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Bad Dolls
In this stunning new collection of four horror stories, award-winning author Rachel Harrison explores themes of body image, complicated female friendship, heartbreak, and hauntings.
In “Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
In “Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
In “Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
These dark tales navigate the complexities of modern life with humor, insight, and the occasional blood sacrifice…
In “Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
In “Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
In “Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
These dark tales navigate the complexities of modern life with humor, insight, and the occasional blood sacrifice…
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
163 people are currently reading
7911 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Harrison
11 books5,878 followersRachel Harrison is the author of The Return, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica and Electric Lit. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 764 reviews
November 26, 2024
**4.5-stars**
Bad Dolls is a collection of 4-short stories from Rachel Harrison, one of my new go-to Horror authors. I recently read Harrison's October 2022-release, Such Sharp Teeth, and absolutely loved it.
After I finished, I thought, do I need to wait an entire year to get another new release from Harrison? If so, how sad. I checked out her author page and was delighted to discover this collection releasing Tuesday, December 6th.
Berkley came through for me and I was delighted to be able to check out this collection a little early.
For me the collection was perfectly arranged, with each story increasing my enjoyment level. The first story follows Jordan, who picks up a Magic 8-Ball for nostalgia's sake at a flea market and it ends up influencing her life in big ways.
I enjoyed this story as a start to the collection. It didn't knock my socks off, but was well-written and had an intriguing concept.
The second story follows Nat as she attends her best friend from childhood, Hailey's, bachelorette party. Nat doesn't really know any of the other women that well, as they are Hailey's friends from college. It explores her feelings of exclusion and how friendships can change over time.
This one went in such an interesting direction that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed Nat's narrative voice and love how this one ended.
The third story follows Meg, who decides to join her friend on a diet prior to attending her ex's wedding. The women download an app called, Goblin, that is supposed to help them stick to their plan.
The exploration of body issues and struggling with an eating disorder was very well done. I loved the idea of the Goblin. It feels that way sometimes, doesn't it?
I would throw a caution flag on this story for Readers who may be triggered by active eating disorders, or BDD.
Finally, the fourth, and my favorite story of the lot, follows Mackenzie, who moves back to her hometown following the death of her little sister, Audrey.
This story explores grief, guilt and regrets. Mackenzie rents an attic apartment and discovers a porcelain doll there. Things get weird, things get creepy and I absolutely loved it. This story for me was a perfect example of why I love Rachel Harrison's work so much.
Overall, this is a great collection. I definitely recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Harrison's novels, or anyone who enjoys short-Horror in general.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. These stories are going to stick in my mind for a long time. Well done!
Bad Dolls is a collection of 4-short stories from Rachel Harrison, one of my new go-to Horror authors. I recently read Harrison's October 2022-release, Such Sharp Teeth, and absolutely loved it.
After I finished, I thought, do I need to wait an entire year to get another new release from Harrison? If so, how sad. I checked out her author page and was delighted to discover this collection releasing Tuesday, December 6th.
Berkley came through for me and I was delighted to be able to check out this collection a little early.
For me the collection was perfectly arranged, with each story increasing my enjoyment level. The first story follows Jordan, who picks up a Magic 8-Ball for nostalgia's sake at a flea market and it ends up influencing her life in big ways.
I enjoyed this story as a start to the collection. It didn't knock my socks off, but was well-written and had an intriguing concept.
The second story follows Nat as she attends her best friend from childhood, Hailey's, bachelorette party. Nat doesn't really know any of the other women that well, as they are Hailey's friends from college. It explores her feelings of exclusion and how friendships can change over time.
This one went in such an interesting direction that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed Nat's narrative voice and love how this one ended.
The third story follows Meg, who decides to join her friend on a diet prior to attending her ex's wedding. The women download an app called, Goblin, that is supposed to help them stick to their plan.
The exploration of body issues and struggling with an eating disorder was very well done. I loved the idea of the Goblin. It feels that way sometimes, doesn't it?
I would throw a caution flag on this story for Readers who may be triggered by active eating disorders, or BDD.
Finally, the fourth, and my favorite story of the lot, follows Mackenzie, who moves back to her hometown following the death of her little sister, Audrey.
This story explores grief, guilt and regrets. Mackenzie rents an attic apartment and discovers a porcelain doll there. Things get weird, things get creepy and I absolutely loved it. This story for me was a perfect example of why I love Rachel Harrison's work so much.
Overall, this is a great collection. I definitely recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Harrison's novels, or anyone who enjoys short-Horror in general.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. These stories are going to stick in my mind for a long time. Well done!
September 1, 2023
4.5
This is a really good collection of short stories from the author of Cackle - my personal favourite. Rachel Harrison explores various themes including body image, friendship and heartache/heartbreak. The first in the group is the one I like the most which is ‘Reply Hazy, Try Again’. Jordan is browsing a flea market with Maggie and finds a Magic 8 ball in a random bin and she has to have it. Fifteen dollars later, it’s hers and she gets more than she bartered for especially in relation to boyfriend Kenny. I think this one is so clever, I love the concept of it and the lesson learned!
The second is ‘Bachelorette’ in which Natalie reluctantly attends Hailey’s hen party with good reason as organiser Brianna is, well, I’ll leave you to discover the joy of Brianna. Tension builds and how, on one occasion I could scarcely breathe! Horror personified and then, phew, a sigh of relief. The characterisation is excellent which sure is a skill in a short story and the author cleverly shows how friendship changes over time, in this case very dramatically.
Number three is ‘Goblin’ - download the Goblin app to help to lose weight but at your own risk. So clever, vivid and I don’t know what’s wrong with me but the outcome makes me laugh! I’m going into therapy shortly.
The story I find the creepiest is ‘Bad Dolls’ but that’s probably because vintage dolls freak me out. Mackenzie moves back home after a death in the family but decides to rent an attic in an old Victorian house. She finds a porcelain doll concealed in a hatbox inside a cabinet and thus begins some very strange happenings. The story examines the varied impact of grief and guilt in a dark, creepy and haunting way.
This is a good collection and one I can recommend to fans of short stories and of Rachel Harrison. She doesn’t leave you feeling short changed as some short stories do. They aren’t too horrifying, old dolls aside, but they’re probably cleverer than sock you between the eyes horror as they’re more memorable. This would be a perfect October read for Halloween season.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a really good collection of short stories from the author of Cackle - my personal favourite. Rachel Harrison explores various themes including body image, friendship and heartache/heartbreak. The first in the group is the one I like the most which is ‘Reply Hazy, Try Again’. Jordan is browsing a flea market with Maggie and finds a Magic 8 ball in a random bin and she has to have it. Fifteen dollars later, it’s hers and she gets more than she bartered for especially in relation to boyfriend Kenny. I think this one is so clever, I love the concept of it and the lesson learned!
The second is ‘Bachelorette’ in which Natalie reluctantly attends Hailey’s hen party with good reason as organiser Brianna is, well, I’ll leave you to discover the joy of Brianna. Tension builds and how, on one occasion I could scarcely breathe! Horror personified and then, phew, a sigh of relief. The characterisation is excellent which sure is a skill in a short story and the author cleverly shows how friendship changes over time, in this case very dramatically.
Number three is ‘Goblin’ - download the Goblin app to help to lose weight but at your own risk. So clever, vivid and I don’t know what’s wrong with me but the outcome makes me laugh! I’m going into therapy shortly.
The story I find the creepiest is ‘Bad Dolls’ but that’s probably because vintage dolls freak me out. Mackenzie moves back home after a death in the family but decides to rent an attic in an old Victorian house. She finds a porcelain doll concealed in a hatbox inside a cabinet and thus begins some very strange happenings. The story examines the varied impact of grief and guilt in a dark, creepy and haunting way.
This is a good collection and one I can recommend to fans of short stories and of Rachel Harrison. She doesn’t leave you feeling short changed as some short stories do. They aren’t too horrifying, old dolls aside, but they’re probably cleverer than sock you between the eyes horror as they’re more memorable. This would be a perfect October read for Halloween season.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 16, 2024
*Spooky Season 2024*
I added this to my TBR last season after enjoying “Cackle”! See Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
🧙🏻♀️
And, this collection of 4 short stories has confirmed to me that Rachel Harrison puts the FUN in Halloween! 🎃
Her short stories feature relatable characters doing ordinary things, which makes their CREEPY encounters seem almost POSSIBLE!
Not super scary but definitely perfect for SPOOKY SEASON, with each story feeling complete and satisfying.
In Reply Hazy, Try Again,” Jordan purchases a Magic 8 Ball at a flea market which begins to offer her some unorthodox replies to her questions.
In “Bachelorette,” Natalie attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, and discovers that the activities planned are even more horrific than the usual, silly games. (my worst nightmare too!)
In “Goblin,” In preparation for her ex’s wedding, an insecure woman, downloads a new dieting APP which assigns its users a personal Goblin to HELP them stick with their diet at any cost.
AND
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, Mackenzie finds a strange porcelain doll in her new rental apartment, which seems to take on a life of its own…
At just over 100 pages, you can devour this in one sitting or just read one story at a time!
Enjoy! 👻
I added this to my TBR last season after enjoying “Cackle”! See Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
🧙🏻♀️
And, this collection of 4 short stories has confirmed to me that Rachel Harrison puts the FUN in Halloween! 🎃
Her short stories feature relatable characters doing ordinary things, which makes their CREEPY encounters seem almost POSSIBLE!
Not super scary but definitely perfect for SPOOKY SEASON, with each story feeling complete and satisfying.
In Reply Hazy, Try Again,” Jordan purchases a Magic 8 Ball at a flea market which begins to offer her some unorthodox replies to her questions.
In “Bachelorette,” Natalie attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, and discovers that the activities planned are even more horrific than the usual, silly games. (my worst nightmare too!)
In “Goblin,” In preparation for her ex’s wedding, an insecure woman, downloads a new dieting APP which assigns its users a personal Goblin to HELP them stick with their diet at any cost.
AND
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, Mackenzie finds a strange porcelain doll in her new rental apartment, which seems to take on a life of its own…
At just over 100 pages, you can devour this in one sitting or just read one story at a time!
Enjoy! 👻
December 28, 2023
2⭐
Genre ~ fiction
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Est page Count ~ 132
Audio length ~3 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, Phoebe Strole
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ bulimia, references to suicide
I have no clue why this is marketed as horror. Seriously my mind is totally boggled by this. Horror to me is movies like the Saw franchise or Nightmare on Elm Street. Something that's bloody and gory and scares the bejesus outta me and this didn't even come close to making me want to listen with the lights on. I seem to be an outlier here.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan purchases a magic 8 ball. But this isn't like the one I had as a kid, this one gives more interesting answers. I liked this one the most because it seems to lead her to her true destiny.
Bachelorette
Natalie's childhood bff, Hayley, is getting married, but there's someone else planning the bachelorette party, someone who thinks they're the bff. The party turns hella weird at the end. If I had to pick this one would be the most horror like one. Probably a good idea to find a new bff.
I related to this one the most. Probably 20 years ago my bff brought a new friend into our mix. This new friend thought she knew MY bff better then I did after like 15 years I had put in already. Here's the story ~ she offered her cinnamon gum. I said she's allergic. New friend says no she's not. I give her my raised brow, like really you're questioning me?, so she asks her...guess what? She's allergic to cinnamon. Peace out newbie.
Goblin
Meg is trying to lose weight before she goes to her ex's wedding. Her and her friend download the Goblin app and he's a real thing that comes and swats food out of your hand if it's not healthy for you. This one bugged me the most because this little dude threw out perfectly fine food ~ ranch dip, a chocolate bar, Alfredo sauce....wasteful!
Bad Dolls
Mackenzie is back in her hometown after her sisters suicide. There's grief and a creepy doll that I wouldn't want to sleep next to.
Overall, not really for me, but at least it was a quick 4am can't sleep listen. Did I nod off and miss something? Not likely since once my eyes are open I'm usually up until my after dinner couch nap. I would have liked a better title as well because it makes no sense. There is one bad doll and she's in the last story. A title that included all 4 stories would have been better IMO.
Narration notes:
Each narrator did a perfectly fine job. Usually I do enjoy when there are multiple narrators, but since this was 4 individual short stories I don't think it was necessary. I can think of many other books that could have greatly benefited from multiple more than this one.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ fiction
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Est page Count ~ 132
Audio length ~3 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, Phoebe Strole
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ bulimia, references to suicide
I have no clue why this is marketed as horror. Seriously my mind is totally boggled by this. Horror to me is movies like the Saw franchise or Nightmare on Elm Street. Something that's bloody and gory and scares the bejesus outta me and this didn't even come close to making me want to listen with the lights on. I seem to be an outlier here.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan purchases a magic 8 ball. But this isn't like the one I had as a kid, this one gives more interesting answers. I liked this one the most because it seems to lead her to her true destiny.
Bachelorette
Natalie's childhood bff, Hayley, is getting married, but there's someone else planning the bachelorette party, someone who thinks they're the bff. The party turns hella weird at the end. If I had to pick this one would be the most horror like one. Probably a good idea to find a new bff.
I related to this one the most. Probably 20 years ago my bff brought a new friend into our mix. This new friend thought she knew MY bff better then I did after like 15 years I had put in already. Here's the story ~ she offered her cinnamon gum. I said she's allergic. New friend says no she's not. I give her my raised brow, like really you're questioning me?, so she asks her...guess what? She's allergic to cinnamon. Peace out newbie.
Goblin
Meg is trying to lose weight before she goes to her ex's wedding. Her and her friend download the Goblin app and he's a real thing that comes and swats food out of your hand if it's not healthy for you. This one bugged me the most because this little dude threw out perfectly fine food ~ ranch dip, a chocolate bar, Alfredo sauce....wasteful!
Bad Dolls
Mackenzie is back in her hometown after her sisters suicide. There's grief and a creepy doll that I wouldn't want to sleep next to.
Overall, not really for me, but at least it was a quick 4am can't sleep listen. Did I nod off and miss something? Not likely since once my eyes are open I'm usually up until my after dinner couch nap. I would have liked a better title as well because it makes no sense. There is one bad doll and she's in the last story. A title that included all 4 stories would have been better IMO.
Narration notes:
Each narrator did a perfectly fine job. Usually I do enjoy when there are multiple narrators, but since this was 4 individual short stories I don't think it was necessary. I can think of many other books that could have greatly benefited from multiple more than this one.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 5, 2024
A Good Title!
Bad Dolls is a book about four different stories that are a bit horror, but not horrific. The stories are all very good and beautifully written.
Reply Hazy, Try Again, is the first story in this book. And it is about a woman who finds an eight ball at a flea market and how she lets it change her life.
The next story is Bachelorette. A woman is invited to a bachelorette party and goes down memory lane on her own.
Goblin is about a woman who uses a goblin to help her lose weight. But her relationship with her goblin doesn’t end well.
And in Bad Dolls, the story is about a woman who is visiting her family after her sister dies. The woman finds a doll. And the doll steals the show.
This book is about a woman in each story. It feels like the same woman in each story. Just different names and different features. The characters feel the same.
I give this book four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Bad Dolls is a book about four different stories that are a bit horror, but not horrific. The stories are all very good and beautifully written.
Reply Hazy, Try Again, is the first story in this book. And it is about a woman who finds an eight ball at a flea market and how she lets it change her life.
The next story is Bachelorette. A woman is invited to a bachelorette party and goes down memory lane on her own.
Goblin is about a woman who uses a goblin to help her lose weight. But her relationship with her goblin doesn’t end well.
And in Bad Dolls, the story is about a woman who is visiting her family after her sister dies. The woman finds a doll. And the doll steals the show.
This book is about a woman in each story. It feels like the same woman in each story. Just different names and different features. The characters feel the same.
I give this book four stars. ✨✨✨✨
December 28, 2022
BAD DOLLS by Rachel Harrison (The Return, Cackle, Such Sharp Teeth)
Release Date: December 6th, 2022 from Berkley
Genre: Adult Horror Fiction, Short Stories, Audio/eBook Only, Thriller, Female-Centered
Themes/Sub-Genres: Female friendships, queer relationships, supernatural, bachelorette party, jealousy, ritualistic sacrifice, disordered eating, diets, grief, siblings, family, death, hinted suicide, creepy dolls, trauma, therapy
What You Need to Know: This is a short story collection from author Rachel Harrison only available in eBook or Audiobook. There are 4 stories.
“Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
“Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
“Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
“Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
My Reading Experience:
These stories were all exceptional. Harrison's storytelling is especially intimate and compelling in the short form. I knew this to be the case having read three of her novels but this was my first time reading any of her short stories and I could not believe how fast the up front investment takes place.
I'm immediately drawn in by the female leads of each story.
I highlighted so many lines. I can share some that aren't spoilery.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
"I typically felt immediate guilt after any impulse purchase, even something as small as gum at the register."
.
“Maggie has perfect skin, and she swears by Cetaphil.”
The narrator in this story is indecisive, something I don't typically relate to but I did 100% relate to her anxieties and the way she over-analyzed situations.
Bachelorette
“Why do we, as a society, reward people for getting married?”
Oh my goodness, I saw myself in Nat. At this party with all these women and complicated friendships with uncomfortable dynamics. I loved it.
" It’s absolutely insufferable when someone tells you you’re being quiet when actually you’re being ignored."
Goblin
"It didn’t seem profound anymore. It didn’t make me feel good. It felt like a prison sentence."
This story. The horrible, awful, painful struggle of body image, emotional strongholds with food, disordered eating, fad diets, you name it--it's in here. So relatable and this fucking app with a goddamn actual goblin that fat shames and attacks you like your own guilt and shame in your head?? Fucking brilliant.
Bad Dolls
"There was plenty of blame to go around. It drifted through the house, moving room to room, a faceless ghost."
This one deals with grief and loss and family dynamics and a haunting...even a medium named Sadie! Yay! What a treat. I liked everything about how this story feels while I was reading it. Impending doom, self sabotage, the hurt, the anger, the confused feelings and then this scary doll just showing up and being creepy as fuck through it all...so, so incredibly good.
My final recommendation: If you're looking for horror centered around the female experience, enjoy being in a narrator's head that you can relate to, and love authentic dialog and characters that feel real...even laugh-out-loud funny sometimes, this is your jam. Perfect for fans who haven't jumped on the Rachel Harrison bandwagon yet and just want a sample of how she writes.
Comps: Similar voice/storytelling as T. Kingfisher, Caroline Kepnes, Kelly Link, Meg Elison, Sarah Gailey, Sarah Langan, Megan Abbott, and Sara Gran
Release Date: December 6th, 2022 from Berkley
Genre: Adult Horror Fiction, Short Stories, Audio/eBook Only, Thriller, Female-Centered
Themes/Sub-Genres: Female friendships, queer relationships, supernatural, bachelorette party, jealousy, ritualistic sacrifice, disordered eating, diets, grief, siblings, family, death, hinted suicide, creepy dolls, trauma, therapy
What You Need to Know: This is a short story collection from author Rachel Harrison only available in eBook or Audiobook. There are 4 stories.
“Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
“Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
“Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
“Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
My Reading Experience:
These stories were all exceptional. Harrison's storytelling is especially intimate and compelling in the short form. I knew this to be the case having read three of her novels but this was my first time reading any of her short stories and I could not believe how fast the up front investment takes place.
I'm immediately drawn in by the female leads of each story.
I highlighted so many lines. I can share some that aren't spoilery.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
"I typically felt immediate guilt after any impulse purchase, even something as small as gum at the register."
.
“Maggie has perfect skin, and she swears by Cetaphil.”
The narrator in this story is indecisive, something I don't typically relate to but I did 100% relate to her anxieties and the way she over-analyzed situations.
Bachelorette
“Why do we, as a society, reward people for getting married?”
Oh my goodness, I saw myself in Nat. At this party with all these women and complicated friendships with uncomfortable dynamics. I loved it.
" It’s absolutely insufferable when someone tells you you’re being quiet when actually you’re being ignored."
Goblin
"It didn’t seem profound anymore. It didn’t make me feel good. It felt like a prison sentence."
This story. The horrible, awful, painful struggle of body image, emotional strongholds with food, disordered eating, fad diets, you name it--it's in here. So relatable and this fucking app with a goddamn actual goblin that fat shames and attacks you like your own guilt and shame in your head?? Fucking brilliant.
Bad Dolls
"There was plenty of blame to go around. It drifted through the house, moving room to room, a faceless ghost."
This one deals with grief and loss and family dynamics and a haunting...even a medium named Sadie! Yay! What a treat. I liked everything about how this story feels while I was reading it. Impending doom, self sabotage, the hurt, the anger, the confused feelings and then this scary doll just showing up and being creepy as fuck through it all...so, so incredibly good.
My final recommendation: If you're looking for horror centered around the female experience, enjoy being in a narrator's head that you can relate to, and love authentic dialog and characters that feel real...even laugh-out-loud funny sometimes, this is your jam. Perfect for fans who haven't jumped on the Rachel Harrison bandwagon yet and just want a sample of how she writes.
Comps: Similar voice/storytelling as T. Kingfisher, Caroline Kepnes, Kelly Link, Meg Elison, Sarah Gailey, Sarah Langan, Megan Abbott, and Sara Gran
October 24, 2025
Bad Dolls was really entertaining! It's a collection of 4 short stories, Reply Hazy, Try Again, Bachelorette, Goblin and Bad Dolls.
All the stories seem to pick on modern-day problems, but with a horror twist. True Rachel Harrison style 🤭
My favourite was definitely Bad Dolls, which was also the longest and thus had more time to build on the premise. I feel this author really shines when making proper dysfunctional characters.
Bachelorette was also quite a good read, since we all deal with childhood friendships changing (either for better or worse).
Overall, it was the perfect read to set the spooky mood of this Halloween season 👻
All the stories seem to pick on modern-day problems, but with a horror twist. True Rachel Harrison style 🤭
My favourite was definitely Bad Dolls, which was also the longest and thus had more time to build on the premise. I feel this author really shines when making proper dysfunctional characters.
Bachelorette was also quite a good read, since we all deal with childhood friendships changing (either for better or worse).
Overall, it was the perfect read to set the spooky mood of this Halloween season 👻
October 19, 2024
Guess what….! I think I’ve found a new favorite author!! 👏
Bad Dolls is a spooky-themed/cozy horror short story collection of 4 stories by Rachel Harrison and a great first-time sample of her work! Wow! She seems like such a super fun millennial author with a unique voice/tone that encapsulates the pure essence of nostalgia of the millennial era. It was like a trip back in time consuming all her references to the 90s/early 2000s, and I was completely indulged in it! I also appreciated her incorporation of modern vibes as well; it was a refreshing mix! ♡♡♡
At first glance, the stories may seem too light and full of humor to be classified as horror (or the typical horror everyone expects), but there is a spooky chill to them that makes them seem perfect for Spooky Season. Not to mention, all the stories explore various deeper themes that are meaningful and relatable such as suicide, grief, friendships, and body image.
○ Reply Hazy, Try Again 🎱
Rating: 4☆
“She made me feel grateful for my age, for the fact those chaos years were behind me. There are too many hard lessons to be learned in your early twenties. Too much crying outside of H&R Block, in bars, on the subway, in some random hookup’s dingy bathroom. Too much crying. Now that I was thirty, I barely cried. I was delightfully numb. And I could afford things like Venti Starbucks beverages every morning, an Uber during a downpour, after-work cocktails, meditation apps. Small luxuries that made the days easier.”
I think I can probably say this with confidence that almost everyone owned or knew about the famous Magic 8 ball when I was growing up as it was vastly popular in the 90s. But was it all just in good fun, or was it just a bit eerie at times? Just think about the design for a moment. It’s full of a dark liquid that reveals one of a few select responses after shaken in response to a yes/no question like a modern day fortune teller minus the gypsy. How about when you would play with the ball and not get the answer you wanted, or better yet when it would indecisively tell you to ask again later? How frustrating! Would you just keep shaking it until you got the answer you were looking for? If so, what was the point?
Well, this story showcased a famous Magic 8 ball! It was a story focused on indecisiveness and how it can really take a toll on your life. Even if there are divination tools to foretell the future, is it always best to know?
○ Bachelorette 🩸
Rating: 4.75☆
“If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.”
This story focuses on testing friendships to their limits and how it feels to grow apart over time. I loved that this one built up to a number of possible endings but chose an unexpected one. It really made me think of the horrors of finding myself in such a situation! I agreed with the ending!
○ Goblin 👺
Trigger Warning for eating disorder!
Rating: 5☆
“You just download the app and you get a Goblin.”
A super creative story focused on body image and eating disorders. Think about the various fad diets and cleanses. We’ve all fell for them at one time or another. What if you could get something a bit more interactive.. say an app that invokes an actual goblin that makes sure you adhere to your diet at all costs? The ending of this one made my jaw drop!
○ Bad Dolls
Trigger Warning for suicide!
Rating: 5☆
“I never understood why some people collected things like dolls or Swarovski crystal Mickeys or anything like that, but looking at the doll, it started to make a little more sense.”
A story focused on grief and guilt. This one was probably my favorite. It never really gave you solid answers to what was actually happening, so you could draw your own conclusions especially about the ending. A lot of creepy vibes involving a doll which always gets me. Absolutely loved it!
Overall Rating: 4.8☆ (Rounded up to 5!)
I’m so excited and looking forward to reading more of Rachel Harrison’s work! I may have already started reading Such Sharp Teeth by her, haha! 🌑🐺
But nope that wasn’t me digging around everywhere trying to discover more about Rachel Harrison! 😉
Bad Dolls is a spooky-themed/cozy horror short story collection of 4 stories by Rachel Harrison and a great first-time sample of her work! Wow! She seems like such a super fun millennial author with a unique voice/tone that encapsulates the pure essence of nostalgia of the millennial era. It was like a trip back in time consuming all her references to the 90s/early 2000s, and I was completely indulged in it! I also appreciated her incorporation of modern vibes as well; it was a refreshing mix! ♡♡♡
At first glance, the stories may seem too light and full of humor to be classified as horror (or the typical horror everyone expects), but there is a spooky chill to them that makes them seem perfect for Spooky Season. Not to mention, all the stories explore various deeper themes that are meaningful and relatable such as suicide, grief, friendships, and body image.
○ Reply Hazy, Try Again 🎱
Rating: 4☆
“She made me feel grateful for my age, for the fact those chaos years were behind me. There are too many hard lessons to be learned in your early twenties. Too much crying outside of H&R Block, in bars, on the subway, in some random hookup’s dingy bathroom. Too much crying. Now that I was thirty, I barely cried. I was delightfully numb. And I could afford things like Venti Starbucks beverages every morning, an Uber during a downpour, after-work cocktails, meditation apps. Small luxuries that made the days easier.”
I think I can probably say this with confidence that almost everyone owned or knew about the famous Magic 8 ball when I was growing up as it was vastly popular in the 90s. But was it all just in good fun, or was it just a bit eerie at times? Just think about the design for a moment. It’s full of a dark liquid that reveals one of a few select responses after shaken in response to a yes/no question like a modern day fortune teller minus the gypsy. How about when you would play with the ball and not get the answer you wanted, or better yet when it would indecisively tell you to ask again later? How frustrating! Would you just keep shaking it until you got the answer you were looking for? If so, what was the point?
Well, this story showcased a famous Magic 8 ball! It was a story focused on indecisiveness and how it can really take a toll on your life. Even if there are divination tools to foretell the future, is it always best to know?
○ Bachelorette 🩸
Rating: 4.75☆
“If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.”
This story focuses on testing friendships to their limits and how it feels to grow apart over time. I loved that this one built up to a number of possible endings but chose an unexpected one. It really made me think of the horrors of finding myself in such a situation! I agreed with the ending!
○ Goblin 👺
Trigger Warning for eating disorder!
Rating: 5☆
“You just download the app and you get a Goblin.”
A super creative story focused on body image and eating disorders. Think about the various fad diets and cleanses. We’ve all fell for them at one time or another. What if you could get something a bit more interactive.. say an app that invokes an actual goblin that makes sure you adhere to your diet at all costs? The ending of this one made my jaw drop!
○ Bad Dolls
Trigger Warning for suicide!
Rating: 5☆
“I never understood why some people collected things like dolls or Swarovski crystal Mickeys or anything like that, but looking at the doll, it started to make a little more sense.”
A story focused on grief and guilt. This one was probably my favorite. It never really gave you solid answers to what was actually happening, so you could draw your own conclusions especially about the ending. A lot of creepy vibes involving a doll which always gets me. Absolutely loved it!
Overall Rating: 4.8☆ (Rounded up to 5!)
I’m so excited and looking forward to reading more of Rachel Harrison’s work! I may have already started reading Such Sharp Teeth by her, haha! 🌑🐺
But nope that wasn’t me digging around everywhere trying to discover more about Rachel Harrison! 😉
October 23, 2025
Thoughts
I absolutely loved this read! It was fun rather than scary. A collection of four stories that will pull you in from the get-go! My personal favourite was "Bachelorette" I'm slowly making my way through this author's reads and this one wins second favourite after Cackle
Plot Summary
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan buys an old Magic 8-Ball that starts giving her oddly personal answers. At first, it’s funny and nostalgic, but soon the toy’s responses seem to control her choices. As she becomes more dependent on it, Jordan loses her sense of direction and starts questioning what’s real — and what’s being decided for her.
Bachelorette
Natalie joins her childhood best friend on a wild bachelorette weekend, hoping to reconnect. But the trip quickly turns uncomfortable, revealing how much the two women have grown apart. Surrounded by fake smiles and hidden tensions, Natalie realises the weekend is less about celebration and more about pressure, jealousy, and the dark side of friendship.
Goblin
Meg, feeling insecure and desperate to lose weight before her ex’s wedding, tries a new fitness app called Goblin. The app’s advice seems helpful at first but becomes obsessive and cruel. As Meg pushes herself to extremes, she realises the app is feeding off her self-hatred — and maybe something much darker is feeding off her too.
Bad Dolls
After her sister’s death, Mackenzie moves back home and finds an old porcelain doll hidden in the attic. Strange things start happening, blurring the line between grief and the supernatural. As she faces the guilt she’s been avoiding, Mackenzie must confront whether the doll is haunted — or if her sorrow has taken on a life of its own.
My Bookstagram
I absolutely loved this read! It was fun rather than scary. A collection of four stories that will pull you in from the get-go! My personal favourite was "Bachelorette" I'm slowly making my way through this author's reads and this one wins second favourite after Cackle
Plot Summary
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan buys an old Magic 8-Ball that starts giving her oddly personal answers. At first, it’s funny and nostalgic, but soon the toy’s responses seem to control her choices. As she becomes more dependent on it, Jordan loses her sense of direction and starts questioning what’s real — and what’s being decided for her.
Bachelorette
Natalie joins her childhood best friend on a wild bachelorette weekend, hoping to reconnect. But the trip quickly turns uncomfortable, revealing how much the two women have grown apart. Surrounded by fake smiles and hidden tensions, Natalie realises the weekend is less about celebration and more about pressure, jealousy, and the dark side of friendship.
Goblin
Meg, feeling insecure and desperate to lose weight before her ex’s wedding, tries a new fitness app called Goblin. The app’s advice seems helpful at first but becomes obsessive and cruel. As Meg pushes herself to extremes, she realises the app is feeding off her self-hatred — and maybe something much darker is feeding off her too.
Bad Dolls
After her sister’s death, Mackenzie moves back home and finds an old porcelain doll hidden in the attic. Strange things start happening, blurring the line between grief and the supernatural. As she faces the guilt she’s been avoiding, Mackenzie must confront whether the doll is haunted — or if her sorrow has taken on a life of its own.
My Bookstagram
January 15, 2023
I don't think I'm really Rachel Harrison's target audience, but I really enjoyed these stories. My only complaint is that there weren't more. This collection is only four short stories and comes in at a little over 100 pages (kudos to the author and publisher for charging appropriately for a short book). Harrison is an author who seems to get better with each new book she puts out.
I'm not really sure what I'd classify these stories as... there are hints of horror and fantasy, but mostly they're about the main characters who have some unusual things happening.
I'd recommend this collection if you're wanting to get a preview of Rachel Harrison's writing, but don't want to commit to a full novel. I've read The Return and Cackle, and liked both. My personal ranking would be:
1)Cackle (4 stars)
2)Bad Dolls (4 stars)
3)The Return (3 stars)
I'm not really sure what I'd classify these stories as... there are hints of horror and fantasy, but mostly they're about the main characters who have some unusual things happening.
I'd recommend this collection if you're wanting to get a preview of Rachel Harrison's writing, but don't want to commit to a full novel. I've read The Return and Cackle, and liked both. My personal ranking would be:
1)Cackle (4 stars)
2)Bad Dolls (4 stars)
3)The Return (3 stars)
May 6, 2024
"Goblin" was my favorite story as well as the last few lines of the story "Bad Dolls" but overall probably my least favorite Rachel Harrison
November 20, 2023
Creepy , Fun Read
Absolutely loved all the stories; who doesn’t have an 8 ball memory lol. These were so fun & creepy to read. I definitely want to read more by this author.
Absolutely loved all the stories; who doesn’t have an 8 ball memory lol. These were so fun & creepy to read. I definitely want to read more by this author.
July 28, 2024
This is a decent collection of horror shorts. I enjoyed all the pieces and the collection as a whole.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
June 24, 2025
These stories are what I’d call “horror adjacent” so keep that in mind if you’re expecting the creepy crawlies. They’re more about complicated, messy women (Bad Dolls, I guess?) and their complicated relationships than they are about the trad horrors. But being a woman is sometimes a horror all in itself so there’s that.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This is a tale about a woman who purchases a used 8 Ball and realizes her current relationship kind of sucks. Is the 8 Ball just being spicy or is it helping her out? I didn’t like any of these people and that’s ok but the story didn’t thrill me too much either.
Bachelorette
This one drives home that some friendships really need to die a natural death. It’s about a a bunch of grown mean girls and also wasn’t my favorite.
Goblin
Be warned there is a lot of disordered eating in this story because it’s about a woman trying to fit into a dress to impress an ex (ugh, why??) who downloads an app called Goblin. I won’t spoil it but this goblin app is brutal 😳 I probably liked this one the best. It reminded me of a Tales from the Darkside episode.
Bad Dolls
A woman returns to her childhood home after a death in the family and a creepy doll enters her life. This is a heavy one about suicide and survivor grief.
Overall this wasn’t my favorite work by this author, but it’s a good way to get a taste for her writing.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This is a tale about a woman who purchases a used 8 Ball and realizes her current relationship kind of sucks. Is the 8 Ball just being spicy or is it helping her out? I didn’t like any of these people and that’s ok but the story didn’t thrill me too much either.
Bachelorette
This one drives home that some friendships really need to die a natural death. It’s about a a bunch of grown mean girls and also wasn’t my favorite.
Goblin
Be warned there is a lot of disordered eating in this story because it’s about a woman trying to fit into a dress to impress an ex (ugh, why??) who downloads an app called Goblin. I won’t spoil it but this goblin app is brutal 😳 I probably liked this one the best. It reminded me of a Tales from the Darkside episode.
Bad Dolls
A woman returns to her childhood home after a death in the family and a creepy doll enters her life. This is a heavy one about suicide and survivor grief.
Overall this wasn’t my favorite work by this author, but it’s a good way to get a taste for her writing.
October 14, 2025
If you’re a Rachel Harrison fan - and I consider myself one, having read all her books but one and usually by purchasing them immediately upon release - then this book of four longer short stories is well worth checking out for the sake of completeness and makes for a lovely October afternoon diversion. The stories resonate very true to Harrison’s tone, black sheep bad girl protagonist characterizations, and themes, but the plots lean just a tad more somber and real-life and a tad less fantastical than in her novels. (And I mean a tad: we are still talking at least two types of possessed toys and chaos goblins here, including actual goblins.) They are sort of like little Rachel Harrison Black Mirror episodes with the social commentary they offer, and I really liked them. Trigger warnings for eating disorders, suicide, and grief.
December 8, 2022
This was a really great collection of stories! There was something for pretty much everyone - blood sacrifices, crazed dating app goblins, possessed magic 8 balls, and creepy dolls!
This was my first selection by Rachel Harrison and won't be the last. There were some stories that were almost "campy" but the rest were actually not bad for horror short stories. They were all easy to get into, read well, and have no loose ends.
This is well worth the purchase for a night of easy horror reading!
This was my first selection by Rachel Harrison and won't be the last. There were some stories that were almost "campy" but the rest were actually not bad for horror short stories. They were all easy to get into, read well, and have no loose ends.
This is well worth the purchase for a night of easy horror reading!
December 2, 2025
This is a short story collection of horror-esque, kind of not scary at all and even a little stupid stories! What I’m going to do is give a brief synopsis of each story and say how I felt about it.
Reply Hazy, Try Again:
Jordan finds an 8 ball at a flea market that might be possessed by something and starts telling her what to do in life! Because our girl Jordan is an indecisive ho, this ball might be the thing she needs most—or the thing that might ruin everything!
I really enjoyed this story the most. It was my favorite out of the four. I liked the whole 8-ball concept—it was very fun and unique. And I loved the lesbian representation. Very fun. I loved it!
Bachelorette:
Natalie attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, and she doesn’t know what will happen to her by the end of it. There might be some cultish rituals!
This story was my least favorite; I was just so annoyed by everyone in this story! Like, if I were Natalie, I’d be punching people left and right—because who the fuck do they think they are? Also, her alleged childhood best friend, Hailey, is a bitch! That’s all I’m going to say. And what is that ending? Like, what even happened exactly? I’m still trying to understand if someone died or not! Actually… someone might have died—I don’t know?!
Goblin:
Megan, who is about to attend her ex’s wedding, wants to lose some weight. She’s insecure about her body, and I think she struggled with an eating disorder in the past. She downloads an app called Goblin, which gives her an actual freaking goblin that literally goes through her fridge, gets rid of all her food, and forces her to eat healthy shit!
All I’m gonna say is, if I had that goblin, he’d be dead very early on in the dieting journey, because nobody tells me what the fuck to eat. The ending was, I guess, a little badass, but the story was kind of triggering. At least the ending was satisfying—well, satisfying but also a little disturbing. But nonetheless… badasses?
Bad Dolls:
After Mackenzie’s little sister dies, she finds a porcelain doll that might be her sister—or it could be a demon that wants to eat her! You’ll have to find out yourself.
Honestly, after the first three stories, I just couldn’t focus on this one because I couldn’t care less. While I was reading, I was literally zoning out and thinking about… random shit… that I will not be saying online. It was entertaining, I guess. I mean, it had a creepy doll, which was fun—and a little scary—because it’s a doll that moves. You know, Chucky, Annabelle, that type of shit. The ending also did not make any sense. It was kind of open-ended, which I didn't like.
And that was it. I honestly had so much fun writing all of these synopses—I was laughing. For some reason, I findd myself absolutely hilarious. I don’t know how you all put up with me—that will always be a mystery to me!
Reply Hazy, Try Again:
Jordan finds an 8 ball at a flea market that might be possessed by something and starts telling her what to do in life! Because our girl Jordan is an indecisive ho, this ball might be the thing she needs most—or the thing that might ruin everything!
I really enjoyed this story the most. It was my favorite out of the four. I liked the whole 8-ball concept—it was very fun and unique. And I loved the lesbian representation. Very fun. I loved it!
Bachelorette:
Natalie attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, and she doesn’t know what will happen to her by the end of it. There might be some cultish rituals!
This story was my least favorite; I was just so annoyed by everyone in this story! Like, if I were Natalie, I’d be punching people left and right—because who the fuck do they think they are? Also, her alleged childhood best friend, Hailey, is a bitch! That’s all I’m going to say. And what is that ending? Like, what even happened exactly? I’m still trying to understand if someone died or not! Actually… someone might have died—I don’t know?!
Goblin:
Megan, who is about to attend her ex’s wedding, wants to lose some weight. She’s insecure about her body, and I think she struggled with an eating disorder in the past. She downloads an app called Goblin, which gives her an actual freaking goblin that literally goes through her fridge, gets rid of all her food, and forces her to eat healthy shit!
All I’m gonna say is, if I had that goblin, he’d be dead very early on in the dieting journey, because nobody tells me what the fuck to eat. The ending was, I guess, a little badass, but the story was kind of triggering. At least the ending was satisfying—well, satisfying but also a little disturbing. But nonetheless… badasses?
Bad Dolls:
After Mackenzie’s little sister dies, she finds a porcelain doll that might be her sister—or it could be a demon that wants to eat her! You’ll have to find out yourself.
Honestly, after the first three stories, I just couldn’t focus on this one because I couldn’t care less. While I was reading, I was literally zoning out and thinking about… random shit… that I will not be saying online. It was entertaining, I guess. I mean, it had a creepy doll, which was fun—and a little scary—because it’s a doll that moves. You know, Chucky, Annabelle, that type of shit. The ending also did not make any sense. It was kind of open-ended, which I didn't like.
And that was it. I honestly had so much fun writing all of these synopses—I was laughing. For some reason, I findd myself absolutely hilarious. I don’t know how you all put up with me—that will always be a mystery to me!
September 21, 2024
BAD DOLLS [2022] By Rachel Harrison
My Review 4.0 Out Of 5.0 Stars
I like this "new to-me" author's writing style. Her sense of humor caused me to LOL several times. This short horror story collection from the award-winning Rachel Harrison was an absolute delight and I am definitely counting down the days till I chomp down on her bestselling novel "Such Sharp Teeth".
In collections of short stories, horror obviously included, I typically rate each entry and then average to calculate the number of stars I award. There are a mere four tales that comprise “Bad Dolls Stories”.
The first story, “Reply Hazy. Try Again,” was my favorite. The writing style reflected both skill and economy, and the dialogue between our protagonist and her Magic 8-Ball was consistently catchy and humorous. I found myself laughing out loud despite knowing I was going to receive another “Will you SHUT up?” from the other side of the King Size Bed. Rating 5.0 Stars
“Bachelorette” was the second story, and on the surface, it was about a woman attending her childhood best friend’s bachelorette week-end. The young woman who arranged all of the week-end activities was her childhood best friend’s best friend throughout college. This was a tense read with little levity to be found. I found it to be thought-provoking in that it posed several questions for the reader to ponder. In my mind, it was about the power of personal growth and the birth of rich new memories replacing one’s old self and potentially even one’s view of the world. It was drilled down to the question: How strong are the bonds of friendship? When not nurtured do the bonds fray over time and diminish in both strength and personal influence? In my opinion the bonds of friendship can figuratively die a lingering death when not lovingly tended. The story had more to offer us fans of the dark side. The underbelly of this story was downright creepy if not a tad chilling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
The third story “Goblin” had its light moments to be sure. Who among us reading (“Goblin”) have not aggressively dieted or knew someone who had a weight problem that required serious oversight and management? Frankly, I laughed out loud a couple of times. This one did not impress me as having a lot of depth, at least on the surface. I was surprised by the ending, but it only allowed me to see the story as an imaginary and vicarious story of a person’s fight for control of those numbers on the scale. The busybody helper “Goblin” learned the hard way how anger and rage can go hand in hand with fighting every second of every day for control when one is so damned hungry and wants to throw something heavy at the mirror. I rated it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.0 Stars since GR does not consider the fractions.
The last tale and most serious tackles a sister's suicide and it is certainly well written with crazy situations but it was no laughing matter. This story was tailor made for fans of the occult, the paranormal. I am not actually sure what I thought about the story. It did not resonate with me, and I allotted a rating of 3.0 Stars.
My overall impression is that Rachel Harrison is going to be an author I will be following. This collection of stories was averaged and the book was rated overall 4.0 Stars.
READABLE SHORT STORIES OF HORROR RENDERED WITH STYLE, HUMOR, AND INTENSITY
My Review 4.0 Out Of 5.0 Stars
I like this "new to-me" author's writing style. Her sense of humor caused me to LOL several times. This short horror story collection from the award-winning Rachel Harrison was an absolute delight and I am definitely counting down the days till I chomp down on her bestselling novel "Such Sharp Teeth".
In collections of short stories, horror obviously included, I typically rate each entry and then average to calculate the number of stars I award. There are a mere four tales that comprise “Bad Dolls Stories”.
The first story, “Reply Hazy. Try Again,” was my favorite. The writing style reflected both skill and economy, and the dialogue between our protagonist and her Magic 8-Ball was consistently catchy and humorous. I found myself laughing out loud despite knowing I was going to receive another “Will you SHUT up?” from the other side of the King Size Bed. Rating 5.0 Stars
“Bachelorette” was the second story, and on the surface, it was about a woman attending her childhood best friend’s bachelorette week-end. The young woman who arranged all of the week-end activities was her childhood best friend’s best friend throughout college. This was a tense read with little levity to be found. I found it to be thought-provoking in that it posed several questions for the reader to ponder. In my mind, it was about the power of personal growth and the birth of rich new memories replacing one’s old self and potentially even one’s view of the world. It was drilled down to the question: How strong are the bonds of friendship? When not nurtured do the bonds fray over time and diminish in both strength and personal influence? In my opinion the bonds of friendship can figuratively die a lingering death when not lovingly tended. The story had more to offer us fans of the dark side. The underbelly of this story was downright creepy if not a tad chilling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
The third story “Goblin” had its light moments to be sure. Who among us reading (“Goblin”) have not aggressively dieted or knew someone who had a weight problem that required serious oversight and management? Frankly, I laughed out loud a couple of times. This one did not impress me as having a lot of depth, at least on the surface. I was surprised by the ending, but it only allowed me to see the story as an imaginary and vicarious story of a person’s fight for control of those numbers on the scale. The busybody helper “Goblin” learned the hard way how anger and rage can go hand in hand with fighting every second of every day for control when one is so damned hungry and wants to throw something heavy at the mirror. I rated it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.0 Stars since GR does not consider the fractions.
The last tale and most serious tackles a sister's suicide and it is certainly well written with crazy situations but it was no laughing matter. This story was tailor made for fans of the occult, the paranormal. I am not actually sure what I thought about the story. It did not resonate with me, and I allotted a rating of 3.0 Stars.
My overall impression is that Rachel Harrison is going to be an author I will be following. This collection of stories was averaged and the book was rated overall 4.0 Stars.
READABLE SHORT STORIES OF HORROR RENDERED WITH STYLE, HUMOR, AND INTENSITY
November 4, 2024
I am a big fan of Rachel Harrison and will read anything she writes. I wanted to establish that before saying that this is definitely my least favorite thing that I've read from her so far. I didn't DISLIKE it, but it felt lackluster in comparison to everything else. Don't go into this collection looking for horror. These stories range from sad and depressing to strangely heartwarming. They're mostly literary fiction with a subtle splash of horror here and there, and they never go as hard as her novels do when it comes to the thrills and chills. (Which is fine, but you might need to adjust your expectations.)
I would say that the horror in this book mostly comes from real situations. There is a story about disordered eating that is pretty bleak and harsh. That was probably the most effective one in the collection. The story about the bachelorette party would probably be the second best piece, but it’s also more fiction than horror until almost the end and deals with more relatable themes such as peer pressure and growing apart from your best friends.
I’ve noticed after reading quite a bit of Harrison’s work that she writes a LOT about breakups, specifically about the guy dumping the girl. Heartbroken, depressed women just trying to cope with their circumstances and struggling with moving on. It's a recurring theme, for sure.
The title story was interesting but didn’t fully work for me. The horror element involving a doll felt like it didn't quite fit with the rest of the plot. I think she was going for symbolism but in this particular case it was maybe too subtle. But it was effective as a story of grief and self-loathing. Harrison always knows how to capture human emotion and pain in a relatable way. It's one of the things that keeps me coming back to her.
Even though I didn't love this one as much as I loved her novels, there were still good moments and ideas. Harrison is a great author and I look forward to her next new book. (I loved "So Thirsty!")
TW: Body Dismorphia, Disordered Eating, Peer pressure, Death of a Family Member, Depression, Implications of Self-Harm
I would say that the horror in this book mostly comes from real situations. There is a story about disordered eating that is pretty bleak and harsh. That was probably the most effective one in the collection. The story about the bachelorette party would probably be the second best piece, but it’s also more fiction than horror until almost the end and deals with more relatable themes such as peer pressure and growing apart from your best friends.
I’ve noticed after reading quite a bit of Harrison’s work that she writes a LOT about breakups, specifically about the guy dumping the girl. Heartbroken, depressed women just trying to cope with their circumstances and struggling with moving on. It's a recurring theme, for sure.
The title story was interesting but didn’t fully work for me. The horror element involving a doll felt like it didn't quite fit with the rest of the plot. I think she was going for symbolism but in this particular case it was maybe too subtle. But it was effective as a story of grief and self-loathing. Harrison always knows how to capture human emotion and pain in a relatable way. It's one of the things that keeps me coming back to her.
Even though I didn't love this one as much as I loved her novels, there were still good moments and ideas. Harrison is a great author and I look forward to her next new book. (I loved "So Thirsty!")
TW: Body Dismorphia, Disordered Eating, Peer pressure, Death of a Family Member, Depression, Implications of Self-Harm
August 27, 2024
Bad Dolls is a collection of four short & strange horror stories which Rachel Harrison brings her signature narration style to.
In 'Reply Hazy, Try Again' a woman feeling nostalgic picks up an old school Magic 8 Ball while at a flea market. It begins speaking directly to her and leads to a tale of obsession in search of her true destiny. I enjoyed this one but it was very mildly horror-esque and probably won't stick with me.
In 'Bachelorette' we follow a woman attending a bachelorette weekend for her best childhood friend. Tensions are high and the girls have some sinister things planned for the days that follow. I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed the dynamics of this group of girls!
In 'Goblin' a woman signs up for a rigorous diet & exercise program that comes with a literal goblin assigned to keep you in line. This was short and sweet but perfect horror wise & I loooovedd the ending. TW for talk of eating disorders/diet culture.
And the last story, 'Bad Dolls' follows a woman returning to her childhood home after the tragic death of her sister. She finds a creepy doll (of course) that quickly attaches itself to her and whom she believes to be her sister trying to communicate. I thought this was a fun, classic haunted doll tale that also delves into the deeper feelings associated with grief and losing a loved one to suicide.
Overall, a fun collection that was a quick read and gave me the perfect dose of Rachel Harrison that I've been needing. 3.5 stars.
In 'Reply Hazy, Try Again' a woman feeling nostalgic picks up an old school Magic 8 Ball while at a flea market. It begins speaking directly to her and leads to a tale of obsession in search of her true destiny. I enjoyed this one but it was very mildly horror-esque and probably won't stick with me.
In 'Bachelorette' we follow a woman attending a bachelorette weekend for her best childhood friend. Tensions are high and the girls have some sinister things planned for the days that follow. I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed the dynamics of this group of girls!
In 'Goblin' a woman signs up for a rigorous diet & exercise program that comes with a literal goblin assigned to keep you in line. This was short and sweet but perfect horror wise & I loooovedd the ending. TW for talk of eating disorders/diet culture.
And the last story, 'Bad Dolls' follows a woman returning to her childhood home after the tragic death of her sister. She finds a creepy doll (of course) that quickly attaches itself to her and whom she believes to be her sister trying to communicate. I thought this was a fun, classic haunted doll tale that also delves into the deeper feelings associated with grief and losing a loved one to suicide.
Overall, a fun collection that was a quick read and gave me the perfect dose of Rachel Harrison that I've been needing. 3.5 stars.
October 14, 2025
10/13/25: re-read Reply Hazy, Try Again a year later and still too relatable although for different reasons. felt like shit and teared up on plane! loved! 1000 stars!
****
10/17/24
finally another win from Harrison!
Reply Hazy, Try Again was definitely my favorite, this one really hit with some great quotes about relationships and moving on from an imperfect one. the magic 8 ball aspect was a little silly but i did really enjoy what this story had to say and this one alone is worth giving this collection 5 stars.
Reply Hazy, Try Again - 5+ stars
Bachelorette - 4.5 stars
Goblin - 3.5 stars
Bad Dolls - 4.5 stars
****
10/17/24
finally another win from Harrison!
Reply Hazy, Try Again was definitely my favorite, this one really hit with some great quotes about relationships and moving on from an imperfect one. the magic 8 ball aspect was a little silly but i did really enjoy what this story had to say and this one alone is worth giving this collection 5 stars.
Reply Hazy, Try Again - 5+ stars
Bachelorette - 4.5 stars
Goblin - 3.5 stars
Bad Dolls - 4.5 stars
October 31, 2022
I loved how incredibly unique and enjoyably clever these short stories were!
Goblin, which explored a savage new dieting app and The Bachelorette, which essentially speaks for itself were my favourites of the four. However, Bad Dolls, was easily the “spookiest” of the collection.
Coming in just under 4 hours, I found this ensemble of short fiction to be really well balanced and makes for such a quick listen, ultimately making it the perfect way to end your #SpookySeason reads!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
Goblin, which explored a savage new dieting app and The Bachelorette, which essentially speaks for itself were my favourites of the four. However, Bad Dolls, was easily the “spookiest” of the collection.
Coming in just under 4 hours, I found this ensemble of short fiction to be really well balanced and makes for such a quick listen, ultimately making it the perfect way to end your #SpookySeason reads!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
November 4, 2024
This collection of four horror stories was by Rachel Harrison, so I knew I would like the writing.
This really isn’t horror, though. All four of the short stories were not horrifying, but they were unsettling. They were more Twilight Zone-y.
I did enjoy each story. They were mildly creepy and entertaining.
This really isn’t horror, though. All four of the short stories were not horrifying, but they were unsettling. They were more Twilight Zone-y.
I did enjoy each story. They were mildly creepy and entertaining.
January 1, 2025
Some of these stories need to be way longer cos I need to know what happens next 😂😂😂
September 27, 2022
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/09/26/...
Rachel Harrison continues to impress me, and the fact that I enjoyed Bad Dolls so much says a lot! Short fiction isn’t typically my format of choice, but after the great time I had with both the author’s novels The Return and Cackle, I thought it worthwhile to give her horror story collection a try when I was offered an early listening copy from Penguin Audio. And I’m so glad I did.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This first story follows an indecisive young woman who impulsively buys a Magic 8 ball from a flea market. At first, our protagonist treats the whole thing like a joke, posing random advice-seeking questions to the toy just to see the replies she’ll get. Soon though, the ball appears to take on a mind of its own, one that impossibly seems to know more than it should.
As creepy as this all sounds, the story is actually quite light on horror and more focused on human drama, touching upon subjects like work, life, and relationships. The idea behind it is very unique though, and I liked that there was a strong paranormal or uncanny element.
Bachelorette
This was perhaps my favorite story of the collection. “If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.” Best first line ever! Our main character Natalie is invited to the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend, Haley. The two women have always been close, but ever since Haley moved away for college and made new friends, Natalie has started worrying about them drifting apart. So when one of Haley’s sorority sisters rents a beautiful rustic cottage for the bachelorette weekend, Natalie makes a valiant effort to participate in all the activities and pretend she is enjoying herself for Haley’s sake, even though she feels like an outsider the entire time. Still, even best friends have their limits, and there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Many of Rachel Harrison’s stories are centered on female friendships, and this tale was no exception, looking at the evolution of relationships and how people’s lives change over time. Lots of complex feelings explored in this one too, especially the main character’s insecurities and personal fears. Plenty of humor was involved, and the relatability of Natalie’s voice also made this story very easy to get into, helped by the amazing performance of the audiobook narrator.
Goblin
A woman and her friend decide to try out a trendy new app that claims to be able to help them with their dieting goals, except our main character is someone who has recently recovered from an eating disorder. Supposedly, this app works by summoning an adorable little goblin-like mascot to give you encouragement anytime you need a bit of motivation or moral support. Our protagonist thinks there must be something seriously wrong with her app though, since her goblin turns out to be a nasty piece of work.
I struggled a bit with this one, trying to wrap my head around the basic concept. In the end, I liked it, but it’s also the perfect example of a short story that could have greatly benefited from being longer, just so the ideas and the world and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
Bad Dolls
In this story, a woman returns to her hometown following the death of her little sister to be closer to her family. After going through and tidying up the things in the room that she is renting, she finds a mysterious old porcelain doll which no one seems to know to whom it belonged or where it came from.
Out of the offerings in this collection, this tale had the closest feel to a traditional horror story. Dolls have always creeped me out, so this one definitely gave me chills. Like “Goblin”, I think “Bad Dolls” could have been longer, simply because there’s enough content here beyond the horror aspects to warrant a full-length novel, such as the depth of themes involved like family, grief, and sacrifice.
All told though, I highly recommend this collection, whether you’re an existing fan of Rachel Harrison or are completely new to her work. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest starting with an author’s short stories but I’m making an exception with this book because, short as they are, the tales within are a very good reflection of Harrison’s knack for storytelling and her fun twists on horror. Everything she writes is now a must-read for me.
Rachel Harrison continues to impress me, and the fact that I enjoyed Bad Dolls so much says a lot! Short fiction isn’t typically my format of choice, but after the great time I had with both the author’s novels The Return and Cackle, I thought it worthwhile to give her horror story collection a try when I was offered an early listening copy from Penguin Audio. And I’m so glad I did.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This first story follows an indecisive young woman who impulsively buys a Magic 8 ball from a flea market. At first, our protagonist treats the whole thing like a joke, posing random advice-seeking questions to the toy just to see the replies she’ll get. Soon though, the ball appears to take on a mind of its own, one that impossibly seems to know more than it should.
As creepy as this all sounds, the story is actually quite light on horror and more focused on human drama, touching upon subjects like work, life, and relationships. The idea behind it is very unique though, and I liked that there was a strong paranormal or uncanny element.
Bachelorette
This was perhaps my favorite story of the collection. “If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.” Best first line ever! Our main character Natalie is invited to the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend, Haley. The two women have always been close, but ever since Haley moved away for college and made new friends, Natalie has started worrying about them drifting apart. So when one of Haley’s sorority sisters rents a beautiful rustic cottage for the bachelorette weekend, Natalie makes a valiant effort to participate in all the activities and pretend she is enjoying herself for Haley’s sake, even though she feels like an outsider the entire time. Still, even best friends have their limits, and there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Many of Rachel Harrison’s stories are centered on female friendships, and this tale was no exception, looking at the evolution of relationships and how people’s lives change over time. Lots of complex feelings explored in this one too, especially the main character’s insecurities and personal fears. Plenty of humor was involved, and the relatability of Natalie’s voice also made this story very easy to get into, helped by the amazing performance of the audiobook narrator.
Goblin
A woman and her friend decide to try out a trendy new app that claims to be able to help them with their dieting goals, except our main character is someone who has recently recovered from an eating disorder. Supposedly, this app works by summoning an adorable little goblin-like mascot to give you encouragement anytime you need a bit of motivation or moral support. Our protagonist thinks there must be something seriously wrong with her app though, since her goblin turns out to be a nasty piece of work.
I struggled a bit with this one, trying to wrap my head around the basic concept. In the end, I liked it, but it’s also the perfect example of a short story that could have greatly benefited from being longer, just so the ideas and the world and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
Bad Dolls
In this story, a woman returns to her hometown following the death of her little sister to be closer to her family. After going through and tidying up the things in the room that she is renting, she finds a mysterious old porcelain doll which no one seems to know to whom it belonged or where it came from.
Out of the offerings in this collection, this tale had the closest feel to a traditional horror story. Dolls have always creeped me out, so this one definitely gave me chills. Like “Goblin”, I think “Bad Dolls” could have been longer, simply because there’s enough content here beyond the horror aspects to warrant a full-length novel, such as the depth of themes involved like family, grief, and sacrifice.
All told though, I highly recommend this collection, whether you’re an existing fan of Rachel Harrison or are completely new to her work. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest starting with an author’s short stories but I’m making an exception with this book because, short as they are, the tales within are a very good reflection of Harrison’s knack for storytelling and her fun twists on horror. Everything she writes is now a must-read for me.
February 24, 2023
pleasantly average. like, average plus, maybe.
the first story was nothing special, and it definitely wasn't horror. the second one, bachelorette, was more fun. again, not really horror, but it had some weird vibes and the final conclusion, while not groundbreaking, was nice. the third one, goblin, was the highlight for me. i was dubious of it at first, but it had great development. the ending was just fantastic. huge content warning for graphic depiction of an eating disorder, though.
the titular bad dolls was... something. i liked it at first; the atmosphere was nice, i was interested in the characters and their family issues. however, the main character was just so unlikeable. i think her becoming worse and worse was the point of the story, but it was just annoying to experience. i disliked the ending too, the emotional "pay-off" was so frustrating.
this is a third 3-star book i've read from rachel harrison. the author's level is steady and fun enough, but something always stops me from truly liking her works. i'll keep reading them, though, because this flavor of cozy horror is totally my vibe.
the first story was nothing special, and it definitely wasn't horror. the second one, bachelorette, was more fun. again, not really horror, but it had some weird vibes and the final conclusion, while not groundbreaking, was nice. the third one, goblin, was the highlight for me. i was dubious of it at first, but it had great development. the ending was just fantastic. huge content warning for graphic depiction of an eating disorder, though.
the titular bad dolls was... something. i liked it at first; the atmosphere was nice, i was interested in the characters and their family issues. however, the main character was just so unlikeable. i think her becoming worse and worse was the point of the story, but it was just annoying to experience. i disliked the ending too, the emotional "pay-off" was so frustrating.
this is a third 3-star book i've read from rachel harrison. the author's level is steady and fun enough, but something always stops me from truly liking her works. i'll keep reading them, though, because this flavor of cozy horror is totally my vibe.
November 30, 2023
Thank you the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing for my gifted copy of this audiobook.
I love anthologies. I’m a sucker for any horror / creepy anthology I can get my hands on.
This was perfect for anytime of year, especially after Halloween when you’re missing all things creepy. It gave me Grady Hendrix vibes. If only the doll from Bad Dolls could befriend Pupkin (How To Sell A Haunted House), then we’d really be in for a treat.
Each story was unnerving, they all had an unsettling vibe and then just poof…the story stopped, leaving you sitting there like ummm what is happening…and feeling so uncomfortable. It was as if you only got little snippets of the full story…which typically would irk me but it worked well for this collection of short stories.
So keep an eye out for fake friends, weight loss goblins, and weird dolls climbing down the shelves at night.
Sleep well my friends…
September 29, 2022
Four horror stories that "explore themes of body image, complicated female friendship, heartbreak and hauntings".
Reply Hazy, Try Again - when a Magic 8 ball takes on a mind of its own.... but is it helpful or harmful?
Bachelorette - a blood sacrifice? Bitch, please... when your childhood best friend moves away and you jump at the chance to attend her bachelorette. Best friends shouldn't cross some lines.
Goblin - this new app will help you with your weight loss goals. This encouraging goblin isn't exactly... encouraging. App gone wild!
Bad Dolls - if I came home after my sister died and found an old porcelain doll, that would be a big old nope for me! *shiver*
For a horror lover like me, I would put these more in the light horror category with more of a life lesson within each story. Bad Dolls being the more true to horror nature. And if you know me at all, you KNOW I have a *thing* with dolls. Especially porcelain ones. I once was a guest in a home and there was a porcelain doll in their bay window in the bedroom I was staying in. Once everyone was asleep, I took the doll and placed it outside my bedroom door and then stuffed a towel in the tiny crack at the bottom of the door so it couldn't get to me. :D
Harrison is an author where I get excited when I see her name. The Return didn't work for me but Cackle was a freakin' delight! Like with most short story collections, some worked better than the others with Bad Dolls being my favorite. I'm really looking forward to reading her newest, Such Sharp Teeth because while I normally steer away from Werewolf stories, I know Harrison's style is going to make this very entertaining and enjoyable for me.
For those new to the horror genre, and/or like it on the lighter side, I'd most definitely recommend Harrison's novels.
Reply Hazy, Try Again - when a Magic 8 ball takes on a mind of its own.... but is it helpful or harmful?
Bachelorette - a blood sacrifice? Bitch, please... when your childhood best friend moves away and you jump at the chance to attend her bachelorette. Best friends shouldn't cross some lines.
Goblin - this new app will help you with your weight loss goals. This encouraging goblin isn't exactly... encouraging. App gone wild!
Bad Dolls - if I came home after my sister died and found an old porcelain doll, that would be a big old nope for me! *shiver*
For a horror lover like me, I would put these more in the light horror category with more of a life lesson within each story. Bad Dolls being the more true to horror nature. And if you know me at all, you KNOW I have a *thing* with dolls. Especially porcelain ones. I once was a guest in a home and there was a porcelain doll in their bay window in the bedroom I was staying in. Once everyone was asleep, I took the doll and placed it outside my bedroom door and then stuffed a towel in the tiny crack at the bottom of the door so it couldn't get to me. :D
Harrison is an author where I get excited when I see her name. The Return didn't work for me but Cackle was a freakin' delight! Like with most short story collections, some worked better than the others with Bad Dolls being my favorite. I'm really looking forward to reading her newest, Such Sharp Teeth because while I normally steer away from Werewolf stories, I know Harrison's style is going to make this very entertaining and enjoyable for me.
For those new to the horror genre, and/or like it on the lighter side, I'd most definitely recommend Harrison's novels.
April 18, 2023
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Gotta love a good eerie short story!
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Gotta love a good eerie short story!
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