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rekt
A disturbing examination of toxic masculinity and the darkest pits of the Internet, Alex Gonzalez’s rekt traces a young man’s algorithmic descent into depravity in a future that’s nearly here.
> be me, 26
> about to end it all
> feels good, man
Once, Sammy Dominguez thought he knew how the world worked. The ugly things in his head—his uncle’s pathetic death, his parents’ mistrust, the twisted horrors he writes for the Internet—didn’t matter, because he and his girl, Ellery, were on track for the good life in this messed-up world.
Then a car accident changed everything.
Spiraling with grief and guilt, Sammy scrambles for distraction. He finds it in shock-value videos of gore and violence that terrified him as a child. When someone messages him a dark web link to footage of Ellery dying, he watches—first the car crash that killed her, then hundreds of other deaths, even for people still alive. Accidents. Diseases. Suicides. Murders.
The host site, chinsky, is sadistic, vicious, impossible. It even seems to read his mind, manipulate his searches. But is chinsky even real? And who is Haruspx, the web handle who led him into this virtual nightmare? As Sammy watches compulsively, the darkness in his mind blooms, driving him down a twisted path to find the roots of chinsky, even if he must become a nightmare himself . . .
Not for the faint of heart, rekt combines the cautionary warnings of Black Mirror with the seedy rawness of Chuck Palahniuk in its unrelentless examination of the emotional holes we fill with content.
> be me, 26
> about to end it all
> feels good, man
Once, Sammy Dominguez thought he knew how the world worked. The ugly things in his head—his uncle’s pathetic death, his parents’ mistrust, the twisted horrors he writes for the Internet—didn’t matter, because he and his girl, Ellery, were on track for the good life in this messed-up world.
Then a car accident changed everything.
Spiraling with grief and guilt, Sammy scrambles for distraction. He finds it in shock-value videos of gore and violence that terrified him as a child. When someone messages him a dark web link to footage of Ellery dying, he watches—first the car crash that killed her, then hundreds of other deaths, even for people still alive. Accidents. Diseases. Suicides. Murders.
The host site, chinsky, is sadistic, vicious, impossible. It even seems to read his mind, manipulate his searches. But is chinsky even real? And who is Haruspx, the web handle who led him into this virtual nightmare? As Sammy watches compulsively, the darkness in his mind blooms, driving him down a twisted path to find the roots of chinsky, even if he must become a nightmare himself . . .
Not for the faint of heart, rekt combines the cautionary warnings of Black Mirror with the seedy rawness of Chuck Palahniuk in its unrelentless examination of the emotional holes we fill with content.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2025
143 people are currently reading
7770 people want to read
About the author
Alex Gonzalez
5 books44 followersAlex Gonzalez is a WGA screenwriter and horror fiction writer. Born and raised in Florida, he now lives in Brooklyn and is the co-founder of the horror zine You Are Not Alone. His screenplays have been optioned, and a feature of his is in development with Ulladulla Pictures and Extra A Productions (Little Woods, The Giant). He currently teaches horror writing workshops with Catapult.co., and his most recent short story “Die Cuban” was published on the Catapult website.
(Source: Amazon)
(Source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
August 9, 2025
3.75 ⭐ rounded up to 4 ⭐
What initially drew me to rekt by Alex Gonzalez was its premise, using technology as both a form of horror and a way to process grief. I’ve never read a book that explored these themes in quite this way, and I was captivated by how the darker corners of the internet could shape someone’s coping mechanisms in such a destructive way.
Sammy, the main character, is a tragic figure whose grief and lack of family support lead him down a dangerous path. When his loving uncle dies during his childhood, Sammy starts coping by creating stories about the Wax Man. A character who, as the story unfolds, seems to represent both his uncle and, ultimately, himself. With no one to guide him through healthy grieving, Sammy turns to the internet, where he and his friends watched disturbing and graphic videos as a form of distraction.
Years later, after losing the love of his life in a car accident, Sammy once again seeks refuge in the online world, but this time, it pulls him into a much darker abyss. He becomes obsessed with watching increasingly violent and gruesome videos, ultimately getting lured into a site called chinsky. The way the book portrays how technology amplifies grief and fuels self-destruction is both chilling and compelling.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I did find the pacing to slow down a bit around the 40-50% mark. I struggled to stay fully engaged during this section, though I do think this could have been partly because I was reading in the midst of a big move. That said, I’m glad I pushed through because the unique format kept me hooked. Each chapter begins with short context snippets, almost like posts Sammy might find online, which adds a layer of immersion. The experimental style in the final section, with emails, texts, posts, and comment threads, was a brilliant way to bring the narrative to life.
Overall, rekt is a deeply depressing book in the best way possible. It’s a raw and unflinching look at grief and self-destruction, with Sammy making the absolute worst choices for himself at every turn. The Wax Man, as a symbol of both his uncle’s death and Sammy’s own spiral, adds another layer of emotional complexity. It’s not an easy read, but it’s one that stays with you, making you reflect on those around you who might be struggling with their own losses or trauma.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
What initially drew me to rekt by Alex Gonzalez was its premise, using technology as both a form of horror and a way to process grief. I’ve never read a book that explored these themes in quite this way, and I was captivated by how the darker corners of the internet could shape someone’s coping mechanisms in such a destructive way.
Sammy, the main character, is a tragic figure whose grief and lack of family support lead him down a dangerous path. When his loving uncle dies during his childhood, Sammy starts coping by creating stories about the Wax Man. A character who, as the story unfolds, seems to represent both his uncle and, ultimately, himself. With no one to guide him through healthy grieving, Sammy turns to the internet, where he and his friends watched disturbing and graphic videos as a form of distraction.
Years later, after losing the love of his life in a car accident, Sammy once again seeks refuge in the online world, but this time, it pulls him into a much darker abyss. He becomes obsessed with watching increasingly violent and gruesome videos, ultimately getting lured into a site called chinsky. The way the book portrays how technology amplifies grief and fuels self-destruction is both chilling and compelling.
While I was drawn in by the premise, I did find the pacing to slow down a bit around the 40-50% mark. I struggled to stay fully engaged during this section, though I do think this could have been partly because I was reading in the midst of a big move. That said, I’m glad I pushed through because the unique format kept me hooked. Each chapter begins with short context snippets, almost like posts Sammy might find online, which adds a layer of immersion. The experimental style in the final section, with emails, texts, posts, and comment threads, was a brilliant way to bring the narrative to life.
Overall, rekt is a deeply depressing book in the best way possible. It’s a raw and unflinching look at grief and self-destruction, with Sammy making the absolute worst choices for himself at every turn. The Wax Man, as a symbol of both his uncle’s death and Sammy’s own spiral, adds another layer of emotional complexity. It’s not an easy read, but it’s one that stays with you, making you reflect on those around you who might be struggling with their own losses or trauma.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 10, 2025
This book is going to be for people who liked We Had to Remove this Post’s vibe but wanted more horror. There’s a similar air of disaffection to the main characters and the erosion of his relationships but it’s definitely horror and heavily about internet culture. Horror for the redditor’s soul if you will.
It might not be quite a splatterpunk title but it definitely flirts with the genre quite heavily and there are several very graphic scenes. There’s a bit of a mindfuck aspect that lowkey sneaked up on me.
On the whole I really loved this book, it crawled under my skin a lot, there’s just a few chapters where I wish the pacing had been a little bit tidier and tighter.
It might not be quite a splatterpunk title but it definitely flirts with the genre quite heavily and there are several very graphic scenes. There’s a bit of a mindfuck aspect that lowkey sneaked up on me.
On the whole I really loved this book, it crawled under my skin a lot, there’s just a few chapters where I wish the pacing had been a little bit tidier and tighter.
May 31, 2025
thanks to goodreads for sending me this book. well I'm done! I love me a loser protagonist who goes off the rails. bonus points because it was set in Florida. this was really easy to get invested in and a breeze to get through. would recommend
September 22, 2024
There is places on the internet scarier than anything I could make up. There are real people in those spaces that are scarier than any monsters I could imagine. I think this book taps into that fear really well. 4.5 stars.
I loved this. I never want to read it again. I want to wipe all my social media and tape over all my cameras.
Highly recommend if : you read a lot of creepypasta when you were 13, or just love a good helpless, horrific spiral.
I loved this. I never want to read it again. I want to wipe all my social media and tape over all my cameras.
Highly recommend if : you read a lot of creepypasta when you were 13, or just love a good helpless, horrific spiral.
October 9, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 25, 2025.
3 stars, for me, others will likely rate it higher.
Before the car accident Sammy Dominguez thought he had a handle on the world even though things weren’’t pretty - his uncle died a sad, lonely death, his parents didn’t trust him and his dark thoughts came out in the stories he posted online, but he had his girlfriend Ellery and the two of them were going to make it.
And then it was all over.
Spiraling, Sammy is drawn toward some of the darker parts of the Internet. Then someone emails him a video of Ellery dying. He watches that, then hundreds of other deaths, including those of people still alive.
What is this mysterious website and who runs it? Are all of the videos deepfakes? Is anything real?
This was much more gory and disturbing than my normal reads but I don’t know that it quite rises to the level of splatterpunk. Or perhaps it does, not sure. But it’s well-written and will likely find its audience, it just isn’t me.
3 stars, for me, others will likely rate it higher.
Before the car accident Sammy Dominguez thought he had a handle on the world even though things weren’’t pretty - his uncle died a sad, lonely death, his parents didn’t trust him and his dark thoughts came out in the stories he posted online, but he had his girlfriend Ellery and the two of them were going to make it.
And then it was all over.
Spiraling, Sammy is drawn toward some of the darker parts of the Internet. Then someone emails him a video of Ellery dying. He watches that, then hundreds of other deaths, including those of people still alive.
What is this mysterious website and who runs it? Are all of the videos deepfakes? Is anything real?
This was much more gory and disturbing than my normal reads but I don’t know that it quite rises to the level of splatterpunk. Or perhaps it does, not sure. But it’s well-written and will likely find its audience, it just isn’t me.
April 3, 2025
I really am a little dumbfounded by this story. It’s incredibly dark and disturbing.
Sammy Dominguez has just lost his girlfriend, Ellery, in a tragic car accident. He is completely consumed with grief. Even her parents are struggling. Only Sammy is also eaten up with guilt.
He drinks, uses drugs and even trolls the internet. Then, someone sends him a secret video of the actual accident that claimed her life. Who sent this? He becomes fascinated with death scenes online. Soon, he finds himself addicted to the horrors on the dark web.
When I started this, it was such a slow crawl. He spends so much time talking about his misery and what Ellery was like. The pacing was really too slow for me. Then, when we get to how everything spirals out of control, it becomes insane. Lots of gore scenes to make you cringe.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think fans of grief horror or splatterpunk are the perfect readers for this. The writing was great, just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Erewhon, Alex Gonzales and NetGalley for the opportunity.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sammy Dominguez has just lost his girlfriend, Ellery, in a tragic car accident. He is completely consumed with grief. Even her parents are struggling. Only Sammy is also eaten up with guilt.
He drinks, uses drugs and even trolls the internet. Then, someone sends him a secret video of the actual accident that claimed her life. Who sent this? He becomes fascinated with death scenes online. Soon, he finds himself addicted to the horrors on the dark web.
When I started this, it was such a slow crawl. He spends so much time talking about his misery and what Ellery was like. The pacing was really too slow for me. Then, when we get to how everything spirals out of control, it becomes insane. Lots of gore scenes to make you cringe.
I really wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think fans of grief horror or splatterpunk are the perfect readers for this. The writing was great, just not my cup of tea.
Thank you Erewhon, Alex Gonzales and NetGalley for the opportunity.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 4, 2025
Rekt is an interesting look at grief horror based in the horrifying realities of the dark web.
The story follows Sammy who has always indulged in the dark content available online -various gore videos and snuff films. After his girlfriend dies while the couple are in their early twenties, Sammy finds himself lost. His entire future was planned out with the love of his life and now he is completely inconsolable as he falls deeper into his online ventures. One day, he receives a message containing a single link to a site on the dark web. With curiosity getting the best of him, Sammy follows the link to find a video of the accident that killed his girlfriend.
From here, things go off the rails as Sammy spirals deeper into his obsession, and it starts affecting his life in unexpected ways until he is fully plunged into the complex mystery of the site and all the videos on it...
I thought this had a really interesting premise! I am a fan of grief horror and was intrigued by the mentions of the dark web/tech in the summary. This book gets dark and disturbing at points, and throughout it all is the voice in the back of your head making you remember that some of this shit is a little *too real.* The author takes a good look at AI and internet safety, and the potentially harmful effects AI can have if in the wrong hands.
Though I enjoyed the story, I felt the pacing to be a little off. It started to drag through the middle and lose intrigue a bit. I even put this book down for about a week while in the middle of reading it, which is something I never do. I enjoyed the themes explored and the path the story took, but unfortunately, I was left wishing I enjoyed it more than I really did.
I'd recommend this to horror fans who used to spend a lot of time reading creepypastas and visiting the nosleep subreddit. Also to anyone who likes their horror to get dark and gory with a blend of technology and real world scares.
Thank you to NetGalley, Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
The story follows Sammy who has always indulged in the dark content available online -various gore videos and snuff films. After his girlfriend dies while the couple are in their early twenties, Sammy finds himself lost. His entire future was planned out with the love of his life and now he is completely inconsolable as he falls deeper into his online ventures. One day, he receives a message containing a single link to a site on the dark web. With curiosity getting the best of him, Sammy follows the link to find a video of the accident that killed his girlfriend.
