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Script to Scream: A Novel
- GenresHorror
308 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
7 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
James Hicks
46 books2 followersThis is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as James Hicks
See also:
James Darren Hicks
Jim Hicks
See also:
James Darren Hicks
Jim Hicks
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 6, 2025
If there’s one thing 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 does flawlessly, it’s giving me a final girl I can root for long after her glory days… and honestly, she might be my favorite character in the slasher subgenre. Jennifer Hawkins isn’t your typical scream queen. Well, she was way back when, but now she’s the washed-up final girl, the one who ruled the slasher scene in the ’80s thanks to her gloriously corny and remarkably cheap (but wildly beloved) 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘌𝘭𝘧 films. Think shoulder pads, practical effects, big blown-out hair, and a fandom that never truly let her go.
She’s the kind of character who once had the world at her feet, only to find herself decades later navigating obscurity, faded fame, and all the emotional shrapnel that comes from surviving a killer elf that never dies and surviving Hollywood. And I LOVED her for it. She’s messy, stubborn, and prickly, and the way the Hicks duo writes her makes her feel like a legend who never quite got her flowers. But boy oh boy, does she get her flowers at the end. Not just flowers, but a whole bouquet of them.
What really hooked me is how the story pulls Jennifer back into the spotlight. Early on, she’s approached by an overenthusiastic 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘌𝘭𝘧 superfan at one of the many conventions she attends. These scenes are equal parts heartbreaking and darkly funny, especially since Jennifer is barely scraping by while a younger, trendier “final girl” at the next booth absorbs all the crowds, money, and admiration she used to command. The fan invites her to star in a fan-made movie set in Tinseltown, the long-abandoned amusement park where the very first 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘌𝘭𝘧 film was shot. The project reunites her with several former co-stars, including her beloved friend Dougie, who originally played Plucky, the killer Elf. Jennifer hesitates, and honestly, who could blame her, but the promised paycheck is hard to ignore for someone surviving on nostalgia and autographs alone. She finally agrees, unaware that stepping back into her past may be the most dangerous role she has ever taken.
This book has everything I love about slasher fiction because it doesn’t just settle for the blood and gore. It’s fun, campy, and self-aware in all the right ways. But like every horror lover out there wants, there’s still plenty of blood and gore. The side characters are amazing, and even though you know not all of them are going to make it out alive, you can’t help but stay hopeful. And don’t even get me started on the setting! An abandoned Christmas amusement park in the middle of the Nevada desert? Creep-central. From the way it’s written, I would die to tour that amusement park.
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝, 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙮𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙃𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!)
She’s the kind of character who once had the world at her feet, only to find herself decades later navigating obscurity, faded fame, and all the emotional shrapnel that comes from surviving a killer elf that never dies and surviving Hollywood. And I LOVED her for it. She’s messy, stubborn, and prickly, and the way the Hicks duo writes her makes her feel like a legend who never quite got her flowers. But boy oh boy, does she get her flowers at the end. Not just flowers, but a whole bouquet of them.
What really hooked me is how the story pulls Jennifer back into the spotlight. Early on, she’s approached by an overenthusiastic 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘌𝘭𝘧 superfan at one of the many conventions she attends. These scenes are equal parts heartbreaking and darkly funny, especially since Jennifer is barely scraping by while a younger, trendier “final girl” at the next booth absorbs all the crowds, money, and admiration she used to command. The fan invites her to star in a fan-made movie set in Tinseltown, the long-abandoned amusement park where the very first 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘌𝘭𝘧 film was shot. The project reunites her with several former co-stars, including her beloved friend Dougie, who originally played Plucky, the killer Elf. Jennifer hesitates, and honestly, who could blame her, but the promised paycheck is hard to ignore for someone surviving on nostalgia and autographs alone. She finally agrees, unaware that stepping back into her past may be the most dangerous role she has ever taken.
This book has everything I love about slasher fiction because it doesn’t just settle for the blood and gore. It’s fun, campy, and self-aware in all the right ways. But like every horror lover out there wants, there’s still plenty of blood and gore. The side characters are amazing, and even though you know not all of them are going to make it out alive, you can’t help but stay hopeful. And don’t even get me started on the setting! An abandoned Christmas amusement park in the middle of the Nevada desert? Creep-central. From the way it’s written, I would die to tour that amusement park.
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝, 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙮𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙃𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!)
December 4, 2025
80's horror icon, Jennifer, got her start playing the final girl in a series of christmas themed horror slashers called 'Evil Elf'. Nowadays, she spends her time in the convention circuit as she slowly faded from fame. When a fan approaches her and asks if she would reprise her role filming in the original location of "Tinseltown" nearly 40 years later, it's impossible to say no. When she arrives, many past cast members do as well and they suddenly realize the kills may not be so fake.
This was campy, slashy, and a joy to read. Basically a christmas version of any OG slasher film taking place around a theme park. It was fast-paced and bloody. It has some incredibly unique kills as they all happened to be holiday themed. Our MC Jennifer was very easy to dislike but it didn't stop you from rooting for her. Her character development over the course of about a week was impressive.
And again, I love the chance to read a horror novel with a cast of characters all over the age of 50.
This was campy, slashy, and a joy to read. Basically a christmas version of any OG slasher film taking place around a theme park. It was fast-paced and bloody. It has some incredibly unique kills as they all happened to be holiday themed. Our MC Jennifer was very easy to dislike but it didn't stop you from rooting for her. Her character development over the course of about a week was impressive.
And again, I love the chance to read a horror novel with a cast of characters all over the age of 50.
December 3, 2025
Jennifer is an aging actress who was once famous for playing the final girl in the Evil Elf series. Now she’s barely scraping by in a rundown apartment. So when a fan asks her to reprise her role one last time, she agrees—only this time, the danger is real.
This was an absolutely brilliant read. Horror–comedy can be very hit or miss, and I’ve read plenty that try too hard to be funny and fall flat. This one does not.
I found myself giggling throughout. This would be a fantastic movie.
If you're a fan of cheesy horror movies, Christmas and slashers, this one is for you.
This was an absolutely brilliant read. Horror–comedy can be very hit or miss, and I’ve read plenty that try too hard to be funny and fall flat. This one does not.
I found myself giggling throughout. This would be a fantastic movie.
If you're a fan of cheesy horror movies, Christmas and slashers, this one is for you.
November 27, 2025
Script to scream is the sort of book that warrants just one more chapter, until its morning and your alarm is blaring!
Comedic horrors can often be so hit and miss, but this is an absolute needle in a haystack! Enjoyed it throughly from beginning to end, and it was surprisingly unpredictable. After reading so many disappointing books in this genre, this was a breath of fresh air. The characters had depth and it kept my pulse racing to the end. Must read!
Comedic horrors can often be so hit and miss, but this is an absolute needle in a haystack! Enjoyed it throughly from beginning to end, and it was surprisingly unpredictable. After reading so many disappointing books in this genre, this was a breath of fresh air. The characters had depth and it kept my pulse racing to the end. Must read!
November 26, 2025
I rarely read a book cover to cover but I couldn’t put this down. The setting, the action, the protagonist and the premise were all really special. Loved how I could really get behind Jennifer who was written so well - I NEED to see this as a movie!
Lots of metaphors, meta-ness and so much fun! As a Horror fan, I devoured this.
Lots of metaphors, meta-ness and so much fun! As a Horror fan, I devoured this.
November 23, 2025
Enjoyed this a lot. I could envison all the action and characters in my head and it kept my interest from the very beginning and all throughout. As someone who's a bit of a coward when it comes to horror films the ending was a little intense for me but it was a brilliant story.
November 25, 2025
Received my copy today and flew through it. Loved it! I read a lot of horror and this one actually felt refreshing
November 26, 2025
An excellent story jam-packed with tension and gore!
December 7, 2025
2.5/5 ⭐️
campy as hell, twisted as fuq
this isn’t something i’d usually go for but had to support my girl
campy as hell, twisted as fuq
this isn’t something i’d usually go for but had to support my girl
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews