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You Better Watch Out: A Christmas Horror Comedy
SOMEONE EVIL IS DREAMING OF A RED CHRISTMAS
What would happen if the world of Hallmark Christmas movies collided with slasher movies like Black Christmas, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Scream?
Mary Classen is the successful CEO of a booming tinsel company in the quiet town of Tinselvania, Maine. Perpetually single and surrounded by quirky friends and townspeople, her world is flipped upside down when Bright Harmon, a rising star in the competitive world of tinsel-selling, arrives from a New York City Christmas conglomerate to discuss a potential partnership.
Meanwhile, the town of Tinselvania is under attack by a bloodthirsty, maniacal serial killer dressed as a reindeer. Why are they here? What do they want? Can Mary and Bright balance a blossoming romance and stop a deranged murderer before it’s too late?
SEE WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MATT FORGIT'S YOU BETTER WATCH OUT:
"This is the single greatest thing ever written in the history of language." -- Matt's imaginary friend Darrell Q. Pumpkinshorts III
"Why can't you write about nice things?" -- Matt's grandma
"I like Elmo books much better." -- Matt's niece Sofia, age 5
"What is wrong with you?" -- Matt's dad
"You should have gone to law school like we wanted." -- Matt's mom
"Is this where the flash mob is meeting?" -- some random guy who just wants to dance
"We have a lot of things we need to talk about this week." -- Matt's therapist
"And people call me weird." -- Teri Spelling, professional Tori Spelling impersonator
"I laughed, I cried, I peed myself a little. Now can I have the $20 you promised me for giving your book a review?" -- the guy who plays Santa at the mall
What would happen if the world of Hallmark Christmas movies collided with slasher movies like Black Christmas, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Scream?
Mary Classen is the successful CEO of a booming tinsel company in the quiet town of Tinselvania, Maine. Perpetually single and surrounded by quirky friends and townspeople, her world is flipped upside down when Bright Harmon, a rising star in the competitive world of tinsel-selling, arrives from a New York City Christmas conglomerate to discuss a potential partnership.
Meanwhile, the town of Tinselvania is under attack by a bloodthirsty, maniacal serial killer dressed as a reindeer. Why are they here? What do they want? Can Mary and Bright balance a blossoming romance and stop a deranged murderer before it’s too late?
SEE WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MATT FORGIT'S YOU BETTER WATCH OUT:
"This is the single greatest thing ever written in the history of language." -- Matt's imaginary friend Darrell Q. Pumpkinshorts III
"Why can't you write about nice things?" -- Matt's grandma
"I like Elmo books much better." -- Matt's niece Sofia, age 5
"What is wrong with you?" -- Matt's dad
"You should have gone to law school like we wanted." -- Matt's mom
"Is this where the flash mob is meeting?" -- some random guy who just wants to dance
"We have a lot of things we need to talk about this week." -- Matt's therapist
"And people call me weird." -- Teri Spelling, professional Tori Spelling impersonator
"I laughed, I cried, I peed myself a little. Now can I have the $20 you promised me for giving your book a review?" -- the guy who plays Santa at the mall
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2021
71 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Matt Forgit
7 books56 followersMatt Forgit lives and writes in New England. His interests include spending time with friends and family, annoying his better half, trying to be a cool uncle, scary stuff, movies, television shows, music, reading, eating, board games, creepy folklore, urban legends, spooky history, abandoned places, castles, islands, cabins in the woods, being near the ocean, and the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He is terrible with social media, dreams of owning a haunted bed and breakfast atop a cliffside overlooking the sea, hopes that someday Chopping Mall: The Musical becomes a reality, and doesn't normally talk about himself in the third person. For updates, random thoughts, horror recommendations, and general nonsense, please like and follow “Matt Forgit Author” on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 25, 2021
Hallmark-meets-horror in this funny, twisted book. As someone who doesn’t watch many slasher films, this brought just the right amount of humor to help me sleep at night and not be scared of reindeers.
December 10, 2022
DNF 63% (160 p.)
I tried, I swear I did... This piece of crap was my title starting with a Y I needed for a A-Z Book Titles Challenge and I so wanted to finish this book but I can't. Sorry I can't 😭 Don't make me 😭
I still count it as read, I put too much effort in it not to. But boy...
I'm not even gonna comment on the story... I'll just give it one lame star and try to forget it forever.
I tried, I swear I did... This piece of crap was my title starting with a Y I needed for a A-Z Book Titles Challenge and I so wanted to finish this book but I can't. Sorry I can't 😭 Don't make me 😭
I still count it as read, I put too much effort in it not to. But boy...
I'm not even gonna comment on the story... I'll just give it one lame star and try to forget it forever.
December 7, 2022
"A motionless figure, partially obscured by the darkness outside but illuminated by the snow and moonlight. Dressed in a fuzzy, dark brown, one-piece costume with a white belly. A stiff, smooth reindeer mask over his or her face and head that completely covered any identifying features. Atop the reindeer head was a set of dark antlers. A red nose shone on the end of the snout."
Serial killer who dresses in a reindeer costume? Sold.
I so wanted to like this one and I really tried but it fell flat for me. I know it was supposed to be a comedy but honestly it felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny, and failing.
Things i tried to get past (but failed)
- the town being named Tinselvania, and the fact that pretty much everyone works in the tinsel factory and are obsessed with tinsel.
- the names of characters (Bright, Acorn, Hepzibah, Garland)
- the love of Aunt Elaine's life turning up in the midst of all the chaos after 40 odd years with a story of being stuck on an island where he ate everyone (and wasn't even remotely sorry about it)
- the constant movie references and the song lyrics that people randomly quoted
I did absolutely die when Mary tells the story of how her dad died, it was pretty funny. And the murder scenes were pretty hilarious too.
It was by no means the worst book I've read but I don't think this is a genre for me. It was like watching one of those straight to video horrors that are just so bad that you can't help but watch it (and they can sometimes be funny). Movies like Raptor, Piranha, Sharknado etc. Movies that my mum watches unironically and actually enjoys.
So sadly this one was not for me but don't let me put you off, go and read it and make up your own mind. And then come back and let me know your thoughts.
Serial killer who dresses in a reindeer costume? Sold.
I so wanted to like this one and I really tried but it fell flat for me. I know it was supposed to be a comedy but honestly it felt like the author was trying too hard to be funny, and failing.
Things i tried to get past (but failed)
- the town being named Tinselvania, and the fact that pretty much everyone works in the tinsel factory and are obsessed with tinsel.
- the names of characters (Bright, Acorn, Hepzibah, Garland)
- the love of Aunt Elaine's life turning up in the midst of all the chaos after 40 odd years with a story of being stuck on an island where he ate everyone (and wasn't even remotely sorry about it)
- the constant movie references and the song lyrics that people randomly quoted
I did absolutely die when Mary tells the story of how her dad died, it was pretty funny. And the murder scenes were pretty hilarious too.
It was by no means the worst book I've read but I don't think this is a genre for me. It was like watching one of those straight to video horrors that are just so bad that you can't help but watch it (and they can sometimes be funny). Movies like Raptor, Piranha, Sharknado etc. Movies that my mum watches unironically and actually enjoys.
So sadly this one was not for me but don't let me put you off, go and read it and make up your own mind. And then come back and let me know your thoughts.
December 8, 2021
A perfect mix of horror and romantic comedy (with a touch of absurd comedy)—rereading this will definitely be a new Christmas tradition!
January 10, 2023
I am absolutely speechless. I totally did not figure this one out and everything in the last 50ish pages when it all came together just 🤯🤯! I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit cheesy and even a bit rediculous at times but it was the perfect amount of cheesiness & rediculousness. I was very much entertained and I am so glad I decided to see what exactly a "horror comedy" book was.
December 5, 2023
We knew we needed a holiday thriller for book club this year and it did not disappoint! The murders were gruesome and the story was crazy and at some points hilarious (the parents death LOL) I definitely recommend if you're looking for a good Christmas Horror Slasher Comedy.
December 30, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Hallmark Christmas movie MEETS the original slasher Black Christmas with nostalgia and some good laughs.
SYNOPSIS:
"Mary Classen is the successful CEO of a booming tinsel company in the quiet town of Tinselvania, Maine. Perpetually single and surrounded by quirky friends and townspeople, her world is flipped upside down when Bright Harmon, a rising star in the competitive world of tinsel-selling, arrives from a New York City Christmas conglomerate to discuss a potential partnership.
Meanwhile, the town of Tinselvania is under attack by a bloodthirsty, maniacal serial killer dressed as a reindeer. Why are they here? What do they want? Can Mary and Bright balance a blossoming romance and stop a deranged murderer before it’s too late?"
MY THOUGHTS:
🔪 I picked this Christmas horror up on KindleUnlimited knowing nothing about it and it was an absolute gem!
🔪 The small town of Tinselvania is just Christmas village perfection and exactly what I needed this Christmas with an awesome slasher twist.
