by Jeff Strand
First published 2015
Toby Floren is eight when he stumbles upon a creature with claws and fangs lurking in the forest behind his house. The monster craves human flesh. Toby runs home screaming, convinced he barely survived. But years pass and Toby returns to the woods. He starts talking to the beast. He names it Owen. The creature becomes his secret confidant, someone who listens when bullies make his life miserable. Toby wonders if he's losing his mind, but he doesn't care. Every boy should have a monster for a best friend. This strange bond will stretch across decades. Through happiness and tragedy, love and loss, madness and darkness, Toby and Owen remain connected. Their friendship will define both their lives until the very end.
Genres: fantasy, horror, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional
Tropes: found-family, intimate
Setting: Forest
Period: Decades
266 pages · Paperback · Dark Regions Press, LLC
Content warnings: mental-illness, violence