Ellery Adams on the Bravery to Leap Genres and Face My Audience’s Expectations (Invasive Species) - Book Gang | Lyssna här

Author Ellery Adams discusses her genre-blending novel Invasive Species, the power of public reviewing, and why honesty and horror make the best book club fodder.

This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ellery Adams, whose genre-blending new release, Invasive Species, is a darkly funny, horror-tinged romp set in 1980s suburbia. With more than forty novels to her name—including beloved series like The Secret, Book, & Scone Society—Ellery shares how she’s redefining what cozy, horror, and women’s fiction can be.

In this episode, we dive into Ellery’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror and satire, the art of honest book reviews (even as an author), and what it takes to build a world readers want to revisit again and again.

In this week’s juicy episode, we discuss:

📚 Honest Reviews & Reader Connection: Ellery is famous for her candid book reviews—even as a working author—and her willingness to engage in tough conversations on Goodreads. We explore the etiquette (and emotional toll) of public feedback, how she handles criticism, and why she believes honest dialogue between writers and readers makes the book world stronger.

📚Reinventing a Writing Life: Ellery Adams’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror is anything but linear. We discuss her bold leap from beloved series writer to risk-taking genre bender, how she navigated industry upheaval and shifting contracts, and what it means to trust your instincts even when readers expect you to "stay in your lane."

📚 Monsters, Myth, and Suburban Drama: Invasive Species is more than a monster tale. We unpack Ellery’s sharp satire of 1980s suburbia, the real-life and mythological inspirations behind Mrs. Smith, and why the monstrous can be both literal and metaphorical. Plus, how horror (even cozy horror!) reflects our deepest anxieties about ambition, community, and what it means to be an outsider.

FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 11 Creature Feature Books that every reader should try for spooky season! Patrons of the show will receive a printable list to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler chat with Ellery Adams, where we dig deeper into the monstrous twists in Invasive Species.

Meet Ellery Adams

Ellery Adams is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels. A native New Yorker, she now resides in central North Carolina. Her acclaimed series include the Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington), Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington), Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).

In addition to her cozy and traditional mysteries, Ellery writes genre-blending fiction focused on women and their inner monsters. Her latest, Invasive Species (2026, HarperCollins), marks an exciting new direction—one that’s already winning over fans of dark, witty, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Friends in Dark Places will follow in 2027.

Mentioned in this episode:

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NEW BOOK LIST: 11 Creature Feature Books to Try This Spooky Season

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford

Cancer Made Me Do It by Melissa Fuoss

Invasive Species by Ellery Adams (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

The Secret Book & Scone Society

Book Retreat Mysteries

Pie Shoppe Series

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes