Patrick just wanted to gather his friends for one last summer. The group had come together because of him, The Jumpscare Society. After his sister's murder he needed something and the group had worked, putting on shadow plays of the Slasher movie, filmed right in their home town. Until their senior year when it fell apart. But now, Patrick has pulled them back together for one last night: the druggie, the preppie, the football king and his cheerleader queen, and the goth girl. Everyone except the Final Girl. But Carrie shows up anyway bringing with her a host of unresolved issues. Or maybe they all brought issues. Especially the person who shows up dressed as the Slasher.
A fun take on horror films. The book is third person omniscient from most of the character's viewpoints and uses over half the book to build tension before the killings begin. This is going to be a weird thought but I was thrown off by exactly how perfectly the movie beats were hit in a book. It was like hearing a Queen song sung as a madrigal. It mostly works but feels just a little off. Other than that, a really fun summer read.
Four stars
This book comes out June 23, 2026
ARC kindly provided by Crown Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own
