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Eden
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.
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.
- GenresMystery
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2025
12 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Emma Smith
14 books563 followersEmma 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 23, 2025
This book will be perfect if you grew up loving Enid Blyton books like me, dreaming about what it might be like to grow up inside a boarding school... only with a very dark twist. If you love snowdrops and cliffsides and winter weather, I hope you enjoy this book, too!
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
4.5
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 🌟
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 🌟
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!
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!!!
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!!!
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
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!
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.
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.
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.💚
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.💚
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!
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!
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! ❤️
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! ❤️
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!
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 ⭐️
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 ⭐️
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!
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!
May 3, 2025
Omggg what a good book!!! I devoured this so quick even writing this review makes me want to reread. The aesthetic and world-building of the beautiful Eden estate was truly enrapturing and, initially at least, I even felt jealous of Tamsin and her exciting new boarding school life. Again I adored Emma Smith's writing style and the buildup of suspense to revelation kept me hooked and desperate to read on. The range of characters (and the diversity featured which was refreshing) was so interesting and (a pro of a physical copy) the illustrations, photos and letters featured (a style I entirely attribute to Emma Smith now) were beautiful and immersive. The dystopian-esque twist of this book was so unexpected yet it fit so well I would have loved more elaboration but it's sharpness was effective. Overall this was 100% an indisputable 5 star read for me and I highly highly recommend as a brilliantly beautiful and twisty read!
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.
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.
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.
May 24, 2025
Is paradise really worth losing everything you've ever known, and most importantly, is it worth *dying* for? This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Rating — 5: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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, hypnotized — 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.
In this standalone book, I was surprised by how well I connected to the characters. I usually have a preference for reading series and slowly building character development — for this book, it wasn't even necessary, and for me as a reader personally, that's a hard thing to master so soon. I felt the characters' pain, their desire to find stability in a world that has been nothing but cruel to them. All of the characters felt like embodied, real people — not just characters on a page, like how it feels sometimes. The descriptive ways Emma brought out their quirks and personalities were fantastic.
I want to give a special mention first to Emma directly for the creation of the character, Romesh. I'm a deaf gal, and I've very rarely seen deaf characters make an appearance anywhere, so the representation was a massive thing for me in the first place. To second that, not only was the representation lovely, but the way Romesh was portrayed and thought about so clearly through Emma — I've never seen such astonishingly correct accuracy of deaf representation in a character. Absolutely well done.
Going to the characters as a whole, particularly the gang, you couldn't help but fall in love with all of them through Tamsin's eyes. Tamsin, the loyal but alert one. Eloise, the heartbroken, fiercely protective, and revengeful one. Hugo, the lovable and caring one. Ash, the tragic girl that didn't deserve that much pain and suffering but loved her friends to the ends of the earth. Merv, the quietly nerdy one but would always be by your side. Leah, the friend you could count on for eternity. Dante, the one that has the biggest heart. Romesh, the one that comes to your rescue. Each one of these members of the group was loyal to the death, and that's something you can't ignore reading — it's so beautifully stark.
The other characters as well were so well fleshed out; the lies and pretenses from the facility staff were so well planned out. Jacob Rochester, Coral, Destiny — all characters that surprised me at the very end, in twists I absolutely was not expecting. One character I would've loved to have seen a more in-depth ending for was Mathilde. I just felt Eden started with her and it would've been nice to see it end with her too — but that's just my opinion, not hating on the Hugo ending, because I LOVED his character and Tamsin's relationship.
The plot and pacing of the book were brilliant; never at any point did I think 'when's the mystery getting solved!' The lies became more complex, the twists more fascinating. The absolute shock for me was finding out the students had been there 9 years! You should have seen all my annotations for working out the mystery, and it was thrilling when the truth came out and the group had to think of a plan. I truly don't think I've read anything this gripping in the YA genre for years.
I loved Emma's writing style; it's unlike any YA book I've ever read. She hit all the right notes for a mystery, a romance subplot, the feelings of grief and immense loss fueling revenge. Her writing weaving in different periods of time from early 2000s to 2010s fashion, pop culture, and slang words was witty and engaging.
Favourite quotes & annotations (there's far too many, but here is a selection): 💬
“Tamsin, Eden House isn't everything it's cracked up to be. I love it, and it's home to me, but you're going to have to sacrifice a lot if you want to be here forever. It's a price we've all had to weigh up – and now pay, every single day. It's a price that lost us Leah, and Dante. It lost us… it lost us Sophie. It lost us so many others before her." - Hugo to Tamsin
I don't act fast enough. I don't even think I register what he's going to do. Nobody but me sees his body slip under the water in an artful dive, in a way I didn't think he could. And nobody – not even me – sees him resurface. - Tamsin. THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SHOCK I HAD HERE.
"You don't have to, Tamsin. I've got this. Please, stay safe, for God's sake. I couldn't bear it if you…" "I'm coming." I'm coming. - Hugo to Tamsin
"I swear, through the trees, that I spy a single wooden cross, sticking out of the mossy ground: a grave, a marker. I tell myself I must've imagined it." I knew at this point I was into something GOOD!
In conclusion, this book is going to stay with me for a long time, maybe even forever. The mystery, the grief and pain, the love they have for each other is so special. A perfect sprinkle of everything, exactly what I've been wanting to find in a book. Thank you, Emma Smith!
Rating — 5: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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, hypnotized — 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.
In this standalone book, I was surprised by how well I connected to the characters. I usually have a preference for reading series and slowly building character development — for this book, it wasn't even necessary, and for me as a reader personally, that's a hard thing to master so soon. I felt the characters' pain, their desire to find stability in a world that has been nothing but cruel to them. All of the characters felt like embodied, real people — not just characters on a page, like how it feels sometimes. The descriptive ways Emma brought out their quirks and personalities were fantastic.
I want to give a special mention first to Emma directly for the creation of the character, Romesh. I'm a deaf gal, and I've very rarely seen deaf characters make an appearance anywhere, so the representation was a massive thing for me in the first place. To second that, not only was the representation lovely, but the way Romesh was portrayed and thought about so clearly through Emma — I've never seen such astonishingly correct accuracy of deaf representation in a character. Absolutely well done.
Going to the characters as a whole, particularly the gang, you couldn't help but fall in love with all of them through Tamsin's eyes. Tamsin, the loyal but alert one. Eloise, the heartbroken, fiercely protective, and revengeful one. Hugo, the lovable and caring one. Ash, the tragic girl that didn't deserve that much pain and suffering but loved her friends to the ends of the earth. Merv, the quietly nerdy one but would always be by your side. Leah, the friend you could count on for eternity. Dante, the one that has the biggest heart. Romesh, the one that comes to your rescue. Each one of these members of the group was loyal to the death, and that's something you can't ignore reading — it's so beautifully stark.
The other characters as well were so well fleshed out; the lies and pretenses from the facility staff were so well planned out. Jacob Rochester, Coral, Destiny — all characters that surprised me at the very end, in twists I absolutely was not expecting. One character I would've loved to have seen a more in-depth ending for was Mathilde. I just felt Eden started with her and it would've been nice to see it end with her too — but that's just my opinion, not hating on the Hugo ending, because I LOVED his character and Tamsin's relationship.
The plot and pacing of the book were brilliant; never at any point did I think 'when's the mystery getting solved!' The lies became more complex, the twists more fascinating. The absolute shock for me was finding out the students had been there 9 years! You should have seen all my annotations for working out the mystery, and it was thrilling when the truth came out and the group had to think of a plan. I truly don't think I've read anything this gripping in the YA genre for years.
I loved Emma's writing style; it's unlike any YA book I've ever read. She hit all the right notes for a mystery, a romance subplot, the feelings of grief and immense loss fueling revenge. Her writing weaving in different periods of time from early 2000s to 2010s fashion, pop culture, and slang words was witty and engaging.
Favourite quotes & annotations (there's far too many, but here is a selection): 💬
“Tamsin, Eden House isn't everything it's cracked up to be. I love it, and it's home to me, but you're going to have to sacrifice a lot if you want to be here forever. It's a price we've all had to weigh up – and now pay, every single day. It's a price that lost us Leah, and Dante. It lost us… it lost us Sophie. It lost us so many others before her." - Hugo to Tamsin
I don't act fast enough. I don't even think I register what he's going to do. Nobody but me sees his body slip under the water in an artful dive, in a way I didn't think he could. And nobody – not even me – sees him resurface. - Tamsin. THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SHOCK I HAD HERE.
"You don't have to, Tamsin. I've got this. Please, stay safe, for God's sake. I couldn't bear it if you…" "I'm coming." I'm coming. - Hugo to Tamsin
"I swear, through the trees, that I spy a single wooden cross, sticking out of the mossy ground: a grave, a marker. I tell myself I must've imagined it." I knew at this point I was into something GOOD!
In conclusion, this book is going to stay with me for a long time, maybe even forever. The mystery, the grief and pain, the love they have for each other is so special. A perfect sprinkle of everything, exactly what I've been wanting to find in a book. Thank you, Emma Smith!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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!!
April 7, 2025
Holy moly 😧
I want to say how honored I am to have been chosen as an arc reader and how fun it was to experience the world of Eden before my friends, who are all waiting eagerly for release (I hope 😡)
I’ve been trying to write this review for days but I keep starting again because nothing I say will ever do it justice. Where do I start?
Firstly, the concept. The idea of Eden was not something I’ve heard a lot of books written on - mainly boarding schools and kids in foster care, and the two of them together.
This made the wait until the book released (or until it was sent out to arc readers) so exciting, and the feelings I felt whilst reading so intense!
Secondly, the setting and descriptions! Emma has always been so good with this area. She can make the dullest days in February seem a little less dull, and effortlessly enhance the beauty of a summers day at the beach in England, and Eden was no exception.
With Eden House being set on the coast in Cornwall, surrounded by cliffs and sea and forest, there was no limit to what Emma could make come alive. Emma’s settings and descriptions of these settings are always so vivid that I can always imagine myself there - which is something I struggle to do with a lot of authors - despite never having visited England properly.
I need to talk (or write) about the characters next, because there is so much to say about the characters alone, I’m nearly lost trying to type these sentences out.
In her books, Emma always includes a somewhat large amount of characters. Although she has one-to-three main characters, the others in her stories never seem like background characters either. Having so many different characters with different names, personalities and backgrounds is so difficult to manage for me as a young author, so I have no idea how she does it.
There are so many interesting characters in Eden, all very different yet experiencing quite similar things. All the characters played such a huge role in the story, and I feel it made Eden House seem more homely…
Lastly, the plot. Much like the idea, I’d never heard or read anything like it, which made it so much more interesting and nerve wracking to read. There were countless times where I was second (and third) guessing myself. It was such an interesting and captivating storyline with a little bit of everything.
Not to mention the plot twists! This book had more than I could count on one hand, and I caught myself audibly gasping at multiple parts.
Eden may be one of my favorite things Emma has written so far, and I can’t wait for everyone else to read this, because they are in for such a treat!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PSA. Sorry for typos/grammar mistakes but I can’t be bothered to proof read this lol xx
I want to say how honored I am to have been chosen as an arc reader and how fun it was to experience the world of Eden before my friends, who are all waiting eagerly for release (I hope 😡)
I’ve been trying to write this review for days but I keep starting again because nothing I say will ever do it justice. Where do I start?
Firstly, the concept. The idea of Eden was not something I’ve heard a lot of books written on - mainly boarding schools and kids in foster care, and the two of them together.
This made the wait until the book released (or until it was sent out to arc readers) so exciting, and the feelings I felt whilst reading so intense!
Secondly, the setting and descriptions! Emma has always been so good with this area. She can make the dullest days in February seem a little less dull, and effortlessly enhance the beauty of a summers day at the beach in England, and Eden was no exception.
With Eden House being set on the coast in Cornwall, surrounded by cliffs and sea and forest, there was no limit to what Emma could make come alive. Emma’s settings and descriptions of these settings are always so vivid that I can always imagine myself there - which is something I struggle to do with a lot of authors - despite never having visited England properly.
I need to talk (or write) about the characters next, because there is so much to say about the characters alone, I’m nearly lost trying to type these sentences out.
In her books, Emma always includes a somewhat large amount of characters. Although she has one-to-three main characters, the others in her stories never seem like background characters either. Having so many different characters with different names, personalities and backgrounds is so difficult to manage for me as a young author, so I have no idea how she does it.
There are so many interesting characters in Eden, all very different yet experiencing quite similar things. All the characters played such a huge role in the story, and I feel it made Eden House seem more homely…
Lastly, the plot. Much like the idea, I’d never heard or read anything like it, which made it so much more interesting and nerve wracking to read. There were countless times where I was second (and third) guessing myself. It was such an interesting and captivating storyline with a little bit of everything.
Not to mention the plot twists! This book had more than I could count on one hand, and I caught myself audibly gasping at multiple parts.
Eden may be one of my favorite things Emma has written so far, and I can’t wait for everyone else to read this, because they are in for such a treat!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PSA. Sorry for typos/grammar mistakes but I can’t be bothered to proof read this lol xx
April 10, 2025
I initially rated this book 4 stars, but I had to come back and change it to a 5. Hours after reading it, I was stuck staring at my ceiling still feeling the emotions brought up by this book. I feel like I formed not only a connection to the characters, but to the plot/story itself. I mean who doesn't want to find paradise? I can't imagine that a single person hasn't wished for a place catered for them that can change their life for the better.
From the beginning of the story I was pulled in by the allure of Eden House. The description of the school, the feelings it created and the atmosphere was incredible. In almost every sentence the way Eden was described made it come even more alive. You could picture everything whilst reading, which made the reading experience that much more exciting. The writing flowed really well and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. I've never read something with this type of twist. I loved the dystopian touch to this book so much, it made it more unique and definitely made me want to check out more books that touch on this subject. I gasped, cried and laughed whilst reading, everything was so detailed and very well written. Some moments were slightly predictable, but other moments weren't at all. The ones you could slightly predict didn’t ruin anything at all.
The author has done an outstanding job creating so many diverse characters. From looks to sexual orientation, each character is truly their own person. The inclusion of a deaf character was lovely to see, there aren’t loads of books that represent disabilities.
I connected with them all so much, yet for different reasons. The way Emma wrote and developed their personalities and their friendships was really well done. You felt their connections and their love for each other, you really felt their heartbreak when one of them was hurt. I finished reading and couldn't help but be so proud of them all. This book made me question everything I have done, but also made me think of how privileged I am to have the things I do.
This is the first book I have read from this author, I cannot wait to read the other two on my shelf and hopefully even more of her work after that. I am very grateful to have been selected to read an ARC by Emma, but all opinions are my own.
From the beginning of the story I was pulled in by the allure of Eden House. The description of the school, the feelings it created and the atmosphere was incredible. In almost every sentence the way Eden was described made it come even more alive. You could picture everything whilst reading, which made the reading experience that much more exciting. The writing flowed really well and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. I've never read something with this type of twist. I loved the dystopian touch to this book so much, it made it more unique and definitely made me want to check out more books that touch on this subject. I gasped, cried and laughed whilst reading, everything was so detailed and very well written. Some moments were slightly predictable, but other moments weren't at all. The ones you could slightly predict didn’t ruin anything at all.
The author has done an outstanding job creating so many diverse characters. From looks to sexual orientation, each character is truly their own person. The inclusion of a deaf character was lovely to see, there aren’t loads of books that represent disabilities.
I connected with them all so much, yet for different reasons. The way Emma wrote and developed their personalities and their friendships was really well done. You felt their connections and their love for each other, you really felt their heartbreak when one of them was hurt. I finished reading and couldn't help but be so proud of them all. This book made me question everything I have done, but also made me think of how privileged I am to have the things I do.
This is the first book I have read from this author, I cannot wait to read the other two on my shelf and hopefully even more of her work after that. I am very grateful to have been selected to read an ARC by Emma, but all opinions are my own.
April 17, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
First of all I feel really honoured that I received this ARC by Emma Smith. It was my seventh book of her and as always it didn’t disappoint! I love Emma’s writing style and how she captures the whole atmosphere of the book with it. It had me hooked from the first page and I was never sure when I would discover another twist that would make me question everything! Her characters, especially in this book, have so much backstories that it really made me feel their emotions and actions. And the best thing about it: it’s coming out tomorrow!
The Synopsis:
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.
Overall I really enjoyed it and it’s one of my favourite Emmma books🫶 I definitely recommend it if you like mysteries with a lot of suspense that keep you guessing the next plot twist and also have a small romance subplot and a found family. So preorder ‘Eden’now or grab a copy tomorrow! ⭐️
First of all I feel really honoured that I received this ARC by Emma Smith. It was my seventh book of her and as always it didn’t disappoint! I love Emma’s writing style and how she captures the whole atmosphere of the book with it. It had me hooked from the first page and I was never sure when I would discover another twist that would make me question everything! Her characters, especially in this book, have so much backstories that it really made me feel their emotions and actions. And the best thing about it: it’s coming out tomorrow!
The Synopsis:
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.
Overall I really enjoyed it and it’s one of my favourite Emmma books🫶 I definitely recommend it if you like mysteries with a lot of suspense that keep you guessing the next plot twist and also have a small romance subplot and a found family. So preorder ‘Eden’now or grab a copy tomorrow! ⭐️
April 18, 2025
5 stars!!
i loved this book so much i literally need it to be made into a movie asap!😭 the atmosphere of this book and the whole idea of eden is amazing!
emma has such a way of bringing the vibes of the book to life and immersing the reader in the world as well as making such amazing and real characters. reading eden made me feel like i was right there with tamsin and the rest of the group.
the boarding school vibes are everything to me! i absolutely LOVE when a book takes place in a boarding school + a romance subplot. it truly is my kryptonite.
can we talk about hugo? hes literally amazing i love how the relationship between him and tamsin was written it was awkward in a cute way and felt so real! i truly loved them so much🤍
the friendship was amazing, the running around the school, interacting with each other, their talks, everything was so perfect in this book.
the mystery and plot! omg i ate it all up. the twist and turns this book had! i was second guessing myself and i really enjoyed every part of it.
so thankful to have been able to receive an ARC copy of eden🤍 everyone go get a copy NOWW!!! 🫶
i loved this book so much i literally need it to be made into a movie asap!😭 the atmosphere of this book and the whole idea of eden is amazing!
emma has such a way of bringing the vibes of the book to life and immersing the reader in the world as well as making such amazing and real characters. reading eden made me feel like i was right there with tamsin and the rest of the group.
the boarding school vibes are everything to me! i absolutely LOVE when a book takes place in a boarding school + a romance subplot. it truly is my kryptonite.
can we talk about hugo? hes literally amazing i love how the relationship between him and tamsin was written it was awkward in a cute way and felt so real! i truly loved them so much🤍
the friendship was amazing, the running around the school, interacting with each other, their talks, everything was so perfect in this book.
the mystery and plot! omg i ate it all up. the twist and turns this book had! i was second guessing myself and i really enjoyed every part of it.
so thankful to have been able to receive an ARC copy of eden🤍 everyone go get a copy NOWW!!! 🫶
April 8, 2025
Woah
I think this is probably my favourite book by Emma Smith. I was just so absorbed by it. I won't give too much away. Just READ IT please 😍
Emma's books always have the most beautiful descriptions but this one was on a different level. I could so perfectly visualise Eden, not only the appearance but the feeling of being there and seeing it through Tamsin's eyes.
There's a real sense of unease under the beautiful descriptions of Eden. It's just a little too perfect. The hints something else might be going on peppered throughout kept me completely absorbed.
This book also gives voice to those often forgotten in society raises important questions of how we value life, especially those of foster children. How much we prioritise tech over humanity.
One of my favourite parts was the friendship group and the sense of found family, the romance subplot. Emma has such a way of capturing these relationships in a natural, nostalgic way.
I'm so grateful to have been able to read this before release - thank you Emma! I can't wait for publication ❤️
I think this is probably my favourite book by Emma Smith. I was just so absorbed by it. I won't give too much away. Just READ IT please 😍
Emma's books always have the most beautiful descriptions but this one was on a different level. I could so perfectly visualise Eden, not only the appearance but the feeling of being there and seeing it through Tamsin's eyes.
There's a real sense of unease under the beautiful descriptions of Eden. It's just a little too perfect. The hints something else might be going on peppered throughout kept me completely absorbed.
This book also gives voice to those often forgotten in society raises important questions of how we value life, especially those of foster children. How much we prioritise tech over humanity.
One of my favourite parts was the friendship group and the sense of found family, the romance subplot. Emma has such a way of capturing these relationships in a natural, nostalgic way.
I'm so grateful to have been able to read this before release - thank you Emma! I can't wait for publication ❤️
April 2, 2025
4.5⭐️
I was sent this arc in return for an honest review and this book was epic. The main character, Tamsin, finds herself at Eden house boarding school, a prestigious institution for high achieving care-experienced young people.
Before Eden, the only person she trusted was her foster mother: Miriam but here she has a great friendship group, academics and sports opportunities. But there is something not quite right about Eden. Does Tamsin even want to know…
Overall I loved this book: there’s something so magic about boarding school stories. The mysterious element was well written and I want to go back and find all the clues I missed. The reveal was perfectly executed and reflected how marginalised groups - including care experienced young people- are often exploited.
The scenery and food were especially vividly described
The ending was a relief but I personally found it slightly optimistic- though that may because I’m outside of the ya target audience
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.
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
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
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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 14, 2025
Eden House promises tranquility and a space to learn and develop new skills, but when Tamsin arrives it seems too magical to be completely safe. This is a story of deception, searching for the truth and young love. I must say emma has outdone herself, this probably is my favourite story she’s ever written. It’s so creatively crafted and described with the most intricate characters who deserved the most empathy and justice.
The whole concept of this was so interesting and unlikely. The twists and turns shocked me and I found myself anticipating the truth. I read the last 50% in one sitting as i simply could not put it down! it was too gripping. The setting was what really sold this book to me- it was picturesque whilst haunting and slightly eerie. The cornish countryside was a perfect home for this vintage mansion.
I loved the characters, especially Tamsin and Hugo. I am a sucker for a young adult romantic plot and these two ticked every box. They were infatuated since the start and had so much adorable chemistry. This relationship was displayed really well and still had the slightly awkward experimenting phase which is so common and cute in young relationships.
Overall i would seriously recommend this book to readers of all genres as it covers so many and is so enjoyable. The mystery plot is so fun and is bound to get you locked in its intriguing jaws.
The whole concept of this was so interesting and unlikely. The twists and turns shocked me and I found myself anticipating the truth. I read the last 50% in one sitting as i simply could not put it down! it was too gripping. The setting was what really sold this book to me- it was picturesque whilst haunting and slightly eerie. The cornish countryside was a perfect home for this vintage mansion.
I loved the characters, especially Tamsin and Hugo. I am a sucker for a young adult romantic plot and these two ticked every box. They were infatuated since the start and had so much adorable chemistry. This relationship was displayed really well and still had the slightly awkward experimenting phase which is so common and cute in young relationships.
Overall i would seriously recommend this book to readers of all genres as it covers so many and is so enjoyable. The mystery plot is so fun and is bound to get you locked in its intriguing jaws.
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 🫶🏻🩷
Adore the ESU and I’m excited to read every future release 🫶🏻🩷
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