We Were Never Here

by Sophia Hannan

The remaining members of a ghost hunting show return to the haunted manor that may have killed their friend in this atmospheric, contemporary gothic debut perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and Delicious Monsters.

In July, Georgia Perry and Jules Park—secret girlfriends, covert art thieves, and cohosts of a popular YouTube ghost hunting show—step into a haunted house to steal a priceless painting. A few short hours later, there’s a knife in Jules’s chest and Georgia is waking up in a pool of blood with no painting and no memory of how she got there.

Now it’s October, and Georgia is underwater. She hasn’t been to class in weeks, and she’s avoiding her old crew—and only friends—like the plague. But when the three remaining thieves get a call from the man who paid a hefty sum to keep them out of jail, demanding that they return to finish the job, Georgia has no choice but to return to her old life.

As the estranged friends scramble to steal the painting with no cover story and no leader, they quickly realize that something is very, very wrong, and it’s not just the suffocating memory of Jules or the prying eyes of their viewers. Between the strange shadows that begin to trail them and the nightmares plaguing Georgia’s sleep, only one thing is certain: something followed them home from De Lys manor, and it will do anything to keep them from going back.

Genres: Horror, Lesbian, Queer, Young Adult, LGBT, Paranormal, Gothic

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Sophia Hannan is a Canadian author of YA fiction. When she’s not writing about ghosts and the girls they haunt, she can be found studying English literature and forcing her friends to watch horror movies with her. Her debut novel, We Were Never Here, comes out in 2026 with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Reviews

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book so much! sophia is truly a genius and y’all are in for the time of your lives in 2025✨

[megs_bookrack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not it for me. Sadly, I didn't enjoy any of it, really; not the writing, the characters, the plot, or even the tone.

No, no, no. Great concept, not so great execution for my personal tastes. It felt like it was 700-pgs.

Full review to come...stay tuned!!!

Original:

ARC received! Thank you, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. This sounds incredible. I love the cover and plan on starting it very soon!

[Birdie Schae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I read a very early version of WE WERE NEVER HERE in 2022, it grabbed me by my throat and never once let me go. Full of grief, intrigue and the most perfect chaos, this sapphic YA horror novel has everything I love about the genre and is SO feral-worthy. You truly don't want to miss Sophia Hannan's unique, emotional and thrilling debut!!

[Nicholas Perez]

Inject that cover in my veins.

[Eden]

DNF @15%

This probably isn’t a bad book, but it isn’t to my personal taste. The author hasn’t made me care at all about the mystery, the characters, etc. And not a lot makes sense at this point. I don’t need the whole mystery to be revealed to me or to understand everything about the main characters, but I’d like some more context on their families, why they’re going to this school, etc. But whatever. I’m bored so it’s a DNF.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an earc for review.

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this cover is incredible and it just fits so well. I love a good haunting story and this is so fresh and different. Creepy art, paranormal investigation with a very intense fandom, mysterious death, grief, and queer longing... Strong characters! Vivid imagery! Unsettling and eerie from start to finish.

[soleil ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, just wow
so proud of you sop 🫶

[Starr ❇✌❇]

very into this cover I cannot lie

[Hannah Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t going to drink tonight but I miss Jules

[Brittany |planted.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for this eARC!

I didn’t love this. I found it so slow and just honestly kind of boring.

I was initially drawn because of the amazing cover, but I just couldn’t connect to the story. I found that I really didn’t care about each POV, and was just reading to get the story over with.

[Amelia Willes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, this was a really slow start but definitely picked up about half way through. there were parts i loved and parts i really didn’t, but overall it was a very cool take on haunting and possession that i haven’t seen before. also great queer representation too!

[Wen-yi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

With gothic touches and prose like a submerged dream, WE WERE NEVER HERE paints ghostly grief for the gay Buzzfeed Unsolved generation. A delicately-wrought haunting of those who've grown versions of themselves online--about complicated love, reclaiming yourself, and the exorcising power of seeing and being seen.

[Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so fantastic and I'm so happy it's being published so I can read it for the first time all over again!!! Soph's talent is truly a spooky force to be reckoned with <3

[Alexandra Morales · Rating 2 out of 5]

****Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****

2.5 Solid Stars

This had the bones to be something pretty spooky.

I really needed at least four chapters in the beginning to set the mood. Each from James, Circe, Jules and Georgia about what really happened in the De Lys house that fateful day in July. The infrequent flashbacks to the past really didn't cut it for me. There was no clear way provided to acknowledge we are in the past which bothers me, it might be a me thing but I like to have a page break or a new chapter or an interlude etc.

The teenage angst was on a WHOLE new level. I was rolling my eyes until about 50% of the book and it slowly starts to pick up. To be honest I would read who's POV chapter it was but a few pages in all the names start getting dropped I would have to stop and go "wait... who I am reading right now?" Circe said that, Georgia sullenly doing something and James sitting in the guidance counselor's chair... Scenes would go from Georgia staring at the wall at night, to sleepwalking to Circe's room to them going to look at canvas the transitions didn't flow for me.

Something that actually SHOCKED me was the negative comments on the Jules & Georgia show.

"anyone who still supports them is pathetic. If you only like wlw couples when they are unconfirmed and palatable to straight audiences just say that..."

"they're literally profiting off lgbtq for views without being willing to come out themselves.. Please educate yourself."

UMM wtf??! You are telling me people even in the community are mad when relationships aren't confirmed? Red Flag. To be honest I feel like Jules and Georgia were pushed together by outside forces when Georgia wasn't even ready. That is just ICK. You don't have to do anything your "audience" wants EVER. Absolutely take the time to grow and learn for yourself, those comments were down right disgusting. The moment in the greenhouse with Circe healed a little of that annoyance.

The Lady, Drowned was actually pretty great. I wish we had gotten more of her early on, that we got more little unhinged moments. I enjoyed The Lady's ending.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye back in 2024 and I was very excited to receive an arc of it. The cover is absolutely stunning and captures the story so well. It gives those creepy "not quite right" vibes excellently. I thought the premise of this book was so interesting and I'm glad that it translated into the story, I found it so hard to put down and it always kept me going for just one more chapter until it snowballed into more like 5 more chapters. I was honestly a little surprised that others said the pacing was slow, to me it was just right for the plot and story to progress naturally. Which is saying something because ill be the first to complain about slow pacing, it often makes or breaks a book for me. But I just didn't see it in this book.

I really liked all three POV characters. James, Circe, and Georgia all had something to their perspectives that made me invested in them and their stories. I can't really say I had a favorite out of the three, but Georgia's story got me the most I think just because of her involvement in the haunting and connection to De Lys and The Lady, Drowned. I enjoyed Circe and her eye for art and when we got brief glimpses into how she forged old paintings. I never would have thought that deeply about it or the process honestly. I liked the inserts of transcripts of their show, but I would have liked more of them. It felt like the only time we got a glimpse into how the groups dynamic worked before and their relationship with Jules and it was a good addition. They all had different feelings about Jules once she's gone and they grapple heavily with those through the story but I felt it was important we knew Jules a little better than we ended up knowing her by the end. If there's one thing I love, its characters that haunt the narrative without ever being there. It always enhances books so much for me honestly. The creepy and unsettling vibes of the book were so enhanced by the writing and I think it really made the book what it was. I think there were a few more threads left unfinished by the end, but other than that I really liked this one. Thank you to Netgalley/Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC!

[Nhat Pham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book falls into the YA category, so I kept that in mind while rating it.

Georgia, Jules, Circe, and James are four teenagers who host a popular YouTube ghost-hunting show. The setup reminded me a lot of real-life paranormal investigation shows like Ghost Hunters, especially with the banter between cohosts Georgia and Jules. But behind the scenes, the show is actually a cover for something much darker. They use their investigations as an excuse to enter older homes and steal valuable artwork to sell for profit.

During one of their attempts to steal a piece of art, Jules is murdered. The three remaining friends are each left carrying their own trauma, but the main focus is Georgia, who is also hiding a terrifying secret. The ghost connected to their final art heist may have possessed her.

3.5 actually not 3

There are a lot of complex themes woven throughout the story, including young love, LGBTQ+ representation, friendship, grief, trauma bonding, and the complicated ways teenagers deal with loss. There is also so much teenage angst that it becomes almost physically uncomfortable to read. The tension and anxiety were so palpable that I could not help feeling nervous along with the characters, especially as someone who tends to absorb the emotions in a story.

Overall, the supernatural elements were not nearly as frightening to me as the emotional chaos between the characters. The teenage angst honestly scared me more than the ghosts did.

[Andrea Pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is of the Uncorrected Digital Galley. Thank you to Sophia Hannan, NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster Canada.

We Were Never Here is the ghosty, dark academia book I didn’t realize I needed! Set in the backdrop of a rather prestigious school, we’re met with some diverse characters with a considerable problem on their hands… and a tight deadline to fix it.

I don’t usually read ghost stories, but this one got me hooked! I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, jumping between different narrators. In particular I liked when the beginning of chapters overlapped with their wording, tying bits and pieces together into a congruent timeline. It also keeps you engaged as a reader! There’s tons of depth of character to enjoy.

The representation here is really nice to see as a queer reader. The queer experience can be daunting as a teen/young adult, and representation of that is crucial! We see that here!

I also very much enjoyed having a Palestinian character, and the little flashes of her culture that we got to see.

Great imagery abounds, with lush descriptions to create beautiful (albeit, sometimes creepy) landscapes across your imagination. The book is decently paced, and REALLY kicks into gear over the last 100 pages - I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

This is a solid read, and I cannot wait for it to be published!

[Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Teen for the physical arc of book!!

Holy moly- that cover is everything.

3.5 stars

We Were Never Here is a story about four friends who went into a creepy manor to steal a painting and only three came out. Georgia wakes up covered in her girlfriend, Jules’, blood and has no memories of what happened. Her friends Circe and James have to help her go back to the same place to get the painting or else a man named Lark is going to turn them into the police.

The book had great, creepy gothic themes. I love art and the painting added such an interesting element to the story. It was horrifying! There are chapters with transcripts from their YouTube channel of finding ghosts. And I did wish there had been some actual ghost activity. The writing style took a little bit for me to get into. But once I hit the 60 page mark, it was fine. The buildup for the action at the end felt a little long, although I did enjoy the chapters where Georgia is being taken over by the spirit. Circe was my favorite character and I love that she’s from Palestine. Overall the plot and premise was really good. I had wished for some more creepy scenes added in and the writing style was just a bit different for me. I will be recommending this though!!

[brayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

We Were Never Here is a haunting dark academia novel that completely surprised me in the best way. Set within the halls of a prestigious school, the story follows a diverse cast of characters facing an impossible problem and racing against time to solve it.

Ghost stories aren’t usually my go-to, but this one had me hooked from the start. I especially loved the multiple points of view and how the narrative threads gradually intertwined. I also appreciated the meaningful queer representation woven throughout the novel, as well as the inclusion of a Palestinian character whose culture and experiences added another layer of authenticity and richness to the narrative.

Overall, this is an engaging and immersive read filled with mystery, compelling characters, and stunning imagery. I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it when it’s published! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4/5)

[Jessi McConnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I found this to be a slower burn than I’d anticipated. I love a ghost story so I do feel like I have annoyingly high expectations from paranormal focused books. I wish there was a bit more action in this one. The first 50% was a bit boring to me and I didn’t really find myself attached enough to any of the characters but the second half picked up. The writing was solid and the plot was unique enough for me to keep reading even when I was’t super into it. As a whole, I did like the story and think this was a pretty good read and would be particularly good to read during the Ber months.

Sidenote: This is a YA novel but in my opinion it reads a bit more mature which I enjoyed. My only qualm with this is that the characters felt way too young for the actual story. I think had they been even just a little bit older and in college it would have clicked a bit better for me.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the NetGalley ARC!

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, spooky read!


I really enjoyed the writing style—the imagery was wonderful, the descriptions were lush and creepy at times, and the world was compelling. I also liked the use of transcripts from YouTube, as that was something different. It was really fun to piece together the timeline and what went on as I read.

In regards to characters, the story is told from different POVs. I appreciated the diverse representation here, particularly the queer representation. There was also a Palestinian character, and I loved getting to see bits about her culture.

The pacing was a bit slow for my liking in the beginning, but it picked up in the latter half. Then I became hooked!

All in all, this was a great read, and I would recommend it to those who like spooky ghost stories with a prestigious school backdrop.


Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!

[fanboyriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend group forges and steals paintings but what happens when something goes wrong. How does one of the characters explain that the person she lost was more than a friend and how does she explain she thinks she is being haunted?

This book had wonderful lore and a great mystery plot. So much happened but it all worked so well with the characters and plot. The atmosphere getting more tense as we learned more about the lady. I also really loved the supernatural elements to this book.

I really enjoyed the different point of views and how each of the characters played into the plot of the book. They all fit into the story so well.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)

POV: Multiple, Third Person
Sad Level: 💧💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Circe
Emojis Based on Vibes: 👻🖼️👟

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Blood

[Linda W. Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

(e-ARC received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; thank you to the author and Simon & Schuster Canada)

true rating: 3.75

This was an interesting, character-driven YA horror/thriller. For the most part I really enjoyed it; there were some parts that felt a bit slow for me, and it took a while to grab my attention. But when it did (a bit past the 50% mark) it got into its rhythm and I flew through it. It was pretty good for a debut novel.

I liked how the characters navigated their grief after a friend’s death; I felt that how they reacted and behaved around each other after a traumatic event was realistic. There is also lesbian representation and a character’s struggle with her identity.

The inclusion of a haunted painting was really good; how the author described the hauntings and eerie setting were well-written and probably my favourite parts of this book.

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.

I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it fell flat for me.

The premise is very cool and is what drew me into wanting to read this book. It’s about 4 teens who go into a haunted house to steal a painting and only 3 come out alive. I typically love books with a spooky gothic vibe like this.

The story starts off really slow. It does pick up the pace halfway through, but it was not enough to suck me into the story. Basically, it didn’t seem like much happened at all. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it never came. The entire book felt anticlimactic.

I also didn’t feel a connection towards any of the characters. The book is told through alternating POVs of the three main characters, Georgia, Circe, and James. Usually multiple POVs work well for me, but this time it didn’t. I never felt fully invested in any of them.

On a positive note, the writing style was effortless and easy to read. Also, the cover is gorgeous and captures the story well.

Overall, this book did not work for me. It had a great premise but the execution left me wanting more.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from publisher.
4.5 Stars
A perfect and evocative horror debut!
Sapphic Ghost hunters mixed with eerie hauntings blended in atmospheric dark academia, brings a new chilling thriller for fans of haunting of hill house, bly manor and buzzfeed unsolved.
The writing is absolutley captivating with artistic imagery and horror elements that remain unsettling, and follows alternating perspectives of the three witty teenage MCs. The story is balanced being plenty emotional and gritty, while remaining suitable for a YA audience. The authors investment and passion into this story and characters is evident in every passage.

Highly anticipating the release! Overall a very worthwhile read for any YA/Queer horror enjoyers.

[Jami Chari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophia Hannan, and the publisher for granting me access to this ARC.

Ugh, I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did! I'm a sucker for ghost stories, and this one sounded so interesting! However, in my opinion, the language seemed to be too flowery without enough substance. Also, I think the POVs jumped around a little too much for the story to stay consistent. Combined with the fact that the build up was incredibly slow, this one, unfortunately, missed the mark for me.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

• a fun YA gothic horror! Just in time for my summerween tbr, it wasn't my usual thriller / horror, but it definitely is perfect for a younger audience or honestly anyone who loves YA books.

It's spooky-ish not scary, and there are a few swear words that I'm sure anyone in the recommended age have heard before so I wouldn't worry about it, it was fun, I love stories about anything haunted / ghosts so I knew i would enjoy it.

Also the cover.. gorgeous 💚🖤

• thank you simon & schuster canada for a copy of this book

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf at 60%

I was intrigued by the book's summary. I’m grateful I got a chance to read this book early. This book didn’t work for me. It felt kind of chaotic to me. If this book sounds interesting to you then you should give it a try. I’m in the minority on not enjoying this book. I do not think this is a bad book. Just not a book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophia Hannan, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea]

dnf @57%

I appreciate the opportunity to have been invited to read this arc through Netgalley. I thought the premise of the book sounded super interesting, but I felt it just didn't start off strong. It was very slow to start going and I read that it picks up at 50%, so I pushed through, but didn't feel like I was any more pulled in by the story at 57%.

I think this was just too much of a slow build for me.

[Jennifer Rayment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, if a tad too angsty for this middle age mom, but think the intended audience will enjoy. LGBT+ friendly and set in positive light not a stereotypical character in site. A little slow to get started but half way through picks up with a bang. By the end I was flipping through the pages so fast as I had to know what was going to happen.