Wow. Just wow. I feel like I can’t say it enough, but I thoroughly enjoyed Horrorstör and highly recommend it. I think the audiences that would get the most of this book would obviously be fans of horror and darker comedy, but also those who have had to work in the soul-sucking world of mainstream retail. I still shudder when I think about my experiences working in retail. Ugh. The world that Hendrix builds in this novel accurately depicts the real-life hell that working in retail usually is. From the absolutely atrocious customers to the sense that loyalty means taking one for the team (only for the good of the company), to the disconnect between corporate ideals and the reality of the sales floor…you’ll have disturbing flashbacks of your worst retail employee experiences. I especially liked how each of the characters felt real and entirely plausible, and could easily compare each one to a past or present coworker of my own. However, what I enjoyed most about this book was its design - which was not only insanely smart but works really well to create an immersive reading experience rather than just be exist as an attractive piece of cover art. Upon first glance, I mistook this book for an actual furniture catalog! Taking a closer look, I began to notice dark oddities - clawing hands, trapped faces, rats, ominous scratches, etc. The design continues within the cover pages, further resembling a furniture catalog with a detailed store map, index, ads, and even an Orsk order form! You can literally map out the characters’ journeys through the Orsk showroom and the Beehive as you read the story. My favorite design element can be found at the beginning of every chapter. Each chapter starts with what appears to be your standard furniture ad for a variety of Swedish themed furniture pieces. Upon closer inspection, the captions reveal the darker nature of each featured piece. As the story continues, the ads become increasingly dark as they’re reinvented into torture devices that foreshadow the fates of the characters. See a spoiler-free example below: “Boasting several advantages over traditional forms of restraint, BODAVEST confines the penitent and opposes the agitated movement of blood toward the brain, forcing the subject into a state of total immobility, conducive to self-reflection and free of stressful outside stimuli.” Yeah, not quite what you’ll find in your average Ikea catalog. Even though this was a quick and fun read, it was as creepy as it was entertaining. Not only did the story progress at an appropriate pace, but the building tension and gross imagery had me truly immersed in the Orsk showroom. In fact, this was the first book I’ve ever read that physically disturbed me (refer to the Hügga and Bodavest chapters for some skin-crawling horror scenes). I had to frequently put this book down to take breaks after some of the more gory scenes. Lesson learned: don’t mix shrink wrap with an office chair… Overall, I loved this fun horror read because of how imaginative, witty, and captivating it was. Rumor has it, a film adaptation may be in the works!