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aussiebroadwayfan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
vacantbones's review against another edition
4.0
The sun was coming up. We stopped for a moment. He put his hand on my shoulder. And we just watched the sunrise, side by side like that, without ever saying a word. Then it was over.
Scream All Night tells the story of Dario Heyward, the son of a iconic horror director, returning home after his father's death to try and save the family production company from falling apart. It's a pretty selfless move, seeing as Dario became legally emancipated in order to leave this place in the dust.
Right off the bat, I'll tell the truth: not *everything* about Scream All Night worked for me. The novel seeks to mingle offbeat humor with the true horror of childhood abuse and neglect, which more often that not worked in its favor. At times, though, the attempts at quirkiness just didn't work - thinking specifically about Dario's brother, entirely disconnected from the world outside of Moldavia, naming a character after Justin Bieber because he heard the name once or twice. Bits like this just go on for too long in this book when they'd be better off as quick one liners.
However, Scream All Night is just overflowing with heart. Dario feels refreshingly like a real teenager, albeit one who is, in ways, older than his years due to the trauma of his childhood and the necessity to grow up quick as a legal orphan. Even when you're frustrated with his responses and reactions (there was no reason for the killer cauliflower script to be entertained for so long!!!), they are logical responses/reactions for someone with his background to have. He wants a real family, he wants to understand why his parents behaved the way they did and why his adult brother never protected him, and he wants to feel understood.
This is a really nice addition to the YA horror genre. I just wish I would've had this one when I was a teen, desperate for dark, age-appropriate reading materials!
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
I'm surprised by how much I loved this! It's equal parts darkly hilarious and very, very sad. Scream All Night has all of the campyness of a B-horror movie but with the trauma and discomfort of a hard-hitting contemporary. Not two things that I'd ever pair together, but this just works!
I'm not hugely into stories set in the entertainment industry, but this setting is very similar to Marisha Pessl's [b:Night Film|18770398|Night Film|Marisha Pessl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397425352l/18770398._SY75_.jpg|15182838], which is one of my fave books ever. In reading Scream All Night it's apparent that Derek Milman works in the industry, because there's soooo much detail about how film sets operate, how film distribution works, and the mass of logistics involved in even lighting one single scene. It lends so much authenticity to the story but never gets bogged down in too much detail.
Mental illness and child abuse are hugely prevalent themes here, so beware going in. Dario had a traumatic childhood that led to him getting legally emancipated, so returning home for his father's funeral is the beginning of a loooooong and painful journey of healing. This book does a great job at teaching forgiveness and healing, but also giving Dario agency to put up boundaries and remove himself from situations that are actively harming him . Dario's not just out here casually forgiving a man who tried to down him for the sake of a "good take", he's slowly healing but also realising that he'll never get closure on certain things.
If you liked Katie Henry's [b:Let's Call It a Doomsday|40942619|Let's Call It a Doomsday|Katie Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539263216l/40942619._SY75_.jpg|63844915] or [b:Heretics Anonymous|34659293|Heretics Anonymous|Katie Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507339506l/34659293._SY75_.jpg|55823822], give Scream All Night a shot! It has a similar black humour to it, and does an equally great job at balancing family drama with sarcasm and wit.
5 stars. This was such a quirky little book.
I'm not hugely into stories set in the entertainment industry, but this setting is very similar to Marisha Pessl's [b:Night Film|18770398|Night Film|Marisha Pessl|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397425352l/18770398._SY75_.jpg|15182838], which is one of my fave books ever. In reading Scream All Night it's apparent that Derek Milman works in the industry, because there's soooo much detail about how film sets operate, how film distribution works, and the mass of logistics involved in even lighting one single scene. It lends so much authenticity to the story but never gets bogged down in too much detail.
Mental illness and child abuse are hugely prevalent themes here, so beware going in. Dario had a traumatic childhood that led to him getting legally emancipated, so returning home for his father's funeral is the beginning of a loooooong and painful journey of healing. This book does a great job at teaching forgiveness and healing, but also giving Dario agency to put up boundaries and remove himself from situations that are actively harming him . Dario's not just out here casually forgiving a man who tried to down him for the sake of a "good take", he's slowly healing but also realising that he'll never get closure on certain things.
If you liked Katie Henry's [b:Let's Call It a Doomsday|40942619|Let's Call It a Doomsday|Katie Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539263216l/40942619._SY75_.jpg|63844915] or [b:Heretics Anonymous|34659293|Heretics Anonymous|Katie Henry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507339506l/34659293._SY75_.jpg|55823822], give Scream All Night a shot! It has a similar black humour to it, and does an equally great job at balancing family drama with sarcasm and wit.
5 stars. This was such a quirky little book.
batsinthecastle's review
4.0
This book was funny! I expected more monsters than there were, but once I accepted where the story was going I liked it just as well. The setting of a B movie studio really offered something and Dario was a great main character. I also liked that this dealt with mental illness and dementia, as that's one of my greatest fears.
I enjoyed the narrator (the same one of narrated Sadie if you were wondering) as well. He really made different characters pop and come alive.
I enjoyed the narrator (the same one of narrated Sadie if you were wondering) as well. He really made different characters pop and come alive.
amyhungerford's review against another edition
3.0
I think I had a gross misunderstanding of what this book was...
Its not horror. Its centers around B Horror movies. Now I love horror movies, but I don't necessarily need to read a whole book about making one.
Its not horror. Its centers around B Horror movies. Now I love horror movies, but I don't necessarily need to read a whole book about making one.
pbandjane_library's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
justagir1's review against another edition
Very slow in pace. Homophobic comments made by characters. Child abuse that is allowed by others while actually describing acts being done. Miscarriage was mentioned but only in passing. “Light” sexual assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage and Misogyny
mementomorivv's review against another edition
1.0
...I can't exactly pinpoint what I didn't like but but I only liked the first chapter and the rest just wasn't for me...
ipetrine's review against another edition
5.0
This was a pleasant surprise! I thought it would be a funny and weird horror parody, but it was so much more! It's really dark and should come with some huge trigger warnings for physical and mental abuse. But the story has so much heart.
Some of the characters are really caricatured and absurd to begin with, but soon you discover their depth, their longings and their pain. My heart truly ached for Dario. And Oren.
At the same time, it had some really funny moments. I actually laughed out loud on several occasions! I loved the humor.
I'm looking forward to read more by Derek Milman!
Some of the characters are really caricatured and absurd to begin with, but soon you discover their depth, their longings and their pain. My heart truly ached for Dario. And Oren.
At the same time, it had some really funny moments. I actually laughed out loud on several occasions! I loved the humor.
I'm looking forward to read more by Derek Milman!