Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️
Release Date: April 8, 2025

Wow! What a way to debut. Their Monstrous Hearts is Turhan's debut English novel and it was a wild ride!

Riccardo is a struggling up and coming author who is on the brink of eviction. With just a few dollars left in his pocket, he is approached by a man who claims that Riccardo is the sole heir to the estate of his wealthy grandmother, after her abrupt passing. The events that follow will have Riccardo questioning everything he thought he knew about the philanthropic matron and those closest to her. Can Riccardo put all the strange pieces together and solve the sinister puzzle before it's too late?

This isn't one of those in your face types of horror books. It is insidious, combining fantastical realism & gothic horror, it settles somewhere inside you leaving this overwhelming sense of unease that continues to build as the story progresses all while dealing with greater themes of identity, grief, loss and feelings of abandonment.

Perihan's character development was masterful at portraying the lengths people will go to not only feel accepted but also to achieve their goals.

While some parts in the first half dragged a bit, overall the pacing was very well done. Once the story gets its claws in you, you will not be able to put it down (or look at butterflies the same way ever again)

Their Monstrous Hearts will make a great atmospheric read for casual & avid horror readers alike.

I struggled with this one. The premise was crazy good as was the writing, it just wasn't my style of book. The ending though, wow. I feel like this would make a great movie. I appreciate the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review

Add this dark and spooky tale to your TBR immediately! It’s perfect for a fall read that is sure to catch your attention and keep you interested in the happenings between the characters.

Down on his luck writer, Ricardo, moves into his late grandmother’s home, and is left to unravel a lifetime of secrets.

I wouldn’t consider this book horror, it’s more magical realism, and I believe it will appeal to a wide audience. It was a fantastic read with a truly unique plot. I had no idea where it was going and that kept my interest peaked. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan

I received this ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGalley


I enjoyed the whimsical, curious rollercoaster of this book. It’s not scary, just strange—different, and not for everyone

***May contain spoilers***

Riccardo, a 20-year-old aspiring writer, is broke and behind on bills, struggling to start his novel for his editors. He’s been estranged from his family for years, and when his grandmother passes away, she leaves him a strange gift—her butterflies.

Riccardo gets the chance to escape his current life and move into his grandmother’s villa. But when he arrives, the place is run-down and eerie, not at all what he expected.

Among her belongings, Riccardo finds a book that seems to hold the key to understanding who she really was. As he searches for answers and becomes involved in a mysterious ritual, Riccardo realizes he had the crucial book all along. As he begins to uncover the secrets of his grandmother’s life, he learns she was mysterious, only revealing what she wanted others to see.

Inheriting his grandmother’s butterflies leads Riccardo into a journey far more complicated than he imagined. Betrayed and deceived, he learns that his suspicions about this spontaneous gift were right from the beginning.

P.S. Don’t skip the author’s note—this one is important! It was really cute and gives you a better understanding of the author and the story that was written.

I LOVE horror stories about bugs or mushrooms it just hits that itch, especially when it's butterflies, and the story is not in any way weak in fact it's a fantastic gothic tale! 5 stars would recommend. tysm for the arc.

This was a dark gothic book perfectly made for spooky season! Riccarfo was an interesting MC an Dad I really enjoyed following his story. This book with its lurking people and creepy estate was very atmospheric! Read this one ASAP and follow this mystery till the very cool ending

This is, yet again, another case of the cover made me do it! This cover is so gorgeous, and when a buddy read formed on Instagram, I had to join! The beginning was so interesting. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their back story, but it felt disconnected at times in the middle. It was a little too long, in my opinion, but the ending was so good! I think this will be a good one to talk about with book clubs!

A perfect spooky season read, as a horror fan, this gripped me and the ending was amazing!! Such a unique plot line with getting a second chance

It is a haunting story about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive. Riccardo receives the unexpected news that his grandmother has died and leaves him her villa in Milan and her renowned butterfly collection. He hopes the move to Milan will inspire him to complete his manuscript, but only to find the villa in disrepair. His grandmother's old friends add to the unsettling atmosphere, as do the strange happenings in the greenhouse. When he discovers his grandmother's diary, he uncovers clues that could explain her death and inspires his writing.

The book's strength lies in its atmospheric writing and the sense of tension that builds with each chapter. The characters, particularly Riccardo, are well-developed. Riccardo's journey is about facing his fears and limitations. The supernatural elements add depth to the narrative, which is more than just a typical suspense novel. The intricate plot makes it a standout story that will linger in your mind. I enjoyed this book so much.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA.

Thank you @htp_hive @_mira_books_ #partner for the gifted eARC of this one!

This book starts out with a bang as I was completely engrossed into Riccardo’s sad life and the mystery behind his grandmothers death. The vibe is dark, dreary and has quite the sense of foreboding from the get go! I love the idea of a dead relative and then trying to piece together the part of their life that was unknown. This book was a case of where I really liked the beginning, loved the ending but the middle was pretty long, a bit repetitive and somewhat flat. I will say, if the middle could be shortened or spiced up a bit this book would be a wonderful horror book for me! The ending made the middle worth it for me because what ensued was a dark and chaotic, quite intense family story! 🐛🦋 If you’re a horror fan I say give this one a go because the ending is quite epic!

Their Monstrous Hearts is a dark journey that just keeps you guessing till the very end. Perfect for the spooky season. Marvellous!

I was so excited to read this for a buddy read planned through a week! It was hard to stop myself from reading forward because I was intrigued on what was going to happen.
This book has a graphic literary fiction feel with some blends of horror. What I will say is it made me think of butterflies differently! 🦋
That ending though?! It definitely took me by surprise!!

This book is definitely a slow burn. Usually, I do not like gothic horror novels which is exactly what this is. However, the creepy elements of this story kept me interested. Also, there is a bit of a luxurious component to Perihan which kept me hooked. Not to mention that the story is SO incredibly original. The idea of getting a second chance at life is appealing to just about anyone. I have not read a story like this one before. I posted my review on my social media site roughly half of a week ago. I gave the story 3.5 stars when I posted my review. However, I think this is a 4 star book after thinking about it. This is a great story.

Their monstrous hearts is a well thought out novel that supported some dark themes that added to the plot really well. There are minor pacing issues about a third of the way in but not enough of an issue to lose interest in the story. The main character is complex and I appreciated that.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 08, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

First of all, the cover stole me but as I started reading I realized the backdrop for this story and the eerie dark atmosphere of this book took my heart. Every single page I anticipated what awaited me and it definitely kept you moving along through the book. I found this to be a steady pace read and I moved through in in 2 days. I do want to mention that this is horror as you would imagine it, there was more to it than that. We meet many characters throughout this book. We have Perihan who returns to Milan per his attendance is required after a mishaps occurs. We get different perspectives which is great as well. This book is full of twists and turns as well as a feel that will leave you perfectly unsettled the entire time. This is a must have on the TBR.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Eerie, Family Secrets, Relationships, Milan Setting, Magical Realism, Supernatural

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc copy.

Turhan skillfully blends elements of sorrow, inheritance, and the otherworldly, crafting an unsettling ambiance that evokes the essence of traditional gothic literature. As Riccardo delves into his investigation, the tension intensifies as he uncovers unsettling parallels between the past and present, leading him closer to peril. It is a gradual buildup that is definitely worth experiencing.

This haunting novel pulls you into a world where secrets, dreams, and obsession blur together, creating a deeply atmospheric and unsettling experience. Riccardo’s journey to Milan, lured by the promise of inheritance, quickly turns into a chilling exploration of his late grandmother’s life and the strange world she left behind. The villa, with its eerie butterfly collection and decaying greenhouse, feels like a character in itself—filled with dark secrets and a haunting presence that keeps you on edge.

The story masterfully weaves mystery with psychological tension, as Riccardo discovers more about Perihan’s life through her diary, revealing dark truths and hidden desires. The writing is vivid, painting a gothic, almost dream-like picture of a once-glamorous world now crumbling away. If you enjoy novels that explore the boundaries of ambition, art, and madness, this book will captivate you from beginning to end!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. Both the title and the concept sounded really cool but the execution was totally lacking. There was way too much exposition and telling, and barely any plot or anything of significance happens in this novel, making it impossible to get invested in the story or care about the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for this ARC! Publication date is April 8, 2025.

***2.5 stars rounded to 3***

I had a hard time finishing this book. It’s advertised as horror but it wasn’t giving me the creepiness I was craving. The middle of the book dragged on and the only thing keeping me going were the journal entries from Perihan. The characters fell flat for me and didn’t add any dimension to the story. I also think a smoother transition to the character’s flashbacks would help greatly. The flashbacks felt abrupt and random, some of them not adding to the plot in any way.