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He's So Possessed with Me
Jennifer’s Body
meets Heartstopper in this terrifying, tender, and bitingly hilarious supernatural horror about a boy who must save his best friend from a demon that wants to steal his heart—literally.
Ren says he’s in love, but Colin knows better.
Sure, he can't remember much about how it all began. But he remembers dancing at a club he and Ren were too young to dance in. He remembers the boys who harassed them on their way home. He remembers a ghost emerging from the trees, and a white hand reaching for Ren through a thick fog. What Colin can’t remember is what happened next. Only two things are clear to Ren is different now, and the new guy vying for his heart is not who he claims to be.
With the help of two unlikely allies and a cranky old medium, Colin must learn to conquer his self-doubt and save his best friend from a love that could cost him his life.
Equal parts campy and bewitching, Corey Liu’s debut YA novel explores predation, isolation, and what happens when a childhood dream of fairytale romance turns into a deadly nightmare.
Ren says he’s in love, but Colin knows better.
Sure, he can't remember much about how it all began. But he remembers dancing at a club he and Ren were too young to dance in. He remembers the boys who harassed them on their way home. He remembers a ghost emerging from the trees, and a white hand reaching for Ren through a thick fog. What Colin can’t remember is what happened next. Only two things are clear to Ren is different now, and the new guy vying for his heart is not who he claims to be.
With the help of two unlikely allies and a cranky old medium, Colin must learn to conquer his self-doubt and save his best friend from a love that could cost him his life.
Equal parts campy and bewitching, Corey Liu’s debut YA novel explores predation, isolation, and what happens when a childhood dream of fairytale romance turns into a deadly nightmare.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
15 people are currently reading
5613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 6, 2025
This fucked me up
March 5, 2026
At first, I thought this book started a bit slow, but once I got a bit into it, I realized how important each scene was. Ren and Colin's friendship shines so strongly throughout the story, even when they're apart. Sometimes, when you're gay, you don't have many people who understand you and so the few friends you do make become all the more important. This book is such a love letter to every teen who has felt like life is something they have to struggle through. It is so hard to be brave every day and there is so much love between the people who will stay with you despite it. Not gonna lie, i did get a little choked up at the ending
January 3, 2026
I could not put this book down! Reminiscent of ‘My Best Friends Exorcism’, and just so terrifying and well written. This one will haunt me.
November 1, 2025
When I said I don’t like possession books I didn’t mean this perfect book.
February 11, 2026
Holy this book is great, love the Toronto and Markham references (work and live in them), the story is perfect. Great setup, history and so much love through the book. This captures the essence end of high school and the start of adulthood to perfection. I look forward to lots more from Cory!
October 14, 2025
4.5 - “We love and we hurt and we spend our whole lives learning how to love someone else properly. Maybe that’s all growing up is.”
Big thanks to Little Brown and Hackett Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book is so fun but also explores to difficulties of coming out in a community where it isn’t accepted. It blends horror and paranormal so well against this backdrop of Colin’s self-discovery and growth.
I loved Colin immediately. He is trying to find a way to be confident in himself, especially since his best friend Ren doesn’t seem to have any problems being himself at all times. After a strange incident during a night out, something changes in Ren so severely that Colin starts to worry. Through this worry, strange things keep happening and Colin is convinced that Ren is possessed by a demon.
Colin has this great journey through the story as he struggles with his relationship with his mother and being comfortable in himself and his sexuality. He’s such a sweet soul and has an unwavering loyalty to Ren even when something is so clearly wrong. The story explores isolation and insecurity so well, especially as it relates to teenagers. It also feels campy in the horror, never being overly scary or too much.
The dynamic between Colin and Ren feels realistic and doesn’t turn into something overly juvenile. They have spent so much time together that they don’t really know how to be apart. In his concern for Ren, Colin discovers his own abilities and is able to make new friendships that help him grow as a character. Since this is a YA book, there are moments that do feel a bit childish, but I think this will hit for its intended audience. It’s a really fun and I had such a good time reading this.
Big thanks to Little Brown and Hackett Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book is so fun but also explores to difficulties of coming out in a community where it isn’t accepted. It blends horror and paranormal so well against this backdrop of Colin’s self-discovery and growth.
I loved Colin immediately. He is trying to find a way to be confident in himself, especially since his best friend Ren doesn’t seem to have any problems being himself at all times. After a strange incident during a night out, something changes in Ren so severely that Colin starts to worry. Through this worry, strange things keep happening and Colin is convinced that Ren is possessed by a demon.
Colin has this great journey through the story as he struggles with his relationship with his mother and being comfortable in himself and his sexuality. He’s such a sweet soul and has an unwavering loyalty to Ren even when something is so clearly wrong. The story explores isolation and insecurity so well, especially as it relates to teenagers. It also feels campy in the horror, never being overly scary or too much.
The dynamic between Colin and Ren feels realistic and doesn’t turn into something overly juvenile. They have spent so much time together that they don’t really know how to be apart. In his concern for Ren, Colin discovers his own abilities and is able to make new friendships that help him grow as a character. Since this is a YA book, there are moments that do feel a bit childish, but I think this will hit for its intended audience. It’s a really fun and I had such a good time reading this.
October 24, 2025
4.3
Well, I sure didn’t expect to devour this book in one afternoon, but here we are! Somehow this was more disturbing than I’d anticipated going in, but it was so good that I didn’t want to stop reading it till I was done. This is an excellent spooky read for the season, but it also deals heavily with racism and homophobia, so bear that in mind if you pick this book up. (And I do recommend checking this one out, this was a banger of a read.)
Well, I sure didn’t expect to devour this book in one afternoon, but here we are! Somehow this was more disturbing than I’d anticipated going in, but it was so good that I didn’t want to stop reading it till I was done. This is an excellent spooky read for the season, but it also deals heavily with racism and homophobia, so bear that in mind if you pick this book up. (And I do recommend checking this one out, this was a banger of a read.)
October 16, 2025
4.4
This was so much more gripping than I expected from a book with heart stickers/doodles on an anatomically correct heart
*Review to come*
This was so much more gripping than I expected from a book with heart stickers/doodles on an anatomically correct heart
*Review to come*
October 16, 2025
I thought this book has an interesting concept. It was super heart wrenching and compelling.
October 30, 2025
4.5✨
An impulse buy that I enjoyed so much, yay me!!
An impulse buy that I enjoyed so much, yay me!!
November 18, 2025
I just read a romance book before reading this and now I want another romance book mygoodness 🫠
December 3, 2025
Thank you so much to The Novl or sending me an ARC of He’s So Possessed With Me!
This cover?!!! Oh my gosh — gorgeous, flawless, perfect ✨ That cover & title made this a MUST READ for me. We love a bedazzled heart in this house. 💅💅
But also, the pitch?! Jennifer’s Body meets Heartstopper?! Yes, PLEASE. Two of my favorite things.
I absolutely ADORED this YA horror novel filled with heartbreak, friendships & demonic possession. I would have devoured this in a day or two if I didn’t have dang responsibilities & a million other books on my currently reading shelf. This is for sure a page-flipper.
If you’re not a YA reader, you might not enjoy this as much as the writing style does read very young buuuuut for me, I think that’s what made it so easy to get into. It was all vibes & good times. Sometimes I’m here to turn the thinking machine off and just have ✨fun✨.
There’s moments of camp — which again, ✨fun✨ and a couple of horror scenes that are living in my head rent-free. But there’s also conversation involving the Queer community — such as coming out, being discriminated against & not being accepted by parents.
This cover?!!! Oh my gosh — gorgeous, flawless, perfect ✨ That cover & title made this a MUST READ for me. We love a bedazzled heart in this house. 💅💅
But also, the pitch?! Jennifer’s Body meets Heartstopper?! Yes, PLEASE. Two of my favorite things.
I absolutely ADORED this YA horror novel filled with heartbreak, friendships & demonic possession. I would have devoured this in a day or two if I didn’t have dang responsibilities & a million other books on my currently reading shelf. This is for sure a page-flipper.
If you’re not a YA reader, you might not enjoy this as much as the writing style does read very young buuuuut for me, I think that’s what made it so easy to get into. It was all vibes & good times. Sometimes I’m here to turn the thinking machine off and just have ✨fun✨.
There’s moments of camp — which again, ✨fun✨ and a couple of horror scenes that are living in my head rent-free. But there’s also conversation involving the Queer community — such as coming out, being discriminated against & not being accepted by parents.
Read
September 2, 2025I’ve been going back and forth on dnfing this book for a couple days and I think I’m going to. I made 106 pages in and I just can’t anymore. This book just reads so young to me. I’m a firm believer that anyone can read YA and enjoy it but once and awhile I come across books that are just too young for me to read. I’m not the intended audience and that’s absolutely fine. I know people are going to absolutely love this book it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
June 9, 2025"Something is trying to kill us."
"Something always is. But we’re still here."
"Something always is. But we’re still here."
January 31, 2026
This is one of my favorite YA reads of the last couple of years! It was fun and a little campy while also exploring heavy themes with maturity and grace. I can’t wait to see what Corey Liu writes next!
November 29, 2025
I think this is objectively wonderful – I made it to 52%, and it’s funny, plenty poignant, and full of teenagers who actually FEEL like teenagers! It’s doing something important with the intersection of queerness and race, homophobia and racism – which is so hard to bring up in real-life conversation that it’s extra awesome to see it in fiction.
I think I’m just…losing interest in YA? Or rather, I want very unusual YA, like h. a. clarke’s Scapegracers trilogy – where it’s the writing more than the story that’s unusual. He’s So Possessed With Me isn’t that kind of unique – which doesn’t change the fact that it’s excellent! It’s just – being excellent at something I’m not super into, if that makes sense?
Strongly recommended for fans of YA!
I think I’m just…losing interest in YA? Or rather, I want very unusual YA, like h. a. clarke’s Scapegracers trilogy – where it’s the writing more than the story that’s unusual. He’s So Possessed With Me isn’t that kind of unique – which doesn’t change the fact that it’s excellent! It’s just – being excellent at something I’m not super into, if that makes sense?
Strongly recommended for fans of YA!
October 26, 2025
A gorgeous blend of humor, horror, and heart, "He's So Possessed With Me" balances deep, nuanced themes with beautiful, feelgood moments. Both thought-provoking and fun, spooky AND sweet, this book is an excellent read from start to finish. Gorgeous prose, distinct character voice, and well-paced horror. I devoured this book in a day!
January 21, 2026
so nearly perfect for what it is! Excellent pacing, tremendous world building, emotional stakes. I only wish it was a little longer. The ending/final climax felt rushed and I even got confused at certain points, and the epilogue was a little too long. I would like to see those shuffled a little. Overall, fantastic debut and looking forward to more from Liu!
February 24, 2026
This is the perfect book for anyone looking for the fictional equivalent of watching Buffy: The Vampire Slayer as a teenager. It's whipsmart and funny, but more importantly it's full of heart -- all those big, unstoppable teenage feelings you remember -- wrapped up in early-aughts nostalgia and a voice so charming and ironic that you cannot help but love it.
The imagery is pitch perfect, whether it's the grit and glitter of an illicit visit to a gay nightclub or the skin-crawling horror of a haunted wood at night, and the characters will stay with you long after you've closed the book.
The prose is breezy and effortless. This is a book you can tear through like cotton candy -- except for the moments when you have to put it down because it's punched you in the heart. If you're looking for a summer-cottage read, this is a great "curl up by the fire with some Rosé" book -- I guarantee it's a creepily good time.
The imagery is pitch perfect, whether it's the grit and glitter of an illicit visit to a gay nightclub or the skin-crawling horror of a haunted wood at night, and the characters will stay with you long after you've closed the book.
The prose is breezy and effortless. This is a book you can tear through like cotton candy -- except for the moments when you have to put it down because it's punched you in the heart. If you're looking for a summer-cottage read, this is a great "curl up by the fire with some Rosé" book -- I guarantee it's a creepily good time.
November 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this, but man oh man did I hate the ending. I JUST WANTED THEM TO GET TOGETHER AT THE END
I really enjoyed this, but man oh man did I hate the ending. I JUST WANTED THEM TO GET TOGETHER AT THE END
November 29, 2025
"I said it wasn't a fairy tale," Ren reminds me, that dreaminess crawling back into his voice. "But there's magic, Colin. You'll see. This story will drip with it."
A surprisingly tender, creepy, sad, rather blunt coming-of-age story about gay teenagers in a contradictory, confusing world that often doesn't want to help them. I might compare it to "My Best Friend's Exorcism" in some ways.
The writing is snappy, engaging, and I genuinely cracked up at some of the dialogue. It does contain a lot of media references in addition to integrating text messages into the story which are definitely going to date the book eventually, but there's a sort of refreshing modernness here.
The primary failing in the book for me was that I don't feel the pay-off was set-up very well... it seemed to be rushed and because it wasn't very well established until the reveal, so there wasn't as much emotional weight as there could have been. I do think some of these elements might be better understood on a reread when you know what to look for.
A surprisingly tender, creepy, sad, rather blunt coming-of-age story about gay teenagers in a contradictory, confusing world that often doesn't want to help them. I might compare it to "My Best Friend's Exorcism" in some ways.
The writing is snappy, engaging, and I genuinely cracked up at some of the dialogue. It does contain a lot of media references in addition to integrating text messages into the story which are definitely going to date the book eventually, but there's a sort of refreshing modernness here.
The primary failing in the book for me was that I don't feel the pay-off was set-up very well... it seemed to be rushed and because it wasn't very well established until the reveal, so there wasn't as much emotional weight as there could have been. I do think some of these elements might be better understood on a reread when you know what to look for.
September 5, 2025
After Colin and his best friend Ren have a strange encounter in the woods, Ren starts acting differently. He’s distant and volatile and talking to someone no one else can see. Colin is determined to do whatever he can to save him from this entity that has possessed him—even if that means joining forces with his academic rival, a boy named Blair.
In this novel, demon possession is used as a very clever allegory for abusive relationships and Liu expertly manages to balance horror, romance, and laugh-out-loud humor into a story that, at its heart, is about the strength of queer friendships. I adored both Colin and Ren and found their story profound in that we so rarely see strictly platonic queer friendships portrayed in Western media. Heartstopper is listed as a comp title for this, but it actually reminded me more of Frozen because sometimes the great love of your life isn’t a significant other, but a friend.
I had a blast reading this book and highly recommend it. The perfect queer story for spooky season.
In this novel, demon possession is used as a very clever allegory for abusive relationships and Liu expertly manages to balance horror, romance, and laugh-out-loud humor into a story that, at its heart, is about the strength of queer friendships. I adored both Colin and Ren and found their story profound in that we so rarely see strictly platonic queer friendships portrayed in Western media. Heartstopper is listed as a comp title for this, but it actually reminded me more of Frozen because sometimes the great love of your life isn’t a significant other, but a friend.
I had a blast reading this book and highly recommend it. The perfect queer story for spooky season.
October 20, 2025
This one is pretty sweet and heartfelt, as well as spooky. I really liked the friendship between Colin and Ren, the way their in jokes and banter was written was so nicely done. And the struggle that comes with growing up as friendships change and evolve, especially as high school ends, was poignant. Also, the teenage longing for dramatic love and romance... The book has a playful, witty time that works well.
The horror aspect was well woven in, too. I liked it. It's not super scary or gory, but it was eerie and had some great spooky visuals. I think this book worked well. I haven't read much YA recently, and this was refreshing.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book for review.
The horror aspect was well woven in, too. I liked it. It's not super scary or gory, but it was eerie and had some great spooky visuals. I think this book worked well. I haven't read much YA recently, and this was refreshing.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book for review.
March 2, 2026
Well written, it definitely fits into the group it's intended for (14+). very angsty without being over the top. Scary parts definitely read well without dipping into gory horror. I really did enjoy this read.
October 10, 2025
Campy but also sincere and also spooky and also tender. What an odd little book, but I had a fun time. A lot of heart in this one—even if it some of it’s masked by a Jennifer’s Body-esque possession hehe.
TYSM to NetGalley & Hatchett Book Group for the copy xo
TYSM to NetGalley & Hatchett Book Group for the copy xo
November 11, 2025
heartstopper meets jennifer’s body is exactly right. i can’t say i fully understand how this ended, and the plot threads lost me sometimes. but i loved this! so cute, so ya, so halloween, so spooky. a very nice pleasant time, could have been longer!
September 22, 2025
Very gay very gothic. Whoever called it “heartstopper meets Jennifer’s body” hit it on the nose.
November 7, 2025
4⭐ 0🌶️
Okay, I super enjoyed this! I picked it up on a whim while scrolling Netgalley based on the cover vibes and the description and I was certainly not disappointed. It’s a little campy but in a great way and it was also sinister, spooky, and really emotional. I’m sometimes hesitant to read true YA books, but this was a really sweet coming of age/coming into yourself story and I truly enjoyed it.
Colin and Ren’s friendship is so sweet and tender–the banter, inside jokes, the solace they find in one another through difficult times–and while I adored their relationship, I also really loved watching them grow and seeing them branch out to find their place in the world outside of the co-dependency.
The horror was a perfect mix of actual haunting and the difficulties queer kids face growing up in our society and it worked so well here. Nothing overly terrifying but eerie and menacing all the same. It also had some lighter vibes and jokes woven throughout that really kept things flowing and I had a great time with this book.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc!
Okay, I super enjoyed this! I picked it up on a whim while scrolling Netgalley based on the cover vibes and the description and I was certainly not disappointed. It’s a little campy but in a great way and it was also sinister, spooky, and really emotional. I’m sometimes hesitant to read true YA books, but this was a really sweet coming of age/coming into yourself story and I truly enjoyed it.
Colin and Ren’s friendship is so sweet and tender–the banter, inside jokes, the solace they find in one another through difficult times–and while I adored their relationship, I also really loved watching them grow and seeing them branch out to find their place in the world outside of the co-dependency.
The horror was a perfect mix of actual haunting and the difficulties queer kids face growing up in our society and it worked so well here. Nothing overly terrifying but eerie and menacing all the same. It also had some lighter vibes and jokes woven throughout that really kept things flowing and I had a great time with this book.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-arc!
October 15, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
When this title was pitched as “Jennifer’s body meets heartstopper” I was instantly drawn in. While this title reads very much like a YA (it is, so I didn’t mind that going into it) our characters are queer and over the top. Know that going in. The story was interesting and creepy at some times too. When reading it felt very similar to My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. My one big complaint is that the ending felt rushed. I was really disappointed by the confrontation that happens between our villain and MMC.
When this title was pitched as “Jennifer’s body meets heartstopper” I was instantly drawn in. While this title reads very much like a YA (it is, so I didn’t mind that going into it) our characters are queer and over the top. Know that going in. The story was interesting and creepy at some times too. When reading it felt very similar to My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. My one big complaint is that the ending felt rushed. I was really disappointed by the confrontation that happens between our villain and MMC.
February 8, 2026
The Sailor Moon references had me immediately, but I am really glad they did because this was such a heartwarming story. Like okay, yes, horror, and whatnot, but in the end, about two friends at the cusp of their lives changing as they go from high school to college and all the scary changes that come along with that. One thing I really liked in this was the friendship between Colin and Ren. The ups and downs. The way they both navigate it. The way it just is. I appreciated that.
Would have liked a little more spooks though, but a great change in life is already scary enough, I suppose.
Would have liked a little more spooks though, but a great change in life is already scary enough, I suppose.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews