This was definitely a cute spooky book! I definitely think it’s a great book to read during Halloween season but it’s overall really cute!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Thirteen year old twins Gabby and Trent have inherited their grandparents gift of seeing ghosts. Their mom is more focused on building her social media and having her kids investigate ghosts. I liked the twins and their adventure but the mom bothered me.

I enjoyed the narration by Justis Bolding, Robb Moriera and T Ryder Smith.

This was a fun, fast pacced middle grade horror fun of super naturally goodness! I really enjoyed the creative take on ghosts and mediums in this one and I loved the two main characters. It was interesting getting the dual POV's and getting to see the same events processed by Gabby and Trent. I found their mother's focus on their YouTube channel and ghost hunting to be a bit "much" at times. Though, that is part of the plot- coming of age and the siblings figuring out their dynamics/ want and needs as individuals. Over all this was an engaging spooky read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I adored the audio narrators in this one- they were engaging and entertaining.

This is a great YA book. It encourages finding your inner strength and voice. By learning what’s important you can stand stronger. I love the spooky background story!

While I would 100% recommend it for teens and tweens this book would be a great in between book for adults, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to all adults. And that’s okay it wasn’t written for us anyways.

The narrators added to this book.

3.5⭐

This definitely delivered what I wanted - a quick read, was fun & interesting throughout & had a dash of realistic sibling relationships!!

What can you expect
- high school kids as MCs
- ghost hunting duo
- Goosebumps & The Conjuring vibes
- sibling dynamics
- infamous theatre with a murder case
- a look into the rules of ghost hunting through the eye of their grandparents

13 year old twins, Gabby & Trent have inherited the gift/the sight that was possessed by their grandparents and can now see ghosts & other paranormal entities. While their mom didn't inherit the gift, she grew up watching their parents do the only thing that their family was well-known for - ghost hunting & she chooses the same path for her kids! And when they decide to take on the last incomplete haunt by their grandparents, the abandoned Majestic Theatre as their next big haunt, they fail to realise that they may have signed up for exorcising something more sinister than just a normal entity!!!!

Gabby is the rebellious twin & she wants nothing to do with ghost hunting but she's the bravest of the two & her mom wouldn't let her do anything else she wants! On the other hand, Trent is meek and is scared of ghosts but he feels like he can keep doing this if Gabby always stays by his side & this definitely creates a rift between the two as he always takes his mother's side.

And things definitely get crazy during their big haunt but it also makes them both understand how much they care for one another thereby leading to them talking out & clearing the air between them! And I also liked the growth of both of these characters by the end, and even the mom redeemed herself imo.

Even though this was a short read, it definitely had a lot of creepy moments & jump scares in it, and the person who voiced the entity deserves a huge applause cuz I kept hearing the voice even after I completed listening to it🥶 and all three narrators did their job perfectly imo as their narrations fit the characters aptly & it isn't an easy job to bring out the voice of teenage kids but they really did it right!!

I also liked the way everything was sorted by the end with everyone getting their own kind of happy ending!!! And I'm also kinda curious as to what awaits next for Trent & the gang👀

Overall if you're looking for a paranormal read with equal parts suspense & horror, you gotta check this out!! And this one's a perfect gift for any child you know who loves to read as well.

I listened to this one with my 7 and 10 year old daughters and we really enjoyed it! They are like their mom with their interest in creepy and a little spooky things. I liked the characters in the story and we enjoyed this spooky story for youth. The audio was great and the 3 narrators brought the characters to life.

I love a good haunting story, and ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’ delivers a fun and spooky read perfect for middle-grade audiences. While it leans into classic ghost story tropes, it brings a fresh perspective with engaging characters and eerie mysteries.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot is well-crafted, weaving together supernatural elements with a compelling family drama. The story keeps a good pace, revealing eerie happenings at just the right moments to keep readers hooked. There’s a nice balance of mystery and light horror, making it an enjoyable read for young readers who like spooky stories without anything too terrifying. Some moments felt a little predictable, but overall, the book does a great job of keeping you engaged and curious about what’s truly haunting the Manning family.

Character: ★★★★☆
The characters are well-developed and relatable, especially for a middle-grade audience. Each family member brings something different to the story, making the dynamics feel realistic. The twin’s curiosity and determination drive the plot forward, and the interactions between them add both warmth and tension to the story. While I would have liked a bit more depth in some of the side characters, they all play their roles well in building the eerie atmosphere.

Setting: ★★★☆☆
The haunted setting is a staple of ghost stories, and while it certainly provides a spooky backdrop, I didn’t feel fully immersed in it. The atmosphere could have been more vividly described to truly bring the haunted theater to life. While there are some great eerie moments, I found myself wishing for even more sensory details and a deeper exploration of the house’s history to heighten the tension.

Listenability: ★★★★☆
The audiobook is narrated by Justis Bolding, Robb Moriera, and T. Ryder Smith, and this team does a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Each narrator adds personality to the characters, making the dialogue engaging and the eerie moments more immersive. The different voices help distinguish the perspectives, making it an enjoyable listen.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
This book is definitely engaging, with a steady pace and well-placed twists that keep you intrigued. There are moments of genuine suspense and some fun surprises along the way. While I wasn’t completely glued to the story at all times, I found myself eager to see how everything would unravel.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’. It’s a solid ghost story that’s both accessible and entertaining for younger readers. While it didn’t fully blow me away, it has plenty of charm, spooky moments, and heartwarming family dynamics that make it a worthwhile read. If you love haunted house stories with a fun, eerie twist, this is a great pick.

While ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’ didn’t completely captivate me in every aspect, it was an enjoyable and engaging read with great characters and a solid mystery. The audiobook narration adds to the experience, making it an excellent choice for fans of light horror and supernatural mysteries. I’d recommend it to middle-grade readers who enjoy spooky but not too scary stories.

Very creepy MG horror, where the kids actually act like kids! And not tiny adults!

Great audiobook narration by a rotsting cast of readers depending on chapter POV. They do their own characters well, and match the other chracters too!

Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books/Tantor for the early audiobook copy.

I was not expecting this book to hit as hard s it did. Even though this is considered probably YA or middle grade, I had a great time exploring the theater where their grandparents held their own last investigation.

Gabby and Trent are twin, 13 year old, mediums who have inherited their grandparents gifts to see and speak to spirits. However, their mom is their "manager" and seems to be the one rolling the cameras and trying to maintain the famous name of the Mannings. In many ways, I could see Gabby and Trent like the grandchildren of Ed and Loraine Warren. There's no direct reference to them, but with the idea their grandparents were famous in their day, took on a lot of spooky cases, and had "gifts", by brain made the connection.

I watch a lot of spooky ghost content on Youtube for entertainment and this was the same level of entertainment. The being they encounter is dark and ominous. One twin is outgoing and wants to get out of the "ghost" business and have her own life. The other twin is more of a researcher and introverted so he just tries to keep his mom happy even it it means not standing up for his sister who needs him, at times, to be on her side.

The investigation quickly go awry once the twins and their mom are locked inside the theater, so it's going to take all of their knowledge and know how to try and get ride of the dark force before one of them becomes the next victim.

Such a good book. I was utterly engaged until the end.

It is up to these paranormal investigating twins to vanquish the evils to save themselves and their mother...

"I can't shake the feeling that there is even in this place."

AH, its perfect! Marketed for fans of Goosebumps and FNAF, this is an extremely accurate comparison. I felt like a kid again--because this gave me the same feeling of excitement and edge-of-my-seat suspense that the Goosebumps series did. This is what I would call a perfect stepping stone for middle school kids (and is still good for those of all ages)
What I really love about middle grade stories, such as this, is that there is always a clear message to the readers-not hard to convey or understand. Here, that message is that you can be whomever you want to be; that you don't have to fit the mold someone else (especially a parent) has assigned to you. It is okay to say no and be who you want to be. I'll stop here in order to avoid spoiling anything!

I will be exploring more of what Lorien Lawrence has created because like I said... it's perfect.

What happens when your mom is living vicariously through you and your sibling and making questionable parental choices by creating a YouTube channel focused on your ghost detection abilities? And what happens when one sibling wants out? Thirteen-year-old twins Gabby and Trent Manning live in Connecticut with her mom and while their mom is your average human, Gabby and Trent inherited "the gift" from their famous ghost hunting grandparents. Gabby wants to be a normal teenager and doesn't want to start high school as the local ghost hunter, but she doesn't know how to tell her mom or brother about that. But then their mom sets up an appointment at the abandoned Majestic Theater (the sight of a failed exorcism that was the downfall of their grandparents) and the twins will really need to work together to make it out alive.

Outside of mom's motives, this was a fun paranormal read. I really enjoyed the different types of ghosts the twins encounter and how they still behaved like average teens even though they have special skills. The ending was a nice touch too.

The location of the main event in this book is based on a real place too. The Palace and Majestic Theaters in Bridgeport, Connecticut were designed by noted theater architect Thomas W. Lamb and built in 1921-22. This venue was unique because it consisted of two separate theaters and The Savoy Hotel. Sadly, both theaters closed in the 1970s, but they are on the national historic register and some developers have been looking at potentially renovating them.

Justis Bolding, Robb Moriera, and T Ryder Smith do a good job with the audiobook narration. In the print version there are some graphics to show text messages, etc. But I didn't feel like I missed out on by listening to the audiobook.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review.

This duel POV Middle Grade book was delightful start to finish! Younger readers will eat this up while their parents can also enjoy the story.

First, the narration as I consumed the audiobook. This was a multi narrated booked performed by Justis Bolding; Robb Moriera; T Ryder Smith

It was very well done and the three voice actors used effectively. They each did a good job sounding a bit more age appropriate without sounding cringy.
Justis Bolding in particular did a great job sounding playful but confident as the FMC Gabby and easily transitions into the other characters she has to voice in her chapters. Robb Moriera also was well cast as Gabbys Twin, Trent.

What makes it stand out is that the main plot of kid ghost hunters is entertaining as well as well researched. Young individuals that are interested in ghost hunting and the paranormal will love the adventures the young protagonists go on. The author delves into various aspects of ghost hunting but made it appropriate for middle schoolers.

However, underneath it all the book is about family dynamics and growth along with some coming of age aspects. It also shows young folks who have a large presence on social media but it highlights just how much work goes into that along with how much the young content stars miss out because of their life style.

Lastly, I appreciated all the back story of the family business and the contribution their grandparents left by way of a journal that allowed the kids to be full of knowledge and not having them do things out of left field.

I highly suggest this for middle grade readers and beyond!

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

My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.