Hear Her Howl

by Kim DeRose

As fiercely feminist as it is hopeful, this speculative, sapphic YA romance is simultaneously a modern-day war cry and a PSA that there is a wolf who slumbers us all—we only have to wake her.

Rue’s life is over. After she’s caught kissing a girl behind the Sunday School classrooms, she gets exiled to Sacred Heart so she can be transformed into her mother’s idea of a respectable lady. The irony of being sent to—of all places—an all-girls Catholic boarding school is not lost on Rue, especially when she falls immediately and irreversibly under the spell of its ethereal, ferocious outcast, Charlotte Savage. 

But there’s more to Charlotte than her sharp gaze and even sharper Charlotte Savage is, against all logic, a werewolf. And Rue can become one, too—any woman can, if she’s brave enough to heed the wild that howls inside of her.

She and Charlotte aren’t alone in answering the call, and upon forming a wolf pack of wild girls who refuse to remain docile, Rue realizes she couldn’t have been more wrong. Her life isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

This world is not kind to women, much less wild women…but God help the man who tries to cage the girls of Sacred Heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian, Werewolves, Paranormal

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Kim DeRose writes dark, magical stories about strong, magical girls. She grew up in Santa Barbara, California, where she spent childhood summers reading books and writing stories (which she was convinced her local bookstore would publish). She now lives in New York City, where she spends all seasons reading books and writing stories. Kim earned her MFA in film directing from UCLA, and currently works in digital media. When she’s not reading or writing she can be found listening to podcasts on long walks, drinking endless cups of coffee, and spending time with her family.

You can visit her online at www.kimderose.com or find her on Instagram at @kimderosewrites

Reviews

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

🐺 Sign me up for all the books about wild girls who refuse to remain docile. 🔥🙌

It was their own form of communion, Rue had decided, their own form of worship. The stars that sparkled overhead were more gorgeous than any stained-glass window; the cold wind that rattled the trees and cooled their hot fur was more soul-soothing than any hymn. The wild was their religion, the forest their cathedral.

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved every word of this! I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager.

[Ari (Books. Libraries. Also, cats.)]

Not sure how I feel about this one! I liked the ending (or at least I think I did?) but struggled with the pacing throughout the book, especially with the primary antagonist being introduced quite late in the book. I felt like I still had a lot of unanswered questions and there were parts of the story that I wish had delved a bit deeper.

[KMart Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books feel like they were written for the younger version of you who needed them most, and Hear Her Howl absolutely sits in that space. It’s a younger YA blend of fairytale vibes, werewolf mythology, and unapologetic girlhood; a story about being “too much” in a world that keeps insisting girls quiet themselves. The setup is simple enough: exile to a strict girls’ school after kissing another girl, a magnetic outcast, and what happens when a girl finally decides she’s done being obedient. But the heart of the book is in that transformation as the girls at Sacred Heart decide they’re tired of being caged.

The friendship dynamic is the strongest part of the novel: found family that feels supportive, messy, and absolutely necessary. It’s cathartic in that inner-child-healing way, the kind of book younger me would’ve clung to fiercely. The sapphic romance adds a sweet thread of yearning and connection. The social commentary around expectations, girlhood, and reclaiming your own wildness lands with a real emotional punch. I also loved the fresh spin on the werewolf myth; less monster, more liberation.

Where it stumbled for me was in the areas where it leaned very young. That’s not inherently a flaw, but it did mean I didn’t connect as deeply as I wanted to. This was less healing an inner child and more wishing that this existed when I was a child. Some of the antagonists felt over-the-top in a way that flattened the tension instead of heightening it, and a few emotional beats didn’t quite hit the depth they were reaching for. Still, for its intended audience, I think this story shines.

Overall, this is a vibrant, heartfelt fairytale remix with a sapphic core, a fierce sense of sisterhood, and the reminder that sometimes saving yourself means choosing the people who let you be loud, wild, and wholly yourself. A wonderful pick for younger YA readers or anyone looking to reconnect with the version of themselves who needed permission to howl.

Thanks so much to Storygram and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Brynn Hornig · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4

This book was good and I really liked the story elements but it was a little cringe. Every time they talked about “releasing their wild” it reminded me of when people refer to somebody’s dick and their “member”. This author did a great job of making me fucking hate the villain at the end of the story, however.

[R Santer · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was actually really good. great feminist leads, character development and representation. I also thought the fantasy element was done well to help illustrate a point.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️s rounded up.
It's rare in my reading experience to have female characters become wolves. I liked the story and didnt see the ending coming.

[Autumn Lanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I'd read a YA book again after several DNFs, but thankfully this book came along with two things I love most in books: wolves and lesbians.

This book is a literary straitjacket. And there were so many times I wanted to throw the damn thing against the wall, not because it was bad, but because what was happening was so infuriating.

Rue and Charlotte were great together. I loved the updated wolf/wild mythos. And hats off to Mother Superior. Damn. I called it, but it was still really cool to see.

Murphy was a strange villain. I think he kept the book from being a perfect five stars. His final monologue was a little much, and he was introduced pretty late in the story. But overall, he was a serviceable enough villain.

Ugh, and the cover art. How can I not make a note about that? It's so fucking pretty.

[Krissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book in that overall I was glad to read a werewolf book with a queer couple that had a decent Found Family plot.

I rate based on how I feel at the end of the book despite my notes I took along the way. So, 3.8 stars but I'm still gonna list my Pros, Cons, and Nitpicking opinions.

**ALL SPOILERS AHEAD**
**Like will ruin the experience of reading the book spoilers**

Pros:
*Good message. Decent plot.
*An actual Found Family book, not just people having regular friendship.
*The stuff with Rue's mom was genuinely upsetting & I'm actually glad it didn't fully resolve at the end of the book b/c that felt more realistic.
*I liked the interactions between Rue, Charlotte, Angelica, Morgan, and Sister Agatha.
*I liked the conflict between Rue and Helen. Helen was annoying as hell but that was clearly the point. Though Rue being like "is it wrong that I don't want to be her friend" after the hell house thing was kinda stupid.
*I really liked actually getting to see them as wolves playing and becoming a pack.
*Good incorporation of silver.
*The ending. Mother Superior. I saw it coming but still loved it.

Cons:
*I understand WHY but the transformations being like magically instant with no pain was personally disappointing. (I didn't doc stars for this b/c its purely personal preference.)

*Certain things came up that the author just doesn't follow through on enough, making it feel like the book was trying to cover too many issues and didn't have time to flesh them out.

For instance, the Hell House (seriously, everyone just acted like that shit didn't happen); Morgan explaining racial differences to Rue about how Rue can be all angry and disobedient but Morgan doesn't have that luxury as a Black girl; Senator Savage's grossly young fiance; and the biggest one - no one was really shocked enough that women can turn into wolves.

I get the author was trying to play it off like "they knew deep down they had the wild inside them too" but I'm sorry that's not a good enough reason for NO ONE to be like "WTF IS HAPPENING" aside from Helen who was more fixated on the wolves being the devil for some inexplicable reason. I struggled to suspend my disbelief with this.

Especially Rue immediately being like "it's me, I must be the monster" was a little boring.

*And another kinda major con was Murphy. Just. Why was he dressed like a cowboy? Why was no one confused about why he was dressed as a cowboy? Why can he run at the speed of a werewolf if he's fully human? That just seems biologically impossible.

Nitpicking:
I got so sick of all the references to books/movies/shows/songs. The sheer amount kept taking me out of the book and almost all of them felt either entirely unnecessary, or like a cop out to avoid describing how things looked or felt.

Examples:

"Kind of like Mary Lennox's "before life" in The Secret Garden."

"Reminding Rue of that Michael Jackson video..."

Comparing Morgan to Dionne from Clueless was the worst reference.

Repeating that she had Lydia Deetz inspired hair made me want to shave her head.

"It was a real Vicki from The Patent Trap situation."

"It was clear that Rue was the Angela to Charlotte's Rayanne from My So-Called Life."

"One of the kids started eating off his plate like the little brother in A Christmas Story."

"... with the glee of Charlie Bucket opening a Wonka bar."

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

[Morgan 📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 3⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 4.5⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Overall rating: 3.5/5⭐️

🏳️‍🌈Sapphic
✝️Catholic School
🐺Werewolves
🏡Found family
💙Young Adult

Rue kissed a girl so naturally her mother sends her to an all girl Catholic school. But instead of conforming she finds her true self and lets it howl.

This was a fast paced new twist with a feminist take on werewolves. The repression on teenage girls. The deep dive into religion and sexuality as a young girl. Learning how to be accepted and finding female friendship. And most importantly how to embrace your femininity and wild nature.
The overall themes and messages of this book I think are very important for young women to read. But I did feel the story fell flat in some aspects. For a young adult novel it was ok.

Thank you to Storygram Tours & Kim DeRose for this completed physical copy.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always felt that wolves represented freedom and self-love and this book only furthered my belief in that. This was a fantasic story above self-love, freedom, and found family with the wolves being a reference to those themes. The power to change your own fate and defy the beliefs of those around you, you weren't born to fit into their box...you were born to run wild on your own terms. Some people won't want to hear your howl, some people will try and quiet you. But fuck them and howl even louder.
“But she also knew that while their teeth were sharp, their resolve was sharper. That they would not back down or apologize, that they would not return to the cages in which they were raised. They were not just girls, they were wolves. And the world would hear them howl.”
“We are not here to be tame. And we are not here to remain silent and small. We are here to be wild. All of us. And we will not afraid. We were born to do this.”

[Void_Kiddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

I really, really liked this book!!

Which may seem weird because I’m rating it on the lower end, but that’s the writing’s fault, not the story. The story and the characters were really, really good!

I loved the worldbuilding and the messages through the book. The characters were sweet and easy to root for.

The writing was just pretty juvenile, which isn’t a horrible thing, but it was hard to read at some points because it didn’t felt like things were being taken seriously.

I also felt that the pacing was really off. The story was extremely fast paced and it felt like we rushed through a lot of things.

I did like it though! I just wish the writing was better. I recommend it, though, if you want a fun urban werewolf fantasy.

[Kendall Feral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I picked this book up excited that it was about werewolves but concerned that it might be cringy.
(sort-of spoiler) I was pleasantly surprised to find that metaphorically speaking, the werewolf form is self-acceptance, and the journey was a relatable one where teen girls are being trained to be religiously and domestically submissive which is not true to themselves.
It is a story about freedom and self-acceptance wrapped in a fast-paced self-discovery/love story. I appreciated the tasteful way that the werewolves were written into a story with a lot of value for YA readers, and anyone that likes a fast-paced read.

[Lilly Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great hyper feminism and female empowerment story. I loved the way certain characters were done as if you fully understood and could connect with the way they feel. I loved the wolf symbolism but it was a little on the nose at certain points.

[Jenny Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

fifth wave feminism tik tok crash course + werewolf

[Christy Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. especially the message of the book, learning to accept ourselves and others, as we truly are, and not who people want us to be.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newest book out from my favorite author and I couldn't put it down! Sisterhood and wolves, yes. More, please!

[Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this! I find it hard to find a simple queer fantasy so this was great! cute romance and what it means to be authentically you!

[Sam M · Rating 3 out of 5]

My teenage self would have ate this book up. Queer love story? Check. Werewolves? Check. Catholic guilt? Check.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An empowering and enjoyable story, but the writing felt a little thin for me personally.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Anna Brassiere · Rating 4 out of 5]

sapphic romance about girls unleashing their inner wolves? YES YES YEEEEEEES! 💜