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CAMP 1985
Enter the nostalgia-laced world of CAMP 1985, A bogus new summer program where parents send their social-media-addicted teens to unplug and make face-to-face connections without the help of a screen. Ander expects a fun weekend getaway with other influencers but instead finds himself trapped in a radical landscape without wifi. Just when Ander gives in to camp life and starts crushing on a cute gamer boy, a little fun with a spirit board unleashes a vengeful spirit of a bygone era. Now, with danger lurking behind every tree, Ander and his fellow campers must navigate a twisted game of survival against a retro evil determined to off them one by one. Who will survive? Brace yourself for a bloody good time in the first of seven books in Matthew R. Corr’s Slasherverse!
Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
About the author
Matthew R. Corr
6 books74 followersMatthew was born and raised in beautiful New England. Growing up in his small town fueled his big city dreams. Matthew moved to New York City, where he earned a musical theatre degree. After countless performances on stages across the country, his passion for writing finally stepped into the spotlight. Matthew is a huge fan of film and everything Marvel-related. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. Matthew’s debut novel Land On Me soared to #1 on Amazon and launched a new career. His novel then went on to win Quill Hawk Publishing's Best Indie Choice Award. To learn more about Matthew and the release of his next book, please visit www.matthewrcorr.com or @matthewrcorr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this. I'm always looking for slashers that give me the vibes of Scream and Halloween, you know, a good old campy slasher. I got what I wanted and then some. This was literally a CAMPY slasher - in that it's both set at camp and queer. And it was a lot of fun. I found some of the characters a little irritating and dramatic in the way young adult people can be to a 34 year old but otherwise, it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely read more from this author and in this series.
I enjoyed this. I'm always looking for slashers that give me the vibes of Scream and Halloween, you know, a good old campy slasher. I got what I wanted and then some. This was literally a CAMPY slasher - in that it's both set at camp and queer. And it was a lot of fun. I found some of the characters a little irritating and dramatic in the way young adult people can be to a 34 year old but otherwise, it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely read more from this author and in this series.
June 24, 2024
Ah! I've been a big fan of Matthew Corr's writing for a few years now. I started with some coming of age Queer stories and he's released some horror since, too. CAMP 1985 is the first in a new series and it's ALL the slasher vibes. It's at a summer camp (and a somewhat unique one!) which will always lure me in. There's such a great mix and blend of characters, too. Liam, Anders, and Beaux the dog (off page lol) are my faves! I thought the slashing and the supernatural elements worked SO well together in this story, too. I could have kept reading and reading. There are a few social commentary elements at play and they seem extremely relevant to today as well as meaningful to the overall story and character development.
And that ending?! I'm SO ready for book 2!!
And that ending?! I'm SO ready for book 2!!
June 11, 2024
Ander, a teenage social media influencer, is invited to the opening week of Camp 1985. What he and the other teenage influencers don't realise is that this camp is taking them back to the 80s in order to break their addiction to their phones. No phones are allowed in camp, and everything there has been taken straight out of the 80s, including a roller rink and a retro arcade. However, what none of them know is that the camp had existed before. Only it wasn't the fun place it was made out to be. People were tortured and killed before it was shut down for good. And now, someone is hunting the new camp members down one by one.
Yes, yes, YES! Anyone who knows me knows that I am an absolute sucker for horrors that take place at summer camp, I'm obsessed with slashers, and I love the whole 80s nostalgia vibe. So accepting this ARC was a no-brainer. I loved everything about this one. The nostalgia, the gory deaths, and the origin of the camp all hit that sweet spot, giving me the warm and fuzzies. There was a paranormal element to this one, which, as you'll know, I'm not usually fond of, but it complimented this story so well and added an air or mystery. It took me just over 2 hours to read this one because I just couldn't put it down. This is the first book in the series, and I absolutely can not wait for book 2 to be released.
If you're a slasher fan, definitely check this one out.
Yes, yes, YES! Anyone who knows me knows that I am an absolute sucker for horrors that take place at summer camp, I'm obsessed with slashers, and I love the whole 80s nostalgia vibe. So accepting this ARC was a no-brainer. I loved everything about this one. The nostalgia, the gory deaths, and the origin of the camp all hit that sweet spot, giving me the warm and fuzzies. There was a paranormal element to this one, which, as you'll know, I'm not usually fond of, but it complimented this story so well and added an air or mystery. It took me just over 2 hours to read this one because I just couldn't put it down. This is the first book in the series, and I absolutely can not wait for book 2 to be released.
If you're a slasher fan, definitely check this one out.
July 19, 2024
In CAMP 1985 by Matthew R. Corr ,a retreat for influencers to experience the joys of camp life in the 80s turns out to be the complete opposite of a good time. A Queer YA horror with a cast of characters you'll love and some you'll loathe. A story and setting that submerges you in80s nostalgia with an addition of paranormal. Filled with slasher tropes, a spirit board, gloriously gory details, an abundance of bugs 🤢🦗, a supernatural killer, and life or death conditions, I seriously can't wait for the next book !!!!
Favorite Quotes:
Doesn’t help that we all kind of fit the classic slasher character tropes.” Ander sat on the edge of his bed to face Liam. “I don’t watch a lot of horror movies, so I’m not entirely sure what you mean.”
“You know, like archetypes? It’s a little too on the nose if you ask me, but I’m obviously the nerd, you’re the jock, and—” Ander’s shoulders bounced with his soft laugh. “Whoa, hold on. I have the limpest wrist here; I’m not the jock.” Liam rested his chin on his knee. “You’re a dancer, which makes you the most athletic person here. You’re definitely the jock.”
Liam half smiled. “A walk in the woods with you doesn’t sound too scary. You got me, right?” A swarm of butterflies dove into Ander’s stomach. “Yeah,” he said with a smile. “I got you.”
“Try having acne and being The Fat Kid.” Liam pinched his stomach. “The acne cleared up, but this kept on growing.” Ander smiled. “Hey, some people like a little extra to keep them warm at night.”
“Teach me if I ever come to Boston?” Ander asked, raising one shoulder. Liam smiled. “I got you.” Something about that cute boy, saying that cute thing in that very cute setting made Ander’s stomach swarm with butterflies.
“Not having our phones is gonna get us killed. Watch.”
Favorite Quotes:
Doesn’t help that we all kind of fit the classic slasher character tropes.” Ander sat on the edge of his bed to face Liam. “I don’t watch a lot of horror movies, so I’m not entirely sure what you mean.”
“You know, like archetypes? It’s a little too on the nose if you ask me, but I’m obviously the nerd, you’re the jock, and—” Ander’s shoulders bounced with his soft laugh. “Whoa, hold on. I have the limpest wrist here; I’m not the jock.” Liam rested his chin on his knee. “You’re a dancer, which makes you the most athletic person here. You’re definitely the jock.”
Liam half smiled. “A walk in the woods with you doesn’t sound too scary. You got me, right?” A swarm of butterflies dove into Ander’s stomach. “Yeah,” he said with a smile. “I got you.”
“Try having acne and being The Fat Kid.” Liam pinched his stomach. “The acne cleared up, but this kept on growing.” Ander smiled. “Hey, some people like a little extra to keep them warm at night.”
“Teach me if I ever come to Boston?” Ander asked, raising one shoulder. Liam smiled. “I got you.” Something about that cute boy, saying that cute thing in that very cute setting made Ander’s stomach swarm with butterflies.
“Not having our phones is gonna get us killed. Watch.”
July 30, 2024
This is the summery slasher book I've been looking for, it has all the classic horror movie tropes along with some totally tubular 80s vibes. I adored the summer camp setting, with the typical activities as well as the overall atmosphere. I was hooked from the grousome beginning, which sneakily is set halfway through the book- giving us the anticipation of what's to come.
I really liked the idea of this summer camp for teenagers who are obsessed with social media and the Internet. Camp 1985 is designed to be similar like, well a camp from the 80s. From an arcade to a roller rink, I loved the settings and the constant references to 80s pop culture.
The range of characters was amazingly cliché, from the mean jock to the nerdy gamer, and athletic main character Ander, the author did a great job of playing on these stereotypes. Whilst the plot felt like a mix of Evil Dead and Friday the 13th, it did have a cute queer romance too. Ander and Liam seemed to instantly click, and I loved it. Though a small aspect, it was a nice addition to the gore and thrills.
The book is violent and glory, and not for the faint of heart. I loved that the killer fit the classic traits: a dark backstory, masked and always seems to catch up, and doesn't give in. The ending was well written, with a few twists and leaving with some questions remaining about Ander's dad and the necklace that was found.
I'm glad there's going to be a sequel, because if there's one thing we've all learnt from slasher movies, it's that almost always, the killer returns!
5/5 🌟
I really liked the idea of this summer camp for teenagers who are obsessed with social media and the Internet. Camp 1985 is designed to be similar like, well a camp from the 80s. From an arcade to a roller rink, I loved the settings and the constant references to 80s pop culture.
The range of characters was amazingly cliché, from the mean jock to the nerdy gamer, and athletic main character Ander, the author did a great job of playing on these stereotypes. Whilst the plot felt like a mix of Evil Dead and Friday the 13th, it did have a cute queer romance too. Ander and Liam seemed to instantly click, and I loved it. Though a small aspect, it was a nice addition to the gore and thrills.
The book is violent and glory, and not for the faint of heart. I loved that the killer fit the classic traits: a dark backstory, masked and always seems to catch up, and doesn't give in. The ending was well written, with a few twists and leaving with some questions remaining about Ander's dad and the necklace that was found.
I'm glad there's going to be a sequel, because if there's one thing we've all learnt from slasher movies, it's that almost always, the killer returns!
5/5 🌟
August 9, 2024
This book was wild fun! Queer horror is my sweet spot. I'm so happy to see more authors diving into the genre and finally making final queer characters. All the characters brought something important to the table--both good and bad. Ander was an awesome MC! I look forward to seeing more of his character in the sequel.
There is something about horror stories that take place at a camp that are nostalgic and make me enjoy them more. And this story was no different. I enjoyed every moment of it! I highly recommend! I can't wait to read more by this author!
There is something about horror stories that take place at a camp that are nostalgic and make me enjoy them more. And this story was no different. I enjoyed every moment of it! I highly recommend! I can't wait to read more by this author!
July 22, 2024
Thank you to @pridebooktours & @matthewrcorr for a digital copy of this fantastic YA queer horror!!
This book was absolutely EVERYTHING I'd want in a slasher. It was face paced, wildly nostalgic (even referencing one of my favorite 80s horrors - The Changeling!!) I felt like I was inside a slasher film while reading. Not to mention the bad ass queer rep!
This book was absolutely EVERYTHING I'd want in a slasher. It was face paced, wildly nostalgic (even referencing one of my favorite 80s horrors - The Changeling!!) I felt like I was inside a slasher film while reading. Not to mention the bad ass queer rep!
August 30, 2024
If you enjoy summer camps and slasher movies, this will be right up your alley! A group of teen influencers are sent to a summer camp. It’s not just any summer camp, but one that makes them live likes it’s the 80s! This book was so much fun! It doesn’t take long before weird things start happening and people start disappearing. I really enjoyed the creep factor, and kept finding myself jumping back and forth between suspects. Great story, highly recommend!
I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2024
This was a great YA horror novel with tons of summer slasher vibes and a decent amount of paranormal activity. It was well paced and had the perfect about of gore. I definitely enjoyed this one!
September 7, 2024
So… I’m a sucker for camp slashers in particular.. and I freaking loved this one!!! This book was a thrilling ride through the slasher genre. The 80s nostalgic slasher vibe, paired with the supernatural elements, created a really unique and gripping story. I loved the violent and gory deaths, and all the plot twists. I was on the edge of my seat, FLYING through the pages. While I found the teenage bickering a bit tiresome, the LGBTQ representation was fabulous and authentic. However, Gabe was a character I struggled to connect with. I get the feeling everyone will think that. 🤭 Overall, the book’s cover, plot, and the 80s slasher aesthetic were spot on, making it a must-read for fans of slashers. I cannot wait for the sequel! 🤩
June 21, 2024
I got a great opportunity to read this book and give an honest review, and I am so glad I took it. This book has been the slasher book I have been waiting on. With the 80s theme and camp vibes, I love it. Felt like I was reading a script for Friday the 13th, or I know what you did last summer. I am so glad I found out this book is getting a sequel and am going now to pre-order so I can learn more about Ander and his family. I won't lie the first chapter started a little cringy for me with the spoiled kid vibe, but I stayed up all night to finish the last half of the book because I needed to know how it ended. You won't regret picking this up.
July 13, 2024
This was a great YA slasher !!! The author did a great job engaging with the characters and made you love and hate some of them. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Great plot and character development !! This book had diverse characters and great dialogue.
I couldn’t put it down once I started !!!
Great plot and character development !! This book had diverse characters and great dialogue.
I couldn’t put it down once I started !!!
September 11, 2024
This was a fun read! Very 90s horror movie from the characters to the location to the bad guy. Didn't think I'd have sympathy for the knife wielding murder but here we are. I enjoyed it a lot and think it would make a fun throw back style movie. Looking forward to the next book!
July 30, 2024
Yes, yes, yes!
September 25, 2024
3.5 rounded up. YA, fun, sometimes a little cheesy but in a way that fit the vibes (no pun intended). There’s a larger story at play that i’m really interested in and will check out the next book!
September 25, 2024
Such a fun read! I love the 80’s references and the characters! Cant wait to read book 2!
August 28, 2024
✨provided in exchange for an honest review ✨
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This book does a great job of adding a modern twist to classic horror thrillers such as “Friday the 13th”, and mixing in livestreamers and “Vibers” (this books version of TikTokers) was a welcoming edition to the story. Overall, this book was a great Queer coming-of-age thriller that you won’t be able to put down until the very last page.
*
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*
This book does a great job of adding a modern twist to classic horror thrillers such as “Friday the 13th”, and mixing in livestreamers and “Vibers” (this books version of TikTokers) was a welcoming edition to the story. Overall, this book was a great Queer coming-of-age thriller that you won’t be able to put down until the very last page.
June 12, 2024
Enter the nostalgia-laced world of CAMP 1985, A bogus new summer program where parents send their social-media-addicted teens to unplug and make face-to-face connections without the help of a screen. Sounds fun right? Well, that’s what their families thought too.
Matthew R. Corr wrote one of my favorite book last year, Land On Me, so when asked if he could send me an ARC of his latest book, I instantly replied with a big YES. To be honest, my genre isn’t normally horror, but the “camp” setting with an 80s theme was intriguing.
I really loved this book. I was hooked from page 1 and couldn’t put it down. The characters are very relatable with a lot of complexity, which makes the story even more captivating. I instantly fell in love with Anders (MC). It’s a demonstration of courage, friendship, family, and self-love. I really liked the surprises and unexpected turns the book takes. The story takes you through a rollercoaster of terror, gore, violence, blood, emotions, and bugs. Yes, bugs! I loved that the author didn’t show all his cards around the development of first love between two of the characters. For me, the supernatural component is what made this book more than just a horror/slasher story. I did question a couple choices the author made with the story but didn’t deter me from loving this book.
This is the first book in the series, which I cannot wait for book 2 to be released. I highly recommend CAMP 1985, which publishes June 14, 2024.
Matthew R. Corr wrote one of my favorite book last year, Land On Me, so when asked if he could send me an ARC of his latest book, I instantly replied with a big YES. To be honest, my genre isn’t normally horror, but the “camp” setting with an 80s theme was intriguing.
I really loved this book. I was hooked from page 1 and couldn’t put it down. The characters are very relatable with a lot of complexity, which makes the story even more captivating. I instantly fell in love with Anders (MC). It’s a demonstration of courage, friendship, family, and self-love. I really liked the surprises and unexpected turns the book takes. The story takes you through a rollercoaster of terror, gore, violence, blood, emotions, and bugs. Yes, bugs! I loved that the author didn’t show all his cards around the development of first love between two of the characters. For me, the supernatural component is what made this book more than just a horror/slasher story. I did question a couple choices the author made with the story but didn’t deter me from loving this book.
