I.D.G.A.F.

by Dennis Tree

2,180 days without a single friend.

Online school doesn’t save me from the pain. If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve cared about me more than my teachers and parents combined. It sounds performative if I tell you that I am just another bullied kid trying to survive, but I don’t know if I am.

Solomon Handler’s nightmares have returned—and this time, they are becoming more real. Like every other problem in his life, Solomon tries to push them away, but these visions want something. And they are coming to collect.

As the world around him begins to crumble, Solomon is forced to confront the horrors that torment him whether he is awake or asleep.

192 pages, ebook

Published February 27, 2026

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch]

This is the wildest, weirdest and most unnerving thing I’ve read this summer and I LOVE it! I can’t get it out of my head or out from under my skin. And the ending? Guess what my friends, remember those choose your own adventure books. Yeah. We get to choose an ending. Or all of them. And they are straight perfection.

Solomon hasn’t had an easy life. In fact, it’s been pretty awful. His only bright spot is his adorable little sister, a kindergartener that speaks only in Gen Alpha slang. (I will never be as cool as this kid and I love her!) When a missing tooth sets off a chain of events that has to be paid 6 years down the line, will Solomon be able to save himself and his family? Guess you’ll have to find out.

Grab yourself a copy of this one. Author Dennis Tree has made it completely free for everyone on his site. Follow the tag and grab a copy right now. This is the perfect read for Summerween!

5/5 stars
No notes

#summerween #idgaf #dennistree #deadassmedia #horror

[BookSplatterBritt]

Omg what did I just read?! This was intense asf and loved every minute of it. I'm confused about a few things tho. I need to know why solo was hated so much by literally everyone! This was a page turner and I couldn't stop until the first last page. The first ending my jaw dropped, I'm so glad there's other endings. My favorite would be the first. Raina is such a bad@$$!

[Angie Grothem]

#teamRaina

[KellyM.reads]

I.d.g.a.f

We follow Solomon, who is enrolled in online schooling and already struggling with isolation before things take a horrifying turn. This one touches heavily on bullyingI and has some violent, gory moments throughout. I felt so bad for Solomon the entire time and just wanted things to get better for him. The ending was different, but I liked it. A quick and horrific YA read.

[Amy]

Top tier YA.
As a grown woman (and mother) reading this, Solomon kinda morphed into my son (who's also 11, turning 12 this year and would love this if certain parts weren't a lil close to home ) in places.
Every character in this needs to be pushed off a cliff - with the exception of Solomon and his sister.

If you're and adult and looking to have your heart hurt whilst being given the creeps, this is for you.

If you're a tween, you're probably going to find this creepy and simultaneously relatable.

The ending was a throw back to my favourite type of book as a kid and that's what made it a 5⭐ read for me.

IDGAF is a commentary on the struggles of adolescence and the importance of belonging.
It contains themes of child abuse/neglect, bullying, spectral horror and mental health.

[Scarlet]

I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly suprised. This book follows a boy named Solomon and his little sister. Solomon neglected by his parents for years is left to deal with everything himself after his mother leaves and his father.... well doesn't give a crap so he has to care for his sister, the home, and caring after a grown man (father). A chain of events unfold and its all on Solomon to decide. Will he beable to save himself and his family? You'll have to read to find out what happens next. This was an emotional roller-coaster and truly an amazing read from the bullying to the relationship between the two siblings made you have an experience that was relatable but sad at times. Highly Recommend! I got this via the 2026 horror indie tron and this is my voluntary review.

[thesmokymountainsreader]

IDGAF, to me, is an exploration of the behavior of humanity. And sleep paralysis. And the Tooth Fairy. It’s a dark read. It’s a misnomer because Solomon actually cares very much. So does his brave little sister, Raina, whom I instantly fell in love with. The banter between brother and sister, especially the story parts, are my new favorite thing. I felt as if I were right there in the throes of chaos with Solomon at times, and this is due to the author’s skill at writing relatable, believable characters and also situations that are so traumatic with such conviction and believability. While the monster depicted is truly terrifying (and kudos to the author for such amazing, graphic, and terrifying descriptions!), the real horror here is what we can actually do to one another.

[Bellatrix]

3.5/5⭐

This book started out great. You can really feel the anguish and loneliness that Solomon is experiencing, and I felt so bad for him.
The writing style is decent, making it a very quick and easy read. However, the plot became quite confusing when it came to his mother. You get the impression that she is dead, but then he suddenly talks to her on some pages. Then, after their dad leaves them, the book makes it seem like she is suddenly back.

Despite that confusion, I loved the ending! The author gives us an open ending, followed by two additional chapters that offer two different concluding options to choose from. This was really unique.

In conclusion, although this wasn't an home run for me I did enjoy reading it.

[Deborah]

This story is about 12 years Solomon who is attending online school where he is dealing with cyber bullying and a teacher who doesn't care; at home a verbally abusing him and a nonexistent mom.
With the exception of Raina, I hated every single character in this story and NO child should ever have through what Solomon did.
Definitely check your triggers before reading ! as you do find topics of child abuse/neglect, violence, verbal and bullying.

[Calitchi]

This book threw me in my feels, the entire read. From the moment it starts, Dennis throws you into this emotional roller coaster of an angsty teenager. This brought back memories of sadness and emotional warfare thst most 80's kids had felt growing up. The book is well written, and the story is relatable and well developed. The sibling relationship is so sweet, while the parental relationship makes you wonder. With topics of bullying, our mmc is forced to deal with situations he had never thought would be experienced by him and the choices he made when having to stand up. The ending(s) were a welcomed change to books like these and threw a curve ball at you. Definitely recommend to, not just YA readers but adults alike.

[Derrick College]

I read this in March, so not exactly sure about the dates.
⚠️ Check Triggers Before Reading ⚠️
Child abuse
• Violence
Gore
Online bullying
Impersonations.
Solomon is 12 years old in online schooling. Where he thought he would be safe from the bullying. He was wrong. He can’t hide from it there or his from his dad.
With only his sister by his side.
Enter new kid, Nate,seems great but weird. Is he hiding something.. Read this and find out what happens.

My Opinion: I liked this book. The sibling chemistry was there. ( Well, if you have great fierce younger brother and sisters ) Nate was a reveal that had me so shocked.. give this book a try.

[Sheila's Bookshelf]

Ꭹᗩ ᕼᝪᖇᖇᝪᖇ

Ꮖ.ᗞ.Ꮐ.ᗩ.ᖴ.
Bʏ: Dᴇɴɴɪs Tʀᴇᴇ @deadass_media

4/5 ⭐

I finished this book a few days ago and I'm still thinking about it. Like what did I just read?? But in a good way!
At 190 pages it's a quick read but it definitely packs a punch.

It's a YA novel but it's surprisingly dark, mixed with a dash of humor. It's a story of neglect, abuse, bullying, mental health and how some nightmares are actually real.

The author wrote some truly believable characters especially in Solomon and Raina. Five yr old Raina was a hoot speaking only Gen Alpha Slang. I literally had to look up some of the words 🤣

The best part of this was being able to choose your ending. There are 3 choices so you can have a relatively happy ending..Or not.

I really enjoyed this book that sort of gave me those great Goosebumps vibes from back in the day, but darker and I honestly think it's a fantastic read for tweens as it has relatable topics.

Dennis Tree has made this book free to everyone. Just go to his website and download it. I honestly don't think you will regret it and it's perfect Summerween reading.

Thank you to @deadassmedia for asking me to read your book in exchange for an honest review.

• I.D.G.A.F. • Dennis Tree • Summerween • YA Horror •
•YA Supernatural • Free Books • New Release • Mental Health • Tweens

[Samantha]

What did I just read?

This book was so, so different to what I normally read. I just could not stop reading it. It follows a boy named Solomon and his little sister Riana, both are homeschooled. Solomon has been neglected by his parents for years, and after his mother… so confusing and his father has left him to take care of his little sister, do house chores, cooking, cleaning up after a grown man. On top of that, the father bullies, belittles and treats him terribly. I was so, so angry with how the adults treated Solomon, teachers included. They allowed the bullying, blamed Solomon for being bullied. The teachers and other students bullying him hit home for me. The fact that the teacher did NOTHING and at a point even PARTICIPATED in the bullying is terrible. And the father!
Solomon also is suffering from nightmares/visions of a figure that appears in his room at night, rattling a bottle, or hears the clopping of hooves. Then one morning he wakes up and one of his nightmares had been proven to be real…
I loved the brother and sister relationship between Solomon and Raina, gave an Us against the world vibe and I found it incredibly cute.
The ending! What on this planet! And the author gives you 3 endings! I chose ending 2.
Wow, what a book.

[Sarjxx]

5 STARS ✨️

My thoughts for my book besties...

I finished IDGAF by Dennis Tree last night and WOOOOOW. Let's just say this book was incredibly gripping, and I couldn't put it down.👌🏼

Yes, it's a YA book. However the main character is considered more of a Tween.
And although YA isn't typically my genre:
1. Here I am trying to get you to read this book.
2. This book is in a league of its own. I'm talking NOTHING to compare it to.
•In fact, I dare you to read it, and tell me what book it reminded you of.

It's also surprisingly dark, with a dash of horror.

If you were bullied at school or have struggled with sleep-related issues, parts of this book may be triggering.

As for my overall thoughts...
Humans can be the real monsters.

If you enjoy books that contain hurt but resilient characters, psychological horror elements, and can tolerate bullying without getting triggered!? Than IDGAF by Dennis Tree is the book for you.

It's definitely a story that stays with you long after you've finished.

And as a little bonus, It's under 200 pages.

💤👀📖🦷💤

[Stefanie Silvestri]

Solomon's life journey has been a tough one so far. His troubles and terrifying experiences began early in childhood and followed him well into his teens. Solomon's home life was particularly difficult, with a father who was abusive and a mother who was nowhere to be found, meant he had to care for his younger sister on his own and the online bullies from peers.
This book, is the first one I've read by Dennis Tree, took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The author's depiction of violent, terrifying, and graphic scenes was so vivid and well descriptive that it felt like watching a movie in my head. What made it even more intriguing was that the book offers three different endings, each leaving me with something to ponder.

[Ginger Kat]

This book was very painful to read. Solomon is a bullied kid with a terrible home life and an absolutely wretched father. As someone who has experienced bullying, some of the scenes here made me cry. The monster in the book doesn't show up as often as you might expect, but Solomon's abuse is horrifying enough. That said, when the monster does show up, it's pretty scary. The scene at the beginning especially had me squirming. The ending was something I don't think I've ever seen an author do before. A good but very painful read. I received a free copy of this story and write this review voluntarily.

[Paula Pierce]

Solomon had a rough life and only one friend in life, his little sister. His troubles and nightmares began as a little boy and followed him into his teens. With an abusive father and absent mother, Solomon is left to care for his little sister while dealing with bullies and trying to navigate the nightmares that have haunted him.
I enjoyed this story from the start. It pulls you into Solomons struggles and life making you feel for him and brings on anger for the way he is treated. More than once I was ready to b**** slap some of the characters.
We get 3 alternative endings and each one gave you something to think about. I know which one I disliked the most but I won't spoil it. It made me angry and sad at the same time.
I highly recommend this if you like rooting for the underdog and creepy nightmares. This book does deal with bullying and childhood trauma and will not tread lightly on these subjects. Can't wait to read more from this author.

[Dan Lawson]

I.D.G.A.F. by Dennis Tree is a raw, dark, and uncompromising entry into indie horror that pulls no punches. True to its provocative title, the novella embodies an unapologetic, chaotic energy, diving straight into extreme thematic territory without pausing to ask for permission or apologize to sensitive readers.

I.D.G.A.F. is a punchy, aggressive slice of dark indie horror. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for readers seeking a short, intense ride that leans into the wilder, unfiltered edges of the genre, Dennis Tree delivers a memorable, hard-hitting effort.

[Rainbeaux Harvest]

This book is an emotional roller-coaster. Poor Solomon, he has a crappy life. His dad is....uggghhh...Mom??? His sister is his life. Being taken away from happiness and put in online school has caused misery for Solomon. I enjoyed this story as much as you can with
the topic at hand.

The ending brought back memories. Those kind of books were my favorite. This book got 3 stars because I couldn't get into Raina's character. It didn't work for me.

[Rebecca Bectoria]

Great story but I found it a bit too young for me so a great YA book in the horror section. I did like that you could choose your ending that was different to what I've read before.

[Jimmy Dwyer]

When you read a book that has hints of your childhood...damn that hits home. Read this as my first book as a part of Horror Indie-tron and this definitely set the vibe. Love that the book didn't overstay its welcome. Fast read but also super fun!

[Alexandria Paige]

wtf did I just read?
A cringy horror from a childs pov with a CHOICE ending that has you saying WTF
I felt so bad for Solomon, and 5 year old Rain is a little badass.
I was confused, disgusted, and enraged all at the same time.
Fair warning, this story does deal with some heavy topics.

[Darlene Day]

A YA horror novella that took “open wide” in the dentist chair to closing my eyes in the real world.
This story was quick to put a sour taste in my mouth in regard to the lore of the tooth fairy as we know her…him?… it??
Either way I don’t think I’ll be looking at my kids loose teeth the same for a while. 😬

[Hailey]

what

WHAT DID I JUST READ? I was gonna leave this at the HEA but of course I had to keep going. Great read but other than that, I have no words 😭

[Vickie D]

Forced into online school from the age of six by his working parents, Solomon has struggled to make any friends. Now age twelve he has exactly zero friends, and is constantly mocked and bullied both in his online classes, and in his home by his abusive father. It seems that the only thing keeping him going is his younger sister, six year old Raina. Solomon has been plagued by nightmares involving a shadowy figure who seems obsessed with his teeth, but nightmares are just scary dreams and they aren't real… right? 


Ohhh this one was a difficult one for me. I really enjoyed the actual story, even though dentistry, especially in a horror setting, really puts me on edge! I really felt for Solomon, having been a bullied, lonely child myself at around his age, and I was really rooting for him to get a happy ending. Which he did get… along with two other endings! 


I did really enjoy the multiple endings, they gave an element of the ‘choose your own adventure’ goosebumps books I loved as a kid. I, of course, am the type of person that read all three and chose the third, and worst possible ending for the characters. Well for Solomon. Who I claim to be rooting for 🤦🏻‍♀️


The thing that really knocked my rating down for this one was the lexicon, used particularly by Raina. I'm not sure if I'm just really old and out of touch, but is that really what six year olds talk like these days? I have two nephews who are 4 and 5 and they certainly don't! I loved the character of Raina, she was a little firecracker, but every time she opened her mouth with these weird canned sayings, some of which I have heard in the real world, but usually in a different context to the way they were used in this. Also, the book was bizarrely censored with swearwords using @ $ and ^ symbols to create a ‘censored’ version of words (though it was still clear what words they were) - just use the actual letters please!


This book feels like it was sucked out of tiktok - from what I know of tiktok, I am not a user but I've seen many videos where they censor things in a similar way. So if that's the sort of thing you like, and you aren't in your mid thirties like I am, you will probably really enjoy this book! 

[Zane]

2,180 days without a single friend. And now the nightmares are getting real. I.D.G.A.F. immediately grabbed me with its premise because Solomon Handler isn’t dealing with just the everyday nightmare of being bullied and isolated his nightmares are starting to cross the line into reality. Solomon has spent years alone, trying to survive school, loneliness, and a world that doesn’t seem particularly interested in understanding him. But when his nightmares return, something has changed. They’re no longer just nightmares. They’re becoming real. And whatever is waiting for Solomon doesn’t seem interested in letting him wake up and walk away. I really liked the psychological horror angle here. There’s something especially unsettling about not knowing where the nightmare ends and reality begins. As Solomon’s world starts crumbling around him, the story creates that uncomfortable feeling of watching someone lose their grip on what they thought was real.
And underneath the horror is something much more human: loneliness, bullying, isolation, and the desperate need for someone to actually see you. The title I.D.G.A.F. feels almost like a defense mechanism like the attitude you develop when you’ve been hurt enough times that caring starts to feel dangerous but when the nightmares come collecting…Not caring might not be an option anymore.
Dark, unsettling, and emotionally heavy, this one feels like the kind of horror that isn’t satisfied with simply scaring you it wants to make you uncomfortable after you put the book down.

[E Singer]

The reviews are pretty spot on with…What did I just read? The weird thing is, I was hooked! The story follows a 12 year old boy (Solomon) who is caring for his five year old sister (Raina) because of the dysfunctional dynamics of the family. IDGAF is ritten from the POV of a 12 year old boy, who just wants his father’s pride, and suffers online bullying from his homeschool class. You are angry at the father, and don’t get me started on the mother, but get reprieves from anger with moments of cherished lovable sibling banter. The author did a great job at demonstrating the evils of prepubescent bullying and how children really know how to make it hurt. I also had to ask my kids to translate some of the Gen Alpha slang. God it made me feel old.

Aside from the trauma Solomon faces from an abusive and neglectful father, there’s the side of dental trauma, sleep paralysis, and the evil tooth fairy. This book, though in my opinion not very graphic or horrifying in gore, had a surprising amount of tension the kept me glued to the pages. It was like watching a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Totally worth the short read. This is one of those weird book that I absolutely love, but don't know why.

[Leslie Powell-Mccarty]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Solomon's horrific nightmares, abusive parents, and being a victim of constant bullying certainly don't make for a happy life. I found this story 99.9% depressing. The only bright spot in Solomon's world is his little sister Raina. Yet, he persevered.

This was a strange story, as well as, a tough read. I can't stand bullies and parents who don't love their children unconditionally. IDGAF is a YA book but man it's harsh and emotionally unrelenting. I couldn't fully stomach it as an adult. The teeth yanking scenes physically hurt me and conjured up my own frequent nightmare of standing in front of a mirror as my teeth are falling out.

The writing is solid and creative; however, some of the slang was lost on me (I'm old so that's to be expected). The opening chapters are strong and scary, the middle is a bit confusing ( the Mom situation), and the conclusion is multiple choice. Yes, you get to select from 3 different endings which was fun. I came out of this book feeling empty and sad. I'm just glad Solomon had Raina.

I received this book as part of the Horror Indie-Tron reading and reviewing event. My review is voluntary and words and opinions are my own.

[Kazoo Mazoo]

idgaf is exactly the kind of weird, fucked-up horror that starts with something completely ordinary and then takes it straight into nightmare territory. Dennis Tree turns childhood, teeth, family dysfunction, and helplessness into something increasingly disturbing, grotesque, and surreal.
Solomon is a solid protagonist, and his relationship with Raina gives the story an emotional core that keeps the carnage from becoming empty shock value. The horror gets progressively stranger and more brutal, and Tree has a knack for creating some genuinely uncomfortable imagery.
It's not flawless—the pacing gets uneven, some of the characterization is a little thin, and the prose could use another editorial pass—but there's no denying the book has personality. It's weird, nasty, visceral, and willing to go places without constantly stopping to hold the reader's hand.
If your idea of a good time is childhood trauma + body horror + WTF moments + things getting progressively more fucked up, idgaf should be on your radar.

4/5 ⭐

[Jenni Killin]

IDGAF is a horror that follows Solomon, a boy who has nothing really going for him. He has no friends, an abusive father, a mother who turns a blind eye to it all, is bullied constantly, and now he has to do online school so he's even lonelier. Then the nightmares start. This was such a bleak story, it's very hard to feel hopeful when our main character is so (understandably) miserable. I don't understand why this kid is so hated, he's literally 11 - 12 years old. I think this author needs a hug, and I'm a lil concerned. I will say though, there are 3 alternative endings to this one (its a choose your own adventure ending), which is such a cool idea. One is a cliffhanger, one is happy, and one is sad. I read all 3 because I'm nosey, and honestly, none of them satisfied me. I feel like this book is just to make you feel empty and dreadful, I feel like I was reading my own journal from when I was at my worst. I dont think I can safely recommend this to anyone, but if you enjoy miserable, depressed characters with a matching storyline, this is for you!