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Holly Horror #1
Holly Horror
"Playmate, come and play with me..."
A beloved classic reimagined with a dark twist.
After her parents' painful divorce, Evie Archer hopes that moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, is the fresh start that her family needs. But Evie quickly realizes that her new home—known by locals as the Horror House—carries its own dark past after learning about Holly Hobbie, who mysteriously vanished in her bedroom one night.
But traces of Holly linger in the Horror House and slowly begin to take over Evie's life. A strange shadow follows her everywhere she goes, and Evie starts to lose sight of what's real and what isn't the more she learns about The Lost Girl.
Can Evie find out what happened the night of Holly's disappearance? Or is history doomed to repeat itself in the Horror House?
A beloved classic reimagined with a dark twist.
After her parents' painful divorce, Evie Archer hopes that moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, is the fresh start that her family needs. But Evie quickly realizes that her new home—known by locals as the Horror House—carries its own dark past after learning about Holly Hobbie, who mysteriously vanished in her bedroom one night.
But traces of Holly linger in the Horror House and slowly begin to take over Evie's life. A strange shadow follows her everywhere she goes, and Evie starts to lose sight of what's real and what isn't the more she learns about The Lost Girl.
Can Evie find out what happened the night of Holly's disappearance? Or is history doomed to repeat itself in the Horror House?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2023
About the author
Michelle Jabès Corpora
7 books76 followersMichelle Jabès Corpora is a writer, editor, and martial artist. In addition to working in the publishing industry for more than seventeen years as an editor and concept developer, she is the author of two historical novels for middle grade readers, two horror novels for young adult readers, and author of the Throne of Khetara fantasy series for Young Adults. She has also ghostwritten five novels in a long-running middle grade mystery series. In her spare time, Michelle trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a blue belt at Crazy 88 MMA, and enjoys making home-cooked meals, doing tarot readings, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with her friends. Michelle lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, two guinea pigs, and a dog named Charlie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
June 2, 2024
Holly Horror by Michelle Jabès Corpora is the first book in the young adult horror series by the same name. This new series is based on the old Holly Hobbie character which was cute and cuddly but this series definitely puts a nightmarish twist on the character.
Evie Archer and her family have moved to Ravenglass, Massachusetts for a fresh start in their lives and are hoping their new home and town are just want they needed. Evie quickly finds out though that her new home is known by the locals as the Horror House and thought to be haunted after events of the past.
Evie doesn’t start off scared of her new home as much as just wanting answers to the local rumors. Looking further Evie finds out that Holly Hobbie mysteriously vanished from the home one night and when Evie starts seeing and sensing things around her new home she questions whether it’s real or all in her imagination but is determined to get answers.
First thing I would mention with Holly Horror by Michelle Jabès Corpora is that while I did label this as young adult with teen characters I do think it falls on the young side of that reading range but not quite middle grade either, so somewhere at the end of one to the middle of the other range in ages. As for the story here though it’s a pretty good haunted house tale with plenty of scarier moments involved for the horror fans of this age. The story was somewhat wrapped up in the end but also left some bread crumbs laying around to entice readers onward to book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Evie Archer and her family have moved to Ravenglass, Massachusetts for a fresh start in their lives and are hoping their new home and town are just want they needed. Evie quickly finds out though that her new home is known by the locals as the Horror House and thought to be haunted after events of the past.
Evie doesn’t start off scared of her new home as much as just wanting answers to the local rumors. Looking further Evie finds out that Holly Hobbie mysteriously vanished from the home one night and when Evie starts seeing and sensing things around her new home she questions whether it’s real or all in her imagination but is determined to get answers.
First thing I would mention with Holly Horror by Michelle Jabès Corpora is that while I did label this as young adult with teen characters I do think it falls on the young side of that reading range but not quite middle grade either, so somewhere at the end of one to the middle of the other range in ages. As for the story here though it’s a pretty good haunted house tale with plenty of scarier moments involved for the horror fans of this age. The story was somewhat wrapped up in the end but also left some bread crumbs laying around to entice readers onward to book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 18, 2023
I was very excited about this book, because I love horror and ghost stories a lot and this one sounded great. I especially love a story about a haunting of the house the protagonist is in and they need to dig into the history to figure out what happened which really set me up to be excited about this one. I was pretty disappointed to find that this book read more like a middle grade than a young adult and didn’t seem to bring anything new to the storyline which has been told before. It wasn’t bad, but I think my disappointment was sharper since it had sounded so good when I had read the description. The characters lacked development and relationships between all of the characters were equally shallow which led to me to not be very invested in the story. I did not think this book was even spooky let alone scary and had really hoped for a little more. Overall I gave this one 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.
August 24, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
This was exactly the sort of creepy haunted house story I was looking for as we wrap up the summer and head into fall. Is it a tropey YA novel? Sure, but for me that didn't detract from the reading experience and I think this is an excellent option for people dipping their toes into the horror genre. There were a few scenes I found genuinely a bit scary, but there's great buildup of suspense and uncertainty of whether the creepy things are real or hallucinations. Is this new house actually haunted? Or is it a metaphor for the trauma of her parents divorce and her own sense of guilt and abandonment? Or maybe both?
Holly Horror also does a good job of playing on childhood to make it scary with the children's song "come out and play with me, climb up my apple tree..." I really enjoyed the way it wove the song lyrics into the narrative, but in a disturbing way. I found this to be a really excellent start to what will hopefully be a series. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
This was exactly the sort of creepy haunted house story I was looking for as we wrap up the summer and head into fall. Is it a tropey YA novel? Sure, but for me that didn't detract from the reading experience and I think this is an excellent option for people dipping their toes into the horror genre. There were a few scenes I found genuinely a bit scary, but there's great buildup of suspense and uncertainty of whether the creepy things are real or hallucinations. Is this new house actually haunted? Or is it a metaphor for the trauma of her parents divorce and her own sense of guilt and abandonment? Or maybe both?
Holly Horror also does a good job of playing on childhood to make it scary with the children's song "come out and play with me, climb up my apple tree..." I really enjoyed the way it wove the song lyrics into the narrative, but in a disturbing way. I found this to be a really excellent start to what will hopefully be a series. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
August 10, 2023
Since she was never found, and a body never recovered, Holly seemed to exist in a nebulous place between life and death.
thank you NetGalley for the ARC! this comes out next week!
In the mid-1800s, a young girl known only as the Patchwork Girl because of the dress she wore disappeared; in 1982, Holly Hobbie met the same mysterious fate; in the present day, Evie Archer, her mother (cousin to the late Holly), and younger brother Stan have moved into the infamous Hobbie House, known locally as the Horror House because of the two mysterious disappearances that happened in it. Not long after Evie and her family move in, she starts to fall under the influence of some mysterious presences...
I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover and I was intrigued by the concept and I really enjoyed it. It was so much creepier than I expected it to be -- especially for a book that seems to be aimed at the younger end of the YA audience. I think this book would be perfect for someone who's grown out of R.L. Stine but isn't quite ready for Stephen King. For older YA audiences, it may feel a little bit too immature and like the characters don't have quite the depth they're looking for, but kids that are just leaving middle grade behind will likely enjoy that the writing is pretty simple and the characters are easy to understand the motives of.
It had a really unique concept an the writing was fun and it kept me hooked and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed reading about Evie's search into the history of the house and the way it was impacting her mental state and I could not put this book down as I was reading it to find out what happened to Holly and the Patchwork Girl and what was going on with Evie's eerie experiences.
It ended on a little bit of a cliffhanger with the author setting up for an upcoming sequel which I'm very interested in, but I also felt like the book mostly wrapped things up and for people that aren't interested in reading further into this world, it was a pretty satisfying ending.
There were a couple things I didn't love about this book, but they didn't ruin the experience for me. I felt like the pacing was a little strange at some points with twists being rushed right through after they seemed like they were going to be a huge, suspenseful moment, but they were tidied up and moved on with pretty quickly. I really liked the way that a little touch of Korean culture was tied in with the folklore, but I felt like it was woven into the story and then abandoned and not really used very much, which was disappointing. I would've loved to have gotten more about that and I hope that it comes back up in the sequel.
The main thing I didn't love about this book that I felt like there were a ton of side plots and sub-details that were brought up, then seemed to be abandoned, only to be woven back in later when it was convenient.
A big example of this was Evie's relationship with her brother, Stan, who was barely present in the book except during convenient moments when little glimpses of him misbehaving would pop up, only to have his bad behavior be a large part of the end of the book.
Although a lot of these details that came back were very relevant to the book and moved the plot forward, a lot of them just felt like they were irrelevant for a lot of the book, then came back with an unexpected amount of importance later on.
All in all, this book was a quick and creepy story about a haunted house and the mystery of a missing girl. Readers that are looking for something simple and spooky to read during Halloween and the younger end of the YA audience will enjoy finding out what's going on with Evie and where Holly went.
April 24, 2023
Whoa! This YA novel is distinctly SCARY!! [Yes, there was internal Screaming involved! More than once!!] I was totally engrossed by the author's treatment of divergence, that is, those who experience beyond the accepted five senses [Evie and Aunt Martha] as opposed by those who go 100% the rational route. Anyone who has ever experienced feeling "different" from the crowd [as we are all avid readers, we're already "set apart"] can riff on Evie's (and her Aunt's] feelings, experiences, and attempts to find her own path in a world that doesn't respect what it doesn't see . There's a great side theme too that initially arises as backstory but later in the novel surfaces as highly significant and it's precious how author Michelle Jabes Corpora wove it in, so gently and subtly so that the significant consequences are gradually revealed, sneaking up on readers. There are indications this will be a Series; I definitely hope so! I'm really enthralled with these characters and hope to see much more of their "normal" and Paranormal adventures!
November 25, 2024
Thank you prh audio for the free audiobook
Omg....Bailey Carr read this and the way she did the voices TERRIFIED ME. I was trying to only read this in the daytime.
I loved the story and having to face our past if we don't want them to haunt us.
I cannot wait to start the sequel.
Omg....Bailey Carr read this and the way she did the voices TERRIFIED ME. I was trying to only read this in the daytime.
I loved the story and having to face our past if we don't want them to haunt us.
I cannot wait to start the sequel.
Read
September 25, 2023Thank you to Penguin Teen and Michelle Jabes Corpora for my copy of Holly Horror. OMG CREEPY DOLLS. This book is about Evie, a girl who moves with her mother and brother to Ravenglass after her parents get divorced. They move into the Horror House, past home to Evie’s relatives and the home Holly Hobbie disappeared from years ago. There are traces of Holly left in the house, and they start to take over Evie’s life. She starts to see a haunting shadow following her and loses sight of what is real and what is imagined.
Thoughts: This was such a fun YA horror book. You can tell from the very beginning that something sinister is going on and there are ghosts lingering. I thought this was a fun story and Evie and her family were great characters. The town is a character in itself, and don’t get me started on the house! It was such a fun setting and the attic with the dolls and old clothes was terrifying.
This book did have slower parts in the middle, and I found myself getting annoyed at Evie and her stubborn choices. After secrets are revealed, I can absolutely see how this will be a book series. However, I don’t think this book dealt with mental health issues very well and this book felt much more like middle grade than YA. I also wish that for a book with HORROR in the title, there was a bit more horror involved. 3.5 stars.
Thoughts: This was such a fun YA horror book. You can tell from the very beginning that something sinister is going on and there are ghosts lingering. I thought this was a fun story and Evie and her family were great characters. The town is a character in itself, and don’t get me started on the house! It was such a fun setting and the attic with the dolls and old clothes was terrifying.
This book did have slower parts in the middle, and I found myself getting annoyed at Evie and her stubborn choices. After secrets are revealed, I can absolutely see how this will be a book series. However, I don’t think this book dealt with mental health issues very well and this book felt much more like middle grade than YA. I also wish that for a book with HORROR in the title, there was a bit more horror involved. 3.5 stars.
August 14, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS
Genre: YA Horror
Synopsis:
Evie, a teen, moves into an old home that is known as the Horror House where a girl went missing years ago. She begins to notice creepy things occurring and realizes something awful might have happened to the missing girl.
This was a good YA horror (book 1 of a series). It makes the song “Say, Say oh playmate” creepy with old attic, doll vibes. Think paranormal situations in a teen high school setting. I flew through this book and it leaves a few questions unanswered for the next book in the series. A great book for the fall! It is YA so it is somewhere in between Stephen King and the Goosebumps books for those seeking age an appropriate gauge. I will be reading the next book in the series for sure.
Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC! 👧🏼🖤
4/5 STARS
Genre: YA Horror
Synopsis:
Evie, a teen, moves into an old home that is known as the Horror House where a girl went missing years ago. She begins to notice creepy things occurring and realizes something awful might have happened to the missing girl.
This was a good YA horror (book 1 of a series). It makes the song “Say, Say oh playmate” creepy with old attic, doll vibes. Think paranormal situations in a teen high school setting. I flew through this book and it leaves a few questions unanswered for the next book in the series. A great book for the fall! It is YA so it is somewhere in between Stephen King and the Goosebumps books for those seeking age an appropriate gauge. I will be reading the next book in the series for sure.
Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC! 👧🏼🖤
August 21, 2024
Not bad for a book I picked up on a whim from B&N. It had the children's horror vibes with more teen problems addressed. I would see no problem allowing any child to read it as long as they were at a reading level capable of reading it.
That cliffhanger ending though, I already ordered book 2. I gotta see how it ends.
That cliffhanger ending though, I already ordered book 2. I gotta see how it ends.
September 1, 2023
A tentative 4 star rating for the insane cliffhanger ending (this is labelled as a series or duology so it better be!), this is a dark, gothic, small town horror that utilizes a lot of familiar tropes, but the cast of characters really made the story shine.
Moving to a small town is never easy, but with a mother physically and emotionally absent, a creepy old house, and the strange girl wearing a patchwork dress that she keeps seeing, Evie's having a harder time than most.
Holly used to live in Evie's house, before she mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again. Normally in these stories, most of the book is dedicated to the research but Evie seemed to have a good stab at it and then get distracted with everything else going on in her life - which honestly, felt more realistic.
I'm interested to see where this story goes next after the ending, and if Evie's mother will actually step up and be a parent after her miraculous change at the end. I still prefer Evie's aunt though, who I'm hoping we'll see more from.
Moving to a small town is never easy, but with a mother physically and emotionally absent, a creepy old house, and the strange girl wearing a patchwork dress that she keeps seeing, Evie's having a harder time than most.
Holly used to live in Evie's house, before she mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again. Normally in these stories, most of the book is dedicated to the research but Evie seemed to have a good stab at it and then get distracted with everything else going on in her life - which honestly, felt more realistic.
I'm interested to see where this story goes next after the ending, and if Evie's mother will actually step up and be a parent after her miraculous change at the end. I still prefer Evie's aunt though, who I'm hoping we'll see more from.
May 3, 2023
Evie Archer is moving with her Mom and younger brother from New York to Ragenglass, Massachusetts. It's no ordinary move though. The house they are moving into is known as the Horror House. Forty years ago Holly Hobbie disappeared from the same home. Rumors abound and the locals don't go near there. Soon Evie begins to learn why as strange things begin happening to her.
I really love the premise of this. Who doesn't love spooky attics, strange noises, and creepy dolls. I love the mood created by the setting, characters, and environment. It's almost like watching an old horror show. This is a story of a personal haunting and it's portrayed well. There is a dreamlike quality to everything that reflects what is going on with Evie.
Some of the pacing slowed down in the middle and I grew frustrated with Evie. Her actions were explained later though as we learn a secret from a couple of years ago. I did find everything more creepy than scary but that's probably just me. Everything is quite chilling when things are revealed. We don't get all the answers as there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely interested in returning to Ravenglass.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read.
I really love the premise of this. Who doesn't love spooky attics, strange noises, and creepy dolls. I love the mood created by the setting, characters, and environment. It's almost like watching an old horror show. This is a story of a personal haunting and it's portrayed well. There is a dreamlike quality to everything that reflects what is going on with Evie.
Some of the pacing slowed down in the middle and I grew frustrated with Evie. Her actions were explained later though as we learn a secret from a couple of years ago. I did find everything more creepy than scary but that's probably just me. Everything is quite chilling when things are revealed. We don't get all the answers as there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely interested in returning to Ravenglass.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read.
September 20, 2023
3.5 stars. This was fun! I was engaged, and it had its creepy moments. It ends on a cliff hanger!!
July 6, 2023
My rating was flip flopping between a 3 and 4 throughout this book, but overall it's more of a 3. The premise and cover definitely drew me in. The story started off strong and I was really into it but then the pace slowed down. The writing was mostly OK but seemed inconsistent at times. I liked the characters a lot and they were developed well. It's an easy and unique story that was mildly scary - I absolutely expected and wanted more creep factor. We could have used more information on patchwork girl, and more of an explanation as to why things happened like they did. The ending was unexpected! I loved the artwork of the girl in the bonnet at the start of every chapter. I'm glad I read this Holly Horror but it wasn't memorable.
Thank you to Bookish First for offering this title in their catalogue. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
Thank you to Bookish First for offering this title in their catalogue. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
April 22, 2023
If you’re a fellow lover of the autumn season, hallloween, watching Gilmore Girls during fall, small creepy towns, and Hocus Pocus, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Picture this: you just moved to a tiny town in Massachusetts filled with creepy ghost stories in the town’s history. Main Street consists of colonial style buildings are nestled under black oak trees, little shops and cafes, an inn, and a little place on the edge of town called Birdie’s Diner. Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other, and no one goes out at night. Picture Stars Hollow if it were haunted. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book.
The premise of Holly Horror is a girl who moves to a small town in Massachusetts only to find out the house they moved into is called the horror house by locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly’s disappearance?
Reading this book made me indescribably happy, simply because it made me so homesick for autumn, my favorite time of year. In fact, as grateful as I am for getting to read this book 4 months early, I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read this when it comes out in august. Imagine reading this when the autumn season is upon you, with the era of spooky season, horror movies, apple cider, falling leaves, gloomier weather approaching, and the promise of colder weather on the horizon. Just the thought of that gave me a chill of delight (and yes, this book even takes place in autumn too! How perfect!) Reading this book in April, with it being spring and summer coming soon (my two least favorite seasons and the worst time of year) gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend for a little bit that it feels like fall when it is actually the approach of my least favorite time of year, summer lol. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel. And that alone makes it special.
I only took away one star because some of the lines were just corny and super cringe. But whatever, I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book, and I think any autumn lover would feel the same. If you love small town horror, Gilmore girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass and I need book 2 ASAP!
Review based on an uncorrected proof subject to change. Thank you to Netgalley and penguin for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
The premise of Holly Horror is a girl who moves to a small town in Massachusetts only to find out the house they moved into is called the horror house by locals after a girl named Holly disappeared from her bedroom one night. What really happened on the night of Holly’s disappearance?
Reading this book made me indescribably happy, simply because it made me so homesick for autumn, my favorite time of year. In fact, as grateful as I am for getting to read this book 4 months early, I’m jealous of everyone who will get to read this when it comes out in august. Imagine reading this when the autumn season is upon you, with the era of spooky season, horror movies, apple cider, falling leaves, gloomier weather approaching, and the promise of colder weather on the horizon. Just the thought of that gave me a chill of delight (and yes, this book even takes place in autumn too! How perfect!) Reading this book in April, with it being spring and summer coming soon (my two least favorite seasons and the worst time of year) gave me a little taste of spooky season and allowed me to pretend for a little bit that it feels like fall when it is actually the approach of my least favorite time of year, summer lol. This book made me feel the way that autumn makes me feel. And that alone makes it special.
I only took away one star because some of the lines were just corny and super cringe. But whatever, I still loved the setting and autumnal vibes of this book, and I think any autumn lover would feel the same. If you love small town horror, Gilmore girls, and spooky season, this book is for you. As spooky as it is, I would love to visit Ravenglass and I need book 2 ASAP!
Review based on an uncorrected proof subject to change. Thank you to Netgalley and penguin for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
December 25, 2023
"Holly Horror" weaves a dark narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. This YA horror novel stands out for its ability to genuinely evoke fear, making it a captivating read from start to finish.
At the heart of the story lies the relatable theme of coming of age, expertly blended with spine-tingling horror. Evie Archer's life takes a drastic turn after her family's painful divorce, and the Horror House in Ravenglass, Massachusetts, becomes the unsettling backdrop for her new reality. The tension builds steadily as Evie uncovers the haunting history of Holly Hobbie, whose mysterious disappearance sets the stage for a tale of the supernatural.
