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Wasps in the Ice Cream
What happens when you fall for the girl everyone hates?
Summer 1987: Mark Prewitt's only priority is to avoid his dad's new wife and waste time with his friends, but idle nights are the devil's handiwork. When his friends decide to pull a cruel prank on the reclusive and strange Farrow sisters, Mark regrets caving in to peer pressure.
Wanting to make amends, Mark is drawn into the mysterious world of the Farrow girls, finding a kindred spirit in the middle sister, George. She is unlike anyone he's ever known; a practicing witch who uses folk magic to protect her family. They bond over books, loneliness, and homemade spells. She even invites Mark to join a séance to contact her dead sister, who died under mysterious circumstances.
Keeping their relationship secret, Mark learns that living a double life in a town this small is impossible. When the secret is exposed, and his friends plot to punish the witch sisters for stealing one of their own, Mark is forced to choose between these two worlds.
Summer 1987: Mark Prewitt's only priority is to avoid his dad's new wife and waste time with his friends, but idle nights are the devil's handiwork. When his friends decide to pull a cruel prank on the reclusive and strange Farrow sisters, Mark regrets caving in to peer pressure.
Wanting to make amends, Mark is drawn into the mysterious world of the Farrow girls, finding a kindred spirit in the middle sister, George. She is unlike anyone he's ever known; a practicing witch who uses folk magic to protect her family. They bond over books, loneliness, and homemade spells. She even invites Mark to join a séance to contact her dead sister, who died under mysterious circumstances.
Keeping their relationship secret, Mark learns that living a double life in a town this small is impossible. When the secret is exposed, and his friends plot to punish the witch sisters for stealing one of their own, Mark is forced to choose between these two worlds.
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2023
28 people are currently reading
2772 people want to read
About the author
Tim McGregor
40 books400 followersTim McGregor is an author living in Toronto with his wife and children. And a ghost. A really spiteful ghost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
February 24, 2025
Someone Should
Teach Them a Lesson...
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM
by Tim McGregor
No spoilers. 5 stars. The first time Mark Prewitt made a rare sighting of the elusive Farrow sisters, he was shopping for snacks in the grocery store...
He saw George (Georgia) Farrow scarfing down a box of Twinkies and trying to pilfer an H.P. Lovecraft paperback from off the rack...
Spotting a Farrow in town, in the wild, was rare enough, but there were two more Farrow sisters waiting at the cash register...
Mark thought the Farrows had moved away...
But...
Here they were, in broad daylight, when they were known to skulk through town after sunset...
The townsfolk called them the witch sisters...
Mark wondered...
Where were their parents? Do they just let these psychos roam through the streets unleashed?...
Mark found his best friends, Eric and Kevin, and told them about seeing the three Farrow girls...
Unprovoked, Kevin said: Someone needs to teach them a lesson...
So...
The three teenage friends launched Roman candles from across the street at the witch sisters, causing them to drop their groceries...
But later...
Mark felt guilty about it, and that night, went to the old, run-down Farrow house, taking the girls a peace offering...
Which led to an eventual taboo and forbidden infatuation and friendship between Mark and George Farrow...
Someone should teach them a lesson...
This was a very good but sad story of the labeling of an ostracized family by their hometown neighbors. It is also about young love trying to bloom in spite of the obstacles that this situation presented.
In many ways, this story reminded me of Stephen King's CARRIE. People, and in particular, high school-aged children, can be very cruel to each other.
This is a very interesting coming-of-age story. It was good, but don't go into it looking for a happy ending.
Teach Them a Lesson...
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM
by Tim McGregor
No spoilers. 5 stars. The first time Mark Prewitt made a rare sighting of the elusive Farrow sisters, he was shopping for snacks in the grocery store...
He saw George (Georgia) Farrow scarfing down a box of Twinkies and trying to pilfer an H.P. Lovecraft paperback from off the rack...
Spotting a Farrow in town, in the wild, was rare enough, but there were two more Farrow sisters waiting at the cash register...
Mark thought the Farrows had moved away...
But...
Here they were, in broad daylight, when they were known to skulk through town after sunset...
The townsfolk called them the witch sisters...
Mark wondered...
Where were their parents? Do they just let these psychos roam through the streets unleashed?...
Mark found his best friends, Eric and Kevin, and told them about seeing the three Farrow girls...
Unprovoked, Kevin said: Someone needs to teach them a lesson...
So...
The three teenage friends launched Roman candles from across the street at the witch sisters, causing them to drop their groceries...
But later...
Mark felt guilty about it, and that night, went to the old, run-down Farrow house, taking the girls a peace offering...
Which led to an eventual taboo and forbidden infatuation and friendship between Mark and George Farrow...
Someone should teach them a lesson...
This was a very good but sad story of the labeling of an ostracized family by their hometown neighbors. It is also about young love trying to bloom in spite of the obstacles that this situation presented.
In many ways, this story reminded me of Stephen King's CARRIE. People, and in particular, high school-aged children, can be very cruel to each other.
This is a very interesting coming-of-age story. It was good, but don't go into it looking for a happy ending.
May 23, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RGeLzLzw6PQ
This is a solid entry in the coming of age genre. It's not much of a horror story but I was perfectly content to enjoy it for what it was.
While I'm not always one for romance, I enjoyed the boy meets girl narrative of this one. It actually reminded me most of the Virgin Suicides. Like that story, this one is very slow paced and character focused. The plot and mystery are very much in the background.
This one certainly leans into the tropes of the coming of age genre so I can't call it fresh or innovative. Yet it follows tropes that I love and it did them well so I can't criticize that aspect of the story.
I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new well developed coming of age story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RGeLzLzw6PQ
This is a solid entry in the coming of age genre. It's not much of a horror story but I was perfectly content to enjoy it for what it was.
While I'm not always one for romance, I enjoyed the boy meets girl narrative of this one. It actually reminded me most of the Virgin Suicides. Like that story, this one is very slow paced and character focused. The plot and mystery are very much in the background.
This one certainly leans into the tropes of the coming of age genre so I can't call it fresh or innovative. Yet it follows tropes that I love and it did them well so I can't criticize that aspect of the story.
I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new well developed coming of age story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
January 15, 2023
Summer 1987
Mark Prewitt's father has remarried and, in an attempt, to stay away from his father's new wife, Mark keeps busy spending time with his friends. When not hanging out with his friends, he works two jobs in order to make money to fix up his old car. While hanging out with his friends, they play a prank on the reclusive Farrow sisters.
The Farrow sisters and their family live on the outside of the community in a large and crumbling home. They are the subject of rumors and disdain from town members. Mark can’t help but be drawn to them especially, George, the middle sister. George, practices folk magic and buries jars around her home to keep it safe.
Knowing that others will not understand his relationship with George, Mark keeps their relationship a secret. When the secret is revealed, things will never be the same.
This was an interesting coming of age tale about a boy who meets a girl that no one likes. It’s about loneliness, secrets, friendship, guilt, bullying, growing up, and longing. It takes place in the '80s and feels nostalgic. The characters are flawed and make questionable decisions.
I enjoyed this book and how things played out. There were times I wanted to say "No, no, no" to Mark and tell him don't punish yourself for the guilt you feel.
Heartbreaking, captivating, nostalgic. This is a short book which packs a punch.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Mark Prewitt's father has remarried and, in an attempt, to stay away from his father's new wife, Mark keeps busy spending time with his friends. When not hanging out with his friends, he works two jobs in order to make money to fix up his old car. While hanging out with his friends, they play a prank on the reclusive Farrow sisters.
The Farrow sisters and their family live on the outside of the community in a large and crumbling home. They are the subject of rumors and disdain from town members. Mark can’t help but be drawn to them especially, George, the middle sister. George, practices folk magic and buries jars around her home to keep it safe.
Knowing that others will not understand his relationship with George, Mark keeps their relationship a secret. When the secret is revealed, things will never be the same.
This was an interesting coming of age tale about a boy who meets a girl that no one likes. It’s about loneliness, secrets, friendship, guilt, bullying, growing up, and longing. It takes place in the '80s and feels nostalgic. The characters are flawed and make questionable decisions.
I enjoyed this book and how things played out. There were times I wanted to say "No, no, no" to Mark and tell him don't punish yourself for the guilt you feel.
Heartbreaking, captivating, nostalgic. This is a short book which packs a punch.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 5, 2023
A coming-of-age novel with some elements of delicate horror which portrays the dilema regarding honesty to yourself. Mark, a teenager with a tragedy behind, makes friends with a girl belonging to a family ostracized by the local community and is forced to define his ideas concerning friendship and the need to belong.
Mark sounds authentic in his inner peregrination and becomes a character you become fond of with time.
*Many thanks to Tim McGregor, RDS Audio, and netGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
Mark sounds authentic in his inner peregrination and becomes a character you become fond of with time.
*Many thanks to Tim McGregor, RDS Audio, and netGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
February 16, 2022
An easy five stars for me. This one's really going to take off. If coming-of-age is your thing, you're going to fall in love with this, placing it on the shelf next to King's The Body, McCammon's Boy's Life, and Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. Bravo, Mr. McGregor.
Read
February 23, 2022 McGregor sets a poignant, boy-meets-girl story and the innocence of childhood against the dark and dangerous secrets of adulthood; utterly magical and absorbing. I never wanted it to end.
October 3, 2023
nostalgic and enchanting,
mark's reminiscences are so
naive and full of references
I flew through them easily,
touched by his ordeal. ♡
mark's reminiscences are so
naive and full of references
I flew through them easily,
touched by his ordeal. ♡
April 3, 2023
Wasps in the Ice Cream was such a fantastic reading experience and I think it will appeal to anyone who likes a retro coming-of-age tale with a dash of the supernatural that will put you through an emotional wringer. I love that the author managed to create such fully realized, emotionally complex characters in so few pages. That’s something so many 300+ page books I read (or attempt to) aren’t able to achieve.
“Being destructive or cruel is like a fever that takes over.”
It’s the summer of 1987 and Mark and his two friends are bored. And boredom always seems to spell trouble for this trio. Mark isn’t even sure he likes his friends anymore but usually goes along with whatever new disaster they’re planning. It beats boredom or sitting at home and interacting with his father and new stepmom. When his friends target one of the Farrow sisters, a strange, reclusive family who’ve hidden themselves away in their moldering mansion after a tragedy, Mark comes down with a terrible case of the guilts and attempts to make things right with George (Georgia) Farrow and it changes everything.
“Everything this girl says is like a grenade meant to knock me off balance. It’s not necessarily unpleasant.”
There’s just this divine balance here of characterization, suspense, dread, first love and action. Being a teenager is hard. These characters have all sorts of messy feelings simmering just under the surface and it doesn’t take much to set them free with usually disastrous consequences. And though I might not have liked all of the decisions they made, I 100% understood why they made them. That’s a serious skill and I adore a book that gets it right. This one is deserving of every single one of my stingy stars and I’m very glad I took the time to read it!
“Being destructive or cruel is like a fever that takes over.”
It’s the summer of 1987 and Mark and his two friends are bored. And boredom always seems to spell trouble for this trio. Mark isn’t even sure he likes his friends anymore but usually goes along with whatever new disaster they’re planning. It beats boredom or sitting at home and interacting with his father and new stepmom. When his friends target one of the Farrow sisters, a strange, reclusive family who’ve hidden themselves away in their moldering mansion after a tragedy, Mark comes down with a terrible case of the guilts and attempts to make things right with George (Georgia) Farrow and it changes everything.
“Everything this girl says is like a grenade meant to knock me off balance. It’s not necessarily unpleasant.”
There’s just this divine balance here of characterization, suspense, dread, first love and action. Being a teenager is hard. These characters have all sorts of messy feelings simmering just under the surface and it doesn’t take much to set them free with usually disastrous consequences. And though I might not have liked all of the decisions they made, I 100% understood why they made them. That’s a serious skill and I adore a book that gets it right. This one is deserving of every single one of my stingy stars and I’m very glad I took the time to read it!
July 4, 2025
🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝🍦🐝
Wasps in the Ice Cream is a captivating Coming of Age Horror novel that quickly reminded me why I love this subgenre.
It's the Summer of 1987 and Mark Prewitt spends his time working at the local ice cream shop, avoiding his parents, tinkering on his dream car and engaging in miscellaneous hijinks with his best buds.
When the other boys stage a prank on the mysterious Farrow sisters, it goes too far and one of them gets hurt. Mark is riddled with guilt after the fact. He should have stopped it, but he didn't.
Seeking to make amends with the girls, he ends up befriending the middle sister, George.
She's unlike anyone he has ever known and he's drawn to her like wasps to ice cream. The more time he spends with George, the less time he has for everyone else.
Mark finds himself keeping a lot of secrets, but he should have known in a town this small, it was bound to blow up in his face. What happens when you fall for the girl everyone hates? Mark is about to find out.
Spoiler Alert: It's not good.
Y'all, I really enjoyed my time with this story. I know when some people think of Horror books, they think, scary books, things that scare me, and then if they don't get scared by a book, they say, this isn't Horror.
For me, Horror is a much more nuanced genre than that and thinking only books that literally scare you can be classified as Horror is simplifying the genre unfairly.
A good example of this is one of my fave subgenres of Horror, the Coming of Age story. Wasps in the Ice Cream is a perfect example, channeling all of the essential vibes. This basically transported me back to the Summer of 1987.
Coming of Age always hits home for me. Literally nothing could be happening and I still find myself so invested.
There's something about the innocence and feeling of possibility in viewing the world through that lens. The emotional traumas and challenges the protagonists have experienced up to this point in their lives only scratch the surface of what the world will ultimately dish out for them. It's such a special time. Nostalgia for days.
