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Take It to Your Grave
"A pulse-pounding paranormal thriller that will have you tearing through the pages with excitement" ―Andrew Joseph White, NYTimes bestselling and award-winning author of Compound Fracture
Maximiliano Rafael Guerrero Lopez “Max” has been dead for 30 years. He’s stuck as a sixteen-year-old in his childhood bedroom with no memory of how he died, and no company aside from rotting floor boards and mildew-ridden guitars.
Joaquín Felix Ladrón “Joaquín” is a high schooler who's desperate to experience something paranormal―he’d do anything to even catch a glimpse of a ghost, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his boyfriend.
When Joaquín goes on a ghost hunt at an abandoned house that's rumored to be haunted, he and Max find their fates becoming intertwined in ways neither of them expected. But, as Max’s powers begin to grow stronger, it becomes clear that their tentative friendship may just prove to be fatal...
Maximiliano Rafael Guerrero Lopez “Max” has been dead for 30 years. He’s stuck as a sixteen-year-old in his childhood bedroom with no memory of how he died, and no company aside from rotting floor boards and mildew-ridden guitars.
Joaquín Felix Ladrón “Joaquín” is a high schooler who's desperate to experience something paranormal―he’d do anything to even catch a glimpse of a ghost, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his boyfriend.
When Joaquín goes on a ghost hunt at an abandoned house that's rumored to be haunted, he and Max find their fates becoming intertwined in ways neither of them expected. But, as Max’s powers begin to grow stronger, it becomes clear that their tentative friendship may just prove to be fatal...
304 pages, Hardcover
Published July 21, 2026
About the author
Louangie Bou-Montes
4 books56 followersLouangie Bou-Montes was born in Northampton, Massachusetts and grew up flitting back and forth between rural Western Mass and el campo in Guayama, PR, surrounded by countless cousins in both locations. Thanks to those cousins, she was raised on a healthy diet of everything from The Addams Family to Silent Hill to Pet Sematary, resulting in a love of telling stories about Puerto Rican kids with morbid hobbies and senses of humor.
After graduating with a BA in English from UMass Amherst, she spent nearly a decade working as a high school educator, mostly focused in Special Education, Trauma-Informed teaching, and ELL. Currently, she works as an Anti-Oppression Consultant.
On any given day, you can find Louangie at home playing video games or watching cooking shows and horror movies with her spouse.
After graduating with a BA in English from UMass Amherst, she spent nearly a decade working as a high school educator, mostly focused in Special Education, Trauma-Informed teaching, and ELL. Currently, she works as an Anti-Oppression Consultant.
On any given day, you can find Louangie at home playing video games or watching cooking shows and horror movies with her spouse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 2, 2026
I loved Louangie Bou-Montes’ debut Till the Last Beat of My Heart, and I’m happy to say that Take Me to Your Grave is just as good.
The story follows Joaquín, a teen who always wants to help everyone but rarely thinks things through, which gets him into trouble more often than not. He also doesn’t take the truth too seriously. The second POV is Max’s, a ghost who desperately wants to know why he died. Max is selfish and uses Joaquín to gain more power. But despite all this, you can’t help but fall for both of them.
In many stories, Joaquín and Max would head in a predictable direction, but Louangie Bou-Montes has a different plan. The connection between the two boys deepens with increasingly alarming consequences. Meanwhile, there’s Marte, Joaquín’s thoughtful, caring, deaf ex-boyfriend, and my personal favorite. A cinnamon roll, but with a very clear opinion. The cast overall is very lovable, and I especially loved Santi, Joaquín’s younger brother.
Take Me to Your Grave is not a romance, but it’s a queer story, with lots of family and friendship dynamics. Joaquin, in particular, shows a lot of character growth. It’s also not that dark and stays funny and pretty light despite talking about death so often. And it’s soo fast-paced…
After loving two of Louangie Bou-Montes’ books, I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next!
Thank you, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this great ARC!
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The story follows Joaquín, a teen who always wants to help everyone but rarely thinks things through, which gets him into trouble more often than not. He also doesn’t take the truth too seriously. The second POV is Max’s, a ghost who desperately wants to know why he died. Max is selfish and uses Joaquín to gain more power. But despite all this, you can’t help but fall for both of them.
In many stories, Joaquín and Max would head in a predictable direction, but Louangie Bou-Montes has a different plan. The connection between the two boys deepens with increasingly alarming consequences. Meanwhile, there’s Marte, Joaquín’s thoughtful, caring, deaf ex-boyfriend, and my personal favorite. A cinnamon roll, but with a very clear opinion. The cast overall is very lovable, and I especially loved Santi, Joaquín’s younger brother.
Take Me to Your Grave is not a romance, but it’s a queer story, with lots of family and friendship dynamics. Joaquin, in particular, shows a lot of character growth. It’s also not that dark and stays funny and pretty light despite talking about death so often. And it’s soo fast-paced…
After loving two of Louangie Bou-Montes’ books, I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next!
Thank you, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this great ARC!
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March 14, 2026
OKAY
So this book was good. I really don’t have many complaints, but I also didn’t really… care.
Like it was fine, you know?
I think that part of it was that the book was written in such a YA, almost juvenile style, that EVERYTIME I felt anything spooky happen, it was hard to actually take it seriously or get lost in.
This might just be a personal preference, but I LOVE a story where the writing and style matches every bit of the plot and the book, and I felt like this really lacked that.
That being said, there were tons of good moments and I can understand why people love this book, but it just wasn’t my personal cup of tea!!
So this book was good. I really don’t have many complaints, but I also didn’t really… care.
Like it was fine, you know?
I think that part of it was that the book was written in such a YA, almost juvenile style, that EVERYTIME I felt anything spooky happen, it was hard to actually take it seriously or get lost in.
This might just be a personal preference, but I LOVE a story where the writing and style matches every bit of the plot and the book, and I felt like this really lacked that.
That being said, there were tons of good moments and I can understand why people love this book, but it just wasn’t my personal cup of tea!!
November 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this ARC!!! What a fantastic Halloween read– great atmosphere and hard to put down. I finished it in a day.
I adored the premise! Brief rundown: a crew of Puerto Rican kids, Joaquín and his friends, are amateur ghost hunters in modern-day Massachussetts. Max has been dead for three decades and can't remember why. Despite the warnings from his spirit-sensitive ex, Marte, Joaquín finds his connection with his new ghostly hanger-on deepening past the point of reason... and past the point of danger, dun-dun-dun.
My sole qualm with the story pertains to that very connection, actually. I will NOT slip into spoiler mode for an unpublished novel, I promise... but curse my treacherous heart! I was gunning for things to play out just a little differently than they did. I think I was locking in too hard on some romantic tropes played between the two of them (and there were WONDERFUL romantic tropes. I'm such a sucker for everything the lead-up did and it's killing me that I can't gush about the specifics. All I will say: the bracelet. the bracelet, man.) and the plot role of a third key character (who, despite being a wonderful character and a truly kind person, structurally played more of a support/antagonistic role than a romantic role), and it kind of blinded me to how the ending I was hoping for would be at odds with the themes of the book– family, open communication, moving on and healing, etc. I get it. But the heart wants what it wants... and what it is led to predict based on genre knowledge, ahaha! (I wonder if marketing this book solely as "Queer" and not as a "Romance" would be a good call for this one, just to avoid other readers building the same expectations I did.)
(Bonus thoughts for the goodreads crowd: will have spoilers, will be an insane take.
But it was a great book. The characters felt solid and real– the story really shines with its sibling relationships and the ways kind, loving family can hurt each other. Descriptions were super evocative, but not too heavy, if that makes sense? And the color of the description changed depending on which character was narrating, which I really appreciated– you could tell that a lot of care was put into making them distinct without falling into the pitfalls that clunkier attempts at first person narration sometimes do.
