalities, and their potential motives. I was constantly going back and forth between who I thought the killer was and who I could trust, and there was a reveal that totally caught me off guard.
This was exactly what I hoped it would be and perfectly captured that classic horror/slasher movie feeling. It’s not a literary masterpiece, but what it is is a love letter to slasher films — it read like a movie, and it was so much fun! It was fast-paced, atmospheric, nostalgic, and thrilling, and the humorous moments also made it feel reminiscent of Scary Movie!
This was such an entertaining read, and if you’re a slasher horror movie fan, I highly recommend picking this one up!!
June 28, 2026
Slasher Summer is a slasher horror novel being advertised as a "campy love letter to 1980s slasher films," and honestly, this absolutely holds true
We follow seven friends who reunite at a cabin in the woods for a last getaway, only to end up being hunted by a masked killer. You can tell from that description alone what kind of book this is. Trope-y, fun, a little gory, and one that keeps you guessing. In a nutshell, the perfect Summerween read!
It does start out a little slow, but it doesn't shy away from killing off characters you start to like, it's extremely binge-able, and it kept me invested all the way to the end.
There's quite a few POVs, but they're easy to follow, given they're written in third person, and I feel like the switches between the characters at pivotal moments actually help build tension.
Overall, definitely one for fans of classic slasher films such as Scream and Friday the 13th, who crave a little bit of nostalgia.
We follow seven friends who reunite at a cabin in the woods for a last getaway, only to end up being hunted by a masked killer. You can tell from that description alone what kind of book this is. Trope-y, fun, a little gory, and one that keeps you guessing. In a nutshell, the perfect Summerween read!
It does start out a little slow, but it doesn't shy away from killing off characters you start to like, it's extremely binge-able, and it kept me invested all the way to the end.
There's quite a few POVs, but they're easy to follow, given they're written in third person, and I feel like the switches between the characters at pivotal moments actually help build tension.
Overall, definitely one for fans of classic slasher films such as Scream and Friday the 13th, who crave a little bit of nostalgia.
April 12, 2026
as a horror movie obsessed girlie this is exactly what i needed.
this book is as if Randy from Scream wrote a book. i LOVE all the cliches and all the horror movie references throughout. love love the cover art and guessing throughout who the Slasher could be. this book comes out just in time for summerween 🧡
this book is as if Randy from Scream wrote a book. i LOVE all the cliches and all the horror movie references throughout. love love the cover art and guessing throughout who the Slasher could be. this book comes out just in time for summerween 🧡
June 28, 2026
I love a slasher but sadly this was predictable, forgettable and a bit boring. I really appreciate what the author was going for, subverting the tropes and bringing a diverse cast, but the first person multiple POVs really did it a disservice. Maybe 3rd person omniscient or the killers POV might have been more successful?
Kills didn’t start until about half way through and were mostly boring. There was no tension in the scary or romantic moments, happening too quickly, with minimal action.
At times it also felt repetitive and too on the nose with the “shadow cast” metaphor and constant references to archetypes.
I’m not mad I read it but I was expecting so much more! Quick beach read
Kills didn’t start until about half way through and were mostly boring. There was no tension in the scary or romantic moments, happening too quickly, with minimal action.
At times it also felt repetitive and too on the nose with the “shadow cast” metaphor and constant references to archetypes.
I’m not mad I read it but I was expecting so much more! Quick beach read
Did Not Finish
April 4, 2026maybe i'll come back to this via audiobook. i think i would enjoy it more in that format bc so far i'm just not vibing with the writing, idk
July 7, 2026
This is an ARC from NetGalley
I love horror movies and their tropes. This book gives the vibes of the cabin in the woods, which is such a fun movie. All the characters in here are named after people in horror movies. Tiffany is the bride of Chucky. Jason is Jason Voorhees. Carrie is from Carrie. And so on. I love that they were all specific character archetype too. They really leaned into the tropes while also changing it up with LGBTQ+ rep and the cast being diverse.
It’s a short and fast paced read that’s very atmospheric. It also hit that isolated setting in a thunderstorm trope. Everything about this book is cliché and it truly leans right in to it. It’s not trying to be something new or unique. It’s an homage to the slasher genre.
The entire time I was reading this, I couldn’t put it down. I was always curious to see how the story would progress and if certain characters would die. I had a theory on who the killer was and I guessed it right. It wasn’t that hard in my opinion but it also didn’t take away from the enjoyment of this read. I mainly docked a star because I did find that the ending dragged juuuust a little bit. I felt like it could have wrapped up a bit faster because it was obvious how it was going to end. With that being said, I’d read a sequel novel or a spinoff if one ever comes out. I think this book would be a great movie adaptation.
I’d highly recommend this books to anyone who loves the slasher genre, especially the older ones from the 80s and 90s.
I love horror movies and their tropes. This book gives the vibes of the cabin in the woods, which is such a fun movie. All the characters in here are named after people in horror movies. Tiffany is the bride of Chucky. Jason is Jason Voorhees. Carrie is from Carrie. And so on. I love that they were all specific character archetype too. They really leaned into the tropes while also changing it up with LGBTQ+ rep and the cast being diverse.
It’s a short and fast paced read that’s very atmospheric. It also hit that isolated setting in a thunderstorm trope. Everything about this book is cliché and it truly leans right in to it. It’s not trying to be something new or unique. It’s an homage to the slasher genre.
The entire time I was reading this, I couldn’t put it down. I was always curious to see how the story would progress and if certain characters would die. I had a theory on who the killer was and I guessed it right. It wasn’t that hard in my opinion but it also didn’t take away from the enjoyment of this read. I mainly docked a star because I did find that the ending dragged juuuust a little bit. I felt like it could have wrapped up a bit faster because it was obvious how it was going to end. With that being said, I’d read a sequel novel or a spinoff if one ever comes out. I think this book would be a great movie adaptation.
I’d highly recommend this books to anyone who loves the slasher genre, especially the older ones from the 80s and 90s.
July 1, 2026
Summerween continues! I loved that the author had our two main protagonist gays, Patrick and Jason being the final girls! This book gave Scream vibes, but I have to say I enjoyed Breathe In, Bleed Out, so much more. Hope these characters have a contuiation with Slasher Summer 2!
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