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Haven: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26“Absorbing and uncanny.” —Tracy Sierra, author of Nightwatching
A summer retreat to an elite island enclave tied to a Big Tech company becomes a mother’s worst nightmare in this gripping thriller
After months of financial strain and escalating arguments, Caroline is relieved when her husband, Adam, secures a job at Corridor, a prestigious Big Tech company. Though his long hours on top-secret projects often leave Caroline alone with their newborn son, Gabriel, the life-changing income seems worth the sacrifice.
When Adam suggests a summer retreat to Haven, the exclusive island community popular with Corridor employees, Caroline agrees, hoping the sun-soaked paradise will help Adam relax and bring their family closer. But she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right about the town. Though Adam assures her of their safety, the locals’ behavior is oddly secretive and ritualistic—even cultish. It’s clear that Corridor hasn’t resolved tensions about the way the company is transforming the island. And it doesn’t help that Adam’s colleagues seem to have a few strange beliefs of their own.
When Caroline wakes to discover that Gabriel is missing, her worst fears are confirmed. Desperate and unsure of whom to trust, she must race to find her son—and pull back the curtain on this elite enclave—before he is lost to the island forever.
Tensely plotted and terrifyingly prescient, Haven is a taut, darkly compelling exploration of the costs of innovation, the far limits of human progress, and the risks we’re willing to take for a brighter future.
A summer retreat to an elite island enclave tied to a Big Tech company becomes a mother’s worst nightmare in this gripping thriller
After months of financial strain and escalating arguments, Caroline is relieved when her husband, Adam, secures a job at Corridor, a prestigious Big Tech company. Though his long hours on top-secret projects often leave Caroline alone with their newborn son, Gabriel, the life-changing income seems worth the sacrifice.
When Adam suggests a summer retreat to Haven, the exclusive island community popular with Corridor employees, Caroline agrees, hoping the sun-soaked paradise will help Adam relax and bring their family closer. But she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right about the town. Though Adam assures her of their safety, the locals’ behavior is oddly secretive and ritualistic—even cultish. It’s clear that Corridor hasn’t resolved tensions about the way the company is transforming the island. And it doesn’t help that Adam’s colleagues seem to have a few strange beliefs of their own.
When Caroline wakes to discover that Gabriel is missing, her worst fears are confirmed. Desperate and unsure of whom to trust, she must race to find her son—and pull back the curtain on this elite enclave—before he is lost to the island forever.
Tensely plotted and terrifyingly prescient, Haven is a taut, darkly compelling exploration of the costs of innovation, the far limits of human progress, and the risks we’re willing to take for a brighter future.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 5, 2025
A big thank you to Viking Penguin | Penguin Books, Netgalley, and Ani Katz for providing an ARC upon request!
This is an interesting short story that's half thriller, half current-day science fiction. It is about a new mother named Caroline who is married to a high-ranking executive in the tech sector (a la Silicon Valley and your average 'tech bro') and they go on a retreat to a mysterious island called Haven. Residing in a literal glass house with her husband and several of his friends, Caroline's life slowly begins to unravel in more ways than one, and the catalyst is the disappearance of her three month-old son, Gabriel.
Haven is one of those books that really hinges on how much you like and/or can tolerate an unreliable narrator. Caroline's POV tends to range from reliable to downright fever dream territory, and eventually the surrealism reaches Jodorowsky levels of bizarre. There's some reasons for this that can be inferred from the text in between the lines, but even that can be brought into question towards the end of the book. The characters aren't very likable by any means, but it is interesting to read about their backstories and learn where they stand in their Silicon Valley tech bro environment.
I got really into this book around the midway point. The beginning had me weary, wondering if it was going to be a 'female struggle' book with how Caroline described being a mom and a wife, but once details about Caroline are revealed it made me like her more as a morally grey protagonist. Afterwards, I couldn't stop reading because her and her friend's flaws actually made me more fascinated with her character.
However, I don't think it really sticks the landing at the end. I feel like it's a victim of its own short length, clocking in at 250 pages. This feels like a book that could have really benefitted from an extra 100 pages or so, as the last fifty pages felt like a breakneck pace compared to the rest of the book. I also wasn't crazy with how it ended, as it felt a little too much like tropey science fiction mixed with current day conspiracy theory. When I read the big reveal I couldn't help but feel like the Whoopi Goldberg "....okay." clip.
In conclusion, this is a short read that, regardless of where you fall on fever dream storytelling and unlikable characters, should keep you interested in reading more. It is not a female struggle book, rather a book about tech bro corruption and oligarchy, that slowly devolves into a dreamlike haze of events. Stick with it past the first two chapters and you may be pleasantly surprised,
This is an interesting short story that's half thriller, half current-day science fiction. It is about a new mother named Caroline who is married to a high-ranking executive in the tech sector (a la Silicon Valley and your average 'tech bro') and they go on a retreat to a mysterious island called Haven. Residing in a literal glass house with her husband and several of his friends, Caroline's life slowly begins to unravel in more ways than one, and the catalyst is the disappearance of her three month-old son, Gabriel.
Haven is one of those books that really hinges on how much you like and/or can tolerate an unreliable narrator. Caroline's POV tends to range from reliable to downright fever dream territory, and eventually the surrealism reaches Jodorowsky levels of bizarre. There's some reasons for this that can be inferred from the text in between the lines, but even that can be brought into question towards the end of the book. The characters aren't very likable by any means, but it is interesting to read about their backstories and learn where they stand in their Silicon Valley tech bro environment.
I got really into this book around the midway point. The beginning had me weary, wondering if it was going to be a 'female struggle' book with how Caroline described being a mom and a wife, but once details about Caroline are revealed it made me like her more as a morally grey protagonist. Afterwards, I couldn't stop reading because her and her friend's flaws actually made me more fascinated with her character.
However, I don't think it really sticks the landing at the end. I feel like it's a victim of its own short length, clocking in at 250 pages. This feels like a book that could have really benefitted from an extra 100 pages or so, as the last fifty pages felt like a breakneck pace compared to the rest of the book. I also wasn't crazy with how it ended, as it felt a little too much like tropey science fiction mixed with current day conspiracy theory. When I read the big reveal I couldn't help but feel like the Whoopi Goldberg "....okay." clip.
In conclusion, this is a short read that, regardless of where you fall on fever dream storytelling and unlikable characters, should keep you interested in reading more. It is not a female struggle book, rather a book about tech bro corruption and oligarchy, that slowly devolves into a dreamlike haze of events. Stick with it past the first two chapters and you may be pleasantly surprised,
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
I had to sleep on this one before I could review it or even decide on a rating. I'm going with 3.5 stars rounded up.
The first part of this book reads like a mom suffering from postpartum psychosis, with a touch of drinking while taking what I assumed to be benzos. The second half is an abrupt shift into a mystery novel while Caroline tries to find out what's happened to her son.
Both halves are weird. This may actually be the most unreliable narrator I have ever encountered, and nothing is explained. Bizarre things happen and are breezed past, the tertiary characters behave insanely, technology is introduced with no real understanding of what it does.
To be clear: I love unreliable narrators. That instantly makes any book more intriguing for me. My main reason for rating this book 3.5 stars is because the two halves of the book are so disparate. It's like someone stitched two different stories together and the abrupt change of pace is jarring. I found it odd how some of the themes so heavily portrayed in the first half are completely abandoned in the second half. And even though the ending does pan out, it's still just a little bit under explained. I think I understand what I read? But I wouldn't want to try to write an English essay about it!
Overall worth reading if you're like me and into weird books with unreliable narrators. It definitely got into my head a few times despite being so short.
I had to sleep on this one before I could review it or even decide on a rating. I'm going with 3.5 stars rounded up.
The first part of this book reads like a mom suffering from postpartum psychosis, with a touch of drinking while taking what I assumed to be benzos. The second half is an abrupt shift into a mystery novel while Caroline tries to find out what's happened to her son.
Both halves are weird. This may actually be the most unreliable narrator I have ever encountered, and nothing is explained. Bizarre things happen and are breezed past, the tertiary characters behave insanely, technology is introduced with no real understanding of what it does.
To be clear: I love unreliable narrators. That instantly makes any book more intriguing for me. My main reason for rating this book 3.5 stars is because the two halves of the book are so disparate. It's like someone stitched two different stories together and the abrupt change of pace is jarring. I found it odd how some of the themes so heavily portrayed in the first half are completely abandoned in the second half. And even though the ending does pan out, it's still just a little bit under explained. I think I understand what I read? But I wouldn't want to try to write an English essay about it!
Overall worth reading if you're like me and into weird books with unreliable narrators. It definitely got into my head a few times despite being so short.
November 3, 2025
this one was so fun. I was instantly absorbed and intrigued by the weirdness of Haven, of Adam's work and his weird rich tech-bro friend group. it was all very up my alley.
when shit started getting really weird I was also very on board. I thought it escalated at a really great pace and I couldn't put it down!!! that said, I found the ending a bit disappointing. it felt like there were some loose ends that didn't get tied up - not in a fun, intentional-feeling way, more like maybe Katz was trying to do too much with it at once and lost track. still, this was a creepy one that I enjoyed very much, was definitely the kind of read I was looking for.
thanks for the arc! excited for this one to hit the shelves
when shit started getting really weird I was also very on board. I thought it escalated at a really great pace and I couldn't put it down!!! that said, I found the ending a bit disappointing. it felt like there were some loose ends that didn't get tied up - not in a fun, intentional-feeling way, more like maybe Katz was trying to do too much with it at once and lost track. still, this was a creepy one that I enjoyed very much, was definitely the kind of read I was looking for.
thanks for the arc! excited for this one to hit the shelves
Currently reading
October 17, 2025love a good thriller; hoping this turns out as good as the cover art
thanks viking penguin and netgalley for the arc! <3
thanks viking penguin and netgalley for the arc! <3
October 6, 2025
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
when a book starts to enter fever dream territory, I’m already preparing myself for an underwhelming conclusion. nothing can be surprising because everything is too abstract and nothing is real and the characters feel like caricatures. that was my issue the back half of this book, but I really enjoyed the first half! I was so intrigued to figure out what was going on not only on the island but also with the tech company, the relationship dynamics, and to figure out everyone’s motive(s). unfortunately due to previously mentioned swan dive into fever dream vibes I didn’t get a super satisfying answer to those questions but alas. I do still recommend!
when a book starts to enter fever dream territory, I’m already preparing myself for an underwhelming conclusion. nothing can be surprising because everything is too abstract and nothing is real and the characters feel like caricatures. that was my issue the back half of this book, but I really enjoyed the first half! I was so intrigued to figure out what was going on not only on the island but also with the tech company, the relationship dynamics, and to figure out everyone’s motive(s). unfortunately due to previously mentioned swan dive into fever dream vibes I didn’t get a super satisfying answer to those questions but alas. I do still recommend!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews