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Dollface
Barbie meets Scream with a 90s nostalgia twist in this horror romp from Bless Your Heart author Lindy Ryan. This program is read by award-winning narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker.
"[Narrator] Stephanie Németh-Parker exhibits superb range in this dialogue-heavy story. Each character’s voice is impressively distinguishable, from Ducey sucking on caramel candies to the lip-smacking, slow-talking coroner and the rasping cries of the reanimated dead." —Library Journal on Bless Your Heart
Horror author Jill has just moved to suburban New Jersey, hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and maybe not weird everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. You know. Make some real friends.
But then a plastic face-masked serial killer begins slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill is slowly wrapped into a killer’s murderous spree, until she might just be the last woman standing.
A delightfully murderous novel that is equal parts scathing and salacious, Dollface will win you over with its gossip and gore, one body at a time.
“A whimsical, bloody, unsettling suburban slasher with an unexpected twist." – New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson
"[Narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker's] drawn-out exhalations when the dead speak make them delightfully eerie, while her deliberate mouth sounds for the coroner will make listeners as uncomfortable with him as the characters are. Best of all, her vocal choices for all the suspects give nothing away about who is actually causing all the mayhem." —AudioFile on Bless Your Heart
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
"[Narrator] Stephanie Németh-Parker exhibits superb range in this dialogue-heavy story. Each character’s voice is impressively distinguishable, from Ducey sucking on caramel candies to the lip-smacking, slow-talking coroner and the rasping cries of the reanimated dead." —Library Journal on Bless Your Heart
Horror author Jill has just moved to suburban New Jersey, hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and maybe not weird everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. You know. Make some real friends.
But then a plastic face-masked serial killer begins slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill is slowly wrapped into a killer’s murderous spree, until she might just be the last woman standing.
A delightfully murderous novel that is equal parts scathing and salacious, Dollface will win you over with its gossip and gore, one body at a time.
“A whimsical, bloody, unsettling suburban slasher with an unexpected twist." – New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson
"[Narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker's] drawn-out exhalations when the dead speak make them delightfully eerie, while her deliberate mouth sounds for the coroner will make listeners as uncomfortable with him as the characters are. Best of all, her vocal choices for all the suspects give nothing away about who is actually causing all the mayhem." —AudioFile on Bless Your Heart
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
Audible Audio
First published February 24, 2026
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About the author
Lindy Ryan
32 books596 followersLindy Ryan is an award-winning author, anthologist, and short-film director whose books and anthologies have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal. Several of her projects have been adapted for screen. Ryan is the current author-in-residence at Rue Morgue. Declared a “champion for women’s voices in horror” by Shelf Awareness, Ryan was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree in 2020, and in 2022, was named one of horror's most masterful anthology curators. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, Ryan currently resides on the East Coast. She is a professor at Rutgers University.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
👱🏼♀️🎀👻Barbie meets Scream👱🏼♀️🎀👻 !!!!!!!! Dollface written by Lindy Ryan is a whimsical slasher with an unexpected twist. As a horror junkie, this book gave me the heebie jeebies in the best way possible, I don't think I will be able to look at another doll the same way ever again. I fell in love with the cover first, it's so beautifully detailed and of course gorgeous, but when I saw that it was being compared to Scream, I knew I had to get my hands on this book immediately. I have never read anything by Lindy Ryan before, but she truly had my heart racing with this book. When I thought I could finally take a deep breath and calm down, I was wrong because with every turning page I had goosebumps. As someone who is a bit of a scaredy cat, I can proudly say that I had the best time with this horror slasher book. I know every reader is different, but I honestly had no clue who the doll killer was, the unexpected twists had me screaming, and I was in complete shock by the end of the book. If you are a horror junkie that loves Scream, gossip, and gore, Dollface needs to be on your spooky tbr and your calendars better be marked for February 24th, 2026 for the publication of this murderous bone chilling book. If any of my friends ask for recommendations that run along the lines of Friday the 13th, you best believe I will proudly recommend Dollface written by Lindy Ryan.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"🎀💄🧸From concealer to eye shadow, Dollface helps showcase your inner beauty on the outside🎀💄🧸".
"❣️🔪If you don't see the horror right in front of you, how will you ever survive it❣️🔪?"
"♥︎🧚🏻♀️All I wanted to do was help them see their flaws, help them improve- become more beautiful versions of themselves♥︎🧚🏻♀️".
Jillian Marshall and her family have just moved to suburban New Jersey because her family is a military family and her husband Rob is in the Coast Guard. Jillian and Rob have an eight year old son Tanner who is in third grade and a golden retriever named Lugosi. Since moving to New Jersey, Jill hoped to become friends with the other mom's at her son's school, but instead weird's everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. Jillian is a horror author and her new book's manuscript hasn't moved beyond the title page since arriving in New Jersey. Jillian claims she looks like the Bride of Frankenstein and she also watched her mother commit suicide right in front of her face when she was just a little girl. Just a little over a few days after arriving at their new house, their nosy new neighbor Darla Lashett comes bearing a gift basket to welcome the Marshall family to the neighborhood. Darla is the president of the PTA at Brunswick Elementary which consists of six women and they are looking for a Cultural Arts person for the PTA board, so of course Darla encourages Jillian to become their new member. Darla has a son in sixth grade and a daughter in fifth grade. Soon Darla and Jillian become friends over their shared interest of being horror junkies. I love how welcoming Darla was to the Marshall family, but at times it felt like a little too much since she was always showing up at their door being a Nosy Nelly. I love friendly neighbors, but sometimes I think they need to back off a notch just because being new can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for certain people including myself.
After a few days of joining the Brunswick PTA board things start taking a turn for Jillian. The barista at the local coffee shop was found murdered with a slit throat, another woman was stabbed in the head by gardening shears but is expected to be okay, and another woman had her eyeball gorged out with an ice cream scooper, honestly that's just a few things that have happened, but you will have to read this book to find out the other twisted turns. This killer is believed to be a woman with a pert nose, blonde hair to the jawline, a beauty mark and wears a Dollface mask and also drives a sedan. Darla and Jillian are horror movie afficionado's and they are now living out a slasher movie in their suburban New Jersey neighborhood. Jillian is slowly wrapped into a killer's murderous spree and she might just be the last woman standing. Why is this Dollface killer going on a spree and why is she attacking women that Jillian has come in contact with? This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I think I had to bleach my eyes after witnessing this crazy murderous spree. I honestly don't think I would ever make it through this awful turn of events especially after being traumatized from things that happened in my childhood. I mean just imagine witnessing a plastic face masked serial killer slashing their way through town wondering if you will be next, I mean I could never.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"🎀💄🧸From concealer to eye shadow, Dollface helps showcase your inner beauty on the outside🎀💄🧸".
"❣️🔪If you don't see the horror right in front of you, how will you ever survive it❣️🔪?"
"♥︎🧚🏻♀️All I wanted to do was help them see their flaws, help them improve- become more beautiful versions of themselves♥︎🧚🏻♀️".
Jillian Marshall and her family have just moved to suburban New Jersey because her family is a military family and her husband Rob is in the Coast Guard. Jillian and Rob have an eight year old son Tanner who is in third grade and a golden retriever named Lugosi. Since moving to New Jersey, Jill hoped to become friends with the other mom's at her son's school, but instead weird's everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. Jillian is a horror author and her new book's manuscript hasn't moved beyond the title page since arriving in New Jersey. Jillian claims she looks like the Bride of Frankenstein and she also watched her mother commit suicide right in front of her face when she was just a little girl. Just a little over a few days after arriving at their new house, their nosy new neighbor Darla Lashett comes bearing a gift basket to welcome the Marshall family to the neighborhood. Darla is the president of the PTA at Brunswick Elementary which consists of six women and they are looking for a Cultural Arts person for the PTA board, so of course Darla encourages Jillian to become their new member. Darla has a son in sixth grade and a daughter in fifth grade. Soon Darla and Jillian become friends over their shared interest of being horror junkies. I love how welcoming Darla was to the Marshall family, but at times it felt like a little too much since she was always showing up at their door being a Nosy Nelly. I love friendly neighbors, but sometimes I think they need to back off a notch just because being new can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for certain people including myself.
After a few days of joining the Brunswick PTA board things start taking a turn for Jillian. The barista at the local coffee shop was found murdered with a slit throat, another woman was stabbed in the head by gardening shears but is expected to be okay, and another woman had her eyeball gorged out with an ice cream scooper, honestly that's just a few things that have happened, but you will have to read this book to find out the other twisted turns. This killer is believed to be a woman with a pert nose, blonde hair to the jawline, a beauty mark and wears a Dollface mask and also drives a sedan. Darla and Jillian are horror movie afficionado's and they are now living out a slasher movie in their suburban New Jersey neighborhood. Jillian is slowly wrapped into a killer's murderous spree and she might just be the last woman standing. Why is this Dollface killer going on a spree and why is she attacking women that Jillian has come in contact with? This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I think I had to bleach my eyes after witnessing this crazy murderous spree. I honestly don't think I would ever make it through this awful turn of events especially after being traumatized from things that happened in my childhood. I mean just imagine witnessing a plastic face masked serial killer slashing their way through town wondering if you will be next, I mean I could never.
October 28, 2025
after 22 my darling husbands, 22 Jilly beans, 11 creaky-not-creepy houses, 5 bride of frankenstein/frankenstein references and 4 Just don't invite any crazy, knife-wielding lunatics into your houses i'm glad to be done with this book.
my biggest issue is the way this is marketed as Barbie x Scream....just because it's a "slasher" that does not make it like Scream & it's getting old how often this type of comparison is being used when marketing these type of books. We can write slashers without having to compare them to the legendary franchise...it's ok to call a slasher a slasher & leave it at that.
this was extremely repetitive and highly predictable by chapter 6 I knew 95% of the plot. Did I see the ending coming? no, no I did not. Did I feel stupid for not seeing it coming? yes, yes I did. *gasp*
I think the only enjoyable part was Darla she is so unapologetically crazy, but her character wasn't enough to save the book for me. Jill is just so...annoying. Her constant "omg I don't want people to look at me & judge me for wearing a Jack Torrance shirt" really started to get on my nerves by the third time it was mentioned. If you are not comfortable being in public in horror attire then maybe just maybe you don't love horror as much as you claim to or MAYBE just don't wear the shirt in public?
Also, I feel like the author could have done more research on the horror genre. If you're writing an mc & make it a point, multiple times, to claim the mc writes horror & is a horror fanatic I'm expecting you to reference more than the most basic mainstream horror out there.. I don't know how the mc can claim to be a horror aficionado & forget or not know who Stu Macher is but this is really unforgivable....you market it as scream this scream that, reference scream a few times in the book &...the mc...doesn't know..half of one of the most iconic duos in the slasher genre???
I would call this horror for weenies or horror for people that have never picked up a horror novel before, which is fine, but I don't see how people who consume a lot of horror media could enjoy this especially with how repetitive & predictable it is
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
my biggest issue is the way this is marketed as Barbie x Scream....just because it's a "slasher" that does not make it like Scream & it's getting old how often this type of comparison is being used when marketing these type of books. We can write slashers without having to compare them to the legendary franchise...it's ok to call a slasher a slasher & leave it at that.
this was extremely repetitive and highly predictable by chapter 6 I knew 95% of the plot. Did I see the ending coming? no, no I did not. Did I feel stupid for not seeing it coming? yes, yes I did. *gasp*
I think the only enjoyable part was Darla she is so unapologetically crazy, but her character wasn't enough to save the book for me. Jill is just so...annoying. Her constant "omg I don't want people to look at me & judge me for wearing a Jack Torrance shirt" really started to get on my nerves by the third time it was mentioned. If you are not comfortable being in public in horror attire then maybe just maybe you don't love horror as much as you claim to or MAYBE just don't wear the shirt in public?
Also, I feel like the author could have done more research on the horror genre. If you're writing an mc & make it a point, multiple times, to claim the mc writes horror & is a horror fanatic I'm expecting you to reference more than the most basic mainstream horror out there.. I don't know how the mc can claim to be a horror aficionado & forget or not know who Stu Macher is but this is really unforgivable....you market it as scream this scream that, reference scream a few times in the book &...the mc...doesn't know..half of one of the most iconic duos in the slasher genre???
I would call this horror for weenies or horror for people that have never picked up a horror novel before, which is fine, but I don't see how people who consume a lot of horror media could enjoy this especially with how repetitive & predictable it is
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
November 17, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A good slasher reminds me of childhood. Not because I was ever pursued (nor was I ever the pursuer) by a masked villain, but because it reminds me of all those nights I secretly consumed those 80s slasher classics while my mom slept unknowingly above.
In such a saturated genre, it’s hard to find stories that aren’t simply retreads of the many that came before. While this definitely has its tropey elements, they are stitched together into a unique tapestry of horror comfort. I loved how the killer doesn’t always kill. I loved the many nods to genre memorabilia. I loved the characters, warts and all. And I loved the imperfectness of the conclusion. Nothing is ever black and white in this many shades of grey world, and this book understands and honors that truism in every way.
A good slasher reminds me of childhood. Not because I was ever pursued (nor was I ever the pursuer) by a masked villain, but because it reminds me of all those nights I secretly consumed those 80s slasher classics while my mom slept unknowingly above.
In such a saturated genre, it’s hard to find stories that aren’t simply retreads of the many that came before. While this definitely has its tropey elements, they are stitched together into a unique tapestry of horror comfort. I loved how the killer doesn’t always kill. I loved the many nods to genre memorabilia. I loved the characters, warts and all. And I loved the imperfectness of the conclusion. Nothing is ever black and white in this many shades of grey world, and this book understands and honors that truism in every way.
February 25, 2026
Why would a plastic faced serial killer want to off PTA moms? Dollface is a suburban slasher where no one is safe! Jill is a horror author who is new in town and hoping to make some friends. Her obnoxious new neighbor, did I say obnoxious? I meant to say assertively friendly new neighbor, invites her to join the school's PTA. All the PTA moms are picture perfect with their fully made-up faces and perfect outfits.
The blood begins to fly before the first bake sale! Someone is killing the moms, but who and why???? If horror and gore are not for you, this book is not too scary or gory. Yes, there are some death scenes but if you close one eye while reading, I promise who will get through it unscathed.
Lindy Ryan loves her horror, and this book was on the horrific side. Again, more light horror, but heavy on the creepy and bizzarro characters. Fans of Lindy Ryan may enjoy this one. Bless Your Heart remains my favorite book by this author. Having said that, Dollface was a bloody enjoyable book with an original premise which delivered an eerie vibe, creepy scenes, and dread.
Side note - Am I the only one who thought Jill's overly friendly next-door neighbor might look like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? That is the image I had of her for the entire book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
The blood begins to fly before the first bake sale! Someone is killing the moms, but who and why???? If horror and gore are not for you, this book is not too scary or gory. Yes, there are some death scenes but if you close one eye while reading, I promise who will get through it unscathed.
Lindy Ryan loves her horror, and this book was on the horrific side. Again, more light horror, but heavy on the creepy and bizzarro characters. Fans of Lindy Ryan may enjoy this one. Bless Your Heart remains my favorite book by this author. Having said that, Dollface was a bloody enjoyable book with an original premise which delivered an eerie vibe, creepy scenes, and dread.
Side note - Am I the only one who thought Jill's overly friendly next-door neighbor might look like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? That is the image I had of her for the entire book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is the true horror here the slasher or the PTA mean girls clique?
This was a fun, original and refreshing meta slasher. I relly liked the 90's nostalgia and the main character.
I listenned to the audiobook version and the narrator was great. She did a fantastic job at bringing out the funnier aspects of the story.
Thank you Macmillan audio for this ARC!
This was a fun, original and refreshing meta slasher. I relly liked the 90's nostalgia and the main character.
I listenned to the audiobook version and the narrator was great. She did a fantastic job at bringing out the funnier aspects of the story.
Thank you Macmillan audio for this ARC!
October 28, 2025
DOLLFACE doesn’t just serve lewks—it slays, literally. 💋
I got into @lindyryanwrites ‘s writing ever since her fun horror duology launched with Bless Her Heart. Once I saw this ICONIC cover for her 2026 novel, DOLLFACE, I knew that I needed to read it asap! Thank you @minotaur_books for this gifted copy!
Barbie meets Scream in the bloodiest PTA meeting ever. When horror author Jill moves to suburban New Jersey, she just wants to settle into her new normal, while also on deadline for her next horror novel. While she begins to settle into Brunswick, she starts befriending local PTA moms and omg wow, New Jersey isn’t so bad! That is, until a plastic-faced killer crashes the carpool. DOLLFACE is glossy, gory, and totally unhinged in the best way!
This book is a full dedication to 80s and 90s slasher films, specifically Scream. If you love the Scream franchise, DOLLFACE is the book for you. This book expertly infuses camp, slasher (have I mentioned that already? 😏), and small town scandal. Don’t take DOLLFACE too seriously and enjoy the ride! My first 5 star 2026 read! STARS: 5, PUB: 2/24/26
I got into @lindyryanwrites ‘s writing ever since her fun horror duology launched with Bless Her Heart. Once I saw this ICONIC cover for her 2026 novel, DOLLFACE, I knew that I needed to read it asap! Thank you @minotaur_books for this gifted copy!
Barbie meets Scream in the bloodiest PTA meeting ever. When horror author Jill moves to suburban New Jersey, she just wants to settle into her new normal, while also on deadline for her next horror novel. While she begins to settle into Brunswick, she starts befriending local PTA moms and omg wow, New Jersey isn’t so bad! That is, until a plastic-faced killer crashes the carpool. DOLLFACE is glossy, gory, and totally unhinged in the best way!
This book is a full dedication to 80s and 90s slasher films, specifically Scream. If you love the Scream franchise, DOLLFACE is the book for you. This book expertly infuses camp, slasher (have I mentioned that already? 😏), and small town scandal. Don’t take DOLLFACE too seriously and enjoy the ride! My first 5 star 2026 read! STARS: 5, PUB: 2/24/26
November 19, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.
3 stars
Horror lite, maybe….with sex heavy? Not that there was a ton of sex or that it was particularly pornographic or anything, it’s just that if there’s sex in a horror book it often has something to do with the plot, but, here, just a married couple getting it on. Anyway….
This was actually a kind of cute story following Jill, a horror author, who is desperate for inspiration for her sophomore book and who has just moved with her Coast Guard member husband and young son to New Jersey. She immediately gets involved with her overly friendly neighbor, the P.T.A. and the not-so-nice women who serve on the board. Then it appears those women may be the targets of a killer. Is this Jill’s next subject?
The women all kind of ran together for me, and I guessed who was guilty, but I thought this was fun enough and I loved Jill’s passion for horror.
3 stars
Horror lite, maybe….with sex heavy? Not that there was a ton of sex or that it was particularly pornographic or anything, it’s just that if there’s sex in a horror book it often has something to do with the plot, but, here, just a married couple getting it on. Anyway….
This was actually a kind of cute story following Jill, a horror author, who is desperate for inspiration for her sophomore book and who has just moved with her Coast Guard member husband and young son to New Jersey. She immediately gets involved with her overly friendly neighbor, the P.T.A. and the not-so-nice women who serve on the board. Then it appears those women may be the targets of a killer. Is this Jill’s next subject?
The women all kind of ran together for me, and I guessed who was guilty, but I thought this was fun enough and I loved Jill’s passion for horror.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
UPDATE: i purchased a 1982 Barbie Ben Cooper halloween mask on ebay 🤭 i’ll try to add a photo of it in this review once it comes in the mail!
Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ARC!
OH MY GOOOOOOD. i loved this so much! i was creeped out with the lovey dovey stuff but idc because the rest was so fun.
hated that they used the g slur and interesting that they corrected it.
brb lurking on ebay for some ben cooper vintage halloween masks.
Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ARC!
OH MY GOOOOOOD. i loved this so much! i was creeped out with the lovey dovey stuff but idc because the rest was so fun.
hated that they used the g slur and interesting that they corrected it.
brb lurking on ebay for some ben cooper vintage halloween masks.
February 23, 2026
Dollface is a fun thriller, punctuated with sexy times and gore!
Jill, (Jilly Bean), has recently moved to a (creaky-not creepy) house in a suburb of New Jersey. Almost immediately, she meets her next door neighbor Darla and before she knows it, Jill finds herself at a coffee shop AND on the PTA. That very night, the barista from the coffee shop is murdered and Jill finds herself playing a part in a real life slasher novel! Is this fortuitous, since Jill is a horror author but she's not doing any actual writing? Or will she find herself a candidate for the next victim? You'll have to read this to find out!
I will admit that I requested this book solely due to the cover and the premise. What horror lover wouldn't be interested in a slasher book involving the PTA? LOL Even though there are quite a few gory scenes, in my heart and in my brain I feel like this was more horror-light. In some ways Dollface reminds me of My Heart is A Chainsaw because this turned into a narrative similar to that one-where the main character uses their horror trivia/horror movie knowledge and applies it to their current situation. That character never grew on me, and neither did Jill, mostly I think, because as much as I love horror books, I do not feel the same way about most movies-especially slasher movies. I feel like it's all been done and I would prefer to have more depth to my horror. (This is not a dig at those who love slashers, I get the appeal, and hey-you do you.) There are some tropey situations here and to be honest, I started losing interest about half way through.
A few things irritated me throughout the narrative due to the repetition. "Creaky, not creepy" is a phrase I've read enough of. Also, the sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, I love me a steamy sex scene, but in these cases, I didn't feel it was relative...to anything. Unless this too, was a riff on slasher movies, because people are always getting down right before getting murdered?
What I especially liked though was the humor in which these sitations were handled. Kind of dry and perhaps a little gleeful-especially when Jill cites her weird little horror facts out of the blue.
The last quarter of the book raced by and it hooked my attention again as all the secrets were finally revealed and the reader has a much clearer sense of what had gone on previously. As you can probably tell, this book has me torn. I guess in the end, I really didn't care for the characters and whether or not they lived or died. The PTA ladies were honestly a blur, and right now I couldn't even tell you one detail about any of them except Darla. I finally decided on a 3 star rating, meaning I liked it.
Recommended for fans of thrillers and suspense, but I think horror lovers might be a bit disappointed.
*ARC from publisher
Jill, (Jilly Bean), has recently moved to a (creaky-not creepy) house in a suburb of New Jersey. Almost immediately, she meets her next door neighbor Darla and before she knows it, Jill finds herself at a coffee shop AND on the PTA. That very night, the barista from the coffee shop is murdered and Jill finds herself playing a part in a real life slasher novel! Is this fortuitous, since Jill is a horror author but she's not doing any actual writing? Or will she find herself a candidate for the next victim? You'll have to read this to find out!
I will admit that I requested this book solely due to the cover and the premise. What horror lover wouldn't be interested in a slasher book involving the PTA? LOL Even though there are quite a few gory scenes, in my heart and in my brain I feel like this was more horror-light. In some ways Dollface reminds me of My Heart is A Chainsaw because this turned into a narrative similar to that one-where the main character uses their horror trivia/horror movie knowledge and applies it to their current situation. That character never grew on me, and neither did Jill, mostly I think, because as much as I love horror books, I do not feel the same way about most movies-especially slasher movies. I feel like it's all been done and I would prefer to have more depth to my horror. (This is not a dig at those who love slashers, I get the appeal, and hey-you do you.) There are some tropey situations here and to be honest, I started losing interest about half way through.
A few things irritated me throughout the narrative due to the repetition. "Creaky, not creepy" is a phrase I've read enough of. Also, the sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, I love me a steamy sex scene, but in these cases, I didn't feel it was relative...to anything. Unless this too, was a riff on slasher movies, because people are always getting down right before getting murdered?
What I especially liked though was the humor in which these sitations were handled. Kind of dry and perhaps a little gleeful-especially when Jill cites her weird little horror facts out of the blue.
The last quarter of the book raced by and it hooked my attention again as all the secrets were finally revealed and the reader has a much clearer sense of what had gone on previously. As you can probably tell, this book has me torn. I guess in the end, I really didn't care for the characters and whether or not they lived or died. The PTA ladies were honestly a blur, and right now I couldn't even tell you one detail about any of them except Darla. I finally decided on a 3 star rating, meaning I liked it.
Recommended for fans of thrillers and suspense, but I think horror lovers might be a bit disappointed.
*ARC from publisher
March 19, 2026
"𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴."
When I read a slasher, this is what I expect to get—gruesome and gory with unique crimes that made me cringe. Ice cream scooper anyone? Think 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 13𝘵𝘩 and 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 vibes but with female rage; it's bloody but not extreme. Jill, a horror author, wife, and mom, has a shocking and traumatic past. New to her suburb, she's immediately taken in by her neighbor, Darla, who is in the PTA. Jill isn't thrilled about the catty women in the PTA, but she likes Darla and wants to make new friends. She's suddenly thrust into her own horror story when a masked killer begins attacking women in the neighborhood—will she end up a final girl?
There's a bit of a slow build, and I could do without the bits of spice, but once this gets going—look out! It's campy, nostalgic, and loaded with horror movie and pop culture references. 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙍𝙮𝙖𝙣 cleverly captures the essence of mom energy mixed with mystery and carnage—and I was here for it. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙉é𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝-𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 narrates the audiobook, and she nails the anxious and fearful energy of Jill, as well as the syrupy sweet, mostly genuine, nature of Darla. I'll always reach for the audio of a book with 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 since she never fails to elevate the experience!
I actually managed to figure a few things out—even if I didn't have all the pieces in the right place—and was delighted with the reveals and outcome. Fans of slashers, mean moms, and a deranged killer will have a blast with 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲—it's fun, frenetic, and fatal!
____
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
When I read a slasher, this is what I expect to get—gruesome and gory with unique crimes that made me cringe. Ice cream scooper anyone? Think 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 13𝘵𝘩 and 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 vibes but with female rage; it's bloody but not extreme. Jill, a horror author, wife, and mom, has a shocking and traumatic past. New to her suburb, she's immediately taken in by her neighbor, Darla, who is in the PTA. Jill isn't thrilled about the catty women in the PTA, but she likes Darla and wants to make new friends. She's suddenly thrust into her own horror story when a masked killer begins attacking women in the neighborhood—will she end up a final girl?
There's a bit of a slow build, and I could do without the bits of spice, but once this gets going—look out! It's campy, nostalgic, and loaded with horror movie and pop culture references. 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙮 𝙍𝙮𝙖𝙣 cleverly captures the essence of mom energy mixed with mystery and carnage—and I was here for it. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙉é𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝-𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 narrates the audiobook, and she nails the anxious and fearful energy of Jill, as well as the syrupy sweet, mostly genuine, nature of Darla. I'll always reach for the audio of a book with 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 since she never fails to elevate the experience!
I actually managed to figure a few things out—even if I didn't have all the pieces in the right place—and was delighted with the reveals and outcome. Fans of slashers, mean moms, and a deranged killer will have a blast with 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲—it's fun, frenetic, and fatal!
____
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
✨ Rating: 2 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: PTA moms get slashed
🎶 Song: still alive - demi lovato
📖 Favourite Quote: "Books make it easier not to feel lonely, even if all your closest girlfriends are fictional."
📚 Would I recommend? meh
💬 tldr thoughts: nothing groundbreaking
In the package:
📦 horror movie references
📦 PTA committee
📦 slasher
Plot: Jill, a horror author, and her family move to suburban New Jersey where she gets recruited into the new PTA committee at school. A plastic face-masked serial killer starts to slash one member at a time and Jill is trying to figure out if she's next.
Thoughts: I wanted to love this one so badly. The first chapter was honestly so promising and hooked me right away. It's described as "Scream meets Barbie" which is totally me, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it. I figured out the twist about 75% into the book, the characters were not likeable or relatable at all and it just didn't feel juicy enough despite the story following suburban moms in a PTA committee. I was expecting more craziness, more drama, and more slashing. Instead, the writing fell flat and a little too predictable. There was also just an overload of horror movie references.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: PTA moms get slashed
🎶 Song: still alive - demi lovato
📖 Favourite Quote: "Books make it easier not to feel lonely, even if all your closest girlfriends are fictional."
📚 Would I recommend? meh
💬 tldr thoughts: nothing groundbreaking
In the package:
📦 horror movie references
📦 PTA committee
📦 slasher
Plot: Jill, a horror author, and her family move to suburban New Jersey where she gets recruited into the new PTA committee at school. A plastic face-masked serial killer starts to slash one member at a time and Jill is trying to figure out if she's next.
Thoughts: I wanted to love this one so badly. The first chapter was honestly so promising and hooked me right away. It's described as "Scream meets Barbie" which is totally me, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it. I figured out the twist about 75% into the book, the characters were not likeable or relatable at all and it just didn't feel juicy enough despite the story following suburban moms in a PTA committee. I was expecting more craziness, more drama, and more slashing. Instead, the writing fell flat and a little too predictable. There was also just an overload of horror movie references.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Read
March 12, 2026DNF @ p67
Pre-Read Notes:
I grabbed this one for the cover and the one-sentence premise, which compared this book to both Barbie (the movie) and Scream (horror film). I can't say I see either of these influences, honestly.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) This book closely follows the first person narrator, whom I didn't particularly like. Together with a slow pace, these style issues led me to abandon this one.
A Few Things:
✔️ I don't think it's great form for a narrator to slam-dunk on a random premise, and it's also accidentally ironic when the narrator's claim is wrong. "Baa is a sheep sound, not a goat’s, but I let it slide on account of the pun." p39 Goats actually make a wide range of sounds, including screaming, grunting, and yes, baa-ing.
Content Notes: performative cruelty, body shaming, fat shaming,
Thank you to Lindy Ryan, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of WE DON'T TALK ABOUT CAROL. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
I grabbed this one for the cover and the one-sentence premise, which compared this book to both Barbie (the movie) and Scream (horror film). I can't say I see either of these influences, honestly.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) This book closely follows the first person narrator, whom I didn't particularly like. Together with a slow pace, these style issues led me to abandon this one.
A Few Things:
✔️ I don't think it's great form for a narrator to slam-dunk on a random premise, and it's also accidentally ironic when the narrator's claim is wrong. "Baa is a sheep sound, not a goat’s, but I let it slide on account of the pun." p39 Goats actually make a wide range of sounds, including screaming, grunting, and yes, baa-ing.
Content Notes: performative cruelty, body shaming, fat shaming,
Thank you to Lindy Ryan, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of WE DON'T TALK ABOUT CAROL. All views are mine.
November 30, 2025
A wacky tale of suburban PTO moms and murder. The new mom on the block is our main character, Jill. For a short book, this one is kind of chaotic. I really enjoyed Darla and the other mom characters, even though Jill was pretty insufferable. It reads a bit like YA, it goes deep on storylines that go nowhere and rushes through the development I was eager for. A few scenes genuinely cracked me up. Still, I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue and would try other books by this author. The pacing in this one seemed off for me, but I think others may really enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this buzzy ARC! Book to be published 2/24/26.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this buzzy ARC! Book to be published 2/24/26.
March 5, 2026
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy of Dollface. All opinions are my own.
I was looking forward to reading this one especially when I read that it was basically Scream meets Mean Girls PTA moms. I do have to say it was a bit too predictable for me. I found myself not really wanting to pick it up and it took me longer than usual to finish. I do believe this is partly a me problem and not a book problem.
Jill and her family move to a new town and are greeted by a group of PTA moms who are anything but lovely. While the mom group and other women around them start showing up dead Jill decides to take things into her own hands and figure out who is targeting her and this group of moms.
I was looking forward to reading this one especially when I read that it was basically Scream meets Mean Girls PTA moms. I do have to say it was a bit too predictable for me. I found myself not really wanting to pick it up and it took me longer than usual to finish. I do believe this is partly a me problem and not a book problem.
Jill and her family move to a new town and are greeted by a group of PTA moms who are anything but lovely. While the mom group and other women around them start showing up dead Jill decides to take things into her own hands and figure out who is targeting her and this group of moms.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'Tonight, she’s the knife, and for the first time, she’ll cut her own damn cake.' (Ch 5)
Slasher Horror | Thriller | Serial Killer | Murder Mystery
It's always fun trying to guess whodunit in these types of murder mysteries. Who is the serial killer amongst them? There are the obvious suspects, which makes you want to lean toward the conspicious, but then you want to also consider possible twists and analyze each of the phrases for hints. Back and forth, back and forth. Keeps you guessing.
'We all go a little mad sometimes, don’t we? There are so many ways for a woman to come unstitched.' (Ch 27)
What makes this one even more interesting is that the main character is a horror fiction writer, not to mention that she harbors a traumatizing past.
'....my life felt like Stepford Wives meets Twilight Zone slasher. Every day, that mash-up gets more and more on the nose.' (Ch 22)
The author takes it further, giving insight to the killer. Following them as they commit their acts of murder and/or mutilation. There were descriptive bits that were horrific enough to elicit a nauseating or grimacing response from me. *thumbs up* for horror and suspense! Who knew the PTA could be so thrilling.
'"....if you don’t see the horror right in front of you, how will you ever survive it?”' (Ch 22)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press / MacMillan Publishers
Slasher Horror | Thriller | Serial Killer | Murder Mystery
It's always fun trying to guess whodunit in these types of murder mysteries. Who is the serial killer amongst them? There are the obvious suspects, which makes you want to lean toward the conspicious, but then you want to also consider possible twists and analyze each of the phrases for hints. Back and forth, back and forth. Keeps you guessing.
'We all go a little mad sometimes, don’t we? There are so many ways for a woman to come unstitched.' (Ch 27)
What makes this one even more interesting is that the main character is a horror fiction writer, not to mention that she harbors a traumatizing past.
'....my life felt like Stepford Wives meets Twilight Zone slasher. Every day, that mash-up gets more and more on the nose.' (Ch 22)
The author takes it further, giving insight to the killer. Following them as they commit their acts of murder and/or mutilation. There were descriptive bits that were horrific enough to elicit a nauseating or grimacing response from me. *thumbs up* for horror and suspense! Who knew the PTA could be so thrilling.
'"....if you don’t see the horror right in front of you, how will you ever survive it?”' (Ch 22)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press / MacMillan Publishers
January 5, 2026
I was really excited to pick up this “Barbie meets Scream” novel, as it sounded right up my alley and like a fun, original take on a slasher. Unfortunately, it fell a bit short for me. The writing leaned very heavily into cutesy, overly detailed descriptions, which took away from the tension and slasher elements I was hoping for. One particular pet peeve was how often the phrase “creaky-not-creepy” was used to describe the main character’s house it became distracting after a while. Overall, the story was just okay, though I did appreciate that it was set around Halloween.
The book follows Jill, a horror author who moves to a small town with her family and quickly befriends the moms in her son’s PTA group. As a serial killer begins targeting women in the community specifically those in the PTA, Jill finds herself unable to escape her own tragic childhood past.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2026
The book follows Jill, a horror author who moves to a small town with her family and quickly befriends the moms in her son’s PTA group. As a serial killer begins targeting women in the community specifically those in the PTA, Jill finds herself unable to escape her own tragic childhood past.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What do you mean? I mean... yeah once the other person arrived at the front door I was like BIIITTCCHH IT BETTER NOT BE YOU KILLING THESE HOES but then my life got flipped, turned upside down and I don't even know what to say or think. Having a killer for a best friend seems like it might be a plus, especially if she protects you. Oh... and the husband? He's one of the best god damn book husbands I think I've ever read. I just really enjoyed this entire book. Spooky shit, horror author, childhood trauma, yes please!
February 6, 2026
3.5
#ad much love for my advance copy @stmartinspress @kayepublicity #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Dollface
< @
Releases
Pics can be deleted, but the stuff you see in the bathroom mirror will haunt you…
Okay, oof. This book. “Bloody, unsettling slasher?” That’s a bit of an exaggeration - imo. I enjoyed the story mostly tho. I did actually finish this book, so it wasn’t a DNF. I did guess the killer too.
Kitty and Jill were only kids when their mother took her own life. Drowning in grief, it’s only natural that Jill would become obsessed with everything horror. A character after my own heart.
Kitty is now an influencer currently living the Van Life, while Jill is a horror author. Jill and her husband and son have just moved into a new house, in a new town. And with new towns come new schools, new neighbors. Annoying neighbors.
Then a brutal murder happens … and then more.
Loved the homage to all the horror movies. Loved the PTA moms and the mystery of who the killer is. The masked doll was also perfection.
PTA moms
🎧: Loved this audio. The narrator did a great job and was an easy listen. Def recommend the audio for this one.
Jill and her husband. Just eww. Everything about it.
Needed a little more killing. (Slasher hello)
Memorable:
Jack Torrance’s face
Seven hundred thousand calories of Snickers
Women sleep better with a dog in their beds than a man … accurate 😂
Will def read this author again.
#ad much love for my advance copy @stmartinspress @kayepublicity #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Dollface
< @
Releases
Pics can be deleted, but the stuff you see in the bathroom mirror will haunt you…
Okay, oof. This book. “Bloody, unsettling slasher?” That’s a bit of an exaggeration - imo. I enjoyed the story mostly tho. I did actually finish this book, so it wasn’t a DNF. I did guess the killer too.
Kitty and Jill were only kids when their mother took her own life. Drowning in grief, it’s only natural that Jill would become obsessed with everything horror. A character after my own heart.
Kitty is now an influencer currently living the Van Life, while Jill is a horror author. Jill and her husband and son have just moved into a new house, in a new town. And with new towns come new schools, new neighbors. Annoying neighbors.
Then a brutal murder happens … and then more.
Loved the homage to all the horror movies. Loved the PTA moms and the mystery of who the killer is. The masked doll was also perfection.
PTA moms
🎧: Loved this audio. The narrator did a great job and was an easy listen. Def recommend the audio for this one.
Jill and her husband. Just eww. Everything about it.
Needed a little more killing. (Slasher hello)
Memorable:
Jack Torrance’s face
Seven hundred thousand calories of Snickers
Women sleep better with a dog in their beds than a man … accurate 😂
Will def read this author again.
Read
March 5, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
DNF @ 21%
I hate to do this because it's an ARC and I was really anticipating this one, but I did want to leave this review so that it's on record here that the reason I'm DNFing is that I think this author and I just don't mesh. I can't think of anything that this book is doing wrong, at all, I'm just not resonating with it at all, and I have so many other books that I could be reading that I will get enjoyment out of. If you have read this author's books before and liked them, you will like this one, too! Not rating.
Buzzword Reading Challenge 2026: One word title
DNF @ 21%
I hate to do this because it's an ARC and I was really anticipating this one, but I did want to leave this review so that it's on record here that the reason I'm DNFing is that I think this author and I just don't mesh. I can't think of anything that this book is doing wrong, at all, I'm just not resonating with it at all, and I have so many other books that I could be reading that I will get enjoyment out of. If you have read this author's books before and liked them, you will like this one, too! Not rating.
Buzzword Reading Challenge 2026: One word title
February 26, 2026
Even without the nod to Gale Weathers, I could tell this book was inspired by Scream and similar slashers that call attention to the tropes and lampshade them. I'm not sure it works quite as well in a book format, and it could definitely be shaved down to be snappier, but it's an entertaining enough read that doesn't take itself too seriously.
I do think the book is a little too concerned with the reveals and didn't quite thread the needle in a way that they're satisfying, but likewise they're not eye-rolly or annoying either. Just average, for me. And while it felt like it wanted to make some social commentary, everything felt very surface level and more of the same thing that's always said-- she's into horror and not her appearance because she's "not like othergirls moms," moving here is like being in Stepford, etc etc
The narrator did a great job and I often forgot I was listening to the book rather than reading it myself, so I definitely think the audiobook is solid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I do think the book is a little too concerned with the reveals and didn't quite thread the needle in a way that they're satisfying, but likewise they're not eye-rolly or annoying either. Just average, for me. And while it felt like it wanted to make some social commentary, everything felt very surface level and more of the same thing that's always said-- she's into horror and not her appearance because she's "not like other
The narrator did a great job and I often forgot I was listening to the book rather than reading it myself, so I definitely think the audiobook is solid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 14, 2025
I wanted to like this so bad. 'Barbie meets Scream' was made for me, nothing could appeal to me more. But it wasn't what I'd been hoping for.
A great premise but the unlikable characters and predictable plot made it impossible to get invested. You'll know who the killer is and what's happening within a few chapters. Even the 'twist' at the end was something I had a feeling about a few chapters prior to the reveal, and it didn't feel particularly well thought out. For a horror novel comparing itself to an iconic slasher like Scream, there was shockingly little actual slashing going on. The writing was repetitive at times, and at others it felt messy and a little too hard, and it just didn't work for me.
Darla was a fun character, maybe the only one, and I think she should have been allowed to be a little crazier. It could have leaned in to the camp a bit more.
There was also a line where there was no respect put on Stu Macher's name, and that was the greatest offense to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
A great premise but the unlikable characters and predictable plot made it impossible to get invested. You'll know who the killer is and what's happening within a few chapters. Even the 'twist' at the end was something I had a feeling about a few chapters prior to the reveal, and it didn't feel particularly well thought out. For a horror novel comparing itself to an iconic slasher like Scream, there was shockingly little actual slashing going on. The writing was repetitive at times, and at others it felt messy and a little too hard, and it just didn't work for me.
Darla was a fun character, maybe the only one, and I think she should have been allowed to be a little crazier. It could have leaned in to the camp a bit more.
There was also a line where there was no respect put on Stu Macher's name, and that was the greatest offense to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
October 14, 2025
The writing was trying to be too flowery and descriptive that it ended up coming off as weird and awkward, making it hard to connect to it. It also had the problem of treating the readers like they're stupid and hand feeding elements and commentary to us. The dialogue was incredibly stilted. The main character wasn't fun or interesting either. It should have had more fun with itself.
It wasn't exactly groundbreaking. Trust me when I say you'll guess who it is and be 100% correct lmao Mostly boring and I fear so much more could have been done with the plot than what was given. I will give credit that the gore was a nice touch and got pretty nasty.
Thank you to St Martins and netgalley for the arc.
It wasn't exactly groundbreaking. Trust me when I say you'll guess who it is and be 100% correct lmao Mostly boring and I fear so much more could have been done with the plot than what was given. I will give credit that the gore was a nice touch and got pretty nasty.
Thank you to St Martins and netgalley for the arc.
November 9, 2025
DNF 25%-This was all over the place. The first chapter felt like a fever dream which then transitioned to a chick lit horror story where a tshirt sporting Jack Torrence rom The Shining was mentioned way too many times in the span of six chapters.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2026
Dollface by Lindy Ryan is a wildly entertaining horror romp that leans fully into camp, nostalgia, and gleeful gore. I ended up doing a mix of print and audio, but I found myself gravitating toward the audiobook thanks to Stephanie Nemeth-Parker’s narration. She’s a consistent standout for me, and once again she delivers a performance that’s engaging, captivating, and perfectly attuned to the story’s tone. Pair that with a premise that blends suburban mom culture, slasher vibes, and a Barbie meets Scream aesthetic, and I was hooked almost immediately.
This is very much “light horror” in the best way: strange, fun, and just gory enough to satisfy without tipping into overwhelming territory. The story revels in its 90s horror movie energy, complete with a plastic faced serial killer, PTA politics, and a sharp sense of satire aimed at suburban expectations of motherhood and femininity. While some of the twists didn’t fully surprise me, the ride itself was such a blast that it honestly didn’t matter, I was having too much fun.
If you love horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously, especially older slasher films with a wink and a nod, Dollface is an easy recommendation. It’s campy, chaotic, and unapologetically entertaining, balancing gossip and gore in a way that feels both playful and pointed. This one is perfect for readers who want their horror fun, fast paced, and just a little bit unhinged.
January 4, 2026
“Why does being a mother make every decision so difficult?”
First off, I will read anything Lindy Ryan writes, and it’s a slasher? I was seated immediately. This book starts off rather tragically, but quickly becomes a nostalgic, bloody slasher! Jill just moved to New Jersey. She’s a horror author (lol) and she’s just trying to get settled when her new neighbor Darla appears and abruptly changes Jill’s life. Lindy pulls us into Jill’s mind. Amongst the writers block, sadness over aging, fear of the serial killer stalking their town, the mental anguish of being a mother, also lies the clever mind that is always one step ahead. Did I mention the VERY sexy scenes? There are those too! This story was deliciously crafted by one of the best horror writers imo. Only Lindy could delve deeply into women’s greatest fears, motherhood, aging, and navigating women’s friendships. This is another banger from Lindy, don’t miss it!
First off, I will read anything Lindy Ryan writes, and it’s a slasher? I was seated immediately. This book starts off rather tragically, but quickly becomes a nostalgic, bloody slasher! Jill just moved to New Jersey. She’s a horror author (lol) and she’s just trying to get settled when her new neighbor Darla appears and abruptly changes Jill’s life. Lindy pulls us into Jill’s mind. Amongst the writers block, sadness over aging, fear of the serial killer stalking their town, the mental anguish of being a mother, also lies the clever mind that is always one step ahead. Did I mention the VERY sexy scenes? There are those too! This story was deliciously crafted by one of the best horror writers imo. Only Lindy could delve deeply into women’s greatest fears, motherhood, aging, and navigating women’s friendships. This is another banger from Lindy, don’t miss it!
March 4, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy!
--
i'll start with the good: dollface is, at its core, a pretty fun suburban slasher. the premise is campy in a way that should work. a horror writer moves into a picture-perfect neighborhood only to find herself wrapped up in a PTA-centered murder spree. the actual violence in this book is surprisingly cinematic. when lindy ryan is writing slasher scenes, the tension and gore really come alive on the page.
unfortunately, the biggest problem here isn't the concept or even the predictability. the biggest problem is the writing.
yes, the plot is fairly easy to clock early on, but honestly, that didn't bother me much. slashers are often about the ride more than the reveal. what really wore me down was the constant repetition in the prose and dialogue. characters say each other's names in nearly every line of conversation, which already feels unnatural, but the moment that almost made me crash out was jill's sister repeatedly whining "jilly bean" what felt like seventeen times in a single scene. i started bracing myself every time a conversation began.
that repetitive language shows up everywhere. jill constantly refers to her spouse as "my darling husband," and her son's head is described over and over again as a "fuzzy duckling head." she's constantly talking about her neighbor's "powdered doughnut cheeks". once might be cute. twice is pushing it. by the tenth time, it completely pulls you out of the story.
there were also moments of writing that were just... bizarre. the opening chapter includes a scene where jill's sister - who is a child - runs in from outside wearing a bathing suit to tell her that her pet bird has died. the narration then detours into describing the sister's nipples. it's a strange and unnecessary detail that immediately made me pause and wonder why it was there at all. and while we're on the subject: horror authors, please stop killing pets for shock value.
plot-wise, this feels like a throwback to something you might have seen in an old wb-era episode of buffy. there's a suburban monster-of-the-week scenario with a satirical edge. there's not a lot of reinvention happening here. it's more of a familiar slasher setup dressed in pastel suburban aesthetics. but honestly, that could have worked perfectly well if the execution had been smoother.
in the end, dollface had the bones of a fun, campy horror novel. the slasher scenes were vivid, the premise is entertaining, and the suburban satire had potential. but the repetitive phrasing and odd narrative choices made the reading experience more frustrating than fun.
and that's a shame, because buried underneath all of that is a pretty fun slasher waiting to get out.
--
i'll start with the good: dollface is, at its core, a pretty fun suburban slasher. the premise is campy in a way that should work. a horror writer moves into a picture-perfect neighborhood only to find herself wrapped up in a PTA-centered murder spree. the actual violence in this book is surprisingly cinematic. when lindy ryan is writing slasher scenes, the tension and gore really come alive on the page.
unfortunately, the biggest problem here isn't the concept or even the predictability. the biggest problem is the writing.
yes, the plot is fairly easy to clock early on, but honestly, that didn't bother me much. slashers are often about the ride more than the reveal. what really wore me down was the constant repetition in the prose and dialogue. characters say each other's names in nearly every line of conversation, which already feels unnatural, but the moment that almost made me crash out was jill's sister repeatedly whining "jilly bean" what felt like seventeen times in a single scene. i started bracing myself every time a conversation began.
that repetitive language shows up everywhere. jill constantly refers to her spouse as "my darling husband," and her son's head is described over and over again as a "fuzzy duckling head." she's constantly talking about her neighbor's "powdered doughnut cheeks". once might be cute. twice is pushing it. by the tenth time, it completely pulls you out of the story.
there were also moments of writing that were just... bizarre. the opening chapter includes a scene where jill's sister - who is a child - runs in from outside wearing a bathing suit to tell her that her pet bird has died. the narration then detours into describing the sister's nipples. it's a strange and unnecessary detail that immediately made me pause and wonder why it was there at all. and while we're on the subject: horror authors, please stop killing pets for shock value.
plot-wise, this feels like a throwback to something you might have seen in an old wb-era episode of buffy. there's a suburban monster-of-the-week scenario with a satirical edge. there's not a lot of reinvention happening here. it's more of a familiar slasher setup dressed in pastel suburban aesthetics. but honestly, that could have worked perfectly well if the execution had been smoother.
in the end, dollface had the bones of a fun, campy horror novel. the slasher scenes were vivid, the premise is entertaining, and the suburban satire had potential. but the repetitive phrasing and odd narrative choices made the reading experience more frustrating than fun.
and that's a shame, because buried underneath all of that is a pretty fun slasher waiting to get out.
Did not finish
March 14, 2026DNF
it's revealed 11 pages in that the protag is a military wife, no fuckin thanks!
it's revealed 11 pages in that the protag is a military wife, no fuckin thanks!
February 25, 2026
This is my second book from Lindy Ryan and I found this one to be equally as enjoyable. I will admit I was drawn to this book because I fell in love with the pink cover but I quickly fell in love with the story and the narration of it.
Overall It's a fun and at times funny thriller with some slasher elements but it definitely doesn't read like horror. So if you go in expecting horror you will probably end up very disappointed. Although PTAs can be pretty horrifying. LOL.
Overall, I had a good time and will definitely be on the look out for the next story from Ryan.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Overall It's a fun and at times funny thriller with some slasher elements but it definitely doesn't read like horror. So if you go in expecting horror you will probably end up very disappointed. Although PTAs can be pretty horrifying. LOL.
Overall, I had a good time and will definitely be on the look out for the next story from Ryan.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 31, 2025
DNF’ed 5% in.
The first chapter was so strong and visceral—then we skip to the present and everything goes to shit.
So many horror references are cramped into the first few pages, bloating the narrative. It’s overkill and feels cheap.
I simply cannot get over how millennial-mommy the MC and her sister feel. I wanted to dunk my head in boiling water.
Even so, thank you very much to NetGalley, Lindy Ryan, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
The first chapter was so strong and visceral—then we skip to the present and everything goes to shit.
So many horror references are cramped into the first few pages, bloating the narrative. It’s overkill and feels cheap.
I simply cannot get over how millennial-mommy the MC and her sister feel. I wanted to dunk my head in boiling water.
Even so, thank you very much to NetGalley, Lindy Ryan, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
November 12, 2025
This book being marketed as Barbie meets Scream is a disservice to both original properties. The book was very repetitive and the plot very predictable while also nonsensical in places. Not worth your read, friends.
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