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reviews

what I’ve been reading

by Kaylah Stroup August 28, 2023
a house with good bones by t. kingfisher

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher.

‘”Mom seems off.”

Her brother’s words echo in Sam Montgomery’s ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.

She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam’s excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.

But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.

To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.’

I’ve read a couple of books by T. Kingfisher at this point and I think one of the things I love the most about her writing is the world building. I find it so easy to visualize every one and every place in her books and I think that’s just wonderful. A House With Good Bones is a solid horror book that I’d feel comfortable recommending to just about anyone who’d listen!*

Also by T. Kingfisher I really enjoyed The Twisted Ones! I made my husband read it after I did. We both loved it. Since reading it I’ve been on the hunt for similar books and still haven’t found anything that scratched the itch.

*That sounds weird and robotic, right? But what I mean is that I read a lot of really icky, uncomfortable, just plain old triggering horror that I feel like pushes limits. This book feels like something that could be enjoyed by everyone, even folks who don’t necessarily love horror.

Abnormal Statistics by Max Booth III.

Abnormal Statistics is a collection of thirteen stories by author Max Booth III, ten of which are reprints, and three are original to this book including a novella called “Indiana Death Song”. First things first, I had never read anything by Max Booth III prior to this but you guys… a tweet of his showed up on my twitter where if you Paypal-ed him money, he’d send you a signed book. That’s how easy it is to hook me. I’d seen his name floating around before in the horror world so I figured why not.

This book was awful. The good kind of awful! The kind of awful you’re reading horror for! Just absolutely unflinching, uncomfortable horror. This is the kind of horror I’m talking about above, it’s not for everyone but for the people who like that stuff? THIS IS A GOOD ONE!

The first 84 pages start with the aforementioned novella which immediately made me a fan of his writing. It was bleak and heartbreaking. (Even more so when you read the story notes in the back of the book and learn it was based heavily on his own childhood. What!!!)

I tore through this book and hopped online as soon as I was done to order another of his books. I look forward to reading everything I can get my hands on now. I highly recommend this book!

OOZE: Little Bursts of Body Horror edited by Ruth Anna Evans.

This was another twitter find. I honestly just really loved the look of the book. It’s so cute and tiny and pink! Don’t let that fool you though. It is disgusting!

Ooze: Little Bursts of Body Horror is a collection of bite sized stories that plunge you into a world where the boundaries of the human body are stretched and distorted in the most grotesque and imaginative ways. It’s a quick read. I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in one sitting.

We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III.

‘A family on the verge of self-destruction finds themselves isolated in their bathroom during a tornado warning.’

I wasn’t really sure what to gather from that very small snippet but after reading Abnormal Statistics I knew I could trust the author to take me on a wild ride. We Need to Do Something is slow-burning and anxiety-inducing.

This book was turned into a movie with the same name in 2021. It has… uh, not the best reviews but, I’ll tell you what, I watched it right after I finished the book and really enjoyed it. I felt like the casting was pretty spot on with what I was imagining too!

I always like when I can watch the movie version right after finishing a book, especially when it’s something like this that I’m still mulling over in my brain.

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel.

‘The last time Maeve saw her cousin was the night she escaped the cult they were raised in. For the past two decades, Maeve has worked hard to build a normal life in New York City, where she keeps everything―and everyone―at a safe distance.

When Andrea suddenly reappears, Maeve regains the only true friend she’s ever had. Soon she’s spending more time at Andrea’s remote Catskills estate than in her own cramped apartment. Maeve doesn’t even mind that her cousin’s wealthy work friends clearly disapprove of her single lifestyle. After all, Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry―baby fever comes with the territory.

The more Maeve immerses herself in Andrea’s world, the more disconnected she feels from her life back in the city; and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury. But confronting the terrors of her childhood may be the only way for Maeve to transcend the nightmare still to come…’

When I finished this book and was thinking about what to write about it here the first word that came to mind was ‘predictable’. I know that sounds bad but hear me out, okay? It’s predictable in the way you can absolutely see what’s coming a mile away and there’s nothing you can do to stop any of the events that are about to happen. You just have to buckle up and hold on tight. It was so fantastically stressful. I loved it!

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Peruse the ‘books‘ category here on the blog for similar posts. Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for even more recommendations!

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remaindered books?! // Book Outlet review

by Kaylah Stroup July 25, 2023
Book Outlet review / remaindered books

See all those books up there? Know how much I paid for them? Forty bucks including shipping!! They’re not used either! Forty bucks at the bookstore is getting me two books, maybe not even two if they’re hardcovers! But I was able to grab EIGHT of them for forty dollars.

I love reading and I LOVE collecting books but yikes, it adds up quick!

While reading reviews on Amazon, I came across the word ‘remaindered’. The review wasn’t about the book’s content but the book itself. I hadn’t heard this term before so I hopped over to Google and learned that remaindered books are ones that are already printed and no longer selling well so they’re liquidated. They’ll sometimes be marked by the publisher or bookseller so that they can’t be returned but otherwise, they’re generally in new, unused condition.

Learning this term led to me Book Outlet. They sell remaindered books as well as store returns and special publisher buyouts. All of their books are at least 50% off of retail. 50% OFF!!! Sounds too good to be true, right!?

I started browsing their horror section just out of curiosity but soon found myself filling my cart because C’MON how could I resist a deal as good as this?

Book Outlet review / remaindered books
remaindered books

Above are examples of how my books were marked. Out of the eight books in my order, two were completely unmarked and the other six had either a small dot or a line. Seven of the eight looked (aside from tiny marks noted above) and felt brand new. The eighth book has some slight cover damage shown below but honestly, nothing terrible! I would still have purchased it at a bookshop looking like that.

Since the stock is based on books that are remaindered it’s a great place to look for popular books you might not have gotten a chance to grab yet! Some of these were already on my TBR list and others sounded good and had a price I couldn’t resist.

I was so excited about my purchase that I made a second order before the first arrived. All in all, I ended up with fourteen books for eighty dollars which is just bonkers! That’s a little under six bucks per book on average.

I was a bit worried it was too good to be true but all fourteen are something I’d 100% feel comfortable with grabbing from a bookstore in person in the condition they’re in! Aside from the one specifically shown earlier in the post, there was zero visible damage outside of the remaindered mark.

I will one hundred percent be making another purchase… although I’ve already had to tell myself no more browsing for a bit! It’s hard to resist a good deal!

PS! If you make a purchase through a link in this post you’ll be getting $5 off your purchase… which makes your books an even better deal. Ahh, how can you resist!?

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favorite books of 2023 so far!

by Kaylah Stroup July 12, 2023
Favorites books of 2023 so far!

I have been straight murdering books this year.

I’ve read forty-one books so far which is bonkers for me. This is more than the last ten years combined! It feels so good to be back at it.

I definitely plan on doing an end-of-the-year list of everything I’ve read, as well as my top ten or so. BUT! I also thought it would be fun to do a little round-up of my favorite new-to-me reads from the first six months of the year. There have been so many good ‘uns!!

In no order at all, here are my top five of the year so far…

The Book of Accidents. Favorites of 2023.

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig.

‘Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.

Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.

Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.

Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.

And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.

This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another.’

Jeff picked up this book and showed it to me at the book store thinking it sounded interesting. It definitely did but more than that I was super curious to read something from Chuck Wendig. I see this man’s name on practically every book I read so I had a feeling I’d vibe with his work.

I don’t want to give away too much. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it before or fully wrote out my thoughts on this but I love going into a book with as little information as possible. I’ll read a book’s blurb when I buy it, it sits on the shelf until I choose it again but at that point, I’ll only skim the blurb. I want to be surprised, like completely! All of that to say, this book has elements that had I known were in there I might not have chosen it but it worked out because it opened a whole new world for me. I want more like it!

It was fun, atmospheric, has excellent horror elements but is also kind of heartwarming! I think about this book a lot! Also feels like something I’ll want to re-read at some point just to soak it all in.

The Mud Ballad - Favorites of 2023

The Mud Ballad by Jo Quenell.

‘In a dying railroad town, a conjoined twin wallows in purgatory for the murder of his brother. A disgraced surgeon goes to desperate ends to reconnect with his lost love. When redemption comes with a dash of black magic, the two enter a world of talking corpses, flesh-eating hogs, rude mimes, and ritualistic violence.’

Duh, this obviously makes the list. Listen, I loved this book so much that it already got its own post here on the blog. Read my review of The Mud Ballad here. Once again, if you’ve liked my book recommendations in the past this is one you’re not going to want to miss!

Brother by Ania Ahlborn.

“Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place…
“

This was one I just kept getting recommended based on the other books I bought. After finishing it, I see why! This feels like essential horror reading. Back when I read this toward the beginning of the year, I called that this would be in the top ten of the year and I’m still feeling that way.

This was a very immersive book. I don’t have the best imagination when it comes to visualizing what I’m reading, it just doesn’t come easy for me. This book though? It played like a movie in my head. Even when I think back on it, I can envision it just like I had watched it!

I happened to see that there are talks of it becoming a movie!? So fingers crossed some day soon I will actually get to watch it for real.

Mary by Nat Cassidy. Favorites of 2023

Mary by Nat Cassidy.

‘Mary is a quiet, middle-aged woman doing her best to blend into the background. Unremarkable. Invisible. Unknown even to herself.

But lately, things have been changing inside Mary. Along with the hot flashes and body aches, she can’t look in a mirror without passing out, and the voices in her head have been urging her to do unspeakable things.

Fired from her job in New York, she moves back to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with her past and inner self. Instead, visions of terrifying, mutilated specters overwhelm her with increasing regularity and she begins auto-writing strange thoughts and phrases. Mary discovers that these experiences are echoes of an infamous serial killer.

Then the killings begin again.

Mary’s definitely going to find herself.’

Mary is a dark and disturbing novel that will stay with you long after you read it. I don’t know what it was but there’s just something about Mary. Heh. Heh. I’m not the best at describing the ~why~ of what makes a book so enjoyable for me but I was hooked from the start.

John Dies at the End

John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin.

Oh goodness, these books are stupid… and I love them! If you’ve read them, you know what I mean but in case you haven’t…

“John Dies at the End is a genre-bending, humorous account of two college drop-outs inadvertently charged with saving their small town–and the world–from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions.”

John Dies at the End is horror written by someone with the sense of humor of a thirteen-year-old boy. What I’m saying is that it’s perfect for me. This series of books is ludicrous.

Each one had me going “ahhh, maybe just one more chapter” over and over again. After the first book, you definitely have a feel for how absurd things can get but I feel like you can never truly be prepared for what might happen next. I can’t say that they’re perfect for everyone but I was certainly entertained. I’ve read all four of the books and watched the movie (numerous times)! Needless to say, I’m a fan.

favorite books of 2023 so far

Peruse the ‘books‘ category here on the blog for similar posts. Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for even more recommendations!

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THE best overalls // duluth heirloom gardening overalls review

by Kaylah Stroup June 15, 2023
duluth heirloom gardening overalls review

This post is a love letter to *ahem* a review of my favorite overalls, the Duluth Women’s Heirloom Gardening Bib Overalls.

It is no secret I love overalls. I’ve reverted to the style I rocked as a kid and I basically only wear overalls. They’re nice to work in, they’re comfy and, perhaps most importantly, unlike most other women’s clothing they have POCKETS. So, I am always on the hunt for my next pair.

Last year I tried out Duluth’s overalls for the first time and it’s been a full on obsession ever since. Let me tell you more…

duluth trading heirloom gardening overalls review

Duluth Trading Company is known for producing durable and functional workwear, and these gardening overalls are no exception. They’re made from a breathable and sturdy cotton/polyester blend fabric that is designed to withstand the rigors of gardening and other outdoor work. In a word? They’re AMAZING.

details

  • 4.8-oz. DuluthFlex® ripstop fabric is super-stretchy and strong.
  • Dirt brushes right off – keep it in the garden!
  • No-slip elasticized straps with upgraded hardware that stays clipped.
  • Double-chapped legs for poke protection.
  • Double-layer knees with bulk-free bonded water barrier; accepts knee pads, sold separately
  • 12 pockets, including right thigh cargo pocket with tuckable flap, left thigh utility pockets, 2 back patch pockets and pruner loop. TWELVE! T-W-E-L-V-E pockets!
  • Bib storage system with zippered pocket/phone sleeve, pencil slots and sunglasses loop.
  • UPF 50 sun protection.
  • Relaxed hip and thigh; straight leg.
  • Machine washable.

wear & tear

These babies have seen their fair share of garden time. One thing I noticed right away was that their claim of ‘dirt brushes right off’ is surprisingly actually true!? They seem to stay so much cleaner than any thing else I wear while crawling around in the dirt. It’s kind of crazy!

I own three pairs. All of which have held up beautifully. I’m one of those people who washes my work clothes after every single wear so my overalls have been washed A LOT. They still look good as new! Literally no fading, pilling or other signs of their constant use.

I had one very small issue a while back where a button came off the side while in the washing machine. Duluth has a very generous exchange policy so I was able to just take them back to the store and get a brand spankin’ new pair without any hassle. I literally walked up to the counter said “Hi, one of my buttons fell off in the wash!” and the gal behind the counter started organizing my exchange despite the fact they’d been washed and worn many times previously.

duluth trading heirloom gardening overalls review

sizing

Sizing is definitely the one thing you have to look out for with these overalls. I am a pretty consistent size large in clothing, especially bottoms. My favorite pair of pants are a size 12 but others that fit well in my wardrobe are size 10. In these overalls? I’m a small. I’ve made sure to include lots of photos in this post, as well as a gif of me wiggling around so you can see how they fit on me.

returns & exchanges

With anything, online especially, I like to know that if I straight up hate something or it just fits weird I’m not going to be stuck with it. As I mentioned above, Duluth as a really great exchange policy. Shipping is free if you’re exchanging size or color! They also have a ‘No Bull Guarantee’ which means if you are not satisfied with any item you purchase from Duluth Trading, return it for a refund within one year. After one year, they will also consider returns for items that are defective or don’t perform as designed. No Bull means if something goes wrong, they will always treat you right. Amazing, right!?

As you can see, I have zero complaints about these overalls. The price is a bit more steep than I’d like but this is definitely one of those things where you get what you pay for! Take it from this cheapskate, they are worth the price. They’re easily one of my favorite things in my wardrobe.

Now, what are you waiting for, grab a pair!

duluth heirloom gardening overalls review

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what I’ve been reading

by Kaylah Stroup May 1, 2023

The Mud Ballad by Jo Quenell.

‘In a dying railroad town, a conjoined twin wallows in purgatory for the murder of his brother. A disgraced surgeon goes to desperate ends to reconnect with his lost love. When redemption comes with a dash of black magic, the two enter a world of talking corpses, flesh-eating hogs, rude mimes, and ritualistic violence.’

Listen, I loved this book so much it already got it’s own post here on the blog. Read my review of The Mud Ballad here. I’m still feeling like this is going to be one of my favorites of the year. Once again, if you’ve liked my book recommendations in the past this is one you’re not going to want to miss!

Tales from the Gas Station Volume One & Volume Two by Jack Townsend.

“Drunk customers. Shoplifting raccoons. Otherworldly visitors. As night shift clerk at the twenty-four-hour gas station at the edge of town, Jack has pretty much seen it all.

That is, until his best friend reveals the body of a local politician hidden in the trunk of a car, setting off a chain of events with apocalyptic potential. Soon, Jack finds himself entangled in a supernatural conspiracy involving monster hunters, sociopaths, doomsday cultists, and… garden gnomes?

Armed with nothing but his wits, sarcasm, and alarming amounts of coffee, can Jack stay alive long enough to see another morning shift? Or will he, too, fall victim to the dark, ancient force infecting the dreams of everyone around him?

One thing’s for sure. He’s not getting paid enough for this.”

I was very excited to start this series based on the fact that lots of reviews call out these books as a must read if you liked John Dies at the End.

Personally, I’m torn. If I am entertained by a book, which I absolutely was with these, then it feels wrong to criticize it. That being said, I feel like these could have been… better. The premise is super fun. I enjoyed the characters and definitely had more than a few laugh out loud moments. BUT there were also quite a few times I had to flip a couple pages back to clarify something confusing. There were also a lot of loose ends that never got tied up. When I finished up the second book and moved on to something completely different I realized how slowly I had been trudging through reading with these two.

Tales from the Gas Station is currently a four part book series. I think I’m happy stopping at two. If you’re into books that mix comedy and horror, maybe check this out! This series has a bit of a cult following and despite my complaints, I did enjoy them. I’m just not positive that I need to read more of them when there are so many other books out there to dive into!

Tales from the Gas Station review

If This Book Exists You’re in the Wrong Universe by Jason Pargin.

Book number four of the John Dies at the End series! …And possibly my favorite of them all?! I loved this whole series.

If you aren’t familiar, these books follow the adventures of David and his friends John and Amy as they investigate paranormal and supernatural phenomena, battling all manner of monsters and otherworldly threats. Some folks may find the childish humor and irreverence of the series off-putting but it’s the perfect blend of horror and comedy for me. I enjoyed all four books immensely and look forward to more. Fingers crossed!

If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe by Jason Pargin review

Bedside Manor by Jack Townsend.

“When Jack’s car breaks down in the middle of a cross-country road trip, the mysterious house at the top of the hill is a beacon of hope. If he can borrow a phone to call for help, he’ll be on his way in no time. But someone – or something – has other plans. Soon, Jack finds himself trapped in a nightmare that defies logic, where a depraved killer on the loose is the least of his problems. Will Jack escape before it’s too late?
A house full of strangers.
An unsolvable mystery.
A night that won’t end.
Welcome to Bedside Manor.
“

This novella was written by the same author as the Tales from the Gas Station series and even includes two of the same characters but you absolutely do not need to read other books to understand this one. It’s a stand-alone.

My hot take? It’s even better than the Gas Station series. I loved this book! It was a quick read that wasn’t at all what I was expecting. The premise was familiar (murder mystery party) but the story itself was really unique and fun. I would love to find more books like this one.

Bedside Manor by Jack Townsend review
Small Horrors by Darcy Coates review

Small Horrors by Darcy Coates.

A collection of fifty creepy stories all jam-packed into 366 pages! I picked this up because I had read and enjoyed one of her other books, The Haunting of Gillespie.

This was such a fun collection of horror shorts. I actually got sunburn from reading it my hammock because I just kept saying “ahhh, one more!” The stories are so short that it’s hard to talk yourself out of just one more. This was a solid collection!

Peruse the ‘books‘ category here on the blog for similar posts. Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for even more recommendations!

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portrai.me review

by Kaylah Stroup April 18, 2023
portrai me custom portrait review

Have you ever heard of Portrai Me?

Portrai Me is a visual art project that creates ‘portraits’ of people’s personalities through the various motifs in their lives. 

Each piece is created in collaboration with the client who orders the Portrai Me. After ordering, you receive a form to customize the artwork. You can then provide a list of words and attach images you would like to be represented on the piece. After you submit your info, they create a custom drawings entirely based on the submitted lists and images.

They’re available in black and white or color, as well as a variety of different sizes.

portrai me custom portrait review

I think if you know anything about me at this point, you know that I’m obsessed with my house… so, of course, my Portrai Me piece is all about the house.

My list included my office fireplace, a metal detector, daffodils, the wallpaper with the hidden writing underneath, a black snake (because of this incident!), the clawfoot tub, the art we found buried in the woods, tomatoes, a toad, black berries, the gorgeous hardware I restored & of course, the pets.

For full transparency, I provided photos and posted about it on my instagram in return for my own custom portrait. That was over a year ago at this point. I’m under no obligation to write this post or share anything else about it. I just wanted to post about it here too because I’M OBSESSED with it.

portrai me custom portrait review

The first year and a half of living here was such a blur. It just felt like going from zero to a hundred in a millisecond. Everything was new and exciting. I love this portrait because it really sums up some of my favorite things that happened during that period. I feel like if I were to get another one now, the same items probably wouldn’t be included and that’s what makes this so special. It’s a snapshot into our first year as homeowners.

I also have to note that just a few weeks after originally getting this piece our dog Klaus passed away so I’m so happy to have him included in this. It makes it even more special. He may not be with us anymore but he was a huge piece of our lives here. One of my biggest goals in life was to buy that pup a yard of his own and by golly, we did it! Now I’m sobbing.

All of that to say, this piece is very sentimental.

portrai me custom portrait review

shown above : the original wallpaper from our home that inspired the piece in the art.

A custom piece from Portrai Me is an absolutely killer idea for a new homeowner or anyone just going through a new phase in life! It’s also the sweetest thing you could get a loved one (think little pictures of shared memories or inside jokes!) I love my picture and highly highly recommend snagging one for yourself! xo

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book review // the mud ballad

by Kaylah Stroup April 12, 2023
the mud ballad book review

It’s been a very long time since I wrote a post specifically about one single book. I still plan to do my round-ups of all recently read books but sometimes one will stick out that I just need to talk about. That’s where we’re at today.

The Mud Ballad by Jo Quenell! Although it’s been out for three years this April, it has a measly twenty-nine reviews on Amazon and just over one hundred on Goodreads. This book is criminally underrated.

If you’re a long-time Dainty Squid fan who has enjoyed my book recommendations in the past, stop reading right now. Go buy it, go read it!

‘In a dying railroad town, a conjoined twin wallows in purgatory for the murder of his brother. A disgraced surgeon goes to desperate ends to reconnect with his lost love. When redemption comes with a dash of black magic, the two enter a world of talking corpses, flesh-eating hogs, rude mimes, and ritualistic violence.’

The Mud Ballad book review

Jo Quenell’s storytelling puts you right into the book. As someone who doesn’t have the easiest time visualizing characters or settings in books, I felt like I knew exactly how everything and everyone looked. It was like watching a movie in my head as opposed to simply reading.

If you like circus/sideshow themes, books that generally leave you feeling a little bit icky and unsettled, and horror elements so absurd you giggle – this book is for you! It feels like the kind of book that got me interested in reading to begin with.

My only complaint? That it wasn’t longer! (This is basically always my complaint with books I love!) I just wanted to stay in this strange world a little bit longer. I was also saddened to see Jo Quenell hadn’t written more books. I’d love to read more of her work. The Mud Ballad is an absolute gem. I’m over 25 books in and this is easily one of my favorite reads this year so far! xo

Check out my other book posts here!

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custom book embosser review

by Kaylah Stroup April 4, 2023

I recently thrifted a book that had a custom embossed design on one of the pages. Immediately after spotting it I KNEW I needed one of my own. I wasn’t sure if it would be something I’d have to save for or not. I just knew that I needed one.

I did a quick bit of research, realized they were totally affordable and filed the thought away as ‘Christmas gift idea for Jeff!’ I ended up buying him both a custom stamp* and a custom embosser because I couldn’t decide which I thought was more cute.

*The custom stamp was from RuskinSketch on etsy. Highly recommend them if you want to go the stamp route!

When the embosser arrived, I gave it a test run just to make sure it wasn’t a dud. I felt like for the price, it might very well be too good to be true. I ended up buying one for myself the same day though.

custom ex libris embosser

LOOK HOW CUTE!

I ordered my custom book embosser here from Pickled Stamps. They’re customizable. Don’t just look at the few pictures in the listing either. Once you hit “customize now” over where you’d press add to cart, you get the full run down on all your different options!

It’s super easy to use. Just pick a page, squeeze the embosser and gently smooth with your hand.

100+ books later and I’m still as charmed as I was by the first one. It just feels so fancy! If you’re a book lover or you know a book lover – this is a must have! xo

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what I’ve been reading

by Kaylah Stroup March 30, 2023

What I’ve been reading…

The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca.

I only discovered Eric LaRocca a couple of months ago. I read their book We Can Never Leave This Place and was instantly hooked. I bought all of his book and when I saw he had some coming out, I pre-ordered those too!

This new collection of short stories is exactly what I’ve come to expect! These stories are unsettling, grotesque and just really really messed up. Please know that what I just wrote is a compliment. I think Eric LaRocca is an incredibly talented author who knows exactly how to make your stomach turn. I actually read this latest book after marathoning some sillier, more light-hearted horror and WOOF what a punch in the gut. Highly recommended for those who enjoy exploring the darker aspects of the human condition!

Hammers on Bone by Cassandra Khaw.

“John Persons is a private investigator with a distasteful job from an unlikely client. He’s been hired by a ten-year-old to kill the kid’s stepdad, McKinsey. The man in question is abusive, abrasive, and abominable.
He’s also a monster, which makes Persons the perfect thing to hunt him. Over the course of his ancient, arcane existence, he’s hunted gods and demons, and broken them in his teeth.”

This novella is a fast-paced and gripping read. Khaw’s writing style is evocative and atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that make you feel like you’re right in the story. I’ve never been super into noir or detective themes but wow, this makes me see the appeal! I think my biggest complaint is that it wasn’t longer (not because I didn’t feel the story was complete but simply because I wanted MORE!)

I loved Hammers on Bone and am definitely looking forward to picking up the second book in this series, A Song for Quiet.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix.

“When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…”

I’m really enjoying Grady Hendrix at the moment. I dove straight into this after finishing up The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. I will admit it took me a little bit of time to get into this one. The siblings in the story bicker quite a bit and honestly, I don’t care. It felt petty and draining BUT once the story really got going, I was IN.

While I do feel the beginning dragged a bit when I think about the book as a whole, I loved it! It was very entertaining. Oh, and I cried happy tears at the end.

My advice? Don’t futz around reading reviews on this book that might spoil what kind of horror it is or what/who is haunting the house.

My next three are part of a four part series (in which I will absolutely be buying #4 too!)

John Dies at the End, This Book is Full of Spiders, and What the Hell Did I Just Read? by Jason Pargin.

Oh goodness, these books are stupid. If you’ve read them, you know what I mean but in case you haven’t…

“John Dies at the End is a genre-bending, humorous account of two college drop-outs inadvertently charged with saving their small town–and the world–from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions.”

John Dies at the End is horror written by someone with the sense of humor of a thirteen year old boy. What I’m saying is that it’s perfect for me. These three books are ludicrous.

Each one had me going “ahhh, maybe just one more chapter” over and over again. After the first book, you definitely have a feel for how absurd things can get but I feel like you can never truly be prepared for what might happen next. I can’t say that they’re perfect for everyone but I was certainly entertained. I think after spending so much time in this series, I’m going to be really sad to leave this very strange universe.

Peruse the ‘books‘ category here on the blog for similar posts. Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for even more recommendations!

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I'm Kaylah! Renovating a 150-year-old home in Northeast Ohio. Likely found in my garden.

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Finally biked the abandoned PA turnpike again over Finally biked the abandoned PA turnpike again over the weekend. 🚲✨ My first time was just shy of ten years ago. I had been on a bike maybe twice at that point so it wasn’t an easy ride for me. This visit was SO much more fun. We biked, picnicked outside a tunnel and had a grand ole time. Highly recommend making a visit if you’re anywhere nearby!! 

Ps My husband made a whole video about it which you can find over on his channel - climbing the fence. I’ll throw a link in my stories too! 🖤
happy first official day of spooky season!!! 🎃🖤🦇💀
10/10 recommend growing on an arch so you can walk 10/10 recommend growing on an arch so you can walk under your plants. It’s so magical. 😍 

Both my loofahs and beans were off to such a slow start this spring that I felt like it was a lost cause. I just needed to be a bit more patient because look at these babies!!!!
I finished laying the floor in here this week but I finished laying the floor in here this week but wanted to share this picture (and those other ones too!!!) before I do a floor reveal (💁🏼‍♀️) just to celebrate how far it’s come.

Renovations take so much SO much time, money, effort, knowledge, passion, etc etc etc so you’re dang right I’m proud. 

With the floor done, my last big hurdle is hanging a whole bunch of custom trim in here. I can’t believe it’s almost done! 😊

paint color is Secluded Woods, wallpaper by @xwallcolors 🖤

#stroupmansion
Maurice has risen! ✨🖤💀🏚️ (Also if you Maurice has risen! ✨🖤💀🏚️ (Also if you need more Halloween content - there’s a full decorate with me video over on the website where you’d post full length videos. 😉😉😉)
pumpkin tunnel update ✨🎃 it’s looking so go pumpkin tunnel update ✨🎃 it’s looking so good! I walk through it approximately 900 times a day. 💁🏼‍♀️
ready to fight anyone who doesn’t think pollen p ready to fight anyone who doesn’t think pollen pants are precious! 🐝👊🏻✨
Ohhhh just a tiny bit of half bath progress. 😉 Ohhhh just a tiny bit of half bath progress. 😉 Absolutely tickled pink with this wallpaper from @xwallcolors (gifted) It’s so beautiful. The texture is just 🤤🫠🖤! I shared with them my dimensions and they sent me nine perfectly sized panels making my job of installation 900000x easier. 

Ps if you prefer longer form video of just didn’t get a good enough look at how incredibly ridiculous my bathroom is looking so far - YouTube, baby! I’m back!!!

#stroupmansion
an accurate representation how quickly it feels th an accurate representation how quickly it feels the last THREE years have gone. ✨ Three years ago, Jeff and I became the official owners (and caregivers! ❤️🏚️) to this big spooky place. Best decision ever. 

Here’s to many many more! 🥂
just a little now vs then (then being 2020 when we just a little now vs then (then being 2020 when we bought!) I still plan to refinish these floors some day but to be honest, I really enjoy how they look currently. ☺️

#stroupmansion

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