Perfect cozy Fall book. Loved all the tropes for spooky season. So nice to curl up with a cup of coffee and read. Hope to see more from Graves and next time a longer book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
🌶️ 1/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hazel Graves for allowing me to read an ARC of this book and share my thoughts with other readers.


This book had all the pieces to be really great. I love musicals, spooky season, a little murder mystery, coffee, cats and any reference to Little Shop of Horrors. It just fell so flat for me in the execution. There were a handful of sections that felt a little off topic from the plot and ended up giving a “this is what happened next in her day” vibe. I almost entirely lost interest at 70% and if I wasn’t so stubborn about not DNF’ing I would have just called it quits.

Like I said above, it just didn’t hit and I can’t quite put my finger on it. The writing style was just a bit slow? It wasn’t bad though, each individual aspect was good but I didn’t really get to know or care about any of the main characters. Adele was a bit annoying and clueless ( not in a good way.. in the annoyingly naive way) and Ben was just flat. He was supposed to be this sexy, spicy mysterious barista/manager and he was just kind of void for me. There was no spark for me between these two either. If anything, it was awkward and a little workplace harassment vibes.

I wanted to love this one so much but I just didn’t. I hope that someone else can give it the love I can’t though!

This is a cute, quirky, quick Halloween romance. While it had many elements I typically adore (grumpy vs sunshine, eclectic characters, coffee) this just didn't quite hit for me. That being said I'm sure this book will find and resonate with many people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

This was a tough one for me as it sounded brilliant but took forever to get going and for me to get into. I loved since of the colourful characters though and was an enjoyable read in the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #AvonBooks #TheLittleCoffeeShopofTerrors #HazelGraves

Title: The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors
Author: Hazel Graves
Format: eBook
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: September 12, 2024
Themes: Family, friendship, human as monsters, murder, ambition
Trigger Warnings: cannibalism, murder, death,

This book was totally different than I expected. I was expecting campy horror and silliness. Those things were there for sure, especially the silliness, but I wasn’t expecting a light romantic comedy. That’s how I would ultimately classify this. Above all else, it’s a romantic comedy with some very, very light elements of ridiculous camp horror. This book is about Adele and her surprise inheritance of an unusual coffee shop. Misadventures ensue.

The main protagonist, Adele, is a failed Broadway actress with a passion for musical theater. This can also describe me. Right away, I liked and related to Adele. My favorite thing about this book was the many, many references to various musicals throughout. It was fun spotting them. The author and I would get along well, I bet.

The coffee shop was a wonderful setting. I could picture all of it and I wish one like it (well, mostly like it) existed in real life. It was very pleasant meeting each of the regulars and their individual personalities. Ben, the barista, made a great contrast to sunny Adele. Their opposite personalities made each one pop in a fun way. Honestly, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this story would work just as well without the horror elements. There was very, very little horror to this book. It would be perfect for someone who wants a horror sample but isn’t a big horror fan.
Normally, I say that horror makes everything better. This book is an exception though. I loved it.

The one criticism I have here would be that the story took awhile to get going. The twist was a little too obvious. Luckily, I didn’t mind because I enjoyed the characters and musical theater references too much. I could see this being frustrating for some, but I still enjoyed it.

Overall, this book is light-hearted, fun, silly, and uplifting. Those who are looking for horror won’t be satisfied but those looking for a feel good romantic comedy will find a lot to love here.

A coffee-laced remake of Little Shop

Full of too many terrible musical/coffee-related puns, mysteries upon enigmas upon coffee-related disappearances, and a slow-burning romance, this is a light read that will give you the shivers, the thrills and the gasps as failed musical star Adele skirts around the truth behind her newly inherited but lightly badgered coffee shop.

The thing about stereotypes is that they’re funny because they’re true. Even so, Graves has great writerly fun in skewering the ranks of yummy mummies, lumberjack hipsters, laptop warriors and yuppie financiers who frequent coffeehouses, whilst also slathering a whole lotta love on the charming individuals who make up the found family of Riffraff Coffee Co. Not quite cosy crime, not quite comic horror, not quite even opposites attract romance, this is all those things and worth a couple of hours of anybody’s time.

Three and a half stars, rounded up to four.

I could not get into this book, I tried on four separate occasions and finally finished it, not because it was bad but because it’s slow. There is really no paranormal freaky stuff, I feel like the book would be better as marketed as a friendship/found family book.

The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors by Hazel Graves is the perfect book for spooky season. A light hearted horror delight with a sprinkling of romance and cozy charm. It follows Adele, a down on her luck aspiring Broadway actress who unexpectedly inherits a coffee shop and apartment after her mysterious great-aunt dies. There are some strings attached, Ben must stay on and no one but him is allowed in the basement!.

Lots of quirky and fun supporting characters and Adele is a main character you can root for and get behind. I loved the magical world the Hazel Graves created right in the middle of Brooklyn. Following Adele as she begins to uncover the mystery of the shop, it's disappearing patrons and it's suspiciously earthy coffee roasts is addicting and I didn't want to put the book down.

A fun read that I hope will become a series! I loved ember the cat and the cover as well!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Hazel Graves' The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors is a delightful blend of humour and quirky character dynamics. The relationships between the eccentric café regulars and the equally odd staff create hilarious and heart-warming moments throughout the story. Graves excels at bringing out the humour in everyday interactions, with each character's unique personality adding to the comedic chaos. While spooky elements add a fun twist, it’s the witty banter and charmingly awkward relationships that make this book a truly enjoyable read.

The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors
by Hazel Graves
Cozy Mystery Paranormal
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 12, 2024
Avon Books
Ages: 14+

Failing her latest musical audition, Adele is about ready to pack up and head back home, but when an aunt she had only heard about left an apartment and a small coffee shop to her, Adele thinks this might be a way for her to stay in the city.

But there are conditions... Ben, the handsome barista, who also lives in the apartment above the coffee shop can not be fired and she has to keep it up and running for two (?) years before they officially become hers.

But there are weird noises that vibrate the building which Ben blames on the subway and the smoke from the coffee roasting machine in the basement, but Ben keeps the basement door locked up under six (?) padlocks, and he is the only one allowed down there to roast.

Then there are the rude people who appear to be missing.


I would call this a slow cozy because not much happens that an avid reader wouldn't figure out within a few chapters, which made this boring, so I had to start skimming.

I feel that this book is centered on found family and friendship more than anything paranormal, which, I firmly believe, was just thrown in because that genre is very popular right now. (And no, this book is not like 'Little Shop of Horrors'! That has some tension to it, this does not!)

While there is some colorful language, this book isn't graphic, scary, or intense, so it's suitable for readers fourteen and older.

2 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available now!!

This is a kitschy weird but cute little Halloween romance read. That being said I was not enthralled with this book. It was too cute and too fluffy for me. However I do feel there is an audience for this. Definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the fluffier romance reads.

An unfortunate DNF at 11%.

I wanted so much to love this book as a spin off type read from Little Shop Of Horrors musical.

However it was just too confusing for me to get into. Lots of things happened yet nothing happened and I was left with a headache.

And honestly if I had to read ' that's how music theatre types are' I would have thrown my kindle out the window.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for granting me access to this E-ARC.

Unfortunately, this one is not for me, even though I usually enjoy the grumpy versus sunshine trope, magical realism and musical theatre. I didn't invest in the characters or the humour.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A spin off from Little shop of horrors.

Adele inherits a coffee shop but strange things start to happen. She enlists the help of Ben, a barista, to solve these issues and find out what’s going on.

A lot of great humour throughout.
Loved the little references to musicals and other shows.

Didn’t take long to read as couldn’t out it down

When Adele (a women trying to make her way on Broadway) inherits a coffee shop and apartment from a great-aunt she never knew- brings new adventures into her life — including Ben the attractive barista who she thinks is too handsome to be true. This book has the focus of the Grumpy vs Sunshine trope at the heart of the story while Adele and Ben get used to running the coffee shop together.

Though the book was entertaining, I didn’t find it as scary as I expected of a book listed as horror - more like a cozy horror. The book is well-written and easy to read.

The events of the story were at times reminiscent of Sweeney Todd and Little Shop of Horrors- both stories/ musicals that I have enjoyed. There is plenty of humour as well peppered throughout this story making it even more entertaining.


Thank you to NetGalley andAvon Books UK | Avon for this ARC. This is my honest review.

What a strange little book. I thought it would be right up my alley because of the nonstop theatre and musical references (the title alone, hello.) However, the reader is inundated with those references along with pop culture and influencer bits. If I, the Broadway enthusiast, thought “ok, enough, I get it”…it was a bit of a crutch. The book so desperately wants to be quirky and cozy with a splash of horror. There were too many side characters, and the sunny lead Adele was intended to capture our hearts, but I just felt she was kinda flighty and boring. I saw no reason why grumpy hot Ben would be into her beyond looks. And the background storyline with Adele’s deceased aunt was convoluted yet convenient. I’m honestly sad that the book just didn’t work for me. I was entertained enough to finish it, but even that took awhile since the pace was slow. 2.5 stars, but I don’t feel like it should be rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A fun, quirky, pun-filled coffee shop romance meets Dexter and the Little Shop of Horrors. This book has it all, even a little light cannibalism. Satirical, absurd, and loaded with Musical Theater references. I cackled at references to House of 1000 Corpses.

What would you do if you found yourself failing in musical theater and suddenly inherited a coffee shop in the city from the eccentric great aunt you’d never met? Drop everything and take over that life, of course. How hard could it be? Especially if the hot, murdery, Australian barista is into you. It’s okay if they’re bad people right?

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Coffee shop of terror…

What’s your favourite type of coffee?

IF a book was ever going to put me off coffee then it would be this one 👀.
So clearly terrifying 🤣. No it’s more quirky than scary. But a bit of a slow burn plot, I was starting to question the title, but then it all starts to make sense. mfc gets left a coffee shop, with conditions. But strange noises and customers go missing… Ember the tuxedo cat was just awesome. Also grumpy vs sunshine if that’s your thing. Overall a fun read!

Definitely a read for theatre and musical lovers! The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors follows struggling Broadway hopeful Adele who's hard on her luck, living in a kitchen of a house share, and is on her last few dollars. Fortunately, all is somewhat saved by the passing of a distant relative and Adele becomes the owner of a new apartment and a coffee shop.

Loved the punny and quirky writing in this one. A true Autumn read!