From here, things go off the rails as Sammy spirals deeper into his obsession, and it starts affecting his life in unexpected ways until he is fully plunged into the complex mystery of the site and all the videos on it...
I thought this had a really interesting premise! I am a fan of grief horror and was intrigued by the mentions of the dark web/tech in the summary. This book gets dark and disturbing at points, and throughout it all is the voice in the back of your head making you remember that some of this shit is a little *too real.* The author takes a good look at AI and internet safety, and the potentially harmful effects AI can have if in the wrong hands.
Though I enjoyed the story, I felt the pacing to be a little off. It started to drag through the middle and lose intrigue a bit. I even put this book down for about a week while in the middle of reading it, which is something I never do. I enjoyed the themes explored and the path the story took, but unfortunately, I was left wishing I enjoyed it more than I really did.
I'd recommend this to horror fans who used to spend a lot of time reading creepypastas and visiting the nosleep subreddit. Also to anyone who likes their horror to get dark and gory with a blend of technology and real world scares.
Thank you to NetGalley, Erewhon Books and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
March 30, 2025
3,5 star, rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads
** I received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**
Rekt is a book that is all about grief. From the very first page, the main character’s grief is just jumping off the page. Sammy has lost his girlfriend in a car accirdent and is having trouble processing the trauma. Throw the deep dark web into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I really enjoyed the story, and I personally had no issue with the pacing. There was a lot happening, which managed to keep me engaged enough through out the chapters. Though, I would have liked for the chapters to be a little shorter. Some parts dragged just a little bit, but this was not too big of a bother for me. The scariest part of the book is how close to reality it comes. Lots of things I can see happening in real life, with all of the AI going on.
There was much more gore in this book than I initially expected. Though, it definitely does not reaches the height of extreme horror and splatterpunk books. Not all characters had been equally developed, but the main character -who felt very unlikable, and that’s how I like my morally grey characters- felt very deep. His trauma, grief and insecurity really brings him to life.
Besides the dragging at some parts, the ending felt entirely anti-climactic and I was somewhat disappointed. The story felt a little unfinished. I guess it’s an open ending and up for interpretation? But that’s not the type of ending that I like. I would have given it 4 or maybe even 4,5 stars if the ending had been different.
** I received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**
Rekt is a book that is all about grief. From the very first page, the main character’s grief is just jumping off the page. Sammy has lost his girlfriend in a car accirdent and is having trouble processing the trauma. Throw the deep dark web into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I really enjoyed the story, and I personally had no issue with the pacing. There was a lot happening, which managed to keep me engaged enough through out the chapters. Though, I would have liked for the chapters to be a little shorter. Some parts dragged just a little bit, but this was not too big of a bother for me. The scariest part of the book is how close to reality it comes. Lots of things I can see happening in real life, with all of the AI going on.
There was much more gore in this book than I initially expected. Though, it definitely does not reaches the height of extreme horror and splatterpunk books. Not all characters had been equally developed, but the main character -who felt very unlikable, and that’s how I like my morally grey characters- felt very deep. His trauma, grief and insecurity really brings him to life.
Besides the dragging at some parts, the ending felt entirely anti-climactic and I was somewhat disappointed. The story felt a little unfinished. I guess it’s an open ending and up for interpretation? But that’s not the type of ending that I like. I would have given it 4 or maybe even 4,5 stars if the ending had been different.
March 20, 2025
This book made me deeply uncomfortable and gross. The nightmare every single one of these characters went through is enough to make anyone nauseous. There were so many horrific things described so casually that it was reeling to keep up with.
But I could not put it down. Because that was the point. It overwhelmed the senses, it was confusing and weird and unsettling and awful and thrilling and consuming. It talked about toxic taboo things by forcing them to be black and white. And while there are no characters you'd necessarily root for, especially Sammy, you walk away really wanting things to turn out all right for them.
I've never read a book like this before and I don't think I ever will again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Gonzalez, and Kensington Books / Erewhon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
But I could not put it down. Because that was the point. It overwhelmed the senses, it was confusing and weird and unsettling and awful and thrilling and consuming. It talked about toxic taboo things by forcing them to be black and white. And while there are no characters you'd necessarily root for, especially Sammy, you walk away really wanting things to turn out all right for them.
I've never read a book like this before and I don't think I ever will again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Gonzalez, and Kensington Books / Erewhon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2025
Full disclosure: I knew before I even started reading this book that I would rate it 5 stars. That's because the author is my daughter's lifelong friend, and I've known him since he was 4 years old. However, after reading this debut novel, I give it 5 stars, not out of admiration for Alex Gonzalez, but strictly on the merit of his work. The author unflinchingly captures the disturbing and dangerous forces churning beneath the surface of the internet and its effect on mental health. It's a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Congratulations Alex!!!!
June 12, 2025
what did I even read
July 8, 2025
I liked the idea of this — really anything with internet/social media involvement is interesting to me. This was definitely centered around grimy internet activity. It went places I didn’t expect. The pacing, however, felt so off. There were two parts of the book specifically that felt way too focused on for what they contribute to the plot. It was almost enough for me to put the book down. Ultimately glad I pushed through though, because I did enjoy it.
March 5, 2025
Alex Gonzalez's "rekt" (meaning "wrecked" in online gaming slang) combines internet horror and grief horror to come up with an amazing, absolutely original, and tremendously horrifying tale of Sammy, a Latino man in his 20s, losing his humanity and ultimately his sense of social and interpersonal reality. The book goes way beyond anything similar in portraying, in harrowing detail, how the loss of a loved one, his high-school girlfriend, around whom Sam had built his whole life, leads him on a journey through the worst content the dark web has to offer: snuff, torture and gore vids, absolutely dark content which Sam devours daily and about which he inevitably becomes obsessed. Already fed on creepypastas and nosleep-type of subreddits, Sammy gets addicted to the internet's dark side, with disastrous consequences for his personal life and his sense of self. Sammy's descent is described in first person, intimately, intensely; as his world collapses and his sense of morality slowly evaporates, Sammy is reduced to an impersonal, selfish and sick coping mechanism, impacting everyone around him negtively.
Up to this point, the book might have been solely a horrific novel about trauma, grief, and addiction in the online world of the 2020s. However, just a hundred pages in, the story reaches a wholly different level, when Sam is sent a link to a CCTV video of his girlfriend's fatal car accident. And then he's led to a host site with links to an assortment of videos where she's killed in the most gory of ways. In one, she's being drown slowly and painfully. In another, she's abused horribly. And in yet another, she gets tortured to death. WTF right? Well, what follows is an original, gory, entertaining and totally immersive, yet emotionally very heavy, tale of Sammy's unfortunate discovery of a nightmarish conspiracy celebrating pain and death for money. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
"rekt" is totally unpredictable, immensely imaginative, and incredibly well-written. I've never read anything like it. It touches in unexpected ways themes of toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and PTSD, visting places most people feel uncomfortable even mentioning. It'll blow your mind.
Up to this point, the book might have been solely a horrific novel about trauma, grief, and addiction in the online world of the 2020s. However, just a hundred pages in, the story reaches a wholly different level, when Sam is sent a link to a CCTV video of his girlfriend's fatal car accident. And then he's led to a host site with links to an assortment of videos where she's killed in the most gory of ways. In one, she's being drown slowly and painfully. In another, she's abused horribly. And in yet another, she gets tortured to death. WTF right? Well, what follows is an original, gory, entertaining and totally immersive, yet emotionally very heavy, tale of Sammy's unfortunate discovery of a nightmarish conspiracy celebrating pain and death for money. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
"rekt" is totally unpredictable, immensely imaginative, and incredibly well-written. I've never read anything like it. It touches in unexpected ways themes of toxic masculinity, internet addiction, and PTSD, visting places most people feel uncomfortable even mentioning. It'll blow your mind.
Want to read
August 29, 2024Plot is somewhat reminiscent of the Lovesick graphic novel I read, but obviously focuses on different themes and goes in a different direction. I can't wait to read it.
July 18, 2025
(2.5 stars) This book wasn't bad.. it was just meh. It felt like two completely different books smashed together with some pacing issues and annoying characters. The idea about the website was interesting but the story around it was poorly executed. The writing style was alright. I would still give this author another chance because I saw a lot of potential :)
April 6, 2025
A fantastic read that took me way longer than it should have because of how often I felt I needed to put it down for my own sanity. Completely and thoroughly sick and I could predict absolutely nothing that would come next, which led to me being so perfectly uncomfortable until the very last page. Tows the line so carefully on splatterpunk but manages to sway back into horror because of the authenticity of its writing and message. A woman at my tea shop asked to borrow it when I was done and I feel like I'll be giving her the Ring VHS.
Also, as I was reading it in public, a stranger came up to my table and sat down and said "ahh, I remember my snuff film days" and somehow that was not the most uncomfortable part of reading this.
Also, as I was reading it in public, a stranger came up to my table and sat down and said "ahh, I remember my snuff film days" and somehow that was not the most uncomfortable part of reading this.
April 26, 2025
oké ik zei op like 30% dat dit nog wel meeviel maar de content warnings waren wel echt nodig, holy shit. not for the faint of heart.
dit boek pakte me echt, ik wilde de hele tijd weten waar het heen ging en ik ben VERWARD door het einde maar niemand om me heen gaat ooit dit boek lezen om het me uit te leggen :)
ohja, ik ben nog banger voor het internet nu
dit boek pakte me echt, ik wilde de hele tijd weten waar het heen ging en ik ben VERWARD door het einde maar niemand om me heen gaat ooit dit boek lezen om het me uit te leggen :)
ohja, ik ben nog banger voor het internet nu
May 23, 2025
Hmm. Not sure I fully 'got it'. The premise and themes are very unique, and I was interested and engaged the entire time. I do think a chunk of it went over my head, but I still enjoyed the book.
August 18, 2025
This book is not for the fain of heart. its descriptive,raw, and shocking. However, the themes on grief and mental illness is well placed, and the writing was intentional and real which made me interestedthe whole time.
October 6, 2024
Unfortunately, I would self-conciously consider myself chronically online. So I was intrigued by the premise, even if I don't read a lot in this genre.
This book is classified as horror and it was in fact horrible to read. Because it's not that far off that the things described in the book could happen IRL. The internet is a scary place. And because the thoughts of the toxic-masculine protagonist feel like they can - to some extent - be found in a lot of men nowadays as well. The downward spiral he goes through feels authentic.
Apart from that I felt that the book had a few lenghts. Also, it didn't get to me the way I think it could have. But maybe that's a me problem, as I'm rarely impressed with horror stories.
All in all 3.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is classified as horror and it was in fact horrible to read. Because it's not that far off that the things described in the book could happen IRL. The internet is a scary place. And because the thoughts of the toxic-masculine protagonist feel like they can - to some extent - be found in a lot of men nowadays as well. The downward spiral he goes through feels authentic.
Apart from that I felt that the book had a few lenghts. Also, it didn't get to me the way I think it could have. But maybe that's a me problem, as I'm rarely impressed with horror stories.
All in all 3.5 ⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2024
Oh yeah, this one is definitely gonna stay with me for a while. As someone who has been deeply entrenched in the internet for at least 18 years, but has largely avoided this gruesome side to it, I was incredibly drawn in by the premise of this book. I think rekt provides such an interesting look into toxic masculinity, grief, and the horrors of the internet (and the desensitization to such horrors). I loved being in Sammy's head, despite how disturbing it was to be there sometimes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 20, 2024
rekt is about Sammy, a young man who grew up watching online videos he probably shouldn't have and writing creepypasta. When his girlfriend dies, he copes by delving deeper into that dark online world until he spirals out of control, both mentally and physically.
This is a dark, dark book. It made me feel kind of sick, it discusses topics I won't write out because I'm pretty sure Goodreads would flag the review, and I almost regret reading it. Sammy is a haunted person, and his grief is heavy and ugly.
But the thing is, I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out how far he would go, and I honestly wanted to know if he would be okay. And I say it that way because his thoughts felt so real, like he was talking to me, and I grew to genuinely care about him. I read it in less than 24 hours, which is saying something for a 350 page book.
When I picked up rekt, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was like the first time I read a Palahniuk book (too young)—by the time I realized how upsetting it was, I was too hooked to stop. rekt is sad and highly disturbing, yet somehow beautiful. I cannot stop thinking about it, and I don't know that I ever will.
(TW for virtually everything except for animal harm.)
Side note, for anyone else who might care or notice, the editing is wonderful.
This is a dark, dark book. It made me feel kind of sick, it discusses topics I won't write out because I'm pretty sure Goodreads would flag the review, and I almost regret reading it. Sammy is a haunted person, and his grief is heavy and ugly.
But the thing is, I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out how far he would go, and I honestly wanted to know if he would be okay. And I say it that way because his thoughts felt so real, like he was talking to me, and I grew to genuinely care about him. I read it in less than 24 hours, which is saying something for a 350 page book.
When I picked up rekt, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was like the first time I read a Palahniuk book (too young)—by the time I realized how upsetting it was, I was too hooked to stop. rekt is sad and highly disturbing, yet somehow beautiful. I cannot stop thinking about it, and I don't know that I ever will.
(TW for virtually everything except for animal harm.)
Side note, for anyone else who might care or notice, the editing is wonderful.
April 8, 2025
> be me, 40-something
> looking for the next the sluts
> penance would be fine too
> feel nothing
I really wanted this one to land for me, but it just didn't. I felt thiiiiiiiis far away from Sammy the whole time. I didn't feel his grief, his horror, his slow (and then quick) sinking into online spaces no one should be. I didn't feel Sammy experience the way that kind of content can turn your soul black and be a cruel reminder that we are vulnerable bags of meat and then reconcile that with the pain of losing Ellery. I read it, but I didn't feel it. I wanted to feel it.
Chinsky: why? Having the story pivot on this hinge of online boogeymen made rekt feel like there were two separate novels that got smashed together and didn't marry well. I'm not usually the sort who needs a lot of technical questions answered in fiction, but the way chinsky worked left way too much room for me to be distracted. My AI fear is real, but this is not the kind of AI fear that's effective for me.
All that being said (I know it sounds like a lot of negatives), I did enjoy reading rekt. I enjoyed what it was trying to do, but I'm just not sure it succeeded. I also realize that I'm probably not the audience for this one.
I predict that many people will find what I was looking for in it, and I truly love that for them.
> looking for the next the sluts
> penance would be fine too
> feel nothing
I really wanted this one to land for me, but it just didn't. I felt thiiiiiiiis far away from Sammy the whole time. I didn't feel his grief, his horror, his slow (and then quick) sinking into online spaces no one should be. I didn't feel Sammy experience the way that kind of content can turn your soul black and be a cruel reminder that we are vulnerable bags of meat and then reconcile that with the pain of losing Ellery. I read it, but I didn't feel it. I wanted to feel it.
Chinsky: why? Having the story pivot on this hinge of online boogeymen made rekt feel like there were two separate novels that got smashed together and didn't marry well. I'm not usually the sort who needs a lot of technical questions answered in fiction, but the way chinsky worked left way too much room for me to be distracted. My AI fear is real, but this is not the kind of AI fear that's effective for me.
All that being said (I know it sounds like a lot of negatives), I did enjoy reading rekt. I enjoyed what it was trying to do, but I'm just not sure it succeeded. I also realize that I'm probably not the audience for this one.
I predict that many people will find what I was looking for in it, and I truly love that for them.
March 24, 2025
Rekt by Alex Gonzalez ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Sammy’s girlfriend dies in a horrific accident, he turns to shock value videos online for distraction. Until someone messaged him a dark web link to various videos of his girlfriend dying, including one of the accident that killed her. As he dives into this site, he becomes obsessed and the darkness takes over.
Given this book is largely about snuff films, please only read if you can deal with gore or have a strong stomach. That said, there is so much more to the story than that. It’s a twisty, action based, creepy story, that also is a strong character study and dives into mental illness. Fans of creepypasta and just overall odd tales, will enjoy this one. Personally this would have been a five star read for me except it was a little longer than it needed to be and I lost interest at some points. I still highly recommend!
“Now I’m fairly certain that anything good online is fake, but everything bad online is real.”
Rekt comes out 3/25.
When Sammy’s girlfriend dies in a horrific accident, he turns to shock value videos online for distraction. Until someone messaged him a dark web link to various videos of his girlfriend dying, including one of the accident that killed her. As he dives into this site, he becomes obsessed and the darkness takes over.
Given this book is largely about snuff films, please only read if you can deal with gore or have a strong stomach. That said, there is so much more to the story than that. It’s a twisty, action based, creepy story, that also is a strong character study and dives into mental illness. Fans of creepypasta and just overall odd tales, will enjoy this one. Personally this would have been a five star read for me except it was a little longer than it needed to be and I lost interest at some points. I still highly recommend!
“Now I’m fairly certain that anything good online is fake, but everything bad online is real.”
Rekt comes out 3/25.
May 31, 2025
This is a special book, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. In fact, there are very few people I would recommend this to. It's by and for the kids who grew up on the dark corners of the internet in the early 00's but who managed to get out somewhere along the way before the hooks set in too deep.
There are flaws--the prose knocks you out one paragraph, turns into imitation Cormac McCarthy the next, and then further degrades with cliches and hackneyed phrasing the next, before coming back around again. The dialogue is equally uneven. Characters will make decisions that are baffling not because they are irrational, but because they're incongruous with what we know about them.
But (and I rarely ever say this) so what? The narrative is propulsive, the story moves along at breakneck pace, and the ideas and themes underpinning everything are terrifying and potent. This will be a special book for the right type of person, and one I don't think I'll ever forget.
There are flaws--the prose knocks you out one paragraph, turns into imitation Cormac McCarthy the next, and then further degrades with cliches and hackneyed phrasing the next, before coming back around again. The dialogue is equally uneven. Characters will make decisions that are baffling not because they are irrational, but because they're incongruous with what we know about them.
But (and I rarely ever say this) so what? The narrative is propulsive, the story moves along at breakneck pace, and the ideas and themes underpinning everything are terrifying and potent. This will be a special book for the right type of person, and one I don't think I'll ever forget.
October 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Hooo this was rough. The concept was interesting, and I think it was explored really well, I just had a hard time getting through it as it was so depressing. Which, all in all, it hit the mark in terms of goal. A depraved look into toxic behaviors, grief and the depths of despair.
Hooo this was rough. The concept was interesting, and I think it was explored really well, I just had a hard time getting through it as it was so depressing. Which, all in all, it hit the mark in terms of goal. A depraved look into toxic behaviors, grief and the depths of despair.
May 9, 2025
Quite possibly the worst book I’ve ever read.
July 2, 2025
not to be a total Dennis Cooper c***, but this would have done a lot more for me had more of the story been told in the form of the last twenty pages.
starts out as a somewhat better Scanlines with a much more compelling (and realistic) premise. but then some of the logic of what's going on starts to make less sense as the story progresses- like why are there chinsky pages for people who died decades earlier? the narrative stretches a bit too long, and you start to feel that Sammy/the author is growing more and more burnt out trying to bring this story to its end after about 100 pages. the horror of this story becomes less scary the more time you spend grounded with its mildly-fleshed-out characters. more mystery might have sustained the suspense, hence my wish that it had focused more on internet posts, forum threads, emails, etc.
at the very least, I did find this intriguing before the "tell" happened, and I do think this is one of the better attempts to tackle internet horror that I've seen in recent years. but, it's no The Sluts. I realize that's setting the bar probably impossibly high, but Mr. Cooper has ruined me and now it is everyone else's problem.
starts out as a somewhat better Scanlines with a much more compelling (and realistic) premise. but then some of the logic of what's going on starts to make less sense as the story progresses- like why are there chinsky pages for people who died decades earlier? the narrative stretches a bit too long, and you start to feel that Sammy/the author is growing more and more burnt out trying to bring this story to its end after about 100 pages. the horror of this story becomes less scary the more time you spend grounded with its mildly-fleshed-out characters. more mystery might have sustained the suspense, hence my wish that it had focused more on internet posts, forum threads, emails, etc.
at the very least, I did find this intriguing before the "tell" happened, and I do think this is one of the better attempts to tackle internet horror that I've seen in recent years. but, it's no The Sluts. I realize that's setting the bar probably impossibly high, but Mr. Cooper has ruined me and now it is everyone else's problem.
June 29, 2025
I just finished reading Rekt, and I feel mentally unmoored. The book is gross, like you'd feel weird recommending it to someone else, which is also completely on theme. It's gruesome, crass, disturbing, but also a little sad. Sure, the horrors of the dark web, AI, virtual exposure, online becoming indistinguishable from IRL are all terrifying, but the idea that a terrible person can be the person you love most is what really dug its hooks into me. As the reader, you get to see it played from all angles. What mess a terrible person can make of your life, how much of a mess you can make of your own life when you believe you are a terrible person, how much of a mess you make other people's lives when you become the terrible person... and it's really, really difficult to tell where any of it begins and ends, which is pretty much what following Sammy Dominguez in Rekt is like.
The story is solid, but there are so many beautifully painful lines throughout this book that hit home hard and really make it.
Definitely not the book to recommend for your Wednesday night book club, or I guess it could be if you're a creep who loves showing people messed up stuff.
10/10
*Note: no chatgpt was used to write this review because, man, haven't we learned anything?
The story is solid, but there are so many beautifully painful lines throughout this book that hit home hard and really make it.
Definitely not the book to recommend for your Wednesday night book club, or I guess it could be if you're a creep who loves showing people messed up stuff.
10/10
*Note: no chatgpt was used to write this review because, man, haven't we learned anything?
August 19, 2025
3.5 … thought to myself what is the point of reading this darkness? then i remembered…. to distract myself from the world’s evils by reading about thinly fictionalized world evils! i enjoyed this and appreciated what it had to say (maybe partly inadvertently) about masculinity, repression, the human condition in the digital age, etc etc etc. also, i never know why i’m drawn to very violent or horrific storylines but i think it’s because i lowkey feel brave after reading it…. and/or it’s easier to swallow in a book than in real life. also, having blissfully little
experience with reddit, creepypasta, 4chan (barukhashem) and what have you, this was an interesting peek into a psyche that seeks digital violence and gore as an addiction/comfort
experience with reddit, creepypasta, 4chan (barukhashem) and what have you, this was an interesting peek into a psyche that seeks digital violence and gore as an addiction/comfort
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