What Rough Beast

by Mindy McGinnis

Long-held grudges and ancient evils come to roost in this psychological, speculative horror that's Don't Let the Forest In meets Stranger Things.

Nothing stays buried forever...

Ava learned the hard way that speaking up means being shut out. A social outcast, she finds comfort in her job at a wildlife rehabilitation center, surrounded by the injured, the damaged, and the lame. Best of all, the work distracts her from the night that changed her life—and the boy she holds responsible for it.

Micah knows he’s not a good guy. His past is littered with mistakes, accidents, and things he’d rather forget. But feeling guilty and accepting punishment are two different things. He doesn’t know which is worse—the weight of what he’s done… or the growing feeling that it’s all about to be dragged into the light.

Hailey will do whatever it takes to rise up from her life of abject poverty. The biggest weapon she has is her looks, and she’ll use it to get what she wants—the richest boy in town. When Ava’s claims threaten their relationship, Hailey knows she must silence her—maybe forever.

When Ava unknowingly awakens an entity that has been biding its time underground, the three teens will be brought together on a night when something wants to be born and only a death will balance the scales.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Horror Thriller

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.

While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Bookish Thoughts

I hated everyone in this book. They were all insufferable. The premise was interesting but it definitely was a slow start. The ending was a lot stronger.

📖What to Expect
• Small town secrets
• Animal sanctuary
• Supernatural entity
• Moral gray MCs
• Psychological horror
• Multiple POV
_ _ _ _
⭐️ Final Score: 3.5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: October 27, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She knew that the world is brutal and a girl’s gotta do some ugly shit to survive."

‘The Female of the Species’ meets ‘Embryo’ with a dash of ‘Stranger Things’

You all are in for the most heart-stopping twisted treat!

Mindy really knows how to capture your attention with her words. No matter what she writes or even if all of her characters are total dirtbags, you know that her words will swirl around your head and clutch you in just the rightfully twisted way.

This book is in perfect Mindy style. You're easily fully invested within the first couple of words and then you are glued to every single page after that. Some parts were easy to put together but a lot of it will leave you in shock. I know that I was and my mind is still reeling. I cannot tell you how many times a curse word escaped my lips while reading this. I'm sure I broke the record for that.

"What Rough Beast' was a thrillride from start to finish. She takes the real world and adds just enough fantasy to throw off the entire tale. It's one you won't want to miss!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“What Rough Beast,” by Mindy McGinnis

This book had so really eerie atmosphere that kept me reading. Psychological horror mixed with speculative horror was a good concept in a small-town setting. The whole time I was trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t. it had big heavy topics like mental illness, gender roles, sexual assault, and trauma and I really liked how they played into the spooky plot. The premise of the book was good, but it felt a bit predictable at times.

3 out of 5 stars.

-Eerie
-Mental Illness
-Gender Roles
-SA Topics
-Horror

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this early release copy in exchange for a review!

We follow three main characters; Ava, Micah, and Hailey, all attending the same high school in their small town. The small town atmospheric setting is really strong in this one, if you loved The Female of the Species, you will probably enjoy this as well.

One thing I love about Mindy McGinnis's writing is her characters feel extremely real, and they are also very flawed. Micah was an especially complicated character to follow, you're in his head and see his anxiety and his fears. You see how much he struggles with right and wrong, but keeps making the wrong choices.

Hailey is very ambitious and clearly has a plan and knows what she wants her life to look like and she isn't going to let anything mess that up. She was selfish and determined, even when you think she is being nice she has a selfish motive.

Ava is angry. She is loud and not scared of what people think of her. She pours her feelings into online poetry and finds connection with an anonymous user, the only person she feels like she can talk to.

These teenagers are so angsty, messy, and extremely frustrating to read from. They think they’re adults and act like they’re on top of the world and know what they’re doing, but they’re actually idiots behaving like children. They make rash decisions, and fall in and out of love so fast.

There’s also some kind of supernatural undertone of something weird going on in this town… but that’s all i’m gonna say on that.



TW: animal abuse

[carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

the real horror is what’s brewing in the boy’s group chat, not what’s in the woods

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy!

[Stacy Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we go again! I love Mindy McGinnis and will read her grocery list. What Rough Beast did not disappoint. I know when I read one of her books that I am ready for a gut punch and boy, did I get one. Let’s start with the subject spanning: teen drama, feminist rage, morality, and a hearty dose of supernatural. I wasn’t sure if I would like the dark preternatural twists… and I did.

Now for ALL the morally gray characters. Ava is a new student, moving to a small town, and she finds out quick that speaking her mind and standing up for herself are not rewarded. As a social outcast, Ava finds solace in her new job at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Here more than the animals are mending, Ava works to heal her own wounds.

Micah is the sheriff’s son, which gets him out of trouble a lot. He is a jock who cannot outrun all his own bad choices, including drinking and driving, underground non-consensual nude pics, etc. The list of those hurt by him is long and Micah is on the top of that list.

Hailey will do whatever it takes to pull herself out of poverty, no matter who gets hurt. She is currently dating the richest boy in town. Ava unwittingly causes some problems for them and finds herself the target of Hailey’s ire.

This story is dark and includes sad and disturbing topics: mental health, consent, rape, rape culture, pressure to send nude pictures, dog fighting, and more. There were times when I felt uncomfortable and that was good. I recommend it to anyone looking for a book that thoughtfully explores some serious modern-day topics.

[From The Reader’s Nest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well….damn!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“What Rough Beast” by Mindy McGinnis is peak McGinnis writing with her unique depiction of female rage and gore. It is definitely not your standard YA thriller, and this book definitely did not disappoint. This book is dark from page one (it literally opens with a brutally described animal death) so definitely check content warnings before diving in, as both wild and domesticated animals are harmed in this book. There is also dog fighting described with cats as bait. On the human side, there is SA, so please make sure to look at the content warnings.

That said, this story is kind of a wild (and honestly impressive) mix of small-town drama, female rage, and straight-up folk horror. Set in a rural town where everyone knows everyone and misogyny runs deep, the book doesn’t hold back in showing how girls are judged, silenced, and sometimes put in real danger. Ava’s story especially hits hard with what happens to her (and what almost happens) reflects very real fears, and her depression is portrayed in a way that feels raw and believable.

But what makes this stand out is how McGinnis layers that real-world horror with something else. When Ava finds this strange, egg-like thing in the woods that seems to feed on blood and slowly change her body, the story takes a sharp turn into body horror and the supernatural. It’s creepy, unsettling, and genuinely hard to look away from.

The characters are messy in a way that feels intentional. No one here is purely good or bad. Micah, for example, is very much part of the problem; he makes awful choices (including distributing explicit photos without consent) and knows it, but still struggles to stop as he is dealing with extreme anxiety. Hailey is equally complicated, shaped by her environment in ways that make her both frustrating and weirdly understandable. The book really leans into the idea that people are complicated while also making it clear that some actions have consequences you can’t come back from.

There’s also a lot going on with animal abuse, dog fighting rings, toxic masculinity, mental health, revenge, supernatural folklore, and at times it can feel like a lot to juggle. But somehow, it all ties together by the end, especially once the truth about the creature and Ava’s transformation is revealed. The twist is genuinely surprising and adds a deeper layer to everything that came before.

Despite how heavy and brutal the story gets, there are moments of light, mainly through female solidarity. Characters like the woman who runs the animal sanctuary bring a quiet strength to the story, and those glimpses of connection help balance out the darkness.

Overall, this is one of those books that’s not afraid to make you uncomfortable. It’s violent, emotional, and packed with rage, but it’s also thoughtful about why that rage exists. And by the end, there’s a strange sense of justice and even a little bit of hope.

If you like your YA on the darker, more unsettling side with complex characters and a mix of real and supernatural horror, then this is one that is definitely worth picking up.

[gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shoutout to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

This is a wild, weird, dark little book. Though that can probably be said about most of McGinnis’ works at this point. This book follows 3 points of view; Ava is the new girl in town who has gone through something horrible that made the town ostracize her. As an escape, she finds work at an animal rehabilitation center. Hailey is a very popular yet poor girl who is willing to do anything to secure her place in the world. Then there is Micah, a boy who is hiding several very dark secrets.

I enjoyed having all of these points of view in the story- I think McGinnis does multiple POVs really well. They all felt necessary to the plot. I enjoyed being in Ava’s head especially. She is deeply depressed and the way she thinks about things was super relatable to read about at times.

I also enjoyed the signature McGinnis vibes here: she writes about teenage girls and the things they go through and rape culture SO well, I always just love reading her books for that alone.

Unfortunately, I did have some issues with this book, hence the 3 stars. First of all, it just simply was not long enough. A certain relationship between two characters was not given nearly enough time to develop, to the point I did not believe the connection they had at all. In a similar vein, things just wrapped up way too quickly for my liking. I enjoy sudden, unsatisfying endings most of the time. But this just felt… off to me. Too happy of an ending maybe.

My other issue is with the sympathy- that isn’t quite the right word but I can’t come up with anything better- given towards some of the crimes committed in this book. Though technically all the terrible people do pay for their crimes, I feel like the people who committed them were given too much grace for what they were. I’m not really sure what message I was supposed to take away here- that people can redeem themselves from mistakes, even if those mistakes were absolutely heinous and occurred very recently and no actual sign of change was shown? I don’t love that.

I also don’t really know what I was expecting from the horror of this book, but I suppose this was just not it. I think I was expecting something more spooky woods monster- adjacent, whereas the reveal we got was not very scary or satisfying to me.

I love that McGinnis branches out into new genres often, and I will absolutely continue to read her books. But this just didn’t really hit for me in the way some of her older works have.

[j · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me this book for an eARC review. I want to preface this, please check trigger warnings because either I didn't see them or they weren't listed. But there were a couple of animal deaths, and a discussion of dog fighting and the use of bait animals in dog fighting rings. I don't think this impacted my rating or reading as I have a stronger stomach, but it would've been nice to know. It helps that the dogs escaped and the cat lived :)
There is also discussion of: rape, hit and run, suicide, depression, infidelity, CP, and illicit nude sharing.

Let me start this by saying Ava Germaine can do no wrong. I know that she isn't a perfect character, and the flaws of the characters are the prominent aspect of the book, but holy fuck, everyone around her SUCKS. This poor girl got moved to a shit hole town and has to deal with shit hole people, and this does not go well as an outspoken young woman.

I understand that all the characters are flawed, but my god, you couldn't have picked a worse group of people. I can understand, to some extent, that Hailey is just trying to survive but the things she covers up...girl, my god. There has to be a way to survive without burning others in your path and hiding your boyfriend's secret nude bank or overlooking dog-fighting rings. Micah was...whatever. I found him incredibly whiny for how much of a piece of shit he is. He is super woe is me, but willing to contribute to the nude file (feels bad for like 2 minutes) and overlook dog fighting. First, this dude is 17 or 18 with severe alcoholism who DID A HIT AND RUN, and then when this girl was found WITH HER PANTS AROUND HER LEGS, he takes a picture of her boobs?? Like, what the fuck is wrong with this kid? Honestly, what is wrong with most of these kids? Is there something in the water in this town or are most high schoolers actually this evil?

Anyways, the way this book went, I was not expecting it, especially at the end. I was hoping for more of a creature feature, eldritch horror type story, and I really just got shitty ass kids with some weird Lazarus shit at this wildlife rehab center.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ava doesn't expect to find peace at Restoration Acres, but Widow is just the right blend of blunt and quiet that Ava seeks for distraction. Under her tutelage, Ava learns how to care for wildlife with both care and decisiveness. As strange things start happening, Ava tries to forget about her past and move forward.

Micah feels the pressure of always needing to make a good impression. As the sheriff's son, he is plagued by equal parts scrutiny and impunity. With his choices and his friendships spiraling out of control, will he be able to pull it all together before it's too late?

Hailey knows exactly what she needs to do to get somewhere in life, even if she'll be judged poorly for it. But was her choices lead her down a darker path, she'll have to decide what ultimate price she's willing to pay.

These narratives weave together into an engaging small town mystery. Although the book doesn't really feel like horror until the end, there are passages and descriptions that are similar to McGinnis's style in Be Not Far From Me. The side plot of the boys and their photographs was honestly a big turnoff for me in this book. I didn't feel like it was necessary to the rest of the plot--their other poor choices were enough to drive the narrative. The constant use of their sexualized discussions felt over the top, and makes it a tough decision for purchase for a school library. Ultimately, not one of my favorites of McGinnis.

I read an ARC from NetGalley.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Aus dem nichts erheben wir uns.”
💀
In the small town of Presnick, secrets don’t stay buried for long, and neither do grudges. Ava, Micah, and Hailey are each hiding something from the night everything went wrong, but as a dark, ancient force begins to awaken, their secrets start to unravel. Drawn together by guilt, fear, and a shared past, they must confront the truth behind a centuries-old evil tied to their town, before it consumes them all.
🪦
@mindymcginnisauthor is an auto-read for me, and once again she delivers. You can always count on her for dark, gory YA, but I loved how this one leans even more into creepy, horror/paranormal vibes in a way that feels a little different from her previous books. It’s unsettling in all the right ways. The novel is violence, emotional, and packed with rage, but also thoughtful about where the rage comes from and a sense of justice at the end. Definitely one for upper high school readers, and I’d recommend checking content warnings before handing it off. This title releases October27!

CW: death, sexual assault, toxic masculinity, sexism, misogyny, violence, body horror, gore, blood, emesis, animal death, animal cruelty/torture, physical assault, pregnancy, child death, suicide ideation, anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGinnis spits venom into every word on the page and I for one, am here for it all. She's got the dark edge that is unhinged but with anger and frustration, but a point. She also blends horror elements and even the supernatural and it all always fits. This one has that mix with multiple characters' points of view and a vicious cycle.

It's also plenty odd with a woman named Widow running a wildlife rescue on the outskirts of town but there are things that are there and happening that Ava can't quite place and will come full circle by the end of the book when it starts with her telling the cops that she was raped after a party based on photographic evidence and her body being pulled through the cornfield ending up naked.

There's Micah, the kid of a sheriff who used that clout to cover up a tragedy that he's kept to himself but is eating him up inside. But he's also interested in getting close to Ava who posts to a social media forum anonymously (but he knows who she is).

And then Hailey, who will find out Micah's secret soon enough.

The potency of vitriol is mature between the discussions of rape, sex, and degrading back and forth between boys, there is plenty of swearing and extremes that will not be for everyone. However McGinnis fans have come to expect this. She challenges readers with every book she creates.

[storriebooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Rough Beast is my second book by Mindy McGinnis and I can confirm that this will not be my last. I love how seamlessly she gives voice to female rage, shown in this book through Ava and Hailey who are two sides of the same coin. Both have been victimized by their circumstances but neither will allow themselves to BECOME a victim, and their character arcs feel real and relatable. ((Right up until they don't, of course.))

The story comes to us through three alternating perspectives: Ava, Hailey, & Micah. Each has a distinct voice, making their characters feel genuine and unique, while tying the stories together seamlessly. They're flawed, even when they don't want to be.

I loved the way McGinnis layered psychological horror with aspects of body horror, though I will warn those who have sensitivities to look into any content warnings that may apply to them. I do think this book is perfect for fans of speculative horror and grudge/revenge stories. While you do have to wait until October, that just means you have 7 months to get What Rough Beast on your TBR and prepare for this eerie roller-coaster ride of a book.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Mindy McGinnis for this complimentary copy.))

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What no one tells you about toxic relationships is that they are also intoxicating." 

Thank you for the ARC copy!!

Three words: "What. The. Fuck." This book was so incredibly fucked up from start to finish, and I mean that in the best way possible! It was gritty, unapologetic, and shined a light on so many things we just don't talk about.

Now, for the.... Unnatural aspect. I am so.... baffled...but this entire premise. It was there from the start, but we don't SEE it, just like Ava didn't see it. And then it slowly becomes more obvious, until we finally cannot ignore it any longer. There were major plot points and twists that I didn't see coming, and as someone who has things ruined by pattern recognition all the time, I was so glad for this.

Everyone in this book sucks. Everyone is a dick, everyone is awful and self centered and is doing what THEY need to do. And ain't that just life? 

I did struggle a bit at the end. The short chapters with rotating POV made things a little hard to follow, and I still don't quite understand what happened. 

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Mindy McGinnis writes the BEST female rage books in YA! She also really gets what it's like to live in a small, rural town where there aren't a lot of options for escape for anyone, especially girls.

This one mixes in her classic and iconic female rage with some rural folk-horror which was gnarly and amazing. It gets pretty visceral and there is some harm to animals, so just be aware.

I also want to commend her for portrayal of the male characters as well. McGinnis allows Micah especially to be a shitty boy who knows he is shitty and wants to be better but also ... it's so EASY to go along with the misogynist things that his friends do. She doesn't let him off the hook but gives nuance to his character in a way that I thought was well done.

Honestly, Mindy McGinnis should be a bigger name in YA than she already is because she consistently delivers on some incredible stories!!

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After she wakes, drugged and half-naked in a cornfield, Ava suspects she was raped, instigating a smalltown scandal that leaves her ostracized. Meanwhile, the local sheriff's son, Micah, copes with depression by turning to alcohol and struggles with guilt over the secret and life-changing mistakes he's made while intoxicated; and desperate classmate Hailey will do anything to overcome her family's poverty--even sleep with a wealthy but despicable football star. When Ava takes a job at a local wildlife rehabilitation center and rescues a mysterious egg from a compost heap, she triggers a series of events that links her fate to Micah and Hailey's. What's more, the egg wants something: one of the three teens must die in order for it to be born.

Creepy body horror and unflinching detail propel a story that reckons with misogyny and the beast that is humanity.

[Ashley Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gripping read from Mindy McGinnis. I enjoyed how well Mindy wove an element of supernatural horror into a very real one. The depictions of what the characters were struggling with are very accurate. As someone from a small town, who you are (or related to) plays a huge a role in how you're treated, and this was handled perfectly. Ava and Hailey's experiences are very true to what young girl are subjected to. And I thought the male characters were also handled well. Micah's anxiety and go with the flow/wanting to be better attitude were very realistic. The folk tales/weirdness surrounding the families really brought the horror element into the story perfectly.

[Allie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preface: This is marketed as YA read and it has too much language and explicit content to be appropriate for 12-18 (YA). That being said, while horror is not usually my genre of choice I didn't hate the storyline. There were too many characters, which meant that none of them were developed enough in my opinion. It did keep me guessing the whole story and when you do finally get to the last 20% of the book the story rapidly unfolds and there is a lot to take in. I actually really liked the ending which made up for a lot of the confusing parts of the story. Over all I would give this 3.5 stars and would probably recommend it to adults who enjoy the horror genre.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copied from Netgalley:

I thought this book had incredible pacing. I could not put it down.
The characters were entirely believable, I could understand their motives even if I didn't agree with them.
I thought it was interesting how McGinnis went back and forth between the horrors of reality and supernatural horror, until the culmination at the end. I wish there had been more supernatural horror though. The first chapter sets the tone so wonderfully, but then it takes a while for paranormal occurrences to happen.

[Aish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm disappointed because I really wanted to like this book. It touches on important themes, and I can see that the characters are well-developed, but I had a hard time getting through it. The pacing dragged for me, and I never fully felt invested in the story. Overall - 2.5 stars.

Thank you to Mindy McGinnis, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

#WhatRoughBeast #NetGalley

[Shasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The magic builds slowly in this book to a very satisfying conclusion. I didn't see anything coming. I enjoyed the mysteries and the suspense - each time I would start to get frustrated with not knowing something I would get the answer. Well-paced.

The only reason it's only four stars is because I don't think it's appropriate for young adults in any way and I am FAR from a prude.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Emily Azevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this is a YA book cause my daughter can read it too!

I love reading about people who don't have many options in there small town but they absoutely make the best of their situation, and too me that is what I see here.

Also.... I haven't known a good Micah.....

Anyway, 10/10
I loved this, and I hope to ARC read for her more!

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't mind characters that are purposefully a bit abrasive to read about, this is an interesting book! It's a nice combination of small town drama and female rage with folk horror thrown in there for an extra kick.

Definitely do not recommend to people who are sensitive about animal death. That is a major content warning for this book.

[Karen Vasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one had a promising start, took a left turn into horror, I stopped reading at 30%, skipped ahead to 85% to see what happens and I don't even know. I used to love Mindy MicGinnis books, but I think she's gone in a direction I'm no longer vibing with.

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

[Jessica Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll sum this up the same way I do most of McGinnis's books:
hey, so...what the fuck?

[Charlotte Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychological thriller, meets horror, meets fantasy and/or sci-fi. I found myself saying “what the hell?” A LOT…But I couldn’t stop reading!

[Alexis Stankewitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so good, I adore Mindy!