The Beast You Let In

By

Dana Mele
A fast-paced, suspenseful YA horror from the author of Summer’s Edge and People Like Us.
The Beast You Let In

By

Dana Mele

A fast-paced, suspenseful YA horror from the author of Summer's Edge and People Like Us.

Everyone in the rural town of Ashling knows the tale of Veronica Green, a teen who was murdered in the woods. But did a party trick bring her back to claim her revenge?

There is no one Hazel trusts less than her self-centered twin, Beth. Like when Beth storms out of a party, abandoning Hazel when she didn’t want to attend in the first place. Rather than chasing after her, Hazel throws herself into flirting and telling ghost stories over a Ouija board. She might not be the popular twin, but she can be fun too.

Except Beth doesn’t come home that night, and Hazel’s anger morphs into anxiety. It only sharpens when Beth reappears a day later, disoriented and claiming to be Veronica Green, a teen who was murdered in their small town years before. If it isn’t a possession, Beth is really good at faking it. Did they accidentally release a vengeful horror during the party?

Hazel must uncover what happened to Veronica all those years ago if she’s going to save Beth. But the truth may destroy them both—if they don’t destroy each other first.

About the Author

Dana Mele (they/them) is a Pushcart-nominated writer based in upstate New York. A graduate of Wellesley College, Dana holds degrees in theatre, education, and law. Dana’s debut, PEOPLE LIKE US, was shortlisted for the 2019 ITW Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel and is an ALA Rainbow List Selection. Dana’s sophomore novel, SUMMER’S EDGE, was a Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Selection and a New York Public Library Best Books for Teens title. Up next is THE BEAST YOU LET IN, a YA horror novel forthcoming from Sourcebooks Fire, slated for publication April 7, 2026.

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