Hollow by Celina Myers Published by HQ Fiction on August 1, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal / Supernatural
Pages: 320
Format: Audiobook
Where to buy: Affiliate Link
'Brilliant new vampire lore.... Spine-tingling!' - L.J. Smith, No.1 New York Times bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries
From TikTok sensation Celina Myers comes a fresh, intriguing novel about a woman who finds her destiny and her family after being turned into a vampire.
Mia Adair isn't even twenty-five yet, but she's starting to wonder if her peak has already passed. She's spent years working at her local bookstore, a job that was supposed to be temporary. As a kid, she experienced a strange sort of fame within the paranormal community thanks to her inclusion in a book that revealed Mia's ability to talk with the dead. But that was then, and Mia's "gift" dried up once adolescence set in. These days, she feels like she's nobody special.
Until she dies in a tragic car crash and reawakens as a vampire...
Forced to leave behind everything she knew, Mia must choose to live with one of two rival vampire families. The Bellamy and Sutton clans share a dark, complicated history that spans centuries. As Mia learns about their age-old traditions and extraordinary powers, along with their forbidden romances and betrayals, she's drawn toward two very different loves. And as she feels her gift returning, more potent than ever before, Mia realizes she'll need it to protect innocent lives-and save the only family she has left.
Hollow by Celina Myers—widely recognized as CelinaSpookyBoo—comes highly recommended in the paranormal and BookTok communities. As a paranormal investigator, I’ve noticed that mainstream paranormal media often lowers expectations for what a “real” investigation looks like. Many viewers are exposed to dramatized, sensationalized content, in which every unexplained sound is treated as proof of something sinister and as genuine evidence of paranormal activity.
Over time, that kind of presentation can shape what audiences come to expect from anything labeled “paranormal,” whether it’s investigation-based content or fiction inspired by it. Strong reactions and dramatic framing often get read as credibility, even when the reality is far more ambiguous.
That context matters here because a significant amount of enthusiasm around Hollow is coming from within those same spaces. And while community recommendations are always worth noting, they don’t necessarily translate into expectations for pacing, structure, or writing execution in a novel.
So when I picked up this book, I went in cautiously optimistic—but also aware that the hype surrounding it came from an audience often primed for intensity over nuance. Unfortunately, while Hollow starts with a strong premise and an engaging hook, it quickly becomes uneven in both pacing and execution.
This isn’t to disparage Celina—she’s funny, talented, and successful, and I genuinely admire her storytelling ability. (Note: storyteller does not necessarily equal writer—the two aren’t always synonymous.) The book starts strong, and I was impressed by the opening. Unfortunately, it quickly introduces too many characters and devolves into a plot that feels like someone with a #TeamEdward sticker on their car turned their wet dream about Twilight into a novel.
The protagonist is extremely indecisive—she’s willing to commit to someone after just a day, yet still has feelings for others. If someone gave me a necklace engraved with “yours” after 24 hours, I’d be concerned—but not Mia. She accepts it enthusiastically, only to kiss someone else soon after. She does feel a bit guilty, but the entire dynamic echoes the Edward/Jacob love triangle, especially with a minor attraction to another character (I believe her name was Cordelia, though all I recall is her blue hair and lack of depth).
Some readers may appreciate the story’s diverse cast and inclusive themes, but could be put off by a homophobic slur in an early chapter. While it’s clearly not condoned and is included to portray bigotry, it’s worth mentioning.
I hate to sound so unprofesh, but this one just gets an “I dunno, man…” There are a few interesting ideas, but the execution falls short. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is that the story’s bare bones are present—at least until it devolves into a Twilight retelling. With input from alpha and beta readers and a professional editor, it could have been salvaged.
CW / TW:
This piece contains references to:
Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual Assault, Pedophilia, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Animal Abuse
Recommended Age: 18+
About Celina Myers
Celina Myers, known to millions online as Celina Spooky Boo, is celebrated for her fast-paced storytelling and vivid imagery. A master of weaving horror into worlds that feel hauntingly real, Celina creates stories that linger in the shadows of everyday life. Writing is her greatest passion, and she thrives on crafting tales that blur the line between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Whether through her humor, spooky tales, or writing, Celina’s mission is to enchant and entertain her ever-growing fanbase.
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