Ideal entry level horror for anyone new to the genre or lookimg to dip a toe in something safer. While Harrison does write a fantastic character, I feel her stories lack any real threat.

In each of this dark quartet of tales, 4 first person women narrators find themselves rebelling against the position in which they are trying to be forced into, in society's dollhouse.

A flea market is the setting of an opportune connection for Jordan, a woman notorious for her indecisive nature,afforded a helping hand by  a Magic 8 ball.

For those who have never heard of, or ever owned one, they are 'fortune tellers' which provide answers to questions that could lead to resolutions of problems. The way it fits into her hand and finds her, creates a situation where she begins asking bigger and bigger questions of both the ball, and herself as she analyses a deeply unsatisfying and unspectacular life. And takes big swings at her impending future.

Bachelorette is so dark and funny, it was reminiscent of The Return, where a reluctant bridesmaid , holding on to the ghost of a close friendship, finds she is about to make her biggest sacrifice yet. Literally. Nat finds herself playing along with the most godawful hen weekend imaginable where every activity is designed to give you first, second and third hand embarrassment. The denouement is perfectly delicious as the non-conformist Nat who has always been the fiery side of her best-friendship with Hailey, re-rights herself.


Goblin is a play on words, where 2 friends spur each other on to start making themselves wedding presentable, by downloading a popular app to inhibit their frequent forays into comfort zones. In order to attend her ex-boyfriend, Ben's wedding to a mutual acquaintance, Meg wants to look her absolute best and show him what he could have won. The price for this supplemental support to her shady self control, however, may be one she might want to rethink. And maybe, Ben is the one who is massively losing out and Meg has had a narrow escape...


The final story really resonated (not that the others didn't, I think it was because of the subject matter) and to my mind, made me think of Stephen King's 'The Last Rung On The Ladder'

It is very powerful, and moving, as Mackenzie finds herself back in her childhood home after a tragic death brings her to a place she thought she had left behind. Her family connections, ex boyfriends and assorted ghosts rear their heads but none so remarkable as the doll which randomly appears in Mac's life. And refuses to go...

There may be a fifth 'bad doll', I may be imagining it, but a woman with a septum piercing pops up, ever so slightly, in each tale, unamed, but nonetheless very much there.

The narrator/observer/catalyst of these events where objects and ceremony which should be some of the peak moments of womanhood-waiting for a proposal, the lengths you go to for your best friend, meeting society's expectation of a woman's appearance and being a good big sister-might be represented by this unknown woman, or it could be me reading too much into it, but it was a detail I enjoyed.

The bucking of what is expected of you as a woman in modern society-basically one who does what is demanded without question-makes me supremely happy to be a Bad Doll.

Rachel does more in a story than some could do in a 1,000 page novel, she builds tension, character driven plots and infuses them with this wry humour that I absolutely adore. Superb!

I read a book of short stories by Rachel Harrison, but it didn't quite hit the mark. The title story, 'Bad Dolls,' had potential but relied on predictable tropes. The other stories had their moments, but the narratives fell short of their potential. While the book may interest readers looking for unconventional narratives, it may not satisfy those looking for more depth and originality in storytelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

Rachel Harrison is one of those authors I keep picking up because I really enjoy listening to interviews with her, where the way she often describes her relationship with horror feels fairly similar to my own. But she cemented herself as an author that I need to keep reading after I read and loved Such Sharp Teeth earlier this year, and when I spotted this collection on NetGalley I couldn't resist requesting it because I do love short fiction and keep meaning to read more of it.

As has been the case in all of Harrison's novels I've read thus far - I'm very excited to pick up Black Sheep soon - all four stories in Bad Dolls feature women in their 20s/30s who are at a loss or turning point in their lives, or are being forced to confront their past, and their past selves, in some way. My only real criticism for this collection would be that I didn't feel like there was a huge narrative difference between some of the stories and I easily might have felt like I was reading about the same character if I wasn't aware I was reading a different story, but on the whole it's a collection I enjoyed!

Reply Hazy, Try Again

I think this might have been my favourite story in the collection, which is interesting as it's also the least horror-leaning story here, too. Jordan finds a Magic 8 ball in a flea market while perusing with her friend Maggie and knows she has to have it, but the consequences end up being a little more than she bargained for. I loved the ending of this one, though, and enjoyed seeing a story about a woman who isn't in her teens or her early 20s questioning her sexuality.

Bachelorette

Then we have what I think was my least favourite story in the collection. It's not a bad story, but I think Harrison really could have leaned more into the horror with this story and didn't. Natalie is attending the bachelorette party of her oldest childhood friend, already knowing she's going to feel left out because all of the other bridesmaids are friends from college who have their own stories and inside jokes. The weekend takes a turn, however, when one of the activities requires a sacrifice. I appreciated the exploration into old friendships and if friendships can survive when they're all history and no present, but it could have been a lot creepier than it was so didn't leave much of an impact on me when it ended.

