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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to say much about what Primal Animals is about because I think it's best to go in not knowing much. All you really need to know is that it takes place on a summer camp girl gets pulled into a secret society there.
This book is something else, from the plot to the setting to the characters, I was invested in all of it.
I love horror that gradually gets under your skin and this story delivered exactly what I wanted and then some.
Primal Animals is haunting and beautifully written and if you like horror thriller with a sapphic romance, I definitely recommend this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is something else, from the plot to the setting to the characters, I was invested in all of it.
I love horror that gradually gets under your skin and this story delivered exactly what I wanted and then some.
Primal Animals is haunting and beautifully written and if you like horror thriller with a sapphic romance, I definitely recommend this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
ivyhaunts's review
4.0
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced e-reader copy of Primal Animals in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a fun read! Arlene Gold is sent off to an intensive summer camp by her mother. Arlee is quite anxious and has an incredible fear of bugs, making her transition a little difficult. Arlene’s growth as a protagonist in this novel is incredible to watch. I love the depth she is given as a character.
This book has everything. It has LGBTQ romance, disturbing and thrilling moments, and a secret camp cult. I have to say, I really enjoyed this one. If you are someone who likes something fun, disturbing, and thrilling with a lot of depth, I definitely recommend giving this a read.
Overall, this was a great read with an ending that packed a punch. It gave me all the suspense that I could possibly want. Again, it was such a fun read and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to check it out!
Review will also be forthcoming on Instagram @ivy.haunts.
This book was such a fun read! Arlene Gold is sent off to an intensive summer camp by her mother. Arlee is quite anxious and has an incredible fear of bugs, making her transition a little difficult. Arlene’s growth as a protagonist in this novel is incredible to watch. I love the depth she is given as a character.
This book has everything. It has LGBTQ romance, disturbing and thrilling moments, and a secret camp cult. I have to say, I really enjoyed this one. If you are someone who likes something fun, disturbing, and thrilling with a lot of depth, I definitely recommend giving this a read.
Overall, this was a great read with an ending that packed a punch. It gave me all the suspense that I could possibly want. Again, it was such a fun read and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to check it out!
Review will also be forthcoming on Instagram @ivy.haunts.
martfart's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Arlee is the reason why women cant have hobbies😒
Also she was doing WAYYY to much that whole book, girl just stfu and CHILL life would have been so much easier for her. AND her fear of bugs that seemed like it was going to be a central and important factor in the book really wasnt, i was expecting some crazy shit from that part of the storyline and it gave nothing- minus the deer thing (which did not give much)
Other that that it was a good book, the beginning did a good job at being tense and mysterious but once everything was uncovered it became much more of a horror book that made me feel a bit sick at times. The author writes tense and eery moments well, especially at the beginning. Arlee is a great unreliable narrator and it is understood that she is always in a state of panic and confusion but she really is a complete dumbass at times
edit: the last part was also a little random. It felt like the author only put in the last sentance for shock value because it does not fit within the story in a real/authentic way?
the other part abour arlee protecting the women was good tho because she was in the right but also... let girls be girls
Also she was doing WAYYY to much that whole book, girl just stfu and CHILL life would have been so much easier for her. AND her fear of bugs that seemed like it was going to be a central and important factor in the book really wasnt, i was expecting some crazy shit from that part of the storyline and it gave nothing- minus the deer thing (which did not give much)
Other that that it was a good book, the beginning did a good job at being tense and mysterious but once everything was uncovered it became much more of a horror book that made me feel a bit sick at times. The author writes tense and eery moments well, especially at the beginning. Arlee is a great unreliable narrator and it is understood that she is always in a state of panic and confusion but she really is a complete dumbass at times
edit: the last part was also a little random. It felt like the author only put in the last sentance for shock value because it does not fit within the story in a real/authentic way?
the other part abour arlee protecting the women was good tho because she was in the right but also... let girls be girls
westhebookworm's review
5.0
It comes as no surprise to me that this book was amazing. (Seriously if you haven’t read one of Julia’s books you’re missing out) it was engrossing and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it hence why I stayed up till 1 am to finish it. The characters were beautifully written and complex. The relationships between the characters were incredible and the way Arlee and the other girls cared about each other was amazing and the development of Winnie and Arlee’s relationship is beautifully done. This book and the characters is yet another one of julia’s Books that will hold a place in my heart
spunglass's review
5.0
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC for 'Primal Animals' by Julia Lynn Rubin.
I will start by saying I'm not one that's afraid of insects/bugs, but this was written well enough that I'm beginning to have second thoughts...
The book description says it all. Without giving too much away... once I got to Chapter 7 with Arlee's initiation, and the subsequent events definitely reminded a lot of the movie 'Midsommar': the bond the women formed, and how the community as a whole handled people that were a "problem". By the end I was happy to see Arlee has found her own way to "protect the girls", even if it comes with heartbreaking consequences.
The only thing I'm sad about is this book isn't coming out until May 2022, and my current students begging me for more excellent horror novels will miss out this school year.
I will start by saying I'm not one that's afraid of insects/bugs, but this was written well enough that I'm beginning to have second thoughts...
The book description says it all. Without giving too much away... once I got to Chapter 7 with Arlee's initiation, and the subsequent events definitely reminded a lot of the movie 'Midsommar': the bond the women formed, and how the community as a whole handled people that were a "problem". By the end I was happy to see Arlee has found her own way to "protect the girls", even if it comes with heartbreaking consequences.
The only thing I'm sad about is this book isn't coming out until May 2022, and my current students begging me for more excellent horror novels will miss out this school year.
thebookautie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to say much about what Primal Animals is about because I think it's best to go in not knowing much. All you really need to know is that it takes place on a summer camp girl gets pulled into a secret society there.
This book is something else, from the plot to the setting to the characters, I was invested in all of it.
I love horror that gradually gets under your skin and this story delivered exactly what I wanted and then some.
Primal Animals is haunting and beautifully written and if you like horror thriller with a sapphic romance, I definitely recommend this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is something else, from the plot to the setting to the characters, I was invested in all of it.
I love horror that gradually gets under your skin and this story delivered exactly what I wanted and then some.
Primal Animals is haunting and beautifully written and if you like horror thriller with a sapphic romance, I definitely recommend this book!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2/5
I was almost bored with how the plot moved and I wish there was more to the characters. The history wasn’t explained until the end really which left me and the main character just confused.
I was almost bored with how the plot moved and I wish there was more to the characters. The history wasn’t explained until the end really which left me and the main character just confused.
mochipandabear's review
3.0
Overall this was like a 3/3.5 stars? I did enjoy it for the most part (as I write this I realize it is supposed to be told from this unreliable narrator who’s constantly in a state of a borderline panic attack or feeling like the most powerful person in the room) but at times it felt the pace went too slow or sped by things way too fast for what was going on in the plot, but it kinda fits the main character?
We follow Arlee Gold as she goes to this fancy summer camp that her mother went to when she was young. Arlee has always been super afraid of bugs and is just a ball of anxiety in general, so as soon as she steps onto the premises of this big camp she can tell something is off. Her suspicions are encouraged by the odd way her mother and the camp’s director speak to each other and to Arlee herself.
This book is definitely Midsommar energy and was able to pull of the summer camp cult! But again, after some of the big reveals I just felt like things… lulled a bit? Like yes, Arlee was panicking a good chunk of the time after the biggest twist, but I could feel it dragging a bit for myself as we got closer to the end. The climax really didn’t feel like a climax to a story to me? The ending was satisfying but still felt off. Maybe that was on purpose though?
Overall, I enjoyed this for the most part and if it sounds good to you I encourage you to try it out!
Thank you to Netgalley and Julia Lynn Rubin for the chance to read this for free in exchange for an honest review
We follow Arlee Gold as she goes to this fancy summer camp that her mother went to when she was young. Arlee has always been super afraid of bugs and is just a ball of anxiety in general, so as soon as she steps onto the premises of this big camp she can tell something is off. Her suspicions are encouraged by the odd way her mother and the camp’s director speak to each other and to Arlee herself.
This book is definitely Midsommar energy and was able to pull of the summer camp cult! But again, after some of the big reveals I just felt like things… lulled a bit? Like yes, Arlee was panicking a good chunk of the time after the biggest twist, but I could feel it dragging a bit for myself as we got closer to the end. The climax really didn’t feel like a climax to a story to me? The ending was satisfying but still felt off. Maybe that was on purpose though?
Overall, I enjoyed this for the most part and if it sounds good to you I encourage you to try it out!
Thank you to Netgalley and Julia Lynn Rubin for the chance to read this for free in exchange for an honest review
writeinprogress's review
1.0
I had such high expectations, but ultimately the part that left me giving this one star is ARLEE FREAKING GOLD CALLING THE POLICE when the women in the society were doing what the law should be doing, punishing men who deserve it. She was INFURIATING!!!