Wow, where do I even start with this? This book grabbed my attention and had me holding my breath from the opening line. I've never read a story that gave me such a reaction as this one, whether that being disgusted at the worms or horrified at what Crane was going through. But beneath the flies, the worms and the body horror is such an important story on identity, survival, and LGBTQ+ struggles that is told in such a way that is horrific, layered, raw and feels deeply personal to the author. As an autistic, queer person myself who struggles with speech, I can heavily relate to some of the struggles Crane is going through, which I don't tend to find in a lot of books.

Somehow, my favourite character ended up being Stagger which I wasn't at all expecting! This book does delve into some difficult themes and it took me a while to get through the last few chapters as it is a lot to take in, but so important to the story and the clear message the author is getting across. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the story. This was such a unique & haunting read and I will definitely be thinking about this book for a long time.

let me just preface this by saying i am an absolute andrew joseph white fan, and i've not read a book by him i didn't absolutely fucking love, which doesn't make me the most objective reviewer, but it is what it is.

you weren't meant to be human follows crane as he navigates his life in bug/hive/creepy fly-infested appalachia as a member of a hive that offers him protection and salvation in return in a world that's descended into chaos in a way that just feels a little too realistic and likely for comfort. on top of all that crane's also in a terrifyingly abusive relationship with his boyfriend (and with most of the people around him honestly, because what is dystopia and doom for if not to throw other people under the bus) and that he's trans and ends up getting pregant, truly bringing the whole hivemind and loss of control over your bodily autonomy to a whole new level.

forced pregnancy might just be the biggest horror of all, even in a book like this, that's filled to the brim with gore, and blood and abuse. it offers very on the nose commentary, it's not subtle about it in any way, but what makes it scary is how fucking realistic it feels, even with the sentient bugs controlling the show.

it's a very insular story, which just adds to the feeling of being trapped that runs through the entire book. crane constantly feels out of options, out of control and you're right there with him.

oh yeah, please do read the trigger warnings before, but if you can stomach it, i promise you this is an incredible read that'll haunt you for years.

I get it. I do. But as a mother? Some scenes had me closing the book and whispering ‘nope.’

This book is rage incarnate. It’s raw, brutal, and honest. Andrew Joseph White clearly poured every ounce of fury, grief, and defiance into these pages. And while I absolutely see the purpose behind it- the societal critiques, the trauma allegories, the catharsis- it was, for me, a lot.

It's violent. The body horror is graphic. And as a mother, there were moments that genuinely made me recoil. The pregnancy storyline, especially, was hard to stomach. Not because it wasn’t well written, but because it felt designed to provoke, to shock, to force discomfort. And it succeeded. A bit too much for my comfort.

That said, I can see how this book might be deeply healing for readers who’ve been through hell, especially queer and trans readers navigating a world that constantly tries to erase them. If you’ve ever felt like your body wasn’t yours, or like society has made decisions for you that you never consented to, this story will find you. It’s a scream against forced conformity, against reproductive control, against being told what you’re allowed to be.

Crane is a complicated protagonist: trans, autistic, angry (so very, very angry), and deeply vulnerable. His relationship with the hive, with Levi, with his own body, is disturbing but also painfully honest. The alien cult metaphor works well, turning societal expectations into something grotesque and tangible.

This isn’t a book I’d recommend lightly. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s definitely not for everyone.

"If Crane hadn’t been such a coward, and asked for help , he could’ve avoided it all. But nobody ever told him he was allowed to. So look where he ended up instead."

AJW has done it again! If you thought any of the YA horror was heavy duty you haven't seen anything yet. I love it here.This took me a hot minute to get through as someone with a pregnancy phobia and it also did nothing to help with said phobia but I AM OBSESSED.

Is it gross and horrifying? Yes (seriously guys, heed the content warnings), but I could not stop thinking about it even when i needed an extended break. Seriously the worms were freaky af but IT EVEN MADE ME CRY WHICH I TRULY WAS NOT EXPECTING.

As always AJW slays with the autism representation in a way only own voice authors can. He also has such a knack for writing about the true horrors of pregnancy (see also: the spirit bares it's teeth) and this book perfectly captures the parasitic nature of it all. He'll always be an autobuy author for me because of how he nails these aspects. This book is fucked up and heart breaking and everything i want in a queer horror story.

"A fetus cannibalizes the mother. It crushes organs, saps nutrients, would starve its host to death if biology allowed it. “Birth is a miracle,” a health teacher claimed, but all Sophie could see was the blood."

Also make sure you read the authors note. It was one of two moments that brought tears to my eyes.

Huge thankyou to NetGalley, Andrew, and Simon&Schuster/Saga Press for letting me read an ARC - I greatly appreciate it!

I read this book in its entirety in less than 12 hours. I DEVOURED it!

An absolute nightmare for all trans and autistic people in the modern age. Disturbing, visceral, and so -bodily-. Being trans and autistic myself, I was really nervous to read this book, but I was easily able to trust in Andrew's writing and have confidence that, even if there isn't a happy ending per se, that there would be a cathartic aspect nonetheless.
Possibly one of the best books I have read this year. I think Andrew's change from first person to third person was fantastic (much more my preference) and the way Crane was written, plus his mutism, was so beautifully done.

10/10, I'm buying my own copy and special edition as soon as it is available.

"Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation. A fresh start. It’s an offer that none refuse."

The hive changed Crane's life by giving him permission to be what he always wanted to be: a man, mute. And he would do anything the hive asks of him to express his gratitude. But what happens, when the hive demands the ultimate sacrifice, something that goes against the very nature of Crane's being?

Don't get me wrong, this book is grotesque, filthy, unsettling, full of body horror, abuse, graphic descriptions and portrayal of mental illness... (And that's not a comprehensive list at all, so make sure to check the trigger warnings!! 🚨)

BUT!

Beneath all the horror, there is a beautiful message, a shine of hope, that brought me close to tears towards the end.

It was around the halfway mark the story really started to grab me, and it never let up from there. There were heartbraking moments, and the author's ability to convey the emotions of a character who doesn't say a word during the entire book is nothing short of extraordinary.

This book won't be for everyone, and that's okay. It certainly stuck with me, an unforgettable experience!

I'm truly grateful for being given the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book! Massive thank you to Daphne Press, Netgalley and the author!! All opinions are my own.

This was probably the most disturbing book I've read in ages, but it was also so deeply, heartbreakingly sad.

Crane is a young, mute, autistic, trans man who serves the hive of (potentially alien) worms. He's in a cult, it's definitely a cult, and he is not doing well. He's in a very abusive relationship, he's been struggling with suicidal ideation and self harm and on top of everything now he's pregnant.

For someone for whom pregnancy always felt like the worst case, terrifying scenario, Crane's feelings on the matter were deeply relatable while the whole situation was deeply horrifying on every level. I loved the way Crane kept describing the situation as deeply alien and disturbing. But I'm sure the book will be an uncomfortable read for any person who ever was pregnant or wishes to be.

It's heartbreaking how deeply personal Crane's journey seems to be to the author, and I'm glad he's in a much better place now. And I think part of going on this journey with Crane for me was also remembering my own teen self and how unwell she was, while at the same time being hit with the realisation how much better I am now. I know Crane is a fictional character but I hope he gets there too.

I think this is an important read when trans rights and abortion rights are under attack but if you're worried about being squeamish you definitely want to check the trigger warnings. This is a proper horror book, not for the faint of heart.

Thank you to Andrew Joseph White and Daphne Press for providing me with this ARC.

this was disgusting in the best possible way.
as always with these books I am so happy to have another relatable mc, there is a lacking of books with trans/autistic characters so it's nice to see an adult book feature characters like Crane.

the book follows Crane, a transgender autistic man, realising he is pregnant and will be forced to keep it by a hive of bugs and worms who are desperate for sunlight.

I think the hive itself is a gross but very cool concept that fits in with the story well, the author has done a very good job at getting across how upsetting and nasty these bugs are meant to be. it's definitely a fun way to represent non human intelligent life (aliens??)

pregnancy as body horror can be hit or miss for alot of people, I felt this really captures the horror side of it. your body no longer being yours, acting as a host instead.

this book will not be for everyone, I encourage you to read the warnings especially those regarding babies.

I received an advance review copy for free (thanks NetGalley) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is disgusting and raw and grotesque and viscerally honest and fucking beautiful. This book left me sobbing and wanting to shout at the lawmakers and the ignorant “READ THIS FUCKING BOOK AND LOOK WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO US!”

The absolute terror I feel just having body parts that theoretically could become pregnant is a horror I have never been able to voice. It feels like part of my own body is betraying me, simply by existing. I felt scarily understood reading the main character Crane’s thoughts on being pregnant, and I felt TERRIFIED when they confirmed they were. In recent years the US has taken catastrophic steps back in abortion rights. Where previously Crane’s found community had freed him from a life he didn’t fit, they now force Crane to carry the baby against his own wishes. I felt claustrophobic by the prison Crane’s own body had created for him. What follows is a graphic portrayal of an unwanted and forced pregnancy and what the consequences of this are on Crane’s mind and body.

