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You're No Better
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26Bestselling author Andrew Joseph White returns with another horrific YA thriller: a profound portrait of a struggling teen trying to convince the world—and himself—that he’s better than the serial killer who raised him.
Morgan Slaughter, a seventeen-year-old trans boy with autism, put his serial killer father in prison years ago. Despite that, everyone thinks Morgan will grow up to be just like his dad: including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following their family, and maybe himself.
Desperately, Morgan latches onto his father’s final victim—the only one who was never identified—hoping that if he unravels the mystery, he’ll finally prove he’s better than the man who hurt him. But this puts Morgan in the crosshairs of classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about Morgan’s childhood—that he wasn’t just a witness to his father’s brutality, he was an accomplice. And if he doesn’t let them help with his investigation? They’ll tell everyone.
Forced to confront his past, Morgan’s ugly but carefully controlled world unravels. The film crew is manipulative. His mother’s temper spirals into malice, then violence. And Morgan and Felicity may be more tightly intertwined than either of them can stomach . . .
You’re No Better is a gritty and unapologetic coming-of-age suspense about teens who grew up surrounded by cruelty and are clawing their way to adulthood the only way they know how.
Morgan Slaughter, a seventeen-year-old trans boy with autism, put his serial killer father in prison years ago. Despite that, everyone thinks Morgan will grow up to be just like his dad: including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following their family, and maybe himself.
Desperately, Morgan latches onto his father’s final victim—the only one who was never identified—hoping that if he unravels the mystery, he’ll finally prove he’s better than the man who hurt him. But this puts Morgan in the crosshairs of classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about Morgan’s childhood—that he wasn’t just a witness to his father’s brutality, he was an accomplice. And if he doesn’t let them help with his investigation? They’ll tell everyone.
Forced to confront his past, Morgan’s ugly but carefully controlled world unravels. The film crew is manipulative. His mother’s temper spirals into malice, then violence. And Morgan and Felicity may be more tightly intertwined than either of them can stomach . . .
You’re No Better is a gritty and unapologetic coming-of-age suspense about teens who grew up surrounded by cruelty and are clawing their way to adulthood the only way they know how.
384 pages, ebook
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Andrew Joseph White
14 books6,920 followersAndrew Joseph White is the trans, autistic, and bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, Compound Fracture, and You Weren't Meant to be Human. Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, he received his MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University, and lives in Virginia with his wife and their antisocial cat.
He can be found at andrewjosephwhite.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @AJWhiteAuthor.
He can be found at andrewjosephwhite.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @AJWhiteAuthor.
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February 20, 2026Hi y'all - early review copies are out in the world, so it's time to post the content warnings for YOU'RE NO BETTER.
YOU'RE NO BETTER discusses the aftershocks of extreme childhood violence in plain, straightforward detail. This is one of my rougher YA novels, and I urge you to take care of yourself. Content warnings include:
Backstory, mentions, or discussions of:
* Kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder
* Child abuse and grooming, including forcing a child to witness or participate in the above
* The troubled teen industry, the adoption industry, mental health struggles, past hospitalization, and psychiatric mistreatment
On-page:
* Narrative focus on child abuse (physical and emotional) and true crime’s exploitation of abuse and trauma for “content”
* Graphic violence, including manslaughter
* Sexual harassment and assault
* Queerphobia, transphobia, and ableism; forced closeting, misgendering, and medical/psychiatric neglect
* Mental health crises; intrusive thoughts, autistic meltdowns, self-medication with alcohol/alcohol abuse, self-harm (physical and emotional), suicidality
* Confinement
* In epilogues: hospitalization after injury, the justice system, and foster care
This story has a happy ending, or at least a hopeful one. These content warnings can be found on my website, and a more general list also exists in the author's note at the front of the book.
YOU'RE NO BETTER discusses the aftershocks of extreme childhood violence in plain, straightforward detail. This is one of my rougher YA novels, and I urge you to take care of yourself. Content warnings include:
Backstory, mentions, or discussions of:
* Kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder
* Child abuse and grooming, including forcing a child to witness or participate in the above
* The troubled teen industry, the adoption industry, mental health struggles, past hospitalization, and psychiatric mistreatment
On-page:
* Narrative focus on child abuse (physical and emotional) and true crime’s exploitation of abuse and trauma for “content”
* Graphic violence, including manslaughter
* Sexual harassment and assault
* Queerphobia, transphobia, and ableism; forced closeting, misgendering, and medical/psychiatric neglect
* Mental health crises; intrusive thoughts, autistic meltdowns, self-medication with alcohol/alcohol abuse, self-harm (physical and emotional), suicidality
* Confinement
* In epilogues: hospitalization after injury, the justice system, and foster care
This story has a happy ending, or at least a hopeful one. These content warnings can be found on my website, and a more general list also exists in the author's note at the front of the book.
February 21, 2026
Got to read this early by virtue of being the Andrew Joseph Wife
When AJ and I moved in together he would sometimes sit in the room while I watched my tv shows because this boy does not watch tv, and somewhere along the way he started tuning in for this cop show with the guy who played Jesus in the Walking Dead called Prodigal Son I was watching and eventually he got really invested and asked if we could start it over from the beginning.
Picture it, Domino meme:
Tiny Domino is labeled “Alice watches Prodigal Son (2019) on Fox”
Big Domino is labeled “YOU’RE NO BETTER (Peachtree Teen, October 2026)”
God damn, yall.
If you’ve read Courtney Summers’ entire bibliography and need something new to be destroyed by, this is it. It’s a rough one, but rough in a different way from the doomsday cults and the angry ghosts of his previous books, because sometimes the most horrifying you can imagine is the fear that what’s wrong with your parents is also wrong with you. This is an angry book. it’s bloody and hateful and I can tell it’s not gonna be for everyone, but it will find its audience. And to that audience I say: you are not your worst thoughts, you are not the darkest parts of yourself, and you are worthy of love. Read the CWs, go in prepared, and have a great time being devastated; you wouldn’t expect any less from an AJW book.
When AJ and I moved in together he would sometimes sit in the room while I watched my tv shows because this boy does not watch tv, and somewhere along the way he started tuning in for this cop show with the guy who played Jesus in the Walking Dead called Prodigal Son I was watching and eventually he got really invested and asked if we could start it over from the beginning.
Picture it, Domino meme:
Tiny Domino is labeled “Alice watches Prodigal Son (2019) on Fox”
Big Domino is labeled “YOU’RE NO BETTER (Peachtree Teen, October 2026)”
God damn, yall.
If you’ve read Courtney Summers’ entire bibliography and need something new to be destroyed by, this is it. It’s a rough one, but rough in a different way from the doomsday cults and the angry ghosts of his previous books, because sometimes the most horrifying you can imagine is the fear that what’s wrong with your parents is also wrong with you. This is an angry book. it’s bloody and hateful and I can tell it’s not gonna be for everyone, but it will find its audience. And to that audience I say: you are not your worst thoughts, you are not the darkest parts of yourself, and you are worthy of love. Read the CWs, go in prepared, and have a great time being devastated; you wouldn’t expect any less from an AJW book.
Want to Read
October 18, 2024AJW does nothing but cook up amazing stories and I’m sure this will be no different
Want to Read
August 20, 2025uhhhhh, excuse me??? i will be thinking about this for the next year, thanks
Want to Read
April 11, 2025I need this book like right now
Want to Read
February 25, 2026I’m going to give White one last try. The blurb sounds pretty intriguing, not gonna lie, but I’m afraid—after the disappointments that were HFWU and CF—that this is going to be another formulaic, flat book of his. I seriously hope this one won’t have a , telling instead of showing, badly-written side characters, comically evil antagonists, didactic prose about some societal issue(s), cringy Tumblr-esque lines, or an all-White cast. So yeah, I’m waiting.
Update 25/02: the cover absolutely rocks. I hope the interior will be equally good.
Update 25/02: the cover absolutely rocks. I hope the interior will be equally good.
Want to Read
January 10, 2025"In You're No Better, Morgan Slaughter must contend with his fame-hungry mother, a true crime-obsessed classmate, and his own destructive impulses to prove he is nothing like his serial killer father."
October 17, 2025
Is it out yet? No. But will this be an absolute banger book? Yes.
Want to Read
May 20, 2026you guys just don't understand how fucking excited i am right now
Want to Read
February 16, 2026I really want to like this book. I really do. It sounds like a good book! But the problem is that all of AJW’s books sounded like good books, yet all of them, without exception, were incredibly poorly written, borderline racist, and in the case of his one adult book, incredibly degrading towards rape survivors. The fact that AJW has already published a book where he got away with blatantly fetishizing rape probably just means he’s going to think he can do it again with this YA book, and that’s not even getting into how he clearly wants to write protagonists that are unsympathetic or morally grey, yet fails because he’s more excited to write graphic rape scenes than he is to write a plot that makes sense or characterization that feels human. Morgan seems like such an interesting character, but this character’s probably going to be nothing except Tumblr discourse quips, cringe homicidal thoughts that are passed off as intrusive despite being ego-syntonic, and entirely passive characterization. I guess only a dumbass would give a shitty author a 5th chance, but at the very least, I can have a good laugh if it’s as bad as I expect.
Want to Read
March 2, 2026Alright, let's do this one last time.
I feel like I've been watching Sisyphus push his rock up the hill for a long time now. I would love to see him make it to the top and have this book be good. If it is, I'll enjoy reading it and eat crow. Unfortunately, AJW has repeatedly proven that he has no idea what to do with a good concept. Four times already he's dropped the boulder and gone back to the start with a near-identical strategy. It looks like this is gonna go the same way. We have another wooby 'feral' white skinny autistic tboy in a situation that COULD make him morally questionable, but is probably going to go just conveniently enough for him to not take any real blame. I desperately want for AJW to do something, anything else. And to be clear, I'm saying this as a trans man myself. I'm not hating to hate, I'm just frustrated that this man's writing strongly represents my community in literature and want to see him do better. In my own exhausted way, I'm rooting for him. If this one is bad, I'll finally move on. Life is too short to waste time on stuff that repeatedly proves to be the Potential Man of writing.
I feel like I've been watching Sisyphus push his rock up the hill for a long time now. I would love to see him make it to the top and have this book be good. If it is, I'll enjoy reading it and eat crow. Unfortunately, AJW has repeatedly proven that he has no idea what to do with a good concept. Four times already he's dropped the boulder and gone back to the start with a near-identical strategy. It looks like this is gonna go the same way. We have another wooby 'feral' white skinny autistic tboy in a situation that COULD make him morally questionable, but is probably going to go just conveniently enough for him to not take any real blame. I desperately want for AJW to do something, anything else. And to be clear, I'm saying this as a trans man myself. I'm not hating to hate, I'm just frustrated that this man's writing strongly represents my community in literature and want to see him do better. In my own exhausted way, I'm rooting for him. If this one is bad, I'll finally move on. Life is too short to waste time on stuff that repeatedly proves to be the Potential Man of writing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely amazing and chilling horror novel about the son of a brutal serial killer navigating trauma, autism, blackmail, an abusive mother, an exploitative documentary crew, being a closeted trans kid, and the fear of people finding out he was not as uninvolved in his father's crimes as it seems.
Please mind the content warnings, which you can find at the front of the book, here, or on the author's website.
Part of me is genuinely stunned that this is a YA horror novel, both due to the horrifying content and because it's one of the most psychologically complex books I have read. The only books that are on the same level are the author's other books. Being in Morgan's mind and experiencing his trauma, desires, and intrusive thoughts, most of which he is often unable to keep apart and which are full of violence against himself and others, was quite the experience. Adding his autism and gender dysphoria made for an even more jarring mix. I related to Morgan as much as I was fascinated and disturbed by him. Even so, I was always fully immersed in his narration.
Morgan was not an easy protagonist, but I really appreciated that. He is a terrible friend, he lies and manipulates, but he is also a deeply hurt teenager, struggling, and denied the help, resources, and support he needs from the adults around him, especially his mother and the documentary production crew that wants to turn his life into a spectacle.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Morgan's friendship with Alyssa, who is sort of a childhood friend and has been there for him forever, but is overwhelmed by his needs, and with Felicity, who enters Morgan's sphere suddenly and violently, yet despite their constant clashing, the two can't help but be drawn together by each other's messes.
The book deals a lot with trauma, mental health, the pitfalls of true crime, the troubled teen industry, and how the voyeurism of social media ties into all of these.
My one complaint is that I just wanted more from all of it. I would have enjoyed more details about the cases, more details about Felicity and their story, more details about where Morgan's life is headed next, and also maybe more from the finale. It wasn't that it didn't meet my expectations, this is a YA horror novel after all without any supernatural elements, so only so much could happen at the climax. It was a great release of all the tension, don't get me wrong, but it also felt like it ended a bit suddenly.
Overall I had a great time with this, and my criticism is based on my mind still being tied up in the book and not quite having come to terms with it being over yet. What a ride. I cannot wait to see more from this author, and I am also impressed and relieved and proud that books with complex characters and thematics like these, that are not easy to read, can still be published.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and volutnarily.
Please mind the content warnings, which you can find at the front of the book, here, or on the author's website.
Part of me is genuinely stunned that this is a YA horror novel, both due to the horrifying content and because it's one of the most psychologically complex books I have read. The only books that are on the same level are the author's other books. Being in Morgan's mind and experiencing his trauma, desires, and intrusive thoughts, most of which he is often unable to keep apart and which are full of violence against himself and others, was quite the experience. Adding his autism and gender dysphoria made for an even more jarring mix. I related to Morgan as much as I was fascinated and disturbed by him. Even so, I was always fully immersed in his narration.
Morgan was not an easy protagonist, but I really appreciated that. He is a terrible friend, he lies and manipulates, but he is also a deeply hurt teenager, struggling, and denied the help, resources, and support he needs from the adults around him, especially his mother and the documentary production crew that wants to turn his life into a spectacle.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Morgan's friendship with Alyssa, who is sort of a childhood friend and has been there for him forever, but is overwhelmed by his needs, and with Felicity, who enters Morgan's sphere suddenly and violently, yet despite their constant clashing, the two can't help but be drawn together by each other's messes.
The book deals a lot with trauma, mental health, the pitfalls of true crime, the troubled teen industry, and how the voyeurism of social media ties into all of these.
My one complaint is that I just wanted more from all of it. I would have enjoyed more details about the cases, more details about Felicity and their story, more details about where Morgan's life is headed next, and also maybe more from the finale. It wasn't that it didn't meet my expectations, this is a YA horror novel after all without any supernatural elements, so only so much could happen at the climax. It was a great release of all the tension, don't get me wrong, but it also felt like it ended a bit suddenly.
Overall I had a great time with this, and my criticism is based on my mind still being tied up in the book and not quite having come to terms with it being over yet. What a ride. I cannot wait to see more from this author, and I am also impressed and relieved and proud that books with complex characters and thematics like these, that are not easy to read, can still be published.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and volutnarily.
June 11, 2026
aj white never fails
May 29, 2026
5⭐️
Inhaling AJW’s books in a disturbingly short amount of time has become one of my favorite hobbies.
I finished this in less than 24 hours (it would have been one sitting if I hadn’t needed to wake up early for work the next morning). AJW is masterful at fully immersing his readers. Even when Morgan was making poor decisions that had me wanting to scream, I couldn’t help but root for him. The raw emotions bleed off the page and had me holding my breath.
One of my favorite aspects was the examination of exploitation within the true crime scene. Given the popularity of the genre, I think it’s an incredibly important discussion to have. This novel heavily focuses on mental health and trauma—not only how they shape a person, but also the struggle to find oneself in the midst of crisis. White also sheds light on the strange nature of social media: how things are not always as they seem, the rise of apathy in online spaces, and the harm of parasocial relationships.
AJW once again delivers a delightfully horrifying and impactful experience. He continues to be one of my favorite authors, and I will absolutely read everything he releases.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Inhaling AJW’s books in a disturbingly short amount of time has become one of my favorite hobbies.
I finished this in less than 24 hours (it would have been one sitting if I hadn’t needed to wake up early for work the next morning). AJW is masterful at fully immersing his readers. Even when Morgan was making poor decisions that had me wanting to scream, I couldn’t help but root for him. The raw emotions bleed off the page and had me holding my breath.
One of my favorite aspects was the examination of exploitation within the true crime scene. Given the popularity of the genre, I think it’s an incredibly important discussion to have. This novel heavily focuses on mental health and trauma—not only how they shape a person, but also the struggle to find oneself in the midst of crisis. White also sheds light on the strange nature of social media: how things are not always as they seem, the rise of apathy in online spaces, and the harm of parasocial relationships.
AJW once again delivers a delightfully horrifying and impactful experience. He continues to be one of my favorite authors, and I will absolutely read everything he releases.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
April 22, 2026
I’ve been hyped about this book since it was announced. I cheered when my request got approved. This absolutely exceeded all of my expectations. It’s jumped to the top of my rankings of AJW’s books. Morgan is probably my favorite main character so far. This book is definitely gnarly, but I couldn’t stop reading. It does such a good job of examining/criticizing the true crime community/industry. I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can get a copy for my library. Thank you so so much to Edelweiss for the ARC!!
July 2, 2026
Wow wow wow Andrew Joseph White does it again! You’re No Better had me in a chokehold immediately. With the popularity of true crime, the concept of influencer mom + serial killer dad and young child in the middle of it all is super compelling. While “unlikable” main characters can very easily turn me off of a book, the way that Andrew Joseph White writes autistic, trans, teenagers (with all the realities and difficulties and nuances and mistakes and lessons learned) always leaves me with such a deep appreciation for each of the characters he creates. The body horror was a bit more toned down in this book compared to others of AJW’s novels, which is ironic considering serial killing being the central theme here, but when something happens ooooooooh it happens.
10/10
10/10
Did Not Finish
June 2, 2026DNF. This ARC has something weird going on where letters were just missing and I just don't want to deal with that. Oh well.
Want to Read
March 2, 2026im so so so so so freaking excited for this book. already preordered. yall don't understand
Want to Read
April 15, 2026I HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YET BUT
I have said it before and I will say it again AJW could release 100 horror books about autistic trans men and I will eat it up like a wildfire EVERY SINGLE TIME! I can't wait to see what masterpiece you've cooked up king
I have said it before and I will say it again AJW could release 100 horror books about autistic trans men and I will eat it up like a wildfire EVERY SINGLE TIME! I can't wait to see what masterpiece you've cooked up king
April 7, 2026
AMAZINGGGGGGGG
The second Edelweiss sent me this galley I cancelled all my plans to read it. HOLY SHIT. AJW always delivers. Loved all of it & especially how all the relationships are written. Incredible cover too. I do wish the ending was fleshed out more but nevertheless will be reccing this to all my friends.
The second Edelweiss sent me this galley I cancelled all my plans to read it. HOLY SHIT. AJW always delivers. Loved all of it & especially how all the relationships are written. Incredible cover too. I do wish the ending was fleshed out more but nevertheless will be reccing this to all my friends.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
There's no one writing YA like AJW, this was book was a fucking explosive journey. I'm not the fastest reader, so when I finish a book in two days you know I'm hooked. Thank you Edelweiss for the eARC, my first 5 star YA read of the year.
March 5, 2026
Early review copy provided by Edelweiss.
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable" -Cesar A. Cruz
And let me and you, Andrew Joseph White has once again created a thriller that perfectly straddles that line.
Our protagonist, Morgan, embodies the gritty truth of complex trauma to an extent that I could never decide whether or not I was rooting for him. He is a pathological liar, manipulative, and an awful friend, but at the same time, all I wanted was to see him find peace and closure.
Morgan's characterization is what made this book an absolute page turner, and I finished it in under a day.
Unfortunately, I found many of the other characters, particularly the adults, a bit flat and one dimensional. Maybe this was purposeful, being that the novel is first person limited from Morgan's perspective, and many of his struggles stem from his inability to connect with others. But it resulted in the rest of the cast acting like caricatures rather than actual people.
Despite that, as with AJW's previous works, I couldn't set this book down. It was gripping and disturbing in a way that didn't just feel like torture porn, which was absolutely necessary given the subject matter.
4.25/5 stars
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable" -Cesar A. Cruz
And let me and you, Andrew Joseph White has once again created a thriller that perfectly straddles that line.
Our protagonist, Morgan, embodies the gritty truth of complex trauma to an extent that I could never decide whether or not I was rooting for him. He is a pathological liar, manipulative, and an awful friend, but at the same time, all I wanted was to see him find peace and closure.
Morgan's characterization is what made this book an absolute page turner, and I finished it in under a day.
Unfortunately, I found many of the other characters, particularly the adults, a bit flat and one dimensional. Maybe this was purposeful, being that the novel is first person limited from Morgan's perspective, and many of his struggles stem from his inability to connect with others. But it resulted in the rest of the cast acting like caricatures rather than actual people.
Despite that, as with AJW's previous works, I couldn't set this book down. It was gripping and disturbing in a way that didn't just feel like torture porn, which was absolutely necessary given the subject matter.
4.25/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Andrew Joseph White genuinely has a talent for writing books that feel like being trapped inside someone else’s spiraling mind in the absolute best and most horrifying way possible, and “You’re No Better” might honestly be one of the most psychologically intense YA thrillers I’ve ever read. This book is brutal, messy, angry, deeply upsetting, and somehow still incredibly hopeful underneath all the blood and trauma.
Before anything else, please take the content warnings seriously with this one. The book deals heavily with transphobia, serial murder, child abuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, addiction, sexual assault, and exploitation within the true crime industry. This is very much older YA territory and definitely not a casual thriller. Andrew Joseph White does provide extensive content warnings at the beginning, which I really appreciated.
The story follows Morgan, a trans autistic teen whose father is an infamous serial killer responsible for torturing and murdering over fifty girls and women; these were crimes Morgan was exposed to as a child. Even years later, Morgan is still trapped in the fallout of his father’s crimes because his mother continues dragging him into documentaries, interviews, and true crime media exploitation for money. And to make things even worse, Morgan is forced to hide the fact that he’s trans in order to maintain the public image his mother and the documentary crew want from him.
Honestly, Morgan is one of the most complicated protagonists I’ve read in a long time. He’s not particularly likable a lot of the time. He lies constantly, manipulates people, lashes out violently, and is often a genuinely terrible friend. But at the same time, every awful decision he makes feels deeply rooted in his trauma, fear, rage, and complete lack of support. I spent the entire book swinging between wanting to shake him and wanting to protect him from literally everyone around him.
And that’s what made this book impossible to put down for me.
Being inside Morgan’s head is exhausting in the most intentional way possible. His intrusive thoughts, violent impulses, sensory issues, self-destructive tendencies, and overwhelming fear that he might somehow become like his father create this constant suffocating tension throughout the entire story. The autism representation especially felt incredibly sharp and authentic, particularly the sensory details and Morgan’s struggles with emotional expression and connection. Andrew Joseph White continues to write neurodivergent protagonists in a way that feels painfully real rather than sanitized.
The book also absolutely tears apart the true crime industry and the way real suffering becomes entertainment. The multimedia elements like documentary transcripts, online forum posts, articles, social media comments were honestly some of the most disturbing parts because they felt so believable. The book really captures how grotesque true crime fandoms can become, especially when people start treating victims and survivors like fictional characters for entertainment. Some of the online comments genuinely made my skin crawl because they sounded exactly like things people say online every day.
There’s also a lot here about exploitation in general. Morgan’s mother is honestly horrifying in her own way, constantly controlling him through money, alcohol, guilt, and manipulation while profiting off his trauma. The fact that Morgan trusts his imprisoned serial killer father more than his own mother says everything about how broken and predatory his home life is. Almost every adult in this story is trying to use Morgan for something, whether it’s fame, pity, money, or emotional control.
What surprised me most though was how emotional the relationships became. Alyssa and Felicity were easily some of my favorite parts of the book. Alyssa, Morgan’s childhood friend, clearly cares about him deeply but is also exhausted and hurt by his constant self-destruction. Meanwhile Felicity crashes into Morgan’s life in this chaotic, angry way, and the two of them somehow become exactly what the other person needs. The romance was messy and intense but also really healing for Morgan, especially in how it helped affirm both his identity and his ability to be loved despite everything he believes about himself.
This book is also dark. Like genuinely dark. Morgan struggles heavily with self-harm and suicidal thoughts throughout the story, and there are scenes that are emotionally brutal to sit through. The violence is graphic at times, but it never felt exploitative or pointless to me. Even during the goriest moments, the story always remained focused on trauma, survival, and the emotional aftermath rather than shock value alone.
I did predict certain twists before they happened, but honestly that didn’t lessen the emotional impact at all. The final stretch of the book becomes explosive, bloody, and heartbreaking as Morgan is forced to fully confront both his father’s legacy and his own fear that he’s somehow doomed to become monstrous too.
But what I loved most is that despite how relentlessly bleak parts of this book are, it never fully gives up on hope. At its core, this is a story about someone learning that trauma does not automatically make you evil. Morgan’s journey is messy and painful and far from complete, but by the end there’s this fragile sense that maybe he can survive himself after all. Maybe he can build a future outside of what other people have done to him.
Overall, “You’re No Better” is one of the rawest, angriest, most psychologically layered YA horror thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s disturbing, emotionally exhausting, and absolutely not for everyone, but if you want a horror novel that digs deep into trauma, identity, rage, exploitation, and survival while still delivering genuine suspense and gore, Andrew Joseph White absolutely delivers here.
Andrew Joseph White genuinely has a talent for writing books that feel like being trapped inside someone else’s spiraling mind in the absolute best and most horrifying way possible, and “You’re No Better” might honestly be one of the most psychologically intense YA thrillers I’ve ever read. This book is brutal, messy, angry, deeply upsetting, and somehow still incredibly hopeful underneath all the blood and trauma.
Before anything else, please take the content warnings seriously with this one. The book deals heavily with transphobia, serial murder, child abuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, addiction, sexual assault, and exploitation within the true crime industry. This is very much older YA territory and definitely not a casual thriller. Andrew Joseph White does provide extensive content warnings at the beginning, which I really appreciated.
The story follows Morgan, a trans autistic teen whose father is an infamous serial killer responsible for torturing and murdering over fifty girls and women; these were crimes Morgan was exposed to as a child. Even years later, Morgan is still trapped in the fallout of his father’s crimes because his mother continues dragging him into documentaries, interviews, and true crime media exploitation for money. And to make things even worse, Morgan is forced to hide the fact that he’s trans in order to maintain the public image his mother and the documentary crew want from him.
Honestly, Morgan is one of the most complicated protagonists I’ve read in a long time. He’s not particularly likable a lot of the time. He lies constantly, manipulates people, lashes out violently, and is often a genuinely terrible friend. But at the same time, every awful decision he makes feels deeply rooted in his trauma, fear, rage, and complete lack of support. I spent the entire book swinging between wanting to shake him and wanting to protect him from literally everyone around him.
And that’s what made this book impossible to put down for me.
Being inside Morgan’s head is exhausting in the most intentional way possible. His intrusive thoughts, violent impulses, sensory issues, self-destructive tendencies, and overwhelming fear that he might somehow become like his father create this constant suffocating tension throughout the entire story. The autism representation especially felt incredibly sharp and authentic, particularly the sensory details and Morgan’s struggles with emotional expression and connection. Andrew Joseph White continues to write neurodivergent protagonists in a way that feels painfully real rather than sanitized.
The book also absolutely tears apart the true crime industry and the way real suffering becomes entertainment. The multimedia elements like documentary transcripts, online forum posts, articles, social media comments were honestly some of the most disturbing parts because they felt so believable. The book really captures how grotesque true crime fandoms can become, especially when people start treating victims and survivors like fictional characters for entertainment. Some of the online comments genuinely made my skin crawl because they sounded exactly like things people say online every day.
There’s also a lot here about exploitation in general. Morgan’s mother is honestly horrifying in her own way, constantly controlling him through money, alcohol, guilt, and manipulation while profiting off his trauma. The fact that Morgan trusts his imprisoned serial killer father more than his own mother says everything about how broken and predatory his home life is. Almost every adult in this story is trying to use Morgan for something, whether it’s fame, pity, money, or emotional control.
What surprised me most though was how emotional the relationships became. Alyssa and Felicity were easily some of my favorite parts of the book. Alyssa, Morgan’s childhood friend, clearly cares about him deeply but is also exhausted and hurt by his constant self-destruction. Meanwhile Felicity crashes into Morgan’s life in this chaotic, angry way, and the two of them somehow become exactly what the other person needs. The romance was messy and intense but also really healing for Morgan, especially in how it helped affirm both his identity and his ability to be loved despite everything he believes about himself.
This book is also dark. Like genuinely dark. Morgan struggles heavily with self-harm and suicidal thoughts throughout the story, and there are scenes that are emotionally brutal to sit through. The violence is graphic at times, but it never felt exploitative or pointless to me. Even during the goriest moments, the story always remained focused on trauma, survival, and the emotional aftermath rather than shock value alone.
I did predict certain twists before they happened, but honestly that didn’t lessen the emotional impact at all. The final stretch of the book becomes explosive, bloody, and heartbreaking as Morgan is forced to fully confront both his father’s legacy and his own fear that he’s somehow doomed to become monstrous too.
But what I loved most is that despite how relentlessly bleak parts of this book are, it never fully gives up on hope. At its core, this is a story about someone learning that trauma does not automatically make you evil. Morgan’s journey is messy and painful and far from complete, but by the end there’s this fragile sense that maybe he can survive himself after all. Maybe he can build a future outside of what other people have done to him.
Overall, “You’re No Better” is one of the rawest, angriest, most psychologically layered YA horror thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s disturbing, emotionally exhausting, and absolutely not for everyone, but if you want a horror novel that digs deep into trauma, identity, rage, exploitation, and survival while still delivering genuine suspense and gore, Andrew Joseph White absolutely delivers here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brutally intimate, this character study of resilience and survival is bold and fearless. As usual White has created complicated characters, with a main character that is trying to push you away at every step, and the result is a sense of vulnerability that serves as the heart of the story. The teen characters are all convincing and engaging, feeling like they are more than just what is on the page. The adult characters do feel a little flat, either existing as pure antagonists or perfect allies, but given that we experience the story and other characters through Morgan’s perspective it feels true to life, at least in terms of experience if not fact. The writing is clear and direct and not afraid to indulge in unflattering portrayals of its main character, and while his neurodivergence combined with severely traumatic history and absolute lack of parental support, care, or affection are recognized as precipitating causes for his behavior the story doesn’t use them to excuse away his outbursts or the harm he causes. It merely presents context and allows the reader to realize that survival is harder for some than others, and learning to navigate that is neither quick nor easy.
The writing felt snappy and responsive, as usual, and it was easy to read and went a long way to making me experience the world as Morgan does. The pacing, however, was not my favorite. If you go into this novel expecting a character study then you will be more than satisfied and happy, it does that perfectly. If you want a tense thriller then it falls a little short. There is very little plot to speak of, other than Morgan doing his best to survive the circumstances he finds himself in. After the midpoint he does set himself on a quest, more or less, but even that feels secondary to character exploration. The difficulty is that he has no real antagonist, at least not in a narrative sense, until the final 20% of the book. Yes, his mother is objectively awful and the documentary being made is sleazy, and the internet is more than happy to be awful, in general. And living with neurodivergence in an environment that doesn’t care about your needs at all isa its own type of antagonist. But those are personal antagonists, they don’t do much of anything in terms of moving the narrative; they are more a part of the environment than they are narrative obstacles. The story feels like it wants to be a high=-paced thriller, which gave me a little emotional disconnect from what was actually happening on the page. The final 20% of the book certainly delivers on the tension of a psychological thriller, and that didn’t feel simply tacked on, the novel’s ending felt earned and appropriate given the character and environment and everything that happened, and it ends the story with a racing pulse. But having that type of final act actually highlights how little narrative movement there is across the first 80% of the novel.
I am not saying this is a bad novel, or poorly plotted. I am simply saying that for me it doesn’t read as a thriller, but instead as a character study with some dark, thriller aspects around the periphery. If you have appropriate expectations then that will go a long way to fully appreciating this story. because as a character study it is rich and meaningful. Obviously it explores themes of gender and identity, including masking and performance and how a personal experience of gender and the performance of gender expectations are separate but intertwined. It also explores guilt, acceptance, trauma, grief, ableism, friendship, trust, and more. By refusing to let the main character be perfect it lets the reader sit in a space of uncertainty, forcing us to recognize that the line between ally/accomplice and enabler can be a thin one, reminding us that no teenager should be forced to navigate those difficulties on their own. Morgan doesn’t have any revelations, but he does go through an emotional journey, one that is really just beginning as the story concludes. It is a heartfelt and frustrating and emotional read, one that doesn’t want you to be comfortable. It is a reminder that the world is nothing but jagged edges for many people, and is an invitation to see how we have a responsibility to help others navigate that even while we ourselves are suffering, because it is solidarity, community, and acceptance that can transform mere survival to living.
I want to thank the author, publisher Peachtree Teen, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(Rounded from 3.5)
The writing felt snappy and responsive, as usual, and it was easy to read and went a long way to making me experience the world as Morgan does. The pacing, however, was not my favorite. If you go into this novel expecting a character study then you will be more than satisfied and happy, it does that perfectly. If you want a tense thriller then it falls a little short. There is very little plot to speak of, other than Morgan doing his best to survive the circumstances he finds himself in. After the midpoint he does set himself on a quest, more or less, but even that feels secondary to character exploration. The difficulty is that he has no real antagonist, at least not in a narrative sense, until the final 20% of the book. Yes, his mother is objectively awful and the documentary being made is sleazy, and the internet is more than happy to be awful, in general. And living with neurodivergence in an environment that doesn’t care about your needs at all isa its own type of antagonist. But those are personal antagonists, they don’t do much of anything in terms of moving the narrative; they are more a part of the environment than they are narrative obstacles. The story feels like it wants to be a high=-paced thriller, which gave me a little emotional disconnect from what was actually happening on the page. The final 20% of the book certainly delivers on the tension of a psychological thriller, and that didn’t feel simply tacked on, the novel’s ending felt earned and appropriate given the character and environment and everything that happened, and it ends the story with a racing pulse. But having that type of final act actually highlights how little narrative movement there is across the first 80% of the novel.
I am not saying this is a bad novel, or poorly plotted. I am simply saying that for me it doesn’t read as a thriller, but instead as a character study with some dark, thriller aspects around the periphery. If you have appropriate expectations then that will go a long way to fully appreciating this story. because as a character study it is rich and meaningful. Obviously it explores themes of gender and identity, including masking and performance and how a personal experience of gender and the performance of gender expectations are separate but intertwined. It also explores guilt, acceptance, trauma, grief, ableism, friendship, trust, and more. By refusing to let the main character be perfect it lets the reader sit in a space of uncertainty, forcing us to recognize that the line between ally/accomplice and enabler can be a thin one, reminding us that no teenager should be forced to navigate those difficulties on their own. Morgan doesn’t have any revelations, but he does go through an emotional journey, one that is really just beginning as the story concludes. It is a heartfelt and frustrating and emotional read, one that doesn’t want you to be comfortable. It is a reminder that the world is nothing but jagged edges for many people, and is an invitation to see how we have a responsibility to help others navigate that even while we ourselves are suffering, because it is solidarity, community, and acceptance that can transform mere survival to living.
I want to thank the author, publisher Peachtree Teen, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(Rounded from 3.5)
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"You're no Better⋅" ★
𝟶𝟷:𝟻𝟷 ━━━━━━●─── 𝟶𝟹:𝟶𝟹
⇆ ◁ ❚❚ ▷ ↻
I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of You're No Better as part of assessing it for our public library collection. (But disclaimer that I'm also a long-standing Andrew Joseph White enjoyer.) So this is both a personal and reference-teen-librarian review.
The concept for You're No Better promised glaring excisions of the True Crime entertainment industry (call it what it is, tragedy porn) and that was a big draw for me. It doesn't shrink from how skeevy the online world revolving around True Crime and the lives (and deaths) of very real people are reduced to mundane fandom-style giggling about blorbos. For that purpose I believe that the social media post-stylized slices really felt uncomfortably realistic. Like, that's not a "Wouldn't it be wild if someone said this!" it's quite literally reading like a very real-existing comment somewhere right now with user names edited for anonymity. Right down to the stomach-roiling countdown. (You'll see.)
It also crosses paths with the equally unsettling reality of modern day stage parents commodifying the journey of parenthood for online gratification at the cost of the child's well being. I abhor influencers that peddle their children like products, so this hit a nail directly on the head for me.
I felt an immense satisfaction as usual when it comes to reading from the perspective of an autistic protagonist, specifically written by White. The sensory details, whether delicious or grating, felt satisfying and I found myself also getting stuck on the idea of dirt under my nails on many occasions.
I will say that I felt very sad when I realized I was reaching the end of the book. I didn't feel ready to let go of Morgan or his journey. Which I guess ultimately really plays into the closing feeling of his life no longer being plastered online.
Coming fresh off White's previous book, You Weren't Meant to Be Human, I will say that it definitely felt like being reeled back into young adult territory (I wont go into more comparisons because this is a reflection on You're No Better, not a side by side). BY NO MEANS DOES THIS MEAN IT'S A WALK IN THE PARK. But you can definitely feel where some parts perhaps had more room to poke around and how it had to scaled down just a bit to fit the rating (14 and up, according to Google). I would personally say that this is very much a book for a seasoned horror/thriller reader for the violence AND psychological themes, it's not a starter book at all (this hypothetical morbid precocious adolescent certainly exists as I deffo remember being 14 and unsupervised on the internet). I don't think it crosses solidly into Adult Reading territory, but I can imagine pearl-clutching at some of the themes that pop up like underage drinking (don't worry parents, the narrative goes out of its way to remind the reader that this is a Bad(TM) thing, and in this setting it is not presented as a Fun thing to do but actually rather miserable in context), intimate scenes (nothing super explicit), and of course the murder(s)(Varying detail, lots of gruesome little moments).
It also relies (not relies, actually, more like leans on a familiarity) on some baseline knowledge of things like True Crime podcasts/documentaries/exploitation, the Saw movie series, and the hardest part for me was already being familiar with the similarities between Morgan's father Graham Nathanial Slaughter and the real life case of David Parker Ray, who I find so revolting that I wasn't honestly sure if I'd be able to stomach reading continuously (Have to mention this because although we are told from the get-go this is about a child and their serial killer father, the specific kind is not in the general summary). But I did, because the worst part is that intentionally or not (probably intentionally because Andrew Joseph White knows ball when it comes to writing intrusive thoughts/feelings) the character of Graham Nathanial Slaughter is strangely fascinating in that hypnotizing-snake-stare way and I am still not totally sure how they managed to dilute that into writing. But yeah, it was awful to feel myself sinking into the same morbid fascination that True Crime exploitation mills thrive off of.
This read is definitely YA, but not the shallow end, and I would definitely say it earns its place in the Andrew Joseph White pantheon.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"You're no Better⋅" ★
𝟶𝟷:𝟻𝟷 ━━━━━━●─── 𝟶𝟹:𝟶𝟹
⇆ ◁ ❚❚ ▷ ↻
I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of You're No Better as part of assessing it for our public library collection. (But disclaimer that I'm also a long-standing Andrew Joseph White enjoyer.) So this is both a personal and reference-teen-librarian review.
The concept for You're No Better promised glaring excisions of the True Crime entertainment industry (call it what it is, tragedy porn) and that was a big draw for me. It doesn't shrink from how skeevy the online world revolving around True Crime and the lives (and deaths) of very real people are reduced to mundane fandom-style giggling about blorbos. For that purpose I believe that the social media post-stylized slices really felt uncomfortably realistic. Like, that's not a "Wouldn't it be wild if someone said this!" it's quite literally reading like a very real-existing comment somewhere right now with user names edited for anonymity. Right down to the stomach-roiling countdown. (You'll see.)
It also crosses paths with the equally unsettling reality of modern day stage parents commodifying the journey of parenthood for online gratification at the cost of the child's well being. I abhor influencers that peddle their children like products, so this hit a nail directly on the head for me.
I felt an immense satisfaction as usual when it comes to reading from the perspective of an autistic protagonist, specifically written by White. The sensory details, whether delicious or grating, felt satisfying and I found myself also getting stuck on the idea of dirt under my nails on many occasions.
I will say that I felt very sad when I realized I was reaching the end of the book. I didn't feel ready to let go of Morgan or his journey. Which I guess ultimately really plays into the closing feeling of his life no longer being plastered online.
Coming fresh off White's previous book, You Weren't Meant to Be Human, I will say that it definitely felt like being reeled back into young adult territory (I wont go into more comparisons because this is a reflection on You're No Better, not a side by side). BY NO MEANS DOES THIS MEAN IT'S A WALK IN THE PARK. But you can definitely feel where some parts perhaps had more room to poke around and how it had to scaled down just a bit to fit the rating (14 and up, according to Google). I would personally say that this is very much a book for a seasoned horror/thriller reader for the violence AND psychological themes, it's not a starter book at all (this hypothetical morbid precocious adolescent certainly exists as I deffo remember being 14 and unsupervised on the internet). I don't think it crosses solidly into Adult Reading territory, but I can imagine pearl-clutching at some of the themes that pop up like underage drinking (don't worry parents, the narrative goes out of its way to remind the reader that this is a Bad(TM) thing, and in this setting it is not presented as a Fun thing to do but actually rather miserable in context), intimate scenes (nothing super explicit), and of course the murder(s)(Varying detail, lots of gruesome little moments).
It also relies (not relies, actually, more like leans on a familiarity) on some baseline knowledge of things like True Crime podcasts/documentaries/exploitation, the Saw movie series, and the hardest part for me was already being familiar with the similarities between Morgan's father Graham Nathanial Slaughter and the real life case of David Parker Ray, who I find so revolting that I wasn't honestly sure if I'd be able to stomach reading continuously (Have to mention this because although we are told from the get-go this is about a child and their serial killer father, the specific kind is not in the general summary). But I did, because the worst part is that intentionally or not (probably intentionally because Andrew Joseph White knows ball when it comes to writing intrusive thoughts/feelings) the character of Graham Nathanial Slaughter is strangely fascinating in that hypnotizing-snake-stare way and I am still not totally sure how they managed to dilute that into writing. But yeah, it was awful to feel myself sinking into the same morbid fascination that True Crime exploitation mills thrive off of.
This read is definitely YA, but not the shallow end, and I would definitely say it earns its place in the Andrew Joseph White pantheon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Peachtree Publishers | Peachtree Teen and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book early in exchange of an honest review.
Morgan Slaughter is a seventeen-years-old trans boy with autism and the son of a serial killer, who was put in prison thanks to his testimony years ago. Despite everything, many are sure Morgan will become like his father, including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following his family and himself.
Morgan is desperate to prove the world he's not his father, so he decides to investigate on his father's latest victim, who was never identified, but he's put in the crosshair of his classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about his horrific childhood: Morgan's wasn't only a witness of his father's cruelty, but also an accomplice. If Morgan doesn't help, she will tell everyone. So Morgan is forced to confront his own past, between the crew interviews, her mother's volatile temper and Felicity's presence, Morgan's world begins to unravel.
Like their other books, the author doesn't shy from heavy themes and ugly truths, like parents' abuse, misgendering, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, transphobia, ableism, grooming, psysichal and psychological sel-harm. It's brutal, honest and shocking and I loved reading You're no better by Andrew Joseph White. The characters are wonderfully complex and the story is told by Morgan, a seventeen-years-old trans boy, who, forced by his mother have to hide his being trans by wearing feminine clothes, makeup, using her/she pronouns and such and being obedient to her, following the documentary crew and the rules, unless he wants to lose his trust money. If Morgan wants to escape his manipulative mother, transition and have a life away from home, he has to be a girl until he's eighteen and a legal adult.
Morgan also struggles with an horrific childhood that, thanks to the documentary, he's forced to relive and dealing with it through self-harm, alcohol abuse and more.
The fear of becoming his father, of being violent and abusive like he was, is his constant fear and when he decides to investigate Jane Doe, the last victim of his father's brutality, Morgan thinks it's the way to prove he's not him.
But his connection, blackmail with Felicity is more complex everyday, including feelings he struggles to explore.
I love the way Andrew Joseph White writes Morgan. The main character is angry, upset, scared, he lashes out, he pushes people away, he fights with his best friend Alyssa, he struggles to conduct a "normal" life, he's, obviously, "messed-up" by what happened to him, what he had to witness and do in the past and he can't find anyone to help him. It's messy and heartbreaking and wonderfully written.
You can feel his rage, his impotence, his struggles through the writing and the complexities of relationship with an abusive mother and father, a documentary crew that's complicating an already fragile mind and enviroment and new incognites, like Felicity and his relationship with Alyssa, that's becoming more and more complex.
I also LOVED the autism rep, with Morgan's passions for trains, his struggles with chaotic enviroments and how well it was rendered in the book. Beside the investigation, Morgan's inquiries, Morgan and Felicity's quest to discover who is Jane Doe and give her a closure, I loved how, this coming of age, is heartbreaking, furious, brilliant and feral.
Morgan is such a complex character, not an easy one to love, but it's a wonderfully written character and I loved reading about his journey into being who he wanted to be,trying to get away from people who wanted to hurt him and forced him to be another person.
You're no better is a briliant, heartwrenching and brutal coming of age about a young teen, who, lived in cruelty and manipulation, claws his way forward.
Morgan Slaughter is a seventeen-years-old trans boy with autism and the son of a serial killer, who was put in prison thanks to his testimony years ago. Despite everything, many are sure Morgan will become like his father, including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following his family and himself.
Morgan is desperate to prove the world he's not his father, so he decides to investigate on his father's latest victim, who was never identified, but he's put in the crosshair of his classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about his horrific childhood: Morgan's wasn't only a witness of his father's cruelty, but also an accomplice. If Morgan doesn't help, she will tell everyone. So Morgan is forced to confront his own past, between the crew interviews, her mother's volatile temper and Felicity's presence, Morgan's world begins to unravel.
Like their other books, the author doesn't shy from heavy themes and ugly truths, like parents' abuse, misgendering, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, transphobia, ableism, grooming, psysichal and psychological sel-harm. It's brutal, honest and shocking and I loved reading You're no better by Andrew Joseph White. The characters are wonderfully complex and the story is told by Morgan, a seventeen-years-old trans boy, who, forced by his mother have to hide his being trans by wearing feminine clothes, makeup, using her/she pronouns and such and being obedient to her, following the documentary crew and the rules, unless he wants to lose his trust money. If Morgan wants to escape his manipulative mother, transition and have a life away from home, he has to be a girl until he's eighteen and a legal adult.
Morgan also struggles with an horrific childhood that, thanks to the documentary, he's forced to relive and dealing with it through self-harm, alcohol abuse and more.
The fear of becoming his father, of being violent and abusive like he was, is his constant fear and when he decides to investigate Jane Doe, the last victim of his father's brutality, Morgan thinks it's the way to prove he's not him.
But his connection, blackmail with Felicity is more complex everyday, including feelings he struggles to explore.
I love the way Andrew Joseph White writes Morgan. The main character is angry, upset, scared, he lashes out, he pushes people away, he fights with his best friend Alyssa, he struggles to conduct a "normal" life, he's, obviously, "messed-up" by what happened to him, what he had to witness and do in the past and he can't find anyone to help him. It's messy and heartbreaking and wonderfully written.
You can feel his rage, his impotence, his struggles through the writing and the complexities of relationship with an abusive mother and father, a documentary crew that's complicating an already fragile mind and enviroment and new incognites, like Felicity and his relationship with Alyssa, that's becoming more and more complex.
I also LOVED the autism rep, with Morgan's passions for trains, his struggles with chaotic enviroments and how well it was rendered in the book. Beside the investigation, Morgan's inquiries, Morgan and Felicity's quest to discover who is Jane Doe and give her a closure, I loved how, this coming of age, is heartbreaking, furious, brilliant and feral.
Morgan is such a complex character, not an easy one to love, but it's a wonderfully written character and I loved reading about his journey into being who he wanted to be,trying to get away from people who wanted to hurt him and forced him to be another person.
You're no better is a briliant, heartwrenching and brutal coming of age about a young teen, who, lived in cruelty and manipulation, claws his way forward.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss and Peachtree Teen for the e-ARC!
This review is going to be spoiler-free since You’re No Better doesn’t release until October 20th, but hopefully it convinces you to get your pre-orders in now! I’ll give a general breakdown of the plot and the driving forces, but nothing too revealing.
You’re No Better is about Morgan Slaughter, a transgender teenager with autism who is desperately trying to prove to himself and everyone watching that he is not like his infamous serial killer father. Andrew Joseph White’s other books have supernatural elements, real ghosts and monsters that haunt the story. This one has Morgan’s real trauma: him being the person that got his dad arrested and witnessed his murders, his real, evil father behind bars trying to connect with him, and his vile mother trying to make content from all of it, forcing him to participate in documentaries and to perform femininity in order to one day receive his trust fund and escape to be who he really is.
Fixated on his father’s final victim and her identity, Morgan reluctantly enters into a pact with Felicity, a podcaster who knows Morgan’s truth and wants to help reveal the identity of their Jane Doe. Morgan is a dark and morally grey character, he makes iffy decisions that will stress you out, he handles many situations in the worst way possible, and his communication is… flawed. He was raised in a way that made him feel the need to be cunning and on the defensive at all times, always guarding his own back, and these aspects of his character are all mixed in with autism and just being a teenager in general.
Morgan and Felicity’s antics as they try to uncover Jane Doe had me on the edge of my seat, I read this book SO fast I could hardly stand to put it down. Something about AJW’s writing always pulls me in head first and I just tumble all the way down until it’s done and I’m covered in bruises. Fast paced, emotionally devastating, at times profoundly relatable as someone who was once a queer teen. Morgan’s violent tendencies and murderous intrusive thoughts are simultaneously heartbreaking and a times make it difficult to want to side with him. Despite all the edgy, grimy, bleak, and true crime-y aspects of this book, it still gives you that twinge of hope that Morgan will be okay and overcome it all, and that’s my favorite thing about the way that Andrew Joseph White approaches his horror books.
Another excellent, thrilling read from one of my favorite authors. You’re No Better was one of my most anticipated reads of the year by a mile, and I’m so glad I was able to be an early reader! I’ve been an early reader for every AJW book except for his debut now :’)
This review is going to be spoiler-free since You’re No Better doesn’t release until October 20th, but hopefully it convinces you to get your pre-orders in now! I’ll give a general breakdown of the plot and the driving forces, but nothing too revealing.
You’re No Better is about Morgan Slaughter, a transgender teenager with autism who is desperately trying to prove to himself and everyone watching that he is not like his infamous serial killer father. Andrew Joseph White’s other books have supernatural elements, real ghosts and monsters that haunt the story. This one has Morgan’s real trauma: him being the person that got his dad arrested and witnessed his murders, his real, evil father behind bars trying to connect with him, and his vile mother trying to make content from all of it, forcing him to participate in documentaries and to perform femininity in order to one day receive his trust fund and escape to be who he really is.
Fixated on his father’s final victim and her identity, Morgan reluctantly enters into a pact with Felicity, a podcaster who knows Morgan’s truth and wants to help reveal the identity of their Jane Doe. Morgan is a dark and morally grey character, he makes iffy decisions that will stress you out, he handles many situations in the worst way possible, and his communication is… flawed. He was raised in a way that made him feel the need to be cunning and on the defensive at all times, always guarding his own back, and these aspects of his character are all mixed in with autism and just being a teenager in general.
Morgan and Felicity’s antics as they try to uncover Jane Doe had me on the edge of my seat, I read this book SO fast I could hardly stand to put it down. Something about AJW’s writing always pulls me in head first and I just tumble all the way down until it’s done and I’m covered in bruises. Fast paced, emotionally devastating, at times profoundly relatable as someone who was once a queer teen. Morgan’s violent tendencies and murderous intrusive thoughts are simultaneously heartbreaking and a times make it difficult to want to side with him. Despite all the edgy, grimy, bleak, and true crime-y aspects of this book, it still gives you that twinge of hope that Morgan will be okay and overcome it all, and that’s my favorite thing about the way that Andrew Joseph White approaches his horror books.
Another excellent, thrilling read from one of my favorite authors. You’re No Better was one of my most anticipated reads of the year by a mile, and I’m so glad I was able to be an early reader! I’ve been an early reader for every AJW book except for his debut now :’)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You're No Better is, at its heart, a character study wrapped in a psychological horror mystery, and it's one of Andrew Joseph White's most emotionally devastating novels to date.
Morgan is the kind of protagonist who isn't always easy to like, but he's impossible not to care about. He's angry, impulsive, deeply flawed, and constantly wrestling with the fear that he's destined to become his serial killer father. What I appreciated most was that White never asks readers to excuse Morgan's actions—he simply gives us the context to understand them. That made Morgan feel incredibly real, and watching him struggle with guilt, trauma, and the question of whether we can ever escape the legacies we're born into was absolutely heartbreaking.
What really sets this book apart is its commentary on true crime culture. White takes a hard look at our fascination with real-life violence and asks difficult questions about who benefits from these stories—and who is forced to relive their trauma for the sake of someone else's entertainment. It's uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and one of the most powerful aspects of the novel.
The mystery kept me turning pages, but the emotional journey is what stayed with me long after I finished. The atmosphere is heavy with dread, grief, and tension, yet the story never feels hopeless. Beneath all the darkness is a message about healing, found family, and choosing who you want to become instead of letting your past define you. Every reveal hit with emotional weight, and I thought the ending was both satisfying and well earned.
This is definitely not an easy read. The novel deals with abuse, violence, manipulation, and generational trauma in graphic and unflinching ways, so I can't stress enough that the content warnings should be taken seriously. But if you're prepared for that intensity, the payoff is an incredibly compassionate story about survival, identity, and reclaiming your own narrative.
Overall, I thought You're No Better succeeded most as an emotionally driven character study that happens to be wrapped in a gripping psychological horror mystery. Between Morgan's unforgettable voice, the sharp critique of true crime culture, and the authentic LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent representation, this is a book that left a lasting impression on me. It won't be the right fit for every reader because of how relentlessly dark it is, but for those who appreciate horror that's as emotionally rich as it is unsettling, I think this is one of Andrew Joseph White's best works.
Morgan is the kind of protagonist who isn't always easy to like, but he's impossible not to care about. He's angry, impulsive, deeply flawed, and constantly wrestling with the fear that he's destined to become his serial killer father. What I appreciated most was that White never asks readers to excuse Morgan's actions—he simply gives us the context to understand them. That made Morgan feel incredibly real, and watching him struggle with guilt, trauma, and the question of whether we can ever escape the legacies we're born into was absolutely heartbreaking.
What really sets this book apart is its commentary on true crime culture. White takes a hard look at our fascination with real-life violence and asks difficult questions about who benefits from these stories—and who is forced to relive their trauma for the sake of someone else's entertainment. It's uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and one of the most powerful aspects of the novel.
The mystery kept me turning pages, but the emotional journey is what stayed with me long after I finished. The atmosphere is heavy with dread, grief, and tension, yet the story never feels hopeless. Beneath all the darkness is a message about healing, found family, and choosing who you want to become instead of letting your past define you. Every reveal hit with emotional weight, and I thought the ending was both satisfying and well earned.
This is definitely not an easy read. The novel deals with abuse, violence, manipulation, and generational trauma in graphic and unflinching ways, so I can't stress enough that the content warnings should be taken seriously. But if you're prepared for that intensity, the payoff is an incredibly compassionate story about survival, identity, and reclaiming your own narrative.
Overall, I thought You're No Better succeeded most as an emotionally driven character study that happens to be wrapped in a gripping psychological horror mystery. Between Morgan's unforgettable voice, the sharp critique of true crime culture, and the authentic LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent representation, this is a book that left a lasting impression on me. It won't be the right fit for every reader because of how relentlessly dark it is, but for those who appreciate horror that's as emotionally rich as it is unsettling, I think this is one of Andrew Joseph White's best works.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
You’re No Better follows Morgan Slaughter who is a seventeen-year-old trans boy whose father is in prison for being a serial killer. Morgan is the one who reported his father for the murders but everyone thinks Morgan will be just like his father. His mother doesn’t really like him and Morgan’s autism means he sometimes behaves differently from other people. Morgan wants to prove he isn’t like his dad so he decides to find out who his father’s final victim was. Morgan ends up being blackmailed by Felicity Keating who is one of his classmates after they reveal they know Morgan was involved in the murders his father committed. As Morgan wants to find the Jane Doe, he has to confront his past and reckon with who he is. Whilst he is doing this, his mother has forced Morgan into a documentary about his father but the film crew manipulates every interview with Morgan and his mother continues to make it clear that she can’t stand him.
I love everything Andrew Joseph White writes so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this. I’m giving this 4 stars and I will be recommending this book. This is quite different to AJW’s other books as it is focused on the murders Morgan’s father committed and how Morgan now views himself. This is a young adult book but due to the topics discussed in this, it is for the older end of young adults. This is the kind of book that I wanted when I was a teenager but these types of books were not being published back then. I’ve read all of AJW’s books and this differs from his other books due to the way Morgan’s identity is portrayed. Morgan doesn’t visibly transition in this so he still presents as a woman due to life circumstances. His mother will not let him transition due to the documentary and whilst Morgan knows he is a man, he has to present as very feminine and to anyone who meets him, he is a woman. The topics in this book are heavy but I like how AJW doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable subjects. Morgan’s involvement in his dad’s crimes make for a hard read but I particularly enjoyed reading how Morgan navigates his identity because he worries if he doesn’t transition, he will turn into his mother but if he transitions, he will turn into his father. I had a great time reading this and I read it in one day because it was so good. The writing is good, Morgan is a complex character and I easily connected to Morgan.
You’re No Better follows Morgan Slaughter who is a seventeen-year-old trans boy whose father is in prison for being a serial killer. Morgan is the one who reported his father for the murders but everyone thinks Morgan will be just like his father. His mother doesn’t really like him and Morgan’s autism means he sometimes behaves differently from other people. Morgan wants to prove he isn’t like his dad so he decides to find out who his father’s final victim was. Morgan ends up being blackmailed by Felicity Keating who is one of his classmates after they reveal they know Morgan was involved in the murders his father committed. As Morgan wants to find the Jane Doe, he has to confront his past and reckon with who he is. Whilst he is doing this, his mother has forced Morgan into a documentary about his father but the film crew manipulates every interview with Morgan and his mother continues to make it clear that she can’t stand him.
I love everything Andrew Joseph White writes so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this. I’m giving this 4 stars and I will be recommending this book. This is quite different to AJW’s other books as it is focused on the murders Morgan’s father committed and how Morgan now views himself. This is a young adult book but due to the topics discussed in this, it is for the older end of young adults. This is the kind of book that I wanted when I was a teenager but these types of books were not being published back then. I’ve read all of AJW’s books and this differs from his other books due to the way Morgan’s identity is portrayed. Morgan doesn’t visibly transition in this so he still presents as a woman due to life circumstances. His mother will not let him transition due to the documentary and whilst Morgan knows he is a man, he has to present as very feminine and to anyone who meets him, he is a woman. The topics in this book are heavy but I like how AJW doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable subjects. Morgan’s involvement in his dad’s crimes make for a hard read but I particularly enjoyed reading how Morgan navigates his identity because he worries if he doesn’t transition, he will turn into his mother but if he transitions, he will turn into his father. I had a great time reading this and I read it in one day because it was so good. The writing is good, Morgan is a complex character and I easily connected to Morgan.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
"I've made the promise, and it's stuck in my teeth, and when I want something, Jesus Christ, I will burn through everything I touch if it means I'll get it in the end
Andrew Joseph White once again managed to write a book that blew me away and had me at the edge of my seat wanting- needing- more. This book was phenomenal. The writing was engaging and the plot and world building was amazing. I read part of the book while on the metro and I had to literally stop myself from crying and gasping out loud.
"Girlhood is a costume I'm putting on; a performance in exchanged for the trust fund. Of course this marionette made of eyeliner and c-cup breasts and kitten heels isn't actually me. It's a mask, like the veil of neurotypicality I drape over my autism. The kind of mask you can forget exists, the mask that becomes so second nature that it's difficult to take off... but a mask nevertheless"
Andrew, as always, managed to capture autism and transness perfectly. His books manage to reach in to my soul and capture parts that is not seen by everyone. They always make me feel seen in a way that no other books quite manage, and You're no better was no exception to this.
The struggle Morrigan goes through while forced to be in the closet hit hard. Tying your masking and your femininity to each other was something I didn't know that I needed to see represented.
"Am I actually feminine? Or is the mask I put on to hide my autism just in the shape of a girl? It might be easier to prefer something I don't have a choice to be"
I loved getting to know the other characters surrounding Morrigan. Felicity was a personal favourite of mine. Their story was perfect and I love them.
I loved that Morrigan wasn't perfect and that he gets called out on his bullshit like so many other characters doesn't. I loved that he is fallible and that he is realistic. I love him so much as a character.
"I don't want to hurt her, but I think about it so often that I don't believe myself when i say it"
Now I'm gonna shut up so I don't start to spoil things. I'll end this with a shoutout to Andrews author letter, which as always hit me hard. Yes It made me grit my teeth. It was perfect as always.
I can't wait for y'all to read this, and for me to be able to listen to how they do the audiobook once it's out. I can't wait!
Andrew Joseph White once again managed to write a book that blew me away and had me at the edge of my seat wanting- needing- more. This book was phenomenal. The writing was engaging and the plot and world building was amazing. I read part of the book while on the metro and I had to literally stop myself from crying and gasping out loud.
"Girlhood is a costume I'm putting on; a performance in exchanged for the trust fund. Of course this marionette made of eyeliner and c-cup breasts and kitten heels isn't actually me. It's a mask, like the veil of neurotypicality I drape over my autism. The kind of mask you can forget exists, the mask that becomes so second nature that it's difficult to take off... but a mask nevertheless"
Andrew, as always, managed to capture autism and transness perfectly. His books manage to reach in to my soul and capture parts that is not seen by everyone. They always make me feel seen in a way that no other books quite manage, and You're no better was no exception to this.
The struggle Morrigan goes through while forced to be in the closet hit hard. Tying your masking and your femininity to each other was something I didn't know that I needed to see represented.
"Am I actually feminine? Or is the mask I put on to hide my autism just in the shape of a girl? It might be easier to prefer something I don't have a choice to be"
I loved getting to know the other characters surrounding Morrigan. Felicity was a personal favourite of mine. Their story was perfect and I love them.
I loved that Morrigan wasn't perfect and that he gets called out on his bullshit like so many other characters doesn't. I loved that he is fallible and that he is realistic. I love him so much as a character.
"I don't want to hurt her, but I think about it so often that I don't believe myself when i say it"
Now I'm gonna shut up so I don't start to spoil things. I'll end this with a shoutout to Andrews author letter, which as always hit me hard. Yes It made me grit my teeth. It was perfect as always.
I can't wait for y'all to read this, and for me to be able to listen to how they do the audiobook once it's out. I can't wait!
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