🔪 An escaped serial killer heading to Tinselvania to seek vengeance on the Christmas town, is a trope I was here for (the escaped serial killer that is!) the rest was pretty unique.
🔪 There were lots of nostalgic culture reference and comedy that made me giggle then BAM* violent murders begin.
🔪 A fun, festive, frightening horror comedy that is just utterly joyful to read.
Hallmark Christmas movie MEETS the original slasher Black Christmas with nostalgia and some good laughs.
SYNOPSIS:
"Mary Classen is the successful CEO of a booming tinsel company in the quiet town of Tinselvania, Maine. Perpetually single and surrounded by quirky friends and townspeople, her world is flipped upside down when Bright Harmon, a rising star in the competitive world of tinsel-selling, arrives from a New York City Christmas conglomerate to discuss a potential partnership.
Meanwhile, the town of Tinselvania is under attack by a bloodthirsty, maniacal serial killer dressed as a reindeer. Why are they here? What do they want? Can Mary and Bright balance a blossoming romance and stop a deranged murderer before it’s too late?"
MY THOUGHTS:
🔪 I picked this Christmas horror up on KindleUnlimited knowing nothing about it and it was an absolute gem!
🔪 The small town of Tinselvania is just Christmas village perfection and exactly what I needed this Christmas with an awesome slasher twist.
🔪 An escaped serial killer heading to Tinselvania to seek vengeance on the Christmas town, is a trope I was here for (the escaped serial killer that is!) the rest was pretty unique.
🔪 There were lots of nostalgic culture reference and comedy that made me giggle then BAM* violent murders begin.
🔪 A fun, festive, frightening horror comedy that is just utterly joyful to read.
December 18, 2022
An imaginative thrill ride that manages to be both heartwarming and terrifying. I loved all the pop culture references and the author’s playful use of holiday movie tropes. If you’re looking for a different kind of Christmas story, I highly recommend giving this a read to find out why all isn’t merry and bright in Tinselvania.
December 21, 2022
A fun Christmas massacre!
What a ride! The nostalgia alone made this book so much fun!! The wise ass remarks and witty humor made me laugh out loud at times. And the gore was on point! So much fun wrapped up in a book!
What a ride! The nostalgia alone made this book so much fun!! The wise ass remarks and witty humor made me laugh out loud at times. And the gore was on point! So much fun wrapped up in a book!
December 6, 2022
This book was the perfect mix of horror and comedy with a dash of romance! It was so cheesy but in a funny WTF way that had me rolling. The perfect holiday book 🤣
January 11, 2022
This one popped up on one of my social media accounts. Don't remember if it was Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or wherever. Something about the cover called to me. I mean, killer reindeer? What's not to love? And that goes for real reindeer and for killers dressed as reindeer. And I was lucky enough to have someone gift me a copy for Christmas, and I dove right in.
Welcome to Tinselvania, home of Tinsel Inc., the world's No. 1 GoTo for all things tinsel. Tinselvania, where every day is Christmas. Tinselvania, which has a non-existent crime rate. Until now.
You Better Watch Out doesn't take the time to ease you into the story. Forgit jumps right in with both feet, brutally killing one of the townsfolk in the very first chapter, impaling him on reindeer antlers. And now that we've got blood on our hands, the author takes a step back an introduces us to our heroine, Mary Classen, CEO of Tinsel Inc. Mary has it all: she's intelligent, has a loving family and caring and supportive friends, a job others would kill for... The only thing missing is a man in her life. That's not to say she needs one, but most locals feel intimidated by her, and given that just about everybody in town works for her, it wouldn't seem right to fraternize with her employees.
Enter Bright Harmon. Bright works for a competitor in NYC, and he's been sent to assess the company in order to try to acquire it for his boss. What he didn't plan on was falling in love with Mary (and let's face it, her name, especially given this turn of events, really should have been Meredith [Meri -- or Merri, for short]. Merri and Bright. Get it?). And Mary, despite all her bluster about not having time for a relationship and how she's perfectly content with her lonely life, reluctantly admits to having feelings for Bright. While their relationship blossoms, folks--her family, friends, and coworkers--are being killed off left and right. No one is safe. But why? And who is the man (or woman) under the reindeer costume?
While the book describes itself as a Christmas horror comedy, I found it to be heavy on the Christmas and horror and light on the comedy. It has its moments, especially when Mary's mother and Aunt are involved, but for the most part, it comes across more as a horror romance mystery. Normally I would bail on something like this. Romance? Me? Shudder. But Forgit blends the three together perfectly, and there's just enough blood, guts, and gore to offset the saccharine sweetness of new love, which is why I was able to forge right through, trying to piece together the clues the author leaves lying about like so much discarded tinsel. And just when you think you have it figured out, Forgit adds something else to the mix that leaves you questioning what you originally thought was going on, and leads you through a merry maze with twists, turns, and doublebacks that at times can leave your head spinning, or at the very least keep you off balance until the twisted, heart-pounding conclusion.
If you're looking for a holiday tale with that little extra something, then I can't recommend Forgit's You Better Watch Out enough. And based on the ending, I don't think we've seen the last of Tinselvania.
Welcome to Tinselvania, home of Tinsel Inc., the world's No. 1 GoTo for all things tinsel. Tinselvania, where every day is Christmas. Tinselvania, which has a non-existent crime rate. Until now.
You Better Watch Out doesn't take the time to ease you into the story. Forgit jumps right in with both feet, brutally killing one of the townsfolk in the very first chapter, impaling him on reindeer antlers. And now that we've got blood on our hands, the author takes a step back an introduces us to our heroine, Mary Classen, CEO of Tinsel Inc. Mary has it all: she's intelligent, has a loving family and caring and supportive friends, a job others would kill for... The only thing missing is a man in her life. That's not to say she needs one, but most locals feel intimidated by her, and given that just about everybody in town works for her, it wouldn't seem right to fraternize with her employees.
Enter Bright Harmon. Bright works for a competitor in NYC, and he's been sent to assess the company in order to try to acquire it for his boss. What he didn't plan on was falling in love with Mary (and let's face it, her name, especially given this turn of events, really should have been Meredith [Meri -- or Merri, for short]. Merri and Bright. Get it?). And Mary, despite all her bluster about not having time for a relationship and how she's perfectly content with her lonely life, reluctantly admits to having feelings for Bright. While their relationship blossoms, folks--her family, friends, and coworkers--are being killed off left and right. No one is safe. But why? And who is the man (or woman) under the reindeer costume?
While the book describes itself as a Christmas horror comedy, I found it to be heavy on the Christmas and horror and light on the comedy. It has its moments, especially when Mary's mother and Aunt are involved, but for the most part, it comes across more as a horror romance mystery. Normally I would bail on something like this. Romance? Me? Shudder. But Forgit blends the three together perfectly, and there's just enough blood, guts, and gore to offset the saccharine sweetness of new love, which is why I was able to forge right through, trying to piece together the clues the author leaves lying about like so much discarded tinsel. And just when you think you have it figured out, Forgit adds something else to the mix that leaves you questioning what you originally thought was going on, and leads you through a merry maze with twists, turns, and doublebacks that at times can leave your head spinning, or at the very least keep you off balance until the twisted, heart-pounding conclusion.
If you're looking for a holiday tale with that little extra something, then I can't recommend Forgit's You Better Watch Out enough. And based on the ending, I don't think we've seen the last of Tinselvania.
December 12, 2024
This is holiday horror. It during the holidays, in a town obsessed with Christmas, the villain wears a reindeer costume, and the main character names are Mary and Bright. It’s a Hallmark movie with lots of blood. There’s a budding romance from enemies to lovers, with cheesy ice skating and intervening family members. The damn town is named Tinselvania. It’s so damn campy and tacky, but it so damn good. It’s actually called a Holiday Horror Comedy.
So there is an actual story line to follow. An escaped mental patient is out to get revenge on his hometown, dressed as a reindeer. That’s your story, people get picked off one by one. But don’t read this book for the substance, read it for the humor and loads of nostalgic references. Also read it for the creative names of the characters. Forgit went all out with naming his characters and they are not to be missed.
I loved this book. It’s not for serious readers, so don’t get mean and judgy going into it. It is gory, lots of slasher horror and new weapons, so it is horror. But it’s a delightful holiday treat that will have you laughing and cringing at the same time!
December 11, 2021
How can a book be so funny and horrifying at the same time? This was an entertaining ride from the first page! You'll find yourself laughing at one moment and hiding under the covers the next. Well written and suspenseful, I actually found it hard to put down. If you're looking for a scary little Christmas, this book will do it.
January 10, 2022
Welcome to Tinselvania, a town where both Norman Rockwell and Norman Bates would feel at home. Matt Forgit fuses comedy, romance, pop culture references, and buckets full of gore into an entertaining tale of holiday horror, with twists that will keep you guessing till the end. For the love of Paul Revere, go out and buy this book! And Matt Forgit, write another book soon!
January 3, 2022
A perfect blend of comedy and horror! Kept me entertained and laughing! A fantastic debut novel. Hoping for a sequel to add to my holiday reading next year!
December 20, 2022
It’s funny that some of the things mentioned in the bad reviews are what I personally loved about the book…. All the mention of the movies, quotes and things from my youth – YES, please! I knew by Chapter 2 with the mention of Trapper Keepers and Rex Manning Day that I was going to love this book and all the nostalgia it gave me! For me it all added to the humor of the story. And you have to go in with the mindset things will be a little silly and weird or you aren’t going to like this book. The author did an amazing job developing the characters. There were so many but it was so easy to remember them all. Most likely because they all had such unique quirkiness to each of them. I would have been happier if I hadn’t been GRRM’d so hard, but this is a slasher story so I can’t complain about that! I really hope that the author writes more Christmas books like this so I have something to look forward to next year!
January 12, 2025
-Do you miss the holidays & want to a jolly, bloody reminder?
-Do you loathe the holidays & want to see it besmirched into oblivion?
-Do you love Hallmark holiday movies?
-Do you hate Hallmark holiday movies?
-Do you like to laugh at things that should NOT be funny, yet they are?
-Do you enjoy senseless violence that seems to come out of nowhere, even tho the cover basically warned you?
You need You Better Watch Out by Matt Forgit in your life/on your TBR if you answer YES to any of these questions.
Quick synopsis:
When Mary meets Bright (pauses, so you can catch it), it’s not on the best of terms, but it seems that they are stuck with each other for the holidays. It just so happens that Bright is attractive, available, and has a pulse. While Mary, the CEO of Tinselvania’s top export company, is SINGLE all the way as well. Smells like romance might be in the air, along with something…coppery? Hopefully Mary will make it through the holidays with her heart intact, as well as everything else.
This was a blitzkrieg of dark humor jammed into the perfect horror comedy that lays the jokes and references on thicker than an ugly Xmas sweater but jabs in the blood/gore where you want it most. Also, that ending is the big present that you save for last hoping its the best & it delivers the kind of gory, over the top, violent end that we all wished for. Sturdy enough to be read year round. I highly recommend this one if you like your humor with a side of horror and enough references to choke all 9 reindeer. Hopefully you will eat it up just like I did.
-Do you loathe the holidays & want to see it besmirched into oblivion?
-Do you love Hallmark holiday movies?
-Do you hate Hallmark holiday movies?
-Do you like to laugh at things that should NOT be funny, yet they are?
-Do you enjoy senseless violence that seems to come out of nowhere, even tho the cover basically warned you?
You need You Better Watch Out by Matt Forgit in your life/on your TBR if you answer YES to any of these questions.
Quick synopsis:
When Mary meets Bright (pauses, so you can catch it), it’s not on the best of terms, but it seems that they are stuck with each other for the holidays. It just so happens that Bright is attractive, available, and has a pulse. While Mary, the CEO of Tinselvania’s top export company, is SINGLE all the way as well. Smells like romance might be in the air, along with something…coppery? Hopefully Mary will make it through the holidays with her heart intact, as well as everything else.
This was a blitzkrieg of dark humor jammed into the perfect horror comedy that lays the jokes and references on thicker than an ugly Xmas sweater but jabs in the blood/gore where you want it most. Also, that ending is the big present that you save for last hoping its the best & it delivers the kind of gory, over the top, violent end that we all wished for. Sturdy enough to be read year round. I highly recommend this one if you like your humor with a side of horror and enough references to choke all 9 reindeer. Hopefully you will eat it up just like I did.
December 2, 2023
Reindeers won’t look the same for me this Christmas lol! If you love a creepy Christmas theme, this book is for you. I had lots of laughs with the many 90s references. Lots of jumps and gore. And a funny twist, packed full of characters and Christmas themes. Will definitely be reading more from him!
June 29, 2023
Why have a white Christmas when you can have a red one? A delightfully bloody, over the top Hallmark meets horror novel. Let’s be real, I didn’t get half the movie references, but I fucking love Supermarket Sweep.
December 21, 2023
5 Stars (maybe like 4.75 but only slightly under)
**no spoilers but references IYKYK**
Ok, I had a lot of fun here. I LOVE a good horror movie and slasher, especially the ones that are self aware and fun and embrace the absurdity. This was that with the absolute bonkers going on for most of this book.
I tried so hard to guess the killer and I didn’t (though I will say that was the weakest part for me - not because I couldn’t guess but because of who it was). But the slowly escalating tension and genuine worry about who was going to make it to the end of the book (I was sincerely stressed for the little kids) kept me on edge the entire time.
It had a bit of a slow start as you’re settling in to get to know the characters and the town and picking up possible key players, motives and clues, but once it hit 60% it really went off. The final act was full of action, twists and turns and an absolutely insane final confrontation and reveal.
Nice little sequel bait at the end there too - I almost threw my kindle!
Laugh out loud funny, utterly ridiculous at points, and some of the most balls to the wall passages of text I’ve ever read. Highly recommend if it’s your thing!
Trigger warnings for:
- Gore
- Murder/on page deaths
- Dark Comedy
- Bond villain monologuing
Don’t worry about:
- no animal deaths
- no child deaths (some teenagers though)
- no sexual violence
**no spoilers but references IYKYK**
Ok, I had a lot of fun here. I LOVE a good horror movie and slasher, especially the ones that are self aware and fun and embrace the absurdity. This was that with the absolute bonkers going on for most of this book.
I tried so hard to guess the killer and I didn’t (though I will say that was the weakest part for me - not because I couldn’t guess but because of who it was). But the slowly escalating tension and genuine worry about who was going to make it to the end of the book (I was sincerely stressed for the little kids) kept me on edge the entire time.
It had a bit of a slow start as you’re settling in to get to know the characters and the town and picking up possible key players, motives and clues, but once it hit 60% it really went off. The final act was full of action, twists and turns and an absolutely insane final confrontation and reveal.
Nice little sequel bait at the end there too - I almost threw my kindle!
Laugh out loud funny, utterly ridiculous at points, and some of the most balls to the wall passages of text I’ve ever read. Highly recommend if it’s your thing!
Trigger warnings for:
- Gore
- Murder/on page deaths
- Dark Comedy
- Bond villain monologuing
Don’t worry about:
- no animal deaths
- no child deaths (some teenagers though)
- no sexual violence
December 28, 2023
This book is the perfect mix of horror, comedy hallmark Christmas, and a sprinkle of romance! There is a lot of quirky characters in the book, it can get slightly confusing but there is a chart at the end of the book that breaks it down. All of gory slasher scene are sprinkled through out the book, Towards the end it is a massacre and has a big twist ending!
December 15, 2025
Sometimes Christmas books are like Christmas movies. They really suck but you watch them every year anyway just because... This is not one of those books!
So...
It starts off with Mary who runs a tinsel corporation in Tinselvania. I know, right? But unbeknownst to her, her entire family, and the town that large.. Chester Persimmons a convicted serial killer who terrorize the town years earlier escaped. He also dresses as a reindeer to kill people. I love the kills in this book. They're not overly gory but they're comically done. And honestly as the story progresses they get more and more brutal. Anyhow, his former caretaker comes with a group of vigilantes and kills him halfway through the book! What?
Most of the book here is a love story between Mary and a guy named Bright. Bright is from a rival company looking to take over. But they have a romance regardless. This book is heavily focused on Mary's family.
So then we found out Chester Persimmons had a son named John Patrick who would visit him often. It's even suspected he's the one that broke him out of the asylum.
While all this is happening Mary has this great Christmas party with tons of friends and family over. And the slaughtering gets out of control with four reindeer killers. WTF! A lot of credit for the swerve here. Turns out it was Uncle Cobden, his wife, and his two kids. But the ringleader was Bright. Apparently the uncle was a little upset he had to give over his corporation to Mary's dad. Stand up taking the heads of the family Mary, her aunt, and her mom who is named Alvina for some reason. Just think that's a cool name. And of course they're in the factory where they're going to blow it up. Enter our vigilantes for some justice. Then it comes down to Merry and Bright! See what the writer did there?
So this is Matt Forgit's first book apparently. And I got to say I was entertained throughout. I did get a little confused with so many characters. But they were all basically fodder for the reindeer so I can forgive that. The lead-up to the big finale was pretty well done. And I got to say the swerve in the middle was fantastic! This is a really killer entry into Christmas horror. And the thing is it will be talked about every year!
So...
It starts off with Mary who runs a tinsel corporation in Tinselvania. I know, right? But unbeknownst to her, her entire family, and the town that large.. Chester Persimmons a convicted serial killer who terrorize the town years earlier escaped. He also dresses as a reindeer to kill people. I love the kills in this book. They're not overly gory but they're comically done. And honestly as the story progresses they get more and more brutal. Anyhow, his former caretaker comes with a group of vigilantes and kills him halfway through the book! What?