Main Character Crane is autistic and trans. I have always hated the stereotype of people with neurodiversity having a “superpower” because for me it has always felt so unrealistic. It’s a disability and actually does make living in a neuro-typical world very hard a lot of the time. The author allows readers to experience this firsthand from inside Crane’s mind, undiluted and uncensored (because f*ck you the people living this don’t get to turn away). Crane also grapples with his sense of self and being a man in a pregnant body. Like in real life, Crane finds the foetus receiving more care and consideration than he himself does. There are moments when because Crane is pregnant, his male identity is disregarded by others.

There is also a very interesting depiction of a cult and the power dynamics within a cult community. I am fascinated by this subject and thought the author wrote a very realistic representation of who in society could become ensnared by such groups and why.

Pregnancy has always been pushed by society as beautiful, but for some of us that one scene from Alien is how we envision it. I have never been able to vocalise the fear and disgust I feel about pregnancy; lots of people become very offended very quickly if you say anything even slightly negative about it, as if they personally must ensure every girl and woman will want to carry a child. I became overwhelmed with gratitude to read that I am not alone with these thoughts and feelings. It was so comforting.

This book ended perfectly. Without spoiling it I will just say that I was filled with hope and vindication that I had not expected to get from such a dark story. To put it plainly, I am obsessed with this book. I think it is perfection and absolutely crucial right now. I feel incredibly lucky that Andrew Joseph White shared this story with the world.

I finished this book whilst sat on the beach and it was so powerfully evocative I just stared at the ocean for a while in that dissociative way us autistics do haha

P.S Stagger was the hero I didn’t expect to need, I never thought I would feel affection towards a worm man lol

You Weren’t Meant to be Human is a humid, claustrophobic nightmare that’ll creep into your comfort zone like a hot breath on the back of your neck.

Set in the melancholic expanse of rural Appalachia, the novel follows Crane, a young trans man who has pledged his life to The Hive, a sentient conglomeration of insectile vermin. The Hive offers Crane purpose in exchange for his unwavering obedience… and a steady supply of fresh sustenance. Free from the inscrutable expectations of the outside world, Crane makes a home for himself within the community of outcasts attracted by The Hive. But when Crane falls pregnant to his abusive and dogmatic boyfriend, Levi, the Hive demands the one price Crane is not prepared to pay: it wants him to carry the baby and deliver it for the Hive.

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is very explicitly about the politicisation of the body, and ways in which bodies become tools for control and coercion. It forces the reader to grapple with questions of identity, self-determination, and self-loathing.

While I cannot speak to the trans experience, the portrayal of autism felt achingly close and familiar, uncomfortably so. It’s not difficult to draw parallels between Crane’s complete loss of self, the destruction of his identity and body as he gives up everything of himself to appease the Hive, with the loss of identity commonly experienced by autistic people (myself included) after fruitlessly attempting to please the people around us. And, of course, these parallels are explored in the most brutal and devastating fashion.

Make no mistake, the content here is shocking. Visceral. Nauseating. This is not for the faint of heart. No other book has made me feel so deeply uncomfortable. This novel is clammy, grotesque, and all around revolting. To be overly dramatic about it, it had me turning over the dark soil of myself and examining the pestilent grubs and worms that came squirming out.

As far as adult debuts go, Andrew Joseph White has arrived like a hatchet to the back of a head, and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press | Titan for providing this digital reviewer copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for this ARC.

It may sound surprising, especially since almost every page is filled with violence, rot, and decay, but I really wish this book had been longer. I cannot say that I liked Crane, our MC; in the beginning I considered him an absolutely pathetic creature. But the more I read, the more I understood him, and somehow, against myself, I started to understand him and root for him, to allow himself to feel and to act as he wanted. I feel like his journey had just begun, and we were brutally cut off from knowing what happens next. Still, I was absolutely floored by the ending.

This book is brutal and revolting, yet somehow the overarching violence is almost comforting, which sounds strange until you actually read the story and understand what I mean. There are moments where the expectation of violence comes as a kind of relief, because you know it’s needed to move the story forward. There aren’t many kind moments here, and even those are usually tainted with rot. Despite that, I actually found a couple of characters I grew attached to. Quite a surprise, as in the very beginning I thought this wasn’t the kind of book that makes you like anyone, still, I fell in love with Stagger, Jess, and two people Crane encountered near the end of his story (no spoilers!). Those relationships were never easy, but they rang the most true, and I believe they really screamed “found family”, because yes, even in this absolutely hopeless place there were people with the potential for more kindness.