The stakes, specifically, got really real in the latter third of the book. The danger sneaks up on you, and I think it's done well. I was so caught up in the fantasy of having an imaginary boyfriend that I didn't even realize [CASUAL DESCRIPTION OF SPOILERS WITHHELD]. If anything, I might even claim that the book should focus on *that* danger as the sole, primary threat– there's an additional warning given about the dangers of communing too much with ghosts that lead me to expect a different kind of climax, something more Ghostbusters, and that didn't really pan out, so all of that could have been trimmed down without the plot suffering much. But, like, the danger that was there? Effective! Without slipping out of YA-appropriate content, no less! Let it be known that I was quite squicked at one part and rather teary at others! Two thumbs up!
In conclusion: a very tender, fun, cathartic read that's perfect for the season. There will perhaps be a fanfiction in the works after this one publishes. I am imagining more kissing. Thank you.
I adored the premise! Brief rundown: a crew of Puerto Rican kids, Joaquín and his friends, are amateur ghost hunters in modern-day Massachussetts. Max has been dead for three decades and can't remember why. Despite the warnings from his spirit-sensitive ex, Marte, Joaquín finds his connection with his new ghostly hanger-on deepening past the point of reason... and past the point of danger, dun-dun-dun.
My sole qualm with the story pertains to that very connection, actually. I will NOT slip into spoiler mode for an unpublished novel, I promise... but curse my treacherous heart! I was gunning for things to play out just a little differently than they did. I think I was locking in too hard on some romantic tropes played between the two of them (and there were WONDERFUL romantic tropes. I'm such a sucker for everything the lead-up did and it's killing me that I can't gush about the specifics. All I will say: the bracelet. the bracelet, man.) and the plot role of a third key character (who, despite being a wonderful character and a truly kind person, structurally played more of a support/antagonistic role than a romantic role), and it kind of blinded me to how the ending I was hoping for would be at odds with the themes of the book– family, open communication, moving on and healing, etc. I get it. But the heart wants what it wants... and what it is led to predict based on genre knowledge, ahaha! (I wonder if marketing this book solely as "Queer" and not as a "Romance" would be a good call for this one, just to avoid other readers building the same expectations I did.)
(Bonus thoughts for the goodreads crowd: will have spoilers, will be an insane take.
But it was a great book. The characters felt solid and real– the story really shines with its sibling relationships and the ways kind, loving family can hurt each other. Descriptions were super evocative, but not too heavy, if that makes sense? And the color of the description changed depending on which character was narrating, which I really appreciated– you could tell that a lot of care was put into making them distinct without falling into the pitfalls that clunkier attempts at first person narration sometimes do.
The stakes, specifically, got really real in the latter third of the book. The danger sneaks up on you, and I think it's done well. I was so caught up in the fantasy of having an imaginary boyfriend that I didn't even realize [CASUAL DESCRIPTION OF SPOILERS WITHHELD]. If anything, I might even claim that the book should focus on *that* danger as the sole, primary threat– there's an additional warning given about the dangers of communing too much with ghosts that lead me to expect a different kind of climax, something more Ghostbusters, and that didn't really pan out, so all of that could have been trimmed down without the plot suffering much. But, like, the danger that was there? Effective! Without slipping out of YA-appropriate content, no less! Let it be known that I was quite squicked at one part and rather teary at others! Two thumbs up!
In conclusion: a very tender, fun, cathartic read that's perfect for the season. There will perhaps be a fanfiction in the works after this one publishes. I am imagining more kissing. Thank you.
October 8, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC.
The story moved pretty quickly (in a good way) reminding me of 80-90s movie where a whole bunch of things happen/escalate over the course of just a few days or about a week - everything was extremely descriptive and was easily able to picture this town in my mind.
I think this is a really solid teen/young adult book. Touching on a variety of topics, but the guilt, loss, and eventually moving forward are the big takeaways. Every character seems to have their own things they are guilty about. I especially liked the stubbornness of Joaquín and his ability to be so empathetic even if it hurts him. He shows really great character growth by the end of book.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, it was easy to read, and was light hearted even with heavy topics. Its not something I would have just picked normally but now that I've read from this author will definitely be reading more!
The story moved pretty quickly (in a good way) reminding me of 80-90s movie where a whole bunch of things happen/escalate over the course of just a few days or about a week - everything was extremely descriptive and was easily able to picture this town in my mind.
I think this is a really solid teen/young adult book. Touching on a variety of topics, but the guilt, loss, and eventually moving forward are the big takeaways. Every character seems to have their own things they are guilty about. I especially liked the stubbornness of Joaquín and his ability to be so empathetic even if it hurts him. He shows really great character growth by the end of book.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, it was easy to read, and was light hearted even with heavy topics. Its not something I would have just picked normally but now that I've read from this author will definitely be reading more!
October 3, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This ended up being a bit of a mismatch for my personal reading taste and took me a long time to finish. The premise is great, but the story is a much slower build than I anticipated.
It leans heavily into its YA tone, which shifted the vibe away from what I was expecting. Because of that, the dangerous moments never quite reached that edge-of-my-seat level of tension for me. Yhe danger just felt a little too safe.
The emotional core of the book is definitely solid. It just ended up being more of a quiet, character-focused ghost story than the suspenseful read I was hoping for.
This ended up being a bit of a mismatch for my personal reading taste and took me a long time to finish. The premise is great, but the story is a much slower build than I anticipated.
It leans heavily into its YA tone, which shifted the vibe away from what I was expecting. Because of that, the dangerous moments never quite reached that edge-of-my-seat level of tension for me. Yhe danger just felt a little too safe.
The emotional core of the book is definitely solid. It just ended up being more of a quiet, character-focused ghost story than the suspenseful read I was hoping for.
July 23, 2026
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for the digital ARC of Take It to Your Grave by Louangie Bou-Montes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Take It to Your Grave by Louangie Bou-Montes is a character-driven YA horror that uses its ghost story premise to dig into something I wasn't expecting: the complicated, sometimes dangerous weight of human connection.
The setup pulls you in fast. Joaquín is a high schooler who wants nothing more than a genuine paranormal experience, enough so that he'll risk his relationship to get it. Max has been dead for thirty years, trapped at sixteen in his childhood bedroom with no memory of how he died and no company except rotting floorboards and mildew-ridden guitars. When Joaquín's ghost hunt leads him to that abandoned house, their two worlds start colliding in ways neither of them can fully control.
I went in expecting more of a murder mystery, and I want to be upfront about that because it shaped how I read the first half. I kept waiting for the investigation to kick in. What the book actually is, once you stop looking for what it isn't, is a story about two people getting tangled up in each other's existence. Joaquín's hunger for something paranormal and Max's growing powers and confusion are both, at their core, about being seen. The book earns its tension by letting that get genuinely complicated. One of the standout elements for me was how clearly both characters want things that put them on a collision course, and the dual POV makes sure you're never just sitting on one side of it.
The representation was a real highlight. The cast is diverse, and the book includes a Deaf character whose identity feels woven into the story rather than dropped in. I appreciated it.
One of my favorite details is something quieter: the 90s nostalgia that comes through in Max's perspective. He died thirty years ago, so you get these small moments where the gap between his world and Joaquín's actually means something. Walkmans, the way people related to music before everything lived in your pocket. It does real work in making Max feel like someone with a before, not just a haunting.
That said, I want to flag the pacing for readers who are sensitive to certain content. Things escalate sharply once they start moving. I found myself genuinely unsettled before I registered the shift had happened. For me it worked, but the book moves from eerie and tense to something heavier faster than I expected, and if you're sensitive to dynamics around loss of control or increasingly dangerous supernatural situations, go in knowing that.
Overall, Take It to Your Grave is a stronger character study than a mystery, and if you go in knowing that, I think you'll enjoy it more for what it is. I read it in under a day and stayed curious the whole way through, earning it a 4-star rating from me. Recommended if you love atmospheric YA horror that cares more about who its characters are than about solving a puzzle.
July 24, 2026
“The pull of his hand on mine is more like a compulsion—or a really strong suggestion my brain can’t say no to.”
Joaquin Ladrón has always been fascinated by the occult. From collecting haunted souvenirs to visiting chilling locations with his friends, chasing paranormal experiences has always been at the top of his list. But one night, when Joaquin and his friends visit a famous haunted house tied to his friend’s mother and the city’s past, he gets far more than he bargained for. There, he meets Maximilliano (Max) Guerrero Lopez, the poltergeist haunting the house. As Joaquin and his friends make a rushed escape and head home, Joaquin doesn’t realize he isn’t leaving alone—Max has clung to him. Now, Joaquin and Max have to figure out what Max needs to finally rest in peace. But the deeper they dig into Max’s past, the more they realize his death wasn’t as straightforward as everyone believed. At the same time, Joaquin is learning that his obsession with the paranormal has consequences, and getting involved with the occult is a far more dangerous game than he could’ve ever imagined.
As a major fan of the “Summerween” season, this book scratched that itch in the best way! One of the things I loved most about this book was the representation. The Latin, queer, and deaf representation made me feel so immersed in the story, and I loved how these different aspects of identity were included naturally without ever feeling like they were just added in for the sake of representation. One of my favorite details that I feel not everyone might notice was the hair expression. Just from the detailed explanation of Joaquin parting and cornrowing his little brother Santi’s hair, I adored how much care was put into these small details. When it comes to the characters, Max was easily my favorite. Since he’d passed away in the ‘90s, seeing him confused by all the technology that had been invented while he was gone was honestly one of the funniest, but also saddest, parts of the book. What I loved even more was Joaquin’s loyalty to him. No matter how many things exploded or broke whenever Max was around, Joaquin made it clear that he would do everything he could to help him finally rest in peace, even if that meant asking his ex, Marte, for help. Take It to Your Grave had everything I wanted in a haunted read. From the paranormal elements to the genuine relationships, it struck an amazing balance between creepy and emotional. I’ll definitely be revisiting this book when the Halloween season rolls around!
Take It to Your Grave releases on July 21st, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Godwin Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Joaquin Ladrón has always been fascinated by the occult. From collecting haunted souvenirs to visiting chilling locations with his friends, chasing paranormal experiences has always been at the top of his list. But one night, when Joaquin and his friends visit a famous haunted house tied to his friend’s mother and the city’s past, he gets far more than he bargained for. There, he meets Maximilliano (Max) Guerrero Lopez, the poltergeist haunting the house. As Joaquin and his friends make a rushed escape and head home, Joaquin doesn’t realize he isn’t leaving alone—Max has clung to him. Now, Joaquin and Max have to figure out what Max needs to finally rest in peace. But the deeper they dig into Max’s past, the more they realize his death wasn’t as straightforward as everyone believed. At the same time, Joaquin is learning that his obsession with the paranormal has consequences, and getting involved with the occult is a far more dangerous game than he could’ve ever imagined.
As a major fan of the “Summerween” season, this book scratched that itch in the best way! One of the things I loved most about this book was the representation. The Latin, queer, and deaf representation made me feel so immersed in the story, and I loved how these different aspects of identity were included naturally without ever feeling like they were just added in for the sake of representation. One of my favorite details that I feel not everyone might notice was the hair expression. Just from the detailed explanation of Joaquin parting and cornrowing his little brother Santi’s hair, I adored how much care was put into these small details. When it comes to the characters, Max was easily my favorite. Since he’d passed away in the ‘90s, seeing him confused by all the technology that had been invented while he was gone was honestly one of the funniest, but also saddest, parts of the book. What I loved even more was Joaquin’s loyalty to him. No matter how many things exploded or broke whenever Max was around, Joaquin made it clear that he would do everything he could to help him finally rest in peace, even if that meant asking his ex, Marte, for help. Take It to Your Grave had everything I wanted in a haunted read. From the paranormal elements to the genuine relationships, it struck an amazing balance between creepy and emotional. I’ll definitely be revisiting this book when the Halloween season rolls around!
Take It to Your Grave releases on July 21st, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Godwin Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
July 21, 2026
The premise for Take it to Your Grave had me intrigued - we have a ghost who’s haunting the home he died in thirty years ago and a teenager who’s obsessed with the idea of the supernatural, so much so that it’s detrimental to his personal life. The story is told from both Max and Joaquin’s points of view and really well done especially when the focus is on Max who goes from reliving the final moments of his life on a loop to seeing glimpses of how many aspects of day to day life have evolved in the last three decades. These little reminders that the nineties are a long time ago and things, especially technology that appear almost alien-like to Max hit me hard because I’m not much older than the ghostly teen would have been!
Louangie Bou-Montes brings small town America to life with the close-knit communities where people have lived and worked there for generations and friend groups are almost passed down from one generation to another. Because of that, what was a tragedy to the parents of some of Joaquin’s friends; has become a scary ghost story to their children with an abandoned or unsettling location to stay away from. I don’t like that Joaquin and his friends take things from these abandoned places, but it’s a perfect plotpoint for how crazy things are going to get - because Joaquin brings home far more than he should.
The ghostly aspects are really well thought out and I liked how much it comes to life with vivid imagery of the ghostly projections as well as the way things happen when Max becomes corporeal or unable to control reactions. My heart truly hurt for him, he’s been trapped enduring so much because he’s been unable to ‘cross over’ and I truly appreciated the care the author took with Max’s character - he’s so painfully human and deserves a hug you cannot give.
The story itself is very fast-paced but the flow is far from overwhelming and once I started Take it to Your Grave, I couldn’t put it down. I went through a plethora of emotions reading it, and had a cry at the end.. I’m so glad I put aside my wariness to read a ghost story; it’s far from scary but I’ve been emotional still since losing my Dad last year and had a moment of ‘Is this a good idea?’ but that getting past that momentary pause led to me reading a brilliantly done story instead.
Louangie Bou-Montes brings small town America to life with the close-knit communities where people have lived and worked there for generations and friend groups are almost passed down from one generation to another. Because of that, what was a tragedy to the parents of some of Joaquin’s friends; has become a scary ghost story to their children with an abandoned or unsettling location to stay away from. I don’t like that Joaquin and his friends take things from these abandoned places, but it’s a perfect plotpoint for how crazy things are going to get - because Joaquin brings home far more than he should.
The ghostly aspects are really well thought out and I liked how much it comes to life with vivid imagery of the ghostly projections as well as the way things happen when Max becomes corporeal or unable to control reactions. My heart truly hurt for him, he’s been trapped enduring so much because he’s been unable to ‘cross over’ and I truly appreciated the care the author took with Max’s character - he’s so painfully human and deserves a hug you cannot give.
The story itself is very fast-paced but the flow is far from overwhelming and once I started Take it to Your Grave, I couldn’t put it down. I went through a plethora of emotions reading it, and had a cry at the end.. I’m so glad I put aside my wariness to read a ghost story; it’s far from scary but I’ve been emotional still since losing my Dad last year and had a moment of ‘Is this a good idea?’ but that getting past that momentary pause led to me reading a brilliantly done story instead.
October 20, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC.
5 stars
Date read: 10/9/25 - 10/19/25
“Take It to Your Grave” is a fast paced young adult book that focuses on themes of friendship and family through a ghost haunting. The novel follows two characters, Max and Joaquín, whose fates get connected by a spur of the moment ghost haunt. Joaquín struggles to balance his friendships alongside his urge to help Max uncover what happened to him almost 30 years ago. As the novel progresses, us readers get to step inside both characters' perspectives through the dual POVs. Both characters were unique and I enjoyed seeing their character development; especially, Joaquín, regarding his relationship between his family and friends.
I believe that Joaquín was the best character to be focused around. He handled topics of grief, loss, and love with compassion for all parties involved. The way he was always there for those around him made him a great character. I found that as I read, he began to have different ways of holding himself through his experiences which lead to an impactful ending.
The author did a wonderful job incorporating 90’s nostalgia and the newer generation together. As someone who is part of Gen Z, I enjoyed moments where characters were confused about older terms and styles that came with Max. It was these moments that made this book connect to me so well and ultimately stand out compared to other novels I have been reading. I also loved how the author included spanish within Joaquín’s conversations with his family and friends, it brought his community into the story. I did have to translate some of the words online, but I enjoyed using some of the Spanish I knew to decipher the meaning. This novel made me want to get back into learning the language.
10/10 would recommend “Take It to Your Grave” to those who enjoy an action pact ghost haunting and a group of friends who have each other’s backs.
5 stars
Date read: 10/9/25 - 10/19/25
“Take It to Your Grave” is a fast paced young adult book that focuses on themes of friendship and family through a ghost haunting. The novel follows two characters, Max and Joaquín, whose fates get connected by a spur of the moment ghost haunt. Joaquín struggles to balance his friendships alongside his urge to help Max uncover what happened to him almost 30 years ago. As the novel progresses, us readers get to step inside both characters' perspectives through the dual POVs. Both characters were unique and I enjoyed seeing their character development; especially, Joaquín, regarding his relationship between his family and friends.
I believe that Joaquín was the best character to be focused around. He handled topics of grief, loss, and love with compassion for all parties involved. The way he was always there for those around him made him a great character. I found that as I read, he began to have different ways of holding himself through his experiences which lead to an impactful ending.
The author did a wonderful job incorporating 90’s nostalgia and the newer generation together. As someone who is part of Gen Z, I enjoyed moments where characters were confused about older terms and styles that came with Max. It was these moments that made this book connect to me so well and ultimately stand out compared to other novels I have been reading. I also loved how the author included spanish within Joaquín’s conversations with his family and friends, it brought his community into the story. I did have to translate some of the words online, but I enjoyed using some of the Spanish I knew to decipher the meaning. This novel made me want to get back into learning the language.
10/10 would recommend “Take It to Your Grave” to those who enjoy an action pact ghost haunting and a group of friends who have each other’s backs.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Take It to Your Grave is a dark, twisty, and addictive thriller that proves secrets never stay buried for long. Lorangie Bou Montes delivers a suspense-filled story packed with tension, deception, and enough surprises to keep readers guessing until the very end.
From the opening chapters, the novel creates an atmosphere of unease. Every character seems to be hiding something, and every revelation only raises more questions. The author skillfully layers the mystery, feeding readers clues while still managing to keep the truth just out of reach.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its character development. The characters are flawed, complex, and often morally gray, making them feel realistic and unpredictable. As the story unfolds, loyalties shift, motives are questioned, and readers are left wondering who can truly be trusted.
The pacing is excellent, balancing moments of emotional depth with shocking twists and suspenseful turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took another unexpected direction. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, culminating in a satisfying and memorable conclusion.
Beyond the mystery itself, the book explores themes of guilt, betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of long-buried secrets. It serves as a reminder that the past has a way of resurfacing, no matter how deeply we try to hide it.
Lorangie Bou Montes creates a compelling psychological thriller that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The writing is engaging, the mystery is well-crafted, and the emotional stakes keep readers invested from beginning to end.
Take It to Your Grave is a must-read for fans of suspense, psychological thrillers, and character-driven mysteries. If you enjoy stories filled with secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, this book deserves a place on your reading list.
From the opening chapters, the novel creates an atmosphere of unease. Every character seems to be hiding something, and every revelation only raises more questions. The author skillfully layers the mystery, feeding readers clues while still managing to keep the truth just out of reach.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its character development. The characters are flawed, complex, and often morally gray, making them feel realistic and unpredictable. As the story unfolds, loyalties shift, motives are questioned, and readers are left wondering who can truly be trusted.
The pacing is excellent, balancing moments of emotional depth with shocking twists and suspenseful turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took another unexpected direction. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, culminating in a satisfying and memorable conclusion.
Beyond the mystery itself, the book explores themes of guilt, betrayal, loyalty, and the consequences of long-buried secrets. It serves as a reminder that the past has a way of resurfacing, no matter how deeply we try to hide it.
Lorangie Bou Montes creates a compelling psychological thriller that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The writing is engaging, the mystery is well-crafted, and the emotional stakes keep readers invested from beginning to end.
Take It to Your Grave is a must-read for fans of suspense, psychological thrillers, and character-driven mysteries. If you enjoy stories filled with secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, this book deserves a place on your reading list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!
A fast-paced and thrilling read!
I went into this expecting a paranormal mystery story, about solving the mystery of Max's death, as well as the subsequent paranormal/ghostly goings-on, but it turned out to be a much more straightforward plot focusing on the characters' interpersonal relationships.
While the general story arc is focused on the character relationships, there's still a lot happening, and the tight pacing makes the book unputdownable. (Seriously, I finished it in a day.) The author does an excellent job of portraying and developing the dynamics of all the different relationships even with everything going on, and in such a (relatively) short book.
I found both protagonists to be sympathetic and relatable. It's easy to understand where they are coming from, even when they mess up. Max is trying to remember his family and learn what they know about his death, and Joaquin has to reconnect with his ex-boyfriend, while both of them are figuring out their relationships with their brothers.
I also love the relationship that develops between them. Even though they only just meet, Joaquin is immediately determined to help Max, and they quickly form a bond that is not necessarily romantic, but still profound and important.
While the paranormal elements were less of a plot point than I expected, what we do get of the worldbuilding was fun. There was some classic ghosts-causing-lights-to-flicker activity, as well as good old ghosts-are-actually-everywhere-and-we-look-right-past-them bits. No spoilers, but there were some really cool bits where Max uses his ghostly abilities to interact with tech that were lots of fun. I would have liked to spend more time learning about Ghost Lore, but for what we get, it's enough.
A fast-paced and thrilling read!
I went into this expecting a paranormal mystery story, about solving the mystery of Max's death, as well as the subsequent paranormal/ghostly goings-on, but it turned out to be a much more straightforward plot focusing on the characters' interpersonal relationships.
While the general story arc is focused on the character relationships, there's still a lot happening, and the tight pacing makes the book unputdownable. (Seriously, I finished it in a day.) The author does an excellent job of portraying and developing the dynamics of all the different relationships even with everything going on, and in such a (relatively) short book.
I found both protagonists to be sympathetic and relatable. It's easy to understand where they are coming from, even when they mess up. Max is trying to remember his family and learn what they know about his death, and Joaquin has to reconnect with his ex-boyfriend, while both of them are figuring out their relationships with their brothers.
I also love the relationship that develops between them. Even though they only just meet, Joaquin is immediately determined to help Max, and they quickly form a bond that is not necessarily romantic, but still profound and important.
While the paranormal elements were less of a plot point than I expected, what we do get of the worldbuilding was fun. There was some classic ghosts-causing-lights-to-flicker activity, as well as good old ghosts-are-actually-everywhere-and-we-look-right-past-them bits. No spoilers, but there were some really cool bits where Max uses his ghostly abilities to interact with tech that were lots of fun. I would have liked to spend more time learning about Ghost Lore, but for what we get, it's enough.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Fierce Reads for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.
Take It to Your Grave is an addictive YA paranormal story with a heart-pounding mystery, queer romance, and a strong emotional impact.
From the moment I started this book, I knew these characters were going to live in my heart for a long time. All of their feelings are so real. No matter how supernatural the story gets, it's easy to imagine yourself right next to these characters, experiencing every single thing they're going through with them. I also adored that they felt like realistic teenagers. Sometimes teens in YA books seem to act older or younger than they're meant to be, but everything about them felt perfect in this story.
While the plot is deeply intriguing and well written, the character development is the star of this story. Max and Joaquín have such clear motivations and fears. Even the side characters had such meaningful stories that made the book as wonderful as it is. Nothing felt underdeveloped or one-dimensional. With how incredibly the characters were crafted, the relationships in this book were breathtaking. Whether it was family, friends, or romance, every single relationship felt like something that could easily happen outside of a book. The emotions were raw and real in the most wonderful way. The path this story takes you down is remarkable.
Atmosphere is something that's always important to me in a story, and it was immaculate in this book. Everything about the way the ghosts were written was bewitching. I could picture each scene in my mind while I was reading. If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling completely immersed, I can't think of a better recommendation.
Louangie Bou-Montes has created a beautiful, impassioned story that will manage to both break and warm your heart. Take It to Your Grave is fast-paced and charming, and bittersweet when it needs to be. Anyone looking for a YA ghost story will find themselves in love with this book.
Take It to Your Grave is an addictive YA paranormal story with a heart-pounding mystery, queer romance, and a strong emotional impact.
From the moment I started this book, I knew these characters were going to live in my heart for a long time. All of their feelings are so real. No matter how supernatural the story gets, it's easy to imagine yourself right next to these characters, experiencing every single thing they're going through with them. I also adored that they felt like realistic teenagers. Sometimes teens in YA books seem to act older or younger than they're meant to be, but everything about them felt perfect in this story.
While the plot is deeply intriguing and well written, the character development is the star of this story. Max and Joaquín have such clear motivations and fears. Even the side characters had such meaningful stories that made the book as wonderful as it is. Nothing felt underdeveloped or one-dimensional. With how incredibly the characters were crafted, the relationships in this book were breathtaking. Whether it was family, friends, or romance, every single relationship felt like something that could easily happen outside of a book. The emotions were raw and real in the most wonderful way. The path this story takes you down is remarkable.
Atmosphere is something that's always important to me in a story, and it was immaculate in this book. Everything about the way the ghosts were written was bewitching. I could picture each scene in my mind while I was reading. If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling completely immersed, I can't think of a better recommendation.
Louangie Bou-Montes has created a beautiful, impassioned story that will manage to both break and warm your heart. Take It to Your Grave is fast-paced and charming, and bittersweet when it needs to be. Anyone looking for a YA ghost story will find themselves in love with this book.
December 7, 2025
Joaquín and his friends love exploring haunted houses, and their latest adventure leads them to the home where a boy named Max died. Determined to uncover what really happened to him, the group soon finds themselves dealing with a restless ghost and a mystery that’s deeper than they expected.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is fast-paced, with new developments happening constantly, yet it never felt overwhelming or hard to follow. As someone who had never read a YA horror novel before, this was a completely new to me, and I’d describe it as more of a spooky thriller than outright horror, perfect for readers who enjoy suspense without it being too intense.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was how the author wove in strong family and friendship themes. The dynamics between the characters and their families added emotional depth, and each character felt unique and important to the story. Santi, in particular, he was easily the most lovable character for me.
However, there were several dialogue sections in Spanish that slowed my reading a bit. Since I only know basic Spanish, I had to pause and look up translations, which affected the pacing for me personally.
I really liked how everything came together in the end. The mystery was resolved, loose ends were tied up, and it was satisfying to see the characters reach a happy ending. The author introduces many characters, but each one plays a meaningful role, which really strengthens the story overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book. The story is fast-paced, with new developments happening constantly, yet it never felt overwhelming or hard to follow. As someone who had never read a YA horror novel before, this was a completely new to me, and I’d describe it as more of a spooky thriller than outright horror, perfect for readers who enjoy suspense without it being too intense.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was how the author wove in strong family and friendship themes. The dynamics between the characters and their families added emotional depth, and each character felt unique and important to the story. Santi, in particular, he was easily the most lovable character for me.
However, there were several dialogue sections in Spanish that slowed my reading a bit. Since I only know basic Spanish, I had to pause and look up translations, which affected the pacing for me personally.
I really liked how everything came together in the end. The mystery was resolved, loose ends were tied up, and it was satisfying to see the characters reach a happy ending. The author introduces many characters, but each one plays a meaningful role, which really strengthens the story overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 10, 2025
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and the Godwin Books publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
Joaquín with his two best friends, Emma and Maya are obsessed with the paranormal but things take a turn when they explore the abandoned house of Sorensen’s where the Max Guerrero Lopez died. Joaquín is confronted with a realization that Max’s spirit is lingering and tethered to the world due to unfinished business. Determined to help him find rest, Joaquín and his friends desperately tried to find answers despite the growing risks. But how much is Joaquín willing to lose to help Max at the cost of his life and his friends?
The novel has done something to me that no other book have done so far; it spooked me! Genuinely had moments in the book where I felt fear because of the paranormal aspects in the book. I felt like I was watching one of those YouTube videos where people are communicating with spirits on the Ouija board and I’m hiding in the comment section. As someone who loves hearing about the paranormal, I definitely recommend this book to other readers! But warning, if you don’t know Spanish like I do, be prepared to pull out Google translate because there’s a lot of Spanish. The writing in the book was really good, it was kept for young adult level but was written in a way that will grip readers at the edge of their seat.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it fell flat to me in the beginning and only took until halfway that it peaked my interest again.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and the Godwin Books publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
Joaquín with his two best friends, Emma and Maya are obsessed with the paranormal but things take a turn when they explore the abandoned house of Sorensen’s where the Max Guerrero Lopez died. Joaquín is confronted with a realization that Max’s spirit is lingering and tethered to the world due to unfinished business. Determined to help him find rest, Joaquín and his friends desperately tried to find answers despite the growing risks. But how much is Joaquín willing to lose to help Max at the cost of his life and his friends?
The novel has done something to me that no other book have done so far; it spooked me! Genuinely had moments in the book where I felt fear because of the paranormal aspects in the book. I felt like I was watching one of those YouTube videos where people are communicating with spirits on the Ouija board and I’m hiding in the comment section. As someone who loves hearing about the paranormal, I definitely recommend this book to other readers! But warning, if you don’t know Spanish like I do, be prepared to pull out Google translate because there’s a lot of Spanish. The writing in the book was really good, it was kept for young adult level but was written in a way that will grip readers at the edge of their seat.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it fell flat to me in the beginning and only took until halfway that it peaked my interest again.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 Stars
*Sigh* Here is where I tell you it’s not you, it's me…
The concept of this book is fantastic. The execution, not my cup of tea. The second chance romance with a character I did NOT like, even less my cup of tea.
A group of friends into ghosts who go around filming and attempting to make ghost contact (and stumbling to an actual ghost who very much needs their help) is a fantastic premise. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the quality of writing in this novel. I was unfamiliar with this author and was under the impression this was a debut - still not up to the quality I expect but I’m not nearly as critical of debut authors. When I discovered this was an author with previous publications I was surprised. The writing wasn’t awful but it was very dialogue heavy and had verbiage that repeated so often I was left skimming large chunks of writing to get to the point (ideally even the “boring bits” of a well written novel should make me want to read them).
This one of those YA books where I have to question if the “romance” was necessary or it was just there to spark YA appeal (a concept I reject as a whole). You don’t need romance to make a book like this interesting and if it WAS necessary I would have been much more intrigued by a romance doomed to fail between Joaquín and Max. Marte was boring. Sorry.
I really thought I was going to love this book, but there were just too many logistical parts of it that left it lacking for me.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's for the ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily!
*Sigh* Here is where I tell you it’s not you, it's me…
The concept of this book is fantastic. The execution, not my cup of tea. The second chance romance with a character I did NOT like, even less my cup of tea.
A group of friends into ghosts who go around filming and attempting to make ghost contact (and stumbling to an actual ghost who very much needs their help) is a fantastic premise. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the quality of writing in this novel. I was unfamiliar with this author and was under the impression this was a debut - still not up to the quality I expect but I’m not nearly as critical of debut authors. When I discovered this was an author with previous publications I was surprised. The writing wasn’t awful but it was very dialogue heavy and had verbiage that repeated so often I was left skimming large chunks of writing to get to the point (ideally even the “boring bits” of a well written novel should make me want to read them).
This one of those YA books where I have to question if the “romance” was necessary or it was just there to spark YA appeal (a concept I reject as a whole). You don’t need romance to make a book like this interesting and if it WAS necessary I would have been much more intrigued by a romance doomed to fail between Joaquín and Max. Marte was boring. Sorry.
I really thought I was going to love this book, but there were just too many logistical parts of it that left it lacking for me.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's for the ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily!
November 15, 2025
The premise of this book sounded so intriguing. A dual POV from a ghost and a ghost hunter, while trying to figure out how said ghost died and how to get him to move on. And it was really great! I personally love YA mystery/thriller, though this one does say “romance” as well. And there are some romantic elements- but the romance isn’t really the main focus? It is cute and sweet, but the main focus really is Max and Joaquin figuring out how Max died and how to get him to move on.
Generally I’m not a huge paranormal fan- I enjoy it more in book than movie or tv show, but I still don’t love paranormal stuff. However, I really like how the author described Max’s POV and essence as a ghost, as well as the take on the paranormal aspects to haunting that occur. Something that I would have liked more of though, is how the other ghosts in the world interact. We get a couple scenes of other ghosts being mentioned, and I think one specifically of another ghost *doing* something. While I think the length of this book was basically perfect- I wouldn’t have minded a little more about the other ghosts. Especially with Marte (and by the end Santi) being able to see ghosts at all times.
Other than wanting a tiny bit more with the other ghosts in the world, I think the length, pacing, and tone were all really good. It was an easy read and I really enjoyed it!
Generally I’m not a huge paranormal fan- I enjoy it more in book than movie or tv show, but I still don’t love paranormal stuff. However, I really like how the author described Max’s POV and essence as a ghost, as well as the take on the paranormal aspects to haunting that occur. Something that I would have liked more of though, is how the other ghosts in the world interact. We get a couple scenes of other ghosts being mentioned, and I think one specifically of another ghost *doing* something. While I think the length of this book was basically perfect- I wouldn’t have minded a little more about the other ghosts. Especially with Marte (and by the end Santi) being able to see ghosts at all times.
Other than wanting a tiny bit more with the other ghosts in the world, I think the length, pacing, and tone were all really good. It was an easy read and I really enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
I really, really loved this. I’ve always had an affinity for ghost media, and this certainly is among those that I will hold close to my heart. A perfect read for fans waiting for the second Cemetery Boys book, lots of similar themes though a widely different plot and feel to it. Focusing more on superstitions, less on magic itself. It’s a perfect mix of its own entirely new story and plot that still feels nostalgic to fans of Cemetery Boys.
It’s been a very long time since I read a book in which a Deaf/HOH character was intwined so seamlessly into the plot and story, but this one did it effortlessly and beautifully. Marte’s deafness wasn’t even viewed as an impairness, really. More of a character trait. And while that’s not to say that being deaf doesn’t make things a LOT harder, the POV being from a hearing person but not treating him any lesser due to his lack of hearing was really sweet to see.
This was dark at times, but never too dark. And, I am happy to say (because there were moments I was worried): no step brothers romance at all!!!! It is all completely brotherly/gen.
I’d recommend this for fans of Coco, School Spirits, Dead Boy Detectives, and Lockwood and Co.
I really, really loved this. I’ve always had an affinity for ghost media, and this certainly is among those that I will hold close to my heart. A perfect read for fans waiting for the second Cemetery Boys book, lots of similar themes though a widely different plot and feel to it. Focusing more on superstitions, less on magic itself. It’s a perfect mix of its own entirely new story and plot that still feels nostalgic to fans of Cemetery Boys.
It’s been a very long time since I read a book in which a Deaf/HOH character was intwined so seamlessly into the plot and story, but this one did it effortlessly and beautifully. Marte’s deafness wasn’t even viewed as an impairness, really. More of a character trait. And while that’s not to say that being deaf doesn’t make things a LOT harder, the POV being from a hearing person but not treating him any lesser due to his lack of hearing was really sweet to see.
This was dark at times, but never too dark. And, I am happy to say (because there were moments I was worried): no step brothers romance at all!!!! It is all completely brotherly/gen.
I’d recommend this for fans of Coco, School Spirits, Dead Boy Detectives, and Lockwood and Co.
November 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book takes a little while to get going, but once it hits its stride it goes full throttle for a good terrifying while before the lighter conclusion. Joaquín and his friends are typical teenagers, running around looking for ghosts, and they finally manage to encounter a real one with Max, a teenage ghost that has been trapped in the house where he died for over twenty years now. It takes a bit for Max to get his bearings, but once he does, the story starts to quickly head into scary Paranormal Activity territory. because Max desperately wants to know how he died and is terrified of being abandoned to the darkness again. Joaquín also very much enables Max's more terrifying actions, since he is equally as desperate to help out a real-live ghost. However, everyone here is a pretty real character; they all have good intentions mixed in with selfish ones, and they drive the story forward to solve the mystery.
I will say that personally, I feel like this book could have gone much darker with or could have gone for a bad conclusion, but it's not really that type of YA novel. For the most part, it's a fun ghost romp with teenagers and mystery.
This book takes a little while to get going, but once it hits its stride it goes full throttle for a good terrifying while before the lighter conclusion. Joaquín and his friends are typical teenagers, running around looking for ghosts, and they finally manage to encounter a real one with Max, a teenage ghost that has been trapped in the house where he died for over twenty years now. It takes a bit for Max to get his bearings, but once he does, the story starts to quickly head into scary Paranormal Activity territory. because Max desperately wants to know how he died and is terrified of being abandoned to the darkness again. Joaquín also very much enables Max's more terrifying actions, since he is equally as desperate to help out a real-live ghost. However, everyone here is a pretty real character; they all have good intentions mixed in with selfish ones, and they drive the story forward to solve the mystery.
I will say that personally, I feel like this book could have gone much darker with or could have gone for a bad conclusion, but it's not really that type of YA novel. For the most part, it's a fun ghost romp with teenagers and mystery.
August 7, 2026
4/5
This book surprised me so much and I honestly loved reading it.
The two character POV between Joaquín and Max I felt were really well written and the way the characters were written I was able to tell that it was two different POVs. Yes, I have had issues like that in the past with multiple POV books. I loved Joaquín's ex, Marte, and I was really surprised and excited to read about a person who is deaf and uses ASL! I feel like there aren't a lot of characters like that in media in general and I just adore when I see the community represented.
The plot I felt was well written, when balancing the two characters stories as well as the overarching story and climax. There was a good handful of characters in the supporting cast that I felt all got their moments and didn't just fade into the background. With the vibes of the book itself, I found it to be really spooky, and it did have a good sprinkling of paranormal thrillers as well, but it wasn't anything that was meant to scare the reader, if anything I personally found it more intriguing than anything.
Overall, the book was a really well written paranormal mystery and was fast paced.
This book surprised me so much and I honestly loved reading it.
The two character POV between Joaquín and Max I felt were really well written and the way the characters were written I was able to tell that it was two different POVs. Yes, I have had issues like that in the past with multiple POV books. I loved Joaquín's ex, Marte, and I was really surprised and excited to read about a person who is deaf and uses ASL! I feel like there aren't a lot of characters like that in media in general and I just adore when I see the community represented.
The plot I felt was well written, when balancing the two characters stories as well as the overarching story and climax. There was a good handful of characters in the supporting cast that I felt all got their moments and didn't just fade into the background. With the vibes of the book itself, I found it to be really spooky, and it did have a good sprinkling of paranormal thrillers as well, but it wasn't anything that was meant to scare the reader, if anything I personally found it more intriguing than anything.
Overall, the book was a really well written paranormal mystery and was fast paced.
October 25, 2025
Right off the bat the writing is fast paced, which is enjoy. No useless narrative, straight and to the point. I knew right away I would fly right through this book. It's exciting to see it based in my home state of Massachusetts (though set in a fictional town/area), and the haunting almost as old as I am, having starting in 1997. Joaquin and his friends are filming a paranormal vlog for their YouTube channel. They awaken Max after entering his home, which his spirit was resting in.
As another reviewing mentioned, I don't know Spanish either. So despite being fast paced, I had to stop often to know what was being said. Both Joaquin and Max are bilingual. Other than this set back it was a fun, interesting, and emotional read. I enjoyed the connections to the past and being able to relate to the story in at least this one way. It ended up not being my preferred read but I also didn't feel like I had wasted my time. I would definitely recommend to teens, especially teen boy, and young adult up to adults in their 30s to reminisce on the 90s nostalgia.
As another reviewing mentioned, I don't know Spanish either. So despite being fast paced, I had to stop often to know what was being said. Both Joaquin and Max are bilingual. Other than this set back it was a fun, interesting, and emotional read. I enjoyed the connections to the past and being able to relate to the story in at least this one way. It ended up not being my preferred read but I also didn't feel like I had wasted my time. I would definitely recommend to teens, especially teen boy, and young adult up to adults in their 30s to reminisce on the 90s nostalgia.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Take It To Your Grave by Louangie Bou-Montes is a young adult paranormal thriller.
Joaquin is a teenage ghost-hunter, desperate to capture a paranormal experience on camera to share with the world. Joaquin and his friends are exploring an abandoned house they’ve researched that’s rumored to be haunted. Only Joaquin is brave enough to go to the upstairs bedroom, where he finds a creepy sanctuary to Max, the teen who died at the house shortly before the home was abandoned in 1997. Alone in Max’s bedroom, Joaquin breaks a cardinal ghosthunting rule: he takes a bracelet that was part of the shrine – and inadvertently attaches Max’s ghost to him. Soon, Max finds ways to communicate with Joaquin, who wants help solving his death and moving on. But as Max gets more emotional about the way in which he died and his feelings for his family, his ghostly power grows, and it’s far beyond anything Joaquin or his friends can handle. If you’re looking for a good paranormal story that goes far beyond the sappy campfire ghost stories, this is a great book for you.
Joaquin is a teenage ghost-hunter, desperate to capture a paranormal experience on camera to share with the world. Joaquin and his friends are exploring an abandoned house they’ve researched that’s rumored to be haunted. Only Joaquin is brave enough to go to the upstairs bedroom, where he finds a creepy sanctuary to Max, the teen who died at the house shortly before the home was abandoned in 1997. Alone in Max’s bedroom, Joaquin breaks a cardinal ghosthunting rule: he takes a bracelet that was part of the shrine – and inadvertently attaches Max’s ghost to him. Soon, Max finds ways to communicate with Joaquin, who wants help solving his death and moving on. But as Max gets more emotional about the way in which he died and his feelings for his family, his ghostly power grows, and it’s far beyond anything Joaquin or his friends can handle. If you’re looking for a good paranormal story that goes far beyond the sappy campfire ghost stories, this is a great book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Godwin Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. So good! Max has been dead for 30 years. He’s stuck in his childhood bedroom reliving his final moments and speaking to no one, that is until he arrives. Joaquin is a high schooler who’s desperate to see something paranormal. Him and his two best friends Emma and Maya go in search of ghosts but haven’t seen anything concrete yet. He’s so obsessed that it even ruined his relationship with his ex-boyfriend Marte. So when they hear about the Sorensen house, Max’s house, from Maya’s mom they hope that this may be their first real sighting. They end up crossing paths with Max. The two find their fates tied together in a way that just may prove fatal. Can Joaquin help Max, or will they both end up lost in the process? A fast paced read that was spooky and captivating! Louangie Bou-Monte’s had me hooked and I enjoyed both Max and Joaquin’s POV’s! A thrilling mystery has they seek to figure out what happened to Max! Highly recommend if you enjoy queer paranormal with a touch of mystery reads!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'd give it a 4.5 if Goodreads would let me.
I’ll be honest: I mostly wanted to read this book because I’ve never seen an author with the same last name as me, but I’m sure glad that I did. As a huge fan of horror and ghost stories, I loved this book. Take It to Your Grave follows Joaquin (human) and Max (ghost) through the mystery of Max’s death. It takes place during a Massachusetts winter, which sets the spooky tone perfectly. I particularly love the way Bou-Montes writes her ghosts; how they move and feel. It was a great idea to write from the perspective of a ghost, and both Joaquin and Max are likeable characters, even when they don’t always make the right decisions. The pace of the novel was perfect; I could've finished it in a day if I didn't have to go to work. I also felt that her characters felt realistic as teenagers. Overall, this was a great book, and I love to see some Puerto Rican representation in the horror genre.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I’ll be honest: I mostly wanted to read this book because I’ve never seen an author with the same last name as me, but I’m sure glad that I did. As a huge fan of horror and ghost stories, I loved this book. Take It to Your Grave follows Joaquin (human) and Max (ghost) through the mystery of Max’s death. It takes place during a Massachusetts winter, which sets the spooky tone perfectly. I particularly love the way Bou-Montes writes her ghosts; how they move and feel. It was a great idea to write from the perspective of a ghost, and both Joaquin and Max are likeable characters, even when they don’t always make the right decisions. The pace of the novel was perfect; I could've finished it in a day if I didn't have to go to work. I also felt that her characters felt realistic as teenagers. Overall, this was a great book, and I love to see some Puerto Rican representation in the horror genre.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2026
Holy cow, I loved this.
Joaquín loves the paranormal. Along with his two friends, he spends his free time exploring potential haunts, looking for proof and maybe taking a souvenir or two. After exploring a local abandoned house where a boy died in the 90s, weird things start happening. Soon Joaquín discovers he is being haunted by that boy, Max, who doesn't remember how he died but wants to rest. As more weird things start to happen and Max's strength grows, Joaquín releases helping Max may put his own life in danger.
This was such an engaging and compelling story. I loved getting to know both of the boys and unearth the mystery if Max's death with them. The side characters were also great and felt fully fleshed out, no matter how big or small their part.
As for the craft of the story, I found this take on ghosts and what it feels like to be a ghost interesting. I think the author really opened up the world to some cool story possibilities with the lore she built into the story.
Also, I cried SO MUCH at the end. So A++ for that!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Joaquín loves the paranormal. Along with his two friends, he spends his free time exploring potential haunts, looking for proof and maybe taking a souvenir or two. After exploring a local abandoned house where a boy died in the 90s, weird things start happening. Soon Joaquín discovers he is being haunted by that boy, Max, who doesn't remember how he died but wants to rest. As more weird things start to happen and Max's strength grows, Joaquín releases helping Max may put his own life in danger.
This was such an engaging and compelling story. I loved getting to know both of the boys and unearth the mystery if Max's death with them. The side characters were also great and felt fully fleshed out, no matter how big or small their part.
As for the craft of the story, I found this take on ghosts and what it feels like to be a ghost interesting. I think the author really opened up the world to some cool story possibilities with the lore she built into the story.
Also, I cried SO MUCH at the end. So A++ for that!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
July 22, 2026
Joaquin is a high school ghost hunter with the bad habit of taking souvenirs from the haunted houses he and his friends research. One night, things go wrong when Joaquin takes a gold bracelet, and a ghost follows him home. Max was a sixteen year old who fell to his death thirty years ago. Joaquin tries to help Max with his unfinished business, but Max’s memories are jumbled and incomplete. All he’s certain of is that something s off with what everyone thinks happened to him. As they get closer to the truth, Max’s ghostly behavior becomes increasingly erratic, putting Joaquin and his friends and family at risk.
If you enjoy seeing a character’s plans fall apart in dramatic fashion, Take It to Your Grave is the book for you. Things keep going wrong, endangering the characters I’ve come to care for. It makes for an exciting, yet stressful read. I would absolutely recommend this book to any YA horror reader, just know it will put you through it.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
If you enjoy seeing a character’s plans fall apart in dramatic fashion, Take It to Your Grave is the book for you. Things keep going wrong, endangering the characters I’ve come to care for. It makes for an exciting, yet stressful read. I would absolutely recommend this book to any YA horror reader, just know it will put you through it.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
July 25, 2026
Joaquin and his friends are amateur ghost hunters, and their latest investigation leads them to an abandoned mansion where a teen named Max died 30 years ago. After Joaquin takes a few of Max's personal belongings, he forms an unexpected connection with the restless spirit. Now Joaquin is seeing Max, and together they must uncover the truth behind Max's death in order for his spirit to crossover.
✨ What I loved: 👻 The paranormal elements were incredibly creative. Watching Max slowly regain a more human form while communicating through electrical devices made him feel both eerie and sympathetic.
📼 The '90s nostalgia added a fun layer, especially seeing today's world through Max's perspective after three decades.
🌎 The representation felt authentic and meaningful. Spanish was naturally woven throughout the story, and I especially appreciated the inclusion of ASL, something I don't see often in books.
Final Verdict: 👍 A fresh, imaginative ghost story with an engaging mystery and excellent LGBTQ+, disability, and Latinx representation.
✨ What I loved: 👻 The paranormal elements were incredibly creative. Watching Max slowly regain a more human form while communicating through electrical devices made him feel both eerie and sympathetic.
📼 The '90s nostalgia added a fun layer, especially seeing today's world through Max's perspective after three decades.
🌎 The representation felt authentic and meaningful. Spanish was naturally woven throughout the story, and I especially appreciated the inclusion of ASL, something I don't see often in books.
Final Verdict: 👍 A fresh, imaginative ghost story with an engaging mystery and excellent LGBTQ+, disability, and Latinx representation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE – by Louangie Bou-Montes
‘Maximiliano Rafael Guerrero Lopez “Max” has been dead for 30 years. He’s stuck as a sixteen-year-old in his childhood bedroom with no memory of how he died, and no company aside from rotting floorboards and mildew-ridden guitars.’
‘Joaquín Felix Ladrón “Joaquín” is a high schooler who's desperate to experience something paranormal―he’d do anything to even catch a glimpse of a ghost, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his boyfriend.’
A Slow Burn Supernatural Story That Is Worth The Wait . . .
My Heart— Highly Recommend!
Love The Ending!
Grade: 10 - 12
Age: 14–18
Scheduled For Release — July 21, 2026 — Subject To Change
Thank you, NetGalley and Godwin Books, and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Publishing), for providing me with an eBook ARC of TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE at the request of an honest review.
‘Maximiliano Rafael Guerrero Lopez “Max” has been dead for 30 years. He’s stuck as a sixteen-year-old in his childhood bedroom with no memory of how he died, and no company aside from rotting floorboards and mildew-ridden guitars.’
‘Joaquín Felix Ladrón “Joaquín” is a high schooler who's desperate to experience something paranormal―he’d do anything to even catch a glimpse of a ghost, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his boyfriend.’
A Slow Burn Supernatural Story That Is Worth The Wait . . .
My Heart— Highly Recommend!
Love The Ending!
Grade: 10 - 12
Age: 14–18
Scheduled For Release — July 21, 2026 — Subject To Change
Thank you, NetGalley and Godwin Books, and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan Publishing), for providing me with an eBook ARC of TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE at the request of an honest review.
September 9, 2026
ARC review
A thrilling and exciting new read, I binged the whole book in a day.
Relationships were the highlight of this book; tender friendships and loving family (and the unintentional ways it can hurt you). The bonds between brothers were especially significant in this story for both the main characters, making this book more about growth than solving a mystery.
The plot moved pretty quickly, and remained relatively light-hearted even when it approached heavier topics in perfect YA style. The ghostly aspects were exceptionally well thought out and their description really immersive, the emotional stakes high.
I will say that the resolution to the Big Mystery left me wanting something a bit more fleshed out, especially since every other aspect of Max's haunting is so intricately woven into the story.
Take It To Your Grave is a charming, and at times bittersweet, ghost story about human connections and wanting to be seen.
A thrilling and exciting new read, I binged the whole book in a day.
Relationships were the highlight of this book; tender friendships and loving family (and the unintentional ways it can hurt you). The bonds between brothers were especially significant in this story for both the main characters, making this book more about growth than solving a mystery.
The plot moved pretty quickly, and remained relatively light-hearted even when it approached heavier topics in perfect YA style. The ghostly aspects were exceptionally well thought out and their description really immersive, the emotional stakes high.
I will say that the resolution to the Big Mystery left me wanting something a bit more fleshed out, especially since every other aspect of Max's haunting is so intricately woven into the story.
Take It To Your Grave is a charming, and at times bittersweet, ghost story about human connections and wanting to be seen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an okay YA paranormal-ish read, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. Going in, I thought the mystery and paranormal elements would take center stage, but this story leans much more into its characters than its plot. Thankfully, the character development kept me invested.
The overall vibe reminded me of those fun, slightly spooky ’90s teen movies, which added a nostalgic charm. Joaquín and Max were both well-written, and I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Joaquín, his friends, and his family they made the story feel authentic.
I also liked the romance. It developed naturally and complemented the story without overshadowing the main narrative.
Overall, while it didn’t completely live up to my expectations, it was still an enjoyable character-driven YA with paranormal touches and a nostalgic atmosphere.
The overall vibe reminded me of those fun, slightly spooky ’90s teen movies, which added a nostalgic charm. Joaquín and Max were both well-written, and I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Joaquín, his friends, and his family they made the story feel authentic.
I also liked the romance. It developed naturally and complemented the story without overshadowing the main narrative.
Overall, while it didn’t completely live up to my expectations, it was still an enjoyable character-driven YA with paranormal touches and a nostalgic atmosphere.
July 22, 2026
Take It to Your Grave is a ghost story that breathes in the quiet spaces of adolescence. This is a younger‑leaning YA novel that moves with softness, empathy, and an emotional clarity that feels almost luminous. Bou‑Montes crafts a story where atmosphere replaces fear, where the haunting is less about terror and more about the echoes of identity, friendship, and the fragile courage of growing up. The representation of Deaf culture is woven with such care that Marte’s lived experience becomes one of the book’s brightest threads, allowing ASL to rise on the page like a second heartbeat. The alternative first‑person POV deepens that intimacy, letting readers feel the story rather than simply observe it. This isn’t an adult thriller or a romance‑forward paranormal tale — it’s a tender, spooky mystery about understanding yourself and the people who choose to stand beside you.
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