Patricia Wants to Cuddle
Author: Samantha Allen
Published by: Faber & Faber
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★
Published by: Faber & Faber
Pages: 240
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★
Renee has made it: she's in the final four.
But is she dying to win?
Renee should be thrilled to have been chosen as one of the final four contestants in 'The Catch', the world's biggest reality show. But now she, the other contestants, and Jeremy 'the Catch' have arrived on the remote, wooded island for the final show, Renee begins to wonder if there's something wrong. Is she taking a bigger risk than she realised?
And as she and the other contestants begin their final challenges, they slowly start to realise that the island they've been taken to is hiding a terrifying secret - one that could make the final Elimination Event all too real.
But is she dying to win?
Renee should be thrilled to have been chosen as one of the final four contestants in 'The Catch', the world's biggest reality show. But now she, the other contestants, and Jeremy 'the Catch' have arrived on the remote, wooded island for the final show, Renee begins to wonder if there's something wrong. Is she taking a bigger risk than she realised?
And as she and the other contestants begin their final challenges, they slowly start to realise that the island they've been taken to is hiding a terrifying secret - one that could make the final Elimination Event all too real.
My thoughts:
Patricia Wants to Cuddle had all the makings of a wild, entertaining read—a reality dating show meets cryptid horror in the remote Pacific Northwest? Sign me up! However, despite its unique and intriguing premise, the execution left me feeling more than a little underwhelmed.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book was the character development. The contestants and crew of 'The Catch' felt flat, and I struggled to connect with any of them. Their personalities lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their fates. Given the satirical nature of the novel, I expected some level of exaggeration, but unfortunately, most of the characters felt more like stereotypes than fully realized individuals.
The pacing also proved problematic. The first half dragged, spending a lot of time setting up the reality show drama without much payoff, while the action-packed horror elements were crammed into the latter part of the book. This imbalance made the climax feel rushed—just as things were getting interesting, it was all over too quickly.
That being said, I did appreciate much of the book’s originality and dark humour. Samantha Allen’s premise is undeniably fun, and I can see why others might enjoy the bizarre mix of horror and satire. It just didn’t fully work for me. If you’re looking for something quirky and campy, you might still find enjoyment here, but if you prefer more developed characters and a well-paced narrative, this one might fall short.
Overall reaction:
Patricia Wants to Cuddle had all the makings of a wild, entertaining read—a reality dating show meets cryptid horror in the remote Pacific Northwest? Sign me up! However, despite its unique and intriguing premise, the execution left me feeling more than a little underwhelmed.
One of the biggest issues I had with this book was the character development. The contestants and crew of 'The Catch' felt flat, and I struggled to connect with any of them. Their personalities lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their fates. Given the satirical nature of the novel, I expected some level of exaggeration, but unfortunately, most of the characters felt more like stereotypes than fully realized individuals.
The pacing also proved problematic. The first half dragged, spending a lot of time setting up the reality show drama without much payoff, while the action-packed horror elements were crammed into the latter part of the book. This imbalance made the climax feel rushed—just as things were getting interesting, it was all over too quickly.
That being said, I did appreciate much of the book’s originality and dark humour. Samantha Allen’s premise is undeniably fun, and I can see why others might enjoy the bizarre mix of horror and satire. It just didn’t fully work for me. If you’re looking for something quirky and campy, you might still find enjoyment here, but if you prefer more developed characters and a well-paced narrative, this one might fall short.
Overall reaction: