Author Interview & Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
I have maybe sort of been in love with Goldy Moldavsky’s words since Kill the Boy Band and The Mary Shelley Club BLEW ME AWAY. TMSC reminds me of all of my favorite teen horror films and the thriller horror of my youth. The story opened with a bang and slowly introduced you to a cast of characters through the things that terrify them. I suspected everyone and no one at the same time as the story unfolded. The ending left the world primed and ready for TMSC’s version of Saw 2. Easily one of my fav reads this year.
I loved this book so much that I couldn’t resist checking in with Goldy about it. Check out our interview below and pick up The Mary Shelley Club, out now!
The Mary Shelley Club
by Goldy MoldavskyPublished by: Henry Holt & Company
on April 13, 2021
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Goodreads
New York Times –bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that's Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.
New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.
To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.
When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.
Interview with Author Interview & Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
Talk to us about Rachel. What would she carry in her backpack daily? What parts of her remind you most of yourself?
I love this question! And it is probably something I should have considered while building the character haha. I think I might use it to figure out my characters in my next books! I think Rachel would have what all nyc kids need: phone, cash, and a metrocard to get around. For fun, she’d also have a spooky book to read on the subway on her way to school, some fancy chapstick, and a sensible snack!
As for how we’re alike, it comes down to two key things: we both have a love of scary movies and we both recognize when we get anxious and how to deal with it. (Rachel deals with it by doing something reckless, while I like try and center myself a little bit.)
The members of The Mary Shelley Club introduce/watch their favorite horror films. If you were part of MSC, what movie would you bring to the club? What movies would give you the creeps?
If it was my first night at The Mary Shelley Club and I was asked to pick the movie, I’d have to go with Scream. It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser popcorn flick. And it is such a social movie. In general I love scary movies because they’re the most social to me. Aside from comedies (it’s fun laughing with friends) I think it’s even more fun to scream with friends. Good times.The movie that always gives me to creeps is The Shining. That’s a hard one to sit through.
Who was your favorite character to write?
I am so happy to say that this is a hard question to answer because I truly love all these characters. But I’m always inclined to pick the characters that are the comic relief. They break up the tension and have the best lines. In this case that would be Thayer and Saundra.
