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Don't Call Them Cute
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T CALL THEM CUTE.
Fans of Goosebumps and Gravity Falls, this one’s for you! 💥
The best time of Emile's life was also the scariest. At ten years old, the girl fought a battle against demons—both metaphorical and literal.
Emile's life gets turned upside down when she is gifted a stuffed lamb. Her newly formed nightmares cause her to launch an investigation with her friends. They soon realize there is more to the stuffed toy than meets the eye. Light is shed on a dark past, and the group of friends must face the danger together.
For ages 11 & up!
📚 Genres: Middle-Grade Horror👻, Mystery🔍 , Paranormal
*Release date may change earlier. This is just the latest date. May release earlier.
Fans of Goosebumps and Gravity Falls, this one’s for you! 💥
The best time of Emile's life was also the scariest. At ten years old, the girl fought a battle against demons—both metaphorical and literal.
Emile's life gets turned upside down when she is gifted a stuffed lamb. Her newly formed nightmares cause her to launch an investigation with her friends. They soon realize there is more to the stuffed toy than meets the eye. Light is shed on a dark past, and the group of friends must face the danger together.
For ages 11 & up!
📚 Genres: Middle-Grade Horror👻, Mystery🔍 , Paranormal
*Release date may change earlier. This is just the latest date. May release earlier.
- GenresMiddle GradeHorror
Paperback
Published October 12, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Yennie Fer
7 books24 followersYennie Fer is an artist and a multi-genre author. She has a collaborative webtoon series called "Remote Angel" with her writing partner Banunu.
Remote Angel had a former, retired version that's out of print. With Banunu, they renewed and revamped the story. So far, it has two volumes. Volume 3 is releasing this 2026/
Yennie Fer is also known for her memoir, Some Can Only Imagine. It is about her experiences with recurrent pregnancy losses.
This Is My Exodus was their first written novel-formatted book together, which had a successful Kickstarter for its bizarre yet twisty nature.
She has an upper-middle school horror book also in the works with Banunu. "Don't Call Them Cute."
And her latest WIP is a Dark Mafia romance story. It will be her first slowburn spicy romance story with Banunu. No more teasers on that.
Remote Angel had a former, retired version that's out of print. With Banunu, they renewed and revamped the story. So far, it has two volumes. Volume 3 is releasing this 2026/
Yennie Fer is also known for her memoir, Some Can Only Imagine. It is about her experiences with recurrent pregnancy losses.
This Is My Exodus was their first written novel-formatted book together, which had a successful Kickstarter for its bizarre yet twisty nature.
She has an upper-middle school horror book also in the works with Banunu. "Don't Call Them Cute."
And her latest WIP is a Dark Mafia romance story. It will be her first slowburn spicy romance story with Banunu. No more teasers on that.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 2, 2025
The debut horror story by the two authors was a real surprise. The story begins innocently, with 10-year-old Emilie receiving an adorable stuffed animal. Everything seems perfectly normal—until the reader is suddenly drawn into eerie, terrifying events, followed by even worse nightmares. The authors skillfully build tension, keeping it rising throughout and giving readers moments of genuine chills.
The language is sophisticated yet highly readable, and all the illustrations in the book are hand-drawn.
Don’t Call Them Cute easily holds its own against masters like Clive Barker or Stephen King.
The language is sophisticated yet highly readable, and all the illustrations in the book are hand-drawn.
Don’t Call Them Cute easily holds its own against masters like Clive Barker or Stephen King.
August 15, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
I was actually surprised by this book. I won't go into super detailed, but reading through it, i honestly thought this book was going to be for younger age people. When you get more towards the end, things really pick up, and you realize... NO. This is definitely not for kids. This is a very dark book and has so much more going on than you realize. The end brings everything together, and I gasped. You have all these children, and there is such darkness happening around them. You want them all safe, but even safe places aren't as safe as you think they are. This book shows that the world and people in it no matter what can be hiding something. Secrets rot and fester and eventually will come out.
I love the title of the book and the cover. Thinking about it, it's so hard not to call something cute when looking at a bunny, a puppy, or a kitten. It just happens automatically at times, and to think it could be dangerous? That's the real kicker.
This book was medium paced until the action started. When the action starts, you definitely don't want things to slow down. Reading this, maybe if you have a stuffy or a plush, keep it close. They might just be what keeps you safe.
I was actually surprised by this book. I won't go into super detailed, but reading through it, i honestly thought this book was going to be for younger age people. When you get more towards the end, things really pick up, and you realize... NO. This is definitely not for kids. This is a very dark book and has so much more going on than you realize. The end brings everything together, and I gasped. You have all these children, and there is such darkness happening around them. You want them all safe, but even safe places aren't as safe as you think they are. This book shows that the world and people in it no matter what can be hiding something. Secrets rot and fester and eventually will come out.
I love the title of the book and the cover. Thinking about it, it's so hard not to call something cute when looking at a bunny, a puppy, or a kitten. It just happens automatically at times, and to think it could be dangerous? That's the real kicker.
This book was medium paced until the action started. When the action starts, you definitely don't want things to slow down. Reading this, maybe if you have a stuffy or a plush, keep it close. They might just be what keeps you safe.
August 6, 2025
***Thank you to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital Advanced Reader’s Copy! This review is voluntary, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.***
This book focuses on 10-year-old Emilie whose life seems to get a bit crazy after receiving a gift lamb toy and her and friends try to uncover the scary past of the stuffed animal. The book is a suspenseful mystery in everyday type settings, with just the right touch of eerie atmosphere. It's perfect for you if you enjoy careful/thoughtful, character-driven, horror appropriate for younger audiences- or if you just want a spooky and engaging read.
The book balances between childhood innocence and emerging horror as well as goes into themes of bravery, friendships, and how what might seem harmless may hide deeper darkness-without being overly graphic.
It does have some themes/mentions of abuse and some drug use (substance use and alcohol consumption) but its not overly done to where a high schooler can't handle it.
Overall, it was a quick easy read!
This book focuses on 10-year-old Emilie whose life seems to get a bit crazy after receiving a gift lamb toy and her and friends try to uncover the scary past of the stuffed animal. The book is a suspenseful mystery in everyday type settings, with just the right touch of eerie atmosphere. It's perfect for you if you enjoy careful/thoughtful, character-driven, horror appropriate for younger audiences- or if you just want a spooky and engaging read.
The book balances between childhood innocence and emerging horror as well as goes into themes of bravery, friendships, and how what might seem harmless may hide deeper darkness-without being overly graphic.
It does have some themes/mentions of abuse and some drug use (substance use and alcohol consumption) but its not overly done to where a high schooler can't handle it.
Overall, it was a quick easy read!
August 29, 2025
Thank you to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital advanced reader’s copy! Reviews are totally voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Definitely not what I expected, but in a good way. it gets dark and brings up some topics that might be tough for some. especially if you have a not so good parental figure. I do think this shouldn't be geared towards younger kids.
starts off a little slow but picks up lot at the end. the children interact with each other as you would expect kids to, it's the adults and dreams that are more advanced.
Definitely a good little read though and just in time for spooky season.
Definitely not what I expected, but in a good way. it gets dark and brings up some topics that might be tough for some. especially if you have a not so good parental figure. I do think this shouldn't be geared towards younger kids.
starts off a little slow but picks up lot at the end. the children interact with each other as you would expect kids to, it's the adults and dreams that are more advanced.
Definitely a good little read though and just in time for spooky season.
August 30, 2025
I recieved this book as an arc. I read it with my son and we both thought it was so good. We read it in two sittings, we could barely put it down! The details and descriptions make it so easy to play out the story in your mind as your reading. We also decided to put some spooky piano music on as background noise while we read, and omg it made it that much more creepy. I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read the book. I highly recommend it, especially if you love goosebump making, hair raising, back of neck tingling creepy stories.... You're going to love this book!!!!
February 10, 2026
Read this book all in one sitting! It was really engaging and easy to follow. This book was able to make me cry for the first time while reading a book ever. I is very difficult to make me so emotional when reading any story, but this one got me a little. Mary is definitely my favorite character due to the relatable situations she goes through and overall bubbly personality! It is a short read but it’s packed with a bunch of goodness! I highly recommend this book!
August 14, 2025
***Thank you to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital Advanced Reader’s Copy! This review is voluntary, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.***
Weird dads! Weird dreams! Blueberry muffins!
No, it’s not the world turned upside down. It’s the middle grade horror novel Don’t Call Them Cute by Banunu and Yennie Fer. In this novel, a group of four kids who are trying to make sense of a lot of strange dreams that keep happening, and which seem to be connected to two people in the group.
Emile Carter begins to have weird dreams on the night she receives a stuffed lamb as a gift. Is the lamb cursed? A tool used by aliens?
Only her best friend, Mary, also 10 and a budding detective who devours mystery novels, would be able to crack the case. But Mary has dark secrets of her own, which could tear her world apart if her friends knew all about them.
Then there’s Logan, age 9 and the only boy in the group (who, according to Mary, is not really a boy) and the one who has a crush on Emile. But Logan remains in the friendzone, and he’s still happy to be included in the group all the same.
Then there is Lucy, the 12-year-old practical and prim member of the group who is actually (gasp!) normal. Lucy seems to be more mature than her friends, but probably because she is the oldest of the group.
Together, this group of best friends decide to form a mystery solving club to get to the bottom of Emile’s strange dreams. Because they seem different from most “normal” kids, they are often bullied, but they stand together to fight off anyone who tries to tear them down.
Emile is the daughter of the school principal, and while her dad often tries to remind her that she should get her act together because she has to set an example (for real??), Emile is more interested in getting her own phone. Her FIRST phone, to be exact.
But the weird dreams keep happening, and after Emile is hurt in one of them, she and her friends realize that this is serious business. More serious than getting a phone.
Together, the friends investigate this mystery to try and find out why these dreams are happening, and if the lamb stuffy is connected!
Children are often faced with horrible circumstances that are much bigger than them and too terrifying to understand, but with her friends at her side, Emile finds a way to make sense of the scary situation she is in and find a way to get out of it alive!
Don’t Call Them Cute is a heartwarming story of friendship, family, and what it takes to be brave. This story will offer teachable moments to young readers and open the lines for discussion with their parents. A story that could be enjoyed by readers young and old, it provides an entertaining mystery and a good dose of suspense that will keep readers hooked until the very end.
Weird dads! Weird dreams! Blueberry muffins!
No, it’s not the world turned upside down. It’s the middle grade horror novel Don’t Call Them Cute by Banunu and Yennie Fer. In this novel, a group of four kids who are trying to make sense of a lot of strange dreams that keep happening, and which seem to be connected to two people in the group.
Emile Carter begins to have weird dreams on the night she receives a stuffed lamb as a gift. Is the lamb cursed? A tool used by aliens?
Only her best friend, Mary, also 10 and a budding detective who devours mystery novels, would be able to crack the case. But Mary has dark secrets of her own, which could tear her world apart if her friends knew all about them.
Then there’s Logan, age 9 and the only boy in the group (who, according to Mary, is not really a boy) and the one who has a crush on Emile. But Logan remains in the friendzone, and he’s still happy to be included in the group all the same.
Then there is Lucy, the 12-year-old practical and prim member of the group who is actually (gasp!) normal. Lucy seems to be more mature than her friends, but probably because she is the oldest of the group.
Together, this group of best friends decide to form a mystery solving club to get to the bottom of Emile’s strange dreams. Because they seem different from most “normal” kids, they are often bullied, but they stand together to fight off anyone who tries to tear them down.
Emile is the daughter of the school principal, and while her dad often tries to remind her that she should get her act together because she has to set an example (for real??), Emile is more interested in getting her own phone. Her FIRST phone, to be exact.
But the weird dreams keep happening, and after Emile is hurt in one of them, she and her friends realize that this is serious business. More serious than getting a phone.
Together, the friends investigate this mystery to try and find out why these dreams are happening, and if the lamb stuffy is connected!
Children are often faced with horrible circumstances that are much bigger than them and too terrifying to understand, but with her friends at her side, Emile finds a way to make sense of the scary situation she is in and find a way to get out of it alive!
Don’t Call Them Cute is a heartwarming story of friendship, family, and what it takes to be brave. This story will offer teachable moments to young readers and open the lines for discussion with their parents. A story that could be enjoyed by readers young and old, it provides an entertaining mystery and a good dose of suspense that will keep readers hooked until the very end.
August 18, 2025
Wow, is all I can say! This was an amazing read, and one that will stick with me for some time. Grateful to have the opportunity to read this before release and give my honest opinion. Huge thank you to the authors.
I'm not sure I'd say it is for 12 year olds, but the lessons learned in this book HAVE to be taught to children.
Definitely opens like a Goosebumps book but it quickly takes on more adult themes and becomes its own entity of read. "Don't Call Them Cute" does have themes of drug abuse, violence, and cruelty, so you are warned.
The plot is well crafted, and the atmosphere the characters live through holds an eerie tone throughout the story. Despite the child-like conversations between, well, children, it flows well and creates that realism that many young adult books falter with. The characters communicate as they should, and I appreciated that. The threats within the story are deep and the plot's back and forth sway between reality and dreams balances that fear level quite well.
Overall, "Don't Call Them Cute" is one tense ride that builds the longer you read. Read this in two sittings and it was great. I recommend this book, but maybe leave the lights on. Oh, and if you see a rabbit, deer, or lamb while you're reading... don't call them cute.
I'm not sure I'd say it is for 12 year olds, but the lessons learned in this book HAVE to be taught to children.
Definitely opens like a Goosebumps book but it quickly takes on more adult themes and becomes its own entity of read. "Don't Call Them Cute" does have themes of drug abuse, violence, and cruelty, so you are warned.
The plot is well crafted, and the atmosphere the characters live through holds an eerie tone throughout the story. Despite the child-like conversations between, well, children, it flows well and creates that realism that many young adult books falter with. The characters communicate as they should, and I appreciated that. The threats within the story are deep and the plot's back and forth sway between reality and dreams balances that fear level quite well.
Overall, "Don't Call Them Cute" is one tense ride that builds the longer you read. Read this in two sittings and it was great. I recommend this book, but maybe leave the lights on. Oh, and if you see a rabbit, deer, or lamb while you're reading... don't call them cute.
August 2, 2025
Thank you to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital Advanced Reader’s Copy! This review is voluntary, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
You might assume this will be a quick, light read based on the title — but it soon becomes clear that the story goes much deeper than expected. While you feel compelled to keep turning the pages, constantly surprised by how things unfold, the narrative quietly deconstructs ideas we’ve grown used to accepting.
It clearly shows that what goes unspoken or unresolved doesn’t simply disappear or fade. On the contrary — these silences follow us into our everyday lives, shaping how we see ourselves and how we relate to others.
This story prompts you to reflect on your own experiences: how often have you gone along with others? How many times have you normalized or minimized something out of fear of acknowledging your own role in it?
You might assume this will be a quick, light read based on the title — but it soon becomes clear that the story goes much deeper than expected. While you feel compelled to keep turning the pages, constantly surprised by how things unfold, the narrative quietly deconstructs ideas we’ve grown used to accepting.
It clearly shows that what goes unspoken or unresolved doesn’t simply disappear or fade. On the contrary — these silences follow us into our everyday lives, shaping how we see ourselves and how we relate to others.
This story prompts you to reflect on your own experiences: how often have you gone along with others? How many times have you normalized or minimized something out of fear of acknowledging your own role in it?
August 4, 2025
**Thanks to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital advanced reader’s copy! Reviews are totally voluntary. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
A really compelling and disturbing read about drug and parental abuse. I haven't read anything like it in terms of twists and descriptions. In my opinion, I think this is not for middle graders but high schoolers because of the graphic themes and scenes. Still, a great book.
Wishing the Kickstarter well!
A really compelling and disturbing read about drug and parental abuse. I haven't read anything like it in terms of twists and descriptions. In my opinion, I think this is not for middle graders but high schoolers because of the graphic themes and scenes. Still, a great book.
Wishing the Kickstarter well!
September 30, 2025
This book was SO charming and fun! It had both a whimsical nature, and parts that were genuinely creepy. Both Yennie Fer and Banunu have created a genre all to themselves with this novel. Though aimed at young adults, this book has that Shrek quality - a story that is fun for readers of any age.
I'm very excited about this book's release and buying copies to give to readers who are so hungry for this style of story.
Well done!
I'm very excited about this book's release and buying copies to give to readers who are so hungry for this style of story.
Well done!
October 12, 2025
This book was soo interesting the writing style was so amazing the plot was amazing and the characters were amazing 🤩, it’s a nice mystery book and will definitely keep you wanting to know more about it. I thought it was very interesting.
October 13, 2025
It’s finally out!
Happy book launch day!
If you like Stranger Things, Goosebumps, Coraline, and Gravity Falls, you’ll like our book! Also haunted plushie lovers. 👀
We hope you enjoy our spooky book! I hope you’ll like the artwork!
Happy book launch day!
If you like Stranger Things, Goosebumps, Coraline, and Gravity Falls, you’ll like our book! Also haunted plushie lovers. 👀
We hope you enjoy our spooky book! I hope you’ll like the artwork!
December 7, 2025
Thank you to authors Yennie Fer and Banunu for this digital Advanced Reader’s Copy! This review is voluntary, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Based on the title, I expected a cutesy horror story about a lamb plushie. Boy, was I wrong - so wrong. This book is so much more. It’s filled with lovable and unique characters that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
The friendship portrayed in this story is beautiful and authentic. The descriptive language makes it feel like you’re part of the friend group, solving the mystery right alongside them.
I loved all of the kids, and the dialogue felt real. One of the main character’s backstories almost brought me to tears. This book tackles heavy topics and is also quite scary! (When I read it at night, I had to get up and switch the light on. Yes, I might be easily scared.) Because of that I would recommend it for mid-teens and older. It’s so well written and full of surprises.
It also portrays the importance of friendship beautifully, while making you think about how we never truly know what’s going on behind closed doors.
Thank you for letting me read this ARC.
Based on the title, I expected a cutesy horror story about a lamb plushie. Boy, was I wrong - so wrong. This book is so much more. It’s filled with lovable and unique characters that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
The friendship portrayed in this story is beautiful and authentic. The descriptive language makes it feel like you’re part of the friend group, solving the mystery right alongside them.
I loved all of the kids, and the dialogue felt real. One of the main character’s backstories almost brought me to tears. This book tackles heavy topics and is also quite scary! (When I read it at night, I had to get up and switch the light on. Yes, I might be easily scared.) Because of that I would recommend it for mid-teens and older. It’s so well written and full of surprises.
It also portrays the importance of friendship beautifully, while making you think about how we never truly know what’s going on behind closed doors.
Thank you for letting me read this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews