About the Book
Tapping into the success of Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder and Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic, this exciting YA short story anthology contains 15 tales from bestselling, award-winning LGBTQIA+ authors-including Claire Kann, Kalynn Bayron, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, and H.E. Edgmon-each of whom has contributed a tale reimagining or creating original monsters and creatures as queer or allies of the community.An empowering cross-genre YA anthology that explores what it means to be a monster, exclusively highlighting trans and queer authors who offer new tales and perspectives on classic monster stories and tropes. Winner of the 2025 CNY Book Award for Children's Books A 2025 Lambda Literary Award Finalist A 2025 Locus Award Finalist A 2025 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers: Fiction A 2024 Bram Stoker Award Finalist A 2024 Cybils Award Finalist A 2024 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens A 2024 Notable Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Book by Reactor Magazine A 2024 Recommended Reading List by Locus Magazine A Best of 2024 Young Adult Horror and Dark Fiction by Ginger Nuts of Horror Be not afraid! These monsters, creatures, and beasties are not what they appear. We Mostly Come Out at Night is a YA anthology that reclaims the monstrous for the LGBTQA+ community while exploring how there is freedom and power in embracing the things that make you stand out. Each story centers on both original and familiar monsters and creatures-including Mothman, Carabosse, a girl with thirteen shadows, a living house, werebeasts, gorgons, sirens, angels, and many others-and their stories of love, self-acceptance, resilience, and empowerment. This collection is a bold, transformative celebration of queerness and the creatures that (mostly) go bump in the night. Contributors include editor Rob Costello, Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, Shae Carys, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Val Howlett, Brittany Johnson, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Sarah Maxfield, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and Merc Fenn Wolfmoor.
About the Author :
Rob Costello (he/him) writes contemporary and speculative fiction with a queer bent for and about young people. He's the author of the short story collection The Dancing Bears: Queer Fables for the End Times (Lethe Press, 2024). His stories have appeared in The Dark, The NoSleep Podcast, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Hunger Mountain, Stone Canoe, Narrative, and Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America (Candlewick, 2020). He lives in upstate New York with his husband and their four-legged overlords.
Review :
"These monster stories positively pulse with humanity. Not only are they gripping and suspenseful, but they have such depth, meaning, and stand as powerful testaments to the fierceness and fabulosity of the queer experience."
--Dan Clay (aka, Carrie Dragshaw), author of Becoming A Queen
"A gloriously layered collection . . . here, monstrousness and magic parallel that which society fears--queerness, asexuality, trans lives--and through transformations both tiny and tremendous, teens enduring discrimination show how amazing they can be. The message here? 'Too bad, world. You will make space.'"--Shelf Awareness, starred review
"A surefire hit for the monster (or monster-lover) in your life, We Mostly Come Out At Night has tales that are romantic, terrifying, bittersweet, and unexpected. Whether we're being introduced to powerful new creatures, or meeting an old friend that can be summoned in a mirror, you'll be drawn in by each story's compelling characters as they navigate their own unique facet of the queer experience. A must-read for anyone who's been intrigued by shadows on the wall or things that go bump in the night!"--Alex Brown, author of Damned If You Do, and co-contributing editor of Night Of The Living Queers
"An ambitious anthology centering queer monstrosity in all its forms. Each entry opens with a stunning black-and-white chapter illustration, whetting readers' appetites for the tale to follow. Stories range from ethereal fairy-tale retellings to dystopian quests of teens seeking love and acceptance in dust-soaked, drowned-out Earths . . . a solid collection of speculative queer YA."--School Library Journal
"As varied, creative, heartfelt, and fun as the community of writers who conjured it, We Mostly Come Out at Night is the narrative bestiary you need."
--Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist, Printz Award honoree, and author of Damsel, Red Hood, and What Girls Are Made Of
"Charming or creepy, rousing or unsettling, or maybe a combination of all of those--there's an odd, eerie flavor for everyone in this stunner of an anthology. If you don't recognize that reference, dive into this queer fantasia and find out for yourself. My fave read this year!"--Saundra Mitchell, award-winning editor of All Out and author of All The Things We Do In The Dark
"I could not get enough of this book! Compulsively readable, We Mostly Come Out at Night reclaims the power of otherness from a queer perspective, introducing readers to monsters we not only understand, but maybe want to be (or already are). A gorgeous and stunning triumph."--Nora Shalaway Carpenter, author of Fault Lines and co-contributing editor of Ab(solutely) Normal: Sixteen Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
"In We Mostly Come Out At Night, you'll find kinship, joy, your experiences and fantasies finally coming to life in stories. And perhaps better than that, you'll feel a sense of community and belonging."--Lightspeed Magazine
"Monstrously delicious, absolutely captivating, and wholly necessary. This collection's exploration of otherness and self-acceptance grips the heart in its clawed hand. At times unwavering in its rawness and often triumphant in its queer joy, this book belongs on every shelf. Sharpen your teeth and read on."--Rocky Callen, author of A Breath Too Late and co-contributing editor of Ab(solutely) Normal: Sixteen Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
"Teens of all genders and orientations will find magic, chills, and plenty to ponder in this spellbinding anthology. . ."--LitHub
"The collection as a whole is compelling and rich with fascinating beasties that provide new twists on monster lore...worthwhile for its strong queer-affirming stance and thought-provoking depictions of monsters."--Kirkus
"Transformative and at times haunting, there's something for every teen who ever felt othered for being who they are."--People
