Hell Followed with Us

By: Andrew Joseph White

Narrated by: Shaan Dasani, Graham Halstead, Avi Roque

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors.

"A long, sustained scream to the various strains of anti-transgender legislation multiplying around the world like, well, a virus." —The New York Times

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A William C. Morris Award Finalist
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A YAVA Award Nominee!
A Booklist Editors' Choice Selection
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
Named to the ALA Rainbow Roundtable's Rainbow Book List

Wonderful debut book.

I listened to this in-between work and driving. I loved the descriptions and character voices of Benji and Nick.
My only criticism, which may be more of my lack of understanding, is knowing what physical states certain characters were at intense moments in the novel. while the descriptions gave very vivid imagery, I would get lost on how "corrupted" the main character was.

Leaves me searching

For a new sense of self. A good book can change you, but only a great book can transform you, can twist you up bit by bit and build a new self for you. I will be searching for a new trans self that processes anger and allows myself to be angry. A self that does not shy away from my bigness or my monstrousness and frees others from the confines of religion that I was raised in. A self that fights for a better tomorrow so no one has to wind up in the one described by White. The imagery is incredible, characters well developed, plot just convoluted enough to make sense without being light years ahead of it. A beautiful read.

Incredible work through and through

This story was equal parts relatable, terrifying and beautiful. The performance makes me so glad I choose an audio book! Great to see representation where our suffering is also our salvation.

beautiful story

Great read for anyone still with religious trauma and still angry about it. . .

Pulse pounding and raw

And expression of rage is a perfect explanation. A raw and entertaining exploration of the harm of trying to stifle someone’s light.