This was my first book by this author, and it was a lot of fun. I watched an Instagram live chat that Scott aka @fashionably.late.books did where he chatted with her about this book as well as her newest book, Hex Education, and I bought both of them immediately afterward. In this book, Kilmer delivers a story that is both entertaining and a little unhinged (but in a good way).

The book follows the lives of Amy, Liz, Jess, and Melissa, four suburban housewives, friends, and neighbors who have bonded over the years. They are witty, sarcastic, and unapologetically themselves, and it is this camaraderie that draws you into their world.

Their bonds are tested when Liz decides to build a clubhouse—dubbed the She Shed—in her backyard where the four women can get together for their wine and movie nights. What starts off as a harmless project quickly spirals into a nightmarish ordeal when a demonic force is unleashed upon the neighborhood when the ground is broken for the shed. Suddenly, the once peaceful suburb is filled with an inexplicable stench that lingers in the air, and Liz is acting out of sorts. Amy is the first to notice, and the more she digs, the more she is convinced that Liz might be possessed. With the help of Jess and Melissa, the three work to save their friend and their community from the grips of this evil spirit.

All of the characters are fun and relatable. The banter between them is sharp and witty, providing a refreshing and hilarious element to the creepy plot. Furthermore, Kilmer’s portrayal of suburban life is spot-on. She expertly captures the struggles and mundanity that come from living in the suburbs while also exaggerating certain aspects for comedic effect. The HOA, the PTA moms, and the busybody neighbors are all here and in full effect.

It’s obvious that the author is a Real Housewives fan (as am I), and I couldn’t help but imagine some of the Real Housewives playing these characters as I read the book. Who wouldn’t want to see Heather Gay from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City play Amy and try to figure out what is happening in her neighborhood? Kyle Richards from Beverly Hills could play Melissa, the workaholic, and Melissa Gorga from New Jersey could play Jess to round out the crew. I’d love to see Sutton (also from Beverly Hills) play the possessed Liz. (And yes, I realize these women are all older than the characters in the book, but it would still be fun.)

Kilmer’s skillful storytelling and well-developed characters make for a truly unforgettable experience. The pacing of the novel is perfect, with the author constantly keeping the reader engaged with a series of mishaps as the women try to figure out what is going on with their friend and how they can save her.

While the outcome was expected, and there were no real surprises along the way, the ride was still a lot of fun. It’s not especially scary or creepy – I would consider this more along the lines of a light horror with a lot of comedy. It reminded me a bit of the show “Santa Clarita Diet”. If you are a fan of light horror with a twist of comedy, or if you want to dip your toe into horror without a lot of scares and gore, then I highly recommend picking up a copy of Suburban Hell. It’s a fun one.