How did I get the book? Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Contemporary / Horror
Previously reviewed:
The Savages
Synopsis: Vegan, veggie, carnivore… humanitarian? Welcome to the top of the food chain.
The Savages are back – this time in a country where servings come supersized. Titus, Angelica and the kids go to great lengths to fit into their new lives in sunny Florida. But that’s not easy when their appetite runs to feasts of human flesh.
In this dark comic serving of everyday family life with contemporary cannibals, the Savages seek to hide in plain sight by setting up a vegan café. But when the venture turns out to be a surprise sensation, and bad apples bob to the surface, Titus is forced to question whether the family have finally bitten off more than they can chew.
200words (or less) review: Everything that I adored about the previous book is still there. Superb writing, unique characters, macabre humour, and that even though you know you shouldn’t you kind of understand the ethical belief the Savage family have. But one thing is missing; Sasha. Given that she was my favourite family member in the first book I really felt her loss this time round (she’s at university).
The relocation to America has bought a few challenges. Mainly that the ‘family feast’ now has a higher fat content. While Titus struggles with his waistline, Angelica with her trainer at the gym and Amanda (their lodger) with finding a job it’s Ivan Savage who’s struggling the most. He’s tried fitting in at school but nothing has worked. Continuously bullied he begins to plot revenge as only a Savage can.
I thought American Savage balanced the time spent on each character well. Everyone had their own story; it makes you more attached to the characters. Both Titus and Ivan changed from the first book, particularly Ivan. I really liked the direction Matt Whyman took with that character.
I could quite happily read a book about the Savage family every year.
Recommend it?
Absolutely
Luna's Little Library 
Yes! I loved the changes in Ivan’s character too! It made so much sense for him after everything that happened to him in the first book and the family’s relocation, but it was also nice to see he finally saw that his “jokes” weren’t funny and put his efforts into something else.
I missed Sasha’s presence as well, but I thought Matt Whyman did a really good job incorporating Amanda into the family. Hopefully in the third one (has it been officially announced?) we’ll see Sasha again and find out exactly how she feels about Amanda.