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A review by booksamongstfriends
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
5.0
This book is a masterpiece of survival, reckoning, and the fight to simply exist in a world designed to erase you. Andrew Joseph White doesn’t just write stories; he creates experiences that demand your full attention.
In Hell Followed With Us, we meet Benji, a trans boy on the run from the cult that raised him and injected him with a bioweapon meant to transform him into a monster. They see him as the key to their violent vision of salvation, but Benji refuses to be their tool any longer. Seeking refuge, he’s taken in by a group of teens living in an LGBTQ+ community center called the ALC. Nick, their fearless leader, knows Benji’s secret—he understands both who Benji is and what he’s becoming. It’s a connection that offers Benji a rare moment of being seen, even as he grapples with the fear that he might lose himself entirely.
White has described this book as a story about “queer kids trying to live long enough to grow up,” and it’s a sentiment that resonates deeply throughout. The world presented here is brutal, and so are many of the people in it. But amidst the cruelty, there’s also hope, resilience, and the power of found family.
This is my second read by White, and I’m once again blown away by his ability to create stories that are bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in identity. He balances the raw horror of a world teeming with monsters with the very real struggles of transphobia, religious persecution, and the search for belonging. The gore is visceral, the stakes are high, and the themes are unflinchingly honest.
What I love most about White’s writing is how he mirrors the fantastical with the painfully real. This isn’t just a story about survival; it’s about finding strength in who you are, even when the world refuses to see you. It’s about the courage to fight for a future, even when the odds are stacked against you.
If you’re ready to be pulled into a world that’s both terrifying and heartbreakingly beautiful, this is the book for you. It will challenge you, break you, and ultimately leave you with a sense of awe. Check the content warnings before diving in, but trust me—this one is worth every moment.
In Hell Followed With Us, we meet Benji, a trans boy on the run from the cult that raised him and injected him with a bioweapon meant to transform him into a monster. They see him as the key to their violent vision of salvation, but Benji refuses to be their tool any longer. Seeking refuge, he’s taken in by a group of teens living in an LGBTQ+ community center called the ALC. Nick, their fearless leader, knows Benji’s secret—he understands both who Benji is and what he’s becoming. It’s a connection that offers Benji a rare moment of being seen, even as he grapples with the fear that he might lose himself entirely.
White has described this book as a story about “queer kids trying to live long enough to grow up,” and it’s a sentiment that resonates deeply throughout. The world presented here is brutal, and so are many of the people in it. But amidst the cruelty, there’s also hope, resilience, and the power of found family.
This is my second read by White, and I’m once again blown away by his ability to create stories that are bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in identity. He balances the raw horror of a world teeming with monsters with the very real struggles of transphobia, religious persecution, and the search for belonging. The gore is visceral, the stakes are high, and the themes are unflinchingly honest.
What I love most about White’s writing is how he mirrors the fantastical with the painfully real. This isn’t just a story about survival; it’s about finding strength in who you are, even when the world refuses to see you. It’s about the courage to fight for a future, even when the odds are stacked against you.
If you’re ready to be pulled into a world that’s both terrifying and heartbreakingly beautiful, this is the book for you. It will challenge you, break you, and ultimately leave you with a sense of awe. Check the content warnings before diving in, but trust me—this one is worth every moment.