Book Review: Wasps In The Ice Cream

 "Wasps In The Ice Cream" by Tim McGregor. 

"Wasps In The Ice Cream" by Tim McGregor

Summer, in the 1980s. Mark Pruitt and his two best friends, Eric and Kevin, are inseparable. That is, until the day Kevin chooses to play a cruel prank on the Farrow sisters. The aftermath of the prank leaves Mark feeling terrible and wanting to make amends. What ensues is a unique relationship with George (Georgia) Farrow that will take you on a journey of loss, grief, first love, and friendship. 

Last year, Chad Lutzke posted his top books for the year, and this story was on his list. The title and coming of age aspect of this story is what attracted me the most, but the character driven story and beautiful prose are what kept me reading. 

Mark and George had such an interesting dynamic. I loved their character interaction and how complex both sets of characters were. 

I also really appreciated the nods towards Shirley Jackson. The reference towards "The Lottery" was great. That's a story that has stuck with me, much like "Wasps In The Ice Cream" will now. 

Realistically, this story could be a few things; a ghost story, a love story, a coming of age horror novella. I personally didn't consider it horror, but it did emit all of the creepy vibes. No matter what you're looking for when you sit down to read, I guarantee you'll find it inside these pages.