⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Sassy, Supernatural Southern Delight


Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan is a fun, fast-paced paranormal mystery with a Southern gothic twist and a whole lot of heart. Set in a small town full of secrets and sass, this book had me hooked from the first page with its blend of humor, magic, and mystery.


The characters are the real stars here—quirky, bold, and full of charm. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters and the strong sense of community (even when that community is dealing with curses and spirits). The supernatural elements are creative without being overwhelming, and the plot kept things moving with just the right balance of suspense and whimsy.


My only minor critique is that a few parts felt a bit rushed, and I would have loved just a bit more depth in certain character arcs. But overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that left me eager for more from this series—and this author.


I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. If you’re a fan of small-town mysteries with a magical twist and a generous helping of Southern flair, Bless Your Heart is definitely worth checking out!

A story about the family of Evans women who run the local funeral parlor…but help with the rising dead! Southern comedy meets walking dead/vampire (Sookie Stackhouse) in this horror comedy. The story was interesting and funny at times. This story was not the best book I’ve read, but not the worst. It kept me interested and wanting to know what happens next. I am from the South and I love a good Southern comedy story. I loved all the ‘Southern-isms’ in the story. I laughed at some of the saying. Well done to the author. My favorite was was “she’s chewing my a** like grade A beef!” I laughed out loud at that part. The narratives and the narration style was perfect for this book. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

Fantastic premise: four generations of women run a funeral parlor, keeping the town safe from undead in secret. I will probably read the second because I think the world building in interesting and I like that the author doesn’t pull (many) punches.

One point of praise—a lot of people (especially not from the South) have it in their head that “bless your heart” is always sarcastic. It’s not, if it was it wouldn’t be a useful phrase. It can be, but it’s often used genuinely to express pity or mean “I’m touched! You didn’t have to do all that!” etc etc. If it was always obviously backhanded we wouldn’t be able to get away with saying it. This book nails that!

It’s set in the 90s, and makes references to events that would be been relevant to their lives, like Columbine. I understand that is helps build the atmosphere and perspective for why people don’t trust one of the characters, but in practice I felt like it wasn’t particularly effective or necessary. Being set in the 90s didn’t make the story any more or less interesting to me.

Spoilers below:
Is this family the only one in the world fighting the undead? Is it just their town affected by the restless dead? Why have none of them written a guide yet? Is magick real or was Crane just lucky? Maybe we’ll find out more in book two!

Really enjoyed the story and narrator. It was an interesting concept and the southern charm was such a nice touch. Would like to read more from the author in the future.

Stunning cover and fantastic narration, but the story itself just wasn't my favorite.

EDIT:
After listening to the story again, it definitely grew on me. I honestly love the Evans women.

Interesting take on the old vampire lore. A family of women, not strigoi hunters per se but definitely theaters of the undead. Their funeral parlor is home to the ghouls' end and the only thing preventing them from tearing the whole town limb from limb...and turning them into the parasites as well. The Evans women are the thing shield between the world and the Undead but they have deadly secrets even from each other

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:

⸻

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.