Uncategorized

So I just finished Somewhere in Nowhere by Steven Gellman (published in 2026, and yes, I would like to personally thank whoever decided to put this story into the world), and I’m still carrying that weird mix of happy/sad/fearful-for-teen-boys-on-new-schedules.

This book is basically: what if senior year is already hard, you move towns, you’re figuring out your sexuality, and your anxiety… shows up as an actual alien in your stomach trying to murder you. Like, no pressure. 

And somehow it’s not just a quirky gimmick—it’s so relatable that I felt my own stomach do that “ugh” drop whenever Simon’s stress ramps up.

Simon Bugg: the main character I wanted to put in my pocket

Simon Bugg starts senior year feeling like the universe is one wrong move away from humiliating him in front of everyone. He’s got anxiety that’s loud and physical, and on top of that his life is complicated in the most teenager way possible: he’s trying to stay “him” while also not letting people decide what his identity “means.”

The plot kicks off hard when his mom (Lindsey) lands a dream job and the family moves to Rockville. Simon is leaving behind the friends he actually knows how to be around. New school = new everything. New cafeteria energy. New awkward walkways. New people who don’t know your history and will absolutely judge you based on vibes alone.

And then Simon meets PJ in drama class, and—because this is a queer story and also because romance in teen brains is feral—things get intense fast.

Simon’s brain is the kind that overthinks everything: what people think, what he feels, whether he’s “allowed” to want things, whether his feelings make him too different from who he wants to be. Sometimes he’s a little sheltered in a way that made me go “buddy, you’ve never heard of anxiety before?” but honestly… that’s also real. Some people go through life without having language for what’s happening until it hits them in the face. Or in his case: 11:22 pm in the form of an alien attacker.

The alien in his stomach (aka anxiety, but make it sci-fi)

I actually loved how the book handles Simon’s anxiety as an alien. It’s funny, gross, and terrifying in that “why is my own body acting like this” way.

It also makes the stakes feel personal. This isn’t just “Simon is anxious.” It’s “Simon is being hunted from the inside, and he has to pretend he’s fine because everyone expects him to be fine.” That combination? Brutal. But it worked for me.

When the story starts revealing what’s really going on (and how the nightly attacks connect to everything), I felt like the book was taking Simon seriously—like his fear and panic weren’t random, they were information. Bad information, but still information.

PJ: sweet, supportive, and secretly dealing with a whole lot

PJ is the kind of character that makes you want to be like, “Okay, yes, I will be normal around you,” and then immediately realize that’s impossible because you’re a human who has feelings.

He’s out at school, he’s warm, he gets Simon’s nervous energy, and he shows up in a way that feels gentle instead of pushy. I also really liked that PJ isn’t just “the love interest.” He has his own real life problems, especially at home, where his queerness isn’t treated like it’s real. More like: phase until further notice.

And yes, there’s a part where Simon panics and derails a date in spectacular fashion. I felt that. Not the alien part. The other part. The “I like you and now I’m scared and I just made it weird” part. Simon’s reactions are messy but believable, and PJ’s feelings aren’t treated like they’re optional. That matters.

Honestly, if I’m being totally honest, PJ was probably my favorite character. I just wanted to scoop him up and protect him from the kind of disappointment that usually shows up in books when you’re rooting for someone.

Secondary characters: beautifully rendered, not just background noise

One of my biggest compliments for this book is that the secondary characters don’t feel like decorative NPCs. They feel like people.

