You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is a horror mashup of Alien meets Midsommar, set in rural West Virginia. Festering hives of worms and flies promise salvation in exchange for loyalty and corpses. Crane thinks he’s found refuge, even love, in this gruesome community, until a pregnancy forces him to confront the hive’s terrifying demands. What follows is a brutal, visceral story of survival, identity, and the violence of control.
What the hell did I just read? I love a good horror book and usually gore doesn’t phase me, but this one had me so uncomfortable… yet like a trainwreck, I couldn’t look away. The writing is fabulous, the characters? I hated them all, and that’s exactly what made it work. It’s perfect for anyone craving heavy horror vibes. Personally, I would have liked to know more about The Hives, I’m a plot girly through and through, but I get that the story is really about something bigger: women, rights, motherhood, and pregnancy. As someone barely a year out from postpartum, a lot of those themes hit hard and were tough to sit with.
There are tons of trigger warnings, and the author even includes a full paragraph up front addressing them, which is important because this book pushes. This story will fully provoke reactions from readers and it’s a heeavvvy book so won’t be for everyone. For me, it’s a 4-star read: it unsettled me, made me think, and reminded me that great horror doesn’t just scare you, it forces you to confront the uncomfortable.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★
You Weren’t Meant to be Human comes out September 9, 2025. Huge thanks to Saga Press for my copy in return for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books
