Aardvark Book Club Fan Club (Not Official) discussion

A cynical twentysomething must confront her unconventional family’s dark secrets in this fiery, irreverent horror novel from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle.

Nobody has a “normal” family, but Vesper Wright’s is truly...something else. Vesper left home at eighteen and never looked back—mostly because she was told that leaving the staunchly religious community she grew up in meant she couldn’t return. But then an envelope arrives on her doorstep.

Inside is an invitation to the wedding of Vesper’s beloved cousin Rosie. It’s to be hosted at the family farm. Have they made an exception to the rule? It wouldn’t be the first time Vesper’s been given special treatment. Is the invite a sweet gesture? An olive branch? A trap? Doesn’t matter. Something inside her insists she go to the wedding. Even if it means returning to the toxic environment she escaped. Even if it means reuniting with her mother, Constance, a former horror film star and forever ice queen.

When Vesper’s homecoming exhumes a terrifying secret, she’s forced to reckon with her family’s beliefs and her own crisis of faith in this deliciously sinister novel that explores the way family ties can bind us as we struggle to find our place in the world.

4 chapters / 26%

I love (view spoiler)[ this twist on a cult. I love that they still refer to him as "the lord"

but I wonder who gave her the invite, why she was invited back. it seems to have thrown everyone into chaos and doesn't seem like they are supposed to be embracing her being back.

hmmmm why did someone want her back? (hide spoiler)]

8 chapters

wait, What?! lol
(view spoiler)[ ahhh, that does make it weird. she doesn't believe in Satan but their satan is also her dad? that must be confusing and weird for her.

i'm glad she's letting the resentment with Brody go. clearly, he's in the faith and they weren't going to work out. she should leave him to Rosemary (hide spoiler)]

12 chapters

(view spoiler)[ wow, Kerri and George's punishment was rough. and what her mom said to her - terrible.

I like that her dad accepts her but he is also pushing her to be someone I'm not sure she wants to be. I wonder if she truly will embrace this or if she'll push against him and not burn it all down (hide spoiler)]

and done

wow (view spoiler)[ now we know why her mom said those things! she was the sacrifice. I don't blame her for being mad, that they all just watched her die by the hands of her father

I like that she went back. I love that her mom saved her - gave her that hairpin (hide spoiler)]