What do you think?
Rate this book
The Turn: A Novella
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jul 26A contemporary gothic delving into the power of unmoored lust and familial bonds
When Baxter, a young writer and recent college graduate, accepts a live-in nanny position for an affluent professor’s family in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, she rapidly becomes aware of strange happenings orbiting the family and their children, Quinn and Thebes. After the father becomes estranged and the mother disappears into the night with only one child, Baxter is left utterly lost and in charge of the baby, Thebes, as she struggles to make sense of the bizarre occurrences within the family, the house, and even her own body. But the unnatural occurrences are far from over, and as Baxter stumbles in the dark to protect the child, something sinister stalks the night, looking to sink in its teeth.
For fans of gothic classics such as The Turn of the Screw and Carmilla, The Turn is an eerie and magnificent modern gothic tale about the monstrous bond of love between caregiver and child.
When Baxter, a young writer and recent college graduate, accepts a live-in nanny position for an affluent professor’s family in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, she rapidly becomes aware of strange happenings orbiting the family and their children, Quinn and Thebes. After the father becomes estranged and the mother disappears into the night with only one child, Baxter is left utterly lost and in charge of the baby, Thebes, as she struggles to make sense of the bizarre occurrences within the family, the house, and even her own body. But the unnatural occurrences are far from over, and as Baxter stumbles in the dark to protect the child, something sinister stalks the night, looking to sink in its teeth.
For fans of gothic classics such as The Turn of the Screw and Carmilla, The Turn is an eerie and magnificent modern gothic tale about the monstrous bond of love between caregiver and child.
136 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 15, 2026
About the author
Rachel Feder
14 books18 followersRachel Feder is an assistant professor of English and literary arts at the University of Denver. Her scholarly and creative work has appeared in a range of publications including ELH, Studies in Romanticism, and a poetry chapbook from dancing girl press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 28, 2026
2.75 stars rounded up. The bones of this story are fantastic, but the execution needed another 150 pages. This felt like an audiobook on 3x speed, very fast paced but choppy in that it just feels like you’re jumping from one thing to the next to get to the destination. The characters and plot need more room to breathe. I did read this in one sitting but it left me wanting much more. I would’ve loved this if it were a more developed story! The writing is punchy and tense which I really enjoyed. Definitely an author I will look out for in the future!
Thank you to the author/publisher for an advanced copy on NetGalley.
Thank you to the author/publisher for an advanced copy on NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Turn by Rachel Feder releases July 15, 2026 from TriQuarterly Books, an imprint of Northwestern University Press. Inspired by classics like The Turn of the Screw and Carmilla, this gothic horror novella takes familiar elements and reworks them into something that feels modern, unsettling, and uniquely its own.
The story follows Baxter, a recent graduate who takes a nanny position with a family living in the Rocky Mountains during the pandemic. What starts as an unusual but seemingly straightforward arrangement slowly becomes stranger as Baxter begins experiencing vivid dreams, unexplained injuries, missing memories, and growing suspicions about the people around her.
What stood out most for me was how dreamlike the entire reading experience felt. I was never completely sure what was real, what wasn't, or whether I could trust what I was being shown. The structure plays into that feeling perfectly. The story unfolds in short sections that move between dreams, memories, and present-day events in a way that kept me feeling just as lost and uncertain as Baxter. More than once I found myself questioning what was actually happening, and that uncertainty made the book incredibly difficult to put down.
Rachel Feder's writing is what really carries the novel. The prose creates a sense of isolation and unease without relying on heavy descriptions or constant scares. This is much more atmospheric than frightening, and the mystery surrounding Baxter's situation kept me hooked from beginning to end. Even when I wasn't sure where the story was heading, I always wanted to keep reading.
My only real criticism is the ending. Up until the final section, I was completely invested and genuinely thought this might end up being a five-star read. While the book ultimately provides answers, the ending felt more rushed and straightforward than the dreamlike uncertainty that made the rest of the novel so compelling. There was a noticeable shift in tone and pacing that made the final stretch feel very different from everything that came before it. At the same time, I can appreciate what Feder was doing. The story moves from a place of uncertainty and dreamlike confusion into something much more concrete, and that transition is part of what makes the ending interesting to think about afterward. I just wish a little more time had been spent there because the rest of the book was so strong.
