A fun YA horror with a storyline that I absolutely loved. I adored pur protagonist and the writing style was on a different level; it didn't feel like I was reading any typical YA story. 4.75 out of 5 stars. Full review to come soon.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC and exchange for an honest review!

Ann Dávila Cardinal’s “You’ve Awoken Her” is a fresh and compelling take on Lovecraftian horror, blending supernatural terror with social commentary on privilege and gentrification. With eerie seaside settings, chilling disappearances, and an ancient malevolent force lurking beneath the waves, this book offers a fast-paced and unique YA horror experience that is as much about personal growth as it is about monsters.

The story follows Gabriel “Gabi” Moreno, a goth Puerto Rican horror geek from Queens, who would rather spend his summer indoors with his Funko Pop collection than in the Hamptons. But with his mother traveling, he’s sent to stay with his childhood best friend, Ruth, whose family’s newfound wealth has strained their once-tight bond. The Hamptons is the last place Gabi wants to be—especially as Ruth’s personality shifts to fit in with her privileged surroundings, including her arrogant boyfriend, Frost Thurston. However, when Gabi starts witnessing strange occurrences—whispers in the wind, mysterious tentacles in the water, and a woman being dragged beneath the waves—he realizes something sinister is happening in the seemingly perfect beach town.

As Gabi digs deeper, he discovers a dark secret buried under years of wealth and power: an ancient entity demands a blood price, and with each new disappearance, it grows hungrier. The town’s elite have kept this dark pact hidden for generations, and now, it’s up to Gabi to uncover the truth before he becomes the next victim. The book intertwines classic horror elements with themes of social inequality, showing how the rich manipulate and exploit others—even to the point of feeding them to monsters.

Cardinal’s writing is sharp, atmospheric, and immersive, creating an eerie sense of unease that builds throughout the novel. The book strikes a balance between being genuinely unsettling and accessible for younger YA readers, offering a “cozy horror” feel despite its darker themes. Gabi is a relatable protagonist, grappling with both supernatural horrors and the emotional struggles of feeling left behind by a friend. His dynamic with Ruth evolves in a satisfying way, making their friendship one of the book’s standout elements. Though Ruth is frustrating at times—especially in how she changes herself for Frost—her character growth adds depth to the story.

While the pacing starts slow and some mysteries could have been revealed sooner, the fast-paced latter half delivers a thrilling and rewarding conclusion. There’s even a hint at a possible sequel, with Gabi’s journey potentially continuing in Puerto Rico as he explores his supernatural heritage. The book also cleverly reclaims Lovecraftian horror from its racist and exclusionary origins, weaving in a Latine perspective that enriches the story rather than feeling preachy.

“You’ve Awoken Her” is a compelling YA horror-thriller that offers eerie suspense, social critique, and an engaging protagonist. If you enjoy stories of creeping dread, dark secrets, and monstrous forces lurking just beneath the surface—both literally and figuratively—this is a book worth diving into.

I need more YA horror in my life as I'm really starting to fall in love with this genre. I thought this was so unique and different. I never would have thought of Chtuhlu in the Hamptons but this just really worked. The author wrote this to honor the influence of Lovecraft in her love for the genre but also reclaim the legends of the racist and sexist author from a Latine lens, and I think she really accomplished that goal with this fun book.

Gabriel and Ruth were inseparable childhood friends, until growing up and Ruth's family lucking into wealth made them grow apart. Gabriel is a goth Puerto Rican horror geek (a refreshing representation, I need to see more POC representation that defies stereotypes) from Queens who would much rather hole up in his cave with his Funko Pop collection and his movies. Ruth invites him to spend the summer with him in the Hamptons, but it becomes even more obvious how much they're different now. Ruth is dating a rich asshole and weird shit keeps happening in the beach resort town, and Gabe keeps seeing tentacles in the water.

The tone could be so casual and breezy that the scary parts could feel cartoonish rather than scary, but this gave it a cozy horror feel that I think really worked against the backdrop of spooky gentrification and class divides. I think this would easily appeal to a middle grade audience as well.

A fun, lighthearted romp in which a horror geek confronts his fears of sea monsters that just might be real, unlike what his abusive and distant father made him believe. This is a story about learning to trust your instincts and to listen and honor your ancestors, above all. I enjoyed the twist that flipped Lovecraftian monsters on their head and made them cultural appropriation. But it was never preachy, it was a celebration of cultural mythos and outcasts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First off, this cover was AMAZING. It immediately drew me in. This lovecraftian YA horror novel has a main character that feels isolated and out of place, but has so much to do and experience. A town that should be paradise and where he wants to be, is not at all. I really liked the disguising of the terrible events as accidents, and the main character dealing with being the canary in the coal mine that no one is listening to. I thought this was a really unique read and I enjoyed it a lot.

I reviewed an ARC of You've Awoken Her by Ann Davila Cardinal from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

This books is a mixed bag of thoughts and feelings. Overall, I liked this book.
The main characters weren't ones I could really fall in love with but yet you still wanted to follow them and know how they progressed. The bad guys were easy to dislike from the beginning.

The beginning of this story was slow. Just when you thought it would pick up speed, it would fizzle back into a slower read. Every time you thought you got clues to progress the story, it would feel like the story would loop back around the other direction (so frustrating).

The story was easy to follow and read, hard to put down, and overall unique. While maybe not quite scary horror, this is definitely one thriller that's a blast to read.