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Head Like a Hole
When you bury your past make sure that it’s dead.
It’s the mid-nineties. Grunge and flannel are fading as the Spice Girls and Hot Topic conquer the malls. Cherry gloss glistens on the lips of the youth. Modems hiss as America comes online.
And in a fog-drenched cove at the edge of New England, something terrible awakens when a fisherman reels in a gruesome catch: the remains of a young woman. Remains still pulsing with furious life.
For Megan Monroe and her friends, this is how their nightmare begins: a wet whisper over their shoulder; a dark hand reaching out from the edge of their sight; and a name clawing at the back of their minds.
A young woman scratched from their memory.
To stop this devouring terror, Megan will need to mend broken friendships and reassemble her fractured past. For what stalks them hungers to remake itself in their image… piece by bloody piece.
Dig into the haunted past with Head Like a Hole, a novel of malignant secrets, shattered friendships, and twisted bodily horror.
It’s the mid-nineties. Grunge and flannel are fading as the Spice Girls and Hot Topic conquer the malls. Cherry gloss glistens on the lips of the youth. Modems hiss as America comes online.
And in a fog-drenched cove at the edge of New England, something terrible awakens when a fisherman reels in a gruesome catch: the remains of a young woman. Remains still pulsing with furious life.
For Megan Monroe and her friends, this is how their nightmare begins: a wet whisper over their shoulder; a dark hand reaching out from the edge of their sight; and a name clawing at the back of their minds.
A young woman scratched from their memory.
To stop this devouring terror, Megan will need to mend broken friendships and reassemble her fractured past. For what stalks them hungers to remake itself in their image… piece by bloody piece.
Dig into the haunted past with Head Like a Hole, a novel of malignant secrets, shattered friendships, and twisted bodily horror.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2022
1112 people are currently reading
13856 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Van Wey
20 books577 followersAndrew Van Wey was born in Palo Alto, California, spent part of his childhood in New England, and lived in South Korea for over a decade.
When he's not writing, Andrew can be found mountain biking, playing video games, or hiking with his wife and their sheepdog Arthas. He loves education, geeking out about D&D and fountain pens, and collecting tattoos.
Visit him online at: www.andrewvanwey.com to sign up for early previews and special offers!
When he's not writing, Andrew can be found mountain biking, playing video games, or hiking with his wife and their sheepdog Arthas. He loves education, geeking out about D&D and fountain pens, and collecting tattoos.
Visit him online at: www.andrewvanwey.com to sign up for early previews and special offers!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 843 reviews
November 19, 2022
I was kind of blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. When I first downloaded it and saw this amazing cover I was excited. Like, take a minute and look at that cover! I read the blurb and thought it sounded really interesting so I dove in. I was hooked immediately! It's dark, atmospheric, Lovecraftian (minus the racism, yay!) and paced perfectly. The dual timeline is easy to follow and the parts from the past are set in 1996 (my senior year of high school), which is the greatest year ever in my opinion.
The characters are all a weird combination of likeable and completely untrustworthy. You never know who to trust, what went down in 96, or what's happening in the present. I agree that the main genre is horror, but you also get a mystery novel with some sci-fi elements and the pace of a psychological thriller. I was very impressed by this book. 100% recommend!
Thanks to Andrew Van Wey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are all a weird combination of likeable and completely untrustworthy. You never know who to trust, what went down in 96, or what's happening in the present. I agree that the main genre is horror, but you also get a mystery novel with some sci-fi elements and the pace of a psychological thriller. I was very impressed by this book. 100% recommend!
Thanks to Andrew Van Wey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2023
"She stifled a gag, eyeing the open bag and moving quickly to the emergency exit. She needed air. Another sidelong glimpse, just enough to put a dent in her sanity and suck the wind past her lips. That was a woman’s head in the bag, half cocooned by a lattice of bones. Her jaw was stretching and detaching. One eye bulged and came loose, clutched by a starfish. The other eye was glaring at her."
How can you see a cover like this and not want to read it? If you said that you could, we cannot be friends and you cannot sit with me.
I went into this blind. The cover said it all and that was all I needed to know. The synopsis didn't exist and I quickly flipped to page one.
This was a really bizarre read. My eyes were as wide as saucers when that thing was caught in the crab traps. I can't say what it was because then it'll ruin the wonderful surprise. And wow, is it wonderfully weird. Things seemed to slow down once I got closer to the middle and I felt as if things were repetitive but that ending made up for it. That ending was so perfect that I had to read it a few times. "You know, the only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story, the ending."
