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You Can't Take It With You
What would you do for more time?
Christmas Eve, 1984. Montgomery Nolan is about to die. Even at ninety years old it's never enough. But he has a way out. A way to live...beyond death. No longer hunted by time, he will become the hunter. And the night will be anything but silent.
From Marcus Hawke, author of The Miracle Sin and Grey Noise, comes a bold new vampire tale. One of greed and lust. Power and immortality. Age and youth. And of course, blood!
Christmas Eve, 1984. Montgomery Nolan is about to die. Even at ninety years old it's never enough. But he has a way out. A way to live...beyond death. No longer hunted by time, he will become the hunter. And the night will be anything but silent.
From Marcus Hawke, author of The Miracle Sin and Grey Noise, comes a bold new vampire tale. One of greed and lust. Power and immortality. Age and youth. And of course, blood!
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
5 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Hawke
16 books121 followersMarcus Hawke is a writer primarily of horror and dark fiction, some fantasy and sci-fi, and a few things that defy categorization. He was born in Toronto, moved around quite a bit during the dreaded formative years, and finally settled in Calgary where he studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design.
Many moons before that, he had aspirations of becoming a filmmaker and......well......a long story short, that didn't happen. But one thing that wasn't curtailed in that time was his love for stories and the written word. Starting with the likes of R.L. Stein in childhood, it grew into a full-fledged possession thanks to the works of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, and JRR Tolkien.
After years worth of rejections, he finally had a short story called Bump in the Night published in Jitter magazine in 2016. Since then his work has appeared in a number of publications from Dark Pine Publishing, Jitter Press, Lunatics Magazine, Strange Elf Press as well as his first full-length novel, The Miracle Sin, the award-winning collection, Acts of Violence: Twelve Tales of Terror, Grey Noise, The Axe Remembers, You Can't Take It With You, and most recently the follow up to The Miracle Sin: The Trouble With Faith and Other Stories. He also edited the October Blood and Dead of Night anthologies under his imprint, Hawke Haus Books. He lives with his feline overlord in an apartment building haunted by the type of neighbors that make a person wish a ghost would come to visit in the cold, often gloomy great white North.
In his spare time he reads, draws, paints, plays Dungeons & Dragons, and rambles in third person while writing website bios.
Many moons before that, he had aspirations of becoming a filmmaker and......well......a long story short, that didn't happen. But one thing that wasn't curtailed in that time was his love for stories and the written word. Starting with the likes of R.L. Stein in childhood, it grew into a full-fledged possession thanks to the works of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, and JRR Tolkien.
After years worth of rejections, he finally had a short story called Bump in the Night published in Jitter magazine in 2016. Since then his work has appeared in a number of publications from Dark Pine Publishing, Jitter Press, Lunatics Magazine, Strange Elf Press as well as his first full-length novel, The Miracle Sin, the award-winning collection, Acts of Violence: Twelve Tales of Terror, Grey Noise, The Axe Remembers, You Can't Take It With You, and most recently the follow up to The Miracle Sin: The Trouble With Faith and Other Stories. He also edited the October Blood and Dead of Night anthologies under his imprint, Hawke Haus Books. He lives with his feline overlord in an apartment building haunted by the type of neighbors that make a person wish a ghost would come to visit in the cold, often gloomy great white North.
In his spare time he reads, draws, paints, plays Dungeons & Dragons, and rambles in third person while writing website bios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 25, 2024
“You Can’t Take It With You” is a novella brimming emotions and poignant themes of sadness and grief. There are lines here that linger long after reading—simple yet profound phrases that speak more between the lines than on the page itself. However, despite its strengths, the story left me with mixed feelings.
The novella begins with a slow build, heavily laden with sayings and music references. While these elements add texture, they occasionally felt excessive and could have been trimmed without losing the core of the story. This, combined with the slow pacing of the first 40%, gave the impression of a romance more than the supernatural tale the cover promised. Though I understand the intention of grounding the readers in the protagonist's life and relationships, I believe starting in media res—with the vampire plotline front and center—would have provided a more gripping hook.
When the action finally took off, I found myself more engaged, but I couldn’t entirely shake the initial frustration. Additionally, some plot holes left me pondering the logistics and motivations within the story. Perhaps if the narrative had focused more tightly on the vampire storyline from the start, these gaps might have been easier to overlook.
That said, Hawke crafts a unique and melancholy Christmas tale that explores themes of grief, loss, and redemption in a deeply human way. The emotional weight of the story shines brightly, even when the structure falters. While not entirely what I expected, “You Can’t Take It With You” is worth exploring for those seeking a reflective and atmospheric holiday read.
The novella begins with a slow build, heavily laden with sayings and music references. While these elements add texture, they occasionally felt excessive and could have been trimmed without losing the core of the story. This, combined with the slow pacing of the first 40%, gave the impression of a romance more than the supernatural tale the cover promised. Though I understand the intention of grounding the readers in the protagonist's life and relationships, I believe starting in media res—with the vampire plotline front and center—would have provided a more gripping hook.
When the action finally took off, I found myself more engaged, but I couldn’t entirely shake the initial frustration. Additionally, some plot holes left me pondering the logistics and motivations within the story. Perhaps if the narrative had focused more tightly on the vampire storyline from the start, these gaps might have been easier to overlook.
That said, Hawke crafts a unique and melancholy Christmas tale that explores themes of grief, loss, and redemption in a deeply human way. The emotional weight of the story shines brightly, even when the structure falters. While not entirely what I expected, “You Can’t Take It With You” is worth exploring for those seeking a reflective and atmospheric holiday read.
January 12, 2025
Ninety year old millionaire Monty Nolan has lived a long, tumultuous life. But he’s not quite ready to give up the ghost and pass quietly into the night. He’s not ready to face death just yet, and he doesn’t have to. Not when money has bought him more time in the form of a special “insurance policy”. No, Monty is ready to really live, and on the night of Christmas Eve he will be “reborn” and emerge onto the sleepless streets of New York City as a hunter, hungry for life, and thirsty for blood.
This was a compelling, melancholy, and bloody read! In a short number of pages, readers really get to know Monty as a fully developed protagonist, a vampiric Ebenezer Scrooge greedy not for wealth but immortality. Author Marcus Hawke is a vivid storyteller of whom I became a fan ever since I read his gory eco-horror slasher novella The Axe Remembers.
Curl up with this vampiric tale before the winter ends!
(Special thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted review copy!)
This was a compelling, melancholy, and bloody read! In a short number of pages, readers really get to know Monty as a fully developed protagonist, a vampiric Ebenezer Scrooge greedy not for wealth but immortality. Author Marcus Hawke is a vivid storyteller of whom I became a fan ever since I read his gory eco-horror slasher novella The Axe Remembers.
Curl up with this vampiric tale before the winter ends!
(Special thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted review copy!)
November 26, 2024
My first Marcus Hawke read and it won’t be my last!!!
Thank you for the Arc copy and opportunity to review your book.
I had a great time with this read as i was slowly learning all about Montgomery Nolans backstory and how he spent his 90 years of life.
As he reflects on his life through his journal entries Montgomery Nolan feels like he is not done yet and he rather chose eternity over death. lucky for him he has been saving just the perfect item to do so.
A story filled with love, loss, heartbreak and greed.
Monty’s kills will leave you thirsty for more.
A fast paced read for this Christmas Season
Releasing Nov 26th !!
Thank you for the Arc copy and opportunity to review your book.
I had a great time with this read as i was slowly learning all about Montgomery Nolans backstory and how he spent his 90 years of life.
As he reflects on his life through his journal entries Montgomery Nolan feels like he is not done yet and he rather chose eternity over death. lucky for him he has been saving just the perfect item to do so.
A story filled with love, loss, heartbreak and greed.
Monty’s kills will leave you thirsty for more.
A fast paced read for this Christmas Season
Releasing Nov 26th !!
December 25, 2024
If you could live forever, would you? That’s Monty's dilemma in You Can't Take It with You. On his deathbed, he makes the life-altering (or un-life-altering; I’m sorry that was a lame joke) decision to turn himself into a vampire, chasing immortality in hopes of finally experiencing what he couldn’t as a human. But surprise—immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
This story isn’t just about vampires; it’s about everything. Themes like death, fear of death, addiction, and the human condition weave through the narrative, with blood and immortality acting as metaphors for lust and that endless, exhausting quest for fulfillment.
What did I love most? The way it made me think. Is living forever worth it? Or does immortality strip life of meaning? Depending on your outlook, you might find this tale either bleak or surprisingly hopeful.
On top of that, it’s got a sharp commentary on human nature and the costs of ambition. Monty’s journey feels raw, unsettling, real, and thought-provoking, a great (or bad) existential kind of horror.
December 10, 2024
4.5⭐️
This story follows Monty, a 90 year old man nearing the end of his life. Wanting to live forever, he obtains a substance that will give him eternal life; once he gets that, it’s not entirely what he wants.
I really enjoyed this read - the story of Monty’s life was sad, interesting, yet beautiful! The writing was well done. The book makes you question, if you would want to live far beyond your years…
I will definitely read more by this author.
This story follows Monty, a 90 year old man nearing the end of his life. Wanting to live forever, he obtains a substance that will give him eternal life; once he gets that, it’s not entirely what he wants.
I really enjoyed this read - the story of Monty’s life was sad, interesting, yet beautiful! The writing was well done. The book makes you question, if you would want to live far beyond your years…
I will definitely read more by this author.
November 26, 2024
As humans, one of the biggest fears we have is growing old. What if we were able to stop that? To cheat death and become immortal? Would we do it? Would it be worth it?
Montgomery Nolan was a wealthy 90 year old man who's lived an interesting life. His body is now weak, and it's only a matter of time before it's all over. Throughout his life, Monty has experienced and bought a lot of things because he could. One thing in particular is his answer for eternal life. He takes it before Christmas, and he soon becomes something immortal.
Christmas comes, and Monty is a new being. At first it's exliertating, it's fun, it's exciting but as the night goes on he realizes that this high has consequences. Was this the life Monty wanted or has this new life shown him that not everything is what it seems?
What a beautiful story this was. Monty lived a very sad life. Although he was rich and had everything, we saw that money didn't buy true happiness. From betrayal to heartbreak to addition, Marcus has given us a beautiful vampire story. It's sexual. It's Gothic, set in New York during Christmas. It is a perfect read for this time of year.
Montgomery Nolan was a wealthy 90 year old man who's lived an interesting life. His body is now weak, and it's only a matter of time before it's all over. Throughout his life, Monty has experienced and bought a lot of things because he could. One thing in particular is his answer for eternal life. He takes it before Christmas, and he soon becomes something immortal.
Christmas comes, and Monty is a new being. At first it's exliertating, it's fun, it's exciting but as the night goes on he realizes that this high has consequences. Was this the life Monty wanted or has this new life shown him that not everything is what it seems?
What a beautiful story this was. Monty lived a very sad life. Although he was rich and had everything, we saw that money didn't buy true happiness. From betrayal to heartbreak to addition, Marcus has given us a beautiful vampire story. It's sexual. It's Gothic, set in New York during Christmas. It is a perfect read for this time of year.
December 22, 2024
What Monty ends up finding out is way beyond any of his expectations. Some lessons are learned quite the hard way. A splendid, wintry, bloody read for you vampire lovers. Out now, go snag yourself a copy if you’re looking for a path into vampiric NYC and Monty’s facing of life in death and death in life. I loved his back story so much. This part touched my heart a lot and while I did enjoy the last half, it didn’t quite keep my attention as much as the first half did weirdly.
Full review to come in Cemetery Dance
Full review to come in Cemetery Dance
November 19, 2024
It is 1984 and Montgomery Nolan is dying, 90yrs old and a self made multi millionaire he reflects on his life and the journal he has kept throughout. The love, the loss, joy and heartbreak. They say you can’t take it with you but he is about to test that theory.
Living through some of the historical events of the century, Montgomery is a man out of time. Lying in his Manhattan penthouse with a nurse companion, Brenda and a white Persian cat called Muffy, with death waiting by his bedside. An expensive purchase in the past may be the solution but at what cost?
A horror noir with a gothic feel, this feels decadent, the rich evocative imagery tantalisingly luscious. Told in first person POV this is an adventure into the heart of the meaning of life, the inevitability of death and the longing for more time, the chance to add chapters to your story, start again, better, stronger, wiser. But, what happens when you sacrifice your humanity to make this happen, who are you then?
This reminds me of the writing of Sheridan LeFanu, one of my all time favourite gothic writers who most people know for Carmilla. This, like that, is a dalliance with deviant depravity although, in this tale, in the more recently decadent 80’s.
Perfect for the upcoming winter nights of endless darkness, settle in and read Monty’s story, hear his thoughts, feel his emotions and realise death is a living breathing hunter who stalks us all and always wins!
Living through some of the historical events of the century, Montgomery is a man out of time. Lying in his Manhattan penthouse with a nurse companion, Brenda and a white Persian cat called Muffy, with death waiting by his bedside. An expensive purchase in the past may be the solution but at what cost?
A horror noir with a gothic feel, this feels decadent, the rich evocative imagery tantalisingly luscious. Told in first person POV this is an adventure into the heart of the meaning of life, the inevitability of death and the longing for more time, the chance to add chapters to your story, start again, better, stronger, wiser. But, what happens when you sacrifice your humanity to make this happen, who are you then?
This reminds me of the writing of Sheridan LeFanu, one of my all time favourite gothic writers who most people know for Carmilla. This, like that, is a dalliance with deviant depravity although, in this tale, in the more recently decadent 80’s.
Perfect for the upcoming winter nights of endless darkness, settle in and read Monty’s story, hear his thoughts, feel his emotions and realise death is a living breathing hunter who stalks us all and always wins!
December 3, 2024
Who doesn’t fear growing old? What would you do for more years and at what cost?
This fun read explores one elderly man’s life and… after life?
In the beginning of the book, we explore the main character’s life with 90 years of ups and down. Once the shit hits the proverbial fan, it is full throttle. All the blood, hunger and darkness we all love in a vampire story. The timeline is around Christmas but this one could be enjoyed any time of year.
This fun read explores one elderly man’s life and… after life?
In the beginning of the book, we explore the main character’s life with 90 years of ups and down. Once the shit hits the proverbial fan, it is full throttle. All the blood, hunger and darkness we all love in a vampire story. The timeline is around Christmas but this one could be enjoyed any time of year.
January 2, 2025
This is a pretty quick read that I decided to take my time with and made it a “whenever I had a few minutes here and there of downtime” book.
I’ve mixed emotions on this one. It started slow and there was quite a bit of character and world building. While I appreciate both, it took some of the steam away from the story for me. Took a bit for buildup and, once invested, I felt it ended fairly quick.
I understand what Hawke was doing, but I feel like the story would have benefited more if the focus was most on the main character’s vampire life instead of his human life. I would’ve liked to have read more on the “lore” of it all.
HOWEVER, what carried the storyline for me was Hawke’s writing. It’s flawless and exquisite. He certainly has a way with them, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I look forward to reading more from Hawke.
I’ve mixed emotions on this one. It started slow and there was quite a bit of character and world building. While I appreciate both, it took some of the steam away from the story for me. Took a bit for buildup and, once invested, I felt it ended fairly quick.
I understand what Hawke was doing, but I feel like the story would have benefited more if the focus was most on the main character’s vampire life instead of his human life. I would’ve liked to have read more on the “lore” of it all.
HOWEVER, what carried the storyline for me was Hawke’s writing. It’s flawless and exquisite. He certainly has a way with them, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I look forward to reading more from Hawke.
December 5, 2024
Reading Marcus Hawke’s
You Can’t Take It With You
feels like sitting down with an old friend who’s lived a hundred lives and has stories for every one of them. Set at Christmas this is a bittersweet, funny, and unapologetically honest book about aging and what it means to face the end of the road.
Montgomery Nolan, the protagonist, is a man nearing 90 who’s seen it all—success, loss, love, and heartbreak. What really sticks with you, though, is how his story unfolds. The way Hawke writes makes you feel like you’re right there in Nolan’s penthouse, watching the snow fall outside as he listens to Bing Crosby and thinks, “It will be over soon.”
The tone is a perfect mix of dry humor and deep introspection. Nolan’s reflections on life, especially as he stares down his own mortality, hit hard. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a lot of heart in his memories, and the writing has this nostalgic rhythm that makes you want to slow down and savor every word.
One of the things that really makes this book shine are the music references. Hawke uses them like a timeline, tying key moments in Nolan’s life to songs that defined entire eras, and you’ll be on the lookout for all the references. Nolan reminisces about everything from early jazz to Queen, and there’s this beautiful line when he talks about a song that felt personal to him: “It’s so amazing when a song does that. As if it just reaches out and says here, this is for you.” Everyone has felt this before with a song or another and it is indeed amazing.
But we can’t forget that this is horror and more than the transformation that Nolan suffers physically his psychological transformation is what hit harder for me as he truly becomes a monster due to his actions. One can’t escape embarking on a rollercoaster of starting to love him, to despise him and, finally, to almost loving him again, even if you know you shouldn’t.
The truth about You Can’t Take It With You is that you don’t need to be old to connect with it. This is a horror story about looking back, holding on, and learning to let go. And like Nolan’s favorite songs, it leaves a lasting echo.
Montgomery Nolan, the protagonist, is a man nearing 90 who’s seen it all—success, loss, love, and heartbreak. What really sticks with you, though, is how his story unfolds. The way Hawke writes makes you feel like you’re right there in Nolan’s penthouse, watching the snow fall outside as he listens to Bing Crosby and thinks, “It will be over soon.”
The tone is a perfect mix of dry humor and deep introspection. Nolan’s reflections on life, especially as he stares down his own mortality, hit hard. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a lot of heart in his memories, and the writing has this nostalgic rhythm that makes you want to slow down and savor every word.
One of the things that really makes this book shine are the music references. Hawke uses them like a timeline, tying key moments in Nolan’s life to songs that defined entire eras, and you’ll be on the lookout for all the references. Nolan reminisces about everything from early jazz to Queen, and there’s this beautiful line when he talks about a song that felt personal to him: “It’s so amazing when a song does that. As if it just reaches out and says here, this is for you.” Everyone has felt this before with a song or another and it is indeed amazing.
But we can’t forget that this is horror and more than the transformation that Nolan suffers physically his psychological transformation is what hit harder for me as he truly becomes a monster due to his actions. One can’t escape embarking on a rollercoaster of starting to love him, to despise him and, finally, to almost loving him again, even if you know you shouldn’t.
The truth about You Can’t Take It With You is that you don’t need to be old to connect with it. This is a horror story about looking back, holding on, and learning to let go. And like Nolan’s favorite songs, it leaves a lasting echo.
November 28, 2024
What Would You Do for More Time?
🎄 Christmas Eve, 1984: A night of carols, joy, and… impending...what doom? Death?
Enter the imaginative, horrific, and quirky mind of Marcus Hawke, complete with a fresh new take on the blood curdling vampire saga. Ahhhh, but friends, This isn’t just any vampire story—this is also a tantalizing story of greed, lust, power, immortality, and, believe it or not, heartfelt moments.
Thank you, Marcus, for gifting me this ebook, and after I saw this cover, I was dying to read it #FOMO. Being someone obsessed with vampires and the dark lure and beauty of transformation, i really couldn't wait to sink my teeth into this.
I am literally obsessed with Marcus, his infinite detail, his creative, masterful writing makes me feel so much, and that was just the first 2 chapters!
Our story starts relatively slow, with Marcus successfully setting the scene and for the introduction to our main character, Montgomery Nolan. I really LOVED reading the vivid descriptions associated with getting old (so thanks for that, lol).
But then, the story picked up & the transformation began. This book had everything it had sex, orgies, disgusting vomit worthy scenes (in particular, the scene with brenda it was FKN DISGUSTING CANT BELIEVE YOU WENT THERE)
Coming out so close to Christmas, this is a tale packed with suspense, thrills, and a pinch of the macabre, and it was enough for me to relish in the beauty of a Christmas transformation. Gone are the decked halls or the silent nights, or have yourself a very merry Christmas. It will make you start questioning what you would do if you had more time, and what sort of things will you take with you?
🎄 Christmas Eve, 1984: A night of carols, joy, and… impending...what doom? Death?
Enter the imaginative, horrific, and quirky mind of Marcus Hawke, complete with a fresh new take on the blood curdling vampire saga. Ahhhh, but friends, This isn’t just any vampire story—this is also a tantalizing story of greed, lust, power, immortality, and, believe it or not, heartfelt moments.
Thank you, Marcus, for gifting me this ebook, and after I saw this cover, I was dying to read it #FOMO. Being someone obsessed with vampires and the dark lure and beauty of transformation, i really couldn't wait to sink my teeth into this.
I am literally obsessed with Marcus, his infinite detail, his creative, masterful writing makes me feel so much, and that was just the first 2 chapters!
Our story starts relatively slow, with Marcus successfully setting the scene and for the introduction to our main character, Montgomery Nolan. I really LOVED reading the vivid descriptions associated with getting old (so thanks for that, lol).
But then, the story picked up & the transformation began. This book had everything it had sex, orgies, disgusting vomit worthy scenes (in particular, the scene with brenda it was FKN DISGUSTING CANT BELIEVE YOU WENT THERE)
Coming out so close to Christmas, this is a tale packed with suspense, thrills, and a pinch of the macabre, and it was enough for me to relish in the beauty of a Christmas transformation. Gone are the decked halls or the silent nights, or have yourself a very merry Christmas. It will make you start questioning what you would do if you had more time, and what sort of things will you take with you?
November 30, 2024
Not your regular vampire story. Slow-burning, melancholy, introspective but punctuated with flashes of blood, sex and gore. I never knew where this was going but mostly enjoyed it. It felt Dickensian despite being set in the 80s and it wasn’t afraid to go either dark or weird.
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November 23, 2024
"You Can't Take It With You" by Marcus Hawke follows Montgomery Nolan, a wealthy 90-year-old who has found a way to avoid dying. I mean, there’s no sense in dying because you really can't take it with you, right?
Thank you to the author, Marcus Hawke, for the gifted physical ARC copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are my own.
The first thing that attracted me to the novel was the cover. I mean, look at that gorgeous cover and tell me you don't want to read it! Okay, maybe it's not for everyone, but horror readers will certainly understand my attraction to it.
This story starts by exploring Montgomery Nolan's life up to the present. It's beautifully written, enjoyable, and allows the reader to grasp who this person truly is, albeit a little slowly.
The story then picks up, and not only does it center around vampires, but you also get a firsthand view from the main character. From the grotesque thirst for human blood to spicy sex scenes, this one fulfills all of one's basic primal needs. It's downright exciting, okay?
But there's a deeper message: Is the grass really greener on the other side? At what price do you pay for greener grass?
This vampire horror is fast-paced and set in NYC during Christmas, making it your next go-to holiday horror read. "You Can't Take It With You" by Marcus Hawke will be widely available on November 26, 2024.
Thank you to the author, Marcus Hawke, for the gifted physical ARC copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are my own.
The first thing that attracted me to the novel was the cover. I mean, look at that gorgeous cover and tell me you don't want to read it! Okay, maybe it's not for everyone, but horror readers will certainly understand my attraction to it.
This story starts by exploring Montgomery Nolan's life up to the present. It's beautifully written, enjoyable, and allows the reader to grasp who this person truly is, albeit a little slowly.
The story then picks up, and not only does it center around vampires, but you also get a firsthand view from the main character. From the grotesque thirst for human blood to spicy sex scenes, this one fulfills all of one's basic primal needs. It's downright exciting, okay?
But there's a deeper message: Is the grass really greener on the other side? At what price do you pay for greener grass?
This vampire horror is fast-paced and set in NYC during Christmas, making it your next go-to holiday horror read. "You Can't Take It With You" by Marcus Hawke will be widely available on November 26, 2024.
December 17, 2024
This one took me entirely too long to read, but there was a sadly tangentally connected event that occurred in between the two sessions it took to read this short novel, and it truly did help to drive the ending home for me.
So, I read the first part, which is very much about Monty turning into the character pictured on the very gorgeous cover. And I enjoyed both the story, the backstory, and the interestingly different take Hawke brought to the vampire myth.
Then, life intervened for a week, and I couldn't get back to finish the book until today. In between, someone I've known for decades, and loved as long, passed away unexpectedly. So, as one does when one reaches a certain age, the matters of death have been on my mind.
Then I came back to this book as it took an interesting and more philosophical turn toward the end. And honestly? Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the thoughts that had been roiling in my head, maybe it was also the very personal and informative afterward Marcus Hawke ended the book with.
Whatever it was, this book checked all the boxes for me. Maybe I'm taking the book too personally, but regardless, this was the right book at the right time for me.
Of course, it's also written by Marcus, and I've both enjoyed a couple of his previous works, and also been thrilled that he just gets better and better with each release.
Read this.
So, I read the first part, which is very much about Monty turning into the character pictured on the very gorgeous cover. And I enjoyed both the story, the backstory, and the interestingly different take Hawke brought to the vampire myth.
Then, life intervened for a week, and I couldn't get back to finish the book until today. In between, someone I've known for decades, and loved as long, passed away unexpectedly. So, as one does when one reaches a certain age, the matters of death have been on my mind.
Then I came back to this book as it took an interesting and more philosophical turn toward the end. And honestly? Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the thoughts that had been roiling in my head, maybe it was also the very personal and informative afterward Marcus Hawke ended the book with.
Whatever it was, this book checked all the boxes for me. Maybe I'm taking the book too personally, but regardless, this was the right book at the right time for me.
Of course, it's also written by Marcus, and I've both enjoyed a couple of his previous works, and also been thrilled that he just gets better and better with each release.
Read this.
June 12, 2025
You Can't Take It With You - Marcus Hawke
5/5⭐️
"There was no journal entry made for her death. Not because it meant nothing; because it meant everything. Every time he picked up the pen it was tears that flowed instead of ink. Where the limits of language truly reveal themselves is in the attempt to put that which touches and scars the invisible parts of us into words."
Wow.
I honestly don't really know what to say other than that.
I finished this book 3 days ago with the hopes that I would find the right words to say how this book made me feel, but I am still at a loss.
This is the new standard for which I will rank all tales of vampires (my favorite monster), too.
This isn’t just a horror story, this is a tribute to human nature; an examination of the human condition was raw, realistic and relatable and Hawke's use of language is going to stick with me for years to come.
Don't get me wrong, there blood and sex and murder and depravity, but there is so much more to this story than just that.
Full disclosure - the author provided me an ARC, but, unfortunately life got in the way and I didnt get to reading it in a timely manner.
5/5⭐️
"There was no journal entry made for her death. Not because it meant nothing; because it meant everything. Every time he picked up the pen it was tears that flowed instead of ink. Where the limits of language truly reveal themselves is in the attempt to put that which touches and scars the invisible parts of us into words."
Wow.
I honestly don't really know what to say other than that.
I finished this book 3 days ago with the hopes that I would find the right words to say how this book made me feel, but I am still at a loss.
This is the new standard for which I will rank all tales of vampires (my favorite monster), too.
This isn’t just a horror story, this is a tribute to human nature; an examination of the human condition was raw, realistic and relatable and Hawke's use of language is going to stick with me for years to come.
Don't get me wrong, there blood and sex and murder and depravity, but there is so much more to this story than just that.
Full disclosure - the author provided me an ARC, but, unfortunately life got in the way and I didnt get to reading it in a timely manner.
November 25, 2024
Montgomery Nolan is dying. From the outside looking in, he lived a successful, full, and mostly happy 90 years with becoming a self made multimillionaire, and living a lavish life that most would be envious of. As he sits in his Manhattan penthouse and reflects all he’s accomplished, lost, loved, and heartbreak, he would beg to differ. Montgomery isn’t ready to give up this life, even as he recognizes his body is about to call it quits. Many years ago, he purchased an extremely costly, mysterious box containing a syringe to everlasting life that, he believes, he finally might be ready to use, but is it worth the price? Monty is about to be reborn.
I enjoyed my time with this one! The writing hooked me right away and kept my attention throughout. I actually loved reading Montgomery’s backstory and all that he experienced with a loveless marriage, losing many family members to the war, and slipping away from the love of his life. His back story is nearly the entire first half of the book, so the horror elements don’t begin right away, which was cool with me, but it may feel a little slow for typical horror readers.
Thank you, Marcus Hawke, for the gifted copy! Grab a copy of this book TOMORROW, November 26th! This is a great Christmas time read!
I enjoyed my time with this one! The writing hooked me right away and kept my attention throughout. I actually loved reading Montgomery’s backstory and all that he experienced with a loveless marriage, losing many family members to the war, and slipping away from the love of his life. His back story is nearly the entire first half of the book, so the horror elements don’t begin right away, which was cool with me, but it may feel a little slow for typical horror readers.
Thank you, Marcus Hawke, for the gifted copy! Grab a copy of this book TOMORROW, November 26th! This is a great Christmas time read!
August 21, 2025
If Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde wrote American Psycho and Patrick Bateman was a better human and a vampire that might maybe come somewhat close to being similar. This is a super well written and creative story that makes some deep profound points about the human existence and a lot of common struggles we face. While it is profound, deep, and philosophical it is also crude and downright disgusting at times. I loved these moments though as they made the story feel all the more real and relatable. I loved this take on vampires and found Monty’s transformation fascinating. There were changes that happened that I hadn’t even thought of! So well thought out! It’s refreshing to read a vampire story that gives the familiar nods vampire nerds want while still tossing some gotchas in there. I absolutely loved this book-it had me going “just one more chapter” the whole time. My only regret is not reading this sooner!
November 27, 2024
4.5 stars
"In Aeternum Vive."
You Can't Take It With You is a story of aging, mortality, a life lived, and a life lived again in another form.
Thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC for review!
I have now read a number of books by Hawke, and You Can't Take It With You ranks up there next to my favourites Grey Noise and Acts Of Violence.
Hawke brings nonagenerian and eventual vampire Montgomery Nolan alive (sorry, I said it lol), from his early life, time with true love of Françoise, not-love-but-wife Ellen, to the seduction of eternal life in New York City.
It's a fascinating portrait returning to the desires and functionality of an earlier life, but also the new craving for blood.
Horror fans, don't miss this sanguinous Christmas story!
Released on Nov. 26
"In Aeternum Vive."
You Can't Take It With You is a story of aging, mortality, a life lived, and a life lived again in another form.
Thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC for review!
I have now read a number of books by Hawke, and You Can't Take It With You ranks up there next to my favourites Grey Noise and Acts Of Violence.
Hawke brings nonagenerian and eventual vampire Montgomery Nolan alive (sorry, I said it lol), from his early life, time with true love of Françoise, not-love-but-wife Ellen, to the seduction of eternal life in New York City.
It's a fascinating portrait returning to the desires and functionality of an earlier life, but also the new craving for blood.
Horror fans, don't miss this sanguinous Christmas story!
Released on Nov. 26
December 28, 2024
“We kill the things we find beautiful, like picking flowers.”
You Can’t Take It With You by the one and only Marcus Hawke was, to no surprise, a grand ol’ time. I’ve grown to have high expectations when it comes to Marcus’ work and he always delivers!
Set in New York on Christmas Eve in 1984, we already have a fabulous backdrop. Add a rich 90-year-old man named Montgomery Nolan, we’re gearing up for something special. Give that man a strong desire to live forever and the possibility of making that dream come true: we’re off and running, folks!
Full of nostalgia, killer music references, scenes that make a girl blush, and a sprinkling (more than a sprinkling) of nihilism, this story hit all the notes this ink drinker could desire.
As the back cover asks: “What would you do for more time?”
You Can’t Take It With You by the one and only Marcus Hawke was, to no surprise, a grand ol’ time. I’ve grown to have high expectations when it comes to Marcus’ work and he always delivers!
Set in New York on Christmas Eve in 1984, we already have a fabulous backdrop. Add a rich 90-year-old man named Montgomery Nolan, we’re gearing up for something special. Give that man a strong desire to live forever and the possibility of making that dream come true: we’re off and running, folks!
Full of nostalgia, killer music references, scenes that make a girl blush, and a sprinkling (more than a sprinkling) of nihilism, this story hit all the notes this ink drinker could desire.
As the back cover asks: “What would you do for more time?”
December 11, 2024
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC of You Can’t Take it With You!
You Can’t Take it With You is a solid read for the Christmas & winter-y season as it has all of the cold & snowy vibes. The writing is beautifully done & the action/blood & guts is FANTASTIC.
OH AND THAT COVER? Amazing, flawless, gorgeous.
My problem with this one is that I didn’t care as much about the first half as I did the last half. You spend a lot of time getting to know the main character & that does help you feel for him buuuuut I couldn’t find myself getting invested until the pace picked up.
You Can’t Take it With You is a solid read for the Christmas & winter-y season as it has all of the cold & snowy vibes. The writing is beautifully done & the action/blood & guts is FANTASTIC.
OH AND THAT COVER? Amazing, flawless, gorgeous.
My problem with this one is that I didn’t care as much about the first half as I did the last half. You spend a lot of time getting to know the main character & that does help you feel for him buuuuut I couldn’t find myself getting invested until the pace picked up.
December 6, 2024
A dark and compelling story about a man who can’t seem to let life go, You Can’t Take It With You explores the deepest human fear- the end of it all.
What a fantastic winter read, this book definitely gives the same feeling as being outside in a cold Canadian winter. Unforgiving, brutal and indifferent to your existence, death is something we ALL grapple with. I found this story to be dreadful and exciting at the same time.
If you are looking for a holiday horror to chill your soul this winter, look not further! Add this one to your reading list, you won’t be disappointed.
Incredibly grateful for Marcus, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read for you!
What a fantastic winter read, this book definitely gives the same feeling as being outside in a cold Canadian winter. Unforgiving, brutal and indifferent to your existence, death is something we ALL grapple with. I found this story to be dreadful and exciting at the same time.
If you are looking for a holiday horror to chill your soul this winter, look not further! Add this one to your reading list, you won’t be disappointed.
Incredibly grateful for Marcus, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read for you!
November 26, 2024
I was instantly attracted to the cover of this book. This chilling vampire gothic tale was really good and I had a great time reading it because it kept me engaged throughout the book.
It's Christmas Eve in 1984. Montgomery Nolan is 90 years old and dying, but he's found a way to avoid death. Years ago he purchased a mysterious box with a syringe that will change his life, but was the money worth it?
It's Christmas Eve in 1984. Montgomery Nolan is 90 years old and dying, but he's found a way to avoid death. Years ago he purchased a mysterious box with a syringe that will change his life, but was the money worth it?
December 24, 2024
The writing was excellent. I enjoyed its verbose, descriptive style. It's definitely a thought-provoking read as it takes a look at aging, death, and the possible pitfalls of immortality. Is it better to die with your humanity in tact or live for eternity as a monster? 4.5⭐️
April 7, 2025
Wow. Just simply wow. I love vampires and this is hands down the BEST vampire book I have read in a hot ass minute!
March 28, 2025
This was a fantastic moody vampire novel.
July 27, 2025
What good is life if its one and only fate is to die?
…
The vampire continues to die. Forever.
Marcus Hawke's "You Can't Take It With You" - which I'm rating with 3 1/2 stars - is certainly a quick read that I would recommend to all of my fellow vampire story fans… with a few caveats. Even though I had very mixed feelings about the overall execution, which I'll address shortly, it is still an interesting tale from start to finish, especially as it takes a unique approach to the creation of our vampire and even the philosophy behind his decision. The bit about his origin is not entirely explained, at least not enough for my liking, but still, respect for the new slant on things. And combining that with the very human aspect of facing the end of one's mortal time on Earth was very poignant.
Watching himself age was the scariest thing he had ever known.
Continuing to stay positive for a moment, I was utterly thrilled with several aspects, including that wonderful cover as well as to discover that the book takes place for the most part squarely in the cozy confines of New York City. Having only visited as a tourist once (no, taxi rides to and from work don't count), I love being able to place where things transpire and imagine that I may have been out and about when above me a vampire was leaping from building to building in search of his next meal. In fact, we see how things progress from the days of the turn of the century - that's from the 19th to the 20th centuries by the way - to Christmas Eve, 1984. To say that our "protagonist" Montgomery Nolan, born December 11th, 1894 lived through some of the most interesting times is an understatement at best.
We are always too young to die. It’s never enough.
Again, we are given an extremely thorough look at Montgomery's rise from near poverty to being if not on the same level as the Rockefellers or Rothschilds then definitely living the comfortable life afforded to the 1% of the 1%, noting he clearly found that all "the high society types were all the same. Vapid, self-absorbed, neurotic twits." Still, though we rarely see it these days, his is the kind of story that gave birth to the idea of the American dream, even with its ups, downs, and perhaps even further downs as he loses "loved" ones to both world wars in one capacity or another. I have to be honest though as I had trouble finding much to sympathize with him about in terms of his deep and often longing look back at his life. Even the author underlines much of it with the simple phrase: "The grass may be greener, but it was full of snakes." I mean, ok, he ultimately married an utter bitch and missed out for most of his life on true love or any meaningful friendships. But to me that was just more of a "welcome to the real world" aspect than anything else, you know, so hike up your skirt and get on with it!
Nothing lasts forever except pain, and misery, and death.
I do, however, appreciate that the author took the time and provided details to Montgomery's daily reality, namely, "Every day was a struggle now. Every day filled with aches and pains." Or if you prefer: "Everything hurts and I’m dying. And what’s worse is that I’m terrified of it." But you don't have to be 90 to realize how time catches up with all of us and even if we consider ourselves in terrific condition (I'm not), being 60 is not the same as being 30, especially if your kids are closer to the latter than you are. So, yeah, 90 sounds tough and Hawke makes that extremely clear. Again though, these were … oh what can we call them? … self-evident truths rather than anything ground-breaking. It did put the reader in the right frame of mind to understand what was about to happen next, on the day our "hero" decides is his last ("I’m tired of it. Tired of being afraid of the end. It is time."). Still, putting too much emphasis on things like gray hairs - noting I was half-gray by age 20 and fully white from head-to-toe by my mid-30s (but at least I still have hair, dammit!!!) - was less than effective to me.
He had to die in order to find beauty in death.
Now there is one aspect that will definitely stay with me: interestingly enough, the "v-word" does not appear until around the 40% mark of the actual book. It is at this point that the author began to lose, well, not my interest but my very positive look at what was being presented. Don't get me wrong: the entire book is written with a flowing, almost lyrical prose that I found both alluring as well as extremely quotable. Unfortunately, whereas we had taken quite a bit of time to get to know Montgomery and his first 90 years of existence, now we were rushing through his last DAY of existence like we were rushing from an out-of-control inferno (ok, I guess seeing the sun for him would count as that). Why Hawke didn't slow down and really let us take a long look at the literal blood-thirsty monster that is born and tears his way through the city that never sleeps is beyond me. This was especially true knowing what delicious feasts awaited our newly baptized blood-sucker in the form of all the yuppies gallavanting about through their requisite mid-80s debauchery filled with sexual exploration and enough drugs to fuel rock'n'rollers for all eternity. All kidding aside, I ultimately found the lack of MORE unique scenes really confusing and it wound up being a thorough letdown for me.
From blood came the bliss. The sustenance. The satisfaction.
Yes, I get that we wanted Monty's shock and dismay at how things did NOT magically improve after his transformation to be very clear. And it was! But I still think that could have been as well-accomplished over a course of several days vs. just up until the next morning's sunrise. For me then, there were just too many aspects of the plot that were far too rushed and far too unexplored. For example, I found it beyond reason that our new vampire just instantly became a master of all his new powers, ranging of course from the ability to sense and hunt for blood, the usual increased strength and speed, ability to traverse great distances both vertical and horizontal, and even his new-found mental acuities. And even when our newly formed vampire met a group of other vampires as well as a vampyre, with the mystical spelling and all, to miss this opportunity to fill out the story was for me an extreme disappointment. There were other examples as well, from his sudden charity to a cold and hungry waif, his potential amorous dealings with his long-time care-taker, and more where I just felt, well, cheated. Put it this way: the author's skills supported more!
Come, oblivion. Let all I am, whatever I am, finally end.
Otherwise stated, it was my impression that Hawke seemed more anxious than I to get to the end of this story. And again, that just left me feeling very unsatisfied, particularly as I was really enjoying this bloody romp through NYC and getting my total word-lover thrills at the writing itself! I mean, if we want to make comparisons, you can look to Christopher Buehlman's "The Lesser Dead", which was for me another well-written and highly fascinating vampire story centered in NYC. However, whereas Buehlman left me feeling sated, satisfied and more than a little terrified, my memory of this offer by Hawke will no doubt be that I wanted so, so much more. This is particularly true as the potential for more exposition and further fascinating aspects were teased throughout and just waiting for their chance to be explored.
…
The vampire continues to die. Forever.
Marcus Hawke's "You Can't Take It With You" - which I'm rating with 3 1/2 stars - is certainly a quick read that I would recommend to all of my fellow vampire story fans… with a few caveats. Even though I had very mixed feelings about the overall execution, which I'll address shortly, it is still an interesting tale from start to finish, especially as it takes a unique approach to the creation of our vampire and even the philosophy behind his decision. The bit about his origin is not entirely explained, at least not enough for my liking, but still, respect for the new slant on things. And combining that with the very human aspect of facing the end of one's mortal time on Earth was very poignant.
Watching himself age was the scariest thing he had ever known.
Continuing to stay positive for a moment, I was utterly thrilled with several aspects, including that wonderful cover as well as to discover that the book takes place for the most part squarely in the cozy confines of New York City. Having only visited as a tourist once (no, taxi rides to and from work don't count), I love being able to place where things transpire and imagine that I may have been out and about when above me a vampire was leaping from building to building in search of his next meal. In fact, we see how things progress from the days of the turn of the century - that's from the 19th to the 20th centuries by the way - to Christmas Eve, 1984. To say that our "protagonist" Montgomery Nolan, born December 11th, 1894 lived through some of the most interesting times is an understatement at best.
We are always too young to die. It’s never enough.
Again, we are given an extremely thorough look at Montgomery's rise from near poverty to being if not on the same level as the Rockefellers or Rothschilds then definitely living the comfortable life afforded to the 1% of the 1%, noting he clearly found that all "the high society types were all the same. Vapid, self-absorbed, neurotic twits." Still, though we rarely see it these days, his is the kind of story that gave birth to the idea of the American dream, even with its ups, downs, and perhaps even further downs as he loses "loved" ones to both world wars in one capacity or another. I have to be honest though as I had trouble finding much to sympathize with him about in terms of his deep and often longing look back at his life. Even the author underlines much of it with the simple phrase: "The grass may be greener, but it was full of snakes." I mean, ok, he ultimately married an utter bitch and missed out for most of his life on true love or any meaningful friendships. But to me that was just more of a "welcome to the real world" aspect than anything else, you know, so hike up your skirt and get on with it!
Nothing lasts forever except pain, and misery, and death.
I do, however, appreciate that the author took the time and provided details to Montgomery's daily reality, namely, "Every day was a struggle now. Every day filled with aches and pains." Or if you prefer: "Everything hurts and I’m dying. And what’s worse is that I’m terrified of it." But you don't have to be 90 to realize how time catches up with all of us and even if we consider ourselves in terrific condition (I'm not), being 60 is not the same as being 30, especially if your kids are closer to the latter than you are. So, yeah, 90 sounds tough and Hawke makes that extremely clear. Again though, these were … oh what can we call them? … self-evident truths rather than anything ground-breaking. It did put the reader in the right frame of mind to understand what was about to happen next, on the day our "hero" decides is his last ("I’m tired of it. Tired of being afraid of the end. It is time."). Still, putting too much emphasis on things like gray hairs - noting I was half-gray by age 20 and fully white from head-to-toe by my mid-30s (but at least I still have hair, dammit!!!) - was less than effective to me.
He had to die in order to find beauty in death.
Now there is one aspect that will definitely stay with me: interestingly enough, the "v-word" does not appear until around the 40% mark of the actual book. It is at this point that the author began to lose, well, not my interest but my very positive look at what was being presented. Don't get me wrong: the entire book is written with a flowing, almost lyrical prose that I found both alluring as well as extremely quotable. Unfortunately, whereas we had taken quite a bit of time to get to know Montgomery and his first 90 years of existence, now we were rushing through his last DAY of existence like we were rushing from an out-of-control inferno (ok, I guess seeing the sun for him would count as that). Why Hawke didn't slow down and really let us take a long look at the literal blood-thirsty monster that is born and tears his way through the city that never sleeps is beyond me. This was especially true knowing what delicious feasts awaited our newly baptized blood-sucker in the form of all the yuppies gallavanting about through their requisite mid-80s debauchery filled with sexual exploration and enough drugs to fuel rock'n'rollers for all eternity. All kidding aside, I ultimately found the lack of MORE unique scenes really confusing and it wound up being a thorough letdown for me.
From blood came the bliss. The sustenance. The satisfaction.
Yes, I get that we wanted Monty's shock and dismay at how things did NOT magically improve after his transformation to be very clear. And it was! But I still think that could have been as well-accomplished over a course of several days vs. just up until the next morning's sunrise. For me then, there were just too many aspects of the plot that were far too rushed and far too unexplored. For example, I found it beyond reason that our new vampire just instantly became a master of all his new powers, ranging of course from the ability to sense and hunt for blood, the usual increased strength and speed, ability to traverse great distances both vertical and horizontal, and even his new-found mental acuities. And even when our newly formed vampire met a group of other vampires as well as a vampyre, with the mystical spelling and all, to miss this opportunity to fill out the story was for me an extreme disappointment. There were other examples as well, from his sudden charity to a cold and hungry waif, his potential amorous dealings with his long-time care-taker, and more where I just felt, well, cheated. Put it this way: the author's skills supported more!
Come, oblivion. Let all I am, whatever I am, finally end.
Otherwise stated, it was my impression that Hawke seemed more anxious than I to get to the end of this story. And again, that just left me feeling very unsatisfied, particularly as I was really enjoying this bloody romp through NYC and getting my total word-lover thrills at the writing itself! I mean, if we want to make comparisons, you can look to Christopher Buehlman's "The Lesser Dead", which was for me another well-written and highly fascinating vampire story centered in NYC. However, whereas Buehlman left me feeling sated, satisfied and more than a little terrified, my memory of this offer by Hawke will no doubt be that I wanted so, so much more. This is particularly true as the potential for more exposition and further fascinating aspects were teased throughout and just waiting for their chance to be explored.
December 23, 2024
Dammit.....I absolutely loved this book. Having read it in one sitting, the prose, a vampiric Ebenezer Scrooge type figure, made me turn each page and absolutely devour it. A vampire tale told like no other. A very, very excellent read!
March 14, 2025
This novella offers an intriguing premise: a wealthy old man, faced with the weight of a lifetime’s regrets, is given a second chance—only to find that immortality may be more of a curse than a gift. Monty, at 90 years old, has built an empire of wealth but lost the love that once meant everything to him. With nothing left but a journal of memories, he makes a desperate choice. On his deathbed, he injects himself with a mysterious substance linked to an immortal, and soon, he awakens—not as a man reborn, but as something monstrous.
What follows is a blood-soaked, hallucinatory rampage through New York City on Christmas Eve, where Monty feeds indiscriminately, caught in the throes of his new hunger. The city becomes his hunting ground, a place where he is no longer a titan of industry but a primal, ravenous creature. And yet, amid the carnage, the story forces him to confront something far worse than death: the realization that all the power in the world—whether mortal or immortal—cannot undo a life of missed opportunities.
I enjoyed the story for what it was, but I found myself wanting more. The concept is fantastic, yet the novella format works against it. Monty’s transformation is abrupt, and his emotional reckoning, while compelling, feels rushed. I wanted more time inside his mind, more weight to his choices, more exploration of the tension between his past life of control and his new existence ruled by bloodlust. The core themes—regret, power, and the consequences of chasing eternity—are rich, but they don’t fully take root before the story ends.
That said, as a quick and atmospheric read, it delivers an enjoyable experience. It’s a tale that brushes against something profound but doesn’t quite sink its teeth in deep enough. I’m not disappointed I read it, but I can’t shake the feeling that it had the potential to be something greater.
What follows is a blood-soaked, hallucinatory rampage through New York City on Christmas Eve, where Monty feeds indiscriminately, caught in the throes of his new hunger. The city becomes his hunting ground, a place where he is no longer a titan of industry but a primal, ravenous creature. And yet, amid the carnage, the story forces him to confront something far worse than death: the realization that all the power in the world—whether mortal or immortal—cannot undo a life of missed opportunities.
I enjoyed the story for what it was, but I found myself wanting more. The concept is fantastic, yet the novella format works against it. Monty’s transformation is abrupt, and his emotional reckoning, while compelling, feels rushed. I wanted more time inside his mind, more weight to his choices, more exploration of the tension between his past life of control and his new existence ruled by bloodlust. The core themes—regret, power, and the consequences of chasing eternity—are rich, but they don’t fully take root before the story ends.
That said, as a quick and atmospheric read, it delivers an enjoyable experience. It’s a tale that brushes against something profound but doesn’t quite sink its teeth in deep enough. I’m not disappointed I read it, but I can’t shake the feeling that it had the potential to be something greater.
March 19, 2025
I was kindly granted an e-ARC of this book through BookFunnel and Marcus Hawke for review.
"You Can't Take it With You" follows Monty, a very old man on the edge of death, with a secret way to cheat it at his fingertips. The focus is around Monty reflecting on his life, all of the material goods he has accumulated over the years, and his pervasive fear of dying. There are quite a few pages at the beginning dedicated to Monty talking about music he likes and why. There is also a gentle nod at the beginning to Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" where Monty is in his chair reading "David Copperfield." I could hear Brad Pitt from the movie version saying, "Shall we begin like David Copperfield, I am born, I grow up? Or shall we begin when I was born to darkness, as I call it." This in itself is foreshadowing for Monty's own chosen rebirth, however there is no true siring, but rather an injection with something he's not even sure will turn him into a vampire. The rest of the tale follows him acting on his newfound vampiric impulses in one way or another and discovering more about himself along the way.
This short read was entertaining enough and there was a charm to the writing that kept me going. I took away two stars because I didn't like the lack of detail surrounding the needle itself, nor how the ending approached abruptly and with a touch of ill-fitting goofiness. The amount of paragraphs spent discussing the music Monty liked was a bit overkill, and I felt that it was more of a spewing of musical factoids than character building. I appreciated the Afterword; it specifically mentions Anne Rice as an inspiration, and also touches on Marcus Hawke's own bitterness and discomfort with loss and steadily-approaching death. It certainly helped provide some background into the story's creation.
"You Can't Take it With You" follows Monty, a very old man on the edge of death, with a secret way to cheat it at his fingertips. The focus is around Monty reflecting on his life, all of the material goods he has accumulated over the years, and his pervasive fear of dying. There are quite a few pages at the beginning dedicated to Monty talking about music he likes and why. There is also a gentle nod at the beginning to Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" where Monty is in his chair reading "David Copperfield." I could hear Brad Pitt from the movie version saying, "Shall we begin like David Copperfield, I am born, I grow up? Or shall we begin when I was born to darkness, as I call it." This in itself is foreshadowing for Monty's own chosen rebirth, however there is no true siring, but rather an injection with something he's not even sure will turn him into a vampire. The rest of the tale follows him acting on his newfound vampiric impulses in one way or another and discovering more about himself along the way.
This short read was entertaining enough and there was a charm to the writing that kept me going. I took away two stars because I didn't like the lack of detail surrounding the needle itself, nor how the ending approached abruptly and with a touch of ill-fitting goofiness. The amount of paragraphs spent discussing the music Monty liked was a bit overkill, and I felt that it was more of a spewing of musical factoids than character building. I appreciated the Afterword; it specifically mentions Anne Rice as an inspiration, and also touches on Marcus Hawke's own bitterness and discomfort with loss and steadily-approaching death. It certainly helped provide some background into the story's creation.
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