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The Monsters We Made
Two friends must uncover the truth about the bloody reappearance of a cryptid in this queer, X-Files-inspired thriller from the author of Bad Creek.
To save her family’s struggling ranch, 18-year-old Claire fabricates a video of her hometown’s legendary alien cryptid, Old Lucky, that grabs the attention of paranormal vloggers Lenny and Evan. Lenny is plagued with doubts about their channel’s future, so catching Old Lucky might just be her chance at finding something real.
After Evan deserts Lenny, believing the investigation to be a hoax, Claire agrees to “help” Lenny uncover the history of Old Lucky—and preserve her deceit. But the more the girls are drawn together and the more clues they unearth, the more secrets rise to the surface. The cows are being mutilated, the ranch hand has disappeared, and the strange lights in the sky are back. Something inhuman lurks in Scarberry, where danger lives close to home. The Monsters We Made is an eerie and suspenseful exploration of one town’s dark history and the people who brought it back to life.
To save her family’s struggling ranch, 18-year-old Claire fabricates a video of her hometown’s legendary alien cryptid, Old Lucky, that grabs the attention of paranormal vloggers Lenny and Evan. Lenny is plagued with doubts about their channel’s future, so catching Old Lucky might just be her chance at finding something real.
After Evan deserts Lenny, believing the investigation to be a hoax, Claire agrees to “help” Lenny uncover the history of Old Lucky—and preserve her deceit. But the more the girls are drawn together and the more clues they unearth, the more secrets rise to the surface. The cows are being mutilated, the ranch hand has disappeared, and the strange lights in the sky are back. Something inhuman lurks in Scarberry, where danger lives close to home. The Monsters We Made is an eerie and suspenseful exploration of one town’s dark history and the people who brought it back to life.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published June 23, 2026
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March 24, 2026📡👽 The Monsters We Made by Peyton June 👽📡
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🛸 What to Expect
• Queer paranormal thriller
• Cryptid investigation
• Small town secrets
• Paranormal vloggers
• Missing persons
• Cattle mutilation
• Sapphic
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🛸 What to Expect
• Queer paranormal thriller
• Cryptid investigation
• Small town secrets
• Paranormal vloggers
• Missing persons
• Cattle mutilation
• Sapphic
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Super fun YA horror following a paranormal podcaster/youtuber on the brink of a breakup, a lesbian determined to keep the family business even if it means creating a hoax around alien appearances, and really strange phenomenons in a tiny rural town in Nebraska.
Having one protagonist being super passionate about the paranormal to the point of obsession and making a podcast about it, while the other protagonist is a sceptic not above faking alien sightings to keep the family business afloat, was a super fun setup. Then add actual strange occurences that are not part of the hoax was the cherry on top.
I also felt like the combination of what was happening, both the little details as well as the culmination, was really inventive and not something I had really seen before. There were a few things that maybe weren't as well rounded or explained as they could have been, but ultimately I thought this was done well and landed successfully for me!
The one complaint I have is that the romance moved so slow that the way they ended up together towards the end felt super sudden and awkward, but that is a a small detail in the grand scheme of things.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Having one protagonist being super passionate about the paranormal to the point of obsession and making a podcast about it, while the other protagonist is a sceptic not above faking alien sightings to keep the family business afloat, was a super fun setup. Then add actual strange occurences that are not part of the hoax was the cherry on top.
I also felt like the combination of what was happening, both the little details as well as the culmination, was really inventive and not something I had really seen before. There were a few things that maybe weren't as well rounded or explained as they could have been, but ultimately I thought this was done well and landed successfully for me!
The one complaint I have is that the romance moved so slow that the way they ended up together towards the end felt super sudden and awkward, but that is a a small detail in the grand scheme of things.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
The moment I saw a promotion for this book on social media, I knew I just had to read it. A queer horror novel featuring a paranormal investigation for a local alien cryptid in a weird and unwelcoming small farming town feels like it was made for me, and this book certainly didn't disappoint.
Our two main characters are Lenny, who runs a paranormal investigation YouTube channel with her sort of boyfriend Evan, and Claire, whose family owns a farm that was the setting of a popular alien sighting in the 1960s. The two meet when Lenny, who is currently on a road trip filming content for her YouTube channel, receives a video of a possible alien sighting on the same farm where a famous supposed alien lights photograph was taken many years before. This causes her to change course and head to Scarberry, Nebraska, where we meet Claire, who grew up on and now works on the farm where the original photograph and new video were taken.
What Lenny doesn't know is that Claire, who was hoping to drum up some new business for the farm through the popularity of Lenny's YouTube channel, had fabricated the video and now has to help to maintain her hoax as the paranormal investigation begins. What Claire doesn't know is that Lenny is a true believer in the local cryptid "Old Lucky" and the original "Scarberry Lights" phenomenon, as photographed by the original eyewitness in the 1960s, and she intends to get to the bottom of what's really going on in Scarberry.
Although their motivations differ, the girls team up to investigate, and what ensues isn't just the hunt for a cryptid but also a hunt for the truth. The truth about what Old Lucky is, the truth about the town, and the truth about themselves and each other.
I really enjoyed everything that this book had to offer, but I will highlight some of my favourite things about this novel here:
• The setting. This book is set in a very small, old mining town turned farming town where the locals are a little weird and a lot unwelcoming to outsiders. The setting of the farm was well-written and interesting, from the famous barn to the old farmhouse, to the accommodations they built for their alien enthusiast guests, and the surrounding cornfields. The author does a good job of capturing the vastness of the land in the small town, and each new location added to the overall feel of the story. All this to say, I really loved how the small-town vibe was written in this book. I think a strange, small town is the perfect setting for a paranormal story like this.
• The dual POVs. Having the POV of both Lenny and Claire added a lot to this narrative. Lenny is an outsider from a city with a social media following and a true believer. Claire is an insider in terms of location and an outsider socially in the town she grew up in, and she has never really believed the town's legends. The local/outsider and skeptic/believer viewpoints offer a good contrast in the story and add depth to the narrative. When the two would have meaningful interactions, I enjoyed reading about that interaction from their two separate viewpoints, and I think that writing it in this way helped to understand the characters better, as well as offering a better view of the town and what was happening as the novel unfolded.
• The characters. I really enjoyed both main characters and how the narrative helped me to understand them and their perspectives. Apart from them, the other characters in the novel added a lot to the story. Every character in this novel was believable, and their motivations made sense even when I obviously didn't agree with what they were doing or how they were handling a situation. I feel that the characters were well thought out and that this book benefited from not having a huge cast of characters, which lent to the small town, small population setting of the book.
• The mystery. Without giving too much away, I love how this book unfolded. I was always excited to find out what was going to happen next, and at no point did I fully know what was going on or what was going to happen next. It was fun to be able to develop my own theories while I was reading the book, and I had a hard time putting the book down once I got sucked into the story.
• The relationship between the main characters. It was nice to see how the main characters developed over the story and through their proximity to one another. From strangers, to friends, to maybe more than friends, I enjoyed being with them for every part of the journey. I liked that while this was happening, the book still mainly focused on the plot. I feel that this allowed for the relationship to develop slowly and naturally in a way that was more believable than if it had been the primary focus.
As I'm sure you can see, I really enjoyed this read, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the premise. It's a horror novel with a lot of heart, which has got to be one of my favourite types of horror novels.
The moment I saw a promotion for this book on social media, I knew I just had to read it. A queer horror novel featuring a paranormal investigation for a local alien cryptid in a weird and unwelcoming small farming town feels like it was made for me, and this book certainly didn't disappoint.
Our two main characters are Lenny, who runs a paranormal investigation YouTube channel with her sort of boyfriend Evan, and Claire, whose family owns a farm that was the setting of a popular alien sighting in the 1960s. The two meet when Lenny, who is currently on a road trip filming content for her YouTube channel, receives a video of a possible alien sighting on the same farm where a famous supposed alien lights photograph was taken many years before. This causes her to change course and head to Scarberry, Nebraska, where we meet Claire, who grew up on and now works on the farm where the original photograph and new video were taken.
What Lenny doesn't know is that Claire, who was hoping to drum up some new business for the farm through the popularity of Lenny's YouTube channel, had fabricated the video and now has to help to maintain her hoax as the paranormal investigation begins. What Claire doesn't know is that Lenny is a true believer in the local cryptid "Old Lucky" and the original "Scarberry Lights" phenomenon, as photographed by the original eyewitness in the 1960s, and she intends to get to the bottom of what's really going on in Scarberry.
Although their motivations differ, the girls team up to investigate, and what ensues isn't just the hunt for a cryptid but also a hunt for the truth. The truth about what Old Lucky is, the truth about the town, and the truth about themselves and each other.
I really enjoyed everything that this book had to offer, but I will highlight some of my favourite things about this novel here:
• The setting. This book is set in a very small, old mining town turned farming town where the locals are a little weird and a lot unwelcoming to outsiders. The setting of the farm was well-written and interesting, from the famous barn to the old farmhouse, to the accommodations they built for their alien enthusiast guests, and the surrounding cornfields. The author does a good job of capturing the vastness of the land in the small town, and each new location added to the overall feel of the story. All this to say, I really loved how the small-town vibe was written in this book. I think a strange, small town is the perfect setting for a paranormal story like this.
• The dual POVs. Having the POV of both Lenny and Claire added a lot to this narrative. Lenny is an outsider from a city with a social media following and a true believer. Claire is an insider in terms of location and an outsider socially in the town she grew up in, and she has never really believed the town's legends. The local/outsider and skeptic/believer viewpoints offer a good contrast in the story and add depth to the narrative. When the two would have meaningful interactions, I enjoyed reading about that interaction from their two separate viewpoints, and I think that writing it in this way helped to understand the characters better, as well as offering a better view of the town and what was happening as the novel unfolded.
• The characters. I really enjoyed both main characters and how the narrative helped me to understand them and their perspectives. Apart from them, the other characters in the novel added a lot to the story. Every character in this novel was believable, and their motivations made sense even when I obviously didn't agree with what they were doing or how they were handling a situation. I feel that the characters were well thought out and that this book benefited from not having a huge cast of characters, which lent to the small town, small population setting of the book.
• The mystery. Without giving too much away, I love how this book unfolded. I was always excited to find out what was going to happen next, and at no point did I fully know what was going on or what was going to happen next. It was fun to be able to develop my own theories while I was reading the book, and I had a hard time putting the book down once I got sucked into the story.
• The relationship between the main characters. It was nice to see how the main characters developed over the story and through their proximity to one another. From strangers, to friends, to maybe more than friends, I enjoyed being with them for every part of the journey. I liked that while this was happening, the book still mainly focused on the plot. I feel that this allowed for the relationship to develop slowly and naturally in a way that was more believable than if it had been the primary focus.
As I'm sure you can see, I really enjoyed this read, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the premise. It's a horror novel with a lot of heart, which has got to be one of my favourite types of horror novels.
June 27, 2026
2.75 ⭐
May 7, 2026
I read “The Monsters We Made” as an ARC. The most compelling part of this book, for me, was the mystery. There were just enough little clues and hints to keep me turning pages to discover the truth, just like the main characters. To my delight, there were elements of the story that felt reminiscent of “The X-Files” as promised by the author. Although the writing style left something to be desired, I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting as well. Certain formatting choices sometimes made it difficult to follow which character was speaking or where the internal dialogue was coming from, but that may be uniquely an ARC issue. Overall, a solid three out of five stars rating from me.
June 18, 2026
Wow, I loved this book! 4.5 stars rounded up.
I went into it blind based on vibes from the author’s promotion and artwork, and it did not disappoint.
It is a YA sci-fi horror perfect for fans of Supernatural, X-Files, Ghost Adventures/Ghost Hunters, and Scooby-Doo.
The book explores themes of identity and belonging in a tasteful way with a great mystery that is reminiscent of local midwestern lore and conspiracies. I ate it up.
I went back and forth with giving this book 4 and 5 stars, but couldn’t decide because I felt like there were some additional creative opportunities missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. There are also points in the story where I felt like character reactions were glazed over at key parts of the story and the ending felt a little rushed.
The audio narrators brought the story, Claire, and Lenny to life and delivered excellent performances.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and the author for the opportunity to listen, read, and review before this book’s release on 6/23!
I went into it blind based on vibes from the author’s promotion and artwork, and it did not disappoint.
It is a YA sci-fi horror perfect for fans of Supernatural, X-Files, Ghost Adventures/Ghost Hunters, and Scooby-Doo.
The book explores themes of identity and belonging in a tasteful way with a great mystery that is reminiscent of local midwestern lore and conspiracies. I ate it up.
I went back and forth with giving this book 4 and 5 stars, but couldn’t decide because I felt like there were some additional creative opportunities missing that I couldn’t put my finger on. There are also points in the story where I felt like character reactions were glazed over at key parts of the story and the ending felt a little rushed.
The audio narrators brought the story, Claire, and Lenny to life and delivered excellent performances.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and the author for the opportunity to listen, read, and review before this book’s release on 6/23!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
The monsters we made is a YA horror suspense. Lenny is the co owner of a YouTube channel where she explores strange occurrences, cryptids, and haunted places with her kind of ex boyfriend Evan. This brings them to Scarberry, where supposedly, an alien named Old Lucky lives and was spotted again recently. Except Claire made it all up to bring in more attention and save her family business. When Evan leaves in the middle of Lenny’s investigation, Claire teams up with Lenny to help her uncover Scarberry’s secrets.
I loved this novel. It’s been a while since I stayed up late to read! The characters were easy to root for. The dual pov and the writing style made me fly through this book, and I love that the romance in this book didn’t overshadow the crazy things happening. It was more of a subplot and they didn’t instantly fall for each other. It was a slow burn with the characters slowly opening up to each other, which was more realistic. The suspense of uncovering what Old Lucky really was and if it really exists was well done, so even before the main events start happening, I was hooked. So glad I stumbled across this novel and I highly recommend!
The monsters we made is a YA horror suspense. Lenny is the co owner of a YouTube channel where she explores strange occurrences, cryptids, and haunted places with her kind of ex boyfriend Evan. This brings them to Scarberry, where supposedly, an alien named Old Lucky lives and was spotted again recently. Except Claire made it all up to bring in more attention and save her family business. When Evan leaves in the middle of Lenny’s investigation, Claire teams up with Lenny to help her uncover Scarberry’s secrets.
I loved this novel. It’s been a while since I stayed up late to read! The characters were easy to root for. The dual pov and the writing style made me fly through this book, and I love that the romance in this book didn’t overshadow the crazy things happening. It was more of a subplot and they didn’t instantly fall for each other. It was a slow burn with the characters slowly opening up to each other, which was more realistic. The suspense of uncovering what Old Lucky really was and if it really exists was well done, so even before the main events start happening, I was hooked. So glad I stumbled across this novel and I highly recommend!
June 23, 2026
For those of you who’ve been listening to me yap about this book while I was reading it… you should be scared because now that it’s done, I will be so much more insufferable about my love for it. To say I had fun with this read would be such an understatement. Coming from someone who’s not the biggest fan of the sci-fi / alien speculative genre, this was genuinely one of the best books I read this year and I don’t even know where to begin with what I loved.
The writing was absolutely incredible. My favourite genre, as most of you know, is young adult, but the specific niche that has an older writing style and that was this novel to a tee. Even though it’s marketed for teens, there was no part of this story that made me feel like I was being talked down or too old to be reading it, which is the perfect balance to have.
The plot itself, which is what usually draws me into a story, was somehow both unique and also familiar in the best way. It had some of the classic tropes we all know and love but at the same time I can say I’ve NEVER read a story with a plot even remotely similar. And those twists? When I started to put everything together, there was not a chance I was going to be able to sleep until I finished it.
Most of all, though, I fell in love with the characters. Lenny and Claire were such strong individuals that they didn’t NEED support, but were still able to strengthen each other and highlight their best qualities (unlike SOMEONE else I know…). Aside from the romance between them, the books larger discussion surrounding queer identity and acceptance made this a perfect read for pride month. I don’t want to get into it too much so that I don’t take away from the impact of the story but seriously y’all — everyone should read this book for one reason or another.
If you’ve made it this far, you won’t be surprised to see my rating… I can’t wait to read “Bad Creek”, the prior book from June, as soon as possible and anything else she writes!
The writing was absolutely incredible. My favourite genre, as most of you know, is young adult, but the specific niche that has an older writing style and that was this novel to a tee. Even though it’s marketed for teens, there was no part of this story that made me feel like I was being talked down or too old to be reading it, which is the perfect balance to have.
The plot itself, which is what usually draws me into a story, was somehow both unique and also familiar in the best way. It had some of the classic tropes we all know and love but at the same time I can say I’ve NEVER read a story with a plot even remotely similar. And those twists? When I started to put everything together, there was not a chance I was going to be able to sleep until I finished it.
Most of all, though, I fell in love with the characters. Lenny and Claire were such strong individuals that they didn’t NEED support, but were still able to strengthen each other and highlight their best qualities (unlike SOMEONE else I know…). Aside from the romance between them, the books larger discussion surrounding queer identity and acceptance made this a perfect read for pride month. I don’t want to get into it too much so that I don’t take away from the impact of the story but seriously y’all — everyone should read this book for one reason or another.
If you’ve made it this far, you won’t be surprised to see my rating… I can’t wait to read “Bad Creek”, the prior book from June, as soon as possible and anything else she writes!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Book# 45 2026
"The Monsters We Made" ~ Peyton June
ARC read ~ Releases June 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Monsters We Made" by Peyton June delivers the kind of thrill that gets under your skin by blending emotional damage with genuine unease. This isn’t just monsters lurking in the dark, it’s also about the ones created through trauma, choices, and the things we try to bury.
Peyton June does a great job building a tense, unsettling atmosphere, with moments that feel eerie and deeply personal at the same time. The emotional threads gave the story extra weight, making the thrills hit harder than simple jump scares or gore would alone. Some twists landed really well, even if a few moments felt a little predictable or could have used a bit more depth.
Overall, this was a creepy, emotionally layered young adult read that kept me engaged and questioningif we are truly alone in the universe. #goodreadsgiveaway #bookworm #bookrecommendations #booktok #booklover
"The Monsters We Made" ~ Peyton June
ARC read ~ Releases June 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Monsters We Made" by Peyton June delivers the kind of thrill that gets under your skin by blending emotional damage with genuine unease. This isn’t just monsters lurking in the dark, it’s also about the ones created through trauma, choices, and the things we try to bury.
Peyton June does a great job building a tense, unsettling atmosphere, with moments that feel eerie and deeply personal at the same time. The emotional threads gave the story extra weight, making the thrills hit harder than simple jump scares or gore would alone. Some twists landed really well, even if a few moments felt a little predictable or could have used a bit more depth.
Overall, this was a creepy, emotionally layered young adult read that kept me engaged and questioningif we are truly alone in the universe. #goodreadsgiveaway #bookworm #bookrecommendations #booktok #booklover
June 19, 2026
Got an arc from Libro.Fm
I ended up getting really into this one! Started off a little rocky, I didn’t like the way Claire put down her younger cousin’s interests and I don’t always do well with Cancer Books™️ but I’m glad I stuck with it. The x files vibes ended up being catnip to my brain as I tried to piece the mystery together and the slow burn sapphic romance was sooo tasty. This ended up being a pleasant surprise!
Mild spoilers because I haven’t seen any reviews touch on this yet: the cousin with cancer makes it to the end of the book optimistic about the future. There’s some plot fuckery going on with her and there’s a lot of talk about pollution/contamination making people in the town sick and talk of people who have died from it but we don’t have to watch a character we’ve gotten to know for however many pages die of cancer which is something I was worried about when I first started this.
I ended up getting really into this one! Started off a little rocky, I didn’t like the way Claire put down her younger cousin’s interests and I don’t always do well with Cancer Books™️ but I’m glad I stuck with it. The x files vibes ended up being catnip to my brain as I tried to piece the mystery together and the slow burn sapphic romance was sooo tasty. This ended up being a pleasant surprise!
Mild spoilers because I haven’t seen any reviews touch on this yet: the cousin with cancer makes it to the end of the book optimistic about the future. There’s some plot fuckery going on with her and there’s a lot of talk about pollution/contamination making people in the town sick and talk of people who have died from it but we don’t have to watch a character we’ve gotten to know for however many pages die of cancer which is something I was worried about when I first started this.
June 24, 2026
3.75 rounded up for Goodreads
*Thank you to NetGalley and the author’s team for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review*
This book was so fun! I really enjoyed the cryptid/creature feature aspect of the mystery. I don’t usually vibe with teenagers or reading about teenagers, but these girls were fine for the most part. The story was more of a slow burn than I was expecting, but I liked the conclusion and resolution to the mystery. I would definitely read more by this author and I encourage y’all to pick this one up if you like sapphic longing, alien/cryptid hunting, and supernatural happenings in small town America!
As with any alien or cryptid story, be prepared for some cow mutilation and death. There is implied homophobia but no slurs or hateful comments on page. There is also some light gore and descriptions of injuries, but nothing overly gratuitous; everything adds to the story and is done well!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the author’s team for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review*
This book was so fun! I really enjoyed the cryptid/creature feature aspect of the mystery. I don’t usually vibe with teenagers or reading about teenagers, but these girls were fine for the most part. The story was more of a slow burn than I was expecting, but I liked the conclusion and resolution to the mystery. I would definitely read more by this author and I encourage y’all to pick this one up if you like sapphic longing, alien/cryptid hunting, and supernatural happenings in small town America!
As with any alien or cryptid story, be prepared for some cow mutilation and death. There is implied homophobia but no slurs or hateful comments on page. There is also some light gore and descriptions of injuries, but nothing overly gratuitous; everything adds to the story and is done well!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Monsters We Made” by Peyton June is one of those books that has perfectly that mix of small-town mystery, paranormal chaos, and just enough real-world horror to make it hit harder than you expect. Before going into the review, I do want to provide a content warning for animal mutilation, specifically with cows. The book doesn’t go into too much detail, but this does happen a few times.
The story follows Lenny, a semi-famous paranormal investigator trying to rediscover why she loved the supernatural in the first place, and Claire, a skeptical small-town girl who’s mostly just trying to keep her family afloat. When Lenny shows up to investigate a recent alien sighting, it quickly becomes clear that something way bigger (and weirder) is going on.
At first, it seems like your typical “aliens in a creepy town” setup, but then you start getting hints about older legends, like these things called the Old Gods, and suddenly it’s not so simple. Strange noises, weird sightings, electronics failing, people acting suspicious. Even Claire, who starts off as a total cynic, can’t deny that something is seriously wrong.
One of the strongest parts of the book is the atmosphere. It’s very eerie and tense in that slow-burn way where everything just feels off. And the horror isn’t just supernatural; there’s also a lot of focus on environmental damage, illness, and how the town itself has been suffering for years. The mystery gets darker the more you learn, especially when you realize how many people have gotten sick or died under really suspicious circumstances.
The characters are solid, especially the dynamic between Lenny and Claire. They have very different motivations with Lenny is chasing truth and meaning while Claire is just trying to survive, but they balance each other well. Their relationship slowly develops into a bit of romance, and while it’s not the main focus, it adds a nice emotional layer (even if it feels a little rushed at times).
There’s also some good LGBTQ+ rep with Claire being a lesbian, though the book doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of small-town homophobia, which adds another layer of tension.
Plot-wise, it’s pretty engaging. The mystery keeps building, with clues piling up and more people in town clearly hiding things. Some twists are a little predictable, but the overall reveal is still satisfying, especially because the explanation combines both supernatural and human causes. It really leans into the idea that sometimes the scariest things aren’t just monsters; they’re what people are willing to do.
That said, the book isn’t perfect. The pacing can feel a bit uneven (some parts drag while others move too fast), and the dialogue sometimes reads a little younger than expected for YA. Also, if you’re here mainly for romance, you might be disappointed since it definitely takes a backseat to the mystery.
Overall, “The Monsters We Made” is a fun, eerie, and surprisingly thoughtful read. It mixes aliens, cryptids, and small-town secrets with deeper themes about greed, environmental damage, and the consequences of human choices. If you like creepy mysteries with a bit of sci-fi/paranormal chaos, it’s definitely worth checking out.
“The Monsters We Made” by Peyton June is one of those books that has perfectly that mix of small-town mystery, paranormal chaos, and just enough real-world horror to make it hit harder than you expect. Before going into the review, I do want to provide a content warning for animal mutilation, specifically with cows. The book doesn’t go into too much detail, but this does happen a few times.
The story follows Lenny, a semi-famous paranormal investigator trying to rediscover why she loved the supernatural in the first place, and Claire, a skeptical small-town girl who’s mostly just trying to keep her family afloat. When Lenny shows up to investigate a recent alien sighting, it quickly becomes clear that something way bigger (and weirder) is going on.
At first, it seems like your typical “aliens in a creepy town” setup, but then you start getting hints about older legends, like these things called the Old Gods, and suddenly it’s not so simple. Strange noises, weird sightings, electronics failing, people acting suspicious. Even Claire, who starts off as a total cynic, can’t deny that something is seriously wrong.
One of the strongest parts of the book is the atmosphere. It’s very eerie and tense in that slow-burn way where everything just feels off. And the horror isn’t just supernatural; there’s also a lot of focus on environmental damage, illness, and how the town itself has been suffering for years. The mystery gets darker the more you learn, especially when you realize how many people have gotten sick or died under really suspicious circumstances.
The characters are solid, especially the dynamic between Lenny and Claire. They have very different motivations with Lenny is chasing truth and meaning while Claire is just trying to survive, but they balance each other well. Their relationship slowly develops into a bit of romance, and while it’s not the main focus, it adds a nice emotional layer (even if it feels a little rushed at times).
There’s also some good LGBTQ+ rep with Claire being a lesbian, though the book doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of small-town homophobia, which adds another layer of tension.
Plot-wise, it’s pretty engaging. The mystery keeps building, with clues piling up and more people in town clearly hiding things. Some twists are a little predictable, but the overall reveal is still satisfying, especially because the explanation combines both supernatural and human causes. It really leans into the idea that sometimes the scariest things aren’t just monsters; they’re what people are willing to do.
That said, the book isn’t perfect. The pacing can feel a bit uneven (some parts drag while others move too fast), and the dialogue sometimes reads a little younger than expected for YA. Also, if you’re here mainly for romance, you might be disappointed since it definitely takes a backseat to the mystery.
Overall, “The Monsters We Made” is a fun, eerie, and surprisingly thoughtful read. It mixes aliens, cryptids, and small-town secrets with deeper themes about greed, environmental damage, and the consequences of human choices. If you like creepy mysteries with a bit of sci-fi/paranormal chaos, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! This has in no way influenced my reading experience or opinions.
The first time I heard about the Monsters We Made on the author’s social media, I knew I was going to love it. It ticked off a lot of what I love to read—queer protagonists, eerie small towns, cryptid lore, and paranormal investigations. I’ve been looking everywhere for a book that captures the vibe, and the Monsters We Made sounded like it had it. So naturally, I went ahead and requested a review copy then devoured it within a few days. I’m pleased to announce that it did not disappoint!
The writing was so atmospheric I could smell the cattle manure from here. I just know Peyton June has a killer Pinterest board for this. The vibes were everything I could ask for and more in a book with cryptids and strange lights and small towns carrying a dark history. The Monsters We Made leaned more toward the paranormal than horror, though, so don’t go in expecting plenty of jumpscares or grotesque imagery because there’s not a lot.
Another one of the best things about reading the Monsters We Made was the mystery itself. We aren’t offered any answers any time soon—I was just as lost as Claire and Lenny. Everyone seems to have their own secrets. All the adults in Scarberry were suspicious and insufferable. I was going back and forth on whether that’s just what it’s like being in a red state or for plot purposes, although I have plenty of reasons to believe it was the former. Although I guessed the big bad (kinda) early on, there were plenty of red herrings that I was second guessing myself.
As the main protagonists, I found Claire and Lenny interesting and had a wonderful time reading each of their POV chapters. Claire being a jaded skeptic and Lenny being a bubbly and stubborn paranormal investigator was such a delicious treat. It’s pretty much a staple trope in books like the Monsters We Made and you know what, I will never get tired of it! But there’s more to them than just a pair of cynic and believer trying to get to the bottom of things. The book likewise explored what it’s like coming of age in a homophobic rural town and the modern era of social media and how it could affect one’s identity, direction in life, and relationships. That said, I’m also proud of how much Claire and Lenny had grown by the end of the book.
Bri was a fantastic supporting character and reminded me a lot of someone I knew. She and Claire have the sweetest cousin bond. I do not give a damn about Evan, and I have no opinions on Warren. I am, however, glad that they were allies at least and had their own character development that gave me a neutral impression on them.
I’m a little torn with the romantic development between Claire and Lenny. On one hand, I liked that it didn’t happen so abruptly and the author took the sweet, sweet time to develop it in a way that makes sense. Not once did their interactions feel out of place when the romantic tension started creeping in. On the other hand, it didn’t feel like it came out as intended, though. It was painstakingly slow then all at once. Claire definitely showed hints of interest early on, but we got nothing from Lenny if I remembered it correctly. It’s also worth noting that the Monsters We Made was pretty much a YA paranormal mystery/thriller novel first, and the romance was simply a minor subplot. It’s very slow and sweet, and there’s no spice (or a lot of romantic moments / tension for that matter).
The pacing was definitely an issue for me. I’d like to think I’m a very patient reader, but this book was a little too slow for my taste for a mystery/thriller novel. Things only got a bit exciting 30% in, but things only really took off at 50%. I think that’s far too long of a wait. And like I said, same goes with the romantic development—it was the slowest of slowburns because we never really got anything between Claire and Lenny until over the 50% mark! Nevertheless, I’m glad I waited for it to pay off because everything that came after was all so, soooo worth it! It had a satisfying conclusion and I liked that the book ended very neatly in my opinion.
All in all, the Monsters We Made had everything that I loved about cryptid stories and more: coming of age in a small rural town with secrets, queer characters with depth, monster hunting scenes, unexplained strange lights, unsettling small town legends, adults you can’t trust, a cute well-developed slowburn sapphic romance subplot, a compelling mystery that kept the pages turning, and jaw-dropping twists that I hardly saw coming. The vibes were simply immaculate on this one. As a long-time Buzzfeed Unsolved / Ghost Files fan, I ate it up and had the time of my life reading this book—definitely a must read for fans of the show (or any paranormal investigation show for that matter) and Scoobydoo. Peyton June had successfully found a fan in me, and I look forward to reading more of her work!
The first time I heard about the Monsters We Made on the author’s social media, I knew I was going to love it. It ticked off a lot of what I love to read—queer protagonists, eerie small towns, cryptid lore, and paranormal investigations. I’ve been looking everywhere for a book that captures the vibe, and the Monsters We Made sounded like it had it. So naturally, I went ahead and requested a review copy then devoured it within a few days. I’m pleased to announce that it did not disappoint!
The writing was so atmospheric I could smell the cattle manure from here. I just know Peyton June has a killer Pinterest board for this. The vibes were everything I could ask for and more in a book with cryptids and strange lights and small towns carrying a dark history. The Monsters We Made leaned more toward the paranormal than horror, though, so don’t go in expecting plenty of jumpscares or grotesque imagery because there’s not a lot.
Another one of the best things about reading the Monsters We Made was the mystery itself. We aren’t offered any answers any time soon—I was just as lost as Claire and Lenny. Everyone seems to have their own secrets. All the adults in Scarberry were suspicious and insufferable. I was going back and forth on whether that’s just what it’s like being in a red state or for plot purposes, although I have plenty of reasons to believe it was the former. Although I guessed the big bad (kinda) early on, there were plenty of red herrings that I was second guessing myself.
As the main protagonists, I found Claire and Lenny interesting and had a wonderful time reading each of their POV chapters. Claire being a jaded skeptic and Lenny being a bubbly and stubborn paranormal investigator was such a delicious treat. It’s pretty much a staple trope in books like the Monsters We Made and you know what, I will never get tired of it! But there’s more to them than just a pair of cynic and believer trying to get to the bottom of things. The book likewise explored what it’s like coming of age in a homophobic rural town and the modern era of social media and how it could affect one’s identity, direction in life, and relationships. That said, I’m also proud of how much Claire and Lenny had grown by the end of the book.
Bri was a fantastic supporting character and reminded me a lot of someone I knew. She and Claire have the sweetest cousin bond. I do not give a damn about Evan, and I have no opinions on Warren. I am, however, glad that they were allies at least and had their own character development that gave me a neutral impression on them.
I’m a little torn with the romantic development between Claire and Lenny. On one hand, I liked that it didn’t happen so abruptly and the author took the sweet, sweet time to develop it in a way that makes sense. Not once did their interactions feel out of place when the romantic tension started creeping in. On the other hand, it didn’t feel like it came out as intended, though. It was painstakingly slow then all at once. Claire definitely showed hints of interest early on, but we got nothing from Lenny if I remembered it correctly. It’s also worth noting that the Monsters We Made was pretty much a YA paranormal mystery/thriller novel first, and the romance was simply a minor subplot. It’s very slow and sweet, and there’s no spice (or a lot of romantic moments / tension for that matter).
The pacing was definitely an issue for me. I’d like to think I’m a very patient reader, but this book was a little too slow for my taste for a mystery/thriller novel. Things only got a bit exciting 30% in, but things only really took off at 50%. I think that’s far too long of a wait. And like I said, same goes with the romantic development—it was the slowest of slowburns because we never really got anything between Claire and Lenny until over the 50% mark! Nevertheless, I’m glad I waited for it to pay off because everything that came after was all so, soooo worth it! It had a satisfying conclusion and I liked that the book ended very neatly in my opinion.
All in all, the Monsters We Made had everything that I loved about cryptid stories and more: coming of age in a small rural town with secrets, queer characters with depth, monster hunting scenes, unexplained strange lights, unsettling small town legends, adults you can’t trust, a cute well-developed slowburn sapphic romance subplot, a compelling mystery that kept the pages turning, and jaw-dropping twists that I hardly saw coming. The vibes were simply immaculate on this one. As a long-time Buzzfeed Unsolved / Ghost Files fan, I ate it up and had the time of my life reading this book—definitely a must read for fans of the show (or any paranormal investigation show for that matter) and Scoobydoo. Peyton June had successfully found a fan in me, and I look forward to reading more of her work!
June 24, 2026
{4.0 Stars}
ARC Review
First and foremost, this is a queer mystery/thriller romance between an alien enthusiast and a girl trying to save her family business by faking an alien encounter.
Pros:
- Strong queer representation
- Believable exploration of self-discovery and personal value
- Engaging and well-executed mystery
- Interesting, layered plot
Cons
- Romance feels rushed and underdeveloped
- Some character relationships needed more depth
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. One of its biggest strengths is how well it blends the mystery with two opposing perspectives: skepticism and belief. Regardless of which POV I was reading, I could understand each character’s reasoning and emotional response to the situation, as well as how those emotions evolved throughout the story. Balancing these contrasting viewpoints is not easy, especially while maintaining distinct characters with such different worldviews, but the author handles it very well.
I also had a strong feeling of where the mystery reveal was heading, although not in the intended way. I had a general suspicion about what was happening, but the ambiguity in the characters’ interpretations made me question whether something supernatural was actually at play, which made it even more thrilling.
Cons
My main issue is the underdeveloped relationship with the aunt. I struggled to understand the depth of Claire’s bond with her. Was the aunt supportive or emotionally distant? How did she respond to Claire being bullied? What were her feelings about Claire wanting to leave? These questions remained unclear, and I think further development of this relationship would have made the emotional payoff at the end much stronger.
[This issue I have with the book contains a spoiler, so read at your own risk]
The second issue is the pacing of Claire and Lenny’s romantic relationship.
I believe Lenny was in the process of understanding her feelings and recognizing that she may have been in a comphet relationship, as her queerness is clearly established throughout the story.
However, the transition into a romantic relationship felt too abrupt. There was very little established romantic groundwork: no acknowledged first date, no intentional romantic gestures, and no physical or emotional milestones that clearly shifted them from allies to romantic partners. Despite this, Lenny suddenly asking Claire to be her girlfriend felt rushed.
In my opinion, it would have been more effective if Lenny had instead suggested going on a date first, once the mystery was resolved and they could explore their feelings outside of crisis situations. That would have achieved two things:
It would reinforce Lenny’s acceptance of her queer identity in a grounded, intentional way.
It would acknowledge her uncertainty and allow both characters space to explore a new dynamic naturally.
As a result, their relationship would have felt more developed and emotionally satisfying. Unfortunately, the current pacing makes the ending feel more rushed than wholesome.
ARC Review
First and foremost, this is a queer mystery/thriller romance between an alien enthusiast and a girl trying to save her family business by faking an alien encounter.
Pros:
- Strong queer representation
- Believable exploration of self-discovery and personal value
- Engaging and well-executed mystery
- Interesting, layered plot
Cons
- Romance feels rushed and underdeveloped
- Some character relationships needed more depth
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. One of its biggest strengths is how well it blends the mystery with two opposing perspectives: skepticism and belief. Regardless of which POV I was reading, I could understand each character’s reasoning and emotional response to the situation, as well as how those emotions evolved throughout the story. Balancing these contrasting viewpoints is not easy, especially while maintaining distinct characters with such different worldviews, but the author handles it very well.
I also had a strong feeling of where the mystery reveal was heading, although not in the intended way. I had a general suspicion about what was happening, but the ambiguity in the characters’ interpretations made me question whether something supernatural was actually at play, which made it even more thrilling.
Cons
My main issue is the underdeveloped relationship with the aunt. I struggled to understand the depth of Claire’s bond with her. Was the aunt supportive or emotionally distant? How did she respond to Claire being bullied? What were her feelings about Claire wanting to leave? These questions remained unclear, and I think further development of this relationship would have made the emotional payoff at the end much stronger.
[This issue I have with the book contains a spoiler, so read at your own risk]
The second issue is the pacing of Claire and Lenny’s romantic relationship.
I believe Lenny was in the process of understanding her feelings and recognizing that she may have been in a comphet relationship, as her queerness is clearly established throughout the story.
However, the transition into a romantic relationship felt too abrupt. There was very little established romantic groundwork: no acknowledged first date, no intentional romantic gestures, and no physical or emotional milestones that clearly shifted them from allies to romantic partners. Despite this, Lenny suddenly asking Claire to be her girlfriend felt rushed.
In my opinion, it would have been more effective if Lenny had instead suggested going on a date first, once the mystery was resolved and they could explore their feelings outside of crisis situations. That would have achieved two things:
It would reinforce Lenny’s acceptance of her queer identity in a grounded, intentional way.
It would acknowledge her uncertainty and allow both characters space to explore a new dynamic naturally.
As a result, their relationship would have felt more developed and emotionally satisfying. Unfortunately, the current pacing makes the ending feel more rushed than wholesome.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars! ✨
This was a fun take on alien phenomena and two young girls navigating the difficulties of societal pressures in many forms while staying true to themselves.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for a copy of an e-arc in exchange for an honest review ✨
In “The Monsters We Made” we are following two riveting young women. Lenny has always been curious about the tale of “Old Lucky.” In the small town of Scarberry it is rumored that an alien exists who creates unexplained sights, sounds, and oddities experienced by few of the townsfolk. After convincing her boyfriend Evan to follow her lead to investigate this for their widely known youtube channel “Odd Kids” Lenny is beginning to realize there are many weird occurrences taking place beyond the tale of Old Lucky. Evan, eager to move onto the next lead leaves Lenny, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. Claire has never felt that she belongs in Scarberry as someone in the LGBQT+ community. Many of her peers are closed minded and can’t accept her as is. Not only is she “different” but her mom abandoned her long ago, leaving her to be raised by her Aunt Maeve on a family ranch. As a key witness Lenny requests Calire’s help in discovering the truth behind the mystery of Scarberry. Claire and Lenny may soon discover more than they bargained for.
This had a bit of a slow start but the mystery and the relationship between our main characters was very compelling. Once I started to read about the dying crops, and weird creatures popping up throughout the town I couldn’t stop turning pages. I LOVE the exploration of aliens, contamination, weird unexplainable occurrences, and the small town “cult like” mindset as someone who comes from a small town as well. I did get a similar vibe to “Stranger Things” and as a big fan I approve.
It was clear from the get-go that Lenny and Evan were not meant to be, and I am so proud of Lenny for standing her ground, using her voice, and finding herself. She has so much heart, passion, and creativity to where she could do anything she put her mind to. Claire was a bit stubborn and hot headed, but I really couldn’t fault her for that. She grew up in a town of small minded people, who were not open to her due to who she is, and that in itself is just wrong. Witnessing the closest person to you get deathly ill is a burden I would not wish on anyone.
Overall, I had a fun time reading this book and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!👽🛸
This was a fun take on alien phenomena and two young girls navigating the difficulties of societal pressures in many forms while staying true to themselves.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for a copy of an e-arc in exchange for an honest review ✨
In “The Monsters We Made” we are following two riveting young women. Lenny has always been curious about the tale of “Old Lucky.” In the small town of Scarberry it is rumored that an alien exists who creates unexplained sights, sounds, and oddities experienced by few of the townsfolk. After convincing her boyfriend Evan to follow her lead to investigate this for their widely known youtube channel “Odd Kids” Lenny is beginning to realize there are many weird occurrences taking place beyond the tale of Old Lucky. Evan, eager to move onto the next lead leaves Lenny, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. Claire has never felt that she belongs in Scarberry as someone in the LGBQT+ community. Many of her peers are closed minded and can’t accept her as is. Not only is she “different” but her mom abandoned her long ago, leaving her to be raised by her Aunt Maeve on a family ranch. As a key witness Lenny requests Calire’s help in discovering the truth behind the mystery of Scarberry. Claire and Lenny may soon discover more than they bargained for.
This had a bit of a slow start but the mystery and the relationship between our main characters was very compelling. Once I started to read about the dying crops, and weird creatures popping up throughout the town I couldn’t stop turning pages. I LOVE the exploration of aliens, contamination, weird unexplainable occurrences, and the small town “cult like” mindset as someone who comes from a small town as well. I did get a similar vibe to “Stranger Things” and as a big fan I approve.
It was clear from the get-go that Lenny and Evan were not meant to be, and I am so proud of Lenny for standing her ground, using her voice, and finding herself. She has so much heart, passion, and creativity to where she could do anything she put her mind to. Claire was a bit stubborn and hot headed, but I really couldn’t fault her for that. She grew up in a town of small minded people, who were not open to her due to who she is, and that in itself is just wrong. Witnessing the closest person to you get deathly ill is a burden I would not wish on anyone.
Overall, I had a fun time reading this book and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!👽🛸
June 26, 2026
After reading Bad Creek by this author I was really looking forward to getting stuck into another one of her books. The Monsters We Made is a unique. small town, supernatural mystery, where we follow Lenny on her journey to find an alien cryptid in a small town.
I have complicated feelings about this book. Whilst the plot was very intriguing, I do feel like there were parts that needed more clarification and further detail. I felt like there were too many things going on, what with the FBI, Bri's cancer, Lenny + Evan, Lenny pondering her sexuality, Claire's constant act trying to create Old Lucky. There were just too many things that were being forced to come together to make a satisfying ending. Couple that with the slow pacing and the almost forced sapphic relationship, and you're left with those very mixed feelings I was talking about.
Don't get me wrong, I liked both Lenny and Claire. Lenny was smart, uptight, weird (in a good way) and lost. Claire was guarded, but underneath she was very caring and likeable. But I honestly think they felt more like friends up until the 75% ish mark. I had hoped for more of a defined romantic connection earlier on, but that wasn't the case. I also found Lenny to just start pondering her sexuality out of nowhere? I understand she was with Evan for a long time and she lost herself in that relationship, but we didn't know anything about who Lenny was or how she felt before that relationship with Evan. I would've liked to have had more depth into her character, so that her feelings toward Claire felt more genuine, rather than Lenny getting out of a relationship and finding Claire to fill the holes he had left. I preferred the character's individually rather than together, if that makes sense.
I do like Peyton June's writing, as someone who has read her first book, I think she creates a mystery atmosphere very well. I also thing that the town of Scarberry was written really well. Everything was so well described and it created such an eerie feeling about the town. I'm also very glad this was dual POV. Reading from both a beliver's perspective and a skeptic's was super interesting and fun. I genuinely wanted to know how every detail would link up and lead us to the end. I just wish that things had concluded together in a way that gelled and didn't leave me with more questions than answers. The beginning felt slow and the end felt rushed. Whilst my review may sound more critical, I did honestly enjoy reading this and I would recommend it if you're thinking about reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
I have complicated feelings about this book. Whilst the plot was very intriguing, I do feel like there were parts that needed more clarification and further detail. I felt like there were too many things going on, what with the FBI, Bri's cancer, Lenny + Evan, Lenny pondering her sexuality, Claire's constant act trying to create Old Lucky. There were just too many things that were being forced to come together to make a satisfying ending. Couple that with the slow pacing and the almost forced sapphic relationship, and you're left with those very mixed feelings I was talking about.
Don't get me wrong, I liked both Lenny and Claire. Lenny was smart, uptight, weird (in a good way) and lost. Claire was guarded, but underneath she was very caring and likeable. But I honestly think they felt more like friends up until the 75% ish mark. I had hoped for more of a defined romantic connection earlier on, but that wasn't the case. I also found Lenny to just start pondering her sexuality out of nowhere? I understand she was with Evan for a long time and she lost herself in that relationship, but we didn't know anything about who Lenny was or how she felt before that relationship with Evan. I would've liked to have had more depth into her character, so that her feelings toward Claire felt more genuine, rather than Lenny getting out of a relationship and finding Claire to fill the holes he had left. I preferred the character's individually rather than together, if that makes sense.
I do like Peyton June's writing, as someone who has read her first book, I think she creates a mystery atmosphere very well. I also thing that the town of Scarberry was written really well. Everything was so well described and it created such an eerie feeling about the town. I'm also very glad this was dual POV. Reading from both a beliver's perspective and a skeptic's was super interesting and fun. I genuinely wanted to know how every detail would link up and lead us to the end. I just wish that things had concluded together in a way that gelled and didn't leave me with more questions than answers. The beginning felt slow and the end felt rushed. Whilst my review may sound more critical, I did honestly enjoy reading this and I would recommend it if you're thinking about reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have said it once and ill say it again, nothing is more unsettling then a small town. The Monsters We Made is a endearing story of the importance of authenticity, truth and community. Featuring an alien cryptid, mysterious phenomenon, rival vloggers, standing up to oppressive men, & a budding queer romance . I would describe the vibes as more spooky rather then scary necessarily. While the book touches upon some heavy topics, overall it was a fun, light read. I adored the queer, fat, & neurodivergent representation.
"But the show wasn't hers anymore. It had mutated into this ugly thing that was slowly sapping the life out of her. She couldn't keep going on like this. But she couldn't quite, either. Both options felt like losing."
This book truly succeeds is in the de-romanticization of influencer culture. Lenny's Youtube career is shown to have fundamentally altered the way she expresses herself and how she interacts with the world around her. Staying in an unhealthy relationship, abandoning friendships, trying to fit herself into a neurotypical box, and losing passion for things that used to bring her joy. At times the YouTube stuff felt a bit cringy, I think part of the issue is that the characters are written in a way that makes their actions / dialogue feel younger then their stated ages (18). Overall though I do think it was incorporated well into the plot and would resonate with a YA audience.
"Thou shalt not express an opinion on Old Lucky. He was both Scarberry's god and their unloved bastard child. Their mascot and the thorn inside their cowboy boots. He was the Thing We Do Not speak Of. "
I found the book to struggle with pacing. After a really strong start things fizzled in the middle. I don't know if I necessarily agree with marketing this as a thriller, felt much more like a slow burn mystery. Things do pick up at around the 75% mark, in fact some of the most interesting pieces of lore are reveling in that last 15%. These revelations are largely glossed over and reacted to rather underwhelmingly by our MCs, which was incredibly disappointing. If more time had been allotted for a deeper dive into the creature / the towns history. The ending itself left me feeling conflicted, its cute don't get me wrong, everything just wraps up so quickly and far too "cleanly" considering all the un answered questions.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
"But the show wasn't hers anymore. It had mutated into this ugly thing that was slowly sapping the life out of her. She couldn't keep going on like this. But she couldn't quite, either. Both options felt like losing."
This book truly succeeds is in the de-romanticization of influencer culture. Lenny's Youtube career is shown to have fundamentally altered the way she expresses herself and how she interacts with the world around her. Staying in an unhealthy relationship, abandoning friendships, trying to fit herself into a neurotypical box, and losing passion for things that used to bring her joy. At times the YouTube stuff felt a bit cringy, I think part of the issue is that the characters are written in a way that makes their actions / dialogue feel younger then their stated ages (18). Overall though I do think it was incorporated well into the plot and would resonate with a YA audience.
"Thou shalt not express an opinion on Old Lucky. He was both Scarberry's god and their unloved bastard child. Their mascot and the thorn inside their cowboy boots. He was the Thing We Do Not speak Of. "
I found the book to struggle with pacing. After a really strong start things fizzled in the middle. I don't know if I necessarily agree with marketing this as a thriller, felt much more like a slow burn mystery. Things do pick up at around the 75% mark, in fact some of the most interesting pieces of lore are reveling in that last 15%. These revelations are largely glossed over and reacted to rather underwhelmingly by our MCs, which was incredibly disappointing. If more time had been allotted for a deeper dive into the creature / the towns history. The ending itself left me feeling conflicted, its cute don't get me wrong, everything just wraps up so quickly and far too "cleanly" considering all the un answered questions.
* Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review. *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
True Rate: 4.5 ⭐️
This was a very fun, bittersweet, and complex book; I’m unsure if it’s exactly YA or NA; but it definitely is geared towards a younger audience, imo. (NOT a bad thing, there’s a lot of banger YAs/NAs out there I adore with my entire soul.) I got the pleasure of reading this as an ARC off of NetGalley!
So, first and foremost: this is a love letter to all of us that want to believe, and has a few smatterings of creature feature homages! There is also a lot of conversation about the decisions we make young, how we have trouble communicating that, and how we have to truly sit down and think of US. Also, a perfect Pride Month drop/read. 💕
I genuinely loved the two main characters (Claire and Lenny); they’re both flawed but fantastic young women. I think my favorite is Claire (that’s the beaten dog in me), but Lenny also had BALLS and we love that in an FMC. It is very cute, and also HEALTHY how all the relationships and friendships are handled in this book. That resolution was super nice and cathartic.
This book was very good, very unique with its delivery on not only its “creature”, but also the deeper horrors of Small Town Americana, homophobia, covering up things at every turn, and the terrible things grief can do.
Props AF to the fact the men in the book actually didn’t suck (beyond standard male bullshit and 18 year old drama).
There was a point at which the book DID become predictable, and a little breakneck (HAHA), but it didn’t totally kill the vibe. It happened towards the last 100 or so pages, it’s not even awful because there were still twists inside the things that are figured out by the readers themselves.
There’s also a running theme recently of books that do not fully answer their monsters/scenarios/situations. I know that’s been a bit dividing online; but me? I love that. It’s like real life, we don’t always get answers and sometimes it’s GOOD to swallow that pill and remover it’s in our medicine cabinets (like some good old Advil). I’m also seeing more healthy, raw conversations in works like this, and again, I am SO here for it. Hard conversations make life spicy, don’t be bland.
I would say, if you like cryptids, aliens, and wild plots; here’s a lil’ treat for you. A little cosmic kiss. 💋
This was a very fun, bittersweet, and complex book; I’m unsure if it’s exactly YA or NA; but it definitely is geared towards a younger audience, imo. (NOT a bad thing, there’s a lot of banger YAs/NAs out there I adore with my entire soul.) I got the pleasure of reading this as an ARC off of NetGalley!
So, first and foremost: this is a love letter to all of us that want to believe, and has a few smatterings of creature feature homages! There is also a lot of conversation about the decisions we make young, how we have trouble communicating that, and how we have to truly sit down and think of US. Also, a perfect Pride Month drop/read. 💕
I genuinely loved the two main characters (Claire and Lenny); they’re both flawed but fantastic young women. I think my favorite is Claire (that’s the beaten dog in me), but Lenny also had BALLS and we love that in an FMC. It is very cute, and also HEALTHY how all the relationships and friendships are handled in this book. That resolution was super nice and cathartic.
This book was very good, very unique with its delivery on not only its “creature”, but also the deeper horrors of Small Town Americana, homophobia, covering up things at every turn, and the terrible things grief can do.
Props AF to the fact the men in the book actually didn’t suck (beyond standard male bullshit and 18 year old drama).
There was a point at which the book DID become predictable, and a little breakneck (HAHA), but it didn’t totally kill the vibe. It happened towards the last 100 or so pages, it’s not even awful because there were still twists inside the things that are figured out by the readers themselves.
There’s also a running theme recently of books that do not fully answer their monsters/scenarios/situations. I know that’s been a bit dividing online; but me? I love that. It’s like real life, we don’t always get answers and sometimes it’s GOOD to swallow that pill and remover it’s in our medicine cabinets (like some good old Advil). I’m also seeing more healthy, raw conversations in works like this, and again, I am SO here for it. Hard conversations make life spicy, don’t be bland.
I would say, if you like cryptids, aliens, and wild plots; here’s a lil’ treat for you. A little cosmic kiss. 💋
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Peyton June and W.W. Norton & Company for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Monsters We Made by Peyton June is a suspenseful small town story that blends horror, mystery, and a touch of sci fi in a way that feels both eerie and grounded. The book follows Lenny, who co runs an alien hunting show, and Claire, a local who pulls them into her town with the promise of something strange lurking just out of sight. What starts as a search for answers quickly turns into something much deeper as the town’s secrets begin to surface.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the setting being in this small town where people are forced to protect one another whether they want to or not, and how that sense of closeness also created tension and secrecy. The dual POV worked so well and I liked getting to know both Lenny and Claire as they navigated everything happening around them. Their dynamic felt natural and added another layer to the story alongside the aliens, the town’s residents, and the growing unease.
There was horror and suspense where there needed to be, but what stood out to me most were the deeper conversations about feeling trapped and not belonging in a small town. That theme was woven in a way that felt real and fitting for the characters and their choices. I also loved that the romance stayed more of a subplot, which honestly surprised me since I usually gravitate toward romance heavy stories. There were enough hints and buildup between Lenny and Claire that when they finally got together it felt natural and not rushed, especially compared to Claire’s past relationship.
The mystery surrounding Old Lucky was handled really well and kept me engaged the entire time without giving too much away too early. I also loved how everything came full circle by the end. There is a sense of a cycle continuing with new people coming into town and still not believing, while we see how much Claire has changed after everything she experienced. It gave the story a lasting impact that stuck with me even after finishing. Overall this was such a fun and engaging read with a great mix of tension, emotion, and intrigue.
The Monsters We Made by Peyton June is a suspenseful small town story that blends horror, mystery, and a touch of sci fi in a way that feels both eerie and grounded. The book follows Lenny, who co runs an alien hunting show, and Claire, a local who pulls them into her town with the promise of something strange lurking just out of sight. What starts as a search for answers quickly turns into something much deeper as the town’s secrets begin to surface.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the setting being in this small town where people are forced to protect one another whether they want to or not, and how that sense of closeness also created tension and secrecy. The dual POV worked so well and I liked getting to know both Lenny and Claire as they navigated everything happening around them. Their dynamic felt natural and added another layer to the story alongside the aliens, the town’s residents, and the growing unease.
There was horror and suspense where there needed to be, but what stood out to me most were the deeper conversations about feeling trapped and not belonging in a small town. That theme was woven in a way that felt real and fitting for the characters and their choices. I also loved that the romance stayed more of a subplot, which honestly surprised me since I usually gravitate toward romance heavy stories. There were enough hints and buildup between Lenny and Claire that when they finally got together it felt natural and not rushed, especially compared to Claire’s past relationship.
The mystery surrounding Old Lucky was handled really well and kept me engaged the entire time without giving too much away too early. I also loved how everything came full circle by the end. There is a sense of a cycle continuing with new people coming into town and still not believing, while we see how much Claire has changed after everything she experienced. It gave the story a lasting impact that stuck with me even after finishing. Overall this was such a fun and engaging read with a great mix of tension, emotion, and intrigue.
June 12, 2026
2 ⭐️
Marketed as XFiles but teenage girls, many essential XFiles elements were present. The author did a great job creating a creepy atmosphere and using foreshadowing to hint at the twists. The small town cult like effect was an excellent backdrop for this.
I also enjoyed the discussions about how Lenny’s YouTube fame had affected her negatively. Many younger kids think that being an influencer is something to strive for and don’t consider the downsides of it.
That all said, I had a hard time not DNFing this in the first half of the book because of the writing, the pacing, and most of all the way that Claire speaks and thinks about her cousin Bri. For context, Bri is her younger cousin who survived cancer and is in remission, but showing clear signs of the cancer being back. The first scene where we are introduced to Claire’s POV and Bri, Claire thinks she is “useless” because she’s excited to meet Lenny whose YouTube channel she follows. This attitude of Bri being annoying, flaky, useless, and memorably “using her illness as a scapegoat” repeats often and usually around her cousin showing that she is severely sick and not feeling well. As a person with chronic illness and with family members that have these as well, I was appalled reading that. There is no justification given for those thoughts other than Claire is annoyed that Bri isn’t doing as she said. This attitude could have been written into more complex characterization for Bri, but wasn’t. Instead the author put those harmful, distasteful attitudes and beliefs into the book and expected it to be accepted. If this hadn’t been an ARC I would have DNFed on that alone. Additionally, the writing is simplistic, the pacing slow in the first and then far too fast in the last 30%, and I feel like this needed a few more rounds of editing to live up to what it should have been.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 🖤
Marketed as XFiles but teenage girls, many essential XFiles elements were present. The author did a great job creating a creepy atmosphere and using foreshadowing to hint at the twists. The small town cult like effect was an excellent backdrop for this.
I also enjoyed the discussions about how Lenny’s YouTube fame had affected her negatively. Many younger kids think that being an influencer is something to strive for and don’t consider the downsides of it.
That all said, I had a hard time not DNFing this in the first half of the book because of the writing, the pacing, and most of all the way that Claire speaks and thinks about her cousin Bri. For context, Bri is her younger cousin who survived cancer and is in remission, but showing clear signs of the cancer being back. The first scene where we are introduced to Claire’s POV and Bri, Claire thinks she is “useless” because she’s excited to meet Lenny whose YouTube channel she follows. This attitude of Bri being annoying, flaky, useless, and memorably “using her illness as a scapegoat” repeats often and usually around her cousin showing that she is severely sick and not feeling well. As a person with chronic illness and with family members that have these as well, I was appalled reading that. There is no justification given for those thoughts other than Claire is annoyed that Bri isn’t doing as she said. This attitude could have been written into more complex characterization for Bri, but wasn’t. Instead the author put those harmful, distasteful attitudes and beliefs into the book and expected it to be accepted. If this hadn’t been an ARC I would have DNFed on that alone. Additionally, the writing is simplistic, the pacing slow in the first and then far too fast in the last 30%, and I feel like this needed a few more rounds of editing to live up to what it should have been.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✍️ Brief Synopsis: Searching for an alien cryptid called Old Lucky, two paranormal vloggers arrive in a small town to uncover the truth behind Old Lucky. However, they were called under false pretenses… yet shortly after they arrive, spooky things begin to happen. Things that don’t make any sense, even to the girl that led them here under those false pretenses. So now the question is, are they dealing with Old Lucky or something much more human and equally as dangerous?
🎧 Audio Review: Really enjoyed the narration for this one! Definitely recommend the audiobook for this read!
📝 Story Review: This audiobook kept me on my toes, it started off a little slow, but momentum caught up soon enough and I was hooked. I was very intrigued as to the Old Lucky legend and to find out what was actually going on in this town, because it was clear something big was being hidden. - I didn’t really vibe with the slow build low key romance aspect between the two FMC’s, simply because I only felt friendship between them, like I easily saw them becoming besties, but not necessarily more. But it is a YA/NA story, so perhaps that’s why I didn’t feel the depth of actual romance. - The thriller horror vibes were good though!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Vibes: Intriguing and Eerie
Tropes 👇
- Paranormal Investigators/Vloggers
- Teenage/coming of age drama
- Odd things are happening
- Alien cryptid lore
- YouTube channel
- LGBTQ rep
- Small town
- Mystery to solve
CW’s 👇
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Sickness among cattle
- Unwilling to let a loved one go when it’s time
- Loss of parents
- Teenage breakup
- Captivity
- Murder
- Mention of homophobic vandalism/slurs
Audio Release Date: June 23, 2026
Audio Run Time: 9 hrs, 46 mins
Narrated By: Justis Bolding; Suzy Jackson
Genre: Spooky YA Thriller/YA Paranormal Horror
POV: Third Person; Dual
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ALC in return for my honest review.
🎧 Audio Review: Really enjoyed the narration for this one! Definitely recommend the audiobook for this read!
📝 Story Review: This audiobook kept me on my toes, it started off a little slow, but momentum caught up soon enough and I was hooked. I was very intrigued as to the Old Lucky legend and to find out what was actually going on in this town, because it was clear something big was being hidden. - I didn’t really vibe with the slow build low key romance aspect between the two FMC’s, simply because I only felt friendship between them, like I easily saw them becoming besties, but not necessarily more. But it is a YA/NA story, so perhaps that’s why I didn’t feel the depth of actual romance. - The thriller horror vibes were good though!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Vibes: Intriguing and Eerie
Tropes 👇
- Paranormal Investigators/Vloggers
- Teenage/coming of age drama
- Odd things are happening
- Alien cryptid lore
- YouTube channel
- LGBTQ rep
- Small town
- Mystery to solve
CW’s 👇
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Sickness among cattle
- Unwilling to let a loved one go when it’s time
- Loss of parents
- Teenage breakup
- Captivity
- Murder
- Mention of homophobic vandalism/slurs
Audio Release Date: June 23, 2026
Audio Run Time: 9 hrs, 46 mins
Narrated By: Justis Bolding; Suzy Jackson
Genre: Spooky YA Thriller/YA Paranormal Horror
POV: Third Person; Dual
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ALC in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
“The Monsters We Made is an eerie and suspenseful exploration of one town’s dark history and the people who bring it back to life” When Claire learns her family ranch is struggling, she comes up with a plan to save it - she and her cousin Bri fabricated a video of the town's legendary alien cryptid, “Old Lucky”, and the video goes viral, bringing real paranormal vloggers Evan and Lenny to her town.
I was lucky enough to also be able to read the ARC of Peyton June's first novel, Bad Creek, and so I expected more of the same campy/horror/thriller vibes, which is exactly what I got, plus the whole “Teenage X-Files” thing it's got going on. The writing style was pulpy and thorough and the setting just flowed so well with the dialogue and the characters' personalities. The level of Mystery just keeps amping up each chapter and sucks you even more into the town of Scarberry’s dark history.
There is good LGBTQ+ representation as well. Claire is gay, and is constantly being bullied and ostracized from the homophobic Nebraskan community. I think Lenny might be Bi, and I think she is starting to realize this for herself as well by the end of the book. Evan was just an asshole from the beginning and I’m really glad he left Lenny.
Is anything real? Is it an alien, a mythical monster, a serial killer, or a hoax? Who can they trust? Everything comes together quite well in the end, but I still think some more information was needed to explain the paranormal phenomenon. Overall, this was a wonderfully creepy paranormal mystery, and I definitely would recommend to anyone who likes Alien cryptids, Murder Mysteries, and “Queer-teens-save-the-town” vibes
Thank you to my sister, Ari, at the Cuyahoga County Public Library for providing me with a free paperback ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was lucky enough to also be able to read the ARC of Peyton June's first novel, Bad Creek, and so I expected more of the same campy/horror/thriller vibes, which is exactly what I got, plus the whole “Teenage X-Files” thing it's got going on. The writing style was pulpy and thorough and the setting just flowed so well with the dialogue and the characters' personalities. The level of Mystery just keeps amping up each chapter and sucks you even more into the town of Scarberry’s dark history.
There is good LGBTQ+ representation as well. Claire is gay, and is constantly being bullied and ostracized from the homophobic Nebraskan community. I think Lenny might be Bi, and I think she is starting to realize this for herself as well by the end of the book. Evan was just an asshole from the beginning and I’m really glad he left Lenny.
Is anything real? Is it an alien, a mythical monster, a serial killer, or a hoax? Who can they trust? Everything comes together quite well in the end, but I still think some more information was needed to explain the paranormal phenomenon. Overall, this was a wonderfully creepy paranormal mystery, and I definitely would recommend to anyone who likes Alien cryptids, Murder Mysteries, and “Queer-teens-save-the-town” vibes
Thank you to my sister, Ari, at the Cuyahoga County Public Library for providing me with a free paperback ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This is partially a throwback to 80's X-Files and ET drama, but also a reflection on the influencer industry and what it means to be authentic when your personal life is a commodity meant to be sold, and it works so well in this YA horror novel! Claire may have set up lights as a hoax to draw in the YouTube duo Bad Kids, Evan and Lenny, but there are genuinely suspenseful and scary moments as Claire and Lenny delve into the true mysteries of Scarberry. The reveal of what is actually going on in the town and the dark secret surrounding Old Lucky was actually quite dark for a YA novel, even if I felt the epilogue chapter was a bit too neat and pat wrapping everything up in the end.
Lenny and Claire are both great main POV characters--Lenny because she's struggling with wanting to find out the truth of what is going on in Scarberry along with the pressures of running a popular YouTube supernatural investigators YouTube channel and her crumbling relationship with her business partner and boyfriend Evan. Claire is also struggling; she was supposed to leave her homophobic town for college, but then her beloved cousin got sick with cancer, and with the farm being nearly up for sale, she needs to try and come up with some money fast, which is why she drew in the Bad Kids. The two of them together is messy, but they're so supportive of one another's interests and goals, unlike everyone else in their lives. Their growing feelings are a treat to read, but I did think them actually getting together was a bit rushed at the end.
Overall, the pacing of this book was really good at building suspense and mystery all the way up until the end, so the climax was a bit rushed. However, with all that said, this is a very good YA sapphic horror novel, and I definitely recommend you checking it out!
This is partially a throwback to 80's X-Files and ET drama, but also a reflection on the influencer industry and what it means to be authentic when your personal life is a commodity meant to be sold, and it works so well in this YA horror novel! Claire may have set up lights as a hoax to draw in the YouTube duo Bad Kids, Evan and Lenny, but there are genuinely suspenseful and scary moments as Claire and Lenny delve into the true mysteries of Scarberry. The reveal of what is actually going on in the town and the dark secret surrounding Old Lucky was actually quite dark for a YA novel, even if I felt the epilogue chapter was a bit too neat and pat wrapping everything up in the end.
Lenny and Claire are both great main POV characters--Lenny because she's struggling with wanting to find out the truth of what is going on in Scarberry along with the pressures of running a popular YouTube supernatural investigators YouTube channel and her crumbling relationship with her business partner and boyfriend Evan. Claire is also struggling; she was supposed to leave her homophobic town for college, but then her beloved cousin got sick with cancer, and with the farm being nearly up for sale, she needs to try and come up with some money fast, which is why she drew in the Bad Kids. The two of them together is messy, but they're so supportive of one another's interests and goals, unlike everyone else in their lives. Their growing feelings are a treat to read, but I did think them actually getting together was a bit rushed at the end.
Overall, the pacing of this book was really good at building suspense and mystery all the way up until the end, so the climax was a bit rushed. However, with all that said, this is a very good YA sapphic horror novel, and I definitely recommend you checking it out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"They were like Mulder and Scully, minus the sexual tension. Except sometimes Claire looked at her a little too long..."
👽🏳️🌈A bisexual panic YA version of The X-Files following a local farm-town lesbian and the paranormal investigator looking for an alien👽🏳️🌈
I would truly read anything that Peyton June writes, truly! Bad Creek was my favorite book of Summer 2025, and The Monsters We Made is my favorite of Summer 2026. If you're a queer person who thinks Mulder and Scully are a lavender couple (bonus points if you love everything cryptid summer) this is the PERFECT book for you!
Lenny really comes into herself in this, having to figure out who she is without her boyfriend and their youtube channel. With the help of Claire, a small town lesbian yearning for something bigger, they uncover not just a cryptid, but a terrifying town secret. Local sheriff and town elders have been hiding this secret creature from the FBI, but they never expected two girls to uncover and expose everything.
I really loved the character of Bri, a teenage girl in recovery from Leukemia. As someone with a chronic illness, she represented some of my struggles perfectly. She was currently in remission, but everyone acted as if she was still fragile and sick, unable to do things for herself to the point of infantilization. This is something I've struggled with as well, like people talking to my girlfriend or mom about me without even acknowledging me just because I'm in a wheelchair. One line that really got me was, "Everyone got so used to the idea of Bri dying, we didn’t plan for what to do if she lived.” Not that I'm dying, but I haven't been able to plan my own future past my illness.
TLDR; pick up this book, it'll change your summer.
👽🏳️🌈A bisexual panic YA version of The X-Files following a local farm-town lesbian and the paranormal investigator looking for an alien👽🏳️🌈
I would truly read anything that Peyton June writes, truly! Bad Creek was my favorite book of Summer 2025, and The Monsters We Made is my favorite of Summer 2026. If you're a queer person who thinks Mulder and Scully are a lavender couple (bonus points if you love everything cryptid summer) this is the PERFECT book for you!
Lenny really comes into herself in this, having to figure out who she is without her boyfriend and their youtube channel. With the help of Claire, a small town lesbian yearning for something bigger, they uncover not just a cryptid, but a terrifying town secret. Local sheriff and town elders have been hiding this secret creature from the FBI, but they never expected two girls to uncover and expose everything.
I really loved the character of Bri, a teenage girl in recovery from Leukemia. As someone with a chronic illness, she represented some of my struggles perfectly. She was currently in remission, but everyone acted as if she was still fragile and sick, unable to do things for herself to the point of infantilization. This is something I've struggled with as well, like people talking to my girlfriend or mom about me without even acknowledging me just because I'm in a wheelchair. One line that really got me was, "Everyone got so used to the idea of Bri dying, we didn’t plan for what to do if she lived.” Not that I'm dying, but I haven't been able to plan my own future past my illness.
TLDR; pick up this book, it'll change your summer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ The Monsters We Made by Peyton June ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
• 3.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
This one had me at "cryptid video causes small town chaos". Claire fakes a video of Old Lucky, the whole town loses it, and then Lenny shows up asking questions. I was locked in from there.
The main characters, Claire and Lenny, were easily my favorite part. So much suspicion and attraction and plain frustration bouncing between them. The mystery does a good job shifting from local legend into something much stranger. Cattle mutilations, people going missing, that feeling that something is very wrong on this ranch. The setting did a lot of the heavy lifting.
My one gripe is the ending wrapped up way too fast. I liked where the reveal went, but the second the truth came out, it felt like the audiobook just closed itself, if that makes sense. I wanted to sit in the aftermath longer, especially after some of the bigger moments toward the end, and Claire and Lenny’s relationship could have used a bit more room to breathe before I was fully sold on it.
Justis Bolding and Suzy Jackson did such a good job with the narration. They did a great job capturing the weirdness and tension hanging over the town, and the moments between Claire and Lenny landed well. It made the whole mystery easier to fall into.
Still had a good time with this one overall. Creepy, fun, very small town mystery coded. I just wish the last stretch had hit as hard as everything leading up to it did.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ cryptid lore
✔️ small town secrets
✔️ lgbtq representation
✔️ amateur investigations
✔️ creepy ranch vibes
✔️ local legends
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Jun 23, 2026 🎧
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from RBmedia. All opinions are my own.
• 3.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
This one had me at "cryptid video causes small town chaos". Claire fakes a video of Old Lucky, the whole town loses it, and then Lenny shows up asking questions. I was locked in from there.
The main characters, Claire and Lenny, were easily my favorite part. So much suspicion and attraction and plain frustration bouncing between them. The mystery does a good job shifting from local legend into something much stranger. Cattle mutilations, people going missing, that feeling that something is very wrong on this ranch. The setting did a lot of the heavy lifting.
My one gripe is the ending wrapped up way too fast. I liked where the reveal went, but the second the truth came out, it felt like the audiobook just closed itself, if that makes sense. I wanted to sit in the aftermath longer, especially after some of the bigger moments toward the end, and Claire and Lenny’s relationship could have used a bit more room to breathe before I was fully sold on it.
Justis Bolding and Suzy Jackson did such a good job with the narration. They did a great job capturing the weirdness and tension hanging over the town, and the moments between Claire and Lenny landed well. It made the whole mystery easier to fall into.
Still had a good time with this one overall. Creepy, fun, very small town mystery coded. I just wish the last stretch had hit as hard as everything leading up to it did.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ cryptid lore
✔️ small town secrets
✔️ lgbtq representation
✔️ amateur investigations
✔️ creepy ranch vibes
✔️ local legends
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Jun 23, 2026 🎧
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from RBmedia. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read early!
Actual rating: 4.25 stars
Not gonna lie, I first saw this book in one of Peyton’s videos on IG and she had me hooked from the first second!! It soon because one of my most anticipated releases of 2026.
I also immediately went and read her debut novel which btw is also fantastic!
I applied to this ARC on a whim and I can’t even put into words how happy I was when I received it!!!
And it was everything I hoped it would be and more.
I loved the setting and dual POV, I loved how different Claire and Lenny are. Their journey, both finding the paranormal being and their romantic connection, was compelling and realistic. It’s amazing to finally see a sapphic love story without insta love!!
I didn’t find the final twist too shocking but still, it was well written and also well tied up.
Seeing the character journey of some side characters (I’m looking at you Warren) was also very funny and entertaining.
The social media/YouTube twist was also very nice and idk everything about this just felt so relatable??
Never once did I think “noooo why are you doing this or that”, the characters just didn’t do anything unnecessarily stupid. I loved that!!
Huge plus points for the discussion of LGBTQ+ in rural communities. And a good reminder why we still need Pride Month and that being queer is not “trendy” and it’s still a serious danger for some people to come out.
Perfect for all The X Files and Supernatural lovers, especially if you’re bi😉
Actual rating: 4.25 stars
Not gonna lie, I first saw this book in one of Peyton’s videos on IG and she had me hooked from the first second!! It soon because one of my most anticipated releases of 2026.
I also immediately went and read her debut novel which btw is also fantastic!
I applied to this ARC on a whim and I can’t even put into words how happy I was when I received it!!!
And it was everything I hoped it would be and more.
I loved the setting and dual POV, I loved how different Claire and Lenny are. Their journey, both finding the paranormal being and their romantic connection, was compelling and realistic. It’s amazing to finally see a sapphic love story without insta love!!
I didn’t find the final twist too shocking but still, it was well written and also well tied up.
Seeing the character journey of some side characters (I’m looking at you Warren) was also very funny and entertaining.
The social media/YouTube twist was also very nice and idk everything about this just felt so relatable??
Never once did I think “noooo why are you doing this or that”, the characters just didn’t do anything unnecessarily stupid. I loved that!!
Huge plus points for the discussion of LGBTQ+ in rural communities. And a good reminder why we still need Pride Month and that being queer is not “trendy” and it’s still a serious danger for some people to come out.
Perfect for all The X Files and Supernatural lovers, especially if you’re bi😉
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Maybe the real horrors were the monsters we made along the way... or however the saying goes. Joking aside, Peyton June has absolutely crafted an excellent atmospheric cryptid horror with The Monsters We Made. And while this absolutely is cryptid horror, it's also so much more than that. It's the fear that comes from grieving, uncertainty, resentment, and feeling trapped in your circumstances. It's the pain behind loss. It's the devastation and rage that set in when your whole world makes you feel like you're either not enough or too much- or sometimes both simultaneously.
While it did take a while for me to get into the story, I deeply enjoyed this book. And I do generally love a bit of a slower build up to the plot so that's never a deal breaker. The Monsters We Made NEEDED that build, though, so if you're someone who does struggle with pacing just note that you'll need a little patience starting out. ((The payoff is worth it!))
If you like cryptid horror, women getting sick of men and their oppressive bullshit, & small town corruption shenanigans then you're going to want to add this book to your TBR. While release isn't expected until June ((Honestly the only release month that makes sense to me here.)) that gives you plenty of time to pick up Bad Creek and to fall in love with Peyton June's writing like I have.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and Peyton June for this complimentary copy.))
While it did take a while for me to get into the story, I deeply enjoyed this book. And I do generally love a bit of a slower build up to the plot so that's never a deal breaker. The Monsters We Made NEEDED that build, though, so if you're someone who does struggle with pacing just note that you'll need a little patience starting out. ((The payoff is worth it!))
If you like cryptid horror, women getting sick of men and their oppressive bullshit, & small town corruption shenanigans then you're going to want to add this book to your TBR. While release isn't expected until June ((Honestly the only release month that makes sense to me here.)) that gives you plenty of time to pick up Bad Creek and to fall in love with Peyton June's writing like I have.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and Peyton June for this complimentary copy.))
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for an eARC of this!
As soon as I heard that Peyton June's newest book was available on Netgalley, I dropped everything and requested it that exact moment. I adored Bad Creek and went into this with high expectations. I'm so pleased to say that this book exceeded my expectations.
This book follows our two main characters. Lenny, a paranormal investigator who runs a popular YouTube channel with her (not so) boyfriend Evan; and Claire, our hometown hero who wants to support her family and community while feeling outcasted by everyone. After an anonymous tip is sent to Lenny, she and Evan head to Scarberry, Nebraska to investigate and find out what is happening in this small farming community.
When I say that I could not put this book down, I mean it.
I feel like the part that stood out the most about this book was the setting. The eerie small town vibes mixed with the fact that outsiders are clearly not welcome. Scarberry really is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and nothing is a secret (until it is).
June really manages to make sure that you as a reader are at the edge of your seat. I found myself questioning every interaction with every character. I felt like no one could be trusted and that mixed with the the eerie atmosphere and the secrets that you could FEEL with each page turn made this book completely unforgettable.
As soon as I heard that Peyton June's newest book was available on Netgalley, I dropped everything and requested it that exact moment. I adored Bad Creek and went into this with high expectations. I'm so pleased to say that this book exceeded my expectations.
This book follows our two main characters. Lenny, a paranormal investigator who runs a popular YouTube channel with her (not so) boyfriend Evan; and Claire, our hometown hero who wants to support her family and community while feeling outcasted by everyone. After an anonymous tip is sent to Lenny, she and Evan head to Scarberry, Nebraska to investigate and find out what is happening in this small farming community.
When I say that I could not put this book down, I mean it.
I feel like the part that stood out the most about this book was the setting. The eerie small town vibes mixed with the fact that outsiders are clearly not welcome. Scarberry really is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and nothing is a secret (until it is).
June really manages to make sure that you as a reader are at the edge of your seat. I found myself questioning every interaction with every character. I felt like no one could be trusted and that mixed with the the eerie atmosphere and the secrets that you could FEEL with each page turn made this book completely unforgettable.
May 30, 2026
✨ Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review ✨
The Monsters We Made is a queer horror novel that instantly grabbed my attention. I can say for certain, I’ve never read anything quite like this book’s premise before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and clues that kept me sucked into the story.
The book is incredibly atmospheric and gives a great unsettling/creepy small-town vibe that really helps you sink into the story and imagine yourself with the characters. It’s definitely a fun, super mysterious and cryptic read that will have you on the edge of your seats. It’s really interesting to read from the perspective of a YouTuber in this setting as well, especially for a fan of Sam and Colby and having grown up watching ‘Most Haunted,’ amongst other paranormal shows.
I did struggle with some formatting of the e-copy; however, this could purely be an ARC problem and therefore will have no impact on the rating I give this book. The writing was easy to follow along for the most part, although I did find some areas tricky to stick with, and sometimes found them to be a bit confusing and disruptive of reading flow. It could just be me personally, but the characters were also slightly harder to stick along with, and I feel as a reader, there could be more background into Lenny specifically.
Overall, this is a perfect small-town, slow-burning mystery YA that will appeal to those exact audiences.
The Monsters We Made is a queer horror novel that instantly grabbed my attention. I can say for certain, I’ve never read anything quite like this book’s premise before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and clues that kept me sucked into the story.
The book is incredibly atmospheric and gives a great unsettling/creepy small-town vibe that really helps you sink into the story and imagine yourself with the characters. It’s definitely a fun, super mysterious and cryptic read that will have you on the edge of your seats. It’s really interesting to read from the perspective of a YouTuber in this setting as well, especially for a fan of Sam and Colby and having grown up watching ‘Most Haunted,’ amongst other paranormal shows.
I did struggle with some formatting of the e-copy; however, this could purely be an ARC problem and therefore will have no impact on the rating I give this book. The writing was easy to follow along for the most part, although I did find some areas tricky to stick with, and sometimes found them to be a bit confusing and disruptive of reading flow. It could just be me personally, but the characters were also slightly harder to stick along with, and I feel as a reader, there could be more background into Lenny specifically.
Overall, this is a perfect small-town, slow-burning mystery YA that will appeal to those exact audiences.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Monsters We Made is a sharp queer thriller that captives at the beats of a supernatural mystery. Set in a rural town, two worlds collide in this breakneck hunt for a cryptid, fake or not. The book does exactly what it says it provides on the cover, and for that I can't give it any faults. The Young Adult paranormal horror plot at the center of the story has all the right beats and is compelling in its suspense.
The relationship between Claire and Lenny, more implied than real, feels half-baked and unsatisfying. They say there's chemistry and have interest in one another, but we don't really see it, and I certainly didn't feel it. No spark, no sizzle, the queerness of the story lands rather with a heavy-handed flop (much like Claire's body-image issues).
Similarly, Peyton June's tight structure sacrifices the chance to have scenes breathe and to paint much ambiance. The prose are functional and unremarkable, clear and concise to the point of being a bit boring. Easy to read, but I'd rather have the author bring the story—the tension, the fear, the romance—to life with descriptions and figurative language. I wouldn't expect a gothic novel's purple prose, but even a Young Adult story can do this, and perhaps would have benefited from being more new adult, instead.
Lastly, the prevalence and importance of widespread cancer to the plot could have used a content warning. Overall, a fun quick read but not something I'd feel compelled to revisit or think deeper on.
The relationship between Claire and Lenny, more implied than real, feels half-baked and unsatisfying. They say there's chemistry and have interest in one another, but we don't really see it, and I certainly didn't feel it. No spark, no sizzle, the queerness of the story lands rather with a heavy-handed flop (much like Claire's body-image issues).
Similarly, Peyton June's tight structure sacrifices the chance to have scenes breathe and to paint much ambiance. The prose are functional and unremarkable, clear and concise to the point of being a bit boring. Easy to read, but I'd rather have the author bring the story—the tension, the fear, the romance—to life with descriptions and figurative language. I wouldn't expect a gothic novel's purple prose, but even a Young Adult story can do this, and perhaps would have benefited from being more new adult, instead.
Lastly, the prevalence and importance of widespread cancer to the plot could have used a content warning. Overall, a fun quick read but not something I'd feel compelled to revisit or think deeper on.
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