Let’s be honest—most of us have seen the movie version of Pet Sematary. But reading the book? That hits differently.
This was actually my first Stephen King novel as an adult. I’d tried reading him as a kid, but I always felt like his books took forever to get going. So I stayed away for years… until now. I picked up Pet Sematary after seeing it on a list of the scariest books ever—and while I didn’t find it scary, I did find it incredibly well-written and surprisingly thought-out.
What’s The Plot?
The story follows a family who moves to a small town in Maine. Their new property includes a nearby pet cemetery—and beyond that, an eerie Native American burial ground. When something is buried there, it doesn’t stay dead. But what comes back is… off.
The main character, Louis, realizes they’ve moved to a quaint suburban town with a road that’s heavy on the 18-wheelers. As he finds their pet cat smooshed to death, he befriends the neighbors, who give Louis a tip on the ancient burial ground.
After burying the cat, he comes back, but something is not right.
That’s the basic premise, but there’s so much more to it.
It reminded me of another story
If you’re thinking Pet Sematary seemed a little like the “Monkey’s Paw,” you’re spot on. The theme of grief, loss, and dangerous resurrection is front and center. In fact, King even references The Monkey’s Paw directly in the book, paying homage to that classic “be careful what you wish for” tale.
What really stood out to me was how King lets you live inside the characters’ minds. You don’t just watch them make bad choices—you understand exactly why they do it. Every decision, every emotion, every unraveling thought—it’s all there. And it makes the story feel even more tragic and inevitable.
I’m not sure if he does this with all of his books, but I really appreciated that aspect of it.
Surprisingly enough, there was a lot of humor in Pet Sematary, and at some points I actually laughed out loud. It’s a good way to break up a story.
The Movies
Most people have watched the ’80s horror flick. And what you read in the book is what you get in the ’80s movie.
But for a second, I thought it would end way before Gage comes back from the dead.
I enjoyed the Pet Sematary remake. But I watched it before I read the book.
After reading the book, I revisited the remake, but the movie felt hollow compared to the book. The book’s depth and character development just didn’t translate to the screen. With that said, I really did enjoy how the remake changed things up a bit and added a twist and extended the story beyond the book’s ending. It felt like bonus content—an extra “what if” scenario that gave me 20 more minutes of nightmare fuel.
Put it this way, if the book had an extra 100 pages at the end, that’s what the remake provided for me. But I understand that’s an unpopular opinion.
So, no, Pet Sematary didn’t terrify me—but it did impress me. It was dark, thoughtful, and deeply human.
Now I want to hear from you:
- Have you read Pet Sematary? What did you think?
- What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read?
Drop your answers in the comments—I’m building my scary book list and would love your suggestions.
Until next time—read something spooky! 👻
My Final Score
So, what does the master of modern-day horror get for Pet Sematary? I’m giving him three bloody hatchets.
But as always, feel free to leave your own star rating ⭐️ and review below. After all, your opinion matters too.
