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Venus Fly Trap
Three’s a crowd. Especially when one of them ends up dead…
A dark, addictive story of obsession, rivalry, and the thin line between infatuation and obsession
'Thrilling, seductive, toxic, wild' 5* Reader Review
–
When university student Louise moves in with her effortlessly magnetic friend Cat, she thinks she’s won the flatmate lottery.
Cat is everything Louise wants to be, rich, beautiful, enigmatic, and she’s even managed the keeping commitment-phobic Henry in a relationship. Life in their world feels out of reach.
But when the three of them end up in bed, Louise discovers just how dangerous Cat’s allure can be. And when Cat asks her for a favour, one that’s as chilling as it is shocking, Louise has to choose.
Because for Louise, the only thing worse than doing what Cat is asking, is losing her completely . . .
–
‘A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy’ Chloe Michelle Howarth
'Will sink its teeth into you . . . oozes with sass and seduction' Vikki Patis
Praise for Nothing Serious:
'Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling' Daily Mail
'A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong' Red
'Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. I loved it' Chris Whitaker
'A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections' Heather Darwent
A dark, addictive story of obsession, rivalry, and the thin line between infatuation and obsession
'Thrilling, seductive, toxic, wild' 5* Reader Review
–
When university student Louise moves in with her effortlessly magnetic friend Cat, she thinks she’s won the flatmate lottery.
Cat is everything Louise wants to be, rich, beautiful, enigmatic, and she’s even managed the keeping commitment-phobic Henry in a relationship. Life in their world feels out of reach.
But when the three of them end up in bed, Louise discovers just how dangerous Cat’s allure can be. And when Cat asks her for a favour, one that’s as chilling as it is shocking, Louise has to choose.
Because for Louise, the only thing worse than doing what Cat is asking, is losing her completely . . .
–
‘A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy’ Chloe Michelle Howarth
'Will sink its teeth into you . . . oozes with sass and seduction' Vikki Patis
Praise for Nothing Serious:
'Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling' Daily Mail
'A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong' Red
'Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. I loved it' Chris Whitaker
'A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections' Heather Darwent
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2025
2 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Emma Medrano
2 books14 followersEmma Medrano was born and raised in Sweden but currently resides in Scotland, where she studied for an undergraduate degree in philosophy. She has been writing since she learned how and completed seven (terrible) novels before she was selected for Penguin's WriteNow scheme in 2020, giving her the chance to develop her debut novel Nothing Serious. She has previously had short stories published in journals and is currently an editor at a literary journal at the University of Glasgow. She lives in Glasgow with her partner, writing historical fiction and contemporary fiction with a focus on social topics and women protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 9, 2025
This was juicy!
I’m normally a short book kinda girl but I absolutely flew through Venus Fly Trap. Fleshed out characters. Incredibly entertaining plot. Sex scenes were realistic and not cringe. I don’t necessarily think it brought anything super new to the ‘books about obsession’ sub-genre but is definitely a great addition to it.
I’m normally a short book kinda girl but I absolutely flew through Venus Fly Trap. Fleshed out characters. Incredibly entertaining plot. Sex scenes were realistic and not cringe. I don’t necessarily think it brought anything super new to the ‘books about obsession’ sub-genre but is definitely a great addition to it.
July 19, 2025
a book about obsession makes me obsessed, who’s surprised?
I absolutely adored this. It was such a fast paced, page turning read that had me completely engrossed into the story and the lives of the characters. filled with eerie tension, underlying discomfort in relation to friendships and obsession, complicated queer friendships and love that turns to murder.
from the very first page I was genuinely hooked into this story and couldn’t wait to pick it back up. I loved the autistic representation within (let autistic girls be a little crazy yk.) and how it was directly stated rather than than simply alluded to, I loved the development of the sapphic relationship and how this was always darkened by the obsession and need to be combined together. the way it was written was smart, I have indeed just spent the last twenty minutes explaining the plot to my girlfriend so we can figure out what happened and by whom, we are yet to form an agreement.
If you want gripping, fast and weird- pls check this out
I absolutely adored this. It was such a fast paced, page turning read that had me completely engrossed into the story and the lives of the characters. filled with eerie tension, underlying discomfort in relation to friendships and obsession, complicated queer friendships and love that turns to murder.
from the very first page I was genuinely hooked into this story and couldn’t wait to pick it back up. I loved the autistic representation within (let autistic girls be a little crazy yk.) and how it was directly stated rather than than simply alluded to, I loved the development of the sapphic relationship and how this was always darkened by the obsession and need to be combined together. the way it was written was smart, I have indeed just spent the last twenty minutes explaining the plot to my girlfriend so we can figure out what happened and by whom, we are yet to form an agreement.
If you want gripping, fast and weird- pls check this out
September 2, 2025
Dit was ZO ZO GOED OMG
alsjeblieft ga dit lezen als je van flinke plottwists en een psychopaat als hoofdpersoon houd.
Ik ging best blanco erin. Ik zag dit boek staan in de boekwinkel en besloot m op mn ereader te kopen. Ik had verwacht dat een bijpersoon het obsessieve personage werd, maar dat bleek de hoofdpersoon te zijn.
Je zit in het hoofd van louise en louise is zwaar autistisch. Ze raakt verliefd/geobsedeerd met haar roommate tot op punten dat ik echt met open mond zat van WAT DOE JIJ NOU WEER. Het boek begint met een proloog waarbij 1 van de side characters wordt vermoord, dus je weet waar het gaat eindigen en je zit erdoor METEEN in het boek. Hoe de obsessie zich langzaam ontwikkelt en de eerste kleine hints die het weggeven dat ze toch wel echt crazy is, maakt echt zo goed.
Gewoon ff casual dit gaan lezen want je VLIEGT erdoorheen. Ik raad m echt aan iedereen aan.
alsjeblieft ga dit lezen als je van flinke plottwists en een psychopaat als hoofdpersoon houd.
Ik ging best blanco erin. Ik zag dit boek staan in de boekwinkel en besloot m op mn ereader te kopen. Ik had verwacht dat een bijpersoon het obsessieve personage werd, maar dat bleek de hoofdpersoon te zijn.
Je zit in het hoofd van louise en louise is zwaar autistisch. Ze raakt verliefd/geobsedeerd met haar roommate tot op punten dat ik echt met open mond zat van WAT DOE JIJ NOU WEER. Het boek begint met een proloog waarbij 1 van de side characters wordt vermoord, dus je weet waar het gaat eindigen en je zit erdoor METEEN in het boek. Hoe de obsessie zich langzaam ontwikkelt en de eerste kleine hints die het weggeven dat ze toch wel echt crazy is, maakt echt zo goed.
Gewoon ff casual dit gaan lezen want je VLIEGT erdoorheen. Ik raad m echt aan iedereen aan.
October 2, 2025
I hate how much I enjoyed this playing out.
March 24, 2025
Emma Medrano
Venus Fly Trap
This is undoubtedly one of the best-written books I have had the privilege to read.
Emma's ability to transition between themes and timelines is uncanny. The flow in this novel is so seamless that I forgot I was reading a novel- it felt like I was there with the characters. I was experiencing the imagery described. Emma demonstrated this flow in her last novel, 'Nothing Serious' as well. This said, her growth and maturity as an author is apparent. In 'Venus Fly Trap', Emma strategically breaks this flow, using abruptness to reflect the turmoil of the characters' lives,
creating such an intense sense of engagement and suspense.
Her remarkable writing is reflected in the delicate art of foreshadowing. Attempts are foreshadowing can be painfully obvious and out of place. Emma does this so naturally that you don't even realise.
Emma also strikes the perfect balance in addressing the intense, different themes. She talks about mental health, death, abuse. But her characters are more than those dark things. They're quirky and three-dimensional. Emma shows us how autism, sexuality, relationships, money, feminism, and the monetary value of women shape our lives. This novel is relatable yet has one incredible plot. It was entirely unpredictable and hooking. It's new, unique and I did not see it coming. And yet, Emma made room for intellectual curiosity, very witty humour, and sex. Not sex that is coy or needlessly graphic, but sex that, as well as being hot!!!, added to the story. Reading this book, I learned about philosophy and whipped out google. I genuinely laughed out loud, and I genuinely cried. I want more of this book, and of Emma's writing.
This novel is brilliantly written. Emma Medrano, in all honesty, is one of the best authors who's work I have read. To anyone yet to read it- enjoy!
Venus Fly Trap
This is undoubtedly one of the best-written books I have had the privilege to read.
Emma's ability to transition between themes and timelines is uncanny. The flow in this novel is so seamless that I forgot I was reading a novel- it felt like I was there with the characters. I was experiencing the imagery described. Emma demonstrated this flow in her last novel, 'Nothing Serious' as well. This said, her growth and maturity as an author is apparent. In 'Venus Fly Trap', Emma strategically breaks this flow, using abruptness to reflect the turmoil of the characters' lives,
creating such an intense sense of engagement and suspense.
Her remarkable writing is reflected in the delicate art of foreshadowing. Attempts are foreshadowing can be painfully obvious and out of place. Emma does this so naturally that you don't even realise.
Emma also strikes the perfect balance in addressing the intense, different themes. She talks about mental health, death, abuse. But her characters are more than those dark things. They're quirky and three-dimensional. Emma shows us how autism, sexuality, relationships, money, feminism, and the monetary value of women shape our lives. This novel is relatable yet has one incredible plot. It was entirely unpredictable and hooking. It's new, unique and I did not see it coming. And yet, Emma made room for intellectual curiosity, very witty humour, and sex. Not sex that is coy or needlessly graphic, but sex that, as well as being hot!!!, added to the story. Reading this book, I learned about philosophy and whipped out google. I genuinely laughed out loud, and I genuinely cried. I want more of this book, and of Emma's writing.
This novel is brilliantly written. Emma Medrano, in all honesty, is one of the best authors who's work I have read. To anyone yet to read it- enjoy!
November 19, 2025
Full disclosure: I am acquainted with the author of this book. However, I paid full price for it and I was not asked to write a review.
This book rocks. It's very much outside my typical genre comfort zone, but I am so glad I took a chance on it anyway. I was obsessed with the main character's twisted mindset and self-delusions. The pacing was incredibly smooth; like the best thrillers, it kept moving along like clockwork.
It speaks to some very specific (and, I think, underrepresented) queer experiences - I think a lot of us have experienced a (less murdery) version of Louise and Cat's relationship, a platonic friendship where you're not sure if you want to be WITH them or BE them. And then there's the specific bisexual experience of being platonic friends with someone and bonding over your relationships with the opposite sex while also being attracted to them. The relationships in this book are so toxic but also so appealing, in a twisted way.
I also felt seen by the depiction of Louise - in particular, I really related to that feeling that one is being fake by being social, just following scripts or imitating people. Here it's taken up to eleven and it's all just incredible.
This book rocks. It's very much outside my typical genre comfort zone, but I am so glad I took a chance on it anyway. I was obsessed with the main character's twisted mindset and self-delusions. The pacing was incredibly smooth; like the best thrillers, it kept moving along like clockwork.
It speaks to some very specific (and, I think, underrepresented) queer experiences - I think a lot of us have experienced a (less murdery) version of Louise and Cat's relationship, a platonic friendship where you're not sure if you want to be WITH them or BE them. And then there's the specific bisexual experience of being platonic friends with someone and bonding over your relationships with the opposite sex while also being attracted to them. The relationships in this book are so toxic but also so appealing, in a twisted way.
I also felt seen by the depiction of Louise - in particular, I really related to that feeling that one is being fake by being social, just following scripts or imitating people. Here it's taken up to eleven and it's all just incredible.
September 10, 2025
A propulsive read that I finished on the same day I started it. No one in this story is a good person, but they're such fascinating disasters that I couldn't help rooting for them. Louise and her matter-of-fact delusions. Cat and her selfishness, Henry and his possessiveness. Of course this can't end well. The flame that burns twice as bright and all that.
The heart of this book is about loneliness. What we'll suffer, what we'll put other people through, to survive it. The masks we'll wear and the lies we'll tell, our clothes off in an instant but so rarely naked, so rarely vulnerable. It's better to be liked for someone you're not, for something you can do for them, than to risk being alone.
Up to a point.
The heart of this book is about loneliness. What we'll suffer, what we'll put other people through, to survive it. The masks we'll wear and the lies we'll tell, our clothes off in an instant but so rarely naked, so rarely vulnerable. It's better to be liked for someone you're not, for something you can do for them, than to risk being alone.
Up to a point.
October 19, 2025
4.5 stars, loved this one!! We follow an MC who is obsessed with her roommate, and things get more unhinged especially once she stops taking her medication. The ending was so good, I didn’t see it coming & absolutely loved it, and I love that it’s open to interpretation. I was thinking about it for hours afterwards. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is because I’m not really a smut girly, and there were a few too many sex scenes for my taste (tbf they were realistic and hot lol)
February 18, 2025
This one is going to do so well I think.
It's a great read about friendship, devotion and obsession.
Louise is an interesting character, not able to always read people and how to act with them, she already seems to be struggling a little. Lucky she met Cat then.
It gets a little uncomfortable at times, but that just makes it all the better to read.
Cracking story.
It's a great read about friendship, devotion and obsession.
Louise is an interesting character, not able to always read people and how to act with them, she already seems to be struggling a little. Lucky she met Cat then.
It gets a little uncomfortable at times, but that just makes it all the better to read.
Cracking story.
May 9, 2025
Obsessed, deluded, felt like a car wreck I couldn’t prevent and only could watch blow up in smoke
October 4, 2025
Well! The talented Emma Medrano pulls off a cracker of a book yet again. I am officially a big fan. I read this book in one go as I could not put it down. This is one of those great books that is good if you have been struggling to stick with a book or finding nothing to hold your interest.
This is yet another book by Emma where the characters are so intense, intriguing and damaged. They pull you in and hold you tight. Honestly I don’t really know where to start with this review as there is so much to unpack. Emma has a knack of tapping into the darker side of human nature whilst weaving an incredible storyline around them at the same time. Every single character, including peripheral characters popped and came alive in this novel.
Louise is a bit of a lost soul, full of insecurities and self-doubt so when her world collides with the confident enigmatic Cat it sets off a chain of events she will never recover from. This book and its characters are so addictive.
After moving in with Cat during their time as University Students (Philosophy) Louise is increasingly obsessed with Cat. She is everything Louise believes she is not and her desire for her only burns harder as the story unfolds. Not just wanting her but wanting to be like her. An intense and passionate night of a threesome between Cat, her boyfriend (who is also Louise’s ex!) and Louise kicks the plot into another level. If you blush at descriptive sex scenes expect a lot of blushing to go on. However this is not soppy romance at all. These are broken and damaged characters that are multi-faceted which makes the plot have dark moments as well as many that you don’t see coming.
I don’t want to do any plot spoilers at all as it’s just got to be read from an open minded standpoint. The book grabs onto you and doesn’t let go. Don’t get me wrong, despite some intense passionate scenes this is not full of it, it’s not erotica. It’s a cleverly told story of human fallibility, emotions and perceptions. Relationships that are messy, complex and highly dysfunctional. Nothing in here struck me as far fetched.
Whilst it’s not announced as such, in my opinion Louise is obviously portrayed as being Neurodivergent, on the Autism Spectrum. Emma pulls this off brilliantly with an accurate portrayal of how this impacts relationships with oneself and other people. Being diagnosed with Aspergers myself I am always highly critical of how Autistic characters are portrayed in books. A lot of Authors get it very wrong. Resorting to stereotypes that usually reflect more males on the spectrum not the nuances and big differences in women. Her contrast with Cat from this perspective is black and white. Kudos to Emma for getting this character to be highly realistic.
Louise’s obsession with Cat leads to dark places and I did not see the ending coming at all! It’s highly unexpected and even once you digest parts of the ending the actual final reveal is brilliant. A light gets shone on so many ugly aspects of human nature and will have you devouring the book until the very last word.
I loved all the minor characters too, each one is part of the main storyline and adds to it tremendously. I cannot put this book into a genre as so many are blended together, it’s very clever that way. It’s got elements of a lot of genres. It’s just a damn good book. Unexpected in where it heads and deliciously good. It barrels along to the shocking climax.
In a nutshell I loved this book as I did her amazing debut novel Nothing Serious. Emma has an uncanny knack of writing characters so messed up yet so relatable that you’ll be sucked in. The characters in this book are ever evolving and I found my feelings on many were doing flip-flops. The plot is just brilliant. I love the cover too (it’s not yet here on Goodreads but you can find it online). The book title is also very clever and connects to the book completely.
Highly recommended to any reader. Expect nothing. Predict if you dare and just dive right in. An easy 5 stars!
Many thanks to Penguin for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
This is yet another book by Emma where the characters are so intense, intriguing and damaged. They pull you in and hold you tight. Honestly I don’t really know where to start with this review as there is so much to unpack. Emma has a knack of tapping into the darker side of human nature whilst weaving an incredible storyline around them at the same time. Every single character, including peripheral characters popped and came alive in this novel.
Louise is a bit of a lost soul, full of insecurities and self-doubt so when her world collides with the confident enigmatic Cat it sets off a chain of events she will never recover from. This book and its characters are so addictive.
After moving in with Cat during their time as University Students (Philosophy) Louise is increasingly obsessed with Cat. She is everything Louise believes she is not and her desire for her only burns harder as the story unfolds. Not just wanting her but wanting to be like her. An intense and passionate night of a threesome between Cat, her boyfriend (who is also Louise’s ex!) and Louise kicks the plot into another level. If you blush at descriptive sex scenes expect a lot of blushing to go on. However this is not soppy romance at all. These are broken and damaged characters that are multi-faceted which makes the plot have dark moments as well as many that you don’t see coming.
I don’t want to do any plot spoilers at all as it’s just got to be read from an open minded standpoint. The book grabs onto you and doesn’t let go. Don’t get me wrong, despite some intense passionate scenes this is not full of it, it’s not erotica. It’s a cleverly told story of human fallibility, emotions and perceptions. Relationships that are messy, complex and highly dysfunctional. Nothing in here struck me as far fetched.
Whilst it’s not announced as such, in my opinion Louise is obviously portrayed as being Neurodivergent, on the Autism Spectrum. Emma pulls this off brilliantly with an accurate portrayal of how this impacts relationships with oneself and other people. Being diagnosed with Aspergers myself I am always highly critical of how Autistic characters are portrayed in books. A lot of Authors get it very wrong. Resorting to stereotypes that usually reflect more males on the spectrum not the nuances and big differences in women. Her contrast with Cat from this perspective is black and white. Kudos to Emma for getting this character to be highly realistic.
Louise’s obsession with Cat leads to dark places and I did not see the ending coming at all! It’s highly unexpected and even once you digest parts of the ending the actual final reveal is brilliant. A light gets shone on so many ugly aspects of human nature and will have you devouring the book until the very last word.
I loved all the minor characters too, each one is part of the main storyline and adds to it tremendously. I cannot put this book into a genre as so many are blended together, it’s very clever that way. It’s got elements of a lot of genres. It’s just a damn good book. Unexpected in where it heads and deliciously good. It barrels along to the shocking climax.
In a nutshell I loved this book as I did her amazing debut novel Nothing Serious. Emma has an uncanny knack of writing characters so messed up yet so relatable that you’ll be sucked in. The characters in this book are ever evolving and I found my feelings on many were doing flip-flops. The plot is just brilliant. I love the cover too (it’s not yet here on Goodreads but you can find it online). The book title is also very clever and connects to the book completely.
Highly recommended to any reader. Expect nothing. Predict if you dare and just dive right in. An easy 5 stars!
Many thanks to Penguin for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks SO much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻
Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews. You can browse through my many great books reviewed for your next awesome book to enjoy.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
You can also find me on Amazon UK where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
December 22, 2025
I'm shocked by how few reviews this book has on here, because it was so so good! The story is fast-paced and very well-written.
December 28, 2025
Venus Fly Trap was a twisted nightmare – a spiralling tale of toxic relationships, obsession and manipulation.
Louise and Cat are such well-defined characters that spring from the page. They are complicated, messy people that seem to bring out the best and the worst in one another. Their symbiotic bond grows darker as the pages turn. Medrano explores that fissure of attraction between them and how this is nutured and cultivated. You can feel the tension from the first page and are aware of where this may end from that startling first chapter.
It is a strong opening that leaves you with plenty of questions that you will tear through the pages to get to the answers. Along the way, you’ll be pulled into this spider’s web, this dance of death and destruction between two people drawn together. It is a toxic and wild ride where the line between love and obsession seems to get ever blurrier. Of course, both of them are hiding things that will topple them. Cat is a fantastic narrator but we are always kept at arm’s length with her unreliability and unwillingness to let anyone but Louise truly in. I also appreciate the on-page autistic representation and how this informs Cat’s viewpoint, though it is one facet of her, it is important. It adds to her but she is still allowed to be realistically complicated and messy in a way that is rare to see.
This defined compulsive reading. I sped through this on a trip away and struggled to pull my thoughts away from the dark pools of this story. It is all too easy to get lost in. Medrano captures that atmosphere of an uneasy power imbalance in the relationship on all sorts of levels. It feels beguiling but dangerous and able to ignite at a moment’s notice. The way sex is woven into this power play as a tool of manipulation and a declaration of allegiance is fascinating. Medrano uses these dynamics to underscore some of the twists which are jaw-dropping and serve to pull you further into the story.
Venus Fly Trap is the type of book where you want to pull away but you just can’t. It is entrancing while a shiver runs down your spine.
Louise and Cat are such well-defined characters that spring from the page. They are complicated, messy people that seem to bring out the best and the worst in one another. Their symbiotic bond grows darker as the pages turn. Medrano explores that fissure of attraction between them and how this is nutured and cultivated. You can feel the tension from the first page and are aware of where this may end from that startling first chapter.
It is a strong opening that leaves you with plenty of questions that you will tear through the pages to get to the answers. Along the way, you’ll be pulled into this spider’s web, this dance of death and destruction between two people drawn together. It is a toxic and wild ride where the line between love and obsession seems to get ever blurrier. Of course, both of them are hiding things that will topple them. Cat is a fantastic narrator but we are always kept at arm’s length with her unreliability and unwillingness to let anyone but Louise truly in. I also appreciate the on-page autistic representation and how this informs Cat’s viewpoint, though it is one facet of her, it is important. It adds to her but she is still allowed to be realistically complicated and messy in a way that is rare to see.
This defined compulsive reading. I sped through this on a trip away and struggled to pull my thoughts away from the dark pools of this story. It is all too easy to get lost in. Medrano captures that atmosphere of an uneasy power imbalance in the relationship on all sorts of levels. It feels beguiling but dangerous and able to ignite at a moment’s notice. The way sex is woven into this power play as a tool of manipulation and a declaration of allegiance is fascinating. Medrano uses these dynamics to underscore some of the twists which are jaw-dropping and serve to pull you further into the story.
Venus Fly Trap is the type of book where you want to pull away but you just can’t. It is entrancing while a shiver runs down your spine.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews