**Review: *Another* by Paul Tremblay**

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.8/5)

Paul Tremblay’s *Another* is an unsettling, slow-burning horror novel that brings his signature creeping dread to a middle-grade audience. Blending post-pandemic anxieties, social isolation, and a bizarre imposter narrative, this eerie tale will resonate with young horror fans and longtime Tremblay readers alike.

At the heart of *Another* is Casey Wilson, a lonely, anxious pre-teen still struggling with the aftermath of the “Zoom Incident.” Isolated from his peers and dealing with worsening tics, Casey is surprised when his parents announce that a friend is coming over for a sleepover—except he has no idea who they’re talking about. Enter Morel, a strange, silent boy with skin like clay and an unnerving presence. As Morel’s stay extends indefinitely, Casey’s normally loving parents grow increasingly distant, favoring this eerie newcomer over their own son. And when the lights go out, Morel doesn’t look human at all.

Tremblay captures childhood isolation with a haunting authenticity, making Casey a deeply sympathetic protagonist. His fears—both mundane and supernatural—are woven seamlessly into a story that feels personal and universal at the same time. The novel taps into the unique anxieties of growing up in a post-pandemic world, from social rejection to the disorienting effects of remote learning. These elements add an emotional depth that elevates *Another* beyond standard middle-grade horror fare.

However, *Another* is a slow burn, which may frustrate younger readers expecting fast-paced thrills. The tension builds gradually, with a creeping sense of unease rather than outright jump scares. While this is classic Tremblay, the ambiguity of the horror might not satisfy those looking for a more concrete resolution. The pacing drags at times, particularly in the middle, making it feel like the story takes the scenic route when a more streamlined approach could have been more effective.

That said, *Another* delivers on the eerie atmosphere and psychological horror, proving that Tremblay’s mastery of unease translates well to younger audiences. The book’s final act is genuinely unsettling, leaving readers with that lingering, skin-crawling discomfort that defines the best horror stories.

**Final Verdict:** *Another* is a compelling, eerie middle-grade horror novel that offers a fresh take on childhood fears and isolation. While its slow pacing and ambiguous horror may not work for everyone, Tremblay’s talent for crafting unsettling atmospheres shines through. A great pick for fans of *Goosebumps* with a darker edge, and for middle-grade readers who want horror that sticks with them long after the lights go out.

Paul Tremblay is fantastic at crafting creeping dread, and I'm excited to see him branch out into other age groups! Younger readers will devour this spooky story and beg for more.

I really enjoyed this quick middle school read! It was actually so creepy, I was not expecting it at all. Mushrooms, spores, the pandemic, creepy kids? All the elements of a good horror read. I wish there was a less ambiguous ending but I heard Paul lives for those! I really enjoyed the characters, especially Casey! His feelings were truly that of a middle schooler. This would be a great read for a teen, I know I would’ve loved it!!

Thank you NetGalley and Paul Tremblay for the ARC!

3.5/5

Paul Tremblay has made a seamless transition from adult horror to youth horror fiction. His characters are always likable, interesting, and real, and "Another" is no exception. If he had not stated at the beginning of the story that this book was for juv readers, I never would have been able to tell the difference. I recommend this not only for juvenile horror fans but also adult fans of Tremblay's other works.

Even after the lift of COVID19 lockdowns, pre-teen Casey is still experiencing the isolation and anxiety that came with it. With the added middle grade terror (and reality) of cyber-bullying, Casey isn’t just cut off from his friends, he’s afraid of connection. Until one day when his parents come home with a strange old rotary phone, which soon receives a call informing his parents that a friend from school will be coming to stay. Casey, who considers himself friendless even after returning to school in-person, finds this news odd. When the mystery friend arrives, things turn out to be stranger than he could have ever imagined.

This is peak Tremblay, regardless of the reader’s age. You experience a lingering sense of unease from start to finish, largely because there is always something or someone you can relate to as the story unfolds. We can empathize with this isolation, the complexity of fearing connection while also desiring it, feelings of loss, both of others and of yourself. The most terrifying feeling that resonates throughout this book is helplessness. All that being said, of course there is moral (as well as a Morel) to the story too. No matter how you feel or have been made to feel, what makes you YOU will always remain at your core. By feeding your passions, you feed your hope. You feed your soul. You are irreplaceable and more capable than you might know.

For a middle grade novel this book is very unsettling.

Release date is not until July 22nd, so I won’t talk about it much other than to say this is great for all ages.

Don’t let the middle grade category put you off. It’s actually one of Tremblay’s creepier stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

Another by Paul Tremblay is the author's first middle grade horror novel. I have loved some of Tremblay's work (Head Full of Ghosts) but been disappointed by others (last year's Horror Movie), so I wasn't sure what to expect. The novel got off to a slow and improbable start for me (even keeping in mind that something fantastical is bound to happen in a supernatural horror story). However, I was eventually drawn into the story. There were some creepy visuals that I think were just the right amount of horror for a middle grade story. Even more so than the creepiness, what got me into the story was what Tremblay had to say about kids adjusting to school life post-COVID lockdowns and the effects of online bullying. The characters annoyed me at times (trying to keep in mind that the plot explains why they make such strange decisions), but I felt Casey was a sympathetic protagonist and I loved the way his sibling relationship with his older sister away at college was essential to the plot.

Another is a mostly-satisfying work of middle grade horror that I think kids would enjoy. 3.75 stars.

“Another… 50 pages than I probably needed.”

Look, I love Paul Tremblay. The man can craft suspense like nobody’s business, and Another definitely kept me turning the pages. But somewhere around the midpoint, I started wondering if I was trapped in the book myself—just endlessly wandering through unsettling ambiguity, waiting for the next big moment. It’s tense, it’s eerie, it’s got that signature Tremblay what-the-hell-is-even-happening vibe… but it also felt like it took the scenic route when a shortcut would’ve done just fine.

That said, the dude knows how to mess with your head in the best way, and when the payoff comes, it’s worth it. Not my favorite of his, but still better than 90% of the horror books out there. Would I read his grocery list? Probably. Would I hope it had a little more urgency than this one? Also yes.

Just finished reading Another by Paul Tremblay, anticipating another thrilling ride. Unfortunately, this middle grade horror missed the mark for me. The pacing was super slow and it dragged on longer than I hoped. I’m all about that spine-tingling suspense, but it didn’t deliver until the very end, leaving me feeling bored along the way. Total bummer since I usually love his works!

In 2025, I’m reading books written by women. But once I found out that Paul Tremblay had written a Middle Grade horror book, I knew I’d have to make an exception. And I’m happy to say that Tremblay didn’t disappoint me.

A lonely boy without any friends meets a boy named Morel. The strange thing is that Morel appears to be made from clay, not flesh. As the two become closer, the MC becomes terrified that he’s losing his place within his family. Is he capable of standing up for himself? Find out by reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

the master of horror has gifted us with a young adult novel that is just as scary as his adult books !

*****Thank you Net Galley for supplying this book in exchange for my honest review*****
I’m not sure if this is Paul’s first journey into young adult, but this man knows how to do it! This was horrifying creepy, regardless of age, yet not so spooky that your young ones will be up all night. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

Tremblay is one of my favorite contemporary horror writers and I could never pass up the chance to read some of his new work. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this middle-grade horror story. The premise was clever, creepy, and filled with some horrendous imagery that I will never unsee. And, as with any solid book, regardless of its target demographic, it had themes I could easily relate to.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I was raised on Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, eventually leading to Fear Street, and Christopher Pike books. Which is to say, middle grade horror is my guilty pleasure.

I was surprised to see this from Paul Tremblay and was so excited to be approved for the e-ARC. I really loved the story, and truly believe other middle grade readers will enjoy it, as well. The book was well-paced and creepy. It's definitely reminiscent of Goosebumps, and reminds me of like a ya version of Hitchcock Presents. This is a homerun from Paul Tremblay.

I inhaled this book. I read it over two days and just couldn't put it down. It is not my first Paul Tremblay book, but it is hist first young adult book. I think he hit it out of the park. I already knew he could do creepy. I was a big fan of Cabin at the End of the world. I was very surprised by the depth and inspiration of this book. It happens near the tail end of the pandemic and really paints a picture of how kids struggled with virtual learning. I know in real life it was a struggle for many, including my own kids. Kids were bored and lonely and so many fell behind. This sets the stage for a great twisty read that i didn't know how it would end. I love the creepiness, but compared to his others books there was very little violence. I think it would be appropriate for a young adult. The character in the book is in middle school and that fits very well. however, I think the target audience would be a little older, perhaps late high school. It is a smart book with great characters and plot. I highly recommend it.

I wasn’t aware that this was a youth novel, however I did really enjoy it! Something 12 year old me would’ve devoured, dark and creepy from beginning to end.

Middle Grade Spore-ror! Where have you been all my life?!

This book was so creepy and I loved every moment of it. The story was was a wild, horror filled rollercoaster with some uniquely unsettling scenes. The tension and anxiety I felt while reading this one is unparalleled- I found myself flying through pages unable to put the story down- I had to know what was going to happen. I will never look at a phone, or a mushroom the same way ever again. This book was so much to read.

Interesting in premise, I found the writing to be hard to follow and I was not a fan of the main character. there were one or two supporting characters that stood out to me but all in all, one that I will not revisit.

My 5th grade students will be producing a class generated review to come soon :) They have been very invested in this storyline and are more than excited to give this book an honest review!

Nightmare fuel

The pandemic really did a number on us all, particularly children, and poor Casey is one more of many, but his story is quite unique. The isolation, among other incidents, had our MC Casey suffering with anxiety and no longer feeling he had a connection with his peers, especially after the "zoom incident." One day, his parents have had a friend come over for a sleepover, except.. he doesn't know who this is. Things start getting more and more weird, and something just isn't right with his new pal.

First of all, sir, this is children's fiction. Why is my 36 year old self so frigging creeped out!

The eeriness and creeping dread with this fast read was uncanny! The frustration and confusion Casey felt as well as his feelings of isolation and trying to make connections even though his inner warning lights kept going off. Morel of the story was, always trust your gut.

This was an exquisite, fast, horrorful read for children and adults alike. Felt like a modern Goosebumps with extra creepiness sprinkled in.

I would love to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this e-book ARC.