A chilling twist on Little Shop of Horrors without the singing, Eat the Ones You Love follows a very unique and invasive plant that can eat or infect people at will, and needs to up it's plan when the mall housing its store is set to close. Featuring unique characters and vivid imagery, the affects the plant has on relationships and dynamics is fascinating, as well as its ability to understand and judge people's choice. It's a very creative and entertaining ride through interspecies relations.

An amazing queer botanical horror about hunger, desire and a creepy decaying mall.

First of all I LOVE that this book is told almost exclusively from our plant monster's POV. His name is baby and he's a sentient eldritch orchid with no regard for human life.

The storytelling around who Baby is, how he is growing and how he's able to participate in life beyond the flower shop in a decaying mall is absolutely genius.

There's a will-they / won't-they love story between the flower shop owner and her newest employee with great queer rep and toxic love.

I highly recommend this if you love botanical horror, flawed characters and eldritch plant monsters.

🌻 Queer Botanical Horror
🌻 Eat the ones you love
🌻 Plant monster's POV
🌻 Decaying, creepy mall
🌻 Hunger with no end
🌻 Amazing audiobook

This book is best read while gardening. Bring your sheers, leave your sanity.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!

this was disturbing and unsettling, but one that queer horror readers will eat up and leave no crumbs (pun intended).

as for the narrators, both did a fantastic job!

I stopped listening to this audiobook at the 40% mark. While the narrators were good and I liked the cast of narrators, I just did not connect with the characters in this story. The most interesting character was the plant, but unfortunately, the rest of the perspectives, in my opinion, did not add to this story. I believe I would have like it more if it was told completely from the plant's perspective. I'm sure that there will be plenty of readers/listeners who enjoy this audiobook. Unfortunately, the book was just not for me.

I absolutely loved the audio narration for this book! Going into it, I had no idea that this was going to be told from the perspective of the plant, but I think that it added to the unsettling feeling I had throughout the story. I appreciated that the horror wasn't too gory, and honestly feel like it would be something that I can recommend to folks who are either new to horror, or don't really care for horror because of the typical gore. I would have loved to learn a little more about Neve and her perspectives, but I don't think it took away from the overall story. I do feel like in the audiobook, however, it was a bit jarring, going from the narration to the email interludes, and I personally didn't enjoy those parts - they seemed repetitive at times.

Thank you to the NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for making this advanced copy available to me in exchange for an honest review.

Eat the Ones You Love is a bizarre, tangled tale that feels like Little Shop of Horrors reimagined—only sapphic, set in a crumbling Irish mall, and even more unhinged. As someone who genuinely enjoys weird books, I was intrigued by the premise, but I’ll admit this one was a bit of a struggle at times.

The story shines brightest when it focuses on Shell and Baby. Shell’s journey—leaving behind a toxic relationship, moving back home, and slowly finding her footing in the most unlikely of places—was compelling and heartfelt. Watching her shed her past and grow into herself gave the story an emotional core that really worked. Baby, the sentient, carnivorous orchid lurking in the mall, is an absolute standout. His obsessive hunger and possessive love for Neve are both deeply unsettling and oddly fascinating. I actually wanted more of Baby and the body horror that came with him—it felt like the story was holding back a bit when it could’ve gone full monstrous.

What bogged me down a little were the multiple side characters and shifting perspectives. While they added layers, I found myself getting distracted and wishing the focus had stayed tighter on Shell and Baby.

That said, the audiobook production by Macmillan Audio was excellent and added a whole new dimension to the experience. Barry McStay and Lauren O’Leary brought the characters to life with vivid, engaging performances that really pulled me in—so much so that I’m bumping my rating from 3 stars to 4 purely because of the narration.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early copy. If you like your horror weird, your romance dark, and your plants hungry, this might just be the twisted little book for you.

Thank you Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio for my free ARC of Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin — available now!

» READ IF YOU «
🌱 love queer horror narratives with dark humor
🏬 enjoy a creepy, decaying setting
🪴 wish you had a sentient, carnivorous plant

» SYNOPSIS «
Shell is looking a fresh start. She finds a job at a florist shop in a crumbling mall, and falls hard for the owner, Neve. But Neve is harboring a dark secret: a sentient, flesh-eating plant named Baby, who lives in the shop and also has an obsessive love for Neve. As Baby's hunger grows, Shell becomes entangled in a web of desire, danger, and self-discovery.

» REVIEW «
This was a fun blend of horror, dark comedy, and Little Shop of Horrors nostagia. The prose does a solid job of capturing the eerie atmosphere of a dying mall and the emotions of each character (including Baby!). The story explores some hard-hitting themes through the lens of a horror premise, but I did find it a little lacking in action, for me. There is a lot of, "and then they did this, and then they did that," kind of build up, and the action at the end happens extremely quickly. But if you're a Little Shop of Horrors fan, this one will resonate with you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So, the next trend in horror is cannibalism/ingestion? I'm not sure what this says about our moment, except maybe that we're all both overwhelmed and feeling disconnected?

I was here for everything about this book until it galloped through the ending. It's not that I disliked said ending, but more that its self-imposed 180 kmh pace forced things that should have been left to sit in their own mess a bit to be to clean and fast. The early body horror was so lovely and visceral, but then we get a scene that should be grand that's just rushed.

It was also mildly disconcerting to have Baby be voiced by a masculine narrator when the book is otherwise queer. I don't know if we were supposed to reflect on how the patriarchy can never be completely sidestepped, but I would have preferred less masculine energy in my queer Irish reinterpretation of <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i>.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Shell is a bit down on her luck and has just moved back home. When she stumbles upon a “help needed” sign at the flower shop in the (crumbling) local mall, she sees it as a sign towards reinventing herself. It doesn’t hurt that she’s immediately drawn to the owner, Neve, and she can’t help but hope the connection isn’t one sided. But Neve has some baggage of her own.

The moment I realized who the second narrator was in this story I knew I was going to love this book. I can definitely see the homage to Little Shop of Horrors, but Eat the Ones You Love is a completely different breed. I knew I avoided orchids for a reason and I think Baby has put me off of them for life. We follow a few different POVs throughout the novel and I loved following Baby’s most of all. He is completely unapologetic about the lives he takes and relishes the power he has over Neve and then Shell, to a lesser extent. The imagery of his violence and the body horror we experience on the page is graphic, though beautifully written, and I loved this author’s writing style so much.

Eat the Ones You Love is a horror, but also so much of this book is about relationships, both the good and the bad. I love how the author uses Baby’s all-consuming “love” for Neve as a metaphor for the toxic relationships we can’t escape. At the same time, I ended up falling in love with all of the other characters who are connected to this dying mall. It really made me feel nostalgic for that time in my life. Minus the murder, of course.

I thought both narrators did a great job giving life to the characters, but I was particularly impressed by “Baby.” Barry McStay captured his sinister nature so perfectly and did so in such a cheeky way that added depth to his character. Baby is such a terrifying character, but his inner monologue is so funny at times.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy. I can’t wait to read from this author again and would HIGHLY recommend reading the audiobook for a great listening experience.

This book was absolutely fascinating and everything I love in a story. A story being partially told by a sentient man eating plant that is called Baby maybe shouldn't work but it absolutely does here. I'm having trouble coming up with words to fully explain my experience reading this book and I don't know if I have read anything like it before. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book! This is the first book I have read from Sarah Maria Griffin but will not be my last. I will be exploring her back catalogue and looking forward to any books she has coming in the future! I loved the audiobook narration on this from Barry McStay and Lauren O'Leary!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Shell is languishing. After getting laid off from her graphic design firm and her engagement collapsing, she's forced to move back in with her family, which is the last place she wants to be at the close of her early thirties. When she sees a sign in the front of dingy flower shop, one of the few stores left in a long-dying mall, she asks the striking and devoted florist Neve for a job. Shell's growing attraction to Neve gets harder and harder to ignore, but Shell isn't the only one obsessed with Neve. Deep in the mall, there's something waiting to show Neve just how much he loves her--and he's hungry.

Eat the Ones You Love is a strange, engaging story. The highlights for me were Shell's growing friendships with Neve and the rest of the mall crew. They were tender, realistic, and full of millennial absurdist angst in he best way. I also thought the risk of narrating the story from the POV of Baby, a carnivorous plant, was an interesting choice that paid off for me--Baby's voice and dialog reminded me of an abusive partner's (so take care while reading), though at times his dialog was repetitive.

What didn't work as well for me was the lack of worldbuilding which contributed to a landing at the end that the author didn't stick. Even still, it was interesting and I enjoyed letting myself be consumed by it.

I listened to an ALC compliments of Macmillain Audio and Netgalley. I thought both narrators did a fantastic job--the male narrator's voice was grating and contemptible which was perfect for his character. The female narrator did great with a variety of accents to imitate. I listened to it at 1.25 speed which did not affect my enjoyment.

(3.5, rounded up—HOWEVER the audio specifically deserves a 5/5, for anyone considering the 2 formats)

I was really excited to start this one when I won an ARC giveaway thru Tertulia (check 'em out, they rock & are a great alternative to Amzn). I flew thru the first 20ish pages, then it felt like it stalled out. Being the first print ARC I've received from Tor I wanted to push thru anyway. Those of you who know how freely I DNF know that this is a pretty big deal lol. Another 30+ pages and I'm still not into it enough to keep reading. Fast forward a few weeks, I see I can request the audiobook on NetGalley. The premise really sucked me in, so I went for it...... HOLY CRAP!!!!! I WAS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER DOING LAUNDRY I WAS SO PARANOID!!!! Iykyk, anyone who has listened to the audiobook in its entirety will know EXACTLY the section I'm talking about. BRAVO, producers & narrators. Wow. That portion is up there with the efficiency of Plastic by Scott Guild's audiobook.

Had I continued in print, I may have thrown in the towel and never gotten to the part mentioned above, idk. And just looking at the print format of that section, print doesn't do it justice at all. I rarely am adamant about someone going with a certain formatting (ASSuming they're physically able)—actually this is the very first time—but there is simply no way print can live up to the goosebumps I was left with multiple times by the audiobook.

Thank you bunches to Tertulia, Tor, Macmillan Audio, Barry McStay, Lauren O’Leary, Sarah Maria Griffin and NetGalley for the ALC & ARC ❣️

When I was a baby hippie who had recently discovered Joni Mitchell and was also a horror lover, maybe 13 years old, I wrote a short story for a class assignment about a daisy whose field was paved over that was reincarnated as a bulldozer and wreaked revenge on all parties involved in the destruction of her field. Fast-forward a few years, and, within several weeks, I have finished my third novel featuring sentient plant life - a Frankenstein retelling in A Botanical Daughter, alien plant pod people in Overgrown, and now, a hungry greenhouse dweller who also narrates a great deal of the novel in Eat the Ones You Love. The portions narrated by the plant reveal him to think and act like a classic psychopathic villain, who has no trouble rationalizing his appetites which take the guise of love and attraction from his point of view and is the most overtly horrific plot line, but Eat also has more subtle horrors, such as having to start over - or worse, “go back home” - and with a minimum wage job, after years working in one’s chosen career and on a relationship. Humor comes from this as well, like when Shellie’s former friends plan a confrontation out of “concern” for her at a baby shower which focuses on how her life events impacted them. Also - highly recommend the audio version - very well produced.

I love it when a book has an unconventional narrator and I was here for the omniscient evil plant (named Baby) here. The build up was a bit slow but after the halfway point the creepiness really picked up in this one. It’s a unique take on obsession, with some dark humor and some drama sprinkled in. I also enjoyed the dying mall setting and commentary along with the LGBTQ rep. The audiobook is narrated by Barry McStay who narrates Baby and Lauren O’Leary who does Shell and other voices. I enjoyed how O’Leary alternated accents where relevant and thought McStay did a great job capturing Baby.

Botanical horror? Yes please! This follows a down on her luck woman who takes a job at a flower shop located in a dying strip mall. She then discovers a sentient, sinister orchid growing in the back who is watching and waiting to feast on its next victim. Less scary and more unnerving, but incredibly original. The way it addressed dying mall culture and the tiresome nature of working retail was spot on. There’s also some really great stuff about growing up and starting over. I had such a good time reading this.

It's not hard to compare this book to Little Shop of Horrors (of which I am a huge fan!!) but the author expanded the human-eating-plant-living-in-a-run-down-flower-shop theme by including the POV of the orchid plant, Baby, and changing the flower shop location to Ireland. While the writing for Baby was beautiful and useful in describing how someone could be slowly consumed by moss, I sometimes felt that Baby's flowery prose (pun intended) was unnecessarily lengthy and I found myself wishing we could get back to the story. I understand that he's a plant and his world view is primarily limited to that of texture and observation to describe the world as he believes it to be, and it grew on me over time (I'm powerless against the puns) but it often left me wanting something more from his lengthy monologues to move the story forward.

I listened to the Audiobook and I appreciated the use of two narrators to help distinguish when Baby was in control of the story. The other character POVs are from Shell (the new employee at the flower shop who recently blew up her own life and broke up with her fiancee to move home with her parents and leave her basic friends behind) and Jen (the American botanist and ex-fiancee of Neve). Neve, the owner of the flower shop and servent to Baby, is primarily discussed through others (mainly Baby), so we are unable to actually hear her internal monologue and left to try to understand her motivations and her life through the lens of unreliable narrators. I think it would've added to the story to hear from Neve, but by the time Shell starts work at the shop, Neve is already pretty far gone and under the control of Baby.

This book explored themes of feeling trapped in your hometown, tucking your tail and moving back home, breaking free from unhealthy relationships, love, friendship, following your passions, the camaraderie among coworkers working in retail (it's a surprisingly deep bond from my experience). I also loved that this book took place in Ireland - a place full of lush greenery and orchids exclusively unique to Ireland.

If you like Little Shop of Horrors, I would recommend giving this a try but keep an open mind! Also - there is no sadistic dentist. :)

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillion Audio, for the ARC!! <3

3.5 rounded up

Baby could never reach me because I kill every plant I come into contact with. So listen, do I know what I was reading? Not especially. But did I have fun? Absolutely. I don’t even really know what to say except that Shell and I have a lot in common, especially when it comes to self isolating and ignoring texts from friends so while I think she was maybe supposed to be an unlikable main character I really related to her. I think I was expecting this to go sort of in a Bloom kind of direction but I like that I didn’t see the ending coming. Weird but fun, catch me cultivating plants never.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early copy for review*

If you want to read this book you should check out the audiobook. Hearing the Irish accent transported me to Ireland. There is also an American character and the narrator did that accent as well. Both narrators did an impressive job setting the tone and there's a moment later in the book that sent shivers up my spine because of the production.

The book itself was only okay for me and while I felt on the edge of my seat at times the payoff was not enough. Being inside the sentient flower's mind was compelling, but once you left that you were stuck in the mundaneness of Shell and Neve's existence

I would still recommend checking it out if you enjoy audiobooks.

This was such a fun, spooky read! I'm definitely giving my plants some side eye (especially since I'm definitely not the best plant mom). The dual narration between Neve, Chelle, Jen and Baby was a fantastic touch. I really enjoyed it right to the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to listen to this early.

This absolutely reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors, but I love Little Shop and that just made me appreciate it more. This is so much its own story, and feels set in such a different time and place. It's weird and funny and gross, in the best ways. The narration is great, and the pacing is perfect.