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The Monsters We Made
"Easily the best book I've read all year." —Logan-Ashley Kisner, author of Old Wounds
"As eerie and haunting as it is heartfelt, The Monsters We Made is a masterpiece." —Taylor Grothe, author of Hollow
"It’s one part horror, one part heartfelt, and all freaky eldritch conspiracy." —K. Valentin, author of An Amateur Witch’s Guide to Murder
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.
"As eerie and haunting as it is heartfelt, The Monsters We Made is a masterpiece." —Taylor Grothe, author of Hollow
"It’s one part horror, one part heartfelt, and all freaky eldritch conspiracy." —K. Valentin, author of An Amateur Witch’s Guide to Murder
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.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First 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.
June 30, 2026
Ya is one of those genres that are very much hit or miss for me. I went into this story with little expectations and no prior knowledge of this author. And I honestly had a really good time. I really enjoy stories about cryptids and aliens and I think this was done really well.
I loved the themes, the setting and the characters. I think Lenny was adorable and I was so proud of her character growth.
If you like small town mysteries/lore, cryptids, podcasts, shows like the x files and sapphic romance then this is definitely one to check out.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the themes, the setting and the characters. I think Lenny was adorable and I was so proud of her character growth.
If you like small town mysteries/lore, cryptids, podcasts, shows like the x files and sapphic romance then this is definitely one to check out.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 4, 2026
This book was a super cute YA read that brings together a skeptic and a believer in a sapphic, x-files esque meet cute when an influencer comes to explore an alien tourist trap town.
This one had a solid story, plenty of mystery, and enough sci fi elements to keep you hooked. The budding relationship between our two main characters is realistic and well developed, and I appreciate the time devoted to the side friendships too.
Overall a very solid read, super fun for spooky season!
This one had a solid story, plenty of mystery, and enough sci fi elements to keep you hooked. The budding relationship between our two main characters is realistic and well developed, and I appreciate the time devoted to the side friendships too.
Overall a very solid read, super fun for spooky season!
September 14, 2026
The Monsters We Made is gripping young adult sapphic thriller/horror.
Claire is desperate to revive her family business, so she fakes a video of the town’s renowned cryptid/monster/alien “Old Lucky” and sends it to a YouTube show for publicity. Lenny produces the show with her (now) ex-boyfriend, and she’s thrilled to finally find what could be real proof of the paranormal. Beyond this, she’s jumping at the opportunity to prove to her family that being a YouTuber is a viable career path.
As Lenny investigates, she grows closer to Claire and it quickly becomes clear that despite Claire’s meddling, there is definitely something mysterious going on in this small town…
This is such a compelling story! The pacing is perfect, with strange occurrences happening at just the right spots to keep the plot propelling forward.
The romance is a slow-burn and nicely frames the entire book. Claire has been dealing with being queer in a small town for the majority of her life, and Lenny has been in a relationship with a boy who doesn’t share the same ideals and passions as her. They’re drawn to each other, both of them figuring out things about themselves–and the legend of Old Lucky–along the way.
I recommend this book to those who want a somewhat cozy YA horror that deals with cryptids and the paranormal and those who “want to believe…”
*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the arc to review!
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website
Claire is desperate to revive her family business, so she fakes a video of the town’s renowned cryptid/monster/alien “Old Lucky” and sends it to a YouTube show for publicity. Lenny produces the show with her (now) ex-boyfriend, and she’s thrilled to finally find what could be real proof of the paranormal. Beyond this, she’s jumping at the opportunity to prove to her family that being a YouTuber is a viable career path.
As Lenny investigates, she grows closer to Claire and it quickly becomes clear that despite Claire’s meddling, there is definitely something mysterious going on in this small town…
This is such a compelling story! The pacing is perfect, with strange occurrences happening at just the right spots to keep the plot propelling forward.
The romance is a slow-burn and nicely frames the entire book. Claire has been dealing with being queer in a small town for the majority of her life, and Lenny has been in a relationship with a boy who doesn’t share the same ideals and passions as her. They’re drawn to each other, both of them figuring out things about themselves–and the legend of Old Lucky–along the way.
I recommend this book to those who want a somewhat cozy YA horror that deals with cryptids and the paranormal and those who “want to believe…”
*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the arc to review!
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Book Blog | Instagram | TikTok | Website
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.
June 27, 2026
2.75 ⭐
June 30, 2026
What a fun journey from cover to cover!
Loved both our main characters/perspectives.
the horror/mystery elements were really entertaining. I mean who doesn't love an Alien story??
I did see a few things coming but I still think it was really well done! I loved the writing! Add this to your Halloween TBR for any Alien horror needs!!
Thank you Netgalley & Publishers for both the Audiobook and the physical ARC!
*all opinions are my own*
Loved both our main characters/perspectives.
the horror/mystery elements were really entertaining. I mean who doesn't love an Alien story??
I did see a few things coming but I still think it was really well done! I loved the writing! Add this to your Halloween TBR for any Alien horror needs!!
Thank you Netgalley & Publishers for both the Audiobook and the physical ARC!
*all opinions are my own*
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
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 23, 2026
This was such a fun book. The writing is engaging, and the narrator is great. I didn't expect the development, but it made it much better than what I expected. I enjoyed Lenny's character growth: seeing her find her limits with content creation while also discovering what type of people she wants in her life was great! The atmosphere was perfect!
Thank you, Netgalley and RBmedia for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you, Netgalley and RBmedia for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 15, 2026
Nothing particularly special or groundbreaking, but a solidly fun alien mystery adventure. Bonus points for breaking up with your boring ChatGPT loving boyfriend and getting a cool girlfriend instead.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Monsters We Made by Peyton June is a Sapphic YA paranormal that successfully delivers small town creepy vibes. A YouTuber believer in aliens and determined to find proof is teamed up with a skeptic who at first is just trying to bring tourists to her aunts small farm . When things begin happening that go far beyond pranks, the two will have to work together to figure out the truth and put a stop to it . Great characters , a sapphic slow burn, a queer awakening, small town secrets and themes of letting go made this a great read.
October 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Norton Young Readers, and the author Peyton June for this eARC!
I picked this up a long time ago when I was in the middle of binging The X Files and was very excited to read a book about cryptids and all the things I love about The X Files. Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. I tried multiple times over the past few months but could not make it past the first few of chapters. The writing was all over the place and at times felt very rushed, this made reading it unenjoyable even disregarding the actual plot and characters. As for that, the beginning of the book throws you into the story so oddly that there is simultaneously nothing happening and so much that hasn't been explained, leaving the reader very confused. Neither of the leads, Claire and Lenny, were very interesting to me and I found them to both be fairly flat characters, at least up until the point I read. I'm sure people that love this kind of story will enjoy this, but it just wasn't right for me and I couldn't get past the things that bothered me to get to the juicy part of the story.
I picked this up a long time ago when I was in the middle of binging The X Files and was very excited to read a book about cryptids and all the things I love about The X Files. Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. I tried multiple times over the past few months but could not make it past the first few of chapters. The writing was all over the place and at times felt very rushed, this made reading it unenjoyable even disregarding the actual plot and characters. As for that, the beginning of the book throws you into the story so oddly that there is simultaneously nothing happening and so much that hasn't been explained, leaving the reader very confused. Neither of the leads, Claire and Lenny, were very interesting to me and I found them to both be fairly flat characters, at least up until the point I read. I'm sure people that love this kind of story will enjoy this, but it just wasn't right for me and I couldn't get past the things that bothered me to get to the juicy part of the story.
August 30, 2026
This one dragged a bit in the middle, but I looooved all the x-files references!
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!
August 16, 2026
i didn’t realize it was gonna be more YA vibe with the romance aspect, however i had a good time reading!! i was sucked into the spooky, horror atmosphere and loved it! :)
June 17, 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!
September 29, 2026
a cute little YA cryptid hunting story, what’s not to like about that?
it was very well written, loose ends were tied up, and it put a very unique spin on what could have otherwise been your average alien tale, and that still would have worked for me too!
note: loved the term werelien. if anything could possibly describe Old Lucky, it’s definitely the word werelien.
i think my only complaint is that this was very much advertised as having more of a sapphic romance than what we got. maybe i’m just mad because i don’t have the patience for a slow burn, (which, of course, is a me problem) but i was hoping to see more of a quick developing crush and not just something that happens within the last ~100 pages.
i think the conversations around homophobia in a small town like Scarberry were more than just welcome, but necessary in a story like this, and especially catering to the YA crowd.
as were the conversations around certain *higher powers* tending to sweep small communities and their *issues* under the rug because most people wouldn’t even know that said communities existed.
cryptids, queer love story, tough social commentary. all the things i think a good book should have! looking forward to reading more from Peyton.
it was very well written, loose ends were tied up, and it put a very unique spin on what could have otherwise been your average alien tale, and that still would have worked for me too!
note: loved the term werelien. if anything could possibly describe Old Lucky, it’s definitely the word werelien.
i think my only complaint is that this was very much advertised as having more of a sapphic romance than what we got. maybe i’m just mad because i don’t have the patience for a slow burn, (which, of course, is a me problem) but i was hoping to see more of a quick developing crush and not just something that happens within the last ~100 pages.
i think the conversations around homophobia in a small town like Scarberry were more than just welcome, but necessary in a story like this, and especially catering to the YA crowd.
as were the conversations around certain *higher powers* tending to sweep small communities and their *issues* under the rug because most people wouldn’t even know that said communities existed.
cryptids, queer love story, tough social commentary. all the things i think a good book should have! looking forward to reading more from Peyton.
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!
June 27, 2026
A YouTube couple are on a break (unbeknownst to their fans) but are still traveling the country, filming content, when they get an anonymous email sending them to a small town Ranch, somewhere Lenny has always wanted to explore. It isn't Evan's idea, so of course he think it is a waste of time.
Claire sent the video. Claire doctored the video. She just wants her family's business to get a much needed boost so her sick cousin can be more comfortable. Little does she know that there might be more to the local legend than she initially believed.
I enjoyed this adventure. The plot kept me guessing and I really wanted the best for most of the characters.
Claire sent the video. Claire doctored the video. She just wants her family's business to get a much needed boost so her sick cousin can be more comfortable. Little does she know that there might be more to the local legend than she initially believed.
I enjoyed this adventure. The plot kept me guessing and I really wanted the best for most of the characters.
July 10, 2026
me encantoooo, me pique desde el principio y la verdad súper ligero y todo el tiempo me tenía pensando en el porqué de las cosas
lit lo leí por un post de insta q decía “if u love the vibes of strange small towns, cryptids and urban legends, sapphic paranormal investigators or these tv shows (gravity falls, supernatural, true detective, the x files), then you should read this” Y CORRÍ A LEERLO JAJAAJJAJAAJJA
lit lo leí por un post de insta q decía “if u love the vibes of strange small towns, cryptids and urban legends, sapphic paranormal investigators or these tv shows (gravity falls, supernatural, true detective, the x files), then you should read this” Y CORRÍ A LEERLO JAJAAJJAJAAJJA
July 31, 2026
i was so excited to read this when i saw the cover and IM SO GLAD I DID UGH
some of it was a little off with the pacing, got kinda muddled plot wise a few times, and the ebook had more typos than usual? but it was so fun and so iprwhgvprwi i love spooky sci fi I NEED MORE XFILES INSPIRED MEDIA NEOWWWWW PLEASE
some of it was a little off with the pacing, got kinda muddled plot wise a few times, and the ebook had more typos than usual? but it was so fun and so iprwhgvprwi i love spooky sci fi I NEED MORE XFILES INSPIRED MEDIA NEOWWWWW PLEASE
August 25, 2026
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for an ARC of this book. This book was full of intense and creepy comments. I loved both of the main characters and the bond that they formed. The writing was excellent and descriptive. Definitely check trigger warnings before reading.
August 26, 2026
Certified Banger. Midwestern spooky cryptids, paranormal investigators with YouTube channels, AND it’s sapphic? I ate this up like a gooseberry pie.
August 28, 2026
Super campy and fun with complex characters and a creepy mystery. A vibe if you like Supernatural, especially the episodes with the ghostfacers (lol).
August 10, 2026
This was fun and high school C would have eaten it up.
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