A truly creepy and atmospheric period piece. I’ve spent a lot of time in Milwaukee, and reading this book transported me right back to the neighborhoods in winter with the corner bars. I loved that the ensemble of characters had their own distinct voices — rather than blending together through similar writing style and prose, Kois’ characters each felt individual and unique.

Kois latest is a coming of age story that reminded me of Steven King’s The Body in many ways. I enjoyed the adventures each pair went on and how they were designed as lessons, if you were paying attention.

I’m not really what I was expecting going into this read but it was a pleasant surprise despite being very different to what reads I normally go for.
I would necessarily call this a horror but more of a strange, quirky, interesting and very unique read.
Well written & easy to absorb with great characters, it reminded me a lot of Stranger Things mixed with The Goonies, both of which I love.

I had high(ish) expectations for this book, but to tell the truth, it mostly just bored me. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, as this type of cis boy-centric nostalgia-fest was something I appreciated in my own youth but have long fallen out of love with.

This was a fun little read. It felt very nostalgic and had the right vibes. Was not scary though, more weird than anything. Still a fun little book of you're looking for this vibe

This book was fantastic. Now I want Burger King hahaha!
I really liked how each group of kids had their own chapter and the spooky stories had some how intertwined with events from their life.
Hoping for a sequel. Maybe?

I think I’m going to need some time to process this one. Six Pre-teen boys head out on a mission to make some
Money and score some Burger King by selling newspaper subscriptions in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. They pair off and experience run ins with several horrific creatures. There are interesting nuances in their experiences that tie into race, social class and sexuality. I could totally see this as a fun indie horror film.
I was hooked the whole way through and it really has me thinking. The setting matched the vibe of the book perfectly.

Well, this was a weird little book in the best possible way! As a Milwaukeean, I was exceptionally excited to read about a book set in my hometown, and this was just the ticket for spooky season. The setup made it truly feel like I was reading fairytales or fables, and kept me turning the pages even if there were some chapters i was less into than others. If you’re looking for a unique spooky season read, this is it! I was thrilled to include this novel in my yearly Instagram Spooky Guide @maryreadsandmakes.

Dan Kois' "Hampton Heights" is a delightfully weird fable of a night in a Milwaukee neighborhood that goes awry in ways you could never imagine. The storytelling style makes this short novel feel like a fairy tale, and each of the sections is quite fun and surprisingly deep. Any book about Milwaukee that has this much specificity gets some easy bonus points from me, and I had a great time reading it.

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this.

... Well. It's an interesting book, but what does it all mean? I like horror movies, and I love movies that have stories that have a wrap around beginning and ending. Think of the 2009 film Trick or Treat. Cult an pop-culture classic now (shown by merch in Halloween stores). The stories were simple, great, and wrapped together so well.

This? The stories are half-baked s0-and-so moments that just don't really hit to pay off the beginning and end of the book. Sure. Takes place in a town with a weird street that these boys have to push their newspaper subscription to. But, the pay-off is boring and feels lost in translation half the time. When the werewolf character showed up, it stopped feeling like a horror story and something like 'the joys of youth are lost to old age' stuff.

Blame it on me expecting something like Trick or Treat with a Goonies-esque vibe. This wasn't it.

This book was a delightful surprise. Even though pieces of it were hokey, overall it came together in a nice set of vignettes that came together like a mashup of Stranger Things and Paper Girls. Would've even enjoyed it being longer, which I don't often say.

This started out great and then fell flat for me. It’s labeled as horror but it’s not scary, just strange. I loved the late 80s setting and vibe, with kids on the paper route encountering something spooky, but it never went beyond that. There was so much potential for a truly horrific experience but, aside from a few fart jokes, there wasn’t enough there to really carry the story.

3.5/5!

One night in 1987, size paperboys must confront a slew of monsters as well as their own personal demons while visiting the haunted Milwaukee neighborhood of Hampton Heights. This one was a fun ride! There are chapters dedicated to pairs of the boys and their experiences as they separate to try to convince people to buy newspaper subscriptions. The cast is great! The monsters are great! All around a fun and creepy read!

I love this book I couldn’t put it down! Everything I’m into reading about is in this novel! Kois did an amazing job with this one and I’m looking forward to future works from him!

Hampton Heights took me on a thrill ride. I took a break from everything else to stay immersed in this wondrous novel.It's a fast-paced, captivating read.

I loved the strong characterizations, and the place comes alive complete with a sense of history–actual and fantastical. There's a diverse cast and fantastic suspense.

Harmon has a deft touch with tone, hitting notes ranging from poignant, through scary, sexy, freaky, gritty, raw, and truly funny. He gets kids, and he gets adults, too.

I’m impressed by the amount of sensitive material that he handles well. He has a masterful touch with real horrors faced by kids, and he serves up chills in a magical romp with great depth to it. I felt like I got to be part of a motley group where everyone gets to belong. Highly recommended.

Thank you, Harper Perennial for the ARC via NetGalley for consideration. This Is my unbiased opinion.

Really nice spooky tale for the season. Actually a few tales rolled into one. Loved the format and storytelling. The writing was easy to digest and an enjoyable read. The ending was handled very well which is rare these days. Each of the spooky stories stood alone on their own merit.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I LOVED this quirky book, and especially in the beginning, it gave me some moments of breathtaking laughter... 5 stars from this reviewer, and here are the details...

Dan Kois’s “Hampton Heights” is a thrilling and nostalgic dive into the supernatural, set against the backdrop of 1980s Milwaukee. This novel masterfully blends elements of horror, coming-of-age, and dark comedy, creating a story that is eerie yet heartwarming and somehow...familiar.

 The narrative follows six middle-school paperboys on a cold winter’s evening in 1987. What starts as a simple task quickly turns into a night of terror as they encounter a host of supernatural creatures, including familial werewolves!

Kois excels in creating a diverse cast of characters, each with a distinct voice and personality. Sigmone, one of the few Black kids at his school, teams up with Joel, a white kid who idolizes Black culture. Mark, struggling with his sexuality, pairs with his secret crush, Ryan. Nishu and Al, both outsiders in their own right, navigate the night’s horrors with wit and imagination. The dynamics between these characters are authentic and engaging, capturing the essence of early adolescence with all its awkwardness and bravery.

The writing is delightfully immersive, with Kois capturing the era’s atmosphere and the boys’ camaraderie with a refreshing lack of cynicism. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, and the pacing keeps readers captivated.

“Hampton Heights” explores themes of friendship, bravery, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. 

“Hampton Heights” is a standout novel that combines the nostalgic charm of 1980s-themed adventures with the chilling thrills of supernatural horror. Dan Kois has crafted a story that is both heartwarming and terrifying, capturing the essence of youth and the universal quest for belonging. This book is a must-read for fans of character-driven horror and coming-of-age tales.

Beware the 12-year-old boy humor in this otherwise fun and campy horror adventure reminiscent of Stranger Things.

I generally like camp horror as long as it isn’t too gross, and this one is more fun than icky, and the ick of it is more about being trapped inside the minds of adolescent boys than anything too creepy or upsetting.

Milwaukee wouldn’t be my first choice for a setting for pretty much anything, but it works well here as the Anytown, USA locale where things aren’t quite what they seem as a group of kids attempt to sell newspaper subscriptions to earn the ultimate prize: 20 bucks and a trip to Burger King.

There’s not a lot here that we haven’t seen before, but it’s fun and funny and also sweet in a way, and a great horror lite read for spooky season.

This is subtitled "One Harrowing Night in the Most Haunted Neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin", marketed as Stranger Things meets Stand by Me, and endorsed by Grady Hendrix. Obviously, I had to read it. I ended up switching back and forth between reading the digital copy and listening to the audiobook while I did a puzzle, drank apple cider, and burned a fall candle, and the whole vibe was just A+. I will start by saying don't confuse this with a kids book just because the main characters are mostly children. But for someone who wants a spooky read and isn't into dark or heavy horror, this is a fun way to dip your toe in for Halloween season. 

It's 1987 and we are following six middle schoolers and their adult chaperone as they go door to door in a strange town attempting to sell newspaper subscriptions. The book is divided into four sections, following the 3 pairs of boys and their chaperone separately, so the book almost reads like an anthology of four short stories. We get a succubus, werewolves, witches, trolls, and monsters, along with unique and interesting characters. There's definitely elements of the Losers Club (It) and the Party (Stranger Things) here, albeit less connection to characters because of length. 

All in all, this is good spooky fun, and I'll keep an eye out for this author's other works! Thanks to Harper Perennial for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hampton Heights is Dan Koi's latest release. I'm sure the cover caught your eye - it did for me. And it gives you a very good idea of what awaits you in the book. Not quite sure yet? How about the subtitle? - One Harrowing Night in the Most Haunted Neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1987. Three pairs of newsboys are in the Hampton Heights neighborhood soliciting subscriptions to the local paper. At night. None of them have ever been in this part of town. It's kind of spooky - but the prize is too good to walk away from. One night changes so much with our paper boys- and. their manager Kevin.

There's a Stranger Things /Brothers Grimm / Stand by Me feel to Hampton Heights that's just right. The book is funny, spooky and yes, thoughtful.

I ended up binge reading Hampton Heights - I just had to know what happened. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Hampton Heights.