Goblin

For me this was the creepiest story in the anthology, not for the supernatural element of the goblin itself but for the way it approached eating disorders and weight loss. If eating disorders, specifically bulimia, are something you struggle to read about it, just know to go into this story with caution. What I loved about this story, though, was the way it explored what ifs. Meg agrees to download a new app called Goblin with her friend so they can both lose weight before a joint friend's wedding, made even more difficult for Meg because the groom is an old flame of hers from college she never quite got over. The way this story looks into whether or not Meg really would have been happier if things had worked out with this man or if she were slimmer or a million other things is so well done, and I absolutely loved the ending.

Bad Dolls

Honestly, I thought the doll was going to be in this one more. After the death of her younger sister, Mackenzie moves back to her hometown to be there for her parents but can't bring herself to sleep in her childhood home, so instead she rents a room in town which comes with its very own porcelain doll. And it moves. I expected this one to use the supernatural element to illuminate the mundane horror in the way "Goblin" did, but the family's grief and the ways "Bad Dolls" touched on mental health were so well done that I genuinely don't know that this story needed the doll. Or rather, I wish the doll had been utilised more. It felt as though the doll was there for the sake of the last line, which I liked, but if that's how Harrison wanted the story to end then I needed her to do something more interesting with the creepy doll.

A really good collection of short stories, all based around a horror/female experience. This is a really good all round set of stories with realistic characters which really helps to draw you and and relate to the characters. I'm eger to check out more by this author in future

I loved this!!

I'm not a huge fan of short stories but short spooky stories??? OBSESSED!

A perfect little book for this time of year! Each story was a fun little read.

Rachel Harrison's books have been hit and miss for me, but this one was just right. This short collection of four stories is perfect for spooky season. She manages to write stories that are spooky, but never scary. I especially loved the magic eight ball story.

This short story collection by Rachel Harrison had its moments of intrigue and some creative ideas, but ultimately, it left me wanting more. The narratives presented in the book offered unique glimpses into the complexities of modern life, but the execution fell somewhat flat.

The titular story, 'Bad Dolls,' followed a wayward young woman coping with the loss of her younger sister. When she inherits a peculiar porcelain doll, the narrative hinted at the potential for a meaningful connection between the doll and her sister's memory. However, as the story unfolded, it veered toward the expected tropes of malevolent dolls and sinister forces. The premise had promise, but it felt somewhat derivative.

The other stories in the collection had their own moments. 'In Reply Hazy, Try Again' explored the idea of seeking answers and guidance in a Magic 8 Ball but failed to fully engage me in the protagonist's journey and I didn't really feel a sense of malevolence. 'Bachelorette' touched on themes of sacrifice and friendship, but the characters and their dilemmas didn't resonate deeply with me. 'Goblin' introduced a dieting app with a twist and was probably the story I thought was the most intriguing, but the narrative struggled to balance its dark humor with the weight of the protagonist's insecurities.

Overall, 'Bad Dolls' had interesting concepts and tried to navigate the complexities of modern life with a mix of humor and insight. However, the stories often leaned on predictable or familiar elements, and the execution didn't quite fulfill the potential of the ideas presented. It's a collection that may pique the interest of readers looking for unconventional narratives but might leave them wishing for more depth and originality in the storytelling.

I really enjoyed Bad Dolls. The stories all start of quite innocently enough but get dark quite quickly. There’s something I really liked about that, the false sense of security created that the stories are leading you somewhere familiar and safe only to suddenly veer off somewhere quite unexpected. I enjoyed all of the stories but especially liked Reply Hazy Try Again and Bad Dolls. The stories are powerful, and I’d like to read something full-length by the author.

Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison.
In Reply Hazy, Try Again, an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
A good short story. I did likeJordan and Maggie kenny.
In Bachelorette, a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
This story was different but good. I liked Natalie Jacqueline Brianna Hailey Shelby Chiara.
In Goblin, an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of a timid, insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
A good story.
In Bad Dolls, after the death of her younger sister, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister, but could also just be pure evil.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked McKenzie. My favourite would be bad dolls. 4*.

I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Rachel Harrison's work, and Bad Dolls is another excellent horror book from her! A collection of four short stories, Bad Dolls uses horror as a vehicle to examine female friendships, relationships, grief, and more. I'd have loved for this collection to be longer - it clocks in at only 192 pages (and I suspect there may be some font and margin fudging to make the physical copy even that long). However, it solidified my love of her writing and I can't wait to pick up more of her titles!

This was a great collection of short stories that were well varied and wonderfully written. Here’s my thoughts:

Reply hazy, try again:
A simple story without a solid theme so much as indecision and putting trust in an object that might perhaps be magical. A fun opener to the book.

Bachelorette:
The story was fun, less sinister than I expected, but sometimes when you’re being led to think one thing and another happens, that’s great writing. The apathy that was Natalie just reminded me of myself!

Goblin:
This was clever. I appreciated the magical element that was placed in the real world and the story as a whole managed to be quite whimsical, while also pretty dark. My personal favourite of the bunch.

Bad dolls:
Absolutely wonderful writing. This one was bleak and really focused on coping with loss and also the return to small town life

Overall there’s not a bad story in there and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

even if only one of the stories is horror they're all quite disturbing and deals with issues like body, friendship and being a woman now
Rachel Harrison delivers: the story are well developed and the characters fleshed out
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a puzzling collection. It's marketed as four horror stories, but only the final story, 'Bad Dolls', has real horror elements, and one of the remaining three, 'Bachelorette', is entirely mundane. For most of this short book, Rachel Harrison seems more interested in exploring female friendships and our complicated ties to our former selves than anything remotely frightening, which makes these stories feel closer to the psychological thriller. This is a shame, because there are some smart touches here: I enjoyed the sad, spooky ending of 'Bad Dolls' and the protagonist's increasing reliance on her Magic 8 Ball in 'Reply Hazy, Try Again', although Harrison can't resist spelling out the message of the story at the end. The writing is good, but I'm not sure it's really enticed me to try anything else by Harrison.

“It was a strange sensation to simultaneously experience the relief of validation and the stark cruelty of the truth.”

Rachel Harrison’s Bad Dolls is a collection of horror stories that range from themes of hauntings, female friendships, heartbreak and body image.

All of these stories had unique traits that made them creepy on some level. Some felt more horror than others however each one was bizarre in its own way. I like the fact that these were easy to read and become engrossed in. The stories are set deep within the mind of the characters as they are having this experience which made them at times quite chilling.

Overall I enjoyed this collection. It’s my second read by Rachel Harrison and look forward to discover more of her work.

Bad Dolls is a collection of 4 short stories from Rachel Harrison. Along with the titular story, it features "Reply Hazy, Try Again", "Bachelorette", and "Goblin." It was my first time reading this author, and I was not disappointed. I loved the subtle horror of each story, and Harrison's focus on female relationships, whether they be friendships, sisterhood, or potential romance.

All the stories are slow burns - sometimes leaving the horror or supernatural elements until the very end - but nevertheless compelling. I felt I knew and understood these women, that their experiences were similar to my own, and so there was something comforting about the stories, even when they had hints of darkness. My favourite was probably "Bachelorette" for the killer first line and the sad lament for lost friendship which was unfortunately all too relatable.

My only real criticism of this book is that it's rather short - I read it easily in a day, and I would have liked more stories. But I know that Harrison has several other books, so I'll certainly be checking those out!

3.5 stars
I am a massive fan of this author and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her, but I'm not a big fan of short stories. So, this one had me intrigued and I hoped I would enjoy it as much as her full length novels. So did I? Mostly yes.
This a collection of 4 short stories (Reply Hazy Try Again, Bachelorette, Goblin, Bad Dolls)
Usually I find with short story collections I end up enjoying some and not enjoying others. This was also true for this book.
The first story (Reply Hazy, Try Again) I really did enjoy. I loved the idea, so I was immediately hooked. I was fully into the story and didn't want it to end. I would definitely read this if it was full length novel. 4/5 stars
Bachelorette starts of with a great first line (which I won't spoil here) but it grabbed me straight away, by using deadpan, sarcastic humour. However after that I found I didn't really care for the plot. It felt a bit flat, disappointing and anti climactic. 3/5 stars
Goblin was a bizarre one. Totally about female body image, this one I thought was just ok. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it. 3/5 stars
The final story was Bad Dolls. This one was creepy! I really liked this one a lot and would enjoy reading this if it was full length as it felt like there was more story to tell. 4/5 stars

Overall I did enjoy this and I would recommend for fans of this author and also to people wanting to read something a bit different. However if you haven't read from this author before I would recommend you read her other novels first as I think those were slightly better.

A new favourite author of mine! This book made me feel all kinds of emotions -it was just excellent. I could not wait to pick it up time after time and can not wait to pick up more of her books. The perfect mix of queer, millennial and spooky to make me need to read on. It spoke to my soul - the distinctive voice had me gripped from the beginning and kept me hooked. Amazing.

That’s it!! Rachel Harrison is officially an autobuy. I always have such a good time reading her books. Does that say something about me? Maybe!! I’m good with that.

This is a wicked little collection subtly exploring female relationships and just what it can sometimes mean to be a woman navigating some of the hurdles and horrors we are presented with in life. These particular women featured in Bad Dolls give it a great big Hell Naw and take control of their lives…..mostly 😉 There was actual cackling from me during Bachelorette and the ending of Goblin had me both screaming and cheering!! Not many can say they have achieved that reaction from me….

I’d recommend this to:
Fans of horror shorts, those who enjoy a wee bit fun in their frights and anyone looking to dabble their toes into the horror genre….just make sure they don’t get bitten off.

4 great stories about the complexities of modern life mixed with some supernatural elements like haunted magic 8 Balls or creepy dolls. The stories were quick to read but still entertaining and satisfying. Each one also had some interesting social commentary surrounding relationships and settling for what’s expected by society.
I really enjoyed this collection and definitely recommend!