"Dummy" by David-Matthew Barnes is a compelling young adult novel that delves deep into the themes of identity, acceptance, and the journey to self-discovery. Barnes, known for his knack for creating authentic and relatable characters, delivers a poignant and insightful story that resonates with readers long after they've turned the last page.

Set against the backdrop of contemporary society, "Dummy" follows the story of a teenager navigating the complexities of life, love, and the pursuit of personal truth. The protagonist's journey is one marked by challenges and revelations, offering a raw and unfiltered look into the struggles of growing up and finding one's place in the world.

Barnes' writing style is both engaging and evocative, making "Dummy" a page-turner from the outset. His ability to weave intricate narratives with emotional depth is on full display, drawing readers into the inner world of his characters. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, capturing the essence of teenage angst and the vibrancy of youth.

One of the most striking aspects of "Dummy" is its unapologetic exploration of important and often sensitive topics. Barnes addresses issues such as bullying, self-esteem, and the search for identity with sensitivity and grace, offering a nuanced perspective that is both enlightening and empowering. His portrayal of these issues is thoughtful and respectful, providing a voice to experiences that are frequently marginalized or misunderstood.

The characters in "Dummy" are well-developed and multifaceted, each with their own flaws and strengths. Barnes excels at creating a diverse cast that reflects the complexity of real-life relationships and social dynamics. The protagonist, in particular, is a beautifully rendered character whose growth and resilience serve as the heart of the story.

Moreover, "Dummy" stands out for its positive representation of LGBTQ+ themes, offering an inclusive and affirming narrative that contributes to the visibility and understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences. Barnes' approach to these themes is both authentic and heartfelt, adding another layer of depth to an already compelling story.

In addition to its rich narrative, "Dummy" is notable for its cultural relevance and timely message. The novel encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness, advocate for themselves, and challenge societal norms. It's a reminder of the power of empathy, the importance of being true to oneself, and the transformative potential of understanding and acceptance.

In conclusion, "Dummy" by David-Matthew Barnes is a remarkable novel that offers a moving and insightful exploration of the human condition. Its engaging narrative, complex characters, and thoughtful treatment of important themes make it an essential read for young adults and anyone interested in a deeply human story about growth, resilience, and the courage to be oneself. Barnes has crafted a work that is not only entertaining but also profoundly impactful, cementing his status as a significant voice in young adult literature.

It was a cool premise but I never really fully got into it. It’s taken me months to finish and the book wasn’t long.

It was just ok for me, a bit of a slog.

The ending did pick up a bit and that was decent.

Overall, it’s not something I was very enthused over.

However, that being said, if this was ever made into a movie I’d totally watch it.

Was not for me and I don't want to rate it on goodreads. I only got 50 pages in...........................................................................

Well written interesting book, telling the tale of a woman and her protective best friend. The chapters are a good length and the book as some suspense and character background and depth.

I really enjoyed this book! It was super creepy and just flat out bizarre, which are great features in my opinion. Dummy is about a senior citizen named Beverly and her 'friend' Talbot, a life-sized dummy that she talks to, cooks for and drives around in her car. She befriends a young girl called Jenny that doesn't know about a dark secret that Beverly has and she has a darkness of her own that she's hiding.

Dummy is great fun and I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you for the ARC!

Perfect read for the Halloween, fall, spooky season. There's a creepy life-sized doll, need I say more?
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

David-Matthew Barnes does a great job with the horror elements and the use of dummies. I was invested in what was going on and thought the characters fit the story. It had that horror element that I wanted and glad I was able to read this.

Dummy is the perfect read for spooky season! This is a short book and would make a great movie. I think the idea of a life size mannequin would be scary. I love horror movies and books with dolls but I still get creeped out. There were some twists and the ending was good. This book gave me Goosebump and Five nights at Freddy's vibes. I would definitely recommend this book!


Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Wow! I knew this was going to be graphic, but.... wow!

Beverly is a character. She seems like the lonely old lady down the road who is a little eccentric. She has a routine she follows every night. She also has a mannequin that she treats like a person. As it turns out, her mannequin- she calls Talbot, is not just a mannequin. Any time someone touches him, there is a consequence. Beverly is no saint, she has bodies hid throughout her backyard. Some of them are there because of Talbot, others are her own victims.

