What do you think?
Rate this book
The Neighbors
From the feminist horror author Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw), comes a small town terror where things are not at all what they seem!
The neighbors are anything but what they seem… When Janet and Oliver Gowdie move to a quaint mountain town, their teenage daughter Casey and two-year-old Isobel become part of a horrific chain of events that will forever change their family . . . It’s impossible to know who to trust or who is still human. Casey’s behavior is increasingly unpredictable. Janet is more distant. Isobel is happy-go-lucky and seems to enjoy the attention poured onto her by Agnes. And Oliver? He’s out to uncover whatever malevolent forces seems to have taken root under and inside his home. Steeped in Celtic, Irish and English folklore, Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw) joins artist Letizia Cadonici (House of Slaughter), and colorist Alessandro Santoro (Bloom) to tread new ground in changeling horror. A tale perfect for fans of Eat the Rich and The Nice House on the Lake! Collects The Neighbors #1-5.
The neighbors are anything but what they seem… When Janet and Oliver Gowdie move to a quaint mountain town, their teenage daughter Casey and two-year-old Isobel become part of a horrific chain of events that will forever change their family . . . It’s impossible to know who to trust or who is still human. Casey’s behavior is increasingly unpredictable. Janet is more distant. Isobel is happy-go-lucky and seems to enjoy the attention poured onto her by Agnes. And Oliver? He’s out to uncover whatever malevolent forces seems to have taken root under and inside his home. Steeped in Celtic, Irish and English folklore, Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw) joins artist Letizia Cadonici (House of Slaughter), and colorist Alessandro Santoro (Bloom) to tread new ground in changeling horror. A tale perfect for fans of Eat the Rich and The Nice House on the Lake! Collects The Neighbors #1-5.
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2024
About the author
Jude Ellison S. Doyle
38 books266 followersJude Ellison S. Doyle is an author, journalist, and comic book writer living in upstate New York.
Under his former pen name “Sady Doyle,” Jude founded the feminist blog Tiger Beatdown in 2008. He is the author of "Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why" (Melville House 2016), which has been called "smart, funny and fearless" (Boston Globe), "compelling" and "persuasive" (New York Times Book Review). The Atlantic predicted that "Trainwreck will very likely join the feminist canon." Doyle’s second book, "Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy and the Fear of Female Power" (Melville House, 2019) was named a Best Non-Fiction Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews and was shortlisted for Starburst Magazine’s Brave New Words award. His first non-fiction book under his real name, "DILF: Did I Leave Feminism," will be published by Melville House in the fall of 2025.
In 2021, Jude published "Maw," a limited-series horror comic with artist A.L. Kaplan, for Boom! Studios. His follow-up, "The Neighbors" with artist Letizia Cadonici, was published in 2023, and was nominated for a 2024 GLAAD award for “Outstanding Comic.” Both are now available in collected edition, and Jude’s third series, "Be Not Afraid" with artist Lisandro Estherren, is forthcoming from Boom! Studios.
Under his former pen name “Sady Doyle,” Jude founded the feminist blog Tiger Beatdown in 2008. He is the author of "Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why" (Melville House 2016), which has been called "smart, funny and fearless" (Boston Globe), "compelling" and "persuasive" (New York Times Book Review). The Atlantic predicted that "Trainwreck will very likely join the feminist canon." Doyle’s second book, "Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy and the Fear of Female Power" (Melville House, 2019) was named a Best Non-Fiction Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews and was shortlisted for Starburst Magazine’s Brave New Words award. His first non-fiction book under his real name, "DILF: Did I Leave Feminism," will be published by Melville House in the fall of 2025.
In 2021, Jude published "Maw," a limited-series horror comic with artist A.L. Kaplan, for Boom! Studios. His follow-up, "The Neighbors" with artist Letizia Cadonici, was published in 2023, and was nominated for a 2024 GLAAD award for “Outstanding Comic.” Both are now available in collected edition, and Jude’s third series, "Be Not Afraid" with artist Lisandro Estherren, is forthcoming from Boom! Studios.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 29, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fast read, and my biggest complaint is that the story seemed rushed. On one hand, with the pacing in necessary parts, I felt the panic and the rush of the characters. That was appropriate and enjoyable for this thriller story. On the other hand, I would have liked maybe even just one more chapter to flesh out the story and the lore.
There's a Webtoon called Stagtown (highly recommend, omg) that feels similar to the feel of this story, but a Webtoon can take 100+ episodes to build up the storytelling. I think with 5 chapters, the creators did a decent job of helping the reader understand the characters, at least the parents, but I am left wanting more.
There's a Webtoon called Stagtown (highly recommend, omg) that feels similar to the feel of this story, but a Webtoon can take 100+ episodes to build up the storytelling. I think with 5 chapters, the creators did a decent job of helping the reader understand the characters, at least the parents, but I am left wanting more.
January 24, 2024
Very solid 4, I read it in one sitting. Loved the spooky vibes throughout, the family dynamic, and the continuation of the "Small town is horrific" theme that I've been seeing so far this year. I can also see why it won the GLAAD award. Now I've got to backtrack and read Maw when I get the chance.
August 5, 2024
It's a quick but great read. Love the creepiness and the old horror tropes meeting new family constellations.
Unfortunately it wants so much that it stays on surface level instead of focusing on less but then going deeper.
Perfect story to tell homophobic, sexist racists that they are suffocating peace loving people who mind their own business.
Unfortunately it wants so much that it stays on surface level instead of focusing on less but then going deeper.
Perfect story to tell homophobic, sexist racists that they are suffocating peace loving people who mind their own business.
August 19, 2024
Really strong beginning with a harsh decline in story quality. Way too short while also (imo unnecessary) stretching the trans storyline. While I love lgbtq themes, this comic would be better if focused only on the main story, especially being this short.
April 28, 2025
The Watchers meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
When Oliver becomes a home body because the thought of leaving his house gives him panic attacks, he and his family move from the big city to a small rural town. The only problem is something lurks here… something not human.
•I love that this is a queer horror graphic novel reminiscent of other horror movies/books that I love.
•Oliver is FTM trans
•When they meet, both of them are in same sex relationships, but they fall in love and leave their partners for each other.
This was a very quick read that I finished in less than an hour. I got it from KU, so it’s readily available digitally.
When Oliver becomes a home body because the thought of leaving his house gives him panic attacks, he and his family move from the big city to a small rural town. The only problem is something lurks here… something not human.
•I love that this is a queer horror graphic novel reminiscent of other horror movies/books that I love.
•Oliver is FTM trans
•When they meet, both of them are in same sex relationships, but they fall in love and leave their partners for each other.
This was a very quick read that I finished in less than an hour. I got it from KU, so it’s readily available digitally.
May 5, 2025
3.5 Stars.
A family moves into a creepy town, where they are slowly being replaced with creepy monsters. It's refreshing to see the trans & mental health rep in graphic novels. However, the story kinda fell flat.
A family moves into a creepy town, where they are slowly being replaced with creepy monsters. It's refreshing to see the trans & mental health rep in graphic novels. However, the story kinda fell flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2023
3.5 stars and a worthwhile read.
I really liked this. I would’ve liked to have gone deeper into eerie’ness, then it would’ve been a full four stars.
I thought it was eerie and relevant. It could’ve been Erie without being relevant, but it worked both ways.
I really liked this. I would’ve liked to have gone deeper into eerie’ness, then it would’ve been a full four stars.
I thought it was eerie and relevant. It could’ve been Erie without being relevant, but it worked both ways.
February 25, 2024
This did not live up to the ferocity that I loved in Maw but overall it was a solid - if too quick - horror graphic.
A young family moves to the middle of nowhere to help Oliver manage his worsening anxiety, stemming from his gender-affirming transition. With his partner and children, the blended family quickly gets tangled in strange and dark going-ons within the remote neighbourhood.
The slow-burn, unsettling style of horror is a fantastic genre and this one is implemented in a story that is strange and off-putting. But the pacing felt off, with an atmosphere of building tension in a story that moved too quickly.
Both Oliver and his partner Janet are wonderfully fleshed-out characters, with inner dialogue and flashbacks that work well with the story. But that same dynamic was missing with the children who seemed equally important to the story, making the story overall feel emptier than it should have.
Jude Ellison S. Doyle is a graphic author who is high on my radar, but overall this wasn't an absolute winner for me.
becandbooks.com ‧ the storygraph ‧ trigger warning database ‧ more links
A young family moves to the middle of nowhere to help Oliver manage his worsening anxiety, stemming from his gender-affirming transition. With his partner and children, the blended family quickly gets tangled in strange and dark going-ons within the remote neighbourhood.
The slow-burn, unsettling style of horror is a fantastic genre and this one is implemented in a story that is strange and off-putting. But the pacing felt off, with an atmosphere of building tension in a story that moved too quickly.
Both Oliver and his partner Janet are wonderfully fleshed-out characters, with inner dialogue and flashbacks that work well with the story. But that same dynamic was missing with the children who seemed equally important to the story, making the story overall feel emptier than it should have.
Jude Ellison S. Doyle is a graphic author who is high on my radar, but overall this wasn't an absolute winner for me.
→ trigger warnings: blood depiction (including consumption), cheating, mind control, death, transphobia, homophobia
becandbooks.com ‧ the storygraph ‧ trigger warning database ‧ more links
December 9, 2023
This was a strange story. Janet and Oliver move to a rural town in order to help Oliver's anxiety as a newly out transman. They take their two children (one Janet's, one Oliver's) and move to this strange little town and meet the strange neighbors. There's also this old, old, old woman who lives next door and who keeps interacting with their youngest daughter. Eventually we're shown that this town is a weird cult/Fae and wants to trap those on the outside.
There was just a lot of weirdness that didn't seem to connect and the ending was just a disappointment. Also, I don't get why we should be cheering for Janet and Oliver as they both cheated on their spouses before running away, but because Oliver had a difficult life, we're supposed to be happy that they "get away."
It just left me with a weird feeling.
Copy provided by BOOM-Studios.
There was just a lot of weirdness that didn't seem to connect and the ending was just a disappointment. Also, I don't get why we should be cheering for Janet and Oliver as they both cheated on their spouses before running away, but because Oliver had a difficult life, we're supposed to be happy that they "get away."
It just left me with a weird feeling.
Copy provided by BOOM-Studios.
October 19, 2025
3 stars
It took FOREVER for me to get my hands on a copy, but FINALLY I was able to read it. Overall though this ended up being just decent. I wasn't really scared, but I think the concept was creative although not too much happened (probably also on account of it being so short). And to be completely honest, this book was just fine. The plot was fine, the characters were fine, the pacing was good, and the themes of lgbtq+ and mental health struggles were depicted fairly well. Idk I just didn't really connect to this, but it was super quick read and was a decent story that I could just sit down with and read for half an hour. So, overall I would say this book was fine but I wish it was scarier/packed more of a punch
P.s: Janet was a bitch for most of the book and I really didn't like the way she mostly acted
It took FOREVER for me to get my hands on a copy, but FINALLY I was able to read it. Overall though this ended up being just decent. I wasn't really scared, but I think the concept was creative although not too much happened (probably also on account of it being so short). And to be completely honest, this book was just fine. The plot was fine, the characters were fine, the pacing was good, and the themes of lgbtq+ and mental health struggles were depicted fairly well. Idk I just didn't really connect to this, but it was super quick read and was a decent story that I could just sit down with and read for half an hour. So, overall I would say this book was fine but I wish it was scarier/packed more of a punch
P.s: Janet was a bitch for most of the book and I really didn't like the way she mostly acted
March 16, 2024
Strong on ideas, good haunting art, very messy execution.
July 27, 2024
Solid try, but seemed way too forced down "just get to the resolution"..
It's a story about truly being seen and 'known'. Pretty topical, nowadays with a trans man as the lead in this fae/cosmic horror story. I could've used another issue to give me more character depth. It all feels like a storyboard for a really great episode...I just want more depth.
====
Bonus: Old ladies shoving frogs in people's mouths? Bleh...
It's a story about truly being seen and 'known'. Pretty topical, nowadays with a trans man as the lead in this fae/cosmic horror story. I could've used another issue to give me more character depth. It all feels like a storyboard for a really great episode...I just want more depth.
====
Bonus: Old ladies shoving frogs in people's mouths? Bleh...
June 14, 2025
This was good! So glad to have read it. It reminded me of The Nice House on the Lake and Something is Killing the Children.
It was dark and creepy and left me wanting to know more the dark entity at the house.
I really liked the art and the story line was engrossing. Glad I borrowed it from the library though, because it's super short and pretty expensive.
I would totally read more from the creators!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
It was dark and creepy and left me wanting to know more the dark entity at the house.
I really liked the art and the story line was engrossing. Glad I borrowed it from the library though, because it's super short and pretty expensive.
I would totally read more from the creators!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
February 2, 2025
My daughter is giving this book the stars! We're doing this challenge together. It was intriguing but I kept getting lost. My interpretation of the book doesn't match my daughter's and she's 17. The book was good and it kept your interest. It did keep losing me with the crossovers. I'm still unsure of the whole meaning! Heck, we both are!
January 13, 2024
Well. That was terrifying and panic inducing. Not a huge fan of the art style, though it got the story across. I've got some qualms with the pacing, and there just didn't seem enough space to really let the characters or the story breathe.
January 31, 2024
Interesting spooky story with hints of other very old creepy stories. I think I tend to read graphic novels too fast, so it felt like everything unfolded a little too quickly to really resonate for me, but nicely done.
February 1, 2024
An eerie, queerie book about a family moving to a small town with creepy neighbors. I don't know if there's anything new here besides a trans main character, but the story is told well with memorable leads.
July 28, 2024
Good small town spooks with nice sketchy art that helps add to the creepy atmosphere. It was a little rushed, though, and I think you lost some of the connective tissue that would have brought everything together.
December 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this
I do think it needed to be a bit longer as it felt rushed but overall I really liked it. Read it in one sitting.
We also love trans representation in stories! I wanted to know Oliver a bit more but I’m glad he found his inner strength!
I do think it needed to be a bit longer as it felt rushed but overall I really liked it. Read it in one sitting.
We also love trans representation in stories! I wanted to know Oliver a bit more but I’m glad he found his inner strength!
June 2, 2025
The art is great and the themes are really interesting but the execution was a total hot mess. There's a cool story here somewhere but it was too disjointed, the pacing was off, the characters were hollow, nothing was fleshed out... sigh
January 2, 2024
Very effective horror art particularly on Casey. The story wasn't for me.
Read
January 17, 2024well this creeped me the fuck out! should have read it in the daytime, here’s hoping i don’t get dragged to heck tonight in my dreams (i’ll be dragged to heck tonight in my dreams)
January 20, 2024
3.5 - good concept but rushed execution - pleasantly surprised by the trans rep
January 22, 2024
Unsettling.
February 19, 2025
The art is childish and the story derails into political lectures unwanted and unneeded in a comic.
December 15, 2024
It's a bit too artsy for me at times. The horror elements and focus on English myth were strong and led to good unsettling moments. The focus on identity was nice too. But the finale was a bit much and left a lot unanswered or poorly explained.
May 6, 2024
A solid, if a bit overwrought, exploration of the nightmare that haunts our identity. How we constantly look over our shoulders wondering if we’re accepted, if the ground is just gonna swallow us whole and finally erase us. Candonici’s art is cryptic and vivid, like a lucid creature soaking up the page with a story that never quite eclipses its high ambitions.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews