Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE:  This Is Not a Horror Movie

AUTHOR:  Sara Dobie Bauer

NARRATOR:  Blake Lockhart

PUBLISHER:  Sara Dobie Bauer

LENGTH:  8 hour 57 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  6-8.2021

BLURB:

Emory Jones loves two things: horror movies and Connor Nichols.

For the past four years, Emory, Connor, and their families have vacationed side by side on Longboat Key, Florida. Eighteen-year-old Emory has pined for his neighbor from behind the covers of Stephen King books, but college boy Connor has never noticed him. Probably because Emory looks like Jack Skellington with good hair.

Emory anticipates another predictable summer of sunburn and disappointment. Instead, he ends up with a mystery on his hands when a beloved beach bum goes missing, and Connor volunteers to help with the search. Turns out it’s not just scary movie cops who are worthless, so the boys start an investigation of their own—leading them straight to an abandoned beach resort.

Despite the danger, Emory and Connor grow closer, but as Emory’s gay dreams start coming true, so do the horror movie tropes he so loves. Even though he knows that sex equals death in slasher flicks, Emory can’t keep his hands off the guy of his teenage dreams.

REVIEW:

What a fun book. Emory, Connor have a tenuous friendship- mostly because Emory has been crushing on Connor for more than four years. Each summer their families meet up in Florida for summer vacation. But this summer turns out to be different from all the rest. Something fishy is going on at the abandoned resort near their summer homes. As a fan of horror movies Emory is intrigued by the mystery surrounding the resorts. But as the consequences get higher – Connor and Emory get closer and closer. But will that save them from whatever is lurking behind the dust and grime of the abandoned resort. I loved how Sara incorporated several different horror movie tropes into this book.  But that didn’t make the storyline to cliched.  In fact, she kept a few surprises well hidden.  This story is a lighthearted homage to the horror movie genre, a perfect story to listen to when out and about or when relaxing at home.

The narration for the story was top notch. Blake infused each character, main or side, with their own unique voice. His comedic timing for this book is excellent. Blake was also able to imbue the lighthearted nature of this story into his performance.  As a newer narrator to the MM genre, I was extremely impressed with his talents. He lures you in and keeps you glued to your ear buds for the eight plus hours of this story.

If you want to find out how Emery and Connor solve this mystery, pull out the ear buds, turn on the Bluetooth, and find a comfy spot to be immersed in the very creative world Sara has created for these special characters.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon