3.75 stars
wow okay i feel gross now. classic descent into madness mixed with occult/demon themes and messed up family drama. probably should have put a little more effort into the believability of some things (there were so many ways they could’ve tried to get out!) but if you can look past that it really makes you feel trapped and horrified like the family. i do wish some things had been explained more by the end (amy) but overall an enjoyable and unforgettable read!

characters: 3
plot: 3.5
writing: 4 ( )

This book requires a lot more attention and suspension of disbelief than I gave it.

Also…how old are these kids? Nothing makes sense ( )

after months of thinking abt this book and watching the movie i realized i hate this story ( )

I thought this book had a great premise: a family is trapped in a bathroom when sheltering there from a possible tornado. It started out pretty strong, and there is one truly creepy moment toward the middle, but the occult elements and the frankly unbelievable plot twists just lost me. Despite the title, this family doesn't really do anything about their situation, and I wasn't really buying that. It read like the treatment for a gross-out B movie, and well, that's basically what it is: a novella based on a script. ( )

Humblebrag: I was a Max Booth III fan BEFORE he got a film deal. I loved THE NIGHTLY DISEASE and his social media stories about the owl girl, and how one might go about petting owls. When I heard about WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, I bought it without even reading the cover copy because I knew I was in skilled hands. Okay, that sounds weirder than I intended, but readers, you know what I mean, right? There are some authors you trust no matter what they throw at you to take you on an enjoyable ride.

The novella exceeded my expectations. Mostly because I didn’t have any, other than that I was going to like it. A dysfunctional family gets trapped in the bathroom following a tornado warning and subsequent tree slicing through their house that blocks their exit. No help is coming. MC Mel and her little brother Bobby are at odds, but not nearly as much as their parents. Tension builds as some minor inconveniences turn to major issues. Food is non-existent and privacy is scarce, and you can’t leave four people in a confined space with no release date in sight without someone getting a little batty. Add to that a supernatural twist and an unpredictable alcoholic and you have WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

A clever story that reminds me of the writing advice: “Make your characters walk through glass.” This family endures increasingly difficult circumstances that are paced perfectly and make for a jaw-dropping, horrific, disorienting funhouse of a read. That the author managed to weave in THE NIGHTLY DISEASE as the family’s current binge watch TV show was a fun fan bonus. If I have one complaint, it’s that, unless I missed something, it appears the tree is blocking the door from opening to the outside. There’s the attempt by the dad to shoulder the door open and the scene where Bobby is trying to fit through. I’ve never been in a house where a bathroom door doesn’t swing in, but who cares, right? I hit the “I believe” button and went with it. As twisted as the book gets, that dog scene… it’s a standout! “Who’s a good boy?” will never not give me chills again. A big congratulations to Max on his accomplishments with gratitude for the foreword and afterword materials. It’s great to hear how a success story comes together. Here’s to many more!
( )