Hollow Me Out: A Halloween Monster Rom-Com

by Kate Rozy

After getting ghosted at a Halloween singles mixer, Stella goes home with cider, wounded pride, and one very questionable coping strategy.

She carves a pumpkin.

Not just any pumpkin. A too-detailed, emotionally loaded, absolutely-not-based-on-her-favorite-fictional-man pumpkin.

Then she lights an old harvest candle from her mother’s house, makes one honest wish she definitely did not mean to say out loud, and wakes up on the kitchen floor with fresh coffee nearby and a pumpkin-headed man standing at her counter.

His name is Thorn.

He is tall, careful, warm, disturbingly good at making soup, and somehow knows every secret Stella ever hid inside her writing. He notices too much. And he might be the most terrifying thing Stella has ever wanted.

Because fictional devotion is safe when it stays fictional.
Thorn does not stay fictional.

Now the apartment is blooming with impossible magic, the neighborhood cats are swarming, and Stella needs to make up her mind about what to do with him.

Hollow Me Out is a spicy Halloween monster rom-com with a sentient pumpkin man, cozy chaos, fic-to-life magic, consent-forward heat, emotional panic, soup, vines, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Halloween

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Susan Stover]

Stella gets ghosted at a Halloween singles mixer, goes home, carves a pumpkin, and somehow ends up with the fictional man of her dreams standing in her kitchen! I mean, talk about a Halloween surprise!

Hollow Me Out by Kate Rozy was such a fun little monster romance! I loved how Stella accidentally brought Thorn to life just by making a wish. And Thorn? A tall, attentive pumpkin-headed man who makes coffee, cooks soup, and knows all her secrets? Honestly, Stella might have gotten a better deal than she ever would have at that singles mixer!

What I really enjoyed was how the story mixed the funny moments with the sweeter side of their relationship. Stella has to figure out what to do when the man she created in her imagination suddenly becomes real. I liked that Thorn wasn't just some scary monster. He was thoughtful, caring, and completely different from what you might expect from a man with a pumpkin for a head!

The magical chaos, Halloween atmosphere, and spicy moments made this such an entertaining read. I also appreciated that there was more to their connection than just the physical attraction.

If you're looking for a quirky Halloween romance with a little magic, some spice, and a very unusual love interest, give this one a try! Who knew a pumpkin could be boyfriend material?!

[Jess Lawrence]

***HONEST ARC REVIEW***

This was a one of a kind, unusual take on paranormal romance and honestly I can dig it. It was strange at first but the way the author wrote the story it casually flowed until the end.

It was definitely a fast paced, quirky read but it covered everything perfectly without rushing the storyline. This was definitely a fun fall spooky read!

[CinBooks]

This was such a fun and unusual paranormal read! 🍂✨ It was my first book by this author, but after this one, I definitely want to check out the rest of the Holiday Glitch stories.

The banter in this book was honestly one of my favorite parts. Stella had me laughing so many times, whether she was talking to her friends, her mom, Thorn, or even arguing with herself. 😂 And Thorn being so incredibly literal made some of their interactions even better. I especially loved how he constantly questioned things just to make sure Stella was happy and comfortable. 🥹

There was also more emotional depth here than I expected. Stella has a habit of using humor to avoid uncomfortable feelings, and watching her actually stop and figure out what she wanted was really lovely. Thorn was literally everything she had asked for when she created him, yet she still had to face that fear of getting hurt. And eventually, she had to decide what scared her more: being hurt or losing him.

I also adored the little details between them. The small gifts, the subtle ways Thorn showed that he paid attention, and the fact that he remembered the little things about Stella made me absolutely swoon. And the washing machine scene? 😂 I was not expecting that!

Overall, this was a quick, spicy, quirky paranormal romance that made me laugh while still sneaking in some emotional moments. Definitely a fun little fall read! 🍁❤️

[Dagmar Verhoeven]

Review of advance copy received from Author

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

🌶️🌶️½ spice

What do you mean she has a whole discussion with seasonal decorations??? 😂

This was such a fast-paced and humorous read, with just a little bit of spice sprinkled in!

Overall, I thought this was a fun story with a pretty unexpected twist. However, there were a few topics that felt a little too drawn out for me, and I found myself wishing for more romance between Stella and Thorn. I would have loved to see a bit more of their relationship develop throughout the story.

That being said, I still had a lot of fun reading this book and found myself laughing more than once at the jokes, comments, and some of the absolutely ridiculous situations the characters found themselves in. 😂

If you're looking for a funny Halloween read with a monster romance, this is definitely one to add to your TBR! 👻🎃

⚠️ Trigger warning: There are several trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Please make sure to read them before starting. Your mental health is important! ❤️

You should pick this one up if you love:

👻 Monster romance
👻 Halloween vibes 🎃
👻 A funny writing style
👻 Light romance & spice 🌶️
👻 Someone who can make the perfect coffee ☕️

And honestly… who doesn't want that last one? 😉

[Allison King]

This was a different, fun, paranormal spicy read. First book I have read by this author and I definitely want to read the rest of her Holiday Glitch stories!

