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Rob Costello

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

September 07

Website

https://www.cloudbusterpress.com/

Genre

Young Adult, Horror, Gay and Lesbian

Member Since

August 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/cloudbusterpress

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Rob Costello (he/him) writes dark and contemporary fiction with a queer bent for and about young people. He’s the contributing editor of WE MOSTLY COME OUT AT NIGHT: 15 QUEER TALES OF MONSTERS, ANGELS & OTHER CREATURES, nominated for a 2024 Bram Stoker Award® and named a 2024 CYBILS Award Finalist as well as a Notable/Recommended/Best Book of 2024 by the New York Public Library, Ginger Nuts of Horror, PseudoPod, Reactor Magazine, and Locus Magazine. He’s also author of the dark fiction story collection THE DANCING BEARS: QUEER FABLES FOR THE END TIMES, named a finalist for The Whirling Prize. His stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and have appeared in The Dark, The NoSleep Podcast, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, ...more

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Rob Costello’s books

Average rating: 3.86 · 1,555 ratings · 354 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America by Nora Shalaway Carpenter (Goodreads Author) (Editor), David Bowles (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Joseph Bruchac (Contributor) 3.78 avg rating — 952 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures by Rob Costello (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Kalynn Bayron (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), David Bowles (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.93 avg rating — 439 ratings — published 2024 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys 4.51 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2025 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Vol. 141, Nos. 1 & 2, July/August 2021 by Sheree Renée Thomas (Editor), Lauren Ring (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), L.X. Beckett (Contributor) 3.62 avg rating — 68 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Dancing Bears: Queer Fables for the End Times 4.50 avg rating — 28 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Dark Magazine, Issue 57: February 2020 by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Sean Wallace (Editor), Rob Costello (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Dark Magazine, Issue 78: November 2021 by Sean Wallace (Editor), H. Pueyo (Goodreads Author), Rob Costello (Goodreads Author) 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2021	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Dark, Issue 115, December 2024 by Sean Wallace (Editor), R.L. Summerling (Goodreads Author), Steve Rasnic Tem (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Dark Magazine, Issue 65: October 2020 by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Sean Wallace (Editor), Rob Costello (Goodreads Author) 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Rob Costello is currently reading

Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy, #2)

by Stephen Graham Jones (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 13, 2024 06:36AM

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Rob’s Recent Updates

Rob Costello entered a giveaway Crone by Keith Rosson (Goodreads Author) 25 copies available, ends on June 14, 2026 Enter to win »
May 20, 2026 09:17AM · like · see giveaway
Rob Costello entered a giveaway Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 20, 2026 09:16AM · like · see giveaway
Rob Costello liked Kaycee McKee's review of We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures: "This was a really enjoyable collection! I liked the large variety of stories and monsters, as well as how they all featured LGBTQ+ issues and themes. My favorites were 'How to Summon Me' and 'The Girl with Thirteen Shadows'. I also really enjoyed the" Read more of this review »
May 19, 2026 07:21AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rob Costello wants to read The Land of Everlasting Sky: A Memoir of Loss and Legacy on Lake of the Woods by Jill D. Swenson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 07:20AM · like
Rob Costello rated a book it was amazing The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book. OMG. It’s been weeks since I finished the ARC that Erin and her publisher graciously sent me, and I’m still thinking about it. Erin is the only writer I know who could manage to tell a story about such a dark and dystopic future that is th ...more
Apr 26, 2026 09:09AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rob Costello liked Ally Lynn's review of We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures: "Emotional, creepy, uplifting, unpleasant in places in a really important way."
Apr 22, 2026 08:36AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rob Costello liked Angel (akoyfish)'s review of We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures: "A strong collection of queer horror stories! My personal favorites: -How to Summon Me by Val Howlett -Be Not Afraid by Michael Thomas Ford -The Freedom of Feathers and Fur by David Bowles -The House of Needs and Wants by Kalynn Bayron" Read more of this review »
Apr 02, 2026 03:23PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Mostly Come Out At Night by Rob Costello <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rob Costello rated a book it was amazing Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 05, 2026 09:03AM · 1 like · like
Rob Costello rated a book it was amazing Fatal Glitch: Camp Zero by Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I loved this delightfully sinister and sly novel! Squid Game meets Goosebumps with a spooky video game twist, kids who love creepy reads will devour this first installment of what promises to be a deliciously spine-chilling series. I can’t wait for t ...more
Feb 07, 2026 07:01AM · like · see review
Rob Costello voted for Dating and Dragons (Dungeons and Drama, #2) as Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 30, 2025 09:11PM · like

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Quotes by Rob Costello (?)

“She was unafraid to be ugly and strange, to take up space, to howl and roar.”
― Rob Costello, We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures

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“This city eats pretty boys like us alive if we let it.”
― Rob Costello, An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys

tags: city-life, club-scene, lgbtq-ya, lgbtqia-characters, nyc

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“Man is his own devil and his own god. He became such when he stopped believing in anything but himself.”
― Rob Costello, We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures

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See all Rob Costello's quotes »

Rob’s Quotes

“Maybe the only thing each of us can see is our own shadow.

Carl Jung called this his shadow work. He said we never see others. Instead we see only aspects of ourselves that fall over them. Shadows. Projections. Our associations.

The same way old painters would sit in a tiny dark room and trace the image of what stood outside a tiny window, in the bright sunlight.

The camera obscura.

Not the exact image, but everything reversed or upside down.”
― Chuck Palahniuk

280 likes

“Sometimes you grow to love the shadow that follows.”
― Donna Lynn Hope

tags: love, shadow, unrequited-love

77 likes

“This city eats pretty boys like us alive if we let it.”
― Rob Costello, An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys

tags: city-life, club-scene, lgbtq-ya, lgbtqia-characters, nyc

0 likes

“That’s why I chose you. Only we can see each other for who we truly are.”
― Jonathan Lenore Kastin, We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures

1 likes