Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

A shop with a sinister orchid who's only goal in life is to eat you whole?
I'm all in.
Except I'm not, as I couldn't finish the book.

The premise is very promising. A thirty-year-old Shell loses her job, her boyfriend, and ends up moving back home with her parents. Her reality is bleak, and her family makes her feel like she has overstayed her welcome. It is not the best place to be mentally. So when she sees a sign 'Help needed' at the door of a flower shop, she's curious enough to walk inside. She of course gets the job and the true story begins. Story of an obsessive, starving plant that from the first second starts scheming against Shell and desires to eat the owner of the flower shop, Neve.

Unfortunately, it begins and continues extremely slowly. We mostly get a social commentary, Shell's internal thoughts and problems, and barely any action moving the plot. It takes about 40% into the book before we truly learn about the Baby and its murderous nature. It is implied before, but not enough to build a scary or a tense atmosphere. At which point I lost interest already. I did skim through the book, as I still wanted to know the resolution. However, I wish the grim relation between the Baby and Neve was introduced quicker and that Neve was showcased more, as that would certainly peak my curiosity and investment, and kept me going.

As it was, I didn't enjoy the book, due to the slow pace of the story. Nonetheless, the premise is fascinating, and potentially a perfect match for a reader who's into slow burn.

Big fan of the author (Other words for Smoke is a favourite), her use of language is wonderful and poetic. Strangely enough this is the second 'plant horror' I have read in a month. This time around we are close to The Little Shop of Horrors as Shell answers a Help Needed sign at the local shopping centre. The centre is due to be demolished soon, giving a little desperation to all those who work there, and to the one who lives in the middle of a hardly visited section, Baby. Baby will do what ever is needed to survive, and to get her spores everywhere.
3.5 Stars

This is a horror story about queer love, late capitalism, and man-eating plants, and was one of my most anticipated books of the year. thankfully lived up to aaaalll my hype. I was hooked on the story of Shell & Neve, who work in a faded, crappy shopping centre
selling flowers. One very special flower is Baby, a monstrous orchid who loves Neve; so much that he’d like to eat her up. Literally! As Neve & Shell fall for one another, Baby is always there, watching and waiting. Baby is the primary narrator of the novel, and it’s deeply unnerving to experience his close-first-person narrative from inside the heads of the two human main characters. Confusing, enthralling and very unsettling. The vibes are not unlike that of a Sayaka Murata novel, where social commentary is expertly blended with abject horror.

Griffin is absolutely magic at writing characters: Neve and Shell come to life immediately, and the small cast of characters are vivid and compelling. I'd love to go for a can with each and every one of them. Neve and Shell have electric chemistry, and watching their love story unfold is equal parts giggle-inducing and stomach churning, given that we're watching it from the perspective of a carnivourous plant. Baby, oh BABY! Is he an alien? A freak of nature? Just a little guy? Griffin doesn't tell us; we're left in the dark about what Baby is, which makes him all the more menacing. As his hunger grows, so does our fear - and believe me, fear is the primary emotion I felt. By the time I was half-way through this one I was terrified of plants, and i am still eyeing my spider plants with some tripeidation.

There's so much to talk about with this one - I haven't mentioned the mixed-media elements, the emails between Jen and Bec, our heroes of sorts. I kind of love that Shell didn't save herself, that she relied on other women - friends - to help her out. Grififn has built a complex web of relationships between these four women and it's completely natural and enthralling.

Like the aforementioned Sayaka Murata, Griffin casts a critical eye over the hellscape of late-stage capitalism, and the difficulties of loving and building relationships within it. Elements of ETOYL reminded me of Convience Store Woman - high paise indeed - in its exploration of the horrors - and there are horrors! - but also the softer, calmer elements of working in retail. As Shell learns more about floristry, she falls for it, as much as she does for Shell, and if it weren't f0r the man-eating plant, it sounds like quite a pleasant work environment.

A really special, unique and twisted book - well worth the wait.

The cover art is amazing and this is what instantly drew me in. The blurb itself paints almost a feverish image of a plant trying to sustain itself and stops at nothing to achieve this.

On opening and reading this book I didn't pick up that energy or the need. The idea of this story is fantastic but it's slow. There's a lot of talking of the mundane day to day of working a shop and the threat of the shopping mall closing down. I understand the basis of setting the story and building it, but I didn't get enough of the horrors of this plant. I think this could have been truly horrifying if given the chance.

‘Eat the Ones You Love’ is a thrilling and deranged tale of a plant and the person it is obsessed with. Soft and weird and dark, this is ideal for anyone who loves ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, anyone who worked in retail, and anyone who loves the supernatural. Very enjoyable and deeply unsettling!

Sorry but the one went way over my head. The first section with Shell and Neve I enjoyed but when the additional characters and POV started coming in I found it really hard to follow what was going on and so lost interest quite quickly after that.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Maria Griffin is yet to write a book that isn't an absolute banger. A LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS for the (post)modern age, EAT THE ONES YOU LOVE will help you relive any retail-related trauma you may have gathered through your lifetime, but also find catharsis in the experiencing and surpassing the memory. Tender, yet tense, human yet with a touch of something else, EAT THE ONES YOU LOVE will make you look for the supernatural hiding in plain sight, and perhaps take one step away from any plant you walk by for the next while.
Well worth the wait.

Botanical body horror viewed through a queer lens? Sold! The prose in this novel is gorgeous; the almost dystopian, end of the world setting intriguing and raw; the unique, omniscient narrative both engaging and utterly terrifying. Baby tore out my soul and ate it whole.

Ah this started out so good, but I quickly found myself losing interest. Once the narrative switched from Shell, I completely lost care in the story! I got confused by the plot, narration style and overall character development. The blurb interested me but I really really struggled with this unfortunately.

Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin is a thought-provoking and imaginative novel that blends dystopian elements with a darkly emotional story. The premise—a future where the line between humanity and consumption blurs—offers plenty of intrigue and originality, but the execution doesn’t always live up to the promise of its ambitious concept.

Griffin’s prose is undeniably beautiful, with rich, lyrical descriptions that draw you into the unsettling world she’s created. The protagonist’s internal struggles are compelling, and the themes of survival, morality, and love are layered with emotional weight. However, while the central ideas are intriguing, the pacing can feel uneven, with stretches where the story drags or becomes overly introspective, losing some of its momentum.

The world-building, while vivid, leaves key questions unanswered, which can make the stakes feel unclear at times. Similarly, some of the supporting characters lack depth, making their arcs less impactful. Despite its flaws, Eat the Ones You Love is a bold and creative story with moments of brilliance. A solid 3 stars—it’s a unique read, but it doesn’t fully stick the landing. Fans of speculative fiction may find much to appreciate, even if it doesn’t quite reach its potential.

Shell is going through a lot in her life; heart break, job break (loses her job), then there is a decaying mall.
She happens to see a sign, both literal and metaphorical, and finds herself working at a florist as an assistant to Neve.
As the two women’s relationship develops, and we meet characters like Jen and Bec, the botanic horror unfolds.
Baby is a curious voice.

I recommend this book to those who are looking for a quick quirky read.

You might see this book compared to some other media - I have not seen the musical that has similar themes.
In fact, for me the best part of this book was its botanic horror and the potential metaphors. The chapter titles were spot on.

In my experience this was a 3 star read - the characterisation, the plot, the writing were all good. I enjoyed my reading experience, but did not love it.
My expectations for certain key components were higher and different.

I believe there is a more ideal audience for this book than me.