Release: September 7th 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Underlined
Source: TBR and Beyond Tours
Find it at: Goodreads , Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Book Depository , Indigo
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The Conjuring meets The Vow! This terrifying paperback original tells the unputdownable story of a girl, a dark angel, and the cult hellbent on taking over her small, coastal town.
Vera Martinez wants nothing more than to escape Roaring Creek and her parents’ reputation as demonologists. Not to mention she’s the family outcast, lacking her parents’ innate abilities, and is terrified of the occult things lurking in their basement.
Maxwell Oliver originally plans enjoying the summer before his senior year, spending his days thinking about parties and friends. Instead he’s taking care of his little sister while his mom slowly becomes someone he doesn’t recognize. Soon he suspects that what he thought was grief over his father’s death might be something more…sinister.
When Maxwell and Vera join forces, they come face to face with deeply disturbing true stories of cults, death worship, and the very nature that drives people to evil.
Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.
About the Author:
Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a multi-published author of young adult novels. Her most recent, SMALL TOWN MONSTERS, is a YA Latinx horror novel that will publish in Fall 2021 through Random House’s Underlined imprint. Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series (Entangled Publishing), a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, was a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. Additionally, Bustle listed her as one of the “Top Nine Latinx Authors to Read for Women’s History Month 2017,” and Paste named Proof of Lies one of the “Top 10 Best Young Adult Books for March 2017.”
Diana is also the author of three Latina young adult novels: Amor and Summer Secrets, Amigas and School Scandals, and Adios to All The Drama (Kensington Books). Amor and Summer Secrets placed second at the 2009 International Latino Book Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. Diana also penned a YA Greek-myth inspired short-story collection entitled Mirror, Mirror (Buzz Books).
In 2011, Diana published an essay in Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperCollins), which was the only essay from the anthology selected by Scholastic to be used in its classroom materials. Diana is also featured in the anthology, Latina Authors and Their Muses (Twilight Times Books, 2015).
Small Town Monsters Review:
As a fan of horror movies like “The Conjuring,” I devoured “Small Town Monsters,” and could not put it down.
I loved the way the author executed this book. She beautifully mixes the emotional moments between Max and Vera and the scary experiences they face. The author also sets the atmosphere of Roaring Creek in a creepy manner, where you see the possibility of many supernatural tales taking place, like the Fear Street books. This book has moments of pure horror that you would expect from movies “The Exorcist” or “The Conjuring” flawlessly made for the young adult genre.
Moreover, the author also adds in some eerie scenes, like when Max sees his mother smoking with strangers or Vera sees the skeleton in the fog. The Angel of Tears had me to the edge of my seat, and I wondered how the author would navigate the tale. I could not put this book down, especially when Father Chuck enters the story in the second half.
Vera and Max both stand out in the story. I cannot even imagine how self-conscious Vera would feel if she were real, and I admire how the author brought out her emotions. Vera knows that people talk about her because of her parents, yet the girl doesn’t have her parents’ skills. On the other hand, Vera is brave for opening to Max and trying to help him out in whatever way possible. Similarly, I adored Max for how protective he is towards Chloe and takes on so much responsibility. Chloe is adorable, and I had some spine-tingling moments when their mother interacts with her. This book was just perfect!
Overall, I loved “Small Town Monsters” and hope the author writes many more such Young adult horror novels.
Giveaway:
One winner will receive a finished copy of Small Town Monsters. The giveaway starts on September 6th and ends on September 13th.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Small Town Monsters by Diana Rodriguez Wallach Blog Tour hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours.
September 6th
Stuck in Fiction – Interview
Shelf Love – Review
Robinlea BookBird – Playlist, Favourite Quotes & Top 5 Reasons to Read Small Town Monsters
September 7th
The Bookwyrm’s Den – Review
The Lady With Books – Top 5 Reasons to Read Small Town Monsters
September 8th
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promo Post
Jena Brown Writes – Review & Top 5 Reasons to Read Small Town Monsters
September 9th
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review & Journal Spread
Infinite Pages – Review
Rajiv’s Reviews – Review
September 10th
The Book Dutchesses – Promo Post
Phannie the ginger bookworm – Review & Playlist
September 11th
Laura’s Bookish Corner – Review & Top 5 Reasons to Read Small Town Monsters
Popthebutterfly Reads – Review
September 12th
Andonshereads – Interview & Top 5 Reasons to Read Small Town Monsters
Nine Bookish Lives – Promo
Reading Stewardess – Review & Playlist