Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Social Vampire is a work in the coming of age, interpersonal drama, and social issues subgenres. Penned by James Schannep, it is intended for the young adult reading audience. In this delightful, amusing, and heartfelt teen drama, we meet newcomer Gordon when he’s about to face a significant change, entering a new high school where nobody knows him. In a town obsessed with dark and brooding vampires from teen fiction, Gordon spies an opportunity to make himself over as a dreamy, shadowy figure sure to intrigue everyone he meets. But if his new friends become too intrigued, it could all end in tears.

James Schannep has crafted a beautifully paced, comedic, and highly dramatic work of teen fiction that will have young adult readers and adults in Gordon’s vampiric thrall. One of the standout features for me was the dialogue, which rings true of modern teenagers but also works as a type of pastiche for those brooding sparkly vampire novels that the teens of Schannep’s town are obsessed with, and this intelligent juxtaposition gives the work its authentic charm. I also felt for Gordon as a fully developed protagonist, with some slightly unreliable and unpredictable moments that produce intense emotional highs and lows, keeping the plot fresh and the feel of the story authentic. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Social Vampire for fans of accomplished young adult fiction seeking a humorous teen drama that also packs plenty of bite.