Lovebug

by Tara Hanson, Jason Rowe (Narrator)

In the suffocating heat of war, Roger wanted only one to be loved. To be held by someone that would not leave. He cared not for beauty, only devotion. But some forms of love are not selfless—they consume you a little at a time until you no longer recognize yourself. In the end will he still want love, even if it drains him dry?

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

Published July 31, 2026

About the author

Tara Hanson was born and raised deep in the mountains of rural West Virginia, lovingly brought up by her grandparents. A wife and mother, Tara has always found herself drawn to the strange pull of horror—where the eerie, the unspoken, and the downright terrifying can hide in plain sight.

Her love of reading took root during a unplanned vacation at a psych ward, where books offered escape, comfort, and the spark that would one day light her path as a writer. That spark now burns in the pages of her fiction—stories that don’t just seek to scare, but to peel back the skin of human nature and show what festers underneath.

Reviews

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was...bizarre! Probably one of the weirdest and most disgustingly entertaining splatterpunk books I've ever read.
Tara never fails to amuse you with her colourful brain. Oh what a place to live!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the hell did I just read?? Lovebug was quite possibly one of the wildest and weirdest literary roller coasters I've ever experienced. A lonely man falls in love with a tick that has taken up camp in his urethra, and I promise you, you will expect absolutely nothing in this book!

Roger our protagonist is a creep in every sense of the word, however, Hanson writes his character in such a fantastic way that you cannot help but feel sorry for him. Then Hanson quickly gives us a reality check with dropping an extremely unhinged sentence or scene that reminds you how perverted and twisted Roger is. A huge example of their fantastic and gripping writing that will have you hooked and shocked from the get go.

I promise this is way more unhinged than you could ever imagine, so my fellow freaky girlies need to check this one out!

Thank you so much to the author for an arc of Lovebug. All opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily. I adore whatever is wrong with your mind Tara!!

[Andrew King · Rating 5 out of 5]

(arc read)
This story is not for everyone, I think you'd know that even from the synopsis but if you can get past the shit and the insect romance you'll find inside a weirdly emotional story about abusive relationships and how difficult it can be to process when they are over. A surprisingly deep story about a guy fucking an insect and a protagonist that while not very likable you can feel sorry for

[BookSplatterBritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gross, disturbing, nasty asf, what the hell did I read?! Grossly amazing

[Meggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an advanced copy, it was my first Tara Hanson book and won't be my last! This book gave me the heebie jeebies but I couldn't put it down. This one will be stuck in my head for a while.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

My God.... I have never had a book leave me so horrified... Disgusted... Completely and totally grossed out on every single level! This book is not for the weak... Or the weak stomached... I need bleach.. a lot of it... On that note though you should totally read it! I need someone to talk about this book with!!

Also I am slightly terrified of the author of this book and how her brain works to be able to think of this!

[renee w · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🤮
“In a world that is barren and unkind. To survive we must lean on hope. But hope alone won’t find you love. Don’t give up. Even if it isn’t true that there is somebody for everyone, and there’s nobody for you.”

Meet Roger, a lonely man who lives with his mother, who doesn’t seem to want much to do with him. As if his isolation weren’t enough, he also finds himself in the midst of the Vietnam War. More than anything, Roger wants to be loved and accepted for his oddities . When he finally gets his one true wish and is bitten by the “love bug,” The consequences take this story on a disturbing path. This book was extremely disgusting at times, but was a surprisingly sad story. Thanks so much to the author for the early read.

[Raychel Klotz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovebug by @tarawriteshorror

If you take away the splatterpunk, you get 💯% a toxic relationship. Add in the splatterpunk, you get a Tick relationship 😂

Maybe if I was a guy, the itch factor would be highlighted. For any men reading this, how is that Phantom burning swollen pain treating you!

I will never look at corn the same way. I have enhanced my vocabulary with every possible name for a man’s thingy thanks to lovebug.

The description of steamy sh*t and swamp ass was juicy. I would love a side story on this man’s whole life as I found there was so much that was hinted at.

It was a fun one sitting read. I giggled and was queasy. It was a refreshing new storyline and one I will definitely remember.

#splatterpunk #arcreader #arcreviewer #newbookalert #ick

[Justine King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Errrm Tara you sent me on a wild ride with this one! I’m new to the Splatterpunk genre so I wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a story ultimately about loneliness and isolation in a form even my strange brain would never of conjured up! Tara’s writing style is very good and this is fast paced so you certainly whizz through this. It’s gross, shocking and entertaining and I loved it !! Thank you Tara for sending me the e-copy i’ll be downloading your previous books on kindle very soon just after i’ve scrubbed and bleached my eyeballs 👀

[Rebecca Bectoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this story as an arc from the author for my honest opinion/review.

This book was gross, disturbing but also quite sad. Roger falls in love with a bug while in the Vietnam war. You go along their journey of love and hardship. This story even though sounds strange/funny I think has a darker meaning to it and I really felt for Roger. This was my first book by Tara Hanson but it won't be my last.

[Jason Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sad, sad story… about Roger who just wants to be loved… but it’s also written by Tara Hanson so you know it’s going to be disturbing.

Well Chapter 2 grossed me out and finally realized what I don’t like to read about or shovel or play with.

This story is written in such a wonderful voice, think romance mixed with disgusting.

At least Roger wasn’t pick!

[Ta LeighAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never turn down the opportunity to read anything Tara Hanson writes. Splatterpunk is my favorite genre, and she nails it every time.
Lovebug is nasty, disgusting, hilarious, and surprisingly sweet and heartbreaking. If you can get past the gross, there's a powerful message at its core.

[☽ Colette ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ARC from the author, and WOW what a story!!! This story will sTICK with you for a while.

[Koa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so bizarre and entertaining, it gave me the ick in a good way with the giggles. 🤭 I like books that have a unique and questionable character and this was definitely that. Longing, and loneliness turns into obsession and sickness! The ending was kinda cute too.

[Mellisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Roger is desperately lonely, he just wants to be loved - and he will take any love he can get. Even if this is tick shaped and in a very intimate area.

Review: This was so gross, it's brilliant! I found myself actually cringing at parts, which honestly is hard to get me to do with books now! The complex emotions of feeling sorry for Roger whilst also feeling disgusted by him was an absolute rollercoaster. Highly recommend!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a delight! I especially love the audiobook. Jason Rowe killed it. His narration is hilarious and great to listen to. Definitely a cozy love story😂

[Jessica Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review!

“There is ‘someone’ for everyone”! I covered my mouth multiple times while reading this book; it really pushes the limits on disturbing! This book will get BURIED in your mind.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was absolutely bizarre and had me clutching pearls I don't even have. This story will not be for everyone, so read at your own risk. This was a refreshing Splatterpunk novella to read.

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see a full review check it out here.

This was vile, digusting, and I couldn't put it down. It is exactly what was promised and then some. Hanson is going to be a big name in splatterpunk, calling it now.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Roger just wants to feel loved. Desired. Chosen. Thank God he meets the perfect girl… who just so happens to also be a tick. I ✨loved✨ this. It was foul and sometimes poetic. It made me itch and squirm while also being hilarious at times, especially whenever Roger offers us snippets of information about his family. I also loved the romantic quotes used between chapters, including Tara’s own quote at the end. She is right, “you deserve to be picky”. 🖤

[Addison Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg that was gross and funny, yet oddly sweet and heart wrenching.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovebug is disgusting, unhinged, hilarious, and somehow strangely heartfelt. Tara Hanson takes an absolutely revolting premise, pushes it far beyond every reasonable boundary, and turns it into a bizarre love story that I could not stop reading. I gagged, laughed, cringed, and repeatedly wondered what kind of beautifully disturbed mind could create something like this and why am I devouring it so quickly?!

The story wastes no time becoming increasingly… grotesque. Every time I thought it had reached peak depravity, Hanson found another way to make things worse, and I mean that as the highest compliment. The imagery is vivid, the humor lands perfectly between the horrifying moments, and the fast pacing makes the entire experience feel like a fever dream you cannot escape. I was completely buckled in for this piece of perfection.

What surprised me most was the unexpected emotion beneath all the filth and chaos. I never imagined I would become invested in this particular relationship, yet the story manages to be oddly sweet and even a little heartbreaking. The ending was fantastic and made all my dreams come true, adding another memorable layer to an already unforgettable book.

This is definitely not for readers with weak stomachs, and the content warnings should be taken seriously. However, splatterpunk fans who enjoy extreme body horror, absurd humor, shocking imagery, unconventional romance, and stories that gleefully cross every line will have an incredible time with Lovebug. It was gross, creative, wildly entertaining, and everything I wanted it to be. I truly look forward to reading more books by Tara Hanson!

Thanks to Tara Hanson for gifting me an eARC of Love Bug. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

review of advanced copy received from author

Damn. Tara did it again. This is my second read from author Tara Hanson and I have come to the conclusion that she knows her way around Splatterpunk.

We meet Roger, who is serving in the Vietnam war. In a single word Roger is pitiful. He has never been loved and not just in a romantic way. Over the course of the story we find out his family doesn’t even love him. The closest thing he has to “love” is through animal interactions “ the cats would nibble gently at his fingers or curl against his neck with their rough tongues used to be the highlight of his day”.

To be fair, Roger is one of the grossest men I’ve read about. I wouldn’t blame any person or animal for avoiding him like the plague. His favorite job is latrine duty and if I say much more than that I’m sure you’ll throw up a little in your mouth. When he wishes on a shooting star for love he finds it in an unlikely place.

I’ve read a lot of gross out type books - but this one made my stomach roll. I’m not sure if it’s Tara’s descriptions, the pure absurdity of it all or just if I can’t tell if I hate Roger or pity him; but it all works together.

What I know for sure is that I’ll be coming back for the next release.

[Ben Pommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Once again, as with all splatterpunk, check your triggers before reading this.
Roger just wants to love somebody and for somebody to love him in return. Trudging through the Vietnam countryside, the soldier is surrounded by people who love and receive love in return and it eats him alive. But all isn’t lost for poor Roger, amidst the fog of war and periods of relative quiet, Roger has his own ways of finding pleasure in an otherwise shitty situation. Then one night, everything changes. Roger meets Charlene — a tick that burrows and embeds itself into his urethra. What follows is a hysterical and outright disgusting bullet train into love, infatuation, and the human need to feel seen.
In “Lovebug,” Tara Smith Hanson crafts a fantastic tale exploring these innate human emotional needs. The feelings her prose arouse are visceral. As a veteran who spent time deployed, I immediately related to Roger — at least at a very basic level (I swear I’m NOTHING like him). The feelings of loneliness. The boredom. The pangs of jealousy. And as an Eagle Scout I am well aware of the unfortunate situation he found himself in.
I read this book on a whim after seeing it advertised and I was not disappointed. I highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of splatterpunk.

[Courtney R · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a masterpiece! Before I had started even reading the story, I had a really good feeling about this one. As I read through, it only got better!

This novella accomplished what I had hopes for and more! Absolutely vile and depraved, the writing style put together imagery in a way that had me GAGGING. Roger's character grossed me out more than anything, and I began feeling sorry for him until the story evolved and I was left with the realization that Roger was just as sick and revolting as those he waved hatred toward and perhaps he deserved what was coming to him....


The development of the story and the feeling of joining Roger in his gradual (though always present) descent into depravity and insanity itched all the right scratches.... What a unique and filthy way to expound on the general trope of loneliness and being unloved that kicks it to a notch not many would ever experience or *THINK* of.

Ending was perfect, had me SQUIRMING. If you are looking for a bit of a read that will make you nauseous, clammy and downright appalled, would definitely recommend this novella!

[Screams & Reviews 💋🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say…. This book made me think to myself so many times. “ what the fuck am I reading” and “ why am I enjoying this “

This book I laughed out loud more than one time and maybe I should start reading “ what books are about” if I want to continue picking them up at this point.

You have Roger that wanted one thing…. To be loved and he sure got that. He goes on tour in the army and finds himself in the jungle, alone, horny and waiting someone or something. When he finds his queen!
But this isn’t a normal queen on what you think a man would get! And I am going to let you find out for yourself! 😆 I have to give it to the author, she is very creative in a storyline and for that I would read anything she puts out!

This one was a CRAZY ASS ride! Not only was a pleasantly amused but I need to check on myself aswell. This might have been the crazyness storyline i have ever read. Great job! 👏🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Screams & Reviews 🖤📚💋🔪

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings galore! Make sure you read them a proceed with pure and utter caution!! This has to be one of the most unhinged stories I have ever read. It is just pure nuts. One second you are horrified then giggling, cringing in disgust and then just shaking your head in utter disbelief. The setting surprised me but made absolute sense further in. The main character disgusted you at every turn. And best/worse part is everything was so detailed you could not help but imagine everything right down to the minute details. And even then you still felt sympathy for the main character and his desire to be loved. This book throws one heck of a mind f**k at you. I think I am still traumatized. But I like it.

[Nicole Genereaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovebug is a bug-human relationship/romance? and somehow... it works.

I thought taking a tour through a haunted house was unsettling, but that's nothing compared to taking a stroll through this author's brain. This book was a wild, disgusting, hilarious ride. I gagged twice before chapter six—and I loved every second of it.

Tara Hanson has a real talent for taking the absolute nastiest, most unhinged premise imaginable and somehow turning it into a love story you can't help but root for. I never thought I'd be emotionally invested in this, but here we are.

I seriously hope I get to read more from her because she's absolutely insane in the best way. 😂🐛

[Thebatandthebook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a man named Roger who is lonely and very much longs for a meaningful connection. He has thought of possible different ways to get that connection but they didn't work or Roger simply wasn't made for it. Not until the tick changes his life forever and he finally experiences the love he has longed for.

That all sound pretty wonderful doesnt it? Now throw in Roger's preferences in human waste as delicacy along with lots of other disgusting vile things and you get Lovebug.

As much as I'd avoid Roger like the plague in real life. This story was as disgusting as it was heartbreaking and i felt bad for Roger and the tournament he seemed to suffer through out his life.

[Eden (Not Adam) Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovebug was a good short read!

His lover being a tick was unexpected, and i think a good twist. Tara's way of relating this to toxic relationships was chefs kiss! The added qoutes prior to each chapter was a nice touch. She certainly got a few grimace faces from me; especially with me working in healthcare, nothing phases me... unless it's feces.

I gave it 4 stars because i wished there were some more details regarding some of the childhood history that was given and *why* he loved feces so much, but this is a Novella afterall.

Great work, Tara!