Honestly, I didn't love this book, but I can see why people would!

I adore books about music and the culture surrounding it from the musicians themselves, groupies and the industry, but this just didn't land for me.

Faun, albeit I think this was intentional, didn't feel fully fleshed out; she didn't know what she wanted, even though she was insisting she did. At points, I wish I were just reading through Josie's POV, though I know Faun was there to tell us Josie's story through pictures and her own memories of her best friend.

Everyone was a victim of something, but I did enjoy how messy they all were.

A shame about the author because this was beautiful

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This story follows Nick Tiernan (aka Trix), captain of the Nevada Dragons, and Matt, the frontman of Stick + Stones, as they navigate fame, pressure, and a growing relationship. Nick is constantly battling media scrutiny, lingering issues with his ex, and the feeling that he's somehow managing to screw everything up. Fortunately for him, there's one very tall, very attractive ray of hope in the form of a rock star who seems determined to stick around.

My thoughts:

This was a really fun read. I did sort of struggle starting it because it felt a little fanficy, but am very happy I kept with it. This book did make me smile more than once even if it was a little cheesy sometimes.

I was immediately sold on the hockey player × rock star premise. As a huge metalhead who loves stories set within the music scene, this was right up my alley. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get a dual POV, as I would have loved to spend more time in Matt's head, but Nick was such a lovable disaster that I didn't mind staying with him for the entire journey. He's an idiot, but he's a very cute idiot.

I was also a little surprised by the sheer amount of presence Connor has in this book as Nick's ex.

I had to suspend my disbelief a few times, but I rolled with the punches. (ie. Sir, why do you have condoms and lube prepped in your nightstand when you do NOT bring people to your place. and The one super homophobic dick on the team being traded. Happy it happened, but sadly not realistic; albeit this is just a cute story.) I appreciated the good vibes.

I am a big sucker for the found family trope; this book excelled in that regard, it felt like a warm hug when things were a bit tense. I also loved all the representation; it's always lovely to read about. I also REALLY loved the media sections that began each chapter.

Tropes:

• Miscommunication
• Secret Relationship
• Found Family
• Coming Out
• Yearning

ate to say it but, I preferred the movie.

Had I been younger, I think this is something I could have been obsessed with.

This was honestly exceptional.

I don’t find myself sucked in to thrillers very often at all, but I found myself reaching for this book whenever I had a spare moment only to realize an hour had passed.

This book is told in two timelines.

1. In 1987, Ursula is 16 and has just begun a job in a mail room at an art school, she had managed to get the job with assistance from her social worker. Here she befriends Sue, who is only a year older than her. We also meet the rest of the cast.

2. Modern day, Ursula is a reclusive sculptor. We learn a documentary is being made about what the hell happened at the squat she resided in at 16.

The atmosphere of this book was incredible. The way I actually couldn't put the book down was a delight. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but I found it really enjoyable.

I also very much appreciated the mention of my favourite character having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome :) it’s always nice to see representation!

The way the ending came full circle also brought me delight. I 100% think this is worth a read to anyone looking for a hauntingly good time. I’m

God, This was superb.

Have you ever read a book where our MC is a zombie? No? Well, you need to. This story was incredibly done for being 100 pages in my opinion. It tackles body horror, queerness, female rage, abuse, grief and even found family.

I quite literally couldn't put this down.

This debut vampire novel feels like walking through fog: beautiful, elusive, and difficult to fully grasp. Reality, dreams, memory, and imagination blur together, creating an atmosphere that is often more important than the plot itself.

Set in Paris beginning in 1869, the story is narrated by Arnault, the leader of a clan of vampires who operate the city's most exclusive theatre. Tickets cannot be purchased; you must receive a black invitation. The performers are all vampires, and much of the novel revolves around the production of elaborate shows, the management of the troupe, and the delicate balance required to sustain their existence. Outside forces, including rival vampires and a witch, slowly disrupt that balance.

This is very much a slow burn. The appeal lies in the atmosphere, the characters, their relationships, and the theatrical world they inhabit. Structured in five acts with intermissions, the novel often feels like a play unfolding on the page full of drama.

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley, thank you

I admit it, I'm a Buckaroo, so I naturally had to get my hands on a copy of this.

I have read most of Tingle's books published through Nightfire, and this one is the best yet!

This book was a gory, horror-filled good time. I'm thrilled I was able to read it.

This book follows:

• Poppy, A mother, influencer and secret body thief
• Marlo, Poppy's daughter and sweet child
• Noah, Poppy's best friend, a general good dude and 'uncle' to Marlo
• Eddie Michaels: A very recently dead super musician who's totally not a zombie

I don’t even know how to properly explain this book without sounding completely insane, which honestly feels fitting for a Chuck Tingle novel.

Fabulous Bodies is grotesque, campy, hilarious, disturbing, emotional, and one of the most entertaining horror books I’ve read in a very long time. Every single time I thought I had a grasp on where the story was going, it swerved into something even stranger, bloodier, or more emotionally devastating. Going in blind made the experience SO much better, so I’m deliberately keeping this vague.

What I can say is that this book feels like being trapped inside a neon-soaked nightmare where cosmic horror, gore, dark comedy, and queer tenderness are all fighting each other for dominance. Underneath all the carnage is a surprisingly heartfelt story about loneliness, love, identity, and the desperate need to be understood.

Tingle’s imagination is absolutely unreal. Some of the imagery in this book felt pulled directly from a deranged fever dream, yet somehow it all works together perfectly. The entire thing has this chaotic energy that reminded me of Beetlejuice filtered through a splatterpunk acid trip.

I also really appreciated how well the ending tied everything together. So many tiny details click into place by the final act, and what initially feels absurd slowly reveals itself to be genuinely thoughtful.

[TW for: Self harm, bugs, gore, death, (and mentions of cancer)