Spine Breakers Book Club
Midslumber Media’s Spine Breakers Book Club is a PDX based horror book club focused on diverse, inclusive, and genre-bending horror.
Every month we’ll sink our teeth into everything from literary fiction to slashers, speculative nightmares, feminist horror, queer horror, and so much more.
Whether you're a lifelong horror buff or new to the genre, you're welcome! You’ll find thoughtful discussions, a little chaos, and a local community looking to explore the dark side of storytelling!
![You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White [Paperback] JULY SPINEBREAKERS PICK](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/675df21511683a207896c1e3/241d2d54-b25e-49ed-980c-e488fa735a0e/9781668038079-U9x7fIEv.jpg)
Ships in 1 - 2 Weeks (Domestic Only)
Local Pick Up in Portland, Oregon
JULY SPINEBREAKERS BOOKCLUB PICK
Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.
Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation. A fresh start. It's an offer that none refuse.
Crane is grateful. Among his hive's followers, Crane has found a chance to transition, to never speak again, to live a life that won't destroy him. He even met Levi: a handsome ex-Marine and brutal killer who treats him like a real man, mostly. But when Levi gets Crane pregnant--and the hive demands the child's birth, no matter the cost--Crane's desperation tomake it stopwill drive the community that saved him into a devastating spiral that can only end in blood.
You Weren't Meant to Be Humanis a deeply personal horror; a visceral statement about the lives of marginalized people in a hostile world, echoing the works of Stephen Graham Jones and Eric LaRocca.
Format: Paperback
Published: July 7th, 2026
ISBN: 1668038080
EAN: 9781668038086
Publisher: Saga Press
July Book Club Pick
July Book Club Pick
July Spinebreakers Book Club Pick:
You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
Pre-order for pick up at the store below
“Hey y’all! My name is Madison and I’ll be running horror bookclub! I read a lot of horror (and sci-fi/fantasy/anything that piques my interest). A little about me: I’m a software engineer, I have two cats and one dog, and I’m an avid hobby collector. I’m super stoked to be here! I’ve always wanted a community to talk horror with, and I hope this book club can be that for everyone!”
Madison (aka @literarymadmax on TikTok and Instagram) is our resident horror literature expert and book club leader! If it’s weird, unsettling, or makes you question your sanity she’s probably already read it. With recent favorites like When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy, Lamb by Lucy Rose, and Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson, just know you’re never leaving book club without a stack of killer recommendations.
Meet Your Bookclub Leader!
Interested in attending?
Join our Midslumber Media Discord! Here you can connect with a local community of horror lovers. We’ll post updates, polls, events, and more here!
Don’t Have Discord?
That’s okay! Follow us on Instagram or fill out the form to join the email list! We generally meet at Midslumber Media on the last Wednesday of the month at 6PM!