BOO

by Christy Aldridge

Joe has everything he’s ever wanted—a home of his own, a fiancée he adores, and a stepdaughter he loves as his own. Life is finally good. But as he settles into his new home, an old friend returns.

When Joe was a boy, he wasn’t alone. Boo was always there—silent, watchful, fiercely protective. Boo listened when no one else would. Boo made the bad people go away.

Joe thought Boo wasn't real.

He was wrong.

He was never just pretend.

Genres: Horror

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2025

Reviews

[The Morbid Mama ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mama heart absolutely broke for little Joe 😭 This was my first book by Christy Aldridge and I can confidently say that it won’t be the last. Not only do you get a creepy, evil, imaginary friend story, but you also get a book full of heartbreak that will bring you to tears.

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m already calling it. If this isn’t my top read for the year then I’ll be surprised. This book was absolutely BRILLIANT. Emotional, terrifying and beautifully written. Christy Aldridge poured her entire soul into this story and I felt every emotion as I read this one. Currently bawling my eyes out. 😭 This story is gonna stick with me for a long time.

Boo follows Joe. Joe had a rough start to life. He lost both of his parents tragically at a very young age. Yet he remains such a high spirited and positive man in adulthood. He’s engaged to the love of his life, has a beautiful step daughter and is expecting his first child with his soon to be bride. Life is good. That is until his past is staring back at him whenever he’s going through some of his old things. Boo. His old friend. He has many fond memories but unfortunately the bad outweigh the good. Throughout this story, Joe is fighting for his family and struggling to let his childhood friend go.

If you love a book that puts you through every emotion and the feeling of suspense that never leaves with some supernatural elements thrown in the mix then please do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Boo releases on April 9th, 2025.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Joe finds a mysterious box that unleashes an imaginary friend, he doesn’t feel alone anymore. But when Boo will do anything to protect him, how far can Joe let him go?

Boo is an emotional rollercoaster of a monster/paranormal story: complex characters galore really ramp up the suspense. The story fluctuates between Joe’s childhood and his adult life, which works so well to unravel the story of Boo. The chapters literally flow in to each other, creating a brilliant pace that will keep you turning the pages. The story is unique, a slow burn of suspense that keeps gradually building until a shocking moment slams into your gut. Spine tingling tension and in your face horror both have their moments in this story that is psychological, monster and supernatural all in one go.

[Madelynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christy sure knows how to write disturbing stuff and again I was there for it.
This did have some flaws.
It started off a little slow for me in the beginning and it could have been a little shorter with less family drama with Marisa’s ex and stuff but maybe that’s just me being picky. lol
I also found myself enjoying the past chapters more than the present ones. However with that being said, I liked it and I definitely do not want Boo as my imaginary friend. Hell no.

[Jessie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe has a loving fiancée, a stepdaughter and a brilliant job. A new home and everything he could have dreamed of. Until he awakens the past once again

This was a unique experience. Each chapter flickered back and forth from past to present. But not only that. Each chapter ended on an unfinished sentence that completed at the beginning of the next one. I’ve not seen this in a book until now! I would class this as a slow burn to begin with as we get to grips with the family. At around 25% it picks up pace. How Boo came to be and the things he does. At points I really fell bad for Boo but at other times I was scared for Joe. Trauma after trauma Joe experienced yet he still made it out on top. Very happy with the ending as Joe suffered so much I probably couldn’t handle anymore 😂 I got strongly attached to the characters and really felt the emotions they were feeling which was amazing to have in a book. It’s one I wish I could read for the first time again as it really did put me through the works. Incredible book and highly recommend to anyone who loves horror in general!

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOO
By Christy Aldridge

Holy cannoli. I know it’s only the beginning of April but I’m willing to make the claim now. This book will land somewhere on my top five reads of 2025!!! 🤌🏼

I’ve always been a huge fan of Christy’s short stories so I was excited to read a full length novel by her and ahhhhhh, she did not disappoint. Christy threw her entire being into this book and it shows. It’s clever. It’s spooky. It’s emotional AF. It’s everything a horror book should be and more. 👏🏼

The then vs now chapters were a 10/10 for me and done brilliantly. The characters and their development were amazing. The emotions you feel while reading this are actually indescribable. This is one of those times that no words I could ever say would do this book justice. 🙌🏼

I cannot wait to see all the love and praise and top lists that Boo makes because it so deserves it. Well done, Christy. You’ve always been such a positive force in this community and now reading your full length novel feels like a full circle moment. 🫶🏼

Book releases Wednesday, April 9th. But is available for preorder now!

Another easy five stars are being handed out, and once again they’re gleaming!!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christy Aldridge's debut novel "BOO" builds on the sense of loneliness accutely felt by many children bullied at school. At that time, and under these conditions, a child's idea of justice may not be as strong as the need to overcome, at any cost, their isolation and find another soul to share experiences and feelings with. This is exactly what goes on with "BOO"'s five-year-old Joe, who's not only bullied repeatedly by Rich, but is also facing troubles at home, as his parents are separating and his beloved daddy has moved out. And then Joe stumbles upon a rare find: a small box with mysterious carvings on its surface, sealed, hidden and abandoned. Joe opens the box - and he discovers what it means to have a friend, one ready to kill for you if needed. Joe won't take Rich's bullying any more; his new friend, Boo, will be there to care for him and protect him.

This might have been enough to fill a whole book, but Aldridge combines this narrative with a second one: namely, Joe's story as an adult, when he rediscovers the box and brings his old friend Boo back into his life. Alternating between the two narratives, Joe's story as a child unfolds in parallel with the telling of Joe's current situation, as a successful contractor involved with the mother of a little girl, who he loves as his own daughter. Trouble seems to follow him everywhere, however, as his fiancee's ex-husband hasn't given up on her and his daughter, and is very much prepared to get them back. Boo lurks in the corner, ready to protect Joe all over again, bound only by the love for his friend. But why and how was Boo put in the box before? What happened to Boo and Joe when Joe was a little boy? The truth will come out bit by bit, and it's equally sad and shocking.

"BOO" is very much a plot-driven novel, with detailed descriptions of dialogue-heavy scenes (almost always taking the longest route available to reach the next plot point or plot twist). The imaginary friend-turns-bad horror trope is employed brilliantly throughout, making for some very creepy scenes, since Boo is invisible to everyone except Joe. It's a compelling page-turner of a supernatural mystery, told in comfortably sized, switching chapters. I couldn't help picturing Boo as Sulley, one of the monsters in Monsters Inc. (where "Boo," however, is the nickname of a little girl). Aldridge's Boo is anything but this kind-hearted furry monster: Boo is a scary-looking monstrosity, a tall, Gollum-like, creature, one that hugs and cuddles Joe, but can just as easily snap him in two pieces.

I recommend this spooky story to everyone who enjoys detailed and realistic depictions of family tensions, with just enough horror to satisfy. It may feel a bit longer than it should, but the payoff is worth it.

[M.E. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boo is a poignant and exhilarating novel that follows two separate timelines. This book follows a man named Joe. In the present, he is a successful contractor with a loving wife and stepdaughter. But when an old imaginary friend named Boo shows up, Joe is reminded of his past and Boo's previous atrocities.

I was really surprised at the emotional moments. I really felt for Joe and became attracted to him and his family. Boo is also a standout. He is nonverbal, but takes over any scene he's in. I often wonder what he's planning and if the love he has for Joe is authentic or fake.

I can't recommend this book enough. It is violent, creative and heartfelt. I was drawn in the entire time and can't wait to read more from Christy!

[Lisa Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in to Boo with certain expectations, but was pleasantly surprised with how the story went. I loved the duel timeline aspect where we see Joe as a child then again as a adult, and absolutely loved the character Boo. who knew a monster could love unconditionally, although it's not always a good thing to be loved by Boo, because he will do anything to protect those that he cares for.

this story starts out as quite a slow burn, but then the reader is thrust in to the action and suspense that just doesn't seem to let up. each chapter flows in to the next, which makes it almost impossible to put down. I highly recommend Boo, it gets a monstrous five stars from me!

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Boo by Christy Aldridge (Audiobook)

I was hooked right away by the writing style—each chapter ending on an unfinished word that picks up in the next chapter? Absolutely gorgeous. I’m also a sucker for a good “now and then” timeline, and this one delivered.

The audiobook narration was phenomenal. Every character had their own distinct tone, making it easy to follow and adding so much depth to the story.

Joe grew up with only one friend: a monster named Boo. Boo always protected him, but once Boo arrived, strange and tragic accidents seemed to follow. As an adult, Joe’s life is finally perfect… until he finds his old toys and stumbles across Boo’s box. Suddenly Boo is back, and the terrible “accidents” start all over again. Coincidence? Or is Boo more dangerous than Joe ever realized?

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boo by Christy Aldridge is a well written horror novel. It centers around a main character who has his life told both as a child and adult through each alternating chapters. As the story progresses, a supernatural being/imaginary friend is introduced to the main character, resulting in his eventually suffering a dilemma over it. And then several years later, the supernatural being makes a return to the main character life. Did I like this, yes definitely. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this. Look forward to more from the author.

[C.D. Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christy gives us an atmospheric and at times emotional take on the imaginary friend troupe. The story starts out a little slow but once it gets going you can’t help but get invested in the events around Joe and his family. Plus the flashback or past style chapters fill in the extra details without overloading us all at once. I look forward to reading more of Christy Aldridge in the future that’s for sure.

[Dickson Turpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror centered on the heart, the book focuses on family, loss, and triumph over failure. The writer makes you empathize with them, while keeping them grounded and human, while a monster lurks among them. The book kept me on edge and praying they would make it. The great storytelling hooks you to the end.

[Jim Ody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to say this straight off the bat, Boo is a brilliant read!

The story follows Joe, and flips between him as a kid, and now as an adult. When young, he finds a box that unleashes something that will change his life forever.

Boo takes the premise of the imaginary-friend-turned-bad to another level mixing up a touching friendship of a lonely boy, with a friend who looks out for him.

As an adult, Joe is still struggling with relationships. He's in love with a woman whose ex-husband struggles to let her go, and who has a daughter Joe adores like she's his own. But life has a way of complicated things and sometimes only an imaginary friend can help.

The switching timelines works really well helping to understand Joe's childhood and how it affects how he is now. Joe is a great, and likeable character who puts up with a lot more than he should.

This was one of my favourite books of the year, and Christy proves not only is she a great book cover designer, but a fantastic author, too.

[Mark Mazzuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5/5 from Christy! The book jumps back and forth between the past and present with a lot of interesting dynamics with a decent size cast that were all extremely well drawn. I had strong feeling about everyone in the book. Boo was a memorable monster but the heart of this book is Joe who was a flawed character but earnest and you can’t help but cheer for him. I couldn’t put it down.

[Jason Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Joe was a young boy he discovered a wooden box. There was something about it that fascinated him but he never could have guessed what was inside. Imagine his surprise when he opened the box and a monster called Boo appeared! But in spite of his scary appearance, Joe soon realised that Boo just wanted to be his friend. He was there for Joe when no-one else was, he gave Joe protection and solace when he was bullied. But perhaps most of all he was fun and made Joe happy. Everyone would love to have had a childhood friend like Boo. Or would they?....

I thoroughly enjoyed this cautionary tale about how maybe things aren’t always what they initially seem to be. I thought Joe was portrayed very well and felt able to empathise with him. The clear, concise writing style made me feel as though I was right there with him throughout.

The structure of the book consists of two timelines: Now, featuring Joe as an adult and Then, which looks back at Joe’s childhood. When Joe’s fiancée becomes pregnant in the present, he thinks back to when he was a child. This leads to him going through his boyhood possessions and rediscovering the aforementioned wooden box. Joe is taken aback when he opens it and Boo reappears. When he was a boy, Joe’s parents dismissed Boo as an imaginary friend. But that’s simply not the case. He’s all too real and as an adult, Joe starts to wonder about Boo and his intentions; whether he’s as benevolent as he originally thought.

This is a book with considerable emotional depth. There’s joy and heartache, as well as a good dose of the sinister and a creeping dread. I found some parts very suspenseful and just didn’t want to stop reading. Joe’s conflicting feelings about Boo are conveyed very effectively, as are the predicaments he finds himself in. We learn that there has been considerable tragedy in Joe’s life, which really made me root for him.

I highly recommend this book if you like character driven stories that are a mix of the supernatural and the psychological; if you like a reading experience that’s unsettling, compelling and emotional. Also, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the wonderful cover 😍. It’s my pleasure to give this book a well-deserved rating of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly emotional and terrifying novel that sets itself apart from a traditional monster books by presenting a creature with layers. It's not necessarily evil as we think of the word but also isn't good. Except for Joe.

We'll see Joe's life from the present and his past five year old self in alternating chapters. As a child, Joe had no friends and his parents are going through a sometimes contentiousness divorce. He's also being bullied at school. One day he finds a box in a shed and when he opens it, he unleashes a monster only he can see.

But this monster named Boo becomes his best friend. Boo is always with him, never speaking although they have a bond. And Boo is Joe's protector... with bloody and horrifying results.

As an adult, Joe is very happy. He's engaged to a woman he loves who has a seven year old daughter who he also loves. But his fiance's ex husband makes things difficult. He finds the box his old friend Boo is in and he inadvertently releases him again. And this will cause his peaceful life to slowly become undone as Boo is very jealous and takes care of Joe's problems as only he can with devastating results.

This is a novel of love, friendship, and horrifically realized jealousy from a monster which has no sense of right or wrong. The relationship between Joe and Boo is sometimes sweet and endearing. Until it turns bloodthirsty. You'll feel all of those emotions as you read and it's an effective way to tell a creepy monster story that is unexpected and very well written. I highly recommend this one.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Marty Solotki · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent slow-burn ghost story


TW: multiple and repeated mentions and incidents of self-harm.

This ghost-story starts very slow and reads more of your typical broken-home family drama, which is fine…but then by the end of Chapter 6 you get your first scare and yeah, baby. Each chapter jumps mid-sentence from past to present which can be jarring but is also an interesting way to attempt to tie all the spookiness together. As a young boy in a broken home, Joe unearths a box that reveals an invisible friend that Joe believes to be named BOO. While adults assume Boo is imaginary, we quickly learn that not only is Boo real…but he is really protective of Joe.

As an adult, Joe unearths Boo’s box and releases him again. With a baby on the way, a struggling business, a wife with an estranged husband, and a stepdaughter caught amidst divorce drama…Joe’s life is very problematic. And Boo loves to solve Joe’s problems: permanently.

This is an interesting tale with a sweet ending. Worth a read.

[Maggie Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

I had the physical book and the audio for this one. The physical book was fun, because it had some really great illustrations. Not to sound like a little kid, but I liked the pictures. Unfortunately, the story itself did not wow me like the illustrations did. The cover looked terrifying, but the actual book did not come close to the expectations that it set.It was definitely more family drama than horror. I was hoping it was one of those slow burns that builds up to a huge ending, but it was resolved pretty suddenly and easily. It was just kind of like, "Oh... that's it?"

Luckily I was able to listen to the audiobook. I do not think I would have finished this if I had to read the whole thing with my eyes. The narrator did a good job in the audiobook, especially in the chapters when Joe was a kid.

Ten stars for the cover. Two stars for the book.

[Alix Kampen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In one sitting I listened to the entire audio book, I enjoyed the story and the dual time eras. The book was extemely deep with tragic losses and harsh realities. One's struggle with mental health was something I picked up on as an almost foreground theme. Despite there being a controlling dark entity, it was kind of exciting to keep listening and see who would transpire next and how. Their relationship built into something so toxic the MMC had to choose between his childhood "best friend" and his family. The ending struck me with deep emotional feelings that I didn't expect, but it worked!

[Connie Rivet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Round up from 2.5 stars. This book had potential and was a unique idea, but something about it left me wanting a lot more. I did like the alternating timelines, but I just wanted more to happen. There was a creep factor as this “imaginary friend” is not like your typical one and I had such hope when Boo was finally revealed. It took a while for the reveal and even after that I just thought the whole book moved pretty slowly.

*I appreciate the author providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

[jamie d mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe long since forgotten about his childhood imaginary friend. Whatever you may think Boo isn't your average friend. He doesn't bring back cherished memories but dreadful ones. Boo is now back in Joe's life. Causing chaos and mayhem as usual. The only thing that can protect his family is himself. 


The premise of the book was okay. I like the idea of having a deadly imaginary friend. It just fell flat to me.  There are two different timelines. It doesn't cause whiplash. 


Maxwell is a great narrator. I enjoyed listening to him. 

[Chanel Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say?

This was one of Christy's best! The story is about Joe who we follow through two different timelines in his life. We see him going through many things that one shouldn't but we see that imaginary friend Boo can help--in some sinister ways. I don't want to give away too much of the story but this one is a must read! I really could not put this down and I think I may re-read it again!
I received an ARC review and this review is all my own!

[Jonathan Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best read of the year so far! This book will stay with me, I can feel it! BOO is a haunting story filled with heart and horror! Such a unique take on the idea of something being haunted/imaginary friend. I couldn’t put the book down, it’s a page turner!

[Dan Shrader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one hell of a book. Christy can write! You will not be disappointed!

[SpookyxSpice]

DNF'd my arc copy. for some reason I couldn't connect with the main character. will try to revisit it again when in a different reading mood. so for now no review. love the cover art

[Volana Mihaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Jonathan Daniel Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF after six pages. The cover design pulled me in, but at the sentence level the writing is rough from the start—poor grammar, awkward phrasing, and run-on sentences make the opening difficult to follow. The narrative jumps around with no clear flow, draining momentum instead of building intrigue. There is almost no character description or chemistry to make the reader care about anyone involved. There may be a story here, but it needs serious editing. Pass. Other readers may have a different experience.