e-ALC, 08:40:51
Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio, Mara Wilson, Phoebe Strole, Clare Edge
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: August 26-27, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: PRH App (I received an e-ALC of this from the publisher and their app. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Death, Sexual Assault, Gun Violence, Sexual Harassment, Rape, Homophobia
For Readers of: Audio, Body Horror, Catchy Title, Feminist Horror, Sparkly Cover, Multiple Narrators, Multiple POV, Thrillers, YAThree girls bond in unsettling ways when a grizzly starts picking off known abusers in their secluded mountain town in this darkly funny, deeply feminist novel for fans of books like The Honeys and Wilder Girls.
When it comes to boys and bears, always choose the bear.
The girls of Riverside are raised to grin and bear it. Until three of them can’t anymore.
Megan Lawless (aka Outlaw): Riverside born and raised. Lettered in volleyball, basketball, and track. HATES Kevin Johnson, but tolerates him for her best friend, Megan.
Megan Deloria: Outlaw’s ride or die. Riverside royalty and soon to be valedictorian. Shoo-in for the homecoming crown alongside her boyfriend, Kevin.
Meghan Bach (aka Bee): Moved to Riverside last year. Still the “new girl.” Pulls tarot cards daily. Just wants to forget what happened last summer at that party with Kevin.
And then there’s Kevin Johnson: Riverside’s Golden Boy. Only scared of two things—the dark and bears. Soon, he’ll be scared of three more.
Because Megan, Megan, and Meghan are done with Kevin, and they’re about to teach everyone in their tiny rural town the new natural order: Predator, meet prey.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This book made me change a lot of things around. Upon finishing I had so many I went and made a whole two for Tuesday already from this book alone. I really enjoyed this one and it was not expected actually.
I think I said it wasn’t expected because I kept waiting and watching to see when they were actually gonna turn, but that’s not what this was about. I think the message would’ve been more in your face. Shocking if she had done it that way, but this way the way she did it. It was more like it made you think more. And of course also, it helped with the shock value of the book itself because of the mystery. Which I can’t be mad at because that was a bomb mystery. It wasn’t really a mystery because we know who or what it was, but it was still cool. I was sucked into it from the beginning.
The whole time tho I was frustrated about one of these people. She was like so accepting of what he did to her. I get that she was scared of what people would say so I let it go, but making excuses for him and thinking about your school royalty first made me want to shake her. But I knew she had to let her get through it on her own. I basically felt like Outlaw the whole time lol Now Outlaw, I am she and she is me lol I wanted to boot that dude into oblivion. Idc how old he is. With Megan they all made a great group and I was sucked into their story.
The ending was solid. It left room for that to be the end end and for there to be something more. And I think I loved that the most. I need more of them. Come take down someone else. Because the way they did that town? 10 out of 10, No Notes lol
Overall, I give this
