Talk about atmospheric horror!!!! The main character is Gordon who gets hired to do a major clean up of an old abandoned asylum. When he does the initial walk through with Bill he senses that something is off about the asylum but he is desperate for the job so he puts those thoughts aside.
The chapters go through each day of the week from the start of the work and each of the crew members experiences their own creepy and "off" moments but again they shrug it off and don't think much of it.
What I loved about the book is that you can just feel the tension and horror build up and you expect for them to just realize that something isn't right and to leave!!!
I absolutely loved the ending which was so chilling. This book had me at the edge of my seat. This is the perfect read now that the spooky season is upon us!!!!
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t seen this movie since it first reached video. I remember being 12ish and being super creeped out watching this with my dad. I had pretty high expectations for the novelization.

Luckily, this delivered. I honestly have zero recollection of the film so that helped me not feel like I was doing an accuracy analysis. The pacing is great. There’s this ominous vibe right from the jump that only intensifies as the book continues. The characters were flawed but each had their merits.

The ending was great. Went from 0 to 100 pretty quickly and we’re given some fantastically creepy scenes. My only gripe with the novel which may have turned it into a five star read was that I really felt like this could have gone MUCH deeper. Novelizations give so much room for expansion and this didn’t go as far as it could’ve. Some of the characters motivations are still a bit murky and we’re left with much less backstory than we could’ve been given. I would’ve loved to see more buildup around the side characters and also gone into more detail with the mental deterioration.

Overall, it was a still a great read. I loved the vibe of the story and definitely will be looking for more novelizations. It’s a well paced story with major creepy vibes.

I was left speechless after finishing this book.

The setting, a mental asylum, immediately caught my attention. Learning that the book is actually a novelized version of a film made me eager to finish it quickly so I could watch the movie right after.

The story is well-written and descriptive without being overly lyrical. It’s straightforward but vividly paints the images in your mind. The author skillfully immerses you in the narrative, from setting up the atmosphere to helping you imagine the smells and sounds.

I didn’t expect to learn so much about the details of cleaning a building for renovation, but the book taught me that part, lol. Those sections of the story were a bit much for me, but I understand their importance.

I loved how the story transitioned between characters, especially in the final 50 or so pages. I can only imagine how this is portrayed in the film (again, I haven’t seen it yet). I also appreciated how each character’s struggles were conveyed—not in an overly wordy way, but in a way that still made you understand what they were going through. It was succinct but effective.

I didn’t love the ending, particularly how things turned out for Gordon. I expected him to have done it to himself, but who knows? Maybe he did…did he? Am I just missing something? Lol.

This is a perfect read for the Halloween season!

If you're hesitant about reading this book, take my advice and go for it! I found it immensely enjoyable, which feels odd to admit given its disturbing nature. The story's rich detail immerses you completely. Having not seen the film, I had no preconceived notions and now feel compelled to watch it for comparison. It's a relatively quick read that can be completed in a single sitting. Just when you believe you've solved the puzzle... you haven't! Prepare for an ending that will astonish you!

Well...this is everything my little horror heart needed! I have been on the hunt for the perfect spooky/horror book and this hit every mark on my check list! I never saw the movie but I think that's what the book that much better for me. I absolutely loved the creepy factor and this is one of my top horror reads!

This is one of my top movies, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of the novelization. This did not disappoint, just as creepy and unsettling as the movie. I think it's time for a rewatch.

I loved this movie and was hoping the book did it justice. Unfortunately, 25% into the novel, and the crew is still just setting up and nothing has happened. I wanted to love it, but I will be DNFing at this point.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was a thrilling nonstop ride. I admit that despite being a big horror fan I never got around to seeing the movie Session 9, so I had no idea what to expect. This exceedingly well paced horror is not to be missed.

In this novel we see a 5 man asbestos abatement crew trying to get the now closed Danvers mental institution ready so it can be reworked into a new government building. The job starts off normal enough until one of the crew happens upon tapes from a patients sessions in the hospital. Things quickly descend into chaos.

I'm not gonna lie, I had my hand covering my mouth the last 20 percent of this book. It was horrific, scary, and shocking. I will be thinking about this ending for a while. This book really nails the horror atmosphere and truly delivers. If you're looking for a good horror novel this Halloween then session 9 needs to be on your TBR.

Like, oh my gosh, this book was an absolute ride! 💀 From the very first page, it’s giving you all the spooky vibes—like, that creepy abandoned asylum? Yes, please! It’s totally perfect for the spooky season, and I was legit holding my breath half the time. The tension just keeps building, and by the time you piece together what's really happening, your jaw is on the floor, babes.

What I loved the most? The way the author deepens the story from the movie. The film was already like, totally iconic, but the book brings in all these new layers of horror and character insights that made me obsessed! 😱 And seriously, the Danvers State Hospital? Still terrifying! The way it is described makes it feel like a character itself—so dark and eerie. I couldn’t put this one down, it’s like a horror binge-fest in book form!

Honestly, even if you haven't seen the movie, you'll be glued to this book. But also, you should totally watch it after reading because, like, trust, it’s such a vibe! It’s definitely 5 stars from me, and I’ll be recommending it to all my horror-loving besties! 👻🎃

Thank you SO much to NetGalley for the chance to read this gem in exchange for my honest opinion.

I watched the film years ago but couldn’t remember the ending so when I saw this was a written novelization, I jumped at the chance to experience this for the first time again. And boy did it deliver!

Absolutely creepy. Set in an abandoned insane asylum over the course of about a week, a cleaning crew is sent in to clean asbestos from the building but an eerie foreboding ambiance surrounds the building. With added details to the characters and setting it sets a tension fueled pace and the more I read the more I had questions about what was going on under the surface until it finally clicks. The ending really delivered, and now I have to go watch the movie. This was great and so perfect for spooky season.

I have not seen the film so I didn't have anything to compare this book to. There was a great storyline with a very creepy, almost immersive setting. I will definitely be checking out the movie now!

Very interesting book, having not seen the film I got a good image of what it's about. Suspense kept me reading til the end. Great view of characters. Although didn't quite get the ending, I feel this could be explained better but maybe the film does it, will give it a watch now. Overall good book.

This book kept me interested throughout it. The twist toward the end was so unexpected. Absolutely recommended. The characters you got to know really well as it went. Great storyline.

I'll be adding a review to tik toc soon

This was a fantastic adaption of the movie which follows the renovation of an abandoned sanatorium where strange happenings take place.
Session 9 is such a great horror movie and this novelisation did not disappoint.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded, how the tension increased with each paragraph and how the characters and setting were clearly explored prior to the events unfolding.
I think the movie still wins out on creep factor only because of the vocalisation of Mary's personalities.
This would be a great addition for horror connoisseurs or those looking for a Fall read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book, this is my honest review.

It didn’t really capture the creepiness of the film, the characters I had hoped would be fleshed out a bit more,
decent read though.

I really liked the film of this novelization, so when I saw that this had been written, I just knew I had to read it!

Abandoned insane asylum - check
Creepy, foreboding atmosphere - check
Tension between friends/colleagues - check

Session 9 is about an abatement crew sent in to clear asbestos from the abandoned Danvers state institute, with a slight back story of patient Mary Hobbes thrown in for good measure.
What could go wrong?

It's a perfect read for spooky season just around the corner.

Thank you to the publisher for granting early access to this book via Netgalley.

With the backdrop of a real abandoned mental hospital. Session 9 is briliantly creepy and even though I watched and enjoyed the classic film years ago this book made me want to watch it again

It is fantastically creepy, the eerie setting made the hairs on my neck stand up and with twists and shocks this book is enough for the upcoming Halloween season.

It is well written and I loved it ...

I was interested in this because I've seen the movie ages ago and remember it being quite scary. The book definitely carries that ambiance well. Being a novel, this adds context and additional scenes to the movie, while adhering pretty close to it as well. It was creepy and tense and very atmospheric. I good horror book for going into October. Personally, I don't think novelizations are for me. I felt this was pretty well done, but I didn't love my time with it. I had trouble not imagining the movie in scenes throughout the book, but I think it's a me problem, bot a universal issue.

If you liked the televised version, you will love this.
It stayed spot on, and somehow to my shocked, managed to keep that same creepy vibe.

I've watched it x so I had to snag this to see how it stacked up.
Books are always better but this one, I wasn't sure how it would translate over, and I'm impressed.

Creepy and gripping, and a side bonus is you learn more then you did if you watched it, which, I am always wanting more when something is really good.

Good news is, you don't have to watch or read first imo to enjoy either one!

‘Session 9: The Official Novelization’ by Christian Francis is everything a fan of the original film could hope for—and more. Francis skillfully transports the terror and atmospheric dread of the 2001 cult classic into written form, and the result is utterly gripping. As someone who loved the eerie tension of the movie, I was thrilled with how the novel deepens the story, offering chilling new insights into the characters and the disturbing history of the Danvers State Hospital. The way Francis expands on the original screenplay is masterful, breathing new life into the horror while remaining faithful to the essence of the film. This book is a must-read for horror fans, whether you're familiar with the movie or discovering its dark secrets for the first time. Prepare to be haunted all over again. Perfect for spooky season!