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Doe
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26Thrilling crossover YA Horror perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland and Tiffany Jackson, where the captain of a high school cheer team is caught in a bitter rivalry and turns to an ancient, supernatural creature for help, not knowing she’s just made a deal with a devil and could lose everything that matters, including her life.
Maris Larsen is the captain of the West Eaton High cheer team. She’s Coach’s favorite and the team worships her. Being on the team makes her feel special—powerful. When she’s leading the girls on the mat, Maris doesn’t have to think about her dead-end life in a dead-end town. She can forget about her depressed mother and absent father and the fact that her girlfriend doesn’t really love her. But when newcomer and Coach’s new golden girl, Genevieve Ray, joins the team, the only thing going right in Maris’s life is suddenly in jeopardy. A bitter rivalry develops between the two, but Maris is determined to take Genevieve down. The knife she needs to wield comes to Maris in her dreams.
While sleepwalking, Maris is visited by a monstrous, decaying beast in the shape of an enormous deer. Doe is an ancient, tired creature who has been wandering, trapped in her current form for decades. She cannot die, but she cannot go on living as she has. Only a girl related by blood to those who bound her in this form can free her, but those girls she loved died years ago—murdered in a fire.
But Maris is somehow linked to Doe’s beloved girls—linked by blood—and so she has the power to free Doe, to unleash her immense power. In Maris’s dreams, she and Doe form a bond, but Maris doesn’t know the creature from her dreams is real. Maris doesn’t understand the danger she’s in. She only knows Doe has promised her a way to win her battle with Genevieve. But for Maris to win, someone has to die, and the only real winner in the end will be Doe.
Maris Larsen is the captain of the West Eaton High cheer team. She’s Coach’s favorite and the team worships her. Being on the team makes her feel special—powerful. When she’s leading the girls on the mat, Maris doesn’t have to think about her dead-end life in a dead-end town. She can forget about her depressed mother and absent father and the fact that her girlfriend doesn’t really love her. But when newcomer and Coach’s new golden girl, Genevieve Ray, joins the team, the only thing going right in Maris’s life is suddenly in jeopardy. A bitter rivalry develops between the two, but Maris is determined to take Genevieve down. The knife she needs to wield comes to Maris in her dreams.
While sleepwalking, Maris is visited by a monstrous, decaying beast in the shape of an enormous deer. Doe is an ancient, tired creature who has been wandering, trapped in her current form for decades. She cannot die, but she cannot go on living as she has. Only a girl related by blood to those who bound her in this form can free her, but those girls she loved died years ago—murdered in a fire.
But Maris is somehow linked to Doe’s beloved girls—linked by blood—and so she has the power to free Doe, to unleash her immense power. In Maris’s dreams, she and Doe form a bond, but Maris doesn’t know the creature from her dreams is real. Maris doesn’t understand the danger she’s in. She only knows Doe has promised her a way to win her battle with Genevieve. But for Maris to win, someone has to die, and the only real winner in the end will be Doe.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 23, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Barrow
10 books340 followersRebecca Barrow is the critically acclaimed author of Bad Things Happen Here, Interview with the Vixen, This Is What It Feels Like, and You Don’t Know Me But I Know You. She is a lover of sunshine, the sea, and Old Hollywood icons. She lives and writes in England. Visit her at www.rebeccabarrow.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 23, 2026
I don’t know who exactly said, let’s make YA horror huge this year but man, am I glad they did! This was such a powerhouse to read! Written completely in free verse. That’s right. An entire novel written like a poem. A narrative poem. It’s freakin incredible.
I was absolutely sucked in on the first page. Cheerleaders in a nothing town with a nothing future staring them in the face. A group so tightly knit they were one body, one organism. Until they weren’t. Enter Genieve, a newcomer with a prior relationship to the Coach. An outsider. The girls think they’ll be able to put her in her place, only Genieve (never Gen) refuses to stay there. What’s a girl to do?
Call on an ancient bound entity that uses the forces of nature to exact revenge of course. DUH. Taking on the shape of a large deer, the entity has a sad backstory that left her feeling as if she would never find another connection with a living being again. She roams the earth for so long she begins to decay as the stands. Until the day one of the girls on the team can see her. She. Can. See. Her.
From there weaves a supernatural tale of revenge, loss, and what happens when someone with no future feels the present being taken away from them. It’s haunting, it’s tragic, it’s vengeful. Rebecca Barrow wasn’t on my radar before, but she sure as hell is now. This was otherworldly levels of amazing. I am hooked!
Doe hits shelves on June 23 and you NEED to get yourself a copy of this one. It’s different, it’s fresh, and so, so easy to get lost in.
Huge thank you to Penguin Young Readers | Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for the eARC and opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
I was absolutely sucked in on the first page. Cheerleaders in a nothing town with a nothing future staring them in the face. A group so tightly knit they were one body, one organism. Until they weren’t. Enter Genieve, a newcomer with a prior relationship to the Coach. An outsider. The girls think they’ll be able to put her in her place, only Genieve (never Gen) refuses to stay there. What’s a girl to do?
Call on an ancient bound entity that uses the forces of nature to exact revenge of course. DUH. Taking on the shape of a large deer, the entity has a sad backstory that left her feeling as if she would never find another connection with a living being again. She roams the earth for so long she begins to decay as the stands. Until the day one of the girls on the team can see her. She. Can. See. Her.
From there weaves a supernatural tale of revenge, loss, and what happens when someone with no future feels the present being taken away from them. It’s haunting, it’s tragic, it’s vengeful. Rebecca Barrow wasn’t on my radar before, but she sure as hell is now. This was otherworldly levels of amazing. I am hooked!
Doe hits shelves on June 23 and you NEED to get yourself a copy of this one. It’s different, it’s fresh, and so, so easy to get lost in.
Huge thank you to Penguin Young Readers | Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for the eARC and opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Doe by Rebecca Barrow is an unsettling yet mesmerizing journey into the mind of a girl caught between her desires, her past, and an ancient supernatural force. Unfolding more like a series of deep personal inner thoughts than a traditional narrative, the book immerses readers deeply into Maris Larsen’s psyche, making it a psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page.
What truly sets Doe apart is its unconventional storytelling style. The aphoristic style format—composed of Maris' deepest thoughts—creates an intimate, almost voyeuristic experience. This approach invites us to witness her raw, unfiltered thoughts as she grapples with her tumultuous life: the weight of her role as cheer captain, her strained relationship with her depressed mother, her feelings of inadequacy, and her complicated romance. It’s this internal dialogue that makes her character so real and relatable, even amid the supernatural chaos.
The supernatural element, embodied by the ancient, decaying creature named Doe, adds a dark, visceral layer to the story. The creature’s presence feels both mythic and disturbingly tangible, blurring the lines between nightmares and reality. Maris’s dreams, where she interacts with Doe, are vividly written—both thrilling and terrifying—highlighting her psychological unraveling. The twist lies in how her desire for power and her rivalry with Genevieve unwittingly lead her deeper into this supernatural web, revealing how her past magical bonding with Doe has haunting consequences.
Barrow masterfully explores themes of power, rivalry, and identity, all wrapped in a suspenseful, horror-tinged narrative. The plot twists keep the tension high, especially as Maris unknowingly makes a deal with a devil—literally—without fully understanding the stakes. The idea that someone must die for her to win, and that she might be the one to pay the ultimate price, adds a heartbreaking layer of moral ambiguity that lingers.
Fans of YA horror and dark psychological thrillers like Krystal Sutherland and Tiffany Jackson will find Doe to be a compelling crossover—part coming-of-age story, part supernatural nightmare. It’s a haunting reminder of how past traumas and unexamined desires can open doors to forces beyond our understanding. Barrow’s writing is evocative, intense, and richly atmospheric, making Doe a book that’s hard to put down.
While I would have loved a bit more resolution at the end, the ambiguity and moral complexity make Doe a thought-provoking read. It’s a beautifully dark tale about the cost of power and the danger of diving into things we don’t fully understand. I recommend it to anyone looking for a psychological thriller that’s as creepy as it is emotionally gripping.
What truly sets Doe apart is its unconventional storytelling style. The aphoristic style format—composed of Maris' deepest thoughts—creates an intimate, almost voyeuristic experience. This approach invites us to witness her raw, unfiltered thoughts as she grapples with her tumultuous life: the weight of her role as cheer captain, her strained relationship with her depressed mother, her feelings of inadequacy, and her complicated romance. It’s this internal dialogue that makes her character so real and relatable, even amid the supernatural chaos.
The supernatural element, embodied by the ancient, decaying creature named Doe, adds a dark, visceral layer to the story. The creature’s presence feels both mythic and disturbingly tangible, blurring the lines between nightmares and reality. Maris’s dreams, where she interacts with Doe, are vividly written—both thrilling and terrifying—highlighting her psychological unraveling. The twist lies in how her desire for power and her rivalry with Genevieve unwittingly lead her deeper into this supernatural web, revealing how her past magical bonding with Doe has haunting consequences.
Barrow masterfully explores themes of power, rivalry, and identity, all wrapped in a suspenseful, horror-tinged narrative. The plot twists keep the tension high, especially as Maris unknowingly makes a deal with a devil—literally—without fully understanding the stakes. The idea that someone must die for her to win, and that she might be the one to pay the ultimate price, adds a heartbreaking layer of moral ambiguity that lingers.
Fans of YA horror and dark psychological thrillers like Krystal Sutherland and Tiffany Jackson will find Doe to be a compelling crossover—part coming-of-age story, part supernatural nightmare. It’s a haunting reminder of how past traumas and unexamined desires can open doors to forces beyond our understanding. Barrow’s writing is evocative, intense, and richly atmospheric, making Doe a book that’s hard to put down.
While I would have loved a bit more resolution at the end, the ambiguity and moral complexity make Doe a thought-provoking read. It’s a beautifully dark tale about the cost of power and the danger of diving into things we don’t fully understand. I recommend it to anyone looking for a psychological thriller that’s as creepy as it is emotionally gripping.
June 16, 2026
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway - all opinions are my own.
Told as a verse novel, Doe is a brilliant story of rivalry and leadership.
We follow Maris, the captain of a high school cheer team. When faced with a new rival, Maris makes a deal with an ancient creature to ensure she stays on top. What she doesn’t know is that this deal will require sacrifice.
This story was stylistically stunning! The novel-in-verse format was perfectly suited to the story and provided rhythm and an emotional punch. As someone who despises excess fluff and descriptions, it was so nice to simply ride the stanzas. Join the beauty of the writing with a captivating story and you’ve got a great time.
The author portrays this group of girls with great accuracy. I felt like I was back in high school and up to no good with my girlfriends. The characters, (namely Maris) were flawed, loyal, and authentic. While I certainly cannot relate to the cheerleading throughline, this isn’t your typical do-good squad. These are girls with little optimism for their futures; teens clinging on to their tight bonds and dysfunctional relationships.
Doe as an entity was unique and I thoroughly enjoyed the lore, though I wish a little more time was spent with Bonnie and the original girls. I found the dream sequences to be particularly enjoyable and I really liked the ending as well.
Often I find that the antagonist in YA horror stories are a bit too sugared and palatable but I enjoyed that this story had truly high stakes and wasn’t overly flowered.
This is a solid YA Horror. I recommend for fans of verse novels, themes of friendship and youthful resilience, and impactful young adult stories.
Told as a verse novel, Doe is a brilliant story of rivalry and leadership.
We follow Maris, the captain of a high school cheer team. When faced with a new rival, Maris makes a deal with an ancient creature to ensure she stays on top. What she doesn’t know is that this deal will require sacrifice.
This story was stylistically stunning! The novel-in-verse format was perfectly suited to the story and provided rhythm and an emotional punch. As someone who despises excess fluff and descriptions, it was so nice to simply ride the stanzas. Join the beauty of the writing with a captivating story and you’ve got a great time.
The author portrays this group of girls with great accuracy. I felt like I was back in high school and up to no good with my girlfriends. The characters, (namely Maris) were flawed, loyal, and authentic. While I certainly cannot relate to the cheerleading throughline, this isn’t your typical do-good squad. These are girls with little optimism for their futures; teens clinging on to their tight bonds and dysfunctional relationships.
Doe as an entity was unique and I thoroughly enjoyed the lore, though I wish a little more time was spent with Bonnie and the original girls. I found the dream sequences to be particularly enjoyable and I really liked the ending as well.
Often I find that the antagonist in YA horror stories are a bit too sugared and palatable but I enjoyed that this story had truly high stakes and wasn’t overly flowered.
This is a solid YA Horror. I recommend for fans of verse novels, themes of friendship and youthful resilience, and impactful young adult stories.
June 20, 2026
This is my first time reading a novel in verse and you can definitely consider me a fan now. This was beautifully written. You get the full impact of the story and emotions without all the fluff in the middle. I think this did a great job of exploring yearning and desperation, for something new, something better, or simply for things to stay the same. I think those are pretty common things for teens. The folklore element was fantastic. Wanting to be loved, to be seen, to be freed. The parallel between Doe and Maris was the cherry on top. Overall a really great read. I will be reading more by this author.
June 10, 2026
Don’t worry Akira I’ll get you a mf review soon
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Teenage girls are hungry, violent whirlwinds, desperate for support and love and wanting to feel like part of a pack. Doe captures that feral energy perfectly - and does so in verse! - especially as girlhood and animalistic instincts start to blur together.
The one thing Maris has going for her is that she leads the West Eaton High School cheer team. Yes, she’s got the title of captain, but more importantly than that, the girls worship her. School sucks, the other kids in town look down on the team, she knows her girlfriend will move on after graduation, and neither parent is there for her, but Maris will always have sacred cheer time.
Except Coach brings in a new girl, Genevieve Ray. She’s tumbling circles around them, already making friends at school, and even gets to ride to and from school in Coach’s car. Maris and the others on the team are threatened, furious, and ready to take her down.
And Maris has an edge: a decaying, ancient creature named Doe who speaks with her as she sleepwalks. Doe was bound in this enormous deer form decades ago, and only Maris can set her free. Doe promises vengeance, sacrifice, and blood … and Maris has no idea the creature from her dreams is very real and very powerful.
“No longer just a monster or a
god, but the
truest amalgamation of the two:
a girl.”
This book is written in verse, and both the flow and jarring stops and starts feel so authentic to teenage girlhood. Sometimes it’s a cultish chant - a groupthink - and you crave that, because being part of any group means safety. You’re co-dependent because everyone else has shut you out. And sometimes you’re getting whiplash from your own constantly-shifting thoughts and emotions, especially as you think about your future.
The verse also really enhanced the atmosphere and the tension. You FEEL the distaste of the townspeople and the woods creeping in and the prickle of being watched by an ancient entity on the hunt. The stakes were SO high, and all of our narrators have fangs and claws. You know this will end in blood, but it’s hard to predict who will live, who will die, and who will come out on top.
I liked that Maris really has GRIT. She’s flawed and often cruel, but her frustration simmers in a very realistic way. She’s stopped herself from speaking her dreams for the future aloud because she’s afraid everyone will tell her they’re unrealistic and she’ll live in this town for the rest of her life. She holds her girlfriend at a distance because she’s convinced she doesn’t really love her back. Her dad is absent, her mom is depressed, and home just doesn’t feel like home for her. The mat is her safe space, her power in leadership is her defense mechanism, and she’s not afraid to bite. I don’t know if you’ll root for her, but you’ll definitely relate to her.
Doe could easily serve as a background haunting, an atmospheric folkloric entity, but instead we get to peer into her psyche as well. She’s furious about the original group of girls that trapped her, but she also grows to care for them very deeply. She’s also an outsider looking in, and also hungering for agency.
The team is also given a group perspective, which heightens that cultish, codependent vibe. We get snippets of their personalities and backgrounds, but the overarching point is that they need each other. They crave each other. They have absent or abusive parents, they don’t have financial stability, and they dress and do their makeup in a boundary-pushing way that isolates them further from the rest of the teenagers in town. And so they put everything they have into each other and into cheer.
My little bit of a stumble has to do with the ending. Without giving spoilers, I really wanted a little more time to see into their lives post the epic climax, and I feel like we didn’t quite get closure from one of the narrators.
If you like nature magic, folklore, and teenage cult hive minds, give this one a go. I also appreciated the way it tackled themes of classism, bullying, first loves, toxic cycles, feeling trapped in your life, absent parents, and small town suffocation.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to make a bloody deal of vengeance with the monstrous doe entity that stalks you while you sleep. It happens. That’s girlhood.
CW: murder, death, violence, gore, blood, animal cruelty/death, toxic friendship, fire, bullying, classism, self harm, absent parents, mental health, infidelity, body horror, abandonment, child death, stalking
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
The one thing Maris has going for her is that she leads the West Eaton High School cheer team. Yes, she’s got the title of captain, but more importantly than that, the girls worship her. School sucks, the other kids in town look down on the team, she knows her girlfriend will move on after graduation, and neither parent is there for her, but Maris will always have sacred cheer time.
Except Coach brings in a new girl, Genevieve Ray. She’s tumbling circles around them, already making friends at school, and even gets to ride to and from school in Coach’s car. Maris and the others on the team are threatened, furious, and ready to take her down.
And Maris has an edge: a decaying, ancient creature named Doe who speaks with her as she sleepwalks. Doe was bound in this enormous deer form decades ago, and only Maris can set her free. Doe promises vengeance, sacrifice, and blood … and Maris has no idea the creature from her dreams is very real and very powerful.
“No longer just a monster or a
god, but the
truest amalgamation of the two:
a girl.”
This book is written in verse, and both the flow and jarring stops and starts feel so authentic to teenage girlhood. Sometimes it’s a cultish chant - a groupthink - and you crave that, because being part of any group means safety. You’re co-dependent because everyone else has shut you out. And sometimes you’re getting whiplash from your own constantly-shifting thoughts and emotions, especially as you think about your future.
The verse also really enhanced the atmosphere and the tension. You FEEL the distaste of the townspeople and the woods creeping in and the prickle of being watched by an ancient entity on the hunt. The stakes were SO high, and all of our narrators have fangs and claws. You know this will end in blood, but it’s hard to predict who will live, who will die, and who will come out on top.
I liked that Maris really has GRIT. She’s flawed and often cruel, but her frustration simmers in a very realistic way. She’s stopped herself from speaking her dreams for the future aloud because she’s afraid everyone will tell her they’re unrealistic and she’ll live in this town for the rest of her life. She holds her girlfriend at a distance because she’s convinced she doesn’t really love her back. Her dad is absent, her mom is depressed, and home just doesn’t feel like home for her. The mat is her safe space, her power in leadership is her defense mechanism, and she’s not afraid to bite. I don’t know if you’ll root for her, but you’ll definitely relate to her.
Doe could easily serve as a background haunting, an atmospheric folkloric entity, but instead we get to peer into her psyche as well. She’s furious about the original group of girls that trapped her, but she also grows to care for them very deeply. She’s also an outsider looking in, and also hungering for agency.
The team is also given a group perspective, which heightens that cultish, codependent vibe. We get snippets of their personalities and backgrounds, but the overarching point is that they need each other. They crave each other. They have absent or abusive parents, they don’t have financial stability, and they dress and do their makeup in a boundary-pushing way that isolates them further from the rest of the teenagers in town. And so they put everything they have into each other and into cheer.
My little bit of a stumble has to do with the ending. Without giving spoilers, I really wanted a little more time to see into their lives post the epic climax, and I feel like we didn’t quite get closure from one of the narrators.
If you like nature magic, folklore, and teenage cult hive minds, give this one a go. I also appreciated the way it tackled themes of classism, bullying, first loves, toxic cycles, feeling trapped in your life, absent parents, and small town suffocation.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to make a bloody deal of vengeance with the monstrous doe entity that stalks you while you sleep. It happens. That’s girlhood.
CW: murder, death, violence, gore, blood, animal cruelty/death, toxic friendship, fire, bullying, classism, self harm, absent parents, mental health, infidelity, body horror, abandonment, child death, stalking
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
June 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars. The summary is a bit misleading, but I definitely had a good time.
The pros: First of all, this is a novel in verse?? Which is cool as hell. Second, I love the team. I love how codependent they are, I love how much they care about each other. Maris is a great main character because I understand her thought process even when it gets desperate and insane. Genevieve is a great antagonist for the same reason. I really love that they've both got valid points for not clicking (Maris doesn't like that Genevieve thinks herself better than the team, which she does. Genevieve is weirded out by the team's culty codependency, which they do have). It makes for a much more interesting dynamic and source of tension. I also loved Doe, and getting to see what happened to her. The last 30% or so was pretty brutal and I had a great time with it, absolutely loved the horror there.
The cons: As fun as it being a novel in verse is, there didn't really feel like a point to the form. Also it's all free-verse, so there wasn't even any fun playing around with poetic structures and the like. Just felt like a missed opportunity to be something more than an aesthetic choice, y'know? Relatedly, the book kind of feels too long even though its still a pretty quick read, if that makes sense? I think a bigger cause for that is the plot. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but as I said up top, the summary is very misleading. Doe and Maris hardly interact until the last quarter of the book, and even then its not a ton. This makes the book feel less like the eldritch horror novel that it wants to be and more like a teen drama. I also didn't like that the ending was a twist only via withholding information that we otherwise would have recieved. We hear that Doe and Maris are coming up with a plan, but never get any details on it until the plan has happened. It just felt a bit weak that way and it lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, very neat!!
3.5 stars. The summary is a bit misleading, but I definitely had a good time.
The pros: First of all, this is a novel in verse?? Which is cool as hell. Second, I love the team. I love how codependent they are, I love how much they care about each other. Maris is a great main character because I understand her thought process even when it gets desperate and insane. Genevieve is a great antagonist for the same reason. I really love that they've both got valid points for not clicking (Maris doesn't like that Genevieve thinks herself better than the team, which she does. Genevieve is weirded out by the team's culty codependency, which they do have). It makes for a much more interesting dynamic and source of tension. I also loved Doe, and getting to see what happened to her. The last 30% or so was pretty brutal and I had a great time with it, absolutely loved the horror there.
The cons: As fun as it being a novel in verse is, there didn't really feel like a point to the form. Also it's all free-verse, so there wasn't even any fun playing around with poetic structures and the like. Just felt like a missed opportunity to be something more than an aesthetic choice, y'know? Relatedly, the book kind of feels too long even though its still a pretty quick read, if that makes sense? I think a bigger cause for that is the plot. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but as I said up top, the summary is very misleading. Doe and Maris hardly interact until the last quarter of the book, and even then its not a ton. This makes the book feel less like the eldritch horror novel that it wants to be and more like a teen drama. I also didn't like that the ending was a twist only via withholding information that we otherwise would have recieved. We hear that Doe and Maris are coming up with a plan, but never get any details on it until the plan has happened. It just felt a bit weak that way and it lessened my enjoyment.
Overall, very neat!!
June 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Be careful what you cheer for.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of DOE, which is officially my first novel-in-verse and absolutely will not be my last, what a way to break the seal.
I went in not totally sure what I was signing up for, structurally speaking, and came out fully converted. The verse format does something a regular paragraph just couldn't, it strips everything down to the feeling, no fluff, no filler, just Maris's brain laid bare on the page like she's daring you to judge her. And you kind of do, and then you kind of don't, and that push and pull is the whole appeal.
Maris herself is a deeply messy, deeply human disaster of a teenager, captain of the cheer team, drowning quietly at home, and absolutely willing to make questionable deals with ancient deer-shaped entities if it means staying on top. Iconic behavior, actually. The Team chapters were a real standout for me too, there's this group-consciousness quality to them that made the squad feel like one collective organism running on adrenaline and shared trauma, which is a wildly accurate depiction of being a teenage girl in any high-stakes friend group, cheerleading or otherwise.
Doe as a creature is genuinely such a cool concept, tired, ancient, decaying, just wandering around waiting for the right girl to unlock her. I would have happily read fifty more pages of her backstory. Calling this "horror" had me bracing for something I didn't fully get, this read more tense and atmospheric than scary, which is fine, just recalibrate your expectations if you're coming for jump scares.
Bottom line: stylistically gorgeous, emotionally sharp, and a great entry point if you've never tried verse before.
Be careful what you cheer for.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of DOE, which is officially my first novel-in-verse and absolutely will not be my last, what a way to break the seal.
I went in not totally sure what I was signing up for, structurally speaking, and came out fully converted. The verse format does something a regular paragraph just couldn't, it strips everything down to the feeling, no fluff, no filler, just Maris's brain laid bare on the page like she's daring you to judge her. And you kind of do, and then you kind of don't, and that push and pull is the whole appeal.
Maris herself is a deeply messy, deeply human disaster of a teenager, captain of the cheer team, drowning quietly at home, and absolutely willing to make questionable deals with ancient deer-shaped entities if it means staying on top. Iconic behavior, actually. The Team chapters were a real standout for me too, there's this group-consciousness quality to them that made the squad feel like one collective organism running on adrenaline and shared trauma, which is a wildly accurate depiction of being a teenage girl in any high-stakes friend group, cheerleading or otherwise.
Doe as a creature is genuinely such a cool concept, tired, ancient, decaying, just wandering around waiting for the right girl to unlock her. I would have happily read fifty more pages of her backstory. Calling this "horror" had me bracing for something I didn't fully get, this read more tense and atmospheric than scary, which is fine, just recalibrate your expectations if you're coming for jump scares.
Bottom line: stylistically gorgeous, emotionally sharp, and a great entry point if you've never tried verse before.
June 8, 2026
I have to say the beautiful cover is what drew me to this book. I’m happy to say the story inside was also great, beautifully told and full of dark surprises. I had so much empathy for Maris as she is navigating high school, being cheer captain, a mother who isn't truly present even though she’s there in body, and a relationship with someone she’s not convinced actually loves her. Shes dealing with a lot when Genevieve comes into town and grows a wrench in everything. Maris now has to fight to keep what is hers, especially the girls on the cheer team and is so desperate she makes a bargain with an entity whose promises maybe aren’t what they seem. I loved how this was written with perspectives from Maris, Doe (the mythical deer creature), and the Team. Told in verse, the story unfolded so beautifully and emotionally and at times was so suspenseful. I tore through this and could not put it down! I highly recommend this especially if you like complicated female relationships with some folk horror added to raise the stakes. I really enjoyed this book!
**thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this for review.
**thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this for review.
March 25, 2026
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
This was my first by Rebecca Barrow, and I definitely plan to read more of her catalog. I really loved the way Doe was written and the way different perspectives were presented. I especially loved Doe’s history and how it led to her present situation. It was a really fascinating read and one that when I could sit down to read, I didn’t want to put it down. As much as I enjoyed Maris and Doe and Team especially, the ending felt almost sudden. It made sense, everything was leading up to it, but I didn’t wholly enjoy the turns it took. I wouldn’t necessarily describe Doe as a “scary” read, but it’s definitely tense and I just really loved how Team chapters built this feeling of one organism made of many girls, each dealing with different difficult situations, and finding their only joy and solace in cheer and the group of girls. Definitely a fascinating read.
This was my first by Rebecca Barrow, and I definitely plan to read more of her catalog. I really loved the way Doe was written and the way different perspectives were presented. I especially loved Doe’s history and how it led to her present situation. It was a really fascinating read and one that when I could sit down to read, I didn’t want to put it down. As much as I enjoyed Maris and Doe and Team especially, the ending felt almost sudden. It made sense, everything was leading up to it, but I didn’t wholly enjoy the turns it took. I wouldn’t necessarily describe Doe as a “scary” read, but it’s definitely tense and I just really loved how Team chapters built this feeling of one organism made of many girls, each dealing with different difficult situations, and finding their only joy and solace in cheer and the group of girls. Definitely a fascinating read.
May 1, 2026
I received an advance physical copy from Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t what I expected going in, but I enjoyed the journey! I haven’t seen any mentions of this, but the story is told in prose which originally took me by surprise. This results in a fast-paced, and occasionally abrupt story, where we change between the different perspectives (Genevieve, Maris, the team).
Doe is an ancient deer-like god-creature which used to support a group of girls in the distant past. Now, she finds Maris who is a descendant of one of those girls. Maris happens to be the only person who can see Doe.
Maris is captain of her teams cheer squad, cheer is her entire life and her value comes from being captain. When a new girl, Genevieve is added to the team, she feels threatened.
Stereotypical cheer bitchiness ensues, and Maris gets more and more cruel with Doe whispering in her ear.
A unique, fast paced read!
This book wasn’t what I expected going in, but I enjoyed the journey! I haven’t seen any mentions of this, but the story is told in prose which originally took me by surprise. This results in a fast-paced, and occasionally abrupt story, where we change between the different perspectives (Genevieve, Maris, the team).
Doe is an ancient deer-like god-creature which used to support a group of girls in the distant past. Now, she finds Maris who is a descendant of one of those girls. Maris happens to be the only person who can see Doe.
Maris is captain of her teams cheer squad, cheer is her entire life and her value comes from being captain. When a new girl, Genevieve is added to the team, she feels threatened.
Stereotypical cheer bitchiness ensues, and Maris gets more and more cruel with Doe whispering in her ear.
A unique, fast paced read!
Read
May 1, 20263.5stars
DOE surrounds primarily around the life of Maris a captain on the cheerleading team. The team is her family, the only one she really has. So, when Genevieve, a top gymnast that knows the coach is added on the team Maris feels her spot being threatened.
Also in the background is DOE a creature that has been watching Maris for a while because she knew her grandmother and now she wants Maris.
The story is written in prose, which complicates the depths of the characters and the blending of the past and present. I feel like this story was meant to be more complex and the prose writing does not give way to show the layers needed for the story to be that 5 star. Even with the short writing it took me a while to get through it.
Thank you netgalley and penguin young readers group for this arc
DOE surrounds primarily around the life of Maris a captain on the cheerleading team. The team is her family, the only one she really has. So, when Genevieve, a top gymnast that knows the coach is added on the team Maris feels her spot being threatened.
Also in the background is DOE a creature that has been watching Maris for a while because she knew her grandmother and now she wants Maris.
The story is written in prose, which complicates the depths of the characters and the blending of the past and present. I feel like this story was meant to be more complex and the prose writing does not give way to show the layers needed for the story to be that 5 star. Even with the short writing it took me a while to get through it.
Thank you netgalley and penguin young readers group for this arc
June 16, 2026
Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
———
A dark and eerie read about a cheer squad that moves as one—not only on the court, but off of it as well. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the way they were written. At first, it felt like the story might be told in a poetic format, but it ultimately settled into a more traditional storytelling style.
The story moved quickly, so much so that I wasn’t sure there would be enough time for the other shoe to drop. When it finally did, I was genuinely surprised. I had some idea of Doe’s intentions, but not to that extent. The ending left me with plenty of questions.
What stood out most was how well the story captured the feeling of not belonging and the desire to find community—only to realize that sense of connection may be rooted more in shared trauma than genuine belonging. Atmospheric, unsettling, and thought-provoking.
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC of this book. ✨
———
A dark and eerie read about a cheer squad that moves as one—not only on the court, but off of it as well. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the way they were written. At first, it felt like the story might be told in a poetic format, but it ultimately settled into a more traditional storytelling style.
The story moved quickly, so much so that I wasn’t sure there would be enough time for the other shoe to drop. When it finally did, I was genuinely surprised. I had some idea of Doe’s intentions, but not to that extent. The ending left me with plenty of questions.
What stood out most was how well the story captured the feeling of not belonging and the desire to find community—only to realize that sense of connection may be rooted more in shared trauma than genuine belonging. Atmospheric, unsettling, and thought-provoking.
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC of this book. ✨
June 16, 2026
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought it was well written. I look forward to reading more from this author. I would definitely recommend this book.
Want to Read
March 30, 2026this cover is gorgeous!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 28, 2026
2.5 stars
This book was something entirely out of my comfort zone. I have never really been a fan of YA horror; yet, this book was still really interesting for me. I was taken aback by the interesting approach at writing, the different point of views, the quick pace, and the mythical pieces of the storyline.
However, the book did not hit for me.
The characters? Flat. They never really changed or grew and didn’t seem real to me. I personally didn’t relate to any of them. They were all villainized and made it very hard for me to root for anyone. Some of the characters showed no sense of logic and understanding, which frustrated me immensely. It’s obviously very feminine and queer focused, but it didn’t really seem to show anything unique to these topics through its characters.
The plot? Predictable and, in a way, nonexistent. The book has a somewhat nonlinear timeline for one of the point of views, but, in my opinion, this added nothing to the story. It was very addicting and clever in som parts, but, once again, it didn’t feel original or entirely interesting.
The horror? Not very horrific. I understanding that, as a YA horror novel, it’s not meant to be entirely terrifying or keep you up at night. However, I didn’t feel scared at all. If anything, the horrific elements made me want to laugh. Doe wasn’t really scary. She just felt more like a mindless creature with anger issues.
The moral? Um… don’t make bad decisions based on anger and revenge? The book just didn’t seem to have a purpose.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book to an extent. I never really felt emotional about the characters, and I never resonated with them either.
This book was something entirely out of my comfort zone. I have never really been a fan of YA horror; yet, this book was still really interesting for me. I was taken aback by the interesting approach at writing, the different point of views, the quick pace, and the mythical pieces of the storyline.
However, the book did not hit for me.
The characters? Flat. They never really changed or grew and didn’t seem real to me. I personally didn’t relate to any of them. They were all villainized and made it very hard for me to root for anyone. Some of the characters showed no sense of logic and understanding, which frustrated me immensely. It’s obviously very feminine and queer focused, but it didn’t really seem to show anything unique to these topics through its characters.
The plot? Predictable and, in a way, nonexistent. The book has a somewhat nonlinear timeline for one of the point of views, but, in my opinion, this added nothing to the story. It was very addicting and clever in som parts, but, once again, it didn’t feel original or entirely interesting.
The horror? Not very horrific. I understanding that, as a YA horror novel, it’s not meant to be entirely terrifying or keep you up at night. However, I didn’t feel scared at all. If anything, the horrific elements made me want to laugh. Doe wasn’t really scary. She just felt more like a mindless creature with anger issues.
The moral? Um… don’t make bad decisions based on anger and revenge? The book just didn’t seem to have a purpose.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book to an extent. I never really felt emotional about the characters, and I never resonated with them either.
February 1, 2026
A verse novel about a girl, Maris, who wants everything in the world but feels she deserves nothing. The one thing she truly has is her team - until Genevieve shows up to take that from her, too. Then, in her dreams, Maris meets Doe, an ancient creature with incredible powers… if only she weren’t bound. Doe will help Maris, but it will come with a cost.
The book was beautifully written, and being a verse novel, a quick read! Dark, enchanting, tense, and occasionally terrifying.
The book was beautifully written, and being a verse novel, a quick read! Dark, enchanting, tense, and occasionally terrifying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rebecca Barrow’s “Doe” is a chilling, poetic YA horror story that combines supernatural dread with the brutal social hierarchies of high school cheerleading. Told entirely in verse, this is a quick but emotionally heavy read; it’s one that uses lyricism to explore jealousy, power, obsession, and the dangerous pull of belonging.
At the center of the story is Maris Larsen, the captain of a small-town cheer squad that functions less like a team and more like a hive mind. To these girls, cheerleading is everything: identity, future, family. There is even a collective “we” perspective from the cheer team’s POV to show the extent of their togetherness. To be cut from the team is to be erased. Maris thrives on this power, using it to escape her bleak home life and uncertain future, but her control is threatened when Genevieve Ray, a talented, confident newcomer, joins the squad mid-season and refuses to play by Maris’s rules. What begins as rivalry quickly turns poisonous.
Enter Doe: an ancient, supernatural creature in the form of a decaying deer, bound by a curse and tethered to Maris by blood and legacy. Doe is not human, not moral, and not gentle. Through dreamlike, sleepwalking encounters, Doe offers Maris exactly what she wants, such as power, control, and victory, all at a terrible cost. While Maris believes she is using Doe as a weapon against Genevieve, it becomes increasingly clear that Doe has its own agenda. All Doe has ever wanted is freedom, and it is willing to destroy everything to get it.
The story rotates between perspectives: Maris’s controlling, fear-driven voice; Doe’s haunting, ancient perspective; Genevieve’s quiet vulnerability; and the chapters told from the collective “we” of the cheer team itself. These collective chapters are especially effective, emphasizing how groupthink erases individuality and fuels cruelty, while also highlighting the genuine strength and comfort found in female togetherness and found family.
Barrow excels at atmosphere. The horror here is more psychological than graphic, but several moments linger long after the final page. The slow build means Doe’s full plan takes time to unfold over the course of half the book, but the tension steadily tightens, creating an ominous sense of inevitability. While the middle felt repetitive at times and the ending was a bit undeveloped, the conclusion is deeply unsettling and intentionally tragic. Doe gets what it wants, but the cost is irreversible, leaving behind loss, guilt, and sacrifice.
Importantly, “Doe” does not offer a traditional hero. Maris is selfish, manipulative, and terrified of losing her status; Genevieve is largely an innocent casualty of another girl’s insecurity; and Doe, while sympathetic in its suffering, is ultimately a violent force of destruction. The story serves as a cautionary tale about obsession, the dangers of unchecked power, and what happens when insecurity is given supernatural teeth.
Overall, “Doe” is a dark, lyrical YA horror story perfect for older teen readers who enjoy slow-burn dread, morally messy characters, and stories about toxic group dynamics. With its Yellowjackets-like vibes, poetic structure, and unsettling supernatural presence, this book is both a sharp critique of high school social hierarchies and a haunting meditation on what we sacrifice to feel powerful and to belong.
Rebecca Barrow’s “Doe” is a chilling, poetic YA horror story that combines supernatural dread with the brutal social hierarchies of high school cheerleading. Told entirely in verse, this is a quick but emotionally heavy read; it’s one that uses lyricism to explore jealousy, power, obsession, and the dangerous pull of belonging.
At the center of the story is Maris Larsen, the captain of a small-town cheer squad that functions less like a team and more like a hive mind. To these girls, cheerleading is everything: identity, future, family. There is even a collective “we” perspective from the cheer team’s POV to show the extent of their togetherness. To be cut from the team is to be erased. Maris thrives on this power, using it to escape her bleak home life and uncertain future, but her control is threatened when Genevieve Ray, a talented, confident newcomer, joins the squad mid-season and refuses to play by Maris’s rules. What begins as rivalry quickly turns poisonous.
Enter Doe: an ancient, supernatural creature in the form of a decaying deer, bound by a curse and tethered to Maris by blood and legacy. Doe is not human, not moral, and not gentle. Through dreamlike, sleepwalking encounters, Doe offers Maris exactly what she wants, such as power, control, and victory, all at a terrible cost. While Maris believes she is using Doe as a weapon against Genevieve, it becomes increasingly clear that Doe has its own agenda. All Doe has ever wanted is freedom, and it is willing to destroy everything to get it.
The story rotates between perspectives: Maris’s controlling, fear-driven voice; Doe’s haunting, ancient perspective; Genevieve’s quiet vulnerability; and the chapters told from the collective “we” of the cheer team itself. These collective chapters are especially effective, emphasizing how groupthink erases individuality and fuels cruelty, while also highlighting the genuine strength and comfort found in female togetherness and found family.
Barrow excels at atmosphere. The horror here is more psychological than graphic, but several moments linger long after the final page. The slow build means Doe’s full plan takes time to unfold over the course of half the book, but the tension steadily tightens, creating an ominous sense of inevitability. While the middle felt repetitive at times and the ending was a bit undeveloped, the conclusion is deeply unsettling and intentionally tragic. Doe gets what it wants, but the cost is irreversible, leaving behind loss, guilt, and sacrifice.
Importantly, “Doe” does not offer a traditional hero. Maris is selfish, manipulative, and terrified of losing her status; Genevieve is largely an innocent casualty of another girl’s insecurity; and Doe, while sympathetic in its suffering, is ultimately a violent force of destruction. The story serves as a cautionary tale about obsession, the dangers of unchecked power, and what happens when insecurity is given supernatural teeth.
Overall, “Doe” is a dark, lyrical YA horror story perfect for older teen readers who enjoy slow-burn dread, morally messy characters, and stories about toxic group dynamics. With its Yellowjackets-like vibes, poetic structure, and unsettling supernatural presence, this book is both a sharp critique of high school social hierarchies and a haunting meditation on what we sacrifice to feel powerful and to belong.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an atmospheric and unsettling YA horror novel that completely drew me into its world. Combining the high-pressure environment of competitive cheerleading with supernatural horror and small-town secrets, this story delivers a haunting reading experience that kept me engaged from beginning to end.
At its core, this is a story about power, insecurity, grief, and the desperate choices people make when they feel like they’re losing control. Maris is a complex protagonist whose flaws make her feel incredibly real. She is struggling with family issues, complicated relationships, and a growing fear of losing the one thing that makes her feel important. Watching her navigate those emotions while becoming entangled in something far darker than she realizes created a constant sense of tension throughout the novel.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its atmosphere. The author does an excellent job creating a feeling of unease that lingers on every page. The small-town setting feels isolated and claustrophobic, and the dream sequences add an eerie quality that makes it difficult to distinguish where reality ends and something much more sinister begins. There is a steady sense of dread woven throughout the story that builds beautifully as the plot progresses.
I was especially intrigued by the mythology surrounding Doe. The folklore elements added depth to the story and elevated it beyond a typical rivalry narrative. Rather than relying solely on scares, the horror is rooted in character motivations, emotional wounds, and the consequences of choices made out of desperation. The supernatural elements feel meaningful because they are so closely connected to the characters’ struggles.
The rivalry between Maris and Genevieve also kept me invested. While the competition initially appears straightforward, it quickly becomes layered with questions about identity, self-worth, and the lengths people will go to maintain their place in a world where they feel seen. The cheerleading backdrop adds a unique element to the story and creates an environment where pressure, expectations, and ambition are constantly at play.
What I appreciated most was how the novel balanced its horror elements with emotional depth. Beneath the supernatural storyline is a thoughtful exploration of loneliness, belonging, family trauma, and the desire to be loved and accepted. Those themes gave the story weight and made the characters feel more than just participants in a horror plot.
Overall, this is a compelling YA horror novel filled with haunting imagery, strong atmosphere, complex characters, and an intriguing supernatural mythology. Readers who enjoy character-driven horror, dark folklore, morally gray protagonists, and stories that blend emotional depth with chilling suspense will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of Tiffany Jackson, Krystal Sutherland, and anyone looking for a YA horror novel that is as emotionally engaging as it is unsettling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for providing access to this eARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
We’re here because what better way to hurt yourself than in the pursuit of perfection?”
Tragic and atmospheric, Doe is a YA novel that captivates the reader with a haunting tale of rivalry, revenge and the deadly consequences of an all-encompassing desire to belong. Eschewing a traditional narrative for a creative and lyrical in-verse style of prose creates several immersive perspectives that contribute to the novel’s quick pace and compelling storytelling.
The presence of the eponymous Doe-an ancient and rotting creature bound by a dark past and possessing its own agenda-offers an aspects of magic and folk horror to a story that might have been more traditional otherwise.
The girls of the West Eaton High cheerleading squad are tightly enmeshed with one another, with their Coach stepping into the roles of absent family members and their captain Maris Larsen serving as the center of their worlds. While cheerleading is often portrayed as the pinnacle of popularity within a high school setting, Doe depicts the girls as flawed outcasts.
Their races, sexualities and socioeconomic statuses distance them from their peers, while their reliance upon their cheerleading serves as coping mechanism for the difficulties in their lives. Their codepency might seem slightly unsettling, but when the world shows that it has no tolerance for you, why wouldn’t you cling to the people and the only hobby that validate your existence?
Author Rebecca Barrow does an excellent job at capturing the realistic and sometimes messy characteristics that are part the existence of being a teenage girl. Maris is a study of vibrant feelings: seeking approval and yet resenting the possibility of needing to improve, jealousy in the presence of someone better, yearning for a vibrant and opulent future and yet fearful of growth and the potential for disappointment.
Compared to nearly all the other members of the squad, Maris is the only character with her own perspective, which offers the candid glimpses into her thoughts and insecurities and reiterates the role of the other Team members as as a cohesive entity rather than separate individuals.
I read Doe over the course of three days and had I more time, would have undoubtedly finished it more quickly. I was so drawn in by the story and had a great deal of sympathy for Maris’ character. The feeling of never being good enough, of being trapped and unable to reach the future that you dream of, the constant need to compete and the thought of someone new interloping within your space are all very relatable.
Maris’ struggles don’t excuse her behavior, but are given even more of a perspective when the situation takes an unexpected turn. One could also view Doe as something of a victim, though her eventual choices extinguished my compassion.
Poetic and insightful; Doe is a novel that may linger in your thoughts and leave you feeling unsettled.
We’re here because what better way to hurt yourself than in the pursuit of perfection?”
Tragic and atmospheric, Doe is a YA novel that captivates the reader with a haunting tale of rivalry, revenge and the deadly consequences of an all-encompassing desire to belong. Eschewing a traditional narrative for a creative and lyrical in-verse style of prose creates several immersive perspectives that contribute to the novel’s quick pace and compelling storytelling.
The presence of the eponymous Doe-an ancient and rotting creature bound by a dark past and possessing its own agenda-offers an aspects of magic and folk horror to a story that might have been more traditional otherwise.
The girls of the West Eaton High cheerleading squad are tightly enmeshed with one another, with their Coach stepping into the roles of absent family members and their captain Maris Larsen serving as the center of their worlds. While cheerleading is often portrayed as the pinnacle of popularity within a high school setting, Doe depicts the girls as flawed outcasts.
Their races, sexualities and socioeconomic statuses distance them from their peers, while their reliance upon their cheerleading serves as coping mechanism for the difficulties in their lives. Their codepency might seem slightly unsettling, but when the world shows that it has no tolerance for you, why wouldn’t you cling to the people and the only hobby that validate your existence?
Author Rebecca Barrow does an excellent job at capturing the realistic and sometimes messy characteristics that are part the existence of being a teenage girl. Maris is a study of vibrant feelings: seeking approval and yet resenting the possibility of needing to improve, jealousy in the presence of someone better, yearning for a vibrant and opulent future and yet fearful of growth and the potential for disappointment.
Compared to nearly all the other members of the squad, Maris is the only character with her own perspective, which offers the candid glimpses into her thoughts and insecurities and reiterates the role of the other Team members as as a cohesive entity rather than separate individuals.
I read Doe over the course of three days and had I more time, would have undoubtedly finished it more quickly. I was so drawn in by the story and had a great deal of sympathy for Maris’ character. The feeling of never being good enough, of being trapped and unable to reach the future that you dream of, the constant need to compete and the thought of someone new interloping within your space are all very relatable.
Maris’ struggles don’t excuse her behavior, but are given even more of a perspective when the situation takes an unexpected turn. One could also view Doe as something of a victim, though her eventual choices extinguished my compassion.
Poetic and insightful; Doe is a novel that may linger in your thoughts and leave you feeling unsettled.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Doe
Author: Rebecca Barrow
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Horror
Series: Standalone
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
I received an e-book advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley–thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!
Doe is a horror story unlike any I’ve ever read: a group of lonely girls, their cheer captain, angry and furious and fierce and full of life, and a mysterious, natural horror looking for community and perhaps something altogether more sinister. The tone was sparse, poetic, lovely and haunting, and I was immediately immersed in the narrative. Just who or what is Doe? And what does it desire? These high school girls, full of petty squabbles and teenage rage, are looking for trouble, and what should they come upon but an ancient, unknowable being, tied to the natural world and perhaps with its own score to settle? What soon follows is something that cannot be undone, and that has reaching consequences. What will happen to Maris and the girls? Not everyone will make it out alive…
This horror story had me captivated from its first spare, sparse words: There is the cheerleading team, and there is their fearless leader: Maris. Brash, beautiful, and wild, she leads the squad to victory under Coach’s careful tutelage. But everything changes when Coach brings in a brand new girl: Genivieve, and she has no intention of bowing to Maris’s rule. Thrown into a tailspin, Maris and the squad plot to get rid of the usurper. When a mysterious being calling itself only Doe appears in Maris’s dreams, she suddenly sees a way out. But Doe has plans of its own, and has Maris in its sights. I loved the way the book was written, in punchy, short bursts. I loved the characters, but especially Doe! I have been obsessed with horror these past couple years, and Doe really scratched that itch. I was trying to make it last because I didn’t want to finish it too fast. But regardless, I flew through the book. I loved Maris and the squad, and the tension with Genivieve. I was breathless by the time I reached the book’s conclusion. I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen, but I was still shocked by the ending! What a haunting treatise on grief, found family, and the lengths we go to honor those we care about. Such a great book, and one of my favorites of 2026! Haunting, dark, and full of teeth!
https://literatureobsessed.blogspot.c...
Author: Rebecca Barrow
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Horror
Series: Standalone
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
I received an e-book advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley–thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!
Doe is a horror story unlike any I’ve ever read: a group of lonely girls, their cheer captain, angry and furious and fierce and full of life, and a mysterious, natural horror looking for community and perhaps something altogether more sinister. The tone was sparse, poetic, lovely and haunting, and I was immediately immersed in the narrative. Just who or what is Doe? And what does it desire? These high school girls, full of petty squabbles and teenage rage, are looking for trouble, and what should they come upon but an ancient, unknowable being, tied to the natural world and perhaps with its own score to settle? What soon follows is something that cannot be undone, and that has reaching consequences. What will happen to Maris and the girls? Not everyone will make it out alive…
This horror story had me captivated from its first spare, sparse words: There is the cheerleading team, and there is their fearless leader: Maris. Brash, beautiful, and wild, she leads the squad to victory under Coach’s careful tutelage. But everything changes when Coach brings in a brand new girl: Genivieve, and she has no intention of bowing to Maris’s rule. Thrown into a tailspin, Maris and the squad plot to get rid of the usurper. When a mysterious being calling itself only Doe appears in Maris’s dreams, she suddenly sees a way out. But Doe has plans of its own, and has Maris in its sights. I loved the way the book was written, in punchy, short bursts. I loved the characters, but especially Doe! I have been obsessed with horror these past couple years, and Doe really scratched that itch. I was trying to make it last because I didn’t want to finish it too fast. But regardless, I flew through the book. I loved Maris and the squad, and the tension with Genivieve. I was breathless by the time I reached the book’s conclusion. I had a feeling I knew what was going to happen, but I was still shocked by the ending! What a haunting treatise on grief, found family, and the lengths we go to honor those we care about. Such a great book, and one of my favorites of 2026! Haunting, dark, and full of teeth!
https://literatureobsessed.blogspot.c...
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I want to preface by saying I received an advanced readers copy. This had no effect on my overall rating on the book. Also I have never read any of Rebecca Barros’s works before so this book was a first.
Overall 43/50
I found this to be a great book! I very much enjoyed the story and feeling the perspectives of the characters. You really got a good understanding from the writing on why these characters felt the way they did and the decisions they made. I wouldn’t say it was a big horror book overall until the end, but definitely a dark book.
Initial Response: 7
Surprisingly content with the book after I have finished it. I found it a good read, granted a fast one. I do think I will be thinking about this story periodically for the next few weeks.
Style of Writing: 10
The structure was different from what I have read before. Overall it wasn’t difficult to read and it actually allowed me to read the book faster. I did enjoy how the chapters were broken up by different perspectives. I found the author’s writing between those perspective chapters different enough that it drove the story.
Plot & Structure: 9
While the big genre tag is horror for this, it doesn’t really start in anything horrifying until the end of the book. There is a lot of suspense and drama. But the overall storyline is very engaging, and you can grasp the characters perspective and emotions and what drives them to their reactions and decisions. That coupled with the perspective of each character on each chapter gave a good immersion throughout the book.
Re-Readability: 7
Not sure about re-readability. I personally don’t know if I would bother to read this book again, as its not really something I can connect to as a “functional” adult. If I was a youth, I could see myself reading this book again.
Recommendation: 10
I would hands down refer to this book for the targeted demographic, at least give it a single read, if they are into suspense/horror. Even for outside the targeted demographic I would suggest this book, that's if they want to read about teenage girls!
*Spoiler Below*
Things to think about is that if you took the character Doe out of the picture, the story still goes. It's almost a manifestation that Maris builds to cope with her life and the struggle with feeling seen in her life. Also the change Maris has in her “personality” could be an attribute to trauma response and the drive to change she wants in her life.
Overall 43/50
I found this to be a great book! I very much enjoyed the story and feeling the perspectives of the characters. You really got a good understanding from the writing on why these characters felt the way they did and the decisions they made. I wouldn’t say it was a big horror book overall until the end, but definitely a dark book.
Initial Response: 7
Surprisingly content with the book after I have finished it. I found it a good read, granted a fast one. I do think I will be thinking about this story periodically for the next few weeks.
Style of Writing: 10
The structure was different from what I have read before. Overall it wasn’t difficult to read and it actually allowed me to read the book faster. I did enjoy how the chapters were broken up by different perspectives. I found the author’s writing between those perspective chapters different enough that it drove the story.
Plot & Structure: 9
While the big genre tag is horror for this, it doesn’t really start in anything horrifying until the end of the book. There is a lot of suspense and drama. But the overall storyline is very engaging, and you can grasp the characters perspective and emotions and what drives them to their reactions and decisions. That coupled with the perspective of each character on each chapter gave a good immersion throughout the book.
Re-Readability: 7
Not sure about re-readability. I personally don’t know if I would bother to read this book again, as its not really something I can connect to as a “functional” adult. If I was a youth, I could see myself reading this book again.
Recommendation: 10
I would hands down refer to this book for the targeted demographic, at least give it a single read, if they are into suspense/horror. Even for outside the targeted demographic I would suggest this book, that's if they want to read about teenage girls!
*Spoiler Below*
Things to think about is that if you took the character Doe out of the picture, the story still goes. It's almost a manifestation that Maris builds to cope with her life and the struggle with feeling seen in her life. Also the change Maris has in her “personality” could be an attribute to trauma response and the drive to change she wants in her life.
June 7, 2026
Doe is a visceral YA horror that will give you chills.
Told in verse, Doe is the story of high school cheer team captain Maris. Maris and her team are a tight-knit-group of girls who are a bit rough around the edges. But when they are on the mat, nothing else matters. Cheer gives Maris the chance to forget about her depressed mom, absent father, wishy-washy girlfriend, and her sad life in a dead-end town.
But when newcomer Genevieve joins the team and becomes coach's new golden girl, a bitter rivalry develops between Maris and Genevieve. Maris is determined to take Genevieve down and show her who's in charge, even if it means turning to ancient, supernatural creature for help.
Doe is a decaying beast in the shape of a deer, who has been trapped in her current form for decades. The only way she can be freed is through a blood relative of the girls who trapped her in her form. But Maris doesn't know this. When she meets Doe while sleepwalking, Doe promises to help her get rid of Genevieve. But Maris doesn't realize doing so will put her own life in danger.
This book is perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland (House of Hollow) and Jamison Shea (I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me). Imagine a dark, more fierce version of Bring it On, where nothing is off limits.
I love how this story is told through verse. Barrow's lyrical writing style adds depth to the story line and emotions each of the characters are feeling.
The story is told in multiple POV's: Maris, Doe, Genevieve, and Team. Each POV helps add to the story in its own way. The Team POV was unique because it is akin to a Greek chorus, and allows the reader to feel the how tight the girls are with each other, how they function as a unit, and why the team is so important to them. It makes it easier to see why Genevieve is such a huge threat to them.
The further you read into the story, the more you see just how far Maris and Doe are both willing to go to get what they want. The horror factor isn't just in the actual plot line, but in the fact that you realize Maris and Doe will do WHATEVER it takes to achieve their goals, even if it means killing someone.
Doe explores ambition, competition, rivalry, small town culture, teen dynamics, how group solidarity can turn into violence against newcomers, and the ferocity of girlhood. And it asks the question, how far would you go to keep what you love most safe?
Told in verse, Doe is the story of high school cheer team captain Maris. Maris and her team are a tight-knit-group of girls who are a bit rough around the edges. But when they are on the mat, nothing else matters. Cheer gives Maris the chance to forget about her depressed mom, absent father, wishy-washy girlfriend, and her sad life in a dead-end town.
But when newcomer Genevieve joins the team and becomes coach's new golden girl, a bitter rivalry develops between Maris and Genevieve. Maris is determined to take Genevieve down and show her who's in charge, even if it means turning to ancient, supernatural creature for help.
Doe is a decaying beast in the shape of a deer, who has been trapped in her current form for decades. The only way she can be freed is through a blood relative of the girls who trapped her in her form. But Maris doesn't know this. When she meets Doe while sleepwalking, Doe promises to help her get rid of Genevieve. But Maris doesn't realize doing so will put her own life in danger.
This book is perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland (House of Hollow) and Jamison Shea (I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me). Imagine a dark, more fierce version of Bring it On, where nothing is off limits.
I love how this story is told through verse. Barrow's lyrical writing style adds depth to the story line and emotions each of the characters are feeling.
The story is told in multiple POV's: Maris, Doe, Genevieve, and Team. Each POV helps add to the story in its own way. The Team POV was unique because it is akin to a Greek chorus, and allows the reader to feel the how tight the girls are with each other, how they function as a unit, and why the team is so important to them. It makes it easier to see why Genevieve is such a huge threat to them.
The further you read into the story, the more you see just how far Maris and Doe are both willing to go to get what they want. The horror factor isn't just in the actual plot line, but in the fact that you realize Maris and Doe will do WHATEVER it takes to achieve their goals, even if it means killing someone.
Doe explores ambition, competition, rivalry, small town culture, teen dynamics, how group solidarity can turn into violence against newcomers, and the ferocity of girlhood. And it asks the question, how far would you go to keep what you love most safe?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Doe by Rebecca Barrow is a dark YA horror that surprised me with how beautifully it was written. The entire story is told through free verse, and while I was initially unsure how well that would work, I was pleasantly surprised. There was such intention in every description, every turn of phrase , and it immediately made me want to seek out more of this author's work.
I am not going to lie, I am not exactly the target market for a book about teenage cheer leaders and their rivalries, but I do love a book with folk horror vibes, and that I got in spades from Doe. The main character of the book is Maris, captain of the cheerleading squad, coach's favourite and at first it seems like she is living her perfect life, but in fact she is struggling academically, fears she is going to be stuck in her small town working some dead end job, and she's not even sure that her girlfriend likes her, not to mention loves her. When a new girl moves to town and joins the squad it seems like even the few good things in Maris' life are under threat. She needs to get rid of her rival, Genevieve before everything falls apart, but how is she going to do it? The answer comes in her dreams in the form of Doe, a decaying monster in deer form with a unique tie to Maris and and agenda all of her own, she has been trapped on this earth for far too long , unable to die but unable to carry on living either. Maris and her desperation could be the key to unlocking the freedom she has been dreaming of, if only she can convince her to pay the terrible price.
This is a dark, angry, unsettling, beautiful and sad book. It drew me in quickly and held my attention, and the ending though a little abrupt for my tastes did fit the story well. There was an emphasis on sisterhood and that motif was threaded throughout the book in a thought provoking way, and I really appreciated that the characters while largely sympathetic also had flaws and were allowed to show their darker sides.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I am not going to lie, I am not exactly the target market for a book about teenage cheer leaders and their rivalries, but I do love a book with folk horror vibes, and that I got in spades from Doe. The main character of the book is Maris, captain of the cheerleading squad, coach's favourite and at first it seems like she is living her perfect life, but in fact she is struggling academically, fears she is going to be stuck in her small town working some dead end job, and she's not even sure that her girlfriend likes her, not to mention loves her. When a new girl moves to town and joins the squad it seems like even the few good things in Maris' life are under threat. She needs to get rid of her rival, Genevieve before everything falls apart, but how is she going to do it? The answer comes in her dreams in the form of Doe, a decaying monster in deer form with a unique tie to Maris and and agenda all of her own, she has been trapped on this earth for far too long , unable to die but unable to carry on living either. Maris and her desperation could be the key to unlocking the freedom she has been dreaming of, if only she can convince her to pay the terrible price.
This is a dark, angry, unsettling, beautiful and sad book. It drew me in quickly and held my attention, and the ending though a little abrupt for my tastes did fit the story well. There was an emphasis on sisterhood and that motif was threaded throughout the book in a thought provoking way, and I really appreciated that the characters while largely sympathetic also had flaws and were allowed to show their darker sides.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted Audiobook!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an intoxicating, eerie daydream steeped in psychological dread.
The poetic, in-verse writing style completely bewitched me and I quite literally could not put this down (I finished in one sitting). The atmosphere was claustrophobic, all consuming and gorgeously folkloric, packed with bone-chilling imagery and slow-building fear. I loved the use of multiple POVs, and felt like the perspective shifts were perfectly timed to build maximum tension.
Our main character, Maris is stitched together by bitter jealousy, grief, and a desperate hunger for control. Her destructive and unbelievably bitter choices felt grounded in realistic trauma, and despite her actions throughout the book, I deeply felt for her. At the core of this story there was a lot of thoughtful reflection to be had regarding race, socioeconomic status, small town culture, and teens that tragically get lost in the cracks.
If you enjoy abstract, lyrical storytelling and deeply flawed, complex characters this needs to be on your Summerween TBR.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
Imani Jade Powers perfectly captured the dark, haunting atmosphere, while lending so much emotional depth to these characters. She captured their fear, immaturity and insecurities so well in her vocal cadence. I think that the audio truly adds to the experience of this read because of the novel-in-verse format and Powers’ rhythmic narration. Don’t miss this listen!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Deals with the devil
Toxic high school dynamics
Feminine Rage
Jealousy and Obsession
Inherited Trauma
The Danger of Revenge
✄----------
Genre: YA, Horror, Paranormal, LGBTQ+
4 Stars
✄----------
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was an intoxicating, eerie daydream steeped in psychological dread.
The poetic, in-verse writing style completely bewitched me and I quite literally could not put this down (I finished in one sitting). The atmosphere was claustrophobic, all consuming and gorgeously folkloric, packed with bone-chilling imagery and slow-building fear. I loved the use of multiple POVs, and felt like the perspective shifts were perfectly timed to build maximum tension.
Our main character, Maris is stitched together by bitter jealousy, grief, and a desperate hunger for control. Her destructive and unbelievably bitter choices felt grounded in realistic trauma, and despite her actions throughout the book, I deeply felt for her. At the core of this story there was a lot of thoughtful reflection to be had regarding race, socioeconomic status, small town culture, and teens that tragically get lost in the cracks.
If you enjoy abstract, lyrical storytelling and deeply flawed, complex characters this needs to be on your Summerween TBR.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
Imani Jade Powers perfectly captured the dark, haunting atmosphere, while lending so much emotional depth to these characters. She captured their fear, immaturity and insecurities so well in her vocal cadence. I think that the audio truly adds to the experience of this read because of the novel-in-verse format and Powers’ rhythmic narration. Don’t miss this listen!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Deals with the devil
Toxic high school dynamics
Feminine Rage
Jealousy and Obsession
Inherited Trauma
The Danger of Revenge
✄----------
Genre: YA, Horror, Paranormal, LGBTQ+
4 Stars
✄----------
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
June 6, 2026
✨✨ARC Review✨✨
I saw this book getting compared to that of Tiffany Jackson and immediately I jumped into Penguin Random House’s inbox begging to be granted an early copy and the penguin provided 😩 THIS BOOK WAS INSANE! In the way that I had to close it and just marinate in what I read. It is written almost like a poem in the way it is formatted and I love it so much it almost feels like you’re reading an incantation.
You are following 4 perspectives in this book (kinda 5). The main being Maris who live an extremely flawed life and is the cheer captain, she is well aware that she is the type of person to peak in highschool and this is all she has. Next is the Team, the team is this hive mind made up of several girls in the cheer group and they WORSHIP the ground Maris walks on. It was so interesting to see sometimes getting individual thoughts from the girls but for the most part they thought as one, it was extremely symbolic and at times creepy. Then there is Genevieve who is brought onto the cheer team but goes against the grain and refuses to become a part of the hive which Maris and the hive don’t like so she becomes Maris’ target. We also have Doe this invisable entity who was summoned by a coven and has been left to wander the earth alone after her coven was murdered, until Maris sees her, doe recognizes how desperate Maris is for control and manipulates her into working with her.
I loved the horror aspects of this book. I never knew what was going to happen this book gave me chills, had me jumping up to walk around my house and freak out and also blew my sock into the next zip code!!! Doe comes out June 23rd and if you are looking for a book to get you in the mood for fall or for a book to read Halloween season please please add this to your TBR!!!
I saw this book getting compared to that of Tiffany Jackson and immediately I jumped into Penguin Random House’s inbox begging to be granted an early copy and the penguin provided 😩 THIS BOOK WAS INSANE! In the way that I had to close it and just marinate in what I read. It is written almost like a poem in the way it is formatted and I love it so much it almost feels like you’re reading an incantation.
You are following 4 perspectives in this book (kinda 5). The main being Maris who live an extremely flawed life and is the cheer captain, she is well aware that she is the type of person to peak in highschool and this is all she has. Next is the Team, the team is this hive mind made up of several girls in the cheer group and they WORSHIP the ground Maris walks on. It was so interesting to see sometimes getting individual thoughts from the girls but for the most part they thought as one, it was extremely symbolic and at times creepy. Then there is Genevieve who is brought onto the cheer team but goes against the grain and refuses to become a part of the hive which Maris and the hive don’t like so she becomes Maris’ target. We also have Doe this invisable entity who was summoned by a coven and has been left to wander the earth alone after her coven was murdered, until Maris sees her, doe recognizes how desperate Maris is for control and manipulates her into working with her.
I loved the horror aspects of this book. I never knew what was going to happen this book gave me chills, had me jumping up to walk around my house and freak out and also blew my sock into the next zip code!!! Doe comes out June 23rd and if you are looking for a book to get you in the mood for fall or for a book to read Halloween season please please add this to your TBR!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Creepy and poetic, Doe captures perfectly the feral nature of teen girls and the way they bond together as a team around a shared sport and how they react to outsiders. If you liked Dare Me by Megan Abbott, you're going to like this one since it also centers around a magnetic cheerleading coach and the cheerleading team that veers into cult-like. Maris is our main character and the captain of said team, and she's riding high even if she doesn't know what she's going to do after high school and her girlfriend seems to have bigger plans that don't include her. That changes when Genevieve moves into town; Genevieve (never Gen) is their coach's favorite, used to compete in gymnastics, and has no desire to make friends with the team. In fact, she seems intent on tearing it down.
Now enter Doe: a strange entity summoned and bound by girls years ago and left bereft when they were murdered. She bonds with Maris since Maris is descended from one of her summoners, but she has her own agenda as well.
The prose of this book is lovely in its structure and effective at capturing the charged emotions of both Maris and Genevieve and the longing cunning of Doe herself. This is a very atmospheric novel that does get very dark as well. Still, even with my issues with the ending, this is one of the best YA horror novels I've read all year, and I highly recommend it if you want some horrors of cheerleading with a side of demonic deals.
Creepy and poetic, Doe captures perfectly the feral nature of teen girls and the way they bond together as a team around a shared sport and how they react to outsiders. If you liked Dare Me by Megan Abbott, you're going to like this one since it also centers around a magnetic cheerleading coach and the cheerleading team that veers into cult-like. Maris is our main character and the captain of said team, and she's riding high even if she doesn't know what she's going to do after high school and her girlfriend seems to have bigger plans that don't include her. That changes when Genevieve moves into town; Genevieve (never Gen) is their coach's favorite, used to compete in gymnastics, and has no desire to make friends with the team. In fact, she seems intent on tearing it down.
Now enter Doe: a strange entity summoned and bound by girls years ago and left bereft when they were murdered. She bonds with Maris since Maris is descended from one of her summoners, but she has her own agenda as well.
The prose of this book is lovely in its structure and effective at capturing the charged emotions of both Maris and Genevieve and the longing cunning of Doe herself. This is a very atmospheric novel that does get very dark as well. Still, even with my issues with the ending, this is one of the best YA horror novels I've read all year, and I highly recommend it if you want some horrors of cheerleading with a side of demonic deals.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maris Larsen’s story in this haunting, atmospheric novel is a masterful blend of psychological drama and supernatural intrigue. As the captain of the West Eaton High cheer team, Maris is a compelling and complex protagonist—both fiercely confident on the mat and deeply vulnerable off it. The author expertly captures the suffocating weight of small-town despair, family dysfunction, and the desperate need to belong, all while threading in an electrifying rivalry that keeps the tension high.
The introduction of Genevieve Ray intensifies the narrative, transforming the cheer team into a battleground not just for athletic dominance, but for Maris’s fragile sense of self. The rivalry is sharp and believable, but it’s the nightmarish presence of Doe—the decaying, otherworldly deer—that elevates this story into something unforgettable. Doe is both terrifying and tragic, a creature of myth who haunts Maris’s dreams and offers her the power she craves, at a terrible cost.
What truly sets this novel apart is its seamless weaving of the supernatural and the real. Maris’s sleepwalking encounters with Doe are rendered in vivid, unsettling detail, blurring the lines between dream and reality. The emotional stakes are as high as the supernatural ones, and the writing never loses sight of Maris’s humanity, even as she’s tempted toward darkness.
This is a novel about power and loss, about the monsters inside us and the ones waiting in the shadows. It’s chilling, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. Highly recommended for fans of dark contemporary fiction with a supernatural twist.
Thank you, Rebecca Barrow, NetGalley, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this Arc.
The introduction of Genevieve Ray intensifies the narrative, transforming the cheer team into a battleground not just for athletic dominance, but for Maris’s fragile sense of self. The rivalry is sharp and believable, but it’s the nightmarish presence of Doe—the decaying, otherworldly deer—that elevates this story into something unforgettable. Doe is both terrifying and tragic, a creature of myth who haunts Maris’s dreams and offers her the power she craves, at a terrible cost.
What truly sets this novel apart is its seamless weaving of the supernatural and the real. Maris’s sleepwalking encounters with Doe are rendered in vivid, unsettling detail, blurring the lines between dream and reality. The emotional stakes are as high as the supernatural ones, and the writing never loses sight of Maris’s humanity, even as she’s tempted toward darkness.
This is a novel about power and loss, about the monsters inside us and the ones waiting in the shadows. It’s chilling, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. Highly recommended for fans of dark contemporary fiction with a supernatural twist.
Thank you, Rebecca Barrow, NetGalley, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this Arc.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Gymnastics is the only thing keeping Maris afloat in the dead-end town and dreary life into which she was born. Though their school does not have enough money for competitions, Maris and her teammates are nonetheless driven to be the best whenever they are on the mat. But when a new teammate joins them and a forgotten, decades-old history re-emerges in the background, a sinister and irreversible chain of events is set into frightening motion. This horror-centric novel in verse blends the inherent darkness found in poverty-stricken, small town America with paranormal storytelling. Multiple points of view propel the narrative, and though the text itself is brief, it is nonetheless vivid and memorable. Because of its design as a verse novel, the book condenses what would otherwise be a lengthy narrative into a concise, approachable layout that uses carefully crafted words to effectively portray the events in the story. Though this is considered a young adult novel and is marketed to ages twelve and up, it is not a story to be considered lightly, even by mature young readers. Strong language, references to underage drinking, self harm, teen pregnancy, drug use, and violence are all embedded within the plot, making the book gritty and honest in its portrayal of Maris and her teammates while making the book best suited to older teens and beyond. Casting a critical spotlight on some of the challenges faced by young people today, this novel expertly considers reality from a dark and frightening perspective. This is a powerful and intense addition to library collections for mature readers.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The story is centered on Maris, a teenage girl in a run down town with a mother not truly present in her life due to depression. Cheer is her life...the only thing that matters to Maris. She relishes in the position of Captain and how the other girls look up to her, idolize her. Cheer is the only thing that keeps Maris and the other girls grounded in their dead beat town. The girls claw their way through their school days, act out on the weekends, hold down a job because they need to, but Cheer is their outlet...the one thing they give their all. A new girl, Genevieve, threatens all that. She is from Coach’s hometown, and Coach elevates her to the team causing severe jealousy among the girls and esp. Maris.
Enter this evil creature from long ago, Doe, who is invisible to humans expect those descendants from the original group of girls t hat bound her many, many years ago...But those girls are long gone, dead, murdered because of who they were leaving Doe to roam the world...alone, invisible and aching to use the power that she knows she possesses. But Maris can see Doe...in her dreams...and a plan is hatched by Doe to help Maris with the jealousy she feels toward Genevieve. But Doe is only really interested in freeing herself from the binds that have kept her from harnessing her power for years…
There is a deeper meaning here that I felt. No matter how bad your life appears to you...someone or something...would relish in what you have. Be careful of not protecting what you possess because it could so easily be stolen from you...
I received a ARC of this book through Goodreads giveaways.
Enter this evil creature from long ago, Doe, who is invisible to humans expect those descendants from the original group of girls t hat bound her many, many years ago...But those girls are long gone, dead, murdered because of who they were leaving Doe to roam the world...alone, invisible and aching to use the power that she knows she possesses. But Maris can see Doe...in her dreams...and a plan is hatched by Doe to help Maris with the jealousy she feels toward Genevieve. But Doe is only really interested in freeing herself from the binds that have kept her from harnessing her power for years…
There is a deeper meaning here that I felt. No matter how bad your life appears to you...someone or something...would relish in what you have. Be careful of not protecting what you possess because it could so easily be stolen from you...
I received a ARC of this book through Goodreads giveaways.
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