Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2026 Gr 5 Up—The town of London, GA, has an unusual history and a supernatural reputation, and Mina and her newly founded Lore Club are going to figure out what it means. They do not expect to find themselves believing the stories of vampires tormenting the town. As if Mina's intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors weren't enough, she now must deal with protecting herself from blood suckers and possibly the entire world from an apocalypse. Unfortunately, what could have been an interesting Dracula retelling gets bogged down by unrealistic dialogue and unconvincing characters. Mina feels like an amalgamation of every "not like other girls" character, while all her friends and family read like the exact same character with different names. The pacing also feels odd, with some events explored in great detail while others, which seem to have the same level of importance, are glossed over. The depiction of OCD does feel authentic, and teens who have it will appreciate seeing themselves represented. The characters are racially diverse. VERDICT An additional purchase only where more vampire fiction is needed.—Mariah Smitala - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2026 High-school sophomore Mina Murray has always felt her outcast status stems from her morbid thoughts propelled by her OCD. To ease the worries of her adoptive mother, church pastor, and therapist around socializing, Mina begins a group at school called the Lore Club to investigate the peculiar happenings in their town of London, Georgia. When a sinkhole opens up and a strange woman leaves a cryptic book with her, things in town go from bad to worse. After a classmate goes missing, Mina, her BFF Jackie, newfound friends, and her love interest investigate whether blood-sucking vampires are at the root of the disappearances and deaths of townsfolk—and how it all might tie back to her. Dale’s first paranormal teen novel is filled with drama, horror, and romance and will be a hit for fans of the Wednesday series. While the story does have some moments of lull, other plot threads will capture readers’ attention, such as longtime friends drifting apart and enemies-to-lovers growing closer. A fun read about destroying monsters and saving the world. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.