I'd give this book 3 stars, mostly for the metaphors and the visuals. First of all, I have no trouble admitting that the collection is extremely well-done: the writing is exemplary, the themes wide-ranging, the ideas often original and interesting. And yet I had great trouble actually finishing the stories: I found myself unable to relate to any of the characters, and I could not get rid of my suspicions that the author was trying too hard to avoid moralizing, and failing - I sensed (perhaps wrongly) a feministic didactic tone palpably at work throughout the collection. I persevered, I did finish the book. I did not like the endings, nor did I find any favorites. I felt I was lost in a mirrorhouse, always looking at versions of the same thing dressed differently.

This was a super fun read, particularly for the spooky season. The selection is great, some are so brilliantly bonkers and some are less so. I think for the most part, the majority of the stories I absolutely loved with a few I didn't love so much. They're so well written, and give just enough detail for a short story. Thoroughly enjoyed this anthology!

Thank you for the advanced reader copy! I did enjoy some of the stories in this book. The book lost me a little bit during the more fantastical stories such as the ones dealing with AI and aliens. Overall, I gave the book 3 stars.

Sick Girl Screams by S.J. Townsend is a poignant collection of short stories that explores the nuances of illness and the strength of the human spirit. Each tale is skillfully crafted, offering a unique perspective that resonates with raw emotion and honesty. Townsend's ability to blend vulnerability with hope makes this collection a compelling read that lingers long after the last page.

This was different. The cover really drew me in. Wasn't really a fan of the plot and how the book was summarized overall.

Although I typically don't gravitate towards short stories, I found myself drawn in by the concept. As a fan of short story collections, this one really resonated with me. Each story, from the initial piece that played on my parental fears to the strange tale of eating disorders, had me hooked from the start. While some stories may have impacted me more deeply than others, as is common with a compilation, I found the one personifying depression particularly well-written. Even though it may not stick with me as much as some of the later stories in the book, I devoured the entire collection in just a few days and am eager to read more from this author in the future. If you're seeking a collection that delivers quick doses of chilling horror, this one is definitely worth checking out.

*Sick Girl Screams* by SJ Townend is an impressive debut collection of dark fiction that tackles themes like grief, childhood ghosts, and femininity. Townend's writing is emotional and immersive, drawing readers into a haunting world where sorrow meets the supernatural.

The collection features a mix of reprints and original stories, all connected by grief. Townend skillfully explores societal pressures on women while weaving chilling narratives. The concept of haunted children symbolizes lost innocence and unresolved trauma.

Each story has its own unique style, keeping the reading experience engaging. From eerie encounters to deep reflections on life and death, the tales provoke thought about complex issues. Townend’s vivid imagery makes the stories resonate on a deeper level.

Overall, *Sick Girl Screams* invites readers to confront uncomfortable truths about grief and identity. It’s a captivating exploration of darkness that will resonate with fans of dark fiction, leaving them eager for more from Townend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

This collection blew me away. I can hardly believe it is a debut, as the writing is so solid. The ideas and concepts are very unique twists on some familiar tropes. There should be something for everyone in here - sci fi horror, supernatural, mundane. There are some heavy triggers here, so be aware. Easy 5 stars

Step Inside ⭐⭐⭐
No Place Like Home ⭐⭐⭐.25
We Still Don't Use the Garage ⭐⭐⭐.5
Circle ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
A Piece Missing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Neon Fly ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
It Started With Placental Encapsulation ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Dangers of Ill-Prepared Shellfish ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Juliet, Juliet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Beauty Parlor ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Sick Girl ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
The Cool Kids ⭐⭐⭐
Cosmic Spin Class on Deck 112 ⭐⭐⭐
Labourers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the Parts of a Mermaid that I Can Recall ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Every Cloud ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
I Pull My Blanket Up Tight Beneath My Chin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One Lie For One Soul ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Black Metal in a White Room ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In His Memory ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hag Stone ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Christingle Service ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Read a Woman ⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW! I was shocked at how fantastic this short story collection was. Every single story is a stand out for me. The writing style and vocabulary used is truly phenomenal. The stories get inside of your brain in all the weird and twisted ways and really make you think. These stories are terrifying in their truths.

This was a solid collection of short stories. I haven’t read from this author before would definitely be interested in checking out more of their work. I enjoyed the differing levels of horror presented in each story. This would be a great October read leading up to Halloween.

I was not a fan of this collection. Most of these tales were so dreamlike and surreal, hinting at what was truly happening. I’m not a huge fan of that type of story, or at least I don’t want to read more than one at a time. So this collection didn’t work for me.
I will say that I did enjoy the first tale “Step Inside”, but truly found the rest either uneventful, boring, or just too obscure.

The cover art by Daniella Batsheva is amazing.


Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Brigids Gate Press for a copy.

"I continued to peel open my skin-tight dress. A scream ripped from his throat. His face, stamped with the mark of terror, could not believe what I had revealed. Before his own eyes were tens of others, a hundred more. Blues, greens, browns, and all shades of hell in between. 👀 👁️
From breasts to pelvis, myriad eyes burst out from my skin; clusters and patches of eyeballs, small and large, some lashed and some not. Many ogled side-by-side a matching partner, some bulged alone, others blinked centerpiece, encircled by more. Where my nipples should've been; poked out the largest two -irises of red, pupils like black holes. The eyes blinked and twitched like faulty Christmas tree lights. Pupils dilated and fitted around the room before all settling forwards in him."
"Your eyes...I need your eyes." 👀🩸

- Talk about saving the best for last! 🖤 Out of the 23 short stories in the collection - 'How To Read A Woman' is the last story and my fave. It's about a serial killer on the haunt for his latest victim. Little did he know it'd turn out he would be the victim of Lamia in disguise. I'm a sucker for stories involving Greek/Roman mythologies - both heroes and monsters. This is a story about the monster Lamia.
Overall, this collection is good. The cover art is aesthetically pleasing to me and whilst some stories I found underwhelming, there are others I've enjoyed and will think about for quite a while.

🎃 Step Inside -5✨
🎃 No place like home - 3✨
🎃 We still don't use the garage -1✨
🎃 Circle - 4✨
🎃 A Piece Missing -3✨
🎃 Neon Fly - 5✨
🎃 It Started With Placental Encapsulation -3✨
🎃 The Dangers Of Ill Prepared Shellfish -4.5✨
🎃 Juliet, Juliet -1✨
🎃 The Beauty Parlour -3✨
🎃 Sick Girl -4.5✨
🎃 The Cool Kids - 5✨
🎃 Cosmic Spin Class on Deck 112- 4✨
🎃 Labourers Wanted- 5✨
🎃 All The Parts Of A Mermaid That I Can Recall -4✨
🎃 Every Cloud - 3✨
🎃I Pull My Blanket Up Tight Beneath My Skin -5✨
🎃 One Lie For One Soul - 1✨
🎃 Black Metal In A White Room -5✨
🎃 In His Memory -2.5✨
🎃 Hag Stone -5✨
🎃 Christingle Service -3.5✨
🎃How To Read A Woman - 5✨ (fave!)

3.69 ✨





Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the arc 🖤

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

Sick Girls Screams is an collection of short stories.

I loved the cover of this book - couldn't look away.

I would like it a lot more if there where some drawings in it, like on the cover. But unfortunately that was missing (for me personally)

Some stories were good, others not so much. But all in all it's an interesting read.

**Review of *Sick Girl Screams***

*Sick Girl Screams* by SJ Townend is a haunting debut collection that deftly intertwines themes of grief, childhood specters, and the complexities of femininity within a tapestry of dark fiction. Townend's writing is both visceral and poignant, drawing readers into a world where sorrow and the supernatural coalesce in unsettling ways.

The collection features a blend of reprints and original stories, each woven with a "black ribbon of grief" that ties the narratives together. Townend’s ability to evoke deep emotions while exploring the darker corners of the human experience is truly remarkable. The prose is rich and evocative, immersing readers in a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the last page.

One of the standout aspects of this collection is its exploration of feminism, subtly interlaced with the eerie tales. Townend doesn’t shy away from addressing the societal pressures and expectations placed on women, all while crafting chilling narratives that resonate on multiple levels. The theme of haunted children adds another layer of depth, serving as a metaphor for lost innocence and the weight of unresolved trauma.

The stories are eclectic in style and tone, offering a varied reading experience that keeps you engaged. From ghostly encounters to unsettling reflections on the human condition, each tale invites you to unravel the complexities of life, death, and everything in between. Townend's mastery of imagery and atmosphere ensures that every story is not just read, but felt.

Prepare to be unsettled, as *Sick Girl Screams* challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about grief, identity, and the infinite cycles of pain and healing. It’s a thought-provoking collection that leaves you contemplating the shadows that linger in our lives and the stories we tell to make sense of them.

