Ghoul Von Horror's Reviews > Heads Will Roll

TW/CW: Drinking, language, death of parents, anxiety, homophobia, depression, panic attack, toxic relationships, death by suicide (attempt), bullying, family drama, gory scenes, blood, cancer

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After sitcom star Willow tweeted herself into infamy and had to be dragged blind-drunk out of a swimming pool, her agent shipped her off to the woodsy and wonderfully anonymous confines of Camp Castaway. Tucked away in the trees of upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults in desperate need of leaving behind their mistakes, their social media accounts, their lives. No real names, no phones…no way to call for help.Willow is relieved to find that her fellow campers seem okay. To her shock, her own favorite actress is here, sitting by the campfire and roasting a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when a terrifying woman pops shrieking from the wardrobe in Willow’s room. Soon after, one of the campers vanishes
Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Loving that cover 🙌🏻
2. Pansexual rep
3. Love that the chapters change names when it is the victim that dies
4. Kept me guessing
5. Loved the creepy vibes
6. Very atmospheric

What I Didn't Like:
1. Canceled mentioned so much
2. Insta-romance popping up after a day
3. Ending felt weird

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

We don't even know who our main woman is because she is never introduced to anybody instead she introduces herself at camp to Tye as Willow, the character she's been playing for so long. I wonder if this is going to come back that maybe this was her whole personality and she's disconnecting from reality because she's constantly being this fictional character.

I found it weird that the camp groundskeeper was able to recognize the people that got there. I've never heard of a camp prelooking at people before they show up, but perhaps he knows her from her show that is aimed at kids. I'm still sus of his actions.

It's crazy that a person that is staying at the camp is missing but the lead counselor doesn't even really care where he's at. He's been missing for a full day and she's pretty much like no Buck's fine. Bebe is like the camp mom and she pretty much holds the whole camp together. Her nonchalant attitude about a person missing though is 100% completely insane.

So Bebe has a sister, Sadie that has mental problems and then attacks Willow in her room.

Keeping count we currently have;
• A random sister character attacking people with vague words
• Buck is missing
• Texts being sent out about a "she"
• Seems like gay people are being sent to this camp to be killed

As you progress in the book we learn that "Willow" is never allowed to be herself. She always has to be on and be this image of the character on tv. Even when she's with her boyfriend she had to order the right food, or not want to watch a horror movie, or even talking about what she does in her free time. It gets to the point where she can't even tell people about her sexuality, that she is queer.

One of the two people that are sending text back and forth about the murders is definitely love bombing the other one to do all these killings.

Now Kat is the one that's been killed. Seems like she had a disagreement with another influencer named Roxanne and Roxanne tormented her to the brink of wanting to take her own life.

It's like day two and Willow is in this relationship with Dani already.

We finally figure out what Willow said that got her quote canceled. She said "better luck next time", which is a motto of the show she was on whenever she messed up as a defense towards the government going against gay marriages. Misty is mad at Willow for being different than the image she had portrayed on tv and on social media. This takes us back to the conversation that was brought up about parasocial relationships. I'm just happy that Willow admitted her faults and who she is.

Dani is apart of the gossip goblin that destroyed Willow's life. After Willow blows up at Dani of course Dani acts like she's the victim and actually gets mad at Willow telling her maybe she'll get her wish and it will be the end of the world. Can I just take a second and say how hilarious it was hearing that Willow was shocked that Dani wasn't the person that she's known for - brace yourself all of 3 days. Who knows someone... really knows someone after 3 days???

Willow runs into Juniper and Juniper tells her that she needs to get over what's happened to her because it's not the end of the days. She then tells her in a hundred years no one will remember any of this but it's weird because she uses an analogy of Bettie Davis' issues and drama as an excuse of how they overcame things, but it's been almost a hundred years since that happened so it seems like a moot point.

Just too odd that Buck is the only surviver but everyone else thst was taken has ended up dead.

Loved how Juniper went out. She fought the person and then even went out with a "cut" before being killed by the ax. Fantastic death. If this was Dead Meat she'd get the award for best death.Like a true badass she didn't die this way.

Dani had the photo Willow's brother and she happened to miss everything going on. She is apart of everything. She is planting doubt into Willow's mind by saying Misty had the photo and fame id's.

Misty was a catfisher and was on Catfish the show when someone tracked her down. {{{ First of all it doesn't work like that. I was actually contacted by my old pen pal that o stopped talking to when MTV casting got ahold of me because of him. The team from Catfish called and said I was being asked to do the show and they would pay me. I said no and that was the end of it.}}} They can't legally put you on tv without your consent. So this whole character development for a Misty is not even right.

You're telling me that it's the preacher. The preacher that is in his 60s/70s and is able to run, have super strength, and survive an accident. Also there were 4 women and none of them could take down one man??? He manages to kill Bebe (his daughter), Juniper, and Misty. Okay then. Dani is alive.

We still need to know who is working with Bebe's father (the texts).

The ending - sigh. Kurt is the one helping the preacher to kill everyone. Of course Courtney, Kurt's sister dies by suicide. Isn't she like the 4th person in this book that has either attempted or completed it? I wish the author would be more creative in those deaths.

Ahhh Willow is Rebecca. Now we have an actual name for her.

Final Thoughts:
I would say my main issue with this book is that there is a killer on the loose and people are disappearing, but it seems like "Willow" has a one track mind with just being with Dani. It's completely hit over your head constantly that Willow wants to be with her. Anytime they're alone or doing anything Dani can literally touch Willow and that's like the whole focus of the scene now. It really took me out of some creepy scenes that I think would have been great if this insta-romance wasn't there.

Book was fun! Kept me guessing the whole time. I loved how creepy some parts were and the characters trying to figure out what was going on.

I didn't like the ending. I thought the texts between Kurt and preacher were flirty more than two people working together. Plus I find it impossible to think a man in hus 60s or 70s could behind so many things thst wound take strength.

PS i seriously couldn't stop singing "Heads Will Roll" from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you get a chance watch the music video for it. So great!

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Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.