You Weren't Meant to Be Human's worm-filled Waterstones exclusive edition

Exclusive sprayed edge hardback of You Weren't Meant to Be Human is available to preorder at Waterstones.

Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.

‍Festering masses of worms and flies have taken root in dark corners across Appalachia. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and fresh corpses, these hives offer a few struggling humans salvation. A fresh start. It's an offer that none refuse.

Crane is grateful. Among his hive's followers, Crane has found a chance to transition, to never speak again, to live a life that won't destroy him. He even met Levi: a handsome ex-Marine and brutal killer who treats him like a real man, mostly. But when Levi gets Crane pregnant—and the hive demands the child's birth, no matter the cost—Crane's desperation to make it stop will drive the community that saved him into a devastating spiral that can only end in blood.

The Waterstones edition is a hardback that exclusively features a sprayed edge design by Jane Tibbetts. Available to preorder now, the book will ship for the UK release on 9 September 2025.