Oh intergenerational trauma!
Ricardo, abandoned by his family years ago, finds himself struggling. A one promising author - book advance spent, isolation and desperate, Ricardo clamps onto his grandmother's death. Returning to her home, finding her manuscript, Ricardo has his next book idea and a family obsession.
Definitely kept me drawn until the last word.
Loved the audio - each character was individual, well done.

Out of money and ideas for his book, Riccardo needs a story. Can he live with the one that finds him?

Things I loved:
🦋 magical realism
🎙️ narrators’ accents
🥀 dark fairy tale vibes

Fans of The Picture of Dorian Grey and The Shadow of the Wind will want to check out this chilling tale!

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I thought both the narrators did a great job and it was always easy to tell which characters were speaking! The story itself was a little out there for me, even in the world of obscure horror. I did like how the old stories got passed down and how they weren’t the typical ones that you’ve heard a million times before! I would recommend if you’re into horror stories with a touch of science fiction!

I received this audiobook and honestly had to DNF it. I was able to continue the story through a paperback arc that I received separately, so I can leave a review for the entire story, as well. Audiobook-wise, this one was really hard to listen to. The accents can be difficult to understand at times and it's very hard to tell when different characters start speaking, when Riccardo is reading the manuscript, and when it jumps in time/thoughts. The male narrator kept switching between an accent for the MC and no accent for his inner thoughts / general narration. It was a bit jarring at times.

Now, for the story itself - I really, really wanted to like this one. The cover is gorgeous and the premise is super interesting. However, it's incredibly slow and I didn't find myself caring about the characters, at all. There is also a lot of repetition and metaphorical writing, without really driving the plot forward at times. It is so impressive that an author was able to write a book entirely in a second language, but honestly, as a native English speaker, it was tough to read at times. Sometimes the writing felt very YA, but then other times it was very deep and eloquent.

I really liked the overall story and ending, and creepy vibes. The execution was just not there for me, unfortunately.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and the author Yigit Turhan for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So I was drawn to this one based solely on the cover, and went into it completely blind. I was hooked from the very first page, and could not put it down! Even though the pacing was a bit slow to start, there was just something about it that kept pulling me back into the pages.
The story was so unique, blending elements of horror and suspense, while taking a deep dive into the human psyche. The tale was deeply atmospheric, the narrative driven forth by beautiful prose, intrigue, and a perpetual undercurrent of impending doom. I felt utterly immersed in the Gothic landscape, and became deeply connected to the protagonist.
Throughout the entire book, I was at a constant state of unease. With every return of the page, I wanted to know more- the mystery built to such an exquisite crescendo, I was wholly transfixed by the last quarter of the book. The author tied everything together brilliantly, and I was blown away.
If you’re looking for a good Gothic suspense to get lost in, with a dash of horror, beautiful writing, and enough twists and turns to get your heart racing, I highly suggest adding this to your TBR.
🎧As for the narration, I thought it was nicely executed, adding depth, and nuances to the story, creating a fully immersive experience that I got lost in.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC.

I definitely think I’ll give this one a go with an ebook after publications as I struggled a bit with the audio. I had a hard time keeping track of any character/narrator changes. The premise sounded so good and mysterious, the cover is stunning, so I’ll definitely give it another chance. I found the story to be super super slow and hearing the grandmothers history was just not engaging for me. It lost all my attention during those parts. I feel like a book should have waves, this one did not.

Thank you for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was quite interesting and not what I expected at all. It took a while for the horror to begin, but I found it intriguing. I believe this story might be a better read in physical form rather than as an audiobook. I'm definitely planning to reread it in print to see what I might have missed.

Actual rating:3.5

I found this really hard to follow along with, and the overall story was repetitive unfortunately. I liked the idea of the plot it just seemed a bit too surface level and needed some more development.

Dark and oh so delicious.

Their Monstrous Hearts begins with us meeting Riccardo, a young man with a writing talent currently stuck with writer’s block, an impending deadline and major financial issues. He could use a miracle, potentially in the form of him inheriting a villa from his estranged grandma in Milan. Riccardo takes a chance and goes to Milan, where he finds his grandmother's manuscript. He reads this haunting story that is a mixture of fantasy and reality- or so he thinks.

The story itself is pretty slow, and there's a ton of metaphorical writing. At times, it seemed a bit too slow for me, but I stuck with it, and I was not disappointed. Some graphic moments might catch you off guard, but I loved it, especially the ending.

Thank you to Yigit Turhan, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In "Their Monstrous Hearts," we meet 20-year-old Riccardo, who’s stuck with writer’s block and financial issues until he inherits a villa from his estranged grandma in Milan. Seeking inspiration, he stumbles upon his grandmother Perihan's intriguing manuscript, unraveling a chilling narrative that intertwines her past struggles in Turkey with his present.

The story unfolds a bit slowly, especially the parts where Riccardo reads, but things get really intense and surprising towards the end. There are some graphic moments that might catch you off guard, yet the butterfly imagery is a nice, eerie touch. If you're into books that weave together dual perspectives and have unexpected twists, Turhan's debut novel is totally worth a read!

This book is a gripping blend of dark glamour and mystery that will definitely change how you see butterflies. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, especially since horror isn’t usually my thing. It seems perfect for fans of creepy stories filled with little clues. I can’t wait to reread it in the fall—Halloween vibes, anyone? Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

I made it to 35% before I just couldn't take it anymore. The story was tedious and boring, and the narrators had accents that seemed fake and did absolutely nothing to bring this story to life. I'm sorry to be so negative, but wow, am I disappointed! With that title and that gorgeous cover, I hoped for so much more.
2⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Their Monsters Hearts was an unsettling and wild ride of a book. The mystery and suspense gradually unfolded all well-being, extremely haunting.

The both narrators were excellent.
They are new to me narrators and I wouldn’t mind listening to them in the future.

3.5⭐️
I’ll be upfront and say that this book wasn’t for me, HOWEVER, it was beautifully written in that creepy get under your skin type of way.

I consumed an Audio ALC and o had mixed feelings with the narrator. At times the recitation just wasn’t sitting well with me but at other, it was fine. The problem is I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it was the story itself that made me anxious?

Usually “slow burn” is attributed to romance novels but this book shows that it can be used for horror as well! It was drawn out for the first 60% of the book and then bam, a frenetic pace for the last 40. It was this last 40% that I really enjoyed. The twists were a bit eye popping!

I did love the dive into the human spirit and what someone can accomplish when driven.


I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Harlequin Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I struggled to finish this book. It was slow to start and very heavy-handed with the overuse of butterflies as objects, metaphors, characters, descriptions.

I was not engaged with Perihan’s story, her entitlement, her silly husband, her dress and mannerisms. Riccardo was a little dense and immature.

I really wanted to like this book.

The slow burn, combined with well-crafted world-building, kept me intrigued, even though I was unsure of where things were headed for the first half. But once everything started to come together, especially in the final act, Their Monstrous Hearts becomes a wild, unrelenting ride. The dark twists and turns toward the end were jaw-dropping, and the last few chapters? Completely unpredictable! I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it.
If you're a fan of dark fantasy and horror with a strong emotional core, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR list! The final payoff makes it all worth the wait, but I do wish the pacing had been a little quicker early on. Still, an absolutely gripping read overall!

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!

Riccardo, a young writer down on his luck, unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's estate along with everything inside. A magically haunted story. The book was kind of a slow burn. Writing is excellent considering this is his first English book. The story is told in a dual time line, present and past based on a manuscript address to Riccardo. Very enjoyable.

The multiple narrators delivered on a masterful production.  Excellent quality.

Riccardo is a writer desperate to get past his writer's block. One day, a stranger shows up at his door to tell him that his grandmother has died and left Riccardo both her home in Milan and her renowned butterfly collection. Considering he is out of money, Riccardo travels to his new home, hoping the change will break his writer's block and help him survive. The house is not what he remembers; the butterflies strike a menacing tone, and his grandmother's odd friends always seem nearby. As he explores the house, he discovers his grandmother's journal, and what he finds within might not only be the answer to her death but might be what he needs to inspire his book. The key is making it through all of this alive.

This is not your typical horror novel. This one creeps up on you. Filled with secrets, magical realism, and gothic terror, this novel captures the monstrous side of humanity and will leave you reeling towards the end of this story. This one will haunt me for quite some time.

The prose is beautiful--words that make you pause and replay them in your head. The plot is a bit slow and at times hard to follow--the author focusing more on beautiful sentences rather than driving the story along. But I love the moody, dark atmosphere. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced audio copy

⭐️: 4/5
Genre: Thriller

Sorry, I’m starting at the end because WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?? Never in a million years did I expect that person to do that thing (yes you will just have to read it to find out what I’m talking about)

Also, can we talk about how DUA LIPA (yes, that Dua Lipa, the Grammy Winning artist) is the blurb on the front cover?? How. And speaking of the cover, I’m simultaneously intrigued and obsessed

On to the book itself, I really enjoyed the dual timeline, and was actually much more invested in the past/manuscript storyline than the present day

Overall, an intriguing and fun story!

Thank you to HTP Books and Yiğit Turhan for the physical and audio ARCs! All thoughts are my own