Shout out to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for this ARC! I read The Monsters We Made in the middle of a heat wave, which was the absolute perfect atmosphere for this book. It's incredibly atmospheric, balancing the real life horror of illness, death, and the environment with the horror of potentially paranormal happenings. Peyton June has a talent for weaving a story that feels grounded and incredibly easy to picture. I really enjoyed this book and it will be perfect for a summer release. I'll be recommending it to everyone.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun ride throughout. I thought it was the perfect length and nothing dragged. Overall a very solid cryptid story and I appreciated the subtle queer romance happening alongside the story. I say subtle not because it wasn't outright stated, but because the storyline of the cryptid is the main focus of the book. I will be recommending it to the teens at my library that I think will enjoy it.

I’m a total sucker for anything involving cryptids or alien-type mysteries, so this book was right up my alley. The whole idea of strange creatures, unexplained happenings, and the possibility that something unknown might be lurking out there immediately pulled me in. It gave the story such a creepy and exciting vibe that made it impossible for me to stop reading.

The atmosphere was incredible too. The setting felt eerie and secretive, and there was always this feeling that something bigger was going on beneath the surface. Every chapter revealed a little more and made me want to keep reading just one more chapter to see what would happen next.

I also really enjoyed the characters and how everything slowly came together. The story balanced the mystery, tension, and emotional moments really well, and I found myself fully invested in how everything would unfold.

Overall, I loved everything about this book—the creepy vibe, the mystery, the cryptid elements, and the way the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you enjoy stories with strange creatures, possible alien mysteries, and an eerie atmosphere, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Peyton June and W.W. Norton & Company for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Monsters We Made by Peyton June is a suspenseful small town story that blends horror, mystery, and a touch of sci fi in a way that feels both eerie and grounded. The book follows Lenny, who co runs an alien hunting show, and Claire, a local who pulls them into her town with the promise of something strange lurking just out of sight. What starts as a search for answers quickly turns into something much deeper as the town’s secrets begin to surface.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the setting being in this small town where people are forced to protect one another whether they want to or not, and how that sense of closeness also created tension and secrecy. The dual POV worked so well and I liked getting to know both Lenny and Claire as they navigated everything happening around them. Their dynamic felt natural and added another layer to the story alongside the aliens, the town’s residents, and the growing unease.
There was horror and suspense where there needed to be, but what stood out to me most were the deeper conversations about feeling trapped and not belonging in a small town. That theme was woven in a way that felt real and fitting for the characters and their choices. I also loved that the romance stayed more of a subplot, which honestly surprised me since I usually gravitate toward romance heavy stories. There were enough hints and buildup between Lenny and Claire that when they finally got together it felt natural and not rushed, especially compared to Claire’s past relationship.
The mystery surrounding Old Lucky was handled really well and kept me engaged the entire time without giving too much away too early. I also loved how everything came full circle by the end. There is a sense of a cycle continuing with new people coming into town and still not believing, while we see how much Claire has changed after everything she experienced. It gave the story a lasting impact that stuck with me even after finishing. Overall this was such a fun and engaging read with a great mix of tension, emotion, and intrigue.

X-Files meets YouTube culture and I am HERE for it.

Lenny is one half of a monster hunting YouTube duo and when that falls apart she has to actually face the mystery she’s been obsessed with forever. Claire is the hometown outsider who doesn’t believe in any of it… until she does lol

This was SO fun I genuinely stayed up way too late for this one. LGBTQIA+ rep, teenage girls front and center, creepy mystery vibes… what more do you want honestly!

Highly recommend if you’re into found mystery, internet culture, girls figuring themselves out

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The monsters we made is a YA horror suspense. Lenny is the co owner of a YouTube channel where she explores strange occurrences, cryptids, and haunted places with her kind of ex boyfriend Evan. This brings them to Scarberry, where supposedly, an alien named Old Lucky lives and was spotted again recently. Except Claire made it all up to bring in more attention and save her family business. When Evan leaves in the middle of Lenny’s investigation, Claire teams up with Lenny to help her uncover Scarberry’s secrets.

I loved this novel. It’s been a while since I stayed up late to read! The characters were easy to root for. The dual pov and the writing style made me fly through this book, and I love that the romance in this book didn’t overshadow the crazy things happening. It was more of a subplot and they didn’t instantly fall for each other. It was a slow burn with the characters slowly opening up to each other, which was more realistic. The suspense of uncovering what Old Lucky really was and if it really exists was well done, so even before the main events start happening, I was hooked. So glad I stumbled across this novel and I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

This book had all of my favorite things. Queer romance! Mystery! Light Horror! Aliens! Coming of age! Bizarre shit happening! And a satisfying ending!

The Monsters We Made had great pacing and a nice writing style. Both Lenny and Claire felt like such real characters, each grappling with their own issues and emotions while forging a friendship and solving the strange town mystery of Scarberry together.

The budding romance was done delicately and intentionally, so it never felt forced or out of place. The romance isn’t at all the main story being told, so there isn’t a ton of focus on it, it just builds naturally. Our main characters are 18 and fresh out of high school, the romance is very pure and innocent, 0/10 spice (in case you were wondering, like I was and always am)

The alien plot line was very creative and strange and had me hooked. It took me a while to get through the book (bc I was struggling with NetGalleys reader formatting) but once I hit about 70% I finished all the rest in one sitting because I just had to know what was going on.

All in all, I thought this was a fun and easy read. I was very entertained and I’ll definitely look for more by Peyton June!

Peyton June’s latest is a queer coming of age tale…that also happens to be a wild paranormal adventure!

Thanks to W.W. Norton & Co., Norton Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for review.

A disillusioned film student trying to save her aunt’s farm, a YouTuber obsessed with all things paranormal, and a sudden rash of unexplained happenings in a dying small town.

[Claire Reed lives on her aunt’s farm in rural Nebraska. Reed Ranch’s only claim to fame is an “alien” sighting back in 1961, which was publicized enough that it drew in plenty of tourists to their little middle-of-nowhere town. Visitors take Instagram pics in front of the fake alien saucer out front, wander the woods, and buy keychains in the little gift shop…or at least they used to. Things have really slowed down, and now out-of-town developers are hassling her aunt to sell the land. In a bid to stir business back up, Claire hatches a plan: she will use her film skills to create a new “sighting” of their local cryptid to increase tourism.

Enter Lenny. Lenora Gilson and her kind-of-former-boyfriend Evan run Odd Kids, a YouTube channel devoted to exploring all things paranormal. Inspired by Lenny’s lifelong obsession with Reed Ranch, they have traveled around exploring haunted houses, alien abductions, and small-town cryptids. They roll into Scarberry, Nebraska, to investigate this new sighting of Old Lucky, the alien that started it all for Lenny.

Lenny’s a true believer, but Evan is skeptical and he soon abandons her to continue on to Arizona. Lenny ropes Claire into investigating with her instead, and Claire agrees, hoping to cover up the fact that it really was a hoax. But she’s also starting to worry—she played a fake howl on hidden speakers the first night, and she arranged a (fake) sighting for the second night, but strange things have really started to happen: something is attacking the cows on the farm, there was an unexplained light flying over the barn, and a farmhand actually saw something that might have been Old Lucky. Except what he saw didn’t resemble the fake suit she had purchased…the fake suit she found utterly destroyed.

Soon, the farmhand disappears, the FBI starts poking around town, and Claire has to consider the possibility that her alien hoax is being taken over by an actual alien! At the same time, she may be falling for the newly-single Lenny…but Lenny’s straight, isn’t she? And even if she isn’t, she’ll be moving on soon. Yet, as more and more bizarre events occur the two of them are drawn closer together, navigating interference from federal agents, the extremely unhelpful local police chief, and the increasingly dodgy behavior of Aunt Maeve. Something really is going on in Scarberry, and they may be the only ones who can figure out what it is before the worst happens.

I really enjoyed this book. Though it initially felt a little slow to start, it quickly picked up and sucked me right in. The characters feel very realistic and relatable. Even if you didn’t grow up in a small town, if you went to public school in the US you’ll likely be familiar with the kind of jock and cheerleader types that Claire and Lenny encounter. Claire’s aunt Maeve’s concern for her daughter’s health and her obsession with holistic medicine are also very realistic. And the setting felt almost like a character of its own, creating a strong atmosphere of mystery and adventure.

As an adult who once was a queer teen trying to figure out my place in the world, I empathized with Claire. I have grappled with the decision to pursue art or to choose the “safe” option, and I have had to navigate family health issues and the money problems they can create. Like Lenny, I have been in questionable relationships and had to justify my unorthodox pursuits to adults in my life. Despite being so dedicated to exploring the paranormal, this book is also very rooted in the world we live in, one where your neighbors and community can make navigating your own life feel impossible, where authority figures can’t always be trusted, and where figuring out who you are and what you want is the hardest, scariest part of growing up.

The Monsters We Made is an exciting read, full of suspense and unexpected twists. I literally shrieked at the big twist when I was reading the end! If you love queer coming-of-age stories, urban legends and cryptids, or small-town mysteries, then this may be the book for you. If so, pick up your copy when it comes out: June 23rd, 2026.

I give it 4.5 of 5 stars—highly recommended!

Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company for this eARC!

For fans of: The X Files, Watcher

If you love stories about small towns with creepy stories traded down generations like fancy ceramic dishes, then this is the book for you. I couldn't put this book down, it's captivating; a story about a couple hunting UFOs out in the middle of nowhere find a lot more than they bargained for, and learn about themselves on the way.

The Monsters We Made also features queer characters, aliens, and an overall creepy, mysterious story.

Definitely will be picking up a copy when this comes out!

A sapphic, paranormal thriller about cryptids? I could request this title fast enough!

I absolutely loved this conversation about belonging set in a small town. The oppressive feeling of being trapped physically and by expectations really spoke to me, as someone living in a small town myself. The relationship between Lenny and Claire developed naturally and didn't take away from the main plot and the mysterious Old Lucky. Almost like queer romance in novels can be natural and don't have to be obviously shoehorned in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

4.5/5⭐️
I read this as an eARC and I really enjoyed it. The story did not necessarily go as i expected it to but I liked where it ended up! This is a YA alien investigation/paranormal story with a sprinkle of LGBTQIA+ romance between a small town Nebraskan girl who created a hoax video of a local cryptid legend and the YouTuber who comes along to investigate it.
There's not a whole lot I can say without spoiling it but this was unique, intruiging, and id love to read more books with this vibe.
The Monsters We Made by Peyton June comes out June 23rd 2026!
Thank you @peyjune for letting me read this in advance! :)

#cryptid #peytonjune #lovereading #bookstigram #fyp

4.5 stars

I knew I had to read this book from the summary and the cover. The cover is stunning. I love it when the cover accurately represents the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were well-written. I loved most of the quirky cast, except for a few. I read this book more for the vibes, so I don't have any critiques. There are discussions of grief, cancer, a drug-addicted parent, and sexuality. I wouldn't call this book light-hearted. There are heavier topics throughout the book, but it didn't feel like it was drowning me either. This book will be perfect to pick up this Summerween. It has a creepier atmosphere, and the fact that we are following a character who investigates the unusual. I loved the Scooby-Doo reference. If you know, you know. I can't wait to read another book by Peyton June. I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Peyton June, and Norton Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this arc
5⭐️
Small towns have the best creepy vibes, makes me feel close to home.
This book is what I have been needing! It has many attributes that I love. Gravity Falls / Stranger Things / Stephen King / Scooby Doo and Good Girls Guide To Murder Vibes!!!!

I could not put this down! Am I going to get a headache for staring at my phone reading this?…Yes…Was it worth it? HELL YES !!!!
The plot had me on my toes, trying to solve what Old Lucky was, while it sent me in many directions.
The characters pretty much acted their ages, were decent and we got a CURVY GIRL!!!

The dynamic between Lenny and Claire and the tension between them 😩!!! One of the ways Lenny described Claire was “Soft shape of a woman in an Ancient Greek sculpture “ AHHH!
This felt like a Nancy x Robin ship from Stranger Things. Claire also giving Wendy from Gravity Fall vibes.
The horror was a build up intensity, between the screeching cries and the mutilated cows ( also trigger warning for animal harm⚠️)

Overall I can’t wait to get a physical copy in my hands! Definitely going in my Top five of 2026!

Thank you Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for an eARC of this!

As soon as I heard that Peyton June's newest book was available on Netgalley, I dropped everything and requested it that exact moment. I adored Bad Creek and went into this with high expectations. I'm so pleased to say that this book exceeded my expectations.

This book follows our two main characters. Lenny, a paranormal investigator who runs a popular YouTube channel with her (not so) boyfriend Evan; and Claire, our hometown hero who wants to support her family and community while feeling outcasted by everyone. After an anonymous tip is sent to Lenny, she and Evan head to Scarberry, Nebraska to investigate and find out what is happening in this small farming community.

When I say that I could not put this book down, I mean it.

I feel like the part that stood out the most about this book was the setting. The eerie small town vibes mixed with the fact that outsiders are clearly not welcome. Scarberry really is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and nothing is a secret (until it is).

June really manages to make sure that you as a reader are at the edge of your seat. I found myself questioning every interaction with every character. I felt like no one could be trusted and that mixed with the the eerie atmosphere and the secrets that you could FEEL with each page turn made this book completely unforgettable.

Thank you to Peyton June, W. W. Norton & Company, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 / 5 ⭐

First things first, I love cryptids, paranormal things, and overall eerie atmosphere! Second, I love queer romance! Put them together and you get this lovely read: The Monsters We Made.

I really enjoyed this book!!
I found myself on the edge of my seat when reading during suspenseful moments, and Lenny and Claire's relationship seemed to develop in such a natural way. I also really loved the deeper aspects of this book, like delving somewhat into influencer culture and the hardships of that.

I don't typically go for many horror or thriller novels, but this one was actually very nice and bearable for me. I felt very engaged and very intrigued by the plot and all the questions raised! And the fact that everything finally came to light and made sense in the end was very satisfying, and almost gratifying! This was such a fun read!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8533821366

I really really enjoyed this book, the characters, the story, the xfiles but modern vibes all created such a unique and fantastic read!

Thank you so much to Peyton June, Norton, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early!

I loved this book so much!

The story follows Claire and Lenny, who come together to investigate a strange creature lurking in a small town. Claire doesn’t believe the creature is real, while Lenny wants to believe in it so badly!

I did not expect to fall in love with this story as much as I did, nor did I expect it to be so impactful. From reading about Claire’s struggles living as a lesbian in a small town and having to care and provide for her family, to relating to Lenny, who struggles to accept who she is outside of her “role” on the YouTube channel, I was just so surprised and loved every second of it.

This book had me reading nonstop. It’s incredibly addictive, and the writing is amazing. The plot was so engaging, and all the horror elements and storyline were executed perfectly!

I’m really happy that NetGalley gave me this chance, and I will definitely keep Peyton on my radar and read more of her books!

I loved everything about this! A sapphic love story with small town mysteries and cryptids? Sign me up! Thank you to the publishers for giving me an ARC! 5 out of 5 stars, highly recommend!

This book was a beautiful nod to the paranormal shows of the 90’s like Buffy the vampire slayer and the x-files. I love a good cryptid story and this book truly delivered! Not only that, it also features queer main characters which I absolutely love to see! Great read overall!

*The Monsters We Made* is a gripping, eerie thriller that blends small-town secrets with supernatural tension perfectly. Claire and Lenny are complex, believable characters, and their growing relationship adds real emotional depth. The mystery builds steadily, with just the right amount of dread—strange lights, missing people, and something truly unsettling lurking beneath it all. A haunting, addictive read you won’t want to put down.

📡👽 The Monsters We Made by Peyton June 👽📡

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🛸 What to Expect
• Queer paranormal thriller
• Cryptid investigation
• Small town secrets
• Paranormal vloggers
• Missing persons
• Cattle mutilation
• Sapphic
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Absolutely haunting and impossible to put down. Peyton June has a way of making you feel every single emotion. A stunning 5-star read!

An absolutely haunting and beautifully written read! Peyton June has a way of pulling you into the atmosphere from the very first page. I couldn't put it down!

4.5/5 Stars!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of The Monsters We Made by Peyton June!!

The Monsters We Made wasn’t what I expected, but I did enjoy it!! It isn’t a traditional horror book, but it worked! I thought I knew what was happening, but kept getting shocked. I really had no idea how it was going to end. I also never expected what the true horrors actually were.

I really loved the writing and how descriptive it was, I could picture everything and feel how eerie the tone was. I also absolutely loved the ending and thought it was a perfect conclusion.

This book follows Lenny, one part of a duo from a paranormal YouTube channel, and Claire, a gift store worker at her family farm. Claire tries to help her family farm by using her hometown's local legend to draw out the YouTubers, however when they arrive it seems it may not just be a tale when unexplainable things start occurring. Lenny and Claire work together to figure out what’s actually real and what is actually going on in the odd town of Scarberry.

While I enjoyed this book, it was a bit slow to get into. I was also hoping for it to be more horror as it felt more like a sci-fi story.

Overall, The Monsters We Made was a fun and unique read! This story left me rooting for Lenny and Claire not just as a couple, but as individuals who felt so real. I’ve never read anything like this and hope to see more!

Maybe the real horrors were the monsters we made along the way... or however the saying goes. Joking aside, Peyton June has absolutely crafted an excellent atmospheric cryptid horror with The Monsters We Made. And while this absolutely is cryptid horror, it's also so much more than that. It's the fear that comes from grieving, uncertainty, resentment, and feeling trapped in your circumstances. It's the pain behind loss. It's the devastation and rage that set in when your whole world makes you feel like you're either not enough or too much- or sometimes both simultaneously.

While it did take a while for me to get into the story, I deeply enjoyed this book. And I do generally love a bit of a slower build up to the plot so that's never a deal breaker. The Monsters We Made NEEDED that build, though, so if you're someone who does struggle with pacing just note that you'll need a little patience starting out. ((The payoff is worth it!))

If you like cryptid horror, women getting sick of men and their oppressive bullshit, & small town corruption shenanigans then you're going to want to add this book to your TBR. While release isn't expected until June ((Honestly the only release month that makes sense to me here.)) that gives you plenty of time to pick up Bad Creek and to fall in love with Peyton June's writing like I have.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and Peyton June for this complimentary copy.))

Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for approving my request to read an arc of this book

I first heard about this book on instagram and it sounded brilliant! When I saw it on NetGalley I requested it right away and was honestly so impressed with the plot and the writing. It was so easy to read but also very engaging. The twists kept me guessing and I also really enjoyed the characters and mystery of the town.

This was INSANELY good!! I was in the edge of my seat just sucked in! The way I fell for these characters.
Evan made me so mad, he was redeemed a bit but still! Like Claire said, Lenny deserves a cheerleader, not someone to keep her in line!

The whole hoax story was great! I have respect for Claire and Bri trying to save their ranch but the way it went from there!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT!! Even Warren surprised me!
Plot twists galore!!

I loved this whole thing! If you like X-files, queer romance, spooky as hell atmosphere, weird cryptids, small towns
THIS IS IT!

It’s definitely more YA, no real spice. But Claire and Lenny become the best little Cryptid hunters together, I loved them!! Adding to my top reads of 2026 for sure!!