In summary, *Sick Girl Screams* is a captivating exploration of darkness that skillfully balances emotional depth with chilling narratives. SJ Townend has crafted a collection that is sure to resonate with fans of dark fiction, and I eagerly anticipate what she will create next.

I was fortunate enough to land an ARC through netgalley of "Sick Girl Screams", which as it (thankfully) turned out is an excellent short story collection to breeze through in the spirit of autumn / "spooky season". Each story stands on its own and as a collection it's a lot like walking through an art gallery and taking the time to process each piece on its own. Some of the stories within are more direct and others are more speculative -in some instances the horror is more abstract and in others it feels more like traditional, standard horror fare. Which is to say, really, that there is something for everyone who even has a slight interest in the umbrella of horror as a whole.

I feel like it comes with the territory of short story collections that some offerings will land more cleanly than others, but I found that even the titles that didn't particularly latch my interest it didn't feel like a chore to get through and onto the next story.

If you're into a lingering sense of grief permeating into your horror and a consistent thread of feminism woven throughout your stories, then I strongly recommend picking up a copy! I'll definitely put a pin next to SJ Townend's name so that I can try to get my eyeballs on any other works to come in the future!

(4.5 rounded up)

Forthcoming from Brigid's Gate Press I was immediately drawn in by the cover! Inside are over 20 stories to keep your thoroughly entertained!
What struck me first was how unique S.J.Townsend's voice is, and second was the incredibly range she has. All these stories were so wildly different from one another ranging from science fiction to horror. It's clear this author has a otherworldly imagination.
I found this collection to be so much fun, and cannot wait to read more form this author!

The best thing about this book is that the author made certain that every story was unique and it never felt like you were reading the same idea twice. The author has a way with writing that is engaging, entertaining and just enjoyable to read.

Each story was delightful and I don't think there was one that I was bored with. My favourite story was the one where the woman went back home to her old family house; I can't begin to say how much I loved that story.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this anthology for anyone looking for good, horrific reads. I read this all in one sitting, it was so engaging and interesting.

I love collections of short stories, and this one hit. From the opening piece that struck at my fears as a parent, to a weird little tale about eating disorders, I was captivated from the opening sequence. Some stories did more for me than others, as is apt to happen with a collection. For instance, the story that personified depression was a really good read, but won't necessarily stick with me as much as some the stories later in the book. I devoured this all in a few days, and am definitely looking to read more from this author moving forward. If you want a collection that you can go to for quick hits of moody horror, this one is it.

Such a variety of original horror stories. Each one has its own dread inducing, haunting, weird, occult, psychedelic or cosmic sci-fi horror. My favorite stories are The cool kids, Step inside, One lie for one soul, Black metal in a White room and Hag stone. The absolute best story in this collection for me is "I pull my blanket up tight beneath my chin". I only strongly disliked The dangerous of Ill-prepared shellfish 1 star. And I dnf-ed two of the stories - Juliet, Juliet and All the parts of a mermaid that I can recall. I can compare some of these stories to the works of Bora Chung. Strongly recommend and the cover is absolutely amazing. 4.5 stars, just because there were 2 dnf’s, but my overall experience was amazing. One of the best short stories collections I’ve read this year. My individual ratings are as follows:
Step inside 5, No place like home 4, We still don't use the garage 2.5, Circle 4, Sick girl 3, A piece missing 3.5, Juliet, Juliet DNF, Neon Fly 4, It started with placental encapsulation 3, The dangerous of Ill-prepared shellfish 1, The beauty parlor 4.5, The cool kids 5, Cosmic spin class 3, Laborers wanted 2, All the parts of mermaid DNF, Every cloud 4, I pull my blanket up tight beneath my chin 5, One lie for one soul 4.5, How to read a woman 4, Black metal in a White room 5, In his memory 4.5, Hag stone 5, Christingle Service 4.5
Thank you to NetGally and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC.

Here's an edited version of your review with added details:

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. "Sick Girls Screams" is an unsettling and unique collection of short stories that delves into a variety of disturbing themes. Each tale offers a distinct brand of horror, blending the strange with the macabre. I found myself captivated by the author’s distinctive writing style, which drew me in from the first page. Despite the overall engaging quality, there were a few stories that didn’t resonate with me, while others left me ambivalent. Nevertheless, the book’s originality and the author's ability to craft eerie, immersive narratives make it worth a read. If you're intrigued by unconventional horror and enjoy exploring diverse, unsettling tales, I’d recommend giving this collection a try. 4 stars.

-Max