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Until Death: A Novel
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Expected 19 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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15 copies available
U.S. only
In this fresh, darkly funny horror debut, a woman finally agrees to marry the man of her mother’s dreams . . . only to discover that wedding planning eats you alive. If Ophelia Cohen learned one thing from her parents, it’s that getting married is a bad idea. But if she’s learning anything from her widowed mother’s dementia, it’s that dying alone is even worse. So when she meets Luke, the handsome heir to a local vineyard, dating him makes sense. And when he asks her to marry him, well. It’s what her mother always wanted. But none of Ophelia’s obsessive scrolling on wedding forums can prepare her for the nightmare of planning her own. Why is her mother-in-law so worried about every single detail, right down to the color scheme? Why does it feel like Ophelia is losing track of days, weeks, even months? Why is Luke’s family so eager to host the wedding in the vineyard’s ancient chapel — and why does it feel, sometimes, like the chapel has a heartbeat? This wedding is supposed to be the thing that saves Ophelia from a lifetime of loneliness. So how is it that the more Ophelia sacrifices, the more alone she is? Shot through with wicked humor, pitch-black horror, and unexpected romance, Until Death is a deliciously dark send-up of the wedding industrial complex — and a mother-daughter story unlike any you’ve read before.
- GenresHorror
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 18, 2026
2.5 stars rounded down
While the first page started out strong and gripped me right away, that’s about as good as it got. I really wanted to like this and have this be the horror book for me since getting married and having to care for my mom when she’s old and potentially losing her mind are two huge fears I have.
I think that while Ophelia was funny and kind of relatable in her thoughts and certainly in her anxieties, she wasn’t really a likable character. I totally understand for a lot of the book that she’s under a certain influence, but that doesn’t mean that she’s not still totally selfish and rude. I don’t want to spoil it but she’s talking to her friend Mitchell and he pretty bravely admits something (can’t tell you, it’s a spoiler, sorry!) and she goes “That’s it?” Bro.
I understood the message the author was going for, I just think the execution was really clunky. There was a lot of stuff that could have been woven into the story as a whole rather than doing one big explanation dump at the end. Also the pacing, for me, was a bit bizarre. I felt like things were both moving at a quick pace but also dragging by at the same time.
Two stars because I did find Ophelia funny and I liked the idea of this book. I do want to keep my eye out to see what this author writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
While the first page started out strong and gripped me right away, that’s about as good as it got. I really wanted to like this and have this be the horror book for me since getting married and having to care for my mom when she’s old and potentially losing her mind are two huge fears I have.
I think that while Ophelia was funny and kind of relatable in her thoughts and certainly in her anxieties, she wasn’t really a likable character. I totally understand for a lot of the book that she’s under a certain influence, but that doesn’t mean that she’s not still totally selfish and rude. I don’t want to spoil it but she’s talking to her friend Mitchell and he pretty bravely admits something (can’t tell you, it’s a spoiler, sorry!) and she goes “That’s it?” Bro.
I understood the message the author was going for, I just think the execution was really clunky. There was a lot of stuff that could have been woven into the story as a whole rather than doing one big explanation dump at the end. Also the pacing, for me, was a bit bizarre. I felt like things were both moving at a quick pace but also dragging by at the same time.
Two stars because I did find Ophelia funny and I liked the idea of this book. I do want to keep my eye out to see what this author writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2025
What a twisty little thing.
Having a parent with dementia is hard, this is made even worse for Ophelia who has never had the strongest relationship with her mother to begin with. When attempting to move her into an assisted living aphelia finds herself at a wedding venue that offers a beautiful backdrop for blossoming love and finds herself drawn to the hired help that is until the owner of the venue’s son crosses her path and she finds herself in the middle of a whirlwind romance but is it all as perfect as it seems?
Weddings are hard and like my new friend Ophelia I have never had the opportunity to plan one but I did date someone who was quick to line up the rest of my life with little interest in what I actually wanted. There’s a strong push here between Ophelia’s wants and what she is willing to do to get them and at the risk of flower puns she’s a bit of a wallflower who gets pushed around as she tries to control things that are very chaotic between her job, attempt at writing a novel and her mothers ailing health. It’s easy to be swept away by someone promising to take some of that load but it’s always a question of intent and man did she get screwed.
I’ll be honest I got a little lost at the big reveal but the moments of unreliable narrator were done super well. It’s very disorienting but with purpose as we are also surprised at the losses of time and mix ups in reality not unlike Ophelia and her mother. I think the biggest theme however is that relationship between mothers a daughters. There is a lot of beautiful things that can happen when those bonds are nurtured and a lot of built up resentment if they are not. You have generations of women here trying to look out for who brought them into this world even if it costs them their sanity or comes with a much darker cost.
An interesting read and a fun debut for an author I hope to see on my shelves again soon!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Having a parent with dementia is hard, this is made even worse for Ophelia who has never had the strongest relationship with her mother to begin with. When attempting to move her into an assisted living aphelia finds herself at a wedding venue that offers a beautiful backdrop for blossoming love and finds herself drawn to the hired help that is until the owner of the venue’s son crosses her path and she finds herself in the middle of a whirlwind romance but is it all as perfect as it seems?
Weddings are hard and like my new friend Ophelia I have never had the opportunity to plan one but I did date someone who was quick to line up the rest of my life with little interest in what I actually wanted. There’s a strong push here between Ophelia’s wants and what she is willing to do to get them and at the risk of flower puns she’s a bit of a wallflower who gets pushed around as she tries to control things that are very chaotic between her job, attempt at writing a novel and her mothers ailing health. It’s easy to be swept away by someone promising to take some of that load but it’s always a question of intent and man did she get screwed.
I’ll be honest I got a little lost at the big reveal but the moments of unreliable narrator were done super well. It’s very disorienting but with purpose as we are also surprised at the losses of time and mix ups in reality not unlike Ophelia and her mother. I think the biggest theme however is that relationship between mothers a daughters. There is a lot of beautiful things that can happen when those bonds are nurtured and a lot of built up resentment if they are not. You have generations of women here trying to look out for who brought them into this world even if it costs them their sanity or comes with a much darker cost.
An interesting read and a fun debut for an author I hope to see on my shelves again soon!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is an unscary horror book. there were some twists but I saw them coming and really just felt confused more than anything. The storyline wasn't for me, I didn't care for the characters and the story felt rushed.
January 14, 2026
Until Death by Mary Berman is about a woman who we can all relate to at times. Ophelia has trouble with keeping up with all her responsibilities and becomes quite scattered, especially when she learns that her strong, independent mother is developing dementia. Ophelia is working as a professor with the need to publish to keep her job. She finds herself mired in a situation she has little control over.
She goes to her hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania to help her mother, thinking she would be gone a few days or a week, but her mother is in worse condition than she knew. While Ophelia was spinning frantically over her situation, she goes for a drive and finds herself in a vineyard. While she is there, she meets a man named Mitchell who creates sculptures of themes like someone having their hair pulled out and other violent topics commissioned by the owner of the vineyard.
Ophelia finds herself spending time at the vineyard. While there, she meets a man, Luke, who helps her take care of her mother and prepares meals for her. She starts to lose track of time and place. She gets lost a lot and important things she needs to do get left undone. Luke offers to drive her everywhere and gives her the gift of a grape plant of the variety his parents grow. It seems to keep her confused and thinking about how much she loves Luke.
It is suspenseful, surprising (if that is the word for scary unexpected things), and unlike other books I have read. Maybe this story is a way to understand that people should follow our own drummer, so to speak. Is it important to please our parents? Or should we do what is important to us? What about others who are important to us?
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy to read and review.
She goes to her hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania to help her mother, thinking she would be gone a few days or a week, but her mother is in worse condition than she knew. While Ophelia was spinning frantically over her situation, she goes for a drive and finds herself in a vineyard. While she is there, she meets a man named Mitchell who creates sculptures of themes like someone having their hair pulled out and other violent topics commissioned by the owner of the vineyard.
Ophelia finds herself spending time at the vineyard. While there, she meets a man, Luke, who helps her take care of her mother and prepares meals for her. She starts to lose track of time and place. She gets lost a lot and important things she needs to do get left undone. Luke offers to drive her everywhere and gives her the gift of a grape plant of the variety his parents grow. It seems to keep her confused and thinking about how much she loves Luke.
It is suspenseful, surprising (if that is the word for scary unexpected things), and unlike other books I have read. Maybe this story is a way to understand that people should follow our own drummer, so to speak. Is it important to please our parents? Or should we do what is important to us? What about others who are important to us?
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of Digital Galley
College professor Ophelia Cohen is figuring out a way to move her mother into an assisted living facility after she indulged in an unexpected bout of wandering the streets in her dressing gown at two in the morning. But dealing with her mom’s mental issues is keeping Ophelia from finishing the book she desperately needs to publish in order to keep her job and become a full-time professor.
And then there’s her mother’s constant plea for Ophelia to get married, something that is definitely not in her daughter’s plan.
Until she meets Luke.
=========
Pointing out the pitfalls of not following your dreams and of dealing with a mother with dementia and of wedding planning . . . phew! That’s a lot for our intrepid heroine to deal with. And she doesn’t always deal well, hence the unraveling of Ophelia’s life.
With a focus on loneliness, family obligation and expectation, and relationships with family leave Ophelia feeling distant, misunderstood, and certain she’s failed at everyone else’s expectations. The story is dark, emotional, and often deeply painful with guilt playing a major role in that pain.
The story is at its best when it is focused on the relationship between Ophelia and her mother. Readers who enjoy family drama and a bit of horror will find this story intriguing. However, the overuse of a particularly objectionable expletive is likely to be offensive to many readers . . . and this lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Little Brown and Company / Mulholland Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#UntilDeath #NetGalley
College professor Ophelia Cohen is figuring out a way to move her mother into an assisted living facility after she indulged in an unexpected bout of wandering the streets in her dressing gown at two in the morning. But dealing with her mom’s mental issues is keeping Ophelia from finishing the book she desperately needs to publish in order to keep her job and become a full-time professor.
And then there’s her mother’s constant plea for Ophelia to get married, something that is definitely not in her daughter’s plan.
Until she meets Luke.
=========
Pointing out the pitfalls of not following your dreams and of dealing with a mother with dementia and of wedding planning . . . phew! That’s a lot for our intrepid heroine to deal with. And she doesn’t always deal well, hence the unraveling of Ophelia’s life.
With a focus on loneliness, family obligation and expectation, and relationships with family leave Ophelia feeling distant, misunderstood, and certain she’s failed at everyone else’s expectations. The story is dark, emotional, and often deeply painful with guilt playing a major role in that pain.
The story is at its best when it is focused on the relationship between Ophelia and her mother. Readers who enjoy family drama and a bit of horror will find this story intriguing. However, the overuse of a particularly objectionable expletive is likely to be offensive to many readers . . . and this lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Little Brown and Company / Mulholland Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#UntilDeath #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What happens when you isolate someone so viciously and love bomb them? This. Ophelia was stressed to her breaking point, her mother’s mind is starting to go due to dementia, but her life is in Philly. Since she’s a teacher and can do her summer classes remotely she goes to take care of her mother and her estate. Her best friend Hildy is getting married and Ophelia needs to throw that onto the plates she’s spinning.
Ophelia meets Luca. Luca’s an associate at her mom’s numbers guy. Luca’s family owns a vineyard/farm that is a hot up and coming wedding venue. They hit it off and Ophelia is just so happy she’s not handling her mom’s stuff alone.
Her mother is a bit too much to handle with how fast her abilities are deteriorating, and she puts her mother into an assisted living facility. Luca help Ophelia all along the way. He brings her and her mother clippings from the vineyard to bring life into their spaces.
Ophelia just can’t catch a break, she’s overwhelmed, she’s losing track of time, and someone slashes her tires leaving her completely reliant on Luca. But the closeness of needing the help makes it so Luca falls in love super fast and proposes to Ophelia, and because Luca is able to help with the nursing home and the driving places, Ophelia says yes.
This just keeps getting weirder and weirder and I loved it. I’m not going into any additional details because you wouldn’t believe me if I do!
Ophelia meets Luca. Luca’s an associate at her mom’s numbers guy. Luca’s family owns a vineyard/farm that is a hot up and coming wedding venue. They hit it off and Ophelia is just so happy she’s not handling her mom’s stuff alone.
Her mother is a bit too much to handle with how fast her abilities are deteriorating, and she puts her mother into an assisted living facility. Luca help Ophelia all along the way. He brings her and her mother clippings from the vineyard to bring life into their spaces.
Ophelia just can’t catch a break, she’s overwhelmed, she’s losing track of time, and someone slashes her tires leaving her completely reliant on Luca. But the closeness of needing the help makes it so Luca falls in love super fast and proposes to Ophelia, and because Luca is able to help with the nursing home and the driving places, Ophelia says yes.
This just keeps getting weirder and weirder and I loved it. I’m not going into any additional details because you wouldn’t believe me if I do!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*spoiler* Okay I understand that the wine or the flowers or whatever were affecting her but also, why let a man put you through all of that? *spoiler*
Ophelia Cohen has thought of a potential future wedding hypothetically but never saw one in the cards for herself after her parents' nightmare marriage, not that the growing old and dying alone currently occurring in terms of her mother with dementia. But when she meets Luke, who parents own a local vineyard that is also a wedding venue, everything seems easy. She quickly shuts down her previous flirtation with Mitchell, the handyman at the vineyard in favor of Luke, who visits her mother with her at the assisted living and takes her to nice dinners. And when he asks to marry her after a couple months of dating, she says yes, it's what her mother would want after all.
But the closer they get to the wedding, which is scheduled for just two months after the proposal (a happenstance opening at the vineyard of course), Ophelia's life starts to further unravel. She is losing track of time, missing her best friend's bachelorette party, and unsure if she's showing up at work. Of course, she doesn't need to plan anything, her mother-in-law has such a ferocious grip on the day that she vetoes everything Ophelia could possibly want. But she wants this wedding, right?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Ophelia Cohen has thought of a potential future wedding hypothetically but never saw one in the cards for herself after her parents' nightmare marriage, not that the growing old and dying alone currently occurring in terms of her mother with dementia. But when she meets Luke, who parents own a local vineyard that is also a wedding venue, everything seems easy. She quickly shuts down her previous flirtation with Mitchell, the handyman at the vineyard in favor of Luke, who visits her mother with her at the assisted living and takes her to nice dinners. And when he asks to marry her after a couple months of dating, she says yes, it's what her mother would want after all.
But the closer they get to the wedding, which is scheduled for just two months after the proposal (a happenstance opening at the vineyard of course), Ophelia's life starts to further unravel. She is losing track of time, missing her best friend's bachelorette party, and unsure if she's showing up at work. Of course, she doesn't need to plan anything, her mother-in-law has such a ferocious grip on the day that she vetoes everything Ophelia could possibly want. But she wants this wedding, right?
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a debut novel that had an intruiging premise of wedding venue horror, complete with horrific vineyards, creepy chapels and even some botanical horror (yay!) Her caregiving was relatable to my own and all that comes with it… especially when it comes to complicated parental relationships. I rarely see aging parents and caretaking talked about much in horror so I appreciated that, especially how it twisted into its own psychological element later.
Sadly.. the pacing of the book was a bit slow and repetitive. The length felt too long & the scenes stretched out longer than necessary, especially at the start of the book... I don’t mind creeping horror but it didn’t pickup till half-way, and once the horror came, it was over very quick! I would have loved more struggle, and more explanation as to why it ended the way it did. It felt a bit too convenient and too fast. I want more grapevine!
Overall an enjoyable 3/5. I deeply empathized with the character, even if she acted naive at times. The ending with her mom felt the most impactful and if this in any way was cathartic to the author, I commend her for writing it.
❝You can convince yourself you’re doing anything out of love, as long as it’s the thing you want.❞
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 Little Brown & Co 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.
𝗧𝗪: Medical Trauma, Parental Death and Dementia, Childhood Trauma, Physical Abuse, Domestic Abuse and Intimate Partner Abuse, Body Horror, Psychological Horror and Mental Distress, Animal Harm & Death, Drugging, Gore, Coercion, Lying, and some God awful In-laws
Sadly.. the pacing of the book was a bit slow and repetitive. The length felt too long & the scenes stretched out longer than necessary, especially at the start of the book... I don’t mind creeping horror but it didn’t pickup till half-way, and once the horror came, it was over very quick! I would have loved more struggle, and more explanation as to why it ended the way it did. It felt a bit too convenient and too fast. I want more grapevine!
Overall an enjoyable 3/5. I deeply empathized with the character, even if she acted naive at times. The ending with her mom felt the most impactful and if this in any way was cathartic to the author, I commend her for writing it.
❝You can convince yourself you’re doing anything out of love, as long as it’s the thing you want.❞
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 Little Brown & Co 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.
𝗧𝗪: Medical Trauma, Parental Death and Dementia, Childhood Trauma, Physical Abuse, Domestic Abuse and Intimate Partner Abuse, Body Horror, Psychological Horror and Mental Distress, Animal Harm & Death, Drugging, Gore, Coercion, Lying, and some God awful In-laws
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published May 19, 2026.
3 stars
When Ophelia meets Luke he seems perfect. His family owns a vineyard in a small town outside the city and he’s good to her mother who is in the early stages of dementia. Her best friend, who is planning her own wedding, has some misgivings because Ophelia and Luke hardly know each other but those two crazy kids get engaged anyway, then Luke’s mom convinces them to have their wedding in only two months, at the vineyard at the very odd chapel there.
Why does it seem like Luke’s mother is controlling the wedding? Why is Ophelia losing time? Why does no one care about Ophelia but the vineyard handyman? And why are none of these things even slight red flags to dumb Ophelia?
I guess there are meant to be some statements on how crazy wedding culture is here, but they are really buried under how obvious the insanity is and how oblivious Ophelia seems to be. I didn’t quite get the big bad at the end. I’m not generally (well, ever) a big fan of romance, but Michelle the handyman was a pretty compelling cowboy (was he cowboyish? I kept seeing him as cowboyish but maybe I created that in my mind. A much younger Sam Elliott, that’s who I saw. But I picture Sam Elliott a lot.). I guess it was fine.
3 stars
When Ophelia meets Luke he seems perfect. His family owns a vineyard in a small town outside the city and he’s good to her mother who is in the early stages of dementia. Her best friend, who is planning her own wedding, has some misgivings because Ophelia and Luke hardly know each other but those two crazy kids get engaged anyway, then Luke’s mom convinces them to have their wedding in only two months, at the vineyard at the very odd chapel there.
Why does it seem like Luke’s mother is controlling the wedding? Why is Ophelia losing time? Why does no one care about Ophelia but the vineyard handyman? And why are none of these things even slight red flags to dumb Ophelia?
I guess there are meant to be some statements on how crazy wedding culture is here, but they are really buried under how obvious the insanity is and how oblivious Ophelia seems to be. I didn’t quite get the big bad at the end. I’m not generally (well, ever) a big fan of romance, but Michelle the handyman was a pretty compelling cowboy (was he cowboyish? I kept seeing him as cowboyish but maybe I created that in my mind. A much younger Sam Elliott, that’s who I saw. But I picture Sam Elliott a lot.). I guess it was fine.
Read
December 28, 20253.75 rounded up to 4 stars! This was such an atmospheric story - you feel like you're choking to death alongside Ophelia as she lets other people's expectations for her life (mainly her demanding mother's) take over her own dreams. Wasn't she writing a book? And pursuing her goals? She can't quite remember....she's been pretty wrapped up planning her wedding to the man her mother thinks is perfect for her. In fact, she's been losing time lately...it's probably nothing and everything is perfect right?
I really enjoyed the exploration of family trauma and the depiction of the terrifying ordeal of choosing to pursue your own dreams no matter how your loved ones react. The big action section/climax was a little wonky to me, I just didn't love the lore/reveal of the horror, but that's more a personal preference. And the pacing got a little slow for me, but I thought that illustrated Ophelia's state of mind well. Excellent work for a horror debut. I'd definitely read more from Mary Berman! Thank you Little, Brown and Company/Hachette for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed the exploration of family trauma and the depiction of the terrifying ordeal of choosing to pursue your own dreams no matter how your loved ones react. The big action section/climax was a little wonky to me, I just didn't love the lore/reveal of the horror, but that's more a personal preference. And the pacing got a little slow for me, but I thought that illustrated Ophelia's state of mind well. Excellent work for a horror debut. I'd definitely read more from Mary Berman! Thank you Little, Brown and Company/Hachette for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this eARC!
