A great start to a cozy horror series. I found this book highly entertaining and I will definitely be back for book 2.

I liked this book but it fell out of my mind pretty quickly. It expired before I finished it and I haven't gotten the chance to read it yet.

This was an interesting small-town supernatural story! I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the world building. I'm always down for a good southern supernatural vibe, so this book was a fun read for me. I had questions at the end, but hopefully they'll be answered in the next book!

This is a fun small town murder mystery. I liked the generations of women working together. It was funny in parts and pretty gruesome horror in others.

This is a story about the family business.

This was a really fun read once it picked up. I struggled initially bc it was hard to connect with the third person multi pov format, BUT once I got into it I was hooked- especially during Luna’s chapters. I was pleasantly surprised by how gory/scary this was- for some reason looking at the cover (which I love) I assumed it was going to be a cozy mystery? I was much happier with the actual fun horror I got!

Thank you so much @netgalley & @minotaur_books ❤️

This was a fun cozy mystery with vampires made for a great fall read. The small town drama and the vampire hijinks was great to read and made it difficult to put down. I'm curious to continue the series.

This felt like a mix 'The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy', 'The Dead Romantics', and an episode of Supernatural.

I thought this book was a lot of fun, the whole concept of vampires running a funeral parlour is just blatantly hilarious. This book had a LOT more graphic gore than I had expected, and there wasn’t enough delving into the history and backgrounds of the characters to make me feel really connected to them

Usually I love stories like this but this one wasn't really my cup of tea. It was cute and cozy with light horror. There was a bit of repetitiveness and fluff in my opinion. I don't know that I'd pick up the second one.

I originally tried reading the Kindle ARC of Bless Your Heart months ago, but I just couldn’t get into it. The writing style didn’t immediately click for me, and with so many characters introduced at once, I struggled to connect with anyone. When I gave it another shot on audio, it was a much more engaging experience—the narrator really brought the characters to life, especially with her accents and sound effects.

That said, I was expecting Bless Your Heart to be funnier. It feels like it falls into the same category as So Thirsty, but where So Thirsty had eccentric characters that I absolutely loved, this one didn’t give me that same vibe. The humor and character quirks just didn’t hit in the same way, making it harder to feel fully invested.

One thing that did grab my attention? The dog. I definitely found myself more engaged once the pup became part of the story! But overall, this was more of a passive, surface-level read—entertaining enough to listen to while doing chores, but not one that left a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something light and fun with a solid audiobook performance, it’s worth a shot, but it didn’t quite land for me.

I was so excited to dive into this book, it had so many elements that I love. I was so excited for a family of women that battle vampires while working in a funeral home. Unfortunately. I didn't love this book. It seemed that each character had a thing and you were reminded of it constantly. For instance, the great grandmother loves butterscotch candies. Every time she was in a scene, a butterscotch candy was coming out. Although, she was the most interesting character in my opinion - which says a lot for the others. As the story went on, I was disappointed with the missed opportunities of the characters having bigger conversations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book! I wish I loved it.

This fun & quirky story is the perfect light-hearted horror novel.

Synopsis: The Evans women run a funeral home in town. They bury people - and sometimes - those people come back. 👀🧛‍♀️ When a woman is brought in and rises from the dead, the Evans have to get to work getting rid of the Strigoi.

Review: There is some Southern witty banter in this novel that help set the scene. The generations of family women, their interactions, and their roles are fun to follow along. I don’t believe I will continue this series, but I’m glad I read this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan is a delightful, Southern-infused debut novel that blends humor, mystery, and heartwarming moments. Set in a small-town backdrop, the story revolves around a diverse cast of characters, each with their own quirks, secrets, and personal struggles. Ryan's writing shines with its sharp wit and authentic portrayal of Southern life, and the novel's blend of lightheartedness with emotional depth makes it an enjoyable read.

The plot explores themes of family, community, and resilience, wrapped in an engaging mystery. The book's pacing keeps the reader hooked while offering plenty of heart and moments of introspection. Fans of cozy mysteries with a Southern twist are sure to appreciate the book's charm and warmth.

In all, Bless Your Heart is a well-crafted debut that offers a mix of mystery and personal growth with a touch of Southern hospitality. It's a fun, reflective read for those who enjoy character-driven stories.

I really liked this book, although I could only get into it on the second try. Once I did, it pulled me in with its eerie Southern Gothic atmosphere, dark humor, and intriguing family secrets. By the end, I was completely hooked. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a twisty, atmospheric mystery.

This book was so good and I was entertained from beginning to end. I love the Evans women and the fact they run a funeral home is just so unique and at times humorous. I enjoyed the whodunit mystery of people dying and people coming back to life. This was truly an enjoyable book.

This book should have been for me, but I was bored. I think this is the perfect book for people who are dipping their toe into paranormal/horror, I didn't attached to any of the characters which made me not care what was happening. I knew I was reading a book instead of getting lost in a book. The ending was fun little twist

BLESS YOUR HEART is a lighter horror novel filled with wit, engaging characters, mystery, and, well, vampires. Ryan delivers intrigue and suspense while still delving into family history and exploring the relationships of the Evans.

Honestly, this was a fun read. It reminded me of when I first discovered BUFFY and how I was instantly drawn to the characters. Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna pulled me in. Their relationships are strong, and there is a lot of love in this family, but that doesn’t mean their lives aren’t complicated. This push and pull between the reality of a small-town world and the fight with the vampires rising propels the narrative forward.

Ryan crafted a heartfelt, smart, and, at times, dark read. I loved spending time with the Evans women and cannot wait to see what they have to tackle next.

Audiobook Note: Narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. I loved the pace and the way she gave each of the characters that added inflection to make them stand out. All in all, a great listen.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2

I seem to be on a streak of books that are just not for me despite intriguing premises - and this is yet another... From the opening pages I just wasn't engaged. The writing and pacing just didn't hold my attention. The topic was intriguing and I really thought it would work, but it wasn't a good fit for me.

PS I amended this to four stars from 2 after I listened to the audiobook, the narration of which really brought me into the story and made it exactly what I hoped it would be - an entertaining and clever blend of family and vampires! It was a bit heavier than I expected, but on the whole I still found it to be a very engaging listen and I would definitely give a sequel a look...

DNF at 35%

It reads too much like YA which is not one of my preferred genres and not what the book was billed as. There were some interesting characters but they just were not interesting enough to carry me through.

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan might be one of the funniest horror novels I have ever read, and I love that it centers around a family of women who make sure the dead stay buried… even if it kills them. I suppose the cover should have made it self-explanatory, but I didn’t know until the dead started rising that the funeral home was a bit more than your typical one, and just what this family was up to. I loved how unique this concept was, and it kept me on my toes while also grossing me out tremendously every time someone got eaten/bit.

I also found the audiobook to be extremely enjoyable, and I thought Stephanie Németh-Parker did an excellent job with all the viewpoints she had to narrate. Since the overall perspective is female, this worked really well for me, and I had no complaints with her narration at all. The mystery element was great and ended up surprising me which is all I can ever hope for. Read this if you love fierce female leads who take no shit, fabulous banter, and horror that is gory but funny!