I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison Published by Berkley on September 12 2023
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: An unexpected and bloody homecoming awaits the protagonist of Black Sheep, Rachel Harrison’s latest, a thoroughly entertaining surprise of a story.
“All happy families are alike, I thought. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Once again, Rachel Harrison has surprised and delighted me with an outstanding story that did not take the expected path, but veered off into something altogether unique and horrifying. This is also the part where I mention that this is a spoiler free review, and by that I mean I’m not divulging the big reveal, which happens about 20% into the story. This is going to make it very difficult to review the book, because I want to talk about everything. But I went in completely blind, and I think you should too. There are plenty of spoilery reviews on Goodreads if you want to know more.
Vesper left her home and family behind six years ago, after growing up in a strict, religious community that demanded complete obedience and devotion to the church. Since then, she’s been working dead end jobs trying to make ends meet, but it’s been a struggle finding her place in the world after spending eighteen years having all your decisions made for you.
But one night, after a horrible shift at work, Vesper comes home to find a fancy red envelope sitting on her doorstep. When she opens it, she’s shocked to see a wedding invitation from her family, inviting her home for the wedding of her best friend Rosie and her ex-boyfriend Brody. When Vesper left, she knew she’d never be welcomed back, because once you leave the church, you can never return. But now she has been invited back, although it’s a mystery as to who actually sent her the invitation.
Vesper decides to attend the wedding, despite her misgivings, but the siren call of familiarity and home is hard to resist, even though deep down she knows it’s a bad idea. And guess what? It turns out to be a terrible idea, because Vesper is walking into a situation she knows nothing about and can’t control. And when her long lost father shows up at the reception, Vesper’s world is turned upside down. Getting through the awkwardness of the wedding is one thing. Making it out in one piece is quite another.
Black Sheep is a horror story with supernatural elements, although I can’t really say more than that without spoiling things. The author drops little hints in the beginning about the nature of those elements, and I knew right away that something was off with the religious cult Vesper came from (although Vesper herself insists it isn’t a “cult,” but that word seems to fit so I’m using it). But most of the horror stuff happens near the end, and up until that point this is mostly a story about family ties and trying to break away and live your own life. Take out all supernatural elements and you have a funny, emotional and very awkward story about how hard it is to go home, especially if you’ve left on bad terms.
Rachel Harrison has a talent for writing quirky, interesting female protagonists, and Vesper is one of my favorites. The story is told in first person from her point of view, and her thoughts are messy and chaotic and full of emotion and uncertainty. Vesper isn’t always likable and she doesn’t always get along with people. Her observations about life are caustic and full of black humor, but inside she’s still a vulnerable little girl seeking love and acceptance. There’s a lot of emotional turmoil surrounding Vesper’s mother and father, and they were both fantastic characters as well. Constance Wright is a famous “scream queen,” a horror movie actress with a macabre decorating style. (Her house is full of horror movie memorabilia and props and other spooky furnishings. Think the Addams Family and you’ll have a good idea of what sort of environment Vesper grew up in!) She’s also an extremely cold person with very little love for her daughter, although their interactions were hysterically funny at times. Then there’s the big mystery of Vesper’s absentee father, who left when she was a child. All Vesper knows is that she loves him dearly and wants to find him, but Constance refuses to give up any information about him. I figured out who he was almost immediately, but that didn’t take away from the fun of watching the clues unfold.
To call this family “dysfunctional” is an understatement, but I loved that the author explores themes that everyone can relate to, no matter how normal you think your family is. And because this is a story grounded in religion (but don’t let that scare you off—it’s not what you’re thinking), Harrison touches on faith and belief (and non belief) and how it isn’t always healthy or normal. Vesper has to come to terms with the way she’s been raised and the huge, awful secrets she discovers at the wedding, and I thought the way she came out on the other side was very well done.
The story gets weirder and weirder as it progresses, and the climax was over-the-top but absolutely perfect. Harrison’s vivid writing brings Vesper’s and her strange family’s stories to life, and I guarantee you won’t want to put the book down once you start reading. This one’s a winner, folks. Don’t miss it.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
To say that your review intrigued me would be the understatement of the century… Dysfunctional families, religious cults and a dash of horror? Count me in! 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…STARTER VILLAIN, by John Scalzi
I hope you get the chance to read it, Harrison just amazes me every time I read one of her books:-)
“Vesper decides to attend the wedding, despite her misgivings…” I’d be screaming at the book don’t do it, Vesper! But otherwise I guess there wouldn’t be much of a story. 😛
Ha ha exactly!!!
Can’t wait to read this!!
I hope you love it!
Ok, so now I’m super excited for this one! I read Cackle and enjoyed it and this one sounds even better!
Cackle is one I haven’t read yet, but I need to!
I’m so curious now- great job reviewing this without spoiling! This sounds so different from Such sharp Teeth and I love the sound of the themes she explores.
Greg recently posted…The Sands of Time Ch 48
Thanks Greg! It was completely different but also completely a Rachel Harrison story.
Haha, I did not want to talk about the “reveal” in my review either. I thought it was so brilliantly done, changed my entire perception and expectations of the story entirely! It just has to be experienced in person 😀
You did a good job of hiding the reveal too, I wanted to talk about everything so bad!
I will admit the cover does not scream read me, but it does sound interesting so might put it on my library list. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…Week in Review #51
I know what you mean, I’m not crazy about the cover either, but the story is fantastic:-)
I don’t usually go for horror, but this is tempting… Also, I feel like a big reveal happening so early in a story is unusual—but not a bad thing!
I’m calling it a reveal because it’s not in the blurb, even though it’s a big part of the story. Obviously the publisher is trying to keep it under wraps:-)
Great job in not giving anything away because it’s left me really curious about the reveal and what’s actually going on 😀
It’s hard not to talk about, because it’s a very important part of the story!
I am so excited about this book – it sounds fantastic. I will definitely be picking up a copy soon.
Lynn 😀
You’ll love it, Lynn:-)
I have this one on audio and after reading your review, I’m even more excited to read it this spooky season!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Can’t Wait Wednesday – HUNT ON DARK WATERS by Katee Robert
Spooky season is the perfect time to read this:-)
This sounds so good! The fact that you can’t give that reveal away has my brain wondering just what it could be, and coming up with all kinds of possibilities! Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Blog Tour Review: Peaches and Dreams (Green Valley Heroes #4) by Juliette Cross
I’m curious: is Anna Karenina’s quotation in the book? or is it your conclusion?
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Scifi month 2023: my plans
It’s in the book and I’m wondering if Harrison even gave Tolstoy credit for this. It appears in the book as though it’s the narrator’s original thought. I’m listening to the audiobook so I don’t know for sure!