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The Ravine
For a devoted wife and mother, a restful getaway descends into an inescapable nightmare in a novel of dark psychological suspense by the author of The Body Next Door.
Harlow has almost everything she ever a passionate marriage, an adorable stepson, and a fresh start at her husband Gregor’s boyhood home on the water. If only she could get pregnant, her happiness would be complete.
But soon after they arrive on the misty, tree-cloaked island, Gregor starts to change—and Harlow is shaken by his odd connection to their neighbor Kirsten, a luminous tradwife influencer.
Then, deep in a wooded ravine, Harlow finds evidence of an unspeakable murder—or thinks she does. Desperate to know what’s real and what’s only in her mind, she tracks down rumors of missing girls and bloody rituals, and begins to suspect that her marriage, too, hides a menace she never saw coming.
Each day the feeling the safest thing she can do is run. But from what, Harlow can’t even begin to imagine.
Harlow has almost everything she ever a passionate marriage, an adorable stepson, and a fresh start at her husband Gregor’s boyhood home on the water. If only she could get pregnant, her happiness would be complete.
But soon after they arrive on the misty, tree-cloaked island, Gregor starts to change—and Harlow is shaken by his odd connection to their neighbor Kirsten, a luminous tradwife influencer.
Then, deep in a wooded ravine, Harlow finds evidence of an unspeakable murder—or thinks she does. Desperate to know what’s real and what’s only in her mind, she tracks down rumors of missing girls and bloody rituals, and begins to suspect that her marriage, too, hides a menace she never saw coming.
Each day the feeling the safest thing she can do is run. But from what, Harlow can’t even begin to imagine.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
January 29, 2026
Perfect for fans of Midsommar, Hereditary, and Julie Chan Is Dead!
A folk horror cultish novel that will twist your mind! If you are anything like me and over cults, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL! Insane and unhinged and it will leave you tearing through the pages late into the night.
“ If I hadn’t found that dead girl’s head in the ravine, what would’ve happened to us?” ——— This is the first sentence. Immediately hooked!
Harlow, her husband and her stepson move to an island where her husband’s family has a family home. The purpose of the move, so she can relax and focus on getting pregnant while her husband works with his band.
After she gets there, her husband begins to change. The people are weird. She keeps seeing a double X tattoo on people. All the kids on the island have blonde hair and look the same. Plus, she finds a decomposed head right after her arrival. 😳😳😳😳
I finished this book in 24 hours! The writing is sharp, creepy, and pulling you into the void the more you read. The whole time I was creeped TF out. Now, this is what I call a horror story!
Don’t miss out on this hidden gem! I freaking loved every minute of it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Maia Chance and Amazon for my gifted copy!
Out 2/3/26
A folk horror cultish novel that will twist your mind! If you are anything like me and over cults, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL! Insane and unhinged and it will leave you tearing through the pages late into the night.
“ If I hadn’t found that dead girl’s head in the ravine, what would’ve happened to us?” ——— This is the first sentence. Immediately hooked!
Harlow, her husband and her stepson move to an island where her husband’s family has a family home. The purpose of the move, so she can relax and focus on getting pregnant while her husband works with his band.
After she gets there, her husband begins to change. The people are weird. She keeps seeing a double X tattoo on people. All the kids on the island have blonde hair and look the same. Plus, she finds a decomposed head right after her arrival. 😳😳😳😳
I finished this book in 24 hours! The writing is sharp, creepy, and pulling you into the void the more you read. The whole time I was creeped TF out. Now, this is what I call a horror story!
Don’t miss out on this hidden gem! I freaking loved every minute of it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Maia Chance and Amazon for my gifted copy!
Out 2/3/26
February 1, 2026
Harlow has almost the perfect life. A loving husband, a fabulous stepson and a great job, but unfortunately, she is struggling to get pregnant. At the advice of her doctor to destress she reluctantly resigns from her job and takes an extended vacation to an island off the coast of Washington. Her husband’s family has been on this island for decades and pretty much owns most of it. While there she discovers things aren’t quite what she’s used to. Her next-door neighbor is a tradwife influencer and the preschool mommies seem a bit off to her. After stumbling across what she thinks is a dead body she is determined to find out who the body belongs to and who the murderer may be. Seems cut and dry right? Not so much.
This was a roller coaster of a book. There was just so much going on with this one. One minute it had cult vibes. The next was more influencer tradwife vibes. A dead body! And then… things got strange… really strange. And I enjoyed every minute of it! It may not have been tied up perfectly as I still have a question or two, but it was satisfying in a weird sort of way.
I have to admit this was a bit OTT but it worked! I’m definitely circling back to some of this author‘s backlist for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a roller coaster of a book. There was just so much going on with this one. One minute it had cult vibes. The next was more influencer tradwife vibes. A dead body! And then… things got strange… really strange. And I enjoyed every minute of it! It may not have been tied up perfectly as I still have a question or two, but it was satisfying in a weird sort of way.
I have to admit this was a bit OTT but it worked! I’m definitely circling back to some of this author‘s backlist for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2026
I really enjoyed the ride with this one. I never felt like I knew what was coming next, and that kept me turning the pages. The premise was strange in an intriguing way, and the tension kept building. I felt connected to what was happening and genuinely wanted to understand how everything would come together.
My only hesitation is the ending. It felt more confusing than satisfying, and I was left with quite a few questions. I do not mind some ambiguity, but I wanted a little more clarity and resolution after everything that unfolded.
Still, I am glad I read it and I was entertained from start to finish.
My only hesitation is the ending. It felt more confusing than satisfying, and I was left with quite a few questions. I do not mind some ambiguity, but I wanted a little more clarity and resolution after everything that unfolded.
Still, I am glad I read it and I was entertained from start to finish.
February 18, 2026
Spoilers ahead!
What was that.
What.
WAS that!
I was here for the murder mystery. I was here for the crazy tradwife pseudo cult vibes. I could have even gotten behind a sterile man forcing his wife to sleep with someone else to get pregnant so his mother won't cut off his inheritance. Hell, I was even on board for if this book decided to really dip its toes into the supernatural. If there really was some strange huge-dicked fertility god in the mix - okay! I could have rolled with it.
I was willing to give this whole book SO MUCH leeway.
And it had me - right up until the end, I was interested. It was sufficiently mysterious. Definitely creepy. Sometimes hard to read and kind of offensive - but with a purpose.
We begin with a couple that wants to get pregnant but who are struggling. So they decide to go to the husband's ancestral home so he can work on a job (he's a musician) and she can de-stress and hopefully that'll help her get knocked up.
Then she finds a body in a ravine and gets gaslit about it for 200 pages.
The man has a young mixed-race (I don't know why this is important, except it is) son already, but apparently his mother's a racist white supremacist and wants all WHITE babies.
Except we end up finding out that it's not the woman's problem they can't get pregnant, it's hubby's - he's sterile because he had mumps as a child because not only is his mother a racist, she's also anti-vax.
So Hubs (who's name is Gregor - like he's a 16th century vampire or some crap) brought Harlow - the wife - back to his creepy-ass home in the pacific northwest because apparently there's a cult of witches???? there who pray to and sacrifice people to this huge-schlonged fertility god so they can all get pregnant and have little blond babies by him. And hubby needs to have little blond babies so his racist mother will give him her money.
Who's kid is the mix-raced baby then?? Where did he even come from and how did our FMC legally adopt him? It's a question among many that never gets answered.
More importantly, WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO AT THE END OF THE STORY.
Kid just gets kidnapped by psycho witch tradwife and we never see him again.
Except we do - but he's got a mom that's NOT the FMC at the very end of this book. It's just some random kid that vaguely reminds the FMC of something she can't quite recall.
HUH?!
That final chapter made no sense. Gone is the weird fertility cult. Gone are all the people we've met, gone is creepy husband, gone is adorable precious mix-race baby.
The FMC is back in NYC, married to an entirely DIFFERENT man who she apparently met in a stuck elevator at Bloomingdale's??? Oh, and she's pregnant with his kid.
This is apparently the same FMC who, just the page before, had an AXE buried in her shoulder and who was still somehow standing, getting ready to chuck said axe at the head of a 'fertility god' (who may or may not have been an actual supernatural creature, but also it could have been her husband, even though he was sterile???????) as he was coming to rape her.
Are you confused? Because so the fuck am I.
I can only assume that this is meant to be like a metaphor for conquering infertility or something. That this pregnant FMC must have dreamed the whole book up and then, somehow, by slaying the big-dicked fertility god, she somehow woke up and was happy with her ordinary little life with her little husband and her pregnancy.
We're just not given ANY context that would logically lead me to this assumption, however. The final few chapters make no sense. We go from a woman fighting for her life, fighting not to let some stranger rape her and impregnate her to her being happy and pregnant with an entirely different man's child like this whole book never existed.
I've scoured the reviews - and nobody gets it. We're literally ALL confused about what was going on in that final chapter. Whatever this author intended did NOT translate onto the page.
Whatever weird, creepy, truly horrific stuff was written into the first 96% of this book is utterly obliterated by an ending that's entirely disjointed and a climax that makes no sense because it's cut off before it can resolve itself.
What was that.
What.
WAS that!
I was here for the murder mystery. I was here for the crazy tradwife pseudo cult vibes. I could have even gotten behind a sterile man forcing his wife to sleep with someone else to get pregnant so his mother won't cut off his inheritance. Hell, I was even on board for if this book decided to really dip its toes into the supernatural. If there really was some strange huge-dicked fertility god in the mix - okay! I could have rolled with it.
I was willing to give this whole book SO MUCH leeway.
And it had me - right up until the end, I was interested. It was sufficiently mysterious. Definitely creepy. Sometimes hard to read and kind of offensive - but with a purpose.
We begin with a couple that wants to get pregnant but who are struggling. So they decide to go to the husband's ancestral home so he can work on a job (he's a musician) and she can de-stress and hopefully that'll help her get knocked up.
Then she finds a body in a ravine and gets gaslit about it for 200 pages.
The man has a young mixed-race (I don't know why this is important, except it is) son already, but apparently his mother's a racist white supremacist and wants all WHITE babies.
Except we end up finding out that it's not the woman's problem they can't get pregnant, it's hubby's - he's sterile because he had mumps as a child because not only is his mother a racist, she's also anti-vax.
So Hubs (who's name is Gregor - like he's a 16th century vampire or some crap) brought Harlow - the wife - back to his creepy-ass home in the pacific northwest because apparently there's a cult of witches???? there who pray to and sacrifice people to this huge-schlonged fertility god so they can all get pregnant and have little blond babies by him. And hubby needs to have little blond babies so his racist mother will give him her money.
Who's kid is the mix-raced baby then?? Where did he even come from and how did our FMC legally adopt him? It's a question among many that never gets answered.
More importantly, WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO AT THE END OF THE STORY.
Kid just gets kidnapped by psycho witch tradwife and we never see him again.
Except we do - but he's got a mom that's NOT the FMC at the very end of this book. It's just some random kid that vaguely reminds the FMC of something she can't quite recall.
HUH?!
That final chapter made no sense. Gone is the weird fertility cult. Gone are all the people we've met, gone is creepy husband, gone is adorable precious mix-race baby.
The FMC is back in NYC, married to an entirely DIFFERENT man who she apparently met in a stuck elevator at Bloomingdale's??? Oh, and she's pregnant with his kid.
This is apparently the same FMC who, just the page before, had an AXE buried in her shoulder and who was still somehow standing, getting ready to chuck said axe at the head of a 'fertility god' (who may or may not have been an actual supernatural creature, but also it could have been her husband, even though he was sterile???????) as he was coming to rape her.
Are you confused? Because so the fuck am I.
I can only assume that this is meant to be like a metaphor for conquering infertility or something. That this pregnant FMC must have dreamed the whole book up and then, somehow, by slaying the big-dicked fertility god, she somehow woke up and was happy with her ordinary little life with her little husband and her pregnancy.
We're just not given ANY context that would logically lead me to this assumption, however. The final few chapters make no sense. We go from a woman fighting for her life, fighting not to let some stranger rape her and impregnate her to her being happy and pregnant with an entirely different man's child like this whole book never existed.
I've scoured the reviews - and nobody gets it. We're literally ALL confused about what was going on in that final chapter. Whatever this author intended did NOT translate onto the page.
Whatever weird, creepy, truly horrific stuff was written into the first 96% of this book is utterly obliterated by an ending that's entirely disjointed and a climax that makes no sense because it's cut off before it can resolve itself.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Harlowe has almost everything she ever wanted: a fulfilling career, a sweet stepson, and a doting husband, Gregor.If only she could just get pregnant. On the advice of her OBGYN who tells her she just needs to eliminate stress (🙄), the three of them return to Gregor's hometown on an island in Washington state where Harlowe can get some rest and relaxation. But it feels like her relationship starts to change once they arrive and at the center of it is her new frenemy Kirsten, a tradwife influencer. Then after a bizarre experience in the Ravine where she may or may not have seen a skull, Harlowe finds herself uncovering truths about her new home and the family she married into.
If you love folk horror, cults, and/or trad wives being fucking weird then look no further! This book went down like sugar for me. Short, fast paced chapters 👌. I was pretty sure I knew what was going on (Harlowe said a lot of things that, in my opinion, made it easy to figure out) but I wasn't 100% convinced until the second to last chapter so I was always kept on my toes. I really loved the folklore in this one, it felt like a super fresh idea to me. Great use of the tradwives phenomenon and if you, like me, love to side eye all the "born to be a mother, my kids eat organic, obey my husband at all costs" women out there then you'll be friends with Harlowe.
I would have loved maybe a teeny tiny bit more explanation at the end but I don't by any means feel like I was left in the dark.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an arc of this book through Netgalley! It is available Feb 3!
If you love folk horror, cults, and/or trad wives being fucking weird then look no further! This book went down like sugar for me. Short, fast paced chapters 👌. I was pretty sure I knew what was going on (Harlowe said a lot of things that, in my opinion, made it easy to figure out) but I wasn't 100% convinced until the second to last chapter so I was always kept on my toes. I really loved the folklore in this one, it felt like a super fresh idea to me. Great use of the tradwives phenomenon and if you, like me, love to side eye all the "born to be a mother, my kids eat organic, obey my husband at all costs" women out there then you'll be friends with Harlowe.
I would have loved maybe a teeny tiny bit more explanation at the end but I don't by any means feel like I was left in the dark.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an arc of this book through Netgalley! It is available Feb 3!
February 21, 2026
An isolated locale, creepy cult vibes, and weird in-laws all provide a deliberate feeling of growing unease and persistent foreboding. Harlow, wanting to make her husband Gregor happy, agrees to move to his childhood home on a remote island, in the hopes it will help them conceive their first child together. Once there, Gregor begins to behave differently and Harlow notices some truly odd things: the uncanny resemblance between all the children at her stepson's daycare, the same tattoo on multiple women, and most disturbing of all—a decomposing head.
I really thought I knew what was going on but I was happily clueless. A slow-burn eerie sense of 'wrongness' seeps through the pages; there's danger lurking, but what is it? Harlow wants to accommodate her husband and in-laws, yet she's determined to understand her reality despite being gaslit by those around her. The earthy tradwife she gets to know—Kirsten—is enigmatic and intriguing, but also unnerving and annoying.
Amanda Leigh Cobb gives a fabulous performance as the audiobook narrator, but I especially loved the voices for Harlow and Kirsten. Harlow is tenacious, questioning, and curious, which Cobb embodies perfectly. The tone she uses for Kirsten is soft, slow, and mesmerizing, brilliantly evoking images of an ethereal hippie—just don't drink her mushroom tea. Doing a combo read with the audiobook is definitely the way to go!
The slow-burn ramps up to a crazed action-packed conclusion with an ending that's a shock to the system, and I was here for it! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚 is captivating, mysterious, and a tad deranged. Maia Chance has taken the cult and infertility tropes and knocked their heads off with a dash of horror and a whole lot of insanity. Don't miss this mind-bender!
____
Thank you Maia Chance, Amazon Publishing and Brilliance Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
I really thought I knew what was going on but I was happily clueless. A slow-burn eerie sense of 'wrongness' seeps through the pages; there's danger lurking, but what is it? Harlow wants to accommodate her husband and in-laws, yet she's determined to understand her reality despite being gaslit by those around her. The earthy tradwife she gets to know—Kirsten—is enigmatic and intriguing, but also unnerving and annoying.
Amanda Leigh Cobb gives a fabulous performance as the audiobook narrator, but I especially loved the voices for Harlow and Kirsten. Harlow is tenacious, questioning, and curious, which Cobb embodies perfectly. The tone she uses for Kirsten is soft, slow, and mesmerizing, brilliantly evoking images of an ethereal hippie—just don't drink her mushroom tea. Doing a combo read with the audiobook is definitely the way to go!
The slow-burn ramps up to a crazed action-packed conclusion with an ending that's a shock to the system, and I was here for it! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚 is captivating, mysterious, and a tad deranged. Maia Chance has taken the cult and infertility tropes and knocked their heads off with a dash of horror and a whole lot of insanity. Don't miss this mind-bender!
____
Thank you Maia Chance, Amazon Publishing and Brilliance Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2026
A fast paced and gripping thriller. A first read of this author for me but wow I enjoyed this book, it kept me hooked throughout and I loved the twist and turns it took. I can’t wait to see what more books this author has.
March 9, 2026
The Ravine was a great read. I liked that it kept me going until the end. The main character moves to a secluded island with her husband and there starts to be weird happenings going on. She stumbles into the deep woods and finds evidence of a could be murder scene. She digs deeper and wants to see what she can find out. She finds out things she wished she had not. It was a great thriller/mystery story.
February 8, 2026
First I'd like to thank Maia Chance for sending me the audio book & e-arc!
3 stars? maybe 3.25 for the vibes because it really did catch my attention and I really liked how I felt compelled to find out more.
The only thing that got me was the last chapter, it felt so disconnected because of what happened in the chapter prior was when everything was kicking off, we were getting to one hell of a scene and then CUT to the last one that just broke all hype for me and also left me with more questions and confusion. Despite this, still had a great time and the audio book was fantastic!
3 stars? maybe 3.25 for the vibes because it really did catch my attention and I really liked how I felt compelled to find out more.
The only thing that got me was the last chapter, it felt so disconnected because of what happened in the chapter prior was when everything was kicking off, we were getting to one hell of a scene and then CUT to the last one that just broke all hype for me and also left me with more questions and confusion. Despite this, still had a great time and the audio book was fantastic!
March 9, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever been so conflicted about how to rate a book in my whole life.
On one hand, the writing and pacing was solid, the setting/atmosphere was unique and unsettling and the plot was genuinely gripping. There were things about this book that I actually loved and in an alternate universe, could see this one being five stars. The Ari Aster/ Midsommar/ Hereditary/ Wicker Man vibes are accurate and present throughout the book- those parts were the most fun.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND…. I typically appreciate and enjoy reading “unlikeable” MCs… the main couple at the center of this story was insufferable. The husband was incredibly mid at best and a disgusting gaslighting mfer at worst. This dynamic could work if you felt sympathetic to the wife… but she was also awful. So anti-tradwife that it seemed to me to read as anti-women at some points… really cringy. She also acted like the sun shined out of her gross husband’s ass. I was hoping that the FMC was going to come to some realization and the anti-women sentiments would lead to some higher purpose for the novel but… no.
The most interesting relationships in this story were literally just forgotten in the end, which was super unsatisfying. And speaking of the ending- it was abrupt and disjointed. I love a weird, metaphorical book with an open-ending that can be interpreted in different ways… this ending was NOT that. It just straight up did not make sense in the context of the storyline and where it was headed and felt rushed and tacked on.
I’m honestly kinda angry bc I wanted to and could’ve loved this one so much but….?!?!!?!!!!!!!! WHY.
On one hand, the writing and pacing was solid, the setting/atmosphere was unique and unsettling and the plot was genuinely gripping. There were things about this book that I actually loved and in an alternate universe, could see this one being five stars. The Ari Aster/ Midsommar/ Hereditary/ Wicker Man vibes are accurate and present throughout the book- those parts were the most fun.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND…. I typically appreciate and enjoy reading “unlikeable” MCs… the main couple at the center of this story was insufferable. The husband was incredibly mid at best and a disgusting gaslighting mfer at worst. This dynamic could work if you felt sympathetic to the wife… but she was also awful. So anti-tradwife that it seemed to me to read as anti-women at some points… really cringy. She also acted like the sun shined out of her gross husband’s ass. I was hoping that the FMC was going to come to some realization and the anti-women sentiments would lead to some higher purpose for the novel but… no.
The most interesting relationships in this story were literally just forgotten in the end, which was super unsatisfying. And speaking of the ending- it was abrupt and disjointed. I love a weird, metaphorical book with an open-ending that can be interpreted in different ways… this ending was NOT that. It just straight up did not make sense in the context of the storyline and where it was headed and felt rushed and tacked on.
I’m honestly kinda angry bc I wanted to and could’ve loved this one so much but….?!?!!?!!!!!!!! WHY.
February 3, 2026
A woman struggling to get pregnant moves to her husband's ancestral home on a secluded island to promote relaxation and fertility. Tranquility soon turns in to terror once she starts to notice sinister details of the people on the island.
A dark suspenseful thriller that will sate your thirst for paranormal horror. If you loved Midsommar and Hereditary, then this book is for you! The beginning starts a little slow with the background info but quickly picked up speed after Harlow and her family moved to "the island". I was not expecting all those plot twists at the end!
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC! I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and spent every extra minute listening to this audiobook.
A dark suspenseful thriller that will sate your thirst for paranormal horror. If you loved Midsommar and Hereditary, then this book is for you! The beginning starts a little slow with the background info but quickly picked up speed after Harlow and her family moved to "the island". I was not expecting all those plot twists at the end!
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC! I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator and spent every extra minute listening to this audiobook.
March 20, 2026
This had me hooked and then left me utterly confused. What happened?? Where is Sam?? Who are Sam’s parents?? There’s no resolution to anything! The only thing I can think of is, by “killing?” ground monster man, it reverses everything and it never happens?? Idk 😭 I have so many questions
Also, I’ll be so so happy to never ever hear the name Gregor again
Also, I’ll be so so happy to never ever hear the name Gregor again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2026
I just think it went way over my head tbh because I’m still so confused
April 3, 2026
- Một nhà nghiên cứu khoa học siêu thông minh làm việc ở lab nghiên cứu ung thư sẵn sàng bỏ công việc đó để về ở ẩn, về nơi mà chưa bao giờ đến, tạm nghỉ trong 6 tháng CHỈ ĐỂ CỐ CÓ CON???
- Hơn nữa, cái nơi chưa bao giờ đến đó chính là NHÀ CHỒNG - đáng lẽ ra suốt 4 năm quen biết, hôn nhân thì phải từng biết chỗ đó rồi chứ? Vậy mà sẵn lòng bỏ hết mọi thứ để ra đó ở, với những người không quen biết, với một BÀ MẸ CHỒNG THẬM CHÍ CHƯA TỪNG GẶP BAO GIỜ?
- Bạn có muốn đọc một nữ chính tự coi mình là thông minh có bằng đại học tự lập làm nghiên cứu ung thư (lúc nào cũng luôn nhắc nhở người khác như thế) nhưng lại để bị thao túng bởi GÃ CHỒNG KHỐN NẠN trong suốt cả cuốn sách? Và lúc nào cũng thề thốt yêu đương tên chồng này, để nó thao túng dẫn dắt cho nhưng vẫn ngu ngơ mù mịt tin lời hắn và cứ nhìn thấy hắn thì mềm yếu nhũn cả người ra.
- VIẾT THÌ HAY NHƯNG CẢ TRUYỆN QUÁ DÀI, HƠN NỬA LÀ THEO DÕI HÀNH TRÌNH BỊ DẪN DỤ, THAO TÚNG CỦA NỮ CHÍNH (tên là Harlow) VÀ CHO THẤY NỮ CHÍNH NGU NGỐC THẾ NÀO. Cái gì tên chồng nói cũng tin??? Why?????
- Chuyên gia đi uống đồ uống mà từ người không đáng tin, trời ơi, đến tận gần cuối rồi vẫn ngây thơ như vậy, biết là không đáng tin rồi nhưng vẫn uống như không có gì?
- Thằng bé Sam là khổ nhất trong truyện, cả truyện nó chỉ đóng vai trò là một đứa trẻ bị thiếu đi sự chăm sóc và quan tâm từ Gregor và Harlow. Gregor cả ngày đi làm gì không ai biết, Harlow mỗi việc đưa đón Sam đi học và liên tục để Sam ngồi xem tivi suốt mọi thời gian rảnh. Sam gần như không được chăm sóc đúng cách. Thậm chí còn cho người lạ chưa quen biết rõ trông Sam để hai bố mẹ tiệc tùng. Wow, cậu Sam đúng khổ luôn đó. Bà nữ chính Harlow lúc nào cũng "yêu Sam lắm, phải bảo vệ Sam blah blah" nhưng chính Harlow còn xao nhãng vậy thì chăm chút, bảo vệ kiểu gì???
- Mình thích vibe giáo phái, phù thuỷ kinh dị của truyện, tuy vậy thì quá trình tìm hiểu của Harlow quá ngắn làm câu chuyện quá dài hơn so với mức cần thiết. Cái giáo phái này khá hay (và cũng quen thuộc) nhưng mình đã mong có nhiều cảnh về hội nhóm này hơn (kiểu tạo cảm giác đáng sợ hơn) chứ không phải có mỗi bà Harlow suốt ngày mở instagram ra kiểm tra với ám ảnh liên tục về mấy mụ tradwife. Harlow, làm cái gì có ý nghĩa hơn được không?
- Kết truyện: đọc thấy nhiều người tức cái kết này nhất. Mình cũng tức, eo ôi thế đúng là siêu nhiên thật ư? Mà không có sự giải thích rõ ràng nào? Mình oke vụ siêu nhiên nhưng ít nhất phải có những tình tiết thể hiện điều đó trong suốt cả truyện chứ không phải mỗi cái kết mới bắt đầu xuất hiện siêu nhiên. Mà kết vừa vội vừa vô lý kiểu chả có sự tính toán từ trước gì làm truyện kết thúc một cách vội vã... Ồ, giờ mới nghĩ ra cái kết vớ vẩn đó sẽ làm thay đổi cả dòng thời gian, Harlow sẽ không lấy Gregor, kiểu vậy. Nên chương cuối cùng là bà Harlow còn không nhớ cậu bé Sam là ai, trời ạ. Eo ôi truyện ngu ngốc quá, sao lại nghĩ ra được vậy????
- Hơn nữa, cái nơi chưa bao giờ đến đó chính là NHÀ CHỒNG - đáng lẽ ra suốt 4 năm quen biết, hôn nhân thì phải từng biết chỗ đó rồi chứ? Vậy mà sẵn lòng bỏ hết mọi thứ để ra đó ở, với những người không quen biết, với một BÀ MẸ CHỒNG THẬM CHÍ CHƯA TỪNG GẶP BAO GIỜ?
- Bạn có muốn đọc một nữ chính tự coi mình là thông minh có bằng đại học tự lập làm nghiên cứu ung thư (lúc nào cũng luôn nhắc nhở người khác như thế) nhưng lại để bị thao túng bởi GÃ CHỒNG KHỐN NẠN trong suốt cả cuốn sách? Và lúc nào cũng thề thốt yêu đương tên chồng này, để nó thao túng dẫn dắt cho nhưng vẫn ngu ngơ mù mịt tin lời hắn và cứ nhìn thấy hắn thì mềm yếu nhũn cả người ra.
- VIẾT THÌ HAY NHƯNG CẢ TRUYỆN QUÁ DÀI, HƠN NỬA LÀ THEO DÕI HÀNH TRÌNH BỊ DẪN DỤ, THAO TÚNG CỦA NỮ CHÍNH (tên là Harlow) VÀ CHO THẤY NỮ CHÍNH NGU NGỐC THẾ NÀO. Cái gì tên chồng nói cũng tin??? Why?????
- Chuyên gia đi uống đồ uống mà từ người không đáng tin, trời ơi, đến tận gần cuối rồi vẫn ngây thơ như vậy, biết là không đáng tin rồi nhưng vẫn uống như không có gì?
- Thằng bé Sam là khổ nhất trong truyện, cả truyện nó chỉ đóng vai trò là một đứa trẻ bị thiếu đi sự chăm sóc và quan tâm từ Gregor và Harlow. Gregor cả ngày đi làm gì không ai biết, Harlow mỗi việc đưa đón Sam đi học và liên tục để Sam ngồi xem tivi suốt mọi thời gian rảnh. Sam gần như không được chăm sóc đúng cách. Thậm chí còn cho người lạ chưa quen biết rõ trông Sam để hai bố mẹ tiệc tùng. Wow, cậu Sam đúng khổ luôn đó. Bà nữ chính Harlow lúc nào cũng "yêu Sam lắm, phải bảo vệ Sam blah blah" nhưng chính Harlow còn xao nhãng vậy thì chăm chút, bảo vệ kiểu gì???
- Mình thích vibe giáo phái, phù thuỷ kinh dị của truyện, tuy vậy thì quá trình tìm hiểu của Harlow quá ngắn làm câu chuyện quá dài hơn so với mức cần thiết. Cái giáo phái này khá hay (và cũng quen thuộc) nhưng mình đã mong có nhiều cảnh về hội nhóm này hơn (kiểu tạo cảm giác đáng sợ hơn) chứ không phải có mỗi bà Harlow suốt ngày mở instagram ra kiểm tra với ám ảnh liên tục về mấy mụ tradwife. Harlow, làm cái gì có ý nghĩa hơn được không?
- Kết truyện: đọc thấy nhiều người tức cái kết này nhất. Mình cũng tức, eo ôi thế đúng là siêu nhiên thật ư? Mà không có sự giải thích rõ ràng nào? Mình oke vụ siêu nhiên nhưng ít nhất phải có những tình tiết thể hiện điều đó trong suốt cả truyện chứ không phải mỗi cái kết mới bắt đầu xuất hiện siêu nhiên. Mà kết vừa vội vừa vô lý kiểu chả có sự tính toán từ trước gì làm truyện kết thúc một cách vội vã... Ồ, giờ mới nghĩ ra cái kết vớ vẩn đó sẽ làm thay đổi cả dòng thời gian, Harlow sẽ không lấy Gregor, kiểu vậy. Nên chương cuối cùng là bà Harlow còn không nhớ cậu bé Sam là ai, trời ạ. Eo ôi truyện ngu ngốc quá, sao lại nghĩ ra được vậy????
January 28, 2026
The Ravine by Maya chance and narrated by Amanda Lee Cobb, in the book we meet Harlow a brilliant scientist who marries rich boy Gregor and his son Sam. They’ve only been married two years and they’re trying to have a baby but unfortunately Harlow‘s fertility doctor in a very condescending way tell her she needs to relax quit her job go off for a restful retreat to get pregnant. After all most women who wait so long to have babies usually have issues. This is how Harlow finds herself on an island in Washington stayte at her husbband’s families mansion but relaxation will be the last thing she gets. after a strange conversation with her mother-in-law Pauline things only get weirder. From spotting her husband naked by the pool late at night to an influencer that has some strange ideas about motherhood to a daycare that believes in all natural so much they don’t even have buildings they just whole class in the woods but it’s when she stumbles into the ravine and finds the head of a woman that she knows something is way more than just a little strange on the island. let me just say for 90% of this book maybe even 95% I was so into it despite the discrepancies such as her suffering from dehydration after they’re not having water for only 12 hours to discrepancies a good editor would’ve definitely caught an editing besides all that this book was really good and I know it was thriller horror but to make most of your book so great only to have it end in such a weird way and although it was supposed to be satisfying why would you throw a whole different genre in at the end. also how annoying and pompous is the name Gregor? there are other things I would like to bring up but like always it would ruin the plot for others and I would in no way tell someone not to read it because it is mainly a really good book and maybe you’ll like the ending I didn’t hate it I just felt like it came out of our IDK? so yes I do recommend this book it is a strange and despite the discrepancies a well told story. I do want to mention one more thing how could Harlow be so smart and most of the book only to almost come off as a complete idiot towards the end? like why would she knowing Kiersten took Sam home would she go to her house instead of right to Kiersten‘s the place Sam hated to be to look for him? I digress I still recommended it with great narration and a book that will have you wanting to know what happens next The Ravine really is an entertaining read and one I did not want to stop reading until it was over. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
March 2, 2026
This book had me from the second I saw that brilliant front cover image.
I had no clue what to expect from the image or title and obviously my usual thing of going into this blind - as well as not having read this author before either.
But I loved the dark forest vibes that this was giving and that hint at danger - along with that pop of bright pink.
We follow this story through our main character's pov - Harlow and Gregor are struggling to concieve and their fertility doctor suggests getting away from it all, taking time away from work and stress and helping the body to give them the best chance of things going well.
They land on Gregor's family island weeks later, ready to start the process.
Beyond this, I can't tell you any more plot details because there will definitely be spoilers - but the events that follow had me completely gripped and racing through the pages.
Nope, I didn't stick to my Read-Along schedule at all because I just had to know what on earth was going on.
I loved that this was giving paranormal vibes right from the start and that I was trying to come up with theories from the very first few chapters.
I was completely wrong each time and this story threw so many twists and turns at us, I didn't know if I was coming or going and I absolutely couldn't work out who to trust - I actually didn't trust any of them!
The atmosphere for the story was set very early on - in a seemingly innocent part of the book - but I ran with this and was on the edge of my seat for the remainder.
This was very satisfyingly eerie, creepy, oppressive and claustrophobic - just how I love my books in this genre.
After a great build up throughout, things pull together in the final couple of chapters and we finally discover what was happening all along - nope, not one of my theories at all (even with the hints)!
I just felt that the very last chapter felt a little flat and left me questioning a couple of things.
However, this really cannot take away from the fact I was so engrossed from start to finish and I absolutely loved that this kept me on edge and guessing.
Brilliantly written overall and definitely an author I want to read more of in the future.
I had no clue what to expect from the image or title and obviously my usual thing of going into this blind - as well as not having read this author before either.
But I loved the dark forest vibes that this was giving and that hint at danger - along with that pop of bright pink.
We follow this story through our main character's pov - Harlow and Gregor are struggling to concieve and their fertility doctor suggests getting away from it all, taking time away from work and stress and helping the body to give them the best chance of things going well.
They land on Gregor's family island weeks later, ready to start the process.
Beyond this, I can't tell you any more plot details because there will definitely be spoilers - but the events that follow had me completely gripped and racing through the pages.
Nope, I didn't stick to my Read-Along schedule at all because I just had to know what on earth was going on.
I loved that this was giving paranormal vibes right from the start and that I was trying to come up with theories from the very first few chapters.
I was completely wrong each time and this story threw so many twists and turns at us, I didn't know if I was coming or going and I absolutely couldn't work out who to trust - I actually didn't trust any of them!
The atmosphere for the story was set very early on - in a seemingly innocent part of the book - but I ran with this and was on the edge of my seat for the remainder.
This was very satisfyingly eerie, creepy, oppressive and claustrophobic - just how I love my books in this genre.
After a great build up throughout, things pull together in the final couple of chapters and we finally discover what was happening all along - nope, not one of my theories at all (even with the hints)!
I just felt that the very last chapter felt a little flat and left me questioning a couple of things.
However, this really cannot take away from the fact I was so engrossed from start to finish and I absolutely loved that this kept me on edge and guessing.
Brilliantly written overall and definitely an author I want to read more of in the future.
February 10, 2026
First, I’d like to thank Maia Chance, LBT Tours, and books forward pr for the gifted physical advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
Maia Chance is a brand new author to me so when I saw that this was a thriller, I honestly didn’t know what to expect and went into reading this book, completely blind! I’m glad I did because as I was reading, I was able to see the type of mysterious, creepy environment that Maia was able to create in The Ravine.
The opening line definitely sucked me in right away and really set the overall tone to the book for me and I just knew it was going to be a wild ride. Thankfully, Maia did not disappoint! I read this book in one day and found myself at the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading! It’s the type of thriller that gives you little crumbs of the bigger hidden picture all throughout the story until you can finally piece it together towards the end of the book.
Maia did an amazing job at making the reader feel like they were truly trapped on the island with our main female character, Harlow. Right off the bat, you just got this heavy feeling once they reach the island. The family, the people around the island and just all the weird things that happen throughout their time there all contributed to creating such an intense atmosphere. I struggled trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who was even trustworthy as it just felt like everyone was hiding their own secrets. I will not go into detail about what happened as I would like for other readers to go into this story blindly, but I will say that the cult aesthetic really did take me on an unexpected journey that still has my mind reeling about the ending. I cannot wait to check out more of Maia’s work and I hope you do too!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
Maia Chance is a brand new author to me so when I saw that this was a thriller, I honestly didn’t know what to expect and went into reading this book, completely blind! I’m glad I did because as I was reading, I was able to see the type of mysterious, creepy environment that Maia was able to create in The Ravine.
The opening line definitely sucked me in right away and really set the overall tone to the book for me and I just knew it was going to be a wild ride. Thankfully, Maia did not disappoint! I read this book in one day and found myself at the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading! It’s the type of thriller that gives you little crumbs of the bigger hidden picture all throughout the story until you can finally piece it together towards the end of the book.
Maia did an amazing job at making the reader feel like they were truly trapped on the island with our main female character, Harlow. Right off the bat, you just got this heavy feeling once they reach the island. The family, the people around the island and just all the weird things that happen throughout their time there all contributed to creating such an intense atmosphere. I struggled trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who was even trustworthy as it just felt like everyone was hiding their own secrets. I will not go into detail about what happened as I would like for other readers to go into this story blindly, but I will say that the cult aesthetic really did take me on an unexpected journey that still has my mind reeling about the ending. I cannot wait to check out more of Maia’s work and I hope you do too!
February 1, 2026
*paperback
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5) - if it weren’t for the ending it wouldn’t been an infinity star read for me.
TW: Gaslighting. SA. Drugs.
“…then I remember Gregor buck naked aroused and smeared with mud in the moonlight.”
“Oh my god you smell amazing babe! Are you ovulating!?”
“Something isn’t right!”
Thanks to Books Forward & Thomas & Mercer for my ARC of this book so I could read it before the rest of the world. Lucky me!!!!
This book from the jump had me saying to Harlow “Girl you’ve gotta get away from these people…ruuuuuun!” It was giving creepy psychotic sacrificial cult. The husband’s name was “Gregor” and when I heard that name I’m like dude should be hiding away in a castle or something, I was immediately like something is up with this guy.
The people in this community are all about using magic mushrooms…like A LOT. Harlow immediately feels like something is off and it seems like her whole relationship with Gregor is so hyper focused on her fertility issues.
There was a lot of dialogue in this one and it flowed freely. It was easy to immerse myself and feel like I was a fly on the wall watching the story unfold.
Harness such a great FMC and I enjoyed rooting for her.
The author created this great antagonistic Trad Wife influencer character in Kirsten was so fun to hate. She was so terrible and sneaky, a total b!tch. All of the “mama” this and “mama”that had me cringing. She was so annoying lol.
This book was sooooo incredibly good. I was compulsively reading it. Like 100% invested but the last 2 chapters had me so incredibly confused. I reread them numerous times and couldn’t make sense of it so I wish that were clearer but I’m telling ya this book was fire! I’m excited to read more by this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5) - if it weren’t for the ending it wouldn’t been an infinity star read for me.
TW: Gaslighting. SA. Drugs.
“…then I remember Gregor buck naked aroused and smeared with mud in the moonlight.”
“Oh my god you smell amazing babe! Are you ovulating!?”
“Something isn’t right!”
Thanks to Books Forward & Thomas & Mercer for my ARC of this book so I could read it before the rest of the world. Lucky me!!!!
This book from the jump had me saying to Harlow “Girl you’ve gotta get away from these people…ruuuuuun!” It was giving creepy psychotic sacrificial cult. The husband’s name was “Gregor” and when I heard that name I’m like dude should be hiding away in a castle or something, I was immediately like something is up with this guy.
The people in this community are all about using magic mushrooms…like A LOT. Harlow immediately feels like something is off and it seems like her whole relationship with Gregor is so hyper focused on her fertility issues.
There was a lot of dialogue in this one and it flowed freely. It was easy to immerse myself and feel like I was a fly on the wall watching the story unfold.
Harness such a great FMC and I enjoyed rooting for her.
The author created this great antagonistic Trad Wife influencer character in Kirsten was so fun to hate. She was so terrible and sneaky, a total b!tch. All of the “mama” this and “mama”that had me cringing. She was so annoying lol.
This book was sooooo incredibly good. I was compulsively reading it. Like 100% invested but the last 2 chapters had me so incredibly confused. I reread them numerous times and couldn’t make sense of it so I wish that were clearer but I’m telling ya this book was fire! I’m excited to read more by this author.
January 14, 2026
#ad much love to the author for my advance copy + ALC from @brillianceaudio #partner
The Ravine
< @maiachance_ >
Releases: February 3, 2026
Thriller | horror | mystery
Into the woods we go, to lose our minds and find our souls…
It was supposed to be a peaceful getaway…up until she found a head in the ravine…
They want to have a baby, but Harlow is suffering from unexplained fertility (bc drs don’t know half of what we think they do) and tells her she’s too stressed and should stop working for a while. As a cancer researcher, Harlow loves working but agrees to take some time off.
So her husband Gregor and her and Gregor’s son all move to an island for a bit. To his families home and land. But there’s something deeply off about this island and the people who inhabit it. And then there’s also Gregor’s mother. Oh boy buckle up for her! But Harlow has her mind on one thing only - getting pregnant.
🎧: Also listened to the audio and def recommend it. Amanda Leigh Cobb does a phenomenal job narrating. Her voices and pitches - everything was perfect. Great listen.
I freaking loved this book. It’s hilarious but still has all the creep vibes and a solid mystery. Couldn’t put it down.
The tradwife aspect was so fun, but so was the whole island - trying to figure out what was going on. Fabulous storyline, writing, characters, and mystery.
Such an easy 5 star read. A one-sitting read type of book.
And that ending … LOL!
Memorable 😂👏🏼👏🏼
Mushrooms
KinderWild
Crunchy Christians
Indirect USPS packages 👏🏼😂 legit
And HAHAHHAHA to being a Grandma before age 40 bc that’s me 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼♥️
The Ravine
< @maiachance_ >
Releases: February 3, 2026
Thriller | horror | mystery
Into the woods we go, to lose our minds and find our souls…
It was supposed to be a peaceful getaway…up until she found a head in the ravine…
They want to have a baby, but Harlow is suffering from unexplained fertility (bc drs don’t know half of what we think they do) and tells her she’s too stressed and should stop working for a while. As a cancer researcher, Harlow loves working but agrees to take some time off.
So her husband Gregor and her and Gregor’s son all move to an island for a bit. To his families home and land. But there’s something deeply off about this island and the people who inhabit it. And then there’s also Gregor’s mother. Oh boy buckle up for her! But Harlow has her mind on one thing only - getting pregnant.
🎧: Also listened to the audio and def recommend it. Amanda Leigh Cobb does a phenomenal job narrating. Her voices and pitches - everything was perfect. Great listen.
I freaking loved this book. It’s hilarious but still has all the creep vibes and a solid mystery. Couldn’t put it down.
The tradwife aspect was so fun, but so was the whole island - trying to figure out what was going on. Fabulous storyline, writing, characters, and mystery.
Such an easy 5 star read. A one-sitting read type of book.
And that ending … LOL!
Memorable 😂👏🏼👏🏼
Mushrooms
KinderWild
Crunchy Christians
Indirect USPS packages 👏🏼😂 legit
And HAHAHHAHA to being a Grandma before age 40 bc that’s me 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼♥️
May 7, 2026
Folk horror cult vibes, deliciously dark and razor sharp. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
What begins with a young couple and son playing at happy families, a ‘lets all go to a tranquil island to grow our family’ dream soon turns into a feverish nightmare. There is something sinister behind the tradwife trend on the island and Harlow is not imagining it, whatever her husband says.
The pace had me in its grip, the horror unravelling had my jaw dropping and the twists and turns had me guessing all the way. The psychological warfare between the characters built up such a tension I was so ready for this one to go wild. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but it didn’t take away the fun I had reading this one.
I’d highly recommend The Ravine for a summer binge as it was so addictive.
What begins with a young couple and son playing at happy families, a ‘lets all go to a tranquil island to grow our family’ dream soon turns into a feverish nightmare. There is something sinister behind the tradwife trend on the island and Harlow is not imagining it, whatever her husband says.
The pace had me in its grip, the horror unravelling had my jaw dropping and the twists and turns had me guessing all the way. The psychological warfare between the characters built up such a tension I was so ready for this one to go wild. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but it didn’t take away the fun I had reading this one.
I’d highly recommend The Ravine for a summer binge as it was so addictive.
February 2, 2026
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley and Maia Chance for the ARC!
I don’t usually choose a book for its cover but that is one reason this one grabbed my attention - pink, dark and spooky is right up my alley! I also loved Maia Chance’s previous so I knew I would enjoy this too!
Harlowe has a thriving career, a wonderful husband and stepson - the only thing she is missing is a baby. So when her husband Gregor suggests a fresh start to his childhood home to get away, it seems like a good opportunity. But things at this home, deep in a wooded ravine, are not as idyllic as they look from the outside.
This book was every bit as atmospheric as Chance’s prior book - I love how the setting takes on a life of its own in her stories! Here, the wooded ravine provides the perfect eerie backdrop. As Harlowe starts to notice weird things - “X” tattoos on people’s wrists, the people all look similar...plus the school she takes her son to has a teacher’s aide that has the same name as the last, just “new” - super creepy! The pacing was solid and the mounting sense of dread that something frightening was going to happen was off the charts! Plus, the ending had me re-read (well, re-listen) so I could figure out what the heck just happened - the way Chance pulled it off was fantastic!
If you are looking for a tense, atmospheric thriller with cult vibes, this is one for you!
“The Ravine” is out February 3, 2026! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
I don’t usually choose a book for its cover but that is one reason this one grabbed my attention - pink, dark and spooky is right up my alley! I also loved Maia Chance’s previous so I knew I would enjoy this too!
Harlowe has a thriving career, a wonderful husband and stepson - the only thing she is missing is a baby. So when her husband Gregor suggests a fresh start to his childhood home to get away, it seems like a good opportunity. But things at this home, deep in a wooded ravine, are not as idyllic as they look from the outside.
This book was every bit as atmospheric as Chance’s prior book - I love how the setting takes on a life of its own in her stories! Here, the wooded ravine provides the perfect eerie backdrop. As Harlowe starts to notice weird things - “X” tattoos on people’s wrists, the people all look similar...plus the school she takes her son to has a teacher’s aide that has the same name as the last, just “new” - super creepy! The pacing was solid and the mounting sense of dread that something frightening was going to happen was off the charts! Plus, the ending had me re-read (well, re-listen) so I could figure out what the heck just happened - the way Chance pulled it off was fantastic!
If you are looking for a tense, atmospheric thriller with cult vibes, this is one for you!
“The Ravine” is out February 3, 2026! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
March 24, 2026
It took me waaaaay too long to finish this!! Like a whole month!! I always think that’s kind of telling.
The description of this book really intrigued me and I was so excited to get into it. Unfortunately, it kind of fell flat.
I enjoyed most of the book, but I was left incredibly underwhelmed and confused by the ending. There was very little explanation which, while it might be the point, is so frustrating in a thriller which you expect to have a good payoff at the end.
The folklore elements were interesting and I found the tradwife, Kirsten, to be a really interesting character. She really encapsulated the inherent contradictions in social media tradwife living and that was cool.
The audiobook narrator was also fantastic! She really sold the individual characters for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this!
The description of this book really intrigued me and I was so excited to get into it. Unfortunately, it kind of fell flat.
I enjoyed most of the book, but I was left incredibly underwhelmed and confused by the ending. There was very little explanation which, while it might be the point, is so frustrating in a thriller which you expect to have a good payoff at the end.
The folklore elements were interesting and I found the tradwife, Kirsten, to be a really interesting character. She really encapsulated the inherent contradictions in social media tradwife living and that was cool.
The audiobook narrator was also fantastic! She really sold the individual characters for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Completely enthralling book that I couldn't put down because I wanted to understand what was happening. I love how completely creepy and weird this story was.
The book starts off with Harlow at a fertility clinic, learning that she is having trouble conceiving. The doctor tells her she should consider taking time off from her very busy, stress filled scientist job. Her husband agrees and suggests they move to his hometown temporarily. It's located on an island pretty isolated, and he is trying to work on a new album there with his band. Harlow agrees to take 6 months off there to see if it will help them have a baby since that is something she really wants.
As soon as she gets to the island, she starts feeling uneasy by first her creepy mother in law and then by the strange townspeople. She soon then stumbles across a head in the woods down in a ravine and is desperate to figure out what is going on. Her husband and others seem to be lying to her and possibly drugging her. She takes off on a journey to find out the truth about her husband and this town.
Overall, I loved the character of Harlow. I feel like she was extremely relatable, and the choices she made all throughout were exactly what she should have to protect herself and her adopted child. The story was very complex, and I found myself riveted in the story, wanting to find out the truth behind everything going on.
I loved that this was a very fresh, different, kind of thriller than ones I'm used to. I also loved the horror elements. The ending was a bit confusing. But after re reading, I think I understand it, and it fits with the overall tone of the book. Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC. I would recommend this and would read more from this author in the future.
The book starts off with Harlow at a fertility clinic, learning that she is having trouble conceiving. The doctor tells her she should consider taking time off from her very busy, stress filled scientist job. Her husband agrees and suggests they move to his hometown temporarily. It's located on an island pretty isolated, and he is trying to work on a new album there with his band. Harlow agrees to take 6 months off there to see if it will help them have a baby since that is something she really wants.
As soon as she gets to the island, she starts feeling uneasy by first her creepy mother in law and then by the strange townspeople. She soon then stumbles across a head in the woods down in a ravine and is desperate to figure out what is going on. Her husband and others seem to be lying to her and possibly drugging her. She takes off on a journey to find out the truth about her husband and this town.
Overall, I loved the character of Harlow. I feel like she was extremely relatable, and the choices she made all throughout were exactly what she should have to protect herself and her adopted child. The story was very complex, and I found myself riveted in the story, wanting to find out the truth behind everything going on.
I loved that this was a very fresh, different, kind of thriller than ones I'm used to. I also loved the horror elements. The ending was a bit confusing. But after re reading, I think I understand it, and it fits with the overall tone of the book. Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC. I would recommend this and would read more from this author in the future.
February 3, 2026
This book! Omfg I could not put it down. It is a high dread inducing, fast moving page turner! One minute you’re caught up in baby making, then it’s something strange about the baby making, oh and there are a lot of babies that look a like, and then the book goes full witchy cult, trad wife. wtf!
I freaking loved this story line. Does blood make you family? Do women exist to just have babies? How far will some women go to have babies? Aaaggghh it tackles all this in the book, in all it infuriating fictional glory that is violent and unreal. I wanted it to be earthly unreal, I was so into it.
That ending will stop you dead in your tracks. I did have to reread to make sure I understood what happened. But it works, and if you get it you know it was the best ending.
I freaking loved this story line. Does blood make you family? Do women exist to just have babies? How far will some women go to have babies? Aaaggghh it tackles all this in the book, in all it infuriating fictional glory that is violent and unreal. I wanted it to be earthly unreal, I was so into it.
That ending will stop you dead in your tracks. I did have to reread to make sure I understood what happened. But it works, and if you get it you know it was the best ending.
January 26, 2026
Honestly, this book had so much potential. This writing was not good and this book ended up being way too long. Literally half of this could’ve been taken out and it would’ve made sense. Maybe even more sense. There is so much in this book that didn’t need to be in this book and WTF was that ending. I had to go back and listen to the last two chapters numerous times because the last chapter doesn’t match up with the rest of the book whatsoever. I am convinced that the five star ratings of this book were paid for. If you were looking for something that’s going to grip you and keep you thrilled throughout the entire story Throw this away and go grab something else. This book tried to go in way too many different directions. There was way too much happening and going on while the majority of the book literally nothing is happening. The narration seemed OK but really that was the only OK thing about this entire book. This was a NetGalley arc and this is my honest review.
February 26, 2026
This was a wicked fun psychological thriller. Harlow has a great life, an adorable stepson and a loving husband. All she needs now is a baby of her own. Her doctor recommended destressing, she and family move to an island estate owned by her husband’s family. On the island she befriends a trad wife momfluencer, and a few other mothers. On the property of the family estate, she discovers what she thinks is a human head, later it’s reported as a deer carcass in the ravine This was a very spooky, atmospheric, tense and hauntingly fun read.
February 1, 2026
Holy weird creepy culty vibes, book peeps!! 🙌
Had me hooked from the start! I can’t tell you know many times I wanted to yell at the FMC to get the hell off that island!! 😅 Things just got weirder and creepier the further I read! Such a great read - definitely recommend checking this one out!!
Thank you to Maia Chance for the gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review!! I definitely need to check out more of your work! ❤️
Had me hooked from the start! I can’t tell you know many times I wanted to yell at the FMC to get the hell off that island!! 😅 Things just got weirder and creepier the further I read! Such a great read - definitely recommend checking this one out!!
Thank you to Maia Chance for the gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review!! I definitely need to check out more of your work! ❤️
January 27, 2026
Hooked from beginning to end!
Eery, creepy and mysterious. A book you read in one sitting.
Highly recommend!
Audio performance by Amanda Leigh Cobb was perfect! Well paced, understandable and easy to listen to.
Eery, creepy and mysterious. A book you read in one sitting.
Highly recommend!
Audio performance by Amanda Leigh Cobb was perfect! Well paced, understandable and easy to listen to.
February 7, 2026
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Culty vibes
✅The setting
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Nasty entitled cheating men
⭕Silly hysterical woman just making everything worse
⭕No idea what the ending meant/ was
✅Culty vibes
✅The setting
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Nasty entitled cheating men
⭕Silly hysterical woman just making everything worse
⭕No idea what the ending meant/ was
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