This is the first book in the series, which I cannot wait for book 2 to be released. I highly recommend CAMP 1985, which publishes June 14, 2024.
July 3, 2024
The first in Matthew Corr’s “Slasherverse” series, “Camp 1985” is a fun, gory throwback to the slasher genre classics of the 1980s, with an imaginative twist that allows characters and the author to comment on the tropes of the genre while presenting them in enough of a new way to be interesting. The titular camp is a renovated summer camp themed around the 1980s; there’s no cell phones allowed and campers are encouraged to do fun outdoor activities like archery and swimming. The camp has a rich and macabre history that’s revealed over the course of the story, and a unique hook in that it’s specifically designed to encourage modern youngsters to disconnect from their phones and social media and, for lack of a better term, go “touch some grass”.
In this story, Camp 1985 is home to some of the world’s most successful social media influencers. Its campers (who were all duped into attending the camp by their exasperated parents and guardians) have massive followings on the fiction VIBE social media platform, so much so that it’s all they know. While this success has translated to infamy for some, adulation for others, and financial for all, they are self-absorbed, naïve kids who don’t know a thing about the 1980s, which is increasingly frustrating for camp staff like Betsy Norris. Our main character in this story is Anderson “Ander” Thorn, a VIBEr who gained fame for his dance videos and who has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. While he finds some parts of camp enjoyable and develops a crush on shy, pudgy, successful gamer Liam Foster, Ander is just as likely to complain about missing his cell phone as the others. Ander’s also a bit of a clean freak and hates being dirty, which is a bit of a problem in the outdoors and when a rotting killer returns from the dead to stalk them. Ander also has the stigma of being the son of a renowned medium, who took his own life and treated Ander callously and left him with doubters who believed his father was a fake. While Ander tris to make the best of the situation and enjoys getting close to Liam, he’s resentful of being dropped there and astonished when the camp seemingly has ties to his father, and the mysterious necklace he wears, and ultimately reveals himself to an adaptable and natural leader when things get rough.
Ander and Liam face constant heckling from Gabe Freeman, an online prankster who’s just a bully and a bigot and constantly torments the two, and Lacey Carmichael, a self-absorbed beauty who enables Gabe’s antics. They’re joined by Kate Lancaster, an introvert who gained fame for her dog uploads and content and who is regularly ostracised from the group for her quiet nature. When the others discover a Ouija board and mess around with it, Kate begs off; when they sneak out to explore the abandoned church and other off-limits areas, Kate is left behind. While the others lament being disconnected from their followers and DMs, Kate is more concerned about her pup and how he’s doing in her absence. All four of the campers are really well developed; while some are more shallow and unnecessarily aggravating than others, it’s all done with a purpose. The author is presenting us with arrogant, blinkered youngsters obsessed with their screens and social media. They’re all flawed and even unlikeable in some ways, but the author gives each a glimmer of humanity and sympathy to varying degrees. Ander and Liam and easily the most well-rounded, but even Gabe gets a bit more nuance when it’s suggested that he is the way he is because it’s brought him fame and notoriety and he simply doesn’t know how to be anything else. The camp staff wear fake smiles and enthusiasm, encouraging the campers to get involved and make the most of their time away from their phones, and are largely incredulous when the first panicked claims of supernatural activity are raised. Knowing the kids just want to leave and annoyed by their selfish nature, it’s all Betsy can do to try and keep them on track, but when the bodies start piling up even she has to admit that something strange is going on.
Peppered with references (both indirect and explicit) to slasher classics, “Camp 1985” perfectly follows the formula of its influences. The kids mess around with something they’re not supposed to, allowing a wronged spirit to return to life and take revenge on those who killed him. This killer, Jud, has a powerful motivation once the true sordid history of the camp is exposed and stands out from his horror inspirations in his appearance. Garbed in a rotting letterman jacket and hiding his mutilated visage behind one of Liam’s neon gamer masks, Jud oozes slime and bugs and is described as a powerful, visually intimidating visage. By appropriating Liam’s mask and targeting everyone in sight, he’s very much the embodiment of nature lashing out at these ignorant kids and I enjoyed the gory nature of his kills and the character’s desperate attempts to escape him and fight back. The queer aspect of “Camp 1985” is potent; bigotry against the LGBTQ+ community is represented by Gabe and the camp’s past, and both Ander and Liam regularly share their experiences of coming out and being queer influencers. The slasher genre has always been a highly sexual offshoot of horror, full of sex, depravity, and phallic imagery, and the author captures that nicely here, exploring aspects of the queer community and forcing these unlikely allies to fight against a seemingly unstoppable, undead killer while constantly at odds with each other. In addition to all the 1980s references that’ll have any retro enthusiast grinning, there are plenty of seeds planted for future entries in the series by the end, too. I really enjoyed this one, especially the visual of the killer, and would encourage fans of the slasher genre to give it a read if they’re looking for something both familiar and new.
In this story, Camp 1985 is home to some of the world’s most successful social media influencers. Its campers (who were all duped into attending the camp by their exasperated parents and guardians) have massive followings on the fiction VIBE social media platform, so much so that it’s all they know. While this success has translated to infamy for some, adulation for others, and financial for all, they are self-absorbed, naïve kids who don’t know a thing about the 1980s, which is increasingly frustrating for camp staff like Betsy Norris. Our main character in this story is Anderson “Ander” Thorn, a VIBEr who gained fame for his dance videos and who has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. While he finds some parts of camp enjoyable and develops a crush on shy, pudgy, successful gamer Liam Foster, Ander is just as likely to complain about missing his cell phone as the others. Ander’s also a bit of a clean freak and hates being dirty, which is a bit of a problem in the outdoors and when a rotting killer returns from the dead to stalk them. Ander also has the stigma of being the son of a renowned medium, who took his own life and treated Ander callously and left him with doubters who believed his father was a fake. While Ander tris to make the best of the situation and enjoys getting close to Liam, he’s resentful of being dropped there and astonished when the camp seemingly has ties to his father, and the mysterious necklace he wears, and ultimately reveals himself to an adaptable and natural leader when things get rough.
Ander and Liam face constant heckling from Gabe Freeman, an online prankster who’s just a bully and a bigot and constantly torments the two, and Lacey Carmichael, a self-absorbed beauty who enables Gabe’s antics. They’re joined by Kate Lancaster, an introvert who gained fame for her dog uploads and content and who is regularly ostracised from the group for her quiet nature. When the others discover a Ouija board and mess around with it, Kate begs off; when they sneak out to explore the abandoned church and other off-limits areas, Kate is left behind. While the others lament being disconnected from their followers and DMs, Kate is more concerned about her pup and how he’s doing in her absence. All four of the campers are really well developed; while some are more shallow and unnecessarily aggravating than others, it’s all done with a purpose. The author is presenting us with arrogant, blinkered youngsters obsessed with their screens and social media. They’re all flawed and even unlikeable in some ways, but the author gives each a glimmer of humanity and sympathy to varying degrees. Ander and Liam and easily the most well-rounded, but even Gabe gets a bit more nuance when it’s suggested that he is the way he is because it’s brought him fame and notoriety and he simply doesn’t know how to be anything else. The camp staff wear fake smiles and enthusiasm, encouraging the campers to get involved and make the most of their time away from their phones, and are largely incredulous when the first panicked claims of supernatural activity are raised. Knowing the kids just want to leave and annoyed by their selfish nature, it’s all Betsy can do to try and keep them on track, but when the bodies start piling up even she has to admit that something strange is going on.
Peppered with references (both indirect and explicit) to slasher classics, “Camp 1985” perfectly follows the formula of its influences. The kids mess around with something they’re not supposed to, allowing a wronged spirit to return to life and take revenge on those who killed him. This killer, Jud, has a powerful motivation once the true sordid history of the camp is exposed and stands out from his horror inspirations in his appearance. Garbed in a rotting letterman jacket and hiding his mutilated visage behind one of Liam’s neon gamer masks, Jud oozes slime and bugs and is described as a powerful, visually intimidating visage. By appropriating Liam’s mask and targeting everyone in sight, he’s very much the embodiment of nature lashing out at these ignorant kids and I enjoyed the gory nature of his kills and the character’s desperate attempts to escape him and fight back. The queer aspect of “Camp 1985” is potent; bigotry against the LGBTQ+ community is represented by Gabe and the camp’s past, and both Ander and Liam regularly share their experiences of coming out and being queer influencers. The slasher genre has always been a highly sexual offshoot of horror, full of sex, depravity, and phallic imagery, and the author captures that nicely here, exploring aspects of the queer community and forcing these unlikely allies to fight against a seemingly unstoppable, undead killer while constantly at odds with each other. In addition to all the 1980s references that’ll have any retro enthusiast grinning, there are plenty of seeds planted for future entries in the series by the end, too. I really enjoyed this one, especially the visual of the killer, and would encourage fans of the slasher genre to give it a read if they’re looking for something both familiar and new.
June 14, 2024
Matthew R. Corr has created a fantastic new universe and I’m desperate for more!!
Camp 1985 is a campy slasher that readers everywhere are going to love! In addition to having all of the classic tropes and adventures that come out of B movie slashers, this also is unapologetically queer and I loved it!!
At first, I wasn’t exactly sure where this story was going to land, but as it progressed and I got a better idea of the elements of this story, I’m so glad this is going to be a series! I need to know more and have to discover more from these characters!
Grab your copy today and check out Camp 1985, Book 1 of the Slasherverse!
Camp 1985 is a campy slasher that readers everywhere are going to love! In addition to having all of the classic tropes and adventures that come out of B movie slashers, this also is unapologetically queer and I loved it!!
At first, I wasn’t exactly sure where this story was going to land, but as it progressed and I got a better idea of the elements of this story, I’m so glad this is going to be a series! I need to know more and have to discover more from these characters!
Grab your copy today and check out Camp 1985, Book 1 of the Slasherverse!
July 14, 2024
This was a fairly enjoyable slasher book. The central setup on display, involving the kids arriving at the camp under false pretenses and being forced to surrender their social media experiences to participate in full-on recreation of a 1980s-era camp, sets this up quite nicely by offering an excuse for the retro taste of everything while also offering just enough modern vibes to be instantly recognizable. As well, there's also the fun amount of backstory given to the characters, with the psychic medium father responsible for instigating a series of online bullying against his son, a legacy of online stalking against another victim, and enough tidbits for the other characters that it all makes for a compelling group of characters. Some of this is a bit much, especially trying to connect the spirit medium backstory with the killer left behind at the disused portion of the camp or the forced head-butting that emerges once the killer arrives. Still, it's all handled well enough to not be much of an issue.
The horror antics, which arise at the midway point once they find the Ouija board left behind and manage to stumble upon the remnants of a church out in the middle of the woods, there are some fun times to emerge from this one. The inherent nature of the group at the camp who are renowned for their online personas making the story about something supernatural happening at the camp sets this up nicely that they're not going to believe a killer is on the loose, especially with the claims of dead bodies or others going missing which are par for the course with this particular genre. The arrival of the killer, with the unique mask and even more immersive backstory helps to make everything a more fitting slasher as the supernatural antics involving the constant appearance of bugs, worms, or other insects under his command and the ability to withstand normal punishment, gives this a solid old-school vibe.
This all comes to a head in the finale as the enhanced tone and more frantic elements in the storyline come together for a thrilling finish to everything. The frequently graphic deaths, explained in lurid detail to make sure everything's given a suitably gory touch, help move this one along at a perfect clip where it all means something when one of the kids gets knocked off. The use of sounds with enhanced whispers or movement through the woods is another great touch, adding a visceral quality to the scenes as if being there at the location during the experience. As there's a great overwash of queer influences with the influencers coming together at the camp to share their struggles with fame being a part of the community and how they're treated by the others there, the book is overall quite enjoyable.
There are some slight issues here in the book that hold it back. The biggest issue is the lack of time in the first half to establish anything about what's going on. With the amount of time focused on how the group gets tricked by their parents to get to the site, the initial outrage at being at the camp, and how they're supposed to function doing the traditional activities there, it sets up their mindset and personalities well enough to then make the later encounters somewhat more realistic. On the other hand, they also cause this to be a bit longer in getting to the supernatural slasher antics that take place in the second half which seems to come out of nowhere with the introduction of the Ouija board and the later discovery of the dead body that gets brought back to life. This is a slight issue here and doesn't hold it back too much thankfully.
The horror antics, which arise at the midway point once they find the Ouija board left behind and manage to stumble upon the remnants of a church out in the middle of the woods, there are some fun times to emerge from this one. The inherent nature of the group at the camp who are renowned for their online personas making the story about something supernatural happening at the camp sets this up nicely that they're not going to believe a killer is on the loose, especially with the claims of dead bodies or others going missing which are par for the course with this particular genre. The arrival of the killer, with the unique mask and even more immersive backstory helps to make everything a more fitting slasher as the supernatural antics involving the constant appearance of bugs, worms, or other insects under his command and the ability to withstand normal punishment, gives this a solid old-school vibe.
This all comes to a head in the finale as the enhanced tone and more frantic elements in the storyline come together for a thrilling finish to everything. The frequently graphic deaths, explained in lurid detail to make sure everything's given a suitably gory touch, help move this one along at a perfect clip where it all means something when one of the kids gets knocked off. The use of sounds with enhanced whispers or movement through the woods is another great touch, adding a visceral quality to the scenes as if being there at the location during the experience. As there's a great overwash of queer influences with the influencers coming together at the camp to share their struggles with fame being a part of the community and how they're treated by the others there, the book is overall quite enjoyable.
There are some slight issues here in the book that hold it back. The biggest issue is the lack of time in the first half to establish anything about what's going on. With the amount of time focused on how the group gets tricked by their parents to get to the site, the initial outrage at being at the camp, and how they're supposed to function doing the traditional activities there, it sets up their mindset and personalities well enough to then make the later encounters somewhat more realistic. On the other hand, they also cause this to be a bit longer in getting to the supernatural slasher antics that take place in the second half which seems to come out of nowhere with the introduction of the Ouija board and the later discovery of the dead body that gets brought back to life. This is a slight issue here and doesn't hold it back too much thankfully.
August 24, 2024
To put it simply, I’m in love with this. As a big fan of meta horror, I appreciated the homage to slasher classics of the 1980s, both subtle and overt. The main characters are really loveable and I quickly found myself growing attached to even the most annoying amongst them. The antagonist is truly the weakest part for me. The backstory feels slightly rushed, especially in comparison to Ander and Liam. The teen characters are much more dynamic than the adults. While they are side characters, I wanted to see more dimension from them.
Being the beginning of a series, there were a few loose ends that are left at the end. I appreciate that the author managed to leave you wanting more without leaving the reader completely confused. The unanswered questions I have are enough to keep me holding on for Slasherverse #2 so I can find those answers.
This is a quick, fun read with enough gore to make most horror fans pretty happy. Its quick pace kept my attention even through the slower parts of the narrative, but I do wish some of the fakeouts were either focused on more or just taken out completely. I would recommend this for newer horror reads and can comfortably say this is a 4 star read.
Thank you to RR Book Tours and the author for providing me with a review copy of this book. My review and my opinions are, as always, my own.
August 30, 2024
I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via R&R Book Tours.
Ander is a teen social media influencer who is addicted to his phone. So when he is invited to the opening week of Camp 1985, a camp for influencers he jumps at the chance. What he, and the others don’t realise, is the camp is supposed to take them back to the 80s in order to break their addiction. No phones, no WIFI. Everything at the camp has been taken right out of the 80s. Roller rink and arcade included. However, what they don’t know is the previous camp was one of torture.
If you know me, then you know I’m a lover of all things 80s and horror. So when I read about this, it was an immediate yes. Once the book got going, it was pretty much intense nonstop action. It was a fun, twisty ride with paranormal, and gore.
I loved this book! There could’ve been more 80s references, but hey, what was mentioned gave me nostalgia of a time before I was alive. When I say I devoured this book, I mean it. If it weren’t for obligations, I would’ve finished it in a day. If you’re a sucker for 80s horror, especially 80s horror slasher flicks, this book is for you. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Thank you, R&R Book Tours and Matthew R. Corr for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @fictionluxblog shortly.
Ander is a teen social media influencer who is addicted to his phone. So when he is invited to the opening week of Camp 1985, a camp for influencers he jumps at the chance. What he, and the others don’t realise, is the camp is supposed to take them back to the 80s in order to break their addiction. No phones, no WIFI. Everything at the camp has been taken right out of the 80s. Roller rink and arcade included. However, what they don’t know is the previous camp was one of torture.
If you know me, then you know I’m a lover of all things 80s and horror. So when I read about this, it was an immediate yes. Once the book got going, it was pretty much intense nonstop action. It was a fun, twisty ride with paranormal, and gore.
I loved this book! There could’ve been more 80s references, but hey, what was mentioned gave me nostalgia of a time before I was alive. When I say I devoured this book, I mean it. If it weren’t for obligations, I would’ve finished it in a day. If you’re a sucker for 80s horror, especially 80s horror slasher flicks, this book is for you. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Thank you, R&R Book Tours and Matthew R. Corr for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @fictionluxblog shortly.
September 14, 2024
Camp 1985 is a summer camp set up like the 80’s, no phones, modern electronics or WiFi. Enter five social media influencers, Ander, the dance sensation, Lacey, the beauty blogger, Kate, the dog lover, Gabe, the prankster and Liam, the gamer boy. All addicted to social media, their parents willing to try this radical isolated camp experience. But, when they accidentally unleash a vengeful spirit they have to fight to survive with no way to contact the outside world.
A supernatural slasher that oozes with not only gore and viscera but 80’s music, film and vibes, a total nostalgic hit and such fun!
The supernatural of course is here and the total confusion of the teens when faced with 80’s tech is hilarious (I never considered that modern teens would never have used a rotary phone!)
There’s a very sweet romantic frisson between Ander, the sensitive one and Liam, the shy boy, Gabe is a bully, Lacey is a princess and Kate is sickly sweet, all slasher archetypes in a killer’s playground. The camp staff are cliches too but you feel like you’re in on the joke, you know what’s coming and it is brilliant fun! A cracker of a slasher that twists and plays into the genre perfectly. This is on KU and absolutely worth a read. There are seven more books to come in the author’s “Slasherverse”, can’t wait!
A supernatural slasher that oozes with not only gore and viscera but 80’s music, film and vibes, a total nostalgic hit and such fun!
The supernatural of course is here and the total confusion of the teens when faced with 80’s tech is hilarious (I never considered that modern teens would never have used a rotary phone!)
There’s a very sweet romantic frisson between Ander, the sensitive one and Liam, the shy boy, Gabe is a bully, Lacey is a princess and Kate is sickly sweet, all slasher archetypes in a killer’s playground. The camp staff are cliches too but you feel like you’re in on the joke, you know what’s coming and it is brilliant fun! A cracker of a slasher that twists and plays into the genre perfectly. This is on KU and absolutely worth a read. There are seven more books to come in the author’s “Slasherverse”, can’t wait!
August 31, 2024
Camp 1985 absolutely feels like B-slasher film with a cool killer to match. I was into the supernatural element of the killer, and while none of the kills are super inventive, they’re still pretty solid. There are some creepy moments, and while I didn’t love the plot of this one, I like how it potentially sets up the rest of the series at the end.
All the same things that would annoy you in a B-slasher movie, will annoy you in this book. That’s not always a bad thing though, considering the genre. For me, I didn’t enjoy the meta-ness of it (it felt like too much) or how long it takes for anything to happen. The romance is cute, but I feel like it’s focused on a little too much. Liam and Anders are adorable, but that’s not what I want in a slasher novel.
Towards the end, the author kind of shoehorns in that the camp used to be a conversion camp, and I didn’t love the way the subject matter was handled. Then again, nothing really seems to have any weight throughout the story. People are being violently killed, but the characters have time to excitedly play arcade games. It just feels like nothing is taken as seriously as it should be, and that makes the plot feel flimsy at best. The ending also leaves a lot to be desired because it just kind of ends…
All the same things that would annoy you in a B-slasher movie, will annoy you in this book. That’s not always a bad thing though, considering the genre. For me, I didn’t enjoy the meta-ness of it (it felt like too much) or how long it takes for anything to happen. The romance is cute, but I feel like it’s focused on a little too much. Liam and Anders are adorable, but that’s not what I want in a slasher novel.
Towards the end, the author kind of shoehorns in that the camp used to be a conversion camp, and I didn’t love the way the subject matter was handled. Then again, nothing really seems to have any weight throughout the story. People are being violently killed, but the characters have time to excitedly play arcade games. It just feels like nothing is taken as seriously as it should be, and that makes the plot feel flimsy at best. The ending also leaves a lot to be desired because it just kind of ends…
July 4, 2024
🌳🪵🪨Review 🔮🩸⛺️
Title: Camp 1985
Author: Matthew R. Corr
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Summary: Teens get sent to a camp meant to get them away for social media and more in-tuned with nature. Andre amongst the campers decides to embrace the whole experience with the help of a cute boy he's crushing on.
Campers get together for a spooky night by breaking out the Ouija Board. What was sure to be a fun evening turns into the start of something sinister. An evil spirit is released into the camp and survival skills takes on a whole new meaning for everyone. Dark secrets of the camp's past are uncovered as campers fight to survive.
Thoughts:
A queer summer slasher packed with witty characters, supernatural fright, and of course blood! While very nostalgic this also maintains a modern vibe which made for a fun experience. Fast paced and thrilling throughout with punching ending💥.
I had a really great time reading this thrilling slasher. Keep in mind it's a YA horror so while being a "bloody" experience it's not too twisty. This read for me more as a fun thrill ride and less of terrifying experience but I truly enjoyed it all the same.
Title: Camp 1985
Author: Matthew R. Corr
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Summary: Teens get sent to a camp meant to get them away for social media and more in-tuned with nature. Andre amongst the campers decides to embrace the whole experience with the help of a cute boy he's crushing on.
Campers get together for a spooky night by breaking out the Ouija Board. What was sure to be a fun evening turns into the start of something sinister. An evil spirit is released into the camp and survival skills takes on a whole new meaning for everyone. Dark secrets of the camp's past are uncovered as campers fight to survive.
Thoughts:
A queer summer slasher packed with witty characters, supernatural fright, and of course blood! While very nostalgic this also maintains a modern vibe which made for a fun experience. Fast paced and thrilling throughout with punching ending💥.
I had a really great time reading this thrilling slasher. Keep in mind it's a YA horror so while being a "bloody" experience it's not too twisty. This read for me more as a fun thrill ride and less of terrifying experience but I truly enjoyed it all the same.
August 19, 2024
Up until the last 20% I was really enjoying this book! It seemed like a classic slasher book with gory death scenes and chase sequences. You have your main characters, your naive characters, and of course the obnoxious ones. I loved how the queer storyline was treated so naturally. I was even warming up to the supernatural element even though I would have preferred a more traditional killer bent on revenge for whatever happened in the hinted at past of the camp. Then suddenly the author decides to shoehorn a conversion camp, torture, and paternal trauma with a quick file dive and vhs tape. It seemed out of place and wasn’t even properly explored. There was no lead up to it, no hints to it, and could’ve have been a good plot point and motivation if the author took more than 10 pages to try to use it to explain everything. Still a fun read but a disappointing ending. Idk if I’ll read the follow up but the author is really betting on it with the myriad of plot points he left unexplained and not in a cliff hanger kind of way but in a “I haven’t quite figured out where I’m going with this yet” way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
Camp 1985 is certainly for fans of YA Lit, one of whom I am not. However, the book had some redeeming qualities for me.
I appreciated that the overweight character was also the love interest. I love horror but often find fat-shaming in the genre, even by my favourite authors. There is a bully who is grating, but the fact— and this is not a spoiler as it happens very early on in the book— that Liam (the overweight character) is the love interest of the MC warms my heart.
Another quality that I appreciated was the cutesy romance itself. As much as I love horror, I am a sucker for a cute romance, especially when it is LGBTQIA+-oriented.
Lastly, I appreciate that the author honoured the "classic slasher." I have read several slashers over the last two months, and a lot of them didn't do it for me because the killer was closer to Patrick Bateman than Jason Voorhees. That is not to say that I do not like Bateman; I just do not want him in slashers.
Sadly, despite the things that I loved/enjoyed, I still could not get overly invested in the book. If you are a fan of YA Lit, softcore horror, and/or camp slashers, then this might be the book for you!
I appreciated that the overweight character was also the love interest. I love horror but often find fat-shaming in the genre, even by my favourite authors. There is a bully who is grating, but the fact— and this is not a spoiler as it happens very early on in the book— that Liam (the overweight character) is the love interest of the MC warms my heart.
Another quality that I appreciated was the cutesy romance itself. As much as I love horror, I am a sucker for a cute romance, especially when it is LGBTQIA+-oriented.
Lastly, I appreciate that the author honoured the "classic slasher." I have read several slashers over the last two months, and a lot of them didn't do it for me because the killer was closer to Patrick Bateman than Jason Voorhees. That is not to say that I do not like Bateman; I just do not want him in slashers.
Sadly, despite the things that I loved/enjoyed, I still could not get overly invested in the book. If you are a fan of YA Lit, softcore horror, and/or camp slashers, then this might be the book for you!
September 5, 2024
I’m generally not much of a horror reader, nor do I know much about the 80’s (although after reading this I now have a list of books and movies I want to check out) but the idea of a forced digital detox intrigued me. I went into this completely unsure if I would stick it out until the end but I was immediately drawn into the world and now I need more. I enjoyed this book and wouldn’t have been upset if it was a little longer as I have so many questions which I am sure will be answered in future books.
I need book 2 as soon as possible. Hoping it will explore the mysterious Phantom Mansion and of course explore more of Ander and Liams potential relationship.
I need book 2 as soon as possible. Hoping it will explore the mysterious Phantom Mansion and of course explore more of Ander and Liams potential relationship.
June 18, 2024
Camp 1985 was fantastic! I have always loved the classic horror films and this book pays homage to those movies. At the beginning, one of the characters even calls out how similar their situation is to the old slasher films. This book is a good mix of classic slasher vibe, but also has a good amount of supernatural vibe. The author takes time during the first half of the book giving you background on the main character, which leaves you trying to figure out the missing pieces, but also learning to really connect with him. This is the first book of a series, so there are some loose ends, but overall the main theme of this book is resolved, which is nice. You are still left wanting to read book 2 to figure out what all is happening, but you have some closure surrounding Camp 1985. I would give this book 4.5 stars, as the first half was a little slow in parts, but the second half was packed full of action.
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