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The Video Store Massacre
In 1979, a horror double bill at the Auburndale Drive-In turned into a real-life slaughter.
Fifteen years later, four horror-obsessed middle schoolers have made the long abandoned drive-in their clubhouse, unaware of the tragedy that occurred in their idyllic hometown.
Now Calbert, Ray, John and Denise have a wonderful summer plan: They are going to make their own movie, inspired by the VHS tapes they rent religiously from the local video store. But the kids don’t realize they are about to awaken something far scarier than anything they’ve seen in the pages of their monster magazines.
Soon their parents have gone missing, the lecherous principal is stalking them through the neighborhood, and the evil behind the original massacre is drawing them to a final confrontation inside the labyrinth of Sidewalk Video.
As the town’s darkest secret threatens to consume them, the kids must use everything they know about horror to survive The Video Store Massacre.
Fifteen years later, four horror-obsessed middle schoolers have made the long abandoned drive-in their clubhouse, unaware of the tragedy that occurred in their idyllic hometown.
Now Calbert, Ray, John and Denise have a wonderful summer plan: They are going to make their own movie, inspired by the VHS tapes they rent religiously from the local video store. But the kids don’t realize they are about to awaken something far scarier than anything they’ve seen in the pages of their monster magazines.
Soon their parents have gone missing, the lecherous principal is stalking them through the neighborhood, and the evil behind the original massacre is drawing them to a final confrontation inside the labyrinth of Sidewalk Video.
As the town’s darkest secret threatens to consume them, the kids must use everything they know about horror to survive The Video Store Massacre.
- GenresHorrorSummerSummer Reads
318 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 24, 2026
What a WILD ASS RIDE! I had so much fun reading this one! This book was filled with plenty of nostalgic moments and tons of amazing horror references! It seriously made me want to hop into my car and drive over to the old Blockbuster 😭 The Video Store Massacre had a lot more twists and turns than I was expecting and that ending was absolutely BAT SHIT! I had so much fun reading this book and cannot WAIT to see was Grimala has in store for us next!
Lastly, I want to give a huge thank you to Michael for a copy of The Video Store Massacre! If you haven’t already, be sure you snag this one ASAP! And yes, it IS on Kindle Unlimited 😍
Lastly, I want to give a huge thank you to Michael for a copy of The Video Store Massacre! If you haven’t already, be sure you snag this one ASAP! And yes, it IS on Kindle Unlimited 😍
July 4, 2026
A nostalgic ride with a hint of something like It or stranger things. telling its tale around trips to the Vhs store a clubhouse in a haunted old drive in theater and there love for all monsters. soon finding out this drive in indeed is haunted and the real place of the drive in massacres they must group together and fight against all the evil
June 28, 2026
This took me ages to finish, and then I had to think a little about how to review it. I decided to give it 2 stars for the clean writing and the editing, and a third star for the premise, which I loved; but I had a lot of trouble with the execution, and specifically the story's length: a lot of scenes felt like afterthoughts, as if after writing the basics of the story, the author started filling it in to turn it into a large book. This affected the pacing most of all: it all feels rushed, as if everything's happening in a single day, whereas in truth it takes longer. In turn, the problematic pacing impacted characterization: everyone sounds the same, no character growth, and most often the characters' reactions seem emotionally flat. Moreover, a couple of scenes I didn't get at all (in an otherwise YA type of book, why add a bizarre sex scene between two homeless people, and a revolting and perverted situation with the school principal on top? I realize it has to do with specific points of the plot, but I don't get why the author felt portraying such things was absolutely necessary, it didn't enhance the suspense, nor did it convey better the sinister nature of the supernatural threat); one scene I believe needed far more elaboration (Ray's sister weird death; great idea, far too little meat - again just a prop to be used later for a specific point in the plot); and structurally the book needs a lot of tightening up because after the middle it feels slow and repetitive (actually, it is neither; but a lot of little things keep happening, seemingly unimportant, and then some more, and then, well, some more, the big reveal always postponed, the story going all over the place, events piling up till you start feeling for the bad guy lol).
In conclusion: I'd say give it a shot for the premise, it's an easy read, but prepare for a book that will try your patience!
In conclusion: I'd say give it a shot for the premise, it's an easy read, but prepare for a book that will try your patience!
April 10, 2026
The cover of this book does not do it justice. This book was awesome! Because of the cover I was prepared for something much less polished, but wow, I had a lot of fun with this one. For me, it had a lot of the same elements I loved about Stephen King’s IT. This book felt like a love letter to the horror genre and I think fans of horror will love it, as long as you’re okay with some darker themes. This book’s main characters are preteens, but this is not a book for middle schoolers lol. I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to see what the author does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the Advanced Reader Copy!
June 21, 2026
Summary: A group of friends spend their time in a drive in that holds a tragic past. When their newest member finds a camera, things dramatically go downhill - with their worst fears chasing them.
Review: This was a really strange one for me, because I wouldn't say its bad but I wouldn't say it's great either.
It's got twists, mystery and gruesome scenes which is a brilliant start. But some parts I think dragged out, and I still have the massive question on what happened with one of the characters sister - it didn't go into at all!
Overall, I think this will be popular with a lot of readers, and I can't say I didn't enjoy it - I think I just wanted less 'extra' and more on the parts that weren't answered.
Review: This was a really strange one for me, because I wouldn't say its bad but I wouldn't say it's great either.
It's got twists, mystery and gruesome scenes which is a brilliant start. But some parts I think dragged out, and I still have the massive question on what happened with one of the characters sister - it didn't go into at all!
Overall, I think this will be popular with a lot of readers, and I can't say I didn't enjoy it - I think I just wanted less 'extra' and more on the parts that weren't answered.
May 25, 2026
I had a good time reading this one. It's one of those IT-esque stories where there is a group of kids who have to overcome evil. It had some pretty awesome detailing but toward the end it got pretty Woom-y(if you've read Woom, then you'll understand what I mean when you read this book) and I found myself saying "aw hell naw" which then led to me having to explain to my husband why I said that and the look on his face was pretty priceless 🤣
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Video Store Massacre was quite a fun read overall. (I will be addressing one serious item at the end that's definitely a spoiler but I feel like I'd be remiss not to talk about it in the interest of warning readers whom it could affect adversely.) The plot was well-structured and each event flowed naturally into the next. I enjoy the trope of child friends coming together to battle an evil in their town. It adds a wholesome and innocent element not present when it's adults. It's cool to watch them try to work out the problem while trying to stay alive AND dodge authority figures. Although, I did find it a bit too convenient that the majority of the parents/parental figures were completely absent from the equation. I don't like too many coincidences.
The relationships between the 4 kids felt easy and natural. As an adult, my cynicism wanted to scoff at how easily Calbert was absorbed into the group but children can be much more accepting than adults. I like that that was featured here.
The author did a good amount of showing instead of telling and I appreciate that. A variety of devices were used which I liked. At the same time, there were quite a few things I felt needed at least a cursory explanation instead of it being simply because the author said so. These are children. Their knowledge of everything is much more limited. Tell me how they know this thing and how they came to such-and-such conclusion.
Most of the action/horror scenes were well-written. A bit was left out that I would've expected to see. For example, the reaction of other characters present. But I was pleased for the most part. Each child has their own trauma to fight and it was an intimate fear. Calbert's was particularly interesting. The author did well painting all of the horrific events that happened, both past and present. I was easily able to visualize what was occurring.
The premise and the plot were quite imaginative. Unless I'm missing something (such as the author publishing under a different name), this is the author's first book and it's impressive as such. It needs tightening up in some places but I found myself reading more after I said I was stopping at the end of the chapter so I was definitely immersed in the story at various points.
The section where Dobe entered the picture was cool. It's also where I was unable to suspend my disbelief because there wasn't enough of an explanation given for how previous events had transpired. I stayed on board and still enjoyed myself but I wanted more. I needed the "how" instead of the "because the author said so". His backstory was great and the way it was explained flowed with the rest of the story.
Not a fan of how John was handled at the end. It felt dismissive and deeply unserious.
I'm glad I read this and had a good time with it. I'm a sucker for the way the movie references were used, too. I was born in '79 (same year as the massacre, loved that) so that was relatable for me.
P.S. No one can walk for miles after being stabbed in the chest.
My one serious problem that's a spoiler and a trigger warning coming up below:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The pedophile trauma was unnecessary and extremely cringe and it didn't advance the main plot at all. It could've been reworked into something more benign and been just as effective. I feel like this is something that authors have to be very careful about including in their work. I didn't like it. At all. I was even more disturbed by the victim of the pedophile being confronted by him. This could be wildly triggering for a lot of readers because of the way it was done, i.e. the victim STILL had no power years later. (To be clear, I'm not squeamish. I read authors like Richard Laymon and Jon Athan. Extreme subject matter has its place and it felt out of place here.)
Also, the "adult" section of video stores NEVER had a TV playing an actual movie in them. That wasn't a thing. It certainly wasn't treated like those seedy movie theaters with private viewing and sticky floors. I wonder if this detail was changed to seem edgy because it went along with the pedophilia subplot so that made it extra gross.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Video Store Massacre was quite a fun read overall. (I will be addressing one serious item at the end that's definitely a spoiler but I feel like I'd be remiss not to talk about it in the interest of warning readers whom it could affect adversely.) The plot was well-structured and each event flowed naturally into the next. I enjoy the trope of child friends coming together to battle an evil in their town. It adds a wholesome and innocent element not present when it's adults. It's cool to watch them try to work out the problem while trying to stay alive AND dodge authority figures. Although, I did find it a bit too convenient that the majority of the parents/parental figures were completely absent from the equation. I don't like too many coincidences.
The relationships between the 4 kids felt easy and natural. As an adult, my cynicism wanted to scoff at how easily Calbert was absorbed into the group but children can be much more accepting than adults. I like that that was featured here.
The author did a good amount of showing instead of telling and I appreciate that. A variety of devices were used which I liked. At the same time, there were quite a few things I felt needed at least a cursory explanation instead of it being simply because the author said so. These are children. Their knowledge of everything is much more limited. Tell me how they know this thing and how they came to such-and-such conclusion.
Most of the action/horror scenes were well-written. A bit was left out that I would've expected to see. For example, the reaction of other characters present. But I was pleased for the most part. Each child has their own trauma to fight and it was an intimate fear. Calbert's was particularly interesting. The author did well painting all of the horrific events that happened, both past and present. I was easily able to visualize what was occurring.
The premise and the plot were quite imaginative. Unless I'm missing something (such as the author publishing under a different name), this is the author's first book and it's impressive as such. It needs tightening up in some places but I found myself reading more after I said I was stopping at the end of the chapter so I was definitely immersed in the story at various points.
The section where Dobe entered the picture was cool. It's also where I was unable to suspend my disbelief because there wasn't enough of an explanation given for how previous events had transpired. I stayed on board and still enjoyed myself but I wanted more. I needed the "how" instead of the "because the author said so". His backstory was great and the way it was explained flowed with the rest of the story.
Not a fan of how John was handled at the end. It felt dismissive and deeply unserious.
I'm glad I read this and had a good time with it. I'm a sucker for the way the movie references were used, too. I was born in '79 (same year as the massacre, loved that) so that was relatable for me.
P.S. No one can walk for miles after being stabbed in the chest.
My one serious problem that's a spoiler and a trigger warning coming up below:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The pedophile trauma was unnecessary and extremely cringe and it didn't advance the main plot at all. It could've been reworked into something more benign and been just as effective. I feel like this is something that authors have to be very careful about including in their work. I didn't like it. At all. I was even more disturbed by the victim of the pedophile being confronted by him. This could be wildly triggering for a lot of readers because of the way it was done, i.e. the victim STILL had no power years later. (To be clear, I'm not squeamish. I read authors like Richard Laymon and Jon Athan. Extreme subject matter has its place and it felt out of place here.)
Also, the "adult" section of video stores NEVER had a TV playing an actual movie in them. That wasn't a thing. It certainly wasn't treated like those seedy movie theaters with private viewing and sticky floors. I wonder if this detail was changed to seem edgy because it went along with the pedophilia subplot so that made it extra gross.
May 25, 2026
The title and cover for this book grabbed my interest when scrolling for my next horror read. They gave me major 80s/90s horror vibes and I was intrigued. I definitely did not expect the book to be as good as it was.
Calbert, our main character, moves to a town called Auburndale rather abruptly. His mom has apparently smothered him his entire life. He doesn't seem to mind, as he genuinely loves his mother. He decides to go for an unauthorized walk when she is at work and finds some horror obsessed kids that he quickly makes friends with. Calbert essentially meets the town weirdos and being a bit of a weird kid himself it works out. The fast friendship gets rocked pretty quickly by a series of increasingly weird and unsettling events and that just continue happening until the end of the story.
I found the entire book to be well paced, I didn't get bored by any part of it. The horror is not overly graphic in ways that I found uncomfortable. Sometimes too much body horror gets me. Even when the author is giving you descriptions of the visuals it's not purposefully nauseating. It really does remind me of a horror movie you'd find on a video story rental shelf. (May video stores RIP.) The kids all have their own little personalities within the 'we like horror' world. Denise ended up being my favorite of the rag tag group.
The reason I am not giving this 5 stars is how one of the characters was handled, and that there are sexual situations that two of the characters are exposed to. I will go into more detail in the spoiler cut. Ultimately despite the criticism I have for subject matter mentioned above, I really enjoyed this book. It's well paced, the story line is interesting, and the writing is good. I didn't find myself having to reread pages to understand it, or get bored with over explanations.
spoilers:
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the advanced reader copy!
