Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay in exchange for an honest review. This was a thrilling collection of short stories that I enjoyed reading late at night. A good spooky read to keep you up all night.

DNF at 30% not loving any of these short stories expect the first one or two. It’s just really not holding my interest. It’s very hit or miss which ones are working for me right now!

I have no idea what happened in most of this collection. These where the kind of speculative horror that doesn't really get wrapped up that just leaves me confused. This kind of horror is really hit or miss for me as I have an itty bitty brain and can't always process everything even though I always over think it. The writing was good regardless and I can definitely see the appeal of the collection, it just wasn't a hit for me.



Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A solid collection of stories from the new master of horror. A couple of tales were familiar to me from previous printings or anthologies, but held up well on rereading (honestly, cried the first time I read The Last Conversation and cried again this time). Altogether, a book that will appeal to both established Trembley fans and those discovering his work for the first time.
Highly recommended.

Let’s get something straight. If Paul Tremblay writes a book, I will read that book. He never disappoints, and this latest short story/novella collection was really good. The title story is actually a novella, written in verse, and I tore through most of it during my gym workouts. I have to read something while I cardio, otherwise, I’ll just sit on my butt at home. Motivation! I also enjoyed the other stories, most of which are pretty short and have appeared randomly in other publications throughout the years. I’ve never read any of them before, so I’m glad they were collected here. They are what I’ve come to expect from Tremblay. Interesting, weird, spooky, and thought-provoking. It’s the content I’m here for. Check this collection out wherever you get your books.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.


3.5 voted up for Paul Tremblay. Decent Stories. I loved his novels so this was enjoyable as quick spurts to read.

This is a perfect way to start off spooky season! I loved Paul Tremblay's Head Full of Ghosts and wound up really enjoying these short stories. A bit is slightly related to his earlier book as well!

I think horror short stories and novellas (one is included in this book) are particularly an excellent format for horror. Tremblay's unique style really showed in this collection. Something I would recommend to any fan!

Great group of short stories. Some written years ago, some written during the pandemic.
All very well written and entertaining.
Can’t really go into much detail as I wouldn’t want to give any endings away ….trust me it is worth the read.
I do recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

**3.5-star rounded up**

The Beast You Are: Stories is a recently compiled collection of short works from beloved author, Paul Tremblay.
I have enjoyed three previous novels from Tremblay, but have never read any of his shorter works. I was happy to receive a copy from the publisher and check them out.

Overall, I felt like this was an interesting collection. It's quite a mix of topics, which made every new story feel fresh and unique. Additionally, I think it's a great example of Tremblay's creativity and speculative style of storytelling. Unfortunately though, the last story, the novella for which the collection is named, was my least favorite. Therefore, it ended up leaving a bad taste in my mouth at the close, which isn't how I like to finish off a collection.

Other than that one though, I felt it was very solid.

I loved how a couple of the stories are lightly connected to [book:A Head Full of Ghosts|23019294]. That was fun, like little Easter Eggs. That has been my favorite of Tremblay's novels, so it was exciting to see those connections revisited here.

I believe the majority of these stories have been previously published in other collections, or magazines, etc., but this is the first time they have ever been presented together. I think for long-time Tremblay fans, this will be an enjoyable way to get your hands on so many of his shorter works. I would absolutely recommend it to those readers looking to get easy access to that type of story.

I'm happy I read this. Always happy to be reading Tremblay and am looking forward to whatever he publishes next!! Thank you so much to William Morrow for providing me with a copy. I appreciate it!

Editor's note: The following summary review appears in Alabama, N.C. and Miss. papers; magazines Cullman Magazine and Athens Senior Scene

By Tom Mayer

Between 500,000 and 1 million books are published each year (a number that spikes to as much as 4 million when self-published titles are factored in) — and, with no disrespect to Egon Spengler as played by the great Harold Ramis, the majority of those are of the paper variety: Print is far from dead.

Printed books continue to grow as the dominant publishing platform with a reported 789 million paper books sold in 2022 in the United States alone.

But, say that you — a “constant reader” as the king of horror has dubbed us all — just want a good read? With numbers such as that, who has the time to churn through even a fraction of that voluminous literary category?
Well, nobody actually, and that includes the droves of book reviewers who periodically chime in with erudite recommendations panning or promoting in a line or two a body of work that likely took a writer months, if not years, to produce.

But this is the system with have and, barring an AI infiltration of robots scanning, reading and recommending books on their own, what you have below is a curated list of 11 of the best books I’ve come across in the past three months — and a baker’s dozen more that I’m working on for late fall.

And, because we all know that children’s publishing is an exploding force of its own (a $3.3 billion marketing impact in the US in 2022), I’ve added a separate list of children’s titles worthy of trading screen time for book time across a range of ages.

As for the adult titles, a few of these will have breakout, more full reviews — Robert McCammon, Robert Dugoni, John Grisham and Rick DeStefanis among those — as we move deeper into fall, but for everything on this list now, my typical disclaimer: Each of these books was read as an advanced reading copy (ARC), digital or print, and vetted against a final, printed copy except in cases where the publication time of this review didn’t allow for a final copy production, and those are noted as below, “books to watch for.”

The best of the best … for now

“The Better Half” by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans (Mindy’s Book Studio, 326 pages, $28.99): With an introduction from Mindy Kaling, literary soulmates Frank and Youmans take a comedic look at the second half of Nina Morgan Clarke’s life. When the first-generation, Black female head of the storied Royal-Hawkins School joins forces with a best friend to celebrate her second act, ethical dilemmas and a slippery slope from the pinnacle of her life ensue.

“The Beast You Are” by Paul Tremblay (William Morrow, 356 pages, $30): Paul Tremblay’s stories never fail to infiltrate our dreams, and this volume gives us that times 15. Only the title story is original to the collection, but having these polished gems in one place makes the whole thing shine. Extensive notes on story origins are a bonus — and a peek into the master’s mind.

“The Weaver and the Witch Queen” by Genevieve Gornichec (Ace, 432 pages, $27): A heart-wrenching tale about two women who are irrevocably drawn together by the bonds of sword sisterhood and twists of fate, this fantastical novel is a sumptuous blend of Norse mythology and Viking history. Fans of Neil Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology” will rejoice at having a companion piece.

“The Hunt” by Kelly J. Ford (Thomas & Mercer, 353 pages, $16.99): Serial murders or simply unfortunate accidents? The town of Presley, Ark., is divided on the issue and has been for 17 years. Nell Holcomb, the sister of the man she considers “the Hunter’s” first kill, faces her past, and escalating danger, to find the true answer.
“The Truth About Sex Trafficking” by Melanie Patterson (Forged in Words Books, 200 pages, $14.99): An honest, unsentimental and horrific depiction of sex trafficking telling the true story of Angela, a victim who endured unimaginable abuse as a child as a teen. The story comes from a Cullman County native and former Alabama journalist with two decades of research and writing experience.

"Broadway Butterfly" by Sara Divello (Thomas & Mercer, 432 pages, $28.99): The city is Manhattan, the year is 1923. The story: one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the era. When flapper Dot King is found dead in her Midtown apartment, a phalanx of lovers, parasites and justice seekers descend on the city.

“Rawlins: The Road to Yellowstone (The Rawlins Saga Book 4)” by Rick DeStefanis (247 pages, $24.95): I’ve said it before (well, actually three times before), but Rick DeStefanis is one our most least-sung Western writers. Though the stories are set in the 19th century, the themes echo today. “The Road to Yellowstone” is another example where Rawlins once more slings on his guns to fight for justice — now joined by his son-in-law — against a group of “businessmen” trafficking women for their saloons and bordellos.

“Malibu Burning (Sharpe & Walker Book 1)” by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, 286 pages, $28.99): A master thief with a conscience? Only from the pen of Lee Goldberg, a virtuoso of crime fiction who knows how to keep the pages turning. This fiery tale of revenge against powerful Malibu homeowners is the background of what, if it’s successful, will be the biggest heist in U.S. history.

“The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” by Susan Zurenda (Mercer University Press, 291 pages, $27): An unprocessed take on “Romeo and Juliet,” this achingly beautifully written novel explores the complicated bonds between teenagers and adults. Strongly drawn, confident teenagers are a refreshing departure from the wooden cutouts so prevalent (and scarily popular) in contemporary fiction. This novel comes with high praise from the likes of Ron Rash (“Serena,” “The Caretaker”). Meet the author Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa and Talladega, Ala. Visit susanzurenda.com/events for details on these and other dates.

{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="80f06904-530b-11ee-9239-938a3265809b"}}
“The September House” by Carissa Orlando (Berkley, 352 pages, $27): A woman is determined to stay in her own house even after it becomes haunted. Sounds like you’ve heard it before? Erase those preconceptions and be prepared for dark, funny, fresh tale of secrets and haunted matrimony.

“The Taken Ones: A Novel (Steinbeck and Reed Book 1)" by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, 331 pages, $16.99): In 1980, despite warnings and urban legends, three girls enter a Minnesota forest. Only one comes out, and she’s alone with her memory erased. The local superstition of the Bendy Man who haunts the woods earns nationwide attention. The year 2022: cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck investigate the murder of a woman buried alive — clutching a heart charm necklace that belonged to one of the girls. The search for a killer is now a race against time.

Books to watch for

I’ll expand in future reviews on these titles publishing in October and November, but here’s a head’s up for what I’m reading now.

“One Last Kill: Tracy Crosswhite 10” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni.
“Let Us Descend” (Scribner) by Jesmyn Ward.
“Murder on the Christmas Express” (Poison Press) by Alexandra Benedict.
“Long Past Due” (Berkley) by James J. Butcher (with “Dead Man’s Hand,” first in series).
“The Exchange” (Doubleday) by John Grisham.
“The Spy Coast” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tess Gerritsen.
“The Life and Times of Hannah Craft” (Harper Collins) by Greg Hecimovich.
“American Girl” (Blackstone Publishing) by Wendy Walker.
“The Aeronaut’s Windlass” (Ace) by Jim Butcher.
“The Last Applicant” (Lake Union) by Rebecca Hanover.
“Resurrection Walk” (Little Brown) by Michael Connelly.
“The Olympian Affair” (Roc) by Jim Butcher.
“Good Girls Don’t Die” (Berkley) by Christina Henry.

Childrens’ titles … with strong recommendations

“Clara Poole and the Long Way Round” (Pixel Ink for ages 8-12) by Taylor Tying.
"Buddy and Bea Not Really Buddies" and “Tiny Tornadoes” (both Peachtree, for ages 5-8) by Jan Carr and Kris Mukai .
“The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves: S.O.S.” (Peachtree) by Tom Phillips.
“Forget me not blue” (Holiday House) by Sharelle Byars Moranville.
“In the Tunnel” (Holiday House, for ages 8-12) by Julie Lee.
“The Girl Who Lost a Leopard” (Peachtree, for ages 8-12) by Nizrana Farook.”
“Team Trash: A time Traveler’s Guide to Sustainability” (Holiday House, for ages10-14) by Kate Wheeler and Trent Huntington.
“Bizard, the bear wizard” (Margaret Ferguson Books, for ages 8-10) by Chrissie Krebs.
“The Sinister Secrets of Singe” (Pixel Ink, for ages 10 and older) by Sean Ferrell, illustrated by Graham Carter.

https://www.enewscourier.com/opinion/columns/a-good-read-new-titles-for-september-book-lovers-and-beyond/article_74e8f6cc-530f-11ee-a576-537d55627c75.html

I appreciate learning why the treadmill was invented, haha. My favorite stories in this were Haunted House Tour and The Last Conversation.

Interesting, much more experimental than some of Tremblay’s previous work! Some of these short stories are very intriguing and evocative of his normal style and then the collection culminates with a very unique novella that kept me compelled the whole way. Weird in a good way!

This was a well written book, with great analogies and detailed horror. There were some stories that were a bit harder to follow, but over all a great book.

This was a collection of short stories that I was looking forward to reading as I’m a fan of the authors other books. That being said-this collection fell flat for me…most of the stories felt almost forced like a filler….there were only a couple of really inspired stories in the mix.

Paul Tremblay's latest collection is a portal to all things beastly, and then some. It sucks you in and refuses to let go, propelling you forward, through, kicking and screaming and laughing and crying and marveling, picking up speed each step of the way, until you emerge shiny and new and full of the wonder of story.

The Beast You Are is one of those rare story collections you can't put down once picked up. Or, for me it is, yeah, which makes it that much more special. I'm all for devouring books. I love devouring books, and have done so many, many, many times over, but with story collections, I find, more often than not, that I take slightly more time in the reading, whether intentional or not. I like to read a story and then sit with it for a spell, let it steep and stew in my brain. But this one? The Beast You Are? This one, I hit the ground and didn't so much run, run, run through as fly.

In every heart lies a beast. As such, on every shelf this book should sit. Get your hands on a copy today, readers. Unleash the beast.

A series of short stories by Paul Tremblay is a great way to explore spooky season. But let me say this first - there are Easter eggs or spoilers inside of the stories to Tremblays other works that will make more sense if you read those first

The Beast You Are was not my favorite collection of short stories. A few were great, my favorite being "The Last Conversation" which individually was a 5 star. Most of the stories I found to be average, and some not enjoyable at all. A lot of the time, I felt unsatisfied in the end and it almost felt like he forgot to end some of the stories. They seemed to stop abruptly with no resolution or conclusion. I will continue to read from Paul Tremblay, but this collection did not work for me.

Paul Tremblay is not afraid. If you've read his previous collection, Growing Things, Tremblay is no stranger to playing with form, narrative, etc. to craft a story that reads differently than what you're getting from the average modern horror writers. The Beast You Are makes that look like a warm-up act. In a way, this is a collection for Tremblay fans, containing a fair few works that connect to other books, stories, or even just pieces that were composed closer to the beginning of his writing journey. Like any collection, that are ups and downs, and those will shift depending on the reader, but a few favorites:
- "Haunted House Tour..." may be my favorite in the collection, reveling in its creepy atmosphere and leaving the reader on uneven footing throughout.
- "House of Windows" plays with unexpected and unpredictable architecture. Despite my dislike of the book House of Leaves, this is a brand of horror I love, and Tremblay plays the ominous mystery key like a seasoned pianist.
- "The Beast You Are" has a little Hobbit to it, a bit of Fantastic Mr. Fox, or as Tremblay himself puts it, Watership Down and Secret of Nimh. It's different enough to the usual fare, and therefore promises to be divisive, but reads like an author saying, "this is what I want to write". The bold stance shines through in the prose, in the ambition, and in the execution. Like it or hate it, you're not reading anything else like it.
Fans of Tremblay will find elements to love in this collection, more casual fans might be better suited to work their up the Tremblay tree to this one.
Paul Tremblay is not afraid, but you just might be.

Some stories resonated more with me than others in this anthology - particularly The Last Conversation and Mostly Size. All were well-written and I liked the variety of form! That's something I enjoy about short stories as a medium vs novels: the ability to play with form. From a series of blog posts to an editorial call and response column in a magazine to a free verse epic reminiscent of Watership Down, there was a lot to love in this one.

The Beast You Are is a short story collection by Paul Tremblay and quite possibly one of the harder things I have had to rate this year.

While there were several stories I did enjoy, there were also several that didn’t land for me or were too short for me to enjoy or too long. I feel like there were too many stories in this collection and it felt like a tedious read. I’ve proved that the short story collections by singular authors they I enjoy are usually 10 or 11 stories long. And this collection had a lot more than that. Perhaps Thai would have been better enjoyed over a longer time period than I read it in. But authors have a style, not matter how hard they try to be different. And reading several stories by one person feels exactly like reading several stories by one person.

I would recommend this collection to someone who will take their time going through it. Maybe reading a story a day. Reading this in one or two sittings like I usually do just didn’t work for this collection because it made it feel monotonous.