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renpuspita's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Apparently, the key to exorcise demon that roamed in your neighborhood is the female friendship. Better yet, the female friendship between housewives
Nope, not kidding. I know those sentences sounds like shonen anime or manga slogan, but the main theme for Suburban Hell is the friendship between the suburban housewives in Winchester, Illinois. Suburban Hell is Maureen Kilmer's debut horror book and honestly this book have some debut's weakness. But, I'm having fun while reading this although some things can be glaring. More about that later.
Suburban Hell told entirely from Amy's first PoV. Together with her "outcast" housewives neighbor, namely Melissa, Jess and Liz, they create a place just for them to relax without spouses or children distribution. Little they know when they toast above She Shed (the place), Liz got possessed by demonic entity and things going downhill. Balancing housewives duty, social life and paranoia induced by demon-Liz attacks, Amy got her hand full. Luckily, she still have Melissa and Jess, although she need to encourage them to join her cause in order to save Liz.
This book kinda remind me of Southern Book Club Guide's to Slaying Vampire by Grady Hendrix. The premise is the same, outcast housewives club that facing an evil force in order to save their family and neighborhood. But, Suburban Hell's horror vibes are lighter compare to the former. Yeah, there's demonic appearance, but it's slightly spooky and creepy. Not the kind that give me heebies jeebies. The story can be mundane to read since you will read Amy do her housewives responsibility and caring for her children, so some chapter can be too slow to read. However, the chapters also shorts, providing a fast read and the mystery also suspense will make you glued to the page.
I like how Kilmer portrayed the friendship between Amy, Melissa, Jess and Liz; and make them all different in personality. Melissa is strict but come from a religiously fanatic parents and she is the hardest to convinced while it come to saving Liz. Jess is a carefree and also the youngest of the four, often provide comic relief with her snarky remarks. Liz is...kind and we only get a glimpse about her from Amy's PoV because she being possessed for 99% amount of this book. Then, we will delve into Amy, since she is the main character, how she still grieving for her sister's death and her drive to save people she loved is what make her determined to save Liz rather than sold her house and moving away in order to protect her children.
However, I think the demonic entity's explanation is the weakest link of this book. I don't get why the demon come to possess Liz now rather than years ago and the reason just explained by Amy's deduction. The demon didn't bother to explain themselves and just focus to wreak havoc in the neighborhood. I don't know how the demon become the demon at all, lol. More like a vengeful ghost, but then later they become a demon? The conclusion behind the exorcism feel anticlimatic, although hints for something sinister to come in the future. But, since this book is apparently a standalone, that left to reader to interpreted it. Anyway, I like the way Kilmer write the spouses in this book. I prepare myself to read about cheating spouses especially when Kilmer write Amy's husband often do overtime and business trip. BUT, Mark (Amy's husband) is far from cheating husband! He's so supportive to Amy even he didn't believe 100% when Amy explained there was a demon possessing Liz. Even Melissa's husband and Jess's boyfriend seems cool. It's refreshing to read when there's no cheating husband or wives, lel.
I will recommend Suburban Hell if you want to read a light horror with demonic possession and female friendship among the housewives of suburban.
Nope, not kidding. I know those sentences sounds like shonen anime or manga slogan, but the main theme for Suburban Hell is the friendship between the suburban housewives in Winchester, Illinois. Suburban Hell is Maureen Kilmer's debut horror book and honestly this book have some debut's weakness. But, I'm having fun while reading this although some things can be glaring. More about that later.
Suburban Hell told entirely from Amy's first PoV. Together with her "outcast" housewives neighbor, namely Melissa, Jess and Liz, they create a place just for them to relax without spouses or children distribution. Little they know when they toast above She Shed (the place), Liz got possessed by demonic entity and things going downhill. Balancing housewives duty, social life and paranoia induced by demon-Liz attacks, Amy got her hand full. Luckily, she still have Melissa and Jess, although she need to encourage them to join her cause in order to save Liz.
This book kinda remind me of Southern Book Club Guide's to Slaying Vampire by Grady Hendrix. The premise is the same, outcast housewives club that facing an evil force in order to save their family and neighborhood. But, Suburban Hell's horror vibes are lighter compare to the former. Yeah, there's demonic appearance, but it's slightly spooky and creepy. Not the kind that give me heebies jeebies. The story can be mundane to read since you will read Amy do her housewives responsibility and caring for her children, so some chapter can be too slow to read. However, the chapters also shorts, providing a fast read and the mystery also suspense will make you glued to the page.
I like how Kilmer portrayed the friendship between Amy, Melissa, Jess and Liz; and make them all different in personality. Melissa is strict but come from a religiously fanatic parents and she is the hardest to convinced while it come to saving Liz. Jess is a carefree and also the youngest of the four, often provide comic relief with her snarky remarks. Liz is...kind and we only get a glimpse about her from Amy's PoV because she being possessed for 99% amount of this book. Then, we will delve into Amy, since she is the main character, how she still grieving for her sister's death and her drive to save people she loved is what make her determined to save Liz rather than sold her house and moving away in order to protect her children.
However, I think the demonic entity's explanation is the weakest link of this book. I don't get why the demon come to possess Liz now rather than years ago and the reason just explained by Amy's deduction. The demon didn't bother to explain themselves and just focus to wreak havoc in the neighborhood. I don't know how the demon become the demon at all, lol. More like a vengeful ghost, but then later they become a demon? The conclusion behind the exorcism feel anticlimatic, although hints for something sinister to come in the future. But, since this book is apparently a standalone, that left to reader to interpreted it. Anyway, I like the way Kilmer write the spouses in this book. I prepare myself to read about cheating spouses especially when Kilmer write Amy's husband often do overtime and business trip. BUT, Mark (Amy's husband) is far from cheating husband! He's so supportive to Amy even he didn't believe 100% when Amy explained there was a demon possessing Liz. Even Melissa's husband and Jess's boyfriend seems cool. It's refreshing to read when there's no cheating husband or wives, lel.
I will recommend Suburban Hell if you want to read a light horror with demonic possession and female friendship among the housewives of suburban.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death and Murder
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Murder
aitanavec's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I quite really enjoyed it. It was funny at times, not very scary, but it had its tense moments, and I loved the friendship between the women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Blood, and Murder
thiscryptidreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
For every mom, past your 20's and possibly dreading the next PTA meeting this one is for you. This book is light, fun and about the power of friendship.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry
chris_reads's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Body horror and Blood
lizslazylibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
i thought this horror debut was absolutely amazing! i loved the suburban setting and i normally hate reading books about moms and kids but this was done really well. i actually didn’t want to punt the children over a fence, they were tolerable.
i loved how this book focuses on the power of friendship and nothing is stronger than the love for your best friends/found family. i looooooved the possession parts of this book and the hauntings truly put me on the edge of my seat and actually made me very nervous. so that alone made this a great book!
i loved how this book focuses on the power of friendship and nothing is stronger than the love for your best friends/found family. i looooooved the possession parts of this book and the hauntings truly put me on the edge of my seat and actually made me very nervous. so that alone made this a great book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Grief, and Religious bigotry