Knock Knock, Open Wide

by Neil Sharpson

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Most of us remember children's shows as happy memories—they're bright and cheerful, leaving fuzzy yet happy memories lingering in our minds. Unfortunately, as one family will prove, that isn't true for all of us.

Betty is falling hard for a girl named Ashling, and it's getting harder to avoid the secrets lurking around her. It starts out innocuous enough, but it doesn't take long for Betty to realize that there's something seriously dark happening, and delving too deep may cost them everything.

My Review:

To put it mildly, there’s a lot to unpack in Knock Knock, Open Wide. We have heaps of lore (Celtic), romantic subplots, family dynamics, creepy kid’s shows, the works. It’s a lot to dive into, which pretty much means it’s the perfect setting for a horror novel.

I feel like this is the third novel I’ve read in recent years that focused on a creepy kid’s television show. What’s with the recent societal obsession with them? I’m not complaining; I’m just curious about where they’re coming from.

While this may be the third (I think) novel with that basis, that’s where the similarities end. Knock Knock, Open Wide isn’t afraid to go off the deep end, and it certainly isn’t afraid to take readers with it.

The best part about this novel, outside of the plot and characters, has to be the writing style. I love the way Neil Sharpson describes a scene. It felt so visceral (too much so, in some cases), which is ideal for a graphic horror novel like this.

Highlights:
Fantasy Meets Horror
Set in Ireland
LGBTQ+

Trigger Warnings:
Trauma
Body Horror

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