"I pretended to be human for the last seven years and it finally caught up to me."

A cosmic horror novella with Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe. If you have read and liked 'the Divine Flesh', you'd probably be interested and would care to learn more about the Mirror People. We get to see a bug's POV as it experiences existential crisis and mental breakdown while masquerading around as 'Paul'. Gory, gross, horrific, weird yet entertaining. Read this in one sitting.



Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Genuinely beautifully written with lyrical language, which served to heighten the emotions at the core of the story. Frightening, suspenseful and sad. The kind of beautiful horror that I love to get lost it.

I think the idea of this book was super interesting, however, the synopsis had me thinking this would be focused on the horror of everything. However, it was very focused on the horny-ness and mating of the Mirror People. I think this is a book that possibly suffers from being a novella. At times it feels info-dumpy, the events happen very quickly, and at times it feels like this would've been better with a deeper exploration of the Mirror People.

All that being said, I did enjoy the writing style! Sometimes it felt a bit juvenile, but overall I enjoyed it. I thought the gore and horror parts were very well done and I think the lore was very cool. The cover is also gorgeous. While this book wasn't my favorite, I would definitely pick up another book by this author simply because of the creatively.

A wild, surprisingly heartfelt ride of a book - I enjoyed being dropped in with no context and relying on Paul to guide me through it. I liked Paul and found him heartbreakingly easy to relate to, despite him being, in his words, a bug. Without spoiling it, I appreciated us being left in the dark about certain things, just lovely cosmic horror!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the eARC of this book! This is my voluntary review

This was a very interesting read!! I loved the story and the characters! The author knows how to write a compelling story that can draw the reader in!

I really had fun reading My Name’ Isn’t Paul. It was a weird (complimentary) story about a being that pretended to be a man named Paul for 7 years before he’s forced to change the way he thinks about himself and his species. Did I mention it was weird? In the best way!

- cosmic horror
- wasps. bugs. eldritch
- easy to binge novella
- mirror humans
- grief & family relationships
- 3.5 stars rounded up

I ship this book with Metamorphosis by Kafka and now want to see a crossover between the two :3
if you want a weird read with the beauty of horror that weaves through an exploration of family relationships, friendships, grief & an existential crisis from the eyes of an alien creature made of strings or whatever bugs are made of, you will fly through this. I mean, if I was an otherworldly eldritch insect on this planet inhabiting the body of a male human & pretending to be one -- I would go beserk too.

And then you can come back and ask me why I made you read a fever dream and lore dump about a hormonal alien creature going through heat and not wanting to.

Paul is a bug. A 'parasitic wasp-thing'. He wears a human skinsuit to blend in. But now Paul is having an existential crisis over his first mating season. It sounds like my kind of weird, but this did not work for me. What was meant to be humorous wasn't, and nothing pulled me into the story.This had me shaking my head and asking What is this? It wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this. Due out November 2025.

Out November 18th, 2025
The story centers on a man who wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of who he is—but everyone insists his name is Paul. As he tries to piece together his past, he begins to suspect that the people around him are hiding something, and that the truth about his identity is far more dangerous than he imagined.

As Paul—if that’s even his real name—dives deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a web of psychological manipulation, shadowy figures, and a conspiracy that challenges the very fabric of reality. The narrative twists and turns, keeping readers guessing about what’s real and what’s fabricated. Huff plays with perception and paranoia, crafting a protagonist who is both vulnerable and determined. The tension builds as Paul begins to ask the question that drives the novel: “What if everyone’s wrong about who I am?”

By the end, My Name Isn’t Paul becomes more than just a thriller—it’s a meditation on how identity is shaped by memory, belief, and the stories others tell about us. Huff’s writing is taut and immersive, pulling readers into a psychological labyrinth that’s as unsettling as it is compelling. It’s a gripping read for anyone who loves unreliable narrators, high-stakes mystery, and the kind of ending that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Drew Huff for this ARC!

A fun, quick novella with some good gore and weird bugs! I liked how it ramped up at the end and the writing style made it easy to read and imagine the creatures.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. I love a good, weird book, but I was just lost, bored and a little grossed out during this one. As someone who tries to read at least 100 pages a day, I struggled to get through these 70 pages. I couldn't relate to any of the characters or the situation, and maybe the foreignness of it all was the point, but it didn't work for me; I was disengaged and just rushing to get through it. I wish this author nothing but success and hope they find their audience!

Thank you Drew Huff for the ARC of this novella.

I really enjoyed this book! I wish it was a little longer to explore more of the alienness of the “bugs” and their origins more.

The intensity of the emotions felt by the characters was really well described, and I loved the shared emotion aspect to it.

All in all a fun little cosmos horror novella, I just wish it had a bit more. Also, my first Drew Huff! I’ll definitely be picking up more from them in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC! I was excited to dive in after reading the intriguing description, but now that I’ve finished, I’m left a bit unsure how I feel. I read it in one sitting, it’s a very short book but I found myself getting bored despite the length. The pacing grew monotone, and by the end, I had lost interest. That said, the premise is fantastic. I just wish the execution had matched it.

I think the biggest reason I enjoyed it a bit was because I knew of this book being a metaphor for (living with) autism. Had I not known, I'm not sure I could've even given it that. It wasn't bad, but I didn't really enjoy it. There was barely any plot, making it harder to get through.

A short, digestible read you can suck through your stinger in an evening, just as Paul-not Paul would, in heat. *wink, wink*

This was an interesting read, and very reminiscent of Walking Practice by Dolki Min (body horror, alien perspectives, queer themes) and The Host by Stephanie Meyer (sympathetic alien invasion, emotional tension, survival bonds) for me!!!

While there were elements of cosmic horror and gore, the queer undertones are razor-sharp here. Whether Paul was navigating gendered human norms or their own spiraling desires, it had moments of vulnerability I could relate to.
Huf crafted a very brief story of grotesque horror of an alien species and the tenderness of trying to accept yourself, your community, and your chosen/not chosen family.

"Why can't you let yourself LOVE?"

Although I loved this, and I don't mind stories in which I get some room to put myself in it, and interpret, I felt My Name Isn't Paul was missing something. What? I can't put my stinger on it right now. But nothing huge that was a dealbreaker, still a solid 3.5-4 stars for me!

Thank you, Drew, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a childfree person, I really appreciate the horror of someone wrestling with the morality of bringing offspring into the world knowing that to do so is inherently an act of harm because it would be a net negative for humanity. The horror of seeing the disastrous effects of doing so on those who take it upon themselves to procreate, your loved ones and other people just like you dying (to themselves in real life, literally in this book) as a result. The horror of the people who are supposed to understand you best and love you most insisting, coercing, and otherwise forcing you to make the choice to bring new life into this world, actively removing from you the autonomy to make such a massive, dangerous chooce. The horror of being hunted by these intentions from your loved ones until you are worn down and acquiesce. The horror of being beholden to biology against your will. The horror of watching exactly what you were afraid of come to pass, and settling for a lifetime of what you never wanted.

This was weird, intriguing and wild! I loved it!!

A novella packed with action and meaning, “My name isn’t Paul” is a cosmic horror story that explore grief, alienation and identity.

I was fascinated by the concept of wasp-like entities camouflaging as humans, such a unique and unsettling idea!

It was fun but also surprisingly deep!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!!

“The perfect novella for a reader with entomophobia; a fear of insects, as this is centered upon breeding and reproducing as insectoid beings in a skin suit.”

Drew Huff has brought back a fear of insects disguised as humans that walk amongst us. My Name Isn’t Paul centers on Paul, or should I say Uxom, who refuses to acknowledge what he is. Not because he hates their breed but because he does not see himself as that anymore. He’d rather live his fake life with his faux wife than let himself be who he is. Even when his closest friends warn him that he’s due for his heat soon. Their kind always goes in heat every 5-7 years and they become worried about ‘Paul’ who is determined not to let it overpower him.

This novella is separated into three different parts as we start with the viewpoint of Paul, move onto Axa who has been desperately trying to fix Paul’s uncontrollable heat and caring for Noonie’s babies, and then back to Paul for the finale. The composition of the novella is thrilling to read. The characters, even if they are bug infested skin suits, are intriguing as they deal with their specie problems. The fight Paul has to be determined to defeat the heat soon he can be a regular human draws you in, as he ultimately does spiral downhill in a lost battle that just makes engulfs all those who come near the disaster.

There’s minimal gore. More complex story-telling rather than relying on morbid details. You will start looking around at the people you talk to or see out in public, wondering if any of them could possibly be a pact of bugs hiding underneath the flesh. A must-read, gets under your skin, type of horror novella that really lingers with you long after you finish the story. Huff does not disappoint when it comes to storytelling and I absolutely look forward to future releases.

I’ll start by saying this is the first book I’ve read by this author—and I’m not usually drawn to cosmic horror. But the premise was just too compelling to pass up, and I’m so glad I gave it a shot.

The story follows Paul, who has lived for seven years as a human… until his dormant parasite instincts awaken. Suddenly, he’s forced to choose between embracing his true nature or continuing to pretend to be something he’s not. It’s a fascinating, unsettling concept—what does identity mean when your biology tells you you’re something else entirely?

There’s plenty of horror and gore for fans of the genre (which I definitely am), and the writing is sharp and confident. I won’t spoil the plot—this is a short novella, and I really think it’s best experienced with as little context as possible. Going in blind made the experience all the more intense and unpredictable.

After this, I’ll absolutely be checking out Huff’s earlier work and anything she releases next. If you’re into cosmic horror with a sci-fi twist, this is one to put on your list.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars This book was so weird—but I kinda loved it. It’s cosmic horror, but also funny and sad and totally messed up in the best way. Paul (who’s not actually Paul) is this alien thing pretending to be human, and watching him slowly lose it was wild. The whole Mirror People thing? Creepy and fascinating.

It’s short, fast, and super intense. Some parts were a little gross (like, body horror gross), but it worked. I didn’t expect to feel so much for a creature that mimics dead people, but here we are. If you’re into horror that’s smart, strange, and a little existential, definitely give it a shot.