The Girl at Maywood Manor: A Young Adult Gothic Thriller

by S.A. Sebuchi

When the past beckons, some doors should remain closed…

Holly May always throws herself into fixing everyone else’s problems. So when her estranged grandmother extends an invitation to her grand, isolated manor for a "birthday blessing," Holly jumps at the chance to bring the family together again.

But from the moment she arrives, something feels off. The manor pulses with strange energy, her grandmother’s behavior shifts from charming to chilling and strange occurrences become increasingly sinister. As Holly uncovers the dark secrets lurking in her grandmother’s past, she fears the so-called blessing may actually be a curse—and there’s no one to help her escape.

Can Holly unravel the truth in time, or will the manor’s secrets claim her too?

The Girl at Maywood Manor is a gothic young adult thriller that masterfully blends suspense, eerie settings, and emotional depth—perfect for lovers of dark and twisty tales.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Gothic, Horror

230 pages, ebook

Published June 25, 2025

Reviews

[seeraaa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:

“𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣.”


✦ 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮:
Holly heads to her estranged grandmother’s isolated manor for a birthday "blessing," but things turn dark fast. The house radiates eerie energy, her grandma isn’t who she seems, and buried family secrets start to surface. What was meant to heal the family might just destroy her instead.🏚️🖤

✦ 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🏚️ Haunted House / Creepy Manor
👵 Estranged Family
🌫️ Supernatural Mystery
💔 Emotional Void / Inner Healing
⚠️ Found Warnings Too Late
🧠 Gaslighting Adult Figure
✨ Paranormal Romance Elements
🕯️ Dark Family Secrets
🧩 Slow Unraveling Truth
⚔️ Final Girl Energy

✦ 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 (𝘾𝙒):
🧠 Psychological manipulation
💢 Emotional trauma
☠️ Toxic friendship
👻 Paranormal themes / hauntings
🕷️ Mild horror elements (eerie imagery, suspense)
🖤 Death / loss
🫥 Gaslighting by a trusted figure
🌌 Isolation and fear

✦ 𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
This book was dark, mysterious, and honestly... so good. 🖤 I love stories that explore the supernatural, and this one had me hooked from page one. The best part? I had no expectations or theories—I just followed the story with full attention, eager to see where it would lead. 🕯️

✦ 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨:
KitKat really frustrated me at first—how could Holly do something so reckless and naïve just because her friend asked her to? But when the truth was revealed... ouch. It hurt, and I understood. 💔
What I loved most was how Holly filled the void inside her; that was the key to her strength and ultimately, the solution. ✨

Sawyer? I liked him right away. Mysterious and strange, but everything he said just felt right.

And Charlotte (the grandmother) and Austin... oh, no words. Just pure chills. 🧊

✦ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜: was a little open, which added a psychological tension that lingers—leaving the reader wondering what truly comes next. 🌀

If you’re into gothic thrillers with a supernatural touch and emotional depth, this one won’t disappoint! 🕯️🏚️


𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
Can’t wait to dive into the eerie world of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳 — looks like the perfect gothic thrill!🏚️✨

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.75 stars.

This was a short mystery with eerie vibes following our FMC as she tries to figure out her family lineage and why her family is so disconnected. She’s invited to her grandmothers home who she is estranged with and the story unfolds from there.

The story really reminds me of The Bell Witches book and The Skeleton Key film. It definitely kept me engaged and wanting to follow the mystery to its conclusion. The ending felt a little open ended, but this just added to the somewhat dark mystery surrounding the characters and story.

[Sam Metcalfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for ARC copy of The girl at the Maywood Manor by S. A. Sebuchi before publication June 25th.
This was just an OK read for me. Characters Holly and Kat were a bit annoying. Holly total people pleaser and Kat just take take takes and only thinks of herself. Holly does improve and have some self discovery. The story line with her grandmother was very unique I dont think I have read or heard of a similar story line before.
The book just didn’t keep my focus very long and found myself getting easily distracted but not sure if it’s just with this being a YA, one of my little sisters who is 13 would probably love this book.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This story flew by. It was well written ander had a good pace. The story is mysterious and makes you wonder about Maywood Manor and all its secrets. I loved most of the characters but I’m still finding KitKat annoying…🙈

The ending, however, felt a bit rushed. I understand why the author choose to write the ending like this, but it could’ve been stretched out a little bit longer. This book has a very unique story, one I haven’t read before. If you’re into gothic and mystery: this is the right book for you!

Big thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

[Kay Hertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial Thoughts: YA rewrite of the 2005 film "The Skeleton Key" with a small twist at the end.

Reviewer's Suggested Target Audience Age:
13-15 y/o

Overall: 3.5 ⭐
Plot: 3 📍
YA Spice**: ✅

I thought the general premise was pretty decent, but it was missing *something* intangible I can't quite put my finger on.

It was on the edge of being great but was just 'ok' to me, even for a YA mystery/thriller. The main female character came off as kind of bland and I would have preferred her to be just 'more'. There was the start of a teen-level 'love' triangle, but it never really felt like it was believable, even bringing oneself down in age as an older reader.

The [threat] I felt was apparent early on but I'm going to chalk that up to my having read a LOT for as long as I can remember, so maybe I pick up on those plot points earlier than a YA-aged reader would. It's also why I'm more than happy to round up in my view.

A massive thank you to SA Sebuchi, Osoberry Press, & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

All opinions are my own.

** YA Spice Rating Scale:
I rate this with respect to my idea of YA appropriateness: I believe anything written as YA (defined as audience aged under 18) should have ZERO spice. Maybe a chaste kiss. But nothing else.

❎ - Absolutely nothing. Anything remotely romantic is emotional or internal, but no physical touch. ("My heart fluttered")
✅- Some handholding, maybe a few nice hugs, a sweet kiss (forehead, cheek, maybe lips but not descriptive). Romantic, but nothing suggested.
🔘 - Some slightly suggestive descriptions, but implicitly nothing sexual described. ("The kiss deepened." But nothing past that)
❗- Very suggestive, pushing that "closed door" boundary.
‼️- Yeah, no. Open door scenes, this is New Adult or "higher." Absolutely NOT for Young Adults.

[Nabhya Dubey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Girl at the Maywood Manor’ is a perfect mystery/thriller. The story revolves around a teenage girl, Holly, who has been invited by her grandmother to the Maywood manor on her 17th Birthday. Holly has never met her grandmother and has only heard about her from her cousins, who have also met her when they were invited on their 17th birthday. Once Holly arrives there, she uncovers the dark secrets her grandmother and the manor hold... Holly learns about a ‘blessing’ that her grandmother wants to pass on to her, but the question is, is her grandmother telling the truth, or is the blessing actually a curse… To find out, Holly takes the help of a guy, Sawyer, but can she truly trust him??

This book is a great thriller, however it also teaches us about the complexity and the true meaning of friendship. It teaches the readers that acceptance and self-love is the only way to strengthen yourself against external problems. It teaches that you must not rely on the validation of others for your happiness.

In my opinion, this is a great book for someone who is looking for a mystery or thriller book with meaning. It is a page-turner. The author has used great vocabulary that made me wonder what certain words mean. However, there are some things that could have been better. Like the book could have been written in a first- person perspective rather than the third-person perspective that has been used. First-person would have definitely helped in highlighting the emotions and thoughts of the characters that would have added a lot more meaning and interest to the book. I would have also liked it if the reaction of her father after she told him everything was mentioned. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who crave for the thriller and excitement while reading a book and for those who like to know about the characters in depth.

[Supriya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review
Book Name: The Girl at Maywood Manor
Author: S.A. Sebuchi
Publisher: Osoberry Press
Genre: Young Adult Gothic Thriller
Publication Date: June 25, 2025
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)

Thanks to @netgalley and #osoberrypress for the ARC.

🎉 Congratulations to @sasebuchi on the upcoming release!
📚 The Girl at Maywood Manor hits shelves *tomorrow – June 25, 2025!
🛒 Pre-order now or grab your copy first thing in the morning—you don’t want to miss this hauntingly beautiful thriller.

🔍 Description:
When the past beckons, some doors should remain closed…
Holly May always tries to fix everyone else’s problems. So when her estranged grandmother invites her to a remote, eerie manor for a “birthday blessing,” she hopes it will bring the family back together. But the minute she arrives, the atmosphere turns haunting. The manor pulses with an unsettling energy, her grandmother becomes increasingly chilling, and buried secrets begin to surface. What Holly thought was a healing visit turns into a fight for survival.

💭 My Thoughts:
This is a fast-paced, spine-tingling YA gothic thriller—and I genuinely couldn’t put it down! The eerie mansion, the haunting secrets, and that creeping tension on every page? Chef’s kiss.

I absolutely loved Holly and Sawyer—they stood out with great character depth and chemistry. The story isn’t just creepy; it also explores themes of self-love, courage, and emotional healing, which gave the chills a purpose.

It spooked me in a good way and kept me surprised with its unexpected twists.
A solid thriller with a heart—and a message.

📢 Highly recommend if you love dark mysteries, haunted houses, and strong emotional arcs.


📚 Tags:
#TheGirlatMaywoodManor #SASebuchi #NetGalley #YAGothicThriller #GothicReads #CreepyMansionVibes #SpookyBooks #BookReview #BookstagramIndia #ARCReview #DarkReads #ThrillerWithFeels #HauntinglyGood #ReadWithSuppu

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love a spooky thriller – especially if it has a giant, creepy estate in it – so when I saw the cover for The Girl at Maywood Manor, I had to read it. This is a young adult thriller, so if you’re not someone who enjoys reading YA books, this book won’t be for you. However, if you do dabble in YA reads or have a young teen or pre-teen who likes thrillers, this might be for you.

Would I recommend this book to adults? No. Would I recommend it to a middle schooler? Maybe.

I don’t have middle school-aged children yet, and it’s been a while since I was one, so I can’t say for certain that it would resonate with that age either. I will say that I think the writing is too elementary to appeal to high school students, and it’s certainly too rudimentary for adults. Amazon lists this book as being for ages 13-17, and while the main character is in that age range, I think it’s too simple a read for most kids in that age bracket.

The plot is interesting enough, but the book as a whole fell flat for me. I think a lot of it has to do with the characters. The main character is meant to be this overly compassionate, super selfless individual, and the author just really drills that point home. She’s extremely gullible for a person on the verge of adulthood and almost... too good? The other characters aren’t very well-rounded or defined, either. Especially the main character’s best friend, who’s maybe one of the most obnoxious characters I’ve ever read.

Side note: I have read plenty of YA books that are perfectly enjoyable as an adult. This just wasn’t one of them.

It is a fast read, and the plot moves relatively swiftly. If you have a young teen who enjoys thrillers, The Girl at Maywood Manor may be a good pick for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC read. think this book was really well written, I loved the premise and the flow of the plot. As a usually slow reader, there was plenty of intrigue that kept my interest and I feel like this was consistent throughout which made it hard to put the book down and I finished this book quite quickly.

There was enough suspense and mystery throughout the book and characters which made you question who was innocent and who had ulterior motives.

I think there was a lot of good foreshadowing and follow up on this and good descriptions of surroundings.

The only thing I would say, as it is supposed to be a gothic thriller, I would have expected it to be more gothic than it is, both in description throughtout and events that take place. There was still some gothic/horror elements but I feel they were just a bit too far spread apart for me to consider this as a gothic novel. I would like more aspects, more descriptors of it and more consistent gothic themes, events and setting/atmosphere.

There was a good twist part way through, although I had anticipated this to have happenened due to the nature of events that were occurring, I still felt like it wasn't super obvious and it was satisfying none the less that it unfurled this way.

I did not expect the ending that happened, I felt like where I had initially thought it had stopped was still a good ending, although a predictable one. The addition that I felt was added has set up things for a potential second book, although I feel like this could be fine as a stand alone, I think this is really clever and could open up more opportunity.

I very much enjoyed this!

[Laura Bradley-Twinning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Osoberry Press, for gifting me The Girl at Maywood Manor.

When the past beckons, some doors should remain closed…

Holly May always throws herself into fixing everyone else’s problems. So when her estranged grandmother extends an invitation to her grand, isolated manor for a "birthday blessing," Holly jumps at the chance to bring the family together again.

But from the moment she arrives, something feels off. The manor pulses with strange energy, her grandmother’s behaviour shifts from charming to chilling, and strange occurrences become increasingly sinister. As Holly uncovers the dark secrets lurking in her grandmother’s past, she fears the so-called blessing may actually be a curse—and there’s no one to help her escape.

Can Holly unravel the truth in time, or will the manor’s secrets claim her too?

The Girl at Maywood Manor is a gothic young adult thriller that masterfully blends suspense, eerie settings, and emotional depth—perfect for lovers of dark and twisty tales.

I will start my review by saying this is just my opinion, and I won't put in any spoilers.

I found the book to start off slow. The MC was far too easily manipulated. Too much of a people pleaser, and it really irritated me. (This does get explained but too close to the end) As I read more and more of the book, I came to the conclusion that it would be better suited as Teen fiction, not Young Adult. However, I would give this book a rating of 3.5 for ease of reading and the fact I wanted to know what would happen next as it was getting closer to the end.

[Marles Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Girl at Maywood Manor is described as a young adult gothic thriller, and reminded me of a gothic horror story that I read only recently called Their Monstrous Hearts that was only released this year, where a grandmother sought out her grandchild to use his body as a host to live again. This book had a less macabre nature to it and contained more characters what seemed odd, off kilter and disturbing.

The story unfolds slowly, beginning with Holly’s relationships with her father, and best friend who seemed to emotionally take advantage of Holly at every moment. Holly’s relationship with her father was close but a little distant; her mother was not in the picture and as she reflected back on her mother it seemed that she was also self-centred and narcissistic, like her bestie. Holly’s focus growing up and in high school was centred on being around for everybody else but not herself. I would have liked a bit more exploration of this for Holly as a teenager especially as this was a young adult book.

All of Holly’s cousins had been invited to her grandmother’s manor to celebrate their 17th birthdays, and it was now Holly’s turn to receive her birthday blessing. Holly had never spent a lot of time with her grandmother and was very curious about what this 17th birthday celebration could be, even asking cousins about their own birthday experience. From the journey to Maywood Manor, to meeting her grandmother and exploring the grounds of her estate, Holly realised something darker was at play, and possibly the blessing that she was going to receive wasn't as wonderful and she initially anticipated. This is where there the context was not really suited to a young-adult classification, even though the protagonist was emotionally within this age range.

None of the characters could be trusted from Austin her grandmother’s sidekick, to Sawyer, custodian of all the animals at the Manor, or even the other staff, Della and Gen. No part of the manor was safe: her room, the library, the grounds or the catacombs. The story was creepy and disconcerting, and a quick read.

Tnanls #booksirens for the e-ARC.

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used the CAWPILE method to rate this book and it averaged at a 3. star. I should add that it was .1 away from a 4 star rating so I have decided to round up.

My biggest issue I believe was that I predicted what was happening within the first 19%. The suspense wasn’t there for me for that very reason. There were too many hints to what was happening.

Another thing is that Holly felt super altruistic. A character has to have at least a few flaws, it makes it that much more interesting by the end when they’ve grown almost into a different person.

The reason I picked this up was because of the promise of a gothic story. Now on paper this story checks all of the boxes for a gothic novel, but I didn’t get that kind of background dread and creepy factor. That could possibly be because it was marketed as young adult rather than teen fiction. I would knock it down an age bracket and switch Holly’s age to 16, at least. Maybe even younger.

With all of that being said, it was an interesting story line and the romantic aspects were done pretty well. I would definitely recommend this for people that don’t like a lot of intensity. Kind of like a cozy magic-esque story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read

The Girl at Maywood Manor is a masterfully crafted gothic thriller that expertly weaves together spine-tingling suspense and emotional depth. From its inception, the novel transports readers to a haunting realm where family secrets, ghostly whispers, and psychological tension intersect. Holly May is a complex and relatable protagonist, driven by a compelling need to rectify past wrongs, even if it necessitates confronting the shadows of her own history. Her journey to her estranged grandmother's imposing and atmospheric estate sets the stage for a chilling exploration of intergenerational trauma and the deceptive solace of nostalgia. The manor itself is a living, breathing entity, replete with creaking floorboards, hidden passageways, and an ever-present sense of foreboding that intensifies with each successive chapter. The narrative unfolds with a deliberate, measured pace, layering mystery and subtle horror to create an unsettling atmosphere that maintains readers' rapt attention. As Holly delves deeper into her family's dark past, the story tightens its grip, culminating in revelations that are as emotionally resonant as they are disturbing.

[Dani Rikku · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Osoberry press for providing me with with this book via NetGalley

The Girl at Maywood Manor is a gothic young adult thriller that masterfully blends suspense, eerie
settings, and emotional depth—perfect for lovers of dark and twisty tales.
Holly May always throws herself into fixing everyone else’s problems. Holly has been invited to her
estranged grandmother's eerie manor but as Holly uncovers the dark secrets lurking in her grandmother’s past, she fears her so-called ‘blessing’ may actually be a curse—and there’s no one to help her escape. Can Holly unravel the truth in time, or will the manor’s secrets claim her too?

A wonderful eerie story for teens and young adults, if you like quick reads, mysteries with
supernatural elements and Disney references then this book will be perfect for you.

For my personal star rating, I have went with *** three stars.
I feel it’s not as thrilling or as eerie as my usual adult reads but this will be great for younger readers.
I feel there is space for a little more world building and depth. I was definitely left with questions at the end that I would have liked answered in the book.

[mouwwie]

thank you netgalley anf the publisher for providing me the arc. unfortunately, it ended up being a dnf at 20%

i'm sorry but this book just couldn't hook me, and even though i usually don't dnf books even if they don't hook me, my real issue was the writing style.

i am usually VERY lenient when it comes to stuff like show-don't-tell, simple prose, etc but as someone in the other reviews mentioned (as i already noticed while writing this), the writing style is so rudimentary that there is just nothing there to like. and usually i can give the book grace for lack of tension/plot if i enjoy the writing and vice versa, but unfortunately when it came to the girl at maywood manor i just had neither to grasp at.

and the main character fell a little flat for me because she feels less like a flawed person and more like an exaggerated display of her singular plotline that makes an internal conflict.

that being said, usually i would still attempt to keep going. but because i still have nothing to grasp at and i have maybe a week left of this arc left, i think it's only fair that i'm gonna be honest and put it aside.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Holly May's family, every granddaughter is invited to their estranged paternal grandmother's house when they are about to turn 17 & usually leave with an expensive present. It's soon to be Holly's turn, but all Holly wants is to fix the rift between her father & grandmother.

When she arrives at the manor house, there are some oddities: her phone doesn't work, the staff seem strangely reticent except for the charming yet obsequious Austin, & her grandmother shifts from being friendly to chilling at a moment's notice. As Holly begins to uncover the secrets about the house & her grandmother's past, she realises she is trapped with no way of getting help.

This is an entertaining YA mystery thriller with some paranormal undertones. I feel that it's aimed at a similar audience to the 'Point Horror' series from the 1990s with a few chills & some light romance but nothing graphic. The characters are ultimately forgettable & I probably won't remember much about this one in a year's time, but it was perfectly readable.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Osoberry Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Girl at Maywood Manor is a YA mystery with a gothic edge: eerie setting, slow-burn secrets, and that slightly haunting atmosphere I usually enjoy. So in theory, it had all the ingredients for something I’d love. And to be fair, it was good. Just maybe a bit too juvenile for me, though I don’t mean that in a bad way. I still found it entertaining. I’ve been reading very different kinds of books lately, and this might’ve been exactly the kind of light, visual read I needed.

What I really enjoyed was how vividly I could picture everything in my head, it played out like a cartoon, in the best way. The story was so visual and lively that it made reading it a lot of fun.

I’m aware that I’m definitely not the intended audience here, but I think younger readers, especially teen girls, would enjoy this a lot. It’s a solid intro to gothic thrillers and will likely strike the right chord for them.

Thank you to Two Book Sirens, the author and the publisher for the advance reader copy. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rhianna Maxfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to disclose that I received an ARC of this book for review. Thank you to BookSirens and Osoberry Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Now on to the review.
In the book, we follow Holly, a young girl who loves hard, despite her narcissistic mother. Shortly before her 17th birthday, she is called to see her grandmother at the mysterious Maywood Manor. But things are not what they seem to be at the manor, and Holly is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Honestly, I loved this book. It was such a fun story that kept you on your toes as you went along. I don’t read a whole lot of YA anymore, but I would read S. A. Sebuchi again. The whole book kept me entertained, and I was always intrigued as to what was going to happen next. The writing is for a younger audience, but there is no fault in that. The story and plot line were great, and I thought that Sebuchi kept the audience’s attention in a simple and classic way. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[alishasbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was immediately gripped right from the start, the author wrote an incredible story that I didn’t want to put down which ended up with me flying through it.

This book has eerie vibes with suspenseful settings, it’s a gothic YA thriller, definitely more one the YA side which would be a good introduction to thrillers for younger readers.

I liked Holly, even though it was kinda annoying how easily influenced she was, that does get explained but I feel like she was a bit too gullible sometimes.

The ending was left a little open, not enough for another book, but definitely enough that it could have had more chapters, it’s left me asking multiple questions that will probably be left unanswered.

Overall, I did like this book, it was a nice short read, eerie atmosphere and very intriguing. I highly recommend this for people that enjoy YA books, especially if you’re a younger reader that wants to get into thrillers.

[Toni Decaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl at Maywood Manor is about Holly who is invited to her grandmother’s manor for her 17th birthday. Every girl in Holly’s family has been invited to spend their 17th birthday with her grandmother and has been sent home with gifts each time. As Holly starts to unravel the mystery of the manor she realizes it’s not as simple as her grandmother inviting her to the manor to give her a present for her 17th birthday.

This was the first book I have read by S.A Sebuchi. I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read and I didn’t think there were any slow parts. The story kept moving throughout the whole book. I thought S. A. did a good job developing the characters throughout the story. This is one of the few books lately where I have not been disappointed by the ending. I would look forward to reading more books by S.A. Sebuchi.

Thank you NetGalley and Osoberry press for the ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

[Anastasia Hanneken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Girl at Maywood Manor
Author: S.A. Sebuchi
Genre: YA Gothic Horror
Medium: Ebook
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Review: When Holly May is invited to spend her seventeenth birthday at her grandmother’s eerie countryside estate, she hopes for family reconciliation. Instead, she uncovers unsettling secrets hidden within Maywood Manor’s shadowy halls. The gothic atmosphere is wonderfully crafted—moody, suspenseful, and easy to get lost in—and the brisk pacing makes this an accessible, quick read for YA mystery fans.
Where the novel falters is in its character depth. Holly’s selfless nature borders on one-dimensional, while the supporting cast remains underdeveloped and forgettable. The ending, though twisty, feels rushed and leaves lingering questions rather than a satisfying resolution.
Overall, The Girl at Maywood Manor is a solid, atmospheric read with plenty of intrigue, but it doesn’t quite deliver the emotional or narrative weight to make it unforgettable.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

[Kim Blain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly is 15, a normal girl who probably is very much a people pleaser, honestly she's probably the sort of friend every teenage girl actually needs, she receives the invitation from her grandmother that all her female cousins have received to stay at Maywood Manor, she decides to go in the hope of mending her dad relationship with her but instead ends up in probably the worst experience of her life

This book starts off with a bang, you get drawn in instantly and i actually spent a small chunk of it assuming everything that happens is simply a teenage girl being dramatic turns out she's if anything under dramatic.

I really enjoyed this, I'm probably a lot older then the intended audience but sometimes you just want an easy read

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amber B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Net Galley for an ARC of The Girl at Maywood Manor by S.A. Sebuchi!

This novel follows 16 year old Holly on a trip to visit her estranged grandmother that leads up to her birthday. She thought that getting to know her grandmother would be a great way to reconnect with her father and the divorce from her toxic mother and agrees to go. It starts off kind of slow but quickly turns into a mysterious tension building whirlwind of hidden secrets and lies.

I really enjoyed the focus on the fact that Holly ultimately was also trying to figure out who she is in the mix of things. Each chapter will keep you guessing for the ultimate twists and turns. The ending definitely caught me by surprise!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Holly does things for others without thinking of the impact on herself. Her parents are divorced, and she lives with her dad. Her mom, an influencer, barely speaks to her and posted a video that makes it sound as if Holly has died.

Holly's mysterious grandma invites each of her grandchildren to visit over their 17th birthday. She gives them a fancy gift, but doesn't seem to spend much time with them during the trip.

Holly is different, and her grandma seems interested in her. However, Holly starts realizing something is very off with her grandma and the staff in the house.

This is a creepy mystery that will engage teens.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

[Kyra AliceTheChemistReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book of "The Girl at Maywood Manor" series. It is a great pick for the young adult reader in your life who enjoys gothic, thriller, and supernatural elements, but also for any adult reader needing a break from more mature adult themes. I didn't know there was more than one book until writing my review today, and I will be adding the next book to my reading list. I was able to finish this in one sitting and thought the story was laid out perfectly for the reader. I had a feeling about some parts of the story, but wasn't 100% for sure. It didn't make it any less enjoyable for me.
Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing, for the opportunity to review "The Girl at Maywood Manor".

[Michelle Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Girl at Maywood Manor" immediately pulled me in and kept me hooked from beginning to end.
While the story contains elements of magic—something I don’t usually gravitate toward—I still found it thoroughly enjoyable and engaging. I hadn’t realized this was a teen fantasy novel, which isn’t my typical genre, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I connected with the storyline. I was especially eager to find out what Holly would receive for her birthday, and I truly appreciated the underlying message about self-love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl at Maywood Manor S.A. Sebuchi is a thrilling and spooky book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Holly visits her grandmother’s creepy old house, hoping to fix her family, but things get strange fast. The manor feels alive, secrets are everywhere, and Holly starts to fear for her life. It’s full of mystery, surprises, and eerie moments. If you like dark stories with twists, you’ll love this gothic young adult thriller. I couldn’t put it down!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelsie Ator · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC read! Thank you to booksiren and the author! This book was a good quick read. I read it in about 5 1/2 hours. I wanted a little more thrill out of it and spookiness but it was still good! Definitely a good YA starter thriller! I felt the was a lot of filler scenes and I wished there would have been more to the secrets about what was really going on. I felt the ending was a little rushed as well. I wished it would have went into more detail of the power that the grandmother had. Over all a good book!!

[Bookish diaries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from BookSirens just because I loved the cover and thought it was going to be interesting. Well, it was. The story was really unique. The twist was not something i had in my mind. The went through the book without reading blurb or anything so it was a surprise read for me. I really enjoyed the whole journey.
I loved the characters too. I was really interested in Sawyer's character from the beginning, which turned out to be till the end. Holly is such a brave character with so much empathy around her. I really loved that.
Overall the book is 5/5 for me.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you Booksirens for the chance to read this ARC!

I do not think that ever before I have read something that was labeled as A Young Adult Gothic Thriller. So, why I was certainly curious, I also had no real idea what to expect.

What can I say? I did really enjoy the book. It was a mix of many tropes - including paranormal/ supernatural ones - and while I am actually too old for YA, the stoy did certainly entertain me. Minus one star because I figured out what was happening early on. Still a very entertaining read, though.