If you like queer horror, haunted houses and found family, you might love:

🏚️ Saint Juniper's Folly by Alex Crespo 🏚️

In this YA horror/mystery novel we follow three teens in the small town of Saint Juniper who feel drawn to the local forest known as Saint Juniper's Folly, where strange things are said to happen. Jaime recently returned to his hometown after spending years in foster care, and upon entering the woods finds an abandoned mansion. When Theo wanders into the woods he meets Jaime, appearing to be stuck inside the house and hearing a strange voice. Together with Taylor, a local witch who has always felt a pull coming from the forest, he must try to find a way help Jaime out.

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I loved Crespo's use of the haunted house trope: in the literal way of a ghost haunting a house, but first and foremost as a way to tell the story of teens who are struggling, feeling stuck. Jaime has to grapple with his trauma from foster care, the disconnect from his Mexican culture, and with being the only brown and out queer teen in the area. Theo is being pressured to walk in the footsteps of his emotionally distant father. And Taylor comes from a long line of Puerto Rican witches, but ever since her mother died Taylor's father doesn't want her to practice her witchcraft anymore.

When the three come together in the haunted mansion things start changing. Jaime and Theo quickly feel a connection which blossoms into something more, and was written very beautifully and tenderly. Taylor learns more about her powers as a witch and her mother's death which always remained shrouded in mystery. I loved the heartfelt portrayal of young people - who are all struggling in different ways - helping each other and gradually becoming each other's new family.

I'm certain this story will make many teens feel understood, and I think that's exactly what a YA should do. I can't wait for the release of Crespo's next book, Queerceañera!

My rating: 4,5⭐

Thank you to the author, to Peachtree Teen and to NetGalley for the eARC. My review is very late because I missed the archive date but later purchased my own copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Beautiful book, a little slow to get into, with multiple povs, but a fun ride with lots of great characters. The story is fun and interesting and full of turns.

I gave this book 4 stars but haven't rated it as of yet. I thought it was a fun read and enjoyed the story.

I liked this book. It was a good debut and I’ll want to read from this author again. I’m such a big fantasy reader that I sometimes forget just how nice a light fantasy/magical realism can be.

I did, however, really want this to be a 5 star book, and while I did really enjoy it, it just didn’t grasp onto that 5 star rating that I wanted it to. There wasn’t anything wrong with the book, I think I was just expecting a lot more from what I got from the synopsis and comps – perhaps more action. But that didn’t deter me too much from liking it, which is good.

I liked the three main characters, but not one specifically stood out to me – but that was also good. I like it when I don’t have an immediate favourite. I liked the bond they created with each other and the romance between Theo and Jaime. It was sweet and I liked how it was friends first, then the romance.

This book was a RIDE! Three alternating POVs and a mystery that genuinely had me guessing from start to finish. It was spooky and queer and unlike anything I’ve read before.

Without giving too much of the plot away (since I think so much of the book’s charm comes from experiencing it with the characters), this tells the story of someone who gets trapped in a haunted house and two strangers who try and save him.

I had such a fun time with this book! I found all three characters to be so engaging, and their voices were all unique that I feel like I knew them through their POV chapters. Where the book got away from me a little was with the action in the third act. I had a hard time following along with what was happening.

Aside from that, this was genuinely great. Highly recommend for spooky season.

This was such an unexpectedly beautiful story, it really washed over me in stages, and by the time I reached the end, I was completely entranced.

This story is a triple POV shared by three teenagers connected by a haunted old house in the woods.

Jamie has been rejected his whole life by everyone around him. He was raised in foster care and immediately does not fit in the small town of his latest placement. He runs away from his foster home and ends up squatting in an abandoned house in the woods, only to realize once he's entered the house that the ghost that occupies it will not allow him to leave.

Theo is an overly anxious goody two shoes who has always felt like he has to be perfect to be loved by anyone, including his parents. He stumbles across the haunted house and Jamie, and vows to help him, even though they don't really get along.

To help Jamie, Theo also locates and enlists the help of Taylor, a local witch who comes from a long maternal line of witches but has been forbidden from practicing her craft by an overprotective father after the death of her mother.

The three must work together (racing against time and fighting an angry ghost) to rescue Jamie from the house he is trapped in before it is too late, growing from strangers to friends to more. There is a beautiful romantic subplot between Theo and Jamie, as well as the unraveling of multiple interconnected threads of family and personal secrets that all made this story feel like it was really woven together.

I loved the way the relationship between Theo and Jamie blossomed, but I also really enjoyed the fact that Taylor remained integral to the story throughout and never felt like a third wheel. There are definitely some twists that shocked me, and I rushed through the end of the book with baited breath. By the end I simply loved it.

There are definitely a couple of creepy moments but this is more of a mystery than a horror and ultimately I found it more hopeful and heartwarming than scary. It does start at a slow to medium pace, and at about the 60% mark it picks up pretty rapidly and it suddenly becomes apparent that everything up until that point was some skillful build up.

I did have an issue with a couple of moments that didn't make sense to me other than to dismiss them as Teenage Logic™, like why it would be so bad for anyone else to discover that Jamie was trapped in the house, and I didn't feel that Taylor's friend Anna really added much to the story, but these minor issues didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story in the end.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for access to the e-arc.

Jaime is returning to his small hometown after years in foster care, only to find himself trapped by a ghost in an abandoned mansion in the woods. Its up to Theo and Taylor to figure out why Jaime is trapped and help him escape.

I really liked this. This was a delightfully spooky atmospheric read with just the right tinge of horror. Good for those just looking to explore the genre if they don't typically read horror, but will satisfy those who are well versed in it.

sorry I didn't give feedback on this in time :( I forgot and then I thought maybe it was too late but I guess it's not

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

"Saint Juniper's Folly" by Alex Crespo is a spellbinding queer haunted house mystery that seamlessly weaves together spine-tingling thrills, found family dynamics, and paranormal romance. This four-star novel invites readers into a world where pasts collide, mysteries unravel, and bonds are forged in the shadows of Saint Juniper.

Jaime, Theo, and Taylor, each grappling with their own challenges, find themselves drawn to the enigmatic Saint Juniper's Folly. For Jaime, it's a return to a past he's tried to forget; for Theo, it's an escape from the monotony of his senior year; for Taylor, it's a mystery and a chance to reclaim the magic her father forbade after her mother's sudden death. As their paths converge, the Folly reveals its haunted secrets, intertwining their fates in unexpected ways.

Crespo's storytelling is immersive, creating an atmospheric setting that adds to the novel's spine-tingling appeal. The haunted house elements are skillfully crafted, blending supernatural intrigue with a touch of romance. The author excels in building tension and mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate the shadows of Saint Juniper.

The characters are well-drawn, each with their unique struggles and strengths. Jaime's quest for solitude, Theo's yearning for excitement, and Taylor's exploration of her magical abilities contribute to the depth of the narrative. The dynamics between the characters, as they form an unlikely bond, serve as the heart of the story.

The celebration of found family is a standout theme, adding warmth and emotional resonance to the novel. As the characters confront their demons and forge connections within the Folly's haunted walls, the narrative becomes a testament to the power of chosen family and the strength found in facing one's fears.

In conclusion, "Saint Juniper's Folly" is a four-star must-read for paranormal romance fans. Alex Crespo skillfully blends mystery, romance, and supernatural elements to create a captivating narrative that explores the complexities of identity, love, and the shadows of the past. With its queer representation, haunting atmosphere, and engaging characters, this novel stands out as a compelling addition to the paranormal genre.

3.5 rounded up to 4. I read a lot of queer ya supernatural fiction in 2023 and from 2023 and this one might be my favorite of the bunch. I enjoyed the premise and the characters as well as the setting. It felt like there were stakes and I enjoyed the queerness being woven into the story. A lot of time a ya queer novel can feel saccharine and this did not, it felt realistic to a coming out/coming of age story with less emphasis on the coming out aspect and more on the main character trying to understand what his feelings might be. I did wish for a little more relationship building between the three main characters to really solidify why we care about them. I would also have enjoyed a little more lore/backstory of the town since it was integral to the story.

Absolutely loved this book. It was such a different sort of ghost story than I’m used to and adored every moment of it. The connection between the three leads was so interesting, and their past tied perfectly into the plot of the on-going story. Theo, especially, intrigued me a lot, and I feel as if this story, while ended, was left open enough that we could see more of all of them.

Atmospheric horror, the story focuses more on relationship building than scares. Deals with some heavier topics like grief, abandonment, racism... I really enjoyed how Crespo was able to create such relatable characters dealing with self-worth struggles. The romance is sweet and believable.

Front and center, the thing I love the most was the romance in the book, but it was also pretty interesting. A boy trapped into a house long forgotten, a girl learning to use her powers on her own, and another boy learning there is more to life than what one is supposed to do.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

I loved this book. It was just enough spooky with some found friendship and romance thrown in. The characters were super relatable and you couldn’t help but feel for each and every one of them. I will definitely recommend this and read any other titles this author writes.

This was a spooky story with chaotic gays, a haunted house, and found family. What's not to love? I really enjoyed the friendship between all the characters and the wonderfully eerie setting. Perfect for Halloween.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed my time with this book. The characters are so easy to care about and root for. I liked that each of them felt distinct and entirely their own person with their own unique struggles. Each of the main characters were all easy to relate to and I could understand their perspectives. The romance was very sweet and it was cute to see the way their relationship progressed throughout the book. I also think it was so interesting having one of the main characters be a witch. This use of magic was really intrigued and there were some things that I didn't predict before they were revealed. I appreciated the discussions of the foster care system and the trauma that growing up in the system can bring. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and how immediately you understand the kind of environment it is. All in all, I feel like this was a quick read.

I think that while I really liked the relationship between the main trio, there were a lot of moments of telling, not showing. I feel like sometimes their relationship was speed-run to get them to a certain point that they needed to be narratively. I also wish there was more page time and development of those around the main characters, like Taylor's best friend, Jaime's foster parent, Theo's sister and parents, etc. I feel like what we were given leaned a bit more surface level, and it would have been interesting to delve in deeper. It also would have given even more depth to the story and the characters.

I think that overall this was a solid debut novel and I'm very glad that I got the chance to read it.

This had such a beautifully atmospheric cover that I just had to request it!

Saint Juniper is a valley of dark history and secrets. When Jamie returns only to find himself trap in a haunted house in the woods, he's forced to confront a lot of things about himself. His new friends Theo and Taylor have their own difficulties to come to grips with as they try to break the binding keeping Jamie there.

My absolute favorite part of this was the characters and their relationships. Watching the friendship blossom between the three teens was charming, and I really felt the friendships developed organically. The romance between Jamie and Theo was sweet, but I did feel it was a little quick, but that's maybe just me.

Where this book really shines is how the characters have such unique voices. Even without the chapter headings, I would have been able to keep the narration straight (hah!) between the three of them

The atmosphere of the haunted house, especially as the trio learned more about the history of the house and the valley was wonderfully spooky. The more we learned, the more the tension rose and the threat of the house got worse. It felt like the ending was rushed, especially when multiple things suddenly happen to push up the time clock.

But overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I'd be delighted to look up more work by Crespo.

My thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for the opportunity for this ARC!

Are you looking for a little bit of spookiness, a sweet queer romance and a character-driven plot? Then Saint Juniper's Folly might be the book for you!

In this book we follow three very different characters. While Taylor struggles with the death of her mom and the fact that her Dad doesn't let her train her magical abilities, Theo's life hasn't even really started yet because he is too timid to put himself out in the world. Meanwhile Jaime, who grew up in the foster system, manages to somehow get stuck in a haunted mansion, with no prospect of getting out any time soon. But soon the three worlds collide and they realize that an alliance might just be what every single one of them needs.

I personally really enjoyed the setting of this book. I really liked the paranormal aspects that were tied to the character's individual development. I thought the POVs, especially Taylor's POV was very interesting and I honestly would have liked to see more of it. I ultimately ended up rating the book three very enjoyable stars because I felt like the plot kind of got lost in the character development. The pacing was very slow up until 90% of the book, but slow pacing is just not my cup of tea in general.

To summarize: I think this book is perfect for people who liked Aiden Thomas' "Cemetery Boys". I do think that this is on the younger YA side, but it is definitely worth a read.