Trigger Warnings: Child death, gore/slasher/dismemberment, brief pregnancy horror.

This was one of my most entertaining reads of the year! A collection of short horror stories that weave into a larger narrative, Intrusive Thoughts was published last year (2023) and will make you truly think about your life and what’s important to you (at least, it did for me).

With unnerving stories examining coming of age, family dynamics, our deepest fears and wishes, Jennifer takes you on a journey with a cast of characters you will quickly either love or hate, or both. She even deftly tackles an unexpected fairytale retelling.

If you’ve ever had an intrusive thought (“what if I drive off this bridge right now?”), if you like vague or ambiguous endings, reality bending narratives, unreliable narrators, and more twists than a spiral staircase, you’ll enjoy Intrusive Thoughts and Other Dark & Unusual Tales!

P.S. My favorites were The Farmhouse, Barlowe’s Cabin, and Pieces of Hank. Also, Jenn, the answer to the inspiration for Nick’s last name…. Beetledrink? Beetlebug? Beetle…juice?