I loved, loved, LOVED this book.
I fell in love with Lesser Known Monsters right out the gates. I was already drawn in by the synopsis, but I had no idea how hard I would fall for the characters and their story. Sweet, average, clumsy, and relatable Oscar had me the moment he was introduced. I knew instantly that I would love him, and I wasn’t disappointed. Every character after that took a piece of my heart as well. Michaelson did such an amazing job at giving every character a strong voice of their own, each lending the perfect mix to their group dynamic. It’s near impossible to not find something to love in Zara, Marcus, Dmitri, and the host of other people and creatures you meet along the way.
I devoured this book in just a few days, and would have devoured it sooner had I the time to read it in a single sitting. The pacing is perfect and the storyline is utterly gripping. The uniqueness of the story and the strong narration made this difficult to put down, and I found myself itching to get to the next opportunity to pick it up. The chapters are succinct, yet each contains a depth that makes you race to the next, and the next after that.
Every single character is relatable and endearing. Oscar is an average guy just trying to do his best to stay afloat in a world that seems to move too quickly around him. His friends, diverse in both background and personality, help lift him up and render their group as absolute friendship goals. The representation in this book is fantastic – I couldn’t imagine this story being even remotely the same without it.
There aren’t enough amazing things to say about how I feel about Lesser Known Monsters. The mix of heart, pop culture references, suspense, and originality made this beyond an enjoyable read. For anyone that is a fan of an underdog, the monsters under the bed (or down the street), or just a bloody good read – this book is for you. I can’t recommend it enough.