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Only At Ainsworth
Greetings and salutations from Hansel Park, owner of Ainsworth Press!
As an independent literary agency situated within the legendary Acheron Estate, we strive to bring our clients’ works to the masses. Seeking to fulfill readers’ needs and wants, we sign authors of every genre. If you’re interested in working with us, please send a letter of inquiry to the address listed below.
Alternatively, if you’re in the area and would like to drop by for a brief conversation, please feel free to do so. Never mind the mess or those wandering throughout the estate. One can’t pick their neighbors, can they? Should you hear any troubling rumors or odd speculation, just know that jealousy can inspire malicious intent. Also, keep in mind that no harm has ever befallen an author.
Come see for yourself.
As an independent literary agency situated within the legendary Acheron Estate, we strive to bring our clients’ works to the masses. Seeking to fulfill readers’ needs and wants, we sign authors of every genre. If you’re interested in working with us, please send a letter of inquiry to the address listed below.
Alternatively, if you’re in the area and would like to drop by for a brief conversation, please feel free to do so. Never mind the mess or those wandering throughout the estate. One can’t pick their neighbors, can they? Should you hear any troubling rumors or odd speculation, just know that jealousy can inspire malicious intent. Also, keep in mind that no harm has ever befallen an author.
Come see for yourself.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1041 people want to read
About the author
Heather M. Lewis
3 books55 followersHeather M Lewis was born in Illinois and raised in South Carolina. Her childhood was spent reading, daydreaming, and writing short stories. After earning a BA in History and a Masters in Library Information Science, she began to pursue creative writing. Only after working in various positions (shipping technician, quality assurance, etc.,), did she publish her first novella 'Recalling Theodora'.
When not reading or writing, she's exploring Charleston and the surrounding areas, cross stitching, baking, or trying to decide what to watch on the television.
When not reading or writing, she's exploring Charleston and the surrounding areas, cross stitching, baking, or trying to decide what to watch on the television.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 11, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
This was a great little novella! The overall feeling of the story was eerie and just a little bit peculiar.
This book follows a few characters; a literary agent, an aspiring writer, a detective, and two tea shop workers. It's all centered around this particular building, the Acheron Estate, which just feels a little..... off.
I enjoyed each character's perspective. I believe they all held import to the story, no one felt out of place or like the story could have done without them. I loved seeing how everyone was connected to each other.
This was a great spooky story, perfect for Halloween/autumn vibes!
This was a great little novella! The overall feeling of the story was eerie and just a little bit peculiar.
This book follows a few characters; a literary agent, an aspiring writer, a detective, and two tea shop workers. It's all centered around this particular building, the Acheron Estate, which just feels a little..... off.
I enjoyed each character's perspective. I believe they all held import to the story, no one felt out of place or like the story could have done without them. I loved seeing how everyone was connected to each other.
This was a great spooky story, perfect for Halloween/autumn vibes!
November 18, 2025
An author arrives for his appointment with an independent literary agent based in the Acheron Estate. The agency is run by one man & he seems rather eccentric, while the office itself is rather rundown & grubby. Still one shouldn't judge on first impressions......should one?
This was a very odd novella to start with. I wasn't sure what was happening in the first couple of chapters or where it was going to go, but it turned out to be worth sticking with & one piece of the puzzle turns everything on its head. Told from several points of view, this was a strange, yet compulsive read. 3.25 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley, & the author for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
This was a very odd novella to start with. I wasn't sure what was happening in the first couple of chapters or where it was going to go, but it turned out to be worth sticking with & one piece of the puzzle turns everything on its head. Told from several points of view, this was a strange, yet compulsive read. 3.25 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley, & the author for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
February 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novella.
Only at Ainsworth is an anthology series with loosely connected threads between each character. I initially requested this book because I thought it was about a haunted or strange publishing house. However, most of the stories have nothing to do with a publishing house aside from Hansel's story.
I don't know if the author is from England or just wanted to set the book in England, but there were a number of details that would've made more sense if the story was based in the U.S. For instance, early on in the book the publishing agent is surprised someone wrote a cowboy novel during the Cold War given it's the era of the Red Scare. Although England had their own share of the Red Scare, the spy/witch hunt/public alarm version that most people are familiar with was largely in the U.S. and that was due to McCarthyism. I think it would've helped placed the story if the agent was surprised by a cowboy story because the author is British. Then they could have a convo about why he'd want to write about the U.S. Wild West.
There's a lot of exposition in this book that could've been shown through character reactions or through dialogue. At the same time, there are whole speeches that seem out of place.
In the end, this book desperately needs a few more rewrites and a copy editor and developmental editor. Even though this is an anthology of short stories, you can still have a clear destination the stories are headed in. This book didn't really seem to have an overarching point.
Only at Ainsworth is an anthology series with loosely connected threads between each character. I initially requested this book because I thought it was about a haunted or strange publishing house. However, most of the stories have nothing to do with a publishing house aside from Hansel's story.
I don't know if the author is from England or just wanted to set the book in England, but there were a number of details that would've made more sense if the story was based in the U.S. For instance, early on in the book the publishing agent is surprised someone wrote a cowboy novel during the Cold War given it's the era of the Red Scare. Although England had their own share of the Red Scare, the spy/witch hunt/public alarm version that most people are familiar with was largely in the U.S. and that was due to McCarthyism. I think it would've helped placed the story if the agent was surprised by a cowboy story because the author is British. Then they could have a convo about why he'd want to write about the U.S. Wild West.
There's a lot of exposition in this book that could've been shown through character reactions or through dialogue. At the same time, there are whole speeches that seem out of place.
In the end, this book desperately needs a few more rewrites and a copy editor and developmental editor. Even though this is an anthology of short stories, you can still have a clear destination the stories are headed in. This book didn't really seem to have an overarching point.
August 15, 2025
Author of the book here! Without showing any favoritism, I'm going to rate this book a solid five. This novella means show much to me. Designed to be an enjoyable, quick read, I wrote 'Only At Ainsworth' with mischief and murder on the mind. When the idea first entered my mind last fall, I knew that to fully tell the story I needed to rely on dialogue and connections between characters. Creating the characters was a complete blast as each one is a bit of a representative of who I am. I hope all who read the novella enjoy it! And a gentle reminder (as this is my second novella, not my first), novellas are supposed to be short and to the point. But don't worry! Not all books have to be novels for them to be worth reading!
November 30, 2025
Love the concept of this little novella. You’re following a number of different people that interact with a tragic event in their own different ways and by the end of the story you come to understand how they are connected.
The issue I had with this book was the writing. It read like a first or second draft of a finished book. This needed a lot more editing. There was a number of grammatical mistakes and duplicate words. Also, this read like it was taking place in America until one of the characters would randomly drop a ‘mate’ or ‘bloke’ in conversation.
ARC received from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
The issue I had with this book was the writing. It read like a first or second draft of a finished book. This needed a lot more editing. There was a number of grammatical mistakes and duplicate words. Also, this read like it was taking place in America until one of the characters would randomly drop a ‘mate’ or ‘bloke’ in conversation.
ARC received from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
July 21, 2025
Not sure what to make of this one, it seemed to me to be a book that isn't totally in touch with reality, but not totally out of touch with it either.
It has a dream like quality to it, with how the story progresses and jumps from character to character and how the plot builds.
Wasn't sure what to expect as the blurb gave nothing away, but I'm glad I took the chance and read it.
I got a copy of this from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
It has a dream like quality to it, with how the story progresses and jumps from character to character and how the plot builds.
Wasn't sure what to expect as the blurb gave nothing away, but I'm glad I took the chance and read it.
I got a copy of this from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
July 21, 2025
I’m not really sure how I feel about this one. I didn’t dislike the writing style. It was decent. But by the time I finished, I found myself wondering… what was the point? It felt like not much actually happened, and now that it’s over, I’m a bit underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad, but not particularly memorable either.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
I guess this book was just not for me. I struggled to grasp the story with how short it was the change of perspectives did not allow me to get to know the characters or understand much of the point. The ending seemed to tie it all up, but what it tied up I am still at a loss.
*I was provided an Ebook Arc by Netgalley.
*I was provided an Ebook Arc by Netgalley.
November 11, 2025
Only At Ainsworth caught me off guard which isn't a bad thing. This disconcerting novella crept in bewildering dark directions which were (thankfully) interspersed with lighter moments. A motley crew of characters, some more likable than others, added depth to the strange atmosphere. Acheron Estate was practically a character in its own right.
For a brief novella, the author did an excellent job of creating tension and impact. The entire time I wondered where everything was headed and it strangely fit at the end.
Though I cannot say I enjoyed the story (it's more of an it's not you, it's me thing), it did grab my attention and raise questions in my mind.
For a brief novella, the author did an excellent job of creating tension and impact. The entire time I wondered where everything was headed and it strangely fit at the end.
Though I cannot say I enjoyed the story (it's more of an it's not you, it's me thing), it did grab my attention and raise questions in my mind.
November 13, 2025
I have to admit if this hadn’t been a short story I wouldn’t have finished it. Set in London the story is marred by far too many Americanisms, the spelling, the language along with common terms, I’m afraid it really grated. The story could have been good, but it was let down by the writing.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
January 31, 2026
The 52 Book Club's 2026 Challenge - #6 - Starts with an O
I downloaded this book from Net Galley. It was a bit of a slow start because at first nothing seemed to go together. However, this novella quickly became interesting.
Worth the read. I enjoyed it!
I downloaded this book from Net Galley. It was a bit of a slow start because at first nothing seemed to go together. However, this novella quickly became interesting.
Worth the read. I enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews