Book Review: “Veal” by Mackenzie Nolan (ARC)
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The Quick & Dirty Reading Details
Campy, Comedic Horror
Lesbian and Queer Protagonists
Horror as an Allegory
Creature Feature
Monster as a Metaphor
Small, Creepy Town,
Queer Found Family
Queer Community as Resistance
Queer Feminism
Natural Dialogue
Familial Trauma
Sapphic Yearning
Escaping the Rat Race
Slow Burn (Pace)
Quick Read
POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: Misogyny, Gore, Childhood Trauma, Homophobia
Go on, ask me how I'd sum up this sapphic novel in one sentence! Well, I'd say, “Baby, it's you, me, and our chosen queer family against the monstrous patriarchy.” Think Kate McKinnon's “Ghostbusters” meets the early years of "The L-Word”, wrapped in the sexual tension of "Carol".
If, after reading this introduction, you are already suiting up to run into battle, then Mackenzie Nolan's debut novel may be the campy, queer horror story you've been waiting to hit your shelves. Dive into my sapphic book review of "Veal” to explore the themes, wins, and challenges to find out if it deserves a spot on your TBR.
The Plot of Mackenzie Nolan's “Veal”
[Note: My remarks are based on an advanced copy of the novel. Since authors and publishers often make changes before the official printing, some elements reflected in my review may differ from the final version.]
The story kicks off in the aftermath of the main character, Lawrence's, breakdown as a result of disillusionment with the capitalist rat race that is corporate America. She and her best friend escape to grad school in Maine, providing distance from both their families’ career expectations and homophobia. However, they quickly find themselves joining forces with two local queer besties to hunt down a monster that may or may not be real.
“Veal" Book Review
[Again, thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books/Redhook Publishing for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.]
My Thoughts on Mackenzie Nolan's Debut Novel
In general, sapphic horror has a seriousness problem. Many of the challenges we face as a community on a daily basis are incredibly serious, serving as a gray cloud that's perpetually threatening disaster. As such, it's only natural that this heaviness transfers into writing, especially in horror where our real-world fears tend to manifest as monsters. However, without any comedic relief, we as readers are bound to suffocate.
“Veal” fills this oxygen-depleted void with some lighthearted banter, campy horror elements, and in-your-face, almost desperate lesbian longing. Essentially, it has fun, and in 2026, that's exactly what the LGBTQIA+ community could use more of, giving us a break from the horrors of the news cycle.
With that said, the novel does hit some roadblocks that hold it back from 5-star horror territory, including some plot and messaging challenges.
Monster in Me(n)
"Veal” doesn't hold back any punches when it comes to calling out the dangers and damage of patriarchal cultures, including how deeply the sexism and hatred become internalized by groups that experience such prejudice as the norm. Nolan is particularly clever at highlighting rampant misogyny through comments left on a public forum after Franky's father had been charged with murder:
Dirtpirate: I was born and raised in MP and Franklin was a great guy…Everyone is too poisoned against men to see the real danger here.
Reasonable-dagger: his wife cunt-tharine is definitely behind it all. She's been MIA for ages, has she even checked on her daughter?
Even with minimal context, the sexism is blatant with such derogatory language. However, it also highlights the recurring issue of cis-men standing up for each other, ignoring the actual victims in the case and opting to place blame on the closest woman at hand, especially if they have any traits perceived as unlikable, as was the case with Franky's mother.
Using communication from social platforms or messages has become a common narrative technique I've seen multiple times. Yet, its use in "Veal” has to be one of the most effective examples of it that I've come across.
Missed the Nail, Hit the Head
In some instances, the sapphic novel is so committed to highlighting misogyny in everyday life that it often bypasses literary devices in lieu of plain, straightforward language:
Those boys would never choose them, never value them. They haven't realized it yet, maybe never would, but if their friends find humor in the suffering of other women, what makes them think that they won't be the target the second they stop performing the right way?
While the message reflects a larger collective awakening in society surrounding the de-centering of men, it is repeated throughout "Veal” multiple times. Instead of hitting the nail on the head with the theme in an abstract way, like with the monster being a manifestation of misogyny, it ends up hammering the concept into the reader's brain.
In fairness, with a new wave of sexist methodology brewing culturally, e.g., any trend using the term "trad", and rising transphobia and homophobia rhetoric worldwide, calling out hatred directly and repeatedly often feels necessary, especially for lesbian and sapphic individuals. However, in the framework of a queer horror novel, I think the text risks choking the reader instead of enlightening them.
Real People, Real Dialogue, Real Longing
One of the most impressive elements of the novel for me is the dialogue, which is usually where sapphic horror novels – as well as most genre books in general – fall flat. The way the characters communicate and interact with one another uses language that comes across as authentic.
The same concept applies to some of the protagonists’ less desirable personality traits. For instance, Lawrence's borderline obsession with Franky crosses into toxic and unhealthy areas, like “I plotted my plan forward, already wondering which strand of hair I could cut off to gift her inside a locket.” While a bit tongue-in-cheek, the intense lesbian longing in the novel is so extreme that it's believable and helps carry a good portion of the storyline.
In fact, the realness of the characters serves to hide some of the novel's flaws, particularly distracting the reader from challenges in character development. While there is some forward motion between the four protagonists in terms of growth, like Stasia learning to decenter men and Franky letting go of her need for vindication, it often felt a bit forced to a conclusion rather than a natural journey.
Falls Behind in Pace
I think my biggest challenge with "Veal” is the pace. It's a very slow burn in terms of plot movements. The positive side effect is that there is plenty of time to soak up the deliciously complicated love story at the center of the novel. But, is sapphic longing – regardless of how captivating it is – enough to avoid boredom? I think it depends entirely on the reader in this instance.
Made for the Campy Cravers
Overall, I love "Veal". The sapphic novel is geared to campy horror enthusiasts, like myself, who enjoy a bit of laughs with our jumpscares. Despite its pacing challenges, it's also a fairly fast and easy read, so even if you're not necessarily a fan of comedic horror, you'll likely make it through quickly.
Would I Recommend: Yes
Would I Re-Read: Yes, I'd love to know how the final copy ended up looking!
Have you read it yet? I'd LOVE to know your thoughts! Drop me a line on Instagram, and lmk if you agree with my review or not. If it's the latter, I promise I won't take it personally! [That's a lie, I totally will. ;) ]
Buy “Veal” by Mackenzie Nolan
[This is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase using the link, I earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. Such support helps cover the operational costs of my book blog and allows me to continue my passion project. Thank you for your support!]
Thanks for sticking around to the end of my book review! If you're interested in reading this sapphic novel for yourself, you can grab a copy via my affiliate link on Bookshop.org*. It's currently available for preorder, but the link should still work after it's published later this month. [Hello from the past!]
Bookshop.org: Buy “Veal” on Bookshop.org* to support independent bookstores.
Reading Aesthetic: “Veal”
Want even more “Veal”? As a zine and collage fanatic, I can’t help but create an artistic visual element for each of my book reviews. See the full post >> Reading Moodboard “Veal”.
Sapphic Book Quotes: "Veal” by Mackenzie Nolan
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