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Bad Dolls
In this stunning new collection of four horror stories, award-winning author Rachel Harrison explores themes of body image, complicated female friendship, heartbreak, and hauntings.
In “Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
In “Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
In “Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
These dark tales navigate the complexities of modern life with humor, insight, and the occasional blood sacrifice…
In “Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
In “Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
In “Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
In “Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
These dark tales navigate the complexities of modern life with humor, insight, and the occasional blood sacrifice…
4 pages, Audiobook
First published September 6, 2022
About the author
Rachel Harrison
7 books2,721 followersRachel Harrison is the author of The Return, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica and Electric Lit. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 465 reviews
April 10, 2024
**4.5-stars**
Bad Dolls is a collection of 4-short stories from Rachel Harrison, one of my new go-to Horror authors. I recently read Harrison's October 2022-release, Such Sharp Teeth, and absolutely loved it.
After I finished, I thought, do I need to wait an entire year to get another new release from Harrison? If so, how sad. I checked out her author page and was delighted to discover this collection releasing Tuesday, December 6th.
Berkley came through for me and I was delighted to be able to check out this collection a little early.
For me the collection was perfectly arranged, with each story increasing my enjoyment level. The first story follows Jordan, who picks up a Magic 8-Ball for nostalgia's sake at a flea market and it ends up influencing her life in big ways.
I enjoyed this story as a start to the collection. It didn't knock my socks off, but was well-written and had an intriguing concept.
The second story follows Nat as she attends her best friend from childhood, Hailey's, bachelorette party. Nat doesn't really know any of the other women that well, as they are Hailey's friends from college. It explores her feelings of exclusion and how friendships can change over time.
This one went in such an interesting direction that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed Nat's narrative voice and love how this one ended.
The third story follows Meg, who decides to join her friend on a diet prior to attending her ex's wedding. The women download an app called, Goblin, that is supposed to help them stick to their plan.
The exploration of body issues and struggling with an eating disorder was very well done. I loved the idea of the Goblin. It feels that way sometimes, doesn't it?
I would throw a caution flag on this story for Readers who may be triggered by active eating disorders, or BDD.
Finally, the fourth, and my favorite story of the lot, follows Mackenzie, who moves back to her hometown following the death of her little sister, Audrey.
This story explores grief, guilt and regrets. Mackenzie rents an attic apartment and discovers a porcelain doll there. Things get weird, things get creepy and I absolutely loved it. This story for me was a perfect example of why I love Rachel Harrison's work so much.
Overall, this is a great collection. I definitely recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Harrison's novels, or anyone who enjoys short-Horror in general.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. These stories are going to stick in my mind for a long time. Well done!
Bad Dolls is a collection of 4-short stories from Rachel Harrison, one of my new go-to Horror authors. I recently read Harrison's October 2022-release, Such Sharp Teeth, and absolutely loved it.
After I finished, I thought, do I need to wait an entire year to get another new release from Harrison? If so, how sad. I checked out her author page and was delighted to discover this collection releasing Tuesday, December 6th.
Berkley came through for me and I was delighted to be able to check out this collection a little early.
For me the collection was perfectly arranged, with each story increasing my enjoyment level. The first story follows Jordan, who picks up a Magic 8-Ball for nostalgia's sake at a flea market and it ends up influencing her life in big ways.
I enjoyed this story as a start to the collection. It didn't knock my socks off, but was well-written and had an intriguing concept.
The second story follows Nat as she attends her best friend from childhood, Hailey's, bachelorette party. Nat doesn't really know any of the other women that well, as they are Hailey's friends from college. It explores her feelings of exclusion and how friendships can change over time.
This one went in such an interesting direction that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed Nat's narrative voice and love how this one ended.
The third story follows Meg, who decides to join her friend on a diet prior to attending her ex's wedding. The women download an app called, Goblin, that is supposed to help them stick to their plan.
The exploration of body issues and struggling with an eating disorder was very well done. I loved the idea of the Goblin. It feels that way sometimes, doesn't it?
I would throw a caution flag on this story for Readers who may be triggered by active eating disorders, or BDD.
Finally, the fourth, and my favorite story of the lot, follows Mackenzie, who moves back to her hometown following the death of her little sister, Audrey.
This story explores grief, guilt and regrets. Mackenzie rents an attic apartment and discovers a porcelain doll there. Things get weird, things get creepy and I absolutely loved it. This story for me was a perfect example of why I love Rachel Harrison's work so much.
Overall, this is a great collection. I definitely recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed Harrison's novels, or anyone who enjoys short-Horror in general.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. These stories are going to stick in my mind for a long time. Well done!
September 1, 2023
4.5
This is a really good collection of short stories from the author of Cackle - my personal favourite. Rachel Harrison explores various themes including body image, friendship and heartache/heartbreak. The first in the group is the one I like the most which is ‘Reply Hazy, Try Again’. Jordan is browsing a flea market with Maggie and finds a Magic 8 ball in a random bin and she has to have it. Fifteen dollars later, it’s hers and she gets more than she bartered for especially in relation to boyfriend Kenny. I think this one is so clever, I love the concept of it and the lesson learned!
The second is ‘Bachelorette’ in which Natalie reluctantly attends Hailey’s hen party with good reason as organiser Brianna is, well, I’ll leave you to discover the joy of Brianna. Tension builds and how, on one occasion I could scarcely breathe! Horror personified and then, phew, a sigh of relief. The characterisation is excellent which sure is a skill in a short story and the author cleverly shows how friendship changes over time, in this case very dramatically.
Number three is ‘Goblin’ - download the Goblin app to help to lose weight but at your own risk. So clever, vivid and I don’t know what’s wrong with me but the outcome makes me laugh! I’m going into therapy shortly.
The story I find the creepiest is ‘Bad Dolls’ but that’s probably because vintage dolls freak me out. Mackenzie moves back home after a death in the family but decides to rent an attic in an old Victorian house. She finds a porcelain doll concealed in a hatbox inside a cabinet and thus begins some very strange happenings. The story examines the varied impact of grief and guilt in a dark, creepy and haunting way.
This is a good collection and one I can recommend to fans of short stories and of Rachel Harrison. She doesn’t leave you feeling short changed as some short stories do. They aren’t too horrifying, old dolls aside, but they’re probably cleverer than sock you between the eyes horror as they’re more memorable. This would be a perfect October read for Halloween season.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a really good collection of short stories from the author of Cackle - my personal favourite. Rachel Harrison explores various themes including body image, friendship and heartache/heartbreak. The first in the group is the one I like the most which is ‘Reply Hazy, Try Again’. Jordan is browsing a flea market with Maggie and finds a Magic 8 ball in a random bin and she has to have it. Fifteen dollars later, it’s hers and she gets more than she bartered for especially in relation to boyfriend Kenny. I think this one is so clever, I love the concept of it and the lesson learned!
The second is ‘Bachelorette’ in which Natalie reluctantly attends Hailey’s hen party with good reason as organiser Brianna is, well, I’ll leave you to discover the joy of Brianna. Tension builds and how, on one occasion I could scarcely breathe! Horror personified and then, phew, a sigh of relief. The characterisation is excellent which sure is a skill in a short story and the author cleverly shows how friendship changes over time, in this case very dramatically.
Number three is ‘Goblin’ - download the Goblin app to help to lose weight but at your own risk. So clever, vivid and I don’t know what’s wrong with me but the outcome makes me laugh! I’m going into therapy shortly.
The story I find the creepiest is ‘Bad Dolls’ but that’s probably because vintage dolls freak me out. Mackenzie moves back home after a death in the family but decides to rent an attic in an old Victorian house. She finds a porcelain doll concealed in a hatbox inside a cabinet and thus begins some very strange happenings. The story examines the varied impact of grief and guilt in a dark, creepy and haunting way.
This is a good collection and one I can recommend to fans of short stories and of Rachel Harrison. She doesn’t leave you feeling short changed as some short stories do. They aren’t too horrifying, old dolls aside, but they’re probably cleverer than sock you between the eyes horror as they’re more memorable. This would be a perfect October read for Halloween season.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 28, 2023
2⭐
Genre ~ fiction
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Est page Count ~ 132
Audio length ~3 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, Phoebe Strole
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ bulimia, references to suicide
I have no clue why this is marketed as horror. Seriously my mind is totally boggled by this. Horror to me is movies like the Saw franchise or Nightmare on Elm Street. Something that's bloody and gory and scares the bejesus outta me and this didn't even come close to making me want to listen with the lights on. I seem to be an outlier here.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan purchases a magic 8 ball. But this isn't like the one I had as a kid, this one gives more interesting answers. I liked this one the most because it seems to lead her to her true destiny.
Bachelorette
Natalie's childhood bff, Hayley, is getting married, but there's someone else planning the bachelorette party, someone who thinks they're the bff. The party turns hella weird at the end. If I had to pick this one would be the most horror like one. Probably a good idea to find a new bff.
I related to this one the most. Probably 20 years ago my bff brought a new friend into our mix. This new friend thought she knew MY bff better then I did after like 15 years I had put in already. Here's the story ~ she offered her cinnamon gum. I said she's allergic. New friend says no she's not. I give her my raised brow, like really you're questioning me?, so she asks her...guess what? She's allergic to cinnamon. Peace out newbie.
Goblin
Meg is trying to lose weight before she goes to her ex's wedding. Her and her friend download the Goblin app and he's a real thing that comes and swats food out of your hand if it's not healthy for you. This one bugged me the most because this little dude threw out perfectly fine food ~ ranch dip, a chocolate bar, Alfredo sauce....wasteful!
Bad Dolls
Mackenzie is back in her hometown after her sisters suicide. There's grief and a creepy doll that I wouldn't want to sleep next to.
Overall, not really for me, but at least it was a quick 4am can't sleep listen. Did I nod off and miss something? Not likely since once my eyes are open I'm usually up until my after dinner couch nap. I would have liked a better title as well because it makes no sense. There is one bad doll and she's in the last story. A title that included all 4 stories would have been better IMO.
Narration notes:
Each narrator did a perfectly fine job. Usually I do enjoy when there are multiple narrators, but since this was 4 individual short stories I don't think it was necessary. I can think of many other books that could have greatly benefited from multiple more than this one.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ fiction
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 6, 2022
Est page Count ~ 132
Audio length ~3 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, Phoebe Strole
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ bulimia, references to suicide
I have no clue why this is marketed as horror. Seriously my mind is totally boggled by this. Horror to me is movies like the Saw franchise or Nightmare on Elm Street. Something that's bloody and gory and scares the bejesus outta me and this didn't even come close to making me want to listen with the lights on. I seem to be an outlier here.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
Jordan purchases a magic 8 ball. But this isn't like the one I had as a kid, this one gives more interesting answers. I liked this one the most because it seems to lead her to her true destiny.
Bachelorette
Natalie's childhood bff, Hayley, is getting married, but there's someone else planning the bachelorette party, someone who thinks they're the bff. The party turns hella weird at the end. If I had to pick this one would be the most horror like one. Probably a good idea to find a new bff.
I related to this one the most. Probably 20 years ago my bff brought a new friend into our mix. This new friend thought she knew MY bff better then I did after like 15 years I had put in already. Here's the story ~ she offered her cinnamon gum. I said she's allergic. New friend says no she's not. I give her my raised brow, like really you're questioning me?, so she asks her...guess what? She's allergic to cinnamon. Peace out newbie.
Goblin
Meg is trying to lose weight before she goes to her ex's wedding. Her and her friend download the Goblin app and he's a real thing that comes and swats food out of your hand if it's not healthy for you. This one bugged me the most because this little dude threw out perfectly fine food ~ ranch dip, a chocolate bar, Alfredo sauce....wasteful!
Bad Dolls
Mackenzie is back in her hometown after her sisters suicide. There's grief and a creepy doll that I wouldn't want to sleep next to.
Overall, not really for me, but at least it was a quick 4am can't sleep listen. Did I nod off and miss something? Not likely since once my eyes are open I'm usually up until my after dinner couch nap. I would have liked a better title as well because it makes no sense. There is one bad doll and she's in the last story. A title that included all 4 stories would have been better IMO.
Narration notes:
Each narrator did a perfectly fine job. Usually I do enjoy when there are multiple narrators, but since this was 4 individual short stories I don't think it was necessary. I can think of many other books that could have greatly benefited from multiple more than this one.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 5, 2024
A Good Title!
Bad Dolls is a book about four different stories that are a bit horror, but not horrific. The stories are all very good and beautifully written.
Reply Hazy, Try Again, is the first story in this book. And it is about a woman who finds an eight ball at a flea market and how she lets it change her life.
The next story is Bachelorette. A woman is invited to a bachelorette party and goes down memory lane on her own.
Goblin is about a woman who uses a goblin to help her lose weight. But her relationship with her goblin doesn’t end well.
And in Bad Dolls, the story is about a woman who is visiting her family after her sister dies. The woman finds a doll. And the doll steals the show.
This book is about a woman in each story. It feels like the same woman in each story. Just different names and different features. The characters feel the same.
I give this book four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Bad Dolls is a book about four different stories that are a bit horror, but not horrific. The stories are all very good and beautifully written.
Reply Hazy, Try Again, is the first story in this book. And it is about a woman who finds an eight ball at a flea market and how she lets it change her life.
The next story is Bachelorette. A woman is invited to a bachelorette party and goes down memory lane on her own.
Goblin is about a woman who uses a goblin to help her lose weight. But her relationship with her goblin doesn’t end well.
And in Bad Dolls, the story is about a woman who is visiting her family after her sister dies. The woman finds a doll. And the doll steals the show.
This book is about a woman in each story. It feels like the same woman in each story. Just different names and different features. The characters feel the same.
I give this book four stars. ✨✨✨✨
December 28, 2022
BAD DOLLS by Rachel Harrison (The Return, Cackle, Such Sharp Teeth)
Release Date: December 6th, 2022 from Berkley
Genre: Adult Horror Fiction, Short Stories, Audio/eBook Only, Thriller, Female-Centered
Themes/Sub-Genres: Female friendships, queer relationships, supernatural, bachelorette party, jealousy, ritualistic sacrifice, disordered eating, diets, grief, siblings, family, death, hinted suicide, creepy dolls, trauma, therapy
What You Need to Know: This is a short story collection from author Rachel Harrison only available in eBook or Audiobook. There are 4 stories.
“Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
“Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
“Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
“Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
My Reading Experience:
These stories were all exceptional. Harrison's storytelling is especially intimate and compelling in the short form. I knew this to be the case having read three of her novels but this was my first time reading any of her short stories and I could not believe how fast the up front investment takes place.
I'm immediately drawn in by the female leads of each story.
I highlighted so many lines. I can share some that aren't spoilery.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
"I typically felt immediate guilt after any impulse purchase, even something as small as gum at the register."
.
“Maggie has perfect skin, and she swears by Cetaphil.”
The narrator in this story is indecisive, something I don't typically relate to but I did 100% relate to her anxieties and the way she over-analyzed situations.
Bachelorette
“Why do we, as a society, reward people for getting married?”
Oh my goodness, I saw myself in Nat. At this party with all these women and complicated friendships with uncomfortable dynamics. I loved it.
" It’s absolutely insufferable when someone tells you you’re being quiet when actually you’re being ignored."
Goblin
"It didn’t seem profound anymore. It didn’t make me feel good. It felt like a prison sentence."
This story. The horrible, awful, painful struggle of body image, emotional strongholds with food, disordered eating, fad diets, you name it--it's in here. So relatable and this fucking app with a goddamn actual goblin that fat shames and attacks you like your own guilt and shame in your head?? Fucking brilliant.
Bad Dolls
"There was plenty of blame to go around. It drifted through the house, moving room to room, a faceless ghost."
This one deals with grief and loss and family dynamics and a haunting...even a medium named Sadie! Yay! What a treat. I liked everything about how this story feels while I was reading it. Impending doom, self sabotage, the hurt, the anger, the confused feelings and then this scary doll just showing up and being creepy as fuck through it all...so, so incredibly good.
My final recommendation: If you're looking for horror centered around the female experience, enjoy being in a narrator's head that you can relate to, and love authentic dialog and characters that feel real...even laugh-out-loud funny sometimes, this is your jam. Perfect for fans who haven't jumped on the Rachel Harrison bandwagon yet and just want a sample of how she writes.
Comps: Similar voice/storytelling as T. Kingfisher, Caroline Kepnes, Kelly Link, Meg Elison, Sarah Gailey, Sarah Langan, Megan Abbott, and Sara Gran
Release Date: December 6th, 2022 from Berkley
Genre: Adult Horror Fiction, Short Stories, Audio/eBook Only, Thriller, Female-Centered
Themes/Sub-Genres: Female friendships, queer relationships, supernatural, bachelorette party, jealousy, ritualistic sacrifice, disordered eating, diets, grief, siblings, family, death, hinted suicide, creepy dolls, trauma, therapy
What You Need to Know: This is a short story collection from author Rachel Harrison only available in eBook or Audiobook. There are 4 stories.
“Reply Hazy, Try Again,” an indecisive young woman finds a mysterious Magic 8 Ball that might just have the answers she’s been looking for...or might lead her down a path of self-destruction.
“Bachelorette,” a bridesmaid attends her childhood best friend’s bachelorette weekend, only to discover the itinerary may demand more than she’s willing to sacrifice.
“Goblin,” an unusually brutal dieting app wreaks havoc on the life of an insecure woman preparing to attend her ex’s wedding.
“Bad Dolls,” after a death in the family, a wayward young woman comes into possession of a strange porcelain doll that could offer a connection to her lost sister.
My Reading Experience:
These stories were all exceptional. Harrison's storytelling is especially intimate and compelling in the short form. I knew this to be the case having read three of her novels but this was my first time reading any of her short stories and I could not believe how fast the up front investment takes place.
I'm immediately drawn in by the female leads of each story.
I highlighted so many lines. I can share some that aren't spoilery.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
"I typically felt immediate guilt after any impulse purchase, even something as small as gum at the register."
.
“Maggie has perfect skin, and she swears by Cetaphil.”
The narrator in this story is indecisive, something I don't typically relate to but I did 100% relate to her anxieties and the way she over-analyzed situations.
Bachelorette
“Why do we, as a society, reward people for getting married?”
Oh my goodness, I saw myself in Nat. At this party with all these women and complicated friendships with uncomfortable dynamics. I loved it.
" It’s absolutely insufferable when someone tells you you’re being quiet when actually you’re being ignored."
Goblin
"It didn’t seem profound anymore. It didn’t make me feel good. It felt like a prison sentence."
This story. The horrible, awful, painful struggle of body image, emotional strongholds with food, disordered eating, fad diets, you name it--it's in here. So relatable and this fucking app with a goddamn actual goblin that fat shames and attacks you like your own guilt and shame in your head?? Fucking brilliant.
Bad Dolls
"There was plenty of blame to go around. It drifted through the house, moving room to room, a faceless ghost."
This one deals with grief and loss and family dynamics and a haunting...even a medium named Sadie! Yay! What a treat. I liked everything about how this story feels while I was reading it. Impending doom, self sabotage, the hurt, the anger, the confused feelings and then this scary doll just showing up and being creepy as fuck through it all...so, so incredibly good.
My final recommendation: If you're looking for horror centered around the female experience, enjoy being in a narrator's head that you can relate to, and love authentic dialog and characters that feel real...even laugh-out-loud funny sometimes, this is your jam. Perfect for fans who haven't jumped on the Rachel Harrison bandwagon yet and just want a sample of how she writes.
Comps: Similar voice/storytelling as T. Kingfisher, Caroline Kepnes, Kelly Link, Meg Elison, Sarah Gailey, Sarah Langan, Megan Abbott, and Sara Gran
May 6, 2024
"Goblin" was my favorite story as well as the last few lines of the story "Bad Dolls" but overall probably my least favorite Rachel Harrison
January 15, 2023
I don't think I'm really Rachel Harrison's target audience, but I really enjoyed these stories. My only complaint is that there weren't more. This collection is only four short stories and comes in at a little over 100 pages (kudos to the author and publisher for charging appropriately for a short book). Harrison is an author who seems to get better with each new book she puts out.
I'm not really sure what I'd classify these stories as... there are hints of horror and fantasy, but mostly they're about the main characters who have some unusual things happening.
I'd recommend this collection if you're wanting to get a preview of Rachel Harrison's writing, but don't want to commit to a full novel. I've read The Return and Cackle, and liked both. My personal ranking would be:
1)Cackle (4 stars)
2)Bad Dolls (4 stars)
3)The Return (3 stars)
I'm not really sure what I'd classify these stories as... there are hints of horror and fantasy, but mostly they're about the main characters who have some unusual things happening.
I'd recommend this collection if you're wanting to get a preview of Rachel Harrison's writing, but don't want to commit to a full novel. I've read The Return and Cackle, and liked both. My personal ranking would be:
1)Cackle (4 stars)
2)Bad Dolls (4 stars)
3)The Return (3 stars)
November 20, 2023
Creepy , Fun Read
Absolutely loved all the stories; who doesn’t have an 8 ball memory lol. These were so fun & creepy to read. I definitely want to read more by this author.
Absolutely loved all the stories; who doesn’t have an 8 ball memory lol. These were so fun & creepy to read. I definitely want to read more by this author.
July 28, 2024
This is a decent collection of horror shorts. I enjoyed all the pieces and the collection as a whole.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
December 31, 2023
BAD DOLLS [2022] By Rachel Harrison
My Review 4.0 Out Of 5.0 Stars
I like this "new to-me" author's writing style. Her sense of humor caused me to LOL several times. This short horror story collection from the award-winning Rachel Harrison was an absolute delight and I am definitely counting down the days till I chomp down on her bestselling novel "Such Sharp Teeth".
In collections of short stories, horror obviously included, I typically rate each entry and then average to calculate the number of stars I award. There are a mere four tales that comprise “Bad Dolls Stories”.
The first story, “Reply Hazy. Try Again,” was my favorite. The writing style reflected both skill and economy, and the dialogue between our protagonist and her Magic 8-Ball was consistently catchy and humorous. I found myself laughing out loud despite knowing I was going to receive another “Will you SHUT up?” from the other side of the King Size Bed. Rating 5.0 Stars
“Bachelorette” was the second story, and on the surface, it was about a woman attending her childhood best friend’s bachelorette week-end. The young woman who arranged all of the week-end activities was her childhood best friend’s best friend throughout college. This was a tense read with little levity to be found. I found it to be thought-provoking in that it posed several questions for the reader to ponder. In my mind, it was about the power of personal growth and the birth of rich new memories replacing one’s old self and potentially even one’s view of the world. It was drilled down to the question: How strong are the bonds of friendship? When not nurtured do the bonds fray over time and diminish in both strength and personal influence? In my opinion the bonds of friendship can figuratively die a lingering death when not lovingly tended. The story had more to offer us fans of the dark side. The underbelly of this story was downright creepy if not a tad chilling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
The third story “Goblin” had its light moments to be sure. Who among us reading (“Goblin”) have not aggressively dieted or knew someone who had a weight problem that required serious oversight and management? Frankly, I laughed out loud a couple of times. This one did not impress me as having a lot of depth, at least on the surface. I was surprised by the ending, but it only allowed me to see the story as an imaginary and vicarious story of a person’s fight for control of those numbers on the scale. The busybody helper “Goblin” learned the hard way how anger and rage can go hand in hand with fighting every second of every day for control when one is so damned hungry and wants to throw something heavy at the mirror. I rated it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.0 Stars since GR does not consider the fractions.
The last tale and most serious tackles a sister's suicide and it is certainly well written with crazy situations but it was no laughing matter. This story was tailor made for fans of the occult, the paranormal. I am not actually sure what I thought about the story. It did not resonate with me, and I allotted a rating of 3.0 Stars.
My overall impression is that Rachel Harrison is going to be an author I will be following. This collection of stories was averaged and the book was rated overall 4.0 Stars.
READABLE SHORT STORIES OF HORROR RENDERED WITH STYLE, HUMOR, AND INTENSITY
My Review 4.0 Out Of 5.0 Stars
I like this "new to-me" author's writing style. Her sense of humor caused me to LOL several times. This short horror story collection from the award-winning Rachel Harrison was an absolute delight and I am definitely counting down the days till I chomp down on her bestselling novel "Such Sharp Teeth".
In collections of short stories, horror obviously included, I typically rate each entry and then average to calculate the number of stars I award. There are a mere four tales that comprise “Bad Dolls Stories”.
The first story, “Reply Hazy. Try Again,” was my favorite. The writing style reflected both skill and economy, and the dialogue between our protagonist and her Magic 8-Ball was consistently catchy and humorous. I found myself laughing out loud despite knowing I was going to receive another “Will you SHUT up?” from the other side of the King Size Bed. Rating 5.0 Stars
“Bachelorette” was the second story, and on the surface, it was about a woman attending her childhood best friend’s bachelorette week-end. The young woman who arranged all of the week-end activities was her childhood best friend’s best friend throughout college. This was a tense read with little levity to be found. I found it to be thought-provoking in that it posed several questions for the reader to ponder. In my mind, it was about the power of personal growth and the birth of rich new memories replacing one’s old self and potentially even one’s view of the world. It was drilled down to the question: How strong are the bonds of friendship? When not nurtured do the bonds fray over time and diminish in both strength and personal influence? In my opinion the bonds of friendship can figuratively die a lingering death when not lovingly tended. The story had more to offer us fans of the dark side. The underbelly of this story was downright creepy if not a tad chilling. Rating 4.0 Stars.
The third story “Goblin” had its light moments to be sure. Who among us reading (“Goblin”) have not aggressively dieted or knew someone who had a weight problem that required serious oversight and management? Frankly, I laughed out loud a couple of times. This one did not impress me as having a lot of depth, at least on the surface. I was surprised by the ending, but it only allowed me to see the story as an imaginary and vicarious story of a person’s fight for control of those numbers on the scale. The busybody helper “Goblin” learned the hard way how anger and rage can go hand in hand with fighting every second of every day for control when one is so damned hungry and wants to throw something heavy at the mirror. I rated it 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.0 Stars since GR does not consider the fractions.
The last tale and most serious tackles a sister's suicide and it is certainly well written with crazy situations but it was no laughing matter. This story was tailor made for fans of the occult, the paranormal. I am not actually sure what I thought about the story. It did not resonate with me, and I allotted a rating of 3.0 Stars.
My overall impression is that Rachel Harrison is going to be an author I will be following. This collection of stories was averaged and the book was rated overall 4.0 Stars.
READABLE SHORT STORIES OF HORROR RENDERED WITH STYLE, HUMOR, AND INTENSITY
December 8, 2022
This was a really great collection of stories! There was something for pretty much everyone - blood sacrifices, crazed dating app goblins, possessed magic 8 balls, and creepy dolls!
This was my first selection by Rachel Harrison and won't be the last. There were some stories that were almost "campy" but the rest were actually not bad for horror short stories. They were all easy to get into, read well, and have no loose ends.
This is well worth the purchase for a night of easy horror reading!
This was my first selection by Rachel Harrison and won't be the last. There were some stories that were almost "campy" but the rest were actually not bad for horror short stories. They were all easy to get into, read well, and have no loose ends.
This is well worth the purchase for a night of easy horror reading!
October 31, 2022
I loved how incredibly unique and enjoyably clever these short stories were!
Goblin, which explored a savage new dieting app and The Bachelorette, which essentially speaks for itself were my favourites of the four. However, Bad Dolls, was easily the “spookiest” of the collection.
Coming in just under 4 hours, I found this ensemble of short fiction to be really well balanced and makes for such a quick listen, ultimately making it the perfect way to end your #SpookySeason reads!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
Goblin, which explored a savage new dieting app and The Bachelorette, which essentially speaks for itself were my favourites of the four. However, Bad Dolls, was easily the “spookiest” of the collection.
Coming in just under 4 hours, I found this ensemble of short fiction to be really well balanced and makes for such a quick listen, ultimately making it the perfect way to end your #SpookySeason reads!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
September 27, 2022
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/09/26/...
Rachel Harrison continues to impress me, and the fact that I enjoyed Bad Dolls so much says a lot! Short fiction isn’t typically my format of choice, but after the great time I had with both the author’s novels The Return and Cackle, I thought it worthwhile to give her horror story collection a try when I was offered an early listening copy from Penguin Audio. And I’m so glad I did.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This first story follows an indecisive young woman who impulsively buys a Magic 8 ball from a flea market. At first, our protagonist treats the whole thing like a joke, posing random advice-seeking questions to the toy just to see the replies she’ll get. Soon though, the ball appears to take on a mind of its own, one that impossibly seems to know more than it should.
As creepy as this all sounds, the story is actually quite light on horror and more focused on human drama, touching upon subjects like work, life, and relationships. The idea behind it is very unique though, and I liked that there was a strong paranormal or uncanny element.
Bachelorette
This was perhaps my favorite story of the collection. “If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.” Best first line ever! Our main character Natalie is invited to the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend, Haley. The two women have always been close, but ever since Haley moved away for college and made new friends, Natalie has started worrying about them drifting apart. So when one of Haley’s sorority sisters rents a beautiful rustic cottage for the bachelorette weekend, Natalie makes a valiant effort to participate in all the activities and pretend she is enjoying herself for Haley’s sake, even though she feels like an outsider the entire time. Still, even best friends have their limits, and there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Many of Rachel Harrison’s stories are centered on female friendships, and this tale was no exception, looking at the evolution of relationships and how people’s lives change over time. Lots of complex feelings explored in this one too, especially the main character’s insecurities and personal fears. Plenty of humor was involved, and the relatability of Natalie’s voice also made this story very easy to get into, helped by the amazing performance of the audiobook narrator.
Goblin
A woman and her friend decide to try out a trendy new app that claims to be able to help them with their dieting goals, except our main character is someone who has recently recovered from an eating disorder. Supposedly, this app works by summoning an adorable little goblin-like mascot to give you encouragement anytime you need a bit of motivation or moral support. Our protagonist thinks there must be something seriously wrong with her app though, since her goblin turns out to be a nasty piece of work.
I struggled a bit with this one, trying to wrap my head around the basic concept. In the end, I liked it, but it’s also the perfect example of a short story that could have greatly benefited from being longer, just so the ideas and the world and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
Bad Dolls
In this story, a woman returns to her hometown following the death of her little sister to be closer to her family. After going through and tidying up the things in the room that she is renting, she finds a mysterious old porcelain doll which no one seems to know to whom it belonged or where it came from.
Out of the offerings in this collection, this tale had the closest feel to a traditional horror story. Dolls have always creeped me out, so this one definitely gave me chills. Like “Goblin”, I think “Bad Dolls” could have been longer, simply because there’s enough content here beyond the horror aspects to warrant a full-length novel, such as the depth of themes involved like family, grief, and sacrifice.
All told though, I highly recommend this collection, whether you’re an existing fan of Rachel Harrison or are completely new to her work. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest starting with an author’s short stories but I’m making an exception with this book because, short as they are, the tales within are a very good reflection of Harrison’s knack for storytelling and her fun twists on horror. Everything she writes is now a must-read for me.
Rachel Harrison continues to impress me, and the fact that I enjoyed Bad Dolls so much says a lot! Short fiction isn’t typically my format of choice, but after the great time I had with both the author’s novels The Return and Cackle, I thought it worthwhile to give her horror story collection a try when I was offered an early listening copy from Penguin Audio. And I’m so glad I did.
Reply Hazy, Try Again
This first story follows an indecisive young woman who impulsively buys a Magic 8 ball from a flea market. At first, our protagonist treats the whole thing like a joke, posing random advice-seeking questions to the toy just to see the replies she’ll get. Soon though, the ball appears to take on a mind of its own, one that impossibly seems to know more than it should.
As creepy as this all sounds, the story is actually quite light on horror and more focused on human drama, touching upon subjects like work, life, and relationships. The idea behind it is very unique though, and I liked that there was a strong paranormal or uncanny element.
Bachelorette
This was perhaps my favorite story of the collection. “If I’d been told in advance about the blood sacrifice, I would have made up an excuse not to attend the bachelorette party.” Best first line ever! Our main character Natalie is invited to the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend, Haley. The two women have always been close, but ever since Haley moved away for college and made new friends, Natalie has started worrying about them drifting apart. So when one of Haley’s sorority sisters rents a beautiful rustic cottage for the bachelorette weekend, Natalie makes a valiant effort to participate in all the activities and pretend she is enjoying herself for Haley’s sake, even though she feels like an outsider the entire time. Still, even best friends have their limits, and there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Many of Rachel Harrison’s stories are centered on female friendships, and this tale was no exception, looking at the evolution of relationships and how people’s lives change over time. Lots of complex feelings explored in this one too, especially the main character’s insecurities and personal fears. Plenty of humor was involved, and the relatability of Natalie’s voice also made this story very easy to get into, helped by the amazing performance of the audiobook narrator.
Goblin
A woman and her friend decide to try out a trendy new app that claims to be able to help them with their dieting goals, except our main character is someone who has recently recovered from an eating disorder. Supposedly, this app works by summoning an adorable little goblin-like mascot to give you encouragement anytime you need a bit of motivation or moral support. Our protagonist thinks there must be something seriously wrong with her app though, since her goblin turns out to be a nasty piece of work.
I struggled a bit with this one, trying to wrap my head around the basic concept. In the end, I liked it, but it’s also the perfect example of a short story that could have greatly benefited from being longer, just so the ideas and the world and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
Bad Dolls
In this story, a woman returns to her hometown following the death of her little sister to be closer to her family. After going through and tidying up the things in the room that she is renting, she finds a mysterious old porcelain doll which no one seems to know to whom it belonged or where it came from.
Out of the offerings in this collection, this tale had the closest feel to a traditional horror story. Dolls have always creeped me out, so this one definitely gave me chills. Like “Goblin”, I think “Bad Dolls” could have been longer, simply because there’s enough content here beyond the horror aspects to warrant a full-length novel, such as the depth of themes involved like family, grief, and sacrifice.
All told though, I highly recommend this collection, whether you’re an existing fan of Rachel Harrison or are completely new to her work. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest starting with an author’s short stories but I’m making an exception with this book because, short as they are, the tales within are a very good reflection of Harrison’s knack for storytelling and her fun twists on horror. Everything she writes is now a must-read for me.
November 30, 2023
Thank you the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing for my gifted copy of this audiobook.
I love anthologies. I’m a sucker for any horror / creepy anthology I can get my hands on.
This was perfect for anytime of year, especially after Halloween when you’re missing all things creepy. It gave me Grady Hendrix vibes. If only the doll from Bad Dolls could befriend Pupkin (How To Sell A Haunted House), then we’d really be in for a treat.
Each story was unnerving, they all had an unsettling vibe and then just poof…the story stopped, leaving you sitting there like ummm what is happening…and feeling so uncomfortable. It was as if you only got little snippets of the full story…which typically would irk me but it worked well for this collection of short stories.
So keep an eye out for fake friends, weight loss goblins, and weird dolls climbing down the shelves at night.
Sleep well my friends…
September 29, 2022
Four horror stories that "explore themes of body image, complicated female friendship, heartbreak and hauntings".
Reply Hazy, Try Again - when a Magic 8 ball takes on a mind of its own.... but is it helpful or harmful?
Bachelorette - a blood sacrifice? Bitch, please... when your childhood best friend moves away and you jump at the chance to attend her bachelorette. Best friends shouldn't cross some lines.
Goblin - this new app will help you with your weight loss goals. This encouraging goblin isn't exactly... encouraging. App gone wild!
Bad Dolls - if I came home after my sister died and found an old porcelain doll, that would be a big old nope for me! *shiver*
For a horror lover like me, I would put these more in the light horror category with more of a life lesson within each story. Bad Dolls being the more true to horror nature. And if you know me at all, you KNOW I have a *thing* with dolls. Especially porcelain ones. I once was a guest in a home and there was a porcelain doll in their bay window in the bedroom I was staying in. Once everyone was asleep, I took the doll and placed it outside my bedroom door and then stuffed a towel in the tiny crack at the bottom of the door so it couldn't get to me. :D
Harrison is an author where I get excited when I see her name. The Return didn't work for me but Cackle was a freakin' delight! Like with most short story collections, some worked better than the others with Bad Dolls being my favorite. I'm really looking forward to reading her newest, Such Sharp Teeth because while I normally steer away from Werewolf stories, I know Harrison's style is going to make this very entertaining and enjoyable for me.
For those new to the horror genre, and/or like it on the lighter side, I'd most definitely recommend Harrison's novels.
Reply Hazy, Try Again - when a Magic 8 ball takes on a mind of its own.... but is it helpful or harmful?
Bachelorette - a blood sacrifice? Bitch, please... when your childhood best friend moves away and you jump at the chance to attend her bachelorette. Best friends shouldn't cross some lines.
Goblin - this new app will help you with your weight loss goals. This encouraging goblin isn't exactly... encouraging. App gone wild!
Bad Dolls - if I came home after my sister died and found an old porcelain doll, that would be a big old nope for me! *shiver*
For a horror lover like me, I would put these more in the light horror category with more of a life lesson within each story. Bad Dolls being the more true to horror nature. And if you know me at all, you KNOW I have a *thing* with dolls. Especially porcelain ones. I once was a guest in a home and there was a porcelain doll in their bay window in the bedroom I was staying in. Once everyone was asleep, I took the doll and placed it outside my bedroom door and then stuffed a towel in the tiny crack at the bottom of the door so it couldn't get to me. :D
Harrison is an author where I get excited when I see her name. The Return didn't work for me but Cackle was a freakin' delight! Like with most short story collections, some worked better than the others with Bad Dolls being my favorite. I'm really looking forward to reading her newest, Such Sharp Teeth because while I normally steer away from Werewolf stories, I know Harrison's style is going to make this very entertaining and enjoyable for me.
For those new to the horror genre, and/or like it on the lighter side, I'd most definitely recommend Harrison's novels.
April 18, 2023
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Gotta love a good eerie short story!
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Gotta love a good eerie short story!
December 6, 2023
Titulo: Bad Dolls
Autor: Rachel Harrison
Motivo de lectura: Letras Macabras (Isla Macabra 2023)
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
Esta antologia aparecio de casualidad como una recomendacion de goodreads, y me decidi a darle una oportunidad, esta puesta bajo el genero de terror, pero realmente solo hay dos cuentos de terror (Goblin y Bad Dolls), el resto aborda la esencia humana, los temores, las inseguridades, los celos y la envidia.
Esta antologia incluye cuatro cuentos.
Reply Hazy, Try Again: esta es la historia de una mujer (Jordan) quien compra una "bola 8" (esas que se hace una pregunta, y la bola te da una respuesta). En general Jordan es una mujer indecisa, y eeste nuevo juguete la lleva a un espiral de caida obsesivo donde esta mujer hace preguntas de manera conpulsiva, haciendo que todas las decisiones en realidad recaigan en la respuesta de este objeto.
Diria que este cuento es mas bien realismo magico, y no tanto terror. Incluso siento que la autora intenta explorar la esencia humana y las relaciones y lazos que entablamos. Recuerda Jordan, las respuestas nunca estan afuera, todas las respuestas a todas las preguntas estan en nuestro interior. 3/5
Bachelorette: Natalia y Hailey son amigas desde la adolescencia, esos tiempos donde separarte de tu amiga un instante no es una opcion. El tiempo pasa, crecen y aunque mantienen cierto contacto las cosas no son igual. Natalia recibira una invitacion a la boda de Hailey, donde Nat oficiara de una de las damas de honor (son varias). Previamente habra una despedida de soltera, y es en este punto donde todo se va al demonio. En la trama estara presente los celos, la competencia por la amistad, la desconfianza, el intento de control de absolutamente cada detalle (dejando cero espacio para la espontaneidad), esto sumado a un pacto de dudoso origen.
La autora ahonda en lo que ocurre cuando el lazo de una amistad se termina mucho antes de que los involucrados se den cuenta, el dolor que se siente, cuando el cariño esta presente, pero el fin es algo irremontable. 4/5
Goblin: La presion por cumplir con una dieta lleva a dos amigas a descargar una aplicacion "Goblin" (duende), en teoria esta aplicacion ayuda a controlar que se come. Meg, la protagonista se encontrara con un duelo increible, donde "que gane el mejor" es lo unico que cuenta. No puedo dar mas detalle porque seria un gran spoiler. Hasta ahora mi cuento favorito por su originalidad. 5/5
Bad Dolls: Mackenzie (la protagonista) lidia como puede con una perdida familiar. Al volver a la casa de sus padres, se reencuentra con su viejo amor de la secundaria.
La autora ahonda en el duelo, el dolor, los recuerdos, la confusion.
Este cuento tiene su cuota de terror que involucra un jueguete muy particular, espeluznante. Final abrupto lamentablemente. 2/5
Autor: Rachel Harrison
Motivo de lectura: Letras Macabras (Isla Macabra 2023)
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 3.5/5
Esta antologia aparecio de casualidad como una recomendacion de goodreads, y me decidi a darle una oportunidad, esta puesta bajo el genero de terror, pero realmente solo hay dos cuentos de terror (Goblin y Bad Dolls), el resto aborda la esencia humana, los temores, las inseguridades, los celos y la envidia.
Esta antologia incluye cuatro cuentos.
Reply Hazy, Try Again: esta es la historia de una mujer (Jordan) quien compra una "bola 8" (esas que se hace una pregunta, y la bola te da una respuesta). En general Jordan es una mujer indecisa, y eeste nuevo juguete la lleva a un espiral de caida obsesivo donde esta mujer hace preguntas de manera conpulsiva, haciendo que todas las decisiones en realidad recaigan en la respuesta de este objeto.
Diria que este cuento es mas bien realismo magico, y no tanto terror. Incluso siento que la autora intenta explorar la esencia humana y las relaciones y lazos que entablamos. Recuerda Jordan, las respuestas nunca estan afuera, todas las respuestas a todas las preguntas estan en nuestro interior. 3/5
Bachelorette: Natalia y Hailey son amigas desde la adolescencia, esos tiempos donde separarte de tu amiga un instante no es una opcion. El tiempo pasa, crecen y aunque mantienen cierto contacto las cosas no son igual. Natalia recibira una invitacion a la boda de Hailey, donde Nat oficiara de una de las damas de honor (son varias). Previamente habra una despedida de soltera, y es en este punto donde todo se va al demonio. En la trama estara presente los celos, la competencia por la amistad, la desconfianza, el intento de control de absolutamente cada detalle (dejando cero espacio para la espontaneidad), esto sumado a un pacto de dudoso origen.
La autora ahonda en lo que ocurre cuando el lazo de una amistad se termina mucho antes de que los involucrados se den cuenta, el dolor que se siente, cuando el cariño esta presente, pero el fin es algo irremontable. 4/5
Goblin: La presion por cumplir con una dieta lleva a dos amigas a descargar una aplicacion "Goblin" (duende), en teoria esta aplicacion ayuda a controlar que se come. Meg, la protagonista se encontrara con un duelo increible, donde "que gane el mejor" es lo unico que cuenta. No puedo dar mas detalle porque seria un gran spoiler. Hasta ahora mi cuento favorito por su originalidad. 5/5
Bad Dolls: Mackenzie (la protagonista) lidia como puede con una perdida familiar. Al volver a la casa de sus padres, se reencuentra con su viejo amor de la secundaria.
La autora ahonda en el duelo, el dolor, los recuerdos, la confusion.
Este cuento tiene su cuota de terror que involucra un jueguete muy particular, espeluznante. Final abrupto lamentablemente. 2/5
May 20, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up - I love Rachel Harrison
February 24, 2023
pleasantly average. like, average plus, maybe.
the first story was nothing special, and it definitely wasn't horror. the second one, bachelorette, was more fun. again, not really horror, but it had some weird vibes and the final conclusion, while not groundbreaking, was nice. the third one, goblin, was the highlight for me. i was dubious of it at first, but it had great development. the ending was just fantastic. huge content warning for graphic depiction of an eating disorder, though.
the titular bad dolls was... something. i liked it at first; the atmosphere was nice, i was interested in the characters and their family issues. however, the main character was just so unlikeable. i think her becoming worse and worse was the point of the story, but it was just annoying to experience. i disliked the ending too, the emotional "pay-off" was so frustrating.
this is a third 3-star book i've read from rachel harrison. the author's level is steady and fun enough, but something always stops me from truly liking her works. i'll keep reading them, though, because this flavor of cozy horror is totally my vibe.
the first story was nothing special, and it definitely wasn't horror. the second one, bachelorette, was more fun. again, not really horror, but it had some weird vibes and the final conclusion, while not groundbreaking, was nice. the third one, goblin, was the highlight for me. i was dubious of it at first, but it had great development. the ending was just fantastic. huge content warning for graphic depiction of an eating disorder, though.
the titular bad dolls was... something. i liked it at first; the atmosphere was nice, i was interested in the characters and their family issues. however, the main character was just so unlikeable. i think her becoming worse and worse was the point of the story, but it was just annoying to experience. i disliked the ending too, the emotional "pay-off" was so frustrating.
this is a third 3-star book i've read from rachel harrison. the author's level is steady and fun enough, but something always stops me from truly liking her works. i'll keep reading them, though, because this flavor of cozy horror is totally my vibe.
January 5, 2024
A collection of four short, dark stories that are creepy fun. My two favorites were "Bachelorette," about a young woman who attends the bachelorette party of her childhood best friend and finds more than she expects, and "Bad Dolls," a creepy haunted doll story.
February 25, 2023
So I read ‘the return’ by this author and really liked it. Then I didn’t really read anything else because it all seemed incorrectly labeled as horror. This is the first thing since that she’s put out that I thought would actually be horror. I was wrong. It’s not. These are more so four stories that are supposed to be tackling hard hitting topics like grief, indecision and dissatisfaction in life, complicated friendship, and body image/eating disorders.
Which is all fine and well if it wasn’t for these serious topics being almost impossible to care about or take seriously due to every single main character being as unlikeable and “not like the other girls” as possible. Pretty much every single story staaaank of “I’m better than you but also please empathize and relate to me because I’m going through things”.
Rachel also felt the need to add a half hearted spooky element to each story, that never really felt like it hit home as the story was dominated by a bitchy whiny character that the author apparently felt was relatable but just served to irritate me.
Honestly this whole thing just read very “I’m 14 and this is deep”, to me.
Obviously this is just my opinion of it, and if you related to this or got more out of it than me, then I’m truly happy for you. I’ve just realized now that I’m over it not being true horror, I still really hated what it turned out to be. Not because it wasn’t horror but because I just thought all the messaging was lost on characters I didn’t give a single care about due to the way they acted. I just felt like the message was so lost on me. This is not the kind of unlikeable that I personally relate to. And that’s not to say I can’t relate to some of the topics in this. I can. All too well. It’s just the execution.
I get some of the things talked about in these stories have a little more nuance to them and I’m not asking for the characters to be perfect. They were still just too much, imo, even with me trying to give them a little grace. It felt like the author was confusing stubborn and opinionated with just…stuck up and better than thou.
Here’s a small description on each story, you’re welcome:
Reply hazy, try again: A story about an indecisive girl who has a complicated friendship with a coworker. Finds a magic 8 ball. Not much else to say.
Bachelorette: a much more interesting story on female friendship over time. A bachelorette party gets a little dark when the MC is asked to make a sacrifice that she wasn’t willing to make. Lots of mean girl vibes. The mc did suck though.
Goblin: a story about a diet app that gives you a goblin to keep you in check. Eating disorder tones so if you have that trigger be careful with this one. The end was surprisingly disturbing.
Bad dolls: a girl finds an odd doll while she’s mourning her sisters death and contemplates her own bad decisions. It’s a meh grief story.
The second star is because Rachel Harrison did manage to surprise me with a few scenes. But it wasn’t enough to save this for me.
With how high the rating average is for this, I think I’m probably in the minority. So definitely don’t take my word for it!
Which is all fine and well if it wasn’t for these serious topics being almost impossible to care about or take seriously due to every single main character being as unlikeable and “not like the other girls” as possible. Pretty much every single story staaaank of “I’m better than you but also please empathize and relate to me because I’m going through things”.
Rachel also felt the need to add a half hearted spooky element to each story, that never really felt like it hit home as the story was dominated by a bitchy whiny character that the author apparently felt was relatable but just served to irritate me.
Honestly this whole thing just read very “I’m 14 and this is deep”, to me.
Obviously this is just my opinion of it, and if you related to this or got more out of it than me, then I’m truly happy for you. I’ve just realized now that I’m over it not being true horror, I still really hated what it turned out to be. Not because it wasn’t horror but because I just thought all the messaging was lost on characters I didn’t give a single care about due to the way they acted. I just felt like the message was so lost on me. This is not the kind of unlikeable that I personally relate to. And that’s not to say I can’t relate to some of the topics in this. I can. All too well. It’s just the execution.
I get some of the things talked about in these stories have a little more nuance to them and I’m not asking for the characters to be perfect. They were still just too much, imo, even with me trying to give them a little grace. It felt like the author was confusing stubborn and opinionated with just…stuck up and better than thou.
Here’s a small description on each story, you’re welcome:
Reply hazy, try again: A story about an indecisive girl who has a complicated friendship with a coworker. Finds a magic 8 ball. Not much else to say.
Bachelorette: a much more interesting story on female friendship over time. A bachelorette party gets a little dark when the MC is asked to make a sacrifice that she wasn’t willing to make. Lots of mean girl vibes. The mc did suck though.
Goblin: a story about a diet app that gives you a goblin to keep you in check. Eating disorder tones so if you have that trigger be careful with this one. The end was surprisingly disturbing.
Bad dolls: a girl finds an odd doll while she’s mourning her sisters death and contemplates her own bad decisions. It’s a meh grief story.
The second star is because Rachel Harrison did manage to surprise me with a few scenes. But it wasn’t enough to save this for me.
With how high the rating average is for this, I think I’m probably in the minority. So definitely don’t take my word for it!
December 7, 2022
✨ "I always imagined rage to be a red, chaotic state. But it's quiet and translucent and euphoric. A sister to freedom."
4.5⭐️
I went into this blind after seeing rave reviews and the last thing I expected was for a horror anthology to be such a hit in the feels. I love how very human and relatable stories are told through the guise of the dark and macabre in this enjoyable collection. The author has created beautifully unique tales using classic horror tropes while exploring themes such as love, womanhood, female friendships, grief, loss and letting go.
All four stories were creative and compelling, but the first was my favorite hands down. Brilliant, haunting and one of the most unforgettable anthologies I've ever read!
Reply Hazy - 5⭐️
Bachelorette - 3.5⭐️
Goblin - 4⭐️
Bad Dolls - 4.5⭐️
✨ "Why award memories superlatives? Wasn't it enough to have them, to have lived them? Why play favorites? It was stupid."
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
4.5⭐️
I went into this blind after seeing rave reviews and the last thing I expected was for a horror anthology to be such a hit in the feels. I love how very human and relatable stories are told through the guise of the dark and macabre in this enjoyable collection. The author has created beautifully unique tales using classic horror tropes while exploring themes such as love, womanhood, female friendships, grief, loss and letting go.
All four stories were creative and compelling, but the first was my favorite hands down. Brilliant, haunting and one of the most unforgettable anthologies I've ever read!
Reply Hazy - 5⭐️
Bachelorette - 3.5⭐️
Goblin - 4⭐️
Bad Dolls - 4.5⭐️
✨ "Why award memories superlatives? Wasn't it enough to have them, to have lived them? Why play favorites? It was stupid."
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
August 11, 2022
Narration: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
If you've been on the hunt for collection of short stories with a pretty unique take on the horror genre, look no further than Rachel Harrison's Bad Dolls - what a great collection! Since there were only a handful of stories, I thought the best way to do this review would be to break it down into a bunch of mini-reviews per each story, & then give ya'll my overall thoughts on the collection as a whole!
Reply Hazy, Try Again: This was a great way to open the collection, "Reply Hazy, Try Again" hits you with a big dose of nostalgia for Magic 8 Balls (maybe not this Magic 8 Ball, though). This story strays the farthest away from traditional horror, it was almost more of a relationship drama with a dash of fantasy, but it worked for me!
(4 Stars)
Bachelorette: Easily my favorite out the collection, "Bachelorette" really, really played on a lot of my own personal anxieties with lifelong friends & friend groups, in general. This story made me genuinely uncomfortable a handful of times & I was really surprised with the turn it took, definitely didn't see that coming at all!
(5 Stars)
Goblin: If you have any kind of aversion or triggers towards dieting & eating disorders, stay away from "Goblin" - this one really got to me, too. As someone who's been on a weight loss journey for quite some time now, this played into so many inner fears I have with fitness. & this had such a satisfying ending!
(4.5 Stars)
Bad Dolls: Out of the entire collection, "Bad Dolls" serves up the best dose of traditional horror - can't ever go wrong with a creepy porcelain doll! I really liked how Harrison tackled grief with this one, & dolls will never fail to freak me the hell out.
(4.5 Stars)
Overall, I had a great time listening to this & think it'll be perfect for spooky season! I desperately need to dive more into Harrison's backlist, really looking forward to Such Sharp Teeth!
Overall: 4 Stars
If you've been on the hunt for collection of short stories with a pretty unique take on the horror genre, look no further than Rachel Harrison's Bad Dolls - what a great collection! Since there were only a handful of stories, I thought the best way to do this review would be to break it down into a bunch of mini-reviews per each story, & then give ya'll my overall thoughts on the collection as a whole!
Reply Hazy, Try Again: This was a great way to open the collection, "Reply Hazy, Try Again" hits you with a big dose of nostalgia for Magic 8 Balls (maybe not this Magic 8 Ball, though). This story strays the farthest away from traditional horror, it was almost more of a relationship drama with a dash of fantasy, but it worked for me!
(4 Stars)
Bachelorette: Easily my favorite out the collection, "Bachelorette" really, really played on a lot of my own personal anxieties with lifelong friends & friend groups, in general. This story made me genuinely uncomfortable a handful of times & I was really surprised with the turn it took, definitely didn't see that coming at all!
(5 Stars)
Goblin: If you have any kind of aversion or triggers towards dieting & eating disorders, stay away from "Goblin" - this one really got to me, too. As someone who's been on a weight loss journey for quite some time now, this played into so many inner fears I have with fitness. & this had such a satisfying ending!
(4.5 Stars)
Bad Dolls: Out of the entire collection, "Bad Dolls" serves up the best dose of traditional horror - can't ever go wrong with a creepy porcelain doll! I really liked how Harrison tackled grief with this one, & dolls will never fail to freak me the hell out.
(4.5 Stars)
Overall, I had a great time listening to this & think it'll be perfect for spooky season! I desperately need to dive more into Harrison's backlist, really looking forward to Such Sharp Teeth!
August 4, 2023
This has four different stories in it. It’s very short. On my Kindle it was only 138 pages but it packs a punch!
June 23, 2024
Rachel Harrison can do literally anything. I think I’ve officially read (and loved) every single thing that she has published! Consider me a diehard Stan <333
October 28, 2022
Reply Hazy, Try Again ~ 4 stars ~ I was expecting something creepier, but I did love its overall message and the 8 Ball nostalgia!
Bachelorette ~ 5 stars ~ This did not go in the direction I’d expected! Like all of these stories, there is a great message within it and I am always down for a statement on the disturbing nature of conformity.
Goblin ~ 5 stars ~ After I finished this, these lines from Fly on the Wall by Thousand Foot Krutch kept going through my head: “I don’t think I need you anymore so take your words and your lies and just beat it!” That may not sound terribly profound but the song, as a whole, is. So is this story. I loved and related to its overall theme.
Bad Dolls ~ 5 stars ~ Haunting, tragic, and complex. A great finish to this short collection!
Average rating: 4.75 stars
Bachelorette ~ 5 stars ~ This did not go in the direction I’d expected! Like all of these stories, there is a great message within it and I am always down for a statement on the disturbing nature of conformity.
Goblin ~ 5 stars ~ After I finished this, these lines from Fly on the Wall by Thousand Foot Krutch kept going through my head: “I don’t think I need you anymore so take your words and your lies and just beat it!” That may not sound terribly profound but the song, as a whole, is. So is this story. I loved and related to its overall theme.
Bad Dolls ~ 5 stars ~ Haunting, tragic, and complex. A great finish to this short collection!
Average rating: 4.75 stars
September 11, 2022
Fun and interesting collection of stories. I really enjoyed this collection, though I felt conflicted at the same time. The writing style and set up for the 4 stories is great and reeled me in immediately. However, the stories feel incomplete at the same time. In particular, 'Reply Hazy, Try Again' and 'Goblin' really left me wanting more from the story. I realize this is how short fiction works, but I'd love to see these stories fleshed out into more because they were very intriguing ideas. I still really enjoyed this collection though.
January 1, 2023
Rachel Harrison’s feminist horror novels are some of the most original and entertaining out there, and her collection of stories, BAD DOLLS, is right up there with her longer works. Filled with women on the cusp of change — a bad breakup, sexual discovery, an extreme diet — they explore the dark side of being female in the 21st century. Read the rest of my review here.
January 29, 2024
My first time reading Rachel Harrison's work. I really enjoyed these short stories, I do wish we got more in two of them. But am interested in reading other works of hers!
I had to rely on memory alone, and that scared me, because memories go. Like everything else, they go
I feel like she captures human emotion brilliantly.
I had to rely on memory alone, and that scared me, because memories go. Like everything else, they go
I feel like she captures human emotion brilliantly.
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