Book Review: JUST GARY

by | Sep 11, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reviews, The Horror Review News | 0 comments

Just Gary
Rob Gabriele
The Evil Cookie Publishing (July 11, 2025)
Reviewed by Nora B. Peevy

It’s just Gary and he’s dying, but then he wins the lottery. With his new machine controlling his REM sleep he can act out all the most depraved dreams he can imagine, but soon it’s not enough and he craves more. Enter his friend, Lana, who writes him fresh stories, but they come with a price. A steep price not everyone might be willing to pay.

Okay, when I finished this book my head was spinning. This had me thinking about the deep dark web, conspiracy theories, government experiments, dark money, illegal experiments on vulnerable human masses who can’t fight back—my mind was blown. I asked myself, “what did I just read?” If you’re looking for a sicko character who conducts heinous acts on people, look no further, but remember Gary is a puppet for someone. Who is it? Read the book and find out.

But please also remember. Of course, he’s going to make the worst possible decisions ever because he’s “just Gary.” So, buckle up for this twisted ride to hell, ladies and gentlemen. You’re going to need a safety precaution. The ending is a real banger and I wanted more when the book was over! I’m unsure what this says about my psyche, but I simply loved Gabriele’s writing.

About Nora B. Peevy

Nora B. Peevy is a cat trapped in a human’s body. Please send help or tuna. She toils away for JournalStone and Trepidatio Publishing as a submissions reader, is a co-editor for Alien Sun Press, the newest reviewer for Hellnotes, and has been published by Eighth Tower Press, Weird Fiction Quarterly, and other places. Usually, you can find her on Facebook asking for help escaping from her human body or to get tuna. Tuna is nice. Cats like tuna.

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