♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3 🌟
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DNF @20%, the premise of this billed as eight short stories of psychological horror. I wanted to enjoy this, but it was a mix of good and bad stories, and it just wasn't keeping my attention. I gave it 3 🌟 because the premise behind the stories is psychological horror stories, the fact you get 8 short stories in one book, and the cover art being beautiful.
Will attempt to reread at a different time.
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 June.11♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Blackstone Publishing for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and Joe Paquette for allowing me to ARC (advanced reader copy) Stories I Told My Dead Lover.

A collection of short stories surrounding the terrifying and mysterious subject of death, dying, and being on the brink. Releasing June 11th (available for pre-order now), eight stories will mystify the mind causing the reader to reflect and sometimes shiver.

In "Left Turn at the Lost Soul" the theme of purgatory is personified in the form of a man running out of gas and ending up at a "speakeasy" style bar by a rotting tree. "The Taste of Yellow" will have you questioning the artificial aspects of A.I. with a dive into relationships, trust, and truth. "My Head is a Chestnut, and Other Tales from the Crypt" will teach you to not put 100% trust in physicians simply for science. Finally, "Sonata in God Minor" provides a provoking moment within a cult mindset.

These are just a few of the stories you will encounter in this fast-paced, mind-bending adventure rollercoaster chartered by Jo Paquette.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"Stories I Told My Dead Lover" by Jo Paquette is a short story collection that is supposed to lean towards psychological horror. This collection has eight stories and like most short story collections, is a mixed bag. Unfortunately for me, I didn't really like any of them nor did I see any of the psychological horror in them. The only one I enjoyed and wanted more of was "The Taste of Yellow" which followed a young boy involved with a bee-centric cult. Other than that, the other stories just felt very half-baked and unfinished. I thought Paquette had some really interesting ideas but the execution needed a lot of editing and fine tuning. Additionally, most of the stories were very abstract rather than psychologically horrific; it felt like Paquette would introduce an interesting and slightly creepy thread just to abandon it in favor of some completely nonsensical thing that adds nothing.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this one.

An Adult Fiction debut highlighting 8 tales of psychological horror. Each short story delves into human nature touching on subjects of trust, mistrust, obsession, loss of innocence, adulthood, abuse, boundaries, loneliness & more. As with many anthologies, some stories are stronger than others, however they all held my attention & kept me turning the pages.

In order of likeness:
1. IN THE SHADOW OF THE ABYSS
* Favorite Line: “What if it could be that easy? What if, just like that, all the unpleasantness, all the scenes,all that murky badness could just be in the past? Left behind forever.”
2. THE TASTE OF YELLOW
* Favorite Line: “Sometimes it’s easier to talk when you know no one can hear.”
3. MY HEAD IS A CHESTNUT AND OTHER TALES FROM THE CRYPT
* Favorite Line: “In the ornate mirror, our eyes met for one gothic Ann Rice moment.”
4. SONATA IN GOD MINOR
* Favorite Line: “There is always one spot on any slope that is the point of no return, a moment when the balance tips and what is begun can no longer be undone.”
5. LEFT TURN AT THE LOST SOUL
* Favorite Line: “What good’s it to know when it is, when it was, when it will be?”
6. CONFIDENCE GAME
* Favorite Line: “…how much of a belief is wanting to believe, is framing reality so fully in mental Portrait Mode that everything else blurs to the backdrop?”
7. STORIES I TOLD MY DEAD LOVER
* Favorite Line: “It would be a while before I learned that you can’t hold smoke by grasping it in your hands. You can’t dig the well by wishing. You can only seal up what you’ve kept inside until it settles and becomes a part of you”
8. OVA
* Favorite Line: “Who can say where the mind goes, when the body can’t follow?”

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing & Jo Paquette for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually a short story fan, but this held my attention and was pretty enjoyable to read! 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn’t enjoy reading this. the stories were distorted and all over the place. i could not comprehend most of the stories. it didn’t hit it for me.

Eight short stories that explore the imagination and force you to choose your destiny and face the consequences.

These were some enjoyable short stories to just cleanse my palate in between the bigger reads. I think they will appeal to a large audience.

3 Stars

Horror shorts are not easy to pull off, but this author did it. They were deep and thought provoking. They were psychological and strange. This was not what I would call a normal horror short stories book, but it was a well written set that will keep you reading, and awake at night.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

This was a really solid collection of short stories. They were creepy and horror leaning but still really intimate in the subject matter and the voice. Naturally some iterations spoke to me more than others but overall it was a great collection with stories that were all strong and cohesive with one another.

3.5 stars -- short stories aren't normally my jam but this was a quick anthology. As with all collections, some are definitely stronger than others -- but overall this was a creepy and thought-provoking little set of stories!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed the short stories. Fun creepy all of the above. It was an easy read.

Very unique and creepy, in a good way, book.
The author delved into the minds of the characters and the development was extraordinary.
If you love horror stories, you will love this book.
I will definitely be recommending it to all my horror customers

this was such a great quick read! i thoroughly enjoyed it! it was a great change of pace to what i normally tend to pick up and it was really incredibly written! it’s one i definitely want to purchase for myself so i can have it to keep coming back to when i need a refresher! a big thank you to netgalley for giving me this as an arc so i could enjoy it early!

I have not read a book like this one before where it is legit different stories. I liked the format and thought some of the stories were really good!

I enjoyed this as a quick read! I don’t normally read short stories but this was a nice change of pace! The author had a variety of dark stories that I thought were interesting. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good scary story.

good horror story set although at points stories got kinda weak. tysm for the arc. would recommend someetimes. strong ones and weak

In Jo Paquette's Stories I Told My Dead Lover, readers are thrust into the lives of characters who are pushed to their limits, forced to confront the harsh realities of life and fight for their autonomy. Paquette's poignant collection of short stories explores the complexities of human relationships, the consequences of blind trust, and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to break free from societal constraints. One of the standout stories, "The Child Who Grew Up Too Soon," paints a heart-wrenching portrait of a young girl forced to shoulder the burdens of adulthood. As she grapples with the loss of her innocence and the weight of responsibility, the reader is left questioning the societal structures that fail to protect the vulnerable. In "The Woman Who Trusted Her Doctor Too Much," Paquette delves into the dangers of misplaced trust. A woman's unwavering faith in her physician leads to devastating consequences, highlighting the importance of skepticism and informed consent in the medical realm. "The Abandoned Woman Who Wasn't Alone" takes a haunting turn as an isolated woman discovers that her solitude is not as complete as she thought. The narrative explores the psychological toll of isolation and the unexpected connections that can emerge in the most dire of circumstances. With "The Idyllic Holiday That Masked an Unspeakable Act of Violence," Paquette weaves a chilling tale of a seemingly idyllic vacation that is shattered by an act of unspeakable violence. The story serves as a stark reminder that even in the most picturesque settings, darkness can lurk beneath the surface. Throughout the collection, Paquette's characters are driven by desperation, fighting to break free from the constraints that hold them captive. They dare to challenge societal norms, defy Erwartungen, and forge their own paths, even in the face of adversity. In "Come Watch Them Burn," Paquette's characters take center stage, embodying resilience and determination. They refuse to be defined by their circumstances, choosing instead to ignite a metaphorical fire and challenge the status quo. Their stories serve as a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere, even in the darkest of times. Stories I Told My Dead Lover is a powerful and thought-provoking collection that delves into the complexities of human nature and the resilience of the human spirit. Paquette's masterful storytelling and unflinching exploration of difficult topics leave a lasting impact on readers, urging them to question societal norms and fight for the power to choose their own fate.

Billed as “eight stories of psychological horror,” like most short story collections this was a mixed bag. My favorite was “The Taste of Yellow,” a young boy doing his level best deals with a fundamentalist religious cult. The least successful, in my opinion, “Left Turn at the Lost Soul,” which reads like it was written by a first year literature student aping noir. But there’s some promise here.

thank you netgalley for the chance to read/review this book early. this was my first book by joan paquette and i think it will be my last. this was a DNF for me. reading what the book was about i was so excited and ready for something horror and scary and good, but this was anything but. i only got 37% done with the book and that was really trying to finish it. i must just not have understood the writing but it was not horror in my opinion, they were just stories.