3.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Fun sequel to follow up BLESS YOUR HEART! This was another gothic 90's monster story, with a mystery at the back and drama front and center. The Evans girls are so fun to follow and I'm glad that, despite the ending of the last book, we got to see some great interactions between these woman.

I feel similar about this book as I did the first -- there were lots of characters and it could be hard to keep up with what storyline belonged where, which makes it hard to care deeply about some of the characters. The characters I DO care a lot about feel like they aren't featured as much as I would like to, and in this book I was let down by the way things turned out for some -- IYKYK.

Overall, these books have been consistently creative, fun and unique. While I wouldn't call them ground breaking, I do enjoy them, especially on audio, and I look forward to reading more of this series in the future!

While I thought the first one was missing some of the humor I had expected, this one more than made up for it. Yes, the story was scary, as it should be, but there were moments where some of the absurdity (in a good way) just got to me and I couldn’t help but laugh, particularly when it came to any scene with Ducey. The monsters were more horrific than the first and this was the perfect mix of horror, mystery, and humor. Highly recommended but start with the first one to get the full story.

If there is one thing that I personally love, it is the Evans women and their strange abilities. I absolutely loved being back with this cast and crew of characters. This is the second book in the series, and I think it was just as good if not better than the first one. The reader is plopped right back into Texas in the late 90s a month after the last book ended and with a new victim when they thought everything was tied up. From there, the story progresses and more victims are found. The townspeople are starting to get worried again, and it is up to the Evans women to solve the mystery and hopefully stop the attacks with the help of Roger, the sheriff. I really enjoyed this sequel. I found it to have the same nostalgic tone of the first book, and I appreciated the humor along with the horror scenes. I could not read the book fast enough to figure out what was going to happen, and the reader is left on another cliffhanger that can only indicate more to the series is coming. I can only hope, at least. I truly had a blast listening to this book, and this series is one that I cannot quit thinking about! Total props to the narrator too who had to bring SO MANY characters to life but honestly did a fantastic job of it. She did an amazing job bringing this story to life. Highly recommend it if you enjoy an easily readable horror-light book that definitely feels like it could be on 90s era VH1 or MTV. So much fun! 4.5/5 Stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This second installment of books featuring the Evans women picks up right where the first book left off. The narrator does an excellent job of voicing all the characters and building the emotional suspense of the horror facing this small town. Lily's parts of the novel are particularly heartbreaking and while the story is humorous at times, it is also gruesome and features a mystery at the heart of the story. I look forward to listening to more audiobooks in this series if it continues to see what the Evans women are up to next.

Lindy Ryan's Another Fine Mess audiobook delivers a unique blend of Southern Gothic charm, supernatural suspense, and small-town mystery. The premise of the Evans women being the guardians against the undead in their peculiar southeast Texas town is instantly captivating, and the audiobook format brings the quirky atmosphere and colorful characters vividly to life.

The story opens with a profound loss, leaving Lenore and her granddaughter Luna to navigate a world where burying the dead is more than just a ritual – it's a family responsibility. Ryan skillfully establishes the weight of this legacy and the vulnerability of the remaining Evans women in the wake of such a significant "Mess."

However, the rising dead are just the beginning of their troubles. When a new victim appears under the full moon, it becomes clear that a more sinister threat is at play. The audiobook effectively builds suspense as Lenore, Luna, and the new sheriff delve into family lore, uncovering secrets that hint at a deeper, more human darkness preying on their community.

Another Fine Mess is a compelling listen that seamlessly blends the supernatural with a compelling whodunit. Ryan's writing is rich with Southern flavor and a touch of dark humor, and the narration expertly captures the unique voices of the characters and the eerie atmosphere of the town. This is a captivating tale of family legacy, unexpected alliances, and the chilling realization that sometimes, the most dangerous monsters walk among the living.

3 ⭐️ I am not sure what I expected since the first book was just an okay read too. I was hoping this would be better but unfortunately it suffers the same fate as the first book, it’s just not interesting enough to hold my attention. It read very YA and not a ton happens. If the whole book were like the last 15% I would have loved it as it really picked up at the end. But the dangling cliff hanger of wanting more from the Evan ladies is lost on me, given how bored I was though most of these books. If there’s a 3rd book I have a hard time believing I’d want to read it. Which is a shame because it finally got interesting at the very end. I just don’t have confidence that the interesting bits will be written, it seems the author only wants to tease crumbs and that isn’t enough for me.

I also picked up the audiobook, which is a good production. I was able to listen at 2.25x and not feel like the narrator was talking too fast. The fast pace of the cadence is what kept me from DNFing this book.

Thank you again to Macmillan audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book is out today!

This was my 38th book of 2025
Format: Gifted, advanced listeners copy

I request to listen to this book not knowing it was the 2nd book. So I’d hope Libby had the first book available for me to listen to in order to get that full story, and they did! I like the fact the story picked right up from the first book and we got to see more characters pov’s. The undead were definitely giving zombie vampires which was a cleaver take, I enjoy the humor of the great grandmother throughout the story. Love the lineage aspect of the Evan’s women and the family owned business as well as the secrets known and unknown. This was a comical horror book. A good time on the couch with some tea! I rate it 3.5

I wish I had reread the first series installment to refresh my memory. If you haven't read Bless Your Heart already, please put down Another Fine Mess until you have! The second installment still has gore, with occasional—perhaps fewer—moments of comic relief. I only took separate, special note of two passages. Based on the ending, I'm guessing there is a third installment planned, which I will read out of continued morbid curiosity. Overall, early ratings of book two are slightly higher than reviews of the first installment. I do not share that opinion. Still, I give this installment a soft recommendation.

The audiobook is again narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, whose talent gets a workout with a broad range of characters.

Audiobook/Book Review 🐺☕️🩸
Thank you partner @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy & audiobook!

Another Fine Mess
Book by Lindy Ryan
Narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker

About the book 👇🏽

Making sure dead things stay buried is the family business...

For over a hundred years, the Evans women have kept the undead in their strange southeast Texas town from rising. But sometimes the dead rise too quick–and that’s what left Lenore Evans, and her granddaughter Luna, burying Luna’s mother, Grace, and Lenore’s mother, Ducey. Now the only two women left in the Evans family, Luna and Lenore are left rudderless in the wake of the most Godawful Mess to date.

But when the full moon finds another victim, it’s clear their trouble is far from over. Now Lenore, Luna, and the new sheriff—their biggest ally—must dig deep down into family lore to uncover what threatens everything they love most. The body count ticks up, the most unexpected dead will rise–forcing Lenore and Luna to face the possibility that the undead aren’t the only monsters preying on their small town.

🐺 My thoughts:

“You deserve your own sparkle tonight.”

I love a good monster hunting! I seriously could not wait to get my hands on this. Bless Your Heart was one of my favorites of 2024, and Another Fine Mess did not disappoint. This was a hybrid physical read and audiobook listen and both were so so good! This is my favorite way to consume a book and consume I did. The narration was superb and would recommend this option if you enjoy audiobooks. This has to be one of the most fun, gory, and unique series I’ve ever read and I cannot recommend it enough. The world needs more of the Evans women. They’re lovable, funny, and will probably remind you of people you know. The secrets, supernatural aspects, and small town setting will transport you in the best of ways… completely submerging you into a monster hunting romp. This is a series you need to start this year if you haven’t already. Another Fine Mess is out TOMORROW 4/15/25!

Happy reading 📖🎧☕️🩸🐺

Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan is a fun and engaging read that really stands out thanks to its well-developed plot points and unforgettable characters. The story is smart, entertaining, and part of a series that keeps getting better. If you enjoy books with personality and heart, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Audiobook quality was crisp and clear and the narrator perfect.

⭐ Rating: 2.75 (Rounded to 3) out of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan, narrated by the always-talented Stephanie Nemeth-Parker, for an honest review of the audiobook.

We’re back with the Evans women, the fierce, funeral-home-running clan who have one job: keeping things buried—literally and supernaturally. After the loss of Luna’s mother and Lenore’s mother, the last two Evans women are left to carry on the family legacy. This time, they're facing a string of mysterious deaths after a full moon, and with a new sheriff in town, they’ll need to unravel what creature is wreaking havoc before anyone else in their small Texas town ends up six feet under.

While I loved the first book and adore the Southern gothic charm and strong female leads, this one didn’t quite hit the same for me. The multiple points of view and slower pacing made it a bit hard to stay hooked, and the plot felt a little too predictable. If you’re not jumping in straight from book one, some moments may feel disconnected or underdeveloped. That said, the Evans women remain a standout. Their bond, grit, and spooky small-town legacy still make this series worth exploring if you love cozy mysteries with a supernatural twist.

“Another Fine Mess” by Lindy Ryan is a captivating blend of horror, humor, and mystery, set in a small southeast Texas town plagued by the undead. The narrator’s voice is engaging, and the Southern gothic charm is undeniable. However, the multiple points of view detract from the narrative, making it difficult to delve deeper into the characters. Despite this, the story remains entertaining with its dark humor and eerie tension. Overall, it’s a fun read, though the numerous perspectives might leave some readers feeling a bit disconnected from the characters.

Another Fine Mess is the second book in Lindy Ryan’s series about the Evans women. I had not read Bless Your Heart, this book’s predecessor, before picking this up. A few things were confusing, but I was still able to get swept up by the story just fine. This narrator is excellent, and did a great job distinguishing between different characters and their accents. I am not the biggest fan of magical realism in my thrillers, but I still enjoyed this one. The mystery aspect was well-done, and the ending did surprise me.

More blood! More gore! More deaths! More family drama! More undead rising! More monsters! The sequel to Bless Your Heart has more of what I loved in the first book. I savored this one like hard candy. In Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan, the remaining Evans women and the sheriff say that the villain of this story is a ghost wolf but they’re unsure who is responsible for the deaths this time around. Insert Death Becomes Her reference. Read to find out who dies, who rises from the dead and who is the killer. Stephanie Németh-Parker is the audiobook narrator again and slays all the characters voices. I loved the way this story ends with a nod to the direction of a possible third book. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I received an audiobook listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked the first book in this series, but this one wasn't my favorite. I thought the story was a bit slow and I wanted there to be more action in it.

Taking care of the restless dead is the family business at Evans Funeral Home. After the bloodbath that took place in Bless Your Heart, teenage Luna and her grandmother Lenore are the only Evans women left. Death isn’t done with their rural Texas town though, and although the attacks are initially attributed to a wolf, it soon becomes clear that the murder and mayhem is the work of the undead.

Is cozy horror a thing? Horror with humor and heart? Because that’s what this series is! While there’s definitely some blood and guts and gore, the characters are what really make this series so good. The Evans women are smart, sassy, and strong-willed, and I love how they’re starting to gather a little found family around them. The climactic scene at the high-school dance is Carrie-esque in its gore and horror but also contains some heart-wrenchingly emotional moments.

Just like Bless Your Heart, the audiobook version of Another Fine Mess is fantastic. Narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker does such a great job! Her voice is so expressive and she really channels the Evans women. She differentiates the various characters clearly for the listener and her southern accent makes the characters feel so authentic.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Book #2 in the Bless Your Heart series finds the Evans women cleaning up another supernatural catastrophe in their Texas hometown. The dead keep rising and its up to the Evans women to keep them down. This time, the horror is more animalistic and closer to home. I would say you absolutely should read Bless Your Heart before diving into this one. It helps for context. Hopefully, this series keeps going for years to come because the Evans family is fascinating, hilarious and badass!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

The first book in this series was released about a year ago today! This is a series, and you will want to read the first book before the second. I know there are series out there that you can read each book as a stand-alone, but this is not one of those series. This one picks up a little while after the first one. Two of the Evans women are gone, buried in the rose garden, and two are left to carry on. While Luna is still trying to figure out what she is, bodies start turning up again. Plus, the victims' families from book one are left to deal with the loss and find the "wolves" that caused the attacks. Bringing attention from the media and ghost wolf experts into town, the Evans are still covering up secrets while trying to figure out what is tearing apart people (and cows). We do learn that there is a reason the Evans' are special, but we don't know what that is. The ending does promise another book to hopefully answer some of the mysteries that don't even come close to getting answered in this book. The first book in this series was released about a year ago, and it's essential to read it before diving into the second book. Unlike some series where each book can be read as a standalone, this series follows a continuous storyline. The second book picks up some time after the first, with two of the Evans women buried in the rose garden and two remaining to continue their lives.

I don't feel that we have quite the same magic in this story as we did in the first one. The chemistry was off. Yes, we have some sass and some great characters, but I don't know.. It feels like Luna has lost so much, and she just keeps losing in this story. Anyway, it has the same cozy mystery/horror vibes with some Texas sass thrown in. The last book focused on strigori (vampires), but this one has a few more mythical creatures thrown in. All with names that we would not normally call them. I like the idea that the Evanses have this deep family secret, and I can't wait to read more about them. The story is really charming, even with all the death and sadness. You can't help but cheer on the merry band of misfits. The narrator does a wonderful job; her accents were on point, and she brings out the charm that the story holds.

Thank you, @LindyRyanWrites and @macmillan.audio for my free audiobook. #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Another Fine Mess (Bless Your Heart, Book 2) by Lindy Ryan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 299 / Genre: Vampire Fantasy
Audiobook Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker
Duration: 10 hours 46 minutes
Release Date: April 15, 2025

Deep in southeast Texas lies a town plagued with an undead problem. But the Evans women have kept them from rising for the last 100 years. Most of the time anyway. But after the chaos that happened in book 1 of this series, there’s less Evans women around to help and now they’re getting out of control.

I would definitely read the first book in this series before starting this one so you get the backstory on key characters in this series. This second book was even more exciting and bloody than the first. And while this is a vampire horror story, it’s also funny and a bit of a cozy mystery. My favorite vampire series for sure.

I listened to the audiobook on this one and Stephanie Németh-Parker does a great job voicing all the characters.

This is a continuation of the Bless Your Heart series and OMG! I don’t even know how to put my thoughts into words right now so here’s my ramble type review. The dancing in the moonlight scene! The tears I CRIED!! I started this thinking it was more of a fun quirky thriller/horror-ish story in the modern day type book and ended up so attached to the Evan’s women and their HEARTS! AND we must protect Luna at all costs. That’s it. Read it. Seriously. Don’t even question whether or not you should, YOU HAVE TO!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy! Hearing their voices brought to life made the story that much better!