• Hector is an early mentor figure for Simon (and yes, that “older gay barista who sees you” energy is socomforting). He becomes a big-brother-ish presence in a way that doesn’t feel fake or performative. You can tell he’s there because he cares, not because the plot needs him.
• Mags and Neel (Simon’s original friends) are memorable in different ways. Neel cracks me up because he’s got this… rocket-fueled energy whenever girls come up. Mags, though? I didn’t vibe with her as much. Her personality reads like “bossy and righteous” even when her family situation seems genuinely loving. It left me slightly side-eyeing her choices and attitudes the entire time.
• Lindsey and Carole (Simon’s moms) are the emotional center of a lot of the story. You can feel how much they love him, and you can also feel the stress and strain of adult life trying to land in a household with a teen who’s falling apart in slow motion. Lindsey’s work situation and Carole’s vibe are different flavors of caring, and I liked how the book let them both be complicated instead of turning them into perfect cardboard parents.
• Daniel (Simon’s dad) could’ve been a throwaway “deadbeat who magically improves” character, but the book gives him more texture. He shows up late and imperfect, but he’s also not totally absent—he’s part of what shaped Simon’s understanding of relationships and safety.
• Aunt Sarah and Brian? Yeah, Brian is exactly as gross as you think he is. Like, from first mention I was already ready to throw hands. Aunt Sarah felt harder to read—there’s a vibe of someone who’s coping in a way that doesn’t include being emotionally kind. The book hints at more, and I’ll admit I wanted a clearer explanation of some choices, especially around silence and what people refuse to say out loud.
• Paul and Laticia add a lot of warmth and realism. Paul especially feels like a character whose neurodivergence isn’t used as a “funny trait,” it’s part of his way of existing and connecting. Laticia is softer, shy, and still sorting herself out—which made her feel real instead of “perfect side character energy.”

And I really appreciated that the book doesn’t treat Simon like he’s the only person with a full interior life. Everybody else has history, opinions, tension, sweetness. It makes the whole world feel lived-in.

The pacing: some bits move fast, some bits slow down (and it’s noticeable)

Now, I’ll be fair: the pacing can feel a little uneven. There were sections where it felt like we were doing normal life stuff—laundry, conversations, everyday moments—and I could feel the plot chill for a second. Other times, once Simon realizes he’s into PJ, the emotions and obsession spiral so quickly it can feel like you’re getting sprinted into romance before your brain’s fully caught up.

But even with that, I didn’t stop reading. I was too invested in Simon’s emotional survival to bail.

What the book made me feel

This book really does the thing where you start out with humor and weirdness and then—surprise—you’re hit with grief and fear and the messy truth that “moving forward” is not a straight line.

It made me feel protective of Simon. It also made me angry on his behalf at the moments where people misread him or act like his identity is a convenience problem. There’s also a tenderness to the way the support system grows over time: different people, different types of help, and Simon learning how to accept it without feeling like he has to earn basic care.

Also: I loved that the book includes crisis resources not just for the USA, but for Canada and the UK too. That small detail told me the author/book team actually thought about real readers, not just imaginary “audience.”

My final take

Somewhere in Nowhere is a coming-of-age story with romance, friendship, grief, anxiety, and a genuinely creative way of making internal fear visible (the alien thing is honestly the best metaphor I’ve seen in a while). It’s funny in places, heartbreaking in others, and the secondary cast is one of its biggest strengths.

If you like queer YA that feels like it could’ve come from someone’s real life—like conversations you’d overhear in a hallway, panic you’d recognize, love that makes no sense but still matters—then I think you’ll have a good time here.

This book will be released on April 14th but you can preorder it now.

I’ve been thinking about found family again. This happens to me a lot, usually late at night, house quiet, the hum of the fridge doing its lonely little song. My brain drifts to the people who showed up when life felt thin. Not related by blood. No shared last name. Just… chosen. Kept. Held close.

Found family has followed me through my life and into my writing, like a shadow that refuses to leave. I’m glad it doesn’t.

The People Who Picked Me (And Let Me Pick Them)

I didn’t grow up with some big cinematic moment where strangers locked eyes and became inseparable. It was messier than that. Found family, at least for me, came together in pieces. A coworker who noticed I always stayed late and started waiting so we could walk out together. A friend who learned my coffee order without asking. Someone who sat on my kitchen floor with me after a bad phone call, eating cold pizza straight from the box.

None of this felt dramatic at the time. It felt normal. Comfortable. Safe.

That’s the thing about found family: it sneaks up on you. One day you’re just hanging out, trading jokes, passing time. Next thing you know, they’re the person you text first when something goes wrong. Or right.

I still remember one winter evening when everything smelled like wet wool and city slush. We’d ducked into a diner to escape the cold. Vinyl booths cracked from age. Coffee strong enough to bite back. We sat there for hours, talking about nothing and everything. Bills. Books. Old hurts. New hopes. I walked home feeling lighter, like my shoulders had finally dropped an inch.

No paperwork required. No obligations carved in stone. Just choice.

Why Found Family Hits Harder for Me

I won’t pretend blood family doesn’t matter. It does. For many people, it’s solid and loving and grounding. For others, it’s complicated. Or painful. Or distant. Sometimes all three.

Found family gave me room to breathe. Room to grow into myself without explaining every step. These were people who met me where I stood, not where I’d been told to stand.

There’s a quiet power in that. A relief you feel in your chest.

I think that’s why I keep circling back to this idea. Found family says: you are allowed to build something new. You’re allowed to decide who gets access to your softer parts. You’re allowed to stay.

On the Page, Found Family Becomes a Promise

When I write, found family shows up whether I invite it or not. It sneaks into scenes. It settles into dialogue. Characters lean on each other in ways they didn’t expect. Bonds form under pressure. People choose loyalty even when walking away would feel easier.

I love writing those moments. A character offering a spare key. Someone standing guard outside a hospital room at 3 a.m., shoes off, back against the wall. Shared meals. Shared secrets. Shared silence.

Found family in fiction feels like a promise to the reader. A quiet one. It says: you don’t have to face this alone. Not here.

Maybe that’s sentimental. I’m fine with that.

The Risk of Choosing Each Other

Choosing people carries risk. Anyone who’s been burned knows that. Trust can break. People leave. Sometimes they stay and still hurt you. Found family doesn’t come with guarantees.

Still, I choose it.

I choose the late-night conversations that smell like tea and tiredness. I choose the laughter that spills out when it shouldn’t. I choose the awkward pauses and the shared looks that say, “Yeah, I get it.”

Writing about found family lets me explore that risk in a way that feels honest. Characters mess up. They argue. They disappoint each other. Then they decide what matters more. That choice, repeated again and again, feels deeply human.

Why I’m Not Letting This Go

Found family shaped me. It taught me how to stay open. How to listen. How to show up for people who aren’t required to love me and choose to anyway.

That belief carries over to the page. Every time I write a scene where strangers become something more, I’m honoring the people who did that for me. I’m saying thank you in the only way I know how.

I still believe in found family. In real life. In fiction. In the quiet spaces where people meet and decide, “You’re mine. I’m here.”

That belief keeps me writing. It keeps me hopeful. It keeps me connected.

And yeah, I’m sticking with it.

---

A scrap of forbidden music.
A ghost who won’t stop playing.
And a detective who knows the dead don’t linger without reason.

When impossible sheet music draws Lucien Knight back into the supernatural world he tried to escape, he finds himself investigating haunted musicians, a vanished maestro, and dark secrets buried inside New York’s most prestigious opera house.

Some melodies were never meant to be played.

Grab your copy HERE

So. Hi. Hello from the frozen north.

I’m sitting here with a mug of coffee that keeps going cold way too fast, the radiator clicking like it has opinions, and my weather app insisting it’s –8° outside. Negative. Eight. That’s not weather—that’s a personal attack. The upside? I have absolutely nowhere to be. Which means I’ve been holed up, fingers flying, tapping away at the keyboard like it’s my job. (It is. Convenient.)

The big thing looming right now—looming in a good way, the way a stage curtain does before it goes up—is that the clock is officially ticking toward the launch of book three in the Lucien Knight series.

The Haunted Speakeasy hits shelves on February 10th, and I’m equal parts excited and jittery in that way that makes you reorganize your desk instead of doing anything productive for five minutes. If you missed the announcement post, it’s right here:
👉 https://rogerhyttinen.com/the-haunted-speakeasy-is-available-for-preorder/

And if you’re the preorder-now, worry-later type (my people), you can grab it here:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GC9NSF7L

This one has been living in my head for a while now. Dark corners, bad decisions, and a ghost who does not believe in polite conversation. Lucien’s in deeper than ever, and honestly? I’m having a blast putting him there.

Beyond launch prep, I’ve been steadily chopping away at the rest of the Lucien Knight series. Some days it’s smooth, some days it’s like pulling sentences out of wet cement, but progress is progress. The cold helps. When it’s this frigid, writing starts to feel like the only reasonable life choice. The city outside goes quiet, the windows frost over, and all that’s left is the soft hum of the room and whatever trouble I’ve decided to drop Lucien into next.

And—because I apparently lack self-control—I’ve also started sketching out ideas for a brand-new series. I know. I know. I can hear you sighing from here. But this is how my brain works: one project happily marching along, another one peeking around the corner, tapping me on the shoulder like, “Hey, you awake? I’ve got thoughts.” I’m not committing to anything yet, but the notes are there, scribbled in the margins, waiting their turn.

Okay. Deep breath.

Now let’s get to the roundup!

Some Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

Great tips on making the pitch a writer’s selling point — practical, clear, and exactly what you need when your story deserves to be heard. https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/01/ways-to-make-the-pitch-a-writers-selling-point/

Loved this piece on the work behind the writing — how day jobs, routines, and real life shape the stories we tell. https://lithub.com/the-work-behind-the-writing-on-writers-and-their-day-jobs/

Did you catch any of these unsung LGBTQ films of the year? Critics share their favorites—hidden gems and must-see queer cinema. https://www.queerty.com/did-you-see-any-of-these-unsung-lgbtq-films-of-the-year-critics-reveal-their-favorites-20260115/

Your next gay smut obsession? The Charm Offensive is being turned into a movie with a queer star attached — very exciting news for queer romance fans! https://www.queerty.com/your-next-gay-smut-obsession-romance-novel-the-charm-offensive-is-being-turned-into-a-movie-with-this-queer-star-20260115/

This guide to speech-to-text apps for writers is super helpful — great tools to speed up drafting, beat writer’s block, or give your fingers a break. https://thewritepractice.com/speech-to-text-apps-for-write

Just read this great breakdown on building your story’s climax — clear, practical advice for turning tension up and giving your ending real punch. https://thewritepractice.com/climax-build/

Connor Storrie stopped by The Today Show and opened up about what the Heated Rivalry role really challenged him on — from mental clarity amid the craze to learning key aspects of the character. https://greginhollywood.com/connor-storrie-visits-the-today-show-and-reveals-toughest-part-of-heated-rivalry-role-249189

Trailer alert! Pillion — the edgy queer romance starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling — has dropped its first look, teasing a leather-clad, layered story about power, desire, and unexpected connection. https://gayety.com/aleksander-skarsgard-pillion-trailer

This look at the new rules of book publicity is full of fresh, practical strategies for getting your work seen and heard in 2026. https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/01/the-new-rules-of-book-publicity/

Just listened to this great convo on leaving social media, writing iconic characters, and building trust with Claire Taylor—so many thoughtful takeaways for writers. https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/01/12/leaving-social-media-writing-iconic-characters-and-building-trust-with-claire-taylor/

Hot off Heated Rivalry fandom news: the author just revealed details about a new book focused on Shane & Ilya — Unrivaled continues their love story and the challenges they’ll face now they’re out, married, and in the spotlight. https://www.queerty.com/heated-rivalry-author-reveals-details-of-new-book-plus-fresh-challenges-for-shane-ilya-20260113/

Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles continue to inspire LGBTQ people around the world — from queer readers finding themselves in the pages to Interview With the Vampire reigniting that magic on screen. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/01/13/the-vampire-chronicles-inspire-lgbtq-people-around-the-world/

This deep dive into what might be the most haunted place in America is full of eerie stories, ghost lore, and chilling vibes that’ll give you goosebumps. https://www.boredpanda.com/most-haunted-place-in-america/

Just checked out this roundup of AI writing software reviews — great for comparing tools that can boost drafting, editing, and creativity this year. https://thewritepractice.com/ai-writing-software-reviews

Wild (and dark) reads ahead: elderly people sharing decades-old murder confessions on their death beds — unsettling, fascinating, and strangely human. https://www.boredpanda.com/stories-from-nursing-homes-twitter-msn/

Resolved to finish more books in 2026? Here’s your guide to the web’s best reading challenges — fun ways to stay motivated and explore new reads all year long.
https://lithub.com/resolved-to-finish-more-books-in-2026-heres-your-guide-to-the-webs-best-reading-challenges/

Lace up your skates — the next horny hockey book is coming and it’s about to give fans all the queer romance, heat, and locker-room feels we’ve been waiting for. https://lithub.com/lace-up-your-skates-the-next-horny-hockey-book-is-coming/

Need a lighter creative load in 2026? This invitation offers ways to re-engage with joy in your writing instead of burnout. https://writersinthestormblog.com/2026/01/lighten-your-creative-load-a-new-year-invitation/

Loved this piece on exploring what truly strikes you — thoughtful writing about attention, curiosity, and what keeps us hooked as readers and creators. https://lithub.com/marisa-silver-on-exploring-what-strikes-you/

Preorder your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GC9NSF7L

I keep a little quote taped above my desk. It’s not fancy. The paper is curling at the edges, and there’s a coffee stain that refuses to fade. It says:
“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.” — Anne Rice.

I read that line almost every day. Some days I nod like a wise old monk. Other days I glare at it like it personally wronged me.

The First Time I Felt Ridiculous

I still remember the first time I shared something I’d written with another human being. My hands were sweaty. My stomach felt tight, like I’d swallowed a brick. The room smelled faintly of printer ink and dust. I hit “send” and immediately wanted to crawl under the desk and live there forever.

I wasn’t afraid of bad grammar. I was afraid of being seen.

Writing puts your inner mess on the page. The odd thoughts. The private worries. The stuff you never say out loud at dinner. Once it’s written, it’s not just yours anymore. Someone can laugh. Someone can shrug. Someone can misunderstand the whole thing.

That’s the fool part.

Writing Is Not a Safe Hobby

People love to talk about writing like it’s gentle. Like you sit there with a candle, soft music, and a calm heart. That has never been my experience. Writing feels noisy. It smells like cold coffee. My shoulders tense up. My brain throws tantrums.

Every time I start a new piece, there’s a moment when I think, “This is dumb. I sound dumb. Who do I think I am?”

Anne Rice didn’t sugarcoat that feeling. She didn’t say, “Be brave.” She said you have to risk looking foolish. That hits closer to home. Bravery sounds noble. Foolish sounds embarrassing. Real life tends to lean toward embarrassing.

The Fear Never Really Leaves

Here’s the annoying truth: the fear doesn’t vanish once you’ve written a lot. It changes shape, though. Early on, I worried about sounding amateur. Later, I worried about repeating myself. Now I worry about honesty. Real honesty. The kind that leaves fingerprints.

I can write a ghost story without blinking. I can write about grief, longing, or desire, and my pulse picks up. My fingers hover over the keyboard. The room feels too quiet. The radiator clicks. The clock ticks louder than it should.

That’s the edge where the fool waits.

Why I Keep Doing It Anyway

There’s a small moment, usually late at night, when a sentence lands just right. The words line up. My chest loosens. I exhale without noticing. For a second, the noise shuts up.

That moment only shows up after the risk. It never arrives during safe writing. It never comes from polite sentences that offend no one and reveal nothing.

I’ve learned that if I don’t feel a little exposed, I probably didn’t go far enough.

Looking Silly Is Part of the Job

I’ve written things I’d never say out loud. I’ve admitted fears I’d rather pretend I don’t have. I’ve reread old work and winced so hard my face hurt.

And still, I’d rather have that pile of awkward pages than a perfect silence.

Silence feels neat. Silence feels controlled. Silence doesn’t change anything.

The Page Can Take It

One thing I remind myself on bad writing days: the page doesn’t judge. It doesn’t roll its eyes. It doesn’t whisper to friends later. It just sits there, blank and patient, waiting to be filled with something real.

People might judge. That’s out of my hands. The page just wants honesty. Even clumsy honesty counts.

A Quiet Kind of Courage

I don’t think Anne Rice meant public humiliation. I think she meant private courage. The willingness to say, “This matters to me,” without knowing how it will land.

That kind of courage isn’t loud. It happens alone, in a room that smells like yesterday’s coffee, with sore shoulders and tired eyes. It happens when you write the sentence you want to delete.

Why This Still Matters to Me

Every piece I care about started with that familiar dread. Every one. The fool feeling never stopped me for long. It just let me know I was near something honest.

So I keep the quote above my desk. Crooked tape. Coffee stain. Daily reminder.

If I’m going to write, I have to accept the risk. The awkwardness. The chance that someone won’t get it.

That’s the price. I’ll pay it.

---

A ghostly melody haunts New York’s grandest opera house.

When a piece of forbidden music resurfaces, paranormal detective Lucien Knight is forced to confront a mystery where ghosts perform, musicians vanish, and some notes carry a deadly price. Grab your copy HERE

Hey friends,

So I’ve had this quote rattling around in my head for a while now—the kind that just pops up when you’re doing something completely unrelated, like folding laundry or staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m. It’s from Albert Einstein, and it goes:

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”

I know, I know. Roger and his quotes. But stick with me. This one actually gets under my skin in a way I can’t shake.

Because everywhere I look, we’re drowning in success stories. Loud ones. Flashy ones. Stories with yachts, private jets, and headlines that scream about net worth like it’s the only scoreboard that matters. And the longer I sit with it, the more I realize how often “success” has very little to do with value.

Success Is a Billboard. Value Is a Foundation.

Here’s the thing I keep coming back to: success likes attention. It wants applause. It wants numbers attached to it. Followers. Dollars. Rankings.

Value? Value just… works.

Most days, value doesn’t trend. It doesn’t come with a press release. It shows up early, stays late, and usually doesn’t get its name spelled right on the thank-you card.

And honestly? The people doing the work that actually keeps the world stitched together rarely look like the people holding the microphone.

Billionaires Make the News. Workers Make the World Run.

Let’s talk billionaires for a second. Not all of them—because nuance exists—but enough of them to make the point.

We’re told they’re “visionaries.” “Self-made.” “Innovators.” And sure, some of them had ideas. But ideas don’t build warehouses. Ideas don’t stock shelves. Ideas don’t answer phones at 6 a.m. or clean offices after everyone else goes home.

People do that.

The folks packing boxes, writing code, fixing machines, caring for patients, teaching kids, cooking food, cleaning messes—those are the people creating actual value. Their labor keeps the lights on, the systems moving, the gears turning. Strip them out, and all the money in the world just sits there, useless.

I’ve always found it strange that we celebrate the person at the top while quietly ignoring the hundreds or thousands underneath holding everything up. If value were measured honestly, the spotlight would look very different.

I Think About This a Lot as a Writer

I’m not a billionaire. Shocking, I know.

I write books. I blog. I toss my thoughts into the void and hope they land somewhere soft. And early on, I got caught up in the success math. Sales numbers. Rankings. Algorithms doing whatever mysterious nonsense they do.

But the moments that actually stick with me? They’re quieter.

An email from someone who said a story helped them through a rough patch. A comment from a reader who felt seen. A DM that starts with, “I didn’t know how much I needed this.”

That’s value. No chart needed.

Those moments don’t pay rent by themselves, but they remind me why I sit down at the keyboard in the first place. They feel human. They feel real.

Value Has a Long Memory

Success burns hot and fast. Today’s headline is tomorrow’s “whatever happened to…?”

Value sticks around.

You probably remember a teacher who took you seriously when no one else did. Or a friend who showed up when things were messy and uncomfortable. Or a stranger who did something small that somehow changed your whole week.

None of those people were chasing success. They were just… being useful. Kind. Present.

And years later, you still remember them.

That says a lot.

I’m Trying to Aim Lower (And Mean It as a Compliment)

I used to think aiming for success was the responsible thing. Now I’m not so sure.

These days, I’m more interested in being someone whose presence makes things a little easier. A little warmer. A little less sharp around the edges. I want my work to matter to someone, even if it never blows up in the way the internet likes to reward.

I’d rather be valuable than impressive.

And if that means my life looks smaller on paper but richer in the day-to-day? I can live with that. Happily.

Anyway, that’s where my head’s been lately—somewhere between a quote, a cup of coffee, and the quiet realization that the people doing the real work rarely get statues built for them.

But they’re the reason anything works at all.

---

What if the dead could find you anywhere—at school, on the street, even in your own house? For Nick, the world has cracked open, and ghosts are pouring through. Ready or not, he’s their only hope. Read the book that began it all: NIck’s Awakening

Mini Book Review: Haunted Hotel by Vawn Cassidy

Okay, so I just finished the book, Haunted Hotel by Vawn Cassidy, and I’m here to report that I had an absurd amount of fun reading it. The kind of fun where you keep telling yourself you’ll stop after “one more chapter,” and then suddenly you’re blinking at the clock like it personally betrayed you.

This book is spooky in that delicious, storybook way—creaky hallways, odd little chills, and a hotel that feels like it’s holding its breath. But it’s also warm. And funny. And kind of oddly romantic in a way that made me grin like a goof.

I loved it. Full stop.

The Setup: A Moody Old Hotel With a Very Active Afterlife

The premise is exactly the kind of thing I can’t resist: Morgan Ashton-Drake gets pulled back to his ancestral home in Yorkshire after a suspicious death and a very public scandal at the family’s old place—now known as the Ashton-Drake Manor House Hotel. Morgan has built a life in the States, running a hotel empire with his brother, and you can tell he’s the type who treats “rest” like a suspicious concept. The man is allergic to slowing down.

So of course he has to return to England, face the past, deal with the family mess, and step into a building that basically screams, “I have secrets and also possibly ghosts.”

And yeah. There are ghosts.

Morgan Ashton-Drake: Grumpy, Capable, and Definitely Not Here for Feelings

Morgan is the kind of character who walks into a room and you can practically hear the crisp snap of his self-control. He’s competent, a little tightly wound, and clearly carrying some emotional baggage he’d rather keep locked in a drawer labeled Do Not Open Under Any Circumstances.

I love characters like that—especially when the story gently pokes them until they finally crack and act like a human.

He’s not thrilled to be back. He’s not thrilled about the hotel’s problems. He’s definitely not thrilled about things getting personal.

Which brings us to…

Ellis Sparks: Sunshine in Human Form (With Chaos Sprinkles)

Enter Ellis Sparks, who has worked at the hotel since he was sixteen and loves it like it’s part of his bloodstream. He’s optimistic, earnest, and the type who can probably talk a grumpy stranger into smiling through sheer persistence.

The author’s description calls him a “seriously cute little blonde disaster,” and honestly? That feels accurate.

Ellis is trying to keep the place running, trying to keep it from closing, and trying to wrangle a hotel that comes with… extra residents. He’s the heart of the book for me. He made the setting feel lived-in, like this haunted manor isn’t just a spooky backdrop—it’s a home people care about.

Matchmaking Ghosts: Yes, Really

Now let’s talk about the part that made me laugh and also weirdly emotional: the resident ghosts decide that the best way to save the hotel is to keep Morgan around… by nudging him toward Ellis.

Is it meddling? Absolutely.

Is it entertaining? Oh, completely.

The haunting here isn’t just “oOoOo scary noises.” It has personality. It has intent. It has attitude. And it adds this playful layer to the story where you’re not only watching Morgan and Ellis collide, you’re also watching a bunch of unseen troublemakers basically go, “We’re helping. Do not question our methods.”

I enjoyed the supernatural elements because they felt integrated into the story’s emotional engine. The ghosts aren’t tossed in as window dressing. Their presence shapes the stakes and the mood and the way the characters are forced together.

The Romance: A Touch of Gay Sweetness (and It Works)

Yes—there’s romance, and it’s M/M. Not the entire point of the book, but it’s absolutely part of the reason it works so well.

Morgan is the grumpy workaholic with his walls up. Ellis is the cheerful ray of sunshine who keeps poking those walls like, “Hi, I’m not scared of you.”

Their chemistry builds in a way that felt natural to me. It’s not insta-love whiplash. It’s more like watching someone slowly realize that the thing they’ve been avoiding—connection, softness, choosing a life instead of just a job—might actually be what they’ve needed all along.

And because the setting is this creaky, haunted manor hotel, the romance lands with extra charm. There’s something about tenderness in a spooky place that hits just right.

The No-Spoiler Plot Talk

Plot-wise, you’ve got Morgan returning under bad circumstances, a hotel on the edge of closing, and a whole lot of strange activity that doesn’t want to be ignored. Morgan has to decide what he’s going to do with this place—emotionally and practically—while Ellis is doing everything he can to keep it alive.

There’s also that “suspicious death and scandal” thread hanging over everything, which gives the story a nice bite of tension without turning the book into a grim slog.

I can’t say much more without tipping too far, but the pacing kept me moving, and the book never felt like it was stalling out. I stayed curious the whole time.

Vawn Cassidy’s Track Record With Me

I’ve read other books by Vawn Cassidy, and I’ve enjoyed every one. This one fits right into what I like about their writing: characters with personality, a story that knows what it wants to be, and a vibe that balances spooky with genuinely enjoyable.

Also—and this matters to me—this is the start of a series, and I’m definitely continuing. I finished Haunted Hotelalready wanting more time in this odd little world and more of these characters (and yes, more ghostly meddling).

So, if you like haunted houses disguised as hotels, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and paranormal mayhem with a sweet thread of gay romance running through it, put this one on your list.

Anyway, that’s my check-in from the Ashton-Drake Manor front desk.

What happens when the heir to a kingdom is bound by the curse of the wolf? For Prince Norian, the answer comes with blood, fire, and the terrifying knowledge that dark magic has singled him out. As shadows close in, he must protect his people from an enemy who will stop at nothing to seize the throne. Danger, destiny, and deadly secrets entwine in Norian’s Gamble.

I’ve been thinking a lot about movies lately. Which, okay, is not exactly a rare event for me. Movies are kind of my thing. But lately, when I sit down on the couch, lights low, phone face-down (mostly), I’m noticing that the films hitting me hardest are queer ones. Not just the shiny new releases, but the older stuff too. The scrappy indies. The messy, imperfect stories. The ones that feel like they were made by people who needed to tell them.

And I keep circling back to the same thought: LGBT cinema isn’t just nice to have. It’s necessary. Especially right now.

---

It’s Proof We Exist (And Always Have)

This might sound obvious, but stick with me.

When you grow up queer—especially if you’re a certain age—you don’t see yourself much on screen. Or when you do, it’s tragic, coded, or buried under subtext so thick you need a shovel. So when I first saw characters who loved like I loved, wanted like I wanted, or even just stood in a room like I did, something in my chest loosened.

Movies are receipts. They quietly say, We were here. We are here. No matter how loud the shouting gets in politics or media cycles, those stories remain. Someone pressed record. Someone said, “This matters enough to film.”

That counts for more than people realize.

When the World Gets Loud, Stories Get Louder

Let’s be honest: things feel weird out there. Tense. Side-eye inducing. Every time I scroll the news, it feels like someone, somewhere, is having a strong opinion about queer lives—usually without asking queer people first.

That’s when LGBT films start doing heavy lifting.

They don’t argue. They don’t debate. They just show. A couple cooking dinner. A teen staring at their crush a second too long. An older man remembering a love he wasn’t allowed to keep. These moments sneak past defenses. You don’t have to agree with a policy to feel something when a character hurts or hopes.

I’ve seen straight friends watch queer movies and go quiet afterward. Not because they were preached at, but because they recognized something human. That recognition matters.

Representation Isn’t About Perfection

Here’s my possibly unpopular take: queer cinema doesn’t need to make us look “good.”

Some of my favorite LGBT films feature deeply flawed people. Messy relationships. Bad decisions. Awkward silences. Lives that don’t wrap up neatly.

And thank god for that.

I don’t want saints. I want people. I want characters who screw up, who say the wrong thing, who fall for the wrong person, who still manage to be worthy of love. Straight characters have been allowed to be disasters for a hundred years. We deserve the same grace.

Seeing that onscreen reminds me I don’t need to earn my humanity by being perfect.

It’s a Lifeline for Someone Sitting Alone Right Now

This part always gets me.

Somewhere out there, someone is watching their first queer movie alone. Maybe late at night. Maybe with headphones on so nobody hears. Maybe they typed a title into a search bar with shaky hands.

That movie might not fix their life. It won’t magically make things easy. But it might give them one small, stubborn thought: I’m not broken.

I remember that feeling. That quiet relief. That sense of being seen by strangers who somehow knew exactly how it felt.

Cinema can do that. Books too, obviously—I’m biased—but movies have faces, voices, bodies. They make it real in a different way.

Queer Films Hold History When No One Else Does

A lot of LGBT history didn’t make it into textbooks. It lived in bars, bedrooms, letters, glances. Cinema preserves that. Even fictional stories carry truth about the time they were made.

Watching older queer films feels like listening to elders talk. There’s fear there. Caution. Sometimes joy that feels hard-won. It reminds me that what we have now didn’t appear out of nowhere. People pushed for it. Loved through it. Lost things along the way.

That context matters, especially when it feels like progress can wobble.

Why I Keep Showing Up for These Stories

I write about LGBT cinema because it feeds me. It challenges me. It reminds me who I am when the noise gets loud. Some nights, it’s comfort. Other nights, it’s a quiet punch to the heart. I need both.

These films don’t ask permission to exist. They just do. And every time one gets made, released, streamed, talked about, shared—that’s another little line drawn in the sand.

So yeah, LGBT cinema matters. Not someday. Not theoretically. Right now.

And I’ll keep watching. Writing. Talking about it. Because stories like these kept me company when I needed it most, and I know I’m not the only one.

---

Lucien Knight came to New York to escape scandal.
He found a dead singer, a beautiful liar, and a ghost that won’t let go.
Murder at the Savoy — jazz-soaked noir meets the supernatural.

Grab your copy HERE