What I'm Reading: Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor

I have 1 review in the March 15th issue of Booklist and it was an unequivocal star. As usual, this post has my draft review and more appeal information to help you handsell this to readers.

STAR REVIEW
Wasps in the Ice Cream

by Tim McGregor

Apr. 2022. Silver Shamrock, paper, $14.99  (9781951043537). 
First published March 15, 2022 (Booklist).

In the summer of 1987, Mark worked at the local ice cream stand, where the product was subpar and a wasp nest ominously hung outside the window. It is the summer he fell in love with the middle Farrow sister, a Horror reading witch, a complex and beguiling girl whose family are the town pariahs. And, it is also the summer when a very real ghost began haunting him for the rest of his life. Looking back as an adult, Mark is able to own his mistakes, as he spins a vivid tale of the shattered innocence that defines him as an adult. Filled with evocative and captivating scenes, strong female characters, and an engaging narration, readers will become engrossed immediately, while the threat and fear at the heart of this story, satisfyingly, sneaks up on them. The provocative title, paired with the equally intriguing chapter titles, allows the tension and pacing to steadily increase until that titular nest and all of the consequences from a lifetime of choices come violently crashing down upon Mark and the reader. This spectacular example of coming of age Horror, the best since Janz's Children of the Dark and Kiste’s The Rust Maidens, and reminiscent of McCammon’s Boy’s Life, will delight and chill this subgenre’s numerous fans.

YA Statement: With its 1980s nostalgia, vivid cast of realistically depicted teenaged characters, touchingly awkward descriptions of first love, and a chillingly realistic haunting, this novel will attract a swarm of teen readers.

Further Appeal: McGregor is a name to watch. I gave his historical Horror novel from 2021-- Hearts Strange and Dreadful-- a star in Library Journal.

Here are some more of my notes from when I read this novel which go into more detail about the appeal:

• This is a novel of expertly described individual scenes that capture bring a teen in 1987, the places and people, the tedium and excitement, first love etc….. And they all flow smoothly. You don’t appreciate how great and descriptive these scenes are because you are engaged in the story, and yet, after, many have come back to me vividly! 
• The overall tone is in equal measures innocent and threatening-- at the same time. 
• Strong female characters overall. I especially appreciated the step-mom. She is a whole person. As a secondary character of some importance, this is key. Even the popular girl character has depth.
• The TWIST!!!! With only 30ish pages to go. Jarring in a good way. You are feeling it all build up and know it is all going somewhere not great, but you are enjoying the ride so much that when the TWIST comes—- WHAM. And looking back, author tries to prepare you, but he still gets you and it is gut wrenching.

Three Words That Describe This Book: engaging narration, compelling, innocent and threatening at the same time

Readalikes: Regular readers of the Horror blog know I feel very strongly about the Janz and Kiste titles in the review above. They are both in my Top 20 of the 2010s list. And Boy's Life is a classic. 

The Kiste recommendation is important here because the way she writes young women as strong, powerful, and independent actors, McGregor captures that as well, but without sacrificing his teenage boy pov.

This novel also reminded me of Hannah Tinti's novels as well. She is a favorite author for me, and while she does not write Horror, her novels are very uneasy and creepy, with a perspective that is slightly askew from reality. Click here and here for reviews of her two novels.