Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
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The Evans woman own the only funeral parlor in their town in Texas. They know how to do their job. Which is only tricky when the dead won’t STAY dead.
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What I liked:
-The off the wall brilliance.
-The southern vines. I lived in Mississippi for 5.5 years and this book was a lot of fun, especially how the narrator did with their southern accent.
-The Evans women have four generations of doing this job and there is a lot of super interesting back story to them.
-The ending really surprised me in some plot choices! It made me really curious about the next book in the story.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was more fun that I thought it would be and really sucked me into the story.

I really enjoyed this book! It was the perfect combination of light horror, family drama, humor, and suspense. The characters were unique and I loved the familial bonds.

Tell me what more a reader could want than a book with vampire-like "ghouls", four generations of strong women and a mystery. This was exactly the book I needed to read at the time I did. Sure, the ending was a little sad, but it made perfect sense for the book. I am southern, so I loved all the southern-isms, and the plot was perfectly paced. I really hope Lindy Ryan writes many more books about the Evans women and their funeral home- I'd read each and every one, and I know I'm not alone in that! You don't need me to really say this, but obviously I've been recommending this, and will continue to do so.

This book reminded me so much of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for some reason i think on the quirkiness and fun part of it. I really enjoyed reading this book and the characters as well. The cover art was what initially drew me to the book and it did not disappoint!!
It did seem a bit too gory and graphic at times which is why I gave it less stars.
Enjoyed it a lot nevertheless and would recommend for fans of the mystical and esoteric.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan in exchange for my honest review and opinion. The cover alone should make you want to drop everything and read this! This book is just absolutely adorable and such a fun read! I loved every single page and can't wait to read more by Lindy!

I was not able to finish this book unfortunately - DNF
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This was a fun horror story. There were lots of gore and scares! I can’t wait to read more of these stories by Lindy Ryan..

NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, thank you for this copy of a genre I rarely can find good stories in.

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.