Googly Eye

by Shawn Winchell

When you look into the darkness for too long, it starts to stare back...

Sal Miller wants a fresh start for his family, a place where he and his wife can raise their daughters, somewhere to build a life. When they purchase a home in the small town of Hillside Falls, he thinks he’s found it.

After a long drive into town on moving day, they make a pit stop at a local antique store. The store itself is nothing special, but the backroom is filled with all sorts of strange, interesting items.

As they settle into their new home, something feels off, and the girls start behaving strangely. Is it just the stress of the move or something more sinister?

You’ll never see googly eyes the same way again!

Genres: Horror

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2025

Reviews

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd call this book paranormal horror. When two young girls go behind a curtain in an antique shop they bring home a malevolent spirit. (Don't they know you never look behind the curtain?) I'm not really into the whole creepy doll thing, but that's just me. I just don't find them to be that spooky. Shawn ended this book in a way that leaves room for a sequel, although this book would read just fine as a standalone.

Thank you to Shawn Winchell. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST READ!!!


When you look into the darkness for too long, it starts to stare back...

Sal Miller wants a fresh start for his family, a place where he and his wife can raise their daughters, somewhere to build a life. When they purchase a home in the small town of Hillside Falls, he thinks he’s found it.
After a long drive into town on moving day, they make a pit stop at a local antique store. The store itself is nothing special, but the backroom is filled with all sorts of strange, interesting items.
As they settle into their new home, something feels off, and the girls start behaving strangely. Is it just the stress of the move or something more sinister?
You’ll never see googly eyes the same way again!


------
"What's wrong with your eyes Sal?"
First ever book by Shawn Winchell, Did NOT disappoint!

Let me start off by saying if I could give this book 10 stars I would. This GENUINELY creeped me out, I even had to turn my lights on in my room. Let alone it is storming out... 😩 Atmosphere set. As someone who practices occultism etc I genuinely was shook. I have never been creeped out by a book as bad as this one. This will probably stay with me for a long time. I only got 80 pages in and already started recommending it to my bookish friends. I feel like I need to sage myself now! Hahaha!

It's a quick read. The story pulls you in FAST, I was literally saying "oh no" out loud and being questioned why. NO spoilers my friend. No spoilers. Reading at night with the lights off during a storm? Absolutely not. Turned the lights back on and covered my whole body with my blanket and continued to read. Googly eye is super hard to put down and to be honest, Heinrich is NOT my friend, I will definitely not be messing with any type of Heinrich's.

Definitely worth the read! Especially if you're looking for a summerween book.


10/10 Fantastic!

[Lisa Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually Mr. Winchell’s books are what I like to call cozy paranormal but he’s gone out of his way to rid the cozy part in this story. Googly Eyes should be called horror paranormal, and it is fantastic. It’s a quick read about a family moving to a new city and new home with a shiny outlook and plans to start over. They do start over; just not the way they imagine. Things go south pretty quickly when they stop at Ole Rosie’s Antique Shop and enter the back room. People seem to forget that there are things in this world you just should not touch. When the young daughters explore this space, they forget this and play with some mighty evil things. What happens next is unimaginable. The whole family is affected, and it all starts with a pair of googly eye glasses.

I’m hoping Mr. Winchell sees the opportunity to continue the story in another installment. There’s quite the cliff hanger here so it’s possible he has something up his sleeve. Guess we just have to wait and see.

[Amber Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sal, Brandy, and their two young daughters, Izzy and Mila, move into an old house in a new town. What could go wrong?

Their stop at a small shop along the way sets everything into motion. The girls visit the restroom and wander into a mysterious section "behind the curtain," where they play with strange items—including a pair of googly-eye glasses. It's a bit Insidious meets Annabelle... in the best way!

The hidden attic adds to the suspense, and Mila’s dolls? Absolutely creepy. As the girls’ behavior starts to shift in unsettling ways, Sal and Brandy wrestle with the question: is it just the stress of moving, or is something more sinister at play?

Sal and Brandy are incredibly realistic, and the girls—while adorable—have distinct personalities and quirks that make them feel real. I do wish we’d gotten more of Rosie’s backstory, but I appreciated the role she played in helping the family in the end.

Perfect as a quick vacation or beach read—if scary stories are your jam!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Googly Eye by Shawn Winchell
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I really enjoyed this spooky paranormal horror story!
Sal Miller moves his wife and 2 daughters to a new city for a fresh start. On the way to their new home, they stop to check out an old oddity/antique shop. Their youngest daughter Mila brings home a special doll and life quickly begins to change for the Miller family. I really enjoyed this story, but I was a little confused with some parts towards the end in reference to Mila’s original doll Heinrich and what role he plays. Overall, it’s a super entertaining and fast paced story! I found it to be a very creative and unique story!
Old oddity/antique type shops and dolls are always guaranteed to bring in creepiness for me!!

Thank you to Shawn Winchell for an arc of this awesome and creepy story!!
*It comes out May 22nd! Grab for an awesome spook*
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

[Horromantasy Book Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Googly Eyes by Shawn Winchell is a creepy, well-written supernatural short that gave me total Annabelle and Chucky vibes!

You’ve got a six-year-old who refuses to part with her dolls—especially one that she swears is always watching. And let me tell you… the tension builds fast for such a short read!

If you love haunted objects, eerie children, and a story that escalates quickly, this one’s for you!

Read this if you’re into:

👁️ Haunted dolls
👧 Creepy kids
🏠 Suburban horror
👻 Short supernatural chills
🎥 Annabelle-type stories
🪆 Possessed objects

Would totally recommend if you want a quick, spine-tingling read before bed… or maybe not before bed.

[Jean Coffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Googly Eye by Shaun Winchell is a very well-written book with ordinary everyday characters who don't suspect that their lives are about to be changed forever with a simple visit to an Antique Shop while on their way to their new home. Soon in their new house, sinister things start happening. And, to add to the creepiness, a little girl's doll that is "always watching".

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down, it kept my attention to the very end.

I highly recommend reading this book if you like Supernatural reads with some Horror mixed in. This book will leave you with lasting chills and will definitely give you the creeps!

[Carol Nauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast read but not because it's a small book but because it's hard to put down. A typical family, father, mother and two young daughters are on their way to a new start in a new town. Their lives will be changed forever by a short stop at an antique shop. I love the characters who are just ordinary people faced with a force beyond their control. The plot is full of tension and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to everyone who enjoys an engaging horror story.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Googly Eye by Shawn Winchell is an unsettling, slow-burn horror story that masterfully blends family drama with supernatural dread.

The tension builds steadily, the writing is richly atmospheric, and the characters feel real and relatable—making their descent into the unknown all the more chilling.

If you’re a fan of psychological horror with a touch of the paranormal and a strong emotional core, Googly Eye is a must-read: creepy, clever, and completely unforgettable.

[Bret Brodersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading an advanced copy of the upcoming book by Shawn Winchell Googly Eyes. If you’re into thrillers you should start reading his books. I have not ever liked the look of porcelain dolls with eyes that blinked…but after reading this page turner, I will not be able to look at one of them for a long time…check it out it should be released soon! Those Googly plastic eyes are going to be banned in my house for a long time.

[Michelle Godard-Richer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for horror fans. I enjoyed the multiple POVs of the well-developed cast of characters—a family that moves into a new home and inadvertently brings home hell. I also liked the fun take on the haunted object trope, and the gradual building of suspense with incidents of increasing creepiness that built into a spooky finale.

[Emily Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this in an ad on Facebook and the cover intrigued me. When a family stops at an antiques and oddities shop on their way to their new home the two young girls awaken something sinister while in the back of the store. This was interesting and it kept me engaged. Some of it was a little corny but overall it was decent. It was a pretty fun quick read.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love stories that crawl under your skin and whisper from dark corners, this one is a must-read.

Haunting, emotional, and beautifully written — this is more than just another scary doll story.

Also, I’ll never be able to look at google eyes the same ever again!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sal and his family stop at a little store on the way to their new house. His girls Izzy and Mila play with somethings they shouldn't. Now, odd things are happening. Will Sal get help in time? Why is he seeing Googly eyes on everyone.

[Tiffany McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sal, Brandy and their children Izzy and Mila move to a new town for a fresh start however all of that changes when they stop at an antique and oddities store. Great, fast paced story! The whole doll thing creeped me out. Just couldn’t figure out if Heinrich was a protector or not

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, it was a good horror story. I just wished it was longer. I felt that there was so much missing from the book. For example, when Brandy died there was no investigation. There really wasn’t any mention of cops besides when Sal called 911.

[Erica smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Googly eye

The googly eye part I thought was kinda corny but the story was actually not bad . Pretty good ghost story

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so creepy good. Beware of the googly eyes 👀. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.