Scan barcode
badseedgirl's review
4.0
This is a perfect summer read. Although the subject matter, foot long invading spiders, is dark, the writing style is light. There is an almost fairytale aspect to this story. There are lots of death, but it still felt shallow to me. This is not a bad thing. Every story does not have to wring every last emotion from my soul during the reading. In fact in the summer, I prefer my reading to be lighter. This is definitely a horror/comedy mash-up. The clowns in the book are almost painfully good, I started thinking of them as the clown commune/clown cult, depending on how exasperated I became by their yammering about the "clown code," and their almost simplistic Even the politicians do the right thing with out hesitation. The clown's attempts at being heroes/heroines was hilarious. This truly was one of the finest examples of a perfect summer read I have had the pleasure to indulge in. In the grand scheme of the literary universe, this book would be a a two at best, but as a summer book, read in the days leading up to a long Independence day weekend, this is most assuredly a 4 star book!
frogggyyyyy's review
4.0
nice try, clown propaganda.
the stupid humor grew on me such as the concept of drawing invisible straws.
it’s not “good” but it’s good in the sense you’re getting exactly what you’re expecting with a title like this. fun popcorn horror read .
the stupid humor grew on me such as the concept of drawing invisible straws.
it’s not “good” but it’s good in the sense you’re getting exactly what you’re expecting with a title like this. fun popcorn horror read .
rsksmith's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up because while these clowns were surely dumb as hell (or at least naive) I had a great, if gross, time.
Some genuinely funny moments and I mean..it’s called Clowns Vs Spiders, you know what you’re going to get before you pick it up, and it’s better than a book with that title ought to be.
Some genuinely funny moments and I mean..it’s called Clowns Vs Spiders, you know what you’re going to get before you pick it up, and it’s better than a book with that title ought to be.
rachel_jozie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
*I'm not going to give you the whole 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. I don’t particularly care for clowns or spiders, so what convinced me to read this book? Well, it’s the hilarity that Strand brings to everything he does. I had the pleasure to see him read a gross-out story at 2023’s STC AuthorCon, and I was so intrigued with his sense of humor that I decided I needed to read more of his work. What better way to start than with 2 things I don’t typically enjoy?!
2. Strand made me feel bad for clowns. CLOWNS!! Can you believe it? Part of the storyline (I don’t think this is a spoiler) revolves around the fact that clowns are good gentle people who simply want to provide innocent fun and not the evil blood-thirsty child-eaters that we typically think of them as, especially around Halloween. But they’re also clowns, so when they’re the only beings standing between the end of the world via spider and, well, not the end of the world via spider, hijinks ensue.
3. Completely over the top and fun! I recommend, even if you don’t particularly like clowns or spiders. Maybe especially if you don’t like clowns or spiders!
bee_m's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
5.0
I had been successful in becoming less scared of spiders but for some reason I can't help but pick up a horror that includes spiders especially if it also include clowns with I sometimes find a source for joy but also a source of uncomfort and fear. The clowns in this is actually the good guys and the spiders is the bad ones, as usual. I highly enjoyed it. Not high in scary elements but very creepy
jim_bar's review against another edition
2.0
Man-eating spiders have taken over the town, and it's up to Jaunty and his gang of clowns—freshly fired from the circus—to hunt them down and take them out.
This seemed like it would be so far up my alley, and I was charmed in the beginning! I didn't expect the kind, awkward main cast that I got. But over time, the charm wore off, especially when the action ramped up.
Because the characters, even those portrayed in the side stories, used similar dialogue with the same beats, they started to mesh together. As the clowns fought off hordes of spiders, I needed far less conversation and a lot more action. The dialogue killed the stakes because they over-rationalized everything and went back and forth in their own awkward way that I eventually stopped enjoying it. It slowed the story down too much for my liking.
So in the end, what began with promise and charm never gave me the rises and falls that I look for in a book like this.
This seemed like it would be so far up my alley, and I was charmed in the beginning! I didn't expect the kind, awkward main cast that I got. But over time, the charm wore off, especially when the action ramped up.
Because the characters, even those portrayed in the side stories, used similar dialogue with the same beats, they started to mesh together. As the clowns fought off hordes of spiders, I needed far less conversation and a lot more action. The dialogue killed the stakes because they over-rationalized everything and went back and forth in their own awkward way that I eventually stopped enjoying it. It slowed the story down too much for my liking.
So in the end, what began with promise and charm never gave me the rises and falls that I look for in a book like this.
helpfulsnowman's review against another edition
5.0
I've been on Goodreads for a long time. I don't mean to brag, but I've amassed a good number of friends. Mostly because I write hilarious reviews that entertain people who have no interest in reading the books being reviewed. I said I didn't mean to brag, but that only applied to the remainder of that particular sentence, not any that follow. That sentence about entertaining people was a brag, and it was totally intentional.
And yet, somehow, NOBODY told me about Jeff Strand and Clowns Vs. Spiders, throwing me into a tailspin of wondering whether there's any point to Goodreads at all.
After reading this book, which is so up my alley that some kind of ally proctologist would be required to remove it, I have to wonder why NOBODY told me about it. It's funny, it's gross, it's absurd (pronounced "ab-zurd" because that's funnier), and it's everything I ever wanted from a book. Well, since I turned like 35 and gave up on books that are just coming-of-age novels where nothing really happens. Done with that.
You won't regret reading this. It's hilarious. The clowns are funny, and their predicament is perfect.
And it's not a piece of shit! I know the title SOUNDS a little like some sci-fi channel nonsense with bad CG and acting furnished by 90's tween sitcom cast-offs, but it's not that, it's the real deal.
Get it, read it. And what the fuck, if you come across something like this, send it by your old pal Pete.
And yet, somehow, NOBODY told me about Jeff Strand and Clowns Vs. Spiders, throwing me into a tailspin of wondering whether there's any point to Goodreads at all.
After reading this book, which is so up my alley that some kind of ally proctologist would be required to remove it, I have to wonder why NOBODY told me about it. It's funny, it's gross, it's absurd (pronounced "ab-zurd" because that's funnier), and it's everything I ever wanted from a book. Well, since I turned like 35 and gave up on books that are just coming-of-age novels where nothing really happens. Done with that.
You won't regret reading this. It's hilarious. The clowns are funny, and their predicament is perfect.
And it's not a piece of shit! I know the title SOUNDS a little like some sci-fi channel nonsense with bad CG and acting furnished by 90's tween sitcom cast-offs, but it's not that, it's the real deal.
Get it, read it. And what the fuck, if you come across something like this, send it by your old pal Pete.
mamahawth's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this so much more than I did. This really fell flat for me. I think if this had been much shorter and if the story had stayed in the haunted house, it would have been much much better- probably a 3 or 4 star difference.
It wasn’t all “bad”. There were some really funny lines in this book that had me actually laugh out loud. I did really enjoy the haunted house scenes, too. But there was too much going on in between all of that and the story just became too jumbled.
It wasn’t all “bad”. There were some really funny lines in this book that had me actually laugh out loud. I did really enjoy the haunted house scenes, too. But there was too much going on in between all of that and the story just became too jumbled.
trisha_thomas's review
4.0
"Clowns aren't known for wacky antics with seltzer water anymore. They're known for standing in the backyards of frightened children. Just standing there. Motionless. Staring. Clowns are chilling."
Go ahead and let that shiver go down your back - YES you read that title right. This is a great horror story - definitely reads like a movie. I loved the clowns and their want to make people happy (but oops! all in their horror make-up). I've never itched and scratched and twitched so much while reading a book. Loved the end and how it all concludes. Hilarious, gross and fun!
Go ahead and let that shiver go down your back - YES you read that title right. This is a great horror story - definitely reads like a movie. I loved the clowns and their want to make people happy (but oops! all in their horror make-up). I've never itched and scratched and twitched so much while reading a book. Loved the end and how it all concludes. Hilarious, gross and fun!