Also, it's in the presentation. You generally have an Adult narrator, who is reflecting back on some pivotal moment in their life. Something that impacted them so deeply, it helped to shape the adults they became; good or bad.
There also tends to be powerful friendships and the exploration of sexuality. All of this is mixed together with deeper things that scare us; sometimes supernatural, sometimes not.
I felt McGregor did an amazing job telling Mark's story. It felt so authentic. I believed everything I was being told and understood how the events of this Summer shaped Mark's future, choices, wants and desires.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys an engaging Coming of Age Horror story. If you are just looking for scares though, you'd be best looking somewhere else.
Thank you so much to the publisher, RDS Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audiobook is fantastic. The narrator truly captured Mark's character. Well done!
Wasps in the Ice Cream is a captivating Coming of Age Horror novel that quickly reminded me why I love this subgenre.
It's the Summer of 1987 and Mark Prewitt spends his time working at the local ice cream shop, avoiding his parents, tinkering on his dream car and engaging in miscellaneous hijinks with his best buds.
When the other boys stage a prank on the mysterious Farrow sisters, it goes too far and one of them gets hurt. Mark is riddled with guilt after the fact. He should have stopped it, but he didn't.
Seeking to make amends with the girls, he ends up befriending the middle sister, George.
She's unlike anyone he has ever known and he's drawn to her like wasps to ice cream. The more time he spends with George, the less time he has for everyone else.
Mark finds himself keeping a lot of secrets, but he should have known in a town this small, it was bound to blow up in his face. What happens when you fall for the girl everyone hates? Mark is about to find out.
Spoiler Alert: It's not good.
Y'all, I really enjoyed my time with this story. I know when some people think of Horror books, they think, scary books, things that scare me, and then if they don't get scared by a book, they say, this isn't Horror.
For me, Horror is a much more nuanced genre than that and thinking only books that literally scare you can be classified as Horror is simplifying the genre unfairly.
A good example of this is one of my fave subgenres of Horror, the Coming of Age story. Wasps in the Ice Cream is a perfect example, channeling all of the essential vibes. This basically transported me back to the Summer of 1987.
Coming of Age always hits home for me. Literally nothing could be happening and I still find myself so invested.
There's something about the innocence and feeling of possibility in viewing the world through that lens. The emotional traumas and challenges the protagonists have experienced up to this point in their lives only scratch the surface of what the world will ultimately dish out for them. It's such a special time. Nostalgia for days.
Also, it's in the presentation. You generally have an Adult narrator, who is reflecting back on some pivotal moment in their life. Something that impacted them so deeply, it helped to shape the adults they became; good or bad.
There also tends to be powerful friendships and the exploration of sexuality. All of this is mixed together with deeper things that scare us; sometimes supernatural, sometimes not.
I felt McGregor did an amazing job telling Mark's story. It felt so authentic. I believed everything I was being told and understood how the events of this Summer shaped Mark's future, choices, wants and desires.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys an engaging Coming of Age Horror story. If you are just looking for scares though, you'd be best looking somewhere else.
Thank you so much to the publisher, RDS Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audiobook is fantastic. The narrator truly captured Mark's character. Well done!
May 26, 2023
Star Rating: —> 4 Stars
First of all, I absolutely LOVE THIS NARRATOR! Dan Lawson ALWAYS delivers and this book is no exception! He really just kills it, every. single. time. Tim McGregor’s stories always deliver, and this was no exception! I can’t wait to see what he’s coming up with next!
This was a fun ‘80s vibe read with some paranormal elements, but it wasn’t scary per se? Idk it definitely gave more of a mysterious vibe with some horror elements, and mostly on the human side of things. It really deals with some tough topics, all through the eyes of a teenage boy.
I thought it was extremely enjoyable, & I feel like it had a bit of a King vibe! Which I LOVE his stories, but they don’t necessarily give me a scare. So if jump scares & horror are what you’re looking for, this isn’t for you! But if you’re up for some thrills, eerie elements, & can handle some disturbing topics (such as off page death of a parent, child abuse, and extreme bullying among peers—some physical, even), than I think this (is it—or isn’t it) witchy, candid, thrilling, & mysterious read—with an angry ghost as a sub-plot(!)—that focuses on characters most of all is def for you!!!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the physical AND audio ARCs!! All opinions are my own.
First of all, I absolutely LOVE THIS NARRATOR! Dan Lawson ALWAYS delivers and this book is no exception! He really just kills it, every. single. time. Tim McGregor’s stories always deliver, and this was no exception! I can’t wait to see what he’s coming up with next!
This was a fun ‘80s vibe read with some paranormal elements, but it wasn’t scary per se? Idk it definitely gave more of a mysterious vibe with some horror elements, and mostly on the human side of things. It really deals with some tough topics, all through the eyes of a teenage boy.
I thought it was extremely enjoyable, & I feel like it had a bit of a King vibe! Which I LOVE his stories, but they don’t necessarily give me a scare. So if jump scares & horror are what you’re looking for, this isn’t for you! But if you’re up for some thrills, eerie elements, & can handle some disturbing topics (such as off page death of a parent, child abuse, and extreme bullying among peers—some physical, even), than I think this (is it—or isn’t it) witchy, candid, thrilling, & mysterious read—with an angry ghost as a sub-plot(!)—that focuses on characters most of all is def for you!!!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the physical AND audio ARCs!! All opinions are my own.
August 15, 2024
Lots to unpack with this one! I'll start by saying the author's writing is pretty great, as he explains things in a way that makes you feel like you can relate even if you've never experienced what he's describing. There's a ton going on with this one, including but not limited to witchery, an ice cream shop, 80's vibes, arson, and a very fun last little bit. The way Mark simps over "George," otherwise known as Georgia was actually extremely interesting and I found all the characters to be fun without being too over-the-top. Fans of stuff like this will certainly enjoy it I imagine. Although this doesn't rank as high as some of my favorite books, this gets a 4/5 from me for being entertaining throughout.
December 26, 2022
I don’t know how I feel about this book. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I like the creepy paranormal aspects but didn’t care too much for the rest of it.
In the summer of 1987, Mark Prewitt is living his best life spending time hanging out with his friends. His friends decide to play a cruel prank on the recluse, weird Farrow sisters. Mark is talked into participating and when he sees the end result he goes to her home to apologize. Mark quickly develops a relationship with the middle Farrow sister George. They bond over books, movies, and the loneliness each feel. They keep their friendship a secret from everyone. Mark realizes that leading a double life isn’t easy and when his friends find out things get out of hand quickly.
Wasps in the Ice Cream is available February 7,2023.
Thank you netgalley and raw dog screaming press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
In the summer of 1987, Mark Prewitt is living his best life spending time hanging out with his friends. His friends decide to play a cruel prank on the recluse, weird Farrow sisters. Mark is talked into participating and when he sees the end result he goes to her home to apologize. Mark quickly develops a relationship with the middle Farrow sister George. They bond over books, movies, and the loneliness each feel. They keep their friendship a secret from everyone. Mark realizes that leading a double life isn’t easy and when his friends find out things get out of hand quickly.
Wasps in the Ice Cream is available February 7,2023.
Thank you netgalley and raw dog screaming press for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2024
4.5 stars. A coming-of-age story that is light on the horror - mostly supernatural occurrences. It’s the summer of 1987 and Mark is looking forward to hanging out with his friends, until he becomes involved with one of the reclusive and strange Farrow sisters, who likes to dabble in folk magic ✨ The characterisation in this novel was BRILLIANT, I felt so immersed in the lives of these fictional people. Highly recommend if you like coming-of-age and just really well-drawn and believable characters. Surprised at how much I really enjoyed this!
Read
July 19, 2024This is a tough book to review, because I’ve never had a reading experience quite like it. I absolutely loved the first -90%, and by the halfway point I was already recommending it to friends! I was ready to declare it the best book I’ve read so far this year. But then, the story drastically shifted gears in the last section, and this failure to stick the landing resulted in some disappointment.
First, here are the many things I enjoyed:
The prose is clear and direct, proof that writing doesn’t have to be florid in order to be enjoyable. And hidden behind the deceptively simple wording is an author who understands human nature and who can deftly guide the emotions of his readers.
The 1980s setting felt authentic. The dialogue seemed to match the era, and the nerd culture references (Elric, Lovecraft, Childhood’s End, etc.) were a lot of fun. Fans of nostalgic, small town places in books can rejoice with this one.
The actual wasps were a thought-provoking thematic device. Mark, the main character, has to pick them off containers of ice cream during each of his shifts at work. He could easily solve this problem by destroying the nest, but he never does that. This shows that, even when things are damaged in our lives, there is comfort in familiarity; fixing what is broken can be more frightening than simply accepting the status quo.
But, what I loved most were the interactions between the various characters. Mark and George felt like real people to me, and I found myself rooting for them. I related so much to Mark’s insecurities, and seeing him go through this stage of his life when the acceptance of our peers can be the most important thing in the world… well, it was moving, for sure. The relationships with his father and his stepmother were also very well developed.
There comes a point in the novel when Mr. Dutton (not sure if that’s spelled correctly, as I experienced this as an audiobook) gives some advice to Mark that really hits him hard. And finally, the implicit story promise the author had been building to all this time would be fulfilled.
Except that promise, for me, was not fulfilled.
Whereas I was hoping for a sweet (yet spooky!) ending to the story, it suddenly turned into an action thriller complete with violence, explosions, and an over-the-top villain in want of a mustache to twirl. Part of me suspected this was intended as a deliberate homage to a particular scene in a particular Shirley Jackson novel (more on that below), but the execution was different and it felt mismatched against the tone of the earlier chapters. There was also a plot twist which was frustrating because it removed all respect I had for the main character.
Here’s the thing: Tim McGregor is, to my understanding, generally known as a horror writer, and Raw Dog Screaming Press is generally known as a horror publisher. This is not a horror book (at least not that first 90%). Like Mark in this very novel, who was so concerned about what other people thought, it seems like someone (author? Publisher?) was worried horror readers wouldn’t be as receptive to a simple coming-of-age love story without some tacked on “genre appropriate” tropes. This writer has an immense talent for emotional contemporary fiction, and no such crutch is needed.
Finally, let’s address the gothic elephant in the room: Wasps in the Ice Cream is clearly inspired by We Have Always Lived in the Castle (AKA the greatest masterpiece of 20th century literature, in my…um.. humble opinion). This is not subtle at all. While this aspect didn’t bother me, I think it’s worth mentioning, as some readers might find the similarities distracting. In all fairness to the author, it’s certainly not a beat-for-beat rehash.
Ultimately, I’d still recommend this book. And I may even reread it in the future; perhaps knowing how it ends will lead to a less frustrating experience the second time around. The first 90% really is THAT good, and hopefully other readers will enjoy the conclusion more than I did.
First, here are the many things I enjoyed:
The prose is clear and direct, proof that writing doesn’t have to be florid in order to be enjoyable. And hidden behind the deceptively simple wording is an author who understands human nature and who can deftly guide the emotions of his readers.
The 1980s setting felt authentic. The dialogue seemed to match the era, and the nerd culture references (Elric, Lovecraft, Childhood’s End, etc.) were a lot of fun. Fans of nostalgic, small town places in books can rejoice with this one.
The actual wasps were a thought-provoking thematic device. Mark, the main character, has to pick them off containers of ice cream during each of his shifts at work. He could easily solve this problem by destroying the nest, but he never does that. This shows that, even when things are damaged in our lives, there is comfort in familiarity; fixing what is broken can be more frightening than simply accepting the status quo.
But, what I loved most were the interactions between the various characters. Mark and George felt like real people to me, and I found myself rooting for them. I related so much to Mark’s insecurities, and seeing him go through this stage of his life when the acceptance of our peers can be the most important thing in the world… well, it was moving, for sure. The relationships with his father and his stepmother were also very well developed.
There comes a point in the novel when Mr. Dutton (not sure if that’s spelled correctly, as I experienced this as an audiobook) gives some advice to Mark that really hits him hard. And finally, the implicit story promise the author had been building to all this time would be fulfilled.
Except that promise, for me, was not fulfilled.
Whereas I was hoping for a sweet (yet spooky!) ending to the story, it suddenly turned into an action thriller complete with violence, explosions, and an over-the-top villain in want of a mustache to twirl. Part of me suspected this was intended as a deliberate homage to a particular scene in a particular Shirley Jackson novel (more on that below), but the execution was different and it felt mismatched against the tone of the earlier chapters. There was also a plot twist which was frustrating because it removed all respect I had for the main character.
Here’s the thing: Tim McGregor is, to my understanding, generally known as a horror writer, and Raw Dog Screaming Press is generally known as a horror publisher. This is not a horror book (at least not that first 90%). Like Mark in this very novel, who was so concerned about what other people thought, it seems like someone (author? Publisher?) was worried horror readers wouldn’t be as receptive to a simple coming-of-age love story without some tacked on “genre appropriate” tropes. This writer has an immense talent for emotional contemporary fiction, and no such crutch is needed.
Finally, let’s address the gothic elephant in the room: Wasps in the Ice Cream is clearly inspired by We Have Always Lived in the Castle (AKA the greatest masterpiece of 20th century literature, in my…um.. humble opinion). This is not subtle at all. While this aspect didn’t bother me, I think it’s worth mentioning, as some readers might find the similarities distracting. In all fairness to the author, it’s certainly not a beat-for-beat rehash.
Ultimately, I’d still recommend this book. And I may even reread it in the future; perhaps knowing how it ends will lead to a less frustrating experience the second time around. The first 90% really is THAT good, and hopefully other readers will enjoy the conclusion more than I did.
February 27, 2023
The summer of 1987 would be a summer like no other for Mark Prewitt. The long hazy days, the warmer weather, the hours spent doing a whole lot of nothing with friends, the of learning the dark arts with his witch-like girlfriend - seems kinda normal in a way, well, except for that last part...
George Farrow, one of the infamous Farrow girls is Wednesday Adams sans supernatural spooks. Her mystic lies in the veil of smoke and mirrors which clouds the townsfolk's perception of the family. They're weird outcasts, witches, recluses who stay behind closed doors, closed off to the town at large. When Mark tries to break normal in an attempt to cross over to their world, he gets more than he bargained for - a love interest and a glimpse at redemption for his own wicked ways.
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM by Tim McGregor is a coming of age story first and foremost with horror themes at the peripheral. The story is one made of heart and heartache with lead character Mark, embarking on a journey to right some of his wrongs. School yard bullying, growing up, and finding oneself are key cogs in the story - all of which made me love/hate/love the characters.
The wasps (yes there's actually wasps in the ice cream 'parlor' Mark works at (one of his summer jobs)) play a pivotal role in proceedings. Their presence, at first somewhat comedic and light-hearted makes a whole lot more sense as the story progresses, with the fierce, ice cream craving creatures acting as a barometer.
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM is one of those novels you don't want to end. The characters read so 'real' that each of their trials and tribulations is felt long after the last page is turned.
Many thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing a review copy of this book! This did not influence my review in any way.
This review first appeared on my site: http://justaguywholikes2read.blogspot...
George Farrow, one of the infamous Farrow girls is Wednesday Adams sans supernatural spooks. Her mystic lies in the veil of smoke and mirrors which clouds the townsfolk's perception of the family. They're weird outcasts, witches, recluses who stay behind closed doors, closed off to the town at large. When Mark tries to break normal in an attempt to cross over to their world, he gets more than he bargained for - a love interest and a glimpse at redemption for his own wicked ways.
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM by Tim McGregor is a coming of age story first and foremost with horror themes at the peripheral. The story is one made of heart and heartache with lead character Mark, embarking on a journey to right some of his wrongs. School yard bullying, growing up, and finding oneself are key cogs in the story - all of which made me love/hate/love the characters.
The wasps (yes there's actually wasps in the ice cream 'parlor' Mark works at (one of his summer jobs)) play a pivotal role in proceedings. Their presence, at first somewhat comedic and light-hearted makes a whole lot more sense as the story progresses, with the fierce, ice cream craving creatures acting as a barometer.
WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM is one of those novels you don't want to end. The characters read so 'real' that each of their trials and tribulations is felt long after the last page is turned.
Many thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing a review copy of this book! This did not influence my review in any way.
This review first appeared on my site: http://justaguywholikes2read.blogspot...
Read
December 30, 2022*Please note, I no longer rate on goodreads, but I'm sure the second sentence in this review will speak for itself.
I have come to know and trust Tim McGregor’s story-telling voice this last few years, so I dipped into Wasps with high expectations. It certainly did not disappoint.
I read it over a period of just two days, then added it straight to my ‘Top Reads of 2022’ shelf.
One of Tim’s great strengths is characterization. When introducing the reader to his characters there’s no ‘telling’ with Tim. It’s all ‘showing.’ Here are a few examples...
Mark’s friend, Kevin: “Kombat Kevin we call him, because every stitch of clothing he owns is camouflage. Kevin is all ropey muscle and hair-trigger temper.”
Mark’s Dad: “His hands shoot up like a referee to stop me. Dad’s idea of parenting isn’t that different from dog-training—single word commands and hand gestures.”
The way in which Tim’s characters contrast with one another is sheer genius. Unlikely friendships, flawed characters, as readers he makes us feel every ounce of their angst because the characters are so easy to connect with.
One chapter in and I had fallen hook, line and sinker. From thereon the prose flowed smooth as warm honey.
Wasps is well and truly set in the 80s which made me connect to so many of the cultural references and therefore made the story one of total immersion.
On an emotional level, Mark’s experiences cut like like a knife. His grief, young love, the urgency we feel at that age to ‘fit in.’ There were times when the story-telling stole my breath. And then of course there were the supernatural elements. The spooky house, the witch bottles, the séance etc. But the real horror came in the form of how Mark and George’s relationship was thwarted from every direction. Oh, the cruelty of folk!
One last thing (though having made so many highlights I could go on and on), Tim McGregor always has the last word, literally. His endings always deliver an unexpected twist that leaves you thinking, and that suits me just fine. I’m the kind of reader who enjoys the last knot tied a little loosely. It encourages me to think about the characters long after I finish reading.
I have come to know and trust Tim McGregor’s story-telling voice this last few years, so I dipped into Wasps with high expectations. It certainly did not disappoint.
I read it over a period of just two days, then added it straight to my ‘Top Reads of 2022’ shelf.
One of Tim’s great strengths is characterization. When introducing the reader to his characters there’s no ‘telling’ with Tim. It’s all ‘showing.’ Here are a few examples...
Mark’s friend, Kevin: “Kombat Kevin we call him, because every stitch of clothing he owns is camouflage. Kevin is all ropey muscle and hair-trigger temper.”
Mark’s Dad: “His hands shoot up like a referee to stop me. Dad’s idea of parenting isn’t that different from dog-training—single word commands and hand gestures.”
The way in which Tim’s characters contrast with one another is sheer genius. Unlikely friendships, flawed characters, as readers he makes us feel every ounce of their angst because the characters are so easy to connect with.
One chapter in and I had fallen hook, line and sinker. From thereon the prose flowed smooth as warm honey.
Wasps is well and truly set in the 80s which made me connect to so many of the cultural references and therefore made the story one of total immersion.
On an emotional level, Mark’s experiences cut like like a knife. His grief, young love, the urgency we feel at that age to ‘fit in.’ There were times when the story-telling stole my breath. And then of course there were the supernatural elements. The spooky house, the witch bottles, the séance etc. But the real horror came in the form of how Mark and George’s relationship was thwarted from every direction. Oh, the cruelty of folk!
One last thing (though having made so many highlights I could go on and on), Tim McGregor always has the last word, literally. His endings always deliver an unexpected twist that leaves you thinking, and that suits me just fine. I’m the kind of reader who enjoys the last knot tied a little loosely. It encourages me to think about the characters long after I finish reading.
December 16, 2022
Wow! This is a superb coming of age story with a wicked supernatural element woven throughout. But, at it's CORE, it's a tragic love story!
I ate this book up. It's filled with great characters, nostalgia filled moments that brought me back to my teenage years, and it gets creepier and creepier as it goes until it's explosive heart wrenching conclusion. And it does all this without resorting to gratuitous gore or sex. Nothing wrong with those things, of course, but this is a great example of how unsettling a book can be without those elements.
It would not surprise me if this novel makes top ten lists in 2023. It's certainly one of my picks!
I ate this book up. It's filled with great characters, nostalgia filled moments that brought me back to my teenage years, and it gets creepier and creepier as it goes until it's explosive heart wrenching conclusion. And it does all this without resorting to gratuitous gore or sex. Nothing wrong with those things, of course, but this is a great example of how unsettling a book can be without those elements.
It would not surprise me if this novel makes top ten lists in 2023. It's certainly one of my picks!
March 17, 2022
Star review in the March 15, 2022 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/03... [link live on 3/18].
Three Words That Describe This Book: engaging narration, compelling, innocent and threatening at the same time
I will have many excellent things to say about this modern take on the classic horror coming of age story soon-- It's McCammon's Boy's life but set in the 80s and with very strong female characters.
It is the best example of the classic coming of age horror trope since Janz's Children of the Dark and it has a touch of Gwendolyn's Kiste's excellent The Rust Maidens. Just a touch of Kiste in general. The way she writes women as strong, powerful, and independent actors-- McGregor captures that as well, but without sacrificing his teenage boy pov.
Three Words That Describe This Book: engaging narration, compelling, innocent and threatening at the same time
I will have many excellent things to say about this modern take on the classic horror coming of age story soon-- It's McCammon's Boy's life but set in the 80s and with very strong female characters.
It is the best example of the classic coming of age horror trope since Janz's Children of the Dark and it has a touch of Gwendolyn's Kiste's excellent The Rust Maidens. Just a touch of Kiste in general. The way she writes women as strong, powerful, and independent actors-- McGregor captures that as well, but without sacrificing his teenage boy pov.
January 6, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an early copy!
Tim McGregor is becoming one of my favorite authors. The first book of his that I read was Taboo in Four Colors, which I absolutely loved.
This one, Wasps in the Ice Cream, surprised me.
I try not to read too much about plot before I start a book so I don’t really know what to expect.
It takes place in the summer of 1987, Mark and his two best friends are making the most of their time before school starts back up. They’re mischievous and up to no good and having the time of their lives. They meet one of the mysterious Farrow sisters in town, George while out one day. George and her family are the laughing stock of the town. They’re weird and people think of them as witches.
Mark quietly befriends George after an incident involving the boys and they become close, putting him on the outs with his friends. Feelings are felt and secrets are exposed.
This is a dark coming of age story that takes place in a small town. It also has a lot of heart. It gutted me. I wanted it to go one way but at the same time you know it can’t.
Tim McGregor is good at getting in your feelings! Don’t miss out on this one.
Tim McGregor is becoming one of my favorite authors. The first book of his that I read was Taboo in Four Colors, which I absolutely loved.
This one, Wasps in the Ice Cream, surprised me.
I try not to read too much about plot before I start a book so I don’t really know what to expect.
It takes place in the summer of 1987, Mark and his two best friends are making the most of their time before school starts back up. They’re mischievous and up to no good and having the time of their lives. They meet one of the mysterious Farrow sisters in town, George while out one day. George and her family are the laughing stock of the town. They’re weird and people think of them as witches.
Mark quietly befriends George after an incident involving the boys and they become close, putting him on the outs with his friends. Feelings are felt and secrets are exposed.
This is a dark coming of age story that takes place in a small town. It also has a lot of heart. It gutted me. I wanted it to go one way but at the same time you know it can’t.
Tim McGregor is good at getting in your feelings! Don’t miss out on this one.
May 30, 2023
Not quite horror--no true scares of any kind--but definitely spooky, ominous. A very nostalgic coming of age story around kids and their last summer being kids. The summer includes a pair of eerie sisters and a haunted house. A fun read for summer time.
August 8, 2024
I’m easy to please when it comes to a coming of age novel, especially one with some horror aspects. This felt similar to that of a Stephen King novel but it didn’t have nearly as much “down time”. If you like the vibe of the King coming of age novels but don’t like how long winded King can be I think this would work really well for you. It cuts to the chase much quicker. I kind of like the character development that happens when there is a lot more down time in a novel so for me this could have been a 5 star book if it was longer but it was still quite good. I liked the ending too. I find that many authors drag out the falling action, McGregor cut it off right at the perfect time, not a cliff hanger but enough to leave you thinking.
July 14, 2023
I enjoyed this creepy coming of age story! I suggest it if you like the virgin suicides!
Thank you Netgalley for this arc!
Thank you Netgalley for this arc!
May 4, 2022
Man, I love coming-of-age horror. You just know within a couple of pages that you are in for a journey, and you are going to feel everything, every damn pebble under the tires - all the emotions. Case in point, Tim McGregor’s Wasps in the ice cream. Tim must have had a blueprint of all the right buttons to press for this reviewer. Wasps is astonishing. It satisfies on so many levels, that I never wanted to leave. It’s that good. But let’s not just gush, let’s take this all apart and really gush.
Coming-of-age implies all of the myriad emotions a young boy or girl can go through in order to reach adulthood. That horror can also be real-life tragedy, small-town vindictiveness, mental instability, underlying guilt, and social awkwardness – it’s pulling the heartstrings and laying your soul bare. It’s a subtle creeping heart-stabbing horror, and when you add a dash of paranormal or supernatural to that mix – well – you get genius. When elements come together like that, you get works like Children of Darkness, or Wormwood, It, and wasps -well, it just made a place at the table.
I don’t want to ruin any of this wonderful novel’s secrets, or charm. You just need to know that going in, you are going to be crushed. There’s so much heart bleeding in this novel, it’s worth a second read in an attempt to prolong the happiness and grief. To share those wonderful, heart-stopping, awkward, soul-destroying moments McGregor lays bare to the world.
To quote Tim himself, it’s fucking glorious.
The punch to the gut at the end is beautifully timed, well crafted, under your skin. The characters are real, living, and beautiful. Even the villains are humanized, you can sympathize with them – it’s all a matter of perspective and upbringing. The downtrodden get kicked again and again and you die a little bit more when it happens. We live in their moments of glory, we hold onto their pain because, frankly, we crave to feel it all before it’s all over. And it’s all over way, way too quickly and the bubble you are in holds you in such a thrall, that writing this, summarizing how I felt, how I still feel – just brings it all back and makes me want to pick the book up again.
I got lucky. I got to read this now. With the dissolution of Silver Shamrock, Wasps is hanging in the ether – waiting for the right publishing house to step up to the bat, and believe me, this is a gem. This is the gold standard. Tim was gracious in sending me an ARC to read – I had pre-ordered the novel before SS went down with all hands on board, and I cannot explain how gutted I felt – I’m going to claim superpowers here and state I just knew Wasps was going to be something special. I just knew it.
When Tim kindly offered to relieve my suffering with an eBook – well, I’m not going to say I nearly bit his hand off, but I sure as hell didn’t say “no”. Those that know me, know that I almost never buy paperbacks. That comes from my love of the climate – reducing postage, reducing paper use, it’s all co2 emission reduction. Anything I can do to help reduce that damn thing, I do. But I have to go on record here to say that whoever gets this wonderful, devastating, sublime book published, is going to get my money for the paperback. Because then I can give it to my daughter, and my wife, and watch as George and Mark and his friends destroy their lives too.
And then we can all be blissfully miserable and heartbroken and hopeful together.
Outstanding, Tim. In the top 3 of the books I have read this year (47 books so far). Easily.
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s. I’d give it 6 if I could. You all need to read this now. Find a way.
Can't wait for "Lure" (out in July from Tenebrous Press).
Coming-of-age implies all of the myriad emotions a young boy or girl can go through in order to reach adulthood. That horror can also be real-life tragedy, small-town vindictiveness, mental instability, underlying guilt, and social awkwardness – it’s pulling the heartstrings and laying your soul bare. It’s a subtle creeping heart-stabbing horror, and when you add a dash of paranormal or supernatural to that mix – well – you get genius. When elements come together like that, you get works like Children of Darkness, or Wormwood, It, and wasps -well, it just made a place at the table.
I don’t want to ruin any of this wonderful novel’s secrets, or charm. You just need to know that going in, you are going to be crushed. There’s so much heart bleeding in this novel, it’s worth a second read in an attempt to prolong the happiness and grief. To share those wonderful, heart-stopping, awkward, soul-destroying moments McGregor lays bare to the world.
To quote Tim himself, it’s fucking glorious.
The punch to the gut at the end is beautifully timed, well crafted, under your skin. The characters are real, living, and beautiful. Even the villains are humanized, you can sympathize with them – it’s all a matter of perspective and upbringing. The downtrodden get kicked again and again and you die a little bit more when it happens. We live in their moments of glory, we hold onto their pain because, frankly, we crave to feel it all before it’s all over. And it’s all over way, way too quickly and the bubble you are in holds you in such a thrall, that writing this, summarizing how I felt, how I still feel – just brings it all back and makes me want to pick the book up again.
I got lucky. I got to read this now. With the dissolution of Silver Shamrock, Wasps is hanging in the ether – waiting for the right publishing house to step up to the bat, and believe me, this is a gem. This is the gold standard. Tim was gracious in sending me an ARC to read – I had pre-ordered the novel before SS went down with all hands on board, and I cannot explain how gutted I felt – I’m going to claim superpowers here and state I just knew Wasps was going to be something special. I just knew it.
When Tim kindly offered to relieve my suffering with an eBook – well, I’m not going to say I nearly bit his hand off, but I sure as hell didn’t say “no”. Those that know me, know that I almost never buy paperbacks. That comes from my love of the climate – reducing postage, reducing paper use, it’s all co2 emission reduction. Anything I can do to help reduce that damn thing, I do. But I have to go on record here to say that whoever gets this wonderful, devastating, sublime book published, is going to get my money for the paperback. Because then I can give it to my daughter, and my wife, and watch as George and Mark and his friends destroy their lives too.
And then we can all be blissfully miserable and heartbroken and hopeful together.
Outstanding, Tim. In the top 3 of the books I have read this year (47 books so far). Easily.
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s. I’d give it 6 if I could. You all need to read this now. Find a way.
Can't wait for "Lure" (out in July from Tenebrous Press).
June 3, 2023
“We live on this thin crust of order and civility, so smug in our fancy cars and pretty homes. But underneath all that? Chaos. Something waits to drag us down into the darkness.” -George
Wasps in the Ice Cream by @timmcgregor1 from @rdspress sounded like it was going to be a mean, diabolical story of evil corrupting something pure and innocent, and in a way, it was, just on more of an emotional level than I expected.
I cursed Tim McGregor out multiple times during this book. I mean, these are my friends! How dare he do that to them?This is the second book this year that I wanted to not read any further. I got to a point and I just knew things were about to spiral out of control and I didn’t want to put the characters through that. I wanted to let them hold onto their happiness, their ignorant bliss. Of course I couldn’t do that to them, their story needed to be told.
This is not a scary book. It is dark and devastating but not scary. I feel like it should be required reading and discussed for hours with a book club. There are so many great lines that resonated with me.
This is a Ray Bradbury-esque story of how life changes so fast, how we grow up, mature, and summer always comes to a close. The choice you want to make is not the easy choice, not the popular choice. Do you take what is socially difficult but makes you happy? or do you go with the flow and get swept up in the pedestrian life?
I could gush on and on about this book and all the elements it contains and why you need to read it but I think it’s best that you go in empty and let the surprises fill you up.
To sum up the book I will quote Mark’s stepmom, Liz-“Sometimes we do things we don’t understand.”
Wasps in the Ice Cream by @timmcgregor1 from @rdspress sounded like it was going to be a mean, diabolical story of evil corrupting something pure and innocent, and in a way, it was, just on more of an emotional level than I expected.
I cursed Tim McGregor out multiple times during this book. I mean, these are my friends! How dare he do that to them?This is the second book this year that I wanted to not read any further. I got to a point and I just knew things were about to spiral out of control and I didn’t want to put the characters through that. I wanted to let them hold onto their happiness, their ignorant bliss. Of course I couldn’t do that to them, their story needed to be told.
This is not a scary book. It is dark and devastating but not scary. I feel like it should be required reading and discussed for hours with a book club. There are so many great lines that resonated with me.
This is a Ray Bradbury-esque story of how life changes so fast, how we grow up, mature, and summer always comes to a close. The choice you want to make is not the easy choice, not the popular choice. Do you take what is socially difficult but makes you happy? or do you go with the flow and get swept up in the pedestrian life?
I could gush on and on about this book and all the elements it contains and why you need to read it but I think it’s best that you go in empty and let the surprises fill you up.
To sum up the book I will quote Mark’s stepmom, Liz-“Sometimes we do things we don’t understand.”
July 6, 2023
Generally the “coming of age” trope in horror isn’t my favourite but this was definitely an exception to that rule. The 80’s teen summer theme was giving major ‘Derry’ vibes but make it a small Ontario town.
This was my first read for Canadian Indie Horror Month and what a way to start the month. McGregor’s prose is really unmatched. There’s something so comforting about it maybe because I exist in a general state of melancholy, similarly to the overall tone of both Wasps & Lure. This was really such a beautiful read. I found the writing to be captivating and honestly felt like I was in a movie watching it all transpire. If you haven’t checked out McGregor yet, I’m not quite sure what you’re waiting for.
This was my first read for Canadian Indie Horror Month and what a way to start the month. McGregor’s prose is really unmatched. There’s something so comforting about it maybe because I exist in a general state of melancholy, similarly to the overall tone of both Wasps & Lure. This was really such a beautiful read. I found the writing to be captivating and honestly felt like I was in a movie watching it all transpire. If you haven’t checked out McGregor yet, I’m not quite sure what you’re waiting for.
February 20, 2023
Teen angst, witchcraft, and mob mentality feature heavily in the coming-of-age novel Wasps in The Ice Cream by Tim McGregor.
Set in the late 80s we find Mark and his friends growing bored with summer and occasionally with each other. Mark is maturing while his pals seem to be stagnating. In the back of his mind, he knows this, but peer pressure can be a dangerous thing, as can the desire to fit in.
I'm not going to say anything else about the plot. I'm just going to say it was about loneliness and waiting to fit in, growing up and growing out of friendships. It was ugly and beautiful. I was alternately angry with Mark and sympathetic to his fear of being ostracized like the Farrow sisters.
As for the sisters, I loved George. She is both innocent yet worldly, shy but adventurous, sheltered yet terrorized in the town and in her own home. I can't say I understand the parents, or their actions but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
Set in the late 80s we find Mark and his friends growing bored with summer and occasionally with each other. Mark is maturing while his pals seem to be stagnating. In the back of his mind, he knows this, but peer pressure can be a dangerous thing, as can the desire to fit in.
I'm not going to say anything else about the plot. I'm just going to say it was about loneliness and waiting to fit in, growing up and growing out of friendships. It was ugly and beautiful. I was alternately angry with Mark and sympathetic to his fear of being ostracized like the Farrow sisters.
As for the sisters, I loved George. She is both innocent yet worldly, shy but adventurous, sheltered yet terrorized in the town and in her own home. I can't say I understand the parents, or their actions but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
September 10, 2025
Review to come!
July 10, 2024
The audio done by Dan Lawson was fantastic. Quick, clean audio, and good distinction for each character.
The novel begins with the narrator, Mark Prewitt, telling the reader that there is a house with a ghost, and that he fell in love with a witch. It worked perfectly as set up for me, as for the remainder of the book, it was like looking over my shoulder waiting for the exact moment those reveals would have an effect.
Mark just wants to make enough money this summer to get his car running. That, and to have as much fun with his friends as possible. But when a prank goes too far, Mark is forced to cross paths with the Farrow sisters in the hopes of making amends, but there’s also a dirty secret that may create a problem of its own.
The Farrow sisters are the town pariahs. Their parents pulled them from school after the death of their eldest sister, and now they’re seldom seen, and wholeheartedly hated. But as Mark meets George (short for Georgia) he realizes that while the family is strange, they’re mostly misunderstood. A friendship, and possibly more, blossoms.
Part of why I loved the opening is because the novel doesn’t really have much in the way of action. Mark goes to work, and he has two jobs. Otherwise he rides his bike to his friends or to see George. That knowledge that something’s coming stays right in the back of your head the whole time.
It’s also a great coming of age story, with super strong dialogue. Although I am born five years after the novel is set, I feel like the 90s were truly the last generation of kids to have that walk/bike everywhere feel. Especially the ‘go wherever you want as long as you’re not in your parents house’ attitude. So that felt nostalgic while reading.
This might be a first of its kind for me, but this is like reading a horror/romance? The possible intrusion of the ghost, a seance gone bad, the witch antics, the almost Addams family plus abusive dysfunction of the Farrow family, all while George and Mark are growing closer, was a unique blend.
I particularly liked the dissection of high school classism, as Mark battles between his heart and his head. He wants to see more of George, desires to be with her, but what would that do to him if anyone found out? Could he afford to become a ghost as well? To become another town pariah? Sometimes, especially with the fickleness of kids, you don't get a choice.
The ending does pick up, has stakes, and losses. And I really enjoyed the open ending. This was a great read and a first for me from the author.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-wasps-...
The novel begins with the narrator, Mark Prewitt, telling the reader that there is a house with a ghost, and that he fell in love with a witch. It worked perfectly as set up for me, as for the remainder of the book, it was like looking over my shoulder waiting for the exact moment those reveals would have an effect.
Mark just wants to make enough money this summer to get his car running. That, and to have as much fun with his friends as possible. But when a prank goes too far, Mark is forced to cross paths with the Farrow sisters in the hopes of making amends, but there’s also a dirty secret that may create a problem of its own.
The Farrow sisters are the town pariahs. Their parents pulled them from school after the death of their eldest sister, and now they’re seldom seen, and wholeheartedly hated. But as Mark meets George (short for Georgia) he realizes that while the family is strange, they’re mostly misunderstood. A friendship, and possibly more, blossoms.
Part of why I loved the opening is because the novel doesn’t really have much in the way of action. Mark goes to work, and he has two jobs. Otherwise he rides his bike to his friends or to see George. That knowledge that something’s coming stays right in the back of your head the whole time.
It’s also a great coming of age story, with super strong dialogue. Although I am born five years after the novel is set, I feel like the 90s were truly the last generation of kids to have that walk/bike everywhere feel. Especially the ‘go wherever you want as long as you’re not in your parents house’ attitude. So that felt nostalgic while reading.
This might be a first of its kind for me, but this is like reading a horror/romance? The possible intrusion of the ghost, a seance gone bad, the witch antics, the almost Addams family plus abusive dysfunction of the Farrow family, all while George and Mark are growing closer, was a unique blend.
I particularly liked the dissection of high school classism, as Mark battles between his heart and his head. He wants to see more of George, desires to be with her, but what would that do to him if anyone found out? Could he afford to become a ghost as well? To become another town pariah? Sometimes, especially with the fickleness of kids, you don't get a choice.
The ending does pick up, has stakes, and losses. And I really enjoyed the open ending. This was a great read and a first for me from the author.
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April 22, 2024
I am always going to gobble up a coming of age story... and set in the 80s? With supernatural / horror elements? I am going to be seated each time! Tim McGregor does an excellent job capturing an adolescent summer and doing so in a way that's a really good character study of multiple people. I thought I saw how it was going to end, and I was partially correct. And the part I was correct about was heartbreaking. I really found myself drawn so much into the supernatural elements of the story, too... some nice, witchy, folk horror pieces that made this story stand out even more!
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February 20, 2022I read this over two days. I would have probably read it in one if I hadn't been occupied with a few family things! There have been many coming-of-age stories but there are a few against which others are measured, some I've read, a few I've still to get to - King's The Body and It, Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, McCammon's Boy's Life (the one I've not managed yet!) are those oft mentioned. It's hard to see how anyone can add to this but Tim McGregor does just that. He has spun a story of teenage loss and angst, of small town minds and prejudice with an occult narrative and created something fresh and new and entertaining. I love that the main character had flaws but recognised them and ultimately sacrificed himself as an atonement of sorts and I love that last line, which, even years down the line, implies hope and resolution. Wonderful book and I've now added a couple more Tim McGregor books to my list to read at some point in the future. Plus he's got one coming up later this year which I will also be picking up.
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