Head Like a Hole was a great read and parts were creepy enough to cause that uneasy feeling. If I take one thing away from this story is it that you should not stare at random people for longer than necessary. They could wipe your brain and turn you into a puppet. I think I like the way I am now but thanks.
How can you see a cover like this and not want to read it? If you said that you could, we cannot be friends and you cannot sit with me.
I went into this blind. The cover said it all and that was all I needed to know. The synopsis didn't exist and I quickly flipped to page one.
This was a really bizarre read. My eyes were as wide as saucers when that thing was caught in the crab traps. I can't say what it was because then it'll ruin the wonderful surprise. And wow, is it wonderfully weird. Things seemed to slow down once I got closer to the middle and I felt as if things were repetitive but that ending made up for it. That ending was so perfect that I had to read it a few times. "You know, the only thing that matters is the ending. It's the most important part of the story, the ending."
Head Like a Hole was a great read and parts were creepy enough to cause that uneasy feeling. If I take one thing away from this story is it that you should not stare at random people for longer than necessary. They could wipe your brain and turn you into a puppet. I think I like the way I am now but thanks.
June 3, 2023
Good Bones.
Bad Execution.
"Horror story" - Bit of a stretch.
Bad Execution.
"Horror story" - Bit of a stretch.
July 18, 2025
Well, done, this!
This was quite a marvelous book. It's a slow burn horror that was very clearly well thought out and planned. The narrative kept me guessing until the very end. There were twists and turns and mysteries.
The book primarily tells the story of Megan Monroe and shifts between the present and 1996. There are other characters along the way, notably Graham Nolan, a detective trying to unravel one problem after another once faced with what seems like a fairly straightforward case about two disputing neighbors. Then there are her boarding school friends who seem to know a secret that Megan lost when a car accident left her scarred and an amnesiac. The "villain" is complex and well-balanced between tragic and evil. In Megan's present, sneaky podcaster Anwar is trying to get a story and serve justice for his uncle (Det. Nolan). He has his own self-righteous quest trying to expose Megan as a presumed criminal.
The book was advertised as a time capsule for the 90s and I felt like it delivered that quite well. I love complicated plots... stories that make me think. Because if I'm thinking, I'm engaging. There were a few times I felt confused and that maybe there was a split in the 1990s timeline, but I could be wrong about that. Overall, that's a pretty soft criticism.
I felt very satisfied by the end, with everything I could think of tied up and resolved.
I look forward to reading more Andrew Van Wey.
4.75/5
This was quite a marvelous book. It's a slow burn horror that was very clearly well thought out and planned. The narrative kept me guessing until the very end. There were twists and turns and mysteries.
The book primarily tells the story of Megan Monroe and shifts between the present and 1996. There are other characters along the way, notably Graham Nolan, a detective trying to unravel one problem after another once faced with what seems like a fairly straightforward case about two disputing neighbors. Then there are her boarding school friends who seem to know a secret that Megan lost when a car accident left her scarred and an amnesiac. The "villain" is complex and well-balanced between tragic and evil. In Megan's present, sneaky podcaster Anwar is trying to get a story and serve justice for his uncle (Det. Nolan). He has his own self-righteous quest trying to expose Megan as a presumed criminal.
The book was advertised as a time capsule for the 90s and I felt like it delivered that quite well. I love complicated plots... stories that make me think. Because if I'm thinking, I'm engaging. There were a few times I felt confused and that maybe there was a split in the 1990s timeline, but I could be wrong about that. Overall, that's a pretty soft criticism.
I felt very satisfied by the end, with everything I could think of tied up and resolved.
I look forward to reading more Andrew Van Wey.
4.75/5
October 28, 2022
Ye gods and holy fishes (and swimming heads) this started out pretty good. I’m going to have to go with three stars here, though, but I’m getting *a head* of myself.
A young woman with children is approached by a ruthless reporter intent on digging up her hidden past. From there we flash back to her high school senior year and her close knit friends, who separated when school ended. We catch up with all of them in college, where some character development begins to take place. Then there’s a fisherman who pulls a human head from the water. One that appears to talk.
There was just too, too much going on in this book. It was was creepy, horrible and intriguing to begin with, but everything just hit the wall for me when it went from a horror novel into a science fiction AND a crime story, with editorial thrown in for good measure. When the author did this, he painted himself into the corner of having to make everything sound plausible. It stretched the believability of the whole thing way too far for me, and the details became confusing. But honestly, it’s a matter of taste. The whole thing was pretty well written and entertaining, and had some great horror.
A young woman with children is approached by a ruthless reporter intent on digging up her hidden past. From there we flash back to her high school senior year and her close knit friends, who separated when school ended. We catch up with all of them in college, where some character development begins to take place. Then there’s a fisherman who pulls a human head from the water. One that appears to talk.
There was just too, too much going on in this book. It was was creepy, horrible and intriguing to begin with, but everything just hit the wall for me when it went from a horror novel into a science fiction AND a crime story, with editorial thrown in for good measure. When the author did this, he painted himself into the corner of having to make everything sound plausible. It stretched the believability of the whole thing way too far for me, and the details became confusing. But honestly, it’s a matter of taste. The whole thing was pretty well written and entertaining, and had some great horror.
February 19, 2023
Man, that was lousy... Maybe am I becoming picky, reading more and more horror but...
I've to avoid spoiling so I won't be able to say much. Let's just say it's one of the lamest bad guys I've ever read about. The idea that brought it to life in this book, I mean.
It wasn't worth much from the beginning, mainly because the tone wasn't scary nor thrilling at all but when came the first explanations... 🙄🤦
NB: the cover is gorgeous but does not really fit with the story.
NB2: all these references to the 90s were boring for me and added nothing to the story.
I've to avoid spoiling so I won't be able to say much. Let's just say it's one of the lamest bad guys I've ever read about. The idea that brought it to life in this book, I mean.
It wasn't worth much from the beginning, mainly because the tone wasn't scary nor thrilling at all but when came the first explanations... 🙄🤦
NB: the cover is gorgeous but does not really fit with the story.
NB2: all these references to the 90s were boring for me and added nothing to the story.
September 6, 2022
Ah, the '90s.
After the Cold War, before 9/11. It felt like a decade of promise, of looking to the future. But underneath, there were the cracks. You could see it on the horizon, the destruction headed our way once the millennium rolled over.
It's in that setting that we find Head Like A Hole, the latest novel from Andrew Van Wey. With Hole, Van Wey stretches his horror muscles a bit, letting the story unfold in different time frames and using an interesting narrative framing device (a podcaster researching a potential murder) to suck the reader into a world where death may not be the end — and the actions of a select few teenagers have deadly, horrific consequences.
Van Wey's use of visual horror elements in the novel cannot be understated in their ability to leave you squeamish. He's a master of descriptive narrative, and he uses his skills to leave the reader shuddering. There's a temptation to compare Van Wey's prose to King, but let's be frank—Andrew Van Wey is a treasure in his own right.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how Van Wey is able to keep a lot of his story elements shrouded in mystery throughout the story until the very end, when he rips the carpet out from under you, peels back the curtains and shows you the truth in what's going on.
Releasing on Oct 31 this year, Head Like A Hole will make an excellent addition to any horror aficionado's library.
After the Cold War, before 9/11. It felt like a decade of promise, of looking to the future. But underneath, there were the cracks. You could see it on the horizon, the destruction headed our way once the millennium rolled over.
It's in that setting that we find Head Like A Hole, the latest novel from Andrew Van Wey. With Hole, Van Wey stretches his horror muscles a bit, letting the story unfold in different time frames and using an interesting narrative framing device (a podcaster researching a potential murder) to suck the reader into a world where death may not be the end — and the actions of a select few teenagers have deadly, horrific consequences.
Van Wey's use of visual horror elements in the novel cannot be understated in their ability to leave you squeamish. He's a master of descriptive narrative, and he uses his skills to leave the reader shuddering. There's a temptation to compare Van Wey's prose to King, but let's be frank—Andrew Van Wey is a treasure in his own right.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how Van Wey is able to keep a lot of his story elements shrouded in mystery throughout the story until the very end, when he rips the carpet out from under you, peels back the curtains and shows you the truth in what's going on.
Releasing on Oct 31 this year, Head Like A Hole will make an excellent addition to any horror aficionado's library.
October 7, 2022
I stumbled upon the author Andrew Van Wey accidentally while browsing Reddit and I'm so glad I did! As a huge horror fan I find it quite difficult to find a novel that takes me by surprise and genuinely creeps me out, but Head Like A Hole did just that! This novel had a mix of many genres from horror and sci-fi to crime! The twists and turns keep you sucked in right from the very beginning, never letting up or slowing down!
Van Wey writes in an extremely enjoyable, detailed and fast paced manner that will have you hooked! I literally re-read several paragraphs just to have the hair stand up on my arms all over again!
I'm a sucker for a good horror novel and Head Like a Hole filled that horror loving hole in my heart just right (or should I say hole in my head just right)! I truly believe that not just fans of horror would love this novel! I would urge everyone and anyone who loves the creepy, weird and crime side to books to run and check this out!
Thank you so much to the author Andrew Van Wey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm on my way to buy the physical copy now I loved it that much!
Van Wey writes in an extremely enjoyable, detailed and fast paced manner that will have you hooked! I literally re-read several paragraphs just to have the hair stand up on my arms all over again!
I'm a sucker for a good horror novel and Head Like a Hole filled that horror loving hole in my heart just right (or should I say hole in my head just right)! I truly believe that not just fans of horror would love this novel! I would urge everyone and anyone who loves the creepy, weird and crime side to books to run and check this out!
Thank you so much to the author Andrew Van Wey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm on my way to buy the physical copy now I loved it that much!
April 27, 2023
Super fun read. Surprisingly weird (in a good way). Fast paced and really interesting story. It did leave me with questions and the amount of pov’s was a bit much for my preference, but overall very fun. The 90s vibes were on point and loved all the music references. As a teen of the 90s, it brought me back. 🫶
I had a great time talking with my book club about this. If you’d like to hear all of our thoughts, here’s the link.
https://www.youtube.com/live/q5tNVAcV...
I had a great time talking with my book club about this. If you’d like to hear all of our thoughts, here’s the link.
https://www.youtube.com/live/q5tNVAcV...
October 16, 2024
3.0⭐️
Gotta love all the 90’s nostalgia. It’s giving I Know What You did Last Summer vibes.
Gotta love all the 90’s nostalgia. It’s giving I Know What You did Last Summer vibes.
February 12, 2023
2.5 stars for me. It was very very slow and it felt like a chore to pick it up. I really love the idea of this story, but I did not like the way it was written. There wasn’t enough character development for me, so I didn’t care about our protagonists. It didn’t need 6 different perspectives from underdeveloped characters. It wasn’t until about 70% of the way through that I was excited to keep reading, but then the ending was a let down. The whole book built up to the grand explanation, just for the last 10 pages to throw it all down the drain. I’m okay with ambiguous endings, but the ENTIRE BOOK strung you along with an unfulfilled promise.
At the end of the day, I will read more from this author. The book was well written and very creative, I just didn’t enjoy the pacing or perspective choices.
At the end of the day, I will read more from this author. The book was well written and very creative, I just didn’t enjoy the pacing or perspective choices.
October 25, 2022
I never at one point knew where this book was going and it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I would recommend going into this book blindly. It's a new favorite for me!
February 17, 2023
Started strong. Slow middle. Wanted more from the ending.
It’s okay. Won’t re-read.
It's difficult to review this book without spoiling the sh!t out of it. So if you have already read/don't intend to read it then spoil away.
It’s okay. Won’t re-read.
It's difficult to review this book without spoiling the sh!t out of it. So if you have already read/don't intend to read it then spoil away.
April 15, 2023
It's always the most gorgeous covers that fool you.
February 29, 2024
Now why in the world did it take me so long to read this book?!
Like many others, I initially had this book on my radar because of the gorgeous cover and after finally starting it and reading the first few chapters, I was absolutely HOOKED. Did not want to put this book down.
Head Like a Hole has a dual timeline telling the story of Megan & her friends in the 90s facing otherworldly horror, and in the present day, Megan is being interviewed by a true crime podcaster who is looking into the disappearance of a young woman. The timelines were intertwined perfectly and I was equally interested in both. The pacing was great and the way the story unfolded was done very well.
I was immediately enamored with the writing. Not only was it fast paced, making it hard to put down, but the descriptiveness within was fantastic. There were descriptions of gore & violence in here that made me want to gag. Especially at the very beginning where the man pulls this head/woman/thing out of the water...literally disgusting! The story also perfectly captures the feel of the 90s grunge era that it takes place in.
There is so much I want to say, but for the sake of keeping this spoiler free, I will just say that the concept of this story is, for lack of a better word, just 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭. I lovedddd the ending as well, the way things wrapped up was so unexpected but I am obsessed. Like. Really. This book is just SO COOL! That's all I can say. Read it.
I will definitely be reading more from this author, hopefully in the *near* future.
Like many others, I initially had this book on my radar because of the gorgeous cover and after finally starting it and reading the first few chapters, I was absolutely HOOKED. Did not want to put this book down.
Head Like a Hole has a dual timeline telling the story of Megan & her friends in the 90s facing otherworldly horror, and in the present day, Megan is being interviewed by a true crime podcaster who is looking into the disappearance of a young woman. The timelines were intertwined perfectly and I was equally interested in both. The pacing was great and the way the story unfolded was done very well.
I was immediately enamored with the writing. Not only was it fast paced, making it hard to put down, but the descriptiveness within was fantastic. There were descriptions of gore & violence in here that made me want to gag. Especially at the very beginning where the man pulls this head/woman/thing out of the water...literally disgusting! The story also perfectly captures the feel of the 90s grunge era that it takes place in.
There is so much I want to say, but for the sake of keeping this spoiler free, I will just say that the concept of this story is, for lack of a better word, just 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭. I lovedddd the ending as well, the way things wrapped up was so unexpected but I am obsessed. Like. Really. This book is just SO COOL! That's all I can say. Read it.
I will definitely be reading more from this author, hopefully in the *near* future.
July 26, 2023
I’m late on the Andrew Van Wey bandwagon but better late than never right?
If you’ve seen a million posts about this book, there’s a reason for it.
Head Like A Hole is a very unique story that had me rearranging the letters in Andrew Van Wey to see if it was an anagram for Stephen King.
By having the book setup as an interview recounting events of the main story that happened years ago, Andrew was able to include tons of 90s references while keeping the story in modern times.
I’m not usually a huge fan of slow burns or cosmic horror but Andrew skillfully keeps the reader invested in the characters and includes plenty of action along the way.
If you’ve seen a million posts about this book, there’s a reason for it.
Head Like A Hole is a very unique story that had me rearranging the letters in Andrew Van Wey to see if it was an anagram for Stephen King.
By having the book setup as an interview recounting events of the main story that happened years ago, Andrew was able to include tons of 90s references while keeping the story in modern times.
I’m not usually a huge fan of slow burns or cosmic horror but Andrew skillfully keeps the reader invested in the characters and includes plenty of action along the way.
April 13, 2024
What a wild ride. I can't wait to pick up more from this author.
January 31, 2023
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this one! Very unusual plot that I haven't seen before, with a little something for many different types of horror fans. There's sci-fi, a touch of true crime, a sprinkling of slasher and lots of 90s references. (BRB, gonna go listen to NIN!) Some scenes reminded me of the dream sequences in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films in a good way. And look at that gorgeous cover! (Yes, the cover does accurately depict the book.) The writing itself was great and made for a pleasant experience. It was one of those books where I honestly didn't know where the plot was going next, and I wanted to find out. Bonus points for none of the characters getting on my nerves.
My criticisms: I love it when art plays a role in a horror story. I know that Megan's role as an artist was a function of the plot, but I would've liked even more of that. The third act came with a pretty heavy exposition dump when we were given a bunch of answers all at once, and that was a bit jarring. (There was also quite a bit of action happening at the same time, so my head was spinning. Though I guess that's how you do a third act!) And the only reason I'm giving it a 4.5 instead of a 5 is because I didn't understand exactly what was happening at the end. But that was probably just a "me" problem. I still recommend this one if you like sci-fi horror and especially if you have a Kindle Unlimited account!
I really enjoyed this one! Very unusual plot that I haven't seen before, with a little something for many different types of horror fans. There's sci-fi, a touch of true crime, a sprinkling of slasher and lots of 90s references. (BRB, gonna go listen to NIN!) Some scenes reminded me of the dream sequences in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films in a good way. And look at that gorgeous cover! (Yes, the cover does accurately depict the book.) The writing itself was great and made for a pleasant experience. It was one of those books where I honestly didn't know where the plot was going next, and I wanted to find out. Bonus points for none of the characters getting on my nerves.
My criticisms: I love it when art plays a role in a horror story. I know that Megan's role as an artist was a function of the plot, but I would've liked even more of that. The third act came with a pretty heavy exposition dump when we were given a bunch of answers all at once, and that was a bit jarring. (There was also quite a bit of action happening at the same time, so my head was spinning. Though I guess that's how you do a third act!) And the only reason I'm giving it a 4.5 instead of a 5 is because I didn't understand exactly what was happening at the end. But that was probably just a "me" problem. I still recommend this one if you like sci-fi horror and especially if you have a Kindle Unlimited account!
April 17, 2023
I don’t consider myself a person who has OCD but every time I picked up this book, I felt vexed with it. To start, I would have to look at the beautiful cover trying to absorb every detail. Then I would have to sing the chorus to NIN’s Head Like a Hole. Once that was done, I was able to open up the book and continue with the story.
What a story it was. Set in the trippin’ 90’s, the vibe was fly with the author throwing in popular music titles, bringing up the grunge and skater look, and having the characters using a payphone. Ah, the good old days. It was enjoyable to reminisce but the horror kept you from getting too settled and mystery kept your brain scrambled.
The tale is about young adults who had lost touch since school. Through a series of bad dreams and bad events, they try to connect. Somewhere else, pulled from the netting of a fisherman’s catch, a creature that is terrifying and yet beautiful. Together they hold a secret and that secret seeks revenge.
This was a fun book that kept a good pace. The ending was not what I expected and threw me for a loop. It ended up being one of the creepiest parts. Look forward to more by this author.
What a story it was. Set in the trippin’ 90’s, the vibe was fly with the author throwing in popular music titles, bringing up the grunge and skater look, and having the characters using a payphone. Ah, the good old days. It was enjoyable to reminisce but the horror kept you from getting too settled and mystery kept your brain scrambled.
The tale is about young adults who had lost touch since school. Through a series of bad dreams and bad events, they try to connect. Somewhere else, pulled from the netting of a fisherman’s catch, a creature that is terrifying and yet beautiful. Together they hold a secret and that secret seeks revenge.
This was a fun book that kept a good pace. The ending was not what I expected and threw me for a loop. It ended up being one of the creepiest parts. Look forward to more by this author.
May 23, 2023
**3.8 stars rounded up** (Goodreads, please give us a half star option at least🤦🏼♀️)
Head Like a Hole is a horrifying, but insanely fun, little jaunt back to the Nineties. The cast of characters is pretty big, but everybody has their function within the story. The pacing changed throughout the book, and there were times it lagged a little for me. There are so many twists and turns, all leading up to an ending you probably never saw coming.
Van Wey writes absolutely beautifully and has an uncanny ability to place the reader right inside the story. I swear at times I could taste the salty sea air, or smell acrid fire smoke. Some of the imagery was really terrifying, and for me specifically it was the photocopier scene that almost had me throwing my Kindle across the room and burying beneath the blankets... SHUDDER!!!! A perfect summer read filled with nineties nostalgia, I dare you to be able to read it and not get one of the multitude of throwback tunes stuck in your head for DAYS!
*Fun fact.. Andrew Van Wey, due to popular demand, has created a Spotify playlist of the songs from Head Like a Hole. Find the link on his Facebook page!
Head Like a Hole is a horrifying, but insanely fun, little jaunt back to the Nineties. The cast of characters is pretty big, but everybody has their function within the story. The pacing changed throughout the book, and there were times it lagged a little for me. There are so many twists and turns, all leading up to an ending you probably never saw coming.
Van Wey writes absolutely beautifully and has an uncanny ability to place the reader right inside the story. I swear at times I could taste the salty sea air, or smell acrid fire smoke. Some of the imagery was really terrifying, and for me specifically it was the photocopier scene that almost had me throwing my Kindle across the room and burying beneath the blankets... SHUDDER!!!! A perfect summer read filled with nineties nostalgia, I dare you to be able to read it and not get one of the multitude of throwback tunes stuck in your head for DAYS!
*Fun fact.. Andrew Van Wey, due to popular demand, has created a Spotify playlist of the songs from Head Like a Hole. Find the link on his Facebook page!
May 9, 2024
The good:
+The horror was great. I was looking for a gory bloody HORROR (all caps) read after having been thwarted repeatedly recently (also this, but that one was probably my fault), and I got it here. Very pleased with that.
+The cover is absolutely beautiful.
....And that's it.
The bad (everything else):
-The story is predictable from the get go. You know exactly what is happening from the first 15%. Some of the twists land , but eeeeeeverything else unfolds in the most stereotypical fashion.
-The first 40% is pure setup that drags and drags and drags. The book only really gets going in the halfway point.
-The characters are neither interesting, nor memorable.
-The true crime podcast gimmick is exactly that: an overdone gimmick that added nothing to the story. Same goes for all the emphasis on the story being set in the 90s, which is even on the blurb itself.
-The book just tried to do too much and it falls apart after you think about it for 2 seconds. And that's off the top of my head, there'd be more here if I'd kept notes lmao.
I mean, if you'd like a mix of I Know What You Did Last Summer (very obvious even from the blurb), Orphan (the 2009 movie- ), Venom (), and maybe a little of Let the Right One In () and Tomie (like Kate says), this will be perfect for you- but for me it was A LOT of missed potential.
3 stars because it wasn't unreadable or anything, as long as you don't think about it at all and just go with the flow it's great.
+The horror was great. I was looking for a gory bloody HORROR (all caps) read after having been thwarted repeatedly recently (also this, but that one was probably my fault), and I got it here. Very pleased with that.
+The cover is absolutely beautiful.
....And that's it.
The bad (everything else):
-The story is predictable from the get go. You know exactly what is happening from the first 15%. Some of the twists land , but eeeeeeverything else unfolds in the most stereotypical fashion.
-The first 40% is pure setup that drags and drags and drags. The book only really gets going in the halfway point.
-The characters are neither interesting, nor memorable.
-The true crime podcast gimmick is exactly that: an overdone gimmick that added nothing to the story. Same goes for all the emphasis on the story being set in the 90s, which is even on the blurb itself.
-The book just tried to do too much and it falls apart after you think about it for 2 seconds. And that's off the top of my head, there'd be more here if I'd kept notes lmao.
I mean, if you'd like a mix of I Know What You Did Last Summer (very obvious even from the blurb), Orphan (the 2009 movie- ), Venom (), and maybe a little of Let the Right One In () and Tomie (like Kate says), this will be perfect for you- but for me it was A LOT of missed potential.
3 stars because it wasn't unreadable or anything, as long as you don't think about it at all and just go with the flow it's great.
December 15, 2023
Audio - 4.25 stars
Story - 3 Stars
Story - 3 Stars
March 20, 2023
4.5 stars
My 2023 reading year started off great, and Head Like a Hole was one of the reasons for that. I tend to be boring and stick to my favorite horror subgenres (hauntings and folk horror) and I like a good, slow burn. Looking at this cover (beautiful as it is) caused me to pass this one by at first, thinking it would be too bizarre for me. But I couldn’t get the title out of my head (maybe has something to do with the fact that my first concert was NIN), so I read the sample describing Louis’ crab trap find and I knew I had to keep reading. I’m a sucker for a New England coastal setting. This was a weird, cosmic, sometimes gory read, all things I didn’t think I would enjoy but all things I found delightful in this novel. So thanks to Andrew Van Wey for proving me wrong. This was a fun, unforgettable read with excellent writing and interesting characters. It deserves more attention. I’ll be checking out more of the author’s work.
My 2023 reading year started off great, and Head Like a Hole was one of the reasons for that. I tend to be boring and stick to my favorite horror subgenres (hauntings and folk horror) and I like a good, slow burn. Looking at this cover (beautiful as it is) caused me to pass this one by at first, thinking it would be too bizarre for me. But I couldn’t get the title out of my head (maybe has something to do with the fact that my first concert was NIN), so I read the sample describing Louis’ crab trap find and I knew I had to keep reading. I’m a sucker for a New England coastal setting. This was a weird, cosmic, sometimes gory read, all things I didn’t think I would enjoy but all things I found delightful in this novel. So thanks to Andrew Van Wey for proving me wrong. This was a fun, unforgettable read with excellent writing and interesting characters. It deserves more attention. I’ll be checking out more of the author’s work.
April 2, 2023
It was confusing to me. I finished it, and I still had no idea what just happened. I would’ve enjoyed it more if I would have known what was going on 😂
May 8, 2023
Wow. This is a horror mystery thriller novel that I've been wanting for a long time. The pacing was great and kept me very engaged. This book entails a lot of body horror. I really thought it was going in one supernatural direction, but the twist was actually nice of who and what the antagonist was. I have to say, though, the final chapter wasn't what I really liked and fell a bit flat in my opinion, but I can see how it works at the end. I would recommend this to other horror lovers.
Edit: So I've had a day to digest this book, and I actually HATE the ending it's very creepy pasta like. I loved this story as a whole, but the ending was so silly imo. I won't change the stars since I liked everything else, but the ending im just so mad over it.
Edit: So I've had a day to digest this book, and I actually HATE the ending it's very creepy pasta like. I loved this story as a whole, but the ending was so silly imo. I won't change the stars since I liked everything else, but the ending im just so mad over it.
January 11, 2023
Ok, I won’t lie… this one took me awhile. It’s a bizarre tale that starts out with a talking head & a true crime podcaster. You only have more questions from that point onwards.
This tale creeps into you… your thoughts deceiving the mind day & night. You start to wonder if it’s more than a book at times. Or at least I did, as my dreams became peculiar nightmares the more I read on….
Don’t worry, the ending gives you SOME answers, but leaves others to the readers’ interpretation & imagination.
This terrible tale needs to be added to your reading list if it isn’t already!!! Be warned, it may have lasting effects.
Thank you to the author for a copy to read & review!
This tale creeps into you… your thoughts deceiving the mind day & night. You start to wonder if it’s more than a book at times. Or at least I did, as my dreams became peculiar nightmares the more I read on….
Don’t worry, the ending gives you SOME answers, but leaves others to the readers’ interpretation & imagination.
This terrible tale needs to be added to your reading list if it isn’t already!!! Be warned, it may have lasting effects.
Thank you to the author for a copy to read & review!
May 15, 2023
What can I say about this book besides wow?! This is one of the most original, strangest horror novels I’ve read. I loved the 90s nostalgia. I loved the mystery. Van Wey is quickly becoming an author I consider a must buy. I read this and Forsaken within a few weeks of one another and both were incredible. His writing is top notch, and there are some flat-out disturbing scenes in this one. Tom Jordan did an incredible job with the narration of this one too. Check it out!
April 2, 2024
Gave this a go on audible, and the narration by Tom Jordan was pretty solid.
I could tell within the first few chapters of this one that the writing felt a notch up. It read professional, with a clear voice, and wicked fast direction. The POVs and twirling timeframes keep you on the edge of your seat, and I was hooked to it in a way that I haven’t felt lately. While I’ve finished some other reads in between/since, I think this one started pulling me up out of the kind of slump I was forming. The Goosebumps-esque (but adult) cliffhanger chapter endings certainly helped.
A successful podcaster is looking into a mysterious past with sparse notes found in his uncle’s journal. Strangely, the story unravels itself, and other than him being a clever character and the vessel for some of the backstory, he wasn’t really a necessary character. But on the few occasions the story slows down, he gets the ball moving again, so it works out fine.
A story of mistrust, mistreatment, jealousy, and deceit, Head Like a Hole, is a powerhouse of revenge and regret. Not without its supernatural elements, the novel morphs more than once on what the reader can expect. Kind of like mixing the murder mystery side of a slasher with something tainted like the Ring or the Grudge. The novel has more than its far share of characters, but there are a few that have pretty flat desires/actions. The author does a pretty solid job of reigning it in to close it all up though. And I will definitely check out more by the author.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-head-l...
I could tell within the first few chapters of this one that the writing felt a notch up. It read professional, with a clear voice, and wicked fast direction. The POVs and twirling timeframes keep you on the edge of your seat, and I was hooked to it in a way that I haven’t felt lately. While I’ve finished some other reads in between/since, I think this one started pulling me up out of the kind of slump I was forming. The Goosebumps-esque (but adult) cliffhanger chapter endings certainly helped.
A successful podcaster is looking into a mysterious past with sparse notes found in his uncle’s journal. Strangely, the story unravels itself, and other than him being a clever character and the vessel for some of the backstory, he wasn’t really a necessary character. But on the few occasions the story slows down, he gets the ball moving again, so it works out fine.
A story of mistrust, mistreatment, jealousy, and deceit, Head Like a Hole, is a powerhouse of revenge and regret. Not without its supernatural elements, the novel morphs more than once on what the reader can expect. Kind of like mixing the murder mystery side of a slasher with something tainted like the Ring or the Grudge. The novel has more than its far share of characters, but there are a few that have pretty flat desires/actions. The author does a pretty solid job of reigning it in to close it all up though. And I will definitely check out more by the author.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-head-l...
December 27, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I love horror and weird stories and was a teenager/young adult in the 90’s so I was definitely interested. The plot, setting and characters made this book for me. It is a time capsule to that time period which brought me back. This is a well written and plotted tale and I highly recommend it.
February 21, 2024
Absolutely gorgeous cover and awesome story. I really appreciated how the author was able to hold my attention the whole book. There was never a moment where I felt bored or taken out of the story. I did this half on ebook and half audiobook and both were brilliant ways to enjoy this book. If you like cosmic horror that is modern and unique you’ve come to the right place.
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