Alright, alright, alright…. Not bad at all, Holly Horror was actually quite creepy for a YA novel. Of course it also reminded me why I’m very picky with my YA titles as the teenage pining and the drama did overstay its welcome at one point.

Michelle Jabes Corpora’s writing is concise and pleasant to read. Her characters nicely fleshed out, relatable and the setting / world building great! And as this is only the first book in the series I can honestly say i’m definitely looking forward to what else is in store for us.

If you’re looking for something fast paced and hauntingly creepy that keeps you question everything, I’d definitely recommend picking this up when it drops on August 15th.

Evie Archer is moving with her Mom and younger brother from New York to Ragenglass, Massachusetts. It's no ordinary move though. The house they are moving into is known as the Horror House. Forty years ago Holly Hobbie disappeared from the same home. Rumors abound and the locals don't go near there. Soon Evie begins to learn why as strange things begin happening to her.

I really love the premise of this. Who doesn't love spooky attics, strange noises, and creepy dolls. I love the mood created by the setting, characters, and environment. It's almost like watching an old horror show. This is a story of a personal haunting and it's portrayed well. There is a dreamlike quality to everything that reflects what is going on with Evie.

Some of the pacing slowed down in the middle and I grew frustrated with Evie. Her actions were explained later though as we learn a secret from a couple of years ago. I did find everything more creepy than scary but that's probably just me. Everything is quite chilling when things are revealed. We don't get all the answers as there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely interested in returning to Ravenglass.

If you're a lover of autumn, Halloween, Gilmore Girls, small creepy towns, and Hocus Pocus, then Holly Horror is the book for you. Imagine moving to a tiny town in Massachusetts with a history of creepy ghost stories, colonial-style buildings nestled under black oak trees, and an inn. Main Street is lined with little shops and cafes, and there's a place on the edge of town called Birdie's Diner. Everyone knows each other, and no one goes out at night. It's like Stars Hollow, but haunted.

The protagonist moves to this town and discovers that her new home is called the horror house by the locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly's disappearance?

Reading Holly Horror made me happy because it reminded me of my favorite time of year: autumn. Even though I read it in April, it gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend that it was fall. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel, and that alone makes it special.

I took away one star because some of the lines were corny and cringe-worthy, but I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book. If you love small town horror, Gilmore Girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass, and I can't wait for book 2!

There is something strange about the Hobbie House. Holly Hobbie disappeared without a trace many years ago and the town is full of rumors... and secrets. When Evie, who has recently moved into the Hobbie House with her mother and brother, finds Holly's diary those secrets refuse to stay hidden any longer and Evie seems to be the new target.

Honestly, this book creeped me out! Big time! The scary scenes are so incredibly well written that I had no issue picturing it in my head, which attributed to me being creeped out. I'm going to want to re-read this book when spooky season rolls around.

Despite being creeped out, I really liked the book. That ending, though!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super creepy YA novel that actually doesn't read too young for the most part. I enjoyed the writing as an adult, aside from the cringy teenage pining and high school drama portions. I found the plot interesting and most of the characters quite dimensional and likeable. I loved the spooky moments and the creepy atmosphere of the entire book. The writing was concise but still evoked emotion. This was a really good book and a very creepy, atmospheric story.

Once I started this I couldn’t put it down. The mystery had me hooked. Holly Horror follows the story of Evie Archer. After her parents messy divorce she has to move back into an old family home that the locals call Horror House. The house holds many old dark secrets. As Evie starts to uncover the truth of what happened in the past to Holly Hobbie she starts loosing site of what’s real and what isn’t.

This story was really interesting and I loved how it was a slow burn kind of spooky. In the beginning there were just weird things but as the story progressed things got very creepy. I also enjoyed the characters. Evie wasn’t just solving the mystery of Holly Hobbie’s disappearance she was finding herself and dealing with how to reconcile her parents divorce and how to navigate a new high school and teenage relationships. The romance was cute and although sometimes a bit cheesy it definitely added some brightness to a spooky story.

The overall pacing and plot were done well but wow the ending honestly shocked me. I probably should have known that there would be a cliffhanger but I now cannot wait to read book 2. I think this is going to be an awesome fall read. It’ll be great for fans of creepy haunted houses, small town mysteries, missing girl stories, and some teen romance.

Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This was engaging and oddly creepy. From the cover, I assumed I would be spooked at times, sure, but WHOA. There was an unsettling creepiness the entire time. This was atmospheric and this would be amazing to read during spooky season. I absolutely loved the way the author wrote, I will be checking this author out again.

Whoa! This YA novel is distinctly SCARY!! [Yes, there was internal Screaming involved! More than once!!] I was totally engrossed by the author's treatment of divergence, that is, those who experience beyond the accepted five senses [Evie and Aunt Martha] as opposed by those who go 100% the rational route. Anyone who has ever experienced feeling "different" from the crowd [as we are all avid readers, we're already "set apart"] can riff on Evie's (and her Aunt's] feelings, experiences, and attempts to find her own path in a world that doesn't respect what it doesn't see . There's a great side theme too that initially arises as backstory but later in the novel surfaces as highly significant and it's precious how author Michelle Jabes Corpora wove it in, so gently and subtly so that the significant consequences are gradually revealed, sneaking up on readers. There are indications this will be a Series; I definitely hope so! I'm really enthralled with these characters and hope to see much more of their "normal" and Paranormal adventures!

This book had me on the edge of my seat and loved every second of it. Something about YA horror is my go-to when i need something to get me out of a book slump. This book did leave off on a cliffhanger, and now i have to wait a year and / or longer for the second book. But this author is now on my list to look out for. I loved the small-town feel of the novel with a haunted house you can't go wrong there

If you’re a fellow lover of the autumn season, hallloween, watching Gilmore Girls during fall, small creepy towns, and Hocus Pocus, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Picture this: you just moved to a tiny town in Massachusetts filled with creepy ghost stories in the town’s history. Main Street consists of colonial style buildings are nestled under black oak trees, little shops and cafes, an inn, and a little place on the edge of town called Birdie’s Diner. Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other, and no one goes out at night. Picture Stars Hollow if it were haunted. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book.

The premise of Holly Horror is a girl who moves to a small town in Massachusetts only to find out the house they moved into is called the horror house by locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly’s disappearance?

Reading this book made me indescribably happy, simply because it made me so homesick for autumn, my favorite time of year. In fact, as grateful as I am for getting to read this book 4 months early, I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read this when it comes out in august. Imagine reading this when the autumn season is upon you, with the era of spooky season, horror movies, apple cider, falling leaves, gloomier weather approaching, and the promise of colder weather on the horizon. Just the thought of that gave me a chill of delight (and yes, this book even takes place in autumn too! How perfect!) Reading this book in April, with it being spring and summer coming soon (my two least favorite seasons and the worst time of year) gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend for a little bit that it feels like fall when it is actually the approach of my least favorite time of year, summer lol. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel. And that alone makes it special.

I only took away one star because some of the lines were just corny and super cringe. But whatever, I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book, and I think any autumn lover would feel the same. If you love small town horror, Gilmore girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass and I need book 2 ASAP!

Review based on an uncorrected proof subject to change. Thank you to Netgalley and penguin for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Really good, creepy and engaging. The plot was fascinating and I was immediately hooked. I already can't wait for the next part, I'll be putting it on my list immediately.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

This was so creepy and horrifying! I loved the imagery and this needs to be a movie ASAP. I will say that this did feel like a middle grade novel at times, with Evie and Holly's subsequent diary entries sounding a bit younger than they were, but the haunted house vibes and the dolls that had me noping right out of there more than made up for it. I was riveted by Holly's story and I was dying to know what happened to her. The mystery had me going and it was enjoyable all around. The perfect read for spooky season and a must for any horror fan!

4 stars

Creepy fun and fast paced! But gaaaah the wait is going to be so long for the next installment. I love that this is great for all ages.

This was a fun twisted mystery. NYC family moves into family home in a tiny town that has some dark secrets-who do you trust, what’s real, and what happened to the two girls who disappeared without a trace? Follow Evie and some fun loving side characters as things unravel and she finds herself and maybe the answers she’s looking for…

Great YA read -ages 13+ would highly recommend

I literally finished this book less than five minutes ago and I can barely process. THAT end. It was perfect, however the gasp I gusped when I remembered this book doesn't even come out until August and that means I have even longer before I get to know what happens next.

This is a ghostly horror movie in book format. The Conjuring, The Haunting in Connecticut, Insidious. I'd even say it gives some Rose Red vibes. The mystery is chilling and well thought out. The pacing of the book is so good that when I swiped to to the last page I was shocked and devasted that it was over. I loved the history sprinkled throughout the book and the connections from the past to the present. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Tina. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.


Thank you for allowing me access to this book and thank you Michelle for creating it. I cannot wait for the next one.

I didn't intend to start this book when I did, but after reading a First Look on Bookish First that ended on a cliffhanger, I knew I needed to pick it up and finish it.

Evie, her brother and mother move into Hobbie House after her parent's divorce. After the hustle and bustle of NYC, the secluded, almost decrepit Hobbie House is a culture shock--as is the small town of Ravenglass Evie is now a part of. Evie quickly learns that Hobbie House is infamous among the locals because of her mother's cousin, Holly, who disappeared without a trace from her bedroom at Hobbie House years ago. And there are other stories of The Patchwork Girl, another ghost story tied to a man's suicide.

Yes, this book is YA, and yes it felt like that at times (why do all YA books insist on romance?!) but that didn't stop me from almost jumping out of my skin when my daughter tried to talk to me while I was reading.

Read this if you enjoy:
- Gothic mansions
- Family ghost stories
- Creepy dolls
- Mysterious cats
- Mines
- Unreliable characters


This was a fun quick read, and I would absolutely continue following Evie's exploration of Hobbie House.

A girl moves into a new town... only to discover that er new home is known as the Horror House and carries a dark past involving the mysterious disappearance of a girl... related to her. Evie Archer is moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts. After her parent’s painful divorce this is the opportunity to start fresh, except this might not be the fresh start she needs. The home she is moving into is called Hobbie House... or known as Horror House by the locals because years ago a local girl named Holly Hobbie had mysterious vanished... and she just happens to be related to Evie. Evie begins to notice strange things around the house and following her, a voice that speaks to her... and she becomes obsessed with trying to solve the mystery of Holly’s disappearance and what is actually happening to her. Can Evie solve the mystery before it’s too late or will she succumb the dark shadow following her. This was such a fun horror mystery read, I liked how much of a mystery it was and the horror aspect was fun. Evie is just trying to deal with being the new girl in town but she is being haunted and she has to try and figure out what is happening and props to her for dealing with it as best as she could. Overall, definitely a fun read that would be perfect for anyone looking for a spooky mystery read!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Penguin Workshop for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really wasn't sure what to expect from Holly Horror as I hadn't heard much about it and was pleasantly surprised by this read! I was even more surprised that there would be a book two! Holly Horror follows Evie as she moves to Hobbie House in Massachusetts from New York City with her mom and her brother. Hobbie House aka Horror House is known for its history... First a murder and a disappearance back in the 1800's followed by a girl who disappears out of her own house in the 1980's. Holly Hobbie is known as The Lost Girl of Ravenglass. Throughout the story Evie uncovers more and more secrets about not only Holly but also the mysterious patchwork girl from the 1800's. I really enjoyed this story, there wasn't anything super crazy going on but just enough to keep you on your toes and interested. And there were definitely a few really creepy parts! Holly Horror is going to be a debut hit and I was seriously impressed and can't wait to see what happens in the town of Ravenglass next! Also the cover captures the story perfectly, I love it!