Saving Tommy: A Horror Novella

by Ian Gielen

When ten-year-old Tommy's severe depression pushes his parents to seek an experimental therapy, they are introduced to a 'Bliss Buddy' which Tommy dubs Bobby, a genetically engineered creature designed to provide emotional support. Initially, Bobby brings light and joy back into Tommy's life, but as time goes on, Bobby's behavior becomes increasingly suspicious. As the family's life spirals into a nightmare of unforeseen events, the question remains: Will Bobby prove to be the one to save Tommy?

An exploration of the impact of bullying, the complexities of mental health, and the unexpected consequences of experimental therapies, "Saving Tommy" is a story of love, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Genres: Horror

103 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2025

About the author

A horror fan since childhood, Ian embraces his inner geek with pride, his dedication displayed in the intimidating collection of horror novels and video games that threaten to take over his living space.

He is mad for all things Alien, Star Wars, and cats, his furry companions always there to keep him company as he scribbles down his latest ideas.

He's a father in Melbourne, Australia, sharing his home with his partner, two stepdaughters, and four cats. The sheer number of furry and human companions in his life might be enough to drive anyone a little crazy.

You can follow his writing journey on Facebook at - Ian Gielen - Author

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this concept. And the experience of Tommy in the prologue was written so beautifully. The trauma of bulling, budding mental illness, and the whole situation made me feel like I was right back in elementary school myself. Very well done. Things progressed quickly after that, which was a bit abrupt. There were only a few pages to enjoy the serenity of Tommy and his new genetically engineered pet, Bobby, before things went to hell. No, that's not a spoiler for some of you ninnies. Read the premise and genre...doesn't take a genius to know how this was gonna play out. But the story very much veered away from its strong points that it developed, being the mental health-related content and, to a lesser extent, the role of the NeuroBalance Institute. I also greatly questioned the internal logic of parents who would immediately let a genetically engineered lab creature sleep alone with their mentally distressed son, among other things. But the rest of the story went along like most other of its kind, whether killer toys or pets or what have you. The progression of how things went down was fine and quite enjoyable, but the pacing was always too quick and I wanted a lot more development on certain plot points to bring it all together. Not without some questionable creative decisions, this was still a quick, fun read by Ian Gielen.

[Juliet Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this unique story. I am familiar with Ian's work, so I had high hopes and was not disappointed. He excels as character development and making readers care what happens to them. This story had a nostalgic feeling touching on a Gremlins type storyline set in modern day realities. The evolution of Bobby is both heart-breaking and enthralling. A family's love for their child puts them in a situation no one could have imagined!

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Gielen's debut novella starts and ends very strong, but gave me some trouble in the middle. This is a dark, powerful, captivating tale, of parents resorting to a fancy high tech solution to their preteen son's psychological problems; problems created by bullying at school, a fact the parents seem to be (and remain throughout) blissfully unaware. The solution adopted is an experimental therapy, in the form of a genetically engineered emotional support animal (ESA), designed to provide help specifically to children. The reason a therapist is not brought in, is that the parents are struggling financially; a situation familiar to us all, but on top of that the mother (normally teaching Pilates) is injured and has to move around in a wheelchair for several months.

And this is where the trouble begun for me: the boy's mum is one of those women who prefer to spend their time reminiscing and examining her feelings (mostly of guilt because she can't be as good a mother as she imagines she should be), rather than TAKE ACTION! I mean, she's aware of a threat to her family (she's been attacked once already), she's the only one who knows how to stop it, she's been told to call the animal's provider immediately - and she prefers to go feed the kid lunch, instead of responding to the emergency call she just got. I mean, REALLY?

And Gielen, bless his soul, makes all this feel so very real, so impactful - it messed me up, I mean ruined! I appreciate immersive, engaging, and compelling writing as much as the next guy, but this was freaking raw. At some point, I even found myself taking the side of Bobby, the support animal: the creature is only doing what comes naturally, after all.

Obviously Gielen's novella resonated with me, it flowed well and, though it got me in a dark headspace, I count it as the author's achievement! I highly recommend this powerful novella to anyone who enjoys imaginative stories skillfully told, treating themes of mental health, parent burnout, and ESAs misuse.

[Dion Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars out of 5.

This story is part creature feature and part emotional roller-coaster that will have you hooked from the first page.

As a parent this story really resonated with me, Gielen’s writing made the story feel very real, and immersive, the writing flowed well and the creepy atmosphere builds the tension so much that you dread the next page, but you feel compelled to continue.

This novella is engaging and compelling and if you like a book to breaks your heart like Cujo by Stephen King and Downpour by Christopher Hawkins, then you will love this book.

[Holly Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tommy has went through a traumatic event that caused him to withdraw. His family was recommended to try an experimental friend that when he arrived seemed perfect. As time went on the pet' s behavior changed dramatically and became dangerous. The series of events that continued to happen right to the shocking ending will have you speechless!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

At what lengths would you go to to save your child. When Tommy shut down and stopped be happy, refusing to talk to his parents, his parents decided to try an experimental treatment. What child doesn't want a loving pet? When the "perfect" pet arrives, things are obviously not right. This story was so different from anything I've ever read. It's absolutely terrifying and brutal.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Saving Tommy by Ian Gielen—what a ride. If I had a dollar for every time I wanted to scream at Tommy’s parents, I could retire early. I mean, seriously, their decision-making skills had me clutching my hair in frustration. If this were a movie, I’d be hoarse from yelling at the screen, “WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!”

That being said, Ian Gielen absolutely nailed this book. His writing is immersive, gripping, and emotionally charged. He took such special care in portraying the brutal reality of bullying and its devastating effects on a child’s mental health. The way he captured Tommy’s inner world—the anxiety, the loneliness, the desperate need for escape—was both painful and masterful. It’s not just a story; it’s an experience that drags you in and makes you feel everything Tommy is going through.

What really stood out was how well thought out the entire book was. Every interaction, every scene, every decision (even the terrible ones by the parents) felt intentional. The tension builds in a way that makes you dread turning the page but also makes it impossible to stop. And just when you think it’s going to completely crush you, Gielen pulls out a last paragraph that gives you the smallest flicker of hope. Not a sunshine-and-rainbows kind of ending, but a quiet, determined spark—like a whispered promise that things can get better.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. Five out of five stars, no question. Just be prepared to suffer emotional whiplash, rage at the adults, and possibly cry into your coffee. It’s that good.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Save

Tommy needs a friend. A unique opportunity allows him to get a strange pet designed to be his perfect friend. Bobby, his new pet seems perfect, but something is strange about Bobby. It's hauntingly beautiful and totally terrifying. A tale of hurt love and deception.

[Chris Heinicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, yet thrilling story that builds suspense. The story centres around Tommy, a young boy who hasn’t spoken in months, and suffers from the worst kind of social anxiety. His loving parents try everything, and one day find themselves one of the lucky recipients of a genetically engineered pet for their son.
Almost instantly, Tommy starts smiling again, and appears to enjoy life and even talks to his parents. The pet though needs to be hidden by society, as it’s something never seen by humans before. But before long, something about the new pet first unsettles his mother, and then father.
Ian masterfully builds the suspense throughout, hinting at what this ‘pet’ may be capable of. The parents contact the organisation from which they were given this animal, and fear for what may happen in the time they need to wait for them to retrieve the pet.
I really enjoyed this story, and will be keeping an eye on whatever Ian does next

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a pleasant surprise. I'm all for a horror and this book definitely has that. I don't often read sci-fi but if all books in that genre were like this one I would be reading it more often. The emotional turmoil of Tommy pulls at your heart strings. The distracted busyness of his parents gives perspective and a reality check to any parent reading. Loved this! I'll be recommending this story beyond this review for sure.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite the debut book by Ian. It's about Tommy, a kid bullied to the point where he ends up having total disdain for life. His parents try to get him a 'buddy'. However, the creature ends up being more than just a buddy.

Saving Tommy is a story that combines the reality of bullying with the old-school horror of creature features, which ends up being quite the thrilling fusion. Tommy is an easy character to cheer for and quite easy to feel bad for at times. I was cheering for poor Tommy because I know how it feels to be lonely and not feel good about life.

Bobby is supposed to be a cute creature, but his true colors are quite gruesome. That's all I'll say without spoiling.

This was a thrilling read and the ending will make you cry. Damn you, Ian, you just had to make me cry!

[Michael Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gielen tells a poignant and relevant story about depression and parents’ ability to support their children mental health. This resonated with me because I have four children and have lived the aftermath of the effects of bullying. As a parent what would you do to help your child overcome depression. In Gielen’s debut novella, Saving Tommy, Tommy’s parents try an experimental therapy due to financial strain with unintended consequences. A very unique story!

[Barb Smith Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book I’ve read of Ian’s and I look forward to many more. This one takes on the difficult topic of bullying and a parent’s desire to do whatever it takes to make it go away. Very suspenseful and a fun, creepy read. Definitely recommend!

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian's debut novella "Saving Tommy" is an eye opening story about family, depression, and how poverty can effect family dynamics and decisions. In this novella, the theme of "desperate times call for desperate measures" rules strong. It exemplifies decisions a family may make in times of hardship and how they may believe in those decisions even though their intuition is telling them otherwise. I also found it interesting that it involves genetically modified creatures and scientific experiments.

I found this novella reminding me of a past job I held as a teacher's assistant. In that job I saw how little some parents seem to care about their children, but it certainly isn't intentional. It stems from of the need to keep up with life's demands whether it be working to bring in money, injuries that make daily life difficult, or other problems life throws our way. Caring for children can often take a back seat in those situations and this story is a perfect example of that.

I thought the parent characters made frustrating decisions, I found myself questioning why they didn't sense danger before. The hard truth is that in their situation, I don't know if anyone could make better decisions. The mother does seem to significantly regret the past and yet is unable to make a change for the better. As humans though, I feel that sometimes we all struggle with that.

This story is sad, eye opening, and heartfelt. Definitely worth the read AND I hope a sequel is in the cards.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Saving Tommy by Ian Gielen, when six-year-old Tommy gets bullied at school and starts being very depressed the doctor introduces a new program where Tommy will get a new pet and it is proven to be quite successful. his parents Boyd and Ila couldn’t be happier when they see Tommy‘s reaction to getting a pet. When Janet shows up with the new pet it’s unlike anything the parents have ever seen but seeing the joy on Tommy’s face is all they need to see. Recently Ila hurt her hip and needs a walker to get around so she spends her days with Tommy and his new pet Bobby. The bi-pedal animal does everything that Bobby does and even starts talking something that creeps her out but more than once she also sees Bobby acting in ways that sends cold dread running upper spine. she knows getting rid of Bobby with only break Tommy’s heart and she hasn’t seen him happier. Is Bobby truly the menace Ila fears him to be? This isn’t a long book but OMG it really was good the author does such a great job putting the tension between Ila and Bobby on the page is Tommy sits oblivious if you like quick stories of horror then you should definitely read this one no one would own pets if they were all like Bobby.!#BookSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #IanGeilen, #SavingTommy,

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight nightmare fuel

Saving Tommy is a deeply unsettling novella that dives into childhood trauma, experimental treatments, and the terrifying unknown. Tommy, once a bright little boy, has become withdrawn and silent. Desperate to help, his parents agree to try a new program, one that introduces Bobby, a genetically engineered companion, into their lives.

At first, everything seems perfect. Tommy begins to smile, laugh, and come back to life. But something about Bobby isn’t right. As unease creeps in, the story takes a dark turn that will leave you with a lingering sense of dread.

Short, chilling, and disturbingly effective, Saving Tommy is nightmare fuel in the best way. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Saving Tommy by Ian Gielen

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy is a kid who struggles with intense bullying at school and learns to shut down all of his emotions as a coping mechanism, which causes his parents distress and leads to them turning to a new experimental treatment meant to help. But that treatment turns out to be their worst nightmare in a fuzzy genetically modified companion.

I picked this up as a novella read to refresh my mind from longer reads lately and wow. This is a perfect short story that has depth and a winding plot with an ending that leaves you reeling. Reminiscent of Gremlins but with its own twists and concepts intertwined! A great book.

[David Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Tommy by Ian Gielen

5/5

Monsters? Pets? Emotional trauma? These are few of my favourite things, as Bjork sang in a film which I still cry about to this day.

Ian Gielen has taken story that I'm sure you've seen soulless iterations of in the past, and put a beating, bleeding heat at its core.

This is a super quick read and is well worth your time and your pennies.

Get it on your kindle and thank me later!

[GRivera23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sticking to dogs

After this story, I'm sticking to having dogs as pets. The buildup in the story had me looking forward to those few minutes of reading every day. If I had the time, I would've finished this in one day.

[Mieke Janssens · Rating 4 out of 5]

heartbreaking story about mental health and an experiment with devastating consequences. The tension builds beautifully, and a sense of dread slowly creeps in as you turn the pages—until all hell breaks loose. A quick, compelling, and haunting read.

[Daniel Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was such a wild rollercoaster. Heartache to hope, despair to just wtf and wow. A really good horror story that was hard to put down.

[Samanthaxlj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella packs a punch from beginning to end. Tommy a young boy lost in the darkness due to bullying, finds hope to recovery in a new best friend Bobby. An experimental pet developed by Neurobalance Institute as an alternative solution to help struggling children with a multitude of mental health disorders and families who cannot otherwise afford mental health services. Bobby brings new hope and joy to Tommy and his family with what looks like a promising road to recovery, but to their dismay the road to recovery is a far path from the nightmares that will unfold.

[Addy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished it, and I'm shocked. What a surprise. The book follows Tommy, who's brutally bullied and ends up being mute for months. His parents found out about a "pet," an experimental bliss buddy named bobby, as a support system for Tommy to cope with his depression. A healing therapy instantly turned into a nightmare. Every parent should check out this book and make sure that their child do not end up like tommy because the theme of mental health described in this book is so real.
I finished this horror novella (less than 100 pages) in one sitting. It was super fast-paced. The ending was unexpected and jaw dropping. I highly recommend this book.

[Book hoarder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Very creepy.
It slowly reveals the evil, until it is too late.
I was amazed about how much the doctor knew about bats. He must have a hobby.
The ending was horrific. I didn't think this would happen.
A short story with a lot of surprises. 5/5

[Christine Cobb-Kakalecik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book. Could have read it faster but life gets in the way of my reading. I thought the characters were great and loved the whole concept of this emotional support creature (can’t say this isn’t an actual thought roaming around out in labs right now) was brilliant and bringing it to life in this book was creative and one that I could visually imagine while reading. Great Novella.

[Megan Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the pet you want

But maybe it is the pet your kid needs...at least for two days then don't count on it.
This tale by Ian reminds me a lot of goosebumps or tales to tell in the dark.
Tommy and Bobby are the best pair until mommy gets in the way.
Will there be a Bliss Buddy part 2

[Tony splatterpunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy's severe depression leads his parents to trial a bliss buddy, a mix of a bat, a dog and cat a creature to help him. At first it seems a great idea until it starts to show protective aggression towards Tommy.
An excellent read which leads to a brutal final conclusion.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Tommy is a powerful and unsettling exploration of childhood mental health, grief, and the unintended consequences of tampering with the unknown. What starts as a heartwarming tale of hope through an experimental therapy quickly turns into a gripping psychological drama. Ian Gielen masterfully blends emotion, suspense, and sci-fi to create a haunting story that lingers long after the final page. A powerful and thought-provoking read.

[Momma T's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember your parents getting you a My Buddy doll? And then, a few years later, Chucky came out? Then your parents were freaking out?

Saving Tommy is why. It's what nightmares are made of. Except this genetically altered being has teeth and claws. Every time mom or dad passed Tommy's room, I was freaking out. You can see the glares from "bobby" that the author was trying to portray. I definitely wouldn't want one in my house.

It also had a reason. Bullying does Noone any good. Young children can develop mental health issues because of it. And then as parents, we just want what's best for our children. Sometimes, what we think should help only increases the concern. How far is too far? And how much can one child endure before it becomes too much?

[G.R. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like a story that doesn’t have the happy ever after we are used to A broken boy? A family looking to unlock him from his own world, a tech company who pushes a solution that perhaps was more about money and prestige than actual results Fitting for our time when AI tech is rushing too fast with little thought for the consequences. A dark story of a desperate family trying to save their son that sees a most macabre story play out