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Ladybugs in November
When two lifelong friends return to the site of a childhood tragedy thirty-seven years later, they expect eradicating all evidence to be a breeze. But upon entering the rumored haunted house, they find themselves ensnared in a nest of insecticidal evil eager to exact revenge.
- GenresShort StoriesHorror
Unknown Binding
Published January 9, 2024
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Johnson
5 books54 followersBrittany Johnson is the author of Mississippi Blue. Carrying a deep love for horror and southern gothic, she writes novels, short stories, and poetry. Her writing tool of choice? A seventy-year-old typewriter named Roland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 14, 2023
I've been in love with Brittany Johnson's writing since Mississippi Blue, and this little tale was spectacular, to say the least. Something dead awaits two buddies as they visit a local haunt where a tragic event took place many years prior. They get more than they bargain for when they set foot in Blackhouse. After you read this, you'll never look at another ladybug the same again. So good, excellent tension and build-up with a very satisfying ending! Another superb job. Well done, Ms. Johnson, well done!
January 7, 2024
When I think of Ladybugs, I think of the harmless, colorful insects I used to catch in my childhood. I also think of the Rodney Dangerfield movie. And as bad as that movie may be, I don't associate ladybugs with anything terrifying...until now. Brittany Johnson's "Ladybugs in November" is an effectively unsettling short-story where there's no shortage of the insects. They're plentiful in disgusting abundance; making a home of a dilapidated mansion with a dark history.
I loved everything about this story from the strong visuals to the well-written despicable two main characters. I'm glad that a lot of the story's mystery isn't explained, yet it's open enough for interpretation. Could this mansion be the host to other dark events than just the one involving this story's characters? I certainly think it's possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Fear Nerd says, "Check it out!"
I loved everything about this story from the strong visuals to the well-written despicable two main characters. I'm glad that a lot of the story's mystery isn't explained, yet it's open enough for interpretation. Could this mansion be the host to other dark events than just the one involving this story's characters? I certainly think it's possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Fear Nerd says, "Check it out!"
January 6, 2024
If you're thinking this sounds like a cute rom com, you'd be wrong. Dead wrong. Still ladybugs probably aren't on your list of most frightening creatures, and that's what makes this so fun. This short story drips with southern gothic atmosphere and Johnson's constant charm. Even though it's a story about terrible people doing terrible things, you kinda feel for them. It takes a good writer to do that. I've been a fan of Johnson's since I read her debut novel. If you like Southern Gothic with fun dialogue, addictive prose laced with poetic descriptions, check yourself out some Brittany Johnson.
June 10, 2024
And another one! Another cracking story by Brittany Johnson - this time featuring some insectile and body horror!
This was a great read with some nauseatingly gruesome descriptions (I'm squeamish though so you might be fine) and some bizarre, otherworldly creepy-crawlies to give you the heebie-jeebies.
My only grumble with this one is that I would have loved a little more in the way of attacks - or something - by the ladybugs. What we got was a little late into the story, therefore over too soon. The greedy reader in me strikes again. But overall, this was great and I'm really looking forward to reading more of Brittany's stories.
This was a great read with some nauseatingly gruesome descriptions (I'm squeamish though so you might be fine) and some bizarre, otherworldly creepy-crawlies to give you the heebie-jeebies.
My only grumble with this one is that I would have loved a little more in the way of attacks - or something - by the ladybugs. What we got was a little late into the story, therefore over too soon. The greedy reader in me strikes again. But overall, this was great and I'm really looking forward to reading more of Brittany's stories.
February 17, 2024
Bad people doing bad things intertwined with some fantastic prose, count me in! This is my first work from Johnson and sure as hell won’t be my last. If you’re looking for a quick horror story, look no further! Ladybugs await!
January 7, 2024
Mmmm bug horror. For this title to be so short, the vivid imagery and characterization swiftly pulled me in. I was taken aback by how thoroughly the lore was depicted and themes of vengeance and evil were explored in such a short amount of time. I don’t want to give too much away but if you want to spend about 30 minutes in a swampland haunted house with a guest that’s looking for revenge (and has millions of ladybug pals for backup hehe) look no further.
December 21, 2023
You’ll never look at ladybugs the same way after reading this fast-paced thrilling story!
May 7, 2024
I’ve always believed that ladybugs are a symbol of luck and that killing one will bring misfortune and this rings true in this wonderful short story. Shorty and Martin got what they deserved, as I’m sure they didn’t intend things to end as they did, but it should never have happened in the first place. It’s a great reminder to do unto others…..
December 11, 2023
Wow, what a twisted book this is! Honestly, this was pretty creepy, and it's a unique horror story. I will definitely be reading more from Brittany Johnson!
If you have entomophobia, I would highly suggest not reading this book.
TWs/CWs:
Bugs
Fire
Bullying
Death
Fat shaming
Thank you, Brittany Johnson, for the copy! I am leaving this review of my own volition. All opinions are my own.
If you have entomophobia, I would highly suggest not reading this book.
TWs/CWs:
Bugs
Fire
Bullying
Death
Fat shaming
Thank you, Brittany Johnson, for the copy! I am leaving this review of my own volition. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2024
Satisfying horror that will continue clicking and putter-pattering around my head long after.
Wow! That story went in a direction I was not expecting.
Brittany does a great job bending language to her will and showcasing excellent prose throughout her story.
What I love most about this story is the beautiful descriptions of horrifying imagery. Also, she does an excellent job pulling the reader into another period in time. A time before cell phones and internet. This was written with a lot of charm and a lot of heart and I absolutely love the inspiration for the story at the end because as a writer I understand the type of thinking that grabs onto these ideas creatively.
This story is short and probably even better if you go in blind like I did. I’m looking forward to more work by this author.
Wow! That story went in a direction I was not expecting.
Brittany does a great job bending language to her will and showcasing excellent prose throughout her story.
What I love most about this story is the beautiful descriptions of horrifying imagery. Also, she does an excellent job pulling the reader into another period in time. A time before cell phones and internet. This was written with a lot of charm and a lot of heart and I absolutely love the inspiration for the story at the end because as a writer I understand the type of thinking that grabs onto these ideas creatively.
This story is short and probably even better if you go in blind like I did. I’m looking forward to more work by this author.
June 12, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5.
Ladybugs in November was a really fun, quick read! Without giving much away, this may be for you if you're into books with haunted houses, body horror, creepy crawly bugs, and people with a past that comes back to haunt them.
This definitely packed a punch, got right to the point, and the ending left me satisfied.
Ladybugs in November was a really fun, quick read! Without giving much away, this may be for you if you're into books with haunted houses, body horror, creepy crawly bugs, and people with a past that comes back to haunt them.
This definitely packed a punch, got right to the point, and the ending left me satisfied.
April 1, 2024
Though short, this book packs a lot of emotion, fear, and terror in 45 pages. Brittany Johnson is no stranger to delivering fear with such detailed horror.
A must read!
A must read!
June 17, 2024
Redneck talk should be a banned language in books.
July 10, 2024
A fun spooky short story with ladybugs! Really enjoyed this.
May 7, 2025
Atmospheric and descriptive. I think I love ladybugs even more.
January 18, 2025
This short story was phenomenal. Elegant prose, rich characterization (rare for shorter works), and brilliant payoff.
Read this if in search for a quick, damn good read.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Read this if in search for a quick, damn good read.
Looking forward to more from this author.
December 16, 2023
Ladybugs in November
This short story was absolutely amazing and one I enjoyed a lot! I read it in one go right before bed. The story gripped me from the very first words I read and I wasn't able to put it down or focus on anything else than the story.
The story itself was well put together and executed. The characters were unlikable, but that really fit the story and the way the story was written was easy to follow, the banter was great, and it really kept you hooked the entire time.
The horrific part was also very descriptive and I had no issues visualising what happened. Very well written! True nightmare material!
All in all, an amazing short story with just enough info to keep you invested, but not too much so it gets boring or too informative. I really enjoyed it and I give it a very deserved 5/5!
This short story was absolutely amazing and one I enjoyed a lot! I read it in one go right before bed. The story gripped me from the very first words I read and I wasn't able to put it down or focus on anything else than the story.
The story itself was well put together and executed. The characters were unlikable, but that really fit the story and the way the story was written was easy to follow, the banter was great, and it really kept you hooked the entire time.
The horrific part was also very descriptive and I had no issues visualising what happened. Very well written! True nightmare material!
All in all, an amazing short story with just enough info to keep you invested, but not too much so it gets boring or too informative. I really enjoyed it and I give it a very deserved 5/5!
December 28, 2023
Brittany Johnson is unstoppable. Be it novel or short story, she always pulls a powerful punch, and Ladybugs in November is no exception. This quick tale is immersive and wildly engaging, pulling the reader in fast with its rich imagery and descriptions. But my favorite part? The LORE. Though the story is simple at face value, the richness comes in its setting and history, just as in Johnson's prior works. Southern horror to its dry bones.
I'll say the plot as simply as possible, as I hesitate to reveal too much: Two men with a dark secret enter a foreboding ladybug-covered house in an attempt to reckon with that very secret. And the house itself has even more secrets, ones that are hinted at but never uncovered. And they shouldn't be. For such purposeful teasing is the stuff of legend and campfire fodder. Johnson executes that layered storytelling with a mastery many seasoned novelists never fully realize.
The Stephen King influences are definitely there, from some flavorful character moments and dialogue to that unnerving sense of dread that Johnson here makes wholly her own. In fact in one particularly disturbing scene involving ladybugs crawling up into certain, um, places, I was immediately taken back to King's Creepshow when those cockroaches terrorize the hapless Upson Pratt in his loft apartment.
Devour this one, friends. But be careful. Ladybugs won't seem so cute anymore.
I'll say the plot as simply as possible, as I hesitate to reveal too much: Two men with a dark secret enter a foreboding ladybug-covered house in an attempt to reckon with that very secret. And the house itself has even more secrets, ones that are hinted at but never uncovered. And they shouldn't be. For such purposeful teasing is the stuff of legend and campfire fodder. Johnson executes that layered storytelling with a mastery many seasoned novelists never fully realize.
The Stephen King influences are definitely there, from some flavorful character moments and dialogue to that unnerving sense of dread that Johnson here makes wholly her own. In fact in one particularly disturbing scene involving ladybugs crawling up into certain, um, places, I was immediately taken back to King's Creepshow when those cockroaches terrorize the hapless Upson Pratt in his loft apartment.
Devour this one, friends. But be careful. Ladybugs won't seem so cute anymore.
May 27, 2024
“The house did not moan or creak, or welcome them in any way. A dead quiet filled the air. No longer could they hear the comforting hum of the cicadas — as if the very walls themselves blotted out all existence of the outside world.”
Ladybugs in November. A tale of two friends and two timelines spanning 37 years, underpinned by a sinister case of karma colored red and dappled black.
Even before turning the 41st and final page, I found myself nodding with a certain validation — not because I had predicted the frenzied ending, but because I was already convinced of the Author’s capacity to spin concise horror.
Bite-size and the right size, with striking visuals and identifiable actors, Ladybugs proves to be another notch on the belt for Brittany Johnson, adding another title to a blossoming catalog ever coming into bloom.
Ladybugs in November. A tale of two friends and two timelines spanning 37 years, underpinned by a sinister case of karma colored red and dappled black.
Even before turning the 41st and final page, I found myself nodding with a certain validation — not because I had predicted the frenzied ending, but because I was already convinced of the Author’s capacity to spin concise horror.
Bite-size and the right size, with striking visuals and identifiable actors, Ladybugs proves to be another notch on the belt for Brittany Johnson, adding another title to a blossoming catalog ever coming into bloom.
December 18, 2023
This is my second Brittany Johnson read, and I can confidently call myself a fan. She has a way of pulling you in with her prose, building anticipation, and then bringing everything together with a surprising and gripping finale.
The structure of the story--bouncing back and forth between past and present--is very well-executed. At no point did I feel the pace drag. And that ending! It's a big, gross slice of body horror goodness and I loved it.
I have her novel Mississippi Blue on my shelf and can't wait to crack it open. She seems to have mastered short-form fiction so I'm interested to see how she handles longer works. My guess? Very well!
The structure of the story--bouncing back and forth between past and present--is very well-executed. At no point did I feel the pace drag. And that ending! It's a big, gross slice of body horror goodness and I loved it.
I have her novel Mississippi Blue on my shelf and can't wait to crack it open. She seems to have mastered short-form fiction so I'm interested to see how she handles longer works. My guess? Very well!
February 18, 2024
Johnson sure knows how to write a good short story, she hooked me with Maneater & yet again with Ladybugs in November!
I particularly love in short stories when a reader is left to fill in some of the blanks. I think it adds a dreary, eeriness to the feel of it. What did the ladybugs mean? What do they symbolize? I’ll be pondering these things in the coming days.
I could smell this book, I could feel the story; how gross and dank the house was, the men’s faces in a grim awareness in the end. Deliciously creepy!
As a sidenote, I like that Johnson added in the first chapter of Mississippi Blue after the authors note. This is a nice touch and makes me really excited to read that next!
I particularly love in short stories when a reader is left to fill in some of the blanks. I think it adds a dreary, eeriness to the feel of it. What did the ladybugs mean? What do they symbolize? I’ll be pondering these things in the coming days.
I could smell this book, I could feel the story; how gross and dank the house was, the men’s faces in a grim awareness in the end. Deliciously creepy!
As a sidenote, I like that Johnson added in the first chapter of Mississippi Blue after the authors note. This is a nice touch and makes me really excited to read that next!
January 7, 2024
Johnson has delivered another macabre treat! Delicious from the start, I could not take my eyes away from the two goons in the opening credits. The setting was ominous and the way it was described was almost fairytale like, except with that niggling knowledge that something had to be wrong, but what would it be? Then we go back in time to walk through the same setting that doesn't appear much changed. The style was too the point with lyrical prose speckled in and it was just what I needed.
August 16, 2024
A scrumptious southern gothic treat with a healthy dose of body horror!
Two men start to reminiscence about their past and the hurt they caused a boy they went to school with and they decide to head out to an old abandoned home to bury their sins.
A super quick & creepy crawly read that will stick with me. 😵
Two men start to reminiscence about their past and the hurt they caused a boy they went to school with and they decide to head out to an old abandoned home to bury their sins.
A super quick & creepy crawly read that will stick with me. 😵
Read
November 23, 2024Brittany Johnson’s scary short story Ladybugs in November tells of a couple of bullies, a mean prank, and a bit of supernatural justice involving unlikely assistance. I love the description of “eager, insecticidal evil!” Not for the entomophobia, though!
March 29, 2025
One thing I know for a fact, is that in real life and in books, I hate bullies. I always hope they end up getting far worse that they gave out. This is a very fast, very creepy short story that deals with this. I liked it very much.
January 4, 2024
I’ll never be able to see ladybugs the same ever again oops
Another great work with beautiful writing.
Another great work with beautiful writing.
January 6, 2024
A delicious tale of just deserts with a southern gothic flair. Like an episode of Tales from the Crypt infused with Michael McDowell and inspired from the pages of IT.
July 3, 2024
I’ll never look at ladybugs the same way after reading this!
November 27, 2025
A horrifying short story, great if you are looking for a quick read
January 6, 2026
I can't say much considering this is a short story, but this was a great, quick revenge tale. The ending was quick but satisfying
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews