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Lovely Flesh
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jul 26The Harrison family is unraveling.
Wesley Harrison’s father vanishes in Wyoming. His marriage is failing. His daughter, Lena, is spiraling toward a second suicide attempt, unable to see any beauty in herself because of a facial deformity.
Amid the family’s collapse, Wesley receives a strange job offer from the Pretty River Preparatory School for Girls in Wyoming. The same state his father went missing. The dream job seems to solve all of their problems: higher pay, free tuition at a private school, and an environment for teenage girls that emphasizes the beauty within, not on the surface.
As the Harrisons draw closer to Pretty River, the town exerts an otherworldly pull. One that defies logic or Earth’s natural laws. A town that shouldn’t exist. They soon realize they must not only confront the fractures in their family, but what it means to be human.
Welcome to Pretty River, where families are reborn in unspeakable ways.
Look to your left and to your right? Is the person next to you really human?
Wesley Harrison’s father vanishes in Wyoming. His marriage is failing. His daughter, Lena, is spiraling toward a second suicide attempt, unable to see any beauty in herself because of a facial deformity.
Amid the family’s collapse, Wesley receives a strange job offer from the Pretty River Preparatory School for Girls in Wyoming. The same state his father went missing. The dream job seems to solve all of their problems: higher pay, free tuition at a private school, and an environment for teenage girls that emphasizes the beauty within, not on the surface.
As the Harrisons draw closer to Pretty River, the town exerts an otherworldly pull. One that defies logic or Earth’s natural laws. A town that shouldn’t exist. They soon realize they must not only confront the fractures in their family, but what it means to be human.
Welcome to Pretty River, where families are reborn in unspeakable ways.
Look to your left and to your right? Is the person next to you really human?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 15, 2026
About the author
Michael Stone
8 books51 followersMichael Stone crafts stories of speculative and contemporary fiction. His work can be found in online publications and print anthologies. When he’s not creating post-apocalyptic and supernatural worlds, he’s helping institutionalized veterans transition from service by guiding them through career exploration and self-reflection. Outside of his writing endeavors, he plays fetch with his pups, Maggie and Macy, and spends quality time with his family of six, exploring the vibrant culture of the Windy City.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
The cover is a self-portrait
May 8, 2026
4.25! First of all, look at this cover!! I was immediately drawn to this book. It gave me vibes of The Faculty, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Stepford Wives, but still managed to feel completely original and unhinged in the best way.
The creepy atmosphere starts with the new town and the girls’ prep school setting. Every interaction with outside characters not only creeped out the main character, but me as well.
The family dynamics were messy, tense, and really well written. There was great foreshadowing throughout while still keeping plenty of suspense.
The cosmic and body horror elements were absolutely wild. Things got so intense toward the end and I was fully invested. And then…that epilogue. Bleak, ominous, and super satisfying!!
Thank your for the ARC! After finishing The Shimmering and Lovely Flesh, I will be following this author’s works.
The creepy atmosphere starts with the new town and the girls’ prep school setting. Every interaction with outside characters not only creeped out the main character, but me as well.
The family dynamics were messy, tense, and really well written. There was great foreshadowing throughout while still keeping plenty of suspense.
The cosmic and body horror elements were absolutely wild. Things got so intense toward the end and I was fully invested. And then…that epilogue. Bleak, ominous, and super satisfying!!
Thank your for the ARC! After finishing The Shimmering and Lovely Flesh, I will be following this author’s works.
May 4, 2026
Imagine if The Faculty and Wayward Pines had a slightly unhinged book baby. That would be Lovely Flesh. The story drops you off into a place where everybody and everything just seems a bit “off”.
A nice slow burn pace, but when things start to unravel it’s off to the races!
I loved this book a whole lot! It left me suspicious of small towns, private schools, and don’t think I’m not side-eying my neighbors! I HIGHLY recommend you give this one a go!
A nice slow burn pace, but when things start to unravel it’s off to the races!
I loved this book a whole lot! It left me suspicious of small towns, private schools, and don’t think I’m not side-eying my neighbors! I HIGHLY recommend you give this one a go!
May 8, 2026
This is definitely what I would classify as one of my weird girl books. This reminded me so much of The Faculty, which is one of my all time favorite movies. I love how descriptive it was, you could really feel like you were right next to these characters going through it. Overall, I really enjoyed this. It had a (mostly) satisfying conclusion as well that gave you kind of a cliffhanger but kind of an overwhelming sense of dread.
This was my first book by this author and I’ll certainly read whatever he comes out with
This was my first book by this author and I’ll certainly read whatever he comes out with
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of Lovely Flesh by Michael Stone to review with my honest opinion. And that opinion is this: this is a flat-out fantastic book and I loved it.
I was instantly sucked in by the prologue which establishes the eerie tone right away and beautifully sets up the mysterious events that follow. I devoured this book in two sittings because each chapter makes you hungry for more. The plot never sags and the momentum just keeps building until the dam finally breaks and slimy secrets and satisfying surprises gush out. You might want to wear a parka.
The story follows Wesley Harrison, his wife Loretta, and their daughter Lena as they navigate some really tough times. Wesley has cancer and his father has gone missing. Loretta is cheating on him and Lena is suicidal due in part from being bullied by other teens about her facial deformity. Now, that sounds pretty bleak, but I guarantee you this isn’t a bleak novel. It takes these troubles and uses them to explore what’s really important in life and how families function through their dysfunction. How families bond through trauma and survive through love.
When Wesley is offered a job at a school in a small town called Pretty River he sees it as a chance to give his family a fresh start and give his daughter a place where she isn’t burdened with the weight of being bullied. But things are immediately strange, before they even arrive. The town isn’t on a map, and they are warned not to go. When they finally arrive, things seem a little too perfect. The townspeople are overly friendly and everything seems just a little off. And what’s that sound in the air…
The word that kept popping in my head to describe the town was ‘uncanny.’ You can feel something strange bubbling just beneath the surface. The tension builds and never backs down. And the reveal is satisfying and earned.
Throughout the book, you really get to care for the characters. They aren’t just cookie cutter props to drive the story. Wesley is a truly loving father and would do anything for his family. He also possesses a level of emotional intelligence that you rarely see in horror, though he’s not always able to act perfectly on it. That makes him human. In fact there is a theme about what makes us human, messy as we are.
The horror is quite well done. There is a creeping sense of dread and some excellent body horror. One thing Michael Stone really does well is giving sensory input with vivid descriptions that never seem pointless or superfluous but that pull you physically into the space and mindset of Wesley. You feel the world along with him.
But on top of everything else, this book is just really fun. It’s a pleasure to read and sometimes feels like you’re watching a great suspense/horror movie. It’s very visual and exciting. Plus Wesley once describes sex as “intermittent dick parlays” which is just chef’s kiss.
There are several times when I was reading that I literally said out loud “God, this is good.” And I have to mention the cover art too. It’s incredible as you can see. I can’t recommend this enough.
I was instantly sucked in by the prologue which establishes the eerie tone right away and beautifully sets up the mysterious events that follow. I devoured this book in two sittings because each chapter makes you hungry for more. The plot never sags and the momentum just keeps building until the dam finally breaks and slimy secrets and satisfying surprises gush out. You might want to wear a parka.
The story follows Wesley Harrison, his wife Loretta, and their daughter Lena as they navigate some really tough times. Wesley has cancer and his father has gone missing. Loretta is cheating on him and Lena is suicidal due in part from being bullied by other teens about her facial deformity. Now, that sounds pretty bleak, but I guarantee you this isn’t a bleak novel. It takes these troubles and uses them to explore what’s really important in life and how families function through their dysfunction. How families bond through trauma and survive through love.
When Wesley is offered a job at a school in a small town called Pretty River he sees it as a chance to give his family a fresh start and give his daughter a place where she isn’t burdened with the weight of being bullied. But things are immediately strange, before they even arrive. The town isn’t on a map, and they are warned not to go. When they finally arrive, things seem a little too perfect. The townspeople are overly friendly and everything seems just a little off. And what’s that sound in the air…
The word that kept popping in my head to describe the town was ‘uncanny.’ You can feel something strange bubbling just beneath the surface. The tension builds and never backs down. And the reveal is satisfying and earned.
Throughout the book, you really get to care for the characters. They aren’t just cookie cutter props to drive the story. Wesley is a truly loving father and would do anything for his family. He also possesses a level of emotional intelligence that you rarely see in horror, though he’s not always able to act perfectly on it. That makes him human. In fact there is a theme about what makes us human, messy as we are.
The horror is quite well done. There is a creeping sense of dread and some excellent body horror. One thing Michael Stone really does well is giving sensory input with vivid descriptions that never seem pointless or superfluous but that pull you physically into the space and mindset of Wesley. You feel the world along with him.
But on top of everything else, this book is just really fun. It’s a pleasure to read and sometimes feels like you’re watching a great suspense/horror movie. It’s very visual and exciting. Plus Wesley once describes sex as “intermittent dick parlays” which is just chef’s kiss.
There are several times when I was reading that I literally said out loud “God, this is good.” And I have to mention the cover art too. It’s incredible as you can see. I can’t recommend this enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Lovely Flesh" by Michael Stone/Trevor woods combines dark family drama with body and cosmic horror. The book follows Wesley, Loretta, and Lena Harrison. Wesley's father has gone missing in the Wyoming wilderness and, at the same time, his marriage is collapsing and his daughter Lena is spiraling towards a second suicide attempt (partially due to a facial deformity that plays a major role in the novel). During this tense period, Wesley received a seemingly perfect job offer at the Pretty River Preparatory School for Girls in Wyoming. To Wesley, this is perfect as it places him in the state where his father has gone missing. Just prior to, and as the family relocates, odd occurrences happen and the dream job quickly turns into a dark, terrible nightmare. At first, the town and the people look and seem perfect however, Pretty River hides a much darker, sinister secret. Will the Harrison family escape with their lives? Read this novel to find out.
This book is amazing and, after reading The Shimmering and Lovely Flesh, I would like to kindly request to be Trevor's number one fan. This is how a horror novel should be written. To begin, the character development is amazing with the beginning of the novel introducing the reader to and helping us get to know the main characters. There is marriage turmoil with financial and infidelity concerns, severe mental health struggles (Lena), and overall tenseness in the Harrison family as each member of the Harrison family attempts to navigate the turmoil in their own way. Wesley, Loretta, and Lena feel like real people rather than characters in a novel. The core cast of characters, as well as supporting ones, left me loving them, hating them, and suspicious of many. The book is creepy and, once you find out a little more about what's going on with the Harrisons, the book takes you in a different direction.
The novel moves quickly ahead, with the ending of each chapter revealing a little more of what's actually going on and leaving the reader on a cliffhanger and a strong curiosity to find out more. At the end of each chapter, I had to continue on to the next immediately to find out what happens. The book is fast paced and, at the end, goes off the rails. The ending is pretty violent however, throughout the book, there are some very graphic moments that propel the story forward and are central to the plot. The way this book is written is a perfect example of not needing violence every second to make a book horror.
There were several key themes that were perfectly written. Most importantly is the nature of beauty looking at "perfection" vs. "imperfection" and how, really, a person's "imperfections" are quite often what makes them a "perfect" person to others. I know this is vague however, I do not want to spoil anything in the book. Other key themes are family trauma and isolation.
This is a very unsettling and terrifying book and needs to be a must read for everyone.
This book is amazing and, after reading The Shimmering and Lovely Flesh, I would like to kindly request to be Trevor's number one fan. This is how a horror novel should be written. To begin, the character development is amazing with the beginning of the novel introducing the reader to and helping us get to know the main characters. There is marriage turmoil with financial and infidelity concerns, severe mental health struggles (Lena), and overall tenseness in the Harrison family as each member of the Harrison family attempts to navigate the turmoil in their own way. Wesley, Loretta, and Lena feel like real people rather than characters in a novel. The core cast of characters, as well as supporting ones, left me loving them, hating them, and suspicious of many. The book is creepy and, once you find out a little more about what's going on with the Harrisons, the book takes you in a different direction.
The novel moves quickly ahead, with the ending of each chapter revealing a little more of what's actually going on and leaving the reader on a cliffhanger and a strong curiosity to find out more. At the end of each chapter, I had to continue on to the next immediately to find out what happens. The book is fast paced and, at the end, goes off the rails. The ending is pretty violent however, throughout the book, there are some very graphic moments that propel the story forward and are central to the plot. The way this book is written is a perfect example of not needing violence every second to make a book horror.
There were several key themes that were perfectly written. Most importantly is the nature of beauty looking at "perfection" vs. "imperfection" and how, really, a person's "imperfections" are quite often what makes them a "perfect" person to others. I know this is vague however, I do not want to spoil anything in the book. Other key themes are family trauma and isolation.
This is a very unsettling and terrifying book and needs to be a must read for everyone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ohhhh ALL of the lovely stars!!!
I was given an ARC to read and review.
Okay first off can we talk about the cover?! Holy hell its gorgeous! I'm totally guilty of judging a book by its cover, sometimes it delivers and sometimes it doesn't. Stone delivered!
From the very beginning I was sucked into this story about a family teetering on the edge; Wesley who is fighting the worst of the worst. his dad went missing while long distance driving for work, his daughter no longer wants to live due to insecurities of a facial deformity she was born with, a wife with wandering eyes. You really feel for this guy. Then this grand opportunity arises for him to go teach at Pretty River Preparatory for girls in Wyoming. The focus is studies along with learning that beauty comes from within. This sounds perfect for his daughter Lena who is struggling mentally with her terrible "friends" in Oklahoma. Pay is right and they get to live on the campus that is fully paid for.
As they are pulling up to the school something seems super off-everyone in town is waving as they're driving through like they have been expecting them. His wife Loretta and Lena are enamored by it all and waving back with huge smiles on their faces which is way out of character especially for Lena who is a shrinking violet always trying to avoid anyone looking her way. Wesley is shocked, but happy to see the smiles plastered on their faces.
Misty is the administrator who welcomes them to their new home and by God she is gorgeous completely flawless. Matter of fact everyone there at Pretty River is strikingly beautiful. Wesley is concerned that Lena will feel even more insecure about her looks. Lena and Loretta are completely entranced by this place and the people. Wesley feels increasingly uncomfortable and starts seeing weird things, maybe its just lack of sleep and mounting stress. Or maybe its something else completely.
I loved this book, I will definitely be buying the paperback when it comes out the day before my birthday-its like I got an early bday present getting to read it sooner! Stone is very good at all of the details; sights, smells, feels, character development-everything was on point. I really loved the flashbacks going way back in time as well. I was super impressed. If you're into cosmic horror-this one is definitely for you!
I was given an ARC to read and review.
Okay first off can we talk about the cover?! Holy hell its gorgeous! I'm totally guilty of judging a book by its cover, sometimes it delivers and sometimes it doesn't. Stone delivered!
From the very beginning I was sucked into this story about a family teetering on the edge; Wesley who is fighting the worst of the worst. his dad went missing while long distance driving for work, his daughter no longer wants to live due to insecurities of a facial deformity she was born with, a wife with wandering eyes. You really feel for this guy. Then this grand opportunity arises for him to go teach at Pretty River Preparatory for girls in Wyoming. The focus is studies along with learning that beauty comes from within. This sounds perfect for his daughter Lena who is struggling mentally with her terrible "friends" in Oklahoma. Pay is right and they get to live on the campus that is fully paid for.
As they are pulling up to the school something seems super off-everyone in town is waving as they're driving through like they have been expecting them. His wife Loretta and Lena are enamored by it all and waving back with huge smiles on their faces which is way out of character especially for Lena who is a shrinking violet always trying to avoid anyone looking her way. Wesley is shocked, but happy to see the smiles plastered on their faces.
Misty is the administrator who welcomes them to their new home and by God she is gorgeous completely flawless. Matter of fact everyone there at Pretty River is strikingly beautiful. Wesley is concerned that Lena will feel even more insecure about her looks. Lena and Loretta are completely entranced by this place and the people. Wesley feels increasingly uncomfortable and starts seeing weird things, maybe its just lack of sleep and mounting stress. Or maybe its something else completely.
I loved this book, I will definitely be buying the paperback when it comes out the day before my birthday-its like I got an early bday present getting to read it sooner! Stone is very good at all of the details; sights, smells, feels, character development-everything was on point. I really loved the flashbacks going way back in time as well. I was super impressed. If you're into cosmic horror-this one is definitely for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: 4.25
A private school, missing people, and cosmic horror? Oh yes! Michael Stone absolutely leans into it with no restraint.
If you’re hoping for a cozy small-town mystery, consider this your Jedi mind trick moment: this is not that story. Instead, it’s a brutal, emotionally charged descent into the corrosive effects of social media, identity, and the desperate lengths a family will go to for a second chance.
We follow the Harrison family, who are, to put it mildly, barely holding together. Wesley is trying to salvage both his marriage and his teenage daughter Lena, who is unraveling under severe mental health strain following a traumatic facial deformity. When he’s offered a job at Pretty River Preparatory School in Wyoming, it feels like salvation: better pay, free tuition, and a town obsessed with “inner beauty.”
But Pretty River is wrong in a way that’s hard to name at first. The rules of reality feel loose here. The deeper the Harrisons become entangled in the school’s culture and “curriculum,” the more the story shifts into unsettling body horror and cosmic dread. Stone uses the setting to explore disturbing questions about self-image, conformity, and what we’re willing to erase or reshape in ourselves to belong.
The atmosphere is thick with that persistent sense of unease with the unmistakable feeling that something is fundamentally off. Stone’s prose is dense and tactile, you don’t just read it, you feel it. Everything is described with a kind of raw closeness that can be both hypnotic and deeply uncomfortable. There’s very little distance between the reader and the protagonist’s inner world, which makes the descent feel claustrophobic.
Overall, Lovely Flesh is an intensely heavy read. It confronts suicide attempts, severe mental health challenges, and graphic body horror head-on, weaving them into a blend of psychological and cosmic horror that feels deeply unsettling. At its core, it’s held together by a fractured family dynamic that’s as compelling as it is bleak.
A private school, missing people, and cosmic horror? Oh yes! Michael Stone absolutely leans into it with no restraint.
If you’re hoping for a cozy small-town mystery, consider this your Jedi mind trick moment: this is not that story. Instead, it’s a brutal, emotionally charged descent into the corrosive effects of social media, identity, and the desperate lengths a family will go to for a second chance.
We follow the Harrison family, who are, to put it mildly, barely holding together. Wesley is trying to salvage both his marriage and his teenage daughter Lena, who is unraveling under severe mental health strain following a traumatic facial deformity. When he’s offered a job at Pretty River Preparatory School in Wyoming, it feels like salvation: better pay, free tuition, and a town obsessed with “inner beauty.”
But Pretty River is wrong in a way that’s hard to name at first. The rules of reality feel loose here. The deeper the Harrisons become entangled in the school’s culture and “curriculum,” the more the story shifts into unsettling body horror and cosmic dread. Stone uses the setting to explore disturbing questions about self-image, conformity, and what we’re willing to erase or reshape in ourselves to belong.
The atmosphere is thick with that persistent sense of unease with the unmistakable feeling that something is fundamentally off. Stone’s prose is dense and tactile, you don’t just read it, you feel it. Everything is described with a kind of raw closeness that can be both hypnotic and deeply uncomfortable. There’s very little distance between the reader and the protagonist’s inner world, which makes the descent feel claustrophobic.
Overall, Lovely Flesh is an intensely heavy read. It confronts suicide attempts, severe mental health challenges, and graphic body horror head-on, weaving them into a blend of psychological and cosmic horror that feels deeply unsettling. At its core, it’s held together by a fractured family dynamic that’s as compelling as it is bleak.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book. This book right here. I waited very impatiently to read this and it was everything I hoped it would be.
Lovely Flesh tracks a broken family’s endeavor to a new state and hopefully, a new life. Wesley is dealing with a lot. His father went missing a year ago, his daughter Lena is struggling with a facial deformity that has caused her to be self-destructive, and his marriage is in shambles. He receives an email offering him a position at what seems to be a very prestigious girl’s school that focuses on bringing out the inner beauty of its students. Not only is it a great job opportunity, but it provides free tuition for Lena and a chance at a new beginning for all of them. Upon their arrival to the community of Pretty River, everything seems perfect. The town is picturesque, the residents are all welcoming and the school seems too good to be true. Wesley’s family is smitten, but he begins to notice small things that just don’t make sense. Something is definitely wrong and Wesley needs to find out what it is before it destroys his family completely.
This story is raw, gritty, emotional and real. The characters and family trauma are exceptionally relatable. Every story I read by Michael Stone just gets progressively better and better. A recurring theme that I have noticed is the perseverance of a father’s love in what seems to be a hopeless situation. I absolutely loved this story and I think you will too!
Lovely Flesh tracks a broken family’s endeavor to a new state and hopefully, a new life. Wesley is dealing with a lot. His father went missing a year ago, his daughter Lena is struggling with a facial deformity that has caused her to be self-destructive, and his marriage is in shambles. He receives an email offering him a position at what seems to be a very prestigious girl’s school that focuses on bringing out the inner beauty of its students. Not only is it a great job opportunity, but it provides free tuition for Lena and a chance at a new beginning for all of them. Upon their arrival to the community of Pretty River, everything seems perfect. The town is picturesque, the residents are all welcoming and the school seems too good to be true. Wesley’s family is smitten, but he begins to notice small things that just don’t make sense. Something is definitely wrong and Wesley needs to find out what it is before it destroys his family completely.
This story is raw, gritty, emotional and real. The characters and family trauma are exceptionally relatable. Every story I read by Michael Stone just gets progressively better and better. A recurring theme that I have noticed is the perseverance of a father’s love in what seems to be a hopeless situation. I absolutely loved this story and I think you will too!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Lovely Flesh
Author: Micheal Stone
Release: July 2026
Genre: Cosmic Horror
From the twisted mind that brought us The Shimmering…we are treated to a body horror – sci-fi – mystery soup. While many authors have a similar format to their writing this story is nothing what I expected. With a sprinkle of spice and heavy on gore Dealing with too much family drama, we follow the Wesley (MMC) that takes his family to a private school in a town in Wyoming, shrouded in mystery gaining strange reactions from people as they get closer to town. He’s done this for his daughter who has a facial deformity who has been subjected to bullying and will do anything to make her life better. The writing provided the perfect amount of creep factor with enough description of the settings to put you in the story. The body horror is gory and the story is mysterious. If you pay attention, there are sprinkles of foreshadowing…I was audibly excited when my ‘inkling’ about the climax was right. There is lots of family drama and struggle throughout that adds to the story, it’s not just a horror story, it’s an awesome work of fiction. It is left a bit open ended, but it is great as a stand alone.
Sidebar: Fans of shows like Wandering Pines & Them are going to love this one. It also reminded me of a sci-fi comedy from the early 2000’s… and a more recent horror film, if you enjoy the book, let me know and I’ll share the titles. I don’t want to spoil anything.
Lovely Flesh
Author: Micheal Stone
Release: July 2026
Genre: Cosmic Horror
From the twisted mind that brought us The Shimmering…we are treated to a body horror – sci-fi – mystery soup. While many authors have a similar format to their writing this story is nothing what I expected. With a sprinkle of spice and heavy on gore Dealing with too much family drama, we follow the Wesley (MMC) that takes his family to a private school in a town in Wyoming, shrouded in mystery gaining strange reactions from people as they get closer to town. He’s done this for his daughter who has a facial deformity who has been subjected to bullying and will do anything to make her life better. The writing provided the perfect amount of creep factor with enough description of the settings to put you in the story. The body horror is gory and the story is mysterious. If you pay attention, there are sprinkles of foreshadowing…I was audibly excited when my ‘inkling’ about the climax was right. There is lots of family drama and struggle throughout that adds to the story, it’s not just a horror story, it’s an awesome work of fiction. It is left a bit open ended, but it is great as a stand alone.
Sidebar: Fans of shows like Wandering Pines & Them are going to love this one. It also reminded me of a sci-fi comedy from the early 2000’s… and a more recent horror film, if you enjoy the book, let me know and I’ll share the titles. I don’t want to spoil anything.
May 4, 2026
When something seems to good to be true; it usually is. Yet time and time again people ignore their instincts and discover they should have followed this gut feelings. This story was no different. A parent has all consuming love for their child and would do anything for the child(ren). Until a person becomes a parent, that person is not part of the special club. The disappearances of many people do not seem to cause much of a concern. If only Wesley had not ignored those eerie feelings here received before entering Pretty River; then the outcome may have been different. As the reader, the warning bells were loudly ringing, along with Wesley. The author did an amazing job of keeping the reader interested enough to continue the journey. There were so many red flags; but as a parent myself you do what you think will help your child. The description of ‘the Mother’ was grotesque. No wonder the ‘Accords’ had to be programmed differently. I can only imagine if I saw the creature in its purest form I would have run the other way, no matter what was promised. The acronym for the ‘Mother’ was really good. The moniker made understanding the urgency of how to deal with the new way of life. If you enjoy speculative fiction then this is the book you want țo read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wesley’s life is falling apart. His daughter is struggling with serious mental health issues, his wife is cheating on him, and his father has vanished without a trace. In a last attempt to keep his family together, he accepts a job offer in a small town called Pretty River.
But this town isn’t quite what they expected, and everything feels just a little… off.
This was such a compelling story. I was hooked from the very first page, and the sense of unease kept growing with each chapter. Michael Stone has a real talent for describing places, people, and situations in a way that makes you feel like you're right there with them. I’m not usually someone who visualizes scenes easily, but here I could almost see everything unfold — which is rare for me.
I especially liked how you really feel a connection to Wesley and his daughter, and how the story gradually picked up pace, leading to an action-packed and explosive finale, filled with everything a reader of horror books could hope for.
This was my first Michael Stone book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m excited to discover more of his work.
But this town isn’t quite what they expected, and everything feels just a little… off.
This was such a compelling story. I was hooked from the very first page, and the sense of unease kept growing with each chapter. Michael Stone has a real talent for describing places, people, and situations in a way that makes you feel like you're right there with them. I’m not usually someone who visualizes scenes easily, but here I could almost see everything unfold — which is rare for me.
I especially liked how you really feel a connection to Wesley and his daughter, and how the story gradually picked up pace, leading to an action-packed and explosive finale, filled with everything a reader of horror books could hope for.
This was my first Michael Stone book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m excited to discover more of his work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is Michael Stone's second book and I loved this one even more. It's starts out as a grief horror as a family is going through issues within their marriage and their daughter is spiraling due to a deformity she has. However, that all changes when Wesley gets an offer from the Pretty River Preparatory School for Girls. It sounds too good to be true, which is because it turns out to be too good to be true.
However, this school is much more than meets the eye. Between the family dynamics and the body horror/scifi elements, this slow burn quickly speeds up when you get to the middle. While it's a bleak story, there are some light-hearted moments. The character development is well done on this one as well and I found myself cheering for the good guys. Also, there are some themes that are nailed on this one such as the idea of beauty perfection and does that make that person 'perfect'.
The family isolation theme hits me hard as I know all too well how it feels to be isolated from my relatives.
It's a great mixture of real life elements with a good old fashion horror story that will make you terrified and maybe even feel a bit icky after reading.
However, this school is much more than meets the eye. Between the family dynamics and the body horror/scifi elements, this slow burn quickly speeds up when you get to the middle. While it's a bleak story, there are some light-hearted moments. The character development is well done on this one as well and I found myself cheering for the good guys. Also, there are some themes that are nailed on this one such as the idea of beauty perfection and does that make that person 'perfect'.
The family isolation theme hits me hard as I know all too well how it feels to be isolated from my relatives.
It's a great mixture of real life elements with a good old fashion horror story that will make you terrified and maybe even feel a bit icky after reading.
Review of advance copy
4☆
From the very beginning Wesley Harrison is cursed. His daughter has a congenital facial deformity, his dad goes missing, his daughter tries to commit suicide, his wife is having a sexual affair with the family therapist and he is diagnosed with cancer! All but his daughter's deformity occur in the same year. And, things get worse.
In an attempt to make everything better Wesley accepts a position with Pretty River Preparatory, a private school that promises acceptance, confidence and a wonderful life. What really lies under the perfect beautiful people is a cross between The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil and Alien.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Michael Stone, the publisher and Booksirens.
Favorite Quote:
"It's not perfection that's beautiful, it's suffering. It's what shapes us. The strength to live through it. The imperfections, the pain, the hurt...that's where the beauty is, even if it takes some of us a lifetime to see it."
Wesley Harrison
From the very beginning Wesley Harrison is cursed. His daughter has a congenital facial deformity, his dad goes missing, his daughter tries to commit suicide, his wife is having a sexual affair with the family therapist and he is diagnosed with cancer! All but his daughter's deformity occur in the same year. And, things get worse.
In an attempt to make everything better Wesley accepts a position with Pretty River Preparatory, a private school that promises acceptance, confidence and a wonderful life. What really lies under the perfect beautiful people is a cross between The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil and Alien.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Michael Stone, the publisher and Booksirens.
Favorite Quote:
"It's not perfection that's beautiful, it's suffering. It's what shapes us. The strength to live through it. The imperfections, the pain, the hurt...that's where the beauty is, even if it takes some of us a lifetime to see it."
Wesley Harrison
Review of advance copy received from Author
"The ultimate gift Pretty River offers: A promise of perfection"
Welcome to Pretty River, reader! "We offer you Lovely Flesh!" Holy cow, what a read! THANK YOU to the author for allowing me the privilege to ARC read this book! Yes, I did the whole "don't judge a book by its cover" but like in a positive way, I guess? The cover of this book is absolutely STUNNING, and I have absolutely no regrets on diving into this book head first just because of the "pretty cover." … With all that being said, without saying too much spoiler-wise, the book was as beautiful as the cover was. If you're into otherworldly body horror, a world where a father's love knows no bounds, and seeing the true cost of perfection, I ENCOURAGE you to pick up this book when it comes out.
"The promise of no pain is like a drug, strong and seductive. Just the thought of it seduces him, makes him want to step forward and let himself fall in. But he knows better. It’s a lie. Snake oil dressed up as perfection."
A beautiful 5 out of 5 slabs of flesh and a new fan for Michael Stone
Welcome to Pretty River, reader! "We offer you Lovely Flesh!" Holy cow, what a read! THANK YOU to the author for allowing me the privilege to ARC read this book! Yes, I did the whole "don't judge a book by its cover" but like in a positive way, I guess? The cover of this book is absolutely STUNNING, and I have absolutely no regrets on diving into this book head first just because of the "pretty cover." … With all that being said, without saying too much spoiler-wise, the book was as beautiful as the cover was. If you're into otherworldly body horror, a world where a father's love knows no bounds, and seeing the true cost of perfection, I ENCOURAGE you to pick up this book when it comes out.
"The promise of no pain is like a drug, strong and seductive. Just the thought of it seduces him, makes him want to step forward and let himself fall in. But he knows better. It’s a lie. Snake oil dressed up as perfection."
A beautiful 5 out of 5 slabs of flesh and a new fan for Michael Stone
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤 😳 Lovely Flesh 😨 🖤
I just finished up the ARC for Michael Stone (aka Trevor Woods - Author) upcoming novel, Lovely Flesh, and it was... Something.
I'll preface my review by saying that two sub-genres that I am suffering fatigue from are Cosmic & Body horror.
Despite my current distaste for these lanes of terror, Stone lured me in immediately with a complex clusterfuch of familial chaos.
Enticing elements include:
- Mysterious Missing Person
- An angsty teen (well deserved)
- Once in a lifetime job opportunity
- A school that guarantees enlightenment (what could go wrong?)
- Copious bodily fluids & skin rupturing
If you enjoyed The Shimmering, you will surely enjoy Stone's follow up novel. It's genuinely shudder inducing, fast-paced... oh and has a really gnarly scene of copulation 😳
I just finished up the ARC for Michael Stone (aka Trevor Woods - Author) upcoming novel, Lovely Flesh, and it was... Something.
I'll preface my review by saying that two sub-genres that I am suffering fatigue from are Cosmic & Body horror.
Despite my current distaste for these lanes of terror, Stone lured me in immediately with a complex clusterfuch of familial chaos.
Enticing elements include:
- Mysterious Missing Person
- An angsty teen (well deserved)
- Once in a lifetime job opportunity
- A school that guarantees enlightenment (what could go wrong?)
- Copious bodily fluids & skin rupturing
If you enjoyed The Shimmering, you will surely enjoy Stone's follow up novel. It's genuinely shudder inducing, fast-paced... oh and has a really gnarly scene of copulation 😳
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am 75% through and loving every second. I don't think there has been a chapter that has 'dragged'.
It's giving 'Under the Dome', 'The Faculty', and 'The Truman Show'. But the nod towards the air those movies and book breathe isn't a comparison to this book.
Lovely Flesh is the first book I have been excited to read, and remained excited throughout reading. Every chapter leaves you holding your breath, curious for the following. The author has a way of world-building and explaining graphic scenes through metaphors that makes the atmosphere feel familiar, making it feel like you're RIGHT THERE, without the wordiness.
I am excited to get to the conclusion of the book, which the author has hinted is just as thrilling as the rest of it.
My first Michael Stone read, and it won't be the last! Terrifying, graphic, and nail-biting!
It's giving 'Under the Dome', 'The Faculty', and 'The Truman Show'. But the nod towards the air those movies and book breathe isn't a comparison to this book.
Lovely Flesh is the first book I have been excited to read, and remained excited throughout reading. Every chapter leaves you holding your breath, curious for the following. The author has a way of world-building and explaining graphic scenes through metaphors that makes the atmosphere feel familiar, making it feel like you're RIGHT THERE, without the wordiness.
I am excited to get to the conclusion of the book, which the author has hinted is just as thrilling as the rest of it.
My first Michael Stone read, and it won't be the last! Terrifying, graphic, and nail-biting!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Although a slowburn, this small town cosmic horror really packs a punch. You can feel the build up of tension through the whole novel - from the Harrison family’s struggles to their new deceptive environment of Pretty River. Once the dark secrets of Pretty River are revealed, Wesley Harrison does all he can in hope to save his family and the rest of the world. Lovely Flesh includes themes of low self esteem, depression, family trauma, biological science elements and cosmic horror. It’s well written, has a good pace, enjoyable characters and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I’m very excited for the implied sequel!
I’m very excited for the implied sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc copy provided by author
📚Arc Book review📚
📍Releases July 2026📍
Lovely Flesh
Trevor Woods - Author
Cosmic Horror
Lovely Flesh was a very intense read. What makes it intense you ask? The unknown, the erie town, missing people, and oh so much more. Pretty River isn't your normal small town in Wyoming it's a time capsule of horror. This book has it all a splash of spice, lots of gore and creepy creatures.
Let's talk about that ending... What? Why? No!!. This book was perfect as is, but wow this would be a crazy good series.
"We offer you Lovely Flesh,”
📍Fans of the show From will absolutely love this.
📚Arc Book review📚
📍Releases July 2026📍
Lovely Flesh
Trevor Woods - Author
Cosmic Horror
Lovely Flesh was a very intense read. What makes it intense you ask? The unknown, the erie town, missing people, and oh so much more. Pretty River isn't your normal small town in Wyoming it's a time capsule of horror. This book has it all a splash of spice, lots of gore and creepy creatures.
Let's talk about that ending... What? Why? No!!. This book was perfect as is, but wow this would be a crazy good series.
"We offer you Lovely Flesh,”
📍Fans of the show From will absolutely love this.
Review of advance copy
I devoured this.
Reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but laced with visceral emotion and family trauma. Wesley Harrison’s life is unraveling, but a job offer in a town called Pretty River for a girl’s school is where the horror manifest’s itself. Cool cosmic element that serves as a metaphor for false perfection. A lot of similar themes are intertwined into the story. The ending implies this will be a series, and I can’t wait for the next book!
I received this as an arc in exchange for an honest review.
What a great novel!
Reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but laced with visceral emotion and family trauma. Wesley Harrison’s life is unraveling, but a job offer in a town called Pretty River for a girl’s school is where the horror manifest’s itself. Cool cosmic element that serves as a metaphor for false perfection. A lot of similar themes are intertwined into the story. The ending implies this will be a series, and I can’t wait for the next book!
I received this as an arc in exchange for an honest review.
What a great novel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Took me a couple days to read this but that is because I had to be a mom lol. Otherwise I would have finished this in a couple days.
Wesley’s father goes missing and he tries everything to find him, even neglecting his daughter and wife. Resentments were mad but Wesley wants to do anything to get his family back.
He wants to help build his daughter’s self esteem, which she was born with a deformity, and make her happy again. He moves them to PRP however he feels something is off. Everyone starts acting different, even his wife and daughter. Wesley has to start figuring out why and try to solve it before someone gets hurt.
Wesley’s father goes missing and he tries everything to find him, even neglecting his daughter and wife. Resentments were mad but Wesley wants to do anything to get his family back.
He wants to help build his daughter’s self esteem, which she was born with a deformity, and make her happy again. He moves them to PRP however he feels something is off. Everyone starts acting different, even his wife and daughter. Wesley has to start figuring out why and try to solve it before someone gets hurt.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lovely Flesh by Michael Stone is a unique cosmic horror novel set in a small town that you probably are better off not visiting. A couple of scenes really surprised me (in a good way) and the writing really pulled me in from the start. Although cosmic horror isn't my usual type of horror, I still really enjoyed this book! This was my first time reading Michael Stone and I can't wait to read more by him.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finished Lovely Flesh. Bravo Michael Stone. I personally wouldn't call it horror. Definitely emotional with a side of sci-fi. As soon as you start to forgive someone, they do something gut wrenching. You feel betrayed along with the main character. Book covers what you are willing to sacrifice for perfection. Are you willing to make that sacrifice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. 5 stars.
Review of advance copy
*thank you booksiren and author for the ARC for ke to read and give my honest review*
What a great cosmic horror loved the slow creepy atmosphere what a slow burn that let to awesome ending.
What a great cosmic horror loved the slow creepy atmosphere what a slow burn that let to awesome ending.
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