I really liked the idea behind this book. The stories themselves; not so much.

I can’t argue with the quality of the writing- just the results. They weren’t so much horrific as horrible. There were some interesting ideas that just went down really strange and unsatisfying paths.

Nothing was memorable and I really can’t recommend the book.

What a creepy collection of stories, all in the setting of what should be boring Suburbia.
Christopher Hawkins has a very twisted and sick imagination. I admire that in a writer. Some of the more disturbing and imaginative tales of boring Suburb life are:
A shut-in sets out to make a new life for himself by losing weight at the point of a scalpel.
A master thief tries for one last score in a house that doesn't want him to leave.
The unthinkable results of a joke gone bad.

Thanks to @netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Christopher Hawkins comes out swinging with his first solo collection of short stories, Suburban Monsters. He touches on everything from creepy children and nature to body horror and evil exes. While all of the stories are entertaining and well-written, I felt that there were two standouts that truly showcased the author’s talent: Storms of the Present and Ten and Gone.



Thank you, NetGalley and Coronis Publishing for the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy of the book.

There's a lot of horror to be found in expansive spaces - vacations to other lands, space, the ocean, even other worlds. But none are so unsettling as the horror we find in our own homes, the streets where we live. Suburban Monsters is a great example of those terrifying spaces. Standouts for me included "Poppy," "The Stumblyum Imperative," "Swallow," and "A Candle for the Birthday Boy." There is another story, "Interude," that combines two concepts - one so comic, the other absolutely horrifying - that you'll find yourself pretty sad while fighting the urge to laugh out loud. There's been a nice selection of home horror in the past few years, Suburban Monsters fits nicely into that subgenre.

Suburban Monster, written by Christopher Hawkins, is a chilling collection of 13 short horror stories that will leave readers with a lasting sense of dread. While all the stories in the collection are well-crafted, there are a few that stood out for me in particular.

One such story is "Storms of the Present", which tells the tale of an overweight woman who is constantly ridiculed by her mother. The story takes a gruesome turn when the woman decides to take matters into her own hands. The unnamed first-person perspective adds to the overall creepiness of the story and the unexpected twist at the end will leave readers reeling.

Another standout story is "Origin Story", a clever take on the superhero genre. Two friends engage in a conversation about the superpowers they'd like to have, but the ending is a twist that no one will see coming.

"Poppy" is another favorite of mine, a story about a second-hand store, mannequins, a beautiful goth, and thieving kids. It's a perfect example of how Hawkins can build tension and suspense in a short amount of time.

"Ten and Gone" is the ultimate horror story in this collection. It is a suspenseful tale about a thief who breaks into a house in the suburbs and finds himself in a situation that he never could have imagined. The story is filled with uncertainty, terrific imagery, and true anxiety-inducing horror.

Overall, all of the stories in this collection are worth reading. Hawkins has a way of creating an atmosphere that is both eerie and unsettling, leaving readers with a lasting impression. If you're a fan of horror, then Suburban Monster is definitely worth picking up. The stories have all the makings of horror classics and will leave you with a sense of dread long after you've finished reading them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Coronis Publishing for giving me a digital copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this collection of 13 tales of horror. They were very quick reads, some more disgusting than others but I would definitely recommend this to my horror reading friends.
This was my first time reading this author and it wont be the last.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

* A shut-in sets out to make a new life for himself by losing weight at the point of a scalpel.
* A store clerk with a mannequin obsession hides a macabre and tragic secret.
* A master thief tries for one last score in a house that doesn't want him to leave.
* Two friends learn the hard way that having superpowers doesn't always make you a hero. It might just make you a monster.
* A lonely painter finds freedom with the help of something lurking beneath the ocean waves.
At turns whimsical and somber but always unsettling, this debut collection of short horror stories is essential reading from a rising voice in dark literary fiction.

I enjoyed and liked some of the stories, particularly the one about the mannequins. However, there were a couple that were just ngeh.

Christopher Hawkins writes really stunningly. The way his words flow is so nuanced. For horror, that is impressive. That’s not to say that horror writers usually write clunkily or anything. I just want to emphasize the writing quality.

This is a really well rounded collection of short stories that were as unique as they we creepy. Aside from the multiple fat-phobic instances, I really enjoyed this.

The Stumblybum Imperative, about a woman dealing with addiction while trying to dissect a weird tv show her child has been obsessed with, was one of my favorites.

Poppy, about a girl with a weird connection to mannequins was another favorite.

Other stories I really enjoyed were, Green Eyes, Interlude and A Candle for the Birthday Boy.

I’m impressed by the range of these stories and will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advance. I like to read horror and do enjoy short stories, that way I get to see a bunch of different ideas from the author. I don't like cookie-cutter stories, you know, the typical horror stories, which are so predicable. This book was not a cookie-cutter book at all. I truly enjoyed reading each story and found the next one to be just as unique as the previous. Although I didn't find it scary or frightening I did enjoy the different spins each story took. I would recommend this book to fans of horror or short stories.

I loved this collection of short stories! As with any anthology I enjoyed some more than others but I enjoyed these immensely and will be looking for more from this author.

This collection of stories was haunting, but sometimes like a crash, I just couldn't help myself and had to look. I think it hit hard because the situations are so relatable, so every day that it makes this weird & twisted tales so much more creepy. I felt on the edge of a deep dark hole, with each new story, waiting to see if I would fall into the unknown abyss below & if I would have nightmares about these stories the night after I read them. People today are all fascinated with the strange and the macabre, to the point that maybe we will all be a self-fulfilling prophecy in the future.

These stories are the perfect collection of related topics but different narrative voices, so that each one feels refreshing but also each one wears the reader down into a deeper sense of dread. Certain stories, like Storms of the Present are so graphic in description while still leaving many questions unanswered in the best addicting short story manner.

Hawkins writes differently for each story to capture the perspective clearly, and does this well, but has a story telling style that's very subtle and delightful. In each story, the events sort of unfold without a clear outline, and I was left usually figuring out what was happening in the same time as the narrator, seeing things unravel and realizing the horrific implications along with them. It's hard to describe, but he gives details in a way that keeps the reader anxious, kind of as if he's not showing the whole scene in one shot, and we're left to wonder what's hiding. It's brilliant and I noticed it in almost every story, subtle and creepy without being dull.

I especially enjoyed The Stumblybum Imperative, as it was definitely inspired by early 2000s creepypasta style stories, but it felt a little more real than those. The human themes of desperation and escapism really added some depth to the classic "what if a kids show was scary" trope.

While all the stories were consistently well written, and there's no real way to judge what's "scary" or not, I felt like some of these stories were just sweet, and not necessarily monstrous enough. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and will read more from this author if given the chance.

The 13 stories in this collection expertly build a tense atmosphere in every single tale. There were strong Weird Tales vibes in every story. I am pretty accustomed to reading horror type stories, but still, I got chills when I read the last lines of "Notice." That story was my favorite of the collection, but all were equally well written. Christopher Hawkins is going to be a, must read author, for me after this collection.
Thank you to Netgalley and Coronis Publishing for the opportunity to enjoy this spine tingling collection.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Suburban Monsters is a horror anthology of 13 stories, where the stories range from gory body horror to everyday events with a spooky twist. I really love the flowy writing and the different voices in each of the stories. They're really well done and so is the execution of the plots. There was the sense of dread that I love in each of the stories. And so because this is an anthology, I'll be reviewing each story:

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬 (𝟑/𝟓)
A child who takes care of their ailing mother, staying with her even as she turns into a plant thing. I loved the eco horror in this, and I think it's interesting that it's told from a child's perspective because it really makes the whole story very innocent and a little sad. Not that scary for me but I enjoyed reading it.

𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐. 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬 (𝟑.𝟓/𝟓)
This story has the most beautiful and poetic writing I've ever seen; it's like a literal painting. Although I didn't enjoy the story very much, I loved the writing and the tranquility of it.

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝟓/𝟓)
A recluse who takes weight loss too far. This is my favourite because of the stomach-twisting (literally) gore. I don't know, I just love it.

𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 (𝟑/𝟓)
Two guys who discuss having superpowers, and one of them turns it into a villain origin story. This story wasn't that intriguing to me, and some of it was lost on me.

𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 (𝟒/𝟓)
Mannequins! I love mannequin horror so much. It's about a clerk who takes extra care of the mannequins of her store. There's the sense of dread nearing the end of the story, where the narrator finds out what happens to Poppy, the clerk. The overall vibe has that fragility to it, like the store mannequins, and it really made me sympathise with Poppy.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞 (𝟑.5/𝟓)
Come to your clown brethren, child. I think that this story is cute, maybe a little humorous in my opinion.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝟓/𝟓)
Imagine the cult-popular Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared but it's ominous and bordering on plain unhinged content. This is what the story is about, and I loved it so much. It's narrated by a mother whose child is obsessed with the Stumblybums show to the point that it's the only thing she wants to watch. It really shows how seemingly harmless children's shows can affect the thinking of a child. I also love how the mother is slowly turning insane from all the research of that show, and that ending? Chills, man.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐧 (𝟑.𝟓/𝟓)
Can your shadow destroy someone? This story was interesting, but it wasn't my cup of tea. The writing is amazing though, and what is up with the grandma??

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛 (𝟒/𝟓)
Again, body horror, but an evil thumb with murderous thoughts! Although I found the character of Carl quite childish (considering that they both might be grown adults who do roofwork).

𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝟑.𝟓/𝟓)
I didn't understand the plot at first, but I think it's about chronic cheek biting/dermatillomania. Anyways, the description of the creature that used to be Warren was so gruesome and pitiful, and it raised my rating of this story.

𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐞 (𝟒/𝟓)
A struggling thief who's robbed by a house. I love the idea of a sentient house with elements of an anglerfish and a venus flytrap. I think this is unique and quite fast-paced, especially with the minutes literally counting down - which I honestly thought was the number of items left to steal (my bad)

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝟒/𝟓)
I don't know if this is a Red Signal reference because of the yog-sothoth chant, but in my heart it will be. (The Mechanisms - Red Signal) The atmosphere is so tense and filled me with anxiety, and the nice little twist where Simmons is summoning Yog Sothoth is just gold. Very co-worker behaviour.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐲 (𝟓/𝟓)
"I think I'm going insane," says I while reading this slow tread into ominosity of a birthday party story. That pinata plot point was brilliant, I honestly thought it was what the father was thinking it was. And that ending was crazy! (Out of respect for the story, I won't be spoiling it.)

And so that explains my average rating of 4 stars. I recommend this to any horror fans, fans of the Magnus Archives, and anyone who just wants a good spooky book with amazing writing

Monsters come in different shapes and sizes in the horror universe. Some are in the shapes of humans, plants, aliens and even invisible. Some are kind monsters, but some are the dark beyond anyone's imagination. Well, anyone's imagination except maybe authors like Stephen King, Darcey Coates, and many of those who strive to write in their world. Enter Christopher Hawkins' book Suburban Monsters. A book containing thirteen short stories that made me walk away wanting more content from Hawkins.

Hawkins does a great job of developing characters for short stories. He is a beautiful choreographer of scenes in the written world. He commands his characters as a director gives lines to actors on a movie set. He is truly the puppeteer in every sense of the word in Suburban Monsters. I did not read any reviews or feedback or even the write up about this book before opening its pages. You can imagine my surprise when I finished what I thought was the first chapter in a novel only to figure out halfway through chapter two I was reading an entirely new story with a new plot. At the end of chapter one, I wanted more of that story.

That is what Hawkins did for me as a reader, he left me wanting more after most of the stories in this book. There were a couple of stories that were just downright nasty, so let the reader beware. Trigger warnings is not really part of my reviews, but let me warn you of a few items you may need to be aware of for your own sanity. There is some suicide, graphic horror involving children and some animals. This book gets a little too dark for some but its certainly not splatterpunk. Hawkins is just a great writer that makes you mind wander into the deep dark parts of your reality that maybe you shouldn't.

He's not really Stephen King, but honestly who is and who wants to be the KING. Hawkins is Hawkins. He is himself and he shares a part of his world for us. There is some grammar and sentance structure that will irritate the English grammar teachers, but other than a few places it is well written and developed. Great job and I am looking forward to more like the short story in chapter one from Hawkins in the future!

This is a really solid horror anthology. There are some really good stories in here, especially in the latter half. The thematic framework holds up, with each story dealing in some way with suburbia — class, capitalism, conformity, etc. There is recurrent symbolism, which also helps to make this feel like a cohesive collection. The characters are well-written and fit their stories. All in all, this is a good read and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 stars

This anthology was a fantastic introduction to Christopher Hawkins' talent for horror. Each story centers around a different aspect of suburban life (and the horrors that may be lurking right next door). This anthology has grief, pain, humor, and moments of genuine terror or just-plain-awesomeness. I read a lot of horror anthologies and a few of these rank among my new favorites ("The Stumblybum Imperative" and "Shadowman", specifically - but others were solid contenders!) Here are my quick thoughts on each individual story:

Green Eyes: I instantly knew that I was going to be a fan of Hawkins' writing style after this one. I highlighted several passages that were beautiful but so painful. Grief horror and literary horror fans will enjoy this one. (4/5)

Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil on Canvas: Another one for literary horror fans. Absolutely beautiful writing. (3.5/5)

Storms of the Present: I read a lot of extreme horror and splatterpunk... and this one has some of the best body-horror gore that I've ever read. While reading this short story, a few passages actually triggered my squeamishness and I started getting light-headed - which is the very first time that's ever happened from reading gore. As a horror fan, I say this as a compliment, as I consider that a huge accomplishment and a testament to Hawkins' writing ability. (4.5/5 with a very large "self-harm" trigger warning)

Origin Story: Man. I loved this one. So different from the previous story. Not-so-much horror but fellow comic book lovers will really enjoy this one. (4/5)

Poppy: I freakin' love a good mannequin horror story. Poor Poppy. Enjoyed the ride but the ending felt rushed and wasn't my favorite. (3/5)

Interlude: So much heart paacked into a little bite-sized tale. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. (4/5)

The Stumblybum Imperative: I highlighted so many passages from this one. I don't think I love anything more than a creepy/possibly-sinister children's show. Reminiscent of the "Candle Cove" creepypasta. (10000/5)

Shadowman: This was a great little coming-of-age horror with heart. That ending! (4.5/5)

Carpenter's Thumb: Another one that perfectly blended horror and humor. Really well done and so goofy. (4/5)

Swallow: At this point, I'm about to write a love letter to Christopher Hawkins. Crazy good. Heartbreaking. (5/5)

Ten and Gone: This story is just all-around solid horror writing. (3.5/5)

Notice: It was okay - not my favorite (3/5)

A Candle for the Birthday Boy: Great way to wrap up this anthology, with a bloody and shocking finale. (5/5)

Can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

A collection of shorts by a new-to-me author, Christopher Hawkins. Let’s dive right in:

Green Eyes - Mama is always there, even when the police show up. A fun POV of a little girl that doesn’t like school much.

3.5 stars out of 5

Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil On Canvas - An artist follows her drunk, abusive husband down to the beach, and hope washes in on the surf. Solid writing. You can feel her sorrow.

4.5 stars out of 5

Storms Of The Present - Body horror tale that I could feel in my belly.

5 stars out of 5

Origin Story - Every comic book fan wants to be a superhero. A story that had the potential to be much better. There were many grammatical errors throughout and rushed the ending. It could’ve benefitted with another pass from an editor.

3 stars out of 5

Poppy - She had a way of posing the store’s mannequins. Poppy was one of a kind. The first person narrative is perfect for this chilling story. Best one so far.

5 starts out of 5

Interude - Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and I will tell you where our performers REALLY come from. Silly, but a decent story.

3.5 stars out of 5

The Stumblyum Imperative - When a husband abandons his wife, it sends her spiraling down into the depths of depression, drugs, and an odd children’s show that her daughter binge watches. What first seems like an odd story becomes as strangely addictive as the pills she takes.

4.5 stars out of 5

Shadowman - Everyone remembers what it was like to be bullied as a kid. This one goes out to all of us. It put a smile on my face, and I think it will for you too.

5 stars out of 5

Carpenter’s Thumb - We’ve all smacked our thumb with a hammer and we all have an ex we’d like to smack with the same hammer. A fun story that we all can relate to.

4.5 stars out of 5

Swallow - Lovecraft-ian flavored tale of a lonely college student taking a joke too literal.

3 stars out of 5

Ten and Gone - A burglar learns that not all houses are what they appear to be.

4 stars out of 5

Notice - A resignation letter like no other. A modern ode to Lovecraft which I totally dug.

5 stars out of 5

A Candle for the Birthday Boy - A birthday celebration turns into a horrific guessing game as the dad tries to figure out what his unstable girlfriend left as a parting gift.

3.5 stars out of 5

First, can we talk about this cover? I love the blood dripping out of the lawnmower. Simple, but so effective. So much so, I’m jealous it wasn’t one of my covers.

This collection was a pleasant surprise. Most of the time, you try to sift a couple of gems out of a bucket of clunkers. Not so with Suburban Monsters. Hawkins has a smart and smooth delivery that makes for perfect pacing. His characters are familiar and likeable. Another must for an effective story, but can be difficult to achieve in shorts. He had a couple of nods towards Lovecraft, which is always a big hit for me. All in all, an enjoyable and talented voice to be paying attention to in horror.

Total for Suburban Monsters = 4.15 stars out 5

Ok, so we know I love horror. I’ve said it a million times. So when I saw Suburban Monsters, a horror short story collection by Christopher Hawkins on NetGalley, I had to give it a try. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as thrilled with the collection as I’d hoped. Read on to see my thoughts on the various stories.

Suburban Monsters – The Stories
Green Eyes
This story isn’t too terribly scary or creepy. It’s more sad than anything, with just a touch of horror at the very end of the story. It only takes a few minutes to read (less than 30) and it’s a nice story to start Suburban Monsters off. I rather liked it.

Moonrise Over Water With Sargassum, 2022. Oil on Canvas
Again, this story in Suburban Monsters isn’t terribly scary or creepy. It’s more sad and perhaps a cautionary tale of what can happen when a husband is so controlling that the quiet wife decides she’s had enough. As with “Green Eyes”, this one doesn’t get to the actual horror until the very end. Up until then, you could honestly believe this was a set-up scene for a mystery/thriller novel. Very good story.

Storms of the Present
This one was more creepy than the other two. It was also more unsettling. It kind of gives a new perspective on being overweight/obese, albeit a supernatural perspective. The story was good though, a bit gross in parts, but good. I enjoyed this one. The true horror part, again, was towards the end, but I think that is just a signature for this author, and not a bad one.

Origin Story
This one was OK. Wondering what someone’s superhero origin story would be and then turning it into horror is kind of a cool concept to be honest. I enjoyed this story a lot. The ending was one of the best things about the story because it was just so unexpected. This one you got the horror aspect a bit sooner than the previous stories, but it was still more towards the end.

Poppy
Ok, this one was weird and creepy. This one was pretty creepy from the start, which isn’t the norm for this author’s stories from what I’ve read. But it was a good story. If you’re weirded out or creeped out by dolls/mannequins, you might not want to read this one, but if those things don’t bother you, I’d definitely recommend giving this story a try.

Interude
This one was a story that if you’re not a fan of clowns, I don’t recommend reading. It’s weird, creepy, and the ending is just… what the hell? You’ll never look at clowns the same again, I guarantee you that. It was an OK story, but seriously… clowns… (shudders). (Side Note: This is where Suburban Monsters started to go downhill for me.)

The Stumblybum Imperative
This one was just plain weird from the start. A story about a kids’ show that turns out to be something horrific. I wasn’t overly impressed with the story as I felt it drug on and on, only to come to a rather boring ending. Definitely my least favorite so far – but wait, there will be ones I like even less in Suburban Monsters.

Shadowman
So this story wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. It didn’t have a horror or scary component to it, just a supernatural one. Just a boy getting back at his bullies by less than natural means. Nothing special. I mean, it isn’t the worst story in the book but it isn’t the best either. I liked it well enough.

Carpenter’s Thumb
This one was at least a bit more entertaining. I will say that I’d have liked it to be longer, perhaps given more instances of the thumb giving the guy hell. It seems to me that this is almost a take on idle hands but maybe not. I actually liked this one quite a bit, which is interesting since the second half of Suburban Monsters hasn’t really been to my liking.

Swallow
I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to think of this one. It is at once ridiculous and disgusting. Nothing about it makes much sense, particularly the ending. I just can’t understand what I’m supposed to do with this one or how I’m supposed to process it. Definitely a contender for least favorite.

Ten and Gone
Another story in Suburban Monsters relying on the supernatural to provide horror, yet failing to provide anything that was even mildly creepy or scary. A house that tries to eat intruders might be relatively unique, but it certainly wasn’t creepy or scary. However, the story in and of itself wasn’t terrible, it just needs a little tweaking to make it a bit better.

Notice
This one was one of the better stories. A very long notice of terminating employment, although there is a twist at the end you won’t be expecting. Finally, a story in the second part of the book that wasn’t completely mediocre.

A Candle for the Birthday Boy
The title doesn’t make a lick of sense but that’s OK, because the story isn’t that great. A kid’s birthday party turns dark when the piñata is broken open. The story reads like a bad dream. It just kind of fell flat to me, mostly due to it taking a while to get to the point. It does have an interesting plot twist at the end though. Not the worst story but not the best either.

Conclusion
While there are some good stories in Suburban Monsters, the majority of the book just falls flat for me. I don’t see the horror elements in most of the stories, although that could be due to my pretty much jaded nature when it comes to horror – I don’t scare easily when it comes to horror and I find most horror movies and books to not be nearly as scary as people think.

I had trouble connecting with the writing style, so this may not be an author for me. I would try a full length novel in the future to see if that worked better.