Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom

by Josh Allen

Thirteen chilling short stories to keep you up at night--but only if you dare. You never know what's out to get you. Though you might think you're safe from monsters and menaces, everyday objects can turn against you, too. A mysterious microwave. A threatening board game. A snowman that refuses to melt. Even your own heartbeat has its secrets. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. When you stop to listen, each beat sounds more menacing than the last. Master storyteller Josh Allen brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this must-listen collection that's perfect for budding horror junkies. In his wondrous world, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places. Listeners will sleep with one eye open!

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Short Stories, Fiction, Young Adult, Thriller, Childrens

Audio CD

First published August 31, 2021

About the author

Josh Allen checks under his bed before switching off the light each night. During the day, he teaches creative writing and literature at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His writing has received praise from The Wall Street Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, the Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, the Children's Book Council, and more. He lives in Idaho with his family.

Reviews

[Ashley Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun. Tales of middle school clones, a haunting bowl of oatmeal, and a creepy substitute teacher. Bonus: the cover glows in the dark! Eerie!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most collections of middle grade scary stories, “Only If You Dare” is a mixture of truly creepy, not so creepy, and a few somewhat predictable. Josh Allen’s book does not resort to the traditional horror tropes, not a single vampire or witch, and based on the one completed illustration and a bunch of WIP drawings by Sarah J. Coleman, the art is going to be terrific. For librarians looking for a new author to add to the likes of Stine, Schwartz, and Dahl, this is a solid choice that will likely stay checked out. Allen keeps his book free of profanity and sexual content and while death occurs, it must be inferred and is free of blood and gore. Appropriate for middle grade readers, but may be deemed too “tame” by those in junior high or high school. Thanks for the preview copy, Holiday House.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this collection of stories much better than his first one. Of course, it could be that I met the author before reading this, and I liked his enthusiasm and natural story telling skills. I also knew what to expect. Or maybe these stories were better - who knows. Point is, I really liked this collection of stories. My favorite is probably the Scrabble one: it was geniunely scary. I now own both copies, and I'm excited for my girls to read them. I still don't think they're as good as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (those are 6-star books, IMHO), but I do like The Twilight Zone feel these books have.

[Suzette Kunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another volume in this middle-grade horror series. Each story is quirky and creepy in a Twilight Zone-ish/X Files type of way. To me "Hi, Jenny" had a lot of symbolic meaning in the way our phones kind of harass us. "Lumpy, Lumpy" was my own personal nightmare because I was forced to eat Cream of Wheat growing up and I HATED it.

[♡ sam ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

bro this started pretty good but ended so bad like so many of these stories were just lessons for kids ie eat ur food dont touch cement etc it wasnt even scary and by the ed the stories became worse and worse. so ya 1 star but 2 stars meh who cares. heres a short summary of each story cuz im vella its not like i have psycho paper t stduy for -_- DAYUMNNNNN- that was good.

story 1 “the substitute” : a new substitute teacher tells the whole class about “them” who r people that steal part of ur life by touching u, ie if u were to live 80 years they can take 20-30 years and they get those years, hazel (main charecter)’s friend ava was a little picked by the teacher so she got angry & in the end we find out that hazel is actually a “them” and she shook hands with the substitute after class and took all of his years. ;; ”dayumn” was my reaction i knew them would be ava or the teacher but damn it was actually hazel slay.

story 2 “the perfect girl” : school had prom. everyone had to bring someone but the mc lucas wanted the perfect girl, then he saw her in a ad. he named her celeste and made up all things about her, accidently told ppl she was his gf. he knew she wasnt real obvs just a person in a ad, he carried the ad paper with him everywhere & stared at it always. then one day a new student comes in his school and its her the perfect girl and her name was..celeste. and all the other things he made up about her. she said she was lucas’s gf etc and lucas checked the ad paper and the girl was missing from the ad cuz she was standing in front of him. he was confused but enjoyed it. then before prom she said lets kiss and they did but when lucas opened his eyes she was gone, the world was gone and he was standing IN the ad just like celeste was boom..that was good
;; i thought the girl would be some monster or smth but this is sm better

story 3 “lump lump” : deffo my least fave it was so weird, about this girl who hated oatmeal so threw it in the trash, but then at 3:13am every night she would find the oatmeal in the microwave with last night’s trash, this happened every night she couldnt sleep, till finally she said she just had to eat it but it had alll the waste and trash too so she had to eat thaf too. this is a middle aged horror story book so maybe it was supposed to teach kids not to throw away food

story 4 “Hi, Jenny.” : 2nd least fave story cuz it was supposed to teach kids to not be obsessed with there phones. jenny mc named her phone buzz buzz and starts getting messages from him obnoxiously shes like how is my own phone texting me but it does and he doesnt leave her alone threatens to tell her secret (she liked this one zach guy) to all her contacts if she didnt text him all the time. she got so scared and done finally that she broke her own and felt relief but then on her moms phone saw buzz buzz’s message Hi, Jenny. ;; ew ok like why

story 5 “crazy playz” : THIS WAS SO GOOD i mean it, so crazy playz is a archade thingy “we will take ur troublez away” was tagline. our mc wanted a summer job so he gets it condition is u cant quit or no money. he goes to get the job and a very old stooping uncle who was super old asked him could u take all our customers pain away? and he said yes and he got the job but then as his customers arrived and he gave them tickets there pain LITERALLY became his ie a girl wih a broken foot came and his own foot started her, a dad with money troubles and suddenly he was mentally stressed, then soo many old people with all problems back, dementia, one eye blind, bad knees etc and all those pain became hiss while the people were fine as ever. then in the end the before old man came in as a stronf healthy person and says i couldnt do it anymore so u have to. the end

story 6: this wasnt bad just weird and not good weird just nonsensical. anothet story up for grabs for being the worst... anyways its this girl who made a snowman who isnt melting and its march 9th and so she tears him apart but hes back alright the next day finally she completely tears him apart but checks her watch and its not march 9th but december 21st now. like??? kya??? it didnt even teach any lesson nor made sense ew

story 7: it was spooky didnt hit cuz i read pretty fast but it was about this girl who was alone cuz parents went out, she dared herself to watch this scary movie specter and got scared so to distract herself played scrabble and all the words came together to form “warning” “specter” “near you” someone started rattling her door and frantically she unsolved the last one and boom we dont know what happened just her parents come in lights out think shes sleeping but see scrabble lying with the words “too late” damnn

story 8: bruh another story to guarantee this young children’s book was made only to teach children lessons cuz a whole story of this kid who loved carving trees and put his hand in cement to leave a mark and he couldnt remove it so he cut his hand off and now only lives with left hand. i mean u tell me thats only supposed to scare kids away from touching cement and stuff. i hate this story too

story 9: bro earlier the stories were good but they r getting worse now ah, this one was about this girl who has nightmares about this clown and the exact clown shows up irl too and shes scared this clown makes ppl forcefully laugh and the ending is “the mc laughed and laughed and laughed” like pls yaar acchi ending bhi nahi di it wasnt even a cliffhanger just weird man

story 10 “we all scream for ice cream” : bro this was better i mean atleast decent, girl who felt suuuper hot during the summers saw ice cream vala but he was sus asf, she selected ice cream but it was free and as she started eating it all the hotness disappeared instantly and she felt happy cuz everyone was sweating but she was here enjoying but then winter came and she was alwaysss tooo cold, went to doctor didnt help so now we know that icecream kept her cold always so she saw a hot choclate vala and drank the chocolate and was finallyy feeling not cold and warmth. but then boomm she offered to pay and the person said no cost and thats when she knew she stared sweating more and more so this chocolate would keep her warm forever ah ;; ajeeb hai its not scary but better atleast i mean meh

story 11 “one of a kind” : story of this girl emma (sapphire to look cool) who was obsessed with being one of a kind and she drew shit and “details make a painting come to life” so when she adds the details they come to life. she drew spiders they came to life in her locker the same way she drew a self potrait and boom she opened rhw locker and saw herself there so “2 of a kind” well ya ;; boring it had a lot of potential but no

story 12: “one more piece” : bro this had sm potential i thought t would lead somewhere better but these cliffhangers r just not it. so guy has a creepy doll in his living room all his life, to finally get rid of it he breaks it. but it follows him everywhere to school to chem lab etc so finally he decided to piece her together and the story ends wih him finding everythint except that one piece thats it

story 13: yaaaar disappointment. this was like 1 page? and it was nothing that the thump thump u hear when u lie down is actually ur pillows heartbeat which is waiting to kill u once u sleep like wha?

[Kelly Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe one or two stories in here were actually scary. the rest were just ok. each story had things that were constantly repeated. it seems like the author thinks that the kids that are reading this is stupid and can't remember the name of the ice cream and other facts about the stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I am a kid at heart. I really enjoyed this book. Some stories more than others but they still unsettled me at points and that is a good point to scary stories.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I love how “Only If You Dare” has various oddities to hold your interest and scare you. I enjoyed reading most of the tales and found the collection to be impressive.

The Substitute – What a great start to the book! I loved Hazel, and Mr. Fernsby was disturbing as he picked on Ava.
The Perfect Girl – is a lovely story, and Celeste stands out as the strange girl, but the ending felt weird.
Lumpy, Lumpy – This story was more disgusting than eerie.
Hi, Jenny – I liked this one because it is something that could happen in reality. Also, buzz buzz is creepy!
Crazy Playz – I liked this story mainly cos of Jayson. He is hilarious.
The Snowman Who Wouldn’t Melt – The Snowman gave me the shivers and made me reminisce about an old Fear Street novel by RL Stine with the same name.

Scrabbled: The plot between Ramona and the Specter was the highlight of the tale. I also liked how the author incorporated a game of scrabble in it.
My Hand, Right There: The main character is creepy and unnerved me about his hand carving obsession
Wake up: Poor luna! This one gave me “IT” vibes because of the sinister jester and Luna’s recurring nightmare.
We all Scream for Ice Cream: This story was too short for me to get scared. While like I concept, the ending felt incomplete.
One of a Kind: This one was probably the most disturbing because of my fear of spiders.
One More Piece: Oh, spooky dolls! This one was an exciting tale.
The Heartbeat you Hear is a nice ending that will make you focus on your Heartbeat.

Overall, “Only If You Dare” is an exciting collection of spooky stories perfect for Halloween.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a weird, wild ride!! This short story collection was creepy, thought-provoking, and terrifying. The psychological, hair-raising premises of each story are ones that will continue to haunt me. I will never look at a handprint in cement, a bowl of oatmeal, or a Scrabble board the same again! As I finished one story in particular that involved something coming to the front door, my husband arrived home from work at that exact moment and wiggled the doorknob, adding to my already frightened mindset. 😱 Josh Allen concocted chilling stories using everyday items and occurrences that so many of us can relate to. His insights were illuminating. Sarah J. Coleman’s illustrations were perfectly freaky and detailed and brought the horrors of each story to life, making my experience even scarier!

I would highly recommend this collection to middle-grade, YA, and adult readers, especially those who love spine-tingling stories that will alter their perspectives forever.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a "scary" book geared toward the younger crowd, this was great. I can see my 9 year old who likes creepy stuff enjoying this and my 11 year old who does not like creepy stuff being a little too scared after reading it. So I'd say that means it is a success! I liked that there was no language, no gore, just straight up creep factors.

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant middle grade horror collection of short stories. The first story is going to stick with me always.

[Sadie Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting stories but definitely for the younger audience

[Steph Spone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea I guess. They weren't bad, but I lost interest.

[Bailey Miller]

This is a that has many different horror stories in it. It has all different kinds such as the substitute teacher, oatmeal, and many others. It is written for kids and has some interesting stories.
I like this book. I liked how it had many different stories in it. Some of them weren't my favorites, but I really liked some of them. I'm not sure how I feel about my students or kids reading this kind of thing at a young age.
Content warning
-horror
-monsters
-being trapped

[Rebecca Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love a scary story and Josh Allen shows mastery with this collection of short middle grade horror fiction. It reads like episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark and as a 90s kid and now a 5th grade teacher, I am always looking for appropriate scary stories for the classroom. I devoured all 13 stories and I hope there's another one from this author soon.

[Kacey Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, I’m a sucker for short stories!

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

13 stories to tantalize the senses, boggle the mind, and make you think twice about that bump in the night! 13 stories that could send chills down your spine, make your skin crawl, or merely give you a good scare. 13 stories leaves room for a little something for everyone, and I certainly had MY favorites! My top three from this spooky collection in self ranked order...

Number 3....CRAZY PLAYZ
We all want to excel at our work and when your place of business is an amusement zone, your ticket to riches is getting the guests to lighten their loads in order to enjoy all you have to offer and keep coming back. This story...takes that job VERY SERIOUSLY, much to the surprise and detriment of their newest underage employee. Let's just say his summer job will have him feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Number 2...SCRABBLED
What's a girl to do when she's home by herself? Nothing out the ordinary...at least until a cautionary instruction from a parent turns into a statement they wish to expunge. No one wants to be seen as tender, after all...but sometimes the outcome of a self-inflicted challenge is WAY more than you bargained for. This story has all the right words to bring a night at home...by yourself...to vivid, heart stopping, living color. You'll never look at a Scrabble game the same way again!

Number 1...THE SUBSTITUTE
Every kid longs for a substitute at some point in the academic career. They think it will liven things up, take off some of the pressure, and turn an otherwise heavy day around because they can redirect the lesson, get them off topic, and have a free day. But what happens when the substitute is the one throwing the curve balls? What happens when they introduce a lesson on something you never imagined that simultaneously steals your breath and stokes your curiosity? What happens when that very same lesson is causing your friend undue panic and the substitute doesn't seem to care? If you're name if Hazel, you try to redirect the conversation, put an end to the current topic, and if all else fails, talk to the teacher after class. After all, he's just a creepy substitute that took a Halloween time lesson a bit too far...right?

This one will get you going for all the right reasons, and makes the perfect starter story to kick off the entire collection. Recommended for Middle Grade readers and beyond! You may need to keep the lights on for some of them, and a stomach of steel for others, but it's all in good CREEPY fun!


**ARC received for review; opinions are my own

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for short horror stories. As a kid, I was obsessed with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Short & Shivery, Twisted Tales, and Scary Stories for Sleepovers. This book, Only If You Dare, is reminiscent of those, and it brought back the memories of spending my nights trying to scare myself by reading them.
Each story has its own creepy factor, and while not every story is super scary, they are all strange and macabre. From haunted oatmeal to trees out for revenge, there's something for everyone within these pages. I, personally, found the story Lumpy, Lumpy to be mildly nauseating. That's probably the grossest story in the book. Scrabbled and My Hand, Right There are both kind of on the darker side.
And We All Scream for Ice Cream is the one story that resonated the most with me. Oddly enough, it's because what happens in the story is how I am in real life. When everyone else is melting in the summer heat/humidity, I'm perfectly comfortable. But once the temperature starts dropping to 70 or below, I'm always cold and can't seem to get warm, regardless of how many layers I put on. And while Chloe's issues are because of the food choices she makes, mine don't seem to have any real cause. The scene where Chloe goes to the doctor reminded me so much of what I've dealt with. "You just seem to be cold. I'm sure it will go away on its own." Maybe I need to find a hot chocolate hut and order a Smooth and Sweeter Mega-Heater now that winter is coming. 😂
This is a fun collection of short, spooky reads. Perfect for this time of year. If you or your middle-grade reader are looking for something creepy to read, give Only If You Dare a whirl.
4.5 stars!

[Kevin Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read this book and met the author in person I am very pleased. I got to see both sides of these short stories. I have heard firsthand the writing process from the mouth of the author of this book and read it. It has been a really cool experience to see both worlds. I had the opportunity to read this book from the perception of the audience and what the author's true intentions were as he wrote his short stories.
The short stories were spooky but just the right amount of spook elements needed for middle-grade writing. I'd imagine that elementary and middle school audiences fit the audience of this book well. All of the stories are formatted correctly for the horror genre. I liked the way Allen hooked me into every story with just the right amount of ominous details to keep me interested until the end of each story.
Allen is really talented to find the right balance of spooky, suspenseful, and eerie story elements for young kids. That is a really hard balance. Some authors push even farther on the envelope of spooky, but I enjoy where his line was drawn. I can put myself in children's shoes and see that the horror elements were not too spooky, but right on the perfect edge.
I look for to other projects and novels Allen writes. If it isn't a horror that would be fine as well. I think Josh Allen is very capable to write in other genre as well if he so chooses. If he writes a horror book I will read it. If he writes a historical fiction I will give it a try. This read was a pleasure.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from my little sister, Laly (11):

A collection of the spookiest tales you can find! From a bowl of oatmeal that mysteriously returns no matter how many times it's thrown away to a snowman that never melts even on the hottest days of summer to a jester whose laughter will haunt you for eternity, these stories are sure to send shivers down your spine. But beware, these tales are not for the faint of heart! Only the bravest readers should dare to delve into the pages of this book, for once you start, you may find it hard to put down.

As a horror fan, I cannot recommend this book enough! It was filled with a multitude of stories, each one more creative and terrifying than the last.
My favorite story was about a girl who got a new microwave and refused to eat her oatmeal. But the bowl of oatmeal seemed to have a life of its own, reappearing in the microwave every night, getting dirtier and moldier. It was so disgusting, but I couldn't look away. The author even included an illustration of the bowl of oatmeal.

If you are a fan of horror and love spine-chilling tales that keep you up at night, this book is a must-read for you. Each story will take you on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. So, if you're feeling brave and want to experience the thrill of a good scare, don't hesitate to pick up this book. But remember, once you start reading, there's no turning back or unseeing some drawings!

Happy Spooky Reading, Laly 📚 👻

Thank you, @holidayhousebks, for sharing this spooktacular book with us!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom

Author: Josh Allen and Sarah J. Coleman (Illustrator)

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Middle Grade readers, horror

Genre: MG Horror

Publication Date: August 31, 2021

Publisher: Holiday House

Pages: 208

Recommended Age: 12+ (death, some scary moments)

Explanation of CWs: Very free of gore and violence, but death is shown and mentioned. There's also some scary moments for younger kids.

Synopsis: You never know what's out to get you. Though you might think you're safe from monsters and menaces, everyday objects can turn against you, too. A mysterious microwave. A threatening board game. A snowman that refuses to melt. Even your own heartbeat has its secrets. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. When you stop to listen, each beat sounds more menacing than the last.

Master storyteller Josh Allen brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this page-turning collection that's perfect for budding horror junkies. In his wondrous world, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places.

Review: I really liked this! It was a fun short story anthology and I loved how horrifying but fun they all were. The book had great story building and it's definitely campfire story material!

My only concern is that I wish the book was a bit more interwoven and connected.

Verdict: It was great!

[Katelyn Garlick · Rating 5 out of 5]

1-12
[edit]
This book has 13 haunting short stories in it about substitute teachers, a haunted microwave, clowns, creepy dolls, school clones, and so much more! These stories were thrilling and chilling. However, a lot of them also had really good underlying messages about listening to your parents, not doing delinquent activities, and just other things in general. I think there were a lot of warnings in here about the world and what dangers it could hold.

I could not imagine being around ten years old and reading this book. I am twenty and literally got scared reading this (which is weird because I watch way scarier things), but this book really got me. I mean, I still get chills thinking about some of the stories, so I just try not to. I think this is a great way to introduce horror stories to younger kids. There is nothing totally gruesome in it or bad, just a little scary. A lot is left up to the imagination, which I think is the scariest part because my imagination is pretty big.

I think the only warning that I would give with this book would be that it is a book of horror stories, so you are going to want to talk with your children about the differences between real-life and fictional stories. If you are a kid looking to read this book, then definitely talk about anything that scares you with a trusted adult because they are there to help you. However, this book is great.

[AJ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger, I would read a collection of short horror stories by R.L. Stine every single night, and reading this book reminded me a lot of that collection. I wasn't necessarily the target audience for this book, but I still really enjoyed it! While it didn't completely scare me, it did give me the creeps! If you have kids in middle school, or even late elementary school, that like scary stories, I do think this book has the potential to scare them!

I loved Allen's writing style as well! I may be several years older than the intended audience of this book, but he had me completely hooked from the first story. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it, and when I finished it, I just wanted more. He doesn't really follow "normal" horror tropes either, so the reading the book felt fresh and exciting. I do, however, want to complain about "Wake Up!" because I was hoping I could get through the book without a clown. I did not, and that was the one story that 100% freaked me out.

The artwork in this book is phenomenal as well! I loved how well the illustrations captured the stories, and Coleman's art was just fascinating to look at. Even the clown drawing - which freaked me out - was hard to look away from. Some of the pieces weren't final, but they could honestly be left the way they are in the ARC!

This is a book that I'll definitely keep around in case I ever have kids of my own that love to read. I'd also recommend this to anyone who enjoyed reading R.L. Stine! There's at least one story in the book to scare everyone and give them the chills.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short horror stories detailing many different plots and mysteries to uncover. All of them are meant for children or YA, but contain relatable themes that kids may experience in their life twisted with supernatural events. Whether the story is about an evil ice cream cone that makes you permanently cold, or a creepy clown that can make it so that you never stop laughing, this book is sure to scare kids!

This book was definitely appropriate for the age range it appeals to, but was a little young for my taste. I think that Allen has a talent for writing in a way that is engaging and suspense building, and as a kid, I would've been a sucker for this book. It's got a similar vibe as "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," but it tells stories that are more relatable to the trials and realities that real kids face in our modern world, which makes it more scary for children. Each story has an ending that comes somewhat unexpectedly, and definitely contain some shocking twists that would be great for kids seeking and adrenaline high that comes from fear.

There is nothing overtly graphic or overly scary in this book, but it is horror, so more sensitive children may be affected. I would recommend this book to kids age 8-13.

[Megan Penman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only If You Dare, Josh Allen

This book is a compilation of scary stories targeted to a middle grade/young adult audience. The stories are short, quick, and full of suspense. Allen takes everyday scenarios that middle schoolers face each day and put a spooky twist on them. Objects such as a cell phone, snowman, or microwave become frightening.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I used to read some of the Goosebumps books as a child in elementary school and this book really brought back nostalgia. I remember me and my friends used to come up with “scary” stories on the playground. I think this book would be very relatable to young adults in middle school today. Some of the stories use technology and modern day slang which brings a modern twist to the traditional scary stories. I think one of the reasons that horror stories exist in the first place is that we like being scared. I think young adults enjoy
reading books like this because they like to feel as though they are being rebellious. I feel as though scary stories can be good for children because it helps them understand that it’s ok to be scared and can even help them be able to better cope with their emotions.

This book has elements of horror, but overall I would say is suitable for most children ages 10 and up.

[Sydney Tavoian]

This reading was refreshing as it took a turn to something new. It wasn’t written in a novel or verse as one long story which made my mind must reset my thinking of predictability with every scary story I would read. We all know almost every scary story outcome so when the plot twists come, and they come, they do not usually make us feel like we have experienced something original. This book, although horrific, still had an innocence to it where you felt little again, reading short stories, related to everyday characters and events you could relate to. The author was smart in bringing back that common originality back to our lives. Making every day things seem scary -- because in reality -- they are.
I highlighted a few paragraphs and phrases within each story that were very relatable to real life and how we think. That's what I liked most about this book, the short stories in a larger book makes you feel like you've accomplished more and your mind can comprehend more. It also has you looking for the unpredictability or the predictability of why the title of the scary story is there, where it'll come into play and what plot twist you'll get out of it.

[Jenny Byington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief Synopsis
You never know where danger and darkness lurk. You never know when your worst nightmares could come to life. Often the things we think are the most innocent- a magazine ad, a game of scrabble, a refreshing scoop of ice cream- can come back to haunt us. This collection of short stories will make you shiver and your heart race. You might even find yourself sleeping with the hall light on!
Personal Reaction
I usually stay away from the horror genre in general. I'm about to graduate from college, and I can honestly say that I watched my very first horror movie only five months ago. However, I absolutely adored this collection of scary stories! They ranged from mildly creepy to a little bit gross to I'm-genuinely-glad-I'm-not-home-alone-right-now. In my personal opinion, "Scrabbled" was the spookiest of all of the stories. Overall, this is a perfect introduction to the horror genre for younger readers or for readers who, like me, haven't spent much time with the genre.
Content Warnings:
*some gore/grossness (mostly implied)
*death

[Ericka Picinich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really good read if you are into the horror and thriller genre. There are 13 stories and they are in the order of the best story in the front to the last one that is good in the back. The short story I liked the least and even sort of disliked was "The Snowman Who Wouldn't Melt." I felt that story was anticlimactic and a bit boring. The story called "The Substitute" was my favorite out of all the stories because of the plot twist at the end and the fact that I want to be a teacher in the future.

Each of the stories had a part of suspense in them with guaranteed horror in store for the readers. I won't look at a doll the same way after having read this book and I am not a fan of Horror type books but I would definitely read this to any class on the 13 days leading up to Halloween to get ready for the scary holiday. Remember that life is all fun and games until you here your heart beating loudly right before you fall asleep...

[Dane Waldron]

Allen presents a wonderfully create set of playful, thought provoking, and at times creepy stories. I am a huge horror fan, and although these are stories that are more so written for a younger, and more tame audience, I still thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories and the way that Allen writes them. If I had to choose a favorite story out of all of them, I would most likely choose the substitute. I think my reasoning for this is because most students are absolutely ecstatic when they find out they have a substitute teacher, and I love the curveball the students get with their new, creepy substitute teacher. As a horror fan, this really appealed to those senses and was the most intriguing read for me. I also really enjoyed the scrabble story!

This book of appropriate for all young adult readers. There is no sexuality or profanity, and no gore or anything along the same lines even though there are instances in the stories where death is foreshadowed and or occurs.

[Corban Dahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only If You Dare, Josh Allen

This book is a collection of short horror stories which each spin a different creepy tale. The subject matter ranges from stalking dolls to cursed phones, but all of them are uniquely emphasized by the terrifying illustrations given for each story.

I actually quite loved the classic styles of short horror stories present within this collection of works. Each story had its own appeal and type of horror to draw from, with some being silly in their subject matter, while others were quite disturbing to consider. All-in-all though, it was enjoyable to read through these short horror stories and reminisce about the same kind of stories I read when I was younger.

Of course, it is best to keep in mind this is a collection of short horror stories, so children under the age of 8-10 should probably not read them if they are particularly scared by this kind of thing.