Book Review: THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT by Trang Thanh Tran

THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT by Trang Thanh Tran (Bloomsbury YA, March 4, 2025) Hardcover, 272 pages. ISBN #9781547611119  

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . .

A red algae bloom has taken over Mercy, Louisiana. Ever since a devastating hurricane, mutated wildlife lurks in the water that rises by the day. But Mercy has always been a place where monsters walk in plain sight. Especially at its heart: The Cove, where Noon’s life was upended long before the storm at a party her older boyfriend insisted on.

Now, Noon is stuck navigating the submerged town with her mom, who believes their dead family has reincarnated as sea creatures. Alone with the pain of what happened that night at the cove, Noon buries the truth: she is not the right shape.

When Mercy’s predatory leader demands Noon and her mom capture the creature drowning residents, she reluctantly finds an ally in his deadly hunter of a daughter and friends old and new. As the next storm approaches, Noon must confront the past and decide if it’s time to answer the monster itching at her skin.

My Four Star Review on the Goodreads site . . . . .

Young Adult Novel with body horror and themes of healing, friendship and responsibility. Suitable for all ages with subtle messages/lessons on life.

In the opening chapters I wondered why this was labeled as young adult. Seemed to appeal to a larger audience, who might not discover it because of the YA label. As I read further, it turns out that was accurate. This definitely qualifies for the YA tag. But I still believe there's a larger audience out there for this. Great descriptions. Characters to worry about. Disturbing body horror.