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Review: This is Not a Horror Movie by Sara Dobie Bauer

Emory Jones loves two things: horror movies and Connor Nichols.

For the past four years, Emory, Connor, and their families have vacationed side by side on Longboat Key, Florida. Eighteen-year-old Emory has pined for his neighbor from behind the covers of Stephen King books, but college boy Connor has never noticed him. Probably because Emory looks like Jack Skellington with good hair.

Emory anticipates another predictable summer of sunburn and disappointment. Instead, he ends up with a mystery on his hands when a beloved beach bum goes missing, and Connor volunteers to help with the search. Turns out it’s not just scary movie cops who are worthless, so the boys start an investigation of their own—leading them straight to an abandoned beach resort.

Despite the danger, Emory and Connor grow closer, but as Emory’s gay dreams start coming true, so do the horror movie tropes he so loves. Even though he knows that sex equals death in slasher flicks, Emory can’t keep his hands off the guy of his teenage dreams.

This is Not a Horror Movie is a 78,000-word new adult gay rom-com… with a monster.


I will be the first to admit that YA is not my go to but the three stories I’ve read from Bauer, I've quite enjoyed and was curious to see what she brought to the table in yet a different genre. To say the least, I wasn’t disappointed.

Emory is the sweetest most unassuming guy. Shy but brilliant, aspiring to be a writer, he hides behind his love of all things scary because it’s the greatest escape out there, and Emory likes to hide. Every year he and his family go to Florida for the summer, meeting up with other families who vacation there at the same time. It’s a yearly reunion of sorts and as always, Emory looks forward to secretly lusting after hunky gorgeous Connor, two years his senior. This year’s no different for Emory. He’s still awkward, still bamboozled often by his outgoing twin sister, and he’s still crushing oh so hard on his neighbor that he gets to ogle from afar for two blissful weeks.

However, it’s different for Connor this time around. Apparently, Emory has blossomed into an elusive hottie who doesn't know the power of his killer good looks and charming self deprecation. Connor though, sure has noticed!

What I really loved about this book despite it’s very tame in the smex department self, was how much I enjoyed the way Emory and Connor were drawn, each with their own appealing and completely opposite characteristics, and though only told through Emory’s point of view, their distinct personalities shine through. Emory is slowly coming into his own, a lot scarred from high school bullying and unfortunately, hesitant to own up to his voice and be confident in his decisions. However, when he’s with Connor, though he’s often embarrassed and mortified, Emory never hides from his feelings (he really has no filter) and his emotions are on full display. Seen through Emory, Connor is like a dream come true, heroic, protective, treating Emory like he always should be, precious and appreciated.

This was often funny, silly, peppered with some snark and good shoutouts to the pop culture of all things horror, paranormal, and supernatural . The supporting cast was quirkily interesting and entertainingly outrageous at times, with a sassy wink at all the media entertainment rules and stereotypes. Add a spooky and gory otherworldly bent which was a tad incongruent to the mostly contemporary vibe that I thought it would maintain) and this actually made me anxious as I was legit creeped out and frightened several times for good measure. Toss in a very strong swoon factor as Emory and Cooper solidify their long latent hidden feelings and as I read, my glowing affinity towards them only grew.

Obviously, I liked these two adorable dreamy guys falling in love, solving crime and murder, and fighting off evil both metapohrically and literally. If the above sounds appealing, I’m confident fans of this author or those on the fence on whether or not to explore Bauer further should have no problem loving this!



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