Beverly has joined a theater group to spite an old nemesis. While there she becomes friends with a girl named Jenny. Jenny has a secret, while Beverly and Jenny are handling the secret from being discovered some thrill-seeking teenagers decide to steal the mannequin from the strange old lady's car. Not a good plan.

Talbot is scary. When I read the title, I thought the Dummy would be small and scary, like the dummy in the Goosebumps books. He is not. He is the size of a full-grown man and thus even more dangerous. He is like a heat-seeking missile, once he has his sights set on someone he does not break.

I will not recommend this to most of my students, there are a couple who would enjoy the book. I will give the parents the option, my students are between 12-13., due to the content of the stories.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice story. It has some gory moments and is creative. It's well written and moves at a quick pace. I would recommend it! Special Thank You to David Matthews Barnes, BooksGoSocial an NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a story that was fun rather than keeps you up at night scary. That’s absolutely fine for me, it definitely fits the spooky season if that’s when you plan to read this.

It’s about an old woman named Beverly and her long time companion, a man sized dummy/mannequin named Talbot. Then one day, they cross paths with an ambitious young woman named Jenny, and things go from there.

Not much more to say other than it was fun and bloody good time! If you’re looking for a light scary book, go for it.

I LOVED this book. Perfect amount of spooky!! I highly recommend, especially since it’s spooky season!

This book reminded me of those books of early middle school. It was a quick read, had some gory parts and the story of how the mannequin came to be was well written. I was not terribly scared while reading this book. It was more nostalgic for me as a reader.

This shit proper spooked me. It's rare I get spooked by books, but this one got me. Granted dummies are fucking terrifying to begin with, but jesus.
It took me a bit to get into, but once I did... Nightmare-inducing shit.

A fun, quick, and spooky read. This had a strong sinister element that twisted and darkened as the story unfolded. It definitely needs some developmental work before publication but all in all a fun read great for Halloween.

I love a good creepy doll story. And teenagers doing dumb things and ending up dealing with the consequences, but add an elderly late and a young woman with blood lust and you find a fun book. Great if you just want a book to get lost in.

Dummy’s, dolls, and mannequins are almost always creepy, which is why they generally are a wonderful addition to a horror story. Talbot, the mannequin in David-Matthew Barnes’s Dummy is indeed creepy, especially his teeth. And while Talbot is the highpoint of the book the story could have used some more work. The problem being that most of the characters are rather twisted, some surprisingly so. I generally like to have someone to root for, to sympathize with. Thanks to BooksGoSocial for an eARC.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dummy-david-matthew-barnes/1144074091?ean=2940166108791&bvnotificationId=19fef206-61fe-11ee-8034-125a2b03c69d&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/259074267

"Dummy" follows the story of Beverly and her beloved mannequin (yes, that's right... mannequin) Talbot, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of a small town; gossip about her failed marriage, snide remarks from the town bitch Abigail... and how to evade police capture when your beloved mannequin's hunger extends beyond roast beef and mashed potatoes and the dead bodies start piling up.

I thought Talbot was a great character, unfortunately this story was a bit undercooked for me. I somewhat enjoyed the first two thirds, but by the final act the pacing really took a hit and became confusing. The rules that had been set up at the beginning became muddied and it seemed like lots of loose ends had to be wrapped up quickly without getting the development they deserved. The story ultimately felt directionless and unsatisfying.

I'm afraid I can't recommend this, as it's an interesting premise that ultimately doesn't deliver and just left me disappointed.

What a quick spooky read and great way to start the fall season! Talbot has some anger issues that’s for sure, however he always looks out for his companion, 82 year old Beverly. This book reminded me of the movie Dead Silence and Barnes’ writing is fast paced with the right amount of gory details (for horror lovers like myself).

This book is a really quick read. I definitely would not want to be on the bad side of a full-size living mannequin. I never thought I was scared of mannequins but after reading this book, I definitely will be watching my back around them.

Beverly is the sweet, old grandma type that you would never suspect of having a killer mannequin in her possession. That is why the idea is creepy. There was that tense moment in the beginning where Jenny met Talbot that I was not sure if she would survive.

While I did enjoy this book, I do have to admit that the "scare" factor was like a 6 out of 10 for me. I would have loved for the scare factor to be higher but still I could see this book being made into a horror flick that I would watch.