Most of the book here is a love story between Mary and a guy named Bright. Bright is from a rival company looking to take over. But they have a romance regardless. This book is heavily focused on Mary's family.
So then we found out Chester Persimmons had a son named John Patrick who would visit him often. It's even suspected he's the one that broke him out of the asylum.
While all this is happening Mary has this great Christmas party with tons of friends and family over. And the slaughtering gets out of control with four reindeer killers. WTF! A lot of credit for the swerve here. Turns out it was Uncle Cobden, his wife, and his two kids. But the ringleader was Bright. Apparently the uncle was a little upset he had to give over his corporation to Mary's dad. Stand up taking the heads of the family Mary, her aunt, and her mom who is named Alvina for some reason. Just think that's a cool name. And of course they're in the factory where they're going to blow it up. Enter our vigilantes for some justice. Then it comes down to Merry and Bright! See what the writer did there?
So this is Matt Forgit's first book apparently. And I got to say I was entertained throughout. I did get a little confused with so many characters. But they were all basically fodder for the reindeer so I can forgive that. The lead-up to the big finale was pretty well done. And I got to say the swerve in the middle was fantastic! This is a really killer entry into Christmas horror. And the thing is it will be talked about every year!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
Hahahahaha....ahh what!!! Matt....seriously....a good book and a damn ending sir! Lots of people to keep track of...one downside.
December 28, 2024
Is wholesome horror a thing? If not it should be because that's what this book felt like to me. Well, the first 90% did. The last 10% was a no holds barred insane blood fest. A slow burn Christmas TV movie special rom-com slasher with extra tinsel.
I loved all the quirky characters and some of the names had me chuckling. Some reviews I read says there are too many characters, maybe that's true but for me this story wasn't just about the main characters Mary and Bright. It was a story about the town of Tinselvania and how can you read a story about a town without knowing it's residents?
There's also a ton of pop culture references that made my Gen X heart happy. And I'll admit that the theme from Flash Gordon got stuck in my head, which isn't a bad thing!
I loved all the quirky characters and some of the names had me chuckling. Some reviews I read says there are too many characters, maybe that's true but for me this story wasn't just about the main characters Mary and Bright. It was a story about the town of Tinselvania and how can you read a story about a town without knowing it's residents?
There's also a ton of pop culture references that made my Gen X heart happy. And I'll admit that the theme from Flash Gordon got stuck in my head, which isn't a bad thing!
December 31, 2024
This book was pure ridiculousness but it was such a fun, great read. Picture a Hallmark movie, meets ridiculous romance, meets horror. There are nods to Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, You're next, and Kill Bill to name a few.
A town whose main business is tinsel has their world turned into something out of Black Christmas when a killer from the past comes to take out the locals one by one. The amount of killings is over the top that I lost count. This book had a bit of everything. Not to be taken seriously but worth a read.
A town whose main business is tinsel has their world turned into something out of Black Christmas when a killer from the past comes to take out the locals one by one. The amount of killings is over the top that I lost count. This book had a bit of everything. Not to be taken seriously but worth a read.
February 25, 2023
Funny at times, but so over the top I kept rolling my eyes. I also felt quite a few of the references are dated and didn’t “get” the jokes.
I know a lot of other readers will enjoy the humour and plot, so truly give it a chance. This one just wasn’t a fav for me.
I know a lot of other readers will enjoy the humour and plot, so truly give it a chance. This one just wasn’t a fav for me.
Read
January 3, 2023Dnf'd it at page 145. So SO boring and slow.....could care less about the town of Tinselvania and it's catty assed women. Cannot recommend this Reindeer dropping snoozefest.
1.5
1.5
December 16, 2022
Hilariously gruesome!
Not only did this book make me laugh out loud at the sheer ridiculousness of it, but it also kept me on my toes with lots of moving parts. It also has the single most hilarious death description ever, as follows:
“My dad was an avid golfer. It was a beautiful, sunny, happy day. My dad had bought new golf clubs he wanted to try out. There were several games going on and Dad was on the ninth hole. There was a golf ball machine that was being repaired on the practice course. The machine malfunctioned while it was being fixed. All of a sudden, errant golf balls came flying out of nowhere at lethal speed and velocity and hit him on the left side of his head. At the same time, there was a wedding reception in the grand hall of the club and someone had shaken up the champagne bottles. When the bottles were opened, a hailstorm of corks came flying onto the golf course and hit my father on the right side of his head at the exact same time as the golf balls were hitting the left side. His head exploded. And then a wild pack of coyotes came out of the surrounding forest and ate him.”
