This was my first time reading a book from Lindy Ryan and it was absolutely fun! Bless Your Heart is an absolute gem, a Southern Gothic romp packed with horror, heart, and hilarity. At the center of it all are the Evans women, who are nothing short of a delight. They’re sharp-tongued, fiercely loyal, and totally unapologetic about their witchy ways. But it’s Great-Grandmother Ducey who absolutely steals the show. She’s tough as nails, wise in that wonderfully unfiltered elder way, and has more sass in her pinky finger than most people have in their whole body. Honestly, I’d read a whole spinoff just about her.

The story mixes scares and snark effortlessly. One minute you’re shivering from a ghoul attack, the next you’re laughing out loud at a perfectly timed one-liner or sarcastic spell. Speaking of ghouls, Ryan gives them a fresh twist that feels original and creepy in all the best ways. They’re not your garden-variety undead; there’s a lore here that’s genuinely cool and elevates the horror.

What makes this book really work is the sense of family and love that grounds all the supernatural chaos. The Evans women might fight monsters, but they do it together—and with style. It’s spooky, it’s funny, and it’s got heart. Highly recommend, especially for fans of Grady Hendrix.

I strongly recommend diving into this one as an audiobook—the narrator doesn’t just read the story, she brings it to life. Every character leaps off the page (or speaker), from Ducey’s razor-sharp wit to the eerie growl of the ghouls. It’s an electrifying performance that pulls you straight into the heart of the chaos. You won’t just listen—you’ll live it.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I have absolutely had a blast listening to this book. It gives spooky fun with the writing style of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse. Narrator did a fantastic job!

I am not sure why I pick up this book because it is categorized as mystery/horror and horror is usually a genre I stay far far away from. However, I am so glad this novel up because it was so much fun, which seems unusual for a book about three sisters running a funeral home, but it is true!

The Evans sisters were leading a typical life until mysterious events one night forces them to secretly control a vampire invasion in their town. This book with its small southern town setting and inter-personal relationships between the sisters and their extended family gives the book the tone of a cozy mystery minus the tea and cats you normally see. While some horror elements are present in the book, the book does not dwell in them which makes it more approachable for readers of other genres.

I would give this book 4 stars and would read the next book in the series by Lindy Ryan, Another Fine Mess which is out now.

I will post reviews on post this review on Goodreads, Bookbub, Amazon & Barnes & Noble.

Sure! Here’s an “okay” (moderately positive but balanced) book review for Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan:

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Book Review: Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan is a quirky blend of Southern charm, supernatural suspense, and dark humor. It has a fun, unique premise—a coven of sassy Southern witches dealing with ghosts, family secrets, and small-town drama—and when it hits its stride, it’s thoroughly entertaining.

The characters, especially the matriarchal women, are vibrant and full of personality. Their banter and bonds are some of the book’s strongest elements. The Southern gothic atmosphere is richly drawn and gives the story a distinct flavor that sets it apart from your typical paranormal mystery.

That said, the pacing felt uneven at times. Some plot points took a while to develop, and a few twists didn’t land as powerfully as they could have. The book juggles a lot—comedy, horror, heartfelt moments—which occasionally made the tone feel a bit all over the place.

Still, if you’re in the mood for something different—a little spooky, a little sassy, and full of Southern flair—Bless Your Heart is worth checking out. It may not be perfect, but it has a lot of heart and a voice all its own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy of Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan.

This audiobook is best described as cozy horror—a blend of small-town charm, supernatural elements, and strong women who don’t play the victim. Another reviewer mentioned Practical Magic, and I definitely picked up on that vibe at times. While there are some graphic moments (it is horror, after all), they never felt gratuitous or over the top.

The story leans campy in the best way, with just enough heart and humor to balance the darker themes. Yes, there’s a lot of butterscotch—but I found it endearing! It’s simply one character’s quirk and added to the cozy, Southern feel of the book.

Stephanie Németh-Parker did a great job narrating, giving each character a distinct voice and keeping the pace steady and engaging throughout.

Overall, while this wasn’t a groundbreaking read, it was a fun, light, and entertaining audiobook. If you enjoy strong female leads, a dash of spooky fun, and small-town settings with supernatural twists, I think you’ll enjoy this one. If cozy horror isn’t your thing, this might not hit the mark—but for the right audience, it’s a treat.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

So much happened in this book and the twists and turns let me on my toes. If you love Practical Magic you will love this book the vibes are similar but by no means the same. The book is set in the early 2000’s and there were a number of references to the Columbine shooting (some a little off putting) so beware that there may be some triggers in the story but the mentions are few. Overall, the story was phenomenal and the story is told from so many view points that you never quite know who the culprit is, though there are lots of hints throughout.
The narrator did a great job telling so many characters stories and while there wasn’t as much voice acting as simply narrating it worked overall.

3.75 Audiobook NetGalley ARC. I almost didn’t finish this book but I’m so happy I did. Loved the Evan’s girls. It had a twist that I never thought of. I thought the narrator did a great job. Would recommend.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book from the cover art. In the end, this book made me laugh so often. It surprised me how quirky and humorous a story about a vampire uprising in the south could be. The writer's voice is priceless, honestly. The narrator perfectly captured the vibe. This would be a wonderful summer read, and a great beach read, but it would also be a wonderful read at any other time of the year! It's a wonderfully distracting from real life story!

📖 Bookish Thoughts
Absolutely dying at how funny this book is! I wouldn’t call it horror, more like a paranormal mystery but with that Southern gothic flair. The Evans women had me cackling. Their banter was sassy and witty! And I loved the funeral home setting, and of course the vampire fighting! 🤣

I will definitely be continuing the series! Highly recommend listening to the audiobook, the narrator was amazing!

❤️ What You Can Expect
• Southern gothic vibes
• Matriarch-led funeral home
• Paranormal mystery
• Vampire lore (Strigoi)
• Small-town drama

🎧 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. All thoughts are my own.

I love this so much the voice actor was amazing. I was completely engaged. Could not wait to find out what’s happening next.. a little bit of a horror with a side of southern hospitality all day every day cannot praise this enough

Bless Your Heart is like if Steel Magnolias got drunk with The X-Files and decided to solve a murder in full lipstick and pearls. Lindy Ryan serves up a spicy gumbo of ghouls, gossip, and grandmas who don’t give a damn—bless their hearts.

The banter? Top-tier. I was laughing one minute and side-eyeing everyone the next. The mystery kept things moving, but honestly, I was just here for the vibes and the sass. It’s weird, witchy, and a little ridiculous—in the best way. Definitely recommend if you like your spooky with a side of snark and butterscotch candies.

I just finished the book and my gosh I'm ready for the next one! At first given the cover art I thought it was going to be about vampires mainly its not. It's still super natural and this is 1 of the few super natural mysteries I've found. It was awesome to the end.

🎧 Audio Review 🎧

The Evan’s family owns and operates the only funeral parlor in town. It’s their job to take care of the dead and lay them to rest with respect and dignity. Mind you, they also provide a service the town’s folk don’t quite know about. They put down the undead too, doin’ their best to make sure they stay there. Only recently more and more of their clients are becomin’ “restless” and it’s gettin’ a bit out of hand. The Evan’s women are worried it’s startin’ all over again just like it did some fifteen years ago.

What I liked:

🪏 The women in the Evan’s family are quirky and spirited. I especially enjoyed getting to know the matriarch Deucy, with her love of butterscotch candies and shootin’ you straight. Somehow the narrator managed to perfectly capture her southern drawl, while having the candy in her mouth, and I was beyond impressed.

🪏 The writing was equal parts grotesque and humorous, exactly what I would expect from a cozy horror. No jump scares but the vivid and gory descriptions were absolutely terrifying.

What I didn’t like:

🪏 I feel like there were too many POVs. Having so many slowed the story down and made me wonder where we were even going. Don’t get me wrong this book wasn’t slow it had plenty of action moments. The pacing just felt odd when you had to jump into five different POVs before something happened.

🪏 The narrator did too good a job on the coroner’s licking habit. It’s barely a complaint but it triggered me ya’ll. 🤣

Overall this was a comical, extremely gory, good time and I would read this author again! 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished listening to this book and LOVED it! It was a really nice twist on the vampire genre. I really enjoyed the southern setting. I really enjoyed the progression of the story leading into the final showdown.
The narrator did a wonderful job with the various accents and male and female vocals.
Thank you for approving me to listen to this book.

What a creepy delight!
The Evan’s women make sure the dead stay dead. They own the funeral home in south Texas and have their work cut out for them.
I really enjoyed this one.
A prefect, southern horror.

Weirdly cozy for a horror novel, this book was a quick listen. The narrator does a fine job of giving each woman in the family her own, disctinct sound. The question of who will survive the onslaught of "risen" souls receives its due in tension and drama before the answer is ultimately revealed.

I enjoyed this audiobook. Loved the family vibes and the twists kept me guessing. I'm excited to continue on with the series.

This book made me laugh, smile, and cry—literally. I absolutely loved it.

Set in 1999 Texas, Bless Your Heart follows the unforgettable Evans Women, who run a funeral parlor with a twist: for the past 80 years, they've been keeping their town safe from the restless undead. Yep, it’s just as amazing as it sounds.

What really hooked me was the dynamic between the Evans women. Their love for each other, their tight-knit bond, and their fierce loyalty had me in my feels. Add in a deliciously eerie mystery, a town full of secrets, and a whole lot of heart, and I couldn’t put it down.

Fair warning—this one isn’t light on the gore. But the dark humor and sharp wit balance it out perfectly. It’s the kind of horror-comedy blend I didn’t know I needed.

This is the first book in a series, and while I also adored the Evans women in book two, reading this one first made me appreciate them even more. Getting their origin story, seeing how it all started—it just made my love for them deeper.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC. I’m now officially OBSESSED with this series.

This was a great book. Very enjoyable, I loved the characters, and the plot was super interesting. The narrator did a really good job as well.