Books Like...

In The Drowning Girl, the story revolves around India Morgan Phelps, also known as Imp, a young woman struggling with schizophrenia. Through a complex and layered narrative, Imp recounts her encounters with Eva Canning, a character who embodies various identities such as a ghost, a mermaid, and a werewolf. The book delves into themes of reality versus fantasy, mental illness, artistic obsession, and the blurred lines between truth and imagination. The writing style of the book is described as dense, immersive, and non-linear, challenging readers with its unreliable narrator and requiring attention to detail to unravel the story's complexities.

The Drowning Girl is a haunting and dark exploration of Imp's journey as she navigates her mental illness and grapples with her own perceptions of reality. The narrative is filled with symbolism, cultural references, and a mix of dreamlike sequences that blur the boundaries between fact and fiction. The book's rich storytelling weaves together themes of love, friendship, madness, and self-discovery, creating a compelling and thought-provoking reading experience.

In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a virus that mutates individuals with a certain amount of testosterone, 'Manhunt' follows two trans women, Fran and Beth, as they navigate a dangerous landscape filled with mutated men and violent fascists. Hunted by both roving packs of mutated men and militant TERFs, the duo embarks on a harrowing journey towards safety and belonging, facing gruesome challenges along the way. The story is a blend of extreme horror, gore, and dark themes, with a focus on survival, found family, and the exploration of gender in a brutal and unforgiving world.

The book is described as a story that is gruesome, harrowing, but also uplifting and unapologetic, featuring a diverse and beautifully crafted range of characters. It delves into themes of sex positivity, fat representation, and unapologetically confronts transphobia, offering a unique and compelling narrative that challenges traditional gender norms and societal expectations.

'Plain Bad Heroines' by Emily M. Danforth is a novel that intertwines two timelines, one set in 1902 at an all-girls school in Maine where students are obsessed with a book that encourages lesbian relationships, and another set in the present day following the production of a movie based on the events at the school. The story delves into mysterious deaths, curses, and hauntings, with a focus on the relationships between different characters across time periods. The writing style includes commentary, footnotes, and a chatty narrator, creating a multi-layered and complex narrative structure.

In "The Worm and His Kings" by Hailey Piper, readers are taken on a thrilling cosmic ride following Monique, a trans woman searching for her missing girlfriend Donna in the depths beneath New York City. As Monique delves into the underground world, she encounters strange cult characters and a terrifying beast, embarking on a journey that challenges her determination and everything she knows. The book expertly explores themes of love, cosmic horror, and the pain of the homeless, creating a culturally significant narrative that wiggles its way into the reader's brain and holds on.

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling is a psychological and intense sci-fi novel set on a distant planet in the future. The story follows Gyre, a young caver who embarks on a dangerous and highly paid exploration of a vast underground cave system with only her handler, Em, as her lifeline above ground. As Gyre delves deeper into the caves, she uncovers sinister truths and faces mortal dangers, all while navigating a complex and evolving relationship with Em. The book explores themes of survival, isolation, trust, and the blurred lines between reality and paranoia in a claustrophobic and perilous setting.

'Houses Under the Sea' by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a collection of Lovecraftian stories that pay homage to H.P. Lovecraft. The book features tales that blend cosmic horror elements with the author's unique voice and vision, creating a chilling exploration of the unknown. Kiernan's writing style is described as lyrical, gritty, and atmospheric, with stories that linger in the mind long after they are read. The narratives in this collection often involve marine biologist characters discovering creepy elements in the deep sea, structured as fairy tales with a touch of whimsical cleverness and earnest seriousness.

'Lovecraft Country' by Matt Ruff is a collection of tightly interconnected stories set in 1950s Jim Crow America, following a black family dealing with both the horrors of racism and Lovecraftian supernatural forces. The plot revolves around the family members navigating through secret societies, magic, and eldritch horrors while facing the challenges of racism and discrimination. The writing style is described as a blend of historical fiction and old-style horror, seamlessly weaving together elements of Lovecraftian tropes with the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws.

'Our Wives Under the Sea' by Julia Armfield is a haunting and mysterious tale that delves into the deep and intensive love between Miri and her wife Leah. The story unfolds through alternating chapters, with Leah recounting a claustrophobic horror of an underwater mission gone awry, while Miri shares the emotional aftermath of Leah's return as a changed person. Armfield's prose is described as breathtaking, capturing a range of emotions beautifully and creating a weighty, claustrophobic atmosphere akin to being trapped under the ocean depths.

The novel combines elements of literary fiction, horror, and speculative fiction, offering a character-driven narrative that explores themes of grief, the dissolution of relationships, and the transformative power of love. The writing style is poetic and haunting, with a dreamlike quality that switches between past and present, different points of view, and layers of mystery, culminating in an ending that is open to interpretation and leaves a lasting impact on readers.

'Silk' by Caitlin R. Kiernan is a dark fantasy novel filled with Lovecraftian inspiration, centered around the interconnected lives of various misfits and outsiders in a small town in the United States. The story revolves around the protagonist, Spyder Baxter, and her house filled with deadly family secrets, blurring the lines between madness and reality. Kiernan's writing style is described as rich, beautiful, and gritty with a touch of romanticism, although her debut novel may have occasional clunkiness. The novel explores themes of madness, Lovecraftian elements, and the thin line between reality and the unseen world.

The Croning by Laird Barron is a chilling horror novel that follows Donald Miller, an elderly man experiencing signs of dementia and uncovering sinister secrets about his wife and her family. As Donald delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding his wife Michelle and her ancestral roots, he discovers disturbing truths that challenge his sanity. The story is a blend of modern storytelling and Lovecraftian cosmic horror, expertly crafted by Barron to create an atmospheric and suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on edge.

Barron's writing style in The Croning is described as beautifully descriptive and captivating, with a focus on intricate details and character relationships. The novel weaves together elements of family life, occultism, and psychological horror, creating a complex and engaging tale that explores themes of memory, evil, and the unknown. Through skillful storytelling and evocative descriptions, Barron immerses readers in a world where dark secrets and ancient cults lurk just beneath the surface of everyday life.