The sense of unease is palpable throughout the narrative, and I found myself tensing with each unfolding event. The atmosphere is expertly crafted, immersing readers in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, leaving a lingering sense of dread. The presence of a strange shadow and the gradual takeover of Evie's life by traces of Holly's existence contributes to the novel's spine-chilling effect.
One of the standout elements of "Holly Horror" is its fast-paced and addicting plot. The story propels forward with a relentless momentum, ensuring that readers remain hooked and eager to unravel the mysteries shrouding the Horror House. Evie's journey is both captivating and harrowing, as she grapples with the unknown and unearths the unsettling truths hidden within the walls of her new home.
While the horror elements are prominent, the novel also successfully explores Evie's struggles and the challenges of navigating adolescence. These coming-of-age vibes add depth to the narrative, making the characters more relatable and the overall experience more fulfilling.
In conclusion, "Holly Horror" is a standout YA horror novel that delivers genuine scares alongside a compelling coming-of-age story. With its well-paced plot, atmospheric setting, and a perfect blend of horror and emotion, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. I rate it 4.5 stars for its ability to keep me hooked and genuinely frightened throughout.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book to review.
At the heart of the story lies the relatable theme of coming of age, expertly blended with spine-tingling horror. Evie Archer's life takes a drastic turn after her family's painful divorce, and the Horror House in Ravenglass, Massachusetts, becomes the unsettling backdrop for her new reality. The tension builds steadily as Evie uncovers the haunting history of Holly Hobbie, whose mysterious disappearance sets the stage for a tale of the supernatural.
The sense of unease is palpable throughout the narrative, and I found myself tensing with each unfolding event. The atmosphere is expertly crafted, immersing readers in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, leaving a lingering sense of dread. The presence of a strange shadow and the gradual takeover of Evie's life by traces of Holly's existence contributes to the novel's spine-chilling effect.
One of the standout elements of "Holly Horror" is its fast-paced and addicting plot. The story propels forward with a relentless momentum, ensuring that readers remain hooked and eager to unravel the mysteries shrouding the Horror House. Evie's journey is both captivating and harrowing, as she grapples with the unknown and unearths the unsettling truths hidden within the walls of her new home.
While the horror elements are prominent, the novel also successfully explores Evie's struggles and the challenges of navigating adolescence. These coming-of-age vibes add depth to the narrative, making the characters more relatable and the overall experience more fulfilling.
In conclusion, "Holly Horror" is a standout YA horror novel that delivers genuine scares alongside a compelling coming-of-age story. With its well-paced plot, atmospheric setting, and a perfect blend of horror and emotion, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. I rate it 4.5 stars for its ability to keep me hooked and genuinely frightened throughout.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book to review.
January 3, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩.
I had so many thoughts about this book after finishing it. I don’t normally gravitate towards the YA genre anymore, but the premise of this one had me so intrigued.
I was immediately hooked when I started reading this book, it had such a creepy vibe to it and was so atmospheric. This is honestly such a great read for fans of RL Stine, it read super quick and is the perfect spooky book for young readers.
I enjoyed the concept behind this story and I thought the writing was so easy to follow. I was so intrigued in finding out the mystery behind Holly. I had a difficult time rating this book as part of me enjoyed it but part of me had a few issues.
Firstly, I feel like the pacing was all over the place. At times the book felt so rushed and twists were randomly thrown in. Also, I feel like the author tried too much with the book. There were some subplots that were briefly mentioned and then overlooked.
While the book was enjoyable as a whole, I wish it would’ve delved more into some of these side plots. I think the book was fun as a whole and is perfect for the spooky season (especially for younger readers). The book does have a small cliffhanger though so maybe I’ll need to pick up the sequel!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩.
I had so many thoughts about this book after finishing it. I don’t normally gravitate towards the YA genre anymore, but the premise of this one had me so intrigued.
I was immediately hooked when I started reading this book, it had such a creepy vibe to it and was so atmospheric. This is honestly such a great read for fans of RL Stine, it read super quick and is the perfect spooky book for young readers.
I enjoyed the concept behind this story and I thought the writing was so easy to follow. I was so intrigued in finding out the mystery behind Holly. I had a difficult time rating this book as part of me enjoyed it but part of me had a few issues.
Firstly, I feel like the pacing was all over the place. At times the book felt so rushed and twists were randomly thrown in. Also, I feel like the author tried too much with the book. There were some subplots that were briefly mentioned and then overlooked.
While the book was enjoyable as a whole, I wish it would’ve delved more into some of these side plots. I think the book was fun as a whole and is perfect for the spooky season (especially for younger readers). The book does have a small cliffhanger though so maybe I’ll need to pick up the sequel!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 18, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
--
Let's first state the obvious: this is a dope cover. Seriously.
Evie Archer's parents are getting divorced. Unable to live on a single parent salary in Los Angeles, they head to Massachusetts to stay rent free in Hobbie House, a family relic that locals refer to as "Horror House".
Though the plot set-up to Holly Horror felt a little cliche, it was my hope that it didn't stay that way. I'm not sure that it delivered so much as lean heavily into tropes that felt like they were a lot more popular a few years ago. At times it felt so egregiously tropey that the reading experience felt like I was watching an episode of a CW show.
Naturally, the second that the family moves in, things start to go off the rails - a diary that mysteriously appears on Evie's bed, whispering voices, bad dreams.
At school, she's connected with the son of a prominent community member and I guess they like each other, though I'm not particularly sure why or how - their interactions went from an introduction to a full-fledged crush. And it facilitated the inclusion of my least favorite part of this book - the mean girl trope.
The thing is, I'm okay with stuff that's been done before, but the secondary characters here were so devoid of personality that the plot sometimes felt like scapegoats for when the author had written herself into a corner.
But, okay, let's bottom line it: it was definitely spooky and perfectly fine to read, though I don't think it's going to be a story that any of us haven't heard before. Good cliffhanger, though!
--
Let's first state the obvious: this is a dope cover. Seriously.
Evie Archer's parents are getting divorced. Unable to live on a single parent salary in Los Angeles, they head to Massachusetts to stay rent free in Hobbie House, a family relic that locals refer to as "Horror House".
Though the plot set-up to Holly Horror felt a little cliche, it was my hope that it didn't stay that way. I'm not sure that it delivered so much as lean heavily into tropes that felt like they were a lot more popular a few years ago. At times it felt so egregiously tropey that the reading experience felt like I was watching an episode of a CW show.
Naturally, the second that the family moves in, things start to go off the rails - a diary that mysteriously appears on Evie's bed, whispering voices, bad dreams.
At school, she's connected with the son of a prominent community member and I guess they like each other, though I'm not particularly sure why or how - their interactions went from an introduction to a full-fledged crush. And it facilitated the inclusion of my least favorite part of this book - the mean girl trope.
The thing is, I'm okay with stuff that's been done before, but the secondary characters here were so devoid of personality that the plot sometimes felt like scapegoats for when the author had written herself into a corner.
But, okay, let's bottom line it: it was definitely spooky and perfectly fine to read, though I don't think it's going to be a story that any of us haven't heard before. Good cliffhanger, though!
September 3, 2024
Book 1 in the Holly Horror YA series by @michellejcorpora
💀
Evie, her brother and their mother are leaving NYC after a terrible divorce to move back to her mom’s hometown of Ravenglass, Massachusetts. They are going to live in the infamous Hobbie House, or better known to the locals as Horror House. Her mom’s cousin, Holly, used to live there, but vanished from her room one night never to be seen again. Slowly Evie begins to feel a tug of something, a shadow, living inside her. She’s changing and with the help of a new friend, Evie begins investigating Holly’s disappearance. What she finds is something she can’t unsee.
👻
Okay this is a horror novel I can get behind! One of the best ones I’ve read recently and I’m kicking myself because the cover attracted me right away last year, but when the sequel released I had to bump it up on the TBR—what a great decision that was! If you liked Bad Girls Don’t Die or The Haunting of Sunshine Girl, this one is right up your alley! Can’t wait to read book 2!
CW: death, assault, violence, blood, panic attacks, injury, gaslighting, body horror, allergic reaction, medical trauma, mental illness
💀
Evie, her brother and their mother are leaving NYC after a terrible divorce to move back to her mom’s hometown of Ravenglass, Massachusetts. They are going to live in the infamous Hobbie House, or better known to the locals as Horror House. Her mom’s cousin, Holly, used to live there, but vanished from her room one night never to be seen again. Slowly Evie begins to feel a tug of something, a shadow, living inside her. She’s changing and with the help of a new friend, Evie begins investigating Holly’s disappearance. What she finds is something she can’t unsee.
👻
Okay this is a horror novel I can get behind! One of the best ones I’ve read recently and I’m kicking myself because the cover attracted me right away last year, but when the sequel released I had to bump it up on the TBR—what a great decision that was! If you liked Bad Girls Don’t Die or The Haunting of Sunshine Girl, this one is right up your alley! Can’t wait to read book 2!
CW: death, assault, violence, blood, panic attacks, injury, gaslighting, body horror, allergic reaction, medical trauma, mental illness
August 16, 2023
This book was a great read! I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere. This was a nice ghost story. Overall, I would reccomend it. Special Thank You to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication.
September 22, 2023
It really should be a 2.5 …
May 29, 2023
Wow, the cliffhanger, now impatiently wait for book 2.
I absolutely loved this book. Was hooked from the very beginning. I love a good dark retelling, especially involving Alice in Wonderland (especially enjoyed the references thrown in throughout the book)
Can't wait to read more.
I absolutely loved this book. Was hooked from the very beginning. I love a good dark retelling, especially involving Alice in Wonderland (especially enjoyed the references thrown in throughout the book)
Can't wait to read more.
April 29, 2023
i was lucky enough to win an advanced readers copy of Holly Horror by Michelle Jabès Corpora from BookishFirst. i was very excited for this one (and i'm in love with the cover!), and it immediately drew me in in the first few pages. i love the idea, it felt so intriguing and mysterious and yes, full of horror. i'm mildly annoyed at the ending (in a good way - it's a cliffhanger) but i look forward to seeing what happens in book #2, and i'll probably pick up a copy sometime after this book comes out (august 2023!)
the only "negative" for me was the romance - in order for me to actually enjoy romance it usually needs to be slower and actually build up, but this felt a bit too sudden. thankfully, it wasn't a major part of the story and didn't bug me too much. Holly Horror is marketed as young adult, and i personally think it would appeal more to younger teens (just because of the writing style, that's obviously not to say older teens / adults won't also enjoy this - i certainly did!)
the only "negative" for me was the romance - in order for me to actually enjoy romance it usually needs to be slower and actually build up, but this felt a bit too sudden. thankfully, it wasn't a major part of the story and didn't bug me too much. Holly Horror is marketed as young adult, and i personally think it would appeal more to younger teens (just because of the writing style, that's obviously not to say older teens / adults won't also enjoy this - i certainly did!)
April 19, 2023
I quite enjoyed “Holly Horror” and only wish it would have been written for an older audience! This book was a slow burn, but gave off major spooky season vibes and would be the perfect Halloween read! While this book wasn’t overtly scary, it had just the right amount of spookiness to keep things interesting. The writing style was fantastic, everything was so well described that I felt like I had been transported ten years backwards and returned to high school! With Evie, I do wish the mental health angle would have been explored further rather than explained away with the supernatural elements. Nonetheless, Evie and the other characters were highly relatable. I also admired the friendship between Tina and Evie, and cringed at the mean girl vibes from Kimber. I was shocked by the ending (somehow I didn’t see the plot twist coming), but I love how it set up the plot for a sequel! I would definitely like to revisit the Hobbie House and find out what happens next with these characters!
April 22, 2023
Evie Archer is a sophomore in high school. Her family has just moved to Ravenglass, MA from New York City. It’s a big change for Evie, and all she wants to do is lay low at her new high school. That’s not really possible since she lives in the Hobbie Horror House and everyone knows it.
There are strange things happening at home. Evie plays detective to try and figure out what is going on. Some frightening things happen and Evie feels as if no one can help her. Then things really get interesting.
I don’t usually read young adult or anything scary. This story really pulled me in. I liked the way the author wrote because I could loose myself in the story. Evie was a likable character. I didn’t care for her parents since they were clueless. I liked Tina but wish she had been more of a help to Evie. I wish there was more character development with Stan and Desmond. I’m hoping for a sequel. Good story!
There are strange things happening at home. Evie plays detective to try and figure out what is going on. Some frightening things happen and Evie feels as if no one can help her. Then things really get interesting.
I don’t usually read young adult or anything scary. This story really pulled me in. I liked the way the author wrote because I could loose myself in the story. Evie was a likable character. I didn’t care for her parents since they were clueless. I liked Tina but wish she had been more of a help to Evie. I wish there was more character development with Stan and Desmond. I’m hoping for a sequel. Good story!
August 18, 2023
This book genuinely scared me. At first, I was scared that the main character was going to be insufferable since she is a teen girl; and authors typically stick to teen stereotypes but as a teen girl myself, I found her relatable. I was also scared that I was going to guess all of the plot twists but almost all of them caught me off guard. This book is the perfect, page turning, quick read for the upcoming fall and Halloween season.
I wrote that before I finished the book. I changed my mind. After around 75% everything went downhill. The plot dragged out, everything was predictable, and it felt very middle grade versus young adult. To put that in perspective, I am 16 so the book is supposed to appeal to my age group.
All in all, I would recommend this book to a middle schooler or if you just go into knowing it’s a little immature.
I wrote that before I finished the book. I changed my mind. After around 75% everything went downhill. The plot dragged out, everything was predictable, and it felt very middle grade versus young adult. To put that in perspective, I am 16 so the book is supposed to appeal to my age group.
All in all, I would recommend this book to a middle schooler or if you just go into knowing it’s a little immature.
October 27, 2024
Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Okay. This hooked me immediately and I listened through in one sitting. Yeah. And I immediately queued up the second. I adored the storytelling. The normal high school drama mixed with paranormal issues and haunting apparitions ended up with a compelling storyline that has me wanting to find out what is going to happen next.
Evie and her family are moving from NYC to a small town near the Berkshires in a family home that has been unoccupied since her mom’s cousin vanished when they were little. Once they get there, she immediately finds out that the house is local lore and nicknamed The Hobby House. She immediately throws herself into trying to figure out what happened to the girl that vanished, and quickly she starts seeing things. Is it the house, or is something haunting her?
Okay. This hooked me immediately and I listened through in one sitting. Yeah. And I immediately queued up the second. I adored the storytelling. The normal high school drama mixed with paranormal issues and haunting apparitions ended up with a compelling storyline that has me wanting to find out what is going to happen next.
Evie and her family are moving from NYC to a small town near the Berkshires in a family home that has been unoccupied since her mom’s cousin vanished when they were little. Once they get there, she immediately finds out that the house is local lore and nicknamed The Hobby House. She immediately throws herself into trying to figure out what happened to the girl that vanished, and quickly she starts seeing things. Is it the house, or is something haunting her?
November 9, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Holly Horror (Holly Horror #1) by Michelle Jabès Corpora is a solid and fun YA horror novel. It's premise is pretty cool and it has a great cover. Plus, the story is creepily atmospheric. The characters are a bit lacking for me though and as it went on Evie started to get on my nerves a little too much. The story also needs to be tightened up a bit in the middle because it begins to get bogged down. Also, somehow I managed to forget all about the real Holly Hobbie character up until about the halfway mark. When I was little, I remember there a bit of a rivalry between the Holly Hobbie kids and the Polly Pocket kids - and I was one of the Polly Pocket kids.
Holly Horror (Holly Horror #1) by Michelle Jabès Corpora is a solid and fun YA horror novel. It's premise is pretty cool and it has a great cover. Plus, the story is creepily atmospheric. The characters are a bit lacking for me though and as it went on Evie started to get on my nerves a little too much. The story also needs to be tightened up a bit in the middle because it begins to get bogged down. Also, somehow I managed to forget all about the real Holly Hobbie character up until about the halfway mark. When I was little, I remember there a bit of a rivalry between the Holly Hobbie kids and the Polly Pocket kids - and I was one of the Polly Pocket kids.
October 19, 2023
Such a spooky and fun haunted house story! I love how Holly was updated for a new audience and I think horror loving teens will really like this one. It feels like it's actually geared towards teenagers even though Holly Hobbie is retro. Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
October 21, 2024Dnf at about 25%
This is a classic case of "It's me, not you". I was unsure about this one from the get-go but I was craving a classic haunted house story, so I gave it a shot. There were some things I enjoyed, more on that later, but overall I just wasn't vibing with this book. There are two main reasons for that:
1. This reads awfully young. The main character, Evie, is supposed to be fifteen but she feels much younger, maybe twelve or thirteen at most. The whole book reads more like a Middle Grade novel so whenever something more "adult" or scary happened, I found it really jarring. The vibe was off, almost like the narrative itself wasn't all sure if it wanted to appeal to tweens or teens. At one point the "bottle blond" mean girl walks in coffee cup in hand and I caught myself thinking "I don't think 12-year-olds bleach their hair or drink coffee" before I remembered these characters are supposed to be 15/16.
I do think younger YA needs to make a comeback, but this one is just all over the place. You feel like you're reading a Middle Grade "horror" book (think R.L. Stine, that kind of Middle Grade), then suddenly it switches to much darker topics () so I wouldn't be comfortable giving this book to a ten-year-old at all, while anyone older than that might not connect with it either because a lot of the book seems to be written for 10/12-year-olds. It's really unfortunate. This, while a bit annoying, is not why I dnf'd this book though. Adult readers can obviously enjoy YA and MG, but this one makes it hard by not really making clear what age group it's even actually for.
2. What really weirded me out though and made me dnf was the "Holly Hobbie" stuff. I knew the book was going to have this gimmick but it really could have gone either way. I didn't know a lot about "Holly Hobbie" going in (I'm not American) but I've done some research and honestly ... I don't get it. So Holly Hobbie is a little toddler-like comic character and doll, right? But Holly Hobbie is also the woman who created her? Like, Holly Hobbie is a real-life woman who exists who gave her comic/doll franchise her own name, but in this book Holly Hobbie is a fifteen year old girl who goes missing in the 1980s. ... Why?
The inclusion of the Holly Hobbie character felt extremely gimmicky and cheap. In one scene Evie goes into the attic and finds a haunted doll (I assume it's a Holly Hobbie doll) as well as a Victorian bonnet that's described like the one the little cartoon Holly wears. When Evie puts it on, her reflection morphs into a girl with ginger hair like Holly's. I probably missed a dozen references because I don't know the Holly Hobbie franchise well (or ... at all) but I felt a bit weirded out by the inclusion of this little cute doll character from the 1970s in a horror novel. Again ... Why? Especially since the actual haunted house story could have worked well on its own. It didn't have to be actual Holly Hobbie going missing in the 1980s, it could have been anyone.
3. Okay, I said I had two reasons but I actually have three. I did ask for a classic haunted house novel and "Holly Horror" is that. But it's ... too ... classic. Basically, the book checks every box on the list of haunted house cliches without adding anything new. In the first 25% you have: A creepy doll. Seeing something weird in a mirror. Mud coming out of a faucet instead of water. A secret diary. A hidden locket. An old photograph with the face blurred out. Allusions to some unhappy Victorian teenage girl who used to live in the house. Cliche after cliche after cliche with no original/subversive/creative ideas to tie it together and make it work. (Like, some cliches are needed, especially in horror. We want some familiar staples of a good haunted house story but you can't rely on them entirely!)
Basically I wanted to finish this anyways because it was entertaining enough and there were some things I liked but then I found myself thinking: Why am I even still reading this? So I stopped. I did mention twice now that I liked some bits so:
The things I liked:
I really liked the dark cottagecore atmosphere the book has going on. The author relies a bit too much on the cliche aesthetics with this too but I didn't mind that. Like, yes, Evie is described like someone from a Cottagecore Pinterest board: She wears vintages clothes, has ginger hair, has a farm girl aesthetic ... but I'm honestly in NO place to judge this because I also wear vintage clothes, have ginger hair and like a well-done farm girl style outfit, so Evie is cliche but still authentic. (We are cringe but we are free. It's not just Evie though. I really liked how Evie finds dried flowers in the house, Victorian needlework samplers, vintage fabrics she wants to work with (she makes her own clothes) etc., the cottagecore vibes were definitely there. I just wish the author would have worked with them more instead of the whole "Holly Hobbie" business.
From what I gathered the author also seems to have a good understanding of mid-nineteenth century fashion and "aesthetics". I just appreciate this so much, so many books fall flat once it gets to the historical bits and get facts or just the "feel" of an historical era wrong. Right from the beginning Hobbie House feels like an authentic Victorian home and once Evie goes exploring and finds more and more historical details in the home, the atmosphere of the place (as well as the New England setting) gets really dense. I did really like the writing style and the atmospheric descriptions, it just wasn't enough to keep me interested in the end.
So there you have it. I think this book might work for you if you crave a classic haunted house story and are okay with a pretty basic, cliched haunting. It's well written, it's atmospheric, there's nothing really wrong with it per se but it's just also not doing anything interesting and it's a real shame it's neither a true YA nor Middle Grade novel but somehow stuck in the middle between the two age groups. I would have probably still finished this despite that without the "Holly Hobbie" gimmick, which makes the entire thing seem cheap and contrived which is a shame because i think the story could have worked beautifully without this aspect.
This is a classic case of "It's me, not you". I was unsure about this one from the get-go but I was craving a classic haunted house story, so I gave it a shot. There were some things I enjoyed, more on that later, but overall I just wasn't vibing with this book. There are two main reasons for that:
1. This reads awfully young. The main character, Evie, is supposed to be fifteen but she feels much younger, maybe twelve or thirteen at most. The whole book reads more like a Middle Grade novel so whenever something more "adult" or scary happened, I found it really jarring. The vibe was off, almost like the narrative itself wasn't all sure if it wanted to appeal to tweens or teens. At one point the "bottle blond" mean girl walks in coffee cup in hand and I caught myself thinking "I don't think 12-year-olds bleach their hair or drink coffee" before I remembered these characters are supposed to be 15/16.
I do think younger YA needs to make a comeback, but this one is just all over the place. You feel like you're reading a Middle Grade "horror" book (think R.L. Stine, that kind of Middle Grade), then suddenly it switches to much darker topics () so I wouldn't be comfortable giving this book to a ten-year-old at all, while anyone older than that might not connect with it either because a lot of the book seems to be written for 10/12-year-olds. It's really unfortunate. This, while a bit annoying, is not why I dnf'd this book though. Adult readers can obviously enjoy YA and MG, but this one makes it hard by not really making clear what age group it's even actually for.
2. What really weirded me out though and made me dnf was the "Holly Hobbie" stuff. I knew the book was going to have this gimmick but it really could have gone either way. I didn't know a lot about "Holly Hobbie" going in (I'm not American) but I've done some research and honestly ... I don't get it. So Holly Hobbie is a little toddler-like comic character and doll, right? But Holly Hobbie is also the woman who created her? Like, Holly Hobbie is a real-life woman who exists who gave her comic/doll franchise her own name, but in this book Holly Hobbie is a fifteen year old girl who goes missing in the 1980s. ... Why?
The inclusion of the Holly Hobbie character felt extremely gimmicky and cheap. In one scene Evie goes into the attic and finds a haunted doll (I assume it's a Holly Hobbie doll) as well as a Victorian bonnet that's described like the one the little cartoon Holly wears. When Evie puts it on, her reflection morphs into a girl with ginger hair like Holly's. I probably missed a dozen references because I don't know the Holly Hobbie franchise well (or ... at all) but I felt a bit weirded out by the inclusion of this little cute doll character from the 1970s in a horror novel. Again ... Why? Especially since the actual haunted house story could have worked well on its own. It didn't have to be actual Holly Hobbie going missing in the 1980s, it could have been anyone.
3. Okay, I said I had two reasons but I actually have three. I did ask for a classic haunted house novel and "Holly Horror" is that. But it's ... too ... classic. Basically, the book checks every box on the list of haunted house cliches without adding anything new. In the first 25% you have: A creepy doll. Seeing something weird in a mirror. Mud coming out of a faucet instead of water. A secret diary. A hidden locket. An old photograph with the face blurred out. Allusions to some unhappy Victorian teenage girl who used to live in the house. Cliche after cliche after cliche with no original/subversive/creative ideas to tie it together and make it work. (Like, some cliches are needed, especially in horror. We want some familiar staples of a good haunted house story but you can't rely on them entirely!)
Basically I wanted to finish this anyways because it was entertaining enough and there were some things I liked but then I found myself thinking: Why am I even still reading this? So I stopped. I did mention twice now that I liked some bits so:
The things I liked:
I really liked the dark cottagecore atmosphere the book has going on. The author relies a bit too much on the cliche aesthetics with this too but I didn't mind that. Like, yes, Evie is described like someone from a Cottagecore Pinterest board: She wears vintages clothes, has ginger hair, has a farm girl aesthetic ... but I'm honestly in NO place to judge this because I also wear vintage clothes, have ginger hair and like a well-done farm girl style outfit, so Evie is cliche but still authentic. (
From what I gathered the author also seems to have a good understanding of mid-nineteenth century fashion and "aesthetics". I just appreciate this so much, so many books fall flat once it gets to the historical bits and get facts or just the "feel" of an historical era wrong. Right from the beginning Hobbie House feels like an authentic Victorian home and once Evie goes exploring and finds more and more historical details in the home, the atmosphere of the place (as well as the New England setting) gets really dense. I did really like the writing style and the atmospheric descriptions, it just wasn't enough to keep me interested in the end.
So there you have it. I think this book might work for you if you crave a classic haunted house story and are okay with a pretty basic, cliched haunting. It's well written, it's atmospheric, there's nothing really wrong with it per se but it's just also not doing anything interesting and it's a real shame it's neither a true YA nor Middle Grade novel but somehow stuck in the middle between the two age groups. I would have probably still finished this despite that without the "Holly Hobbie" gimmick, which makes the entire thing seem cheap and contrived which is a shame because i think the story could have worked beautifully without this aspect.
September 12, 2023
Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora is a true ode to the 80’s even if the book itself takes place present day. It's categorized as YA Horror, but I would put it right smack in the center of middle grade and horror. While the main character and some of the supporting side characters are in their mid to late teenage years, the book reads like it was written for pre-teens. The characters are also more on the level of pre-teens when it comes to emotional development. This does nothing to damage the story or vibe of the book. It in fact does the opposite and gives the book a vibe that is a mix of Stranger Things and 80s horror/supernatural movies like The Lost Boys. A lot of this vibe also has to do with the setting.
In true 80s movie fashion, the main character and her broken family move from the big city to a small eastern town. In this case, it’s a move from New York City to the fictional town of Ravenglass, Massachusetts. The differences between New York and Ravenglass or stark. Where New York is big, loud, crowded, and busy, Ravenglass is small, quiet, sparse, and slow. Ravenglass is the quintessential small town. It’s ten miles from the nearest “big” city with a chain store, surrounded by trees, has one main street, everything is within walking distance, and everyone is in everyone else’s business. It’s small town life. It’s the perfect setting for decades old gossip to thrive and survive. It also creates an isolated environment that makes our main teenage characters feel stuck. For one thing, walking ten miles to the nearest big city is a major feat. For an all other and different thing, everyone knows your business. You can not hide. That’s mental and emotional torture for those teen years, and the main character of Holly Horror is no exception.
Evie Archer is a tortured soul. From her introduction, it’s clear to see she is a typical teenager going through typical teenage things. However, Evie is also a unique individual that lives at the beat of her own drum. This can be disastrous as a teenager where collective thinking and acting is more praised. Evie makes her own clothes for goodness sake. Talk about giving high school bullies an easy out on finding something to single you out about. That’s what makes her so loveable though. She sees the followers, but she walks in the opposite direction. There is a part in the novel where she dresses up as Claire from The Breakfast Club, another character walking in a different direction from the pack.
Evie and her younger brother Stan are the product of a recent divorce. Along with their mother Lynne, they are forced to move out of their New York apartment after the divorce proceedings due to financial concerns. Instead of moving to a smaller apartment in New York, Lynne decides to start fresh (run away?) to Ravenglass to live in the abandoned and believed to be haunted Hobbie House that once belonged to her aunt and uncle. Haunted you say? It’s ok. Lynne doesn’t believe in ghosts. It’s all hogwash. To Evie though, it becomes all too real. As soon as her family crosses the city limits, Evie begins to see, hear, and just feel that things are not right with her new home. Then, the shenanigans begin, and they don’t stop until the very end of the book.
This story is told in the third person, single POV. This couldn’t have been more perfect for this type of haunted house story. We see things only from Evie’s perspective, so the reader is left to figure out if what she is experiencing is real or not. We also get to see how she sees herself in the eyes of others. We get to read all of her thoughts, doubts, and assumptions she puts on others, especially her mother. Evie’s relationship with her mother is very strained. This is mostly due to her mother’s inability to know how to talk to her daughter out of fear and wanting what’s best for her. Of course, Evie sees it more as her mother not understanding or having time for her, typical teenage beliefs of their parents. This relationship is tried and tested throughout the book but ultimately develops in a very cathartic and positive way by the end of the book.
Evie has many relationships with many different characters in this book. We had her relationship with her brother Stan and her Aunt Martha, both of which moved and developed in their own separate ways. Then, there were the tentative friendships she made with Tina and the Birdie’s Diner family and the budding first-love relationship that grew between her and Desmond King. All the relationships got their own time to shine. However, it did feel as though the characters themselves were the tiniest bit underdeveloped. For instance, aside from his initial introduction as the “boy-who-has-it-all-but-wants-none-of-it”, we don’t really know much else about Desmond. This makes their love story feel slightly shallow. This goes for Evie’s relationship with Tina as well. The pull for wanting their relationships to survive and prosper at the end wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
Regardless, this book is brimming with literary and science references. There were great references to Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Pinnochio, and Jane Eyre. There were also science references and explanations like black holes and Schrodinger’s cat. They were excellently placed references that were also educational. This is another area where the book reads like more of a middle grade book. The absolute best reference and plot device used in this book, however, were the tarot cards. The author does an excellent job of initially introducing them towards the beginning of the book as a way for Evie to open up about her emotional stress to the adults in her life. Only to bring them back in the climax as a key to victory.
The next book in the series comes out next year, and 2024 can’t come soon enough.
5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/Penguin Teen for providing an advanced copy of the finished book. I leave this review voluntarily.
In true 80s movie fashion, the main character and her broken family move from the big city to a small eastern town. In this case, it’s a move from New York City to the fictional town of Ravenglass, Massachusetts. The differences between New York and Ravenglass or stark. Where New York is big, loud, crowded, and busy, Ravenglass is small, quiet, sparse, and slow. Ravenglass is the quintessential small town. It’s ten miles from the nearest “big” city with a chain store, surrounded by trees, has one main street, everything is within walking distance, and everyone is in everyone else’s business. It’s small town life. It’s the perfect setting for decades old gossip to thrive and survive. It also creates an isolated environment that makes our main teenage characters feel stuck. For one thing, walking ten miles to the nearest big city is a major feat. For an all other and different thing, everyone knows your business. You can not hide. That’s mental and emotional torture for those teen years, and the main character of Holly Horror is no exception.
Evie Archer is a tortured soul. From her introduction, it’s clear to see she is a typical teenager going through typical teenage things. However, Evie is also a unique individual that lives at the beat of her own drum. This can be disastrous as a teenager where collective thinking and acting is more praised. Evie makes her own clothes for goodness sake. Talk about giving high school bullies an easy out on finding something to single you out about. That’s what makes her so loveable though. She sees the followers, but she walks in the opposite direction. There is a part in the novel where she dresses up as Claire from The Breakfast Club, another character walking in a different direction from the pack.
Evie and her younger brother Stan are the product of a recent divorce. Along with their mother Lynne, they are forced to move out of their New York apartment after the divorce proceedings due to financial concerns. Instead of moving to a smaller apartment in New York, Lynne decides to start fresh (run away?) to Ravenglass to live in the abandoned and believed to be haunted Hobbie House that once belonged to her aunt and uncle. Haunted you say? It’s ok. Lynne doesn’t believe in ghosts. It’s all hogwash. To Evie though, it becomes all too real. As soon as her family crosses the city limits, Evie begins to see, hear, and just feel that things are not right with her new home. Then, the shenanigans begin, and they don’t stop until the very end of the book.
This story is told in the third person, single POV. This couldn’t have been more perfect for this type of haunted house story. We see things only from Evie’s perspective, so the reader is left to figure out if what she is experiencing is real or not. We also get to see how she sees herself in the eyes of others. We get to read all of her thoughts, doubts, and assumptions she puts on others, especially her mother. Evie’s relationship with her mother is very strained. This is mostly due to her mother’s inability to know how to talk to her daughter out of fear and wanting what’s best for her. Of course, Evie sees it more as her mother not understanding or having time for her, typical teenage beliefs of their parents. This relationship is tried and tested throughout the book but ultimately develops in a very cathartic and positive way by the end of the book.
Evie has many relationships with many different characters in this book. We had her relationship with her brother Stan and her Aunt Martha, both of which moved and developed in their own separate ways. Then, there were the tentative friendships she made with Tina and the Birdie’s Diner family and the budding first-love relationship that grew between her and Desmond King. All the relationships got their own time to shine. However, it did feel as though the characters themselves were the tiniest bit underdeveloped. For instance, aside from his initial introduction as the “boy-who-has-it-all-but-wants-none-of-it”, we don’t really know much else about Desmond. This makes their love story feel slightly shallow. This goes for Evie’s relationship with Tina as well. The pull for wanting their relationships to survive and prosper at the end wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
Regardless, this book is brimming with literary and science references. There were great references to Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Pinnochio, and Jane Eyre. There were also science references and explanations like black holes and Schrodinger’s cat. They were excellently placed references that were also educational. This is another area where the book reads like more of a middle grade book. The absolute best reference and plot device used in this book, however, were the tarot cards. The author does an excellent job of initially introducing them towards the beginning of the book as a way for Evie to open up about her emotional stress to the adults in her life. Only to bring them back in the climax as a key to victory.
The next book in the series comes out next year, and 2024 can’t come soon enough.
5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/Penguin Teen for providing an advanced copy of the finished book. I leave this review voluntarily.
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