It’s a very quick read, and the prose really flows. The author starts hard and never really lets you slow down. There is zero humor in this book, but all the self-loathing in the world is included.

Holy f*ck! This book is insane. Do not take the content warnings lightly. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgally for this ARC (and the slight trauma that came with it).

Crane would do anything for his hive, his festering mass of worms and flies that saved him in exchange for his unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses. However, when Crane discovers he’s pregnant and the hive demands the child’s birth, his devotion begins to falter as his desperation grows, sending him and his community off into a spiral that can only resolve in blood.

Crane is autistic, trans, mute, covered in piercings and tattoos, skilfully written, and a little messed-up. Though above all of that, he makes this book the disturbing masterpiece that it is, conveying the desire for pain he’s fought his entire life. He wishes something awful would have happened to him, something to justify his pain, a reason why his the way he is, something to point at and say, ‘See, that is what messed me up.’
But nothing awful ever happened to him before his time with the hive, nothing that broke him, nothing that could explain why he feels so shattered. It is strikingly written and unfortunately probably relatable to many.

Still the hive saved him, saved him from the life his Sophie would have lived, the life that would have destroyed him. What makes Sophie so remarkable is that she is Crane, Crane before he started his transition, before he cut off his hair and changed his name, yet she is written about as if she’s a separate person. Sophie who was born wrong. Sophie who died. Sophie who had bad thoughts and even worse fantasies. Sophie who wanted to light herself on fire and tear off her own skin just so everything wouldn’t feel so wrong.

Crane is grateful to the hive for saving him. They know him, know him better than he does himself. He’s been nothing but loyal. So why would they do this to him, curse him with a pregnancy, with having to carry to term, and why is no one from his community saving him?
The closer he comes to the birth of the thing inside him, the stronger the urge to do anything to destroy it, to destroy himself. The hive, however, won’t let that happen, and his attempts to do something to end his suffering, to find a way out, are met with gruesome punishments.

If you are in anyway sensitive to bugs, domestic and sexual abuse, transphobia and ableism, thoughts of suicide and self harm (read a full list of content warning in case I’ve missed something), do not read this book. If this list piques your interest, than ‘You Weren’t Meant to Be Human’ is a must-read. It is unhinged, fascinating, and not for the soft-hearted.

I am not really sure how to write all my thoughts about this story, especially without spoiling any of the amazing moments, but it was fun. Now at first I did think this was not going to be a book for me. Really the first 30% or 40% was....not for me. Not bad, just not what I want to read. I'm sure we all have things that are not our thing and I thought this was going to be one of them for me. So I thought this whole story would be one that I personally wouldn't enjoy very much (which made me very sad as some of the author's other books are some of my favorites! And I was really looking forward to this one).

But I kept reading because I was curious what would happen and I am so glad I did. It kept getting better and better and all the stuff started working for me until that amazing ending. There are some great secondary characters in there that I loved so much and I really cared about which, especially for some, I was not expecting. I do like that it was all about a trans man experiencing pregnancy and all that entails (and all Crane has dealt with in his life up until this point which at times is a lot. I really felt for him and wanted to just wrap him up with all the love and make everything better somehow). By the end I absolutely loved this story and I cannot wait for more people to read it! Another great read from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book

4.5 stars
I really struggled to form coherent thoughts about this book as its ending just left me staring at my celling for a while, and I do not mean this in a negative way at all! As my first Andrew Joseph White book I was definitely excited to get into this, his other ya stories have been on my tbr piles for ages now, although after this read I will 100% be getting to them sooner than planned if the writing is anything like it is in this book!

You Weren't Meant to be Human is brutal, haunting, and unsettling as it follows our main character Crane, an autistic trans man who has found himself in a cult lead by a giant hive of worms, flies and parasites. Crane unknowingly falls pregnant with his abusive boyfriend's child, and this hive of insects (aliens) asks him to bring the baby to term and deliver it, Crane however, does not want this, it is quite literally the opposite of what he dreams of.

The horror in this book was unlike anything I have ever read before, it felt so visceral and real. There were so many points of the story where I wanted to reach in and just help Crane! Andrew Joseph White does not hold back even once on telling this important story that felt so personal, with amazing writing to further push my feelings of unease throughout this read.

My only small complaint about this book was that I wanted more from the hive, more description, maybe some more background information, and a deeper direct involvement from the story. This however, did not take away from the true horror of this book that covers some very important themes!

I will say however, before I can recommend this book to anyone, read the content warnings please! All of those little bullet points are explored deeply and Andrew does not hold back at all.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to experience this story, I think Crane and Sophie will stick with me for a long time!

TW (according to author's page)
- Infanticide (neonaticide) involving cannibalism
- Graphic depictions of pregnancy and childbirth as violence and body horror; on-page early stillbirth with subsequent desecration of corpse; on-page botched DIY abortion
- Narrative focus on suicidality and planning suicide, with no attempt made; similar focus on self-harm, shown on-page (disfigurement via scalding)
- Consistently unclear sexual boundaries and consent, up to and including rape, often involving confusion on behalf of the survivor
- Sexual fantasies/intrusive thoughts involving abuse and bestiality
- Domestic abuse
- Graphic violence
- Emetophobia warning
- Weird parasitic bug shit, needles, general transphobia and ableism, etc.

AJ White stated that he put all his deepest fears into this book and I believe him. This is a terryfying horror underlined by absolutely amazing dystopian take on the most (in)human approach to human figure. His prose is grippling like claws, and touching like heartbreak.

Frankly, what do I even say about it? It's weird, it's disturbing, it's hypnotising – I always say White's prose is not aimed at the statistical consumer of literature, and not everyone will enjoy it. Even his YA novels are so. But if you read any of it, and wondered how bat shit crazy it could be without that age limit, oh you have no idea.

YWMTBH is a manifesto criticising the world we're currently living in, exposing those raw, rotten parts not via bugs and cults, but by stripping you of your human traits. AJ White presents you with the Pandora box – first you crawl through all the sadness and gore, thinking there is no way out, until the very end, when you - shockingly - find hope.

I need ten working days to recover.

DNF @ 20%
My decision to DNF was by no means a reflection on the writing, author, or book. Instead, it was an error in my own judgement to re-try an author and sub-genre, which is just not suited to my taste.

Andrew Joseph White is a talented author, so much so I am simply too disturbed to read on. Please, please, please read the trigger warnings before picking up and realise that every single one of those warnings is to the extreme.
This follows Crane, a trans male who falls pregnant and is forced to be pregnant under a weird worm sentience. It is truly uncomfortable, and I can not even begin to imagine how truly disturbing this would be for the main character. White has such a skill to get under your skin with his stories and make you feel disturbed, as is the point.
I had read Hell Followed With US before this and you can absolutely tell the shift from YA to adult, so do proceed with caution, unlike I did.

This was probably the hardest book of Andrew's to read, mainly because of how much it reflects current abortion rights, especially in America. The body horror and gore did a detailed job of describing the feeling of dysphoria, and I ached for Crane throughout the entire book.

I highly recommend that anyone who wants to read this book first look up the trigger warnings because there are a lot of them. When I rated this on Storygraph, I think I added 15+ warnings just from memory of reading it.

It is all told through the world where an insect-type alien invasion takes place, giving people new chances at life while also tying them down to the decisions of the nest. It is an emotional and heavy book, but as long as you are in the right headspace, it is a powerful read.

Well it’s definitely visceral. It really encapsulates some of the horrors that marginalised people face and extrapolates them into a nauseating atmosphere that anyone should be able to relate to.

It makes you question whether the human experience is really human for certain people.

I gave it a solid crack but I don’t think I’m the audience for this one. Tapped out half way.

Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity to read this arc.

I have never found a horror book as relatable as You Weren’t Meant To Be Human. I am a (mostly) cis woman, and I found Crane’s descriptions and feelings towards pregnancy to be eerily similar to my own. The horror elements were top notch, I especially liked the allegory of the hive being a cult. Such a unique story, I cannot recommend it enough.

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is an unsettling descent into queer horror that thrives on atmosphere and creeping dread. The writing isn’t flowery or ornamental, it’s sharp, punchy, and deliberately abrasive in a way that mirrors the book’s themes of alienation and transformation.

What struck me most was the way the characters lingered long after I put the book down. Nearly everyone felt uncanny, off-kilter, or dangerous and that sense of unease felt intentional and vital, as though the novel demanded that I sit with my discomfort rather than look away. The pacing is a slow burn, but not in a meandering sense. Instead, White builds dread with precision, letting tension coil tighter and tighter until it becomes almost unbearable. By the time the story reaches its most intense moments, the groundwork of unease has already settled deep into your bones.

Reading this left me unsettled, and hungry for more. I’d recommend You Weren’t Meant to Be Human to readers who crave horror that makes you squirm, especially those drawn to stories of queer rage and identity that refuse to compromise for comfort.