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Eden

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A YA coming-of-age and mystery novel by Emma Smith, perfect for fans of Sue Wallman and Ravena Guron.

To the others, it's Eden. But to Tamsin, it feels like paradise...

Tamsin has lived in and out of the care system her entire life. So when a permanent place is offered to her in a home for disadvantaged teens, she can't believe her luck... Eden House seems like paradise, set amidst rolling hills and forests on the Cornish coast.

Tamsin doesn't mind the strict regime, or the phone she's forced to give up on arrival. Making friends with the girls on her corridor and falling for golden-boy Hugo feels like a fantasy; to Tamsin, it seems like everyone at Eden has been put under a spell, hypnotised - including her.

And why would you choose to wake up from a dream?

A twisted mystery set on the rugged Cornish coastline in the dead of winter, detailing first love, grief, and holding onto hope.

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2025

16 people are currently reading
389 people want to read

About the author

Emma Smith

14 books565 followers
Emma Smith is a young adult and children's author from Yorkshire. She wrote and illustrated her first “book” when she was seven years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not walking on the beach or drinking an iced coffee with a crumpet and some chocolate, you’ll probably find her reading something dark and mysterious… and most certainly YA.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for molly ⸆⸉.
387 reviews
April 27, 2025
My review on eden by Emma smith

So I was lucky enough to be chosen as an arc reader for this and I'm so glad I was .
I dont think I'm ever going to recover from this book . I do love a boarding school mystery and this was perfection everything about I loved the characters and eden it's self is described beautifully.
This seriously needs to be made into a movie I loved it so much
And I fear I'm going to have to read all her books she's ever written
4. 5 🌟
Profile Image for Elliott Trickey.
85 reviews
April 6, 2025
Throughout her life, Tamsin Solace has felt like an outcast - lonely, forgotten, without any friends - and being in the care system has been a rollercoaster. Now, with foster carer Miriam (that she feels is more like a mum to her) she finally feels settled with her life on the brink of an exciting future! Until she's sent the letter that changes everything: an invitation to a boarding school in Cornwall for spectacular children in the care system, called Eden. And, upon accepting, is launched into her new world. One where she has made friends with a great bunch of people including her bubbly new roommate Eloise); flourished in the extracurricular clubs that she has enlisted in; and found herself in the relationship of her dreams. However, behind the heavenly façade of her new home, she begins to find out things that make this place seem more like a nightmare. And lead her and her friends onto a dangerous journey of the truth... The whole process of reading this book has been fantastic, and a huge honour, as I was selected as an ARC reader to travel on this amazing journey with these fantastic characters and this fantastic plot. Where do I start? From the very beginning of this book, I was lulled into the spell of the beautiful writing inside of it — packed full of description and dense world building - that made me want to transport myself into the world of Eden and everything that happened in it. It's the sort of writing that has that indescribable flow and power that every author dreams of achieving, and it worked so effectively in this book. Plus, the characters in this book were awesome, and I felt like I became friends with them, empathising with all of their emotions and experiences throughout. Their friendships (and relationships) with each other were pure perfection and made the overarching message of the book all the more powerful. Their happiness, excitement, sadness, and grief was something that I felt as well, and I thought that they were an amazing cast of characters. All of this paired perfectly with the very clever plot, which was a true page-turner and kept making me want to read more and find out all of the details that this book culminated to. It had elements of dystopia, mystery, thriller, coming of age, and romance all in one - perfect for any type of reader! It was unique, and something that I'd definitely read again! I loved it! I implore everyone to go and read her books as they are truly some of the best that I've read this year! It was a triumph!
23 reviews
April 29, 2025
This is absolutely amazing, it was eerie but I couldnt stop reading. I recommend this highly. It was so well written and want to read again already.


4.5
Profile Image for Kiera.
90 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2025
5⭐️

I truly loved this book and everywhere it took me.
 
Eden is a YA, mystery coming-of-age book following Tamsin who receives a letter to join Eden House, a boarding school for disadvantaged teens to call home. Eden House seems like a perfect paradise on the Cornish coast... but maybe it's too perfect.🌳
 
This is my first ever ARC and read of Emma's books & I've absolutely fallen in love with the way she writes. The story itself was such an incredible rollercoaster of emotions and important themes like the treatment of those that society and the system seem to have forgotten.
 
I loved the characters and the dynamics they all had from the differing relationships and connections to one another, I especially loved the romances.
 
Much like Tamsin, I was drawn in and felt comforted by Eden House at first. I really loved the little uneasy details from the beginning of the story to set the tone of the setting. I just really thought the story and the writing was so smart and well done as it made Eden House itself feel like a character.
 
I never really gravitate towards YA or mystery novels, but I think Eden definitely changed this!
 
Eden will be released on 18th April 2025. You can preorder it on your Kindle and Emma's other books are included on Kindle Unlimited or can be purchased in paperback from Amazon or her Etsy!

Thank you to the author, Emma Smith, for sending me an ARC of Eden. I can't wait for its release and for others to love it as much as I love it! ❤️
Profile Image for ellie ⋆ ˚。.
112 reviews
June 28, 2025
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
i really wanted to like this book but i have too many issues with it to like it. for what it’s worth, the story was enjoyable if i stopped thinking critically. i liked the short chapters and i love boarding school settings.
okay, positivity over. i am genuinely sorry i didn’t enjoy this more. the lack of focus on the academia and actual boarding school disappointed me, as well as the pacing being off. i noticed a few spelling errors and sentences that didn’t make sense, and more that i’ll talk about. emma smith if you are reading this i really did try to like your book.

one of my big criticisms is barely even to do with this book, it’s more to do with the amalgamation of the “ya” genre. it seems like now, any book that isn’t for small children or mature adults is ya! eden reads more like a book for older children– aged 10-13 or so. of course, this criticism of mine could just be that i have a distorted view of what books i should be reading at my age (16) because of the fact i tend to read darker, more mature books, ignoring the fact that i’ve been reading quite a few children’s books in the last few months. i really do think that if this book was marketed to younger audiences i wouldn’t dislike it as much as i do! the story is exactly what i would’ve loved as a 10 year old who read books like a place called perfect by helena duggan!
part of my criticism about the marketed age of eden is that this book seemed unsure how to approach the hard topics it writes about. for example, leah’s death. tamsin hardly knew her yet was crying all of the time (which isn’t too unrealistic), but then after her funeral it was barely mentioned again and everyone was numbed to grieving their friend. this could’ve been the chance for character development or bonding or drawing any conclusions to further the plot! i’m struggling to pick apart what her death meant for the story and the implications of it; was she killed by bonnie?-- what would that mean for bonnie’s character?; did she stop taking the drug deliberately to further her athletic goals?-- how would that motivate everyone to get eden house shut down?

pacing! aside from the short chapters, the pacing was very odd. days and weeks were skipped for the purpose of convenience, but it just meant there was less depth to the setting and characters. for example, an entire week was skipped out, meaning i as a reader had less of a chance to get attached to the characters so they had less depth when they needed me to care about what happens to them.
tamsin is only told the big secret™️ 75% of the way through the book. this book is nearly 370 pages long, so it took until around page 280 for tamsin to find out the truth behind eden house, then until 90% to do anything about it. this means that it took until page 333/370. most of the plot before this point was insubstantial. i’m not saying it was useless or served no purpose, but it shouldn’t have taken until there was 25% left of the book for the real plot to happen. at points, this book reminded me of the institute by stephen king. one parallel was how tamsin’s whole friend group were saying, without any tangible logic, that only she could help them out of eden house. compare this to the institute, where it is literally only luke who can help because of his smarts, small size, and the fact that he was least psychologically affected. if eden had touched a little bit more on the fact that tamsin hadn’t been on the drugs for as long and that’s why she was more capable of standing up for everyone, i might be a bit less critical of this plot point.
then, once tamsin gets up on the stage to execute the plan, everything happens in 40 pages. 40 pages to do the plan, escape the grounds, get help, and end the book. this reminds me of suzanne collins’ method of ending her books; write so many things into the last few pages to end the book faster without properly exploring anything.

i think that the most fascinating part of the big secret™️ was the implications of the anti-aging drug, but it was hardly touched upon at all after it was mentioned 75% in. i wanted to know about the withdrawals they faced once they left eden house and how they aged after; if everyone’s documents were changed to amend their birth years so they could pass as the 15/16 year old people they were and have regular lives; if anyone involved in the development of the drug had consequences; my questions could go on, but you get the point. so many unanswered questions all glossed over for the sake of conveniently ending the book. i just wish there was more focus on this aspect.

onto my less important query: what was up with the spag errors? for example, "hoard of butterflies". this one i can almost forgive, but when i'm paying to have access to a book i do expect the words to be spelt right! (it's horde of butterflies. a hoard is an accumulation of things.) also, "the hotel leant us all" leant? leant??? as in to rest against? (lent is the correct word.) i know emma smith is self-published but even google docs would point those out, right???
aside from the spelling errors, i also found some sentences that i don't think make sense. feel free to correct me of course, i could be misinterpreting them.
"life, here, seems endless with possibilities, despite the chilly spell we've found ourselves buried under." why is "here" in commas? surely it doesn't need to be like that..?
"one person from each year is announced the winner every term, made to present their work in assembly to a group of government officials who fund the project at eden house." 1, shouldn't it be "is made to present"? similarly, "is announced as the winner"? 2. do the "government officials" fund the individual projects or fund the eden house project? an important distinction, i think.
"leah might be lying in a coma just a few hundred metres away, but there's no point thinking about it now, is there? is there?" i don't know, is there? what is the repetition here for right now?
"tamsin solace's phone looks the same as always, slightly cracked and with a faded purple case, a forest green pop socket that was a present from miriam one birthday." random third person moment!!! if you're on the last item of the list, use the word AND; if the exact details of the phone are so important, why is the birthday not specified?-- everything else is so specific, why not the birthday? i’m being petty, i know.
while i’m discussing language, i just want it to be known that i cringed every time the word “fusty” was used. i cannot believe the english language has produced a word as disgusting as “fusty” and let it be used multiple times in one book. i never want to see that word again.

final thing i promise. why was malory towers and wild child mentioned so much? they were each only mentioned/ referenced a few times, but they were all so concentrated near the start that i was bored and sick of them being mentioned. there is other boarding school fiction! please! i'm dying! stop saying malory towers over and over again! on a similar note, a line from near the start of wild child was used basically verbatim in eden. you know the one; poppy is moving in and drippy offers her a wagon wheel and she says "never tried one, it looks unhealthy" (or something like that! it’s been a while since i last saw wild child) and drippy goes "jesu christi, you have not lived!" yeah, romesh says that almost exactly when he finds out tamsin has never tried a brand of crisps; "tamsin solace, you haven't lived!" are you kidding? in total, malory towers is mentioned (always in the same context of "have you read malory towers? eden house reminds me of it!") four times in ten chapters (chapters 4-14), and wild child is mentioned twice in six chapters (three in eight if you count "tamsin solace, you have not lived!"-- chapters 5-13) (chapters 5-11), which i think is far too many for both medias.

i want to conclude by saying that i did enjoy elements of this book. the language used was good and i did have to look up a few words (ie fusty) and the imagery was mostly great.
14 reviews
April 3, 2025
I read the ARC of this book and I absolutely loved it ! I understand how there can be a misconception that I’m just saying that for the sake of it , but seriously I loved every second of it . The characters are so so unique and unbelievable diverse. That made their introduction wayyy too interesting. I noticed how there’s a lot of description in this book and it honestly completed the book. It added to the eerie vibe and I loved how Emma even talked about the food and the iconic elderflower cordial (I’ll forever be reminded of this book everytime someone mentions it). Having the setting described so beautifully painted such a vivid image of Eden House. The imagery in this book is top tier. Also,It would be an understatement to say that the swiftie in me was delighted to see that Taylor reference.
Honestly, this book had an incredible eerie vibe and that made the whole story gripping. And isn’t a boarding school setting the best thing ever? It’s so otherworldly for me so that was one of the main reasons I wanted to get the arc so badly.

I think this book had a lot of topics that’s hinted at which may go unnoticed. Like with the things fostered children go through and how they’re extremely resilient. And how sometimes people can overshadow the truth easily. Anyways I adored this book so much and I’m so grateful to have gotten the ARC. I just have a read marathon with all of her other books!!!
Profile Image for Satiiii_❤️✒️.
5 reviews
April 8, 2025
Omg I don't even know where to begin.This book is such a masterful composition,I can't even describe it in words. This was my first ever book by Emma (arc reader) and it was so so worth it. Her writing in this book felt like a warm,cozy hug while drinking hot cocoa in a mountain side area.I'm calling all my swifties, gracie Abrams fan,holly jackson fans to read this book,I assure you it's so gonna be worth it. This book has a very unique concept, that you don't see much in other books. It's all about twists we face in life and how much our lives can change in a single day. I'm really attached to this book and feel empty after finishing it. Please please please buy this book,Emma's books prices are always so affordable,you never know how much a single purchase can mean to an author.The book was absolutely enchanting,thank you so much Emma for choosing me as an ARC reader, I'll Be grateful for eternity.I can't wait to experience being an ARC reader of yours again. xx
38 reviews
April 10, 2025
my first emma book and i absolutely DEVOURED it!! gave old ya mystery vibes like secret 7 & famous 5!! the setting, atmosphere & aesthetic pulled me in from the start and the entire boarding school vibe was both eerie and fun! loved the fmc - tamsin (what an interesting name!) she was super smart and loved the lil side plot of romance! i got chills reading a lot of it and loved the twist and all the foreshadowing leading up to it and it also spoke about a lot of important topics which i love. also LOVED the diversity inclusion:) thank you to emma for selecting me to be an ARC reader before it comes out!
Profile Image for Tee &#x1f498;&#x1f380;&#x1f4d6;.
77 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2025
This book was an unusual YA mystery. I really enjoyed reading it for the most part, however I wasn’t a fan of some more aspects of the book: such as the initiation process for Eden House, and the time warping. I didn’t enjoy how the author just killed off specific characters so suddenly and at times within the book that just were really random, however the plot made sense only much later in the book… Me personally, this book was overhyped sadly!!
Profile Image for Edan.
10 reviews
April 15, 2025
I was chosen to be an arc reader for this book and was incredibly lucky. I received it while I was away from home and spending time with my boyfriend's family but I could not keep my eyes off of this book. It's so insanely intriguing with so many likeable characters. The way the pieces slowly start to fall together and still keeping you intrigued all the way through, at times making you extremely hungry with descriptions of food. The concept of everything that happens in this book is amazing. The way Eden is described as such a paradise and turns out to be such a horrific place and every mystery is unravelled. I hate to say I was so excited to finish just so I could figure out the mystery. I hope there's some continuation of this book, I'd love to see how they all integrate into normal ways of living after all they've been through.
Profile Image for Henrike.
1 review
April 18, 2025
First of all I want to thank Emma because it was an absolute honour to be one of your ARC readers!!

Right when you start the book the setting is sooooo beautiful. The way everything is described made the book really come to live.

When you head farther in to the book more things started to not make sense, there were unexpected deaths, weird accidents and the main character already started forgetting things about het life before Eden. Then the plot twist hit and wow… that was really evil and schokking.

I really loved the characters in this book and the way they all interacted with each other. It’s was a bit annoying that the MC started forgetting things, but in the end it all makes sense haha.

Overal I give this book a 4.4/5 of the five stars and if you like boarding schools, mystery and a bit of romance… read this book!!!
For me it’s definitely a new fav YA book<3
Profile Image for Nicole Woodhouse.
37 reviews2 followers
June 1, 2025
This is one of the best YA books I’ve ever read, and is very different to other books I’ve read in the best way possible. Although I am yet to read a book by Emma I’ve not enjoyed, this is definitely my favourite so far.

As readers, we get drawn in along with Tam into the allure of Eden House, and it feels like we are with her in things slowly unraveling and the “real” Eden coming to light. However, with Emma’s writing it feels so real and easy to see how the other students get drawn in to the school and the “paradise”.

My jaw dropped at so many times in the book, for so many reasons. The characters are all really well formed with individual personalities and flaws, but they are all likeable (bar the antagonists, and even then Emma does a good job of luring us with a false sense of security). The characters are all diverse too which is a win.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Alexa Miller.
5 reviews
April 16, 2025
Everything about this book was amazing from the boarding school setting to the found family friendships. Eden school is described to main character Tamsin as “paradise” but she quickly discovers the so called perfect place has eerie underlying secrets. The pacing is perfection, the writing is descriptive and enthralling, and the story is incredible! The characters were my favorite part as they were such different individuals that you fell in love with each of them separately. I cannot recommend this book more it was such a fantastic read.

Adore the ESU and I’m excited to read every future release 🫶🏻🩷
Profile Image for Mae.reads.
9 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2025
It’s currently 11:53pm and I’m in tears over this book so please excuse the fact that this review will be all over the place.
I don’t think words can begin to describe how hooked I was on this book. Emma took the meaning of “Eden” to a whole new level and created a world that I could so clearly vision in my mind.
Each character was written beautifully and it felt like you really knew them and that I was creating a friendship with them along side Tamsin, the relationship between Hugo and Tamsin had me giggling and kicking my feet 🤭

The deaths that happened in this book were written so well to the point I actually had to keep putting my kindle down serval times to take a minute to realise what had happened and I had to reread a certain death a few times because I just couldn’t believe it happened

I will definitely continue to read Emma’s work and I’m already excited to start the next book I’ve order recently 🫶🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephanie Flynn.
2 reviews
April 16, 2025
Eden was beautifully written - you have the feeling of eeriness all throughout whilst still wanting to believe in the idea of the school, just like Tamsin. The characters' back stories are all so well thought out and you feel like you truly understand them and the choices they make. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what Emma Smith brings out next!
Profile Image for Grace’s Reads.
82 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 4 Stars
This YA mystery was addictive!
“Eden” was the perfect combination of eerie mystery boarding school X the nostalgia of Jacqueline Wilson books that I read as a child.
The scene was set perfectly….and I felt like I was at Eden House with Tamsin and her new friends.

It’s great to support indie authors and I’m sure Emma Smith has many more great books to come!
Profile Image for Amy.
80 reviews
June 7, 2025
wow!!! really enjoyed this one
Profile Image for Sophiesaur.
197 reviews17 followers
April 18, 2025
And remember kids if they tell you the government wouldn’t do that oh yes they would!…

Eden is a ya mystery in an academic setting that handles grief trauma in a really interesting way! I picked this one up after seeing it on TikTok! (It felt really dystopian but totally believable!?)

I loved the school and Cornwall as a setting it was so atmospheric and well fleshed out!

While being a mystery it felt more of a character study at the start I loved getting to exist at this school with these characters and there was so much personal and emotional growth I was really routing for them!

Where the world thrived pacing was a little off for me when the actual mystery comes to light it’s quite late in the book and it felt a little rushed for how detailed and in depth the start of the story is I wanted more time to uncover the twist it happens really fast at the end.

Didn’t enjoy the Harry Potter references in the current climate I don’t think we should be platforming JKR in any form of modern media!

Overall I gave it a 3.5 there was some really great writing and I loved the Atmosphere I would have liked more time to resolve the story over all if you are looking for a ya mystery set in a wild environment please pick this one up!
Profile Image for Jess.
30 reviews3 followers
April 8, 2025
“That’s the magic of Eden, you know? Time doesn’t exist here.”

Emma Smith’s “Eden” is a slow burn mystery in the best way. It takes its time building a dreamy, yet unsettling atmosphere that completely envelops you. Literally, it pulls you in. What begins inconspicuously and quietly soon reveals itself as a hauntingly clever story with strong dystopian tropes, set against the eerie but beautiful backdrop of Eden House.

Despite the slow start (maybe it was just me wanting the action to happen quicker because I *knew* it was going to be good), I ended up reading the whole novel in one sitting - I just couldn’t put it down. Emma’s writing is *captivating*. The ending was so rewarding and tied everything together in a way that felt both emotional and satisfying.

I also really loved Tam’s relationship with everybody. The found family vibes really added a warm emotional depth that balanced the mystery perfectly.

If you’re into Y/A mysteries with a boarding school setting where secrets are bigger than the walls that hold them, this one is for you. Go preorder it! 💚📚

I received a free ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you.💚
Profile Image for zarlynx.
45 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2025
4.75💚 ARC Reader

Where do I start? How proud I am to say I am an ARC reader because I can convince the world to give it a try.

- The way Emma writes, it was my favorite thing of this book. All the times I felt in love with Eden, even though I knew something has to be wrong, but she described it so perfectly, the characters loved it so much; I just couldn’t help to feel the same.

- The characters and the found family were incredible. I fell in love with every single one of them. I loved Rom, Ash, Leah, Hugo, Tamsin, Eloise… every one was different and unique in their own way.

- The plot had me hooked since the beginning. A mystery in a boarding school? Hell yeah! Although, I didn’t expect almost anything, it was so nice to not expect the end and to fear what was going to happen to everyone.

- This book was a like a hug, I felt so happy and so good to read it. As I said before, the descriptions were immaculate and that gave me sense of I was there. The group of friends made you feel you were actually there, with them. And that it is something someone rarely is able to achieve, but Emma Smith does it perfectly.
Profile Image for Ray.
114 reviews
April 4, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive this ARC in exchange for my honest review and I loved it! Eden is a young adult novel about Tamsin, who is invited to attend Eden House, a boarding school for disadvantaged teens. It’s a twisted mystery with a boarding school setting and an abundance of loveable and diverse characters.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, learning more about Eden House as Tamsin did and gradually getting more sucked into this mysterious place. The descriptions really built this story for me. I could visualise everything the entire time and I really felt like I was there, walking the halls of the school and down to the beach and eating all of the delicious sounding food!

There is so much detail in this book yet it flows effortlessly. The placement of these details is so clever and exciting when you think back. I’m still realising little things even now!

Eden comes out April 18th! Go preorder your copy now!
Profile Image for Jasmine.
38 reviews
April 16, 2025
I think this is my favourite of Emma’s books! I was absolutely hooked from page 1! This is such an interesting mystery and I feel as though Emma has really delved in head first into something that I couldn’t stop reading! The vibe about Eden house is just impeccable, I was in absolute awe that i felt like I could actually picture Eden house in my brain from the way Emma described it!

I absolutely adored the way Emma really described the characters to a point I felt like I knew them and could relate to them. I really believe this book is such well written that I could really connect to the story and the characters. I loved the plot line and really everything about the book! I can’t wait to own a physical copy! Another amazing addition to Emma’s books!
Profile Image for Subhi Kanekar.
22 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2025
A book about a fancy boarding school with romance and mystery? I'm sold!

I absolutely loved this book! The author's descriptions are amazing - I felt like I was right there with the characters, surrounded by beautiful scenery, the ocean and snow. There's a subtle mystery that keeps you guessing, and a sweet romance subplot that adds to the story's charm. It's a rollercoaster of emotions - this book will take you on a journey of ups and downs, but ultimately leaves you feeling uplifted and inspired. It's a cozy, feel-good read with a lot of heart, perfect for a winter day! 4.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Siobhan L.
1 review1 follower
April 12, 2025
I was so excited to be chosen to receive an ARC of this book. It was nothing short of captivating. Emma’s writing pulled me in and from the very beginning I had an eerie feeling not all was as it seems. As Eden’s secrets began to come to light I couldn’t put the book down. The characters were diverse and loveable and I felt invested in what would happen to them. I would recommend to anyone who loves a bit of suspense and mystery!
Profile Image for Kara.
8 reviews
July 23, 2025
I LOVED this story - a YA mystery thriller for lovers of Mallory Towers. I really enjoyed reading about the dark secrets of Eden House whilst learning about the backstories of characters. Tamsin represents us girls who love academia and learning both as a hobby and for development. There is also a character with hearing loss - unique in my reading experience! Absolutely recommend.
Profile Image for Amaya.
6 reviews
October 31, 2025
I’m in shock.

The whole storyline was amazing, the way we got to know more about each character.. the build up to the reveal of what was happening and the weird feeling.
I’ve never read a book like this before! It was amazing..

I’d love to see this become a movie I could just imagine it! I would so watch it 100%

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 stars
1 review
June 2, 2025
Nothing really happened in terms of mystery until chapter 30-ish (43 chapters) but when it got going it was good! I love Romesh😭😭
Profile Image for alice ✧.*.
25 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2025
Eden by Emma Smith is an emotional, atmospheric UKYA thriller that feels like a warm blanket and a gut-punch all at once. If you’ve been struggling to pick up a book lately, let this be the one to pull you out of a slump. With its blend of cozy setting, slow-burning mystery, and haunting twists, Eden is exactly the kind of story that makes you lose track of time—literally and figuratively.

At the heart of the novel is 15-year-old Tamsin Solace, a foster child who’s spent most of her life shifting between homes until she finds comfort with her wonderful foster mother, Miriam, in the quiet town of Vibbington. Everything changes when Tamsin receives a mysterious letter inviting her to attend Eden House, a secluded boarding school on the Cornish coast designed for gifted teens from the foster care system. Eden promises opportunity, safety, and a chance to finally thrive—a dream wrapped in ivy-covered walls and candlelit common rooms.

The setting of Eden House is, in a word, magical. From the grand building to the four long dinner tables and warm roast dinners, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve stepped into a foster care version of Hogwarts. There’s that same sense of wonder and curiosity, but with an undercurrent of something... off. The tension builds slowly, with subtle foreshadowing that kept me guessing and flipping pages well into the night. It’s not in-your-face, but it lingers just beneath the surface, creating a delicious unease.

Emma Smith’s writing is effortlessly immersive. Tamsin’s voice is raw, messy, and real—her thoughts aren’t polished or neat, and that’s what makes them so believable. I felt deeply connected to her, especially as the story began to twist in unexpected, emotional directions. Around the 70% mark, I was crying—actual, tears-running-down-my-face crying. That alone earned this book an extra star from me.

Though romance isn’t the core focus of Eden, it does play a role. And while I appreciated the inclusion, it felt a little rushed. Tamsin and Hugo’s connection sparked quickly—too quickly, in my opinion. Their first kiss happens immediately, he calls her his girlfriend without a conversation, and Tamsin is already thinking in eternal terms within a month. It’s a fast burn that left me wishing for more build-up, especially since their relationship had so much potential for slow, meaningful development.

The story’s pacing overall is quick, but that actually serves the book well. Time in Eden is… strange. Slippery. Things feel slow and fast all at once, which mirrors Tamsin’s own disorientation. It’s brilliantly done. I genuinely felt like I had been lost in this book for weeks, even though I read it in just a few sittings. That sense of disconnection from reality added so much to the reading experience and helped me connect even more deeply with Tamsin’s perspective.

That said, the final act did feel rushed—not just in terms of plot, but in its lack of description. The rest of the book is rich with imagery and feeling, but the ending lost that a bit. The escape sequence could have been more detailed, and I found myself confused about how certain transitions happened. It was a little jarring—one moment we’re here, the next we’re there, without much in-between to ground us.

There were also a few things left underexplored. I would’ve loved to read the actual speech Tamsin gave near the end rather than just a summary of what she said. That moment had so much emotional weight, and it felt like a missed opportunity not to show it in full. I was also left with questions about the scientific side of the plot. The novel touches on mysterious pills and what happens when characters stop taking them—but the consequences aren’t fully explained. Some characters survive, others don’t, and we’re never quite told why. It felt like a bit of a plot hole, especially since the survival stakes were so high. I wanted to know the whole process, how they were weaned off the drugs and how they survived.

And while I understood the emotional distance between Tamsin and Hugo after the climax, part of me still wanted a bit more closure between them. It felt real, yes—but also slightly abrupt.

Despite these flaws, Eden is a beautiful debut that blends mystery, emotion, and quiet heartbreak into something special. The characters feel alive and layered, and the writing—at its best—is breathtaking. Emma Smith has created a world that is both enchanting and unsettling, a perfect balance for readers who love atmospheric thrillers with heart. If you enjoy cozy-yet-eerie settings, found family, emotional depth, and a sprinkle of romance, this one’s for you.

Highly recommended for fans of UKYA, fast-paced thrillers with emotional core, and anyone looking to feel both comforted and shaken.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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8 reviews
April 16, 2025
Thank you so much Emma for letting me be an arc reader for this book!

I've been a reader of Emma's work for months now and have read almost everything on her back list. Receiving an arc copy of Eden (and a signed copy in a giveaway!) was absolutely incredible, and I was so excited to dive into this new novel.
I'm very glad to say that Eden does not disappoint.
If you are looking for a book that has loveable characters, a well thought-out mystery, and beautiful descriptions of the setting, you need to pick this one up!
My favourite part of this novel was the setting, and the description that Emma provides on Eden House. It felt as though it was a character itself within the story, and the house seemed to haunt the narrative with every chapter. I could feel its presence as I was reading, and my suspicions were high from the very start. Emma has a brilliant way of establishing the characters within the setting, and using the backdrop to her advantage to craft a well-balanced and stunning environment. Eden House felt as though it was its own character that had thoughts and feelings, and it was easily my favourite part of the novel.
Emma's writing has developed beautifully over the course of her writing career so far, and in Eden I saw this more than any of her other books. The prose flowed really well, like a traditionally published book I'd expect to be signed! I know Emma's book can never and will never disappoint me, but this one seemed so different in the best way. Professional level!
The reason I didn't give this book five stars was because of the pacing. For the first 150 - 200 pages, we're setting up the story, learning about the characters, getting into the routine of the House and watching Tamsin settle into life at Eden. While this is completely understandable and clearly a thought-out move from Emma (and allowed for some beautiful description of the house!), it did feel a bit slow, like we were waiting for something to happen at the beginning of the next chapter. However, this is the only gripe I had with the novel!
The characters, especially our main one Tamsin, are extremely loveable, and as I always say if my reviews of Emma's books, the quintessentially British vibes of all of her novels make me feel warm and at home. There's nothing like reading a book with so many niche references that you can understand!
Overall, a 4.25./5 from me, and a very big well done to Emma for this new release!
Preorder Eden now !! <3
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