A hilarious and bizarre take on reality tv and disturbing behaviours. An unhinged read that will leave you entertained.

I love a book that plays with your expectations and this novel certainly does that. The 'Bachelor' setting alone was fun but the introduction of Patricia was crazy, in a good way. Great fun, with a lovely hint of spice too

A deliciously strange mashup of genres - perfect for fans of Mrs Caliban and The Shape of Water with a reality TV spin.

An intriguing premise, some fun scenes, but ultimately far more disturbing and upsetting than I had been expecting! I enjoyed seeing the process behind a reality show, and how it became its own kind of horror. The characters are well-drawn. However it just wasn't for me, though I'm sure it will thrill other horror fans.

I am absolutely obsessed with the cover, if I saw it in a bookshop I’d be drawn to it straight away.

The beginning was a bit confusing. It just starts, no background about the show or any of the contestants. I found it a bit tricky remembering who was who.

This book is very scary insight into the life of an influencer on tv shows like The Bachelor of Love Island. I like that it plays on the fact that they are playing characters.

The mixed media was fun and split the story up in a way that was interesting but ensured it still flowed. I loved the ‘finding Kate’ side plot.

Such a quick read that really held my interest!

I have no idea what I just read - but I do know it was a page turner! This is horror set in today's world, with the strangest premise - one that has very little to do with the outcome of the book itself. Similarly, the LGBTQ+ aspect of the main character had nothing to do with the story itself and I would have liked to see it explored a little more.

Book Review: Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen is a pulse-pounding and viciously funny fiction debut that takes readers on a whirlwind romp through the absurdity of reality television and contemporary American media culture. With its original and campy plot, well-developed characters, and witty writing, this book is an entertaining read from start to finish.

The story revolves around the contestants of a reality television dating show called The Catch. As the final four women arrive on a mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest, they expect another week filled with sleep deprivation, invasive interviews, and salacious drama. Each woman has her own motivations for being on the show, ranging from brand sponsorships to finding love. Amidst the chaos, Patricia, a temperamental and misunderstood local, watches from the shadows, yearning for a connection of her own.

One of the strengths of this novel is its well-paced narrative. Allen keeps readers engaged with a fast-paced plot that careens towards a last-girl-standing conclusion. The author skillfully combines elements of romance, suspense, and humor, creating an enjoyable reading experience. The writing style is fantastic, and the author’s ability to inject wit and humor into the story adds an extra layer of entertainment.

The characters in Patricia Wants to Cuddle are another highlight. They are well-developed and intriguing, capturing the reader’s attention from the start. Patricia herself is a specter hiding and observing the spectacle that is the reality show "THE CATCH". Additionally, the chosen family of misfit islanders who forge a community against all odds adds extra depth to the narrative.

One minor criticism is that the book could have delved deeper into Patricia’s backstory and the lives of the island residents. While the focus on the reality show and its contestants is entertaining, more exploration of Patricia’s character and her relationship with the island would have enhanced the overall reading experience.

In conclusion, Patricia Wants to Cuddle is an entertaining and engaging novel that satirizes reality television and media culture while also exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and community. Samantha Allen’s writing is witty and humorous, making this book a page-turner that is difficult to put down. Despite some missed opportunities to delve deeper into certain aspects of the story, this novel is a highly enjoyable read for those looking for an original and campy tale.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

A fantastically weird read that hooked me right from the beginning and didn't let me go. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it

I have to say that this book was not what I was expecting. It was good at the end but not right book for me.

What a weird and wonderful read! super grateful to the publisher for this one as i know it was very popular! I really enjoyed the reality show element to the book, however the big bear/wolf thing was very odd. But made for a great story!

Delightfully bizarre. LOVE ISLAND meets FINAL DESTINATION in this short but sweet horror novel, Samantha Allen is a brilliant writer with a wild imagination.

Crazy wild horror read, I want more!

I’m not even sure what I just read but I’m here for it-crazy plot which makes it stand out as one for me.

I really love this kind of horror. I had a lot of fun reading this; the humour was pretty funny, it had a few really scary moments and the ending was surprisingly sweet. It felt a little too short, I wanted to know way more about the strange main character (what the hell was she even doing on the dating show to begin with??). The second half is where it becomes a slasher but I also felt that went by far too quickly, as if it was trying to get the characters out of the way rather than giving time to breathe within kills. A lot of questions, especially about the members of the island group, went unanswered in a way that didn't satisfy me. Would recommend this though, if not just for a quick, weird and funny queer read about. Found family? And sasquatches.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Faber and Faber Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

A queer horror book centred around a reality dating show? There are few combinations of words which could get me more excited. Patricia Wants to Cuddle is the story of what happens when the cast of a fake Bachelor wind up on the wrong island.

This book had all the right components. It starts off just following the cast members of the show, who are all interesting and well-written. It didn't feel like I was waiting for the horror to begin, I was enjoying getting to know the characters and excited to see what would happen to them. Then the horror does kick in and it is an enjoyable ride.

One strength of this book is it feels absolutely unique. It was not what I expected going in and I have read very few things like it. Unfortunately this is also the book's biggest weakness. For such a unique story, it ends quite abruptly and feels very anti-climatic. Thematically it works but that's just about the only level it does work on for me.

Overall, I still have a strong soft spot for this book. I would love to read more things by it and I am very excited to see what the author does next. With a more satisfactory ending, this easily could have been a 5 star read for me

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

This was such a strange but gripping book - for me the last 50 pages or so were brilliant. The plot surrounds a reality TV show which at times felt a little slow, but the snowballing, WILD ending was great. Very much enjoyed, I do wish the last part of the book was more like the rest though! Still an author to keep an eye out for, I'm excited to see what they write next

Initially this felt like it took a little while to get going - all great, character building stuff, but for such a short book I wanted to dive into the action a little sooner - indeed the book as a whole could have gotten away with being a little longer, as it truly rattles through the action when it starts. When we get there though - oh boy. The book goes from 0 to 100, really ramping up the tension and the action, which the slow build up definitely does help with.

At first I also felt that the number of POVs was a little excessive, but as we got to know each woman more, they all felt like a vital part of the story - and each woman had a strong narrative voice unique to their chapters, though the short chapters and POV swapping so often did make Renee's storyline of self discovery feel somewhat abrupt, and Lilah-Mae still felt a little stock-Christian character at times (though perfectly fitting into her specific reality tv archetype). I also loved how the chat-forum, blogs and letters were interwoven throughout, really helping to build the mythos and the tension (though the formatting on these sections in my ARC wasn’t great).

The book manages to skewer influencers and reality tv whilst still sensitively examining why a person might want to be part of either. Some may see the twists coming (though I personally was duped!) but they’re executed marvelously. This was actually less trashy or campy than I expected it to be (and I mean trashy in a complimentary way) with a tender beating heart underlying even the more schlocky moments. It’s gory, it’s nuanced, its weird - but most of all it's just really good fun.

This was gloriously nuts. A cut budget version of the Batchelor - the Catch - saves on its penultimate episodes by filming on the remote but gorgeous Otter Island (a fictional addition to the San Juan islands). The four remaining female contestants are in fierce competition for their own reasons, none of which include love. The producer is a jaded woman, just trying to get her cash cow to limp to the finish line. The Catch himself is an utter sleeze ball. And none of them have quite cottoned on to the fact that this island retreat is deliberately anti-tourist as this is where misfits have come to find a place for themselves. Including Patricia, a lonely cryptid who doesn't care for loud disturbances.

As well as a cynical and incisive commentary on the soullessness and lack of authenticity of both reality TV and aspects of internet engagement, this was also a clever deep dive into finding a place to belong when you don't quite fit into specific accepted parameters - especially when people look at you and peg you for something familiar and known. This was a lot of fun. King Kong meets the Batchelor with the camp-y macabre fun of those who are so desperate to conform that they will injure anyone who doesn't to do it, really getting their come uppence. After all, who is really the monster? Queers take back horror!

Patricia Wants To Cuddle, Samantha Allen

I found this book to be quite bizarre. Very different from my usual read and not one that I really understood or enjoyed unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for a copy of this book, I rate it 1 star.

I really enjoyed this book as it was a perfect mix of pop culture and mystery. The action was really good and i was hooked from start to finish with this. The characters all felt so different and i loved seeing how they reacted to the situation differently I would read more by Samantha Allen as the writing and the characters were done so well. I can definitely see myself re-reading this in the future.

This was a wild ride and an absolutely great book. I truly enjoyed every page, and will definitely be looking out for future works from Samantha Allen!