They Call Her Regrets

 

What if the scariest thing isn’t a monster—but your own regret?

They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours is a creepy, smartly layered YA mystery. The audiobook pulls you straight into the uneasy world of high school senior Simone, a sharp, feisty narrator who’s holding far more inside than she lets on.

Simone keeps parts of herself hidden from everyone—her dad, her best friend Kira, even from herself at times. When tragedy strikes, Simone is forced to make a deal that could lead to more tragedy & regret. 

What makes this story work so well is how real the characters feel. The teenage characters sound like actual teenagers—messy, funny, defensive, & vulnerable. That authenticity isn’t an accident. The author teaches high school science & clearly understands how teens talk & think. The dialogue never feels forced or try-hard. 

The atmosphere is where this one really shines. It’s more creeping dread than jump-scare gore. There’s an unsettling undercurrent running through the entire book—an “is this really happening?” kind of chill. Readers who want something scary but not bloody will be right at home here. It’s eerie without tipping into slasher territory.

There are also mysteries layered throughout-some obvious, others simmering in the background. A touch of romance slips in, but never hijacks the story. It adds texture without overwhelming the central tension.

The narration by Kristolyn Lloyd is excellent. She really captures Simone’s mix of confidence & anxiety, and her pacing keeps the tension constant. The eerie moments are scary without being overdone.

This book explores guilt, identity, friendship, & the ripple effects of the choices we make. It asks what regret can do to a person—and whether facing the truth is more terrifying than avoiding it.

I genuinely enjoyed this one. If you’re looking for a book that delivers chills without buckets of blood, this is an easy recommendation. Just don’t be surprised if every doll suddenly looks suspicious.

Thanks Macmillan Audio for the gifted early listen. Out 2/17 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: Do you prefer your scary reads creepy and atmospheric or full-on slasher?

#yathriller #yafiction

#creepyreads #macaudio2025 

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About the Author 

Channelle Desamours is a high school science teacher from Atlanta, Georgia who loves writing tales about magical Black girls. When she’s not napping to recover from her five a.m. writing sessions, she can be found building tiny homes on The Sims 4 or tending to her house plants. Needy Little Things is her debut novel.