How can you not laugh? My only complaint, and the only thing keeping this from being a five star review, are the occasional typo and grammatical error, which I just find annoying. Overall, though, entertaining and gloriously, disgustingly vile.
Not only did this book make me laugh out loud at the sheer ridiculousness of it, but it also kept me on my toes with lots of moving parts. It also has the single most hilarious death description ever, as follows:
“My dad was an avid golfer. It was a beautiful, sunny, happy day. My dad had bought new golf clubs he wanted to try out. There were several games going on and Dad was on the ninth hole. There was a golf ball machine that was being repaired on the practice course. The machine malfunctioned while it was being fixed. All of a sudden, errant golf balls came flying out of nowhere at lethal speed and velocity and hit him on the left side of his head. At the same time, there was a wedding reception in the grand hall of the club and someone had shaken up the champagne bottles. When the bottles were opened, a hailstorm of corks came flying onto the golf course and hit my father on the right side of his head at the exact same time as the golf balls were hitting the left side. His head exploded. And then a wild pack of coyotes came out of the surrounding forest and ate him.”
How can you not laugh? My only complaint, and the only thing keeping this from being a five star review, are the occasional typo and grammatical error, which I just find annoying. Overall, though, entertaining and gloriously, disgustingly vile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
"The reindeer gutted and hollowed Emmett out and rearranged the train set. Emmett’s corpse was situated so that the miniature train would ride right through the gigantic hole in Emmett’s torso on every lap around the tiny track, round and round, in and out."
This was a fun read. You Better Watch Out takes Christmas to an entirely different level. I enjoy Horror Comedies and this one was rather enjoyable. There were a lot of characters in this story and at times it was hard to keep up but it didn't deter me too much from the story. I loved the slasher element that this story brought in particular.
Tinselvania is a small quiet town in Maine. They're known for their popular tinsel company, hence the name of the town. This Christmas is brutal and bloody. The town is in grave danger when a serial killer has escaped from an asylum and is out to fulfill his urge to kill. Oh and did I mention that he is dressed up as a reindeer? Weird, right? Festive nonetheless LOL.
If you are looking for a last minute read for the Holidays then you should definitely give this one a try. I had a good time with this one.
This was a fun read. You Better Watch Out takes Christmas to an entirely different level. I enjoy Horror Comedies and this one was rather enjoyable. There were a lot of characters in this story and at times it was hard to keep up but it didn't deter me too much from the story. I loved the slasher element that this story brought in particular.
Tinselvania is a small quiet town in Maine. They're known for their popular tinsel company, hence the name of the town. This Christmas is brutal and bloody. The town is in grave danger when a serial killer has escaped from an asylum and is out to fulfill his urge to kill. Oh and did I mention that he is dressed up as a reindeer? Weird, right? Festive nonetheless LOL.
If you are looking for a last minute read for the Holidays then you should definitely give this one a try. I had a good time with this one.
December 11, 2022
I really wanted to love it but I think it’s just a bit too parody for me!
This books is very much cheesy hallmark Christmas movie crossed with a slasher film.
It follows an unlucky in love CEO from a small town who inherited the worlds biggest tinsel firm from her father meeting a cutthroat business man from New York who is hoping to takeover her firm.
Things take a turn when a murder in a a reindeer costume starts brutally attacking the residents of Tinselvania!
It was stuffed full of pop-culture references and really made fun of all the tropes used by both genres.
I think it took a little bit too long to get going for me, the first half was definitely more hallmark than slasher and there are A LOT of characters in it, it some times felt difficult to keep on top of who was who.
Overall I think if you love silly parody books with a blood bath, that don’t take themselves at all seriously, this is a fun Christmas time read.
It isn’t one I will run to read again next festive season though.
This books is very much cheesy hallmark Christmas movie crossed with a slasher film.
It follows an unlucky in love CEO from a small town who inherited the worlds biggest tinsel firm from her father meeting a cutthroat business man from New York who is hoping to takeover her firm.
Things take a turn when a murder in a a reindeer costume starts brutally attacking the residents of Tinselvania!
It was stuffed full of pop-culture references and really made fun of all the tropes used by both genres.
I think it took a little bit too long to get going for me, the first half was definitely more hallmark than slasher and there are A LOT of characters in it, it some times felt difficult to keep on top of who was who.
Overall I think if you love silly parody books with a blood bath, that don’t take themselves at all seriously, this is a fun Christmas time read.
It isn’t one I will run to read again next festive season though.
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