Wow, the cliffhanger, now impatiently wait for book 2.

I absolutely loved this book. Was hooked from the very beginning. I love a good dark retelling, especially involving Alice in Wonderland (especially enjoyed the references thrown in throughout the book)

Can't wait to read more.

Since she was never found, and a body never recovered, Holly seemed to exist in a nebulous place between life and death.

thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

In the mid-1800s, a young girl known only as the Patchwork Girl because of the dress she wore disappeared; in 1982, Holly Hobbie met the same mysterious fate; in the present day, Evie Archer, her mother (cousin to the late Holly), and younger brother Stan have moved into the infamous Hobbie House, known locally as the Horror House because of the two mysterious disappearances that happened in it. Not long after Evie and her family move in, she starts to fall under the influence of some mysterious presences...

I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover and I was intrigued by the concept and I really enjoyed it. It was so much creepier than I expected it to be -- especially for a book that seems to be aimed at the younger end of the YA audience. I think this book would be perfect for someone who's grown out of R.L. Stine but isn't quite ready for Stephen King.

It had a really unique concept an the writing was fun and it kept me hooked and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed reading about Evie's search into the history of the house and the way it was impacting her mental state and I could not put this book down as I was reading it to find out what happened to Holly and the Patchwork Girl and what was going on with Evie's eerie experiences.

It ended on a little bit of a cliffhanger with the author setting up for an upcoming sequel which I'm very interested in, but I also felt like the book mostly wrapped things up and for people that aren't interested in reading further into this world, it was a pretty satisfying ending.

There were a couple things I didn't love about this book, but they didn't ruin the experience for me. I felt like the pacing was a little strange at some points with twists being rushed right through after they seemed like they were going to be a huge, suspenseful moment, but they were tidied up and moved on with pretty quickly. I really liked the way that a little touch of Korean culture was tied in with the folklore, but I felt like it was woven into the story and then abandoned and not really used very much, which was disappointing. I would've loved to have gotten more about that and I hope that it comes back up in the sequel.

A pretty decent mid level horror book. I do no there’d been more investigating, but for this book it didn’t really seem necessary.

The climax was good and I thought great happy ending. Then came the last chapter and I was like what.

I did also find out this is supposed to be a series which gives the abrupt end more credence. But honestly, I think this should just be a standalone.

A classic YA take on the horror house story. It's got all the elements:, disappearing girls, a historical house, mirrors, sleepy town, mine tunnels with no map, uncanny dolls, ghosts, creepy sightings, taro reading, dark folklore across town, mean-girl with coffee, back-in-time dance, and a whole lot more tropes.
It you're looking for a collection of all the possible cliches, admittedly well written in, then this is a very good example.
I liked that the main character Evie had a strong passion for sewing that got weaved into the story. The characters are rather likable, especially for people who are fans of the Wednesday series. I really liked the Birdy family, but the Asian wisdom trope was a bit cringy.
It's very smooth, fast reading, perfect for holidays and will probably talk to teens who haven't seen too many horror movies/books. The ending was a disappointing thought, as it felt as if it was missing 3 or 4 chapters. It was unclear whether this was a cliffhanger or the end. A big chunk of the story is completely abandoned but that might be the opening to a new volume?
I won't be continuing as I like a little more surprise in my novels, but I'm sure many crafty teen girls 13 to 16 will enjoy this.

First off, I love this cover. The subtle creepiness and colors are perfect. This is the first book in a new YA series. I was really drawn to the premise of the story- small town, haunted house, unsettled spirits. The atmosphere in this book was creepy and had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I found myself reading this book late into the night. I really needed to know what happened next.

I thought the author did a great job with Evie’s character development. I really connected with her and felt for her situation. Being the new girl at a new high school is so hard. I thought the romance with Desmond was a fun, lighthearted touch.

I recommend this for readers who like YA and a good scare. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

A fast-paced thriller about things that go bump in the night.

After a bad divorce, Evie Archer's mom moves the family to Hobbie House, colloquially known as horror house. The house unsettles Evie right away, and the reader's alarm bells will go off along with Evie's as the unexplainable keeps happening. This is made even more frightening as both the reader and Evie are unsure at first if it's a haunting or if Evie is hallucinating. Two girls have disappeared in Hobbie House over the years, and Evie decides that finding out what happened to them is the key to finding out what's happening to her. When she finds a diary and a doll from one of them, she has a hard time thinking of anything else.

Evie's an interesting character. She loves nothing more than designing and sewing her own clothes, going for a shabby prairie chic look. She's pretty, immediately catching the eye of the golden boy at school. But it's Evie's struggles to reconcile reality with the shadow world lurking beyond that adds the most intrigue.

This book ends with a cliffhanger twist, paving the way for a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to penguin teen for the arc in exchange for review.


YA Horror just isn't for me and i didn't enjoy this as much as i thought i would.

Local Mystery? Yes

Creepy? Yes

Alice in Wonderland references? Yes

I read the summary prior to reading the book, but I don't think I really anticipated how much this story would draw me and creep me out all at once.

It's not often a horror story to give me the heebie jeebies, but this one did several times… And I loved it! It's so well done that even though I was creeped out, I couldn't wait to know what happened next!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this. It uses so many horror aspects I love like: mysterious disappearances, restless ghosts, and almost living haunted house. This story very much reminded me at times of the one of my favorite Netflix shows, Haunting of Hill House. For example, the need for Holly to latch onto to Evie and have her join her and Sarah very much screamed the same vibes of the mother from Hill House and her need to keep her children with her. Specifically, the ending when Evie is forced to drink (what I assume is poison) from a cup to end her life is what truly put the comparison in my mind (if you've seen Hill House you know what I'm referencing.)

I think Corpora creates a very strong narrative with Evie and leaves us guessing the whole time what exactly Evie's secret is. It's hinted at for awhile that had some kind of mental breakdown previously a few times, but at the end when it comes to light that Evie is more aware of the supernatural, it all clicks into place.

I do have a few complaints with this story. First, I feel as if we've missed an opportunity to bring in more about Evie's father. It's clear that she's distressed by her parents recent divorce, but I still felt like I was left wondering a lot about her relationship with her dad and how him not being in the picture helps push Evie's pain and motivations in the story. We definitely get that in the end, but I think this could've been brought up more.

I was also disappointed when the "mean girl" trope was used. This is such an overused device and really added nothing but unnecessary drama to the story. There was enough as it is, but having Kimber be this mean girl who hates Evie solely cause Kimber's ex-bf is into her is an over hashed trope that, again, brought nothing to the overall narrative.

I'm also kind of disappointed that this isn't a standalone. I do want to know what happens, and I think I will read the next one. But everything was wrapping up so nicely and then we got that little cliffhanger at the end. I think this very well could stand on its own without another book, but I will probably read the second nonetheless.

Overall, this was a great and short horror novel that I think many will easily enjoy. 4.25 stars from me!

Alright, alright, alright…. Not bad at all, Holly Horror was actually quite creepy for a YA novel. Of course it also reminded me why I’m very picky with my YA titles as the teenage pining and the drama did overstay its welcome at one point.

Michelle Jabes Corpora’s writing is concise and pleasant to read. Her characters nicely fleshed out, relatable and the setting / world building great! And as this is only the first book in the series I can honestly say i’m definitely looking forward to what else is in store for us.

If you’re looking for something fast paced and hauntingly creepy that keeps you question everything, I’d definitely recommend picking this up when it drops on August 15th.

Evie Archer is moving with her Mom and younger brother from New York to Ragenglass, Massachusetts. It's no ordinary move though. The house they are moving into is known as the Horror House. Forty years ago Holly Hobbie disappeared from the same home. Rumors abound and the locals don't go near there. Soon Evie begins to learn why as strange things begin happening to her.

I really love the premise of this. Who doesn't love spooky attics, strange noises, and creepy dolls. I love the mood created by the setting, characters, and environment. It's almost like watching an old horror show. This is a story of a personal haunting and it's portrayed well. There is a dreamlike quality to everything that reflects what is going on with Evie.

Some of the pacing slowed down in the middle and I grew frustrated with Evie. Her actions were explained later though as we learn a secret from a couple of years ago. I did find everything more creepy than scary but that's probably just me. Everything is quite chilling when things are revealed. We don't get all the answers as there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely interested in returning to Ravenglass.

If you're a lover of autumn, Halloween, Gilmore Girls, small creepy towns, and Hocus Pocus, then Holly Horror is the book for you. Imagine moving to a tiny town in Massachusetts with a history of creepy ghost stories, colonial-style buildings nestled under black oak trees, and an inn. Main Street is lined with little shops and cafes, and there's a place on the edge of town called Birdie's Diner. Everyone knows each other, and no one goes out at night. It's like Stars Hollow, but haunted.

The protagonist moves to this town and discovers that her new home is called the horror house by the locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly's disappearance?

Reading Holly Horror made me happy because it reminded me of my favorite time of year: autumn. Even though I read it in April, it gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend that it was fall. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel, and that alone makes it special.

I took away one star because some of the lines were corny and cringe-worthy, but I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book. If you love small town horror, Gilmore Girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass, and I can't wait for book 2!

There is something strange about the Hobbie House. Holly Hobbie disappeared without a trace many years ago and the town is full of rumors... and secrets. When Evie, who has recently moved into the Hobbie House with her mother and brother, finds Holly's diary those secrets refuse to stay hidden any longer and Evie seems to be the new target.

Honestly, this book creeped me out! Big time! The scary scenes are so incredibly well written that I had no issue picturing it in my head, which attributed to me being creeped out. I'm going to want to re-read this book when spooky season rolls around.

Despite being creeped out, I really liked the book. That ending, though!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super creepy YA novel that actually doesn't read too young for the most part. I enjoyed the writing as an adult, aside from the cringy teenage pining and high school drama portions. I found the plot interesting and most of the characters quite dimensional and likeable. I loved the spooky moments and the creepy atmosphere of the entire book. The writing was concise but still evoked emotion. This was a really good book and a very creepy, atmospheric story.

Once I started this I couldn’t put it down. The mystery had me hooked. Holly Horror follows the story of Evie Archer. After her parents messy divorce she has to move back into an old family home that the locals call Horror House. The house holds many old dark secrets. As Evie starts to uncover the truth of what happened in the past to Holly Hobbie she starts loosing site of what’s real and what isn’t.

This story was really interesting and I loved how it was a slow burn kind of spooky. In the beginning there were just weird things but as the story progressed things got very creepy. I also enjoyed the characters. Evie wasn’t just solving the mystery of Holly Hobbie’s disappearance she was finding herself and dealing with how to reconcile her parents divorce and how to navigate a new high school and teenage relationships. The romance was cute and although sometimes a bit cheesy it definitely added some brightness to a spooky story.

The overall pacing and plot were done well but wow the ending honestly shocked me. I probably should have known that there would be a cliffhanger but I now cannot wait to read book 2. I think this is going to be an awesome fall read. It’ll be great for fans of creepy haunted houses, small town mysteries, missing girl stories, and some teen romance.

Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This was engaging and oddly creepy. From the cover, I assumed I would be spooked at times, sure, but WHOA. There was an unsettling creepiness the entire time. This was atmospheric and this would be amazing to read during spooky season. I absolutely loved the way the author wrote, I will be checking this author out again.

Whoa! This YA novel is distinctly SCARY!! [Yes, there was internal Screaming involved! More than once!!] I was totally engrossed by the author's treatment of divergence, that is, those who experience beyond the accepted five senses [Evie and Aunt Martha] as opposed by those who go 100% the rational route. Anyone who has ever experienced feeling "different" from the crowd [as we are all avid readers, we're already "set apart"] can riff on Evie's (and her Aunt's] feelings, experiences, and attempts to find her own path in a world that doesn't respect what it doesn't see . There's a great side theme too that initially arises as backstory but later in the novel surfaces as highly significant and it's precious how author Michelle Jabes Corpora wove it in, so gently and subtly so that the significant consequences are gradually revealed, sneaking up on readers. There are indications this will be a Series; I definitely hope so! I'm really enthralled with these characters and hope to see much more of their "normal" and Paranormal adventures!

This book had me on the edge of my seat and loved every second of it. Something about YA horror is my go-to when i need something to get me out of a book slump. This book did leave off on a cliffhanger, and now i have to wait a year and / or longer for the second book. But this author is now on my list to look out for. I loved the small-town feel of the novel with a haunted house you can't go wrong there

If you’re a fellow lover of the autumn season, hallloween, watching Gilmore Girls during fall, small creepy towns, and Hocus Pocus, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Picture this: you just moved to a tiny town in Massachusetts filled with creepy ghost stories in the town’s history. Main Street consists of colonial style buildings are nestled under black oak trees, little shops and cafes, an inn, and a little place on the edge of town called Birdie’s Diner. Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other, and no one goes out at night. Picture Stars Hollow if it were haunted. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book.

The premise of Holly Horror is a girl who moves to a small town in Massachusetts only to find out the house they moved into is called the horror house by locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly’s disappearance?

Reading this book made me indescribably happy, simply because it made me so homesick for autumn, my favorite time of year. In fact, as grateful as I am for getting to read this book 4 months early, I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read this when it comes out in august. Imagine reading this when the autumn season is upon you, with the era of spooky season, horror movies, apple cider, falling leaves, gloomier weather approaching, and the promise of colder weather on the horizon. Just the thought of that gave me a chill of delight (and yes, this book even takes place in autumn too! How perfect!) Reading this book in April, with it being spring and summer coming soon (my two least favorite seasons and the worst time of year) gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend for a little bit that it feels like fall when it is actually the approach of my least favorite time of year, summer lol. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel. And that alone makes it special.

I only took away one star because some of the lines were just corny and super cringe. But whatever, I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book, and I think any autumn lover would feel the same. If you love small town horror, Gilmore girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass and I need book 2 ASAP!

Review based on an uncorrected proof subject to change. Thank you to Netgalley and penguin for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.