Come Out, Come Out

COME OUT, COME OUT is a Young Adult horror book. It primarily follows Jaq and Fern five years after the disappearance of another person, Mallory. After an incident in the woods, the book slowly unveils the past that was hidden from the two until now. But do they want to remember?

What I Loved:
The atmosphere of this book was so rich! Especially when it was dark. Natalie C. Parker did a wonderful job at writing descriptions that pull readers into the story and keep them there. Her words were chosen with precision that allowed for the greatest impact on the readers. When the scenes get dark and serious, readers may find themselves with goosebumps.

The characters in this book, even the side ones, all felt developed. There wasn’t a single character in this book that felt shoved to the side or like they were only there as a set dressing. Even the characters that can be considered antagonists were given depth to their story. From the descriptions of their voices or the way they react to other people, you were able to see more of them than you may have expected. It was enriching.

The main characters shone though. Fern and Jaq are both dealing with a lot. It's their senior year of High School and now all these memories are coming back that they had forgotten for five years. It’s a lot and the confusion is palpable through the page. The emotions that these two characters feels are so vividly written. You can experience the grief and confusion and anger alongside these characters.

This book explores some of the darkness that comes when people feel forced to hide themselves. When they feel encouragement from their community to continue living a lie. And it explores some of the desperate things they may do to either keep living that lie or to come out. The horror element in this book really allowed this part to shine, this festering feeling.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The ending felt a bit abrupt. It works well with the novel, but there were threads that I wish we had gotten to follow a bit longer. I enjoyed these characters and watching their journeys, so I wanted to spend more time with them.

Final Verdict:
COME OUT, COME OUT is a well-written Young Adult book. It does not cut corners, understanding that teenagers are aware of their surroundings and able to handle some of the darkness that lingers in those areas. It allows you to discover things alongside the characters, which adds to the emotional impact of some of the reveals. The emotions are vivid and are built-up well. Every inch of this story just brims with emotion and darkness and characters. It might not always be happy, but it’s realistic.

A heart-wrenching horror story with a fascinating plot and intriguing characters, COME OUT COME OUT delivers a punching story of what desperate kids may do to feel safe in a world that doesn’t want them to.

Fern, Jaq, and Mallory never felt safe coming out. There was one place they did feel safe. A hidden abandoned house in the woods where the urban legend of the Patron of Port Promise resides. You make a wish and he keeps you safe. Only the friends find out there is a horrible cost. A cost that is rewoken years later when they start remembering the 'truth' of who they are. Even more frightening is the knowledge that they might know the truth behind the disappearance of Mallory.

What worked: Perfect twisty thriller with a paranormal presence that erases an individual's truth. It's now senior year and Fern and Jaq are no longer close. But an encounter in the woods has memories resurfacing. Memories that are painful but also have both of them question their true identities.

Think urban legend so-called Patron of Good Deeds meets paranormal conversation therapy. Both girl's parents have a certain vision for their futures. Jaq's parents are conservative Christians. Jaq even has the perfect boyfriend. Fern is on track to follow her older sisters in theater. Only Fern can't push aside the thought she's not a girl, but something else.

Once the girls remember their times with Mal, the pieces of the puzzle come back together. How they found safety with each other in a town that refused to accept who they were. It's then that Jaq and Fern reconnect and go back to the place where it all started. In the process, they help not only Mal but themselves.

What I really enjoyed about this thriller had to be Fern and Jaq struggling with emotions resurfacing on who they were. Fern finds that the animosity she feels toward Kaitlyn might be something more. Jaq no longer feels that her long-time boyfriend John is the one. Even though she feels an attraction to Devyn, she tries to fight it off.

Modern queer horror tale that is timeless with not only its story of survival but with it's message of hope. Another winning tale by author Natalie C. Parker.