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Venus Fly Trap
Three’s a crowd. Especially when one of them ends up dead…
A dark, addictive story of obsession, rivalry, and the thin line between infatuation and obsession
'Thrilling, seductive, toxic, wild' 5* Reader Review
–
When university student Louise moves in with her effortlessly magnetic friend Cat, she thinks she’s won the flatmate lottery.
Cat is everything Louise wants to be, rich, beautiful, enigmatic, and she’s even managed the keeping commitment-phobic Henry in a relationship. Life in their world feels out of reach.
But when the three of them end up in bed, Louise discovers just how dangerous Cat’s allure can be. And when Cat asks her for a favour, one that’s as chilling as it is shocking, Louise has to choose.
Because for Louise, the only thing worse than doing what Cat is asking, is losing her completely . . .
–
‘A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy’ Chloe Michelle Howarth
'Will sink its teeth into you . . . oozes with sass and seduction' Vikki Patis
Praise for Nothing Serious:
'Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling' Daily Mail
'A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong' Red
'Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. I loved it' Chris Whitaker
'A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections' Heather Darwent
A dark, addictive story of obsession, rivalry, and the thin line between infatuation and obsession
'Thrilling, seductive, toxic, wild' 5* Reader Review
–
When university student Louise moves in with her effortlessly magnetic friend Cat, she thinks she’s won the flatmate lottery.
Cat is everything Louise wants to be, rich, beautiful, enigmatic, and she’s even managed the keeping commitment-phobic Henry in a relationship. Life in their world feels out of reach.
But when the three of them end up in bed, Louise discovers just how dangerous Cat’s allure can be. And when Cat asks her for a favour, one that’s as chilling as it is shocking, Louise has to choose.
Because for Louise, the only thing worse than doing what Cat is asking, is losing her completely . . .
–
‘A gripping story I literally couldn’t put down. Wonderfully authentic characters in an increasingly dark, twisted fantasy’ Chloe Michelle Howarth
'Will sink its teeth into you . . . oozes with sass and seduction' Vikki Patis
Praise for Nothing Serious:
'Emotionally intelligent and thought-provoking. Raw and compelling' Daily Mail
'A thought-provoking, quietly devastating novel about loneliness and what people will do to belong' Red
'Sharp, sublime, and achingly hopeful. I loved it' Chris Whitaker
'A searing exploration into the shape of loneliness and how far we'll go to create connections' Heather Darwent
384 pages, Hardcover
Published July 24, 2025
About the author
Emma Medrano
2 books17 followersEmma Medrano was born and raised in Sweden but currently resides in Scotland, where she studied for an undergraduate degree in philosophy. She has been writing since she learned how and completed seven (terrible) novels before she was selected for Penguin's WriteNow scheme in 2020, giving her the chance to develop her debut novel Nothing Serious. She has previously had short stories published in journals and is currently an editor at a literary journal at the University of Glasgow. She lives in Glasgow with her partner, writing historical fiction and contemporary fiction with a focus on social topics and women protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 9, 2025
This was juicy!
I’m normally a short book kinda girl but I absolutely flew through Venus Fly Trap. Fleshed out characters. Incredibly entertaining plot. Sex scenes were realistic and not cringe. I don’t necessarily think it brought anything super new to the ‘books about obsession’ sub-genre but is definitely a great addition to it.
I’m normally a short book kinda girl but I absolutely flew through Venus Fly Trap. Fleshed out characters. Incredibly entertaining plot. Sex scenes were realistic and not cringe. I don’t necessarily think it brought anything super new to the ‘books about obsession’ sub-genre but is definitely a great addition to it.
July 19, 2025
a book about obsession makes me obsessed, who’s surprised?
I absolutely adored this. It was such a fast paced, page turning read that had me completely engrossed into the story and the lives of the characters. filled with eerie tension, underlying discomfort in relation to friendships and obsession, complicated queer friendships and love that turns to murder.
from the very first page I was genuinely hooked into this story and couldn’t wait to pick it back up. I loved the autistic representation within (let autistic girls be a little crazy yk.) and how it was directly stated rather than than simply alluded to, I loved the development of the sapphic relationship and how this was always darkened by the obsession and need to be combined together. the way it was written was smart, I have indeed just spent the last twenty minutes explaining the plot to my girlfriend so we can figure out what happened and by whom, we are yet to form an agreement.
If you want gripping, fast and weird- pls check this out
I absolutely adored this. It was such a fast paced, page turning read that had me completely engrossed into the story and the lives of the characters. filled with eerie tension, underlying discomfort in relation to friendships and obsession, complicated queer friendships and love that turns to murder.
from the very first page I was genuinely hooked into this story and couldn’t wait to pick it back up. I loved the autistic representation within (let autistic girls be a little crazy yk.) and how it was directly stated rather than than simply alluded to, I loved the development of the sapphic relationship and how this was always darkened by the obsession and need to be combined together. the way it was written was smart, I have indeed just spent the last twenty minutes explaining the plot to my girlfriend so we can figure out what happened and by whom, we are yet to form an agreement.
If you want gripping, fast and weird- pls check this out
March 24, 2025
Emma Medrano
Venus Fly Trap
This is undoubtedly one of the best-written books I have had the privilege to read.
Emma's ability to transition between themes and timelines is uncanny. The flow in this novel is so seamless that I forgot I was reading a novel- it felt like I was there with the characters. I was experiencing the imagery described. Emma demonstrated this flow in her last novel, 'Nothing Serious' as well. This said, her growth and maturity as an author is apparent. In 'Venus Fly Trap', Emma strategically breaks this flow, using abruptness to reflect the turmoil of the characters' lives,
creating such an intense sense of engagement and suspense.
Her remarkable writing is reflected in the delicate art of foreshadowing. Attempts are foreshadowing can be painfully obvious and out of place. Emma does this so naturally that you don't even realise.
Emma also strikes the perfect balance in addressing the intense, different themes. She talks about mental health, death, abuse. But her characters are more than those dark things. They're quirky and three-dimensional. Emma shows us how autism, sexuality, relationships, money, feminism, and the monetary value of women shape our lives. This novel is relatable yet has one incredible plot. It was entirely unpredictable and hooking. It's new, unique and I did not see it coming. And yet, Emma made room for intellectual curiosity, very witty humour, and sex. Not sex that is coy or needlessly graphic, but sex that, as well as being hot!!!, added to the story. Reading this book, I learned about philosophy and whipped out google. I genuinely laughed out loud, and I genuinely cried. I want more of this book, and of Emma's writing.
This novel is brilliantly written. Emma Medrano, in all honesty, is one of the best authors who's work I have read. To anyone yet to read it- enjoy!
Venus Fly Trap
This is undoubtedly one of the best-written books I have had the privilege to read.
Emma's ability to transition between themes and timelines is uncanny. The flow in this novel is so seamless that I forgot I was reading a novel- it felt like I was there with the characters. I was experiencing the imagery described. Emma demonstrated this flow in her last novel, 'Nothing Serious' as well. This said, her growth and maturity as an author is apparent. In 'Venus Fly Trap', Emma strategically breaks this flow, using abruptness to reflect the turmoil of the characters' lives,
creating such an intense sense of engagement and suspense.
Her remarkable writing is reflected in the delicate art of foreshadowing. Attempts are foreshadowing can be painfully obvious and out of place. Emma does this so naturally that you don't even realise.
Emma also strikes the perfect balance in addressing the intense, different themes. She talks about mental health, death, abuse. But her characters are more than those dark things. They're quirky and three-dimensional. Emma shows us how autism, sexuality, relationships, money, feminism, and the monetary value of women shape our lives. This novel is relatable yet has one incredible plot. It was entirely unpredictable and hooking. It's new, unique and I did not see it coming. And yet, Emma made room for intellectual curiosity, very witty humour, and sex. Not sex that is coy or needlessly graphic, but sex that, as well as being hot!!!, added to the story. Reading this book, I learned about philosophy and whipped out google. I genuinely laughed out loud, and I genuinely cried. I want more of this book, and of Emma's writing.
This novel is brilliantly written. Emma Medrano, in all honesty, is one of the best authors who's work I have read. To anyone yet to read it- enjoy!
March 12, 2026
I loved this! Finished in one sitting ❤️
February 10, 2026
At no point did I suspect what direction this was going in next. I lapped it up and raced through it, pulling me very firmly out of my reading slump. The characters were so deeply flawed and yet their interactions felt real, verging on surreal given the woven lines of obsession undercutting the plot.
Side point: I really enjoyed the fact that a female autistic protagonist was included in this with allusions to meltdowns and mental health struggles through neurodivergence.
Side point: I really enjoyed the fact that a female autistic protagonist was included in this with allusions to meltdowns and mental health struggles through neurodivergence.
October 2, 2025
I hate how much I enjoyed this playing out.
April 3, 2026
What a story this was! Possibly one of the most unusual and fascinating books I’ve read in a long time—truly impressive.
The narrator, Louise, is fascinated—perhaps even obsessed—with her roommate Cat. Louise is an awkward, autistic, and bisexual woman studying philosophy, and her quirks and unconventional nature make her a compelling and intriguing character.
It quickly became clear that something significant must have happened to Louise in the past, and I found myself questioning whether she was really okay. The story reveals small fragments of information bit by bit, which only deepened my curiosity.
The narrative is dark and deeply engaging, tackling heavy themes such as mental health. At times, I found it both shocking and heartbreaking.
As the story progresses, the main characters seem to become increasingly disturbed. The atmosphere turns unsettling—almost creepy—and I kept wondering how on earth it would all end, even though the introduction already offers a glimpse of what’s to come.
The ending was brilliant in some ways, but also undeniably unsatisfying. I even had to go back and reread certain passages to fully grasp what had actually happened.
This story really got under my skin and won’t let go anytime soon. It will definitely linger in my thoughts for a while.
The narrator, Louise, is fascinated—perhaps even obsessed—with her roommate Cat. Louise is an awkward, autistic, and bisexual woman studying philosophy, and her quirks and unconventional nature make her a compelling and intriguing character.
It quickly became clear that something significant must have happened to Louise in the past, and I found myself questioning whether she was really okay. The story reveals small fragments of information bit by bit, which only deepened my curiosity.
The narrative is dark and deeply engaging, tackling heavy themes such as mental health. At times, I found it both shocking and heartbreaking.
As the story progresses, the main characters seem to become increasingly disturbed. The atmosphere turns unsettling—almost creepy—and I kept wondering how on earth it would all end, even though the introduction already offers a glimpse of what’s to come.
The ending was brilliant in some ways, but also undeniably unsatisfying. I even had to go back and reread certain passages to fully grasp what had actually happened.
This story really got under my skin and won’t let go anytime soon. It will definitely linger in my thoughts for a while.
September 2, 2025
Dit was ZO ZO GOED OMG
alsjeblieft ga dit lezen als je van flinke plottwists en een psychopaat als hoofdpersoon houd.
Ik ging best blanco erin. Ik zag dit boek staan in de boekwinkel en besloot m op mn ereader te kopen. Ik had verwacht dat een bijpersoon het obsessieve personage werd, maar dat bleek de hoofdpersoon te zijn.
Je zit in het hoofd van louise en louise is zwaar autistisch. Ze raakt verliefd/geobsedeerd met haar roommate tot op punten dat ik echt met open mond zat van WAT DOE JIJ NOU WEER. Het boek begint met een proloog waarbij 1 van de side characters wordt vermoord, dus je weet waar het gaat eindigen en je zit erdoor METEEN in het boek. Hoe de obsessie zich langzaam ontwikkelt en de eerste kleine hints die het weggeven dat ze toch wel echt crazy is, maakt echt zo goed.
Gewoon ff casual dit gaan lezen want je VLIEGT erdoorheen. Ik raad m echt aan iedereen aan.
alsjeblieft ga dit lezen als je van flinke plottwists en een psychopaat als hoofdpersoon houd.
Ik ging best blanco erin. Ik zag dit boek staan in de boekwinkel en besloot m op mn ereader te kopen. Ik had verwacht dat een bijpersoon het obsessieve personage werd, maar dat bleek de hoofdpersoon te zijn.
Je zit in het hoofd van louise en louise is zwaar autistisch. Ze raakt verliefd/geobsedeerd met haar roommate tot op punten dat ik echt met open mond zat van WAT DOE JIJ NOU WEER. Het boek begint met een proloog waarbij 1 van de side characters wordt vermoord, dus je weet waar het gaat eindigen en je zit erdoor METEEN in het boek. Hoe de obsessie zich langzaam ontwikkelt en de eerste kleine hints die het weggeven dat ze toch wel echt crazy is, maakt echt zo goed.
Gewoon ff casual dit gaan lezen want je VLIEGT erdoorheen. Ik raad m echt aan iedereen aan.
February 24, 2026
When I finished this book, all I knew is that I needed to speak about it in some capacity.
This is only the second novel from Emma Medrano, and she takes a BIG, BOLD swing with it. I respect that!
This book is dark, twisted, sharp, and addictive, exploring toxic relationships and obsessive infatuation. It depicts Queer identity and neurodivergence within, but they aren’t central plot points, instead just human traits that deepen our understanding of the characters.
I recently read 'Everyone I Know Is Dying' and I’d place this novel in a similar bucket, except Venus Fly Trap fully commits to it. It’s everything the other novel wanted to be.
The story follows Louise, who moves in with her university friend Cat, who just so happens to be everything Louise wants to be. Cat is wealthy. Cat is magnetic. Cat is beautiful and a social butterfly. When Louise becomes entangled in a threesome with Cat and her boyfriend Henry, her love for Cat tips into obsession. Louise’s desire to be close to Cat, to be like her and to be chosen by her, begins to override her sense of self. Soon, she finds herself firmly in the palm of Cat’s hand, willing to do almost anything to prove her loyalty.
I won’t spoil where things go from there, but the chain of events that follows strikes a strange balance of being both relatable and wildly unhinged. Emphasis on the wild!
Yes, there are spicy scenes, but they are written in a way that feel real and are there to serve the narrative. They heighten the tension, intensify the emotions, and reinforce the key power dynamics that sit at the very heart of this story.
That is true for most of the book actually, Medrano does not waste an inch of paper. Every scene feels purposeful, aimed to further grip the reader.
By the second half, you realise this isn’t as cookie-cutter as you might have expected. It descends into dysfunction and messiness, and Louise equally evolves in ways that are surprising compared with the earlier version of her we came to know.
And then there’s that ending.
The ending is what pushed me to write a review. It felt like a mic drop written onto a page!
I sincerely hope others have either (a) read this book already or (b) are intrigued to read it because as soon as I finished I was scouring to find others thoughts.
I imagine should you read it, it will be the topic of many future conversations.
The only comparison I can draw is to Bunny by Mona Awad, not because the plots mirror each other, but because they share that same slightly deranged energy.
This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you are drawn to darker, messier, contemporary fiction, or stories about obsession and power, this is absolutely one to pick up.
This is only the second novel from Emma Medrano, and she takes a BIG, BOLD swing with it. I respect that!
This book is dark, twisted, sharp, and addictive, exploring toxic relationships and obsessive infatuation. It depicts Queer identity and neurodivergence within, but they aren’t central plot points, instead just human traits that deepen our understanding of the characters.
I recently read 'Everyone I Know Is Dying' and I’d place this novel in a similar bucket, except Venus Fly Trap fully commits to it. It’s everything the other novel wanted to be.
The story follows Louise, who moves in with her university friend Cat, who just so happens to be everything Louise wants to be. Cat is wealthy. Cat is magnetic. Cat is beautiful and a social butterfly. When Louise becomes entangled in a threesome with Cat and her boyfriend Henry, her love for Cat tips into obsession. Louise’s desire to be close to Cat, to be like her and to be chosen by her, begins to override her sense of self. Soon, she finds herself firmly in the palm of Cat’s hand, willing to do almost anything to prove her loyalty.
I won’t spoil where things go from there, but the chain of events that follows strikes a strange balance of being both relatable and wildly unhinged. Emphasis on the wild!
Yes, there are spicy scenes, but they are written in a way that feel real and are there to serve the narrative. They heighten the tension, intensify the emotions, and reinforce the key power dynamics that sit at the very heart of this story.
That is true for most of the book actually, Medrano does not waste an inch of paper. Every scene feels purposeful, aimed to further grip the reader.
By the second half, you realise this isn’t as cookie-cutter as you might have expected. It descends into dysfunction and messiness, and Louise equally evolves in ways that are surprising compared with the earlier version of her we came to know.
And then there’s that ending.
The ending is what pushed me to write a review. It felt like a mic drop written onto a page!
I sincerely hope others have either (a) read this book already or (b) are intrigued to read it because as soon as I finished I was scouring to find others thoughts.
I imagine should you read it, it will be the topic of many future conversations.
The only comparison I can draw is to Bunny by Mona Awad, not because the plots mirror each other, but because they share that same slightly deranged energy.
This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you are drawn to darker, messier, contemporary fiction, or stories about obsession and power, this is absolutely one to pick up.
November 19, 2025
Full disclosure: I am acquainted with the author of this book. However, I paid full price for it and I was not asked to write a review.
This book rocks. It's very much outside my typical genre comfort zone, but I am so glad I took a chance on it anyway. I was obsessed with the main character's twisted mindset and self-delusions. The pacing was incredibly smooth; like the best thrillers, it kept moving along like clockwork.
It speaks to some very specific (and, I think, underrepresented) queer experiences - I think a lot of us have experienced a (less murdery) version of Louise and Cat's relationship, a platonic friendship where you're not sure if you want to be WITH them or BE them. And then there's the specific bisexual experience of being platonic friends with someone and bonding over your relationships with the opposite sex while also being attracted to them. The relationships in this book are so toxic but also so appealing, in a twisted way.
I also felt seen by the depiction of Louise - in particular, I really related to that feeling that one is being fake by being social, just following scripts or imitating people. Here it's taken up to eleven and it's all just incredible.
This book rocks. It's very much outside my typical genre comfort zone, but I am so glad I took a chance on it anyway. I was obsessed with the main character's twisted mindset and self-delusions. The pacing was incredibly smooth; like the best thrillers, it kept moving along like clockwork.
It speaks to some very specific (and, I think, underrepresented) queer experiences - I think a lot of us have experienced a (less murdery) version of Louise and Cat's relationship, a platonic friendship where you're not sure if you want to be WITH them or BE them. And then there's the specific bisexual experience of being platonic friends with someone and bonding over your relationships with the opposite sex while also being attracted to them. The relationships in this book are so toxic but also so appealing, in a twisted way.
I also felt seen by the depiction of Louise - in particular, I really related to that feeling that one is being fake by being social, just following scripts or imitating people. Here it's taken up to eleven and it's all just incredible.
September 10, 2025
A propulsive read that I finished on the same day I started it. No one in this story is a good person, but they're such fascinating disasters that I couldn't help rooting for them. Louise and her matter-of-fact delusions. Cat and her selfishness, Henry and his possessiveness. Of course this can't end well. The flame that burns twice as bright and all that.
The heart of this book is about loneliness. What we'll suffer, what we'll put other people through, to survive it. The masks we'll wear and the lies we'll tell, our clothes off in an instant but so rarely naked, so rarely vulnerable. It's better to be liked for someone you're not, for something you can do for them, than to risk being alone.
Up to a point.
The heart of this book is about loneliness. What we'll suffer, what we'll put other people through, to survive it. The masks we'll wear and the lies we'll tell, our clothes off in an instant but so rarely naked, so rarely vulnerable. It's better to be liked for someone you're not, for something you can do for them, than to risk being alone.
Up to a point.
October 19, 2025
4.5 stars, loved this one!! We follow an MC who is obsessed with her roommate, and things get more unhinged especially once she stops taking her medication. The ending was so good, I didn’t see it coming & absolutely loved it, and I love that it’s open to interpretation. I was thinking about it for hours afterwards. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is because I’m not really a smut girly, and there were a few too many sex scenes for my taste (tbf they were realistic and hot lol)
February 23, 2026
I absolutely loved how unhinged and queer this book was.
I binged this in one go as I could not put it down, the writing and the mystery had me hooked and I did not want it to end. The opening chapter has such an amazing hook and the way it ties in with the end has me questioning so much, and I now have the desire for a physical copy so I can re-read and annotate it because oh my god?? Obsessed.
I binged this in one go as I could not put it down, the writing and the mystery had me hooked and I did not want it to end. The opening chapter has such an amazing hook and the way it ties in with the end has me questioning so much, and I now have the desire for a physical copy so I can re-read and annotate it because oh my god?? Obsessed.
Read
April 9, 2026this has been sitting on my bookshelf for well over a year until i picked it up this week and i can’t believe i hadn’t reached for it sooner. this is genuinely one of the best books i have ever read, i can’t believe how much i enjoyed this, and i read the majority of it in one sitting which, for a book of this length, is unheard of for me. i also had no idea going into this that the main character was autistic and this is the best autism rep i’ve ever seen in a novel.
February 18, 2025
This one is going to do so well I think.
It's a great read about friendship, devotion and obsession.
Louise is an interesting character, not able to always read people and how to act with them, she already seems to be struggling a little. Lucky she met Cat then.
It gets a little uncomfortable at times, but that just makes it all the better to read.
Cracking story.
It's a great read about friendship, devotion and obsession.
Louise is an interesting character, not able to always read people and how to act with them, she already seems to be struggling a little. Lucky she met Cat then.
It gets a little uncomfortable at times, but that just makes it all the better to read.
Cracking story.
March 13, 2026
What??? How can you leave me hanging with that ending.
I am not gonna lie, it was a good book. It was certainly different in a way I didn‘t expect. The way it was written and they way the story unfolded were both unusual but in my opinion worked.
The ending makes me want to throw it against the wall though…
I am not gonna lie, it was a good book. It was certainly different in a way I didn‘t expect. The way it was written and they way the story unfolded were both unusual but in my opinion worked.
The ending makes me want to throw it against the wall though…
February 22, 2026
I don't really know what I expected, but it wasn't that. This book drew me in in the weirdest way possible, and every time i thought it settled into a sort of pattern, it switched up again. The characters you like and dislike change all throughout. A captivating read.
May 9, 2025
Obsessed, deluded, felt like a car wreck I couldn’t prevent and only could watch blow up in smoke
January 4, 2026
Between this stunner and her debut, I intend to read everything, Emma Medrano ever releases.
January 8, 2026
i devoured this book. 4.25 stars
January 29, 2026
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book.
Omg I found it so good and I never saw the ending coming. Such a turn of events
I would highly recommend this book to anyone
Omg I found it so good and I never saw the ending coming. Such a turn of events
I would highly recommend this book to anyone
March 4, 2026
2,5 ⭐️
March 11, 2026
crazy & obsessed !
March 15, 2026
A spiral of toxic relationships, obsession and delusion.
April 15, 2026
I flew through it like crazy. Genuinely one of the best books I’ve read so far because of how fun it is to read.
The ending…I knew this would happen from a certain point of the story onwards but it hit hard regardless for sure. The author writes in a way where you don’t even notice you’re turning the pages, every conversation has you locked in hard…Just wow.
Obsessed autistic Lesbian FMC?! Hell yeah!!! 🗣️
The ending…I knew this would happen from a certain point of the story onwards but it hit hard regardless for sure. The author writes in a way where you don’t even notice you’re turning the pages, every conversation has you locked in hard…Just wow.
Obsessed autistic Lesbian FMC?! Hell yeah!!! 🗣️
May 2, 2026
Such a good book, it had me hooked from the beginning. the twists in this book are so unexpected and I couldn't put it down.
May 7, 2026
It started so normal but then felt like I was spiralling alongside the fmc, I was really craving those meds for her!! I felt paranoid reading the last chapters of this book
May 19, 2026
not squeak and pip too !!
Read
June 7, 2026nu mi a placut deloc portretizarea autismului
July 1, 2026
3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews