Little White Flowers

Little White Flowers #1

by Amber Hathaway

“Much like Shirley Jackson, Hathaway’s gentle storytelling is like inhaling the aroma of a fresh cut flower, oblivious to the undercurrent of rot until it has settled deep into your bones.”
— Sage Nestler, author and Editor-in-Chief of Pride with a Bite

Some secrets are better left to rot.

When she and her brother are sent to clean out an estranged relative's estate, horror enthusiast Alice Drayon’s life begins paralleling her favorite page-turners. The sojourn in their grandmother’s “wicked” hometown provides the perfect opportunity for Alice to delve into Grammie’s mysterious past. However, she soon discovers that the horrific event that drove Grammie away is but one small piece of the town’s blighted history.

Confronted with increasing hostility from Evanston’s insular religious community as she closes in on the truth, Alice must risk everything to save lives. Her soft-spoken new neighbor, Riley Moore, seems to have answers ... and some dark secrets of his own. Can Alice trust him to help her put an end to Evanston’s wicked practices, or will she become yet another casualty?

Little Eve meets “The Lottery” meets “Children of the Corn”

Perfect for readers who love:
Slow burn horror
Family secrets
Creepy small towns
Religious cults

Genres: Horror

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded UP
Title/Author: Little White Flowers by Amber Hathaway
Format Read: Digital
Pub date: July 2025
Publisher: Self/Deadly Seeds Press
Page Count: 374
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978196738...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Horror with heart: Emotional and Psychological
- Societal issues like patriarchy, religious extremism, and systemic abuse
- Narratives featuring neurodiverse and queer representation
- Character-driven stories with emotional struggles and harrowing journey
- Folk horror/Cults/Small town
- Themes of resilience, oppression, neurodiversity, family bonds, love, and the search for truth.
Synopsis: "When she and her brother venture to Evanston, Maine to clean out an estranged relative's estate, horror enthusiast Alice Drayon's life begins paralleling her favorite page-turners. The sojourn in their grandmother's "wicked" hometown provides the perfect opportunity for Alice to delve into Grammie's mysterious past. However, she soon discovers that the horrific event that drove Grammie away is but one small piece of the town's blighted history.
Confronted with increasing hostility from Evanston's insular religious community as she closes in on the truth, Alice must risk everything to save lives. Her soft-spoken new neighbor, Riley Moore, seems to have answers ... and some dark secrets of his own. Can Alice trust him to help her put an end to Evanston's wicked practices, or will she become yet another casualty?"
__
Minor complaints:
- There are some unusual word choices that would pull me out of the narrative. Example: "Water streamed down Ellen's cheeks" like, wouldn't you write, "Tears" instead of water?
- While I don't think the writing/editing is entirely up to industry standards, I strongly believe this author is capable of bringing a level of excellence to the horror genre. As a debut, it's easy to see that with time, Hathaway will only grow into a stronger storytelling voice; already, I was immediately absorbed by the accessible and compelling narrative. I'm eagerly anticipating the second book in this (trilogy?) coming this summer (2026)


Final recommendation: First, I love this cover and the cover of the next book, Hallowed Deadly Seeds (Book 2/June 30th, 2026) Second, I feel like the author, Amber Hathaway, gave readers her heart and soul throughout this story. There is a pervasive sense of dread and darkness surrounding the characters as they settle into Evanston, Maine. Seasoned horror readers will understand immediately, the rural small-town, "old religion" signaling will develop into religious trauma, patriarchal oppression, and ritualistic sacrifice. Knowing that won't hinder the experience--just serve to sharpen the ability to focus on other things--like representation of neurodiversity in the main character and the unique way she will face her fears.

"It was just a house. Wood and metal. Those bad vibes were her
imagination doing what it did best reconfiguring the mundane into the menacing. If every place that had seen trauma carried a memory of its past, the entire world would be uninhabitable."

I loved the author's asides. Which is why I said her heart and soul are so evident. I get such a beautiful picture of what this author wants to say through the lens of horror for a very specific audience--I am that audience. The cultural references (cell phones, laptops, movies, shows like the X-Files, help to solidify the story firmly in 2008) The dialogue is authentic and sincere; that horror with heart. The main character struggles with anxiety a lot--which I could relate to-it was refreshing to see a main character face hardship and fears under extreme duress; managing overwhelming anxious thoughts and behaviors.

I love the development of the small town religion and The Ceremony. It was believable--which is my biggest expectation when it comes to cult/folk horror. Overall, this is a strong debut. I enjoyed it and I'm eager to read more from this author

Comps: Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, Stephen King's The Children of the Corn, Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce, Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

[Amber Hathaway]

Thank you for taking interest in my debut novel, Little White Flowers! I am so excited for you to read it! If you'd like to read a sample of the book to find out if it's a good fit for you, you can preview the beginning on Amazon or Kobo:

https://mybook.to/LWFpbk

(This link should automatically take you to the correct Amazon or Kobo site for your region when you click on the appropriate icon. If it doesn't, you can go to the Amazon or Kobo site for your region and type in, "Little White Flowers book," and my book should pop up.)

Happy reading!

Amber

[Shae Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ - Little White Flowers is a beautifully written mystery that follows siblings Alice and Andy as they travel to the isolated town of Evanston to settle their late grandmother’s estate. Alice soon finds herself pulled into secrets tied to her family’s past, and what she uncovers is only a small piece of the town’s long, troubled history.

I really liked the tense, heavy atmosphere that hangs over the town. The townspeople are deeply entrenched in a strict, fanatical, almost cult-like religion, and everything they do is driven by a warped sense of morality. Their treatment of Alice is horrifying and infuriating, especially when you see what they judge and justify. The things they condemn and the values they cling to made my blood boil, but it gave the story a powerful emotional weight.

The writing is easy to read and balances mystery, emotion, and tension well. I often struggle with religious-themed stories, but I appreciated that this one focuses more on exposing the disturbing beliefs and rituals of the town rather than endorsing them. It does feel a little drawn out in places, but it still held my attention the whole way through. I ended up enjoying it.

A big thank you to Hanna and Haley from @twinsandtalent for the gifted ebook.

[Brend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This goes into the list of books that have filled me with an immense sense of dread

[The Morbid Mama ☠︎︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, huge thank you to @twinsandtalent and @amber_hathaway_writes for my copy of this book 🥰

After siblings Andy and Alice lose their estranged great-grandfather, they are tasked with renovating his estate to prepare it for selling. But upon arrival, they realize that the town of Evanston is full of religious zealots and that they just put themselves in their crosshairs.

I applaud Amber for her array of representation in this book. We get everything from MH, addiction, autism, ADHD, and a little sprinkle of queer representation as well! We also get a TON of different themes including cults, misogyny, religious abuse, isolated horror, self-identity, and small town vibes. You can’t help but feel trapped in the town of Evanston yourself while diving into the pages of this book.

This is BOOK ONE in this series. So if you are fans of Shirley Jackson, Midsommar, The Village, and The Wickerman, this one is for you!

Hallowed Deadly Seeds is book 2 in this series and will be releasing on June 30th! Now is the perfect time to get started on Little White Flowers before the next release! 🥰

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most anticipated reads of the year!

Alice and Andy are sent to Evanston, Maine to clear up their recently passed grandma's house, so their parents can sell it on.

For Andy, the task is simple. Clean up the house and get back home. Nice and quick. Especially when he notices a few oddities about this little rural town.

For Alice, it's a bit more complicated. Her grannie's past holds such mystery. This town holds such a mystery too. Why are the locals so unsure of her and her brother? Why do they act as if they're locked in a time long ago? Why, quite concerningly one might say, do so many death anniversaries land on the same day? At least there is Riley though! He's cute, and seemingly, not like his family and friends in their beliefs.

Wow! What a world Amber has created. While it took me the week to get through, it was all I could think about and I'm glad I had the time to really be in it. The writing style is so descriptive and Amber really brings her characters to life.

The little town was so eerie, and I was suspicious of everyone! Even when a few people were being nice. I wasn't sure. There was something not right about everyone and everything!

The final parts of the book are so tense too! I had no idea how it'd play out, and how Alice and Andy would deal with what they were thrown into. Absolutely anyone would struggle with this ordeal, but Alice already had her struggles with a few things in life, so she had to find her strength painfully fast. I personally found Alice very relatable, and I appreciated finding little parts of myself in her character.

This book has elements of horror, thriller, mystery and lots of representation such as mental health, disabilities, LGBT etc.

Perfect if you like:-
- Children of the Corn / The Wicker Man vibes
- The Burning Girls (very similar vibes and focus on family / first relationships / lots of history!)
- A more serious Hot Fuzz
Or just anything with weird little towns where the people are just painfully suspicious and deffo up to no good!

Can't wait for book 2!

[Mallory McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

phew what a ride!!!

Hathaway writes beautiful prose as she weaves a tale thick with a quiet horror that will have you feeling claustrophobic and unnerved by the end, as well as screaming at the main characters to get out of a town that is home to a religious cult.

I cannot wait to read what happens next!

[Madelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely want to see how this trilogy unfolds.

[unstable.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Khristina Justice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
This is an excellent debut novel. If you love a slow burn, this novel is for you! The atmosphere is a sweltering, sticky creepiness. Cult horror with heavy Stephen King vibes. The pacing was a little slow for me, and I found myself skimming to get ahead to the good part. But overall, I really enjoyed the story. I loved the representation of ADHD, addiction recovery, and autism. It felt genuine and authentic. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book of this series. Thank you Twins and Talent for the opportunity to read and review Little White Flowers!

[Cassandra LaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the author and I’m so excited to read her debut novel!

[Francesca Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this creepy psychological horror that explores the dark side of religion/cult mentality! Alice and Andy have the sweetest brother-sister relationship. I loved diving into the mystery surrounding Grammie and the deaths of her sisters… along with others in the secluded town of Evanston. I thought the story unfolded really well and there were several moments where I gasped! Exploring the cult that the siblings accidentally found themselves surrounded by was “yikes” 😬 Really looking forward to Book 2!

Some favorite quotes:

Pg 118 he didn’t seem like the murderous type, but isn’t that what they always say about killers.

Pg 129 it wasn’t the sin itself that mattered, but the appearance of sin. As long as folks were discreet or commanded sufficient authority, they could stray from the righteous path all they liked and nobody asked questions.

Pg 167 Ice cream might not fix anything, but wallowing with ice cream was a step above wallowing without it. 🍦

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to get to read this in exchange for an honest review, also my first read with this author, I actually enjoyed it.
I am a sucker for the story set up, siblings set to live with a mysterious strange relative, come on now, it’s going to be fucked up, and I am living for it.
Add in a smidge of religious horror and a super fucked up dark community, or well maybe I just assume its a fucked up one, but from what I’m seeing, they aren’t winning any Home and Garden awards from best town .

I don’t want to give away too much, but my obsession with Riley was crazy and I needed them to be what Alice thought, in every way possible, but this is horror, so remember, dont fall in love with a character too soon…

I noticed this said it was book one, and I am hopeful a book two happen, I will be checking it out.

[Joseph Hallett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brilliantly written story is subtle and chilling with undertones reminiscent of ‘Midsommer.’ Pay attention to the details; Amber Hathaway spins together a flawless narrative that creeps up on you. Perfect pacing and very relatable characters. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of her work. An easy 5 stars for me.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️s rounded to 4 ⭐️s

This was a great debut novel! Can I tell you how much the genealogist in me loved seeing the genealogy angle in this one? Loved it! 🥰

I did feel the pace slowed quite a bit at times and there were a lot of characters to keep track of 🫠 But overall this was a great start to the series and I’m looking forward to the next installment! 👏

Thank you to Twins and Talent for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[Maddi Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Amber Hathaway for gifting me a copy to review! 🖤

“𝕬𝖓 𝖎𝖓𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖔 𝖎𝖌𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖈𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖋𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖘 𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖜𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖛𝖊𝖎𝖓𝖘. 𝕸𝖆𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖞 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖗𝖔𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝕳𝖊𝖑𝖑.”

Wow, what a story. The beginning pulls you right in with the mystery of grandma and the mürďér of her 3 sisters. While attempting to piece together the genealogy of her family, Alice weaves you through (and lives) a story of family secrets, heartbreak, and a gross abuse of religion and power.

This is a slow, creeping horror. There were times I felt the story getting slow, then all of a sudden it would pick up and I’d be sucked into the tension and dread before I could prepare myself.

Alice and Andy are so relatable and easy to love. The way Hathaway writes makes you feel like you’re in the story. There were scenes that played in my head like a movie. I’d get kicked out of the moment and realize I was the one doing the reading. 🫢

The emotions are heavy and keep you on the edge of your seat. Even sitting here after having finished with the book, I can’t shake the defeated feeling.

That cliffhanger at the end of the book has me chomping at the bit for book 2! I flipped to the author’s note and literally yelled “WHAT NO!” I wanted more! 🤣

The introduction is such a deeply personal look into Hathaway’s life and I wanted to thank her for sharing a piece of her story with us. 🩷

I would suggest this if you enjoy books with:
📿 Cults
🧠 Well done neurodivergent representation
🔪 Dark mysteries
💔 Forbidden love

[Diane Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gothic tinged religious horror for a young adult crowd

What I wasn’t expecting from Little White Flowers was a story that thematically falls into the realm of religious themed/cult themed horror, which is kind of my wheelhouse when it comes to the horror I gravitate toward.

Alice and Andy are brother and sister, young adults, who are tasked with spending their summer in a rural Maine town to clean up an inherited piece of property previously owned by their deceased grandmother. Before she died though, grandma hinted to Alice about a secret and sordid past in her hometown, and Alice is eager to uncover the family history.

What Alice and Andy find when they reach the town of Evanston is a cut off community with deep religious roots that border on the puritanical. Things begin to go awry as the members of the community openly judge the siblings for their sinful lifestyles—that are barely sinful at all in the outside world—and then for a budding relationship between Alice and one of the boys of the town, Riley.

Hathaway states at the end of the book that she drew inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, and Children of the Corn, but I was getting a Shirley Jackson vibe, in terms of ambiance and style. There is a gothic patina to the work as opposed to outright horror, imo, and I find it appropriate for a young adult or new adult audience. I honestly can’t keep up with all the audience configurations nowadays, but this wasn’t overly gory or overly explicit. Also, the love interest angle never crossed a perceived line. Adult topics are addressed though, including bullying, teen pregnancy, domestic and child abuse.

The main characters, Alice, Riley and Andy are kind and caring and noble to a fault. You want to root for them, although at times I wished they had more fight when they were challenged with the horrible fate the town has in store for them. Their moments of worry, indecision and downright acceptance of the circumstances sometimes made the story drag for me. But there are a few pleasantly surprising twists in the last third of the book. It’s also important to note that it’s an open ended story, clearly designed to draw us in to the next book.

The villains of the story are of the cloth of the ultra conservative Christian kind, which can come across as a bit two dimensional and on the nose at times. But there are a few surprises among those Christians who prove to be questioning the strict rules of the faith, and who may prove to develop quite nicely in a continuation of the series.

And if gothic tinged stories that put a spotlight on religious trauma are for you, then you might want to check out this book.

[Zak Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished @amber_hathaway_writes ‘s first installment of her trilogy, entitled “Little White Flowers”. I knew it was the first in a trilogy but was not sure if each would be its own story or what. It’s been a while since I read a book series so when I got to the end on somewhat of a cliffhanger I was like “WHAT???” So now very eager to read the next installments.

What I really enjoyed about this book is it almost had a John Bellairs flavor to it (albeit much more adult themes). And I mean that as a compliment because Bellairs is one of my favorite authors. I say that because it’s a horror mystery thriller that is equal parts thrilling and warm and fuzzy.

I liked the book because I felt it was unique in the sense of a brother sister duo, and a peek into the world of someone with autism (Alice) and someone with ADHD and the side effects like substance abuse/self medication that go along with it (Andy). I have severe ADHD and I felt myself identifying with Andy on many occasions… his need for justice despite how it may affect others, his need to atone for “hurting his family”, self medication, feeling like he could not measure up to the standards set by his family. I too was someone who did not get diagnosed until 2 years ago…I am 34.

There is a part in the book that made me cry: “Besides, Andy shouldn’t have to tackle the house alone. Mom and Dad were essentially punishing him for his ADHD, since he hadn’t had the tools or accommodations to excel academically until recently.” That’s exactly what growing up felt like for me even without knowing I had/have ADHD. I am the first born child (like Andy) and I come from a very strict, conservative Christian upbringing. My parents did not try and figure out what was “wrong” with me from a medical POV and everything was always from a religious or even capitalistic bent. I realize now that my parents (whether they want to admit it or not) are also neurodivergent and were also not given tools or accommodations to succeed.
All that to say, the neurodivergent and the conservative Christian themes in the book really struck home to me. It’s a great story and I can’t wait to read the next installments!
#womeninhorror

[A.D. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What begins as a renovation of an inherited home, paired with Alice’s chance to really delve into the past(and mysteries therein) of her own family, soon becomes something much more claustrophobic and scary.
Friendships(or maybe more) will be made, secrets will be revealed, and the practically zealot religious beliefs of the townsfolk will breathe heavily down Alice and her brothers necks as they discover just what is actually going on in the small town of Evanston.

I love a small town book. If it’s a creepy one, even better and Hathaway has created quite the doozy in Little White Flowers. Things start off just fine until the much outdated ideals of the townsfolk come a knocking.
The story flows smoothly and the information is doled out in small portions to let the reader uncover the towns secrets alongside Alice. Then things, as they should, really kick off! A wonderful debut!

[Dave Holwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid fan of any and all small town horror, and particularly anything set in New England (thanks Stephen King), I loved this. A brother and sister head for a little town in the middle of nowhere to sort out an inheritance and find themselves thrown into a religious community with dark secrets. There they learn things about their own family history they'll wish they never found out.
The author uses every trick in the book to keep them town and keep you guessing and every word had me wanting to read all the rest straight away. The neurodivergent representation was seamlessly woven into the plot withough ever feeling forced, the characters resonated with me long after I'd finished, and I can't wait for the second installment.

[Kim Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint. When Alice and Andy are sent by their parents to tidy up their great grandfather's house to sell on, their lives take a dark turn when Alice starts to look into the deaths of her old relatives there. Riley helps Alice figure out some of the story behind it all. Are they in a cult like society? This book was so well written, each detail described so well. I really felt like I was there with Alice and Andy. I'm not sure how many are in the series but I can't wait until I can read book two in the series to see where it goes from here.

[Mary Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book touches on several topics that I can't resist: unsettling small towns, family secrets, and villains you love to hate. The main characters are well-rounded and complex; it was easy to sympathize with them, grow fond of them, and feel worried about their troubles. On the other hand, I found the secondary characters somewhat shallow and stereotypical. Although the plot is pretty linear and calls for some twists, the story is nicely paced, with a growing sense of dread that accurately depicts the suffocating, claustrophobic atmosphere of a fundamentalist community isolated from the rest of the world. It could be read more as a drama than a horror story, in my opinion. In any case, the story is an entertaining read ending in a killer cliffhanger that makes you want to read the second book in the series as soon as possible. Few best compliments can be said about the first book in a series than making you want more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Natalie Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining horror tale featuring neurodivergent protagonists

Really enjoyed Ms Hathaway’s (or perhaps more accurately, Prof. Hathaway) debut novel. Highly recommend for the unanticipated twists and turns.

[L. Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Hathaway plants a deep-rooted mystery that sows suspicion and shows its thorns when it's in full bloom.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was overall good. It was a very slow pace at times. Also some things were unnecessarily thrown in to appease. I skipped through multiple pages at a time and didn't miss anything.

[Jules Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

People with the power to create and sustain the narratives that we live by tend to paint Christianity in pastel shades of positivity. We see children eagerly awaiting Christmas, couples begining new lives, infants being welcomed into communities of faith who promise to nurture them.
Of course we all know that awful things have been done in the name of religion. Take that mess over in Salem, Massachusetts where supposedly possessed children named alleged witches.
But that was then; we know much better now, you may be thinking.
Are you sure about that?
In her chilling debut dystopia, Amber Hathaway introduces readers to a rural Maine town where daily life revolves around the conformity to rules and hierarchy, where the most vile acts masquerade as virtue, and parents must make the most heartbreaking sacrifices.
After their grandmother's death siblings Alice and Andy are sent to the small town of Evanston, Maine to paint and clear out an ancestral property so their parents can sell it. They're expecting a week or two of mind numbing physical labor, rural boredom, and spotty, if not nonexistent, wifi. They have no warning of the evil that awaits them.
It becomes clear when they arrive in Evanston that its residents are different. They are dressed strangely, especially the girls and women who wear floor length dresses. Alice is given the unsolicited advice that "It would behoove you to cover up. Us ladies must maintain our modesty, so we don't tempt men to sin." And there not only is no wifi, but no landlines. A woman describes phones as "corrupting influences that corrode the moral fabric of society."
And ominous evidence begins to appear. Alice finds a picture of her grandmother as a child with what appears to be three sisters. On her death bed her grandmother had mentioned three sisters who were murdered. When she visits a graveyard she discovers that the three girls and an alarming number of others had July first mentioned as their death date.
Local teen Riley has been sent to help the siblings get the farmhouse sale ready. He and Alice have been discovering themselves to unlikely kindred spirits. He's in with them when seemingly the town is hunting them down relentlessly.
What sets Little White Flowers apart from many other chillers is the masterful development of setting and characters. You really feel like you're in the gloomy woods, the creepy church with its bizarre symbols, and the locked dungeon. And you care whether Alice, Andy, and Riley make it out alive.
And it's the first volume in a truly suspenseful trilogy

[Twilight Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little White Flowers by Amber Hathaway is one of those rare horror novels that gets mental illness and mental health concerns strikingly right. This is certainly due to the author’s experience living with some of the conditions she incorporates into her story. While she highlights mental illness (extreme anxiety, panic attacks, and substance abuse), she also highlights autism and neurodivergence. It is a book that will resonate with those of us living with these conditions – some of which I live with myself. But she does something that so many other authors struggle with. She portrays them in a way that those who don’t live with these conditions will gain some understanding of how hard they are to manage day to day. She does this by providing descriptions that puts the reader into each character’s shoes.

“Why was interacting with people so difficult? Sometimes it felt like everyone else had acquired a manual telling them what to say and when, and no one had bothered to share a copy with her.”

Folk horror is my favorite subgenre of horror. This is largely due to its quiet and eerie nature. It worms its way under your skin and attacks you from within before you know what is coming. Not to mention that it usually focuses on religious themes, which resonates well with those of us who have religious trauma. Little White Flowers incorporates religious themes in a classic way that are used well within Hathaway’s take on folk horror. It will resonate well with the queer community of which Hathaway is part of. She also handles religious themes of the sect she presents well because she does so in a way as to not re-traumatize her readers.

“It was just a house. Wood and metal. Those bad vibes were her imagination doing what it did best: reconfiguring the mundane into the menacing. If every place that had seen trauma carried a memory of its past, the entire world would be uninhabitable.”

Trauma is a sensitive focus of Hathaway’s novel, particularly in the form of domestic violence, sexual assault, and religious trauma. My experience with a lot of horror novels is that these forms of trauma can sometimes be used as a shock factor, rather than an essential element to the story. As a survivor of both religious trauma and multiple sexual assaults, l usually find this unnecessary or bordering on cruel. But Hathaway presents trauma in a way that is essential to the story. While she incorporates these sensitive subjects, she doesn’t use them to hold the reader hostage in a world of true to life horror. Her insight into how trauma can permeate the places where it takes place gave me chills, because I feel that way about places where my traumas have taken place. Hauntings don’t just involve ghosts, they can be caused by events, and that is one of the scariest realities of them all – what remains when the people involved are gone, because the event lingers.

“This was where it happened. Abuse, murder, whatever transpired all those years ago. It was a statistical reality – abuse most often occurred inside the home – but there was something deeper too, as though the trauma lingered still, its malignancy poisoning the air.”

Hathaway’s care for her readers is evident in her detailed content note at the beginning of the book, which is more than necessary for the mental health of every horror reader. This is something that I speak strongly about including, despite the constant debate about providing content warnings in the horror genre. While Little White Flowers is the first in a series, it introduces us to the depth of each character and the air of mystery surrounding their circumstances. Hathaway focuses on characters who have mental health struggles but does not portray them as weak.

Instead, she presents them as powerhouses fighting back against forces designed to destroy them – a religious community that holds much malice – as well as feeling othered based on their experiences and conditions.

I don’t often call books flawless, but when it comes to Little White Flowers, there is no better word to describe it. It is atmospheric, relatable, painful, and made for this forever fan of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” I am excited to see how the story unfolds in the rest of the series.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little White Flowers is Amber Hathaway’s debut novel, and I had the pleasure of reading an eARC of! Her narrative is very detailed, and I liked how the dark side of the town’s religious cult was slowly revealed. Without giving anything away, Andy, Alice, and Riley are very relatable characters, and we get in-depth perspectives of each. I am really interested in finding out what happens in the next book. I also loved Hathaway’s introduction where she discussed representation of autistic and neurodivergent characters, and these are voices we need to hear more of! Look for this book when it releases on July 1st!
Thank you to @twinsandtalent for this eARC!