Book Review — You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

Genre: Horror, Queer
Published by: S&S/Saga Press
Publish date: September 9, 2025
Number of pages: 336 pages
Author’s website: https://andrewjosephwhite.com/
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Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.

Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation. A fresh start. It’s an offer that none refuse.

Crane is grateful. Among his hive’s followers, Crane has found a chance to transition, to never speak again, to live a life that won’t destroy him. He even met Levi: a handsome ex-Marine and brutal killer who treats him like a real man, mostly. But when Levi gets Crane pregnant—and the hive demands the child’s birth, no matter the cost—Crane’s desperation to make it stop will drive the community that saved him into a devastating spiral that can only end in blood.

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is a deeply personal horror; a visceral statement about the lives of marginalized people in a hostile world, echoing the works of Stephen Graham Jones and Eric LaRocca.

It’s difficult to rate this book because in equal parts I was intrigued, disturbed, amazed, and grossed out. This book made me nauseous and I had to set it down, but a part of me loves that this was the first time a book has ever had this type of physical reaction on me. I feel a complex range of emotions and I know that because of this I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

This book feels special. The main character, Crane, is a transgender man who has been taken in by an alien hive that brings peace to his way of life. As an autistic person who has chosen to not speak, the hive allows him to live freely. All he has to do is feed the hive with bodies occasionally. When Crane gets pregnant, we are open to a world of body changes, body horror, intrusive dark thoughts, but at most the will to make decisions for yourself and your future.

If you can handle gore or want to feel shocked, give this book a try. If you’re unsure, the author has content warnings on his website: https://andrewjosephwhite.com/content-warnings

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to know!