The banter between Stella and her friends, Stella and her mother, Stella and Thorn and even Stella & herself was honestly top tier. I laughed quite a few times. Thorn was so literal with everything he said - but the fact that he questioned so many things just to make sure Stella was happy and comfortable.
When Stella said that Thorn was a “Seasonal Situation” and he started dimming, she had to actually look at herself and how she felt - and not use her humor to get her out of an uncomfortable situation. Thorn was everything that Stella wanted, since she wrote him, and she was still afraid of being hurt. But was she more afraid of losing him?
I loved the little gifts, the little subtle ways shown that he noticed and listened. And i laughed at the washing machine part.
I feel like this was a good, quick fall read.

I received this book as an Advanced Copy and I’m writing this review voluntarily

[Scarlet]

I absolutely adored this paranormal spicy read. This book starts with Stella (Fmc) an author who's anything but normal even when trying. She gets stood up on a date and goes home on to drown her sorrows in apple cider and carving a pumpkin. The next morning she awakes to the pumpkin gone .... we'll not gone just alive. You'll have to read to find out more. This book was the cutest read I've read in a good bit and took a chunk out of me emotionally as well. Stella was so relatable in this read from the masking to the having troubles accepting who she truly is. I adored the chemistry between Stella and Thorn and will be reading the rest of this series soon. I highly recommend if you're looking for a fall themes monster romance that's not only relatable at times but will grab you by the heart and squeeze in the best of ways.

[Xandra]

Pumpkin 😍

Kate Rozy you are absolutely amazing! This monster rom com romance was it. I loved the whole book. I also loved that you brought Stella into the glitch universe. It was hilarious where it needed it and perfectly romantic in the same way. It had me laughing out loud. You definitely know how to make a girl laugh.

Stella is beautiful and hilarious in her own way. I loved seeing her grown up and ending up in the glitch loop. Thorn is perfect. He is patient, kind, and never overbearing. He doesn't complain and he never pushes. He is perfect for Stella.

The character growth with Stella was amazing. She always covered true feelings with hurtful jokes but near the end she pushed it aside to let how she really felt out.

I absolutely LOVED this book and the jack o lantern head. My imagination was going wild while reading this. Yes please give me more!

[Kris]

A Glitch Monster Romance: Thorn and Stella

A quirky, cosy monster romance…

Thorn is an absolute sweetheart, and watching his relationship with Stella grow was both sweet and emotional at times.
There was a little drama as Stella kept getting in her own way, but it suited her character and made her all the more human. She was a bit of a mess, but I liked her.
I was also expecting a bit more spice, though the romance itself was charming and full of sweet moments. The relationships with the other characters had me giggling at times, and it almost seems like the door s open for a few more stories…

If a cosy paranormal rom-com with an unusual hero, a touch of humour, emotional moments is what you’re looking for, then Hollow Me Out will be the read for you.

[Kayla Jacquelyn]

When Stella's Halloween date goes wrong, she mistakenly uses her mom's magic candle in her jack-o'-lantern. Who knew it would turn the pumpkin into a...man?
All Thorn wants to do is make Stella feel loved and cared for just like the man in her romance fic. Stella doesn't know how to handle the feelings without jokes until one day she's forced to face them or lose him forever.
Hollow Me Out is a sweet fall romantasy where the FMC has to learn not to hide her feelings and embrace her family's chaos. if you love the soft fall vibes of pumpkin spice and everything nice (with a dash of magic), this low-spice read is perfect for you!

[Peach]

Stella has had entirely too many bad dates, but her luck with men turns around in the form of a jack o lantern turned man of her dreams and desires. They work through his new sentience as well as her waiting for the other shoe to drop.

This was a super different read for me but it was pretty good. I thought it was really funny that the characters were super accepting of the odd while simultaneously knowing it's odd, which made it more relatable to me. I will definitely be checking out Josie and Blair's books as well!

[Kirsten]

I really thought I was getting a fun, spicy monster romance and then somehow Thorn and Stella had me stressed and emotional instead.

I loved the whole concept of Thorn basically being born from Stella’s fic and suddenly this Jack-o-man she created is just… real. But I was absolutely not prepared for how attached I’d get to him or their relationship. By the end I was convinced Thorn was going to disappear
and I was STRESSED.

Basically, I came for the spice and left surprisingly attached to all the characters.

[Connie]

Thank you for my arc! I absolutely loved this book! It is cozy and magical, especially when a pumpkin turns into a man. The friendship Stella has with her friends are fantastic lol the group chat had me laughing. It made me want Stella's friends to accidentally bring home a magical candle and discover their own magical partners. Plus, this book made me want to read Joise and Noel's story, as well as Blair's.

[Larissa Eddy]

I received this book as an early copy from the author.

Kate Rozy is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. I love anything witchy/supernatural and cute and Kate does just that!

This book was a lovely read, very warming. I think we all need a Thorn in our lives, he is a very thoughtful tentative being! Stella is lucky 🧡 Kate really captures what it means to be seen and chosen!

I can't wait to read more of her books

[Alayna]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy

This book was cute! I liked Thorn a lot and the author was great at describing what the pumpkin man looked like. The book starts off beautifully written, but around 40% of the way through the style of writing switched. It started being more of that choppy sentence structure where every line is suppose to feel weighted and important. Also, the friends were not that likeable to me and some parts of the book felt very repetive. It's a short, Halloween inspired read.

[Danielle Grohmann]

5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
This is a perfect Halloween rom com read.
It is quirky, cozy, funny and spicy paranormal read

This book is for every girl who ever wanted her fictional man of dreams to come to life and show her the true meaning of being wanted

I love all the cute little non-conventional gifts that Thorn gifts Stella.

I have several favorite quotes from this book but one the resonates heavily with me is “You are much. You are not too much.”

[Heather Reed]

Thank you to the author for this ARC opportunity!

Hollow Me Out is the coziest Halloween romcom, and I absolutely devoured it. I loved Thorn's journey, from coming to life to choosing to stay because of love. It was heartwarming, magical, and the perfect read to kick off the spooky season. It's definitely one that I'd read over and over again! 🎃🍂

[Samantha]

I loved it! Probably one of my favorites by this author, although I love pumpkins and fall and this book is all those vibes! All you need to know is the coffee is correct and the pumpkins are please. If you enjoy some chuckles, an emotional main character and a little bit of magic then this is for you.

[Kira Tyler]

This is a great cozy, fantasy read! I loved Thorn and I loved how he progressed throughout the story. It was pretty well written. The only thing I didn't live was the constant banter and jokes. I understand that's how the main character dealt with things but sometimes it's too much. There needs to be a healthy mix of joking and serious conversations that hold emotional value.

[April]

This was a fun, spicy, paranormal romance. This is my first by this author and I'm curious about the rest of her stories. I enjoyed the banter between the friends. Only thing I found myself wanting more of was a backstory of our FMC, I just felt like I was missing something. I liked how the MMC developed but still wanted more. It's a quick, good read.

[Kyana]

Thorn & Stella are such a cute couple. Thorn is a sentient pumpkin man. Short story with a little spice. I have a few favorite phrases from the book.

1. Post-coital pumpkin serenity was outrageous.
2. Thirsty for the thorns.
3. Team gourd forever.
4. You are much. You are not too much.

Would recommend as a short sentient read perfect for fall!

[Leslie Corrine]

A cute Halloween monster story. Some parts of the book toward the later half does come somewhat repetitive it’s still a good book overall. I like the thoroughness of describing what Thorn our MMC looks like. Good level of spice in the right places. Overall I would recommend if your looking for a quick Halloween monster themed book.

[The Book Ssirren]

This was such a fun quick and spicy romcom. I had an absolute blast with this one. Waking up to find a pumpkin head man at your kitchen counter the day after you make a wish into your pumpkin? What are the chances lol. This really grabbed me and had me happily reading along in this cozy holiday story. I absolutely loved this.

[Brandy]

Cute Halloween read

I liked this book, it was sweet and goofy, with such an interesting premise.
Unfortunately, it did leave a little to be desired. There was average spice, and the plot was mostly angst focused with a scared/hesitant FMC.

I’m a fan of plot focused angst, this FMC seemed to want to torture herself.

Overall, a cute Halloween read

[Lori Albertson]

Well, this is a different romance story than I’ve read before. A magical creation made drunkenly becomes a love story to write about. I enjoyed Stella and Thorn along with all the other friends and family. It turned out to be a sweet love story.

Kate Roxy, thank you for this copy of your story. I will read more of your stories.

[Diane Marx]

A cozy rom-com perfect for anyone looking for the someone with specific qualities. The universe (or magic) has a wacky sense of humor. The story concept is imaginative and the banter is hysterical. It’s a well-paced, easy read full of great friends, magical family, and some steam.

[Emma Haughian]

Review of advanced copy from the author

Hollow me out is a monster rom com with Halloween vibes as the monster is a pumpkin head man. Nice read, perfect for autumn vibes. It has some romance and a few quirky funny bits.

[Miss_curly_tots]

I got this book as a advanced reader copy via the author it was something different to what i normally read. I enjoyed the book, reading about Stellas Family and Stellas writing . It was a good cozy tad bit spicy funny in parts rom com book

[Lisa Kimbrell]

Arc review:

The continuation of wishing the perfect partner into existence. First the mother and now the daughter.

Creating the perfect fic MMC and then him coming to life. All the check ins, pure dreaminess. Plus I absolutely snored at pumpkin jail.

[mango]

*This is an ARC review*

This was my second book from the author and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun read with cozy atmoshphere, a lot of pumpkins and one opinionated cat. Definitely perfect for autumn and Halloween.

[FaeFireAndSmut]

Grab your pumpkin spice *wink* and cuddle up with this cozy Read!!

Was it looking for a pumpkin boyfriend...No... do I now need one...Yes... 🎃

I was pleasantly surprised with this book and how much I really enjoyed it!

Needing a laugh and warmth book. This is a Perfect read