Even with those reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The ending wasn't enough to diminish everything that worked for me beforehand, and the atmosphere, writing, and sense of unease stayed with me long after I finished reading. Readers who enjoy atmospheric horror, gothic fiction, unreliable narrators, and stories that slowly unfold their mysteries rather than immediately explaining them will likely find a lot to love here.
⭐️ 4.5/5
Author Note: Thank you to @nupress, TriQuarterly Books, and @NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The story follows Baxter, a recent graduate who takes a nanny position with a family living in the Rocky Mountains during the pandemic. What starts as an unusual but seemingly straightforward arrangement slowly becomes stranger as Baxter begins experiencing vivid dreams, unexplained injuries, missing memories, and growing suspicions about the people around her.
What stood out most for me was how dreamlike the entire reading experience felt. I was never completely sure what was real, what wasn't, or whether I could trust what I was being shown. The structure plays into that feeling perfectly. The story unfolds in short sections that move between dreams, memories, and present-day events in a way that kept me feeling just as lost and uncertain as Baxter. More than once I found myself questioning what was actually happening, and that uncertainty made the book incredibly difficult to put down.
Rachel Feder's writing is what really carries the novel. The prose creates a sense of isolation and unease without relying on heavy descriptions or constant scares. This is much more atmospheric than frightening, and the mystery surrounding Baxter's situation kept me hooked from beginning to end. Even when I wasn't sure where the story was heading, I always wanted to keep reading.
My only real criticism is the ending. Up until the final section, I was completely invested and genuinely thought this might end up being a five-star read. While the book ultimately provides answers, the ending felt more rushed and straightforward than the dreamlike uncertainty that made the rest of the novel so compelling. There was a noticeable shift in tone and pacing that made the final stretch feel very different from everything that came before it. At the same time, I can appreciate what Feder was doing. The story moves from a place of uncertainty and dreamlike confusion into something much more concrete, and that transition is part of what makes the ending interesting to think about afterward. I just wish a little more time had been spent there because the rest of the book was so strong.
Even with those reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The ending wasn't enough to diminish everything that worked for me beforehand, and the atmosphere, writing, and sense of unease stayed with me long after I finished reading. Readers who enjoy atmospheric horror, gothic fiction, unreliable narrators, and stories that slowly unfold their mysteries rather than immediately explaining them will likely find a lot to love here.
⭐️ 4.5/5
Author Note: Thank you to @nupress, TriQuarterly Books, and @NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy for review.
I went into The Turn expecting something much closer to a retelling of The Turn of the Screw. I can definitely see the connection: a gothic story centered on a family, young children, and a narrator who isn’t entirely sure what’s real. But this is more inspired by The Turn of the Screw than a reimagining of it.
This is a quick read with a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it. Baxter is a recent college graduate who takes a job as a live-in nanny for her former professor’s family. The house feels strange from the start: she hears things in the night, sees lights in the yard, begins having lucid dreams, and wakes up with unexplained bruises and scratches. When the father pulls away from the family and the mother disappears into the night with one of the children, Baxter is left alone with baby Thebes and no clear idea what she’s supposed to do next.
There’s not a lot you can say about The Turn without giving things away, but what I found most interesting is that the story takes place over the course of 2020, from the beginning of the pandemic through the end of the year. More than the horror elements, that’s what stood out to me. Feder captures that constant feeling of uncertainty, isolation, and low-grade dread that defined so much of that year. Everyone felt trapped in a dreamlike version of reality, and the novella translates that feeling surprisingly well into gothic horror.
My biggest issue was the pacing. The first two-thirds move very slowly and the final section rushes through the answers before ending almost as quickly as it began. I think the book could have benefited from more even pacing and a little more story.
I understand that I was reading an advance copy and that these are not final editions, but this ARC contained a noticeable number of errors, missing letters, and other typographical issues. I know those will likely be corrected before publication, but they were prevalent enough that they hindered my reading experience.
Overall, this was a decent story that effectively captures the isolation and fear that hung over the pandemic.
Read more book reviews on my Substack
Follow me @shellywritesstuff
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy for review.
