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Saint Juniper's Folly
Cemetery Boys meets The Haunting of Bly Manor in this spellbinding debut! Alex Crespo’s queer haunted house mystery is equal parts spine-tingling thrills, a celebration of found family, and must-read for paranormal romance fans.
For Jaime, returning to the tiny Vermont town of Saint Juniper means returning to a past he’s spent eight years trying to forget. After shuttling between foster homes, he hopes he can make something out of this fresh start. But every gossip in town already knows his business, and with reminders of his past everywhere, he seeks out solitude into the nearby woods, called Saint Juniper’s Folly, and does not return.
For Theo, Saint Juniper means being stuck. He knows there’s more out there, but he’s scared to go find it. His senior year is going to be like all the rest, dull and claustrophobic. That is until he wanders into the Folly and stumbles on a haunted house with an acerbic yet handsome boy stuck—as in physically stuck—inside.
For Taylor, Saint Juniper is a mystery. The surrounding woods speak to her, while she tries—and fails—to practice the magic her dad banned from the house after her mother died. Taylor can’t seem break out of her spiral of grief, until a wide-eyed teenager barges into her life, rambling on about a haunted house, a trapped boy, and ghosts. He needs a witch.
The Folly and its ghosts will bring these three teenagers together. But they will each have to face their own internal struggles in order to forge a bond strong enough to escape the Folly’s shadows.
For Jaime, returning to the tiny Vermont town of Saint Juniper means returning to a past he’s spent eight years trying to forget. After shuttling between foster homes, he hopes he can make something out of this fresh start. But every gossip in town already knows his business, and with reminders of his past everywhere, he seeks out solitude into the nearby woods, called Saint Juniper’s Folly, and does not return.
For Theo, Saint Juniper means being stuck. He knows there’s more out there, but he’s scared to go find it. His senior year is going to be like all the rest, dull and claustrophobic. That is until he wanders into the Folly and stumbles on a haunted house with an acerbic yet handsome boy stuck—as in physically stuck—inside.
For Taylor, Saint Juniper is a mystery. The surrounding woods speak to her, while she tries—and fails—to practice the magic her dad banned from the house after her mother died. Taylor can’t seem break out of her spiral of grief, until a wide-eyed teenager barges into her life, rambling on about a haunted house, a trapped boy, and ghosts. He needs a witch.
The Folly and its ghosts will bring these three teenagers together. But they will each have to face their own internal struggles in order to forge a bond strong enough to escape the Folly’s shadows.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
About the author
Alex Crespo
3 books104 followersBorn and raised by the Great Lakes, Alex Crespo writes about queer love, magic, and all the ways they intersect. When not writing, you can find him making art or daydreaming about Mothman. He currently lives in Chicago with an endless anime watchlist and his black cat Hex. You can find him on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram as @byalexcrespo.
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October 17, 2023Cemetery Boys meets Noah Kahan in this YA house book.
A really sweet and spooky YA story with a nuanced and unbelievably lovable trio of main characters. Complete with a magical realism-style metaphorical magic system, a lovable achillean romance, and a house that represents the walls we build out of trauma.
CW: death of mother (past), grief, animal death, confinement, racism, child abandonment, blood, hospitalization, fire, electrocution
A really sweet and spooky YA story with a nuanced and unbelievably lovable trio of main characters. Complete with a magical realism-style metaphorical magic system, a lovable achillean romance, and a house that represents the walls we build out of trauma.
CW: death of mother (past), grief, animal death, confinement, racism, child abandonment, blood, hospitalization, fire, electrocution
June 23, 2023
Perfect for people who are too scared to read most horror or young teens wanting to dip their toes into the genre. If you are looking for horror-lite where there's a spooky setting but a bigger focus on relationships and personal growth than being particularly scary, Saint Juniper's Folly is a great option. I was expecting something a bit darker but I liked this and it would be great for teens on the younger side of the YA audience. Plus it has a really sweet romance between two boys.
Jaime is returning to his small hometown after years in foster care, only to find himself trapped by a ghost in an abandoned mansion in the woods. Theo feels stuck and is hoping graduation will give him the chance to branch out and find himself. Taylor is grieving the loss of her mother, and missing the magic her dad won't let her practice since the death. But she's been strangely drawn to to woods of Saint Juniper. Theo and Taylor end up teaming up to figure out why Jaime is trapped and help him escape. Along the way they find the answers to questions they didn't know they had and create a sort of found family.
This wasn't what I expected, but it's a really lovely book and one I would recommend. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Jaime is returning to his small hometown after years in foster care, only to find himself trapped by a ghost in an abandoned mansion in the woods. Theo feels stuck and is hoping graduation will give him the chance to branch out and find himself. Taylor is grieving the loss of her mother, and missing the magic her dad won't let her practice since the death. But she's been strangely drawn to to woods of Saint Juniper. Theo and Taylor end up teaming up to figure out why Jaime is trapped and help him escape. Along the way they find the answers to questions they didn't know they had and create a sort of found family.
This wasn't what I expected, but it's a really lovely book and one I would recommend. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
June 11, 2023
cute. 3.5 stars
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
June 5, 2023
thank you NetGalley for the ARC! bumping my review because this sweet, spooky book comes out tomorrow (6/6)!
This book wasn't really scary per se, so people who see that it's categorized as a horror novel may be disappointed. But people who read the description and expect a book about three new friends who come together to solve a mystery, work through their personal issues, and unravel the way that family trauma has embedded itself into a haunted house on the outskirts of a small town will not be disappointed. This book hit it out of the park in that regard.
It follows Jaime, a teen in the foster system; Theo, a library volunteer who is unsure about his future; and Taylor, a witch whose grieving father owns an occult store. When Jaime finds himself trapped inside of a mysterious old house in the woods, Theo and Taylor come together to use the library's records and Taylor's deceased mother's grimoire to help get him out before it's too late.
This book was atmospheric and mysterious and although I wouldn't call it a horror novel, it definitely had some creepy moments. It was a fast read with interesting characters, touching moments, and an adorable romance. There were a few times when it was slightly difficult to distinguish which character's point of view the chapter was in if I set the book down mid-chapter and came back to it, but each character had a very distinct backstory and personality, so I will admit that was probably just a me-problem.
I really enjoyed this and can't wait to see what Alex Crespo writes next.
This book wasn't really scary per se, so people who see that it's categorized as a horror novel may be disappointed. But people who read the description and expect a book about three new friends who come together to solve a mystery, work through their personal issues, and unravel the way that family trauma has embedded itself into a haunted house on the outskirts of a small town will not be disappointed. This book hit it out of the park in that regard.
It follows Jaime, a teen in the foster system; Theo, a library volunteer who is unsure about his future; and Taylor, a witch whose grieving father owns an occult store. When Jaime finds himself trapped inside of a mysterious old house in the woods, Theo and Taylor come together to use the library's records and Taylor's deceased mother's grimoire to help get him out before it's too late.
This book was atmospheric and mysterious and although I wouldn't call it a horror novel, it definitely had some creepy moments. It was a fast read with interesting characters, touching moments, and an adorable romance. There were a few times when it was slightly difficult to distinguish which character's point of view the chapter was in if I set the book down mid-chapter and came back to it, but each character had a very distinct backstory and personality, so I will admit that was probably just a me-problem.
I really enjoyed this and can't wait to see what Alex Crespo writes next.
May 10, 2023
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This was very sweet! I felt for these teens and their struggles with parents and self-worth and their pasts and their worries about the future.
The romance was cute. The way Jaime and Theo spent time together, got to know each other, opened up to each other, not to mention just the whole weird situation they were dealing with, I could definitely believe their feelings. And it was just so nice for Jaime to finally have someone who wasn’t going to give up on him the way his parents and everyone else had.
The friendship was nice too. All three characters bonded and grew close, including Taylor.
There was also some touching family stuff. Not all of their families changed for the better, which I appreciated because it’s just not like for everyone. But sometimes family isn’t bad, just complicated and making mistakes but trying, so I appreciate that portrayal too.
All three characters grew and changed from this experience. It was well-done, heartwarming character growth.
This was more about, well, all the things I just talked about than about a haunted house. There was a haunted house, as well as some witchcraft and spells, but the ghost story mystery was minimal (which was fine with me), and it was all more of a facilitator for the characters to figure out themselves and their lives and to come together. Still, being supernaturally stuck in the house was the main thing and did pose a very real problem for Jaime.
The ending actually took me by surprise in a good way. It was more intense than I was expecting and portrayed with a lot more gravity and realism than I usually find in books in regards to traumatic events and whatnot (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers).
Overall, this was sort of a “teens with teen problems, but also a bit of magic/supernatural” book with easy to like characters, and I really enjoyed it!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes teens with teen problems but also a bit of supernatural, haunted houses, cute romance, cute friendship, and heartwarming character growth.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
This was very sweet! I felt for these teens and their struggles with parents and self-worth and their pasts and their worries about the future.
The romance was cute. The way Jaime and Theo spent time together, got to know each other, opened up to each other, not to mention just the whole weird situation they were dealing with, I could definitely believe their feelings. And it was just so nice for Jaime to finally have someone who wasn’t going to give up on him the way his parents and everyone else had.
The friendship was nice too. All three characters bonded and grew close, including Taylor.
There was also some touching family stuff. Not all of their families changed for the better, which I appreciated because it’s just not like for everyone. But sometimes family isn’t bad, just complicated and making mistakes but trying, so I appreciate that portrayal too.
All three characters grew and changed from this experience. It was well-done, heartwarming character growth.
This was more about, well, all the things I just talked about than about a haunted house. There was a haunted house, as well as some witchcraft and spells, but the ghost story mystery was minimal (which was fine with me), and it was all more of a facilitator for the characters to figure out themselves and their lives and to come together. Still, being supernaturally stuck in the house was the main thing and did pose a very real problem for Jaime.
The ending actually took me by surprise in a good way. It was more intense than I was expecting and portrayed with a lot more gravity and realism than I usually find in books in regards to traumatic events and whatnot (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers).
Overall, this was sort of a “teens with teen problems, but also a bit of magic/supernatural” book with easy to like characters, and I really enjoyed it!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes teens with teen problems but also a bit of supernatural, haunted houses, cute romance, cute friendship, and heartwarming character growth.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
June 5, 2023
Release June 6
SAINT JUNIPER'S FOLLY is a REMARKABLY feel-good YA Queer Supernatural-Paranormal-Generational Witchcraft Coming-of-Age Romance and Discovery! Whoa, that's a combination! But it's a champion combo, so much so I'm ready to reread! Sure, there's lots of heartbreak and heartache, grief, Bigotry (practically institutionalized in Saint Juniper's (sufficient blindness to be stomach-churning), and as it turns out, it's nothing new there either. You know, this is Vermont: I wouldn't have expected it, but that'd be giving too much credit to humans.
The trio of protagonists: Gay Hispanic adolescent in foster care Jaime [I could really write a fiery rail about his folks and about the social workers and system], Theo--uncertain of himself, compassionate, trapped in a "what will people think?" family, who's not certain of himself or his stance; and half-Puerto Rican Taylor, daughter of a deceased generational Witch who has inherited the lineage and a Puerto Rican dad who represses any hint of Magic, though he continues to operate his late wife's apothecary, are a set of characters with whom I immediately identified and empathized! ANY Reader who has ever experienced being or perceiving the outlier, or miscast, or misfit; who has ever felt, "I really don't belong here," is going to find fellow feeling in this gorgeous tour de force. You're going to feel right at Home. And really, isn't that what we want to discover--our Home??
SAINT JUNIPER'S FOLLY is a REMARKABLY feel-good YA Queer Supernatural-Paranormal-Generational Witchcraft Coming-of-Age Romance and Discovery! Whoa, that's a combination! But it's a champion combo, so much so I'm ready to reread! Sure, there's lots of heartbreak and heartache, grief, Bigotry (practically institutionalized in Saint Juniper's (sufficient blindness to be stomach-churning), and as it turns out, it's nothing new there either. You know, this is Vermont: I wouldn't have expected it, but that'd be giving too much credit to humans.
The trio of protagonists: Gay Hispanic adolescent in foster care Jaime [I could really write a fiery rail about his folks and about the social workers and system], Theo--uncertain of himself, compassionate, trapped in a "what will people think?" family, who's not certain of himself or his stance; and half-Puerto Rican Taylor, daughter of a deceased generational Witch who has inherited the lineage and a Puerto Rican dad who represses any hint of Magic, though he continues to operate his late wife's apothecary, are a set of characters with whom I immediately identified and empathized! ANY Reader who has ever experienced being or perceiving the outlier, or miscast, or misfit; who has ever felt, "I really don't belong here," is going to find fellow feeling in this gorgeous tour de force. You're going to feel right at Home. And really, isn't that what we want to discover--our Home??
April 21, 2023
4.25 stars
I did not expect this gem of a story when I picked up this YA contemporary fantasy! I fell in love with the characters pretty quickly and the supernatural elements pulled me in further. Throw in a sweet romance and I had a hard time putting this one down.
Three seventeen-year-olds in Saint Juniper, Vermont, have their own separate problems and have to face them after a magical crisis involving a haunted house brings them all together. Jaime is in foster care after having been left by his mom when he was nine and he has a hard time letting people in. Theo is under pressure from his parents to be the perfect son. Taylor recently lost her mom and is banned by her magic shop owning dad from practicing very real magic.
Jaime, Theo and Taylor form the kind of connection and friendship that lonely people who feel like outsiders quickly do. I rooted for them all to get along and help each other, and also for two of them to realize they could be more than friends. Friendship, love and support of others are important themes of the novel. See also this reader squealing with joy when certain realizations between characters were made. ;)
Two of the main characters are of Mexican heritage, which is partially explored in the book. Especially for Jaime who has had his own journey with being a white-presenting Mexican-American in foster care. There is also great LGBT+ representation.
A lot of the elements gave me Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas vibes, as well as some Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. For me this novel fell somewhere inbetween those two when it came to the writing and enjoyment of the story. I liked this better than Cemetery Boys, but the prose was not quite at Stiefvater levels, and some side-characters felt underdeveloped. I can't wait to see this book out in the world however, and for the author's future novels. Those will be insta-buys for me!
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for sending me this ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I did not expect this gem of a story when I picked up this YA contemporary fantasy! I fell in love with the characters pretty quickly and the supernatural elements pulled me in further. Throw in a sweet romance and I had a hard time putting this one down.
Three seventeen-year-olds in Saint Juniper, Vermont, have their own separate problems and have to face them after a magical crisis involving a haunted house brings them all together. Jaime is in foster care after having been left by his mom when he was nine and he has a hard time letting people in. Theo is under pressure from his parents to be the perfect son. Taylor recently lost her mom and is banned by her magic shop owning dad from practicing very real magic.
Jaime, Theo and Taylor form the kind of connection and friendship that lonely people who feel like outsiders quickly do. I rooted for them all to get along and help each other, and also for two of them to realize they could be more than friends. Friendship, love and support of others are important themes of the novel. See also this reader squealing with joy when certain realizations between characters were made. ;)
Two of the main characters are of Mexican heritage, which is partially explored in the book. Especially for Jaime who has had his own journey with being a white-presenting Mexican-American in foster care. There is also great LGBT+ representation.
A lot of the elements gave me Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas vibes, as well as some Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. For me this novel fell somewhere inbetween those two when it came to the writing and enjoyment of the story. I liked this better than Cemetery Boys, but the prose was not quite at Stiefvater levels, and some side-characters felt underdeveloped. I can't wait to see this book out in the world however, and for the author's future novels. Those will be insta-buys for me!
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for sending me this ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 1, 2023
This was a really cute queer romance set in a small mysterious town, with an interesting mystery to solve as well. Told in three POVs, we meet Theo and Taylor as they race against time to discover why new to town Jaime is trapped inside the strange house in Saint Juniper.
I loved that a lot of the magic in this was tied up in emotions, especially Taylor, who's mother passed away and her father responded by banning Taylor from accessing her books and magic, something Taylor sees as her birthright.
I did want more from Anna, who was an odd character. When she was introduced I was so sure she was going to be the fun sidekick for Taylor, but she kinda disappeared after a few chapters, only appearing occasionally and I completely missed what her whole issue with Theo even was.
This story has solid Stranger Things vibes and is easily one of the strongest small town mystery books I've ever read, I was really invested in the romance and finding out just what was keeping Jaime inside the house. Everything was solved really well, and the final scenes were so emotional they kept me speeding through the pages!
I loved that a lot of the magic in this was tied up in emotions, especially Taylor, who's mother passed away and her father responded by banning Taylor from accessing her books and magic, something Taylor sees as her birthright.
I did want more from Anna, who was an odd character. When she was introduced I was so sure she was going to be the fun sidekick for Taylor, but she kinda disappeared after a few chapters, only appearing occasionally and I completely missed what her whole issue with Theo even was.
This story has solid Stranger Things vibes and is easily one of the strongest small town mystery books I've ever read, I was really invested in the romance and finding out just what was keeping Jaime inside the house. Everything was solved really well, and the final scenes were so emotional they kept me speeding through the pages!
June 27, 2023
‘Saint Juniper’s Folly’ follows the three POVs of Jaime, Theo, and Taylor through their adventure of trying to get Jaime out of a haunted house. This is a wonderfully sweet and sometimes sad novel with a focus on the characters and a creepy setting. This isn’t incredibly scary but it very atmospheric.
This is a pretty quick read that I enjoyed every second of. The characters were definitely a highlight and I really liked all of them! Each character had their own sort of arc and it was fun to follow their development through this mystery. It has so many touching moments. The found family was heartwarming and it also went a bit into family relationships which I liked.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend if you like haunted houses, sweet queer relationships, and witches!
This is a pretty quick read that I enjoyed every second of. The characters were definitely a highlight and I really liked all of them! Each character had their own sort of arc and it was fun to follow their development through this mystery. It has so many touching moments. The found family was heartwarming and it also went a bit into family relationships which I liked.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend if you like haunted houses, sweet queer relationships, and witches!
May 9, 2023
Cemetery Boys meets the Haunting of Bly Manor is a good comparison for this book and that’s what drew me in initially! I will say it’s not spooky or scary at all, it felt very YA or almost cozy vibes - but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I just wanted more spooky but it’s probably good for younger readers.
I also struggled with separating Jaime and Theo’s voice - they sounded almost the same the whole time. I thought their romance was cute and I liked the trio’s friendship. Enjoyable story overall and solid debut!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I also struggled with separating Jaime and Theo’s voice - they sounded almost the same the whole time. I thought their romance was cute and I liked the trio’s friendship. Enjoyable story overall and solid debut!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
May 29, 2023
This is described as “Cemetery Boys meets The Haunting of Bly Manor” and I cannot agree more.
Not only do we get a slow build up of creepy thrills and mystery but the found family in this was perfection. AND the queer romance growth was just adorable.
Five stars all around! Very impressed that this is a debut book!
Not only do we get a slow build up of creepy thrills and mystery but the found family in this was perfection. AND the queer romance growth was just adorable.
Five stars all around! Very impressed that this is a debut book!
September 11, 2023
4.25! In another life, this is absolutely a book I would have written myself
June 11, 2023
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: foster system, racism & intentional white washing, child abandonment, toxic parents
3.7
As a fan of queer haunted houses an Peach Tree's particular brand of both queerness and horror, I jumped at this one. And there are some things I was really excited about, and some others that didn't quite work for me in particular.
I do really love the concept of this one. Something I love about haunted houses is how varied that theme/concept/trope actually is! There are so many different ways to do haunted houses, and this one did not let me down in terms of originality. The haunted house in this book is an abandoned, dilapidated house in the woods, one that a character gets physically trapped in after being psychically lured in to explore it. While there are some clear touchstones to other haunted house stories, I thought this was such a unique way to do it!
I'm also always a fan of spooky small towns and their prejudiced history, so the way things were explored and the reveal of the haunting were really satisfying to see dealt with.
I did want the romance to win me over, but I never really did. The chemistry wasn't really at a point where I felt invested, and things moved too quickly for me to really get into it. But the concept is good, and they were very sweet together by the end.
Honestly, I think a Taylor romance would've been interesting, and is something I might've been more intrigued by.
Actually, Taylor in general is something I wanted more of in this book. While Jaime and Theo both have their own stories going on that we get to see, I found Taylor more interesting than either of them. I never really felt totally connected to either of them, and I think I definitely could have felt connected to Taylor. Her story is used more as support for the plans put into action to free Jaime, and I would've loved to have seen more from her side of things standing in her own story.
I was also hoping for more of an explanation of the powers. I would've loved a little more information- deeper information- about the haunting and that character, too. I guess, in general, I wanted things to be explored past the surface level reveal.
This is an interesting one, bringing in Peach Tree's quintessential representation, and some spookiness to boot.
Pre-review comments below
Peachtree is really committing to giving me all the queer horror vibes I want huh 👀
Update WHEN DID WE GET A COVER
Update 2/9 I got an ARC thank you Peachtree 😭
TW: foster system, racism & intentional white washing, child abandonment, toxic parents
3.7
As a fan of queer haunted houses an Peach Tree's particular brand of both queerness and horror, I jumped at this one. And there are some things I was really excited about, and some others that didn't quite work for me in particular.
I do really love the concept of this one. Something I love about haunted houses is how varied that theme/concept/trope actually is! There are so many different ways to do haunted houses, and this one did not let me down in terms of originality. The haunted house in this book is an abandoned, dilapidated house in the woods, one that a character gets physically trapped in after being psychically lured in to explore it. While there are some clear touchstones to other haunted house stories, I thought this was such a unique way to do it!
I'm also always a fan of spooky small towns and their prejudiced history, so the way things were explored and the reveal of the haunting were really satisfying to see dealt with.
I did want the romance to win me over, but I never really did. The chemistry wasn't really at a point where I felt invested, and things moved too quickly for me to really get into it. But the concept is good, and they were very sweet together by the end.
Honestly, I think a Taylor romance would've been interesting, and is something I might've been more intrigued by.
Actually, Taylor in general is something I wanted more of in this book. While Jaime and Theo both have their own stories going on that we get to see, I found Taylor more interesting than either of them. I never really felt totally connected to either of them, and I think I definitely could have felt connected to Taylor. Her story is used more as support for the plans put into action to free Jaime, and I would've loved to have seen more from her side of things standing in her own story.
I was also hoping for more of an explanation of the powers. I would've loved a little more information- deeper information- about the haunting and that character, too. I guess, in general, I wanted things to be explored past the surface level reveal.
This is an interesting one, bringing in Peach Tree's quintessential representation, and some spookiness to boot.
Pre-review comments below
Peachtree is really committing to giving me all the queer horror vibes I want huh 👀
Update WHEN DID WE GET A COVER
Update 2/9 I got an ARC thank you Peachtree 😭
June 25, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think this is probably a great book, just not for me. While this is YA and the characters are teens, it reads very young. To be totally transparent, I semi-dnf'ed and skimmed the last 40% or so pretty heavily. By the 50% mark, I just felt like I knew exactly what emotional beats we were about to hit and what the solution to the mystery was going to be.
Some odd decisions were also made here. Crespo makes the choice to add a "ticking bomb" mechanic, but then sets the deadline two months in the future... but THEN jumps a whole month in between chapters? Setting an actual pressing deadline on the characters would have been a great opportunity to tighten up the plot and eliminate some unnecessary meandering. There's also some clunky and awkward dialogue, particularly in the beginning, when the characters are being needlessly (and somewhat unbelievably) antagonistic toward one another.
This could be a perfect read for young teens or mature middle grade readers coping with grief and/or tumultuous home life, as well as for young people in the early stages of figuring out their identity. As an adult reader, though, many topics felt shallow and surface-level. Crespo's writing does show promise and the premise of the story is unique and interesting, so I'll definitely keep an eye on what he writes next.
I think this is probably a great book, just not for me. While this is YA and the characters are teens, it reads very young. To be totally transparent, I semi-dnf'ed and skimmed the last 40% or so pretty heavily. By the 50% mark, I just felt like I knew exactly what emotional beats we were about to hit and what the solution to the mystery was going to be.
Some odd decisions were also made here. Crespo makes the choice to add a "ticking bomb" mechanic, but then sets the deadline two months in the future... but THEN jumps a whole month in between chapters? Setting an actual pressing deadline on the characters would have been a great opportunity to tighten up the plot and eliminate some unnecessary meandering. There's also some clunky and awkward dialogue, particularly in the beginning, when the characters are being needlessly (and somewhat unbelievably) antagonistic toward one another.
This could be a perfect read for young teens or mature middle grade readers coping with grief and/or tumultuous home life, as well as for young people in the early stages of figuring out their identity. As an adult reader, though, many topics felt shallow and surface-level. Crespo's writing does show promise and the premise of the story is unique and interesting, so I'll definitely keep an eye on what he writes next.
December 1, 2023
Listened to this on audiobook, narrated by Giordan Diaz, Mark Sanderlin and Victoria Villarreal.
Another pick for 2023 autumn vibes reads 🎃
Very light on any paranormal thrills and very heavy on teen romance, this wasn't what I expected based on the blurb. I was hoping for more haunted house and witchy vibes, but that portion of the story was so minuscule and nonthreatening it might as well not have been there; it's really just a lowstakes setup for two of the main characters to get together.
Unfortunately, I didn't really vibe with the main couple because I found Jaime pretty insufferable and because the corny teenage "my first love" drama was so heavy handed. I'm probably just not the age demographic for this anymore, but I found myself feeling bored every time I picked this up.
I did like Taylor and her part of the story a lot, and I wish she'd had a larger part. This would have been far more compelling to me if the story had centered more around her story and less around the boys.
In terms of the audio, Theo's and Taylor's narrators did a great job, but unfortunately Jaime's gave a choppy, amateurish performance that kept taking me out of the story.
I'm categorizing this as a romance rather than a horror or thriller - I think if you go into it with those expectations, you might have a better time.
2.5 stars
Another pick for 2023 autumn vibes reads 🎃
Very light on any paranormal thrills and very heavy on teen romance, this wasn't what I expected based on the blurb. I was hoping for more haunted house and witchy vibes, but that portion of the story was so minuscule and nonthreatening it might as well not have been there; it's really just a lowstakes setup for two of the main characters to get together.
Unfortunately, I didn't really vibe with the main couple because I found Jaime pretty insufferable and because the corny teenage "my first love" drama was so heavy handed. I'm probably just not the age demographic for this anymore, but I found myself feeling bored every time I picked this up.
I did like Taylor and her part of the story a lot, and I wish she'd had a larger part. This would have been far more compelling to me if the story had centered more around her story and less around the boys.
In terms of the audio, Theo's and Taylor's narrators did a great job, but unfortunately Jaime's gave a choppy, amateurish performance that kept taking me out of the story.
I'm categorizing this as a romance rather than a horror or thriller - I think if you go into it with those expectations, you might have a better time.
2.5 stars
May 20, 2023
Rating: 2.5
I don't have any strong feelings about this book. The pacing felt off and I was bored and didn't care, throughout most of it.
I don't have any strong feelings about this book. The pacing felt off and I was bored and didn't care, throughout most of it.
April 12, 2023
Received an arc from NetGalley, thanks!
"Do you ever think about how the forest won't remember us?"
AAAAH, THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!
Haunted houses, curses, magic and three traumatised teenagers – what could go wrong? Alex Crespo serves both very thoughtful and fun story about old secrets, walked right by murderous spirit in strange town. It's such a fun to read, characters are easy to fall in love with, perfectly balanced between warm YA and chilling horror-wanna-be.
Recommended to every Cemetery Boys and Starkid lover!
"Do you ever think about how the forest won't remember us?"
AAAAH, THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!
Haunted houses, curses, magic and three traumatised teenagers – what could go wrong? Alex Crespo serves both very thoughtful and fun story about old secrets, walked right by murderous spirit in strange town. It's such a fun to read, characters are easy to fall in love with, perfectly balanced between warm YA and chilling horror-wanna-be.
Recommended to every Cemetery Boys and Starkid lover!
Read
December 12, 2023This book isn’t bad, I’m just too old for it. DNF.
March 28, 2023
A haunted house in the woods? Yes, please!
Jaime has felt lost his entire life, and the day he comes across the dilapidated house in the woods is no different. To his absolute shock, he finds himself trapped in the house and not able to leave. For the first time, Jamie finds himself having to depend upon someone to help him escape. But will they be able to save him before it's too late?
While our trio is uncovering the past, they'll forge a friendship rich in self-discovery, acceptance, and love. Their path won't be easy, but they'll have each other to lean on, something Jaime had never allowed himself before.
The second half of the story is truly what grabbed me. In many ways, I find myself connecting with each character. Don't get me wrong, I was wrapped up in the story from the first chapter, but their individual struggles and willingness to accept each other are what really captured me.
We've all struggled with something in our lives, and having someone there for you, even someone you just meet - without judgment - is everything.
I really can't go into the "struggles" without giving the plot away, so I'll just say, read the book! You won't be sorry. It's an amazing blend of personal and social struggles that will give you all the feels.
Jaime has felt lost his entire life, and the day he comes across the dilapidated house in the woods is no different. To his absolute shock, he finds himself trapped in the house and not able to leave. For the first time, Jamie finds himself having to depend upon someone to help him escape. But will they be able to save him before it's too late?
While our trio is uncovering the past, they'll forge a friendship rich in self-discovery, acceptance, and love. Their path won't be easy, but they'll have each other to lean on, something Jaime had never allowed himself before.
The second half of the story is truly what grabbed me. In many ways, I find myself connecting with each character. Don't get me wrong, I was wrapped up in the story from the first chapter, but their individual struggles and willingness to accept each other are what really captured me.
We've all struggled with something in our lives, and having someone there for you, even someone you just meet - without judgment - is everything.
I really can't go into the "struggles" without giving the plot away, so I'll just say, read the book! You won't be sorry. It's an amazing blend of personal and social struggles that will give you all the feels.
May 31, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
This was sold to me as Cemetery Boys meets The Haunting of Bly Manor and it delivered a queer suspenseful thriller replete with an adorable queer paranormal romance, found family trope and a thrilling mystery. I would also recommend this one for fans of Undead Girl Gang--there was a little bit of brujeria thrown into the mix that I thoroughly enjoyed. Jamie, Theo and Taylor jumped off the page and the town of St. Juniper and the surrounding areas made a perfect setting for this spooky story.
This was sold to me as Cemetery Boys meets The Haunting of Bly Manor and it delivered a queer suspenseful thriller replete with an adorable queer paranormal romance, found family trope and a thrilling mystery. I would also recommend this one for fans of Undead Girl Gang--there was a little bit of brujeria thrown into the mix that I thoroughly enjoyed. Jamie, Theo and Taylor jumped off the page and the town of St. Juniper and the surrounding areas made a perfect setting for this spooky story.
June 16, 2023
Cemetery Boys meets Haunting of Bly Manor. Yes please.
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while you’ll know that my favourite niche genre is YA queer horror. I’ve been truly blessed with the new releases this year and Saint Juniper’s Folly is another new favourite.
The novel is a multi-POV that follows three main characters. Jaime returns to his hometown after years in the foster system, immediately feeling overwhelmed he heads to the forest to clear his head but doesn’t return. Theo, a Saint Juniper local follows the sound of screaming into the woods and stumbles upon an abandoned haunted house with Jaime stuck inside. Taylor, an amateur witch grieving the loss of her mother, suddenly starts feeling drawn to Saint Juniper’s Folly, so when a boy enters her apothecary looking for help with a supernatural situation in the woods, she cant say no.
I really loved the pacing of this one, it had the fast pace for the thrill/mystery aspects of the novel but still allowed plenty of slow points for the friendships and relationship to develop. The three characters and multiple POV’s really added to the story development and background. I felt so invested in each one of them and their stories. The horror aspects of the novel itself were quite mild and overall it felt quite cozy and light.
An incredible debut by Alex Crespo. I’d recommend this to anyone loves spooky queers, found family and an incredibly sweet romance. If you’re looking for your next rainy afternoon read, this is it.
Thank you so much to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel which was released on the 6th of June!!
Rep: Achillean, BIPOC & Queer main characters
Content Warnings: blood, ghosts, magic/witchcraft, child abandonment, parental death, foster care system, death of animals, hospital, murder/hanging (mentioned)
I post about diverse & queer novels @niksreadss on Instagram
If you’ve been following my reviews for a while you’ll know that my favourite niche genre is YA queer horror. I’ve been truly blessed with the new releases this year and Saint Juniper’s Folly is another new favourite.
The novel is a multi-POV that follows three main characters. Jaime returns to his hometown after years in the foster system, immediately feeling overwhelmed he heads to the forest to clear his head but doesn’t return. Theo, a Saint Juniper local follows the sound of screaming into the woods and stumbles upon an abandoned haunted house with Jaime stuck inside. Taylor, an amateur witch grieving the loss of her mother, suddenly starts feeling drawn to Saint Juniper’s Folly, so when a boy enters her apothecary looking for help with a supernatural situation in the woods, she cant say no.
I really loved the pacing of this one, it had the fast pace for the thrill/mystery aspects of the novel but still allowed plenty of slow points for the friendships and relationship to develop. The three characters and multiple POV’s really added to the story development and background. I felt so invested in each one of them and their stories. The horror aspects of the novel itself were quite mild and overall it felt quite cozy and light.
An incredible debut by Alex Crespo. I’d recommend this to anyone loves spooky queers, found family and an incredibly sweet romance. If you’re looking for your next rainy afternoon read, this is it.
Thank you so much to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel which was released on the 6th of June!!
Rep: Achillean, BIPOC & Queer main characters
Content Warnings: blood, ghosts, magic/witchcraft, child abandonment, parental death, foster care system, death of animals, hospital, murder/hanging (mentioned)
I post about diverse & queer novels @niksreadss on Instagram
November 8, 2023
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. The characters are so easy to care about and root for. I liked that each of them felt distinct and entirely their own person with their own unique struggles. Each of the main characters were all easy to relate to and I could understand their perspectives. The romance was very sweet and it was cute to see the way their relationship progressed throughout the book. I also think it was so interesting having one of the main characters be a witch. This use of magic was really intrigued and there were some things that I didn't predict before they were revealed. I appreciated the discussions of the foster care system and the trauma that growing up in the system can bring. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and how immediately you understand the kind of environment it is. All in all, I feel like this was a quick read.
I think that while I really liked the relationship between the main trio, there were a lot of moments of telling, not showing. I feel like sometimes their relationship was speed-run to get them to a certain point that they needed to be narratively. I also wish there was more page time and development of those around the main characters, like Taylor's best friend, Jaime's foster parent, Theo's sister and parents, etc. I feel like what we were given leaned a bit more surface level, and it would have been interesting to delve in deeper. It also would have given even more depth to the story and the characters.
I think that overall this was a solid debut novel and I'm very glad that I got the chance to read it.
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. The characters are so easy to care about and root for. I liked that each of them felt distinct and entirely their own person with their own unique struggles. Each of the main characters were all easy to relate to and I could understand their perspectives. The romance was very sweet and it was cute to see the way their relationship progressed throughout the book. I also think it was so interesting having one of the main characters be a witch. This use of magic was really intrigued and there were some things that I didn't predict before they were revealed. I appreciated the discussions of the foster care system and the trauma that growing up in the system can bring. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and how immediately you understand the kind of environment it is. All in all, I feel like this was a quick read.
I think that while I really liked the relationship between the main trio, there were a lot of moments of telling, not showing. I feel like sometimes their relationship was speed-run to get them to a certain point that they needed to be narratively. I also wish there was more page time and development of those around the main characters, like Taylor's best friend, Jaime's foster parent, Theo's sister and parents, etc. I feel like what we were given leaned a bit more surface level, and it would have been interesting to delve in deeper. It also would have given even more depth to the story and the characters.
I think that overall this was a solid debut novel and I'm very glad that I got the chance to read it.
October 2, 2023
** A perfect addition to your October fall/cozy/spooky tbr! **
Wow, this book, for lack of any more coherent words, was *stunning*. Saint Juniper’s Folly was a rare book that consumed my thoughts even when I wasn’t reading it — it took me almost a week to read it, and I found myself annoyed at life for not granting me unencumbered time to devour this book.
The writing was gorgeous, the vibes were immaculate, and the characters were so wonderful. I loved the friendship between Taylor, Jaime, and Theo, and the way Theo and Jaime’s relationship slowly blossomed as they grew closer. The banter — between all three of them, but especially Theo and Jaime, was so enjoyable and consistent and good-natured. Sometimes, banter and teasing can err too close to mean-spirited or hurtful, but that was never the case with these characters.
I loved the thoughtful way this novel explores themes of home, vulnerability, racism, and self-fulfillment. The queer identity discussion and awakening were very well done. The pacing of the book isn't overly fast, but I felt like it matched the vibes and the story well.
I’ll admit I had a real moment of fear near the end of the book that we wouldn’t get a happy ending, and to prospective readers I’ll say this: trust the author, trust the story, it’ll be fine and everyone will be happy. It’s rare that I finish an arc and desperately want to order my own physical copy, not just to proudly display on my bookcase, but to immediately reread.
Thanks to netgalley for an eARC of this book!
Wow, this book, for lack of any more coherent words, was *stunning*. Saint Juniper’s Folly was a rare book that consumed my thoughts even when I wasn’t reading it — it took me almost a week to read it, and I found myself annoyed at life for not granting me unencumbered time to devour this book.
The writing was gorgeous, the vibes were immaculate, and the characters were so wonderful. I loved the friendship between Taylor, Jaime, and Theo, and the way Theo and Jaime’s relationship slowly blossomed as they grew closer. The banter — between all three of them, but especially Theo and Jaime, was so enjoyable and consistent and good-natured. Sometimes, banter and teasing can err too close to mean-spirited or hurtful, but that was never the case with these characters.
I loved the thoughtful way this novel explores themes of home, vulnerability, racism, and self-fulfillment. The queer identity discussion and awakening were very well done. The pacing of the book isn't overly fast, but I felt like it matched the vibes and the story well.
I’ll admit I had a real moment of fear near the end of the book that we wouldn’t get a happy ending, and to prospective readers I’ll say this: trust the author, trust the story, it’ll be fine and everyone will be happy. It’s rare that I finish an arc and desperately want to order my own physical copy, not just to proudly display on my bookcase, but to immediately reread.
Thanks to netgalley for an eARC of this book!
May 25, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!
Saint Juniper's Folly focuses on three different teens who's lives became intertwined. Jaime is a foster kid who wants a fresh start and comes back to his hometown of Saint Juniper to live with a family friend. Taylor is a witch who's grieving the recent loss of her mother. Taylor's mother was also a witch and after she passed, her father refused to let her practice or learn anything else about witchcraft. Theo has spent his whole life trying to be perfect and live up to the expectations his parents' have set for him. When Theo is out one night, he hears a cry coming from the woods which is how he stumbles upon this abandoned house with Jaime stuck inside. Wanting to help free Jaime from the house, Theo tries to find someone with knowledge about the supernatural and finds Taylor. Together, the three of them try to find a way to free Jaime from the house.
I loved the way that the characters interacted with each other, especially Theo and Jaime. I thought that the two of them were absolutely adorable. I also liked how atmospheric this book was. While there are several different themes that can be found throughout the book, I appreciated the themes of belonging and friendship the most. I loved this book. This was a fantastic debut from Alex and I'm looking forward to seeing what else they have in store.
Saint Juniper's Folly focuses on three different teens who's lives became intertwined. Jaime is a foster kid who wants a fresh start and comes back to his hometown of Saint Juniper to live with a family friend. Taylor is a witch who's grieving the recent loss of her mother. Taylor's mother was also a witch and after she passed, her father refused to let her practice or learn anything else about witchcraft. Theo has spent his whole life trying to be perfect and live up to the expectations his parents' have set for him. When Theo is out one night, he hears a cry coming from the woods which is how he stumbles upon this abandoned house with Jaime stuck inside. Wanting to help free Jaime from the house, Theo tries to find someone with knowledge about the supernatural and finds Taylor. Together, the three of them try to find a way to free Jaime from the house.
I loved the way that the characters interacted with each other, especially Theo and Jaime. I thought that the two of them were absolutely adorable. I also liked how atmospheric this book was. While there are several different themes that can be found throughout the book, I appreciated the themes of belonging and friendship the most. I loved this book. This was a fantastic debut from Alex and I'm looking forward to seeing what else they have in store.
April 25, 2023
thanks to netgalley for the arc -
I really enjoyed this one. The three protagonists were fantastic, and we know I always fawn over for a good paranormal mystery. The themes in the book surprised me most of all, I didn't expect it to go as heavy or deep as it did in some things. Race, generational trauma, representation, it was all handled incredibly well.
As a whole I'm starting to find the whole "found family" trope overdone, but this book does it well enough that it didn't bother me. The three characters form a bond that's believable and genuine and doesn't feel like the author ticking off a box because they know that readers enjoy that type of things in a book like this.
The romance is slow, which works in the confines of the story and I enjoyed how it played out. Their interactions were some of my favorites of the book, and I often looked forward to the chapters that were just the two of them talking.
Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of this book and couldn't really think of a single negative to give it without being insanely picky. I fully recommend.
I really enjoyed this one. The three protagonists were fantastic, and we know I always fawn over for a good paranormal mystery. The themes in the book surprised me most of all, I didn't expect it to go as heavy or deep as it did in some things. Race, generational trauma, representation, it was all handled incredibly well.
As a whole I'm starting to find the whole "found family" trope overdone, but this book does it well enough that it didn't bother me. The three characters form a bond that's believable and genuine and doesn't feel like the author ticking off a box because they know that readers enjoy that type of things in a book like this.
The romance is slow, which works in the confines of the story and I enjoyed how it played out. Their interactions were some of my favorites of the book, and I often looked forward to the chapters that were just the two of them talking.
Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of this book and couldn't really think of a single negative to give it without being insanely picky. I fully recommend.
July 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The found family aspect- just so well done.
A foster care boy - self hatred strong, hurt by the world.
A naïve boy - desperate to get out of the dmall town so he can find out who he is.
A young woman mourning the death of her mother - father has withdrawn, desperate to find her place in a long line of witches.
A creepy house. What more could I need?
A foster care boy - self hatred strong, hurt by the world.
A naïve boy - desperate to get out of the dmall town so he can find out who he is.
A young woman mourning the death of her mother - father has withdrawn, desperate to find her place in a long line of witches.
A creepy house. What more could I need?
Want to read
March 22, 2023"Cemetery Boys meets The Haunting of Bly Manor-" SAY NO MORE.
July 31, 2023
I loved this. It reminded me of Raven Cycle series
October 14, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up because dang this book was wonderful. So very painful, at times, but also somehow so very soft.
May 17, 2024
I enjoyed this much more than what other people were leaving reviews about. I enjoyed the relationships that were built within the pages. There was definitely challenges for the characters but they were able to work together to overcome most.
With teamwork they were able to see who they had become as people and who they wanted to become as adults. I really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad that I was able to read this early copy!
With teamwork they were able to see who they had become as people and who they wanted to become as adults. I really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad that I was able to read this early copy!
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