What a ride! From start to finish this book was unlike anything I’ve read. A haunting and beautiful story about family, secrets, guilt, curses, love, and power. It uses the intimate thoughts of relatable characters to bring an unbelievable, supernatural force into the real world for the reader. It’s difficult to summarize the plot, but from the first chapter the reader is left wanting more and more.

Do you ever finish a book and just not know how to move on after having read it? That's this book (and honestly, The Honeys, too).

A tangled web of grief, the guilt we carry, and the fear of not being good enough, Ryan La Sala manages to make mirrors and how we see ourselves into the stuff of nightmares.

I never REALLY knew what was happening, and when I suspected I did, I was close but the reveal was much worse (in the absolute best way). I don't think I have ever talked out loud more to myself when reading a book, because I was so INVESTED to what was happening to Athan and Dom.

The alternating pov chapters were brilliant and terrifying, and it worked so well.

From about chapter 20 on you will not be able to stop reading (and in my case, crying). It was fast paced, heart pounding page turning until the end. And that ENDING. My heart still hasn't recovered and if I think too long about it, the tearing up starts all over again.

First bees, now mirrors- what else will Ryan La Sala make me scared of?

Thank you to NetGalley and PUSH for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book was do deeply moving. I was not expecting a horror book to make me cry and I was very unpreprared. This book follows Athan and Dom as they work to understand the motivations of the group, known as the Patrons, before more people get hurt and try to save Yiayia, Athan's grandmother, in the process.

It was a story about reflection, both figuratively and literally, as well as accepting all facets of ourselves.

I loved this book and have already pre-ordered a finished copy.

Absolutely fell in love with this book from the very first line. La Sala's use of metaphor and writing style are just delicious and the story was heart-wrenching in the best way. Deep, heartfelt story of queer love and overcoming self-doubt to find one's place in the world.

A fantastical mirror maze of horrors, human and other worldly. La Sala shows once again why he is one of best and brightest queer horror/fantasy authors in the business today. A powerful and terrifying story of how we see the world and how the world sees us. A mystery that slowly
Unravels into a story of traumas, insecurities, loss, vengeance and salvation with characters that are jumping off the page. The writing here is top notch and your mind will be blown by La Sala’s creative genius. One of the those stories where you ask yourself “how did he even think of this?” You’re gonna wanna pre-order this one! Thanks to Netgalley and Scholastic for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this! I read The Honeys last year and also really enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for this read. I loved the plot and the characters and the way they all intertwined. I feel like I could really connect with Athan and was compelled by his story and voice. This was a super mysterious and atmospheric read with an amazing premise that was executed just as well. I cannot wait for more from La Sala!

4.5 stars rounded up!!

This book was PHENOMENAL! I had very high hopes for Beholder after absolutely loving The Honeys and Ryan LaSala delivered tenfold. 🤩

While The Honeys was a very gripping and unnerving horror novel, Beholder was more mysterious and immersive. I really felt like I was right there with Athan as he tried to figure out what was going on in the various facets of chaos that developed throughout the story. Speaking of Athan, I completely adored him as the main character. He was so lovable and relatable and the whole time I was reading I just wanted him to catch a break that never seemed to come. 😂

Beholder made me jump, laugh, and nearly cry, so if that doesn’t tell you that you need to read this, I don’t know what will! Beholder drops October 3 so get it on your tbr!

Something is inherently off about the story of Beholder by Ryan La Sala. Visually striking imagery. The mirror aspect is intriguing. To me, there’s a disconnect and some part is lacking depth. I loved The Honeys, his previous book, so maybe I went in with high expectations. The cover art is beautiful. The premise is superb. No one looks into a mirror and sees the same thing. Definitely a case of perception versus perspective. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Scholastic/PUSH and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.

I was so excited for this book after reading The Honeys last year, and I was not disappointed. A horror novel with so much heart?! I am blown away. Ryan La Sala made a horror tragedy that made me cry. It's perfect. Only wish we had gotten even more info about Dom's life before meeting Athan.

TW: spiders (do not read if you are afraid of spiders)

Beholder is a thrilling run through New York City as we piece together what killed a group of partygoers, why, and how deep it all goes. We follow Athan, who has a power he denies, although he can't for much longer, and Dom who is as mysterious as he is alluring. They're on the run and learning to trust each other as they get closer and closer to figuring out exactly what's going on. This story is grotesque, captivating, and layered. It asks the reader to look a little deeper into themes of art, wealth, and what it means to see and be seen. It is absolutely immersive and entertaining cover to cover.

This was such a freaking trip! I really took my time with BEHOLDER because I knew I'd want to be as present as possible. I was right. I took in every page with such intricacy because that's exactly how Ryan La Sala writes, with extreme intention and precision.

Everything about BEHOLDER was gorgeous, including that COVER. My god. Stunning. I absolutely loved how beauty was a theme woven throughout BEHOLDER. How we see beauty. How it twists and turns and even sometimes the ugliest things can hold a certain amount of beauty to someone. Also, just Ryan’s writing in general. His prose is always next level. He’s so intelligent!

The mirror motif was just incredible. There’s so much that we don’t see, mainly because we’re focused on other things. But mirrors are a reflection. Only the mirror can see the truth—we’re only getting bits and pieces. It’s a great reminder that people are mirrors, too. You can learn a lot about yourself by watching others. A lot of things you don’t like about other people are just reflections of what you don’t like in yourself.

So much happens in BEHOLDER. I don’t want to talk too much about specifics because I think it’s best if, like most Ryan La Sala books, the reader goes in mostly blind. It’ll be a much better experience.

BEHOLDER is eerie, stunning, and so smart. Just like all those people and that creepy wallpaper—you won’t be able to look away. Just be careful of what’s looking back at you. ;)

Did Ryan La Sala scour my brain for all my favorite stuff and weave it all into an electrifyingly imaginative horror adventure just for me? Threads linking the sublime nature of art and beauty, weird occult practices and secret power struggles at the heart of the elite art world, the startling and tragic connections between what we create and what we destroy, hallucinatory wallpaper (!!), and how beauty too dreadful to behold could be lurking behind any and every mirror--or, perhaps, inside the person gazing into its surface.

Ryan La Sala knows how to perfectly contrast the peaks and valleys of writing a horror novel, paring the horrifying with sweet, tender moments that made me go, "Aww."

This book tells the story of a gifted boy who can rewind whatever a mirror views and how he uses the gift to solve an ever-growing list of gruesome murders occurring in New York City. The author cuts through the tension of oooky spooky with a burgeoning romance with a dark and brooding Wednesday Addams-type artist who he partners throughout the book. Every time I thought I knew where the book was leading me, the author takes a sharp left turn and made me eager to read the next page and find out what was hiding within our reflections.

Highly recommended for any horror fans or fans of Ryan La Sala!

Really weird and incredible, and a FAST read. I wish i had had this to twist my brain when i was younger and seeking interesting books

Ryan La Sala is a genius. A brilliant, phenomenal, talented genius. The first book I read by La Sala was The Honeys, which I loved. So I was really excited to read this one and as soon as I found out about it a couple months ago, I knew I had to read it as soon as I could. I knew by the end of the first chapter that this book was going to be something special, yet the more I read, the more it continued to surprise me. This has not only quickly become my favorite book of the year I've read so far, but it's become one of my favorite books I've read in years. 5 stars doesn't feel like enough to give this book. This is a subtle kind of horror that crawls behind you until it wants you to see its true, monstrous form. Some lines are so unsettling, I got chills from just a singular line. Beholder is one of the most creative and unique books I have ever read in my life and I don't think I'll stop thinking about it for quite some time.

I don't even want to give too much away because the less you know going into this, the better. But let's just say this had one of the coolest story climaxes I have ever read. It is unsettling, heartbreaking, and at times disturbing lol. But it's a story that goes so much deeper than the surface. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you like horror books or even just mystery books, please please please read this. I will be recommending this to everyone who listens.

Ryan la Sala never disappoints. His newest work proves just that. In all honesty, most things about this book were perfect. I would recommend it to anyone who's into reading.

The prose of Beholder is mesmerizing. Beautiful. It feels like the memory of a lullaby that you had heard half-asleep. It is quite like a fever dream. Such is the power and beauty of the writing. And it is just one aspect that made this book a favorite.

Our narrator. Athan. He is a character to whom many can relate. Not only that, but the side characters are also well fleshed out and yes, relatable. They make you emotionally connect with the story which is quite dangerous given that it is horror.

And as usual, the author left me stumped at the end. I was unable to believe that the journey had come to an end. What a ride it had been!
Deserves five stars and more. I can see this book popular amongst a wide range of audiences.

Ryan is a wizard. The way he paints fear, insecurity, family trauma, generational curses, love, pain, private thoughts that hide under layers of public bravado-- he's just a dang master. This book was not anywhere near what I was expecting. The plot, the characters, the twist, it was all so dynamic and enthralling. I also loved the subtle nods to his past works, it felt very Taylor Swift easter egg-like. I can't wait to see this book take off like the gem that it is.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun concept and idea, the characters were unique and well thought out and developed. I really enjoy inhabiting the world's this author builds in their work, especially when they start off with such strong concepts. Looking forward to more from this author, and more genre bending work!

This book has one of the coolest plot premises I've ever read about. Just truly fascinating and scary at the same time. I enjoyed it from start to finish and will gladly recommend it to fans of horror and young adult readers.

Deeply disturbing and incredibly well crafted, this is a horror that snags on all the right threads. It is most certainly a good book.

That said, my issues from it stem purely from my objective expectations. It seemed as if this everything was being set up to explore ocd through the lens of horror. It was doing a spectacular job, I was enthralled, and I was so thrilled with how it was being depicted. But the book led to everything, being something else. Which is fine! The ultimate result was still cool and creepy, but it wasn't what I wanted.

This is totally a personal thing, and doesn't really reflect on what the book actually is!