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Make a Home of Me
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE
Peer through the keyhole and what will you see?
A mysterious dinner party with a sickening twist.
A woman’s intense new relationship with a single father and his strangely shy daughter.
The rediscovered journals of a famous artist with a singular obsession who disappeared in suspicious circumstances.
A family driven to desperation by the impossible appearance of nonsensical notes.
A seemingly happily married couple driven to the edge of despair by a neighbour’s crying baby.
Set in houses that should provide protection but instead turn on their inhabitants, places of safety invaded without warning, and familiar landscapes that gradually change beyond recognition, Make a Home of Me is about all the ways in which our sanctuaries can turn into foreign places, casting us as strangers as we roam the halls.The stories in Make a Home of Me are unsettling and distinct, introducing a fresh new voice in the horror landscape.
Lock up when you’re done...
“Chilling, haunting and unflinching, Vanessa Santos is an astonishing writer and I’m utterly obsessed with this collection of unsettling short stories.” - Lucy Rose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamb
Peer through the keyhole and what will you see?
A mysterious dinner party with a sickening twist.
A woman’s intense new relationship with a single father and his strangely shy daughter.
The rediscovered journals of a famous artist with a singular obsession who disappeared in suspicious circumstances.
A family driven to desperation by the impossible appearance of nonsensical notes.
A seemingly happily married couple driven to the edge of despair by a neighbour’s crying baby.
Set in houses that should provide protection but instead turn on their inhabitants, places of safety invaded without warning, and familiar landscapes that gradually change beyond recognition, Make a Home of Me is about all the ways in which our sanctuaries can turn into foreign places, casting us as strangers as we roam the halls.The stories in Make a Home of Me are unsettling and distinct, introducing a fresh new voice in the horror landscape.
Lock up when you’re done...
“Chilling, haunting and unflinching, Vanessa Santos is an astonishing writer and I’m utterly obsessed with this collection of unsettling short stories.” - Lucy Rose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamb
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2025
About the author
Vanessa Santos
34 books18 followersVanessa Santos was born and raised on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic. She now lives in Scotland (though still by the sea) and spends as much of her time as possible devouring stories, writing stories, and wandering the endless Scottish woods. Her short fiction has been published online at Samjoko Magazine and Idle Ink, and in anthologies by Sliced Up Press, Colp, and Solar Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 29, 2025
Really pretty damn great. Compelling, unsettling, imaginative and exquisitely written. I loved it.
March 25, 2026
I love finding new authors to follow. MAKE A HOME OF ME is written by a fabulous new voice in fiction Vanessa Santos.
Make A Home Of Me is Vanessa Santos debut book, That is full of amazing page-turning short stories, that I highly recommend fiction and crime lovers to read.
My favourite short story was Emily.
She is a mute, disturbed, 10-year-old girl, that sent a chill down my spine. Her, father Ryan, moves his girlfriend in their home. After Ryan has to go away from home, his girl friend will come into some creepy situations with Emily.
This book is one not to be missed.
Make A Home Of Me is Vanessa Santos debut book, That is full of amazing page-turning short stories, that I highly recommend fiction and crime lovers to read.
My favourite short story was Emily.
She is a mute, disturbed, 10-year-old girl, that sent a chill down my spine. Her, father Ryan, moves his girlfriend in their home. After Ryan has to go away from home, his girl friend will come into some creepy situations with Emily.
This book is one not to be missed.
September 28, 2025
I really wanted to connect with Make a Home of Me, but this short story collection just didn’t land for me. While the themes of love, loss, and belonging were clear, I struggled to stay engaged with the stories themselves. The writing style felt uneven, and instead of pulling me in, I found myself drifting.
There were glimpses of emotional depth, but overall, the collection lacked the impact I was hoping for. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
There were glimpses of emotional depth, but overall, the collection lacked the impact I was hoping for. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
June 9, 2025
Vanessa Santos' "Make a Home of Me" is the perfect quiet horror collection: just eight stories at the absolutely right length, all easy reads, every one full of creepiness and shuddering terror with minimal gore (practically none) and full of emotional upheavals - exactly what you might need to read before bed, or during a hot summer afternoon. Their common theme, if any, is the undoing of domestic comfort, the collapse of those "places of safety" one craves for after an exhausting day at work, a quarrel with a neighbor, or even the loss of a loved one without warning. Santos deconstructs safe places the way one is supposed to enjoy a cigar: slow draws, enjoying the flavor, and letting the story burn itself out - a slow and deliberate process finely crafted in words most familiar, but with the strangest and the most unsettling of endings!
All nine stories are gems, but five of them stood out for me: "Table Scraps," the opening story, challenges the funeral rituals we may accept as proper and comfortable expressions of honoring the dead; "Emily," probably the best story of the collection, takes the "creepy kid" horror trope and gives it an original spin, reminiscent of "Let the Right One In"'s ending, but with a scary twist; the titular "Make a Home of Me," an outstanding tale of a house leaving notes to the family living inside it (this will probably be most people's favorite, the premise is genius); "As Above, So Below," a spooky story about the arrival of aliens, a tale of quiet sci-fi horror, with an undertone of grief and an atmosphere of quiet indifference; and the majestic "The Wall," about a baby that never stops crying, driving mad the neighbors.. The claustrophobic ending is very well-done, and will make you look twice at noisy newborns.
This is a solid 5-stars collection, and if you enjoy Shirley Jackson or Ray Bradbury prepare for some definite chills!
All nine stories are gems, but five of them stood out for me: "Table Scraps," the opening story, challenges the funeral rituals we may accept as proper and comfortable expressions of honoring the dead; "Emily," probably the best story of the collection, takes the "creepy kid" horror trope and gives it an original spin, reminiscent of "Let the Right One In"'s ending, but with a scary twist; the titular "Make a Home of Me," an outstanding tale of a house leaving notes to the family living inside it (this will probably be most people's favorite, the premise is genius); "As Above, So Below," a spooky story about the arrival of aliens, a tale of quiet sci-fi horror, with an undertone of grief and an atmosphere of quiet indifference; and the majestic "The Wall," about a baby that never stops crying, driving mad the neighbors.. The claustrophobic ending is very well-done, and will make you look twice at noisy newborns.
This is a solid 5-stars collection, and if you enjoy Shirley Jackson or Ray Bradbury prepare for some definite chills!
May 24, 2025
3.5/5 rounded up.
This collection of short stories take a look at domestic bliss and kill the lights, exposing a bunch of unsettling stuff underneath.
Whether it’s a crying baby, a missing child, a lockdown, a strange wake…there’s lot to explore here and these tales all build dread and will linger long after you’re done with them. The sound of their claws scratching against the door might well infect your dreams.
There are eight stories here, and I’ve made notes on all of them:
Table scraps: blackest of black humour. The weirdest wake you can ever imagine and a darkly intriguing opener to this collection.
Emily: creepy tale of a creepy kid that belongs to the man our main character has just started a relationship with. A little too long and lost me a bit in the middle, but a strong, dark ending.
Mouthful: journals of a missing artist. Like the found footage element but the content didn’t really grab me.
Changes: sad rather than scary. A couple go for a holiday to a strange town and find they are more different from each other than they thought.
Make a home of me: a truly effective and creepy haunted house story. What would you do if you house started leaving notes for you and your family?
As above, so below: a chilling tale of alien invasion that also feels like an attempt to process that weird time of the covid pandemic. A story full of dread, like a breath being held for the entire thing. Very good.
Riverquick, saltfresh: a haunting tale of grief and guilt and the pull of the sea…even if it means death. Evocative and compelling.
The wall: a tale of madness caused by a crying baby. Brought back plenty of bad memories, so thanks for that!
Overall, an impressive collection that is perfect for a slice of something chilling before bed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!
This collection of short stories take a look at domestic bliss and kill the lights, exposing a bunch of unsettling stuff underneath.
Whether it’s a crying baby, a missing child, a lockdown, a strange wake…there’s lot to explore here and these tales all build dread and will linger long after you’re done with them. The sound of their claws scratching against the door might well infect your dreams.
There are eight stories here, and I’ve made notes on all of them:
Table scraps: blackest of black humour. The weirdest wake you can ever imagine and a darkly intriguing opener to this collection.
Emily: creepy tale of a creepy kid that belongs to the man our main character has just started a relationship with. A little too long and lost me a bit in the middle, but a strong, dark ending.
Mouthful: journals of a missing artist. Like the found footage element but the content didn’t really grab me.
Changes: sad rather than scary. A couple go for a holiday to a strange town and find they are more different from each other than they thought.
Make a home of me: a truly effective and creepy haunted house story. What would you do if you house started leaving notes for you and your family?
As above, so below: a chilling tale of alien invasion that also feels like an attempt to process that weird time of the covid pandemic. A story full of dread, like a breath being held for the entire thing. Very good.
Riverquick, saltfresh: a haunting tale of grief and guilt and the pull of the sea…even if it means death. Evocative and compelling.
The wall: a tale of madness caused by a crying baby. Brought back plenty of bad memories, so thanks for that!
Overall, an impressive collection that is perfect for a slice of something chilling before bed.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!
May 25, 2025
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Books & NetGalley for the e-ARC!!
4 stars!!
This collection was fantastic for variety! There's so much here that can be a hit or miss but so much to also have something for anyone!
My favourite has to be Table Scraps! What a way to open the collection!
I liked this one so much I'd actually love to read more / longer / novella version of it.
Another I liked but mainly because of the creepy ending was Emily, the middle of the story seemed to drag a little but the imagery of the ending I loved.
Make a Home of Me I loved creepy haunted houses and this one had something unique to it and I loved the writing and this can also be said for the writing in Riverquick, Saltfresh. Loved the writing
So happy to have read this collection and to find a new author I'm definitely keeping an eye for!
4 stars!!
This collection was fantastic for variety! There's so much here that can be a hit or miss but so much to also have something for anyone!
My favourite has to be Table Scraps! What a way to open the collection!
I liked this one so much I'd actually love to read more / longer / novella version of it.
Another I liked but mainly because of the creepy ending was Emily, the middle of the story seemed to drag a little but the imagery of the ending I loved.
Make a Home of Me I loved creepy haunted houses and this one had something unique to it and I loved the writing and this can also be said for the writing in Riverquick, Saltfresh. Loved the writing
So happy to have read this collection and to find a new author I'm definitely keeping an eye for!
October 5, 2025
one very creepy story that spooked me out late at night. other than that, this just seemed a bit too A Level english lit for me
June 11, 2025
Make A Home Of Me by Vanessa Santos takes you on an unsettling, haunting journey through a series of short stories all relating to the haunting harbour that is home.
Table Scraps, Emily and Riverquick,Saltfresh will forever haunt my thoughts. Especially Table Scraps, I was left speechless by the end of that one, I did not see that coming at all.
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Publishers for sending me a copy of this, I enjoyed being scared, disgusted and intrigued by these short stories and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror!
Table Scraps, Emily and Riverquick,Saltfresh will forever haunt my thoughts. Especially Table Scraps, I was left speechless by the end of that one, I did not see that coming at all.
Thank you so much to Dead Ink Publishers for sending me a copy of this, I enjoyed being scared, disgusted and intrigued by these short stories and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves horror!
July 10, 2025
4.5 - this was so fun & unexpected - felt serendipitous that one of the stories was titled “emily” but then it ended up being about a demon child so lol
March 18, 2026
“They’d been living there for just under a year when the house started leaving them notes.”
Dylan Thomas Prize long listed short story collection Make a Home of Me by Vanessa Santos is a thrilling, gruesome exploration of the home that I couldn’t put down!
My favourite of the long list so far, this collection was a page turner that had an uncanny valley feel of sinister, unsettling tales all tied to the home. A strange dinner party with a twist that had me trying not to gag on the bus, a woman entering a relationship that has her living with the man’s creepy daughter, an artist obsessed with a local monster, a house that drives a family insane by writing them notes, a couple unable to sleep due to the unnaturally loud cries of a baby: these stories where reflective of real life experiences and yet had this disturbing quality to them reminiscent of the horror movies Vivarium and No One Will Save You.
Of the collection, my favourite by far was the first short story Table Scraps. It was utterly vile, which I say in the best way possible because this was clearly Santos’s intention (though it made me greatly question how on earth she was able to describe such a thing with such vivid detail). I think my least favourite was probably Changes, mainly because it’s left the weakest impression on me. Emily could easily be adapted into a brilliant short horror movie. Each story was unique and disturbing in premise, but still had this weird balance where there was a heavy dose of reality weaved into the narrative that made it feel like a Black Mirror episode.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking to read more short story collections or who wants to get into horror without too much commitment. This is my personal favourite to win the Dylan Thomas Prize at the moment and was also the easiest read - it’s a page turner!
Table scraps - 4.5⭐️
Emily - 3.5⭐️
Mouthful - 3⭐️
Changes - 2⭐️
Make a home of me - 4⭐️
As above, so below - 3.25⭐️
Riverquick, Saltfresh - 2.75⭐️
The wall - 3⭐️
Overall - 4⭐️
Dylan Thomas Prize long listed short story collection Make a Home of Me by Vanessa Santos is a thrilling, gruesome exploration of the home that I couldn’t put down!
My favourite of the long list so far, this collection was a page turner that had an uncanny valley feel of sinister, unsettling tales all tied to the home. A strange dinner party with a twist that had me trying not to gag on the bus, a woman entering a relationship that has her living with the man’s creepy daughter, an artist obsessed with a local monster, a house that drives a family insane by writing them notes, a couple unable to sleep due to the unnaturally loud cries of a baby: these stories where reflective of real life experiences and yet had this disturbing quality to them reminiscent of the horror movies Vivarium and No One Will Save You.
Of the collection, my favourite by far was the first short story Table Scraps. It was utterly vile, which I say in the best way possible because this was clearly Santos’s intention (though it made me greatly question how on earth she was able to describe such a thing with such vivid detail). I think my least favourite was probably Changes, mainly because it’s left the weakest impression on me. Emily could easily be adapted into a brilliant short horror movie. Each story was unique and disturbing in premise, but still had this weird balance where there was a heavy dose of reality weaved into the narrative that made it feel like a Black Mirror episode.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking to read more short story collections or who wants to get into horror without too much commitment. This is my personal favourite to win the Dylan Thomas Prize at the moment and was also the easiest read - it’s a page turner!
Table scraps - 4.5⭐️
Emily - 3.5⭐️
Mouthful - 3⭐️
Changes - 2⭐️
Make a home of me - 4⭐️
As above, so below - 3.25⭐️
Riverquick, Saltfresh - 2.75⭐️
The wall - 3⭐️
Overall - 4⭐️
May 4, 2025
4.25/5.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this collection of short stories.
I always say this, but reading short stories is always risky because in the same book, some of these stories might feel really good and others might disappoint or confuse you, which makes it hard to then rate the book altogether.
But not in this one, as every story was a great one. So much so, I had trouble pausing my reading. Each story had its own eerie vibe that I enjoyed immensely. From the very start, I was hooked and I went through a spectrum of emotions reading throughout this book. Some stories were scarier, some sadder, but all of them made you feel something.
Make a Home of Me is definitely a collection of short stories I can recommend to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy read in the horror genre. The vibes were truly immaculate and I will, for sure, keep an eye on what Vanessa Santos will write about next.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of this collection of short stories.
I always say this, but reading short stories is always risky because in the same book, some of these stories might feel really good and others might disappoint or confuse you, which makes it hard to then rate the book altogether.
But not in this one, as every story was a great one. So much so, I had trouble pausing my reading. Each story had its own eerie vibe that I enjoyed immensely. From the very start, I was hooked and I went through a spectrum of emotions reading throughout this book. Some stories were scarier, some sadder, but all of them made you feel something.
Make a Home of Me is definitely a collection of short stories I can recommend to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy read in the horror genre. The vibes were truly immaculate and I will, for sure, keep an eye on what Vanessa Santos will write about next.
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July 19, 2025Don't sleep on this excellent debut collection of stories. The stories are (very) loosely themed around the home and not all of them really fit the theme, but who cares when the stories are this good?
Table Scraps is the story of one last meal to honour the life of the deceased.
Emily is the standout story here for me: a woman who moves in with her partner, only to discover that he has a daughter that he never mentions. That lives with him and never says much. That exhibits some increasingly sinister behaviour...
Riverquick, Saltfresh is another favourite of mine: a reflection on grief and the solace one young girl finds in the ocean.
These dark stories are emotive, written in a familiar and comforting tone that belies the strange twists they take. One of the best debut collections I've read in some time. I'll be waiting patiently for more from Vanessa Santos.
Whilst I am reviewing the contents of the book, let's also take a moment to appreciate the incredible cover.
Table Scraps is the story of one last meal to honour the life of the deceased.
Emily is the standout story here for me: a woman who moves in with her partner, only to discover that he has a daughter that he never mentions. That lives with him and never says much. That exhibits some increasingly sinister behaviour...
Riverquick, Saltfresh is another favourite of mine: a reflection on grief and the solace one young girl finds in the ocean.
These dark stories are emotive, written in a familiar and comforting tone that belies the strange twists they take. One of the best debut collections I've read in some time. I'll be waiting patiently for more from Vanessa Santos.
Whilst I am reviewing the contents of the book, let's also take a moment to appreciate the incredible cover.
June 15, 2025
huge thanks to dead ink for sending me a copy of this book. i love weird stories, horror stories and short stories so i knew this one would be my thing, and it truly is one of the best collections of short stories i've ever read.
usually when you go for a short story collection you kind of resign yourself to the fact that there'll be high points and low points, but make a home of me is such a consistently high standard throughout. i end up having to drag out my reading of it so i could allow space to fully digest each story as i read them.
incredibly excited to check out vanessa's first full length novel, in your heart a devil, next year.
usually when you go for a short story collection you kind of resign yourself to the fact that there'll be high points and low points, but make a home of me is such a consistently high standard throughout. i end up having to drag out my reading of it so i could allow space to fully digest each story as i read them.
incredibly excited to check out vanessa's first full length novel, in your heart a devil, next year.
June 16, 2025
A collection of strange and dark short stories, with the only common theme of an exploration of home - and what that means and how it can not be the idyllic refuse and oasis we crave it to be.
Masterfully crafted stories that surprise you with twists in their prosely paths, and leave you breathless and wondering what the hell just happened. This isn't sledgehammer horroe - rather nails down your spine that reveal themselves to be sharper than you originally thought.
A joy to read, I wolfed them down and wanted more - not that any of the tales left me wanting!
Masterfully crafted stories that surprise you with twists in their prosely paths, and leave you breathless and wondering what the hell just happened. This isn't sledgehammer horroe - rather nails down your spine that reveal themselves to be sharper than you originally thought.
A joy to read, I wolfed them down and wanted more - not that any of the tales left me wanting!
July 31, 2025
Thank you to Dead Ink Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.
A collection of short horror stories set around the idea of home as a sanctuary and safe place being subverted.
Some of these stories worked better for me than others. The tales about the demonic child and the crying baby were both effectively creepy, but the others largely failed to hit the mark for me.
An interesting collection and idea though, and I'll definitely look out for more from this author.
3.5 stars.
A collection of short horror stories set around the idea of home as a sanctuary and safe place being subverted.
Some of these stories worked better for me than others. The tales about the demonic child and the crying baby were both effectively creepy, but the others largely failed to hit the mark for me.
An interesting collection and idea though, and I'll definitely look out for more from this author.
July 25, 2025
Faultless. I initially thought I would rank each short story, but they would all be 5/5. I then thought I would place each on a list from favourite to least, and couldn't. Read this book!! You won't regret it, this makes you think and enjoy tales of the unexpected like you'd never believe. A quick read but one which takes up a long time in your mind. Will read again. You will be surprised and caught off guard.
May 24, 2026
Summary: A short horror filled with chilling short stories, including a meal following a passing which is not quite right. A woman who joins a family with a girl who doesn’t speak, stares intensely and doesn't seem to age. A house that leaves it's owners chilling notes - and more...
Review: 160 pages and yet it packed a punch! Some chilling, some that make you say 'wtf' - it was a great read! I recommend this highly to horror fans, this short book will keep you highly entertained and gripped.
Review: 160 pages and yet it packed a punch! Some chilling, some that make you say 'wtf' - it was a great read! I recommend this highly to horror fans, this short book will keep you highly entertained and gripped.
September 18, 2026
Excellent theme weaved through each short story, of the capacity of the home to.. not always be so homely. A good number of unsettling stories, though one or two that felt milder than I was hoping for.
October 8, 2026
My review may be slightly hampered by the fact I didn’t realise it was a collection of short stories into well over half-way in and subsequently, was constantly trying to figure out how the characters lives were connected lol
July 29, 2025
I loved this actually. very unsettling
October 5, 2025
An excellent collection of short fiction, lyrical and haunting.
October 26, 2025
3.5 — loved a good few of the stories, liked the others
July 19, 2026
A solid introduction to Santos' writing style. She had some great ideas, and two of the stories: Emily and Make a Home of Me were 5 star reads. But, as with all short story collections, there were a few dudes and ideas that seemed to go literally nowhere which was fustrating and disappointing.
August 16, 2025
Grim…I loved it
January 13, 2026
I’m so mad I spent money on this. Any creative writing student could have come up with this and gotten a solid B; but for it to be transformative horror? No. You can’t just call something strange 100 times, pair it with an ambiguous ending and then say that it’s scary.
April 27, 2025
ARC received through Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
This was so good!! I don’t usually particularly appreciate collections of short stories (especially when they are horror because I feel like most times they’re too short for me to even get into it and actually feel scared). This one, though? I loved it, I thought the pacing was spot on in most of the stories, the themes were interesting and the endings satisfying. I would definitely recommend if you want a nice selection of horror short stories which all somehow have to do with homes.
3.5 ⭐️
This was so good!! I don’t usually particularly appreciate collections of short stories (especially when they are horror because I feel like most times they’re too short for me to even get into it and actually feel scared). This one, though? I loved it, I thought the pacing was spot on in most of the stories, the themes were interesting and the endings satisfying. I would definitely recommend if you want a nice selection of horror short stories which all somehow have to do with homes.
October 18, 2025
Whilst this was a perfectly fine collection of short stories, written perfectly well, I find them forgettable and a bit boring. I did enjoy the story ‘Emily’ but the ending fell flat still.
July 17, 2025
Summary: A collection of 8 short stories that are set in houses. We typically think of houses providing protection and safety but in these stories this is not the case.
My thoughts on each story:
Table Scraps- I love a good meal scene. The awkwardness and the building to something. This was a good entree to the book.
Emily- oh my god no just no. That was intense and eerie to next level! So many thoughts.
Mouthful - ooh fair play. Sharing is caring.
Changes- ooh okay. Depressing and eerie. Tapping into the gross feeling of being perceived. How suddery.
Make a Home of Me- ahhh you hate to love it. Creepy and warming the best kind. Disturbingly beautiful.
As Above, So Below - huh and also damn. Think this one lost me a bit. Was this about the pandemic? But also aliens?! This felt like the deepness of the ocean. Not my favourite.
Riverquick, Saltfresh- creepy,sad and deep.
The Wall- oh. Okay.
Overall an uncomfortable, nightmarey tinged collection. Great debut! Probably a more consistently enjoyable collection that I’ve experienced from a short story collection!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Thank you so much Dead Ink for gifting me a copy to read and the fun house to build!
My thoughts on each story:
Table Scraps- I love a good meal scene. The awkwardness and the building to something. This was a good entree to the book.
Emily- oh my god no just no. That was intense and eerie to next level! So many thoughts.
Mouthful - ooh fair play. Sharing is caring.
Changes- ooh okay. Depressing and eerie. Tapping into the gross feeling of being perceived. How suddery.
Make a Home of Me- ahhh you hate to love it. Creepy and warming the best kind. Disturbingly beautiful.
As Above, So Below - huh and also damn. Think this one lost me a bit. Was this about the pandemic? But also aliens?! This felt like the deepness of the ocean. Not my favourite.
Riverquick, Saltfresh- creepy,sad and deep.
The Wall- oh. Okay.
Overall an uncomfortable, nightmarey tinged collection. Great debut! Probably a more consistently enjoyable collection that I’ve experienced from a short story collection!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5
Thank you so much Dead Ink for gifting me a copy to read and the fun house to build!
April 28, 2025
What an excellent debut collection! I thoroughly enjoyed these strange, uncanny stories - very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and The Twilight Zone which I LOVE. My absolute favourites were the opening story, Table Scraps - even though I figured out what was going on pretty quickly, it still had a massive impact; Emily scared the hell out of me - the ending!!!!; Make a Home of Me, the titular story, is this strange, scary and sad sort of a story that I really like; As Above, So Below - a tense and sci-fi-ish tale, excellent!
I’ll definitely read what Vanessa Santos writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’ll definitely read what Vanessa Santos writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Dead Ink for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2025
Make a Home of Me by Vanessa Santos
If you like books about haunted houses, strange children, quiet and eerie horror - this is the story collection for you!
Each story is brilliant and will linger with you long after you finish them. While I enjoyed each story, there were definite stand outs for me. ‘Emily’ offers a fresh new take on the classic creepy child story. The titular story ‘Make a Home of Me’ was chilling, and very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House - what would you do if your house started to leave you notes? And finally ‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’, a story of guilt, grief and the alluring pull of the sea - perfect for fans of Julia Armfield!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to read and review! I’ll be thinking about what a little weirdo Emily was for some time.
If you like books about haunted houses, strange children, quiet and eerie horror - this is the story collection for you!
Each story is brilliant and will linger with you long after you finish them. While I enjoyed each story, there were definite stand outs for me. ‘Emily’ offers a fresh new take on the classic creepy child story. The titular story ‘Make a Home of Me’ was chilling, and very reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House - what would you do if your house started to leave you notes? And finally ‘Riverquick, Saltfresh’, a story of guilt, grief and the alluring pull of the sea - perfect for fans of Julia Armfield!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to read and review! I’ll be thinking about what a little weirdo Emily was for some time.
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