What do you get when you mix Midsommar 🍃, Final Girl Support Group 🩸, and a dash of “am I going crazy or am I just haunted by my trauma?” vibes? You get THIS wild, twisted ride of a horror novel 😮‍💨

Meet Sadie—formerly Sabrina—who might be hearing dead animals talk 🐿️👻 and might be listening to a mysterious voice in her head 🧠💀… or maybe it’s just PTSD from watching her friends get murdered in a cult massacre when she was a kid. Totally normal, right?

Now she’s trying to live her best normal life with a sweet (but slightly sus?) boyfriend, until a cabin-in-the-woods trip awakens some dark stuff. Suddenly she’s spiraling, questioning everything—and for once, she’s done playing victim. She’s ready to fight back. 💥🖤

This book had me yelling at the pages, second-guessing EVERY character, and rooting for the kind of unhinged heroine we don’t get enough of. 💅✨

🔪 #CreepyCabinRead
🌿 #CultSurvivorEnergy
🧠 #UnhingedButMakeItHealing
📚 #BookstagramHorror
🔥 #PsychologicalThrillerVibes
🩸 #FinalGirlFiction

A great book for those of us who support women’s wrongs ❤️ This is a very fast paced, dark, gory slasher. The book opens with our protagonist who survived a summer camp slaughter when she was a kid. We see her go through PTSD, and how it has affected her relationships and every day choices. We quickly get thrown into a return to the forest, whether she likes it or not.

I struggled with how to feel about this book for a bit. I liked the pacing a lot, I really loved how the chapters alternated back and forth between past and present, and I enjoyed seeing Sadie’s internal dialogue. However, I found all the characters in this book to be pretty unlikable. In a way that I can’t tell if they’re supposed to be likable or not, so maybe botched execution? It definitely took my out of the story a few times but I think the payoff ended up being worth it.

Just prepare to dive into too much gym talk (that feels like tumblr 2012 fitness community), stereotypical crypto bros and vegans, etc. honestly I think the characters could have been more exaggerated and it would have made the book a much more fun ride. All in all great payoff at the end!

This book had a strong start and kept me engaged the whole way through. I loved the combination of mental health with supernatural elements. It had you questioning what was real and what was in her head. I really enjoyed the unexpected ending. Often, you expect the main character to be a good person and to always do the right thing. So it can be a shock when that’s not the case. Especially when you’re still rooting for the main character, despite the bad things they’ve done.

WOW. This was a wild ride and I enjoyed every second of it.

I love Sabrina aka Sadie’s character growth throughout the book, even if it was a little unconventional. There were so many eerie twists and turns and the ending was actually so surprising for me.

I did have to give myself little breaks throughout just due to an uneasy feeling but I could have read this all in one day. The pacing was really great and I really enjoyed the flips between the past and present to bring the story to life.

Firstly, let me kindly thank Net Gallery, the author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and Creature Publishing for providing me with the digital advanced reader’s copy.

This is the first book that I have read by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and I can firmly say that this will not be my last! From the creativity of the story, to the fun pop culture references, as well as the twists and turns. This book packed a punch and had me hooked to the very last page!

The story follows a dual timeline which I think was executed really well, as there was a clear distinction between the past and present. The premise of the story follows Sabrina who was the sole survivor of a camp massacre, where she witnessed her two best friends murdered. Flash forward to 2023, where Sabrina has changed her name to Sadie and created a new identity and life for herself. When her boyfriend’s best friend suggests a last minute weekend trip to a cabin in the woods. Sadie is tormented by her past, as she fears history maybe repeating itself.

The language is easily digestible to the reader, which helps add to the fast paced momentum. This contributed to the story feeling like a horror film. I could clearly envision the story in my mind and I personally would love to see this book adapted into a film.

As someone who loves horror films, I really appreciated the grotesque horror elements. I felt that the vivid imagery helped to bring the characters/creatures to life. I liked the supernatural element with the sultry character of Damon and the pivotal role that they played within the story. I especially liked how the other place was interwoven into everyday inconvenient situations. Juxtaposition to the vivid horror imagery to describe the other place. I felt like the story also reflected the horrors of everyday life, through Sadie’s toxic relationships with people, from childhood to adulthood.

Although this book was an entertaining read, it was by no means frivolous, as it dealt with hard hitting subject matters. Sadie’s character in 2023 was in an internal battle with herself. Sadie believed that she could not be herself, as she would be judged, (stemming from the trauma she had endured and her past experiences of relationships with other people). Carrying this belief can be an extremely heavy burden and I feel that the character of Sadie represented the emotional weight of this effectively.

I liked how the other place was used within the story. It was effective as it reflected how trauma can manifest and have a detrimental affect on someone’s psyche years later. This is represented by Sadie’s rigid routine, which helped her to feel that she had a sense of control. To constantly gas lighting herself, by second guessing her own thoughts and decisions. To her anxiety fueled reaction to a spontaneous weekend away. They all reflected Sadie’s response to trauma, and how she clings to them as a form of self protection and ultimately, self preservation.

I felt for Sadie, as most of her relationships were rooted in toxicity. The frenemy dynamics between her and her two childhood best friends, made me feel ambiguous about their deaths’. Morally their deaths’ were horrific, but how they had treated Sadie made me feel slightly satisfied by their demise.

I disliked Lucas as soon as his character was introduced and I continued to detest him even more the further I read. I was hoping that Sadie would see her worth and take back her power.

This was the feminist horror book that I needed in my life! “ The Mean Ones” is an easy 5 Stars for me. I can not wait to read more of Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s work in the future!

I thought this was a great book. The story was interesting and fast paced, the main character was relatable. There were some important themes having to do with relationships (both romantic and friendships) that were aggravating, but played well in to the story. Overall it was a good, suspenseful horror story.

This dual timeline cult based horror follows Sadie through a weekend with her friends in a cabin in the woods where she learns some surprising truths that she never would have seen coming.

Listen, I only dabble in horror. I don’t like splatterpunk or anything like that, but few things scare me. I’m just not a fan of the “anything to get a reaction” type writing. This though? There was not a single point where I was comfortable. In the best way. I actually had nightmares (they weren’t terrible, but they were for sure from reading this before bed). Everything about Sadie’s experience, from mingling her OCD (this is OCD, right? Sorry if I’m wrong, I’m not a psychiatrist), with her supernatural experiences, to the actual experiences she has is just creepy. Her relationship is written perfectly for what it is supposed to be, everything was incredible. The ending was simultaneously shocking and satisfying. I loved this. If you love horror, if you love feminine revenge, this is for you. Thank you Tatianna for the advanced copy so I could give you my truthful review. I loved it!

Wow I REALLY really liked this one. Possibly one of my recent favs. Dual timelines of a girl who's friends were murdered at a summer camp and her current life colliding.

There were definitely some very very creepy aspects of this book, as well as some humor and it actually worked really really well. I loved Sabrina/Sadie and felt so bad for her throught most of the book. Mean girls are the worst!

Thank you Tatiana Schote-Bonne for allowing me to review your book. I enjoyed it so much. It was creepy and it gave me goosebumps. I loved it

What a wild ride!

Sadie, formerly Sabrina, is a 29-year-old trying to live a normal life after witnessing a traumatic murder. But her therapist's PTSD diagnosis for the voices she hears – talking dead animals and a male presence – is challenged when a cabin trip with her boyfriend, Lucas, unleashes escalating visions, a stalker, and the voice's increasingly sinister demands.

The entire premise of this book delivers a genuinely creepy and engaging experience. The flashbacks to Sadie's past, the glimpses into her "hallucinations," and the vivid descriptions consistently propel the reader forward, creating a compelling need to uncover what happens next.

If you're looking for a gory, cult-infused horror novel with a strong undercurrent of female rage, this is a must-read.


Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

Wow! Wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did! Had -slasher/camp/am I crazy? - vibes! Loved the MC so much, loved the mix of mental health with horror!

Women written horror is just the best. This hit all the notes for me. The more I think about it, the more I love it!

Sadie has a dark past that her boyfriend doesn't know about. She couldn't even fathom telling him. She has made great strides to change herself from who she was then to who she is now. He doesn't know that she hallucinates dead animals and hears a terrible, but alluring voice in her head. He doesn't know that she hid while her friends were killed at summer camp, and ever since, she has been plagued by all these horrifying visions. Sadie keeps it in check... until her boyfriend, Lucas agrees for the both of them that they will join their friends at their cabin in the woods.

With no time to mentally prepare for being in surroundings that bring her back to that horrible summer, Sadie starts to spiral before they even arrive. The hallucinations are getting stronger and that voice is speaking more. He brings her a strange comfort, even though he is telling her to do things she couldn't ever imagine.

There are a lot of things that play out that I really enjoyed. I love the flashbacks to Sadie's past. That storyline was riveting. Seeing how it connects to the present time and what she is dealing with now... so good! I loved the paranoia aspect. Sadie struggles with what is real and what is not, but seeing her come to terms with it was awesome. There is so much more to this book. Some really great points were nuanced and some were in your face. The horror aspects were phenomenal, too. Body horror, psychological horror, some nature horror, lots of gore... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

This was my first time reading anything by Tatiana and I can confidently say I’ll be picking up more from them in the future.

The story follows Sabrina, now going by Sadie, who endured some deeply unsettling trauma during her childhood, the kind that screams creepy summer camp horror. As an adult, she’s doing her best to live a normal life... but that’s easier said than done. Reality keeps slipping, voices whisper when no one’s around, and the sense of dread is palpable.

I loved the dual timelines. Watching Sadie's present unravel while the past slowly reveals itself was masterfully done. Each layer of what happened at camp is peeled back just as adult Sadie’s life spirals—and it’s deliciously eerie. Also, her boyfriend? Major walking red flag. The patience she had—whew. Couldn’t be me!

The plot delivers all the suspense and mystery you'd want from a twisty horror/Thriller, with culty undertones, unsettling friendships, and an ending that genuinely satisfied me.

While it does lean a bit YA in tone, I actually loved that about it—it gave the story a nostalgic, slasher-movie vibe that perfectly matched the summer camp setting.

The Mean Ones is a gritty psychological thriller dipped in horror and laced with just the right dose of the paranormal. Tatiana Schlote-Bonne delivers a suspenseful, unflinching look at trauma, survival, and the terrifying question of what really lurks beneath the surface—of both the mind and the people around us. Sadie (formerly Sabrina) is doing everything right: stable job, supportive boyfriend, and regular therapy. But when a cozy couples retreat turns into a waking nightmare, Sadie’s carefully constructed life begins to splinter, and her dark past starts clawing its way back.

This story thrives on unreliable narrator energy, with hints of final girl grit, cabin-in-the-woods horror, and is-he-or-isn’t-he evil romance tension. Sadie’s journey is as much about reclaiming power as it is about unraveling a sinister mystery—one that may involve the supernatural, or just the monstrous potential of ordinary people. Eerie, fast-paced, and satisfyingly twisty, The Mean Ones is a perfect weekend binge for readers who like their thrillers smart, unsettling, and emotionally charged. Add it to your TBR—just maybe not right before bed.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

It had everything I love in a book. Creepy settings, fleshed out characters, a FMC who you can’t help but to root for, and even some romance. Normally, I am not someone who enjoys a cult being the premise of a story. However, while this book has some cult stuff, it was not over powering and had other unique aspects to the storyline.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to 2006 and the present time storyline. Sometimes this can get boring as one of the timelines is more interesting than the other. Not in this case! I couldn’t get enough of either and needed to read the next chapter.

This was a shorter book, and to me the length was perfect. No useless information or long monologues by the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy book. It needs to become a movie, immediately!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie just wants to be normal. After witnessing her best friends being murdered at summer camp 17 years before she just pretends it never happens. Even if she hears trees speaking to her and sees her friends bodies lying around.

I've not read a horror in a while and this was a good one to get me back into them! I enjoy a wee slasher especially one at a camp so this was perfect! The pacing seemed spot on - the chapters were short and neither of the dual timelines had any lulls where I wished the chapter would just end. Speaking of the chapters they were quite short so I found myself saying "one more chapter" quite a bit because they were short enough yoy can always justify "just one more"
The epilogue was *chefs kiss* i need more books with some feminine rage winning!

4.5/5: The Mean Ones

Seventeen years ago Sadie survived a brutal killing at her summer camp - and since then has been dealing with all the PTSD, including both seeing disturbing visual hallucinations, and hearing an unfamiliar male voice. When Sadie's oh-so-perfect boyfriend drags her along to a weekend getaway in the woods, her visions just get worse....

My thoughts:

The good:
-a creative take on the summer camp/slasher trope
-fast paces
-I rooted for Sadie
-some fun gory gore goreeee (very gross and very fun)
-feminine range

The bad:
-literally every other character was the freaking WORSTTTT and made me nearly quit the book multiple times.

The ending took me totally by surprise! I don't want to spoil it for anyone; but yes absolutely don't DNF it; stick around for the grand finale.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

The Mean Ones
Horror
Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ • ᴘᴛꜱᴅ • ᴄᴜʟᴛ •

I have mixed feelings about this book. The detailed descriptions of Sadie's gym workout were a bit unnecessary, with at the beginning and throughout the book.

The characters were ok but I didn't feel sorry for Sadie at all. She repeatedly chose to stay around toxic people.

I liked how the chapters alternated between the past and the present .

The pacing was ok but I did find most of the plot quite predictable.

I wanted to know even more about Relac and his realm and why he chose Sadie. The cult could've been explored some more, too.

The ending felt a bit out of place and rushed. It didn't really fit with the rest of the book and I wish Sadie had shown the same backbone and strength earlier

let’s start with what i liked:

-y’all know i love books about cults
-short chapters
-the alternating timeline chapters connected and flowed well together
-the build up to the murders and the climax in the present
-gore galore! well described and very gross
-i normally don’t like too many pop culture references because it makes a book feel like it’s trying too hard but every reference in this felt deliberate and actually served the plot well
-discussions about not changing yourself to be “normal” and embracing the weird
-feminine rage

now for what didn’t work for me:

-sadie. she’s supposed to be unlikeable but her pov made this hard to get through
-lucas. i get that the point is toxic relationships but at a certain point i was like girl stand up.
-i kept reading because i wanted to know what happened, not out of interest in the characters
-this is a pretty short book and too much time was spent describing her workouts (which also felt very self-inserty of the author)
-sorry guys i didn’t like damon. he was giving creep and groomer vibes throughout


this book wasn’t for me but i can understand why so many people like it particularly fans of folklore horror and camp slashers

Sadie does everything possible to live a normal life. She goes to work, works out, and lives with her very average boyfriend Lucas. However, Sadie has secrets that complicates things.. Like the fact that her name is really Sabrina and she sees, and hears, her dead best friends. Sadie is absolutely terrified of what will happen if those secrets get out.

This book is so insanely interesting, I absolutely devoured it. I loved the twists and the flashbacks were well done! I am obsessed with Tatiana's writing!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Creature Publishing for the eARC! Projected publishing date: September 30th, 2025