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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I have been wanting to check out this author for a while. Author of Episode Thirteen and How to make a Horror MOvie and Survive, My Ex, the Antichrist is told mostly in inteverview format. As an audiobook it worked very well and kept me interested and entertained the entire time. With a full cast everytime, you could call it duet style as everytime you get to that character part that narrator takes over. With singing, just a very minuscule amount in the beginning, and even the producers putting an effect in such as the sound of a mic being pushed away when someone saying “this interview is over”. I really thought the audio was very well done.
Now the story. Lily and Drake formed a punk band. They end up breaking up and Drake forms another and Lily is informed that her ex is the Antichrist. Now this is told in interview format like a documentary on what happened. This format just works for me. I loved all the other books that have been similar to this and I really enjoyed this one too. I really think the audio made it shine even more. Now I am going back to the other two books I mentioned in the beginning as I own them and read those as well!
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the complimentary listener copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Now the story. Lily and Drake formed a punk band. They end up breaking up and Drake forms another and Lily is informed that her ex is the Antichrist. Now this is told in interview format like a documentary on what happened. This format just works for me. I loved all the other books that have been similar to this and I really enjoyed this one too. I really think the audio made it shine even more. Now I am going back to the other two books I mentioned in the beginning as I own them and read those as well!
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the complimentary listener copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I got an Advanced Reader's Copy of this through NetGalley.
I made it about 1/4 of the way through the audiobook and was unable to continue. The interview style of the narrators made this book too much like a documentary. When done correctly this can make for an immersive read, but this book came off disjointed and hard to follow. This made it hard to care about any of the characters or the plotline of the story. Maybe it would work better in print rather than audiobook.
I made it about 1/4 of the way through the audiobook and was unable to continue. The interview style of the narrators made this book too much like a documentary. When done correctly this can make for an immersive read, but this book came off disjointed and hard to follow. This made it hard to care about any of the characters or the plotline of the story. Maybe it would work better in print rather than audiobook.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an absolute nostalgic thrill ride! Beware all who don’t like pop culture references, you probably won’t like this one. However, if you were part of the pop-punk, punk or rock scene in the late 90’s and early 2000’s this could be written for you.
It’s written in a mockumentary format centering on FMC Lily Lawless years after she confesses to a murder, the FMC, her bandmates, and various characters who interacted with the band during their tumultuous rise to fame. The twist: the man who helped bring the band together, and Lily’s ex boyfriend, is the literal antichrist. I went into this with the expectation of a goofy horror centering around the ex-girlfriend of a typical archetype of the toxic male lead-guitarist that just so happens to be the antichrist. And while it was certainly all of that, there was so much more to the story and characters.
I found myself caring so much for the characters and their growth as they told their sides of the story. Lily’s character was complicated and such a good representation of morally grey without making you hate her.
As for the plot, it was intriguing from start to finish with smatterings of absolute chaos, and I loved it. There were some moments that dragged a little, but by the end I completely understand why they were essential to the overall story. The only thing that irked me is the overwhelming theme of Christianity being a sanctuary. It felt a little disjointed with the story as a whole and felt slightly forced. I chose to overlook it as it didn’t seem like the author was trying to convert readers, just provide a source of hope in the opposite of the antichrist. Overall I had a lot of fun reading this one and highly recommend this to anyone looking to add a little chaotic nostalgia in their lives.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read this early for an honest review.
I don’t like horror, (and will never pick it as a genre of TV show or movie to watch), but I do like Craig DiLouie, so maybe he should be marketed as horror stories for fans that aren’t into the hardcore horror? Either way, How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive was one of my favorite reads last year and I was excited to see he was releasing this new story this year.
The way he’s been formatting his stories is different than the normal narrative structure. In this case, it’s written as a documentary with interviews of the various characters as they work together to tell the story.
I also appreciate that his characters have an emotional depth to them so they’re more than the circumstances they’re dealing with. They could have slipped into two dimensional stereotypes of band members, easily forgotten, but I was really rooting for them all to make it.
I don’t like horror, (and will never pick it as a genre of TV show or movie to watch), but I do like Craig DiLouie, so maybe he should be marketed as horror stories for fans that aren’t into the hardcore horror? Either way, How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive was one of my favorite reads last year and I was excited to see he was releasing this new story this year.
The way he’s been formatting his stories is different than the normal narrative structure. In this case, it’s written as a documentary with interviews of the various characters as they work together to tell the story.
I also appreciate that his characters have an emotional depth to them so they’re more than the circumstances they’re dealing with. They could have slipped into two dimensional stereotypes of band members, easily forgotten, but I was really rooting for them all to make it.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Release: July 1, 2025
Author: Craig DiLouie
Publisher: Orbit Books
Rating: 3★
Lily Lawlor used to be in a punk band with her ex-boyfriend, Drake Morgan—who might also be the antichrist. It all started back in 1998, when they formed the band and Drake quickly became a polarizing figure—some saw him as a prophet, others as something much darker. A year later, things spiraled during a Battle of the Bands that ended in tragedy: a death on stage, a riot, and the loss of three teens.
Fast forward to 2009, Lily—now a famous musician—walks into a police station and confesses to murder. No one in the band has spoken publicly about what really happened… until now. After more than a decade of silence, Lily and her bandmates finally agree to an interview and begin to share their side of the story.
What unfolds is a strange and haunting mix of music, love, prophecy, and the possible end of the world. Whether it’s all true or not, this is the version they’re telling—and they’re not changing a word.
This book was weird, wild, and… kind of a good time? My Ex, the Antichrist is part horror, part satire, and part absurd love story—wrapped up in a mock-interview format.
The setup is outlandish: Lily Lawlor, a sheltered ex-college student, accidentally starts a rock band with her hot, brooding ex-boyfriend, who might also be destined to bring about the end of the world. No big deal. The story is told through interviews, transcripts, and commentary from bandmates, managers, critics, and a few religious fanatics, which made the reading experience unique (though I can see how the format might not work for everyone—it’s light on internal character development).
The book walks a strange line between creepy and campy. There are moments of genuine horror—demonic backup dancers, apocalyptic visions—and others that feel like scenes ripped from a B-horror comedy, complete with Doc Martens and guitar-swinging monster fights. It almost begs to be turned into a low-budget film.
The pacing is a bit uneven. The first half focuses more on band drama and character setup, and while it was a slow burn, I stayed interested. Once the supernatural elements ramped up, things got a lot more fun. That said, the ending didn’t land as hard as I hoped. With a premise this wild, I wanted the finale to go all-in, but it felt surprisingly tame.
If you’re looking for deep theology or gritty realism, this isn’t it. But if you’re into apocalyptic chaos, ‘90s/early 2000s music culture, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this could be a fun ride. It’s a strange book—but oddly entertaining.
Favorite Quote:
"it's hard to love someone when you can't trust them, especially when that someone might just be the antichrist."
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes