Roaring Creek, a perfect example of small-town America, has seen more than its fair share of tragedy. But now things seem even more wrong than usual; there’s a brand new self-help group in town, and something’s just not quite right about their followers.

Vera Martinez is the school – and town – outcast, deemed spooky and ghoulish thanks to parents who work for the Vatican investigating possession. Maxwell Oliver never had a problem fitting in; but it’s only Vera he can think to turn to when his mother starts sleepwalking and whispering in the night. The two of them are going to have to save the town from the insidious threat that no-one else seems to have noticed.

This was a really good book, the kind of book that feels short because of how fast it pulls you through its story. Vera and Max are distinct and truly likeable characters, and though it’s aimed at teens, the message Small Town Monsters offers is one any reader can appreciate.

While Max’s journey is one of realizing his own missteps, it was Vera that I truly found myself getting attached to. A secret reader, she’s a caring girl that never fails to put others before herself, despite the fact that she’s generally shunned by Roaring Creek inhabitants. When Max reaches out for help, despite her wariness she’s ready to do whatever she can do to support the boy who ignored her until now – when the town itself comes under threat, she steps in again.

If you look no further than the surface, you’ll still get one incredibly entertaining horror experience from Small Town Monsters. Consider the story a little more deeply, though, and this book has a lot to say on grief, acceptance, and the ease with which nihilism can replace truly working through the rough patches on a scale both large and small. Diana Rodriguez Wallach has written a book well worth the time, and I’ll be looking for more from her.

Dedicated to Ed and Lorraine Warren, which opens up a feeling of foreboding. Vera’s parents are known far and wide as demon hunters and the other students and the entire community treat Vera like she’s a freak. One day at school, Vera notices the all-popular Max staring at her. She’s dumbfounded. Eventually, Max gets up enough nerve to catch Vera at her job working at a neighboring community’s hospital. He explains that he needs her parents’ help dealing with his mom, who is completely terrifying Max. He’s worried his mom will harm his little sister Chloe. Vera goes to Max’s house and immediately after calls her parents for help. They’re on a case in Barcelona and won’t be home for almost a week. It seems that Vera and Max might be on their own. This story became more interesting the longer I read and I didn’t want to put it down! The mystery and the paranormal build a wonderfully creepy young adult horror story, 5 stars!

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more! I love a good cult story and this does a great job of explaining what might draw members into them without shaming the people who are desperate and looking for answers/comfort. The depiction of exorcisms in the story was very well done and well researched (my husband has had instruction in it from his priest-in-training days and I read those parts to him and he agreed). Also Father Chuck feels very similar to a few priests I've met. We need more Latinx YA and horror in general and this is an excellent addition. I loved how Vera wasn't totally dismissive of Catholicism/religion in general and was also very science-focused. This story felt very cinematic - would LOVE to see this one as a movie. Librarian friends, I'd recommend for high schoolers and mature 7th-8th graders as there is some (well-placed) cursing and also this book is genuinely terrifying.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for letting me read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Diana Rodriguez Wallach, Netgalley, and Underlined for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Whooo! This was freaking scary! I read this one because it was an #ownvoices Latine story, and I told myself that I could handle this horror story. I think I gave myself too much credit but wow I was scared the entire time.

One of my favorite things about this story was that we got to experience Latin American folklore from someone who would know as much about it as possible. It intrigued me even more, and I truly felt immersed in this story. We start with our main character Vera, whose parents happen to be demonologists. You know… studying demons? Wasn’t that in a Charmed episode? Or maybe even a Supernatural episode? Either way, when you’re messing with demons, things are going to get creepy and intense real quick.


I absolutely hate that Vera’s classmates legit make fun of her because of what her parents do. Like…? Wouldn’t you WANT a couple of demonologists on your side when things hit the fan? They don’t know what kind of resource that would be. But that’s on them. It sucks that they pretty much ostracize her, but things may end up changing when Vera has to team up with Maxwell, who starts to believe that his mother isn’t just going through grief over his father’s death… at least something not natural.


Take all that and put it in a small town setting and you get such an interesting and intricate horror story that you won’t be able to put down. I could only imagine how the audiobook would sound like. I wonder if one will be published. Check this one out!

I have to admit that my wife and I have been watching the movie series The Conjuring. We have really been enjoying it, seeing the spookiness of demonic possession and a husband and wife team battling the forces of evil and trying to clean up possessed and haunted objects. If this sounds like something you’d like, you would love this book!

Living in a small town, I can definitely say that the feel of the town of Roaring Creek felt very accurate to me. There was a comrade there where everybody knew everybody else and knew each family’s trouble. When one character has a son with a terminal illness, everyone knows. When one has a car crash, everyone knows. Rumor and gossip spread like wildfire, especially around Vera. Vera is the teenage daughter of demonologists, much like Ed and Lorraine Warren in the Conjuring universe.

I loved seeing the characters of Vera and Max as they come together to try and fight the evil infesting their small town and work both without and alongside the Catholic church and Vera’s parents and aunt to free their town from what has come to pass. I can’t rate this book high enough for how much I loved it!

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘻. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬."

Small Town Monsters was an absolutely perfect YA Horror. If you're looking for a book for Spooky Season - this one hits the nail on the head! I absolutely love horror movies like The Conjuring, and this book was inspired by Ed and Lorraine Warren. I couldn't wait to read it.

Vera is a girl who lives in a town that has had nothing but dread. Due to her parents occupations, Vera has no friends and is always alone. That is, until one day, Maxwell seeks out her help. Max has seen a change in his mother and he knows Vera is the only one who will understand and help.

This book is filled with suspense, thrills and demons. What more can you ask from a horror book?

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Small Town Monsters

Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Latinx Ownvoice and some Latinx folklore

Recommended For...: young adult readers, cults, paranormal, demons, horror, mystery

Publication Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: YA Horror

Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, slight gore, grief, death, slight language, cults, slight religion)

Explanation of CWs: Grief and death play a role in this book. There is a little gore and language. Cults are also heavily involved with this read.

Publisher: Underlined

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Vera Martinez wants nothing more than to escape Roaring Creek and her parents' reputation as demonologists. Not to mention she's the family outcast, lacking her parents' innate abilities, and is terrified of the occult things lurking in their basement.

Maxwell Oliver is supposed to be enjoying the summer before his senior year, spending his days thinking about parties and friends. Instead he's taking care of his little sister while his mom slowly becomes someone he doesn't recognize. Soon he suspects that what he thought was grief over his father's death might be something more...sinister.

When Maxwell and Vera join forces, they come face to face with deeply disturbing true stories of cults, death worship, and the very nature that drives people to evil.

Review: Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this book! It was so well written and well plotted. The spoops are spoopy and I won’t be able to sleep good tonight. And I thought that the character development and the world building were magnificent. I also liked some of the call backs to other horror films and history, especially since this is an homage to Ed and Lorraine Warren.

The only issue I really had with the book is that it takes a bit to get into and the beginning is a bit too slow in my opinion. But it quickly gains speed and becomes amazing. I also felt that the romance was unnecessary.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Vera Martinez’s parents are famous demonologists who travel around the world, helping people. Due to her parents’ profession, Vera has been an outcast throughout her life and wishes to escape Roaring Creek.

Maxwell Oliver doesn’t believe in ghosts but when his mother starts acting different, he begins to question everything he has ever known. Having already lost his father in a tragic accident, he must reach out to Vera, whom he has always shunned and made fun of, in order to save his family.

But without any special powers, Vera contemplates how to help Max in the absence of her parents.

Alternating between Vera and Max’s POV, this gripping piece of work had me hooked from the very beginning. The chilling small-town setting with a demonic cult had me on edge throughout the book. With demonic possession, cursed objects, a creepy cult and a bit of romance, this book has all the ingredients for a perfect YA thriller. I loved the writing; it is detailed and almost as atmospheric as watching a horror movie.

The characters are well written. The development of friendship and romance between the MCs is gradual and doesn’t overpower the story. With a swearing priest, an adorable little sibling and an aunt who likes to stress-cooks, the side characters add depth and humor to the story. Overall, I would totally recommend this paranormal thriller to kick start the witchy season!

Inspired from The Conjuring, this contemporary tale is a fitting tribute to the original Warrens family.

Small Town Monsters manages to be utterly terrifying and yet uplifting at the same time. The ideas of challenging sterotypes and learning not to judge someone by the rumours that follow them around are great things to take away from a read, especially one aimed at young adults.

Vera and Max are very different people, yet both with very kind, strong hearts, who just want to take care of the people who matter to them. As they come to learn more about one another, that comes to mean each other to them as well as their families.

As well as having well defined characters, this book manages to be bloody terrifying in all the best ways. The idea of demons is always perfect for a scare, but what was more scary to me was the demonstration of how well a cult can manage to amass a following, and do the damage like we see here.

A fantastic read, and one that is perfect for the autumnal nights rolling in.

I must admit that I’ve never read as many horror books in a row than I did in the last few weeks. And again I’ve read an amazingly written horror novel.

The storyline of « Small Town Monsters » is just awesome. I found myself immediately intrigued and I just absolutely love this in book. I need something to make me want to stick to the book and the author managed to do just that with this novel.

I also enjoyed the fact that we were able to read more than one P.O.V. It was interesting to read about Maxwell and Vera’s thoughts all throughout the story. Especially when they tried to understand each other. This was kind of fun. Plus it made us get to know the both of them better which is always a great thing, don’t you agree?

This book also managed to give me serious goosebumps and scared the hell out of me. In a positive way of course. « Small Town Monsters » also has some huge mystery. What is going on with this secret organization and what is happening in Roaring Creek? To get the answers you’ll just have to read the book. It’s as easy as that. Besides the writing style is amazing, the imagery is perfect and with a little imagination (which we all have) you will have the feeling that you’re living yourself in this small town where some crazy and creepy things happen.

The goosebump factor is guaranteed. If you love horror movies, and you like the scary atmosphere then give Diana Rodriguez Wallach and her book a chance! You will certainly not regret it.

This one was fabulous! If you are one like me that loves the Conjuring Universe then this one is going to make you fall hard for it. I loved how we finally got what a lot of us have wanted for a while. A story about the Warren's daughter, and although this is not set in that same world. It still gives the feel that it is. Its the story of my Conjuring dreams!!

This darker young adult horror novel told in dual POV was an easy read that I could follow very simply. It was creepy in parts then light in others. I fell hard for this one from the very first page and I so need more stories set in this world. Add on that the main character is Latinx (I'm Hispanic) just made this one even better!! The romance between the two POVs was just so sweet I loved them both so much.

The way the author set this story up we could easily get some more procession, demon, ghosts, etc stories. I could see this even growing with the reader as Vera goes off to college or even forgoes college and joins her parents in the hunt for creepies and the protection of innocents.



Go Into This One Knowing: Dark, Light Romance, Dual POV

A good read to jump start us into spooky season.

“Small Town Monsters” finds the town outcast Vera avoiding the gaze of the popular boy Max on the last day of school, an odd occurrence for both but no stranger than the darkness spreading across town whispering into the kinds of those most vulnerable offering to deliver on their deepest desires for a deadly price.

If you’re a fan of The Conjuring this will be a fun story to dive into as Vera is the daughter of a couple a lot like Ed and Lorraine Warren only this time she’s facing the things that go bump in the night without their help. While I enjoyed both she and Max I do wish more was given to them as characters especially Vera as she is coming from this world that anyone who is a fan of the paranormal knows and to see the real world backlash for a kid growing up with that would be interesting to read even though we do get a taste of it here and there.

The story itself is one I’m sure a lot can relate to or at least see the allure of the whispers but it does get a little muddy. Playing on a lot or real world events/themes we follow this cult like descent into darkness and the moments focused on the possession we’re great and unsettling but once we got closer to the end and the workings of this being us where I felt it became a little more brittle.

Not a bad start to the creepiness that is Halloween reads and one I could see popping up again either in a sequel or a show at some point.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Firstly, before we continue with my review I just want to state that I did get this novel in the form of a free ebook thanks to Penguin Random House, the author, Netgalley and TBR and Beyond Tours, however all opinions reflected in this review are my own.

I really loved this story, I found it really creepy and eerie in places. I have always found possession stories in the supernatural genre interesting and this one was no exception. I loved how cults and demonic possession was explored in this novel and I think the author did a great job in exploring these concepts.

The first thing I loved about Small Town Monsters was the character development that took place within the novel as it was really good especially when it came to our two main characters Vera and Maxwell. I loved that throughout the novel they grew into who they are meant to be, Vera for example grew in confidence in her place in her world. Maxwell grew to see beyond seeing the opinions of others which is significant in regards to Vera and how he saw her.

The pacing for the most part was really good, I just think at the end it went a bit too fast and it needed to be explored a bit more, especially in regards to Vera and her parents. The language used was great, the characters came across the ages that they are meant to be which helped it to become immersive and I loved the use of Latin. This is crucial because of the world development that took place in the novel which was really well developed. I loved seeing the examples at the end of where the author got inspiration for certain elements from her story in the real word.

Overall, I give Small Town Monsters 4/5 stars and its definitely worth reading especially if you love supernatural stories.

This book is a wild ride that grips you from the beginning to the end. We are introduced to Vera, the school outcast. Her parents are demonologists, who keep haunted artifacts in their basement. People go the other way when they see her coming or they make fun of her with rude nicknames such as Demonic Barbie. Even though, Vera doesn't have the same abilities as her parents. Unfortunately, Vera is used to this by now. She works at the hospital to save up money to go to college far away from Roaring Creek. It's not just the people-- it's the town. Tragedy has struck the town since an explosion and unexpected deaths continue to happen like Vera's classmates dying in a tragic car accident that the police have trouble explaining. On top of that a self-help group has popped up that seems to have gripped the town with their wave of yellow.

Even popular kid Maxwell's mother has joined the group. However, Maxwell's mother has begun to act strange since she started hanging out with this new group. At first, she was super cheerful pushing through her grief, but now it's like someone else has replaced his mother. She's neglectful of her responsibilities such as taking care of her children (Max and his little sister, Chloe), the family business, and even hygiene. Max steps up to the plate to parent his little sister and even helps run the restaurant while he's still in school.

He seeks out Vera's help. Whatever is afflicting his mother, he knows Vera's parents can help. The only problem is they're in Barcelona dealing with an exorcism. Vera doesn't want to leave Max and Chloe helpless after she witnesses his mother's strange behavior herself. But how can she help when she doesn't share her parents' abilities?

This is a YA homage to Ed and Lorraine Warren, and their daughter, Judy. Yes, you may know their names if you've ever watched any installment of the Conjuring universe. Rather than being silly and over the top as some horror novels can become, this stays true to the Warrens. I couldn't put it down and I can't recommend it enough you like scary stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Pitched as the YA Conjuring meets The Vow, this spooky YA horror felt like the perfect way to kick off September (which is almost like Fall). Our main characters Vera and Max are teens in the small town of Roaring Creek which has had more than it’s fair share of disaster in the past 7-10 years. From a hurricane to a gas explosion that killed 18, and more accidents and bizarre deaths than they know what to do with, something in Roaring Creek is just not right.

Vera’s parents are demonologists who travel the world investigating possible possessions for the Church, but Vera is just your average teen girl who happens to know that demons exist, oh and with a basement full of evil contaminated objects to make things interesting. Mix that together with a cult that wears bright happy yellow hats and professes to help grieving townies through their loss and you have one heck of a story ready to unfold.

The first 50% of this book felt like it was a little slow, but it used that time to build incredible atmosphere, and set the stage for a final half that I truly couldn’t put down. I’m writing this review at nearly 2 in the morning because once it hit the first major climax I had to keep reading until the end. The pacing really ramped up, and I was flying through the pages to get to the end. The dual perspective chapters were executed well, and both characters had a unique tone and voice that can sometimes be hard to achieve in split POV YA.

My biggest complaint about this book was the romance which felt a little unnecessary, but it wasn’t too heavy handed or overly present. Overall it read like a grown up version of a goosebumps story, or a YA version of a 90s slasher.

If you’re looking for horror this spooky season I can highly recommend this Own-voices Latinx tale inspired by Latin folklore, real life cults, and truly horrific serial killers of the past.

4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with this early copy to review honestly!

I don't know about you, but to me, the thought of a demon possessing someone I know and love is quite terrifying. I don't typically find myself stewing over it, but Small Town Monsters had me just a little freaked out by the end. The addition of a cult that may be behind some of the strange things that go on gives this book an interesting vibe. Thankfully, this is a fictional book; so, it was both scary and fun to read.

Vera's parents aren't your typical go to work, come home, spend time with the family type. Nope, her parents are demonologists and they have a basement full of what they call artifacts, items that Vera herself is too terrified to even set eyes on, and that stoke the rumor mill at school. Needless to say, she doesn't have many casual friends despite the fact that she herself has nothing to do with her parents' special abilities.

Max's mom is atypical too, even more so after the horrible occurrences that have turned her into a drugged-out zombie. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, they do. And the only person he can think of to help him out is Vera. Vera, however, wants nothing to do with Max or his mother, and for good reason. Because Max thinks his mom might be possessed by a demon, and who wants to get involved with that?

Unexpectedly, Vera's parents have brought our protagonists together, despite the fact that they are miles away in Spain for work. That doesn't stop Max from basically stalking Vera so he can at least attempt to rope her parents into some sort of exorcism or at the very least, a prayer over his mom. I don't know much about demons, but if there is one thing I gleaned from this book, it's that demons have a mind of their own, and they don't take no as an answer. Thus ensues a race against time to save Max's moms soul before it's too late!

I really enjoyed this book! The premise sounded so interesting to me, so I am really glad that I was able to read this one and that I liked it so much!

In Small Town Monsters, Vera, whose parents are demonologists, and Maxwell are brought together after Max believes his mother might be possessed by a demon, and they work together to save his mother, and the town, from evil.

I really loved the atmosphere and aesthetic in this book. I think it was one of my favorite things, and it really set the tone for the book. I rarely get scared during reading, and I wasn't scared when I read this, but I really could feel the creepiness at some parts, and it was so well done.

I also really liked both Vera and Max, and I think both characters were fairly well developed. The book was told in dual POVs, along with some interludes that followed several side/minor characters, and I think the dual POV really helped to develop both Vera and Max.

The one thing that I didn't care too much about was the romance in the book. There really wasn't a lot of romance, so it seems weird that this bothers me, but I just felt that Vera and Max didn't have a lot of romantic chemistry, so it felt a little forced to me. The moments in their POVs when they were realizing their feelings for each other didn't feel natural, and it seemed like they were together just because they were working together. Overall, it wasn't a big deal, but I just liked them better as friends.

If you enjoy creepy, dark stories, I definitely recommend this one. It's fast paced and fun to read, and perfect for fall!

I thought this was super fun fall read. I liked that this book is set in small town and has eerie and creepy element with possession or supernatural twist. This book was a super fast pace read. I also really did liked both characters and found the mystery that connected to the possession to be engaging mystery. I also really liked how this book explored the cult dymancis. I also liked the "other" POVs we got in this story, it reminded me a little bit of the structure of their is something inside your house. The one thing I struggled with was the romance and felt a bit instalovy to me. But def a great fall read!!

Small towns make for great settings. Some of my recent favorite reads have been set in small towns. Including but not limited to cozy mysteries, middle grade horror, cosmic horror, and thrillers. Small Town Monsters is set in a small coastal town, and what a great story it was. It was part coming of age tale and partly about small town secrets, the danger of assumptions, community tragedy, grief, and cults. Oh, and a strong paranormal element that seemed to be the stuff of nightmares.

The story followed Vera Martinez, whose parents are demonologist. I sympathized with Vera. Her parent’s reputation had a negative effect on her and how she was perceived by people, while she also felt like the black sheep of the family. Part of the story dealt with how she grappled with that and came into her own as a person, while trying to untangle the mystery of the odd occurrences that were happening in her seemingly idyllic hometown. And it was done so well. Then there was Maxwell Oliver, who, despite his best efforts to hold his family together, is ultimately forced to seek help from Vera. He was a well written character, and I liked how much he looked out for his little sister. But everyone has a breaking point, and at the beginning of the story, he had already reached his.

The situation presented a bit of a mystery—and that was good too—but where the book shined was the horror elements. Wallach was clearly inspired by The Conjuring films and Ed and Lorraine Warren when writing Small Town Monsters. Elements of the story pulled a lot of inspiration from it, particularly with a basement full of objects with spooky and downright dangerous and creepy origins. Beyond the real world inspiration, the story ultimately goes down its own path.

Overall, Small Town Monsters delivered on everything the synopsis promised it would be. I sped through it in a couple days, and by the end, I wanted a sequel. And, like I said above, it was a great story. So if you’re looking for something to add to your October reading lists, Small Town Monsters would fit the bill.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Underlined) via NetGalley for this review, thank you!

Things to Know:

-Paranormal
-Dual Points of view
-Creepy
-Release date Sept 7th

Synopsis:

Vera Martinez wants nothing more than to escape Roaring Creek and her parents' reputation as demonologists. Not to mention she's the family outcast, lacking her parents' innate abilities, and is terrified of the occult things lurking in their basement. Maxwell Oliver is supposed to be enjoying the summer before his senior year, spending his days thinking about parties and friends. Instead he's taking care of his little sister while his mom slowly becomes someone he doesn't recognize. Soon he suspects that what he thought was grief over his father's death might be something more...sinister. When Maxwell and Vera join forces, they come face to face with deeply disturbing true stories of cults, death worship, and the very nature that drives people to evil. Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

Review:

I would rate this book 4/5 stars. It was actually extremely creepy. I finished in only a day. I was a huge fan of the Conjuring movies and this book was very similar to those movies in the details.

It takes a lot for a book to be creepy to me, but this book made me look twice before turning off my lights. It was very horror movie-esque. I actually found this story creepier than The Conjuring movie (and I loved that movie.) The addition of the cult details was awesome.

If you’re looking for a book to make your skin crawl, I hope you’ll consider Small Town Monsters. It will be released September 7th. In time for Halloween!

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this title!