Calbert, our main character, moves to a town called Auburndale rather abruptly. His mom has apparently smothered him his entire life. He doesn't seem to mind, as he genuinely loves his mother. He decides to go for an unauthorized walk when she is at work and finds some horror obsessed kids that he quickly makes friends with. Calbert essentially meets the town weirdos and being a bit of a weird kid himself it works out. The fast friendship gets rocked pretty quickly by a series of increasingly weird and unsettling events and that just continue happening until the end of the story.
I found the entire book to be well paced, I didn't get bored by any part of it. The horror is not overly graphic in ways that I found uncomfortable. Sometimes too much body horror gets me. Even when the author is giving you descriptions of the visuals it's not purposefully nauseating. It really does remind me of a horror movie you'd find on a video story rental shelf. (May video stores RIP.) The kids all have their own little personalities within the 'we like horror' world. Denise ended up being my favorite of the rag tag group.
The reason I am not giving this 5 stars is how one of the characters was handled, and that there are sexual situations that two of the characters are exposed to. I will go into more detail in the spoiler cut. Ultimately despite the criticism I have for subject matter mentioned above, I really enjoyed this book. It's well paced, the story line is interesting, and the writing is good. I didn't find myself having to reread pages to understand it, or get bored with over explanations.
spoilers:
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the advanced reader copy!
July 4, 2026
Thank you to HellBound Books Publishing, Michael Grimala, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Video Store Massacre in exchange for an honest review.
Title: catchy, like the title of a true crime podcast episode. Provocative.
Cover: eye catching but upon further inspection looks a little cheap, mainly the font used for the title.
No blurbs comparing it to any other notable works or blurbs from other authors. This could be good - no preconceived expectations to try to compare it to.
My final judgement before reading is this will be a nostalgic slasher / analog horror with a ragtag band of dorky kids.
… yes, but, it tried to be so many things.
A slasher. Analog horror. Reverse Woom / Taylor Parker baby snatcher. Vietnam war and seppuku (which is Japanese btw). Stan by Eminem. Pedophilic principal. “Land’s bad!” Indian burial ground. Disappearing pilgrims. A zombie-like infection. Drowning. Invasion of the body snatchers. Child killing hobos. Horror convention. Time travel. Nightmares. Casper the Friendly Ghost.
There weren’t any comparison blurbs because it would mean trying to pick some of the above which is frankly impossible. It being so many of these things meant it wasn’t enough of any of them.
“The REAL horror movie is the friends we made along the way!”
The Video Store Massacre does one thing quite well: capturing the spirit of friendship, nostalgia. The easy way kids make friendships and the mantra of: it’s your pals and you against the world. I loved the banter between the characters and their commitment to each other. Children are pure of heart and that always makes for a good protagonist that you want to see prevail over evil.
The rest, however, needs some help. This book is obviously written by someone who loves horror. Overall, this book is a love letter to the genre. It needs to be parred down and focus on two or three plot elements. In my opinion, the pedophile principal and baby snatching plot lines should be eliminated. Some of the scenes were deeply uncomfortable and didn’t really serve a purpose other than what felt like to push the boundaries. It’s kind of like the author wanted to go the route of King’s “It” cosmic horror and the controversial scenes within.
This could have been really strong if Grimala had pushed the haunted video camera + slasher aspect. Keep the kids, push the Stan element, nix the rest. The story gets so clogged up by all of these other things that the kids don’t even get to really think about filming their movie which is something talked about in the blurb.
I give The Video Store Massacre 2.75 stars. It was a fun romp with a lot of heart. I respect the author’s love for the genre and know this is probably a deeply personal novel for him.
It simply suffered from too many ideas all at once.
It felt like the author needed to put as many ideas as possible into one novel because he wasn’t going to be able to write another one. There are thimbles of multiple novels all within this one.
My recommendation is to sit down, study and employ the Kill Your Darlings theory, and write something tight, punchy, where all characters are accounted for and the plot has a clear through line.
Title: catchy, like the title of a true crime podcast episode. Provocative.
Cover: eye catching but upon further inspection looks a little cheap, mainly the font used for the title.
No blurbs comparing it to any other notable works or blurbs from other authors. This could be good - no preconceived expectations to try to compare it to.
My final judgement before reading is this will be a nostalgic slasher / analog horror with a ragtag band of dorky kids.
… yes, but, it tried to be so many things.
A slasher. Analog horror. Reverse Woom / Taylor Parker baby snatcher. Vietnam war and seppuku (which is Japanese btw). Stan by Eminem. Pedophilic principal. “Land’s bad!” Indian burial ground. Disappearing pilgrims. A zombie-like infection. Drowning. Invasion of the body snatchers. Child killing hobos. Horror convention. Time travel. Nightmares. Casper the Friendly Ghost.
There weren’t any comparison blurbs because it would mean trying to pick some of the above which is frankly impossible. It being so many of these things meant it wasn’t enough of any of them.
“The REAL horror movie is the friends we made along the way!”
The Video Store Massacre does one thing quite well: capturing the spirit of friendship, nostalgia. The easy way kids make friendships and the mantra of: it’s your pals and you against the world. I loved the banter between the characters and their commitment to each other. Children are pure of heart and that always makes for a good protagonist that you want to see prevail over evil.
The rest, however, needs some help. This book is obviously written by someone who loves horror. Overall, this book is a love letter to the genre. It needs to be parred down and focus on two or three plot elements. In my opinion, the pedophile principal and baby snatching plot lines should be eliminated. Some of the scenes were deeply uncomfortable and didn’t really serve a purpose other than what felt like to push the boundaries. It’s kind of like the author wanted to go the route of King’s “It” cosmic horror and the controversial scenes within.
This could have been really strong if Grimala had pushed the haunted video camera + slasher aspect. Keep the kids, push the Stan element, nix the rest. The story gets so clogged up by all of these other things that the kids don’t even get to really think about filming their movie which is something talked about in the blurb.
I give The Video Store Massacre 2.75 stars. It was a fun romp with a lot of heart. I respect the author’s love for the genre and know this is probably a deeply personal novel for him.
It simply suffered from too many ideas all at once.
It felt like the author needed to put as many ideas as possible into one novel because he wasn’t going to be able to write another one. There are thimbles of multiple novels all within this one.
My recommendation is to sit down, study and employ the Kill Your Darlings theory, and write something tight, punchy, where all characters are accounted for and the plot has a clear through line.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This felt like renting a horror VHS with your childhood friends.
I had a really fun time reading it. More than the horror itself, what really got me was the nostalgic feeling of growing up before phones completely took over everything. The story reminded me of those days when kids would spend hours outside, hang out at a friend’s house, tell scary stories, and scare each other for fun. That atmosphere felt very genuine here, and honestly, it became one of my favorite parts of the book.
This is a mix of horror, mystery, gore, comedy, and even some emotional moments, which made the reading experience feel very entertaining overall. The horror scenes were gross enough to be entertaining without going overboard.
One thing I noticed while reading is that this became the kind of story I didn’t want to rush. You know how there are books you speed through because you desperately want answers? Then there are books you purposely slow down with because you’re enjoying the experience too much and don’t want it to end yet. This was that kind of book for me. I liked spending time with the characters and the whole video-store-and-VHS atmosphere so much that I kept reading little by little instead of finishing it in one sitting.
That said, the pacing may not work for everyone. Even though a lot of things happen throughout the story, the narrative sometimes feels slower than expected, which occasionally lessened the intensity for me. There were also moments where the overlapping mysteries and strange events became a little confusing, and I wasn’t always sure where everything was leading. Still, I was invested enough that I kept wanting to see how all the pieces would come together.
The ending was satisfying for me, and honestly, I’d love to see either a sequel or even a prequel someday-the story of Dobie or Mack Martin. I think there’s still so much interesting history behind the events in this story that would be fun to explore further.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable and nostalgic horror read, especially if you love VHS-era horror vibes, creepy small-town mysteries, and stories about kids getting caught up in something far bigger and darker than they expected.
I had a really fun time reading it. More than the horror itself, what really got me was the nostalgic feeling of growing up before phones completely took over everything. The story reminded me of those days when kids would spend hours outside, hang out at a friend’s house, tell scary stories, and scare each other for fun. That atmosphere felt very genuine here, and honestly, it became one of my favorite parts of the book.
This is a mix of horror, mystery, gore, comedy, and even some emotional moments, which made the reading experience feel very entertaining overall. The horror scenes were gross enough to be entertaining without going overboard.
One thing I noticed while reading is that this became the kind of story I didn’t want to rush. You know how there are books you speed through because you desperately want answers? Then there are books you purposely slow down with because you’re enjoying the experience too much and don’t want it to end yet. This was that kind of book for me. I liked spending time with the characters and the whole video-store-and-VHS atmosphere so much that I kept reading little by little instead of finishing it in one sitting.
That said, the pacing may not work for everyone. Even though a lot of things happen throughout the story, the narrative sometimes feels slower than expected, which occasionally lessened the intensity for me. There were also moments where the overlapping mysteries and strange events became a little confusing, and I wasn’t always sure where everything was leading. Still, I was invested enough that I kept wanting to see how all the pieces would come together.
The ending was satisfying for me, and honestly, I’d love to see either a sequel or even a prequel someday-the story of Dobie or Mack Martin. I think there’s still so much interesting history behind the events in this story that would be fun to explore further.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable and nostalgic horror read, especially if you love VHS-era horror vibes, creepy small-town mysteries, and stories about kids getting caught up in something far bigger and darker than they expected.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Video Store Massacre by Michael Grimala is a blood-soaked love letter to a bygone era, one that perfectly captures the magic of wandering dusty aisles, judging VHS covers, and chasing that next late-night scare. Drawing on the same nostalgic DNA that fuels modern throwbacks, it blends retro horror vibes with a coming-of-age energy that feels unmistakably Stranger Things adjacent, but with a much sharper, darker edge.
What really stands out to me, and other online reviews I've read, is how vividly Grimala recreates the culture of video stores as communal horror playgrounds. That sense of generational crossover, old-school horror meeting a younger perspective, mirrors the appeal of horror discussions across eras, something fans consistently love about retro-inspired storytelling.
The characters feel authentic and grounded, which makes the chaos that unfolds hit even harder. There is a genuine affection for the genre baked into every page, but it never slips into parody. The stakes are real, the tension is relentless, and when the violence comes, it commits. Think synth-heavy nostalgia, flickering CRT screens, and that creeping dread that something is very, very wrong just beyond the aisles.
Grimala nails that sweet spot between homage and originality. It is not just referencing the past, it feels like it came from it while still delivering a fresh, brutal story that keeps you hooked.
If you love retro horror, small-town unease, and stories that feel like they could sit on a shelf between Halloween and The Monster Squad, this is an absolute must-read.
What really stands out to me, and other online reviews I've read, is how vividly Grimala recreates the culture of video stores as communal horror playgrounds. That sense of generational crossover, old-school horror meeting a younger perspective, mirrors the appeal of horror discussions across eras, something fans consistently love about retro-inspired storytelling.
The characters feel authentic and grounded, which makes the chaos that unfolds hit even harder. There is a genuine affection for the genre baked into every page, but it never slips into parody. The stakes are real, the tension is relentless, and when the violence comes, it commits. Think synth-heavy nostalgia, flickering CRT screens, and that creeping dread that something is very, very wrong just beyond the aisles.
Grimala nails that sweet spot between homage and originality. It is not just referencing the past, it feels like it came from it while still delivering a fresh, brutal story that keeps you hooked.
If you love retro horror, small-town unease, and stories that feel like they could sit on a shelf between Halloween and The Monster Squad, this is an absolute must-read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’re into Stephen King’s IT, Stranger Things, and those classic coming-of-age tales, then this book is definitely for you. It’s like a nostalgic horror trip back to when renting a movie meant heading to the local video store.
Welcome to Auburndale, a small town steeped in horror. Back in 1979, a slasher flick at the local drive-in ended tragically, claiming several lives, and the killer has never been caught. Strangely, the townsfolk prefer to sweep this dark chapter under the rug and pretend it never happened. Fast forward 15 years to 1994, and some evils just refuse to fade away.
Meet Calbert, a sheltered kid raised by his single mom, a nurse who works long hours. She decides it’s time for a fresh start in Auburndale, setting the stage for a chilling tale. Calbert soon befriends three fellow horror enthusiasts—Ray, John, and Denise. They love nothing more than watching scary movies at an old drive-in theater with a shadowy past. Little do they know, an ancient evil has been stirred, eager to finish what it started back in 1979.
I really connect with the characters in this book and the sheer joy of childhood. Plus, the humor sprinkled throughout adds a nice touch. If you’re a fan of that nostalgic VHS vibe and remember a time before cell phones, you should definitely check this one out. It kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Thank you, Michael Grimala, NetGalley, and Hellbound books for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Welcome to Auburndale, a small town steeped in horror. Back in 1979, a slasher flick at the local drive-in ended tragically, claiming several lives, and the killer has never been caught. Strangely, the townsfolk prefer to sweep this dark chapter under the rug and pretend it never happened. Fast forward 15 years to 1994, and some evils just refuse to fade away.
Meet Calbert, a sheltered kid raised by his single mom, a nurse who works long hours. She decides it’s time for a fresh start in Auburndale, setting the stage for a chilling tale. Calbert soon befriends three fellow horror enthusiasts—Ray, John, and Denise. They love nothing more than watching scary movies at an old drive-in theater with a shadowy past. Little do they know, an ancient evil has been stirred, eager to finish what it started back in 1979.
I really connect with the characters in this book and the sheer joy of childhood. Plus, the humor sprinkled throughout adds a nice touch. If you’re a fan of that nostalgic VHS vibe and remember a time before cell phones, you should definitely check this one out. It kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Thank you, Michael Grimala, NetGalley, and Hellbound books for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
May 16, 2026
Thank you Michael Grimala, NetGalley, and Hellbound books for the ARC.
Content warning: pedophilia.
It's a great read for those who love Stranger Things, IT, Tales from the Crypt.
It started out great, brought me back to the times of watching movies on VHS tapes, reminded me of Tales from the Crypt with its atmosphere and a few of the characters in the story.
The first half was good, got me with its storytelling and details, then it started getting rushed, the tension going up but then simmering by introducing too much dialogue, too many events. It became a bit confusing as to who did what, and why was there a pedophilic character in there? That part of the plot could've been done any other way to make it horrific without introducing sexual assault on minors. The horror is already high because it deals with children, no need to bring that kind of harm to them.
There was a bit of plotholes here and there, which tried to cover themselves up, but never managed to do it. Some dialogues were not needed in parts of the story. Otherwise the tension was great, an amazing omage to old horror movies and slashers. Loved seeing kids being interested in other stuff than horror movies only, investing time and energy into their crafts to become better at their hobbies.
It's hard to write pre-teens, but I think the author did an okay job, especially as a friend group who find themselves in the middle of a horror situation. Some of the horror tropes still happened, but what kind of horror slasher would we have without those tropes?
Content warning: pedophilia.
It's a great read for those who love Stranger Things, IT, Tales from the Crypt.
It started out great, brought me back to the times of watching movies on VHS tapes, reminded me of Tales from the Crypt with its atmosphere and a few of the characters in the story.
The first half was good, got me with its storytelling and details, then it started getting rushed, the tension going up but then simmering by introducing too much dialogue, too many events. It became a bit confusing as to who did what, and why was there a pedophilic character in there? That part of the plot could've been done any other way to make it horrific without introducing sexual assault on minors. The horror is already high because it deals with children, no need to bring that kind of harm to them.
There was a bit of plotholes here and there, which tried to cover themselves up, but never managed to do it. Some dialogues were not needed in parts of the story. Otherwise the tension was great, an amazing omage to old horror movies and slashers. Loved seeing kids being interested in other stuff than horror movies only, investing time and energy into their crafts to become better at their hobbies.
It's hard to write pre-teens, but I think the author did an okay job, especially as a friend group who find themselves in the middle of a horror situation. Some of the horror tropes still happened, but what kind of horror slasher would we have without those tropes?
May 20, 2026
I really enjoyed how quickly this book threw itself into the horror. From the beginning, there’s an unsettling atmosphere that immediately pulled me in and made me curious about where the story was heading.
Calbert’s introduction to the Ghoulies felt very Stephen King-esque in the best way, particularly in the portrayal of childhood friendships built around outsiders and horror lovers. As someone who was also considered a bit of a horror-obsessed nerd as a child, I found myself feeling an immediate sense of kinship with the group and was invested in their dynamic from the start.
There were several genuinely creepy moments throughout the novel, including some descriptions that gave me that horrible stomach-dropping feeling that good horror does so well. The suffocation scene involving Calbert’s mother was especially vivid and immediately established the darker tone of the story.
That said, while I found the beginning incredibly strong and was eager to keep reading, the similarities to Stephen King’s IT gradually became more noticeable. The influence is very clear, particularly in the friendship group uniting to confront their fears, and at times it felt a little too close to that premise to feel entirely unique in its own right.
Overall though, I did enjoy this book and found it to be an engaging horror read with some genuinely unsettling moments. Fans of Stephen King-style coming-of-age horror and stories centred around childhood fears and friendship will likely have a great time with this one.
Calbert’s introduction to the Ghoulies felt very Stephen King-esque in the best way, particularly in the portrayal of childhood friendships built around outsiders and horror lovers. As someone who was also considered a bit of a horror-obsessed nerd as a child, I found myself feeling an immediate sense of kinship with the group and was invested in their dynamic from the start.
There were several genuinely creepy moments throughout the novel, including some descriptions that gave me that horrible stomach-dropping feeling that good horror does so well. The suffocation scene involving Calbert’s mother was especially vivid and immediately established the darker tone of the story.
That said, while I found the beginning incredibly strong and was eager to keep reading, the similarities to Stephen King’s IT gradually became more noticeable. The influence is very clear, particularly in the friendship group uniting to confront their fears, and at times it felt a little too close to that premise to feel entirely unique in its own right.
Overall though, I did enjoy this book and found it to be an engaging horror read with some genuinely unsettling moments. Fans of Stephen King-style coming-of-age horror and stories centred around childhood fears and friendship will likely have a great time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A brutal and bloody massacre in a drive in 1979 shook the small town of Auburndale.
Fifteen years later a group of horror-obsessed middle schoolers sneak into the drive though. They want to watch horror movies in secret to get inspiration for the horror movie they aspire to make. Calbert is new in town, he has an overprotective mother but is really excited to have found new friends. One day after a meet up, he discovers a lost camera in the woods, then a tape and their worst fears will come to life.
The story had a touch of IT by Stephen King in the sense that the characters will face some of their fears with horrors specially designed for them.
Soon their parents will go missing and unless they find a way to stop this, they will all be goners.
There are many things I enjoyed about this story. The small town with this horrible history and a massacre that might happen again, brutal deaths and the love of horror movies that is present throughout the whole novel.
It is a very fun read that has many horror elements. For me personally I think the book was trying to add too much in one story and you have slasher, urban legend, supernatural and more. It was a bit convoluted at times and I wish the author would not have tried to do so much in one book.
That being said, the kills were well written, loved the kids investigating the town’s past, seeing the different fears for the different characters and the nostalgic horror.
Fifteen years later a group of horror-obsessed middle schoolers sneak into the drive though. They want to watch horror movies in secret to get inspiration for the horror movie they aspire to make. Calbert is new in town, he has an overprotective mother but is really excited to have found new friends. One day after a meet up, he discovers a lost camera in the woods, then a tape and their worst fears will come to life.
The story had a touch of IT by Stephen King in the sense that the characters will face some of their fears with horrors specially designed for them.
Soon their parents will go missing and unless they find a way to stop this, they will all be goners.
There are many things I enjoyed about this story. The small town with this horrible history and a massacre that might happen again, brutal deaths and the love of horror movies that is present throughout the whole novel.
It is a very fun read that has many horror elements. For me personally I think the book was trying to add too much in one story and you have slasher, urban legend, supernatural and more. It was a bit convoluted at times and I wish the author would not have tried to do so much in one book.
That being said, the kills were well written, loved the kids investigating the town’s past, seeing the different fears for the different characters and the nostalgic horror.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Hellbound books for this ARC!
This is a mix of horror and some comedy, with a whole lot of nostalgia which I really appreciated.
It is 1994. Calbert is confused and at first upset that his mother has insisted they suddenly move to auburndale, a small town with a colourful past. He’s more excited when he happens to make some friends, as he’s normally a loner. The friends spend hours in their clubhouse on an old abandoned drive in movie lot watching old horror movies and fantasizing about making their own someday. When the friends make a strange discovery, horrifying things start to happen. Their principal inexplicably goes haywire and seems to be stalking them, calberts mom goes missing, and their worst fears are coming to life. When they start digging a little deeper, they learn something disturbing happened at the drive-in in 1979 involving one of their horror movie heroes. Is auburndale cursed? The group of friends will have to use everything they’ve learned about horror movies to survive.
I enjoyed this one, it was a fun ride with all sorts of twists and turns. I loved how the name of every chapter was the name of an old (and mostly forgotten) horror movie! I also really loved the frequent mentions of the idea of the “final girl.”
At first, it was a bit challenging for me to grasp what was happening and I felt like it was a slow burn to get to the heart of the story. I also found certain sections dragged on a bit, which is why this is a 3 for me.
All in all though, it was a fun journey.
This is a mix of horror and some comedy, with a whole lot of nostalgia which I really appreciated.
It is 1994. Calbert is confused and at first upset that his mother has insisted they suddenly move to auburndale, a small town with a colourful past. He’s more excited when he happens to make some friends, as he’s normally a loner. The friends spend hours in their clubhouse on an old abandoned drive in movie lot watching old horror movies and fantasizing about making their own someday. When the friends make a strange discovery, horrifying things start to happen. Their principal inexplicably goes haywire and seems to be stalking them, calberts mom goes missing, and their worst fears are coming to life. When they start digging a little deeper, they learn something disturbing happened at the drive-in in 1979 involving one of their horror movie heroes. Is auburndale cursed? The group of friends will have to use everything they’ve learned about horror movies to survive.
I enjoyed this one, it was a fun ride with all sorts of twists and turns. I loved how the name of every chapter was the name of an old (and mostly forgotten) horror movie! I also really loved the frequent mentions of the idea of the “final girl.”
At first, it was a bit challenging for me to grasp what was happening and I felt like it was a slow burn to get to the heart of the story. I also found certain sections dragged on a bit, which is why this is a 3 for me.
All in all though, it was a fun journey.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Video Store Massacre was my first ARC read, and it absolutely did not disappoint. From the very first pages, the book delivers on its promise of twists, gore, and pure horror entertainment. What really elevates it, though, is how much of a love letter it feels like to classic horror culture. Fans of old school horror films and vintage magazines will find so much to enjoy in the clever callbacks sprinkled throughout.
The tone strikes a perfect balance, blending sharp, gruesome moments with just the right amount of humor. It captures that nostalgic vibe of horror from a different era, where scares and laughs often went hand in hand. This balance makes the story feel both fresh and comfortingly familiar.
What surprised me most was how invested I became in the characters. The relationships between the main cast are thoughtfully layered, adding real depth to the story. I found myself just as engaged in their everyday lives, whether they were hanging out at the drive in, roaming around town, or causing chaos for the video store clerk, as I was in the central horror plot. Honestly, I could have happily read a standalone novel focused solely on their antics and friendships.
Overall, Video Store Massacre is a fun, gory, and heartfelt read that horror fans will truly appreciate. I am already looking forward to seeing what this author does next.
The tone strikes a perfect balance, blending sharp, gruesome moments with just the right amount of humor. It captures that nostalgic vibe of horror from a different era, where scares and laughs often went hand in hand. This balance makes the story feel both fresh and comfortingly familiar.
What surprised me most was how invested I became in the characters. The relationships between the main cast are thoughtfully layered, adding real depth to the story. I found myself just as engaged in their everyday lives, whether they were hanging out at the drive in, roaming around town, or causing chaos for the video store clerk, as I was in the central horror plot. Honestly, I could have happily read a standalone novel focused solely on their antics and friendships.
Overall, Video Store Massacre is a fun, gory, and heartfelt read that horror fans will truly appreciate. I am already looking forward to seeing what this author does next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
very vintage. very stranger things joined with derry (IT)
made me want to stroll around a retro vhs store in the 80s & 90s but unfortunately i won’t experience that.
this circles a group of preteen friends who are horror enthusiasts at a drive in. they love watching & creating scary movies. one boy discovers an old camcorder buried outside the cinema.
each of them are haunted by different unsettling things they fear (a mutilated mannequin, maniacal train folks, etc…)
at the video store they beat what began the massacre with what started as a slasher film that took lives
the pacing was a little sluggish but i didn’t mind. the characters were fleshed out and their friendship is genuine it made me think about the friend group in stranger things & IT.
i have no negative say for any of them. their principal is a weirdooo though
another one of those books that made me feel like i was watching a horror film since the beginning.
the author aced it at securing vivid horror elements and the carnage as well!
i never thought i’d tremendously enjoy this the way i did judging by the cover (& title) lol yeah i do that
this didn’t leave me disappointed!
thank you netgalley & the publisher for the arc!
made me want to stroll around a retro vhs store in the 80s & 90s but unfortunately i won’t experience that.
this circles a group of preteen friends who are horror enthusiasts at a drive in. they love watching & creating scary movies. one boy discovers an old camcorder buried outside the cinema.
each of them are haunted by different unsettling things they fear (a mutilated mannequin, maniacal train folks, etc…)
at the video store they beat what began the massacre with what started as a slasher film that took lives
the pacing was a little sluggish but i didn’t mind. the characters were fleshed out and their friendship is genuine it made me think about the friend group in stranger things & IT.
i have no negative say for any of them. their principal is a weirdooo though
another one of those books that made me feel like i was watching a horror film since the beginning.
the author aced it at securing vivid horror elements and the carnage as well!
i never thought i’d tremendously enjoy this the way i did judging by the cover (& title) lol yeah i do that
this didn’t leave me disappointed!
thank you netgalley & the publisher for the arc!
