Perfectly creepy.

Hollow builds the tension slowly, showing hints of otherness that leaves you guessing and second guessing yourself as you try to figure out what the hell is going on. Add in terrifying dolls (I hate dolls *shivers* so uncanny and creepy) everywhere and you have an amazing, chilling horror story that has great mental health and LGBTQIA+ representation.

I am not someone who typically reads YA novels, so I was a bit hesitant to dive in (but really wanted to read as I've followed this author's career from early on!). Despite my hesitation, I found this book really propulsive and the writing great even for someone who generally only reads books intended for an adult audience.

Cassie's story is an eerie lost-in-the-forest type tale (a favorite trope of mine!) and the author hits the nail on the head with the vibes here. I really appreciated the strong neurodivergent representation here and thought Cassie's internal vs external drivers were really well written and explored on the page. A must read for kids and teens (and adults too!) who love a super atmospheric horror book.

This is right up my alley. Spooky, autistic, love it!

The only big issue I have is the file type, which I can't send to my Kindle. That has no bearing on the book, but I get headaches from reading on my phone, so it was hard to get myself to read it.

4.5 ⭐️

Ever since I first saw Taylor post about Hollow, I knew this was a book that I needed to get my hands on. As someone that has quietly delt with trichotillomania my whole life, I've never seen this representation done in books. I always talk about the importance of diversifying our bookshelves and knowing that this book not only mentioned someone that resonated with me but also spoke to Taylor's own experiences with autism was something I knew I wanted to read (whether or not I was lucky enough to receive an ARC).

In Hollow, we follow Cassie as she tries to pick up the pieces when she moves back to her hometown and reconnects with her childhood friends. After having a meltdown in upstate New York and getting diagnosed with autism, she's terrified that her friends won't accept this version of her when so many others haven't.

It isn't until her friends invite her on their hiking trip, that she believes this is her chance to heal those relationships and maybe tell them the truth about what happened. But things don't go as expected and Cassie will have to face those internalized struggles if she ever hopes to save her friends.

If you're looking for a book either eerie Midsommar vibes, puppets, lots of crows, and so much representation, then I highly recommend checking this book out.

Thank you to Taylor Grothe for letting me by apart of Cassie's Crows & also NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Peachtree publishing for a copy of the ebook to read and review.

Unfortunately I did decide to DNF this book. I can see the intention of representation but I found the narration to be very cliche. The main character is autistic which is so important but it felt like she was every stereotype on the internet molded into one person. The inner monologue feels unrealistic and the writing of it doesn’t flow. I think a teenager could enjoy this book because they are not as picky.

Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, it’s extremely readable. I blew through it! The beginning started off strong and grabbed my attention right away, and I enjoyed following the main character, Cassie, and seeing her struggles. This book also has some really awesome creepy moments.

Now, for what didn’t work for me. I would’ve liked to learn more about the side characters. I was disappointed at how little page time they got considering the premise of the novel. My main issue with this book is the ending. There is a twist/reveal that occurs, but based on the characters involved and when the events are happening, I don’t understand how the twist could be possible. The finer details aren’t explained, and I’m honestly just not convinced the twist is practically possible. Maybe I missed something earlier on in the book that would have made it plausible, but I was just left feeling confused more than anything and the ending did not work for me.

Would I recommend this book? Maybe. There were definitely some good parts, and I found it very easy to read. My main issue was that the ending felt unbelievable, but if you’re someone who doesn’t mind when books aren’t 100% believable/everything is explained, this could still be an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I will not be posting this to Goodreads because I know the author looks at Goodreads. But here's my thing, this book is wildly unrealistic. You have a character you claim is autistic and weird, and yet somehow has all these friends. She's a teen and is allowed to go on an unsupervised camping trip. BFFR. Only cool girls got to do that in HS. I had a friend who suffers from the same disorder that Cassie suffers from, and trust me-- no boy was asking her to go camping. NOT THAT OUR PARENTS WOULD LET US GO CAMPING WITH BOYS. IDK, I've been the outcast, and instead of feeling connected to Cassie,

If there's one thing that Taylor Grothe does well is write a complex main character. Cassie is an exceptionally relatable teen who has been diagnosed with autism, trichotillomania, and anxiety. How she sees the world, how she interacts with her overbearing mother, and internalizes her father's disregard of them in the new divorce feels heartbreakingly real. She's so perfectly flawed; filled with the best of intentions but struggles with following through and being brave. There was not a moment in Cassie's head that I did not thoroughly enjoy; however I feel that the side characters are far more lackluster. The group of friends is pretty cliche with their personalities and they each have a role to fill that isn't quite intuitive or exciting. I was so much more invested when they weren't physically in the story.
The creepy, eerie, forested atmosphere is perfect for fans who picked up this book wanting that 'don't go into the forest' trope but the plot's follow-through wasn't as exciting as it was almost confusing. When things began coming to a head, when books are typically supposed to amp up while heading to the crest of an exciting climax, I began losing my steam. I understand everything that happened in broad strokes but I just couldn't see the finer, and most important, details of what was happening in the final confrontation and reveal.
I think this book will be favorited by a great number of people. It was just a bit too shy of the mark for me to claim it a hit. I think there are a lot of great things in this book from the depth of the main character to the generation of the setting; but ultimately I'll give it three stars.

Like I needed another thing to worry about… now I gotta add puppets to the list AS WELL AS the forest.

When I say I wasn’t expecting this plot, I WASNT expecting this plot. I thought it was another creepy forest book and in a way it is but there’s more.

Always more lol.

Cassie was such a relatable character and I absolutely loved seeing her struggles and her growth. Jac was great. Seeing her anger and her fear and her growth. Yes please.

As for Blake? He can suck it.

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Hollow is one of the most beautiful stories about discovery, identity, and how hard it can be to find your place in the world. So many people will be able to see themselves in the stunning representation present throughout the book. Taylor Grothe manages to take so many difficult, complicated topics and weave them into the story with endless care.

This book follows a teenage girl named Cassie Davis as she navigates reconnecting with an old friend group after moving away and being diagnosed with autism. Teenage friendships and relationships can be so complicated, and seeing these done well is one of my favorite parts of the YA genre. Hollow is a masterclass on how to understand and represent the complexities that come with being a teenager. There is so much anger and misunderstanding within the relationship Cassie has with her friends. Watching how these struggles build and change the characters was incredible.

The cast of characters we follow in this book is probably one of the most well-written group of characters I've ever read. They all have their flaws, but they also have things you can't help but love about them. Not a single character, no matter how minor they may be, is anywhere close to being one-dimensional. They all feel so real, it's almost like you're there with them. It's so easy to imagine these being real people you may interact with in your own life. Their relationships with each other, whether they're good or bad, all feel realistic and natural. It's wonderful to see a cast of characters that can really reach to your brain and make you react like them and their stories are real.

I could go on and on about the storytelling in this book. Taylor Grothe is truly one of the best authors I've read from recently. The way they can take a plot and twist it into something so breathtakingly original is nothing short of incredible. Although there are so many great comp titles for this book, I promise it will be like nothing you've read before. No part of this story is predictable because it's never been done quite this way before. It is absolutely one of the most unique books I've read in a long while.

The twists are so well thought out that I was wondering how I didn't guess them. Each reveal seemed like it had been carefully planned for. There were hints hidden throughout the story, but they fit so perfectly that they weren't noticeable until the big reveal happened. There's one chapter in here that I had to read about fifteen times before I was willing to accept it and move on. If this book doesn't shock you, I don't know what will.

One of my favorite elements in any book, especially a horror, is the atmosphere. This book has one of the top five best environments I've ever read about. Everything is so eerie, but absolutely stunning and addictive. This is the type of atmosphere you can imagine yourself sitting in as you read. It feels like you're there and you never want to leave. Every little detail about the setting made the most gorgeous views explode in my mind as the story sucked me in.

Hollow is the type of horror that doesn't necessarily go out of its way to scare you, but instead creeps under your skin one page at a time and haunts you long after you've turned past the last page in its own unique way. Especially with the ending, this is the type of story that will keeps it place in your mind for a long, long while. It's the type of story that will have you losing sleep as you think back over every detail.

I could continue to go on about this book forever, but reviews have to stop somewhere (Recommendations don't, though. Don't expect me to shut up about this book). Anyone who loves YA horror with a little bit of magic needs to pick this up the very second they can get their hands on it. If you want strange puppets, a scary amount of crows, and the most beautifully written story you'll read all year, this is the book you're looking for. Hollow is such a breath of fresh air in the book world and I can't wait for more people to fall in love with it. We are so lucky that Taylor Grothe is sharing their stories with us.

Im still thinking about so many aspects of this book! I finished it late the other night, and I find my thoughts drifting to events in the book. I love when a book haunts you like that!

Cassie is back in her hometown from a tumultuous time away. Hoping to slip back into her friend group, even though she sort of ghosted them when she left, she agrees to a week long backpacking trip with the group. When they get separated and trapped by a storm, Cassie finds herself in a little community in the woods. Thankful for the assistance, but wanting to find her friends, she slowly learns that not all is as it seems in The Roost. 

The slow descent into dread and chaos was fun. There were pieces in the middle that felt a little repetitive and not helpful to move the plot along. The atmosphere was there, but the pacing was off. I was, however, kept intrigued and wanted to know what was going on, but I felt like the twist at the end was not set up very well and was not explained. I like wild, but I feel like it needs to be earned, ya know?

I rated it 3.25/5 rounded down to 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for the e-arc!

I am writing MY OWN experience with this book.

If you like: One of us is Lying, Midsommer, and melodramas- you will like this. RL Stine idea mixed with the TV show yelliwjackets while trying to peddle with a teen drama check list.

A group of teens get stuck in the woods after a horrible storm comes through and ruins their week plans.

I became frustrated real quick with the writing. I hated all the characters. Lack of communication trope IS THE WORST.

Made for tweens. Love triangle. "Austism"? rep. Lesbian love interest.


He's not bad.. he's not bad... I swear hes not bad. . oops, he's bad.

Thank you netgalley.com for the chance to read. Even with my qualms I still had fun.

First, I have to say that I was excited to see representation of autism and other mental health issues as the heroine in this story! As a special education teacher, one who has taught ASD classes, this was wonderful. Cassie moves back to her hometown with her mom after an incident at her school has her classified on the autism spectrum. When she gets back, her old friends seem a bit strange toward her, but they all go on a camping trip in the Adirondacks. A fight happens one night, and all her friends are gone. As the situation becomes dire, a boy named Kaleb brings Cassie to a place called the Roost where artists and outcasts hang out. This book is super eerie (dare I mention the life-sized puppets?!?) and it creates a sense of unease as the story progresses. I absolutely loved this book and Cassie and will look out for more books by Taylor Grothe!

Hollow is haunting and strange in the best ways. It was entertaining from the very beginning and hooked me with both character development and plot.

Cassie Davis has autism and she is so beautifully represented throughout this story. She has three best friends who she moves away from thanks to her father’s job. You find out pretty quickly that this move didn’t pan out well for her family and Cassie returns home with her mother… her father choosing divorce and a new life away.

Cassie’s experience during this time away is referenced in a series of flashbacks throughout the story that leave you curious as to what happened as she tries to rekindle the friendships she had previously. Her old besties? Deeply hurt and upset by her absence. When she moved, she ghosted them, They’re willing to work on things but they’re each hesitant in their own ways.

Here are my only critiques. While this story, overall, is enthralling, there were a couple times near the end (I would estimate maybe 80% of the way through) that a single line would completely pull me from the story. I would have lost track of time and place and then all of a sudden I was sitting on my couch wondering why it was written the way it was. However, those moments were rare compared to the rest of the reading experience as a whole.

I would say this book is largely a delightfully creepy YA horror with excellent representation of both ASD and the LGBTQIA+ experience.

I LOVED IT!!! I’m going to keep my review vague because you should go into this knowing as little as possible but I will say: Creepy woods, freaky puppet people, all the teen angst, that TWIST 👀👀

It’s also really sweet and tender—perfect read for fall so be sure to preorder 💙

I thought the autism rep in this book was fantastic. My heart ached for Cassie with every passing page and I found her and her struggles really relatable as a fellow neurodivergent person.

I also loved Cassie’s complicated relationship with Jac since I didn’t realize this book was also queer! It was cool to see them get a second chance together amid all of the culty chaos.

That being said, I wish the book was a little more… scary? I felt like there were definitely creepy elements to the book but I was expecting something terrifying. The plot twist at the end though had my jaw on the floor and I loved that. I really wasn’t expecting it and it completely blindsided me in the best way.

Overall, the book was good, just not a favorite for me but is still one I’d recommend to the right person.

Queer horror. Queer horror. Queer horror. I keep chanting as I think about this book. We need more of this. This was incredible.

This one has been on my tbr since I discovered Grothe at a CT library event last year (looking at you BookWyrm Fest) and when I saw it was a lost-in-the-woods culty horror with autism and queer rep, it automatically moved up ten thousand points on my tbr! Reading Hollow was truly a treat and I had to remind myself a few times that this is a debut book at that. The pacing was perfect, the setting was eerie and atmospheric and the way Grothe wove together the feeling of isolation in both the woods and in the FMCs personal life was masterful.
On a personal level, this is the first book I've read that had trichotillomania rep in it and as someone that's dealt with trich for most of her life (and was going through a stress related relapse while I read this), I felt so ridiculously seen with Cassie. Representation matters and I'm so grateful that there are teens out there who might not have a name for their compulsions and will get to discover a part of themselves through Cassie. I genuinely cannot wait to see what Grothe creates in the future!

YALL! LET ME SCREAM ABOUT THIS BOOK! Thank you to NetGalley and Peacetree Teen for the ARC.

I was sitting at my work desk, ordering books, and BAM. Hollow pops up on my screen. Queer YA cult horror?! Immediate purchase for my library and immediate NetGalley request for me.

As someone who didn’t figure out they were autistic or queer until I was an adult, I desperately needed a book like Hollow as a teen. I will forever love YA books because they examine complex issues and emotions in relatable and digestible ways for younger readers, especially a book like Hollow. I am already thinking of the displays I’ll put this book on in my library and will be recommending it to both my teen and adult patrons.

Hollow follows Cassie Davis, a newly diagnosed autistic teen who has moved back home to upstate New York. When Cassie left 4 years ago, she also left behind a group of her closest friends whom she didn’t really keep in touch with. So, her friends invite her on a hiking trip to Hollow Ridge, and Cassie is eager to reconnect. However, on the first night there is a huge fight, and Cassie wakes to an empty campsite. Frantically searching for her friends in the woods while a thunderstorm threatens to strike, Cassie is saved by a strange boy who is from a community called The Roost, a collective group of artists who simply wanted to live off grid and get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Or, so Cassie thinks.

That is all the summary I shall leave you with because there are SO many twists and turns in Hollow that you’ll want to read for yourself. I loved Hollow so much and read it in just a few days. The setting is haunting and beautifully written. All of the characters are intriguing and hold their own, with Cassie truly shining and growing into the hero of her own story.

Hollow releases September 30, 2025 🥀🖤 There is a cool preorder campaign going on rn that I encourage you to take advantage of, too!