Is 'The Becoming' Worth Reading In 2023?

2026-03-10 07:49:11
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5 Answers

Dylan
Dylan
Clear Answerer Lawyer
The first chapter of 'The Becoming' had me hooked—like, midnight-oil-burning, 'one-more-page' obsessed. It’s this wild blend of cosmic horror and small-town secrets, where every character feels like someone you’d meet at a dingy bar but with way darker backstories. The pacing? Chef’s kiss. Slow enough to let the atmosphere creep under your skin, but with payoffs that hit like a sledgehammer.

That said, if you’re craving fast-paced action, it might test your patience. The prose lingers on rusted playgrounds and whispered folklore, which I adored, but a friend bounced off it for being 'too dense.' Also, the audiobook narrator’s gravelly voice? Perfect for the protagonist’s world-weary vibe. Still think about that twist in the abandoned lighthouse months later.
2026-03-11 01:36:48
8
Uma
Uma
Favorite read: The Awakening
Honest Reviewer Editor
As a mom who sneaks reading time during soccer practice, I devoured 'The Becoming' in three days flat. It’s got that addictive 'just enough clues per chapter' thing—like peeling an onion but with more body horror. The small-town politics reminded me of 'Sharp Objects,' but with eldritch monsters instead of wine moms. My teen even stole my copy (after I warned her about that scene with the teeth). Solid 2023 pick if you dig stories where the real terror isn’t the monster… it’s the neighbors.
2026-03-13 15:18:20
8
Katie
Katie
Favorite read: The Awakening
Story Finder Lawyer
Devoured it in one sitting during a rainstorm—zero regrets. The way it subverts 'chosen one' tropes? Brilliant. Protagonist’s a washed-up mechanic who couldn’t care less about prophecies, which makes the cosmic dread hit harder. Bonus points for the queer rep being woven in naturally, not like some afterthought. That final act’s body horror still haunts my dreams (in the best way).
2026-03-13 17:38:14
3
Julia
Julia
Favorite read: The Awakening
Expert Data Analyst
Initially passed on it because the cover looked like another generic thriller, but wow, was I wrong. 'The Becoming' nails the balance between existential dread and dark humor—imagine if Stephen King and Jeff VanderMeer co-wrote a Southern Gothic. The second-act reveal about the town’s 'founding families' made me gasp aloud. Only gripe? The epilogue felt tacked-on, like the publisher demanded sequel bait. Still, the 90% before that? Gold.
2026-03-14 01:39:52
10
Zachary
Zachary
Favorite read: Becoming The Luna
Bibliophile Office Worker
Read it for a book club and half of us loved it, half DNF’d by chapter five. The divisive factor? Tone. It swings from poetic ('the sky bled twilight like a fresh bruise') to gross-out practical ('then the worms started crawling out of his eyes'). If you vibe with that whiplash, it’s a masterpiece. Otherwise, maybe try the sample first. Personally? I’m buying the sequel the day it drops.
2026-03-16 12:54:18
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