Boozhoo Books | Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
How it Works Bookshop
Publishing Team Contact
Log in or Sign up
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes
Clay Chapman
Save to Your Books
Bookshop
Amazon
100% of affiliate revenue supports Boozhoo Books
“Clay McLeod Chapman is one of my favorite horror storytellers working today.” —Jordan Peele
“Surreal, hypnotic, unrelenting, profoundly claustrophobic, and an absolutely scathing send-up of the pitfalls of American divisiveness.” —Keith Rosson, author of Fever House
From master of horror Clay McLeod Chapman, a relentless social horror novel about a family on the run from a demonic possession epidemic that spreads through media.
Noah has been losing his polite Southern parents to far-right cable news for years, so when his mother leaves him a voicemail warning him that the “Great Reawakening” is here, he assumes it’s related to one of her many conspiracy theories. But when his phone calls go unanswered, Noah makes the drive from Brooklyn to Richmond, Virginia. There, he discovers his childhood home in shambles and his parents locked in a terrifying trancelike state in front of the TV. Panicked, Noah attempts to snap them out of it.
Then Noah’s mother brutally attacks him.
But Noah isn’t the only person to be attacked by a loved one. Families across the country are tearing each other apart—literally—as people succumb to a form of possession that gets worse the more time they spend glued to a screen. In Noah’s Richmond-based family, only he and his young nephew Marcus are unaffected. Together, they must race back to the safe haven of Brooklyn—but can they make it before they fall prey to the violent hordes?
This ambitious, searing novel from one of horror's modern masters holds a mirror to our divided nation and will shake readers to the core.
Show more
Get the Bindery app
Posts about this title from Boozhoo Books
Boozhoo Books\
\
Naomi\
\
• Mar 16 2025
Hello Friends, \
\
I had a great chat earlier with fellow tastemakers about women in horror, our favorite reads and upcoming releases we are looking forward to (I tagged many of them in this post!)\
\
If you weren't able to make it, you can check it out on Youtube here\
\
Follow the other tastemakers on Bindery here:\
\
Aubrie\
\
Natalie\
\
Steph\
\
We had so much fun and hope to get together again soon! If you have any topics you'd love to hear us discuss, drop your suggestions below!\
\
BOOKCLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS\
\
As you know Women in Horror and Good Day To Read Indigenous (book clubs found on Discord here have their books picked out through May! \
\
Next week, I will be planing the reads for the remainder of the year. $12 and $25 subscribers get to nominate books, so look out for that post tomorrow!\
\
Quiet Time Book Club will meet tomorrow at 5pm PST/8pm EST on Zoom.
RECORDING: Women In Horror Panel
YouTube link to Women in Horror Celebration, all of the (most of the) books discussed, info about our Discord bookclubs
62 books
2
Posts about this book from across Bindery
ash.reads.horror\
\
ash\
\
• Dec 10 2025
Join for free
\
\
It's time for some more book recs and today I'm talking about found footage. \
\
The Blair Witch Project took audiences by storm upon its release. It was released at the perfect time before the internet and cell phones. The marketing campaign made you believe that these three actors weren't actually actors. That the film you're seeing was actually found footage and these three actors were missing.\
\
I love books that are able to take that found footage feeling and apply it to page. The below books are all ones that I've read and would recommend. \
\
Found: An Anthology of Found Footage Horror edited by Andrew Cull and Gabino Iglesias--An anthology of eighteen stories all dealing with some type of found footage horror. If you've read Clay McLeod Chapman's Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, you may be a bit familair with his story in this collection. The story he wrote for this one "The Spew of News" is what he used to turn Wake Up And Open Your Eyes into a novel! This one also has another collection of Found Footage Horror as well. Found 2:More Stories Of Found Footage Horror. \
\
FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven-- This one is an all time favorite of mine. I will highly suggest listening to it as an audiobook! The narrators really brought the novel to life. It's told in interviews of survivors who spent a month trapped in an amusement park after a hurricane left them stranded. It's very Lord Of The Flies esq. \
\
Night Film by Marisha Pessl-- If you know me you know I LOVE this book. It follows a journalist who investigates a cult film director after the mysterious death of the director's daughter. This one has tons of mixed media in it. From newspaper articles to website pages, the media makes the story feel very meta.\
\
Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand-- Interviews of members of a former band tell of their haunting time at Wylding Hall. One of the band members disappeared while at the manor and there were some pretty spooky instances several of the band members experienced. This book is great for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six but if you wanted a sprinkle of spooks. \
\
Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall-- Don't let the YA tag fool you, this book is SCARY. It follows a group of teens who choose to participate in a deadly legend in search of their missing friend. Once a year a road appears in the forest and at the end of it is the ghost of Lucy Gallows. You must play her deadly games and try to survive. \
\
And a few more fantastic mentions because this category is just too good. \
\
The Weight of Blood, The Lost Village, Devolution, and Universal Harvester. \
\
What is your favorite Found Footage Horror Book?\
\
Also, I wanted to let you all know exciting things are coming for my Inner Sanctum members. If you're able to, consider upgrading! It would mean a lot to me and grant you access to many more features! \
\
Join for free or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/kegBAFOgDrxhrm6rWWb0/)
Found Footage
11 books
1
2
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• Aug 8 2025
Join for free
And Then I Woke Up - A different take on a zombie apocalypse. Had my staring at the wall when I finished\
\
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes - The Great Reawakening is coming and your far right family members are not safe\
\
Birdbox - An invisible monster is causing people to take their lives in horrific ways. The stress this book put me through\
\
The Memory Police - Little by little things begin to disappear. Most of the population forgets these things existed, but some remember. The memory police, make those that remember disappear as well. This is slow moving and quietly horrific.\
\
Pink Slime - A plague is taking over, and one woman and the boy she baby sits refuse to leave this city.\
\
Dungeon Crawler Carl - "The apocalypse will now be televised" is an pretty accurate description\
\
The Unworthy - Violent end of the world cult gets disrupted by a new member\
\
Tender Is The Flesh - Virus makes animal meat poisonous for human consumption, resulting in legalized cannibalism\
\
ON MY TBR\
\
Over Growth\
\
The Girl With All The Gifts\
\
Severance
The End Is Near - Book Recs
8 books
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• Jun 6 2025
Join for free
2025 has been such an incredible year for new releases. Below are just a few of my favorites that I've read! All but one have been published. Leave a comment with your favorite 2025 new releases.\
\
When The Wolf Comes Home \
\
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng\
\
The Lamb\
\
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes \
\
Victorian Psycho\
\
The Unworthy \
\
I Can Fix Her \
\
Wild Dark Shore \
\
King of Ashes - Out June 10 2025\
\
So Happy Together \
\
She's a Lamb
Best 2025 book releases (so far)
11 books
3
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• May 22 2025
Join for free
Top 5 Horror Books
This year has been THE YEAR for horror! My top thrillers is already posted! ♥️ #madisoncanread #horrorbooks #horrorbookrec #horrorbooktok #2025horrorbooks #favoritebooks #topbooks2025 #Inverted
6 books
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• May 22 2025
Join for free
My favorite books of 2025 so far!
My favorite books of 2025 so far! #madisoncanread #horrorbooks #thrillerbooks #favoritebooks #bestbooks #bestbooks2025 #Inverted
10 books
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• May 22 2025
Join for free
If you like this, read this!
If you like this, read this! #madisoncanread #horrorbooks #thrillerbooks #ifyoulikethisbookreadthisbook #ifyoulikethistrythat #Inverted
24 books
Madisoncanread\
\
Madison\
\
• May 22 2025
Join for free
My favorites shelf ♥️🙌🏻
My favorites shelf ♥️🙌🏻 #madisoncanread #horrorbooks #thrillerbooks #favoritebooks #bestbooks #toptierbooks #godtierbooks
16 books
Celestial\
\
Steph\
\
• Mar 17 2025
Join for free
Hi friends,\
\
I had SUCH a fun time chatting with Aubrei, Naomi, Natalie, and everyone who joined us for our Women in Horror chat. \
\
Thank you so much to the Celestial friends who stopped by, but if you missed it, I don't want you to miss out! Natalie (superstar notetaker that she is) jotted down all the books mentioned, and we also recorded the Zoom.\
\
First, you should 1000% be following the three of them if you're not already:\
\
Aubrei ( earlgreypls): https://egp.binderybooks.com/\
\
Naomi ( fromthemixedupdesk): https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/\
\
Natalie ( weirdobookclub): https://boneyardpicnic.binderybooks.com/\
\
Second, click here for that YouTube recording!\
\
And third, here's the beautifully long list of books we discussed (some were recommendations and others were books that we're looking forward to) (also a few non-women snuck in; forgive us):\
\
01. And Then She Fell by Aligia Elliot\
\
02. Infested by Angel Luis Colon\
\
03. Brother by Ania Ahlborn\
\
04. Seed by Ania Ahlborn\
\
05. The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn\
\
06. Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn\
\
07. Men, Women and Chainsaws by Carol J Clover\
\
08. Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman\
\
09. Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman\
\
10. Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine\
\
11. Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson\
\
12. Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson\
\
13. Jackal by Erin E. Adams\
\
14. One of You by Erin E. Adams \
\
15. Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne\
\
16. The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington\
\
17. Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington\
\
18. Hungerstone by Kat Dunn\
\
19. House of Psychotic Women by Kier-la Jannise\
\
20. Bat Eater and Other Names For Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker\
\
21. Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread by Leila Taylor\
\
22. Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury\
\
23. Lakewood by Megan Giddings\
\
24. The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings\
\
25. Shy Girl by Mia Ballard\
\
26. Sugar by Mia Ballard\
\
27. Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements\
\
28. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant\
\
29. Feed by Mira Grant\
\
30. Overgrowth by Mira Grant\
\
31. The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim\
\
32. Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton\
\
33. Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison\
\
34. Come Closer by Sara Gran\
\
35. Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey\
\
36. Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin\
\
37. Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
38. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
39. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
40. Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
41. The Tiger Came to the Mountains by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
42. The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
43. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
44. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia\
\
45. The Good House by Tananarive Due\
\
46. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due\
\
47. The Between by Tananarive Due\
\
48. Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson\
\
49. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson\
\
50. The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson\
\
51. White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson\
\
52. Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris\
\
53. Goddess of Filth by V Castro\
\
54. Immortal Pleasures by V Castro\
\
55. The Queen of the Cicadas by V Castro\
\
56. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab\
\
57. The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas\
\
58. Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas\
\
59. The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas\
\
\
Thanks, folks, and we can't wait to do this again sometime!!!\
\
Join for free or login
Women in Horror (60 recs!) | recording & thank you
24 books
2
Boozhoo Books\
\
Naomi\
\
• Mar 16 2025
RECORDING: Women In Horror Panel
YouTube link to Women in Horror Celebration, all of the (most of the) books discussed, info about our Discord bookclubs
62 books
2
Not So Well Read\
\
Courtney\
\
• Mar 1 2025
Join for free
Virtual Author Event Tonight
Saturday is finally the big day!!!!! Join us in the shop or online to hear from two powerhouses of the horror genre. We’ll be having a spoiler free (or light) discussion of both of their new books.
In-person arrival is set for 6 and the live-stream with @equinoxsociety and @claymcleod will kick off at 6:15CST
No rsvp required AND signed copies of Our Winter Monster are available while they last — plus signed book plates for Wake Up and Open Your Eyes ⛄️
2 books
Not So Well Read\
\
Courtney\
\
• Feb 18 2025
Join for free
The cathartic nature of horror is widely-talked-about across the book internet, but I haven't seen that same discussion extended into dystopian fiction. While some might consider dystopian a brand of horror in itself, there are clear differences between the two. Horror typical works to confront the self, but dystopian always is focused on greater societal issues.\
\
The reason these books feel so timely is not that their authors are gifted with some sort of clairvoyance, but because they are deeply rooted in reality. Authors of dystopian and apocalyptic fiction are simply looking at current events and asking "what if". And, the results of their thought experiments are often uncanny in their parallels to current society, because it's not hard to imagine the repercussions of our actions when we actually sit down and confront them.\
\
While not everyone might feel this way, for me, there's some comfort in the knowing. And, even more so, there's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one looking out at the world and seeing that something has broken. It's a strange kinship, that's for sure, but kinship nonetheless.\
\
So, if you too, find solace in facing our potential futures, here are some new dystopian/apocalyptic novels coming out this spring...\
\
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman (Out Now) \
\
What if: all "negative" emotions were suddenly erased from the world?\
\
From the author of the Scythe series, comes a new sci-fi series where a virus wipes out all of humanities negative feelings. But, as people "recover" the economy begins to collapse, leading politicians and billionaires to try and race to find a "cure". This one confronts how much our economies depend on consumerism marketed towards "happiness". \
\
Brother Brontë by Fernando A. Flores (Out Now) \
\
What if: literacy was actually completely outlawed?\
\
I can't give much away here, but this one tackles a lot. Set in a Texas border-town, Brother Brontë confronts a world where literacy has officially been outlawed and theirs rampant violence against women. But, it's also up to them to to lead a rebellion. Oh, did I mention it also features a technocracy and a focus on "government efficiency".\
\
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Out Now) \
\
What if: climate change threatened our collective history?\
\
All the Water in the World was actually inspired by the work of historians and museum curators in Iraq and Leningrad and all they've done to protect their collections from war. It follows a group of researchers trying to build a new society in a flooded world, while also protecting the world's history. But, as they rush to survive the failure of NYC flood protections, they're forced to weigh their new realities against humanity's history.\
\
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman \
\
What if: your MAGA relatives were actually being possessed by the media?\
\
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes is a "social horror" novel, so it straddles the line into dystopian, while also bringing in some supernatural horror elements. This story follows a young man, whose family starts falling into the traps of the far-right media to the point of literal possession. It directly confronts the feeling of hopelessness many of us feel watching our loved ones descend into hatefulness.\
\
A Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (March 4, 2025) \
\
What if: even our fail safes start to fail?\
\
When I was in college, we had a guest artist come give a talk about her work photographing the world seed bank. Since then, I have been absolutely fascinated by the knowledge that the world's "fail-safe" is just out there in the literal middle of nowhere. A Wild Dark Shore, exists in a future where even that contingency plan is being threatened by rising tides. Asking the question of when should our focus shift from the greater good to our personal preservation?\
\
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (March 4, 2025) \
\
What if: the future was run by a single, blood-thirsty monopoly? \
\
I, unfortunately, wasn't one of the chosen few who received an early copy of this one, but I know it is going to change my very being, because it feels like the dystopian novels of old (i.e. the 2000s). Fable for the End of the World is set in a world where society is at the whims of a single corporation, to which many individuals are in massive amounts of debt. But, obviously, the corporation has come up with a great way to rid folks of that debt–sacrificing their children to a televised "assassination spectacle" à la The Hunger Games.\
\
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (March 4, 2025) \
\
What if: organized religion promises an "escape" from the apocalypse?\
\
Let me caveat this blurb by being very clear that I will not be reading this book. I do not like splatterpunk, excessive violence, or graphic depictions of torture–which is exactly what this book promises (per current Goodreads reviews). But, if you're wanting ideological extremism and a world (and it's women) descending deeper into their violent natures, this one's definitely should be your go-to.\
\
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (March 4, 2025) \
\
What if: the lines between our selves, technology, and the government disappeared entirely?\
\
The Dream Hotel explores a future in which government surveillance extends to our dreams, gathering data for algorithm that can predict an individual's "risk" to society. Unsurprisingly, this leads to women trying to prove their innocent against the word of biased data. This one places the relationship between sweeping technological "advancements" and societies fall Fascism front and center.\
\
When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory (April 1, 2025) \
\
What if: our entire world was a digital simulation?\
\
When We Were Real presents a reality in which nothing is in our control. In fact, our "reality" isn't even real, but rather an elaborate, widespread simulation. This one's a bit more on the lighthearted side of the genre. It still leans into the existentialism of knowing that your life is being dictated by an uncontrollable entity, but also the small activism in deciding to live anyway.\
\
The Compound by Aisling Rawle (June 25, 2025) \
\
What if: televised violence was the only thing left to distract the masses?\
\
In an increasingly violent world, is it surprising that our reality television would also become... well... increasingly violent? The Compound follows a young woman who is a contestant on a popular reality television show where folks compete for modern luxuries and avoid getting banished to the outside world. This one has an eerie take on influencer-culture, consumerism, and the commodification of our everyday lives.
10 New Dystopian Novels for the Now Times
10 books
2