May 25, 2026
The Video Store Massacre does a VERY good job with atmosphere and characterization. The plot gets a little convoluted at times because so much is being compressed into a pretty short book. At the beginning, I was unsure if this book would be for me but I was quickly and pleasantly surprised by how engaged I became in the plot and the way it would unfold. This book certainly won’t be for everyone, mostly due to the pre-teen ages of the characters and some content that could be potentially triggering. I didn’t find it to be overly-graphic and as long as content warnings are in place I don’t think this is really an issue in a horror book. Calbert, Ray, Denise, and John were all great, well written characters and Harvey ended up being a standout character for me and giving way more to the story than I initially expected. I did think certain parts of this were unnecessary and to keep free from spoilers I won’t go in to details on what exactly they were but there was definitely an ick-factor that I could see turning people off from this book. That being said I think this is really great for a first book from this author. The retro vibes from the drive-in and the video store had me feeling super nostalgic.
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and HellBound Books for the eARC!
June 22, 2026
(3.5 stars rounded up to 4)
Part '90s throwback, part homage to Stephen King's It, and part love letter to classic slasher cinema, The Video Store Massacre is an entertaining romp through a horror movie come to life. The 4 tweens and their older friend who mans the desk at Sidewalk Video make up a great cast of "good guys" who have to fight off supernatural entities that are trying to kill them. At the same time, they need to solve the mystery of how these entities came to be and how they can destroy them for good. There is a lot of humour and genuine caring shared between the kids, which made me more invested in the story.
While the vibe is usually fun and campy, more serious issues occasionally come up (most notably, CSA). I think I would have enjoyed the story more if the tone was consistently cheesy, light, and surreal.
Once the action reaches a climax, things get messy and chaotic, and at certain points, I found myself confused. It's possible that I misunderstood or failed to catch certain details in the shuffle between different character perspectives.
Overall, The Video Store Massacre is a solid read that I would recommend to '90s kids and B movie horror fans.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Part '90s throwback, part homage to Stephen King's It, and part love letter to classic slasher cinema, The Video Store Massacre is an entertaining romp through a horror movie come to life. The 4 tweens and their older friend who mans the desk at Sidewalk Video make up a great cast of "good guys" who have to fight off supernatural entities that are trying to kill them. At the same time, they need to solve the mystery of how these entities came to be and how they can destroy them for good. There is a lot of humour and genuine caring shared between the kids, which made me more invested in the story.
While the vibe is usually fun and campy, more serious issues occasionally come up (most notably, CSA). I think I would have enjoyed the story more if the tone was consistently cheesy, light, and surreal.
Once the action reaches a climax, things get messy and chaotic, and at certain points, I found myself confused. It's possible that I misunderstood or failed to catch certain details in the shuffle between different character perspectives.
Overall, The Video Store Massacre is a solid read that I would recommend to '90s kids and B movie horror fans.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 19, 2026
📼NetGalley eARC review 📼
There were things I really liked and things I really didn’t about The Video Store Massacre.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia this stirred in me. I liked the Stephen Kingesque vibe, ‘It’ was clearly a big inspiration for this book.
I also loved the 90’s setting and the cinematic style writing.
However, I did not enjoy the absurd amount of changes in setting. In one single narrative day we follow the group of friends to each child’s house, the school, the drive in, the cemetery, the train yards, the video store, a gas station, the police station and a convention in the next town, a four hour round trip away. We visit many of these locations more than once in a this time period. It was too much, it made me frustrated and contributed to a number of the pacing problems. I also didn’t love how some topics were handled or how some of the twists weren’t properly explained or connected to the beginning of the story.
There was a lot of potential here and I think anyone who enjoyed It is probably not going to regret picking this up, just for the vibes.
There were things I really liked and things I really didn’t about The Video Store Massacre.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia this stirred in me. I liked the Stephen Kingesque vibe, ‘It’ was clearly a big inspiration for this book.
I also loved the 90’s setting and the cinematic style writing.
However, I did not enjoy the absurd amount of changes in setting. In one single narrative day we follow the group of friends to each child’s house, the school, the drive in, the cemetery, the train yards, the video store, a gas station, the police station and a convention in the next town, a four hour round trip away. We visit many of these locations more than once in a this time period. It was too much, it made me frustrated and contributed to a number of the pacing problems. I also didn’t love how some topics were handled or how some of the twists weren’t properly explained or connected to the beginning of the story.
There was a lot of potential here and I think anyone who enjoyed It is probably not going to regret picking this up, just for the vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fifteen years after a brutal massacre at the Auburndale Drive-In, four horror-obsessed kids accidentally awaken the evil that tore their town apart. Now parents are disappearing, nightmares are becoming reality, and the only thing standing between them and a blood-soaked ending… is everything they’ve learned from horror movies.
This was such a fun, nostalgic horror and it gave me major It meets Stranger Things vibes the entire way through. Four horror-obsessed kids hanging around with the older teen from the video store? Yeah… I immediately pictured Steve Harrington, even when the description said otherwise.
What I loved most was the monster itself. It didn’t just kill - it became each character’s deepest fear, and the way those fears manifested was creepy as hell. Every kid had their own tragic backstory, which made their friendship feel genuine and gave the horror an emotional punch alongside the gore. Some of the death scenes were brutal, but the one we didn’t fully see somehow hit the hardest.
Such a strong debut and now I need whatever this author writes next immediately.
This was such a fun, nostalgic horror and it gave me major It meets Stranger Things vibes the entire way through. Four horror-obsessed kids hanging around with the older teen from the video store? Yeah… I immediately pictured Steve Harrington, even when the description said otherwise.
What I loved most was the monster itself. It didn’t just kill - it became each character’s deepest fear, and the way those fears manifested was creepy as hell. Every kid had their own tragic backstory, which made their friendship feel genuine and gave the horror an emotional punch alongside the gore. Some of the death scenes were brutal, but the one we didn’t fully see somehow hit the hardest.
Such a strong debut and now I need whatever this author writes next immediately.
May 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for sending me the ARC for this book. I will preface by saying I did not finish the book fully due to it making my kindle freeze every 10 pages. For the sake of my kindle I had to stop reading. When it comes out I will finish reading fully.
HOLY NOSTALGIA! This book was a darker fear street. The closest thing I could compare it to was vibes of Welcome to Derry (Pennywise). The premise was fantastic and the characters were great as well. The author did a great job of giving them all personalities without taking the spot light away from Calbert.
The “action” scenes were well played out with the primary driver seeming to be what the kids feared the most. Some dread inducing moments, some gorey moments.
One thing that I loved was the small town feeling that you got reading that was cozy but, never strayed away from the horror of it all. The towns history, the isolation. Great atmosphere setting of Auburndale.
Overall, the book was super fun and creative. Really great book if you’re looking for a summerween Halloween bridge read.
HOLY NOSTALGIA! This book was a darker fear street. The closest thing I could compare it to was vibes of Welcome to Derry (Pennywise). The premise was fantastic and the characters were great as well. The author did a great job of giving them all personalities without taking the spot light away from Calbert.
The “action” scenes were well played out with the primary driver seeming to be what the kids feared the most. Some dread inducing moments, some gorey moments.
One thing that I loved was the small town feeling that you got reading that was cozy but, never strayed away from the horror of it all. The towns history, the isolation. Great atmosphere setting of Auburndale.
Overall, the book was super fun and creative. Really great book if you’re looking for a summerween Halloween bridge read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netaglley for this ARC.
This was very nostalgic. With some 90s vibes mixed with small town slasher and IT.
This book is told from a group of preteens POV but is done really well. The characters are developed well enough to understand their decisions while still remembering they are young.
After unearthing an old professional camcorder burried at an abandoned drive in cinema, Calbert, who is new to town, unleashes some terrifying events onto his family and friends. With Stranger Things type friendships and horrors that would be at home in Derry, the author really weaves us through some spine tingling scenes and really sad moments.
At some points I did think the pace was a little slow, while the action seemed to be over within a few paragraphs. However i was fully emerged and really loved how the story unfolded and then wrapped up Ill definitely be reading more from the author.
This was very nostalgic. With some 90s vibes mixed with small town slasher and IT.
This book is told from a group of preteens POV but is done really well. The characters are developed well enough to understand their decisions while still remembering they are young.
After unearthing an old professional camcorder burried at an abandoned drive in cinema, Calbert, who is new to town, unleashes some terrifying events onto his family and friends. With Stranger Things type friendships and horrors that would be at home in Derry, the author really weaves us through some spine tingling scenes and really sad moments.
At some points I did think the pace was a little slow, while the action seemed to be over within a few paragraphs. However i was fully emerged and really loved how the story unfolded and then wrapped up Ill definitely be reading more from the author.
May 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. The pacing felt extremely rushed, with the characters constantly jumping from scene to scene, and it made the story feel more chaotic than suspenseful.
I also found the inclusion of pedophilia completely unnecessary and honestly uncomfortable, and it really took me out of the story. The scenes involving John were confusing and I really didn’t like how his character was wrapped up.
This has been compared to It by Stephen King, and while I can see the vibe, his writing style has never been for me either, so that may have played a part in my experience. Not saying it is bad writing it unfortunately just doesn’t go well for me.
Overall, the premise is interesting and I think there’s definitely an audience that will enjoy this, but I struggled to get through it and had to pick it up multiple times before finishing.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. The pacing felt extremely rushed, with the characters constantly jumping from scene to scene, and it made the story feel more chaotic than suspenseful.
I also found the inclusion of pedophilia completely unnecessary and honestly uncomfortable, and it really took me out of the story. The scenes involving John were confusing and I really didn’t like how his character was wrapped up.
This has been compared to It by Stephen King, and while I can see the vibe, his writing style has never been for me either, so that may have played a part in my experience. Not saying it is bad writing it unfortunately just doesn’t go well for me.
Overall, the premise is interesting and I think there’s definitely an audience that will enjoy this, but I struggled to get through it and had to pick it up multiple times before finishing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I only got 28% of the way through this book before I DNFed it. The writing style wasn’t bad. The main characters are children and it had somewhat of an IT, Stranger Things, Summer of Night feel in its ability to create relatively strong friendships, with witty banter and trust between the four of them. For me, I felt like the book was moving a little slow. I was still interested to see how the book would play out before it got to the scene that caused me to DNF the book. The scene was sexually explicit and disturbing. That doesn’t mean the book is bad or the story is going to continue in that direction. However, the scene made me uncomfortable and made me feel that this book just isn’t for me. Overall, for what I did read, I’d give the book 3 stars. It had a decent start. I’m interested to see what other people thought of it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! The beginning of this book was amazing, the first 40% was 5 stars! It felt very much like It or Stranger Things, coming of age horror that really captured the nostalgia of going into a video store and i really enjoyed getting to know the characters.
About halfway through, everything started falling apart. The pacing was all over the place, the story started to get confusing and convoluted. At one point there was a super long info dump monologue that completely took me out of the story.
Tbh I'm surprised there are so many 5 star reviews, it makes me wonder if people read the second half bc i was ready to give 5 stars until that point. Such a shame it fell off like that because I had such high hopes and there were some interesting and messed up scenes which I liked.
About halfway through, everything started falling apart. The pacing was all over the place, the story started to get confusing and convoluted. At one point there was a super long info dump monologue that completely took me out of the story.
Tbh I'm surprised there are so many 5 star reviews, it makes me wonder if people read the second half bc i was ready to give 5 stars until that point. Such a shame it fell off like that because I had such high hopes and there were some interesting and messed up scenes which I liked.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Video Store Massacre has Stranger Things, Paper Girls, and old horror movie throwback vibes through and through. The strength of the book lies in its many connection points to nostalgic movies and franchises, which keep the story meaningful for people obsessed with the genre.
I really loved the first part, but things became really chaotic after the 50% mark. It started to feel like things were really getting going, but the second half just felt confusing. I expected more blood and guts overall, alongside a more well-developed history behind the original massacre.
The cover is amazing! This book has many redeeming qualities, and I'm glad I read it. I just wish it had a more cohesive plot. The characters were very memorable!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers at Hellbound Books for sending me a copy! I enjoyed the ride overall.
I really loved the first part, but things became really chaotic after the 50% mark. It started to feel like things were really getting going, but the second half just felt confusing. I expected more blood and guts overall, alongside a more well-developed history behind the original massacre.
The cover is amazing! This book has many redeeming qualities, and I'm glad I read it. I just wish it had a more cohesive plot. The characters were very memorable!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers at Hellbound Books for sending me a copy! I enjoyed the ride overall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun read, reminding me a lot of the old 'Tales from the Crypt' shows and comics. An upbeat teen summer drama mixed with a slasher-style horror - it'd make for a fun movie! The POV narrative voice was good too, as we remember what it was like to be a youngster at the start of summer, albeit in a very dysfunctional town (and family). Unforgettable friendships that then have to face monsters; very topical and on trend.
The only gripe I have is the unnecessary s*xualised moments with children. Yes. these are kids discovering themselves but it was still very uncomfortable to read. So I guess kind of like Stephen King's 'IT' in more ways than just a coming of age horror story...!
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
The only gripe I have is the unnecessary s*xualised moments with children. Yes. these are kids discovering themselves but it was still very uncomfortable to read. So I guess kind of like Stephen King's 'IT' in more ways than just a coming of age horror story...!
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
July 14, 2026
Once in a while an obscure novel comes along which beats every preconceived expectation you might have and knocks it straight out of the park. Michael Grimala’s debut The Video Store Massacre is one of those rare books. As it still had me chuckling several days after completion, I am awarding it the rarely given but well deserved maximum five stars. Much of the material in this often charming, other times gory, quirky coming-of-age tale, might be familiar, but it is the manner it is pieced together which makes it hard to beat.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
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