I enjoyed this unique spin on botanical horror. Once the story got going, I could not put it down. I was invested to see how it turned out!
I did feel sad about how Ophelia treated her mother, but I haven't had personal experience with dementia. I imagine it is incredibly difficult.
My only critique that brought my enjoyment down was that it was hard to get into at first, it felt like there was a lot of unnecessary set up of the storyline before we got to any of the attention-grabbing plot. It took me a good 50-60 pages to get hooked.
(Potential minor spoilers in this next paragraph!)
I enjoyed this unique spin on botanical horror. Once the story got going, I could not put it down. I was invested to see how it turned out!
I did feel sad about how Ophelia treated her mother, but I haven't had personal experience with dementia. I imagine it is incredibly difficult.
My only critique that brought my enjoyment down was that it was hard to get into at first, it felt like there was a lot of unnecessary set up of the storyline before we got to any of the attention-grabbing plot. It took me a good 50-60 pages to get hooked.
(Potential minor spoilers in this next paragraph!)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Until Death" is a wildly entertaining and darkly funny horror debut that flips wedding planning on its head, making it feel like a real nightmare—and honestly, it does a fantastic job of it. Ophelia is a super relatable narrator, struggling with her fear of getting married, her grief and guilt over her mom, and a fiancé whose picture-perfect vineyard life starts to feel really off. The creepiness builds up slowly as she deals with endless floral decisions and family expectations, leaving you wondering what's scarier: the ancient chapel or the suffocating pressure to be the “perfect” bride. Mary Berman nails the satire, mixing humor with a genuine sense of unease, and throwing in a surprisingly sweet mother-daughter story beneath all the chaos. It’s dark, clever, and unsettling in the best way possible.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Mary Berman, and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Mary Berman, and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Until Death is a sharply observed and deliciously dark story. It takes all the quiet dread of wedding planning and pushes it straight into horror territory with a creepy chapel, suffocating in-laws, and the slow, terrifying erosion of self that feels all too real. Of course in Ophelia Cohen's case, she's definitely losing herself (and days and weeks) as her big day gets closer and her memories and feelings get more distorted.
The vineyard chapel is a standout, pulsing with menace and quietly central to the story, as if it’s watching every choice Ophelia makes. Luke is just as compelling: one minute charming and helpful, the next elusive and increasingly unsettling.
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
The vineyard chapel is a standout, pulsing with menace and quietly central to the story, as if it’s watching every choice Ophelia makes. Luke is just as compelling: one minute charming and helpful, the next elusive and increasingly unsettling.
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
January 11, 2026
I received this book as an ARC from Little Brown and Company and NetGalley. This review is my own. Ophelia returns to her home town to take care of her mother, who is suffering from dementia. Ophelia struggles with her relationship with her mother, the memory of her father, and the memory of their lives together. When she visits a favorite spot that she would visit with her father, Ophelia finds it has been turned into a winery and wedding venue. Ophelia isn’t a fan of marriage after witnessing her parents’ disastrous union and all that it cost them, but she soon finds herself friendly with a young man working at the winery. Soon, Ophelia starts to lose time and control as she is in a whirlwind courtship with the son of the winery’s owner. Excellent debut horror novel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for the opportunity to preview Until Death. This is a very different type of book than I am used to and I liked it. A mix of humor, suspense, and throw some horror in there as well.
Ophelia is alone except for a sick mother. She never had the best relationship with her but hey it’s her mom.
All changes when she meets a wealthy man and after a whirlwind romance they decide to get married. But things are not going well and Ophelia starts to think she’s going through something else with her own body and soul. Why such a happy time but she’s just not feeling it and her soon to be husband may not be all he seems to be.
3.5 stars
Ophelia is alone except for a sick mother. She never had the best relationship with her but hey it’s her mom.
All changes when she meets a wealthy man and after a whirlwind romance they decide to get married. But things are not going well and Ophelia starts to think she’s going through something else with her own body and soul. Why such a happy time but she’s just not feeling it and her soon to be husband may not be all he seems to be.
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My favorite thing about Until Death is how refreshingly surprising it was. It took what I thought I knew of dark comedic horror and instead flipped the switch, giving me ecological horror with a snarky folkloric twist. I could not get enough of Ophelia's withering tone and her acerbic relationship to her mother. The symbiotic symbolism is there if you wish to look closely enough. By the end, I have to admit some of the cleaning up of the plot did not make much sense to me, so I have to list that as a con of this one. Thank you so much to Mary Berman and Little, Brown & Company for the chance to read and review this digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance e-reader copy of Until Death by Mary Berman.
This book is dark, unsettling, and sharply funny in a way that feels uncomfortably real. What begins as a story about marriage and family expectations slowly transforms into a creeping psychological horror that explores obligation, loneliness, and the quiet terror of doing what is expected of you. The atmosphere is expertly built, and the emotional dread lingers long after you finish reading.
A smart, eerie debut that proves the scariest horror often lives in everyday life. An easy five stars.
This book is dark, unsettling, and sharply funny in a way that feels uncomfortably real. What begins as a story about marriage and family expectations slowly transforms into a creeping psychological horror that explores obligation, loneliness, and the quiet terror of doing what is expected of you. The atmosphere is expertly built, and the emotional dread lingers long after you finish reading.
A smart, eerie debut that proves the scariest horror often lives in everyday life. An easy five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a twisty, crazy fever dream! This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and anxious to find out what was going on. This books really hits on the struggles of dealing with an aging parent, and how hard it is when they have dementia. Ophelia is drowning in stress, trying to navigate her own life while taking care of her mother. This book dives into what it’s really like when you’re deep into stress. Forgetting dates, time running away from you, and life slipping from you as you spiral farther down. Excellent, original and thrilling horror book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was a little disappointed with this.
I felt like nothing really happened (in terms of the main point/action/mystery) for the longest time.
I had no idea why this was considered a mystery/thriller until approximately the last 25% of this book.
I did like that it had an almost Silence of the Lambs sort of situation going on. And that was fun and worked really well, I just wish that there was a lot more of it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I felt like nothing really happened (in terms of the main point/action/mystery) for the longest time.
I had no idea why this was considered a mystery/thriller until approximately the last 25% of this book.
I did like that it had an almost Silence of the Lambs sort of situation going on. And that was fun and worked really well, I just wish that there was a lot more of it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 26, 2025
Weird and twisty! I wish we got to see more of Mitchell and Ophelia. Minus stars because it felt confusingly long and repetitive, but that was eventually explained (sort of). I felt like the ending was still missing something, but overall enjoyed this book! Thank you Netgalley & Mulholland Books for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Until Death is an unsettling and darkly funny read that kept me slightly off-balance in the best way. Ophelia, the FMC, returns to her hometown to care for her mother, who is living with dementia, and to help transition her into assisted living. Their strained relationship adds emotional weight to an already difficult situation.
Early on, Ophelia meets Luke and begins a relationship, but much of the story is filtered through her confusion—she loses chunks of time, feels overwhelmed, and struggles to understand what’s really happening. As a reader, you’re often just as disoriented as Ophelia, which makes the eventual revelations more impactful.
The book blends humor with creeping horror, creating a unique tone that unfolds gradually. A four-star read for anyone who enjoys stories that are eerie, dark, and a little unsettling.
Early on, Ophelia meets Luke and begins a relationship, but much of the story is filtered through her confusion—she loses chunks of time, feels overwhelmed, and struggles to understand what’s really happening. As a reader, you’re often just as disoriented as Ophelia, which makes the eventual revelations more impactful.
The book blends humor with creeping horror, creating a unique tone that unfolds gradually. A four-star read for anyone who enjoys stories that are eerie, dark, and a little unsettling.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not at all what I expected. This compelling horror novel kept me in a fever dream while making me desperate for understanding. The novel starts out funny and quickly moves to dark, a change I can really get behind.
December 21, 2025
dark, fun, and interesting book about a vineyard, a marriage, and a strange plot. it climaxes into a really dramatic finale, and that works well. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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