What do you think?
Kill Your Darlings
A teen girl faces the horrors of misogyny and racism—plus an evil witch and her horde of monsters—in this fun, fast-paced thriller.
“Kill Your Darlings made me laugh, cry, swoon, and hold my breath. It’s gothic and enchanting, unafraid to throw several punches and has twists I didn't see coming. It’ll break your heart again and again and stitch you back together—it’s utter perfection. Yuvashri Harish pulls off this ambitious debut and makes it look easy, and I want more.” —Jamison Shea, author of I Feed Her to the Beast
Thulasi is the perfect she’s responsible, she never breaks the rules, and she’s always willing to babysit her seven-year-old cousin. Even on Halloween night.
But the night takes a horrifying turn when a simple playdate leads to accidentally summoning a horde of monsters out of a book of horror tales, along with her small town’s most famous author, Addison Greer—Thulasi’s literary hero. Except Addison has a more sinister scheme planned for her miraculous revenge on the family that wronged her.
Drawn into a bloodthirsty bargain with Addison, Thulasi will have to team up with Sam, the super cute quarterback in her class, and the only other teen stuck with babysitting duty on Halloween. They only have until midnight to foil Addison’s plans—while keeping their seven-year-old charges safe—or her monsters will destroy their town and everyone they love.
“Kill Your Darlings made me laugh, cry, swoon, and hold my breath. It’s gothic and enchanting, unafraid to throw several punches and has twists I didn't see coming. It’ll break your heart again and again and stitch you back together—it’s utter perfection. Yuvashri Harish pulls off this ambitious debut and makes it look easy, and I want more.” —Jamison Shea, author of I Feed Her to the Beast
Thulasi is the perfect she’s responsible, she never breaks the rules, and she’s always willing to babysit her seven-year-old cousin. Even on Halloween night.
But the night takes a horrifying turn when a simple playdate leads to accidentally summoning a horde of monsters out of a book of horror tales, along with her small town’s most famous author, Addison Greer—Thulasi’s literary hero. Except Addison has a more sinister scheme planned for her miraculous revenge on the family that wronged her.
Drawn into a bloodthirsty bargain with Addison, Thulasi will have to team up with Sam, the super cute quarterback in her class, and the only other teen stuck with babysitting duty on Halloween. They only have until midnight to foil Addison’s plans—while keeping their seven-year-old charges safe—or her monsters will destroy their town and everyone they love.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I LOVED this book. If you were a fan of Goosebumps or Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, KILL YOUR DARLINGS is for you.
Evil undead writers, monsters spawning out of a book, high school drama - what more could you want?! Terror, humor, heart, this book has it all.
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Evil undead writers, monsters spawning out of a book, high school drama - what more could you want?! Terror, humor, heart, this book has it all.
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book was terrible. All I could think about when reading this was finishing it so I could never pick it up again. I would have abandoned it if I hadn't won this in a giveaway and felt obligated to read it and finish it.
It was not a good story and not good storytelling. The narration felt clunky and awkward. The author was trying to emulate a teenager’s voice, but failed. And the constant swearing felt so out of place. That, the excessive gore, and the few sexual references felt thrown in to get this book rating bumped up from middle grade to YA. But this should have been a middle grade book. It would have been better if the plot was more silly and less serious. This could have been like a Goosebumps book, but it ended up trying too hard to be edgy. And it was really cringe.
The story could have been better if Addison was a manifestation of thulasi's resentment for her family and town. Thulasi should have had a lapse in judgement and abandoned her cousin and her family and the town she hated (if she hated them, which she didn't, which was partly why she had no character growth). Then she should have realized what she was doing was wrong and being an accessory to murder was not the right way to confront her issues. Instead, thulasi was righteous throughout the whole story. She didn't hold any grudges for her family or her town. She didn't want to see destruction. So when the story ended, she was the same character she started as.
Also, what happened to arjun's uncle was counterintuitive to the attenpted message that thulasi should not have to be arjun's surrogate mother or older sister. Now, she is literally going to be that! So dumb.
Not to mention the book’s theme and message is so convoluted and all over the place. It tries to cover racism, sexism, and misogyny, but it can’t juggle it all, so it comes off as a preachy, buzzword salad that falls flat. The words “racist” and “racism” are used so many times that it diminishes the meaning of the word. Not to sound insensitive, but the antagonist is from the 1800s, so of course she’s going to be racist and see POC as beneath her. It was so cringe whenever the characters gasped and exclaimed “Racism!” when some 200 year old character said something insensitive. Like duh. Let's use common sense. It was not common in the 1800s for people to be the kind of progressive people are in 2026. Of course they would be casually racist because they didn't know what a microagression was.
Then throughout the story, the characters just stood around and talked most of the book like they weren't on a time crunch. And Thulasi was boring. Her narration was only ever fretting about her cousin and her family. She did not grow as a character. Her entire thing was still about being the perfect, obedient daughter from start to finish. Like I said, if she had a lapse in judgement and gave into her resentment, she could have been an interesting morally gray character who grew from the traumatic experience.
But this is finally over. I can finally move onto better books, thank goodness.
It was not a good story and not good storytelling. The narration felt clunky and awkward. The author was trying to emulate a teenager’s voice, but failed. And the constant swearing felt so out of place. That, the excessive gore, and the few sexual references felt thrown in to get this book rating bumped up from middle grade to YA. But this should have been a middle grade book. It would have been better if the plot was more silly and less serious. This could have been like a Goosebumps book, but it ended up trying too hard to be edgy. And it was really cringe.
The story could have been better if Addison was a manifestation of thulasi's resentment for her family and town. Thulasi should have had a lapse in judgement and abandoned her cousin and her family and the town she hated (if she hated them, which she didn't, which was partly why she had no character growth). Then she should have realized what she was doing was wrong and being an accessory to murder was not the right way to confront her issues. Instead, thulasi was righteous throughout the whole story. She didn't hold any grudges for her family or her town. She didn't want to see destruction. So when the story ended, she was the same character she started as.
Also, what happened to arjun's uncle was counterintuitive to the attenpted message that thulasi should not have to be arjun's surrogate mother or older sister. Now, she is literally going to be that! So dumb.
Not to mention the book’s theme and message is so convoluted and all over the place. It tries to cover racism, sexism, and misogyny, but it can’t juggle it all, so it comes off as a preachy, buzzword salad that falls flat. The words “racist” and “racism” are used so many times that it diminishes the meaning of the word. Not to sound insensitive, but the antagonist is from the 1800s, so of course she’s going to be racist and see POC as beneath her. It was so cringe whenever the characters gasped and exclaimed “Racism!” when some 200 year old character said something insensitive. Like duh. Let's use common sense. It was not common in the 1800s for people to be the kind of progressive people are in 2026. Of course they would be casually racist because they didn't know what a microagression was.
Then throughout the story, the characters just stood around and talked most of the book like they weren't on a time crunch. And Thulasi was boring. Her narration was only ever fretting about her cousin and her family. She did not grow as a character. Her entire thing was still about being the perfect, obedient daughter from start to finish. Like I said, if she had a lapse in judgement and gave into her resentment, she could have been an interesting morally gray character who grew from the traumatic experience.
But this is finally over. I can finally move onto better books, thank goodness.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
reading kill your darlings reminded me of what it was like reading a goosebumps book as a kid, but in a far darker and more gory way. i was scared and had chills running down my spine constantly. the descriptions are very vivid and evocative and yuvashri harish writes in a way that it makes it so easy to get into thulasi’s head. the plot may look like your standard fare ya halloween horror; but there are so many layers to it. scary children’s stories come alive, a not-so dead author who wants to kill people, babysitting your younger siblings…they may make the plot seem like your standard fare ya halloween horror but there are so many more layers to it which truly elevated the plot for me.
in its fast paced length (the entire story takes place in a day), it tackles so many important topics as the monster threat looms over our main characters’ heads. it offers a stunningly realistic and heavy portrayal of the existence of misogyny and racism in small towns, familial pressure, as well as how being parentified affects one’s psyche. thulasi was the perfect protagonist for the story, and so very easy to connect to. she’s a people pleaser who puts others first, and you can tell the burdens she’s carrying are way too much. as the story progresses, thulasi experiences a lot of guilt and internalises blame, but learns she doesn’t have to and that she can live for herself; this was one of the best parts of the book.
another standout for me were the two younger siblings. they felt very much like their age and acted exactly how kids too and i loved their personalities. also have to give a shoutout to sam, the cute quarterback with which thulasi shares a sweet romance, as they deal with the monsters and the murderous author that created them. i also really liked addison greer’s character; her motivations and her goals behind doing what she was doing (vengeance basically) were valid in their own way, but i only wish we’d spent more time with her and gotten to know a little bit more of her past through her own words rather than being told what was happened through thulasi & sam’s eyes. but nevertheless, i enjoyed what we got.
all in all, kill your darlings is an absolutely stunning debut and the perfect read to add to your fall tbrs! i loved the writing and i’m super excited to see what yuvashri writes next!
thank you penguin young readers group for sending me an e-arc!
reading kill your darlings reminded me of what it was like reading a goosebumps book as a kid, but in a far darker and more gory way. i was scared and had chills running down my spine constantly. the descriptions are very vivid and evocative and yuvashri harish writes in a way that it makes it so easy to get into thulasi’s head. the plot may look like your standard fare ya halloween horror; but there are so many layers to it. scary children’s stories come alive, a not-so dead author who wants to kill people, babysitting your younger siblings…they may make the plot seem like your standard fare ya halloween horror but there are so many more layers to it which truly elevated the plot for me.
in its fast paced length (the entire story takes place in a day), it tackles so many important topics as the monster threat looms over our main characters’ heads. it offers a stunningly realistic and heavy portrayal of the existence of misogyny and racism in small towns, familial pressure, as well as how being parentified affects one’s psyche. thulasi was the perfect protagonist for the story, and so very easy to connect to. she’s a people pleaser who puts others first, and you can tell the burdens she’s carrying are way too much. as the story progresses, thulasi experiences a lot of guilt and internalises blame, but learns she doesn’t have to and that she can live for herself; this was one of the best parts of the book.
another standout for me were the two younger siblings. they felt very much like their age and acted exactly how kids too and i loved their personalities. also have to give a shoutout to sam, the cute quarterback with which thulasi shares a sweet romance, as they deal with the monsters and the murderous author that created them. i also really liked addison greer’s character; her motivations and her goals behind doing what she was doing (vengeance basically) were valid in their own way, but i only wish we’d spent more time with her and gotten to know a little bit more of her past through her own words rather than being told what was happened through thulasi & sam’s eyes. but nevertheless, i enjoyed what we got.
all in all, kill your darlings is an absolutely stunning debut and the perfect read to add to your fall tbrs! i loved the writing and i’m super excited to see what yuvashri writes next!
thank you penguin young readers group for sending me an e-arc!
July 25, 2026
Does anyone remember that old RL Stine movie with Emily Osment and Cody Linley because this reminded me of that. Down to the creepy bookstore owner gifting them a book that causes a night of horrors. Except this time throw in with an undead horror author out for revenge in the mix. Very Goosebumps-y!
Addison Greer, long dead horror author, is revered by this town to the point of overkill. She’s essentially made the place into a tourist trap. Bookstores decorated with her book’s characters, local coffee shops making drinks inspired by her, and a statue of her immortalized on Main Street. Even the schools are named after her. I’m not even kidding. The town’s name is kind of corny (Applesweet?) but I’ll give it a pass as this is YA and written with the whimsy of emulating RL Stine.
Was this book scary? Not really. But it’s fun in the same way a Halloween Netflix movie is, if that makes sense. It’s more so similar in feel to that Goosebumps live action movie that came out a few years ago, but definitely not nearly as kid friendly. I guess I’d say this book is like, Goosebumps without filters? The cover made me think this was going to be terrifying, but really it’s more a fun, supernatural romp. Which honestly was still great. I loved all the representation in this book too.
It wasn’t the most memorable, original, or engaging read in the world. Honestly this was just average for me. But I could see this being a fitting read for spooky season once that time of year rolls around.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Addison Greer, long dead horror author, is revered by this town to the point of overkill. She’s essentially made the place into a tourist trap. Bookstores decorated with her book’s characters, local coffee shops making drinks inspired by her, and a statue of her immortalized on Main Street. Even the schools are named after her. I’m not even kidding. The town’s name is kind of corny (Applesweet?) but I’ll give it a pass as this is YA and written with the whimsy of emulating RL Stine.
Was this book scary? Not really. But it’s fun in the same way a Halloween Netflix movie is, if that makes sense. It’s more so similar in feel to that Goosebumps live action movie that came out a few years ago, but definitely not nearly as kid friendly. I guess I’d say this book is like, Goosebumps without filters? The cover made me think this was going to be terrifying, but really it’s more a fun, supernatural romp. Which honestly was still great. I loved all the representation in this book too.
It wasn’t the most memorable, original, or engaging read in the world. Honestly this was just average for me. But I could see this being a fitting read for spooky season once that time of year rolls around.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to like this book! The premise is killer. The characters are likeable. The opening was fantastic! In a small town, home to a famous, deceased horror author, one of her biggest fans, Thulasi buys a first edition book. Cue the set-up: It's Halloween night and she's expected to babysit her younger cousin--who wants to visit his sick friend who can't go trick-or-treating. Of course this friend's older brother Sam is Thulasi's crush. Adorable set-up. The interactions between the teen protagonists and the younger siblings was done so well and really endeared the characters to me. It was all shaping up to be very promising! Thulasi's younger brother brings the first edition book with him when they go to visit Sam's house, so of course they all end up snuggling on the couch to read spooky stories aloud. Everything is cozy until . . . strange things begin to happen. Great, right? I'm in my seat, popcorn at the ready. This is going to be a fun ride.
About 30% in, here's where the book started to disappoint. It began to feel like a first draft--almost like the next part was written in haste and never revised or tailored for the reader's experience. Horror/thriller is about anticipation, atmosphere, jump scares, and that foreboding that the next horrible thing is just around the corner. But things started happening without lead-up of any kind. It was so jarring, I would have to go back a paragraph to see if I'd missed something. We moved from place to place so quickly that I would not realize we'd moved to a new location. (Also, nearly no descriptions of the locations. No atmosphere, no real mental imagery to give shape to the reader's imagination.) Again, I had to backtrack a paragraph to see what I'd missed. Then there was the talking heads in the void. Dialogue between two characters hashing out backstory info-dump for pages on end at city hall while at least four other characters were (presumably) still standing there doing *something* we're not sure what because they're not mentioned. (But considering they're in a life-threatening situation, they should have been doing something. Right?) It just felt very unfinished.
The story then ping-ponged between life-threatening situations where there's essentially an apocalypse going on around them, yet we have pages worth of characters creeping out about a cockroach or having a going-nowhere conversation with a drunk person at a party. No sense of urgency. Circuitous dialogue. Plot points were brought up as explanations in the moment rather than being set up ahead of time. And the ones that WERE set up ahead of time were over-explained and re-hashed as if the reader could not be trusted to draw the right conclusions from the text. The internal conflict (with excellent themes of racism, misogyny, and breaking out on one's own) was also beat over the head of the reader in a didactic way, not allowing the reader to come to the point on their own, which always feels demeaning as a reader.
Overall, it really just felt like this book was rushed and unedited past the 30% mark. It felt like a first draft that would have had really great potential if the time had been taken to polish this past a catchy idea, instead of trusting that the blood and guts would be enough to keep the reader going.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
About 30% in, here's where the book started to disappoint. It began to feel like a first draft--almost like the next part was written in haste and never revised or tailored for the reader's experience. Horror/thriller is about anticipation, atmosphere, jump scares, and that foreboding that the next horrible thing is just around the corner. But things started happening without lead-up of any kind. It was so jarring, I would have to go back a paragraph to see if I'd missed something. We moved from place to place so quickly that I would not realize we'd moved to a new location. (Also, nearly no descriptions of the locations. No atmosphere, no real mental imagery to give shape to the reader's imagination.) Again, I had to backtrack a paragraph to see what I'd missed. Then there was the talking heads in the void. Dialogue between two characters hashing out backstory info-dump for pages on end at city hall while at least four other characters were (presumably) still standing there doing *something* we're not sure what because they're not mentioned. (But considering they're in a life-threatening situation, they should have been doing something. Right?) It just felt very unfinished.
The story then ping-ponged between life-threatening situations where there's essentially an apocalypse going on around them, yet we have pages worth of characters creeping out about a cockroach or having a going-nowhere conversation with a drunk person at a party. No sense of urgency. Circuitous dialogue. Plot points were brought up as explanations in the moment rather than being set up ahead of time. And the ones that WERE set up ahead of time were over-explained and re-hashed as if the reader could not be trusted to draw the right conclusions from the text. The internal conflict (with excellent themes of racism, misogyny, and breaking out on one's own) was also beat over the head of the reader in a didactic way, not allowing the reader to come to the point on their own, which always feels demeaning as a reader.
Overall, it really just felt like this book was rushed and unedited past the 30% mark. It felt like a first draft that would have had really great potential if the time had been taken to polish this past a catchy idea, instead of trusting that the blood and guts would be enough to keep the reader going.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Promise me you’ll never stop knocking down everything in your path.”
In the small town of Applesweet, a teenage Tamil girl named Thulasi is eagerly anticipating attending her best friend Celeste’s Halloween party; but when her family entrusts her with babysitting her younger cousin, Arjun, she agrees and slips into the role of the perfect, obedient daughter she’s spent her whole life becoming. When Arjun asks to see his friend, Miri, Thulasi decides to make Halloween night exciting for at least one of them. But the night quickly spirals out of control when they accidentally unleash a swarm of monsters from a book of horror tales by Thulasi’s favorite author Addison Greer. Thulasi soon discovers that Addison has returned for revenge against innocent people in her ex-husband’s bloodline, and Thulasi teams up with Sam, her classmate and Miri’s older brother, to unravel the mysterious ancestral secrets buried beneath Applesweet’s history and stop Addison from destroying their town.
I didn’t recall the synopsis for this story, so I went in blind with zero expectations and finished satisfied. I absolutely adored the small-town vibes; it reminded me of Forks from Twilight. I love supernatural stories, so I especially enjoyed the mini segments we get of Addison Greer’s novels. I’ve never read from the perspective of a Tamil character before, so I really enjoyed learning about the culture through food, religious beliefs, languages, and phrases. I like stories that feature many POC characters, but in this one, Sam and Thulasi were the only brown teens in their town. It was interesting to see how they could connect on a cultural level that the rest of the town wouldn’t understand. I had gotten the vibe that Thulasi was queer, so I was a bit surprised and disappointed at first with Sam being her love interest, but felt validated later when it’s revealed she’s bisexual. Though I didn’t care about Sam at first, he grew on me as the chaos ensued. I saw how protective he was toward Miri and Thulasi, and I appreciated that he wasn’t afraid to speak out against racism. I completely fell in love with Celeste; I thought she was the funniest character and I adored her stupid threesome joke. I did feel like the ending dragged a bit after the 75% mark, and a specific death at the end felt unnecessary to me. If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps and you’re an eldest daughter, this is the perfect book for you!
Kill Your Darlings releases on October 6th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
In the small town of Applesweet, a teenage Tamil girl named Thulasi is eagerly anticipating attending her best friend Celeste’s Halloween party; but when her family entrusts her with babysitting her younger cousin, Arjun, she agrees and slips into the role of the perfect, obedient daughter she’s spent her whole life becoming. When Arjun asks to see his friend, Miri, Thulasi decides to make Halloween night exciting for at least one of them. But the night quickly spirals out of control when they accidentally unleash a swarm of monsters from a book of horror tales by Thulasi’s favorite author Addison Greer. Thulasi soon discovers that Addison has returned for revenge against innocent people in her ex-husband’s bloodline, and Thulasi teams up with Sam, her classmate and Miri’s older brother, to unravel the mysterious ancestral secrets buried beneath Applesweet’s history and stop Addison from destroying their town.
I didn’t recall the synopsis for this story, so I went in blind with zero expectations and finished satisfied. I absolutely adored the small-town vibes; it reminded me of Forks from Twilight. I love supernatural stories, so I especially enjoyed the mini segments we get of Addison Greer’s novels. I’ve never read from the perspective of a Tamil character before, so I really enjoyed learning about the culture through food, religious beliefs, languages, and phrases. I like stories that feature many POC characters, but in this one, Sam and Thulasi were the only brown teens in their town. It was interesting to see how they could connect on a cultural level that the rest of the town wouldn’t understand. I had gotten the vibe that Thulasi was queer, so I was a bit surprised and disappointed at first with Sam being her love interest, but felt validated later when it’s revealed she’s bisexual. Though I didn’t care about Sam at first, he grew on me as the chaos ensued. I saw how protective he was toward Miri and Thulasi, and I appreciated that he wasn’t afraid to speak out against racism. I completely fell in love with Celeste; I thought she was the funniest character and I adored her stupid threesome joke. I did feel like the ending dragged a bit after the 75% mark, and a specific death at the end felt unnecessary to me. If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps and you’re an eldest daughter, this is the perfect book for you!
Kill Your Darlings releases on October 6th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
August 28, 2026
I’m really enjoying getting to step into a different viewpoint and culture with this one. Thilasi is Tamil, and I can certainly sympathize with the eldest daughter role. Maybe not to the extent that she seems to be carrying it 😂, but I absolutely feel for her. And can we talk about how STINKIN’ CUTE Arjun is?! 🥹
This is such a cool setup and concept for a horror book, especially a YA horror book. I have to say… I don’t know exactly what I was expecting going into this, but I do know I wasn’t expecting it to rank quite this high on my personal scare-o-meter! Color me impressed! 😂
This book has SO much to say. It feels like a much more terrifying Hocus Pocus, but with some really meaningful commentary woven throughout. I especially appreciated the exploration of culture, heteronormative expectations, and toxic gender roles. I think there’s a whole generation coming up that is just outright rejecting some of these ideas at their core, and honestly? It’s refreshing to see that reflected in YA.
YA books did NOT have this kind of representation when I was that age, and I really wish they had. There’s something really special about seeing younger readers get stories that challenge these expectations rather than simply reinforcing them.
Also, I’m going to say it: I don’t think the cover art does this book justice. It makes the story look like it leans much more toward the lighter, Middle Grade end of the horror spectrum, and I assure you… it does NOT. 😂 If you’re picking this up expecting a cute little spooky story, prepare yourself.
The last 20% of this book is a WILD and heart-rending ride. There was definitely a moment when I was a little peeved at Thilasi’s inaction, but by the end, I understood it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is act when you’re terrified of what that action might cost you.
And honestly… it is REALLY hard for me to believe this is a debut. The imagery is so strong, the pacing is basically nonstop, and the atmosphere is chef’s kiss for spooky season. I was genuinely impressed by how much this book managed to pack into its pages.
This is a strong 4-star read for me and will be absolutely perfect for Halloween and spooky season! 🎃👻
4 ⭐️’s
0 🌶️’s
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This is such a cool setup and concept for a horror book, especially a YA horror book. I have to say… I don’t know exactly what I was expecting going into this, but I do know I wasn’t expecting it to rank quite this high on my personal scare-o-meter! Color me impressed! 😂
This book has SO much to say. It feels like a much more terrifying Hocus Pocus, but with some really meaningful commentary woven throughout. I especially appreciated the exploration of culture, heteronormative expectations, and toxic gender roles. I think there’s a whole generation coming up that is just outright rejecting some of these ideas at their core, and honestly? It’s refreshing to see that reflected in YA.
YA books did NOT have this kind of representation when I was that age, and I really wish they had. There’s something really special about seeing younger readers get stories that challenge these expectations rather than simply reinforcing them.
Also, I’m going to say it: I don’t think the cover art does this book justice. It makes the story look like it leans much more toward the lighter, Middle Grade end of the horror spectrum, and I assure you… it does NOT. 😂 If you’re picking this up expecting a cute little spooky story, prepare yourself.
The last 20% of this book is a WILD and heart-rending ride. There was definitely a moment when I was a little peeved at Thilasi’s inaction, but by the end, I understood it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is act when you’re terrified of what that action might cost you.
And honestly… it is REALLY hard for me to believe this is a debut. The imagery is so strong, the pacing is basically nonstop, and the atmosphere is chef’s kiss for spooky season. I was genuinely impressed by how much this book managed to pack into its pages.
This is a strong 4-star read for me and will be absolutely perfect for Halloween and spooky season! 🎃👻
4 ⭐️’s
0 🌶️’s
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
September 15, 2026
thank you netgalley for providing this arc!
this definitely did feel like an RL Stine or Goosebumps type book so def a good spooky season read. i just found myself not totally caring throughout and the “twists” were pretty plainly foreshadowed so it wasn’t a shock. i thought the romance was pretty good for the side plot it was and tbh i didn’t find myself totally caring about the best friend, idk why but that connection they had just felt like it was told and not shown. The overall horror aspect was pretty gory and i def squirmed a couple times. this is YA so it was comparable to what i’d expect. i think it was kind of doing too much with the notes/comments on women and their roles etc and im not a big religion person so tbh those things went in one ear and out the other but i appreciate the different perspective this book gave me. Probably not gonna stick with me but very glad to have it to bring me in the halloween spirit!
this definitely did feel like an RL Stine or Goosebumps type book so def a good spooky season read. i just found myself not totally caring throughout and the “twists” were pretty plainly foreshadowed so it wasn’t a shock. i thought the romance was pretty good for the side plot it was and tbh i didn’t find myself totally caring about the best friend, idk why but that connection they had just felt like it was told and not shown. The overall horror aspect was pretty gory and i def squirmed a couple times. this is YA so it was comparable to what i’d expect. i think it was kind of doing too much with the notes/comments on women and their roles etc and im not a big religion person so tbh those things went in one ear and out the other but i appreciate the different perspective this book gave me. Probably not gonna stick with me but very glad to have it to bring me in the halloween spirit!
Read
August 28, 2026I wanted to love this because it totally reminded me of Hocus Pocus (spooky woman from the past appears on Halloween night, teens + younger siblings/cousins have to stop her before she kills a bunch of kids), but sadly it wasn't for me. I felt it dragged a lot in the middle and I was missing a sense of urgency from the main characters. But I do think this would be a great rec for teens looking to get into horror but wanting to start with something not-so-scary!
And a note on the cover: the main character, Tulasi, is Tamil and is described as having "brown skin" but the illustration of her on the cover reads white to me. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate choice, just the illustrator's style, or just the colors showing up weird on screen. I hope that the physical copies will more accurately depict the representation in the book because it's always nice to see more BIPOC characters in YA horror.
And a note on the cover: the main character, Tulasi, is Tamil and is described as having "brown skin" but the illustration of her on the cover reads white to me. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate choice, just the illustrator's style, or just the colors showing up weird on screen. I hope that the physical copies will more accurately depict the representation in the book because it's always nice to see more BIPOC characters in YA horror.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*review of advance copy from NetGalley*
This was a fast-paced, YA horror novel that definitely gave strong Goosebumps and Jumanji vibes. It takes place in a town called Applesweet, where a horror author, Addison Greer, is from. On Halloween, the main characters start to read one of her books, but it turns out that the book isn't a normal book, and monsters start coming out and wreaking havoc on the town. They then spend the night trying to save everyone from the horrors that were unleashed. There were a lot of twists and turns; I did sometimes find that certain things that happened were a little too convenient, but I loved the characters in this story, and the last 20% was definitely a thrilling ride! Overall a solid horror story, perfect for spooky season.
This was a fast-paced, YA horror novel that definitely gave strong Goosebumps and Jumanji vibes. It takes place in a town called Applesweet, where a horror author, Addison Greer, is from. On Halloween, the main characters start to read one of her books, but it turns out that the book isn't a normal book, and monsters start coming out and wreaking havoc on the town. They then spend the night trying to save everyone from the horrors that were unleashed. There were a lot of twists and turns; I did sometimes find that certain things that happened were a little too convenient, but I loved the characters in this story, and the last 20% was definitely a thrilling ride! Overall a solid horror story, perfect for spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise for Kill Your Darlings was just wow! I mean accidentally summoning monsters out of a book that your favourite author wrote...?!!
Then things started happening without lead-up of any kind and I didn't feel connected to the characters or the writing - unfortunately. I have the feeling that this book tried to be so many things at the same time and it didn't work for me the way I thought it should.
This is a ok read for Halloween for a younger audience.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Readers Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Then things started happening without lead-up of any kind and I didn't feel connected to the characters or the writing - unfortunately. I have the feeling that this book tried to be so many things at the same time and it didn't work for me the way I thought it should.
This is a ok read for Halloween for a younger audience.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Readers Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Kill Your Darlings” by Yuvashri Harish is basically what would happen if your favorite creepy childhood storybook suddenly decided to take revenge on everyone, and honestly, it’s way darker than I expected in the best way.
At first, it feels like a fun YA horror setup: Halloween night, babysitting duty, monsters escaping from a beloved children’s horror book, and an undead famous author with very bad intentions. Already a win. But this book gets surprisingly heavy underneath all the monster chaos, tackling racism, misogyny, family pressure (specifically parentification), and the messy reality of idolizing people who absolutely do not deserve it. People always say you shouldn’t meet your heroes as reality may differ from perception, and that is definitely true in this book.
The main character, Thulasi, is such an easy person to root for because she’s painfully relatable. She’s a huge people pleaser where she is constantly saying yes, constantly putting everyone else first, and carrying way too much responsibility for someone her age. She deals a lot with parentification and guilt, especially when it comes to family, and watching her slowly realize she doesn’t have to destroy herself for everyone else was one of the strongest parts of the book. Even the villain herself wanted Thulasi to respect herself more.
Then there’s Addison Greer, the famous children’s author Thulasi grew up admiring and who turns out to be an absolutely fantastic villain. She’s manipulative, bitter, powerful, and kind of terrifying. I really liked how the book handled the idea of discovering that someone whose work you love is actually deeply flawed—or worse, actively harmful. Addison’s books are revealed to have racist caricatures and “othering” baked into them, which opens up that very real conversation of how we deal with beloved older stories that have harmful elements in them.
And the monsters are great. Once blood gets on Addison’s original manuscript, all the creatures from her stories come spilling into the real world, and things go from spooky to full-on nightmare fuel. Harpies, gore, violent deaths; the body count here is way higher than I expected for YA horror. At first the horror is a little glossed over, but once it gets going, it gets descriptive. Definitely more brutal than your average teen horror.
One of my favorite parts was how the characters use their knowledge of the original stories to fight back. Since they grew up reading these monsters, they actually know some of their weaknesses, which makes the survival aspect way more fun. I honestly wanted even more of that because it gave the book such a cool edge.
The two younger kids being babysat were also standouts for me. They felt realistic and added both emotional stakes and chaos, because trying to save the town is stressful enough; trying to do it while keeping traumatized seven-year-olds alive? Even worse.
There’s also a little romance between Thulasi and Sam, the cute quarterback who gets dragged into this nightmare with her. It stays pretty light and doesn’t take over the story, which works well because they’re both a little busy trying not to die. It’s sweet and mostly serves as emotional support rather than forced romance drama.
The pacing is fast, though sometimes the magical explanations provide too much of an info-dump, and I do wish we had gotten more setup for the monsters and original stories before everything exploded into chaos. It would’ve made some of the horror hit even harder.
Still, the ending is really satisfying. It wraps things up well, gives Thulasi real growth, and avoids making revenge feel glamorous. A big theme here is how vengeance and “justice” can twist people, even people with good intentions, and the book handles that surprisingly well.
Overall, “Kill Your Darlings” is creepy, bloody, smart, and way more emotionally layered than I expected. If you liked the Goosebumps books but wanted them with more gore, more emotional depth, and a deeply messy undead author causing problems, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
“Kill Your Darlings” by Yuvashri Harish is basically what would happen if your favorite creepy childhood storybook suddenly decided to take revenge on everyone, and honestly, it’s way darker than I expected in the best way.
At first, it feels like a fun YA horror setup: Halloween night, babysitting duty, monsters escaping from a beloved children’s horror book, and an undead famous author with very bad intentions. Already a win. But this book gets surprisingly heavy underneath all the monster chaos, tackling racism, misogyny, family pressure (specifically parentification), and the messy reality of idolizing people who absolutely do not deserve it. People always say you shouldn’t meet your heroes as reality may differ from perception, and that is definitely true in this book.
The main character, Thulasi, is such an easy person to root for because she’s painfully relatable. She’s a huge people pleaser where she is constantly saying yes, constantly putting everyone else first, and carrying way too much responsibility for someone her age. She deals a lot with parentification and guilt, especially when it comes to family, and watching her slowly realize she doesn’t have to destroy herself for everyone else was one of the strongest parts of the book. Even the villain herself wanted Thulasi to respect herself more.
Then there’s Addison Greer, the famous children’s author Thulasi grew up admiring and who turns out to be an absolutely fantastic villain. She’s manipulative, bitter, powerful, and kind of terrifying. I really liked how the book handled the idea of discovering that someone whose work you love is actually deeply flawed—or worse, actively harmful. Addison’s books are revealed to have racist caricatures and “othering” baked into them, which opens up that very real conversation of how we deal with beloved older stories that have harmful elements in them.
And the monsters are great. Once blood gets on Addison’s original manuscript, all the creatures from her stories come spilling into the real world, and things go from spooky to full-on nightmare fuel. Harpies, gore, violent deaths; the body count here is way higher than I expected for YA horror. At first the horror is a little glossed over, but once it gets going, it gets descriptive. Definitely more brutal than your average teen horror.
One of my favorite parts was how the characters use their knowledge of the original stories to fight back. Since they grew up reading these monsters, they actually know some of their weaknesses, which makes the survival aspect way more fun. I honestly wanted even more of that because it gave the book such a cool edge.
The two younger kids being babysat were also standouts for me. They felt realistic and added both emotional stakes and chaos, because trying to save the town is stressful enough; trying to do it while keeping traumatized seven-year-olds alive? Even worse.
There’s also a little romance between Thulasi and Sam, the cute quarterback who gets dragged into this nightmare with her. It stays pretty light and doesn’t take over the story, which works well because they’re both a little busy trying not to die. It’s sweet and mostly serves as emotional support rather than forced romance drama.
The pacing is fast, though sometimes the magical explanations provide too much of an info-dump, and I do wish we had gotten more setup for the monsters and original stories before everything exploded into chaos. It would’ve made some of the horror hit even harder.
Still, the ending is really satisfying. It wraps things up well, gives Thulasi real growth, and avoids making revenge feel glamorous. A big theme here is how vengeance and “justice” can twist people, even people with good intentions, and the book handles that surprisingly well.
Overall, “Kill Your Darlings” is creepy, bloody, smart, and way more emotionally layered than I expected. If you liked the Goosebumps books but wanted them with more gore, more emotional depth, and a deeply messy undead author causing problems, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Kill Your Darlings" in exchange for an honest review.
Like a 'Goosebumps' book on steroids, 'Kill Your Darlings' dials up its YA Halloween night of horrors to way-off-the-dial proportions. It pits its plucky band of teens and their two babysitting charges against a risen-from-the-pages, long dead, yet still infinitely loathsome horror author.. And this prolific harpy comes fully armed with all her creations come to life. We're talkin' zombies, vampires, demonic children and all manner of slithering monstrosities who proceed to lay bloody waste to the small town that was home to the woman who spawned them from inside her books.
In structure, this all plays out along the lines of those 'kids-vs-monsters' movies from the 1980's ("Goonies", "Gremlins", Monster Squad", "Fright Night", etc, etc.) . But be forewarned that the gory collateral damage splattered across the pages here goes a little above PG-13. Author Yuvashri Harish is serious as a heart attack in detailing the agonies of slaughtered innocents and the priceless value of the lives they've lost so horribly.
The terror begins when good-girl-to-the-max Thulasi inadvertently unleashes 19th century horror scribe Addison Greer from within the pages of a first edition Greer book. Addison and her monstrous menagerie of fictional abominations are on a vengeance fueled quest to punish the living relatives of those responsible for the death of Addison's beloved daughter. Now it's up to Thulasi, her quarterback crush Sam, her best friend Celeste and 7 year olds Arjun and Miri to find a way to put a stop to Addison's reign of carnage before she wipes out the entire town......including Thulasi and Sam''s families.
I was on board with the crazy funhouse ride this book takes you on until its overbearing overwriting began to bog down the pace and just plain wear me out. It's ironic the author chose 'Kill Your Darlings' as a title, because she certainly didn't take that phrase to heart in its use as standard advise to writers when revising their drafts. The dragged out, laborious showdown finale almost sinks under its endless repetition, with the same points and observations hammered away at over and over.
But I did greatly appreciate and admire how the diversity and family backgrounds of Thulasi and Sam are well integrated into the storyline, along with the issues of racism, misogyny, and even the 19th century patriarchal oppression of women. No one could accuse 'Kill Your Darlings' of not having a lot on its mind other than its many scares.
For those who demand nothing less than full immersion into a packed-the-the-rafters rampage of horror tropes........ with some misgivings, I'd still recommend this one. I doubt there's a single nightmarish creature or moment it forgot to throw into the mix.
(My other reviews can be found at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Like a 'Goosebumps' book on steroids, 'Kill Your Darlings' dials up its YA Halloween night of horrors to way-off-the-dial proportions. It pits its plucky band of teens and their two babysitting charges against a risen-from-the-pages, long dead, yet still infinitely loathsome horror author.. And this prolific harpy comes fully armed with all her creations come to life. We're talkin' zombies, vampires, demonic children and all manner of slithering monstrosities who proceed to lay bloody waste to the small town that was home to the woman who spawned them from inside her books.
In structure, this all plays out along the lines of those 'kids-vs-monsters' movies from the 1980's ("Goonies", "Gremlins", Monster Squad", "Fright Night", etc, etc.) . But be forewarned that the gory collateral damage splattered across the pages here goes a little above PG-13. Author Yuvashri Harish is serious as a heart attack in detailing the agonies of slaughtered innocents and the priceless value of the lives they've lost so horribly.
The terror begins when good-girl-to-the-max Thulasi inadvertently unleashes 19th century horror scribe Addison Greer from within the pages of a first edition Greer book. Addison and her monstrous menagerie of fictional abominations are on a vengeance fueled quest to punish the living relatives of those responsible for the death of Addison's beloved daughter. Now it's up to Thulasi, her quarterback crush Sam, her best friend Celeste and 7 year olds Arjun and Miri to find a way to put a stop to Addison's reign of carnage before she wipes out the entire town......including Thulasi and Sam''s families.
I was on board with the crazy funhouse ride this book takes you on until its overbearing overwriting began to bog down the pace and just plain wear me out. It's ironic the author chose 'Kill Your Darlings' as a title, because she certainly didn't take that phrase to heart in its use as standard advise to writers when revising their drafts. The dragged out, laborious showdown finale almost sinks under its endless repetition, with the same points and observations hammered away at over and over.
But I did greatly appreciate and admire how the diversity and family backgrounds of Thulasi and Sam are well integrated into the storyline, along with the issues of racism, misogyny, and even the 19th century patriarchal oppression of women. No one could accuse 'Kill Your Darlings' of not having a lot on its mind other than its many scares.
For those who demand nothing less than full immersion into a packed-the-the-rafters rampage of horror tropes........ with some misgivings, I'd still recommend this one. I doubt there's a single nightmarish creature or moment it forgot to throw into the mix.
(My other reviews can be found at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Essentially, this book is Jumanji meets Goosebumps, but make it way, wayy less kid-friendly.
And i LOVED that about it.
The book starts out shockingly bloody, and it stays that way until the very end. I was skeptical at first, because with that kind of opening comes a promise for a horror I wasn't sure the story could sustain the whole way through. Boy was I wrong! There is so much loss and SO much death... But the author never lets them ever become superfluous or meaningless. With each one, we're reminded of the strings and connections a life has, of the train-wreck of grief that stays behind, and Harish explores this theme beautifully, in a visceral way that sticks with you beneath all the blood and gore. Sometimes even more so.
Thulasi is a powerhouse of a main character. She is everything a teen MC should be: emotional, raw, real - with a true, authentic teen voice that many books I've read can't get quite right. Her fight against the storybook monsters was exciting and hooking, but it was her fight against casual racism and gender roles - what it means to be the eldest girl, the guilt it sows - that really had me entranced.
Good girl.
If we had tombstones, they'd write that on mine.
Like, come ON!?!? I utterly adored her.
The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is about midway, it started to feel like things were happening just solely because the book needed them to, without a lot of explanation. And some of the pacing began to feel a bit wonky. Conversations that were supposed to provide comedic relief were poorly placed, instead killing the world's horrifying reality and any sense of urgency. Details were repeated a lot, and I figured out all the plot twists early on in the book. The ending did feel a little more edited/cohesive, so I left on a satisfied note. The middle just seemed to snag.
But the characters are so memorable and their love for each other is palpable on every page. The action scenes play out like movie clips (that car chase! Sam and the door! Iykyk) and the hard topics are not shied away from. There are multiple conversations these kids have with one another about racism - growing up reading stories with people they identify with portrayed as derogatory and uncivilized, and what that MEANS - and they are all outstanding.
Every moment of tackling that topic in this book felt not preachy, but powerful.
This was a fantastic read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
And i LOVED that about it.
The book starts out shockingly bloody, and it stays that way until the very end. I was skeptical at first, because with that kind of opening comes a promise for a horror I wasn't sure the story could sustain the whole way through. Boy was I wrong! There is so much loss and SO much death... But the author never lets them ever become superfluous or meaningless. With each one, we're reminded of the strings and connections a life has, of the train-wreck of grief that stays behind, and Harish explores this theme beautifully, in a visceral way that sticks with you beneath all the blood and gore. Sometimes even more so.
Thulasi is a powerhouse of a main character. She is everything a teen MC should be: emotional, raw, real - with a true, authentic teen voice that many books I've read can't get quite right. Her fight against the storybook monsters was exciting and hooking, but it was her fight against casual racism and gender roles - what it means to be the eldest girl, the guilt it sows - that really had me entranced.
Good girl.
If we had tombstones, they'd write that on mine.
Like, come ON!?!? I utterly adored her.
The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is about midway, it started to feel like things were happening just solely because the book needed them to, without a lot of explanation. And some of the pacing began to feel a bit wonky. Conversations that were supposed to provide comedic relief were poorly placed, instead killing the world's horrifying reality and any sense of urgency. Details were repeated a lot, and I figured out all the plot twists early on in the book. The ending did feel a little more edited/cohesive, so I left on a satisfied note. The middle just seemed to snag.
But the characters are so memorable and their love for each other is palpable on every page. The action scenes play out like movie clips (that car chase! Sam and the door! Iykyk) and the hard topics are not shied away from. There are multiple conversations these kids have with one another about racism - growing up reading stories with people they identify with portrayed as derogatory and uncivilized, and what that MEANS - and they are all outstanding.
Every moment of tackling that topic in this book felt not preachy, but powerful.
This was a fantastic read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2026
Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (4.5 ⭐️)
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Yuvrashi Harish for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I had SO much fun with Kill Your Darlings! 🎃
Thulasi is babysitting on Halloween when blood gets on the original manuscript of famous horror author Addison Greer, bringing the monsters from Addison’s books to life. Suddenly, a group of teenagers has to survive the night while also keeping two young children alive. And things get BAD.
The horror was genuinely fun and MUCH gorier than I expected from a YA horror debut. I loved that the characters could use their knowledge of the original stories to figure out how to fight the monsters, although I did wish we’d gotten a little more setup for the monsters and their rules before everything went completely off the rails. The pacing is FAST, and there are a few magical explanations/info-dumps, but I was having too much fun to care very much.
What really made this book work for me, though, was Thulasi.
She’s a people pleaser and a brown eldest daughter who has spent so much of her life taking care of everyone else, carrying guilt, and trying to be the “good girl.” This line absolutely DESTROYED me:
“Good girl. If we had tombstones, they’d write that on mine.”
As a brown eldest daughter myself, I connected really strongly with Thulasi’s struggle with responsibility and the pressure to put everyone else first. I’m half Indian (Gujarati), and while my family isn’t Tamil/South Indian, a lot of those expectations still felt familiar. Watching Thulasi learn that she doesn’t have to destroy herself to be good was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also genuinely cried while reading this. 🥹 Harish has a knack for getting you deeply attached to her characters and then dropping one perfectly timed phrase that causes an AVALANCHE of emotions. Or maybe that’s just me and the trauma. 😂🥲
I really liked the Addison storyline, too. The book does some interesting things with idolizing flawed people, racism, misogyny, generational trauma, vengeance, and the uncomfortable realization that the people we admire can hurt others.
The two younger kids added SO much chaos and emotional stakes, and the light romance between Thulasi and Sam stayed sweet without taking over the horror.
Overall, a creepy, bloody, emotional YA horror debut with monsters, Halloween babysitting, and an undead author with a grudge. 🎃🩸
Goosebumps + more gore + “don’t meet your heroes.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Yuvrashi Harish for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I had SO much fun with Kill Your Darlings! 🎃
Thulasi is babysitting on Halloween when blood gets on the original manuscript of famous horror author Addison Greer, bringing the monsters from Addison’s books to life. Suddenly, a group of teenagers has to survive the night while also keeping two young children alive. And things get BAD.
The horror was genuinely fun and MUCH gorier than I expected from a YA horror debut. I loved that the characters could use their knowledge of the original stories to figure out how to fight the monsters, although I did wish we’d gotten a little more setup for the monsters and their rules before everything went completely off the rails. The pacing is FAST, and there are a few magical explanations/info-dumps, but I was having too much fun to care very much.
What really made this book work for me, though, was Thulasi.
She’s a people pleaser and a brown eldest daughter who has spent so much of her life taking care of everyone else, carrying guilt, and trying to be the “good girl.” This line absolutely DESTROYED me:
“Good girl. If we had tombstones, they’d write that on mine.”
As a brown eldest daughter myself, I connected really strongly with Thulasi’s struggle with responsibility and the pressure to put everyone else first. I’m half Indian (Gujarati), and while my family isn’t Tamil/South Indian, a lot of those expectations still felt familiar. Watching Thulasi learn that she doesn’t have to destroy herself to be good was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also genuinely cried while reading this. 🥹 Harish has a knack for getting you deeply attached to her characters and then dropping one perfectly timed phrase that causes an AVALANCHE of emotions. Or maybe that’s just me and the trauma. 😂🥲
I really liked the Addison storyline, too. The book does some interesting things with idolizing flawed people, racism, misogyny, generational trauma, vengeance, and the uncomfortable realization that the people we admire can hurt others.
The two younger kids added SO much chaos and emotional stakes, and the light romance between Thulasi and Sam stayed sweet without taking over the horror.
Overall, a creepy, bloody, emotional YA horror debut with monsters, Halloween babysitting, and an undead author with a grudge. 🎃🩸
Goosebumps + more gore + “don’t meet your heroes.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a NetGalley eARC of this book.
Overall, this was good, but not great. Thulasi is a Tamil teenager living in a very white town, who constantly takes care of those around her (often to her own detriment). She idolizes a local author, Addison Greer, a 19th century horror writer whose life was cut short by illness. When Thulasi buys a new (to her) Greer book, things quickly take a turn as Greer and her monstrous creations come to life to terrorize the town. Thulasi teams up with her crush Sam to figure out how to stop the bloodbath and banish Greer once and for all.
The main characters in this book are all teenagers, and Thulasi's inner monologue felt spot-on for a parentified perfectionist teen. I really understood her self-sacrificing nature and wanting to do things for the good of her family (as the book progresses, she also takes on the mantle of doing things for the good of the town). Harish weaves in other issues as the patriarchy, sexism and racism. At times, Thulasi seemed quite naive (like when her idol Greer spouts the racist ideas of her time) but I feel like by the end of the story Thulasi learned a lot about herself and the expectations the world puts on her.
While this horror book has plenty of evildoers and bloodshed, I felt like the reasoning for Greer's return was kind of flimsy. I don't want to include any spoilers, but Greer was incensed that her daughter's future was taken from her because of the social mores of the time, and her response to that in the present day didn't really make sense. As a mother, if something terrible happened to my daughter, my response would not be to then go harm other people's children. Throughout the book, I expected more jump scare scenes, and there weren't really any. Also, the twist was so heavily foreshadowed that it was no longer a twist by the time it came up in the plot. A caveat: I am used to reading adult horror books, so maybe there just aren't as many jump scares and crazy twists in YA horror.
I enjoyed reading this book, especially since fall is rapidly approaching. If you want a YA horror with a few social justice issues thrown in for good measure, you'll enjoy this one!
Overall, this was good, but not great. Thulasi is a Tamil teenager living in a very white town, who constantly takes care of those around her (often to her own detriment). She idolizes a local author, Addison Greer, a 19th century horror writer whose life was cut short by illness. When Thulasi buys a new (to her) Greer book, things quickly take a turn as Greer and her monstrous creations come to life to terrorize the town. Thulasi teams up with her crush Sam to figure out how to stop the bloodbath and banish Greer once and for all.
The main characters in this book are all teenagers, and Thulasi's inner monologue felt spot-on for a parentified perfectionist teen. I really understood her self-sacrificing nature and wanting to do things for the good of her family (as the book progresses, she also takes on the mantle of doing things for the good of the town). Harish weaves in other issues as the patriarchy, sexism and racism. At times, Thulasi seemed quite naive (like when her idol Greer spouts the racist ideas of her time) but I feel like by the end of the story Thulasi learned a lot about herself and the expectations the world puts on her.
While this horror book has plenty of evildoers and bloodshed, I felt like the reasoning for Greer's return was kind of flimsy. I don't want to include any spoilers, but Greer was incensed that her daughter's future was taken from her because of the social mores of the time, and her response to that in the present day didn't really make sense. As a mother, if something terrible happened to my daughter, my response would not be to then go harm other people's children. Throughout the book, I expected more jump scare scenes, and there weren't really any. Also, the twist was so heavily foreshadowed that it was no longer a twist by the time it came up in the plot. A caveat: I am used to reading adult horror books, so maybe there just aren't as many jump scares and crazy twists in YA horror.
I enjoyed reading this book, especially since fall is rapidly approaching. If you want a YA horror with a few social justice issues thrown in for good measure, you'll enjoy this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really, really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it ended up simply as good.
The premise was amazing: imagine accidentally summoning monsters out of a book that your favourite author wrote.
It was giving the vibe of old horror novels/movies that most of us probably enjoyed as teenagers and I was living for it. Sadly, it didn't really deliver for me, at least not in the way I expected.
I think, that after I first read the blurb, I was expecting something where we will be fighting with those monsters a lot more, than we did in the actual book, at least that was the impression I got, so that might be on me. The monsters did appear, but they didn't really seem to be crucial to the story itself. More like something that is going to appear, cause havoc and disappear next moment, because it's not needed anymore.
The main focus seemed to be on the deeper problems and while I didn't mind them, because they're important, I honestly didn't expect that they will became so important for the plot, to the point of almost overshadowing it. They were portrayed really good and for example, .
One of the parts that did seemed unnecessary in my eyes, was the constant reminder that they're kids/teenagers/their age. I don't think I ever read any other YA book, that decided to repeat the fact so many times.
One of the moments I liked the most was the growth of our FMC, I mean .
Overall, while it wasn't a hit for me and I simply enjoyed the read for most part, I'm sure there will be a lot people who will absolutely love it.
I really, really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it ended up simply as good.
The premise was amazing: imagine accidentally summoning monsters out of a book that your favourite author wrote.
It was giving the vibe of old horror novels/movies that most of us probably enjoyed as teenagers and I was living for it. Sadly, it didn't really deliver for me, at least not in the way I expected.
I think, that after I first read the blurb, I was expecting something where we will be fighting with those monsters a lot more, than we did in the actual book, at least that was the impression I got, so that might be on me. The monsters did appear, but they didn't really seem to be crucial to the story itself. More like something that is going to appear, cause havoc and disappear next moment, because it's not needed anymore.
The main focus seemed to be on the deeper problems and while I didn't mind them, because they're important, I honestly didn't expect that they will became so important for the plot, to the point of almost overshadowing it. They were portrayed really good and for example, .
One of the parts that did seemed unnecessary in my eyes, was the constant reminder that they're kids/teenagers/their age. I don't think I ever read any other YA book, that decided to repeat the fact so many times.
One of the moments I liked the most was the growth of our FMC, I mean .
Overall, while it wasn't a hit for me and I simply enjoyed the read for most part, I'm sure there will be a lot people who will absolutely love it.
September 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
3.5 stars/4 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. As a YA horror novel, this was billed to me as kind of a throwback to the old R.L. Stine Goosebumps/Fear Street books. If we're comparing against Goosebumps, I have to say that the body count is much higher (although still less disturbing than some of the darkest Goosebumps books), and if we're comparing against Fear Street, then this is way lighter. In some ways, this book has a hard time finding its niche; a lot of it is a light-hearted YA read, complete with a very cute pining romance, shenanigans with younger siblings, and finding your place in school despite being an outsider. However, it also tries to tackle issues such as racism and a very dark horror plot, and this is where it gets a bit heavy-handed and the pacing gets thrown off.
With all that said, though, I did like Thulasi as a main character; she's hardworking and loves her family, perhaps to a fault. She's also a giant Addison Greer fan, and reading the snippets of Greer's books that we get in the novel, I can see why. Addison Greer is a villain that should be terrifying, and she often is, but I feel like the author didn't always know how to write her. Thulasi is always so astounded by Addison's casual racism, but really, yeah, that's how someone from 1860 would probably just be like. It didn't make a lot of sense to me why Addison made a deal with Thulasi and then turned around and started hunting her down later, killing people around her, or even since she can't seem to tell who Edward Greer's descendants are, why they didn't just trick her with someone else entirely. And what was she going to do if there were no descendants anymore?
Besides Greer, I did love Arjun, Sam, and Miri, who really made the book for me, despite weaknesses in the overall plot. I do think this is a good read for Halloween, and if you're looking for a throwback kind of YA horror novel with a very high body count, you should take a look at this one.
3.5 stars/4 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. As a YA horror novel, this was billed to me as kind of a throwback to the old R.L. Stine Goosebumps/Fear Street books. If we're comparing against Goosebumps, I have to say that the body count is much higher (although still less disturbing than some of the darkest Goosebumps books), and if we're comparing against Fear Street, then this is way lighter. In some ways, this book has a hard time finding its niche; a lot of it is a light-hearted YA read, complete with a very cute pining romance, shenanigans with younger siblings, and finding your place in school despite being an outsider. However, it also tries to tackle issues such as racism and a very dark horror plot, and this is where it gets a bit heavy-handed and the pacing gets thrown off.
With all that said, though, I did like Thulasi as a main character; she's hardworking and loves her family, perhaps to a fault. She's also a giant Addison Greer fan, and reading the snippets of Greer's books that we get in the novel, I can see why. Addison Greer is a villain that should be terrifying, and she often is, but I feel like the author didn't always know how to write her. Thulasi is always so astounded by Addison's casual racism, but really, yeah, that's how someone from 1860 would probably just be like. It didn't make a lot of sense to me why Addison made a deal with Thulasi and then turned around and started hunting her down later, killing people around her, or even since she can't seem to tell who Edward Greer's descendants are, why they didn't just trick her with someone else entirely. And what was she going to do if there were no descendants anymore?
Besides Greer, I did love Arjun, Sam, and Miri, who really made the book for me, despite weaknesses in the overall plot. I do think this is a good read for Halloween, and if you're looking for a throwback kind of YA horror novel with a very high body count, you should take a look at this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My rating: 3.5 / 5 🌟
This story follows our main character, Thulasi, one of the two people in a white majority school in the small town of Addison, named after one its most renowned authors, the late Addison Greer, recognised for her haunting stories.
Growing up as an ardent reader, writer and admirer of Addison Greer, Thulasi unlocks something she did not mean to when she purchased an old copy of Addison’s book which releases a very real horde of monsters on Halloween night along with the spirit of the author. What exactly summoned Addison out of her book and how can Thulasi undo this situation? Most importantly, how will she keep her young cousin, Arjun and those she loves safe from the vicious attacks?
I related hard with the Tamil main character and the weight of expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter, having to be the exemplary and responsible one from a young age. Her self-sacrificing tendencies and the fear of failure which were her driving forces is sure to strike a chord with readers like me. The book navigates racism and misogyny set against the background of magic, mayhem and all the spookiness of Halloween. This book really had the same vibes as Halloween Town, Hocus Pocus and Goosebumps. The storyline is very much suited for middle grade and teens so I wouldn’t say the plot twists were that unexpected.
I appreciated that the story had very real consequences but the true weight of the aftermath did not really sink in. The magnitude of the massacres felt a little like it was swept under the carpet. The story also had a nod to LGBTQ+ rep but it didn’t play a prominent role, merely a passing mention to add layers to the character and the relationships she has in her life. All in all, it was an entertaining read suitable for spooky season if you’re craving for something whimsy like the olden Halloween movies!
This story follows our main character, Thulasi, one of the two people in a white majority school in the small town of Addison, named after one its most renowned authors, the late Addison Greer, recognised for her haunting stories.
Growing up as an ardent reader, writer and admirer of Addison Greer, Thulasi unlocks something she did not mean to when she purchased an old copy of Addison’s book which releases a very real horde of monsters on Halloween night along with the spirit of the author. What exactly summoned Addison out of her book and how can Thulasi undo this situation? Most importantly, how will she keep her young cousin, Arjun and those she loves safe from the vicious attacks?
I related hard with the Tamil main character and the weight of expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter, having to be the exemplary and responsible one from a young age. Her self-sacrificing tendencies and the fear of failure which were her driving forces is sure to strike a chord with readers like me. The book navigates racism and misogyny set against the background of magic, mayhem and all the spookiness of Halloween. This book really had the same vibes as Halloween Town, Hocus Pocus and Goosebumps. The storyline is very much suited for middle grade and teens so I wouldn’t say the plot twists were that unexpected.
I appreciated that the story had very real consequences but the true weight of the aftermath did not really sink in. The magnitude of the massacres felt a little like it was swept under the carpet. The story also had a nod to LGBTQ+ rep but it didn’t play a prominent role, merely a passing mention to add layers to the character and the relationships she has in her life. All in all, it was an entertaining read suitable for spooky season if you’re craving for something whimsy like the olden Halloween movies!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My rating: 3.5 / 5 🌟
This story follows our main character, Thulasi, one of the two people in a white majority school in the small town of Addison, named after one its most renowned authors, the late Addison Greer, recognised for her haunting stories.
Growing up as an ardent reader, writer and admirer of Addison Greer, Thulasi unlocks something she did not mean to when she purchased an old copy of Addison’s book which releases a very real horde of monsters on Halloween night along with the spirit of the author. What exactly summoned Addison out of her book and how can Thulasi undo this situation? Most importantly, how will she keep her young cousin, Arjun and those she loves safe from the vicious attacks?
I related hard with the Tamil main character and the weight of expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter, having to be the exemplary and responsible one from a young age. Her self-sacrificing tendencies and the fear of failure which were her driving forces is sure to strike a chord with readers like me. The book navigates racism and misogyny set against the background of magic, mayhem and all the spookiness of Halloween. This book really had the same vibes as Halloween Town, Hocus Pocus and Goosebumps. The storyline is very much suited for middle grade and teens so I wouldn’t say the plot twists were that unexpected.
I appreciated that the story had very real consequences but the true weight of the aftermath did not really sink in. The magnitude of the massacres felt a little like it was swept under the carpet. The story also had a nod to LGBTQ+ rep but it didn’t play a prominent role, merely a passing mention to add layers to the character and the relationships she has in her life. All in all, it was an entertaining read suitable for spooky season if you’re craving for something whimsy like the olden Halloween movies!
This story follows our main character, Thulasi, one of the two people in a white majority school in the small town of Addison, named after one its most renowned authors, the late Addison Greer, recognised for her haunting stories.
Growing up as an ardent reader, writer and admirer of Addison Greer, Thulasi unlocks something she did not mean to when she purchased an old copy of Addison’s book which releases a very real horde of monsters on Halloween night along with the spirit of the author. What exactly summoned Addison out of her book and how can Thulasi undo this situation? Most importantly, how will she keep her young cousin, Arjun and those she loves safe from the vicious attacks?
I related hard with the Tamil main character and the weight of expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter, having to be the exemplary and responsible one from a young age. Her self-sacrificing tendencies and the fear of failure which were her driving forces is sure to strike a chord with readers like me. The book navigates racism and misogyny set against the background of magic, mayhem and all the spookiness of Halloween. This book really had the same vibes as Halloween Town, Hocus Pocus and Goosebumps. The storyline is very much suited for middle grade and teens so I wouldn’t say the plot twists were that unexpected.
I appreciated that the story had very real consequences but the true weight of the aftermath did not really sink in. The magnitude of the massacres felt a little like it was swept under the carpet. The story also had a nod to LGBTQ+ rep but it didn’t play a prominent role, merely a passing mention to add layers to the character and the relationships she has in her life. All in all, it was an entertaining read suitable for spooky season if you’re craving for something whimsy like the olden Halloween movies!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
September 21, 2026Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish, Thulasi never says no when it comes to watching her eight year old cousin
Arjun and despite she had plans with her best friend to go to a party she still agrees to do it so her cousin can go on a date. with a book of scary stories she decides to bring Arjun to his classmates house Miri, who just so happens to be the little sister of her crush Sam. as they settle in to read Addison Greer’s “black dog and other tales“ Thulasi notices writing in the margins and does her best to read it in little does she know but she has summoned the author and lots and lots of crazy monsters. This town will see people killed by scarecrows vampires of course the black dog and while this is going on Sam and Thulasi are trying their best to put an end to this while at the same time keeping Arjun and Miri safe will the teens be able to stop the carnage or is her little town just the first of many places to have catastrophic murders by monsters. OK let me just say first things first why didn’t these kids go trick-or-treating have they gone trick-or-treating they would’ve avoided all of this secondly why didn’t they explain why they didn’t go trick-or-treating it was Halloween that’s what people do also why after summoning a author from the 1800s would you be shocked at her racism… Really the last thing she knew it was 1800s and that’s the way things were done then. I really thought I would love this book because it has everything I like in horror especially YA horror and it started out really good it was a really solid beginning but I was left with just too many questions and it really makes me sad because I should’ve really loved this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Arjun and despite she had plans with her best friend to go to a party she still agrees to do it so her cousin can go on a date. with a book of scary stories she decides to bring Arjun to his classmates house Miri, who just so happens to be the little sister of her crush Sam. as they settle in to read Addison Greer’s “black dog and other tales“ Thulasi notices writing in the margins and does her best to read it in little does she know but she has summoned the author and lots and lots of crazy monsters. This town will see people killed by scarecrows vampires of course the black dog and while this is going on Sam and Thulasi are trying their best to put an end to this while at the same time keeping Arjun and Miri safe will the teens be able to stop the carnage or is her little town just the first of many places to have catastrophic murders by monsters. OK let me just say first things first why didn’t these kids go trick-or-treating have they gone trick-or-treating they would’ve avoided all of this secondly why didn’t they explain why they didn’t go trick-or-treating it was Halloween that’s what people do also why after summoning a author from the 1800s would you be shocked at her racism… Really the last thing she knew it was 1800s and that’s the way things were done then. I really thought I would love this book because it has everything I like in horror especially YA horror and it started out really good it was a really solid beginning but I was left with just too many questions and it really makes me sad because I should’ve really loved this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kill Your Darlings has all the elements of a good teen horror story—a protagonist who needs to believe in herself to stand up for others and a villain who knows how to exploit weaknesses. When it comes to tension, the action fizzled every time I expected it to build until the very end, leaving me feeling like I was watching it unfold from a distance.
The premise was fun - teens accidentally summon the author from their favorite book, along with her monsters. It reminded me of Hocus Pocus, but if the witch was a popular children’s author who wasn’t as nice as everyone thought. Overall I felt like Thulasi was a good protagonist. She was relatable as both a super fan and an older sister with family expectations. With such a close point of view, we were always in her head and seeing her emotions.
There were a lot of things that pulled me out of the story. I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the dialogue, but the characters made leaps of logic that I didn’t follow and I kept having to re-read to make sure I knew what was happening. I was also unsure of the setting. There weren’t a lot of place/scene descriptions. With horror, I want to see it in my head and I never really got that.
This book has a lot of thoughtful things to say about putting your heroes on a pedestal, and also about trying to maintain that reverence even when you start to see flaws. I think with a little more detail and urgency it would feel like a good, scary horror story.
The premise was fun - teens accidentally summon the author from their favorite book, along with her monsters. It reminded me of Hocus Pocus, but if the witch was a popular children’s author who wasn’t as nice as everyone thought. Overall I felt like Thulasi was a good protagonist. She was relatable as both a super fan and an older sister with family expectations. With such a close point of view, we were always in her head and seeing her emotions.
There were a lot of things that pulled me out of the story. I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the dialogue, but the characters made leaps of logic that I didn’t follow and I kept having to re-read to make sure I knew what was happening. I was also unsure of the setting. There weren’t a lot of place/scene descriptions. With horror, I want to see it in my head and I never really got that.
This book has a lot of thoughtful things to say about putting your heroes on a pedestal, and also about trying to maintain that reverence even when you start to see flaws. I think with a little more detail and urgency it would feel like a good, scary horror story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a digital ADR of Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish from Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for review. The description of the book calls it "A fun, fast-paced YA horror" book, which I 100% agree with. While I was reading this book, I could practically see it on film in my head. This book would be a really great movie. If you loved I Know What You Did Last Summer or similar teen horror flicks from the early 2000s, you would probably really like this one as well. The book is quite a bit deeper than teen movies tend to be, going into issues such as race and familial responsibilities versus individual identity.
I really loved the main characters, Sam and Thulasi, as well as their 7 year old charges. Thulasi ends up babysitting on Halloween night instead of going to her best friend's Halloween party. She loves her little cousin, but she also really wants some time to have fun as well. Thulasi is pretty weighted down by the responsibilities of her family, but for such a dutiful daughter/niece/friend, she has a good bit of moxie as well.
There are monsters, killers AND creepy scarecrows in this novel. I would have liked to see more twists and turns in the plot, but the book was heavier on character development than most YA horror books instead, and that's never a bad thing. Keep in mind this is a YA book, and not a book for young readers. There is quite a bit of murder and mayhem. I really enjoyed the book, and was glad I read it!
I really loved the main characters, Sam and Thulasi, as well as their 7 year old charges. Thulasi ends up babysitting on Halloween night instead of going to her best friend's Halloween party. She loves her little cousin, but she also really wants some time to have fun as well. Thulasi is pretty weighted down by the responsibilities of her family, but for such a dutiful daughter/niece/friend, she has a good bit of moxie as well.
There are monsters, killers AND creepy scarecrows in this novel. I would have liked to see more twists and turns in the plot, but the book was heavier on character development than most YA horror books instead, and that's never a bad thing. Keep in mind this is a YA book, and not a book for young readers. There is quite a bit of murder and mayhem. I really enjoyed the book, and was glad I read it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars.
Honestly, I'm not sure I could write a review that describes this book better than the synopsis. It started off a little slower than I had hoped, but it picked up pace and excitement and had such a satisfying, yet mildly suspenseful, ending. It was everything promised, and much more!
Kill Your Darlings felt like a modern day retelling of a classic. It gave Frankenstein and Dracula vibes. Classic style monsterS running amok "Thriller" style in a modern town.
It felt like Goosebumps for an older generation. A penny dreadful with Are You Afraid of the Dark, Fear Street and Hocus Pocus vibes and inspiration. It was Adventures in Babysitting meets OG Fright Night and Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie.
But, beyond all the fun cult classic comparisons, it offered nuggets of wisdom. Life lessons. It had a focus on generational trauma, racism, misogyny, and the ridiculousness of holding future generations accountable for past ancestral deeds.
It was a journey of self discovery and learning about not growing up too fast. It was fun, gory, thrilling, and endearing all at the same time. It had amazing, diverse characters, and important moral highlights. A very satisfying, older young adult, horror read!
Thank you to the publisher for approving my request to read the earc early.
Honestly, I'm not sure I could write a review that describes this book better than the synopsis. It started off a little slower than I had hoped, but it picked up pace and excitement and had such a satisfying, yet mildly suspenseful, ending. It was everything promised, and much more!
Kill Your Darlings felt like a modern day retelling of a classic. It gave Frankenstein and Dracula vibes. Classic style monsterS running amok "Thriller" style in a modern town.
It felt like Goosebumps for an older generation. A penny dreadful with Are You Afraid of the Dark, Fear Street and Hocus Pocus vibes and inspiration. It was Adventures in Babysitting meets OG Fright Night and Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie.
But, beyond all the fun cult classic comparisons, it offered nuggets of wisdom. Life lessons. It had a focus on generational trauma, racism, misogyny, and the ridiculousness of holding future generations accountable for past ancestral deeds.
It was a journey of self discovery and learning about not growing up too fast. It was fun, gory, thrilling, and endearing all at the same time. It had amazing, diverse characters, and important moral highlights. A very satisfying, older young adult, horror read!
Thank you to the publisher for approving my request to read the earc early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS by Yuvashri Harish (October 6, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for the eArc
It's Halloween, and Thulasi is babysitting her younger cousin. It's all going well, but a playdate turns everything upside down when they accidently release a bunch of monsters and Addison Greer (their small town's famous author). Addison is out for revenge, and convince Thulasi to make a bargain: help her, save the town and Thulasi's family.
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS is a YA horror story. This was a creepy tale, and the fact that it took place across one night made it super fast-paced, high-stakes, and even more eerie since it's Halloween in the story. One of my favorite parts was the inclusion of the stories where these monsters came from. It was almost like a book within a book.
In regards to what Thulasi was asked to do, there were a few things---one in particular---that I guessed right away. It was still twisted though. I mean: Addison was supposed to be de*d, and there she was tormenting this town for revenge. I couldn't help but feel bad for Addison and what she went through, but was m*rder the answer?
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS comes out just in time for Halloween, and I recommend this.
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS by Yuvashri Harish (October 6, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for the eArc
It's Halloween, and Thulasi is babysitting her younger cousin. It's all going well, but a playdate turns everything upside down when they accidently release a bunch of monsters and Addison Greer (their small town's famous author). Addison is out for revenge, and convince Thulasi to make a bargain: help her, save the town and Thulasi's family.
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS is a YA horror story. This was a creepy tale, and the fact that it took place across one night made it super fast-paced, high-stakes, and even more eerie since it's Halloween in the story. One of my favorite parts was the inclusion of the stories where these monsters came from. It was almost like a book within a book.
In regards to what Thulasi was asked to do, there were a few things---one in particular---that I guessed right away. It was still twisted though. I mean: Addison was supposed to be de*d, and there she was tormenting this town for revenge. I couldn't help but feel bad for Addison and what she went through, but was m*rder the answer?
KI*L YOUR DARLINGS comes out just in time for Halloween, and I recommend this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a YA horror read chock full of scares.
But not just that. Thulasi the MC is a high school age girl navigating life in a small town being one of the very few POC. She's Tamil and always seemingly in charge of her 7 year old cousin Arrun.
Her crush Sam has an Egyptian dad.
The town they live in has a legacy of a horror novelist who died in the 1800's by the name of Addison Greer. Addison died if typhoid. But her stories live on. When Halloween comes around, they do it up.
One Halloween, Addison comes alive through a book.
So do all her monsters. She kills townsfolk and terrifies Thulasi until she gets what she wants.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a coming of age of sorts. We know what it's like for oldest born girls, and/or girls who might be expected to take on maternal roles for their younger siblings and cousins with no thought to their autonomy. It's well written and has a lot of tense moments when the monsters attack. My only qualm was Thulasi still be affected by Addison after everything.
But not just that. Thulasi the MC is a high school age girl navigating life in a small town being one of the very few POC. She's Tamil and always seemingly in charge of her 7 year old cousin Arrun.
Her crush Sam has an Egyptian dad.
The town they live in has a legacy of a horror novelist who died in the 1800's by the name of Addison Greer. Addison died if typhoid. But her stories live on. When Halloween comes around, they do it up.
One Halloween, Addison comes alive through a book.
So do all her monsters. She kills townsfolk and terrifies Thulasi until she gets what she wants.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a coming of age of sorts. We know what it's like for oldest born girls, and/or girls who might be expected to take on maternal roles for their younger siblings and cousins with no thought to their autonomy. It's well written and has a lot of tense moments when the monsters attack. My only qualm was Thulasi still be affected by Addison after everything.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 but I’ll round up because I love Halloween. This was like a woke version of Hocus Pocus. Only they already made that - HP 2 and that book sucked. This was better. But it got a little weird when the FMC was conveniently bi and also polyamorous. This book would have worked better as a middle grade to focus on the details and the horror. Because as a YA with a subplot of the FMC of color finding herself and her autonomy, it was a bit distracting from the main plot. People are dying left and right but Thulasi can’t help but be feel so many feelings- just not about the killings. Also a lot of the characters’ actions didn’t make sense. They just seemed like how someone would act if they were trying to pretend to me a hero in a drama. Like those people who make cringe vids with the anime dub voice. The clenched fist. “I will avenge you!” Eh. I love me some Halloween. And this had the horror and the potential. But it just wanted to be too many things.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such an amazingly perfect spooky YA debut!!! (thank you to the author, @yuvanissue for gifting me this physical arc and trusting me to read and review your wonderful book)
⭐️KILL YOUR DARLINGS, out SEPT 2026⭐️
I knew when the book started off on Halloween it was going to be a true treattttt (no pun intended 😂)! It composed all the fun and exhilarating parts of say Jumanji (out of a book, trouble ensues), but with the spookiness and horror elements of say, ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ and a babysitting misadventure in the realm of ‘Adventures in Babysitting’! It also had its own spooky betch set out on revenge à la ‘Maleficent’
I was completely enthralled by the fast-paced fun of the book and @yuvanissue ‘s writing style! This was a quick bingeable read that I’ll definitely be picking up again come spooky szn!!! I could (and will) seriously read every and anything from this author in the future!
#killyourdarlings #yuvashriharish #putnam
⭐️KILL YOUR DARLINGS, out SEPT 2026⭐️
I knew when the book started off on Halloween it was going to be a true treattttt (no pun intended 😂)! It composed all the fun and exhilarating parts of say Jumanji (out of a book, trouble ensues), but with the spookiness and horror elements of say, ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ and a babysitting misadventure in the realm of ‘Adventures in Babysitting’! It also had its own spooky betch set out on revenge à la ‘Maleficent’
I was completely enthralled by the fast-paced fun of the book and @yuvanissue ‘s writing style! This was a quick bingeable read that I’ll definitely be picking up again come spooky szn!!! I could (and will) seriously read every and anything from this author in the future!
#killyourdarlings #yuvashriharish #putnam
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun and spooky read for Halloween
Kill Your Darlings was a really entertaining YA horror read and definitely gave me those classic Goosebumps vibes. The idea of monsters coming out of a horror book was such a fun concept and I enjoyed the mix of creepy moments, humor and family drama. Thulasi was an interesting main character and I liked the themes around family expectations and finding your own voice. The story also has some great spooky imagery and a good amount of gore without becoming too overwhelming. At times, I found the story a little hard to follow, especially with everything happening at once and the different ideas being introduced. Still, I had a good time reading it and the final part really picked up the pace.
Overall, a fun read that would be a great choice for spooky season.
Kill Your Darlings was a really entertaining YA horror read and definitely gave me those classic Goosebumps vibes. The idea of monsters coming out of a horror book was such a fun concept and I enjoyed the mix of creepy moments, humor and family drama. Thulasi was an interesting main character and I liked the themes around family expectations and finding your own voice. The story also has some great spooky imagery and a good amount of gore without becoming too overwhelming. At times, I found the story a little hard to follow, especially with everything happening at once and the different ideas being introduced. Still, I had a good time reading it and the final part really picked up the pace.
Overall, a fun read that would be a great choice for spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Thulasi buys an old, first edition book from her favorite local author, she doesn’t expect it to unleash chaos upon her town - and especially not while she’s busy babysitting. The author, Addison Greer, is brought back to life, and is out for revenge on those who have wronged her. This book is reminiscent of Goosebumps stories, but geared toward a slightly older audience, darker and with more gore. The story deals with Thulasi and Sam trying to protect their two seven-year old relatives from this hell that has been unleashed upon their town, trying to be brave, while still being children themselves. The story also touches upon generational trauma, racism, sexism, and familial dynamics. The story is fast-paced and a quick, creepy read, perfect for spooky season. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review!
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