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Infested
The Taking of Jake Livingston meets Cemetery Boys in this YA ghost story about a Puerto Rican teen’s battle with a malevolent spirit targeting his apartment building and the all-too-real horrors of gentrification.
It’s the summer before senior year, and Manny has just moved from Texas to the Bronx in New York. So, instead of hanging with his friends and making some spending money, Manny is forced to do menial tasks in his new home, a luxury condo his stepdad is managing, while stressing about starting over.
Thankfully, he meets Sasha, who is protesting the building but turns out to be really cool. And he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mr. Mueller, the building’s exterminator. Maybe life in the Bronx won’t be so bad.
Then the nightmares begin. And Manny swears he has roaches crawling under his skin. When building contractors start to go missing, Manny and Sasha come to the terrifying realization that Mr. Mueller is not who he says he is. Or rather, he is, but he died decades ago in a fire exactly where Manny’s new building is located. A fire that Mueller set.
Now, in a race against time, Manny must rescue his family from a deranged specter determined to set the Bronx ablaze once again.
It’s the summer before senior year, and Manny has just moved from Texas to the Bronx in New York. So, instead of hanging with his friends and making some spending money, Manny is forced to do menial tasks in his new home, a luxury condo his stepdad is managing, while stressing about starting over.
Thankfully, he meets Sasha, who is protesting the building but turns out to be really cool. And he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mr. Mueller, the building’s exterminator. Maybe life in the Bronx won’t be so bad.
Then the nightmares begin. And Manny swears he has roaches crawling under his skin. When building contractors start to go missing, Manny and Sasha come to the terrifying realization that Mr. Mueller is not who he says he is. Or rather, he is, but he died decades ago in a fire exactly where Manny’s new building is located. A fire that Mueller set.
Now, in a race against time, Manny must rescue his family from a deranged specter determined to set the Bronx ablaze once again.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2023
18 people are currently reading
5526 people want to read
About the author
Angel Luis Colón
30 books110 followersAngel Luis Colón is the award-winning author of INFESTED and MINECRAFT: HOUSE OF HORRORS. His fiction has appeared in multiple web and print publications including Thuglit, Literary Orphans, and Shotgun Honey.
When he isn’t writing, he’s usually busy baking bread.
You can keep up with him on social media or find links to his books here https://linktr.ee/angelluiscolon
When he isn’t writing, he’s usually busy baking bread.
You can keep up with him on social media or find links to his books here https://linktr.ee/angelluiscolon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 28, 2023
Infested is a story for young adults / High school age kids and aside from a cool premise with scary interludes, it offers a great bit of thought that young people can relate to. There are real-life family dynamics under stress, scenarios of finding new friends in a new place, saying goodbye to an old life, and also addressing ethnicities and cultures relevant today.
Manny is about to enter his senior year in High School in TX when his mom, stepfather, and little baby sister up their belongings without much warning to follow a more lucrative work offer in the Bronx of NY for his stepfather. There is this multi-level family housing building that has been unfit for tenants due to pest control issues that couldn’t get resolved in time. As Manny’s stepfather is hired and offered a flat rent-free, it is now up to them to make everything happen before corporate lets tenants from outside NY move in. Due to no rent control, it would almost be impossible for anyone from the local area to move in since the apartments are very pricey and new.
As Manny gets involved over the next few weeks in tidying up the place a prevailing pest of roaches on different floors of the building proves to be a challenge. With tensions rising over time, he finds comfort in conversations with the old exterminator working in the building and a girl named Sasha who sits outside the building every day protesting the influx of tenants from outside the Bronx.
But things go horribly wrong when the amount of creepy crawlies take over Manny’s mind and further the building. Roaches are everywhere and uncontrollable. So, what is up with the old exterminator who isn’t handling the problems correctly?
There are some cool hair-raising moments in the novel that were really well done. The creep factor nestled into it, plays out so real it was perfect. On top of that, it turns out to be somewhat of a mystery. And as the story addresses family relationships and friendships, it adds a very nice touch to the exploration of the neighborhood, like the sandwich shop and his owner that Manny strikes a friendship with and the neighborhood kids with their little tensions. So the Bronx, albeit big, is afforded an eye through the lens of the locals which gives it the flavor difference to say Texas where Manny last lived. Considering his own Puerto Rican heritage and that of his mother, the novel keeps it real with authentic foods and phrases, even those of the German exterminator, so a nice cultural mix that texturizes the entire story.
The novel addresses real-life things that kids are interested in with a nice portion of the heebie-jeebies to propel the plot. So, this is a win for the attended reader group, but anyone can enjoy this one…if you want to get close to roaches that is!
I received a copy of this novel from the publiser in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
Manny is about to enter his senior year in High School in TX when his mom, stepfather, and little baby sister up their belongings without much warning to follow a more lucrative work offer in the Bronx of NY for his stepfather. There is this multi-level family housing building that has been unfit for tenants due to pest control issues that couldn’t get resolved in time. As Manny’s stepfather is hired and offered a flat rent-free, it is now up to them to make everything happen before corporate lets tenants from outside NY move in. Due to no rent control, it would almost be impossible for anyone from the local area to move in since the apartments are very pricey and new.
As Manny gets involved over the next few weeks in tidying up the place a prevailing pest of roaches on different floors of the building proves to be a challenge. With tensions rising over time, he finds comfort in conversations with the old exterminator working in the building and a girl named Sasha who sits outside the building every day protesting the influx of tenants from outside the Bronx.
But things go horribly wrong when the amount of creepy crawlies take over Manny’s mind and further the building. Roaches are everywhere and uncontrollable. So, what is up with the old exterminator who isn’t handling the problems correctly?
There are some cool hair-raising moments in the novel that were really well done. The creep factor nestled into it, plays out so real it was perfect. On top of that, it turns out to be somewhat of a mystery. And as the story addresses family relationships and friendships, it adds a very nice touch to the exploration of the neighborhood, like the sandwich shop and his owner that Manny strikes a friendship with and the neighborhood kids with their little tensions. So the Bronx, albeit big, is afforded an eye through the lens of the locals which gives it the flavor difference to say Texas where Manny last lived. Considering his own Puerto Rican heritage and that of his mother, the novel keeps it real with authentic foods and phrases, even those of the German exterminator, so a nice cultural mix that texturizes the entire story.
The novel addresses real-life things that kids are interested in with a nice portion of the heebie-jeebies to propel the plot. So, this is a win for the attended reader group, but anyone can enjoy this one…if you want to get close to roaches that is!
I received a copy of this novel from the publiser in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
September 30, 2023
”I can’t remember a time I hated my mother and my stepfather more than the summer before my senior year.
And it wasn't that normal kind of ‘Oh man, these people don't understand me’ bad Disney movie kind of throwback hate. This was mortal-enemy-level hate. It was deep and pitch-black and enough to make me nearly consider getting into death metal.
While I knew I'd change my mind as the emotions scarred over, the laundry list of offenses was too much to bear.”
***
A YA novel of the “horror as social commentary” variety. Also a page turner. This is a very character-driven novel, more horror-adjacent than anything, and for the first half at least (before we learn more information), there are no clear good guys or bad guys. And I mean that in a good way.
The ends of a few of the character arcs didn’t quite feel earned to me, so this might be more in the 3.5-3.75 stars territory, but Colón’s slick writing and Manny’s distinct voice make up for a lot.
Thanks to Simon Teen for providing a review copy!
And it wasn't that normal kind of ‘Oh man, these people don't understand me’ bad Disney movie kind of throwback hate. This was mortal-enemy-level hate. It was deep and pitch-black and enough to make me nearly consider getting into death metal.
While I knew I'd change my mind as the emotions scarred over, the laundry list of offenses was too much to bear.”
***
A YA novel of the “horror as social commentary” variety. Also a page turner. This is a very character-driven novel, more horror-adjacent than anything, and for the first half at least (before we learn more information), there are no clear good guys or bad guys. And I mean that in a good way.
The ends of a few of the character arcs didn’t quite feel earned to me, so this might be more in the 3.5-3.75 stars territory, but Colón’s slick writing and Manny’s distinct voice make up for a lot.
Thanks to Simon Teen for providing a review copy!
August 22, 2024
"What are you going to do with a knife in a fire? Stab it out?"
Bugs! Yuck! Nothing makes my skin crawl more like these creepy crawlies. I'm itchy just thinking about them.
I knew what I was getting myself into with this one but it still grossed me out. Grossed me out in a way where I was paranoid about my own damn house. I shook out the blanket and pillows on my bed because this got to me. To be fair, there has never been a cockroach in my house before but I don't trust anyone.
I found myself really enjoying this read. It reminded me of 'Joe's Apartment' mixed with Goosebumps but for the older generation. We all know that I'm an R.L. Stine freak, so this book was definitely written for someone like me... even though I'm old.
The story was decent. It instantly drew you in with the typical teenage drama and the big move with bugs and lots of them. You know, typical everyday things. The characters were all so fantastic. Even the dirtbags and the dead ones. What I loved about this book was the community. The corner bodega, that feeling of being home even though I'm from Philly and not from NY. I still felt that familiarity. I mean my favorite thing about this was the overall creepiness about it but that home feeling was a close second.
Infested will fill your life with that overwhelming feeling of love and welcomeness with a few little crawlies thrown in for good measure. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll shriek! Just don't read the synopsis because that'll ruin the oh-so-big surprise!
Bugs! Yuck! Nothing makes my skin crawl more like these creepy crawlies. I'm itchy just thinking about them.
I knew what I was getting myself into with this one but it still grossed me out. Grossed me out in a way where I was paranoid about my own damn house. I shook out the blanket and pillows on my bed because this got to me. To be fair, there has never been a cockroach in my house before but I don't trust anyone.
I found myself really enjoying this read. It reminded me of 'Joe's Apartment' mixed with Goosebumps but for the older generation. We all know that I'm an R.L. Stine freak, so this book was definitely written for someone like me... even though I'm old.
The story was decent. It instantly drew you in with the typical teenage drama and the big move with bugs and lots of them. You know, typical everyday things. The characters were all so fantastic. Even the dirtbags and the dead ones. What I loved about this book was the community. The corner bodega, that feeling of being home even though I'm from Philly and not from NY. I still felt that familiarity. I mean my favorite thing about this was the overall creepiness about it but that home feeling was a close second.
Infested will fill your life with that overwhelming feeling of love and welcomeness with a few little crawlies thrown in for good measure. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll shriek! Just don't read the synopsis because that'll ruin the oh-so-big surprise!
July 21, 2023
2023 reads: 228/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
entering his last year of high school, the last thing manny wants is for his entire life to be uprooted by moving from san antonio to the bronx. he’s also not too excited that this summer has a lot of manual labor in store for him so that the apartment building his stepfather now manages can be up to code. his only friends are mr. mueller, the elderly exterminator, and sasha, a girl his age who believes his family is doing some serious harm. on top of everything else, this apartment complex has a serious roach problem. as in, roaches in places they shouldn’t be…such as in manny’s skin.
i feel like the ideas could have been explored more. for example, the metaphor between the cockroaches and the people whose neighborhood was being gentrified. there were a few quotes talking about this, but not as many as i would have liked. if this metaphor had been expanded upon more, i’m sure i would have enjoyed this book even more than i did.
i’m considering this a positive point since this is a horror book, but speaking of roaches…i’ve never been terrified of them, but oh wow, this book made my skin crawl. i was genuinely worried i’d develop a phobia of roaches after reading this book because of all the descriptions. if you already do have a genuine fear/phobia of them, please keep that in mind when deciding whether to read this.
overall, this was an enjoyable read, and i’d be interested in reading more from the author.
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
entering his last year of high school, the last thing manny wants is for his entire life to be uprooted by moving from san antonio to the bronx. he’s also not too excited that this summer has a lot of manual labor in store for him so that the apartment building his stepfather now manages can be up to code. his only friends are mr. mueller, the elderly exterminator, and sasha, a girl his age who believes his family is doing some serious harm. on top of everything else, this apartment complex has a serious roach problem. as in, roaches in places they shouldn’t be…such as in manny’s skin.
i feel like the ideas could have been explored more. for example, the metaphor between the cockroaches and the people whose neighborhood was being gentrified. there were a few quotes talking about this, but not as many as i would have liked. if this metaphor had been expanded upon more, i’m sure i would have enjoyed this book even more than i did.
i’m considering this a positive point since this is a horror book, but speaking of roaches…i’ve never been terrified of them, but oh wow, this book made my skin crawl. i was genuinely worried i’d develop a phobia of roaches after reading this book because of all the descriptions. if you already do have a genuine fear/phobia of them, please keep that in mind when deciding whether to read this.
overall, this was an enjoyable read, and i’d be interested in reading more from the author.
July 30, 2024
For a horror book involving bugs, I expected to be thoroughly creeped out and uncomfortable while reading this. Instead, this just felt….very boring. I found the story to have a somewhat predictable set-up; when one of the characters was first introduced I immediately knew who would be the villain. Even with a predictable story, there could have been better development or more dynamic characters. Instead, the story itself felt slow-moving and the characters all felt very one-dimensional. The villain was lackluster. The narrator wasn’t great - please never voice a woman or a German person ever again! There were also parts of the story where the German was incorrect, which was pretty comical. Yet, the funniest part of this story to me was the suspension of disbelief required for most of the events in this book. So many things that happen just don’t make sense and the explanations felt very half-baked. Since almost the entire plot of the book is in the synopsis, I expected for there to be a bigger plot twist or revelation, but no the story just felt very bare bones. Definitely worthy of my first one star review of the year - don’t waste your time or money on this one!
August 3, 2023
Addictive, believable, and disgusting when it must be. I’ll be writing/publishing a longer review closer to publication. For now - preorder this for you and others. Teachers - high school students will love this.
Full review (originally published in Rue Morgue magazine):
Infested is coming of age horror tangled up with the best parts of del Toro’s Mimic (1997). Included in the 2023 line-up of the MTV Books relaunch, Colón’s YA novel is sure to delight and disgust a wide range of readers. Beyond the bugs, Infested is a story of gentrification, identity, and family
Manny is poised to start his senior year when his mom and step-dad announce they are moving from Texas to the heart of the Bronx in New York. Understandably miffed, he has no choice but to make the trip. Once the nightmares start and the building’s six-legged tenants infest the building and the people within, Manny turns to new friend Sasha to help navigate a fight for his life. The quick pace and well-timed action sequences are guaranteed to delight. From bugs crawling underneath Manny’s skin to verbal sparring with the adults in his life, Infested is a mastery of storytelling.
Colón is a gifted writer, highlighted by his believable teenage characters and his ability to move gracefully from grotesque bug infestations to commentary on social and political issues. The Bronx is the perfect setting for this and Colón’s experience with the area shines through; the neighborhood lives and breathes.. Evidenced by Sasha’s protests against gentrification. Manny’s run-ins with racism, and a richly diverse cast of characters, the Bronx is just as much a character in this novel as anything else.
Billed as YA horror, Infested is an excellent addition to any library or personal book collection. Different layers of entertainment, mature topics, and delicious, disgusting horror will fascinate a wide age range of readers. Recommended for fans of The Fly and The Troop.
Full review (originally published in Rue Morgue magazine):
Infested is coming of age horror tangled up with the best parts of del Toro’s Mimic (1997). Included in the 2023 line-up of the MTV Books relaunch, Colón’s YA novel is sure to delight and disgust a wide range of readers. Beyond the bugs, Infested is a story of gentrification, identity, and family
Manny is poised to start his senior year when his mom and step-dad announce they are moving from Texas to the heart of the Bronx in New York. Understandably miffed, he has no choice but to make the trip. Once the nightmares start and the building’s six-legged tenants infest the building and the people within, Manny turns to new friend Sasha to help navigate a fight for his life. The quick pace and well-timed action sequences are guaranteed to delight. From bugs crawling underneath Manny’s skin to verbal sparring with the adults in his life, Infested is a mastery of storytelling.
Colón is a gifted writer, highlighted by his believable teenage characters and his ability to move gracefully from grotesque bug infestations to commentary on social and political issues. The Bronx is the perfect setting for this and Colón’s experience with the area shines through; the neighborhood lives and breathes.. Evidenced by Sasha’s protests against gentrification. Manny’s run-ins with racism, and a richly diverse cast of characters, the Bronx is just as much a character in this novel as anything else.
Billed as YA horror, Infested is an excellent addition to any library or personal book collection. Different layers of entertainment, mature topics, and delicious, disgusting horror will fascinate a wide age range of readers. Recommended for fans of The Fly and The Troop.
October 8, 2023
I picked this up on a whim after visiting a new library near me, and boy was I not disappointed!
I love Manny and Sasha as characters — each felt 17 which is hard to come by with many YA novels these days. The growth and recognition Manny goes through is impressive as he comes to realize just how much his whole family means to him.
Ironically enough, while I was reading this novel, I picked up a shoe and a cockroach came flying out of it. I screamed. I might be a little affected, so TW if you really, really hate bugs!
Looking forward to more by this author and will definitely check out his other works!
I love Manny and Sasha as characters — each felt 17 which is hard to come by with many YA novels these days. The growth and recognition Manny goes through is impressive as he comes to realize just how much his whole family means to him.
Ironically enough, while I was reading this novel, I picked up a shoe and a cockroach came flying out of it. I screamed. I might be a little affected, so TW if you really, really hate bugs!
Looking forward to more by this author and will definitely check out his other works!
January 7, 2025
This book is great for high school/young adult readers. I think I'm a little old for the preferred demographic to read this one. I thought the first half was a bit slow paced, but picked up really well, especially for the last quarter of the book. The main characters felt like teenagers, which is always a plus when reading about teenagers, and although I could tell who the villain was from the time that character was introduced, they definitely were creepy.
Overall, not bad, but could have been scarier.
Overall, not bad, but could have been scarier.
September 20, 2023
Eww roach horror. A great YA horror that had some disgusting roach scenes but also touched on familial issues and racial topics in a seamless way.
November 21, 2024
This is only gonna freak you out if you have a phobia of roaches. I thought it had potential, but idk I needed more than roaches
June 21, 2024
Nie porwała mnie, ale też nie lubie horrorów i nie oczekiwałam fajerwerków. Tak naprawdę dobrze się bawiłam do momentu scen z opętaniem, dziwnymi dźwiękami i całym tym paranormalnym szajsem. Nie licząc warstwy horroru to całkiem spoko młodzieżówka się pod tym kryła :)
January 28, 2024
2.5 wish the twist wasn't explained in the book summary. Woulda made it a higher rating.
November 6, 2023
What a fantastic debut into YA, this was.
Infested reminded me of the netflix show The House, with the the creepy horror surrounding an infestation of roaches at a newly built housing complex.
The horror of creepy crawlies, ghosts and body horror didn't end there.
The conversations on gentrification and racsim in the community of a minority sector of people added to the fantastical horror with the realistic horror of humanity's prejudice and cruelty to those deemed inferior. There were some really well fleshed out conversations on that topic, with youth, elders, minorities and racists against minorities getting help where needed. It was pretty deep. Deeper than I went in expecting it to be.
The gore and body horror was beautifully disgusting, having me flinch and cringe away multiple times. I bet my face looked like I was chomping on a lemon. The descriptions were just so visceral that I felt like the roaches were crawling all over me.
I think Manny was a complex character - he had a lot going on emotionally. I wasn't a fan of his parents but by the end I had a new lease of respect for them.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
Infested reminded me of the netflix show The House, with the the creepy horror surrounding an infestation of roaches at a newly built housing complex.
The horror of creepy crawlies, ghosts and body horror didn't end there.
The conversations on gentrification and racsim in the community of a minority sector of people added to the fantastical horror with the realistic horror of humanity's prejudice and cruelty to those deemed inferior. There were some really well fleshed out conversations on that topic, with youth, elders, minorities and racists against minorities getting help where needed. It was pretty deep. Deeper than I went in expecting it to be.
The gore and body horror was beautifully disgusting, having me flinch and cringe away multiple times. I bet my face looked like I was chomping on a lemon. The descriptions were just so visceral that I felt like the roaches were crawling all over me.
I think Manny was a complex character - he had a lot going on emotionally. I wasn't a fan of his parents but by the end I had a new lease of respect for them.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
April 2, 2024
I wasn’t really sure where this was going to take me, but on an adventure taking us into a building that was formerly burned down by a psychotic murderer hell-bent on taking out people of color, now infested by thousands upon thousands of bugs… well, that wasn’t what I thought I’d be saying. Bugs are never my chosen route for anything. I knew this was about them, but knowing and feeling those little legs crawling all over your body, albeit mentally, really does a number on you.
There were definitely some really creepy moments that made my skin crawl, so kudos to the author for that. I love a horror book that makes you think and this one had some great conversations about gentrification. I hope that resonates with a lot of young people that will be growing up way too fast and going out into a world that will be doing the exact same thing.
There were definitely some really creepy moments that made my skin crawl, so kudos to the author for that. I love a horror book that makes you think and this one had some great conversations about gentrification. I hope that resonates with a lot of young people that will be growing up way too fast and going out into a world that will be doing the exact same thing.
August 30, 2024
Well, the best thing about this book was the creepy crawlers in the books title.
So, if the creep factor of damn ugly bugs such as roaches and spiders are you FEAR....this book is right up your alley. It became kind of silly and stupid for me, but it was like reading an old Saturday Afternoon Monster Flick script.....which was then made into a badly dubbed Creature Feature. I would recommend this to young kids who are just delving into the creepy crawler books like 'Fear Street' or 'Spinetinglers'. Don't watch the movie that they made based on this....it is just the same as this....really dumb.
2 Goosebumps on my arm.
So, if the creep factor of damn ugly bugs such as roaches and spiders are you FEAR....this book is right up your alley. It became kind of silly and stupid for me, but it was like reading an old Saturday Afternoon Monster Flick script.....which was then made into a badly dubbed Creature Feature. I would recommend this to young kids who are just delving into the creepy crawler books like 'Fear Street' or 'Spinetinglers'. Don't watch the movie that they made based on this....it is just the same as this....really dumb.
2 Goosebumps on my arm.
August 8, 2023
*3.5 stars - Original Review on YABC*
I have such mixed reviews about this book. Before I really dive in though I want to say holy insect horror. With a book called "Infested" and a bunch of cockroaches on the cover - I'd assume it was going to have some insect horror. But I was not ready for the detail and the scenes including them. They were phenomenal. Horror book should never hold back with the intense scenes of grotesques to give that ick factor and Colon did exactly that. As this is also a YA novel, it didn't go too far. I really commend him on these fantastic scenes where my skin was crawling along with Manny's. The plot itself was interesting but the generic reasoning of why this was happening was not. I loved the writing and the scenes and I wish it was just more than (see SPOILERS below) what was provided. This really dampened it for me but I was so far into the book that I wanted to see it through.
I really wanted to be annoyed by Manny's personality about the move and his attitude towards his parent but I could not. It's so realistic for him to act the way he did because I know I would have felt the same. Honestly, any teenager going into their senior year of high school under the same situation would probably felt the same. So once I sat back and accepted that his attitude was exactly as it should be, I liked Manny. I liked how Manny became into his own and figured out himself. Sure he kept complaining but he started to see things differently. And who wouldn't be mad when there is a bunch of cockroaches in the building they moved into?
Overall, Infested by Angel Luis Colon did a fantastic job bringing that insect horror to life. I loved his descriptions and he honestly did an amazing job keeping it within its intended genre but keeping true to horror. The plot in general was good but the reasoning behind felt so unoriginal and generic to me. As soon as it was brought to light my enjoyment of the book came down. I just wish it went a different route with more of a unique reasoning. This would have done this book more justice with how well the horror portion was written. I still would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror - if you have a bug phobia though, beware!
I have such mixed reviews about this book. Before I really dive in though I want to say holy insect horror. With a book called "Infested" and a bunch of cockroaches on the cover - I'd assume it was going to have some insect horror. But I was not ready for the detail and the scenes including them. They were phenomenal. Horror book should never hold back with the intense scenes of grotesques to give that ick factor and Colon did exactly that. As this is also a YA novel, it didn't go too far. I really commend him on these fantastic scenes where my skin was crawling along with Manny's. The plot itself was interesting but the generic reasoning of why this was happening was not. I loved the writing and the scenes and I wish it was just more than (see SPOILERS below) what was provided. This really dampened it for me but I was so far into the book that I wanted to see it through.
I really wanted to be annoyed by Manny's personality about the move and his attitude towards his parent but I could not. It's so realistic for him to act the way he did because I know I would have felt the same. Honestly, any teenager going into their senior year of high school under the same situation would probably felt the same. So once I sat back and accepted that his attitude was exactly as it should be, I liked Manny. I liked how Manny became into his own and figured out himself. Sure he kept complaining but he started to see things differently. And who wouldn't be mad when there is a bunch of cockroaches in the building they moved into?
Overall, Infested by Angel Luis Colon did a fantastic job bringing that insect horror to life. I loved his descriptions and he honestly did an amazing job keeping it within its intended genre but keeping true to horror. The plot in general was good but the reasoning behind felt so unoriginal and generic to me. As soon as it was brought to light my enjoyment of the book came down. I just wish it went a different route with more of a unique reasoning. This would have done this book more justice with how well the horror portion was written. I still would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror - if you have a bug phobia though, beware!
December 25, 2023
4,25☆
An enjoyable YA horror! I really liked how this dealt with the themes of racism and gentrification by the use of horror or thriller elements. The writing was good, and I liked the characters a lot!
I don't have many thoughts about this as it was good overall. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the themes mentioned above or anyone wanting to dip their toes into horror!
An enjoyable YA horror! I really liked how this dealt with the themes of racism and gentrification by the use of horror or thriller elements. The writing was good, and I liked the characters a lot!
I don't have many thoughts about this as it was good overall. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the themes mentioned above or anyone wanting to dip their toes into horror!
November 12, 2024
That was a fun a quick spooky book to listen to.
It’s a middle grade story about a boy who moves into an apartment building with his family soon to discover the building is infested with cockroaches.
