Her Shadow Side

by Jennifer West

When eighteen-year-old Josephine flees her abusive mother and the third-floor bedroom she was locked in, she hopes to start a fresh, simple life with her boyfriend Ben and their unborn child in a quiet northern town. But some wounds don't stay buried for long.

Though hopeful, Jo continues to see shadows no one else can see—hear whispers only she remembers from her the stories her beloved grandmother once whispered to her in the dark about the Fae.

After a devastating loss, Jo spirals. Reality bends. The shadows whisper. And the line between grief and madness begins to blur. As her mind fractures under the weight of old stories and new trauma, Jo clings to her grandmother’s folklore like a lifeline—until she can no longer remember where the stories end and where she begins.

370 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am shook!!! In all the best ways. So many moments where I gasped out loud, loved how seeped it was in folk lore but not in a glaring way, if that makes sense. It had nightmare qualities and moments that made your skin crawl in the creepiest ways. I also loved how real and raw Jennifer wrote pregnancy and motherhood. There were times where I teared up just feeling so seen in how painful motherhood can be at the beginning, things that people don’t talk about, things that are kept behind locked doors in your brain… and there it was written out. It made it feel less lonely.
I truly couldn’t put it down and whoever had the audacity to tear me away for a moment met the wrath 😂
Highly recommend for anyone that loves horror!!! Reminded me a bit of Grady Hendrix in a way but you could tell this was written by a woman because no one can get pregnancy/birth/motherhood quite as beautifully and real as a mother herself.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shadows following these characters pulled me in from the start, and likely won't release their grasp on me for quite some time... I love an unreliable narrator; intermixed with folklore and mental health issues, this tale was haunting until the very last line. I loved it! Jennifer West truly brought 'the creep', and I was all for it!

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folklore meets horror in this creepy debut novel by Jennifer West, your friendly neighbourhood Canadian author! Part twin-bonding, part generational trauma, part f**ked-up relationship drama, the storyline had me staying up past my bedtime to find out what happens next. From pure dread to false hope, with a few jump-scares thrown in, I couldn’t put it down.

I found myself underlining sentences or phrases that were poetic or just hit me hard. Jen wove an intricately twisted plot with a protagonist I loved to hate. And so I recommend this cleverly haunted novel with a solid 5-stars. I cannot wait to get my copy signed!

[Martina Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely recommend this book. Grab a cozy blanket and a warm beverage, sit back and prepare to feel a range of emotions. The author is so descriptive, you feel like your experiencing everything from the characters perspective. The characters are so well described and developed throughout the book that you fall in love with them. It reads like a thriller, and at times I couldn't put the book down-I needed to know what was going to happen next. Definitely not for the faint of heart, it will haunt you a little, but for those who want to connect woth that shadow side 100%recommend.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner! Jennifer’s debut novel holds readers captivated and engaged. If you’re looking for a thrill or bit of a scare this book is for you! Her characters have nuanced relationships and the explorations of motherhood, pain, loss, family, and madness hold an authenticity that could only come from perhaps a lived experience. I read this book cover to cover in two days and have frequently found myself thinking about it. I loved reading this book! Can’t wait for a sequel!

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me, but well done Jenn!