I was extremely excited to receive this book as an ARC. I’m very familiar with Paul Tremblay and his books. He’s a venerated horror author in the horror community. Before I began, I didn’t realize this is Tremblay’s first middle grade book and he explores the theme of what if you were suddenly replaced. It was quite a creepy story and enjoyable.

Out of the blue, Casey’s parents bring home an antique rotary phone. They show Casey how it works and before long, it rings. Casey’s parents inform him a man is bringing a friend to stay for several days. Once he gets there, Casey notices some weird things about this boy, Morel. He can’t speak and he seems to be made of clay. To make simple facial expressions, Morel must sculpt his face. But as time goes on, Morel becomes more and more like Casey. Eventually, Casey’s parents begin to mistake Morel for Casey, and Casey becomes more clay like. Will Casey’s parents realize their mistake before Morel’s father comes to retrieve him?

Even though it’s for middle grades, the story is creepy. I tried to think how I would’ve felt reading this when I was 12 and in my Goosebumps era. The idea of another child coming into my home and replacing me in my family is pretty scary. Especially if the parents can’t tell the difference between the two boys. I think Tremblay’s book is a slam dunk on terrifying 11-13 year olds and I’m excited for my daughter to read it when she’s old enough.

Another comes out July 22, 2025 if you want to get a copy of your own.

When Imaginary Friends Are Safer

I'm long past middle school, but this novel scared me to the core. Paul Tremblay knows the inner weaknesses and insecurities of the human mind and they are horror's way in. He layers words describing an ordinary life in such a way that certain voids form and fill with murky secretions that fester until they burst.

Is it a good book for middle-schoolers? They're already a bubbling mass of contradictions, but most are quite capable of seeing their world as full of terrors. I've always looked at horror fiction as a kind of therapy. The catharsis that follows puts reality into better perspective. Another may give a kid the heebie-jeebies for a while, but my tweenaged self would have loved it.

Thank you to Paul Tremblay, Harper-Collins/Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced readers' copy of Another. I'm under no obligation to make my review favorable, but I'm delighted to do so! It's a great read for tweens and adults alike.

“Another” may have a predictable plot for those of us who have read more, but I know this novel is going to blow the minds of lots of young readers. Tremblay does a great job at bridging modern issues with horror themes. There are moments where it feels like Tremblay tries a bit too hard at crafting a modern teenager while still character, but it’s nothing that takes away from the book as a whole. I had a lot of fun with this one and can’t wait to add it to my shelf when it is published next July!

I received a free copy of, Another, by Paul Tremblay, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Casey's parents have invited his new "friend", over for a sleep over. Cast has never even met Morel before and his is not like other boys. This was an interesting read.

I am a huge fan of Paul Tremblay and have every one of his books and have nearly read all of them! So, when I got approved on NetGalley, I was thrilled! Discovering that he was venturing into middle school story telling made me even more excited, and this is exactly the kind of book my twelve-year-old son and myself would enjoy reading together. The story revolves around Casey, who is having a tough time in the friend department. Until one day, the family’s vintage rotary phone rings, and Casey receives a call from a friend he’s never heard of. This peculiar friend shows up in a sack and dumped at the families’ feet. As Casey’s parents start acting increasingly strange, he must figure out how to protect himself and his family. I have to say, this book took me back to my childhood, reminiscent of reading Goosebumps under the covers and scaring myself silly! It’s a fantastic read for both kids and adults!

Paul’’s previous works have been hit or miss with me, but when I saw he had a YA novel, my interest was really piqued. Especially after reading the blurb and taking a peek at the cover. After diving headfirst into it, I can safely say that this might actually be one of my favorite pieces of work by him. The story was very reminiscent of something I would have read during my own childhood so it hit me right in the nostalgic feels. It was creepy and captivating and had me eagerly waiting to turn every page to see what was coming for me next. I really hope he continues to produce more pieces like this.

A fun Goosebumps-style read that truly creeped me out. I love the characters and the representation of the fear and uncertainty of being a kid!

This gave me a sense of nostalgia from my middle school years of reading goosebumps! Highly recommend for kids of that grade level and even adults!

I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick read. I did not want to put it down. Even if it’s middle grade, I think adults will enjoy it as well. It reminded me a bit of old goosebumps books, in a good way. I loved the messages for the young, while also being able to take those messages as an adult.
Tremblay should make more middle grade. This was wonderful.

Paul Tremblay’s first venture into middle grade horror is as strange and chilling as you’d expect. The story follows Casey Wilson, a boy already set apart by a mysterious “Zoom Incident” that has everyone eyeing him warily. When a friend he never asked for—Morel—shows up for a never-ending sleepover, Casey finds his once-loving parents strangely entranced by this silent, clay-skinned intruder.

The atmosphere is both tense and sad. Casey’s own struggles, including his worsening tics, get no sympathy as everyone falls under Morel’s uncanny spell. The creeping dread builds quietly, seeping into every corner of the house. Tremblay plays with the idea of trust and belonging in a way that’s accessible to younger readers but still unsettling enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine.

This is a story about feeling isolated in your own home, about not knowing who to turn to when the people you love start acting like strangers. Tremblay’s style ensures that you never feel completely safe, and kids looking for a spooky, thought-provoking read will find something special here. It’s eerie, emotional, and wonderfully weird—just right for readers who love sleeping with a nightlight on.

This was a solid read. I was unsure in the beginning on how I felt but the plot was really good and kept me entranced. I'm used to reading stuff that is a little heavier and so this was a nice break from that. It gave great spooky vibes and made you think about what you would do if that situation would have happened to you. Would definitely read again or read to my kids after they get a bit older.

4.5 stars* Wow Paul Tremblay did it again! Paul Tremblay is arguably my favorite author so when I found out that I got sent an e-arc of Another, I was over the mood excited. This was such a creepy and wild ride and I loved it so much.

This was feeling like a new all time favorite, possibly in the run for my favorite Tremblay novel until I hit the last 5th of the book and I think I was slightly disappointed in the direction it went but I still enjoyed it a lot!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collin’s for sending me an e-arc copy of Another!

4 stars

I was very hesitant yet curious about this. As a big Tremblay fan, I wasn’t sure he could pull off young adult.
I’m eating those words now, lol
This was great. Just what I was hoping for and what I would love to share with my horror curious young ones. The story was excellent as usual, and the horror elements were age appropriate yet still good for us big kids to enjoy as well.

I’d love to see more youth books by Tremblay, as there isn’t a great selection for the younger generation these days.

very goosebumps in a good way. i really liked the vibe and i thought the horror was well pulled-off and would suit middle-grade and older. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

What do you do when you find out one of your favorite horror writers has written a middle-grade novel? You read it, of course!

Another is Paul Tremblay’s first foray into middle-grade fiction, and it should come as no surprise if you’re a fan of his work (and if you’re not, why the hell not?), he knocks it out of the park. With no explicit violence, no rough language, Tremblay has managed to craft a piece of work that’s deeply creepy and unsettling. I mean it, it’s, to be not-at-all-middle-schoolish about it, kinda sorta fucked up.

Casey suffers from facial tics and anxiety, heightened by an unfortunate Zoom event during Covid that made him a school laughing stock, plus his much-loved older sister has gone off to college, leaving him at home with his parents. Then a “friend” named Morel that Casey doesn’t actually know is dropped off for an extended sleepover by a mysterious man. Morel is truly strange and off-putting—he looks like a mannequin made of clay, and can’t speak—but Casey’s parents quickly take to him. Casey forms a tentative friendship with Morel, but eventually realizes that something is deeply wrong with him, something sinister. His parents may be oblivious to his growing unease at the grim reality, or unreality, enveloping their home, but Casey is terrified by the changes happening.

What follows is a masterclass in how to create horror and unease while still staying faithful to a middle-grade aesthetic. Tremblay is continually pushing the envelope when it comes to horror, and I’ll happily follow his work wherever he takes it.

Another will be released July 28, 2025, and is available for pre-order now.

Another by Paul Tremblay – 4 Stars

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of Another, and wow, what a chilling and atmospheric ride! Paul Tremblay delivers his signature horror touch while crafting a story that’s perfectly suited for middle-grade readers but still deeply unsettling.

The story follows Casey, a boy haunted by a mysterious Zoom Incident that has left him isolated, struggling with his tics, and feeling like a complete outsider. When his parents announce an unexpected sleepover guest, Morel arrives – and Morel is no ordinary kid. Tremblay does a fantastic job building tension as Casey’s parents become weirdly enamored with this clay-like, silent boy while growing distant from Casey. There’s something eerie and off-kilter about Morel, and watching Casey slowly unravel the truth is a deliciously creepy experience.

The horror here isn’t just jump scares or monsters in the dark. It’s psychological, slow-burning, and rooted in that terrifying feeling of not being believed by the people you trust most. Tremblay captures Casey’s frustration and fear so well that you can’t help but feel for him as he struggles to make sense of what’s happening. The sense of dread builds beautifully until the final reveal, which left me with chills.

While the pacing dips slightly in the middle, the payoff is worth it, and the story’s themes of loneliness, family dynamics, and friendship give it emotional weight. It’s not just a ghost story – it’s a story about being seen, being heard, and what happens when you aren’t.

Overall, Another is a spine-tingling middle-grade debut that’s perfect for young readers looking for a genuinely creepy tale, but it’s just as enjoyable for adults who love a slow-burn horror with a psychological twist. Tremblay knocks it out of the park with this one!

I am a big fan of his writing so when I got the opportunity to read this ARC from @netgalley I was PUMPED.
Paul Tremblay ventures into Middle Grade with Another, delivering an eerie and captivating tale.
Casey has been struggling ever since the Zoom Incident disrupted his school life. His best friends barely talk to him anymore, leaving him feeling isolated. Spring vacation at home brings some comfort, even though his sister Ally is away at college. But Casey’s plans for a quiet break take a bizarre turn when his parents announce that a “friend” is coming to visit—odd, considering Casey doesn’t have any friends right now.
When a strange man drops off a cloth sack containing a not-quite-human boy named Morel, things get even weirder. Morel insists he’s Casey’s friend—one who wants to be just like him. Maybe a little too much.
Tremblay skillfully balances creepiness with heartfelt moments, tackling themes of mental health, pandemic struggles, and the complexities of family relationships. Casey’s journey through loneliness and his attempts to navigate an unsettling friendship with Morel are both haunting and deeply relatable.
Perfectly blending very unsettling vibes with a meaningful message, another is a thoughtful exploration of what it truly means to be a friend. This is a must-read for both young readers and longtime Tremblay fans alike.

This was great middle school horror and reminded me so much of Goosebumps! This book hits all the right fears! I hope kids read this and fall in love with reading and the thought of being scared.
While I strongly disliked the first Paul Tremblay book I read, Horror Movie, this one was great!
Thank you to NetGalley!

I’m a fan of Tremblay’s adult books and was eager to read his first foray into middle grade. Unfortunately, the tone, voice, and pacing of this book still read like an adult book. While this book is obviously well-written, given the author, it will be too challenging for the intended audience’s attention span and vocabulary. Also, regarding the story, I found it to be shallow. Yes, it was a creepy story, but in the end it had nothing to say. There are plenty of seasoned middle grade authors who write spooky stories that are developmentally appropriate for children and also help them navigate deep issues through their stories. I recommend sticking with those authors instead of an adult author trying their hand at kidlit.

WOW! Paul Tremblay does it again! He is so good at mastering the art of suspense! Even though this was middle grade, I enjoyed it’