And just like that–the last Saturday of August, Boils & Ghouls! 👻
Which is truly bittersweet as saying goodbye to the vibes of summer will be hard to do, but we all know what season is coming up next?!
I’ve been working on a few things in the background all summer; planting some seedlings which will hopefully sprout some grueling goodies for us this coming Fall…
So “lettuce” finally recap last month’s reads in celebration of Summerween 🎃
Heh, I’m so excited to creep into the Autumn szn!
My July was seriouly fueled by my incredible book clubs, NetGalley, and my newly acquired BookSirens account. So it was a very busy month…
I also want to give a huge shout-out to George Bachman and Adam Cosco for reaching out to me personally!
It’s a joy and honor to work with authors directly via my contact page so if you’re a Horror or indie author, and you have some spooky books you’d like me to read 👀 then I’m your ghoul.
JuLy Theme | Summerween 🎃
Speaking of Summerween… Are you taking part in Halloweenhappy’s #100 days of Halloween Happy?!
We started manifesting the Halloween spirits 🔮 on July 23rd!
To set the mood while you review the reviews, heh, here’s a cute Summerween playlist so fitting for the occasion 🎶
Consider reviewing previous monthly recaps 👇🏻
- New Year, New Reading Goals
- What I’ve Read In A Month – September 2025 Edition
- What I’ve Read In A Month – August 2025 Edition
JuLy TO BE READ (TBR) Vibes
I love using the Fable app to prepare monthly reading lists, and to share them with my fellow fantastic Fablers on the app to get hyped for the upcoming scares or fascinations I’m about to experience…
If you happen to be an avid reader and want more social in your book life, Fable is definitely the app to seek out 👀
Book Reviews
📖=physical/ebook 🎧=audiobook
120 Murders: Dark Fiction Inspired By the Alternative Era by Nick Mamatas (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to IBPA & Netgalley for the ARC]
Format: ebook 📖
“After midnight is as dark as it gets…
Whether thanks to an overnight college radio shift or cable pumping flickering videos into TVs across America, the music of the alternative era was the soundtrack to our lives, and sometimes our deaths. 120 Murders is an anthology of power chord crimes and keyboard horrors–the best noir, dark fantasy, and transgressive fiction from writers inspired by grunge, goth, ska, synthpop, and every eclectic sound of the alternative era.“
As a musician and avid Horror lover, I was very intrigued by the theme of these horror shorts and the connection to alt music… and it was extremely fascinating to see what the authors came up with and the wild stories that were told.
While it took me a while to get through all the stories, they were well-written and cleverly created for this book. If you’re into harsh and gritty Horror shorts, this is definitely an anthology to check out!
Rating:💀💀💀
Incidents Around The House by Josh MalerMan (2024)
Format: ebook 📖
“A chilling horror novel about a haunting told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy,” from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box.“
Ever since I read Daphne last October, followed by A House At The Bottom Of A Lake, I’ve been a Josh Malerman fan ghoul. The way Josh is able to capture those truly chilling moments in a text format that give you the same terrifying sensations as watching a horror movie…
Yeah, I actually had nightmares after reading this one (like I did with Daphne… ooops, I wasn’t suppose to talk about her 👀)
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
Negative Images by Rebecca Schier-Akamelu (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Rising Action Publishing Co. & Netgalley for the ARC]
Format: ebook 📖
“Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay and Carissa Orlando, a gripping psychological horror debut exploring grief and betrayal as a haunted widow confronts her husband’s ghostly torment in a society unhinged by supernatural fears.“
I fell deep into this book when I learned about the premise–being trapped with a negative image of someone for the rest of your life that terrifies anyone who witnesses it, but tortures you by existing? This was going to be a ride, for sure… and I wasn’t wrong.
While I found the ending didn’t land as I expected, it was still an emotional XP that I won’t forget!
Rating:💀💀💀💀
Subscribe to the blog for more haunted monthly recaps…
Brain Damage by Kago (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Fantagraphics Books & Netgalley for the ARC]
Format: ebook 📖
“From the brilliant and twisted mind of manga artist Shintaro Kago, a new collection of short stories rife with skin-crawling suspense, visceral body horror, and pitch dark-humor.“
Have you seen this cover?! Oh my goodness, I couldn’t want to get my hands on this manga (and this is coming from a ghoul with almost no manga reading XP)
Fair warning: this is NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!
TW TW TW XXX Graphic NSFW Content!
While I was expecting to be shocked and a little creeped out… I was NOT expecting that level of explicit in my visual reading. Reader’s discretion advised!
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (2025)
Format: Hardcover 📖
“Wielding her signature sardonic wit and a penchant for the gorgeously macabre, Virginia Feito returns with a vengeance in Victorian Psycho.“
I was cackling while reading this and knew immediately upon reading the premise that I was going to enjoy this book. It has actually made me move Virginia’s books higher on my TBR (here’s looking at you Mrs. March 🖤)
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for the ARC]
Format: eBook 📖
“It’s a Midsommar night’s Scream in this blood-soaked thriller set at a remote healing retreat from horror author Brian McAuley.”
When I heard of Camp NetGalley, I knew I had to participate this year! And when I saw the selection of books to pick from, I also knew which one would be an instant pick!
As a yogi and (let’s repeat) avid horror lover 🙈 I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to read a sensory Horror Slasher set at a restful spa retreat that’s aimed at reconnecting you with yourself… while a killer is on the loose.
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
Mary by Nat Cassidy (2022)
Format: Paperback & Audiobook 📖🎧
“Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.
But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things…”
Nat Cassidy is one hell of a talented writer, and I’m in awe at how respectful and inspired he was to use the sources he did to curate this horrific masterpiece.
Also, having the pleasure to do a hybrid XP with both the physical and audiobook truly elevated the reading for me!
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
They Hide by Francesca Maria (2023)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Brigids Gate Press & Netgalley for the Read]
Format: eBook 📖
“Who are we if not for the monsters that we keep?
They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark collects thirteen chilling tales that weave through the shadows, exploring the nature of fear, powerlessness, and control.”
I grew up in the Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark? era so when I see a Horror anthology–I’m going to want to read it. I’m such a sucker for a creepy collection of curated chills, and that’s exactly what I got from this book!
Rating:💀💀💀💀
Sabrina Tells Maddie the Truth About her Past by George Bachman (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to George Bachman for the ARC]
Format: eBook 📖
“When Maddie’s questions gradually reveal she may have her secrets as terrifying as Sabrina’s, Sabrina faces a choice whether to remain in the dark world of immortals as our protector or pursue the normal life she cherishes and risk leaving humanity to its fate.”
A major thank you to George Bachman for reaching out to me to put this Horror novella on my radar!
I love found footage and cosmic horror, and when I began reading this story, I felt instantly immersed in those feels and a part of the horrible chain of events that we encounter as Sabrina and Maddie come to terms with who they truly are.
Rating:💀💀💀💀
Perverts by Adam Cosco (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Adam Cosco for the ARC]
Format: eBook 📖
“Perverts is a provocative, darkly comedic collection of interconnected stories set against the backdrop of Los Angeles in 2012, as the city burns. It pulls back the curtain on the secret lives of sexual deviants, abusers, addicts, and fame-chasers lurking in the shadows of the City of Angels. Each tale is boldly erotic and savagely satirical, exposing the hollowness behind Hollywood’s glamour.”
Thank you so much to Adam Cosco for reaching out to alert me to his upcoming Horror novella!
The cover art alone grabbed me, but then it was just how Adam is able to write in a way that is both highly erotic and extremely horrific all in the same vein. The sensations you get from reading these stories within this novella are on another level and the rate in which you’re switching from them is highly entertaining. I have now added many of Adam’s books to my TBR and I highly recommend you check out his works, too.
Rating:💀💀💀💀💀
Issues with Authority by Nadia Bulkin (2025)
[ 🗣️Thank you to Booksirens for the ARC]
Format: eBook 📖
“Shirley Jackson Award-Nominated author Nadia Bulkin’s sophomore collection ISSUES WITH AUTHORITY drenches the reader in a sensory overload of power, belief, and horrifying transformation.”
This was my first BookSirens request, solely based on the above description! I was captivated by the cover art, but was also grabbed by the topics and subjects being discussed within the stories. Dealing with some heavy subjects and emotional triggers, this was definitely a great first BookSirens reading XP!
Rating:💀💀💀.5
To haunt my previous reads, check out this archive.
We hit double digits in July and that’s something to be proud of! I really love getting to read and review countless books and ARCs that fuel me with much horrific enjoyment.
There’s seriously not enough minutes in a day to consume the amount of books on my TBR, but I’ll never let that stop me from trying.
If you’d like to see what other books I’ve read, creep my books 👀
plus consider possessing your inbox with NEW blog updates…
High and Low vibes of July
July was riding on an all-time high for most of the month, with even my “lowest vibe” being a 5-star read… for reasons you will soon understand, so it was really hard to choose the highest vibe 🙈
✨ VIBED THE HIGHEST WITH…
Perverts by Adam Cosco (2025)
Why did this book exceed my expectations?
I really enjoyed the structure, the way the stories were set up and how they all connected with each other. Like I mentioned before, the way Adam writes and is able to elicit a kaleidoscope of feelings within the reader, while telling such gripping and extremely visceral narratives is far beyond comprehension. Mesmerized is an understatement.
This Horror novella releases next month on September 16 and if I were you, and I were morbidly curious, I’d be reading it 😈
☠️ HIT MY LOWEST Vibe WITH…
Brain Damage by Kago (2025)
What happened during the reading experience?
All was going well until we took a turn in the third story… and I cannot truly describe what happens without spoiling the story. But, I can say it’s heavily explicit and truly NSFW in any capacity. I thought I knew darkness… and then, I witnessed that 😅
I had to give this collection a 5-skull XP just with that alone, as it takes a lot for me to truly go “WTF did I just read?!” and we definitely got there with that one manga. My dreams are haunted, for sure.
Nightmares and jokes aside, so much gratitude to Fantagraphics Books & NetGalley for granting my wish to give this ghoul access to the advanced reading copy 📖🙏🏻
If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you reading about reading 🙈
Drop a 👻 in the comments and share your reading highs and lows for July…
Do you have a morbid curiosity?
Join the club(s) 👀📚
Until we meet again,
What was your favorite book in July?
Drop a 🖤 Break a name