Night of the Living Pizza

by Dustin Hendrix

Sidney Conners is totally obsessed with pizza. When his parents leave him home alone with his little sister Emily, they sweeten the deal—forty bucks for pizza and a sleepover with his best friend Marcus. It doesn’t get any better than this! Then the pizza arrives. It’s from Kreap’s Pizza, a new shop in town that seems to have appeared overnight. The pizza arrives piping hot, full of gooey cheese and crispy pepperonis. Sidney, Marcus, and Emily dig in and settle in for a night of fun and games. That’s until the pizza starts to bite back…

174 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2025

Reviews

[Shadyside Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite literally feel like I just finished book 63 in the original Goosebumps series. The writing felt so much like R.L. Stine, I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference if the authors name on the front wasn’t Dustin haha! Anyways, this was a unique fun story that really got my imagination going! I’m a sucker for a good creature feature, and boy did the pizza monster itch that scratch! I could see this book being enjoyed by a kid, a teen, an adult, or even a teacher reading it to a class of students. Looking forward to the next entry in the CREEPTALES Series!

[Jennifer Sahms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give this a 4.7 for a first book by Dustin Hendrix. This story perfectly captures that feeling I had when I first read Goosebumps. It’s an ideal choice to introduce kids to reading. The pacing is on point, the story is engaging, and it reads smoothly. It offers just the right amount of eeriness that would make any young reader excited. Plus, I love the nostalgic nod to Killer Klowns From Outer Space, it's such a fun touch! It’s a deliciously spooky read.
Grab a gooey cheesy pizza (or toppings of your choice) and cozy up with this one. It’s perfect for young readers and those who grew up with Goosebumps.

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an eater of ‘za, my clogged arteries naturally gravitated to this book. Okay, but if we’re discussing non-predilection related reasons for reading this, this just seemed like it was gonna be a fun one (oh, and Egg Monsters from Mars homage cover—count me in). Dustin Hendrix did a fine job with this Goosebumps throwback, and I can safely say I’m anticipating the next entry—albeit this one’s many flaws. The book is fun, like REALLY fun; I ate this thing up within two days of receiving it in the mail. The writing is surprisingly not terrible for it being amateur, and is very much in essence of Bob’s from Goosebumps, which was obviously the intention—and it worked for me. The book has some interesting ideas and twists that I enjoyed, a wild concept (I mean, killer pizza? Da faque?), and was super well-paced. Though I kinda loved the book for its simple fun, it wasn’t without some flaws. The writing—whilst good—is not wholly edited. There’s some typos and most notably a lot of weirdly worded sentences/incorrect grammar. I can forgive that a lot, though, since this book was made on likely no budget at all, and this is an extremely indie author. There’s a lot of loose ends in here as well, and we didn’t really get an explanation for anything, which is what I was waiting for—and never got. It’s a bit, no, QUITE a bit disappointing and unsatisfactory when we’re anticipating some answers but are literally only left with questions. The ending doesn’t make much sense either (how did ___ get un-you-know-whated? What about the other characters? Payoff to the pizza shit, where are you?). And all in all, I just wasn’t big on us not getting fed that full tidbit on what was happening, why, how, and what it all meant. Not to mention the eating mechanic… that was just extremely random. Even still, I enjoyed this one a lot, and I think I’m gonna view this series very differently from other GB throwbacks and stuff alike. Overall, 8/10. It’s flawed but very entertaining, and I gotta appreciate the author’s clear care for middle-grade horror boom of the 90s. I WILL be reading book two… whenever it drops.

[Justin Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is ready to break out as the next big series in the Kids Horror and Thriller genre.

Had those Goosebumps and teen vibes written all over it. The subtle humor during tension, the build up toward the next chapters that makes you want to keep going, and the shrouded mystery and reveal toward the end.

The characters were also well written, with a strong lead among the group of kids.

And the descriptors of what is happening paints a very vivid visual picture throughout. This one will keep you captivated and asking yourself “what’s next” until the very end.

If you enjoyed Goosebumps or any series like it give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed.

[John Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part Goosebumps, part 80s creature feature, Night of the Living Pizza captures a signature brand of weirdness I always love from R.L. Stine's titles; turning the mundane into something horrific. I mean, come on, how can you not love a story about a pizza monster? This book reminds me of sleepovers with friends, scaring each other silly. Dustin's able to capture that humor/horror blend quite well, with some jokes making me laugh out loud while reading. But the best part might be a nod only Goosebumps fans will appreciate, with Marcus falling on his elbows and knees.

[Kat Dicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the "Night of the Living Pizza" is like calling ahead to your favorite neighborhood pizzeria and asking them for MYSTERY toppings...!! Exciting goodness that doesn't disappoint yet will surprise you! I truly did not guess the direction this book would take lol (and that's part of what made it so fun!)

Basically, this is a fresh n cheesy take on retro horror for kids/teens/adults. If you love Goosebumps, read this!!

I am hungry for more Creeptales books after devouring this one! 🍕😋📖

[Evan Baughfman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild and fun concept for a story: pizza that eats YOU!

A spooky treat for horror fans, both young and Millennial! Definitely “Goosebumps-y”—especially reminiscent of “Monster Blood” and “The Blob That Ate Everyone.”

The final chapters offer welcome surprises that are much more delightful than pineapple lurking underneath my pepperoni.

Greasy, gobbling goodness!

[Pepper Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8-year-old reluctant reader absolutely ADORES this book. It's been such a joy to read with her. A fab Goosebumps-style read with plenty of jump scares, fake outs and chilling chapter cliffhangers! We can't wait to gobble up the rest of this series.

[A.D. Aro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun nod to the early 90's Goosebumps era. It has all the classic Stine hallmarks including cliffhanger chapters, scare fake outs, and a twist ending surprise! 90's throwback horror and pizza? What's not to love? Great for younger readers and nostalgic adults that grew up on this stuff!

[Jordan Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love letter throwback to the classic kids horror book series of the 90’s like Goosebumps and American Chillers. Scary and humorous, characters and their development written really well, lot of unexpected turns had me constantly guessing what would happen next.