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Petrified Women
Some pranks go too far. This one could be deadly.
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Why can’t her best friend see that? He’s nothing like the others, especially the one who still haunts her memories. She’s finally picked a “keeper” with Aiden.
Sure, he’s a bit eccentric. His wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or "scares" on Harley goes a little too far. But what do you expect? Aiden’s an artist.
Harley has finally picked the perfect boyfriend. That’s why this year, Harley ignores all her best friend’s warnings. She has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that’s going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other.
She hides in his apartment, excitedly waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime…
But then he comes home, and Harley witnesses a different side of her boyfriend. The side that exists behind closed doors when he doesn’t know anyone’s watching.
Is this just one of his scares? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind his playful nature? Harley’s about to find out.
CONTENT WARNING:
Sexual Assault
Violence
Body Horror
Strong Language
Reader discretion advised
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Why can’t her best friend see that? He’s nothing like the others, especially the one who still haunts her memories. She’s finally picked a “keeper” with Aiden.
Sure, he’s a bit eccentric. His wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or "scares" on Harley goes a little too far. But what do you expect? Aiden’s an artist.
Harley has finally picked the perfect boyfriend. That’s why this year, Harley ignores all her best friend’s warnings. She has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that’s going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other.
She hides in his apartment, excitedly waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime…
But then he comes home, and Harley witnesses a different side of her boyfriend. The side that exists behind closed doors when he doesn’t know anyone’s watching.
Is this just one of his scares? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind his playful nature? Harley’s about to find out.
CONTENT WARNING:
Sexual Assault
Violence
Body Horror
Strong Language
Reader discretion advised
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
72 people are currently reading
3307 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Ray
7 books372 followersJeremy Ray graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a MFA in Dramatic Writing. He is the recipient of the Max K. Lerner Playwriting Fellowship for his play Boiling Point and the Shubert Playwriting Fellowship for his play Sisters of Transformation. His work has been performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and his screenplays have placed in the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition, The Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and the ScreenCraft Drama Contest.
However, he is most fond of prose. He spends his free time devouring books like the bookworm he is.
🐛🐛🐛𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀? 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 ...
https://litelink.at/jeremyraystories
However, he is most fond of prose. He spends his free time devouring books like the bookworm he is.
🐛🐛🐛𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀? 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 ...
https://litelink.at/jeremyraystories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 999 reviews
October 25, 2023
Young woman has awful taste in men and the latest likes playing jokes on people (and not the kind many would find funny). She decides for his birthday it's time to surprise him and sneaks into his apartment. A fraught, anxiety inducing scenario ensues when she realises he might have a sinister side, or is this just another prank? Tense and suspenseful.
April 21, 2025
Firstly, I’d like to thank the author for their very personal message ahead of the story. It’s not an easy thing to reveal something that intense to your readers, but I admire and appreciate his willingness to do so. Coming from a very traumatic and abusive upbringing, it took a lot for me to allow my readers into my history, too, so Jeremy Ray, you’re in good company here. Now onto the story…it was a nail-biter. The entire book just makes you uncomfortable and unsure of what’s happening. Now this was a good thing, as to not expect anything, but also became a bit disorienting and distracting, too. Harley had been put through so much trauma and abuse, that the appeal to Aiden and his unpleasant behaviors was this awful codependence that she engaged in. And as their relationship progresses from bad to worse here, Harley was seemingly experiencing various hallucinations and flashbacks, triggered by Aiden’s actions. So, as she became more psychologically unstable, things became really bizarre and end up in a twisted way, too. But, going back to my aforementioned point, it was unclear as to what was actually happening versus what was the result of Harley’s instability. That may have been the point, but I just wanted a little more clarity and direction, as to fully appreciate the plight of our main character. Beyond that, this was well-written and as suspenseful as can be. A good amount of blood and mind games, but I caution that it deals with rape, abuse, and many other potential triggers, so reader beware.
July 2, 2021
This sweet little horror novella can be summed up in four words - karma is a bitch!
Harley has terrible taste in men but thinks her current boyfriend, Aiden, is a good guy. He has a rather annoying habit though of prank scaring her. Also, his apartment is a little freaky as he is a sculptor and he carves life size and life like women in various poses.
On his birthday though Harley thinks she has got the perfect comeback. She sneaks into his apartment to prepare the surprise scare. But yikes, she hears Aiden coming home before expected. And he is not alone. What follows really, truly scares the pants off Harley.
I really enjoyed this novella but I didn’t find it at all scary or creepy. It was kind of fun because….karma!
Harley has terrible taste in men but thinks her current boyfriend, Aiden, is a good guy. He has a rather annoying habit though of prank scaring her. Also, his apartment is a little freaky as he is a sculptor and he carves life size and life like women in various poses.
On his birthday though Harley thinks she has got the perfect comeback. She sneaks into his apartment to prepare the surprise scare. But yikes, she hears Aiden coming home before expected. And he is not alone. What follows really, truly scares the pants off Harley.
I really enjoyed this novella but I didn’t find it at all scary or creepy. It was kind of fun because….karma!
October 24, 2021
Petrified Women is a gripping and original novella that packs a lot of horror in its 92 pages.
The story starts off as unsettling as we’re introduced to the protagonist, Harley. She’s dating a man who loves playing pranks–in fact, he calls this his love language. This, in itself, doesn’t seem too disturbing, until she starts to outline the pranks that he’s played on her over the course of their time together. They seem to be designed to petrify her, and her PTSD from a previous abusive relationship doesn’t help matters. This PTSD is viscerally depicted in a realistic and gut-wrenching way that adds another level of horror to this multi-layered story.
Her boyfriend, Aiden, is an artist, and he has sculpted wooden women standing around his apartment. The imagery of these peculiar pieces of art combined with the obviously toxic relationship dynamic between Harley and Aiden immediately created a tense atmosphere that only gets more and more stressful as the story progresses.
One thing that I loved about the novella is that you never truly know what’s real–which is what Harley herself struggles with. Aiden loves his malicious pranks, and as the horror of the story escalates, she’s constantly wondering if everything that’s happening could actually be just another elaborate prank. Are the events of the story just an extreme form of gaslighting, or is something truly insidious going on? I was a little worried that the author wouldn’t (or couldn't) keep the momentum going for the entire story, but he pulled it off masterfully, wrapping everything up with a satisfying conclusion.
Needless to say, I devoured this book in one sitting, and I look forward to checking out more of Jeremy Ray’s work.
*Thank you to the author for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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July 6, 2022
Harley copies her new boyfriend’s apartment keys to play a prank on him in response to all the pranks he has played on her. What happens when she goes there is far from what she expects. It’s a great Idea and a fairly satisfying story with a solid enough end. Unfortunately it doesn’t quite work. The suspense builds early and then plateaus as the author tries to keep up the tension over much too long a period. There is a limit to how many times a shadow appearing under the crack of a door works to increase your heart beat and the constant mention of pranks eventually goes stale. Having said that, I do feel there is a lot of promise here and I will look out for future offerings from this author. Try it and see!
June 23, 2023
This was a very quick, suspenseful read!! Even if I knew where it was going the whole time, it was still very entertaining (but heavy, read the authors note).
February 26, 2022
first i wanna say thank you to the author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review !
i liked this. it was really bizarre and unique. i think this story would have been even better if it was a proper novel.
what i liked about this book was definitely the ending. like that was fucking creepy ngl, i’d be out of that place immediately 😂
also i really appreciate the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book. in my opinion, all the authors should be doing that 💕
and the author’s note about Petrified Women absolutely broke me. that was so damn heart breaking to read and i really appreciate how strong Jeremy Ray is for sharing his experience through stories.
i also liked the beginning of this book, the pranks Aiden pulled on Harley were really something else entirely 👀
now what i struggled with was the middle of the novella, really. i found it to be a bit boring, despite all the stuff that happened. i can’t really say much without spoiling it all, but i can say the supernatural aspect of this book didn’t really work out for me.
i also struggled to fully connect my feelings to the story, i felt like i needed to know more about the characters to care what happened to them. as i said before, i think it would’ve worked better as a novel. that way the reader would get to see the backstory of everything, the present and the aftermath in a more detailed way and so the whole situation would feel more realistic and gripping. it was too short and crammed, in my opinion.
i do recommend reading this for those who want to begin reading horror and those who want a quick read. also, don’t let my review dissuade you from reading this book, i really think some of you will find it to be brilliant !!! specially if you want a bizarre and somewhat different horror 👀
i liked this. it was really bizarre and unique. i think this story would have been even better if it was a proper novel.
what i liked about this book was definitely the ending. like that was fucking creepy ngl, i’d be out of that place immediately 😂
also i really appreciate the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book. in my opinion, all the authors should be doing that 💕
and the author’s note about Petrified Women absolutely broke me. that was so damn heart breaking to read and i really appreciate how strong Jeremy Ray is for sharing his experience through stories.
i also liked the beginning of this book, the pranks Aiden pulled on Harley were really something else entirely 👀
now what i struggled with was the middle of the novella, really. i found it to be a bit boring, despite all the stuff that happened. i can’t really say much without spoiling it all, but i can say the supernatural aspect of this book didn’t really work out for me.
i also struggled to fully connect my feelings to the story, i felt like i needed to know more about the characters to care what happened to them. as i said before, i think it would’ve worked better as a novel. that way the reader would get to see the backstory of everything, the present and the aftermath in a more detailed way and so the whole situation would feel more realistic and gripping. it was too short and crammed, in my opinion.
i do recommend reading this for those who want to begin reading horror and those who want a quick read. also, don’t let my review dissuade you from reading this book, i really think some of you will find it to be brilliant !!! specially if you want a bizarre and somewhat different horror 👀
June 29, 2024
This book would totally make you question reality. Made me uncomfortable and guessing the entire time.
Honestly a bit on the odd side with the wood sculptures and all. Creepy because I keep thinking that something is staring at me from the other side of the room. Chills all over. But not enough to make this book unforgettable.
And the pranks? Excessive control and mind games? No thanks. If someone like Harley is willing to subject herself into this kind of unhealthy relationship then nothing else would be normal.
The personal message of the author on the first part is really meaningful and I appreaciate the honesty. Telling tha world something that is sensitive and personal is a brave thing to do and I admire that.
Honestly a bit on the odd side with the wood sculptures and all. Creepy because I keep thinking that something is staring at me from the other side of the room. Chills all over. But not enough to make this book unforgettable.
And the pranks? Excessive control and mind games? No thanks. If someone like Harley is willing to subject herself into this kind of unhealthy relationship then nothing else would be normal.
The personal message of the author on the first part is really meaningful and I appreaciate the honesty. Telling tha world something that is sensitive and personal is a brave thing to do and I admire that.
August 11, 2021
To all the survivors out there. To everyone with trauma that keeps us frozen in time and held captive by memories. Jeremy Ray sees you.
Petrified Women is a horror novella, less than 100 pages long and with a unique story that keeps you glued to the page. It calls attention to the internalized emotions that accompany trauma (specifically sexual assault), it reminds readers that being violated is never your fault, and it cathartically shows the reclaiming of power. And oh how the women here reclaim their power! I loved it! Highly recommend!!!
Petrified Women is now available on Amazon! Link available in @jeremyraystories IG bio.
Petrified Women is a horror novella, less than 100 pages long and with a unique story that keeps you glued to the page. It calls attention to the internalized emotions that accompany trauma (specifically sexual assault), it reminds readers that being violated is never your fault, and it cathartically shows the reclaiming of power. And oh how the women here reclaim their power! I loved it! Highly recommend!!!
Petrified Women is now available on Amazon! Link available in @jeremyraystories IG bio.
February 25, 2022
After dating a series of jerks and psychotic abusers, Harley thinks she's finally found a soulmate in her new boyfriend Aiden. He's a bit eccentric, his main hobbies include carving life-sized female figurines and expressing his affection through cleverly orchestrated practical jokes that scare the living daylights out of Harley. While her friend warns her that these are obvious red flags, she ignores them in desperation of finding someone she actually feels safe with. To pay him back, Harley plans the ultimate practical scare on her boyfriend on his birthday, hiding in is closet while waiting for him to enter his apartment. What she witnesses him doing while hiding in his closet changes the way she sees her boyfriend, realizing that he might be far more eccentric than she originally thought. He turns into a different man when he thinks no one is watching.
Petrified Women effectively plays with the concept of who people pretend to be in the public eye versus who they really are behind closed doors. Trauma, karma and blurring reality through misplaced hope and disbelief all play a role in setting up an intense situation between two not-so-ordinary people. A very good psychological thriller with a satisfying conclusion.
Petrified Women effectively plays with the concept of who people pretend to be in the public eye versus who they really are behind closed doors. Trauma, karma and blurring reality through misplaced hope and disbelief all play a role in setting up an intense situation between two not-so-ordinary people. A very good psychological thriller with a satisfying conclusion.
May 11, 2024
I'm sorry...but if I could give this book zero stars I would because I found it so utterly boring and stupid and the only "Petrified Woman"was...ME...terrified that I might make the mistake again of reading something so damn ridiculous.
Nothing came together in this book...everything was wrong about it.
Confusing and muddled to say the least.
It didn't do it for me... I'd get more of a fright from a cotton wool ball!!!🤣🤣🤣
Nothing came together in this book...everything was wrong about it.
Confusing and muddled to say the least.
It didn't do it for me... I'd get more of a fright from a cotton wool ball!!!🤣🤣🤣
November 30, 2025
The one time termites would have been useful! 3 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️!
March 31, 2024
Oh this is great. Genuinely made me scared, anxious and curious. Thanks to the author for pushing such an important message about SA, and how it can affect people.
On a happy note, my fav quote:
“Bitch, don’t give me that look. I’ll put your ass on Etsy.”
On a happy note, my fav quote:
“Bitch, don’t give me that look. I’ll put your ass on Etsy.”
October 7, 2022
3.5 stars
This was my first time reading anything by Jeremy Ray, and I would definitely read more books from this author! I enjoyed this and thought it was a lot of fun. I loved the idea of the statue women and how bonded to them Harley seemed from the beginning. I thought the story was well-written, though I predicted the ending only a couple of pages into the story, which took away from the suspense. I also found this to be one of those stories where I spent a solid chunk of time silently yelling at the protagonist to stop making terrible choices, but at the same time, I understood why she kept finding herself in those situations and I felt for her.
Buddy read with the lovely Ashley! ♥
✨ Content warnings for:
———
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This was my first time reading anything by Jeremy Ray, and I would definitely read more books from this author! I enjoyed this and thought it was a lot of fun. I loved the idea of the statue women and how bonded to them Harley seemed from the beginning. I thought the story was well-written, though I predicted the ending only a couple of pages into the story, which took away from the suspense. I also found this to be one of those stories where I spent a solid chunk of time silently yelling at the protagonist to stop making terrible choices, but at the same time, I understood why she kept finding herself in those situations and I felt for her.
Buddy read with the lovely Ashley! ♥
✨ Content warnings for:
———
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October 28, 2021
4.5 out of 5!
This was a page turner! I could not put it down.
Jeremy Ray created so much suspense in the setup of this story that I was just on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen next.
And for a while I was wondering why this novella was categorized as a horror because it seemed more like a suspense/thriller. But then the horror kicked in and it was disturbing... in the best possible way. It got creepy and gory and I was here for it!
I read this novella in October and it was perfect for the spooky season.
The only reason this isn't a 5 star read is due to it getting a little confusing when the action picked up, but that was only briefly.
Note: Jeremy Ray makes it clear that there is a trigger warning for sexual assault in the introduction to this novella. And as someone who was concerned about this, let me tell you that it was handled very tastefully. The sexual assault is recounted and not very graphic. And I applaud Jeremy Ray for addressing a very important topic.
This one is a new favorite for sure!
This was a page turner! I could not put it down.
Jeremy Ray created so much suspense in the setup of this story that I was just on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen next.
And for a while I was wondering why this novella was categorized as a horror because it seemed more like a suspense/thriller. But then the horror kicked in and it was disturbing... in the best possible way. It got creepy and gory and I was here for it!
I read this novella in October and it was perfect for the spooky season.
The only reason this isn't a 5 star read is due to it getting a little confusing when the action picked up, but that was only briefly.
Note: Jeremy Ray makes it clear that there is a trigger warning for sexual assault in the introduction to this novella. And as someone who was concerned about this, let me tell you that it was handled very tastefully. The sexual assault is recounted and not very graphic. And I applaud Jeremy Ray for addressing a very important topic.
This one is a new favorite for sure!
October 15, 2022
Thank you so much to Jeremy Ray for this gifted copy of Petrified Woman.
This novella packed a punch! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any creepier, I got to the twist. I didn’t see it coming and really enjoyed it. What goes around comes around.
Harley has had a horrible track record with men. However, when she meets her current boyfriend Aiden, she thinks her luck has changed.
Aiden seems normal enough if you don’t count his creepy hobby of creating life-size sculptures of women out of wood. But perhaps the most irritating thing at least to the reader, is Aiden’s love of over the top pranks. He loves to prank Harley and prides himself as being number one on their prank rating list.
Harley has come up with the ultimate prank to get Aiden back and get a higher ranking on their board. Dressed in disguise, she hides in his closet on his birthday. She hears Aiden come home and he’s not alone. The terrifying sounds she hears as she remains hidden is something she won’t soon forget.
Petrified Woman is available now.
This novella packed a punch! Just when I thought it couldn’t get any creepier, I got to the twist. I didn’t see it coming and really enjoyed it. What goes around comes around.
Harley has had a horrible track record with men. However, when she meets her current boyfriend Aiden, she thinks her luck has changed.
Aiden seems normal enough if you don’t count his creepy hobby of creating life-size sculptures of women out of wood. But perhaps the most irritating thing at least to the reader, is Aiden’s love of over the top pranks. He loves to prank Harley and prides himself as being number one on their prank rating list.
Harley has come up with the ultimate prank to get Aiden back and get a higher ranking on their board. Dressed in disguise, she hides in his closet on his birthday. She hears Aiden come home and he’s not alone. The terrifying sounds she hears as she remains hidden is something she won’t soon forget.
Petrified Woman is available now.
August 21, 2022
4 stars
Emotionally potent, Petrified Women's horror feels cathartic as it stems from real-life trauma (in the intro the author mentions himself being a sexual assault survivor — a topic that's readily present in this novella), therefore as the tension mounts and the supernatural element starts to surface, the protagonist's emotional roller-coaster remains credible, and consistently empathetic. The narrative does takes some logic/logistic liberty in order to pack into such short length, but nothing to distract from the seamless writing, macabre imagery, and a heartfelt look at an abusive relationship — this is more than just a creepy story.
Emotionally potent, Petrified Women's horror feels cathartic as it stems from real-life trauma (in the intro the author mentions himself being a sexual assault survivor — a topic that's readily present in this novella), therefore as the tension mounts and the supernatural element starts to surface, the protagonist's emotional roller-coaster remains credible, and consistently empathetic. The narrative does takes some logic/logistic liberty in order to pack into such short length, but nothing to distract from the seamless writing, macabre imagery, and a heartfelt look at an abusive relationship — this is more than just a creepy story.
November 13, 2021
For only being a novella, this ends up being a creeptastically psychotic psychological thriller that will leave you reeling! Don't say you weren't warned...
September 13, 2021
Scares were Aiden’s love language. He invested time devising them. It’s not like he hadn’t warned her.
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Sooooo perfect. He just likes to scare her is all. That’s the only bad quality. He scared her half to death. She has PTSD from his scares. She is living scared he’s going to scare her. That’s it. NOT. You all, when I tell you I thought I knew….so predictable…then BAM. I was not ready. This story was so creepy but I thought it was normal people suck creepy. It definitely is that, Aiden this was pretty clear. But then all the scary stuff starts happening and it was so perfect. It scared me, like really scared me. I will never see trees the same.
It was also dealing with a lot of emotions and listen to the TW. All I can say is wow. This story was wow. Read it if you want to be scared and want to read a small novella. Halloween is coming, read this!!
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Sooooo perfect. He just likes to scare her is all. That’s the only bad quality. He scared her half to death. She has PTSD from his scares. She is living scared he’s going to scare her. That’s it. NOT. You all, when I tell you I thought I knew….so predictable…then BAM. I was not ready. This story was so creepy but I thought it was normal people suck creepy. It definitely is that, Aiden this was pretty clear. But then all the scary stuff starts happening and it was so perfect. It scared me, like really scared me. I will never see trees the same.
It was also dealing with a lot of emotions and listen to the TW. All I can say is wow. This story was wow. Read it if you want to be scared and want to read a small novella. Halloween is coming, read this!!
July 8, 2021
"Some choose fight, others choose flight, you chose freeze. It's not your fault, Harley."
Harley has finally found the perfect boyfriend: caring, honest, special. But her best friend doesn't agree with her: sure, he's not like Harley's abusive ex-boyfriends but there's something about him that is strange. Besides his odd hobby of carving life-sized suffering women in wood, he is obsessed with pranks or, as he calls them, "scares". Harley is willing to accept all sorts of jokes to be with him, despite being a bit traumatized, and plans the ultimate scare on her boyfriend for his birthday, hiding in his closet. But while hidden she witnesses him doing something that will change their relationship forever.
Petrified Women is an amazing horror novella that not only gives you the creeps, but also explores trauma in a very honest way. The main character Harley survived abusive relationships, but it's not easy to leave the past completely behind. I found her incredibly real and her feelings so true. Understanding her past and what she experienced is essential to fully dive into the horror of this story, and in less than 100 pages Ray gave me more than enough details to identify with Harley, feel her claustrophobic fear, share her thoughts and root for her.
Read in one sitting, I could not put the book down: beautifully written, I found myself so charmed by the story that I didn't even think about the ending. But when the ending arrives... oooh it's so good.
I loved this novella and I can't recommend it highly enough! Do you love horror? Do you enjoy fast-paced stories? Do you enjoy books that make your heart race? Then Petrified Women is the book for you.
5 stars.
* I'd like to thank Jeremy Ray for providing a copy of his novella in exchange for my honest review.
Harley has finally found the perfect boyfriend: caring, honest, special. But her best friend doesn't agree with her: sure, he's not like Harley's abusive ex-boyfriends but there's something about him that is strange. Besides his odd hobby of carving life-sized suffering women in wood, he is obsessed with pranks or, as he calls them, "scares". Harley is willing to accept all sorts of jokes to be with him, despite being a bit traumatized, and plans the ultimate scare on her boyfriend for his birthday, hiding in his closet. But while hidden she witnesses him doing something that will change their relationship forever.
Petrified Women is an amazing horror novella that not only gives you the creeps, but also explores trauma in a very honest way. The main character Harley survived abusive relationships, but it's not easy to leave the past completely behind. I found her incredibly real and her feelings so true. Understanding her past and what she experienced is essential to fully dive into the horror of this story, and in less than 100 pages Ray gave me more than enough details to identify with Harley, feel her claustrophobic fear, share her thoughts and root for her.
Read in one sitting, I could not put the book down: beautifully written, I found myself so charmed by the story that I didn't even think about the ending. But when the ending arrives... oooh it's so good.
I loved this novella and I can't recommend it highly enough! Do you love horror? Do you enjoy fast-paced stories? Do you enjoy books that make your heart race? Then Petrified Women is the book for you.
5 stars.
* I'd like to thank Jeremy Ray for providing a copy of his novella in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2021
✨😱 Book Review - PETRIFIED WOMEN by Jeremy Ray 😱✨
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this one and it's so awesome to see this story blossom as much as it has. This novella is about a young woman who wants to surprise her boyfriend with a scary prank for his birthday but things go awry and secrets are discovered.
This was such a thriller and had very suspenseful moments, that I couldn't put it down. I found myself really connected and attached to the main character. She was very relatable and had a wonderful character arc that was pivotal to the storyline. Loved her.
Now the horror in this was pretty shocking and a little magical. I enjoyed the horror elements and feel that they complimented the tougher subjects in this. Even though the storyline had predictable moments I was still enthralled with what was happening. The ending I really enjoyed and wasn't expecting.
In the beginning of this novella, Jeremy points out trigger warnings and what they are so I would suggest taking note of them just in case.
Again, this was very enjoyable and just shows how versatile of a writer Jeremy Ray really is.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
Rounded up for GR
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this one and it's so awesome to see this story blossom as much as it has. This novella is about a young woman who wants to surprise her boyfriend with a scary prank for his birthday but things go awry and secrets are discovered.
This was such a thriller and had very suspenseful moments, that I couldn't put it down. I found myself really connected and attached to the main character. She was very relatable and had a wonderful character arc that was pivotal to the storyline. Loved her.
Now the horror in this was pretty shocking and a little magical. I enjoyed the horror elements and feel that they complimented the tougher subjects in this. Even though the storyline had predictable moments I was still enthralled with what was happening. The ending I really enjoyed and wasn't expecting.
In the beginning of this novella, Jeremy points out trigger warnings and what they are so I would suggest taking note of them just in case.
Again, this was very enjoyable and just shows how versatile of a writer Jeremy Ray really is.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5
Rounded up for GR
May 23, 2021
Jeremy Ray may be the most versatile writer I’ve found since joining bookstagram. I started off reading his non-horror short story The House Plant and absolutely loved it. Then I read The Gathering and realized he can write really good, creepy horror.
Today I finished his new horror novella, Petrified Women, and it’s my new favorite. It’s about a young woman named Harley and her “perfect boyfriend”, Aiden. Aiden is an artist who has full sized wooden statues he’s carved of women in his apartment (That would have been a huge warning sign for me 😂). Harley decides to pull off a surprise prank for Aiden’s birthday but Harley’s the one who gets the surprise. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot. but be prepared to feel claustrophobic and totally creeped out. The ending was completely unexpected and I LOVED it!
This book deals with trauma and abuse. Jeremy notes this in the preface in case you’re triggered by these things.
Thank you, Jeremy, for sending me this book for my honest review. It was a blast to read!
Today I finished his new horror novella, Petrified Women, and it’s my new favorite. It’s about a young woman named Harley and her “perfect boyfriend”, Aiden. Aiden is an artist who has full sized wooden statues he’s carved of women in his apartment (That would have been a huge warning sign for me 😂). Harley decides to pull off a surprise prank for Aiden’s birthday but Harley’s the one who gets the surprise. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot. but be prepared to feel claustrophobic and totally creeped out. The ending was completely unexpected and I LOVED it!
This book deals with trauma and abuse. Jeremy notes this in the preface in case you’re triggered by these things.
Thank you, Jeremy, for sending me this book for my honest review. It was a blast to read!
June 15, 2021
Harley falls hard for Aiden, an artist with an odd hobby of sculpting life-size women out of wood. Aiden straight up tells her his love language is practical jokes and though some pranks can be creative, others are borderline psychotic. Harley comes up with the ultimate, shocking stunt that will top their list and beat Aiden once and for all. But what she witnesses while hiding in his closet makes her not only question her boyfriend’s motives, but his sanity as well as her own.
Sometimes she talks to the wooden women, and sometimes she thinks they talk back. Sometimes she thinks they move. What could adventurous, mysterious, over-the-top prank-loving Aiden possibly be hiding?
PETRIFIED WOMEN is a fast-paced psychological horror with such a badass conclusion. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book 🖤 I am always so stoked to read your work 🙌🏻
TW: sexual assault
Sometimes she talks to the wooden women, and sometimes she thinks they talk back. Sometimes she thinks they move. What could adventurous, mysterious, over-the-top prank-loving Aiden possibly be hiding?
PETRIFIED WOMEN is a fast-paced psychological horror with such a badass conclusion. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book 🖤 I am always so stoked to read your work 🙌🏻
TW: sexual assault
March 22, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
This short story is… really odd. While I certainly love the uniqueness of the plot and the idea of spooky wooden women, most of the plot points were really hard for me to get behind. Like, I cannot believe this young woman hung off a fire escape like she was in Die Hard over the worst fucking boyfriend ever.
The only character I liked was the friend who was suspish of the BF and tried to talk sense into the MC. Said MC is annoying and seemed to be written with the intelligence level of a 12-year-old. I’m not sure why writing a naïve, meek female requires them to also be childish as well. Riddle me that!
But, the boyfriend is the FUCKING WORST. The extreme pranking thing was so fucking egregious, I can’t even. How does this guy have friends or any kind of long-term relationship? No one would put up with that. I don’t believe it. If I were to start dating someone who immediately scared the shit out of me repeatedly - GOODBYE!
I get that we’re supposed to be witnessing someone fall into a toxic relationship, but that didn’t totally click for me because the pranking was so unlikeable. The two things didn’t really mesh well.
I feel like most of what happened was just meant to facilitate the plot, instead of seeming like genuine events. As in, there has to be pranking so she has a reason to hide in the closet, so she can see what happens when the boyfriend gets home, etc. That kind of writing is not for me.
But, on the flip side of that, this does have a truly unique plot and I loved how it ended.
If any of that gnaws your wood, go for it.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐
Book source: The author in exchange for a review.
This short story is… really odd. While I certainly love the uniqueness of the plot and the idea of spooky wooden women, most of the plot points were really hard for me to get behind. Like, I cannot believe this young woman hung off a fire escape like she was in Die Hard over the worst fucking boyfriend ever.
The only character I liked was the friend who was suspish of the BF and tried to talk sense into the MC. Said MC is annoying and seemed to be written with the intelligence level of a 12-year-old. I’m not sure why writing a naïve, meek female requires them to also be childish as well. Riddle me that!
But, the boyfriend is the FUCKING WORST. The extreme pranking thing was so fucking egregious, I can’t even. How does this guy have friends or any kind of long-term relationship? No one would put up with that. I don’t believe it. If I were to start dating someone who immediately scared the shit out of me repeatedly - GOODBYE!
I get that we’re supposed to be witnessing someone fall into a toxic relationship, but that didn’t totally click for me because the pranking was so unlikeable. The two things didn’t really mesh well.
I feel like most of what happened was just meant to facilitate the plot, instead of seeming like genuine events. As in, there has to be pranking so she has a reason to hide in the closet, so she can see what happens when the boyfriend gets home, etc. That kind of writing is not for me.
But, on the flip side of that, this does have a truly unique plot and I loved how it ended.
If any of that gnaws your wood, go for it.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐⭐
Book source: The author in exchange for a review.
May 14, 2021
I just finished PETRIFIED WOMEN by Jeremy Ray and right off the bat we have another banger for a cover! I know covers aren't everything but I just love a great one, okay? With this story we get to see another side of Ray's mind, one that is much darker than I've read before. We experience a toxic relationship, abuse, and I felt panicky and claustrophobic when I read this - I was absolutely on edge! Harley and her boyfriend, Aiden, have an odd relationship (to say the least), where they like to prank each other and see who can produce the biggest scares. Aiden also has a creepy hobby of carving female wooden statues... these things absolutely freaked me out! Having just crafted the ULTIMATE scare prank for her boyfriend on his birthday, Harley is suddenly placed in a terrifying situation. And you do not know what's real or what's a threat... and you definitely don't know who, if anyone, is safe.
Main plot aside, we get a lot of psychological horror re: trauma. There's a little bit of an anxious hope (is that a thing...? If not, I am making it a thing) for Harley the whole book - and I really felt like I was sharing her brain, in her head, and experiencing all of her emotions, past and current, as she shared them with us.
Jeremy Ray put out another solid hit with this story, and it might be my favorite to date now. I was in suspense and fear for the majority of the story and I seriously had no idea which way the story could be heading -- there were countless ways the story of Harley and Aiden could pan out. And I can say I enjoyed it from beginning to ending!
Check this one out when you can -- try not to feel too helpless and petrified as you ride alongside Harley.
Main plot aside, we get a lot of psychological horror re: trauma. There's a little bit of an anxious hope (is that a thing...? If not, I am making it a thing) for Harley the whole book - and I really felt like I was sharing her brain, in her head, and experiencing all of her emotions, past and current, as she shared them with us.
Jeremy Ray put out another solid hit with this story, and it might be my favorite to date now. I was in suspense and fear for the majority of the story and I seriously had no idea which way the story could be heading -- there were countless ways the story of Harley and Aiden could pan out. And I can say I enjoyed it from beginning to ending!
Check this one out when you can -- try not to feel too helpless and petrified as you ride alongside Harley.
June 30, 2021
Practical jokes have always made me nervous because they are easily taken too far. What starts out as something intended to be funny can suddenly turn in the wrong direction, and with devastating circumstances.
This story explores that and much more, including some very sensitive topics. We come into the story with Harley, who wants to beat her boyfriend at their "back and forth" game of practical jokes. As she lies in wait in his apartment, things go sideways fast and she is forced to confront dark parts of her past to save her own life.
Ray does an excellent job blending suspense, fear, and horror all into one short story. He navigates many potentially triggering issues in a way that was vivid and real without being gratuitous. The ending was fast and brutal with a satisfying twist.
As well written as some of the "trigger" scenes were, it could definitely still be too much for some. I advise you take heed of the author's content warning in the preface, and if you continue past that, you'll soon be cheering along for Harley just like I was.
This story explores that and much more, including some very sensitive topics. We come into the story with Harley, who wants to beat her boyfriend at their "back and forth" game of practical jokes. As she lies in wait in his apartment, things go sideways fast and she is forced to confront dark parts of her past to save her own life.
Ray does an excellent job blending suspense, fear, and horror all into one short story. He navigates many potentially triggering issues in a way that was vivid and real without being gratuitous. The ending was fast and brutal with a satisfying twist.
As well written as some of the "trigger" scenes were, it could definitely still be too much for some. I advise you take heed of the author's content warning in the preface, and if you continue past that, you'll soon be cheering along for Harley just like I was.
November 5, 2023
The author very kindly offered me a copy to go nicely with my spooky October reads.
This novella is very fast paced and adrenaline inducing. I was sucked in immediately and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I read it, in its entirety, while lying down in the dark in bed. Definitely spooky! I will say I think I did kind of see some of the twists and turns coming, but that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for them, nor did it alter my enjoyment whatsoever. Thoroughly a heart-pounding novella of infatuation, manipulation, abuse, and horror.
The wooden, petrified women reminded me of the super eerie flower-people from Annihilation. If you haven’t seen the movie look it up and I’m sure you’ll see what I meant after reading!
I was super impressed and happy with the inclusion of a content warning to start the entire thing off. Definitely a thoughtful inclusion that is often not even thought about by authors.
Would gladly read more of this writer’s work! You can find all of his work at the link in his bio on Instagram, as well as updates on his page, so give him a follow!
This novella is very fast paced and adrenaline inducing. I was sucked in immediately and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I read it, in its entirety, while lying down in the dark in bed. Definitely spooky! I will say I think I did kind of see some of the twists and turns coming, but that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for them, nor did it alter my enjoyment whatsoever. Thoroughly a heart-pounding novella of infatuation, manipulation, abuse, and horror.
The wooden, petrified women reminded me of the super eerie flower-people from Annihilation. If you haven’t seen the movie look it up and I’m sure you’ll see what I meant after reading!
I was super impressed and happy with the inclusion of a content warning to start the entire thing off. Definitely a thoughtful inclusion that is often not even thought about by authors.
Would gladly read more of this writer’s work! You can find all of his work at the link in his bio on Instagram, as well as updates on his page, so give him a follow!
February 21, 2023
I’m so sad I’ve been sleeping on this book. It is hardly talked about and it’s an amazing book.
What a weird feeling I had through the book and I didn’t want it to end.
I promise never to be mean to wooden sculptures again.
What a weird feeling I had through the book and I didn’t want it to end.
I promise never to be mean to wooden sculptures again.
November 9, 2021
4.5/5!
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. She’s confident that Aiden’s a keeper. He's a bit eccentric and his wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or “scares” on Harley goes a little too far. Harley justifies it by telling herself that Aiden’s an artist. Ignoring all of her best friend’s warnings, she has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that is going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other. As she hides in his apartment, waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime, she realizes that the Aiden who just walked in the door is nothing like the man she thinks she knows. Is this just one of his scares?
PETRIFIED WOMEN is a dark novella that takes an in-depth look into a night readers are sure never to forget. From the moment I picked this one up I could feel that something was off about Aiden, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I mean what kind of person thrives out of extreme practical jokes and why is Harley okay with this behavior? Then the night of Aiden’s birthday starts to unravel and I just wanted to scream at Harley to run far, far away! Clocking in at under 100 pages, this novella is nothing short of a tense and suspenseful journey alongside Harley that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
This story is pretty dark and not for the faint of heart. I highly recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings Jeremy has listed on the Goodreads page for this book and if you’re okay with them, check this novella out ASAP! I promise that the darkness is worth it for the great conclusion of this story!
Harley has the perfect boyfriend. She’s confident that Aiden’s a keeper. He's a bit eccentric and his wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or “scares” on Harley goes a little too far. Harley justifies it by telling herself that Aiden’s an artist. Ignoring all of her best friend’s warnings, she has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that is going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other. As she hides in his apartment, waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime, she realizes that the Aiden who just walked in the door is nothing like the man she thinks she knows. Is this just one of his scares?
PETRIFIED WOMEN is a dark novella that takes an in-depth look into a night readers are sure never to forget. From the moment I picked this one up I could feel that something was off about Aiden, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I mean what kind of person thrives out of extreme practical jokes and why is Harley okay with this behavior? Then the night of Aiden’s birthday starts to unravel and I just wanted to scream at Harley to run far, far away! Clocking in at under 100 pages, this novella is nothing short of a tense and suspenseful journey alongside Harley that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
This story is pretty dark and not for the faint of heart. I highly recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings Jeremy has listed on the Goodreads page for this book and if you’re okay with them, check this novella out ASAP! I promise that the darkness is worth it for the great conclusion of this story!
June 7, 2021
Harley is a young woman with a history of picking bad boyfriends. Luckily she has finally found a good guy. Or has she? Her best friend doesn't approve. And he has this thing where he likes to pull pranks on his girlfriend. These pranks are not silly harmless games though. Aiden loves to scare. The couple even have a list of the most frightening scares he's pulled. Aiden is also an artist that carves life sized wooden sculptures of women.
This time though Harley is the one who is going to prank Aiden on his birthday. She sneaks into his apartment and hides in the bedroom closet. When he comes home things don't go as planned. Harley is about to see something she wasn't expecting.
This novella is a great combination of scary and creepy. Because Harley is hiding in the closet we only get to see what she hears. Sometimes only sound can be more frightening. Then as we hide with Harley we can easily feel her terror. I really felt for Harley and I can understand her response to things that happen to her.
It's hard to say much without spoilers. So I'll just say there is dread and tension throughout. Also I wasn't prepared for what begins to happen when Aiden comes home. I also kept waiting for the wooden women's part in the story as I guessed/knew what would happen. I wasn't disappointed.
Jeremy Ray is the author of the short story The Houseplant. That story is sweet and completely different. Petrified Women is completely different but both are very good reads.
This time though Harley is the one who is going to prank Aiden on his birthday. She sneaks into his apartment and hides in the bedroom closet. When he comes home things don't go as planned. Harley is about to see something she wasn't expecting.
This novella is a great combination of scary and creepy. Because Harley is hiding in the closet we only get to see what she hears. Sometimes only sound can be more frightening. Then as we hide with Harley we can easily feel her terror. I really felt for Harley and I can understand her response to things that happen to her.
It's hard to say much without spoilers. So I'll just say there is dread and tension throughout. Also I wasn't prepared for what begins to happen when Aiden comes home. I also kept waiting for the wooden women's part in the story as I guessed/knew what would happen. I wasn't disappointed.
Jeremy Ray is the author of the short story The Houseplant. That story is sweet and completely different. Petrified Women is completely different but both are very good reads.
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