I went into The Turn expecting something much closer to a retelling of The Turn of the Screw. I can definitely see the connection: a gothic story centered on a family, young children, and a narrator who isn’t entirely sure what’s real. But this is more inspired by The Turn of the Screw than a reimagining of it.
This is a quick read with a dreamy, atmospheric quality to it. Baxter is a recent college graduate who takes a job as a live-in nanny for her former professor’s family. The house feels strange from the start: she hears things in the night, sees lights in the yard, begins having lucid dreams, and wakes up with unexplained bruises and scratches. When the father pulls away from the family and the mother disappears into the night with one of the children, Baxter is left alone with baby Thebes and no clear idea what she’s supposed to do next.
There’s not a lot you can say about The Turn without giving things away, but what I found most interesting is that the story takes place over the course of 2020, from the beginning of the pandemic through the end of the year. More than the horror elements, that’s what stood out to me. Feder captures that constant feeling of uncertainty, isolation, and low-grade dread that defined so much of that year. Everyone felt trapped in a dreamlike version of reality, and the novella translates that feeling surprisingly well into gothic horror.
My biggest issue was the pacing. The first two-thirds move very slowly and the final section rushes through the answers before ending almost as quickly as it began. I think the book could have benefited from more even pacing and a little more story.
I understand that I was reading an advance copy and that these are not final editions, but this ARC contained a noticeable number of errors, missing letters, and other typographical issues. I know those will likely be corrected before publication, but they were prevalent enough that they hindered my reading experience.
Overall, this was a decent story that effectively captures the isolation and fear that hung over the pandemic.
Read more book reviews on my Substack
Follow me @shellywritesstuff
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i wish this could’ve been expanded a lot more then yeah we would be in full time round the clock business
❦︎ ”i need to get away. need to go somewhere, anywhere. victim of a vampire. mother to a vampire.”
inspired by classic gothic literature like the turn of the screw & carmilla brings us this 136 page novella
a caregiver enduring her own inner crisis which blurs the lines to reality whilst dealing with the cries of a teething baby.
this delves in themes of lust, motherhood, & women autonomy.
the star of the show? a vampire stalking the night searching to feed & sink its teeth!
bite me sir!! say no more
i was hooked & these characters, the writing packed a punch to where i didn’t notice there were grammatical errors at all.
this is an arc of course there is and that’s one issue the publisher will work on before the release date so no biggie.
i felt totally cut off by the end though.. please extend this longer to its maximum potential, i can surely see it :)
the vibes of this lowkey reminded me of milkteeth - caitlin starling
❦︎ ”seb feeding on me in the night, coming downstairs to fuck me and bite me, piercing the scabs on my upper breast with cruel precision, raking my blood through his lips. the bruising, the scratching, his hands everywhere. and afterwards how i’d wander into thebes’s room in a daze to nurse him, nurse him so that some of the venom would pass through, seb leaning against the nursery doorframe, watching, smiling with those monstrous teeth.”
i <3 bloodsucking sexiness like this!!
the venom from him travels through the veins in her breasts and into the baby’s system then he starts to grow teeth!
thank you netgalley & northwestern university press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!~
❦︎ ”i need to get away. need to go somewhere, anywhere. victim of a vampire. mother to a vampire.”
inspired by classic gothic literature like the turn of the screw & carmilla brings us this 136 page novella
a caregiver enduring her own inner crisis which blurs the lines to reality whilst dealing with the cries of a teething baby.
this delves in themes of lust, motherhood, & women autonomy.
the star of the show? a vampire stalking the night searching to feed & sink its teeth!
bite me sir!! say no more
i was hooked & these characters, the writing packed a punch to where i didn’t notice there were grammatical errors at all.
this is an arc of course there is and that’s one issue the publisher will work on before the release date so no biggie.
i felt totally cut off by the end though.. please extend this longer to its maximum potential, i can surely see it :)
the vibes of this lowkey reminded me of milkteeth - caitlin starling
❦︎ ”seb feeding on me in the night, coming downstairs to fuck me and bite me, piercing the scabs on my upper breast with cruel precision, raking my blood through his lips. the bruising, the scratching, his hands everywhere. and afterwards how i’d wander into thebes’s room in a daze to nurse him, nurse him so that some of the venom would pass through, seb leaning against the nursery doorframe, watching, smiling with those monstrous teeth.”
i <3 bloodsucking sexiness like this!!
the venom from him travels through the veins in her breasts and into the baby’s system then he starts to grow teeth!
thank you netgalley & northwestern university press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!~
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(3.5 stars rounded up)
The Turn by Rachel Feder is a modern gothic tale that follows Baxter, a live-in nanny for her former professor early into the pandemic, as she navigates unexplainable occurrences and an unshakeable feeling of something sinister lurking in the shadows.
The atmosphere and tone that Feder is able to create is incredible. As a reader you are completely encompassed by a feeling of creepiness, eeriness, and anxiety. And for a shorter read, I was truly impressed at Feder’s ability to achieve that feeling very quickly. By contrast, I’m not the author’s overall writing style is for me. From what I could find online, Feder primarily writes as a poet, and I think that style seeped into this novella and ultimately left it feeling a bit choppy.
The first 50% of this novella was a bit of a forced read, as the plot itself wasn’t grabbing me as quickly as I anticipated. But then about halfway through, something happens that really got me invested and devouring the second half. Sadly, by the time I was fully bought in, the story was wrapped up! I could have read another 150 pages after the conclusion of the novella.
Ultimately, I did enjoy the read and the things that didn’t work for me may be completely fine for another reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for the advanced reader copy.
The Turn by Rachel Feder is out July 15, 2026.
Note: There is a frustrating formatting issue with the ebook that the publisher should address as it may impact how readers rate this read.
The Turn by Rachel Feder is a modern gothic tale that follows Baxter, a live-in nanny for her former professor early into the pandemic, as she navigates unexplainable occurrences and an unshakeable feeling of something sinister lurking in the shadows.
The atmosphere and tone that Feder is able to create is incredible. As a reader you are completely encompassed by a feeling of creepiness, eeriness, and anxiety. And for a shorter read, I was truly impressed at Feder’s ability to achieve that feeling very quickly. By contrast, I’m not the author’s overall writing style is for me. From what I could find online, Feder primarily writes as a poet, and I think that style seeped into this novella and ultimately left it feeling a bit choppy.
The first 50% of this novella was a bit of a forced read, as the plot itself wasn’t grabbing me as quickly as I anticipated. But then about halfway through, something happens that really got me invested and devouring the second half. Sadly, by the time I was fully bought in, the story was wrapped up! I could have read another 150 pages after the conclusion of the novella.
Ultimately, I did enjoy the read and the things that didn’t work for me may be completely fine for another reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Northwestern University Press for the advanced reader copy.
The Turn by Rachel Feder is out July 15, 2026.
Note: There is a frustrating formatting issue with the ebook that the publisher should address as it may impact how readers rate this read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Net Galley, Northwestern University Press, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I thought this was a fantastic little novella. Baxter is a young writer working as a live-in nanny for a former professor and her husband in an isolated cabin. In the background, there's an ongoing pandemic so they have little contact with the outside world. Of course something is wrong here and it's probably not what you think!
I thought this was a great little novella. I was drawn really quickly into the main character's POV and found her to be really compelling. I felt confused right along with her as she slowly began realizing something wasn't right and tried to piece together what was going on around her. The writing was straightforward and beautiful, and I think the author did a great job of building atmosphere and making the main character's feelings and experience jump right off the page--especially in the first three parts. To me, it sped up a lot in the end and we lost a little of that atmosphere. BUT! Our questions were answered so I'll take the trade off.
I really can't say much more without giving anything away, but this was a quick and fun read!
I thought this was a fantastic little novella. Baxter is a young writer working as a live-in nanny for a former professor and her husband in an isolated cabin. In the background, there's an ongoing pandemic so they have little contact with the outside world. Of course something is wrong here and it's probably not what you think!
I thought this was a great little novella. I was drawn really quickly into the main character's POV and found her to be really compelling. I felt confused right along with her as she slowly began realizing something wasn't right and tried to piece together what was going on around her. The writing was straightforward and beautiful, and I think the author did a great job of building atmosphere and making the main character's feelings and experience jump right off the page--especially in the first three parts. To me, it sped up a lot in the end and we lost a little of that atmosphere. BUT! Our questions were answered so I'll take the trade off.
I really can't say much more without giving anything away, but this was a quick and fun read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had a strange atmospheric vibe to it. It reveals just enough information to keep you hooked, but you are still wandering aimlessly as the story progresses. It is easy to imagine that Baxter might be dealing with some type of psychological crisis. Things aren’t adding up, but she seems to be the only person who is left out of the loop. She lives with her sister and her sister’s husband as the nanny. One day, Baxter realizes she is alone with Thebes. She is unable to contact the others. Jack is another important player in this story. Jack is her life interest and even he is not answering the calls. Baxter wanders around aimlessly. Eventually, she encounters Seb. This is where things truly get twisted. Baxter doesn’t want to accept what is really taking place around her. She is trapped in this new lifestyle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Northwestern University Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 DNF at 20%
I was really intrigued by the premise of The Turn, a horror novella with an eerie, atmospheric setup that promised exactly the kind of dark, unsettling tone I usually enjoy. Unfortunately, I had to stop reading at around 20%.
The issue wasn’t the story itself but the editing errors, specifically missing letters in nearly every sentence, which made the text difficult to follow and disrupted the flow of the narrative. With such frequent omissions, I struggled to stay immersed in the world or connect with the characters, despite the potential in the concept.
I always appreciate the work that goes into early releases, and I hope future versions receive a thorough editorial pass, because the underlying idea seems strong. At this stage, though, I wasn’t able to continue.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 DNF at 20%
I was really intrigued by the premise of The Turn, a horror novella with an eerie, atmospheric setup that promised exactly the kind of dark, unsettling tone I usually enjoy. Unfortunately, I had to stop reading at around 20%.
The issue wasn’t the story itself but the editing errors, specifically missing letters in nearly every sentence, which made the text difficult to follow and disrupted the flow of the narrative. With such frequent omissions, I struggled to stay immersed in the world or connect with the characters, despite the potential in the concept.
I always appreciate the work that goes into early releases, and I hope future versions receive a thorough editorial pass, because the underlying idea seems strong. At this stage, though, I wasn’t able to continue.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Turn by Rachel Feder is definitely an unsettling read—the kind that creeps under your skin with its eerie atmosphere and quiet tension. The setting feels isolated and haunting, and the writing captures that sense of unease beautifully.
But as much as I appreciated the mood and the promise of something dark and strange, the story just didn’t add up to my expectations. It’s short, which works for the pacing, but by the end I was left wanting more clarity, more payoff. The pieces never fully came together, leaving me with a lingering sense of confusion rather than the satisfying chill I hoped for.
It’s a creepy, well-written novella that sets the tone perfectly—but ultimately, it felt like it stopped just short of being truly memorable.
But as much as I appreciated the mood and the promise of something dark and strange, the story just didn’t add up to my expectations. It’s short, which works for the pacing, but by the end I was left wanting more clarity, more payoff. The pieces never fully came together, leaving me with a lingering sense of confusion rather than the satisfying chill I hoped for.
It’s a creepy, well-written novella that sets the tone perfectly—but ultimately, it felt like it stopped just short of being truly memorable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance reader copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
I went into The Turn excited by the premise, and I do think the story had a lot of promise. However, my reading experience was held back by the number of proofreading issues. Missing letters appeared so frequently that I was regularly stopping to figure out words, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
It also took me quite a while to become invested. For much of the novella, I felt like I was waiting for something to truly hook me, and I was close to setting it aside. Thankfully, the latter portion delivered a twist that finally pulled me in and reminded me why the premise had interested me in the first place.
I went into The Turn excited by the premise, and I do think the story had a lot of promise. However, my reading experience was held back by the number of proofreading issues. Missing letters appeared so frequently that I was regularly stopping to figure out words, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
It also took me quite a while to become invested. For much of the novella, I felt like I was waiting for something to truly hook me, and I was close to setting it aside. Thankfully, the latter portion delivered a twist that finally pulled me in and reminded me why the premise had interested me in the first place.
June 17, 2026
The Turn is a whirlwind of a horror novella that follows Baxter, a writer doubling as a nanny for a wealthy couple. What follows is a mysterious disappearance and a rapid descent into madness and chaos.
I loved this story because it kept me guessing, and it was a definite page turner. The mystery unfolds for the reader along with the main character, and the eerie sense of dread throughout the course of events is palpable.
My thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
I loved this story because it kept me guessing, and it was a definite page turner. The mystery unfolds for the reader along with the main character, and the eerie sense of dread throughout the course of events is palpable.
My thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you are looking for a story that relies on deep, unsettling atmosphere and psychological dread rather than cheap jump scares, The Turn by Rachel Feder is an exceptional modern gothic achievement. Clocking in at a taut, fast-paced 136 pages, this novella packs an incredibly dense, slow-burn tension into a compact package.
This book offers a folklore-heavy tone, slow-burn psychological dread, and narratives that open a Pandora's box of tension without neatly wrapping everything in a sterile bow, it is definitely a brilliant, chilling weekend read.
I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to Netgalley, Northwestern University Press and the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.
This book offers a folklore-heavy tone, slow-burn psychological dread, and narratives that open a Pandora's box of tension without neatly wrapping everything in a sterile bow, it is definitely a brilliant, chilling weekend read.
I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to Netgalley, Northwestern University Press and the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a rather frustrating read, sadly. There were a number of ideas and elements in this novella that should have been the foundation for an absolutely gripping thriller. Unfortunately, nothing really got a chance to breathe or sink in.
By the time the story had the finish line in its sights, so many plot points had been thrown onto the pages that the final revelation felt more baffling than shocking.
It wasn't a bad story by any stretch of the imagination, but it needed a couple of hundred more pages to be told.
With thanks to Northwestern University Press for the ARC.
By the time the story had the finish line in its sights, so many plot points had been thrown onto the pages that the final revelation felt more baffling than shocking.
It wasn't a bad story by any stretch of the imagination, but it needed a couple of hundred more pages to be told.
With thanks to Northwestern University Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this novella quite a bit. I liked the way the story was told - I liked the writing. With that being said, I think Part 4 the story started to fall apart and just started to get somewhat gimmicky? I think there were many concepts, ideas and ideas that could've been fleshed out some more had there been more pages - and I wish there were, but given the constraints I believe the author did a very good job. Solid 3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Turn by Rachel Feder is a horror novella that made for a quick read. While I enjoyed the unique premise I wanted more answers and a stronger connection to the characters. I also think the story could have benefited from another 100 pages to further develop the characters and plot. Overall a good read but it didn’t completely deliver for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I feel like this was not my kind of thriller / horror novella. It was a quick read. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. Note to the author just because this wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it’s not for someone else so never give up on the writing dream and thank you for putting yourself out there for others to enjoy your work!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Turn By Rachel Feder is one dark, eerie, Gothic, horror/ thriller that you don't want to miss! Our FMC becomes a ljve in family for a very odd, not you same old run of the mill family. The insane events that this young woman goes through/ witnesses are very dark, but written extremely well. I enjoyed this book so much!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Northwestern University Press & Rachel Feder for this read.
Unfortunately for me the formatting and missing letters in so many words made it really hard for me to sit back and enjoy. It definitely is set up to be suspenseful, atmospheric & unsettling, however I was unable to continue past 40% as I felt I couldn't get past the editing issues.
Unfortunately for me the formatting and missing letters in so many words made it really hard for me to sit back and enjoy. It definitely is set up to be suspenseful, atmospheric & unsettling, however I was unable to continue past 40% as I felt I couldn't get past the editing issues.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This could have done with being a full length novel, the ideas didn't suit a novella and the twist came out of nowhere and was so sudden it fetl a bit silly. The character development was lacking and everybody felt one dimensional.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some bits of this were decent enough. Some bits, especially towards the end just felt like being caught up in a not that great domestic drama.
Packs a lot into a small space though.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
Packs a lot into a small space though.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
June 11, 2026
I normally like short novellas like this, but this was missing something. It could have been longer and expanded on some points that I feel would have made it a good little thriller. Thank you to Netgalley and Northwestern University Press for the eARC.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews