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My Name Isn't Paul
He pretended to be human for seven years. Until he couldn't.
He's a traveling salesman named Paul Cattaneo, except he isn't. He's a Mirror Person--a hyper-empathetic eldritch abomination. He found the human Paul Cattaneo's mangled corpse seven years ago and decided to mimic it. It's just what Mirror People do. Mimic. Absorb. Control.
But breeding season for Mirror People comes around every seven years, inducing a sociopathic state... and Paul's time is up. Unable to avoid the reality of what he truly is, Paul has a mental breakdown, goes on a cross-country road trip...and runs afoul of something far, far more inhuman and dangerous than himself.
A cosmic horror tale like nothing you've ever read before.
He's a traveling salesman named Paul Cattaneo, except he isn't. He's a Mirror Person--a hyper-empathetic eldritch abomination. He found the human Paul Cattaneo's mangled corpse seven years ago and decided to mimic it. It's just what Mirror People do. Mimic. Absorb. Control.
But breeding season for Mirror People comes around every seven years, inducing a sociopathic state... and Paul's time is up. Unable to avoid the reality of what he truly is, Paul has a mental breakdown, goes on a cross-country road trip...and runs afoul of something far, far more inhuman and dangerous than himself.
A cosmic horror tale like nothing you've ever read before.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2025
16 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
October 24, 2025
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ He isn’t human. He’s an abomination that came from Other World. But he pretends to be human for the last 7 years, wearing a skin suit that belonged to Paul. Paul who isn’t actually Paul is a shapeshifting, self conscious eldritch abomination who hates himself because he does things that are out of his control. He is a parasitoid wasp who is a neurotic mess. He has filaments that can stop him from having human emotions, leaving him with no empathy. But he hates that, he hates killing innocent people and he hates what he must become when he goes into “heat”.
Heat. Yes, that heat where his need to reproduce takes over all his “emotions”. He becomes a menace, a killing machine. The state of heat allows him to grow more larvae eggs within his “body”. But he must keep eating the innocents to keep those babies strong and healthy until this heat stage is over and those babies will be on their own.
Wow! Talk about how much an under 100 page book can pack. So much gore, horror, drama and originality!! This was so weird but excellent weird that it quite literally told a story about madness and identity crisis. Possibly insatiable hunger too? That hunger that we have for things outside of our spectrum and reach.
It’s wild, it’s fun, it’s bonkers. Drew Huff created the perfect cosmic monster whose internal dialogue evoked a ray of emotions. It truly was an abomination! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a short novella.
Thanks to NetGalley and Drew Huff for this short cosmic horror tale.
Publication: November 18, 2025
Heat. Yes, that heat where his need to reproduce takes over all his “emotions”. He becomes a menace, a killing machine. The state of heat allows him to grow more larvae eggs within his “body”. But he must keep eating the innocents to keep those babies strong and healthy until this heat stage is over and those babies will be on their own.
Wow! Talk about how much an under 100 page book can pack. So much gore, horror, drama and originality!! This was so weird but excellent weird that it quite literally told a story about madness and identity crisis. Possibly insatiable hunger too? That hunger that we have for things outside of our spectrum and reach.
It’s wild, it’s fun, it’s bonkers. Drew Huff created the perfect cosmic monster whose internal dialogue evoked a ray of emotions. It truly was an abomination! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a short novella.
Thanks to NetGalley and Drew Huff for this short cosmic horror tale.
Publication: November 18, 2025
August 30, 2025
"I pretended to be human for the last seven years and it finally caught up to me."
A cosmic horror novella with Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe. If you have read and liked 'the Divine Flesh', you'd probably be interested and would care to learn more about the Mirror People. We get to see a bug's POV as it experiences existential crisis and mental breakdown while masquerading around as 'Paul'. Gory, gross, horrific, weird yet entertaining. Read this in one sitting.
A cosmic horror novella with Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe. If you have read and liked 'the Divine Flesh', you'd probably be interested and would care to learn more about the Mirror People. We get to see a bug's POV as it experiences existential crisis and mental breakdown while masquerading around as 'Paul'. Gory, gross, horrific, weird yet entertaining. Read this in one sitting.
October 11, 2025
Bizarro from another dimension, this novella is remarkably heartfelt. Having previously read Drew Huff’s The Divine Flesh, which is where the Mirror People were introduced, I was actually expecting something far wilder and more unhinged than what this turned out to be. I really like the way the story just jumps right into the world and the action. There is no lengthy exposition dump about interdimensional beings or eldritch deities or anything like this; the story moves quickly, and we learn what we need to learn as we go. The plotting is direct and effective, and this is matched by descriptive and emotive language that always feels like it is thrumming with life. The prose is pretty direct, never purple, but manages to convey the incredibly empathic nature of the characters and set a tone or atmosphere that is rife with tension. The characters are not particularly deep, they are just a little more than sketches, but they work well in this story. We are given enough, especially about the main character, to have a sense of him in all the ways that matter, and enough to understand the relationships of all the others in his orbit. Since the story is so direct and compact this works for me; it leaves the impression that the characters are robust and genuine individuals struggling to make sense of complicated circumstances but doesn’t put all of that on the page. There is enough to the characters that they could sustain deeper exploration if the story were extended out to have a little more time to linger, a few more twists and turns and roadblocks to its plot.
There isn’t a lot of subtext here. I mean, sure, there are wild interdimensional parasitic beings, cosmic monstrosities trapped on earth and feeding off of humanity. but really this is a story about what it means to understand yourself, and to be dissatisfied with yourself, either due to your own expectations, the pressures of society, or some combination. What would you do, what urges would you repress, to try and fit in? How can you deny yourself and still feel like a complete person? Is the answer mindlessly giving in to your every whim, or will that leave you just as unhappy? This novella captures the feeling of not fitting in, and not knowing what to do about it, incredibly well. It touches on fears regarding legacy and heredity, what it means to leave your mark on others. Sometimes truly understanding yourself can be the most difficult thing in the world, especially when that world is a foreign one that doesn’t feel designed for you or your way of being. In this weird, fun, fast-paced novella Paul, or, rather, not-Paul, models all different aspects of that inner journey and it is a wonderful joy to be taken along for the ride.
I want to thank the author for providing a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There isn’t a lot of subtext here. I mean, sure, there are wild interdimensional parasitic beings, cosmic monstrosities trapped on earth and feeding off of humanity. but really this is a story about what it means to understand yourself, and to be dissatisfied with yourself, either due to your own expectations, the pressures of society, or some combination. What would you do, what urges would you repress, to try and fit in? How can you deny yourself and still feel like a complete person? Is the answer mindlessly giving in to your every whim, or will that leave you just as unhappy? This novella captures the feeling of not fitting in, and not knowing what to do about it, incredibly well. It touches on fears regarding legacy and heredity, what it means to leave your mark on others. Sometimes truly understanding yourself can be the most difficult thing in the world, especially when that world is a foreign one that doesn’t feel designed for you or your way of being. In this weird, fun, fast-paced novella Paul, or, rather, not-Paul, models all different aspects of that inner journey and it is a wonderful joy to be taken along for the ride.
I want to thank the author for providing a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 24, 2025
4 stars
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in reverse, My Name Isn’t Paul is a curiously bizarre novella about a society of alien 'bugs' disguising themselves as humans. Told with flair and vivid imagination—featuring plenty of cosmic horror imagery—its execution leans more into atmosphere, gore, and intensely detailed depictions of the species’ mating process, rather than serving as an intentional literary commentary on human behavior (à la The Humans by Matt Haig).
As a novella, I think My Name Isn’t Paul is perfectly paced for the story it wants to tell—something that might have felt overly drawn out in full novel form. The whole thing also gives me strong David Cronenberg vibes, which only adds to the fun!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in reverse, My Name Isn’t Paul is a curiously bizarre novella about a society of alien 'bugs' disguising themselves as humans. Told with flair and vivid imagination—featuring plenty of cosmic horror imagery—its execution leans more into atmosphere, gore, and intensely detailed depictions of the species’ mating process, rather than serving as an intentional literary commentary on human behavior (à la The Humans by Matt Haig).
As a novella, I think My Name Isn’t Paul is perfectly paced for the story it wants to tell—something that might have felt overly drawn out in full novel form. The whole thing also gives me strong David Cronenberg vibes, which only adds to the fun!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
May 27, 2025
i’ve never heard of this author before but i thought i’d give this book a try since it sounded fascinating. unfortunately, it wasn’t for me.
the characters were a bit obnoxious to me and it was hard for me to personally care about them. the way they communicated with each other just didn’t work for me.
the various names that were so similar to each other also confused me a lot.
the writing style wasn’t the best in my opinion. the more i read the more it was becoming disengaging. it didn’t serve me anything, didn’t make me feel any type of way if that makes sense. it didn’t make me care for the story.
this book did start out weird and fascinating at first before it got monotonic and the way it all worked reminded me of a book called someone you can build a nest in by john wiswell. i don’t think i’ve ever read a book about mimicking people though.
it also reminded me of tokyo ghoul anime in the way that the character couldn’t eat human food without it being disgusting.
however, this book was basically all about mating lmao. it was getting boring and i wasn’t really enjoying this “fucking” as they put it and making babies.
unfortunately i can’t recommend this one. the cover is really pretty though!
the characters were a bit obnoxious to me and it was hard for me to personally care about them. the way they communicated with each other just didn’t work for me.
the various names that were so similar to each other also confused me a lot.
the writing style wasn’t the best in my opinion. the more i read the more it was becoming disengaging. it didn’t serve me anything, didn’t make me feel any type of way if that makes sense. it didn’t make me care for the story.
this book did start out weird and fascinating at first before it got monotonic and the way it all worked reminded me of a book called someone you can build a nest in by john wiswell. i don’t think i’ve ever read a book about mimicking people though.
it also reminded me of tokyo ghoul anime in the way that the character couldn’t eat human food without it being disgusting.
however, this book was basically all about mating lmao. it was getting boring and i wasn’t really enjoying this “fucking” as they put it and making babies.
unfortunately i can’t recommend this one. the cover is really pretty though!
July 30, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley for the arc !!
so this was really weird, and i'm not sure if it was weird in a good way or just weird in a weird way. i actually quite liked the themes of identity and humanity it touched upon and i wish we would've gotten more of that. instead the focus was mostly on bug people being horny, which got a bit old at some point. i was also super confused about many things, especially regarding the lore around these alien beings. that being said, this was definitely a unique (and mostly intriguing) reading experience, and i would certainly check out more work from this author!
so this was really weird, and i'm not sure if it was weird in a good way or just weird in a weird way. i actually quite liked the themes of identity and humanity it touched upon and i wish we would've gotten more of that. instead the focus was mostly on bug people being horny, which got a bit old at some point. i was also super confused about many things, especially regarding the lore around these alien beings. that being said, this was definitely a unique (and mostly intriguing) reading experience, and i would certainly check out more work from this author!
June 5, 2025
For being as short as it was, it took me way too long to get through this.
The premise is interesting and unique, and I actually did enjoy the writing style. However, after the first part of this 3 part novella, I got pretty bored.
The gore was great, and I really liked the descriptions of the bugs and their lives as humans, and I thought I was getting the message to this, until the ending. I think maybe I lost the plot.
The premise is interesting and unique, and I actually did enjoy the writing style. However, after the first part of this 3 part novella, I got pretty bored.
The gore was great, and I really liked the descriptions of the bugs and their lives as humans, and I thought I was getting the message to this, until the ending. I think maybe I lost the plot.
November 4, 2025
✨ If Invasion of the Body Snatcher was filled with insects and more gore, you’d get My Name Isn’t Paul ✨
Are you looking for a weird, cosmic horror that features an alien experiencing an identity crisis? Look no further. My Name Isn’t Paul follows Paul—who plot twist isn’t really named Paul—as he tries to fight what he truly is. He’s really a bug like alien that has inhabited the same human body for seven years. Paul isn’t proud of his alien side. He’s grown quite comfy living life like a human. But all that is about to change…
This book is weird in the best way possible. It was quick and fun! I was able to finish it in one sitting. It pairs nicely with Huff’s novel The Divine Flesh—which features The Mirror People (aka the aliens) in it. But My Name Isn’t Paul lets us dive deeper into these characters. I found myself rooting for these bug like creatures.
Special thanks again to the offer for sending me an advanced copy! Be sure to check this one out when it releases on November 18th!
Are you looking for a weird, cosmic horror that features an alien experiencing an identity crisis? Look no further. My Name Isn’t Paul follows Paul—who plot twist isn’t really named Paul—as he tries to fight what he truly is. He’s really a bug like alien that has inhabited the same human body for seven years. Paul isn’t proud of his alien side. He’s grown quite comfy living life like a human. But all that is about to change…
This book is weird in the best way possible. It was quick and fun! I was able to finish it in one sitting. It pairs nicely with Huff’s novel The Divine Flesh—which features The Mirror People (aka the aliens) in it. But My Name Isn’t Paul lets us dive deeper into these characters. I found myself rooting for these bug like creatures.
Special thanks again to the offer for sending me an advanced copy! Be sure to check this one out when it releases on November 18th!
May 15, 2025
ARC
Release date; Nov 18 2025
This story is about Paul, except his name isn’t Paul & he’s not actually human. He’s a Mirror Person- an eldritch bug like creature. Seven years ago, he stumbled upon Paul’s dead body & decided to inhabit it, wearing it as a “Skin Suit”. Not Paul desperately wants to be human, but every seven to ten years his species goes into heat & his time is running out.
From the very first pages on this novella, we’re thrust into Not Paul's head as he’s trying to live his day to day life as a human. We quickly learn he’s essentially isolated himself from his “siblings” & is battling his natural instinct to reproduce. Now his time is up, he’s in heat & out of control.
I loved the premise of this novella. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard or read before. It’s original, trippy, a little bloody & so bizarre. The writing is good & the descriptions of the gory bits were great. However, I really struggled with the overall execution. For the first half of the book I felt really confused, which may or may not be the Authors intent, & it kept me from enjoying it until the last half so for that I’m landing on a 3 star.
I look forward to diving into more of Drew’s other works in the future. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
Release date; Nov 18 2025
This story is about Paul, except his name isn’t Paul & he’s not actually human. He’s a Mirror Person- an eldritch bug like creature. Seven years ago, he stumbled upon Paul’s dead body & decided to inhabit it, wearing it as a “Skin Suit”. Not Paul desperately wants to be human, but every seven to ten years his species goes into heat & his time is running out.
From the very first pages on this novella, we’re thrust into Not Paul's head as he’s trying to live his day to day life as a human. We quickly learn he’s essentially isolated himself from his “siblings” & is battling his natural instinct to reproduce. Now his time is up, he’s in heat & out of control.
I loved the premise of this novella. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard or read before. It’s original, trippy, a little bloody & so bizarre. The writing is good & the descriptions of the gory bits were great. However, I really struggled with the overall execution. For the first half of the book I felt really confused, which may or may not be the Authors intent, & it kept me from enjoying it until the last half so for that I’m landing on a 3 star.
I look forward to diving into more of Drew’s other works in the future. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
July 23, 2025
This was a fun and unique little novella.
We are following Paul, just an average human man - nothing to see here. Except, actually, his name isn't Paul, and he's some weird bug alien creature just puppeting Paul's body. Most of the novella is just Paul's inner monologue, with one perspective change during the middle. Paul knows it is in his nature to seek meat, to reproduce, and to kill. But, he doesn't want to do that. He has fallen into a comfortable life as Paul the human and ends up trying hard to suppress his nature before he gives in and let's just say, shit hits the fan.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story and found the setup super intriguing. It does come off a little 'info dumpy' at first as we are provided with all the inner workings of these creatures, where they came from, what they do, and how they function - but I kinda loved it! Paul was an interesting character to follow, and some moments had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of the situations & dialogue of the characters. Things are tense, hectic, and bloody, yet the tone is very nonchalant throughout and it all blended together well.
I will definitely be recommending this novella as a quick read to lovers of the weird and cosmic horror fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
We are following Paul, just an average human man - nothing to see here. Except, actually, his name isn't Paul, and he's some weird bug alien creature just puppeting Paul's body. Most of the novella is just Paul's inner monologue, with one perspective change during the middle. Paul knows it is in his nature to seek meat, to reproduce, and to kill. But, he doesn't want to do that. He has fallen into a comfortable life as Paul the human and ends up trying hard to suppress his nature before he gives in and let's just say, shit hits the fan.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story and found the setup super intriguing. It does come off a little 'info dumpy' at first as we are provided with all the inner workings of these creatures, where they came from, what they do, and how they function - but I kinda loved it! Paul was an interesting character to follow, and some moments had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of the situations & dialogue of the characters. Things are tense, hectic, and bloody, yet the tone is very nonchalant throughout and it all blended together well.
I will definitely be recommending this novella as a quick read to lovers of the weird and cosmic horror fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
October 9, 2025
Behind the gruesome, bizarre things happening here, we can find many metaphors about the meaning of life and the self-hatred people carry for just being themselves, but my mind was too focused on imagining gigantic ants mimicking human bodies to give them the proper attention.
↠ 3.5 stars
Thanks to Drew Huff and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
↠ 3.5 stars
Thanks to Drew Huff and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 17, 2025
What a weird little book. If you're a fan of cosmic horror, then this will most likely be right up your alley.
This is essentially a horror novella about these alien bug creature things that take human bodies as hosts and steadily reproduce. We have our MC Uxon (who's in his host body "Paul") who is disgusted with himself and his kind, and tries to detach himself from his alien tendencies.
However, he soon goes into heat, which is sort of a rampage where he'll have the insatiable need to mate and reproduce larvae. He fights against this, and all hell breaks loose.
So much happens in this short novella and although it kept getting increasingly weirder, I found it hard to put down. This was a very unique tale, with vibes of the Body Snatchers.
This is my first time reading Drew Huff, but I can definitely see myself reading more.
[Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
This is essentially a horror novella about these alien bug creature things that take human bodies as hosts and steadily reproduce. We have our MC Uxon (who's in his host body "Paul") who is disgusted with himself and his kind, and tries to detach himself from his alien tendencies.
However, he soon goes into heat, which is sort of a rampage where he'll have the insatiable need to mate and reproduce larvae. He fights against this, and all hell breaks loose.
So much happens in this short novella and although it kept getting increasingly weirder, I found it hard to put down. This was a very unique tale, with vibes of the Body Snatchers.
This is my first time reading Drew Huff, but I can definitely see myself reading more.
[Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
June 4, 2025
My first ARC, how exciting! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher 😁
I was really excited about this, I liked the overall premise and that it was a novella. I think the whole mirror people concept is cool and the exploration of the self-hatred that the main character faces. Also the descriptions of the aliens and the more gorey moments were really fun. However, I did feel like this book suffered from being a novella. Too much information was given and the pacing was too fast for anything to really have an impact. It also felt like a lot of the same information kept getting stated as a way to move the story forward, but the book is tiny so it's not like any of the information was being forgotten.
I guess Drew Huff has another book with a similar concept of alien taking the form of humans, but I don't think I'll be picking it up.
I was really excited about this, I liked the overall premise and that it was a novella. I think the whole mirror people concept is cool and the exploration of the self-hatred that the main character faces. Also the descriptions of the aliens and the more gorey moments were really fun. However, I did feel like this book suffered from being a novella. Too much information was given and the pacing was too fast for anything to really have an impact. It also felt like a lot of the same information kept getting stated as a way to move the story forward, but the book is tiny so it's not like any of the information was being forgotten.
I guess Drew Huff has another book with a similar concept of alien taking the form of humans, but I don't think I'll be picking it up.
June 3, 2025
My Name Isn't Paul is a short, sharp punch of weird fiction that has some great questions about identity and loss, wrapped up in a cosmic horror apparation of weirdness that I continue to love since reading The Divine Flesh (LOVE).
The main character, Paul (except, spoiler, he’s very much not Paul), is a sentient colony of interstellar organisms wearing a human identity like a hoodie he found on the floor. He’s been living as a guy named Paul for years, blending into society, doing a pretty decent job at pretending to be normal. But when the real Paul’s past starts catching up, the façade begins to crack — and so does the sense of self he’s built. That’s where things start to get creepy, sad, and strangely relatable.
Despite the cosmic weirdness, the emotional throughline hits hard. You’re watching this being struggle to hold onto a life that maybe was never his to begin with. And somehow, I rooted for him anyway. It must be tough being a bug trying to be a travelling vacuum salesman.
Thank you to Netgalley for this eArc in return for an honest review.
The main character, Paul (except, spoiler, he’s very much not Paul), is a sentient colony of interstellar organisms wearing a human identity like a hoodie he found on the floor. He’s been living as a guy named Paul for years, blending into society, doing a pretty decent job at pretending to be normal. But when the real Paul’s past starts catching up, the façade begins to crack — and so does the sense of self he’s built. That’s where things start to get creepy, sad, and strangely relatable.
Despite the cosmic weirdness, the emotional throughline hits hard. You’re watching this being struggle to hold onto a life that maybe was never his to begin with. And somehow, I rooted for him anyway. It must be tough being a bug trying to be a travelling vacuum salesman.
Thank you to Netgalley for this eArc in return for an honest review.
May 23, 2025
What a fun sci-fi novella! As someone who rarely picks up sci-fi but was desperate for a short, interesting read, I thought this could be a good time, and it certainly was.
My Name Isn't Paul is a fast-paced, trippy little tale of Paul, who isn't actually Paul, because he's some kind of bug man called a Mirror Person. These Mirror People mimic humans using the shells of their deceased bodies, which they control with intricate tendrils that the human eye cannot perceive. Paul doesn't want to be some gross bug dude; he wants to be a normal man who sells vacuums and gets along with his wife.
But when Paul starts to experience heat, he becomes erratic and, frankly, extremely dangerous. And it's chaos from there.
This was a read-in-a-day type of book, and it's so quick and simple there's not much to expand on. I enjoyed myself, felt freaky and weird in the 90 minutes it took me to read this, and then moved on with my day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of My Name Isn't Paul. This releases November 18th!
My Name Isn't Paul is a fast-paced, trippy little tale of Paul, who isn't actually Paul, because he's some kind of bug man called a Mirror Person. These Mirror People mimic humans using the shells of their deceased bodies, which they control with intricate tendrils that the human eye cannot perceive. Paul doesn't want to be some gross bug dude; he wants to be a normal man who sells vacuums and gets along with his wife.
But when Paul starts to experience heat, he becomes erratic and, frankly, extremely dangerous. And it's chaos from there.
This was a read-in-a-day type of book, and it's so quick and simple there's not much to expand on. I enjoyed myself, felt freaky and weird in the 90 minutes it took me to read this, and then moved on with my day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of My Name Isn't Paul. This releases November 18th!
Want to read
May 15, 2025RTC
Thank you Netgalley and SP Drew Huff for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 18 November 2025
Thank you Netgalley and SP Drew Huff for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 18 November 2025
May 18, 2025
3.75 stars
ARC review
My Name Isn't Paul is a quick horror delight about a race of Mirror People, with a focus on one in particular, a collection of sophisticated bug-like creatures capable of mimicking humans and absorbing their memories to ensure they are not detected. Paul Cattaneo, or at least Mirror Paul, has been living this particular life for seven years and he is happy to ignore his true identity as much as he possibly can. After being reunited with his Mirror siblings at a funeral, Paul starts to experiencing signs of going into heat, which brings with it a total sociopathic state and loss of the humanity he has found comfort in.
This is the kind of horror I love because it does a fantastic job of creating an unsettling vibe without a 'scare factor'. The concept of the mirror people and the specifics of their lifespans is really creative and I'm honestly disappointed this is a novella because I would have happily read several hundred pages about these characters and how they find balance between humanity and inhumanity. The descriptions are done really well, they did just enough for me to know what was going on but also they encourage the reader to use their imagination.
My favourite part of this book was how it handled Paul's mental deterioration and how hard he fought not to give into his base instinct. The other mirror people in this book were also explored really well and I loved the foreboding energy of them, you never really know what their intentions are.
Overall, I definitely recommend if you're looking for something a little weird and existential.
ARC review
My Name Isn't Paul is a quick horror delight about a race of Mirror People, with a focus on one in particular, a collection of sophisticated bug-like creatures capable of mimicking humans and absorbing their memories to ensure they are not detected. Paul Cattaneo, or at least Mirror Paul, has been living this particular life for seven years and he is happy to ignore his true identity as much as he possibly can. After being reunited with his Mirror siblings at a funeral, Paul starts to experiencing signs of going into heat, which brings with it a total sociopathic state and loss of the humanity he has found comfort in.
This is the kind of horror I love because it does a fantastic job of creating an unsettling vibe without a 'scare factor'. The concept of the mirror people and the specifics of their lifespans is really creative and I'm honestly disappointed this is a novella because I would have happily read several hundred pages about these characters and how they find balance between humanity and inhumanity. The descriptions are done really well, they did just enough for me to know what was going on but also they encourage the reader to use their imagination.
My favourite part of this book was how it handled Paul's mental deterioration and how hard he fought not to give into his base instinct. The other mirror people in this book were also explored really well and I loved the foreboding energy of them, you never really know what their intentions are.
Overall, I definitely recommend if you're looking for something a little weird and existential.
October 8, 2025
Weird, wild, quirky, and amusing. A different spin on Lovecraftian mythos with the last of the Ancient Ones traveling through a portal to Earth and generating a race of bug monsters.
These bugs then become Mirror People, assimilating into human skin of dead people and trying to assume the life of the prior occupants (like Invasion of the Body Snatchers). They carry on for approximately seven years, when their gestation period begins as they go into heat (and sociopathic behavior) and produce a multitude of eggs.
Paul a.k.a. Uxon is the main character, who is nearing his "in-heat" time and worrying that he may end up committing suicide like his best friend (also a bug monster) did. He receives plenty of coaching and advice from other Mirror People, but takes off on a journey of self-discovery (like a mid-life crisis).
The conclusion was expected but not entirely satisfactory. This novella was meant to be funny, and it is, but in a really dark way. I also thought it was slightly longer than necessary.
Kudos to the author for a vivid imagination. That elevated this Three-Star one-note story into a Four-Star Rating for me because of the creativity.
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for providing me a digital advanced review copy.
These bugs then become Mirror People, assimilating into human skin of dead people and trying to assume the life of the prior occupants (like Invasion of the Body Snatchers). They carry on for approximately seven years, when their gestation period begins as they go into heat (and sociopathic behavior) and produce a multitude of eggs.
Paul a.k.a. Uxon is the main character, who is nearing his "in-heat" time and worrying that he may end up committing suicide like his best friend (also a bug monster) did. He receives plenty of coaching and advice from other Mirror People, but takes off on a journey of self-discovery (like a mid-life crisis).
The conclusion was expected but not entirely satisfactory. This novella was meant to be funny, and it is, but in a really dark way. I also thought it was slightly longer than necessary.
Kudos to the author for a vivid imagination. That elevated this Three-Star one-note story into a Four-Star Rating for me because of the creativity.
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for providing me a digital advanced review copy.
May 17, 2025
My Name Isn't Paul follows Paul(Not Paul), a mirror-person who found his corpse and decided to mimic it as that's what mirror people do. It has been 7 years since he has assumed Paul's identity, fooling his family and friends alike, but breeding season is upon him. Unable to avoid the reality of what he truly is he has a mental breakdown and goes AWOL.
After reading two of their books I just need to accept that this author and their writing style is just not for me.
I enjoy horror and body horror, but this book just fails to hit the mark for me. The ideas are unique and bizarre but the lack of world building and pacing issues make this a difficult read. I also found there to be a lack of tension, stakes and enough of an atmosphere in the writing. All things I look for and need in my horror books.
This might be for you if you enjoy bizarre eldritch body horror and don't need much world building to immerse yourself into the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Drew Huff Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
After reading two of their books I just need to accept that this author and their writing style is just not for me.
I enjoy horror and body horror, but this book just fails to hit the mark for me. The ideas are unique and bizarre but the lack of world building and pacing issues make this a difficult read. I also found there to be a lack of tension, stakes and enough of an atmosphere in the writing. All things I look for and need in my horror books.
This might be for you if you enjoy bizarre eldritch body horror and don't need much world building to immerse yourself into the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Drew Huff Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
June 10, 2025
Paul isn't actually Paul. He's a bug named Uxon who's inhabitantìng Paul Cattaneo's former "skin suit." Paul is a self-hating bug. He wants to be human and forget that he's a bug. However, he goes into "heat" and can not fight against his nature.
This novella had an amazing premise, but the actual execution and writing style were not super engaging to me. I liked being inside Paul's head, but I have to admit that things were a bit confusing. I feel like maybe just a bit more time really developing the world building of the bugs may have helped things a bit. Seeing things from Axa's POV did help , but since Paul is going through such an extensital crisis, it was hard to know what was going on in his. The bloody parts of this book were really well done and probably the best part. It also was pretty fast-paced, which was nice. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This novella had an amazing premise, but the actual execution and writing style were not super engaging to me. I liked being inside Paul's head, but I have to admit that things were a bit confusing. I feel like maybe just a bit more time really developing the world building of the bugs may have helped things a bit. Seeing things from Axa's POV did help , but since Paul is going through such an extensital crisis, it was hard to know what was going on in his. The bloody parts of this book were really well done and probably the best part. It also was pretty fast-paced, which was nice. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2025
this book is about paul, who isn’t paul, and everything that conveys being and being not. it’s weird horror to a t: original, bizarre, and funny, and i really enjoyed the first part of the novel and paul’s characterization. i especially like the use of stream of consciousness as a literary tool and writing style, as i feel it can really transmit what the character is thinking and how the character is feeling in a very unique manner. i enjoyed the plot and the utterly unique take on horror the author presented, but somewhere along the middle of the novella, things started becoming confusing as i felt there were a lot of things happening in what felt like such a short period of time. i think i would have liked to see this story played out in a longer format, where the lore and the world-building (especially around the mirror people and their interactions with the world), was further developed and more clearly presented.
overall, i enjoyed the plot and writing style, but couldn't quite follow the pacing towards the later part of the story. i still would recommend to those who enjoy weird, campy, funny horror reads, though; maybe it wasn't totally for me, but it could be for you.
— all opinions are my own, and i thank netgalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC for review.
overall, i enjoyed the plot and writing style, but couldn't quite follow the pacing towards the later part of the story. i still would recommend to those who enjoy weird, campy, funny horror reads, though; maybe it wasn't totally for me, but it could be for you.
— all opinions are my own, and i thank netgalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC for review.
November 17, 2025
My Name Isn't Paul is a playground for lit analysis. Huff manages some wildly creative worldbuilding without sacrificing coherence.
My lil neurons are having a fantastic time mulling it over. I spent my read suspended with the narrator in unsettling proximity to rightness but never quite settled. Sometimes I thought of puberty and the horror of violated bodily autonomy. Sometimes I traced threads of intergenerational conflict, colonialism, religious deconstruction, even ethical vegetarianism. Is this book trans? I think so! This book has a delightfully broad potential for interpretation that deserves to be lovingly dissected down to its filaments.
Thanks so much to Huff for the chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
My lil neurons are having a fantastic time mulling it over. I spent my read suspended with the narrator in unsettling proximity to rightness but never quite settled. Sometimes I thought of puberty and the horror of violated bodily autonomy. Sometimes I traced threads of intergenerational conflict, colonialism, religious deconstruction, even ethical vegetarianism. Is this book trans? I think so! This book has a delightfully broad potential for interpretation that deserves to be lovingly dissected down to its filaments.
Thanks so much to Huff for the chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
May 24, 2025
A mind-bending science fiction/horror novella for those who love a bit of chaos and a dash of existential dread.
Paul/not-Paul is on the verge of a mental breakdown as he battles his inner hatred of what he is (or, isn't?). After all, he's just a freakin' bug. Right?
When his fellow eldritch abominations contact him in an attempt to reconnect and prepare him for the looming realities of their true nature, he beings to spiral.
This was such a unique and interesting concept, and seeing Paul/not-Paul slowly descend into madness was quite the ride. I easily read this in one sitting and couldn't put it down.
Paul/not-Paul is on the verge of a mental breakdown as he battles his inner hatred of what he is (or, isn't?). After all, he's just a freakin' bug. Right?
When his fellow eldritch abominations contact him in an attempt to reconnect and prepare him for the looming realities of their true nature, he beings to spiral.
This was such a unique and interesting concept, and seeing Paul/not-Paul slowly descend into madness was quite the ride. I easily read this in one sitting and couldn't put it down.
June 6, 2025
What a wild ride. This book was weird, and I was here for it. I really enjoyed part one getting to know Paul and his existential dread. He's trying to be more human and hates being a bug. Things really took a turn when he falls into heat and starts becoming the thing he's been dreading.
I got a little lost in the middle, I was very distracted by the visuals of the bugs inside/outside their meat suits and what they look like. But enjoyed the end and the wrap up. Perfect length and would recommend to anyone looking for a wild, weird, out there story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
I got a little lost in the middle, I was very distracted by the visuals of the bugs inside/outside their meat suits and what they look like. But enjoyed the end and the wrap up. Perfect length and would recommend to anyone looking for a wild, weird, out there story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
November 26, 2025
Definitely an… interesting story! I liked the whole “alien with an existential crisis” idea, and the body horror was so gross! While there’s a lot going on in this story, I do like that the main character delves into what exactly makes us human, what gives us personhood, morality, etc. It was a totally different perspective seeing from the outside in (or from the inside out to be specific for Paul). Some parts were definitely ridiculous, but overall it’s a one of a kind scifi horror tale for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy!
June 13, 2025
I LOVED this story!
What is this about? Fantastic question, you have to read it to find out though 😂
Highly highly recommend, I will be reading this author's other books 👀
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
What is this about? Fantastic question, you have to read it to find out though 😂
Highly highly recommend, I will be reading this author's other books 👀
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
July 14, 2025
This was wild, but I’d expect nothing less from Drew Huff.
July 31, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Drew Huff for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My Name Isn't Paul is a cosmic horror novella that tells the story of an alien-type being who has posed as a human for seven years. This being poses as 'Paul Cattaneo', a vacuum salesman whose body he found in the woods and decided to mimic. Insistent on denying his nature, 'Paul' fights his compulsion to mimic, absorb and control, and remains far from others of his kind. Unfortunately for him, his kind go into 'heat' every 7-10 years, and Paul's time has come. It becomes increasingly harder to fight his true nature and he must accept who and what he is.
This book is available as 'read now' on Netgalley, so anyone with an account can read it. I initially downloaded this eARC as its premise intrigued me. It was advertised as "an an emotionally raw story about an eldritch being struggling to retain his humanity in the face of impossible odds, while grieving the loss of his only friend, and also dealing with the existential crisis of becoming a parent." However, I did not feel that this is the story I read.
I do not wish to be too negative, so I will keep it succinct - this book was not for me. Firstly, I found the writing style very difficult to get on with, it felt clunky throughout which disrupted the flow of the story. The way characters interacted with each other felt very short and snappy and often didn't make full sense to me. This may be because they are alien-like beings so would communicate differently to humans, but it took me out of the story unfortunately, and I lost interest very quickly. We were often thrown into the next scene with little to no context so I felt very confused at many points during my read.
There was too much of a shift from 'Paul' wanting to retain his humanity, to an obsession with 'fucking' - which I just found crude. I didn't feel that we had enough time to witness his real nature takeover, it was just a sudden shift. His POV also did not make me sympathise with his character or his friends.
Overall, I was very intrigued by the concept but disappointed by the execution. Although listed as a horror novel, it was still advertised as a story of a non-human being trying to retain humanity but I don't think this was accurate. I enjoy horror novels but I expected more from this. I think it may be wise to update the description of this novel for potential readers to more accurately reflect the content.
My Name Isn't Paul is a cosmic horror novella that tells the story of an alien-type being who has posed as a human for seven years. This being poses as 'Paul Cattaneo', a vacuum salesman whose body he found in the woods and decided to mimic. Insistent on denying his nature, 'Paul' fights his compulsion to mimic, absorb and control, and remains far from others of his kind. Unfortunately for him, his kind go into 'heat' every 7-10 years, and Paul's time has come. It becomes increasingly harder to fight his true nature and he must accept who and what he is.
This book is available as 'read now' on Netgalley, so anyone with an account can read it. I initially downloaded this eARC as its premise intrigued me. It was advertised as "an an emotionally raw story about an eldritch being struggling to retain his humanity in the face of impossible odds, while grieving the loss of his only friend, and also dealing with the existential crisis of becoming a parent." However, I did not feel that this is the story I read.
I do not wish to be too negative, so I will keep it succinct - this book was not for me. Firstly, I found the writing style very difficult to get on with, it felt clunky throughout which disrupted the flow of the story. The way characters interacted with each other felt very short and snappy and often didn't make full sense to me. This may be because they are alien-like beings so would communicate differently to humans, but it took me out of the story unfortunately, and I lost interest very quickly. We were often thrown into the next scene with little to no context so I felt very confused at many points during my read.
There was too much of a shift from 'Paul' wanting to retain his humanity, to an obsession with 'fucking' - which I just found crude. I didn't feel that we had enough time to witness his real nature takeover, it was just a sudden shift. His POV also did not make me sympathise with his character or his friends.
Overall, I was very intrigued by the concept but disappointed by the execution. Although listed as a horror novel, it was still advertised as a story of a non-human being trying to retain humanity but I don't think this was accurate. I enjoy horror novels but I expected more from this. I think it may be wise to update the description of this novel for potential readers to more accurately reflect the content.
June 17, 2025
This book is like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away. What the fuck??? A gruesome fever dream. I hate bugs and raw meat, so why did i like this???
June 13, 2025
An exquisitely weird sci-fi novella.
The story starts off pretty straightforward: Paul is not Paul, he's a bug-like being that stole Paul's body and life in the attempt to live as a human. But he's not human. He's trying to suppress his instincts, his nature, his true self. He's scared of those things. "Is it worth it? Is it moral?", he asks. The story spirals into chaos when not-Paul goes out of control, suppression turned mating-killing frenzy, and his true self finally breaks free. He embraces his nature. It's a story about love, really.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and this represents my honest opinion.
The story starts off pretty straightforward: Paul is not Paul, he's a bug-like being that stole Paul's body and life in the attempt to live as a human. But he's not human. He's trying to suppress his instincts, his nature, his true self. He's scared of those things. "Is it worth it? Is it moral?", he asks. The story spirals into chaos when not-Paul goes out of control, suppression turned mating-killing frenzy, and his true self finally breaks free. He embraces his nature. It's a story about love, really.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and this represents my honest opinion.
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