Little Wild

by Laura Evans

Suffolk, 1937. As the English countryside swelters in a historic heat wave, preparations for a party at Snare House are in full swing. The Winthers’ only daughter, Joanie, is returning from a summer in Europe, a flying visit before she leaves for university in Oxford. Only Margaret, long-time ward of the family and Joanie’s closest friend, knows the Joanie won’t be going to Oxford. Instead, the two will be leaving the stultifying society they know to live together in London, as lovers.

Then the pair is discovered, and everything goes wrong. Banished to a cabin in the nearby woods, Margaret is alone with her estranged father. As summer curdles into fall and magpies throng the forest, Margaret begins to lose herself. Her dreams turn dark and terrifying, and she wakes from them with dirt on her soles and scratches on her back. Everything suggests that a perverse power is awakening within her—perhaps the very one which led to her mother’s ostracism and eventual death. If she can harness it, Margaret may be able to secure an approximation of the love she’s always craved—but at what cost?

Little Wild is at once a feminist fairy tale, a haunting meditation on the dangers of desire, and a gripping debut from a talented new voice.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Queer, Lesbian, Adult, Fantasy, LGBT

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a poetically well written novel about forbidden love on a beautiful setting in the countryside of England. Joanie and Margaret have a special bond that is so thoroughly expressed by the author. I was emotional as I read and when the affair is discovered I was so sad for Margaret. The book reads like a fairy tale but with raw emotion and a deep look into the characters lives. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nelly]

tbr for 2026 anyone ?

[Emily Poche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Little Wild by Laura Evans is a magical realism story set during the interwar period in a rural area of England. Meg, our narrator, has spent the bulk of her childhood being raised with her friend Joanie, who she is in love with. After being caught kissing, she is thrown out of the house, and reconnects to the magical roots of her late mother and traumatized father.

Evans creates a narration that is descriptive in a deeply descriptive and poetic ways. Certain paragraphs and chapters straddle the line between poetry and prose. The story relies heavily on the atmospheric descriptions of the forest and dilapidated lodge. The author really effectively creates a mystical effect, that underlies the magic coursing through Meg and her surroundings. While this is lovely, at times the descriptive sentences outstrip the plot. At times the pacing of the narrative versus the active is out of balance. There were chapters that felt like the reader is waiting for something, anything, to happen.

I did appreciate that Meg is a slightly unreliable narrator. Throughout the book, it’s never entirely clear what she fully knows about her own family, or whether she’s exaggerating the relationship with Joanie. I think at times this gives her an obsessive, unhinged reasoning. Ambiguity is present throughout the novel, with several plot lines being not fully clear at the end of the story. Even those that do have a more concrete final answer are all slightly unsatisfying or disappointing. This isn’t a criticism of the story, rather to say that the book is not necessarily neatly wrapped up.

Personally, I did find myself underwhelmed by the story. I found that the plot line, while interesting, was overwhelmed by the set dressing. I would say that it’s a good option for lovers of magical realism, but not one of my personal top recommendations. 3/5.

[Syndrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book, but I must admit I'm having trouble putting my thoughts into proper words here. Something that I can't quite put my finger on made this novel feel unique and I think it's something readers will have to just dive in and experience themselves to really understand.

I'll start off by saying if you're a reader that likes faster paced novels or plots with a lot of action—this book is definitely not for you. But it will be perfect for the readers who are happy to sit down with a slow-burn story full of atmospheric writing and can, at times, feel a bit like a character study.

In a tale that's absolutely stuffed with longing, as well as anger, grief, classism, and a pinch of witchcraft, we follow alongside a girl named Margaret who just so happens to be a bit in love with Joanie—the girl she considers her best friend. Although coming from different walks of life—Margaret from a poor family and Joanie from wealth—due to a certain series of events, Margaret has ended up in the care of Joanie's family and lives with them instead of her father. But after the pair is discovered in a rather compromising situation by Joanie's father, Margaret is cast out of the house and has no choice but to return to her father's house of squalor. The bulk of the novel really focuses on Margaret's feelings and general state of being after she's been torn away from her love—and let's just say she doesn't exactly handle it well.

As I mentioned before, this is a rather slow-paced novel, but Evans' prose sets the tone so well that I felt as if I was being pulled into a trance while reading it. You can really feel Margaret's pain and the great amount of tension she has between herself and pretty much every other character in the story. There's also really great insight into Margaret's state of mind as well as her motivations for the actions she does (and doesn't) take. With a bit of witchiness thrown in as an extra level of intrigue, this really stood out to me as a story that I haven't quite read anything like before.

(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)

[⊹♡ Sonder Wonderer ♡⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I was sent this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback!

This book was very interesting, yet heartbreaking. I loved the plot of the book, however, I think this book just wasn’t for me and that’s okay! The pacing is very slow, but not in a bad way that takes away from the story, just not my taste. I will include though, the author does an amazing job with details, but I found that in the beginning all the details at once made me confused in some parts and made it read very overwhelmingly in others.

It’s hard to put my thoughts and feelings about this book into words. I sadly wasn’t fond of the authors writing style, but that is just personal preference! It felt like it gave me everything and nothing at the same time. There were moments I truly loved and felt immersed in, but there were also parts where I struggled to fully connect with the story. The love story was really well done but the rest of the book didn’t do it for me.

All that being said, I do believe you’d enjoy this book if you love sapphic love stories with a true slow burn, tender yearning, touches of forbidden love, melancholic family dynamics, and detailed ambience, this book is definitely for you 🙌🏼

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off...that cover! This book also has an interesting hook, but it kept losing me in the execution and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe a 3.5 for me.

The book didn't start off very strong, for me personally. There were a lot of micro details about a rich family planning a party for their daughter who is soon to leave for college. The family's ward is in love with the daughter and the two plan to instead run away together. The basics of the plot were all there but I felt like I was sifting through a lot of exposition to get to it.

Then, there is a series of standout scenes the night of the party when the drama comes to a head. I was jazzed during these sections and glad I'd kept reading. This is followed by some quieter scenes that feel a bit mystical, but still moved along at a nice pace.

But toward the end, the book started to lose me again, diving into more fanatical elements. This is normally my jam, but for some reason it wasn't working for me here (maybe because the tonal swings felt too wide?) Overall, I liked a lot of the elements in this story and enjoyed the ending, but the ride was a bit hit or miss for me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of eBook

Despite the oppressive heat, everyone at Snare House . . . including the Winthers’ long-time ward, Margaret . . . is busy getting ready for Joanie’s return. She’s been touring Europe; now she’s coming home before heading off to Oxford.

But Joanie and Margaret have a secret.

What will happen if anyone finds out what they’ve planned?

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Set in the English countryside in 1937, this story is part fairy tale part haunting tale of love and desire, of betrayal and revenge. The lovely setting is in contrast to the deeply emotional story. The unfolding story takes some unexpected twists and turns as the story takes an unexpected dark turn.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction or LGNYQIAP+ stories will find much to appreciate here.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Henry Holt & Company / Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#LittleWild #NetGalley

[Leigh Michelle Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a slow, atmospheric story rooted in magical realism, following multiple characters whose lives are loosely connected through a vividly described setting. The focus is much more on mood, imagery, and poetic language than on an action packed plot.

Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me. I had a really hard time getting drawn into the story and just felt lost. While I can appreciate the lyrical, poetic writing style on a technical level, it didn’t translate into an engaging reading experience for me. The pacing was extremely slow, and I found myself bored and struggling to stay focused.

What’s disappointing is that the idea behind the book really intrigued me, but the execution felt underwhelming. I can absolutely see how readers who love magical realism and very prose-heavy, atmospheric novels would connect with this, but as someone who needs faster character momentum, this one missed the mark.

[bookishmarcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing this ARC!

A slow-burning, atmospheric novel steeped in longing and unease. Set in the oppressive heat of the English countryside in 1937, Little Wild follows Margaret as she navigates class, desire, and something darker stirring beneath the surface.

This is a character-driven story that prioritizes mood and inner turmoil over plot. The writing is lush and often dreamlike, and the setting feels alive and ominous. The emotional tension, quiet repression, and touches of witchcraft and magical realism create a haunting sense of ambiguity.

The pacing is deliberately slow and some threads remain unresolved, which will not work for every reader. Still, this is a haunting, feminist-leaning fairy tale about desire and power, rewarding for those who enjoy literary, atmospheric fiction that lingers in discomfort.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Wild is a beautiful written story of love and loss. It is set in rural England and written with such descriptive poetry. I loved how the author captures the feeling and overall world. At times, it did feel a bit too much and the beauty of the world being built became muddled. Overall the book brings feelings of secret love, family and splash of betrayal.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!