Some really good bug horror here. Even though this book was aimed at the younger refers it still made me cringe and shudder as I absolutely hate creepy crawlies
It’s a middle grade story about a boy who moves into an apartment building with his family soon to discover the building is infested with cockroaches.
Some really good bug horror here. Even though this book was aimed at the younger refers it still made me cringe and shudder as I absolutely hate creepy crawlies
September 21, 2023
Un romanzo molto carino e molto intraprendente nella descrizione dell'infestazione (scene horror davvero ben scritte). Peccato per momenti abbastanza ovvi e qualche cliché. Consigliato per le vibes da Piccoli brividi e perché davvero, può stimolare certi sogni (incubi) niente male.
September 24, 2023
A fun and nasty YA horror novel about gentrification and bugs. It’ll get under your skin! 🤣
If roaches creep you out this might not be the book for you. There’s some swell body horror and solid writing.
If roaches creep you out this might not be the book for you. There’s some swell body horror and solid writing.
December 5, 2023
This book was interesting from start to finish. If you are easily grossed out from cockroaches this isn't the book for you. It was relatable and creepy and I didn't want to put it down. The narrator was also great!
February 17, 2024
TBH, this was a "Filler Book." Something I picked up in between a few books im reading, and it was worth it. Fun, easy reading, and fast-paced. Kept me interested and turning the page. From one "Blanquito" Puerto Rican to another (the author) Respect!
September 17, 2023
this was mid.
May 6, 2024
I’m gonna come back and review later but this honestly isn’t my cup of tea.
October 13, 2024
what a waste of a good cover art
June 16, 2025
Don’t read this unless you want to develop a phobia of roaches! Overall, solid creepy vibes!
July 8, 2025
perfect for summerween!
January 1, 2024
A well plotted and masterfully delivered YA horror story that blends coming of age tale, family drama and socioeconomic themes with spooky ghostly and crawly visuals. It sports all of the delicious Goosebumps-like vibes with the addition of important commentary on racism, gentrification and the importance of activism.
Infested follows a boy named Manuel - or Manny for short - who finds himself uprooted from his family home and relocated halfway across the country. Like that wasn't hard enough for an angst-filled teenager, he now also has to work alongside his step father, Al, who recently got the job of managing an old apartment building in the Bronx. Not one thing is going right from the get-go. The building is outdated and falling apart, the contractors keep ghosting them, and cockroaches seem to crawl out of nowhere. As Manny tries hard to settle into his new routine, he makes a couple new friends, one of whom turns out to be an unhinged, decades-old ghost determined to sabotage the apartment building and wreck havoc all around.
I had a blast reading this novel and frankly find it hard to believe that this was Angel Luis Colon's debut! It is so well written, captivating and spooky! Everything from the diverse, realistic cast of characters to the creepy, crawly mystery at the heart of this book, was simply fantastic! I definitely recommend this one, especially if you feel nostalgic for R.L.Stine, but crave something more ambitious and thought-provoking!
Infested follows a boy named Manuel - or Manny for short - who finds himself uprooted from his family home and relocated halfway across the country. Like that wasn't hard enough for an angst-filled teenager, he now also has to work alongside his step father, Al, who recently got the job of managing an old apartment building in the Bronx. Not one thing is going right from the get-go. The building is outdated and falling apart, the contractors keep ghosting them, and cockroaches seem to crawl out of nowhere. As Manny tries hard to settle into his new routine, he makes a couple new friends, one of whom turns out to be an unhinged, decades-old ghost determined to sabotage the apartment building and wreck havoc all around.
I had a blast reading this novel and frankly find it hard to believe that this was Angel Luis Colon's debut! It is so well written, captivating and spooky! Everything from the diverse, realistic cast of characters to the creepy, crawly mystery at the heart of this book, was simply fantastic! I definitely recommend this one, especially if you feel nostalgic for R.L.Stine, but crave something more ambitious and thought-provoking!
January 5, 2024
actual rating 3.5 stars
pretty enjoyable read. insect horror doesn't usually get me but roaches hit different, and there were a few scenes that actually got me a bit (like ) which i wasn't expecting.
i feel like using roaches is such a good way for a horror novel to tackle classism and gentrification. they're so tied in to issues of inadequate or unsafe housing and bigoted ideas of lower class people being seen as "unclean" or "dirty", so there's a lot of raw potential for turning that on its head and using it as a way to critique these issues, and i feel like this novel pulled that off well.
i really appreciated that discussions of latine identity were such a big part of this novel, especially the fact that it acknowledged the existence and privilege of white latines and discussed the fact that afro-latines are subjected not only xenophobia and racism from white usamericans, but also antiblackness from nonblack latines. and i thought the sections on feeling disconnected from your culture and language and feelings of isolation from usamerican peers were well done.
it was incredibly frustrating at times to watch Manny's privilege and ignorance of how classism, gentrification, and racism work. i think this was written ok for the most part, the novel acknowledges that these are flaws and has him apologize later and say that he will start working towards making amends (although we didn't actually see much of how he would do that beyond him actually believing Sasha from now on), and he isn't made totally unlikable as he still has relatable struggles in his difficulties making friends, mourning the death of his grandparents, feeling disconnected from his culture, issues with his family, etc. however, there were a lot of times where some of his issues felt trivial and unrelatable to me (which could just be the fact that i had an extremely difficult and complicated childhood), and i feel like this was partially because of this being a YA novel and trying to seem "relatable" to teens by blowing trivial things up into bigger issues so that the mc can say "omg i have the worst life everrrr :(".
it also really threw me off that it just felt super weird to me and imo reinforces bad treatment of women and abusive behaviors, which sets an especially bad precedent for teens reading this.
also shoutout to this book describing the sound of hundreds of roaches scuttling against each other as "It sounded like Rice Krispies in milk." this line was simultaneously hilarious, hilariously bad, and completely pulled me out of the rising tension going into the climax.
overall i enjoyed reading this, i like that YA novels are starting to delve into more political topics and critique issues like gentrification, and i always love horror as social commentary. really was not expecting this book to actually get me with the horror aspects, especially considering it's YA and a lot of horror doesn't really scare me anyways, but it was a very pleasant surprise. would definitely recommend this book to teens, and i would say that any adults reading just be aware that it does have a more juvenile tone and writing style that wasn't always my favorite (such as the overdramatics and the aforementioned Rice Krispies line), but still had a good story and was an engaging read.
ALSO THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS!!! was immediately drawn to it bc of that
pretty enjoyable read. insect horror doesn't usually get me but roaches hit different, and there were a few scenes that actually got me a bit (like ) which i wasn't expecting.
i feel like using roaches is such a good way for a horror novel to tackle classism and gentrification. they're so tied in to issues of inadequate or unsafe housing and bigoted ideas of lower class people being seen as "unclean" or "dirty", so there's a lot of raw potential for turning that on its head and using it as a way to critique these issues, and i feel like this novel pulled that off well.
i really appreciated that discussions of latine identity were such a big part of this novel, especially the fact that it acknowledged the existence and privilege of white latines and discussed the fact that afro-latines are subjected not only xenophobia and racism from white usamericans, but also antiblackness from nonblack latines. and i thought the sections on feeling disconnected from your culture and language and feelings of isolation from usamerican peers were well done.
it was incredibly frustrating at times to watch Manny's privilege and ignorance of how classism, gentrification, and racism work. i think this was written ok for the most part, the novel acknowledges that these are flaws and has him apologize later and say that he will start working towards making amends (although we didn't actually see much of how he would do that beyond him actually believing Sasha from now on), and he isn't made totally unlikable as he still has relatable struggles in his difficulties making friends, mourning the death of his grandparents, feeling disconnected from his culture, issues with his family, etc. however, there were a lot of times where some of his issues felt trivial and unrelatable to me (which could just be the fact that i had an extremely difficult and complicated childhood), and i feel like this was partially because of this being a YA novel and trying to seem "relatable" to teens by blowing trivial things up into bigger issues so that the mc can say "omg i have the worst life everrrr :(".
it also really threw me off that it just felt super weird to me and imo reinforces bad treatment of women and abusive behaviors, which sets an especially bad precedent for teens reading this.
also shoutout to this book describing the sound of hundreds of roaches scuttling against each other as "It sounded like Rice Krispies in milk." this line was simultaneously hilarious, hilariously bad, and completely pulled me out of the rising tension going into the climax.
overall i enjoyed reading this, i like that YA novels are starting to delve into more political topics and critique issues like gentrification, and i always love horror as social commentary. really was not expecting this book to actually get me with the horror aspects, especially considering it's YA and a lot of horror doesn't really scare me anyways, but it was a very pleasant surprise. would definitely recommend this book to teens, and i would say that any adults reading just be aware that it does have a more juvenile tone and writing style that wasn't always my favorite (such as the overdramatics and the aforementioned Rice Krispies line), but still had a good story and was an engaging read.
ALSO THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS!!! was immediately drawn to it bc of that
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