The Corruption of Hollis Brown

By: K. Ancrum

Narrated by: Andrew Gibson

From acclaimed author K. Ancrum comes a queer romantic thriller in which the lives of Hollis, a boy in search of meaning, and Walt, a spirit with unfinished business, collide when Walt takes possession of Hollis's body...and maybe his heart. For fans of Adam Silvera and Aiden Thomas! Now in paperback!

A School Library Journal 2025 Stars So Far list pick! An ALA Booklist's Editors' Choice Picks pick for 2025! A BookPage's Best Books of 2025 list pick! A 2026 Rainbow Book List pick!

Hollis Brown is stuck. Born to a blue-collar American Dream, Hollis lives in a rotting small town where no one can afford to leave. Hollis's only bright spots are his two best friends, cool girls Annie and Yulia, and the thrill of fighting his classmates.

As if his circumstances couldn’t get worse, a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Walt results in a frightening trap. After unknowingly making a deal at the crossroads, Hollis finds himself losing control of his body and mind, falling victim to possession. Walt, the ghost making a home inside him, has a deep and violent history rooted in the town Hollis grew up in and he has unfinished business to take care of.

As Walt and Hollis begin working together to put Walt’s spirit to rest, an unspeakable bond forms between them, and the boys begin falling for one another in unexpected ways. But it’s only a matter of time before Hollis’s best friends begin to notice that something about Hollis isn’t quite…right.

With the threat of a long-overdue exorcism looming before them, will Walt and Hollis be able to protect their love and undo the curse that turned their town from a garden of possibility into a place where dreams go to die?

The Corruption of Hollis Brown has already received four starred reviews!

"Ancrum’s tight writing style is perfect for this gritty thriller: simultaneously clipped and lyrical...The novel’s rich tenderness for the town, its residents, and their ghosts makes it a must-read. Queer resilience at its finest." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A psychologically thrilling and emotionally intimate tribute to bettering one’s own circumstances—and those of one’s community—and the selflessness of love." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Walt and Hollis’s romance is as intense, stark, and heartfelt as the romances in Ancrum’s previous works...their growth as people is both genuine and rewarding to watch." —ALA Booklist (starred review)

"A knack for creating characters who are bigger on the inside is on full display here...as Ancrum’s two-boys-one-body setup rests on a delicate balance of voice that never falters...A profoundly beautiful, strange, and introspective love story, at turns soothing and scalding." —School Library Journal (starred review)

"This is a magnificent piece of speculative fiction that will have readers waiting for more from this author." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Beautiful and Unique Story

I absolutely adored this book! It had me hooked from beginning to end. The narration was excellent, and made the gorgeous writing shine. The story was so poignant and moving, while also having a uniquely beautiful love story that had me in tears multiple times. I highly recommend this one! Definitely worth the credit!

Good story line

I liked the originality of the story and how loving yourself took on a new meaning..

Imagery

I liked how detailed and imaginative this book is. It’s an unconventional read but very enjoyable for those who’ve read K.Ancrum’s books. Recommend

One or two of a kind?

It's hard to describe the feelings this work of art gives me. It's the satisfaction of getting something off your chest. It's knowing that you left no stone unturned. It's bearing witness to two people you love become best friends. The subtle feeling after you move into a new place and one day you realize it became your home. A gorgeous tall tale of love and community.