You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White — Review

Four StarsHorror
Written By Heather
The book You Weren't Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White standing upright on a counter in front of a box from aardvark.com

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White - Review Snapshot:

What mood is this right for: You really want to see someone else’s perspective, and think some horror is a great way to do that. 

Length: 320 Pages

Genre: Horror | Body Horror

Source: Aardvark Box

Where to Buy:  Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.FM 

Vibes Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1 Sentence Summary: A horror book where somehow the sentient hive of worms is not even the most horrific character.

⚠️ Usually, I save the trigger warnings for the end of the post so as not to spoil anything for people. However, this book deals with extreme topics, so I will post the author's note at the beginning of the book here for you to decide if this is a book that might be for you, and if you want to read more of the review of it. Definitely check the trigger warnings before diving into this book. 

“In addition to a graphic focus on pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, and childbirth, You Weren’t Meant to Be Human contains explicit depictions of extreme violence and gore, suicidal ideation, intrusive thoughts, self-harm, sexual assault, and abuse – sometimes alone, sometimes combined, sometimes indistinguishable one from another. A detailed list of warnings is available on the author's website at AndrewJosephWhite.com” ⚠️

Lastly, I’ve added an extended FAQ on this post that really dives into what body horror is as a sub-genre. If you know the book isn’t for you but want to learn a little more about the topic, I’ve included some safe-for-work questions and answers that dive a bit deeper. 

“Crane doesn’t know this yet, but he’s been pregnant for almost three months already”
— Andrew Joseph White

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human Summary (Spoiler-Free):

Andrew Joseph White makes his adult fiction 2025 debut with You Weren’t Meant to Be Human, an adult horror novel about bodily autonomy, forced birth, and trans survival told through extreme body horror. If you have read other AJW books, you’ll know even his YA books don’t shy away from gore and horror, using those two things to construct really strong social commentaries; this book is no different. Tackling pregnancy as body horror, abusive relationships, violence on trans bodies, and just how much people can take before they snap. 

In the midst of the Appalachian mountains, Crane believes he has found an escape in a cult headed by a hive. He can live fully transitioned, has an ex-marine boyfriend, and is living out his days completely mute. That is, until he becomes pregnant in a post-Roe world, both the hive and the state force Crane to carry the baby to term. The hive is, of course, a sentient hive of worms that has constructed a cult, obviously. The book is split into three parts, the three trimesters, and follows Crane’s journey. 

The title is in passive voice - You Weren’t Meant to Be Human - you’re receiving the action, and if that isn’t the best synopsis of this book, I’m not sure what is. Who exactly does Crane’s body belong to? The hive, his abusive boyfriends, the woman who took him in after he left his parents, his parents themselves? Or does it belong to him?

The book uses horror to give people a glimpse of what it can really feel like to be marginalized in oppressive communities. 

My Thoughts on You Weren’t Meant to Be Human

Filled to the brim with extreme gore, this book will not be for everyone. But the use of body horror to describe the extreme ends of pregnancy and forced birth is nothing short of spectacular. This book really represents the best of what that genre can be.  

Hand written note "I have no idea what's happening but it's a little gross & gay & I love it" in the book You Weren't Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White

Not every book is meant to be enjoyed. Some stories just exist to be told and listened to. That’s exactly how I feel about this book. It was the least fun time, but it also put me in a solid 3-week reading slump because it was just so much to think about and process. At the end of the day, I love that fiction gives authors these giant playgrounds to tap into the innermost feelings and that those authors are brave enough to share them with the world.

CAWPILE Review of You Weren’t Meant to Be Human

Characters - 10

The characters themselves are very well developed, but don’t expect to find them relatable. Crane is a mute, autistic, trans man. The intersection of those things is very unlikely to be your lived experience. However, getting to see the world through his eyes as a cis-woman in a hetero presenting relationship was really great.

Atmosphere/Setting - 9

The way isolation contributes to Crane's overall problem and his trajectory through the story is very well done.

Writing Style - 10

Gripping, intense, and visceral. Even just consider the example I gave in the title about the selective use of the passive voice. Andrew Joseph White layers prose and technical elements so purposefully and masterfully throughout this whole book. 

Plot - 8

This is such a character-driven story; there isn’t much plot to drive forward. However, the story arc is still so well done. The pregnancy is the ultimate driver of the story and plot. Crane doesn’t even have control of his own story; the pregnancy is driving that. 

Intrigue -7

I really wish we got a little bit more of the hive. I can completely understand that the point of the book really is that even compared to a hive of sentient bugs trying to control people's lives, forced pregnancy is the real horror. But the fantasy lover in me wanted another 100 pages in this book to really understand the world.

“No not a baby.
Embryo, then. Fetus. Larva.”
— Andrew Joseph White

Logic/Relationships - 9

The relationships make absolutely no sense and complete sense at the same time. They paint a vivid picture of what happens sometimes when we’re hurting and latch onto the first thing to offer us stable ground. The layers in Crane and Levi’s relationship, where it’s a fine line (and then not so fine) between abusive and consensual. Crane desperately wants to be seen as a man and treated as such. Levi definitely does that. This relationship is just so layered and nuanced. On the one hand, Levi is an abusive prick; this really comes out towards the end, but in the beginning, it’s rough but seemingly consensual…until Levi gets Crane pregnant.

Enjoyment -

I don’t think this one really makes sense to have an enjoyment rating. If you’re a fan of horror and really like the depths that gore and body horror can go to drive home a theme, then you will absolutely appreciate this. If you do not like gore, this book is not for you.

Final Score: 52/6 = 8.62 = 4 stars

Final Thoughts: You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

I need to be super clear: this book is horrifying to read. The trigger warnings are absolutely real and need to be considered carefully before you dive into this. It’s okay if this book is not for you; it will not be for everyone. I would encourage you to seek out some books on trans violence and the violence that is pregnancy in other formats.
However, this is written from a deep place, and those places are grappling with some very disturbing things. 

If you’re looking for more horror reviews, check out: The Unworthy by Augustina Bazterrica - Review, We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad - Review, Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle - Review, and all Loops & Legends Horror Reviews.

FAQ: Body Horror & You Weren’t Meant to Be Human

Why do you have two different star ratings?

The vibes rating is always my immediate ‘this was probably X star,” the CAWPILE is after I have reflected, thought about it more in-depth. Sometimes the vibes are lower than the CAWPILE, sometimes it’s the other way around. 

What is body horror?

Body horror is a subgenre of horror that focuses on the grotesque transformation or distortion of the human body. Think: pregnancy-as-horror (like this book), infection, mutations, forced transformation, gore, or anything that makes you acutely aware of your own bones, skin, and organs. It’s meant to provoke discomfort, and it’s often used to explore trauma, identity, and bodily autonomy.

Body horror is not just gore for gore’s sake. There are times when gore is just gore and there to serve a very different purpose. With body horror-based books, I would say, if you can’t understand what the author is trying to say by using extreme body horror, then that is a book you want to stay very far away from. Body horror books should always be read deeply to understand why and how it’s being used. In this case, Andrew Joseph White is using body horror to represent bodily autonomy. Even using the passive voice in the title, who really owns a body, who has the rights to it? 

Is body horror always gory?

Not necessarily. Sometimes body horror is deeply psychological — think The Metamorphosis or Black Swan. But in many books, body horror is vividly physical, visceral, and intentionally graphic.

Why do authors use body horror?

Because your body is the most personal thing you have, and losing control of it is one of the deepest human fears. Body horror taps into anxieties about:

  • medical trauma

  • illness and infection

  • transformation and identity

  • autonomy (or the loss of it)

  • societal expectations around bodies

  • abuse and coercion

When it’s done well, body horror is less about the actual violence and more about what that violence represents. 

Is body horror the same as gore?

No. Gore = blood, guts, violence.
Body horror = fear of bodily change or violation, which can include gore but doesn’t require it.

If a character gets stabbed in a slasher movie, that’s gore. If a character’s body mutates, decays, gestates, or transforms in unsettling ways — that’s body horror. 

Why is body horror so often used in LGBTQ+ books?

The use of body horror as an allegorical representation for the loss of autonomy and the gender dysphoria some members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel makes body horror very common in books written by LGBTQ+ authors. It can also be a way to challenge body norms and comment on societal marginalization. This is not new or modern; this dates back to some of the foundational body horror like Frankenstein, where Mary Shelly, a bi-woman living in the 1800s, used body horror not just to represent the loss of bodily autonomy but also the horror a creator can inflict on their creation. 

What books should I read if I am new to body horror as a genre?

Is You Weren’t Meant to Be Human very graphic?

Yes. This is Andrew Joseph White at his most intense. The book contains explicit depictions of body horror, pregnancy and forced birth, gore, violence, suicidal ideation, and trauma. If you’ve read Hell Followed With Us, imagine that level of visceral horror, but pointed at adult themes with even less restraint. Check the full list of content warnings on the author’s site before reading.

Is this book connected to any of Andrew Joseph White’s other novels?

No. You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is a standalone adult horror novel, separate from his YA universe.

What makes You Weren’t Meant to Be Human an “adult” book versus his YA titles?

The extremity of the violence, the depth of the trauma, the abusive relationships, and the scale of the political themes. Where his YA books push boundaries, this one has no boundaries to speak of.  It’s visceral and raw.

Is You Weren’t Meant to Be Human a good pick for people new to body horror?

Honestly? Probably not. This is baptism-by-fire-level body horror. If you want a gentler intro, see the suggestions above. 

What themes does You Weren’t Meant to Be Human explore?

The novel dives into bodily autonomy, trauma, forced birth, identity, transformation, state control, and what it means to claim ownership of your own body.

Who should read You Weren’t Meant to Be Human?

Readers who appreciate extreme horror, visceral body horror, trans narratives, and politically charged storytelling. Not recommended for beginners or sensitive readers.

Trigger Warnings in You Weren’t Meant to Be Human
(Source: Story Graph)

Graphic

Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Pregnancy Loss

Moderate

Vomit, Transphobia, Cannibalism, Rape, Abuse

Minor

Infidelity, Homophobia, Animal Cruelty

Book Club Questions for You Weren’t Meant to Be Human:

1. Crane’s identity — mute, autistic, trans — shapes the entire narrative. How did reading from such a specific POV shift the way you engaged with the story?

2. The title You Weren’t Meant to Be Human implies a stripping away of agency. Who or what do you think is “deciding” that — the hive, the state, or something more metaphorical?

3. Body horror is used here as commentary on pregnancy and forced birth. Which scenes hit hardest for you, and why do you think body horror is such an effective tool for discussing bodily autonomy?

4. Crane’s relationship with the hive is both communal and deeply coercive. Do you read the hive as a literal horror element, or more as a metaphor for systems that demand compliance?

5. The Appalachian setting is isolated, oppressive, and almost post-apocalyptic in its own right. How did the setting amplify the book's themes or tone?

6. Crane experiences both found family and abusive attachment throughout the story. Which relationships stood out to you as meaningful — and which were the hardest to read?

7. The book holds almost no space for “enjoyment” in the traditional sense. Do you think books like this need to be enjoyable? What does “success” look like for a book intentionally designed to disturb you?

9. If you could ask Andrew Joseph White one question about this book, what would it be?


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