How to Survive a Slasher
Will be published approx. on 14. July 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-5476-2112-5 (ISBN)
Description
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight meets Scream in this YA slasher that turns classic horror tropes on their heads from Stonewall Honor-winning author Justine Pucella Winans.
Few people can say they faced the infamous Satterville Wolf Man and lived. But CJ Smith can.
She doesn't talk about that, though.
CJ has survived the horror movie that is her life by following one rule: blend in and stay out of it. But that's hard to do when your trauma gets turned into a bestselling book series. The Slasherville books are a true crime phenomenon, documenting the Wolf Man massacres that changed CJ's life forever. CJ hates everything about the books and their fans, but at this point she's just grateful there aren't any more murders to write about.
Until one day when an unpublished Slasherville book shows up on her doorstep predicting new Wolf Man killings. CJ is sure it's a bad prank. But then the events in the book start coming true, and when CJ breaks her one rule, the Final Girl-the person who, according to the book, was supposed to stop the Wolf Man-ends up dead. Suddenly, blending in and staying out of it is not an option, and CJ will have to use everything she knows about the rules of horror to make it out alive.
Few people can say they faced the infamous Satterville Wolf Man and lived. But CJ Smith can.
She doesn't talk about that, though.
CJ has survived the horror movie that is her life by following one rule: blend in and stay out of it. But that's hard to do when your trauma gets turned into a bestselling book series. The Slasherville books are a true crime phenomenon, documenting the Wolf Man massacres that changed CJ's life forever. CJ hates everything about the books and their fans, but at this point she's just grateful there aren't any more murders to write about.
Until one day when an unpublished Slasherville book shows up on her doorstep predicting new Wolf Man killings. CJ is sure it's a bad prank. But then the events in the book start coming true, and when CJ breaks her one rule, the Final Girl-the person who, according to the book, was supposed to stop the Wolf Man-ends up dead. Suddenly, blending in and staying out of it is not an option, and CJ will have to use everything she knows about the rules of horror to make it out alive.
Reviews / Votes
A whip-smart, genre-savvy horror that perfectly balances dark humor with a genuine struggle for survival. * Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture * Winans expertly blends chills and laughs in this cozy slasher with characters you'd die for. The perfect pick-me-up for the horror girlies. * Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting * Fast-paced, chilling, and packed with punchy horror. Slasher fans will stay up all night to finish this one! * Lisa Springer, author of There's No Way I'd Die First * A delightful twist on slashers, Final Girls, and what it means to live in the present with the ones you love. Smart, inventive, and a whole lot of fun. * Jessica Lewis, author of Bad Witch Burning * A meta thrill ride that feels like your favorite slasher movie come to life. * Liselle Sambury, author of Tender Beasts * A thoroughly modern thriller that's both a sharp slasher and a clever commentary on the genre. * Booklist * Plays with horror tropes in entertaining and exciting ways and keeps the suspense up with twists aplenty. * Kirkus Reviews * Winans masterfully blends small-town horror with chilling suspense. . . . Fast-paced and thrilling, this novel will be a hit among those who devour slasher fiction and true crime. Expect it to fly off the shelves * School Library Journal * Mixing tongue-in-cheek references to horror classics like Scream and Friday the 13th with an engaging meta premise, Winans delivers a cheeky adventure thriller. * Publishers Weekly *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5476-2112-5 (9781547621125)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Justine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a queer and nonbinary writer who lives in Los Angeles with their husband and incredible cats. Their YA debut, BIANCA TORRE IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING, was an Indies Introduce title and critically acclaimed comedic murder mystery. Their MG debut, THE OTHERWOODS, is a spooky portal fantasy that received four starred reviews and was an Indie Next pick. When not writing queer, creepy, and fun fiction for kids and teens, they can be found training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reading manga and webcomics, and actively avoiding real life scary situations.
Instagram: @justinepwinans
https://www.justinepucellawinans.com/
Instagram: @justinepwinans
https://www.justinepucellawinans.com/