The Cove

by Claire Rose

Midsommar meets Fear Street in this modern, sea-soaked folk horror debut about fighting to survive and fighting to be yourself.

Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.

When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.

As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Jewish, Fantasy

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Claire Rose was born and raised in New Jersey but moved to the UK to study children's literature and fell in love with horror instead. She is a queer Jewish writer who works primarily in the intersection of fantasy, horror, and literary fiction, and can usually be found in the nearest bookstore or coffee shop. She also writes adult fiction as Claire Schultz. A PhD student by day, she lives in Edinburgh with her haunted cats.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A troubled group of teenagers. A small town in Maine. A cult. Memory blackouts. Murders. Mysterious twins. A gorgeous cover. All key ingredients to an intriguing YA horror.

It was wild. I have only read a few Fear Street books, but I can see why this book has that comparison made. I felt a lot of empathy for our teenage protagonist, Lindsay. Her parents were not consistently involved in her life, and she developed a reputation for getting into trouble. Even as things grow stranger and more frightening, Lindsay stays determined to figure everything out.

Even though the chances I will ever re-read this are slim, I would put it on the probably would recommend list for those who enjoy a good YA horror.




Publication Date 05/05/26
Goodreads Review 17/05/26

[bri]

A bold debut, THE COVE is a thrilling YA horror featuring a strong, personality-filled narrative voice, a diverse cast, and a spine-tingling atmosphere that will keep you up at night.

So proud of Claire and can't wait to read her future works!

Disclaimer: I am friends with the author and was given a copy. All opinions are my own.

CW: blood & gore, violence, death, character death, child death, homophobia (mention), transphobia (mention), animal death, panic attacks, dismemberment, addiction/drug use (mention), confinement, cults, parental neglect

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This definitely had some serious Stephen King vibes as well as some early 2000s style tean horror! I loved every minute of it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Rose delivers a killer YA debut, blending Nancy Drew with gothic/folk horror. The Cove will lure you in for a deadly good time.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cove by Claire Rose, Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of the latest of many boarding schools and her politician parents have had enough. They decide to let the chauffeur pick her up and bring her to Marlboro Maine. It’s where her uncle lives and runs a safe Haven for misfit teenagers. her first clue something is wrong her uncle Levi is missing and when she asked where he’s at her “aunt Irene” tells Lindsay the old generic he’s gone away for a while. Now Lindsey has never met her aunt but she has a sneaking suspicion something is up in the town of Marlboro. for the time being she tries to keep her head low and doesn’t want to get to know the other campers who are Dalton, Nash, Gwen, and Mateo. Lindsey can’t decide if they’re after school special kids or the children of the corn so at first she keeps her distance and then her aunt and all the kids go to the goddess festival on the nearby island. This is where they meet Cassidy and Fin, who initially seem like regular teenagers Lindsay even finds herself making out with Cassidy. but once everything gets to the nitty-gritty and after they wake up in their bed and the last thing they remember was being at the goddess festival on the island this is when things take a sinister turn. Because although none of their memories are the same Lindsey has a flash memory of seeing Gwendolyn’s chopped up body and to make matters worse the shells they woke up with or talking to them. Lindsay wants badly to get away from her aunt and when they finally do run they just ran from the fire pan straight to the fire. Not everything is as it seems in Marboro but the island is even worse but which one should she fear which one has the cult in which one can just give her a bar of Wi-Fi to call her parents. I don’t want to give too much away because this would be a great book for a middle schooler maybe even fifth grade it’s entertaining and although they do have some that would never happen moment I definitely got middle school vibes reading this book. I must say I found it entertaining all Lindsey‘s angst about other people her parents in that whole thing with Dalton this was really a cute book with tension field moments at times but nothing not appropriate for a middle schooler if someone you know like mysteries and horror and they would probably love this book I thought it was a really good book.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Dog Eared Reads (Jen) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Cove seemed like a very promising and intriguing YA thriller that I was excited to read.

Lindsay is a wealthy Jewish socialite who has been emotionally neglected by her politician mother and businessman father and has taken to acting out by getting herself kicked out of every boarding school on the east coast. She’s sent to her estranged uncle’s reform camp in rural Maine and meets a band of misfits she sort of surface level befriends. When rumors of a cult and murdered animals start showing up on the farm, Lindsay and crew are sucked into a mystery and they don’t know who they can trust.

The plot moved super slowly. I think it was about halfway through the book before anything actually happened. And I know it takes time to build up the suspense but it was painfully slow. The twins were just weird and wooden and didn’t feel like they had any sort of depth or point other than to appear and trigger an event. There were things that were tossed in that seemed very haphazard and poorly (if ever) explained, like the photo in Mateo’s flannel or the fact they managed to drag a body up from the beach and bury it with none the wiser. Then we get to the end and suddenly there’s a magical element and it was just too much. Towards the end, the story also shifted and from Lindsay in the present tense to talking about things currently happening in the past tense, which was a little odd.

The story had some great parts—the banter between Lindsay and Dalton, Lindsay’s self reflection, the friendships that came out in the end, but suffered from pacing, plot, and point of view issues, I feel like lovers of YA paranormal thrillers will enjoy this, but it was definitely not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 3 out of 5]

**2.5-stars rounded up**

The Cove is a YA Horror-Thriller that follows 17-year old, Lindsay Weinburg. Lindsay's parents, though able to provide for her everything she needs, are pretty absent from her life. Because of that, Lindsay acts out quite a bit.

After she gets kicked out from yet another expensive prep school, her parents are fed up. Without consulting Lindsay at all, they ship her off to remote Marbury, Maine, to stay with her estranged Uncle Levi.



When she arrives at her Uncle's farmhouse though, he's gone, leaving the farm in the control of his evangelical wife, Irene, who Lindsay has never met.

Another fun fact Lindsay learns upon arrival is that Irene runs a reform camp for troubled teens at the farm, and there's four other teens currently in residence. They must follow very strict rules, and perform laborious tasks during the day. It's exhausting, isolating, and definitely not the lifestyle Lindsay is used to.

When Lindsay meets Phin and Cass, twins who live on a nearby island, she's intrigued by them right away. After she convinces the other teens at the farm to sneak out for a party, everything changes. They wake in their beds the next day, clutching sea shells and with zero recollection of how they got back home.



One of the camp members is missing and Lindsay and the other teens realize something is very wrong. They need to figure out what happened at The Cove, before anyone else falls victim to its mysterious pull.

This was fine for me. I wasn't really that intrigued by what was happening, unfortunately, so my attention waxed and waned. I found Lindsay's perspective super grating, so we got off on a wrong foot almost immediately.

The way her narrative voice was written just didn't work for me that well. Instead of feeling like I was with her as she was relaying the events of everything happening to her, I felt more like I was just getting a laundry list of her judgements of everywhere and everyone around her.



I feel like the author did succeed in setting up a mysterious culty-vibe with the setting. It felt a little disjointed though, in the later half, as everything was coming to a head.

The writing style and pace weren't as fluid as I tend to enjoy, and some of the more supernatural elements felt under-baked, IMO. I do think for Younger Readers looking to be exposed more to Horror Thrillers, this could work very well. More experienced Readers of the genre, whether YA or not, may feel like they've seen this done better elsewhere.

I will say that I did enjoy the audiobook narration by Jesse Vilinsky. Vilinsky's delivery was believable as Lindsay and it did keep me relatively dialed in. I would recommend that format if you're going to pick this one up.



At the end of the day, my thoughts on this one just boil down to personal taste. I know there's a good story in here, the execution just didn't work for me personally.

Like I always say, however, just because this didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. If the content sounds interesting to you, give it a go. You could end up finding a new favorite.



Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Though this one didn't quite knock my socks off, I wouldn't be opposed to picking up more from this author.

She's definitely someone I will keep my eye on in the future!

[Keri Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cove is a creepy cult horror for YA readers! I didn’t expect Lindsay, the protagonist, to have as much personality as she did, so that was absolutely a highlight of my reading experience. (Although, I did find her difficult to like at times, due to her privileged background and nonchalance.) Claire Rose's writing style is enjoyable and made this so easy to binge. The Cove felt very Scooby Doo, with a goofy, quippy tone, and at other times it just felt genuinely scary. I had to stop reading one night because it unnerved me too much!

The main downside of The Cove is that by the end it felt like the author had too many plot threads that she was juggling. I didn’t feel that the ending made sense/was as satisfying as it could have been, which brought my rating from 4 stars down to a 3 instead.

While I didn’t love it quite as much as I wanted to, here’s who I think this would totally work for.
If you’re a reader who likes:

- “unlikeable” protagonists with strong voices
- making jokes at inappropriate moments
- character-focused gory horror over atmosphere
- twisty stories where it’s difficult to determine who the real villains are

Then The Cove might be for you!

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for sending me a physical ARC to review.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This started off really well, I thought for sure I was really going to enjoy it. Once she left the boarding school though, it really went downhill.

It took way too long to get into the story. I know it needs some build up, but I was pretty bored in the beginning and it never found its footing as it went on.

The plot was just too all over the place. It was focusing on her being a bad student, then it was sending her to the reform camp, but then it’s switched over to the cult aspect of the Cove and it threw in romance throughout. There was also a mystical aspect to it that may or may not have actually been magic. Which I am never a fan of that when it comes to books. It just wasn’t cohesive.

I liked Lindsay as a main character. She was sassy and had a lot of funny lines and thoughts! I thought it was interesting that the fourth wall was broken throughout the story. Sometimes it fit really well, and other times it was very jarring and kind of sounded dumb. When Lindsay referenced us as readers it was a fun little twist, but sometimes it was like the author was shoving something down our throats by saying word for word what she was implying, and that was weird to me.

I like Dalton and Lindsay’s banter. They were cute together, but I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I just knew the author wanted us to want them together, and it was kind of like, why not?

I liked that there was a found family aspect, but I also feel like we didn’t get to know the characters enough and see their relationship build to really actually care about them. It was a more so told they were a found family than actual found family. But I didn’t dislike any of the group so that is a plus at least.

There was a lot I didn’t like about this book. It touched on things that I don’t play around with, like tarot cards. But it also had a lot of animals being murdered which I do NOT want to read about. I know this was a horror/cult book, so it supposed to be a little disturbing, but I still am not okay with it by any means. It was in graphic detail too.

It threw me off that the twins were barely in it, especially for how quickly Lindsay trusted them. I know she doesn’t trust Irene so of course she would want to believe other people who are against her, but the twins were also complete strangers so why would you just take their word at face value. I wish we got more of who they are as characters, so we would maybe want to root for them. There was never a moment of us maybe thinking the cult was better for Lindsay than Irene. All of them were pretty bad. I can see where the novel pulls from “Midsommer” but it didn’t work in this book.

Her parents were horrible and neglectful, but at the end they were just better people at the flip of a switch with no real consequence which threw me off too. Everything just wrapped up so neatly and it was all super rushed.

It sounded very cool in theory, but was just did not work for me.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… this started out as a this might be a top read of the year situation. While it didn’t fully stick the landing, I still had a really good time with it.

I ended up doing this as an immersion read because I held off starting it until I was in the mood for some lighter horror. By the time I picked it up, the audio was available, and honestly, this was such a great way to experience the story.

The immersion format really let me sink into the prose, while Jesse Vilinsky kept the vibes consistent the entire time. She’s a consummate professional and absolutely shines in YA—her voice feels age-appropriate, and her range across characters is seamless.

I loved the banter between the characters, especially paired with the FMC’s inner monologue. It leans a bit more toward “tell” than “show,” but somehow it balances the two in a way that still feels engaging and easy to digest.

This is definitely a slow burn with a lot of setup, but I didn’t mind that at all. I actually appreciated the FMC’s Jewish roots—it added meaningful depth to her character and brought in an educational layer that enriched the story.

Now, I did find parts of this predictable, but again, I didn’t really mind because I was enjoying the ride. That said, the first half had me convinced this was heading straight for a 5⭐️ read… and then it kind of hit a wall. Things became a bit more convoluted and scattered, and the pacing lost some of its momentum.

That’s another place where the immersion read really helped as it kept me grounded in the story and allowed me to stay engaged, especially as those creepy, almost Stephen King-like vibes carried through.

In the end, it didn’t quite live up to the potential I saw early on, but it was still an engaging, entertaining read, and I’d absolutely pick up another book from this author.

NetGalley Statement:
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC and ALC from Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Marisa (marisalynnreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐚🌊 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞 🌊🐚

A huge thank you to @macmillan.audio for the #gifted audiobook.

If Midsommar and The Visit had a baby, you'd get The Cove.

After being kicked out of yet another boarding school, Lindsay finds herself exiled to her uncles farm in Maine. But when she arrives, she finds her uncle gone, leaving only her evangelical aunt running what seems to be a reform camp for troubled teenagers.

Going into this blind, I expected a story about mermaids, but what I got was a seaside, cult horror that I couldn't turn my eyes away from. This story is action packed to the brim, Claire truly left us with no seconds to breathe.

🎧 I was so excited to see Jesse Vilinsky was the narrator of this. As always, she brought the story to life, giving me visible chills.

This was my first read by Claire, but it definitely won't be my last!

𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
🐚cult horror with biblical aspects
🌊YA with a bite
🐚plot twists you'd never see coming
🌊LGBTQIA+ representation

[Bri Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid 3 ⭐️s! I loved the costal horror vibe of this book but some things threw me off. First starting with the negative take on christianity, this rubbed me the wrong way when I first read some of the one liners. Second thing was the ritualistic aspect. I know it’s a cult/horror book but I totally didn’t expect it going into to this. It made me uncomfortable and almost scared to keep reading. But if that is your vibe of book go for it. Luckily it doesn’t dwell in too much detail so I appreciate that. Another thing is the storyline. I had trouble following along the origin and backstory because it was a all over the place, first she’s a bad kid kicked out of boarding school, then there’s a cult island and mysterious blonde twins, then ritualistic sacrifices of random animals (which by the way we never learned what that was about), and a quirky save the world ending.

Other than the negative aspects of this book i’d like to mention the positives. I looooved the found family and and writing of characters. Even with this book being in first person you could still get a feel of how each character was. I loved the spooky Stephen King vibes of this book. The creepy forest fog coastal theme definitely caught my attention. Lindsay’s inner monologues kept me going she’s hilarious.

I think this book is perfect if you liked Midsommer and creepy cult vibes. Personally not my cup of tea but I did enjoy the thrilling adventure and survival horror story.

[Sabrina (witchy.library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 overall!

The summary says this is Midsommar meets Fear Street and I was so sold on that from the start. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. I instantly loved Lindsay and she had me cracking up laughing throughout the whole book with her smart ass comments. All the kids in Haven House had such good vibes and my emotional tie to them became strong. I so enjoyed the cult vibes and folk horror vibes and this is definitely a perfect summer horror book. My only negative was I felt that it dragged a bit at times and maybe a little rushed at the end.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cults, folk horror, and summer thrillers. If this is Rose’s debut I can’t wait to read more from her!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise and plot of this book are genuinely so enjoyable. The cult is so interesting. Almost every character is interesting.
The main character made me want to jump off a cliff ten times over and be sacrificed to every cult in the country. Oh my god.
I GET IT you have parental issues and you’re SO INDEPENDENT and YOU’RE SO EDGY and not used to having friends. Here’s a hug, shut the fuck up you ruined the entire book. Jesus Christ I hate her so much.

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cove is a debut YA horror novel that reminded me of why I liked R.L. Stine so much as an adolescent. There is something about an imperfect teen heroine finding their way out of a terrifying situation using their wits and old-fashioned problem-solving. As an adult, I found the FMC more than a bit spoiled and bratty, yet I had sympathy for her upbringing and hoped she would find a happy ending. I wanted more character development/reflection as a whole, but as YA goes, it was a solid and entertaining read as an adult.

3.5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
This was a pretty interesting YA Horror book. Lindsay wasn’t very likable but her personality made sense for a teenager who has lived the life she has. I liked how you really couldn’t trust anyone in this book. The cult-y vibes mixed with folklore were pretty great. Overall it was a quick and fun read.
🎧 I’m glad I listened to the audiobook. It was done really well. Jesse Vilinsky did a great job bringing Lindsay and the creepy atmosphere of this island to life.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow at first but then picked up. I’m glad I was able to get an advanced copy. Enjoyed this book and the characters.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really loved this book! as soon as i read the premise for the book, i knew i had to read this and it did not disappoint!

i specifically have to call out the pacing of this book because it was so perfect. i swear every single time i got even the tiniest bit bored or was pulling away, something new happened that hooked me right back in, in a way that i haven’t experienced in a book in years.

my one complaint (slight spoilers ahead) was i wish we got to see a bit more of cass and lindsay! as soon as dalton was introduced, i had a feeling it would probably end with him and lindsay getting together so i was really surprised when lindsay and cass had their moment and i do wish we got to explore that more. i also do just wish we got more of cass because she really did just seem to want friends and more than what she had in the cove.

thank you netgalley for the arc!

[ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to fear at The Cove... and it's not just the dark, harsh waters crashing below...

If you're a fan of Midsommar and The Visit, I think you might be curious about Claire Rose's twisty folk horror debut. I personally thoroughly enjoyed the dark & eerie coastal cult vibes with this chilling summer horror read 👀

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books & Netgalley for given me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

[Desirae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Claire Rose's The Cove is one of those books that left me more frustrated than entertained. Marketed as a young adult thriller, it never quite felt like one. Instead, it reads much closer to middle grade, with simplistic dialogue, exaggerated characterizations, and conflicts that rarely carry the emotional weight the story seems to be aiming for. While the premise has potential, the execution never rises above a surface-level mystery.

The novel follows Lindsey, the daughter of a politician whose family relocates to a small coastal town while her parent campaigns for public office. Lindsey finds herself isolated, resentful of the move, and quickly becomes entangled in the secrets surrounding the town and its mysterious cove. As she begins investigating strange events and uncovering hidden truths, the story blends coming-of-age drama with mystery and suspense, building toward revelations that are meant to reshape everything Lindsey believes about her new home.

Unfortunately, Lindsey herself made the story difficult to enjoy. Rather than coming across as a realistically flawed teenager, she spends much of the novel feeling bratty, whiny, and unnecessarily mean to nearly everyone around her. It's perfectly reasonable for a protagonist to be unhappy about uprooting their life, but Lindsey's constant negativity rarely develops into meaningful character growth. Instead of sympathizing with her, I found myself growing increasingly impatient whenever she lashed out or complained.

The supporting cast doesn't fare much better. The adults in particular feel less like actual people and more like cardboard cutouts serving whatever purpose the plot requires. Parents, authority figures, and community members often react in exaggerated ways that don't ring true, making it difficult to believe in the world the novel is trying to create. They exist as caricatures rather than fully realized characters, which weakens the emotional stakes considerably.

One aspect that continually pulled me out of the story was its handling of Lindsey's family situation. If her parent is actively running for political office, it's difficult to believe that Lindsey's past wouldn't already be under scrutiny. Journalists routinely investigate candidates and their families, especially in local races where personal stories often become campaign issues. Any significant incidents in Lindsey's school records would almost certainly have been uncovered well before the events of this novel. Even if the controversy never became national news, it would almost certainly have become a localized scandal. Ignoring that reality makes a central part of the story feel implausible from the start.

The mystery itself isn't terrible, but it lacks the tension needed to keep the pages turning. There are enough hints and revelations to maintain some curiosity, but because the characters never feel particularly believable, the suspense loses much of its impact. The atmosphere surrounding the cove has moments where it hints at something eerie and compelling, but those moments never fully capitalize on the setting. I kept waiting for the story to become darker, more emotionally layered, or simply more surprising than it ultimately was.

Perhaps my biggest disappointment is that The Cove never feels as though it's written for the audience it's marketed toward. Despite featuring teenage characters and YA themes, the prose, dialogue, and emotional conflicts all feel considerably younger. Readers looking for a mature young adult mystery may find themselves wishing for more complexity, while younger middle-grade readers might actually be the audience that appreciates it most.

Overall, The Cove isn't an unreadable novel, but it's one that left me feeling disconnected from nearly every aspect of the story. The premise had promise, and the coastal setting could have supported a genuinely eerie mystery, but flat characters, an unlikeable protagonist, and implausible plot decisions prevented it from ever reaching its potential. For readers who enjoy lighter mysteries with straightforward storytelling, it may still have some appeal, but it ultimately wasn't a book that worked for me.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the audio ARC! I really like the cover for this one and the blurb relating anything culty to R. L. Stine is an instant yes for me. This didn’t disappoint. The audio by Jesse Vilinksy was fantastic. It really felt like she embodied Lindsay.

Lindsay isn’t your average troubled kid. With parents as emotionally cold as an iceberg, she has managed to get kicked out of just about everything ever, including expulsion from multiple schools. She cuts classes, smokes to get attention, and never stays anywhere long enough to even begin to make friends. Her parents are rich, seeming to believe that money is enough to hush things up and get her to graduation, when all she really desires is to be seen. Instead, they decide they’ve had enough of her antics and ship her off to stay the summer with her uncle and aunt. If the family estrangement isn’t weird enough, it’s also a kind of teenage reform house…and more importantly, where the hell is her uncle?

This novel does well to toe the line between reading almost new adult, while definitely having the air of a young adult story with its chosen POV. Some of the themes and language are dark, and the crimes and horror are pretty violent at times too. It also has a pretty positive commentary on sexuality and being perceived as different that I quite liked. There has been a somewhat recent push for young adult books to be more tame and “clean” but this one does the opposite. I think both are valid and deserve to exist, the same way no two kids are alike. If you are a jewish bisexual girl drummer that just wants love and attention from her parents, then you deserve to see it exist on the page too.

This is also a pretty well handled showing of how Christianity, bible verses more specifically, can be weaponized in a controlling manner. How the idea of God’s eternal glory can be tainted into something far from bountiful…and that’s not even really the cult stuff! Phin and Cass, these sort of ethereal, The Shining-esque twins, were really creepy to me. From their too-helpful nature to their old-timey accents that made me think of Leo in The Great Gatsby, I wanted no part of them. Of course they would live on an island that can only be reached during low tide, or via boat. Nothing strange going on there at all…

The cast of characters that are introduced as this sort of halfway house for troubled kids kids(?) were really enjoyable. With one of them being sent there for being gay and another for being trans, I felt it really gave the setting an eerie feeling—like even before anything happens it all felt like a sham. And of course the fact that they all turn out to be perfectly capable, caring, and helpful teens really tied together the entire arc for Lindsay. Found family that pulls on the heartstrings. If you’ve ever read Stine and desired a little more creepiness and a tad more character depth, this one might work perfectly for you!

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-co...

[Morgan Beynon (loriwaylittlelibrary) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for advanced copies of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A YA thriller/horror about Lindsey, a teenage girl kicked out of her prestigious boarding school and sent off to live on her uncle’s farm with his starkly evangelical Christian wife in rural Maine. Almost immediately upon arrival Lindsey can tell that she, and the other teenagers on this remote farm by the sea, are in danger but the question is from whom and who can they trust?

I wanted to badly to like this book, and I initially really liked the premise, however it unfortunately was a bit too immature for me and more of a bloody, culty, Scooby Doo than an actual gripping thriller/horror. One of the things that bothered me the most was how the author used humor in inappropriate times throughout the book. I very much understand needing a “comedic relief” when the storyline is heavy, but this was just too much and what made it too juvenile for me, which to be fair, it is in fact a YA book so I realize that I am not the intended audience 🤣

Overall, this book was not for me, but if you love YA stories and are a fan of the movie Midsomer, then this book is for you!

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy of this book; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 I think it’s fair to say that at some point during the adolescent years, everyone feels a sense of being trapped. But for Lindsay, the sentiment is magnified as she is shipped off to boarding schools and not even her bad behavior can garner meaningful attention from her parents. Her latest shenanigans result in her banishment to a family compound in Maine, where she is truly cut off from the outside world in the confines of a work camp for delinquent youth run by her MIA uncle’s girlfriend.

And that’s just where the nightmare begins…The Cove is a fast paced thrilling adventure with a female with a survival instinct that is admirable. The strange occurrences off the coast leave these teenagers fighting for their survival. Claire Rose delivers a propulsive read, unnerving yet absolutely gripping from start to finish.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Claire Rose, Wednesday Books and MacMillan Audio for the ARC/ALC!

Lindsay has just been kicked out of another prep school and her well-to-do parents have finally had enough. They send her to live with her uncle in Maine, in hopes that farm lifestyle will help Lindsay straighten out her ways. But when she arrives, her uncle is nowhere to be found - only Irene, his evangelical wife who runs a work camp for troubled teens.

This story was fun to listen to on audio! It was a YA thriller so some parts of it were hard for me (an old lady) to relate to, but it was still very entertaining. The cult aspect was intriguing, as I was trying to figure out just who was “the bad guy” here. My favorite part was the eerie atmosphere - the woods, the cove, the isolation - it all played a big part in the creep factor in this story. Though it required a bit of suspension of belief, if you enjoy YA thrillers with a cult vibe this one may be for you.

“The Cove” releases May 5, 2026! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cove is such an atmospheric YA horror read. I found it completely unputdownable, with a tense and sometimes surprisingly funny tone that really worked for me. I listened to the audiobook while also reading on my Kindle, and the narrator did a great job bringing everything to life. The creepy seaside cliff farmhouse in the middle of nowhere Maine was the perfect eerie setting, and I really enjoyed the sea folklore plot. The characters were really well developed and pretty likeable. LOVED the gay jewish character!

I don’t usually love cult-y stories, but this one was a whole vibe. The unsettling, disturbing elements mixed with moments that genuinely made me laugh had me hooked the entire time. Dark, creepy, and hard to put down.

Favorite quotes from the book:
“let’s blow this popsicle stand” is one of my favorite things to say!
“I’d been lured into a honeypot by the children of the corn” 🤭

[Gwen mitchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cove by Claire Rose is a super gripping YA thriller that effectively blends a creepy reform camp setting with eerie seaside vibes. The story follows seventeen-year-old Lindsay, who is sent to her uncle’s isolated farm only to find herself trapped in a strict program run by her religious aunt. I really enjoyed the suspense as Lindsay discovers that the nearby island and its mysterious twins are connected to something much more sinister than she imagined.The atmosphere is a major highlight, and the mystery kept me genuinely interested in how everything would unfold. It’s an exciting read with solid twists and a great mix of survival and secrets. If you’re looking for a thriller with a dark, coastal setting, I definitely recommend checking this one out!

[Rhiannon Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me in with the cult vibes and sea creature myths. The final girl slasher energy had me pleasantly surprised. This book will definitely keep you guessing what’s going on in many aspects of the plot lines. I found the Haven House crew to be extremely likable even as I tried to decide who was trustworthy and who wasn’t. This story pleasantly surprised me with how engrossing the pace was. The storyline kept me engaged and always wanting to finish just one more chapter before bed. The only downside to the book for me personally was all of the Taylor Swift references. It felt a bit excessive, but to each their own.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Claire Rose for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beware the siren call of the sea….

Teenage angst has nothing on Lindsey, daughter of an aspiring senator who has committed her last act of rebellion to get herself kicked out of her private school and sent to Haven House, a tiny home on the coast that promises to rehabilitate children to be perfect members of society and to her suprise it’s ran by her aunt and uncle. With the latter away on business, Aunt Irene welcomes Lindsey to join the other group of kids to work hard and avoid leaving the farm but when a beach party invite crosses their paths they sneak out and find themselves in the middle of something far bigger, and much older than anything they could have prepared for and if they’re not careful they may find themselves washed away with the tides.

I’m a big fan of the creepy small town legend like monsters and this book feeds into that pretty well. We have this beautiful landscape that is just begging to be explored but you soon realize the adventure is actually a hunt. There were a few moments where I got lost with everyone around and not sure who was friend or foe and I might have to go back to double check a few but overall it kept interest and maintained this unsettling atmosphere that kept you on edge to see what was happening and who, if anyone would survive.

The characters were fine, again I got lost in some parts keeping track of people who seemed to flip in and out of the plot when necessary. Lindsey is a strong character who is clearly hurting and trying to get any attention so her struggles and strive to be the one to be chosen for once seems to bite her later but she forms real connections with the group that really grounds her in a way she needed. I wish we got more of everyone else because some of the romance aspects felt a little out of left field because they didn’t have a lot of time to feel organic but that could also be because I was so focused on figuring out the plot, the other build up didn’t stick in my head.

Not a bad book but I’m not sure how long it will stick around in my mind but I hope other readers get caught in its net!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Kelly NuclearFiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Go Forth, Raven - Skaivi

💭Thoughts Before I Jump In

I thought this is either a secret society or actual water goblins 😆

📖What actually happens:

🖤YA
🤬Angsty teen
🫶🏼Jewish rep
🔪Murder
🏚️Reform house

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Hmmmm *whispers* be nice, be nice, be nice…the cover is a work of art! That blue is electric 😍

Boring as a salad with no dressing and old lettuce. It desperately needed some aid - like a balsamic or some friggin cheese, ya feelin me?!

It started out strong for like the first 7% then sent me into a despair in which I just wanted my pain and suffering to end.

Anywho, maybe others will love it more!

[Nicole Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Lindsay is kicked out of her third boarding school her parents send her to stay with her uncle and his wife in rural Maine. Not knowing what to expect, Lindsay ends up at a home for troubled teens where she finds herself mixed up with a group living on a remote island off the coast of Maine.

This book was absolutely wild. I kept trying to figure out where the storyline was going and, while some parts are obvious, there were some serious wtf moments while reading. I absolutely devoured this one because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

If you enjoy a good folk, cult horror thriller type story then I’d recommend this one!