👻 Ghost Stories

Unfriend Me

✍️ Tosha Costello
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$9.50
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A mother and daughter face a deadly secret in their hometown after a divorce.

This novel explores the psychological impact of displacement on a family unit. Claire Vanderbilt struggles with her shifting worldview as she encounters phenomena she once rejected. Her daughter Jess navigates high school social dynamics that mask a sinister undercurrent. The story does not rely on jump scares but on the slow build of dread. It examines how past traumas and new threats intersect in quiet communities. The narrative emphasizes the vulnerability of starting over when danger is hidden in plain sight.

Key Themes
small town secrets family displacement supernatural horror
Literary Context

The story is set in a contemporary American small town, reflecting modern anxieties about social isolation and the loss of community. It engages with the tradition of suburban gothic fiction, where domestic spaces become sites of terror. The narrative reflects early twenty-first-century concerns about identity and belonging.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Stephen King · Daphne du Maurier
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 Tosha Costello 📅 2019 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780999547120

📝 Description: Unfriend Me

Tosha Costello’s Unfriend Me presents a narrative centered on Claire Vanderbilt and her teenage daughter Jess. The story begins with their return to Claire’s small hometown following a divorce. This relocation is triggered by an incident during their drive that alters the course of their lives permanently. Claire initially dismisses ghost stories, yet her skepticism erodes as events unfold. Jess resists leaving her previous community but finds herself reintegrating into local social circles where popularity comes easily. The plot hinges on the revelation that Jess’s new acquaintances conceal a lethal secret. This discovery forces both characters to confront supernatural threats they previously ignored. The narrative draws on gothic traditions of isolated towns hiding dark histories. It examines the fragility of trust and the sudden collapse of normalcy. Costello structures the tension through the gradual realization that safety is an illusion. Readers who enjoy psychological horror mixed with small-town mysteries will find this compelling. Those seeking fast-paced action or historical fantasy may prefer other genres. The book focuses on familial bonds strained by external forces and the terror of the unknown. It relies on character-driven suspense rather than complex world-building. The tone remains grounded in realistic emotional responses to paranormal events. Claire’s journey from denial to fear mirrors Jess’s transition from social ease to survival mode. The text avoids supernatural exposition, letting the mystery drive the plot forward.

💎 Our verdict on Unfriend Me

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Tosha Costello delivers a tense examination of familial bonds strained by external forces and the terror of the unknown. The novel excels in its grounded tone, focusing on realistic emotional responses rather than complex world-building or jump scares. By emphasizing the fragility of trust and the sudden collapse of normalcy, Costello creates a palpable sense of unease. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy psychological horror mixed with small-town mysteries. It avoids historical fantasy elements, opting instead for a contemporary setting where danger lurks in plain sight. Fans of character-driven suspense will find the narrative compelling, particularly those who value the slow build of dread over fast-paced action.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate slow-burn psychological horror and gothic atmospheres will find this book compelling. It suits those interested in how displacement affects family dynamics and the erosion of trust within close-knit communities. The narrative appeals to audiences who prefer character-driven suspense over rapid action, offering a grounded exploration of vulnerability and hidden dangers. Those who enjoy unraveling sinister undercurrents in quiet towns will appreciate the gradual build of dread and the realistic emotional responses to paranormal events.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Tosha Costello delivers a tense examination of familial bonds strained by external forces and the terror of the unknown. The novel excels in its grounded tone, focusing on realistic emotional responses rather than complex world-building or jump scares. By emphasizing the fragility of trust and the sudden collapse of normalcy, Costello creates a palpable sense of unease. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy psychological horror mixed with small-town mysteries. It avoids historical fantasy elements, opting instead for a contemporary setting where danger lurks in plain sight. Fans of character-driven suspense will find the narrative compelling, particularly those who value the slow build of dread over fast-paced action.

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