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Review: I AM THE MONSTER UNDER THE BED by Emily Zinnikas

Aug 052026
 

Booklist: Willa is the center of Zinnikas’ debut, and readers will enjoy getting to know all three versions of her. As a child, Willa made friends with a presence under her bed. It—or he—likes to be read to and doesn’t like it when Willa’s mom vacuums under the bed, but Willa doesn’t seem afraid. Teenage Willa is known as the sole survivor of the Rapture Mystery Slayings. In her hometown of Rapture, seven teens went into the woods but only Willa came out. The last Willa is adult, reclusive artist Willa. She has hidden from her past, sort of, but is found by reporters and the memories start coming back to her. This leads her to start asking questions about the mystery slayings. Whether readers like Willa or not, she is a very interesting character to meet in compelling circumstances. Fans of the TV series Yellowjackets and the novels of Riley Sager will enjoy this suspenseful horror story.