4.5 stars rounded up

A really solid collection of short stories! 13 queer YA authors of color write stories taking place on Halloween night...

- Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia by Vanessa Montalban (3 stars) My least favorite in the collection, but still pretty good. A creepy party at a hotel.

- The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron (4 stars) Grief and the undead

- A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan (5 stars) A drive in theatre with ghosts from the 50’s. Creepy!

- Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells (4.5 stars) Corporate greed and dangerous technology...

- Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson (5 stars) A rough one dealing with homophobic violence. A story of supernatural revenge.

- The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown (4.5 stars) Very fun and campy about pizza-stealing ghost.

- Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran (5 stars) ooh damn! First genuinely scary one with great use of technology and addressing hate crimes.

- Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by Maya Gittelman (4 stars) Great debut! Filipino culture, gender identity, and a spooky house down the street.

- In You to Burn by Em X. Liu (4 stars) Interesting frenemies story drawing on Chinese myth.

- Anna by Shelly Page (4.5 stars) Babysitting gone wrong when the kids use a ouji board to summon an angry ghost.

- Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim (4 stars) Very cute but more romance than horror. Boy accidentally summons a hot demon.

- Save Me From Myself by Auria Shonibar (5 stars) Hindu goddess body swapping with mental health and suicidal ideation.

- Knickknack by Ryan Douglas (4.5 stars) Cute. Evil clown kidnaps brother, MC finally admits feelings for best friend

I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Title: Night of the Living Queers
Edited by: Shelly Page and Alex Brown
Genre: YA Horror
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Rating: 4/5⭐️

Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology of 13 stories by various authors. The stories contain everything from ghosts to demons to vampires, but what they all have in common is that they’re all written by queer authors of color and feature queer BIPOC characters. Some of the stories are truly creepy, while others are more suspenseful. They were all short enough that they could each be read in a single sitting and the stories don’t intertwine, so they could be enjoyed individually.

There is some mild romance and profanity, but I would feel comfortable adding this book to my high school library and recommending it to YA readers. I’d consider it a step up for fans of middle grade horror such as Mary Downing Hahn, K. R. Alexander, and Katherine Arden (Small Spaces).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

#netgalley #nightofthelivingqueers #yahorror #horrorbookshelf #horroranthology #horrorbooks #ireadya #queerhorror #yaauthors

I am such a fan of a book of short stories. Add in the creepy and spooky and I am sold! I loved all of these stories. I have to say some of them scared me more than others, Also one made me cry! A haunted hotel, creepy little girl ghost and unalive people that come back on Halloween all make for an awesome creepy book! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for this anthology.

I will say that Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight does a great job of finding a diverse cast of writers from different cultures, so your reading is not limited to North American superstitions and spooky beliefs. The theme of blue moons on a Halloween could be restrictive at times, so I hope their next anthology sheds with this gimmick and allows for all sorts of international queer horror.

There is a different between the experience of reading and reviewing a short story collection by a single author versus reading an anthology by multiple authors: with the short story collection, you get to gauge the full breadth of the author as they try to tantalize and and spook you through their standard and experimental fare.

With an anthology - you only get one shot, and if it happens that the shot that each author took was not that best (but their best fitting the theme of queer + young adult + blue moon) then there is a great chance that you may leave the mental stage set up for you by each entrant not feeling satisfied - but they can totally be your bag if you read more of their body of work.

That said, I do not want to besmirch any single author only because their single shot did not jive with me, so I will only be reviewing my top 5 selections.

🅡🅞🅒🅚🅨 🅡🅞🅐🅓 🅦🅘🅣🅗 🅒🅐🅡🅐🅜🅔🅛 🅓🅡🅘🅩🅩🅛🅔
A Ouija session at a Halloween party allows a gay teen to change the past and stand up to assailants who had beaten him nearly to death a year ago. Fans of revenge stories will puur with excitement. Probably one of the darkest of the bunch.

𝕃𝕖𝕪𝕝𝕒 𝕄𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕫𝕒 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 ℍ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕖
There are two stories in this book that use second-person narration, a writing style that I feel is often employed improperly. Between these two stories, this one does it better. The story of tomboyish character in the Phillipines who is feeling very daring on Halloween (after being forced into a very girly costume by her mother) and challenges her cousins to visit that house at the end of the street. You know the one: surrounded by vines, habitated by a strange elderly man, the site of many disappearances over the years.

𝕬𝖓𝖓𝖆
The story of a babysitter discovering that her young wards were playing with a Ouija Board - on the blue moon evening of Halloween of all nights! I was totally buckled in for this one - the pacing was excellent with the (expected) twist at the end.

🅷🅴🆈 🆃🅷🅴🆁🅴, 🅳🅴🅼🅾🅽🆂
A humourous Scalzi-esque story about a boy who attempts to draw upon the arcane to do away with what he believes to be a poltergeist, but summons a demon instead. Had fun with this story that bucked the Faustian trend.

Ⓝⓘⓝⓔ Ⓢⓣⓞⓟⓢ
A (possibly) creepypasta video grabs the attentions of a number of teenagers on Halloween Night, that of a girl pleading to her audience for assistance to remember a dearly depated sister. Our hero is following along with this video while on the NY subway, when it slowly becomes clear that a ritual is afoot, one of the supernatural and of social media technology. I can totally see this one being adapted into a short film.

I am not one to steer towards horror but when I saw this line-up of authors, I knew it was a must read! Some of these stories had me glad I was reading on a bright sunny day and not at bedtime and some of these stories had me wanting more! Each story represented a queer, person of color and incorporated culture into the story. One of my favorites in this collection was called "Hey There Demons." This collection has something for everyone! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Night of the Living Queers offers a diverse collection of spooky tales, catering to a wide range of readers with its mixed bag of themes and storytelling. From gore to comedy and classic retellings, there's something for everyone. The anthology is written by queer BIPOC authors, bringing their perspectives and experiences to the forefront. If you are a lover of all things Halloween, you need this book!

Now, let's dive into individual ratings and blurbs for each story:

Welcome to Hotel Paranoia By Vanessa Montalban ★★★★:
This classic spooky story was an enjoyable read. While it followed a predictable path, the author infused it with intriguing mystery that kept me both anxious and curious. The chilling ending left a lasting impact, making it a great introduction to the anthology!

The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron ★★★:
Exploring themes of grief and loss, this story had a haunting approach. Although the beginning was a bit slow, the ending delivered a strong horror element that left me wide-eyed. It effectively portrayed how grief can consume an entire home.

A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan ★★★:
The characters in this short story made the chapter fun! Set in a haunted drive-through, the plot takes an eerie turn once a long-kept secret is revealed. Overall, it's a great read.

Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells ★★★★★:
Among the collection, this story was my favorite. It follows Nina's concern for her sister after she returns from the infamous 'Guested Party.' The concept felt original and kept me curious throughout. The unexpected ending gave me chills, although the second-person narrative style was occasionally distracting. Still, the story was too good to put down!

Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson ★:
This story took some time to dissect as I had a fundamental disagreement with its overall message. Personally, I don't support storylines where demonic entities are portrayed as 'friendly.' While it explored important topics, it relied heavily on violence, murder, and vengeance as solutions. I was heartbroken by the real-life events that impacted our main character. Although I empathized with Julian's agony and his tragedy pierced my heart, the outcome and final message didn't resonate with me.

The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown ★★:
This story offers a joyful, silly, and lighthearted blend of horror and comedy, appealing to readers who enjoy that mix. As a fan of psychological thrillers/horror, I found it a bit challenging to connect with this story. Still, it provides a refreshing break from the usual tone, and I believe many readers will appreciate its light-hearted approach.

Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran ★★★★:
For fans of classic horror, this story is a winner! The short tale gradually builds a sense of disturbance and fear, reminiscent of movies like Final Destination or Paranormal Activity. The protagonist's encounter with a cursed Internet video has severe consequences, while the story also touches upon Asian hate crime and loss. Overall, the author weaves a great short story!

Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by Maya Gittelman ★★★:
I appreciated how this storyline honestly explores the tension and struggle between identity and cultural/family expectations. However, the descriptions during the climax were confusing and took away from the overall themes and storytelling, which is why I gave it a lower rating.

In You to Burn by Em X. Liu ★★:
This story proved to be confusing, as I struggled to understand the author's intended message. I made an effort to analyze and re-read, but I was still left confused. Perhaps it was a personal difficulty, but I noticed other readers felt the same.

Anna by Shelly Page ★★★:
Drawing inspiration from classic horror tropes, this story delves into themes of loneliness and abandonment. The story itself was quite creepy, effectively crafting a new tale from the babysitter-at-home-alone scenario.

Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim ★★:
This short story provided a fun read, although the writing felt somewhat cheesy. The main character's journey of self-discovery and stepping out of their comfort zone had its moments of humor. However, the pacing didn't quite work for me. Moreover, I personally struggle with stories that present demons as friendly beings, which hindered my connection to the narrative.

Save Me from Myself by Ayida Shonibar ★★★★:
Among the stories, this one carries the heaviest weight, and readers should approach it with caution. It delves into the main character's struggle with suicidal ideation and self-loathing, presenting a dark and brutally honest inner monologue. The tragic ending left me feeling sad and hopeless. Characters like Mona are not often portrayed, and I appreciated the author's candor. However, I advise readers to be mindful of the trigger warnings provided before diving into this chapter.

Knicknack by Ryan Douglass ★★★★:
Fans of Cemetery Boys will find joy in following Noah and Leo's story. They are so fun and wholesome in this short story! Despite Noah's heavy background, which I believe resonates with many young readers, the author skillfully provides a wealth of information about Noah in a short span of time. I loved how Noah cared for his younger brother, and a killer clown on the loose was creepy. The story uses urban-legends to spin this fun tale! The struggle of whether or not Leo reciprocates Noah's feelings adds depth to the story. It was an enjoyable, horrifying, and sweet read.

Overall, this collection is something to be celebrated. We need more authors from diverse backgrounds sharing their life experiences and taking up space in literature. If you were a fan of Goosebumps or In the Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories, you will love this collection as well!

I was excited when I read the blurb for Night of the Living Queers, because I love horror and I love representation, so I was all in. Unfortunately, the first several stories failed to grab my interest, so it took me a while to actually finish the book.
Don't get me wrong, there were definite stand outs, like Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle, Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane, In You to Burn (the best in my opinion), and Save Me From Myself. The rest, however, just ran together, and in the end were forgettable.
I'm giving 4 stars because In You to Burn and Save Me From Myself were just so good.
This book was provided to me at no cost by the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are freely and honestly given.

Night of the Living Queers is a chilling and outstanding anthology! This anthology truly has something for everyone. It ranges from the terrifying, to the stories with a twist at the end that will make you shriek, to quietly ominous endings. I loved that there was plenty of queer joy amidst all the Halloween magic and blue moon horrors.

One of my favorite stories was Sara Farizan’s A Brief Intermission. While the story initially did not seem scary, by the end the quiet menace and haunting last words rang in my mind long after the final page. I also loved Kalynn Bayron’s The Visitor, because I desperately wanted to know what happened next! I couldn’t stop reading to find out what the night was building towards and the conclusion made me shriek.

Some of the stories show that there is a future where things will improve (Maya Gittelman’s Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane) or that there will be a chance for justice at last (Kosoko Jackson’s Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle). Other stories end with a spine-chilling revelation that leaves the characters in dire circumstances (Trang Thanh Tran’s Nine Stops). There are also stories that will leave readers wondering if the characters will ever escape the supernatural trap they’ve wandered into (Rebecca Kim Wells’ Guested) (Vanessa Montalban’s Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia).

I loved that there were such strong sibling bonds in many of the stories and glimpses of first love/queer joy (Alex Brown’s The Three Phases of Ghost-Hunting). I really enjoyed the opposing magics of Em X. Liu’s In You to Burn and was so curious to see how their story continued off the page! Shelly Page’s story Anna was the stuff that babysitting nightmares are made of! I loved the romantic element and the petrifying final twist.

Tara Sim writes a compelling story (Hey There, Demons) about what happens when a demon is summoned to deal with a poltergeist. Ayida Shonibar’s Save Me From Myself was heartbreakingly beautiful and will definitely stay with me for a long time. Ryan Douglass’ Knickknack was a wild and fun rollercoaster ride ! This was another of my favorite stories! I could’ve read a full novel about the town battling Knickknack and the continuation of their romance.

I would highly recommend this anthology to anyone! Readers who love queer stories with a spooky twist, Halloween magic, and LGBTQ+ characters will devour this delightful book.

Thank you so much to all the authors in the anthology, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

If you want to read a good YA horror book don’t read this. I did not like it. Nothing about this gave me scary vibes. If you want to read good YA horror read R.L. Stine.

I loved the organizing principle behind this collection – a bunch of YA horror stories by exclusivly QTBIPOC authors? Hell yes! But the stories themselves felt like a bit of a mixed bag – some very good, some much weaker. most landed somewhere in a range of "fine but underdeveloped."

Standouts included "The Visitor," "Rocky Road With Caramel Drizzle," "Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane," and "In You to Burn."

I'd say this is worth a read if you're a YA horror fan, and I definitely have some authors whose work I'll be looking into further because of it, but I just wanted a little bit more from most of the stories, personally. Thanks so much to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I think I'm just starting my horror era and I've been in my LGBTQ+ reads era for a long time now so I though the combination of the two might be something that I would really enjoy. I wasn't wrong. I found this collection to be generally successful. There were a few installments that weren't for me, but that's just it: they weren't for me. I think that there is a story in this collection for everyone. Something I will mention is that some of these stories lean more into fantasy than horror and others are more paranormal. It provides such a great variety. Let's get into each story a bit then.

Welcome to Hotel Paranoia by Vanessa Montalban – 4 Stars

“It’s bad soil, Anabel. We were already tainted from the start.”

Anabel messed up her kiss with Chrys last year, but she’s not going to do it again this year. After receiving an invitation to a Halloween party at the Sinkhole Hotel, she’s determined to go make things between her and Chrys right this year.

This was perfectly creepy and a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.

Representation: Sapphic MC/LI, Latine MC (I think)

Content Warnings: General creepiness, discussions around a genocide, mention of a parent with a drug problem, mention of general teenage bullying, dead people, underaged drinking


The Visitor by Kalynn Bayron – 2 Stars

“People told me that the grief would ebb and that I would find some kind of normalcy on the other side of all the sadness, but as time passed, the pain worsened.”

Toya’s mother loved Halloween. After her death, Toya and her father have continued to celebrate the holiday with all of their family traditions. However, this year things don’t go exactly to plan.

This feels like a combination of two different horror stories that author wanted to tell so she mashed them together and this is what came out. I haven’t read a full length novel by her, but her short stories (of the two that I have read) seem to lack something for me in the execution.

Representation: Black Sapphic MC

Content Warnings: General creepiness, Death of a Mother (off page)

A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan – 3 Stars

“Hey Kiddos,” Harry says from his hospital bed. I think he always calls us kiddos because he’s unsure of Rusty’s pronouns or how to pronounce my name.”

Afsaneh and Rusty work at the local drive-in. However, when their boss has an incident, they are tasked with taking over his special Halloween ritual.

This was more fun than anything else. It wasn’t as creepy as the first one. It was more campy, but I enjoyed it well enough.

Representation: Sapphic Persian MC

Content Warnings: Blood, Violence, Graphic Imagery related to an animal attack and car crash victims.


Guested by Rebecca Kim Wells – 1 Star

“Why would a Guest take over a body?”

You, yes you, must solve the mystery of your sister’s personality switch.

This is definitely a me thing. I hate 2nd person POV, even more than I hate 3rd person present. Just outright hate it. I find it so distracting. Maybe it is because I’m neurodivergent and they’re all like “you do this”. I’m always going, “there is no way in hell that I would do that”. So, it ends up just being my brain versus the story. I found it so distracting that I don’t really have anything to say about the story itself. Interesting idea? I won’t hold this against the author and will try out something else by her in the future.

Representation: Korean MC and SCs

Content Warnings: Personality swapping


Rocky Road with Caramel Drizzle by Kosoko Jackson – 4 Stars

“I am only here because of you, Julian. Because of the pain that has gone unquenched. The lust for vengeance that pulses within your heart.”

After being beaten by his classmates last Halloween, Julian decides to go to a party the next year. However, things aren’t the same as before and Julian wants justice.

This was heartbreaking and reminded me why I’ve been meaning to read more things by Kosoko Jackson. I’ll try to slot another one in this year.

Representation: Gay Black MC, diverse SCs

Content Warnings: Racism, Bullying, Violence against a Black and Gay MC, Blood, Descriptions of injuries

The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting by Alex Brown – 3 stars

“The ghost of a pirate haunts the Golden City Mall food court.”

Daisy and her best friend Iris stake out the food court after hours in the search for the pirate that steals pizza. However, Daisy may get more than just a ghost sighting from the evening.

This was cute, but it isn’t going to be a standout for me. I think that I’ll probably forget it in about a week. However, I think it was a needed reprieve after how serious Jackson’s was before it and the next one by Tran.

Representation: Sapphic Relationship

Content Warnings: Possession

Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran – 3 Stars

“My name is Sabrina Pham, and I must tell you: if you stop watching this video, you will die.”

Two friends watch a creepy online video on their way to a Halloween party.

I’m sad. I was hoping that this would be super amazing and creepy so I would want to read the author’s debut, however, I generally felt it was lackluster. It’s definitely a modern horror story taking advantage of things like TikTok trends, but the build-up for me and the creepy factor wasn’t there.

Representation: Non-binary Vietnamese MC, Queer Dominican SC

Content Warnings: Death of an animal, death of a sibling, murder, blood


Leyla Mendoza and the Last Home on the Lane by Maya Gittleman – 3 Stars

“There’s an old man at the end of the lane, and you weren’t always afraid of him, but you can’t remember what it felt like not to be.”

Leyla’s mother has a very strong opinion for what he should wear for Halloween, but the wizard at the end of the lane is going to help them.

This was cute enough. I think it would be better off in a fantasy anthology compared to a horror/scary anthology.

Representation: Filipino Cast, Trans MC, Genderfluid SC

Content Warnings: Misgendering


In You to Burn by Em X. Liu – 3 Stars

“She’s seventeen and she’s angry, and there’s the fire, leaping eagerly through her veins.”

Luce is having problems controlling the fire within her, but she’s not the only one with powers.

Interesting concept, but the execution I don’t think quite worked for me. Honestly, it mostly made me want to reread The Poppy Wars, I think one of the characters in each has the same name. I also think this would have been better in a fantasy anthology.

Representation: Chinese MC/SC, Sapphic

Content Warnings: Arson, Fire

Anna by Shelly Page – 2 Stars

“Tonight happens once in a blue moon. Literally.”

Elise decides to babysit on Halloween instead of going to a party with her girlfriend. She regrets this decision.

This literally put me to sleep. I’m sure it’s going to be fine for most people though. It just didn’t speak to me.

Representation: Sapphic

Content Warnings: Ghosts, Haunting, Violence

Hey There, Demons by Tara Sim – 5 Stars

” ‘Why would I want a child?’ the demon muttered. ‘Disgusting.’ “

Noah decides to try a spell he found online to get rid of the presence in his house. It doesn’t quite work exactly to plan.

This was great. I’m ready for the novel. Noah was adorable and I’m ready for the adventures of him and his demon friend.

Representation: Gay/Queer MC

Content Warnings: Poltergeist, Panic Attack, Blood, Violence


Save Me from Myself by Ayida Shonibar – 4 Stars

“Paraphrasing the great Judy Blume probably isn’t what Mom meant when she reminded me to ask for a divine blessing earlier today.”

Mona enters the local costume contest, hoping that Kali Maa will give her a little extra aide to win. However, be careful what you wish for.

This had a darker turn than I thought it was going to have because it had a younger feel to it when compared to some of the other stories. Honestly, I think it’s more likely to make someone cry at the end as opposed to feeling scared.

Representation: Sapphic South Asian (Bengali) MC

Content Warnings: Possession


Knickknack by Ryan Douglass – 3 Stars

“Living near a haunted mansion is cooler in theory than in practice.”

A boy has to figure out how to save his brother from a ghost clown.

Clowns. I dislike clowns. I find them creepy, but not really in the horror sort of way. Basically, the general premises of this was not to my taste, but I think it was solidly written.

Representation: Bi MC and SC?

Content Warnings: Clowns, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood

Overall, I think this is a really successful collection. A lot of readers are going to really enjoy them, especially readers who truly love horror and scary stories. However, there are some shorts in here for fantasy readers and paranormal readers as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC of this book, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book! This collection of short stories had such a great premise, being a collection of queer horror stories by queer authors. Sounds like a perfect combination right? Unfortunately.... it did not work out for this collection. For starters, the stories were all incredibly short. I know that it is a short story collection, but these stories were so short that they felt stunted, like more could have happened during the story. There was also very little plot or character development, with the queer representation almost feeling like an after thought for most of the stories. Because the collection had so many authors, the stories feel short. Each author likely had a limit to how many pages their story could be and you could clearly tell. If the author list had been fewer, there would have been a chance for the stories to be longer, and with the stories being longer, the collection would greatly improve.

The shortness of the stories and the basic queer representation was really the nail in the coffin for me.

I loved the overall concept of this book, but the stories were very hit or miss. I loved that every story featured a queer POC. I think my favorite story was A Brief Intermission by Sara Farizan.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a fun romp, and some of the stories were legitimately chilling. I liked how many of them ended with enough room to speculate about how things would proceed from there; I don't necessarily always like being spoonfed a resolution, so I appreciated having the room for my imagination to go wild. It made the stories feel more interactive. I did dnf some of the stories, but for the most part, this was a strong anthology. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy!

The short stories in this collection are wonderful!

My favorites were Em X Liu and Kosoko Jackson's.

Shoet story collections always leave me aching for more from the world's they let us glimpse. Many of these felt like a piece to a bigger world if they wanted to be.

YA horror seems to be on the rise and I think this is going to be an accessible book for many more casual readers looking for something spooky at halloween!

This is an exhilarating read that will keep you engrossed from start to finish. It's a testament to the power of queer storytelling and the boundless creativity of its authors. Whether you're a horror aficionado or simply seeking a thrilling and inclusive collection, this anthology is a must-read. Prepare to be enthralled by the atmospheres, characters, and sheer brilliance that graces its pages.

Suspenseful, Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Great novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

This was a good collection. I know short stories are supposed to be short, but I wish some of these, like Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia or Nine Stops were a bit longer so they would have more time to flesh out and really dig into their concepts. There are also some stories I just couldn't get into like The Three Phases of Ghost Hunting or Anna, but the rest were just fine, I guess. Just something spooky and queer to pick up when Halloween comes.

Night of the Living Queers is a creepy, fun, and extremely queer YA anthology. One of my favorite stories was Nine Stops by Trang Thanh Tran, author of She is a Haunting. This short has some of the same eerie, place-based body horror vibes that I loved in SIAH. They also have a way of incorporating haunted technology in a way that feels organic, which is very cool.

Another fave was Leyla Mendoza and the Last House on the Lane by debut author Maya Gittelman. This story weaves lush imagery into the deeply relatable teen angst of being in-between, in many senses. The twist at the end left me with a really beautiful sense of hope.

My middle schoolers have loved queer anthologies in the past, and the kids who take after my own spooky heart will adore this one as well.

Halloween is special and so is this book! I loved this book of short stories focusing on queer characters and their Halloween nights. Blue moons, possessions, Ouija boards and so much more! I was surprised at how creepy some of the stories were, I honestly would have each story turned into a whole book. All of the stories were fun, spooky and entertaining. Do yourself a favor and read this book!