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Bumps in the Night #5
Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow
STONE COLD KILLER CUT!
Bethany Kramer's wish for popularity seems like an impossible dream. She doesn't have the looks, style, or grace to compete with the elite girls in her school - AKA "The Goddesses".
Then Bethany stumbles upon Vanity's Mirror Salon. She can't believe the results!
More than a simple haircut, she feels confident and powerful. Before she knows it, she's hanging with the cool kids. Bethany better be careful though - everything has a price and her newfound beauty is about to get real ugly...
Bethany Kramer's wish for popularity seems like an impossible dream. She doesn't have the looks, style, or grace to compete with the elite girls in her school - AKA "The Goddesses".
Then Bethany stumbles upon Vanity's Mirror Salon. She can't believe the results!
More than a simple haircut, she feels confident and powerful. Before she knows it, she's hanging with the cool kids. Bethany better be careful though - everything has a price and her newfound beauty is about to get real ugly...
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2026
About the author
A.D. Aro
8 books69 followersA.D. Aro lives in Salisbury, Massachusetts. He has been a fan of all things spooky his whole life, raised on Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and the VHS box art from the horror section of the video rental stores. Currently, he writes a middle grade horror series called Bumps In The Night. "Baby's Breath", his first standalone YA horror novel, will be releasing April 7th, 2026 through Terrorcore Publishing.
He welcomes questions and comments at: bumpsinthenightbooks@gmail.com
He welcomes questions and comments at: bumpsinthenightbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 3, 2026
With a classic Are You Afraid of the Dark-esque set-up and moral, mixed with shades of The Haunted Mask and Be Careful What You Wish For, Hair Today, Ghoul tomorrow makes for my favorite book in the Bumps in the Night series so far. I think it helps that Bethany is such a likeable protagonist. Her low self-esteem esteem and desire to be liked is relatable, and I'm sure will resonate with a lot of young readers. The whole school hierarchy thing with the Goddesses is a lot of fun too, as is the mythology angle this book ends up taking. If there's one thing I would have liked to see more of, it's Melanie, as she kinda disappears from the book for a while before the final pages. That being said, while I was initially worried the ending would go down similarly to In the Mall of Madness, I think Aro nails the twist of this one. It made me smile.
August 8, 2026
Just got my manicure done at Vanity’s Mirror Salon and now I’m supposed to have tea with Ariana Grande in five. So pardon if my review if short and sweet, besties, but “Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow” is a welcome entry in the Bumps in the Night series. I’m embarrassed to have not read the first three of this series (let alone I haven’t seen Mean Girls which apparently this book is homaging), but no less I had a really good time with this one. Bethany (our protagonist) has a great character progression, and I think it turned out swell. The final act is awesome too, and there’s some good horror plus either portion in the book within the salon offers intriguing ideas as well, and the book’s plenty of fun. However I feel the ending didn’t make much sense (brings up too many logistical questions), the usage of The Goddesses could’ve amounted to more instead of them being dropped before act three, and the book’s themes could’ve been more subtle instead of mostly spelled out to the reader. Oh, and the true threat of the story was left pretty vague and I wish we got a little more there. Overall, 8.5/10. Great volume for Bumps in the Night. If you excuse me, I’m late for tea. Toodles.
July 29, 2026
*Bumps In The Night: Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow* gets an 8.2/10 Good. Plot’s about a girl who despite her singing talents and goals on being a star, can’t catch a break as she’s ignored by everyone in school and especially picked on by the most popular girls in school, The Goddesses. After a chance incident with tossing a coin in a special fountain in town and making a wish, she finds a pop up hair salon which gives her a complete makeover to change her life…but comes a cost.
The story felt like a mixture of the two Haunting Hour episodes, Headshot with a little bit of The Cast. I enjoyed the themes of beauty coming with a cost that matches the Headshot vibes, in addition to the body horror sprinkled in with the Medusa aspect. The climax was dark and really cool, in addition to the protagonist changes being well done all things considered.
Weakness was the gimmick of The Goddesses being overdone and kind of spammed throughout the book. The Mean Girls nodes are funny, but it does become a little too played up in the middle section of the story to the point it gets a little annoying. Additionally, while the ending is fun visually, the logic behind how it happens is kind of missing. We also didn’t get full explanation behind the real main villain teased throughout the story, albeit there’s enough in there to assume the origins of it.
*In The Mall Of Madness* and *Clowning Around* are still superior books to me, great reads I’d recommend over it. But regardless this is still a good read, and I think Aro is at his best when following the EC Comics for kids type of stories.
The story felt like a mixture of the two Haunting Hour episodes, Headshot with a little bit of The Cast. I enjoyed the themes of beauty coming with a cost that matches the Headshot vibes, in addition to the body horror sprinkled in with the Medusa aspect. The climax was dark and really cool, in addition to the protagonist changes being well done all things considered.
Weakness was the gimmick of The Goddesses being overdone and kind of spammed throughout the book. The Mean Girls nodes are funny, but it does become a little too played up in the middle section of the story to the point it gets a little annoying. Additionally, while the ending is fun visually, the logic behind how it happens is kind of missing. We also didn’t get full explanation behind the real main villain teased throughout the story, albeit there’s enough in there to assume the origins of it.
*In The Mall Of Madness* and *Clowning Around* are still superior books to me, great reads I’d recommend over it. But regardless this is still a good read, and I think Aro is at his best when following the EC Comics for kids type of stories.
August 27, 2026
This fifth entry in the Bumps in the Night series contains some of A. D. Aro’s best writing yet. A great take on the “be careful what you wish for” story and injects it with humor, horror, Medusa, and Mean Girls.
There’s also some good lessons here in self-acceptance, but beware, Aro isn’t afraid of throwing in a nasty surprise here and there. Be sure to snag yourself a copy, as well as the other books in the series, if you’re hankering for some spooky good middle grade/young adult reads.
There’s also some good lessons here in self-acceptance, but beware, Aro isn’t afraid of throwing in a nasty surprise here and there. Be sure to snag yourself a copy, as well as the other books in the series, if you’re hankering for some spooky good middle grade/young adult reads.
July 28, 2026
Beauty is only skin deep....or is it??
"Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow" - book 5 of the Bumps in the Night series - brings you a dash of Mean Girls, a sprinkle of The Substance, a scant teaspoon of mythology, and a large dose of the wonderfully spooky and middle grade age-appropriate writing that has made the series by A.D. Aro so successful and beloved. It might not be the best recipe for beauty (you'll have to read and see!) but it's a great formula for an engaging book full of thrills, chills, and ...well, zero bills as it's a free makeover the main character Bethany receives. Well...free in terms of money - you'll have to see what it truly costs her in the end! No ssspoilers from me but it's sssomething you'll have to ssseee to believe! In terms of the story, themes, characters, the vibrant pink cover artwork....everything, it's my new favorite book in the series. I loved it so much I had to order the signed copy off A.D. Aro's website to add to my book collection! If you enjoy Goosebumps, Spinetinglers, Bone Chillers, etc you will be in good company with the Bumps series!
"Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow" - book 5 of the Bumps in the Night series - brings you a dash of Mean Girls, a sprinkle of The Substance, a scant teaspoon of mythology, and a large dose of the wonderfully spooky and middle grade age-appropriate writing that has made the series by A.D. Aro so successful and beloved. It might not be the best recipe for beauty (you'll have to read and see!) but it's a great formula for an engaging book full of thrills, chills, and ...well, zero bills as it's a free makeover the main character Bethany receives. Well...free in terms of money - you'll have to see what it truly costs her in the end! No ssspoilers from me but it's sssomething you'll have to ssseee to believe! In terms of the story, themes, characters, the vibrant pink cover artwork....everything, it's my new favorite book in the series. I loved it so much I had to order the signed copy off A.D. Aro's website to add to my book collection! If you enjoy Goosebumps, Spinetinglers, Bone Chillers, etc you will be in good company with the Bumps series!
July 28, 2026
Beauty is only skin deep....or is it??
"Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow" - book 5 of the Bumps in the Night series - brings you a dash of Mean Girls, a sprinkle of The Substance, a scant teaspoon of mythology, and a large dose of the wonderfully spooky and middle grade age-appropriate writing that has made the series by A.D. Aro so successful and beloved. It might not be the best recipe for beauty (you'll have to read and see!) but it's a great formula for an engaging book full of thrills, chills, and ...well, zero bills as it's a free makeover the main character Bethany receives. Well...free in terms of money - you'll have to see what it truly costs her in the end! No ssspoilers from me but it's sssomething you'll have to ssseee to believe! In terms of the story, themes, characters, the vibrant pink cover artwork....everything, it's my new favorite book in the series. I loved it so much I had to order the signed copy off A.D. Aro's website to add to my book collection! If you enjoy Goosebumps, Spinetinglers, Bone Chillers, etc you will be in good company with the Bumps series!
"Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow" - book 5 of the Bumps in the Night series - brings you a dash of Mean Girls, a sprinkle of The Substance, a scant teaspoon of mythology, and a large dose of the wonderfully spooky and middle grade age-appropriate writing that has made the series by A.D. Aro so successful and beloved. It might not be the best recipe for beauty (you'll have to read and see!) but it's a great formula for an engaging book full of thrills, chills, and ...well, zero bills as it's a free makeover the main character Bethany receives. Well...free in terms of money - you'll have to see what it truly costs her in the end! No ssspoilers from me but it's sssomething you'll have to ssseee to believe! In terms of the story, themes, characters, the vibrant pink cover artwork....everything, it's my new favorite book in the series. I loved it so much I had to order the signed copy off A.D. Aro's website to add to my book collection! If you enjoy Goosebumps, Spinetinglers, Bone Chillers, etc you will be in good company with the Bumps series!
July 28, 2026
A. D. Aro cannot be stopped. Hair Today, Ghoul Tomorrow is an instant classic in the Bumps in the Night Series.
This book follows Bethany, as she goes through a what would you give up for beauty and be careful what you wish for adventure. If you thought the plastics from Mean Girls are mean, wait to you learn about The Goddesses. After being embarrassed by the leader of The Goddesses in front of the whole school, Bethany wishes on a coin and tosses it into a fountain. Her wish is granted and after a make over in a salon that appears from thin air, she becomes popular. The story comes to a dramatic climax at the school talent show.
As someone who is a big fan of “wishes gone wrong” stories, I thought A. D. Aro handled this one, and the cost of beauty trope, extremely well. His ability to leave a breadcrumb trail of foreshadowing without giving away the whole surprise is epic. I’m also a big fan of how he effortlessly weaves mythology throughout this entire story, lots of little easter eggs. Everything A. D. Aro does feels intentional, and that shows not just in his latest installment, but in all of his works.
This book follows Bethany, as she goes through a what would you give up for beauty and be careful what you wish for adventure. If you thought the plastics from Mean Girls are mean, wait to you learn about The Goddesses. After being embarrassed by the leader of The Goddesses in front of the whole school, Bethany wishes on a coin and tosses it into a fountain. Her wish is granted and after a make over in a salon that appears from thin air, she becomes popular. The story comes to a dramatic climax at the school talent show.
As someone who is a big fan of “wishes gone wrong” stories, I thought A. D. Aro handled this one, and the cost of beauty trope, extremely well. His ability to leave a breadcrumb trail of foreshadowing without giving away the whole surprise is epic. I’m also a big fan of how he effortlessly weaves mythology throughout this entire story, lots of little easter eggs. Everything A. D. Aro does feels intentional, and that shows not just in his latest installment, but in all of his works.
October 26, 2026
be careful what you wish for
Bethany is desperate to be popular, be braver, be noticed. Her best friend Polly likes her just the way she is. Following an embarrassing event with the popular girls she runs away from school in tears and makes a wish that changes not only how she looks but who she is.
A story which pays homage to The Haunted Mask where a girl gets all she wants and can finally payback the bullies. But, the wish comes with a cost and has everything unravels will her best friend Polly save her even though she has driven her away?
Another excellent middle grade horror, th oh s series is so good!
Bethany is desperate to be popular, be braver, be noticed. Her best friend Polly likes her just the way she is. Following an embarrassing event with the popular girls she runs away from school in tears and makes a wish that changes not only how she looks but who she is.
A story which pays homage to The Haunted Mask where a girl gets all she wants and can finally payback the bullies. But, the wish comes with a cost and has everything unravels will her best friend Polly save her even though she has driven her away?
Another excellent middle grade horror, th oh s series is so good!
August 12, 2026
Mean Girls x Greek Mythology
This gave off Regina George with a touch of Aphrodite and Medusa intertwined.
What is true beauty? When the outward beauty you possess begins to taint your pure personality and soul within, is it really worth trying to obtain?
A.D. Aro makes this Bumps in the Night, Hair Today Ghoul Tomorrow a fun read, but also a great learning experience by the end of the book. It offers a good lesson for a young audience if they truly grasp the meaning, and it is fun enough for adults who love a quick, nostalgic read.
This gave off Regina George with a touch of Aphrodite and Medusa intertwined.
What is true beauty? When the outward beauty you possess begins to taint your pure personality and soul within, is it really worth trying to obtain?
A.D. Aro makes this Bumps in the Night, Hair Today Ghoul Tomorrow a fun read, but also a great learning experience by the end of the book. It offers a good lesson for a young audience if they truly grasp the meaning, and it is fun enough for adults who love a quick, nostalgic read.
October 24, 2026
This is very much 'The Haunted Mask' from 'Goosebumps' meets Medusa. It's a solid story with a premise I've seen in kids media a few times. I just found this story too heavy on the beauty and too light on the horror for my personal taste. There were also a handful of choices made in here that irked me and while they were all insignificant, they did take me out of the story. For me this was still an easy, enjoyable read but definitely my least favourite 'Bumps' so far. If this is as low as we get in this series though then I'm more than happy to take that.
August 10, 2026
Like a hybrid of Mean Girl and Be Careful What You Wish For, this story has a very Black Mirror like feel.
I appreciate that A.D. isn’t afraid to push the envelope more than other books of this nature…and his endings are almost always sinister and delicious.
I appreciate that A.D. isn’t afraid to push the envelope more than other books of this nature…and his endings are almost always sinister and delicious.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews