Alien stories are not my usual go-to, but Mira Grant’s stories are always thrilling, and Overgrowth is no exception. Even the most alien of characters are sympathetic because she shows them to us through a lens of empathy, even as we, as humans, will have a natural sympathy with the humans. My only caution is to make sure you have plenty of time once you start reading Overgrowth, because it’s hard to put down.

I am not normally an alien sci-fi kinda girl, but this was great! Anastasia is our FMC who is not from around here, and she has told everyone this since she was young. Most people played out of as a quirk she has, since thinking she is weird, others believing her to some degree, but when an alien signal is heard in space, those around her realize she may have been telling the truth.

This story was captivating, and I love a good “found family” trope, which this one delivers. While it got a little slow for me in the middle, overall I enjoyed it. If you are a fan of Mira Grant’s other work, I think you will love this!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I tried but I just couldn’t get into. I will likely try again but right now it’s just not for me

3.5 Stars

his book is hard to rate because it’s so unique and doesn’t fit into one category. The story left me with mixed feelings, making it one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in a while.

The book starts with an unsettling idea: a child is taken and replaced by a plant-like being, only to be returned later. The child insists that they were replaced by something alien, but no one believes them. The parents, friends, and doctors all think the child is just dealing with trauma and is a bit strange. As the story goes on, the tone changes. It moves from a tense, sci-fi horror to a more thoughtful exploration of the child’s life after the event. The "alien" child tries to live a normal life, making relationships and dealing with their past trauma. This change in focus slowed the pace of the story. As more aliens begin to come to the world.

At first, I was really interested in the plot, but as the book slowed down, I lost some of that excitement. Some parts felt boring, and the story became more about the child’s everyday life rather than the horror element, which I missed. That said, the shift in focus might work for some readers. The way the child struggles with their identity and relationships was emotional and meaningful. The book also touches on themes of being different and trying to fit in, which felt deep and real.

The representation of a trans character added an important layer to the story. It connected to the theme of feeling "other" and added emotional depth.

In the end, I think this book will appeal to readers who like slower, character-focused stories with a touch of the strange or surreal. If you're looking for a constant horror or sci-fi experience, though, you might be disappointed. I was initially drawn to the chilling first chapter, but the story took a quieter, more emotional turn. Even though it wasn’t what I expected, I appreciated the book’s exploration of identity, trauma, and understanding.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

A new Mira Grant says, "science fiction but with heart," and "you'll probably cry." It delivered! The story of an alien invasion from the point of view of one of the inadvertent invaders is loaded with action and a really neat premise. The invasion is coming, and Stasia has never pretended otherwise. She knew she was an alien. But there's a difference between knowing you're an alien and actively working for the invading side. Stasia and her friends will have to come to a new understanding of who she is, and what that means. For a book about an alien invasion, this was a great deal of fun and surprisingly thoughtful. Could someone please pay this woman to write another book about mermaids, now.

Seriously obsessed with this one! I would call this a speculative sci-fi horror. Anastasia, Stasia to her friends, disappeared in the woods for a few days when she was three-years-old. When she emerged, she went on to live a fairly normal life, but she has always told everyone that she is actually an invading alien plant species from space and that the invasion is coming. People either thought she was crazy, or laughed it off, and she was always viewed as kind of weird. Now, at age 35, a communication from space has been intercepted and released to the public, claiming...wait for it...that an invasion is coming. I don't want to dive deep into a synopsis for fear of spoilers, but what unfolds is a highly entertaining and fast-paced story of an alien invasion, found family, and identity. I cannot even tell you how much I loved this book and how it, surprisingly, explores a lot from the real world. We touch upon dehumanization in conquests, citizenship and rights, lgbtq hardships, neurodivergent rep--all intertwined into a damn good and entertaining sci-fi horror story! It's genre-bending as we dip into dystopian and apocalyptic. Be prepared for some body horror and wild images in your brain! Keep your eyes peeled for the character Toni, who is hilarious and I love her. Brush up on your best plant insults and Little Shop of Horrors references. I have one lingering question for author Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire) that I hope to get the opportunity to ask some day. This book is an easy 5 stars from me and  highly recommend it for a sci-fi alien horror!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-ARC! Book releases May 6, 202

3.5* Rounded Up

This was a trippy book and though I really enjoyed the premise and the weirdness of it, I also wanted a bit more from it. I think my main issue was the pacing, it was really slow at times especially the beginning and the middle but then it sped up considerably at the end. There were some unique aspects to this alien invasion and it kept me engaged and wanting to get answers. I also don't think that the humans acted very believably and so sometimes their decisions took me out of engaging with the story. Overall though it was an engaging, creepy book that I could see as a really cool TV show or mini series.

I received an eARC courtesy of Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Overgrowth by Mira Grant is a scifi horror novel that follows Anastasia Miller, a woman who has nonchalantly told everyone she knows that she is an alien and knows this because of something that happened when she was three years old. Most people in her life humor her but think nothing of it until one day, a mysterious message from outer space makes Anastasia’s closest friends think maybe she has been telling the truth after all.

I really enjoyed this book. Mira Grant (a pen name for Seanan McGuire) has been a long time favorite author of mine so this book was highly anticipated for me. I can say that I’ve never read a book like this and the point of view Grant decided to tell the story from adds an interesting element. There is also a trans character in the book and the discussions that are had around that were very relevant to the world today.
There is a lot of body horror in this book so if that bothers you, I would say to approach this book with caution.

There were a few chunks in the middle of the book that meandered a bit. I think it was purposeful to show the length of time between more high action scenes but it did bog down the pace quite a bit.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this story. I think people who like the blend of sci fi and horror will really enjoy this one as well as people that enjoy stories about self discovery. There are also quite a few humorous bits in this book to help break up the tension.

I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read what this author writes next!

NEW REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“OVERGROWTH” by Mira Grant

🌱🪴🌱🪴🌱🪴🌱🪴🌱

At three years old Anastasia Miller goes into the woods and when she returns home, she believes that she is an alien from a plant species that is coming to invade planet earth. This is the story of how Anastasia’s life unfolds through her own perspective and the eyes of her friends. Is Anastasia crazy? Is she telling the trust? Is this something that developed in response to the trauma that she experienced when she was lost in the woods?

I really enjoyed this book. More science fiction and coming of age than it is horror, the plot was still terrifying in more than one way. Grant has a way of asking tough questions related to self and politics while managing not to lose the reader in a lecture. Anastasia and her friends have to face some really adult questions like “who am I?” “Am I crazy?” “Do my differences matter?” “What does it mean to love someone and support them unconditionally”.

The characters that Grant dreamed up are really unique and interesting. There is just the right mix of thoughtfulness, anger, humor, insanity, and trust. The whole time I felt like I could relate to each of them as they try to decide if Stasia is telling the truth, and if she is, is the world one that is worth saving? I also really enjoyed how though provoking some part were; I found myself wondering what parts of my humanity would I be willing to give up in order to save the ones that I love? What pieces of humanity would I defend and which would I be glad to be rid of?

The story itself was slow in some parts and quick in others. It was not a popcorn read. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy contemporary fictions, science fiction, and political dystopian fantasy.

🏷️
Thank you to @TorForge for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for my honest review. #torforge #torinfluencer #tor #overgrowth #miragrant #horror #sciencefiction #dystopian #creaturefeature #thriller #read #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #tbr #readmorebooks #arcreview #bookreview #bookish

In Overgrowth by Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire), my latest review book from Net Galley, Anastasia Miller has been telling everyone since she was three years old that she’s an alien from another planet. No one believes her. Everyone humors her. They should have listened. They had been warned. Anastasia is an alien and now her family is coming from Outerspace to invade the Earth. Sometimes, you should listen when someone says they’re an alien…

Okay, thats as much as I’m going to tell you about the story. I don’t want spoil it at all. I do want to say that the book is told from Anastasia’s point of view, the first person *I*, and its a very unique and interesting perspective for this story to be told in. Anastasia is a great character. Her supporting cast is pretty great too. The story takes a lot of turns that I did not expect at all. This book is so well written.

The descriptions in the book are really well done and the dialogue is pretty good too. Overgrowth will keep you on the edge of seat. Right from the start of the book, we get a fantastic opening line. This is a great hook that just keep me reading and wanting to know what the heck was going to happen. Bring your popcorn. Overgrowth would make a jaw dropping theatrical movie. If you like War of the Worlds and other alien invasion movies and books, you have to read Overgrowth. Oh my.

I’ve read many good books this year so far and this definitely be up there among the best. Mira Grant, aka Seanan McGuire, is just a really wonderful writer. You rock Seanan!

I’ll be thinking about this book for awhile. whew.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of this book for review. Overgrowth releases on May 6th, 2025. Don’t miss it!

This book was just fine to me. There was nothing "bad" about it, it just seemed really long for no reason. I did like the ending which helped with my overall enjoyment, but unfortunately, this won't be a story that stays in my head for very long.

What an amazing book! Somehow, it had never occurred to me that the supposed alien invader would be the point-of-view character and that I would feel such sympathy for them!

Recommended for those who enjoyed Mira Grant’s Into the Drowning Deep and, in a completely different way, Max Brook’s Devolution.

I read Overgrowth on vacation and made sure to update my entire family every day about it. After the vacation, I asked them which one they'd be most interested - of my vacation reads - and Overgrowth was the winner. Why you may ask? Well for me, one of the things I loved the most was how much it made me think. There's no surprised that Mira Grant or Seanan McGuire is responsible for many worlds that have made me think. And Overgrowth is no different except with this science fiction twist. It's about hope, compassion, and becoming.

Anastasia Miller has never been shy about telling people who she really is: an alien plant who took over the body of a little girl when she was lost in the woods. Most write it off as a coping mechanism to respond to the trauma of being kidnapped for three days as a child, or just accept it as a weird quirk, but things change when a signal is received from space: the vanguard is on its way, and they do not come in peace. Once the invasion truly begins, Anastasia will have to decide which side to take.

The premise of this was so strong, and the opening chapter is chilling, but this one didn't entirely work for me. It was good, but it dragged out way too much in the middle. I don't mind the introspection, in fact I love a character-based story over an action-y one, but it was very repetitive. I don't need to hear how much of a misanthrope Anastasia is over and over again, and the constant discussion of how much she loves Graham (who is very loveable, don't get me wrong) felt very tell-not-show about their relationship. Also, and this is a minor nitpick, but Stasia and her friends are all supposed to be in their mid-30s, but all read very "just out of undergrad 20somethings" to me. This is coming from a 36-year-old who definitely still acts like a child, so take it with a grain of salt.

Overall, a strong premise and a shaky execution that could do with some editing. Grant/McGuire is still super-talented and cool, this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me. 3.5 Little Shop references out of 5, rounded down.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for sending me an ARC of Overgrowth by Mira Grant to read and honestly review!

I'm a huge fan of Seanan McGuire's Mira Grant works, but unfortunately this one just didn't land as well for me. One of my favorite aspects of past Grant works has been the science threaded throughout. Into the Drowning Deep wasn't just about killer mermaids, but also the evolutionary and biological mysteries that underlay the terrifying mythical creatures. Feed was a unique look at the zombie genre through the eyes of bloggers that discussed how diseases interact with the human body. Despite Overgrowth arguably being more sci-fi and less horror than most of Grant's other work, I found the interesting scientific elements lacking.

I really liked the opening few chapters and found the premise super interesting. Alien scouts sent ahead of an invasion to scout and check if the planet is hospitable, raised among humans and compelled to tell those around them of their interstellar nature. The discussion of human culture and how they would respond both before and after the invasion was really unique and I liked how the themes of belonging and family were handled.

The characters were really enjoyable for the most part and I loved how diverse Grant/McGuire made the cast. One of the primary characters is trans and Grant/McGuire used the alien invasion backdrop to contrast and discuss the feeling of not belonging in your own skin and family. I think some of the plot and drama were a bit too oriented around the central romance for me, but the ending really brought it full circle in a way that I did find incredibly satisfying.

Grant/McGuire's writing and concepts continue to be some of my favorite, and I look forward to more from her, even if this one didn't hit as hard for me.

Overgrowth follows Anatasia Miller, an alien disguised as a human being. When she was three years old, she went into the woods and came back as an alien. She’s known for years her people will come to Earth to get her, and now an alien signal is being broadcasted to the world. With the invasion officially coming, Stasia and her friends work to prepare as the government scrambles for knowledge and control.

I love Mira Grant’s books, especially Into the Drowning Deep, but something about this didn’t work for me. I’m devasted because I really wanted to love this one—it sounded amazing. But I didn’t enjoy the execution as much as I’d hoped. I wanted more of the invasion and more horror. The start of this book was awesome and horrifying and I wanted more of that. 60% of this book is pre-invasion and while there were some interesting scenes, I still felt the pacing was too slow and I wasn’t loving the writing style. That being said, I enjoyed the body horror elements and mostly enjoyed the ending.

Stasia is an interesting main character. It was fascinating to see her battle herself with choosing a side. I enjoyed her relationship with Graham and her friends and the struggles they went through. And the arguments over humanity and the best course of action.

Overall, I think a lot of people will love this one, but it just tragically wasn’t for me.

Thank you to TOR and Netgalley for the arc!

Mira Grant is one of my favorite authors, so I knew I would like Overgrowth. This was such an interesting, fascinating, and fun alien invasion story. One of the reasons I love this author is because of the representation that she includes in her novels. I specifically appreciated how most of the characters were neurodivergent since I am too. It was great following the characters and their decisions. The feeling of belonging is a central theme, and the found family aspects of this were really beautiful. I was rooting for Anastasia, and potentially the aliens (?), the entire time.
Also, the comparison to Invasion of the Body Snatchers was spot on.

Oh my gosh...fantastic! There were moments of humor, science fiction, light horror, and even love!
Sometimes the introspection dragged on a bit too much for me, but overall it was an incredibly good time! :)

The way I eeeeeked when I was approved for an arc was real. I was so excited for this book and man did it start out with a bang. My only complaint was the pacing, it slowed way down after the halfway point. But overall it’s a great read, I need to read more books from this author for sure.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC. This sounded like such an exciting concept, it reminded me of a sci fi movie where plants are the enemy and also the body horror sci-fi changeling part sounded so good. Alas, the book started off slow, with a boring account of day to day office life. I mean I liked the prologue but after that things went downhill. I expected something full of intrigue, body horror, and a bit more fast paced. I did not really like the writing style, it was so dry and dragged. How can something that sounds so exciting be so boring?