So I was sitting there staring at my reading list, realizing it was nearly Halloween and—gasp—I hadn’t read anything remotely Halloween-y yet. Not a single ghost, ghoul, or pumpkin in sight. That’s when Frankenstein Builds a Boyfriend by Dylan James popped up in my recommendations like a mischievous grin from the grave. The title alone hooked me. It sounded goofy, fun, and maybe just weird enough to be my kind of thing. At around 140 pages, it’s short enough to inhale in one sitting—like a handful of Halloween candy you keep saying will be your last.
The story centers around Victor, a descendent of the actual Victor Frankenstein, who’s stuck at this monster academy where everyone’s kids of legendary creatures—vampires, werewolves, mummies, the whole Halloween crew. But poor Victor’s the odd one out. He’s human, unthreatening, and not nearly monstrous enough to impress the other students. Basically, he’s that kid who brings a store-bought costume to a party full of elaborate cosplay. So, in true “hold my beaker” fashion, Victor decides to make his own monster—to prove he’s worthy of the family name and to show everyone at school that he belongs there.
Only… his experiment doesn’t exactly go the way his ancestors might have planned. Instead of creating something terrifying and grotesque, he, along with his best friend Igor, build a total heartthrob. Like, textbook handsome, jawline-that-could-cut-glass levels of attractive. Cue the chaos. Suddenly, Victor’s dealing with the weirdest kind of popularity—half the school wants to date his creation, and the other half’s side-eyeing him for making someone that beautiful. The story takes this campy setup and runs with it, blending teen awkwardness, romance, and a ton of humor into something surprisingly wholesome.
What I loved most is that it doesn’t try to take itself seriously. It knows exactly what it is—a funny, slightly absurd, queer little monster rom-com—and it leans into that with glee. The tone reminded me of an old-school monster movie crashed headfirst into a YA coming-of-age story. You’ve got bubbling potions, excessive electricity, questionable science, and a whole lot of heart. Victor just wants to fit in, and somehow his wild plan to create a monster ends up being about finding acceptance—for himself as much as for his creation.
There’s also a sweetness to the romance that totally works. The monster (who’s more “dreamboat” than “creature”) isn’t just a pretty face—he’s kind, gentle, and curious about the world (at least in the beginning). Watching the two of them figure each other out was surprisingly tender, even with all the campy humor layered on top. And while the story’s more cute than scary, it still nails that Halloween aesthetic—like a fun costume party where everyone’s in on the joke.
Because it’s so short, the pacing zips right along. No filler, no dragging out the setup. You meet Victor, you meet Igor, you meet his gorgeous creation, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in monster-school drama and unexpected feelings. It’s one of those reads where you finish it, smile to yourself, and think, “Okay, that was adorable.”
So yeah—if you’re craving something quick, queer, and full of Halloween flavor without any actual horror, Frankenstein Builds a Boyfriend is the perfect October pick-me-up. It’s got charm, camp, and just enough romance to make you want to hug the nearest mad scientist. I closed the book grinning, which feels like a small Halloween miracle in itself.