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The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls
In this gothic historical tale full of mystery, two girls must uncover the secrets of their haunted home before it's too late.
THE HARROW HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS has long stood as a place of secrets. The estate has housed hundreds of young women hidden away during their pregnancies, their homesick cries echoing through the halls, providing a haunting score to Grace Harrow’s childhood.
Now, in the summer of 1947, the Home has been sold to a wealthy hotelier. Grace expects the new owner's daughters to be spoiled. Yet Rose, the eldest daughter—unaware of Mr. Harrow's abusive tendencies—is jealous of Grace's seemingly easy confidence. But as they’re drawn into each other's lives, an unlikely friendship begins to form. Fortunately so, because not all of the wayward girls made it out...
One still lingers. Lurking in the shadows. Looking for vengeance.
To expose the truth buried in the walls of the Harrow Home, Grace and Rose must unravel a legacy of silence and cruelty. But Grace’s father will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden, and if the truth comes to light, it could destroy both their families.
THE HARROW HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS has long stood as a place of secrets. The estate has housed hundreds of young women hidden away during their pregnancies, their homesick cries echoing through the halls, providing a haunting score to Grace Harrow’s childhood.
Now, in the summer of 1947, the Home has been sold to a wealthy hotelier. Grace expects the new owner's daughters to be spoiled. Yet Rose, the eldest daughter—unaware of Mr. Harrow's abusive tendencies—is jealous of Grace's seemingly easy confidence. But as they’re drawn into each other's lives, an unlikely friendship begins to form. Fortunately so, because not all of the wayward girls made it out...
One still lingers. Lurking in the shadows. Looking for vengeance.
To expose the truth buried in the walls of the Harrow Home, Grace and Rose must unravel a legacy of silence and cruelty. But Grace’s father will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden, and if the truth comes to light, it could destroy both their families.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Jessica Spotswood
15 books1,698 followersJess is the author of the historical fantasy trilogy The Cahill Witch Chronicles and the contemporary novels Wild Swans and The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls. She is the editor of the anthologies A Tyranny of Petticoats and The Radical Element, and co-editor (with Tess Sharpe) of Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft. Jess lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, mystery author Stephen Spotswood, and she works for the DC Public Library as a children’s library associate. Her next book, The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls, will be out in August 2026 from Holt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If there's one thing a man should never do, it's build an institution dedicated to controlling women and then act surprised when it eventually becomes haunted.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls takes place in 1947 at a former home for unmarried pregnant girls, which is already one of those historical settings that immediately makes you angry before anyone even opens their mouth. Then Jessica Spotswood adds a ghost, a family full of secrets, a deeply unsettling vibe, and several men who desperately need to be launched into the sun, and suddenly I was having a fantastic time.
Grace Harrow has grown up at the Home, listening to the cries of girls hidden away from the world while her father runs the place like he's doing everyone a favor. Rose arrives when her wealthy father buys the estate with plans to turn it into a hotel. Both girls take one look at their situations and basically realize the adults around them have been lying about everything. Which, to be fair, they have.
What I loved most is that this book understands something horror often gets right: ghosts are rarely the biggest problem. There is a literal haunting here. Strange mirrors. Creepy sightings. A girl who never really left. But every time the ghost showed up, I found myself thinking, "Okay, sure, but let's get back to the deeply suspicious grown men making everybody's lives miserable."
The friendship between Grace and Rose absolutely carries this story. These girls should not get along. They come from completely different worlds. Grace assumes Rose is spoiled. Rose assumes Grace has everything figured out. Instead they slowly realize they're both trapped by expectations they never asked for, and watching them become allies was honestly more satisfying than half the mysteries.
And listen, the female rage in this book? Delicious. The entire story is simmering with the anger of girls and women who have spent generations being told to stay quiet, be grateful, and accept whatever scraps of freedom they're given. The haunting almost feels like that anger refusing to stay buried anymore. Which sounds very profound of me, but mostly I spent the book rooting for every woman who looked at an unfair situation and thought, "Actually, no."
The atmosphere is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. The house feels wrong from the start. Not flashy horror-movie wrong. More the kind of wrong where you keep noticing things out of the corner of your eye and suddenly realize you've been tense for fifty pages. Between the old secrets, the ghost story, and the constant feeling that something awful happened here, the whole book has that perfect creeping dread.
I will say this is definitely more gothic mystery than full horror. If you're expecting wall-to-wall scares, that's not really the vibe. The tension comes from uncovering what happened in this house and why everyone seems determined to keep it hidden. The mystery isn't especially hard to piece together, but honestly I didn't care. I was too busy being emotionally invested in Grace and Rose and hoping the universe would let these girls have one good day.
What surprised me most is how hopeful the story feels underneath all the darkness. This is a book about cruelty, silence, and the damage people do when they think they're entitled to control someone else's life. But it's also about friendship, survival, and refusing to let terrible people write the ending of your story. That's a hard balance to pull off, and Spotswood does it really well.
By the end, I was fully on board with this haunted-house revenge tour. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is creepy, angry, heartfelt, and packed with the kind of ghost that has excellent reasons for being upset. Four stars from me, and a reminder that every haunted house was probably just a regular house until somebody started making terrible decisions.
Whodunity Award: For Providing One Extremely Reasonable Ghost With A Very Long Grievance List
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the ghost story, stayed for the female rage, and left with a renewed commitment to immediately distrust any institution that claims it's "for your own good."
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls takes place in 1947 at a former home for unmarried pregnant girls, which is already one of those historical settings that immediately makes you angry before anyone even opens their mouth. Then Jessica Spotswood adds a ghost, a family full of secrets, a deeply unsettling vibe, and several men who desperately need to be launched into the sun, and suddenly I was having a fantastic time.
Grace Harrow has grown up at the Home, listening to the cries of girls hidden away from the world while her father runs the place like he's doing everyone a favor. Rose arrives when her wealthy father buys the estate with plans to turn it into a hotel. Both girls take one look at their situations and basically realize the adults around them have been lying about everything. Which, to be fair, they have.
What I loved most is that this book understands something horror often gets right: ghosts are rarely the biggest problem. There is a literal haunting here. Strange mirrors. Creepy sightings. A girl who never really left. But every time the ghost showed up, I found myself thinking, "Okay, sure, but let's get back to the deeply suspicious grown men making everybody's lives miserable."
The friendship between Grace and Rose absolutely carries this story. These girls should not get along. They come from completely different worlds. Grace assumes Rose is spoiled. Rose assumes Grace has everything figured out. Instead they slowly realize they're both trapped by expectations they never asked for, and watching them become allies was honestly more satisfying than half the mysteries.
And listen, the female rage in this book? Delicious. The entire story is simmering with the anger of girls and women who have spent generations being told to stay quiet, be grateful, and accept whatever scraps of freedom they're given. The haunting almost feels like that anger refusing to stay buried anymore. Which sounds very profound of me, but mostly I spent the book rooting for every woman who looked at an unfair situation and thought, "Actually, no."
The atmosphere is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. The house feels wrong from the start. Not flashy horror-movie wrong. More the kind of wrong where you keep noticing things out of the corner of your eye and suddenly realize you've been tense for fifty pages. Between the old secrets, the ghost story, and the constant feeling that something awful happened here, the whole book has that perfect creeping dread.
I will say this is definitely more gothic mystery than full horror. If you're expecting wall-to-wall scares, that's not really the vibe. The tension comes from uncovering what happened in this house and why everyone seems determined to keep it hidden. The mystery isn't especially hard to piece together, but honestly I didn't care. I was too busy being emotionally invested in Grace and Rose and hoping the universe would let these girls have one good day.
What surprised me most is how hopeful the story feels underneath all the darkness. This is a book about cruelty, silence, and the damage people do when they think they're entitled to control someone else's life. But it's also about friendship, survival, and refusing to let terrible people write the ending of your story. That's a hard balance to pull off, and Spotswood does it really well.
By the end, I was fully on board with this haunted-house revenge tour. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is creepy, angry, heartfelt, and packed with the kind of ghost that has excellent reasons for being upset. Four stars from me, and a reminder that every haunted house was probably just a regular house until somebody started making terrible decisions.
Whodunity Award: For Providing One Extremely Reasonable Ghost With A Very Long Grievance List
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the ghost story, stayed for the female rage, and left with a renewed commitment to immediately distrust any institution that claims it's "for your own good."
August 22, 2026
3.5/5⭐️ The Harrow Home for Wayward girls is a YA gothic supernatural thriller. In this story we are following two teenage girls, Grace and Rose, as they find their way in the 1940s in a world that is not too friendly to women. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this. The setting is a former home for pregnant girls to hide from society until they gave birth which was later turned into a hotel by Rose's dad. This helped establish the creepy past of the hotel, plausibility to ghosts in the hotel, and a strong feminist undertone to the novel. The main characters were likeable and the setting was superb.
While I enjoyed this story as a whole, I do wish the twists were a little more ~twisty~. I guessed most of them pretty early into the book. It also read on the younger end of YA (just something to keep in mind)!
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
While I enjoyed this story as a whole, I do wish the twists were a little more ~twisty~. I guessed most of them pretty early into the book. It also read on the younger end of YA (just something to keep in mind)!
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
August 5, 2026
Grace Harrow and her twin brother grew up at The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls, a place where many young women stayed while hiding their pregnancies. When the home is sold in the summer of 1947, Grace is unsure what to expect from the new owner's family. She is caught off guard when she meets Rose, the eldest daughter. Despite their different backgrounds, Grace and Rose share a secret: they both see a vengeful ghost. They think the ghost is a former resident of the home, but as they search for answers, Rose’s father will do anything to keep the past buried.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is a perfect audiobook for Fall. The spooky atmosphere and the aspect of a vengeful ghost out for revenge kept me hooked. Grace and Rose aren't just trying to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity; they’re also figuring out where they belong in a time when women had few options. The story has plenty of unlikeable characters who try to keep the girls from moving forward, and I definitely had strong feelings about them. Although some twists were predictable, I still enjoyed the overall mystery, and the ending took me by surprise.
This book is perfect for fans of YA mysteries with supernatural elements.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is out on August 25th.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to review The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is a perfect audiobook for Fall. The spooky atmosphere and the aspect of a vengeful ghost out for revenge kept me hooked. Grace and Rose aren't just trying to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity; they’re also figuring out where they belong in a time when women had few options. The story has plenty of unlikeable characters who try to keep the girls from moving forward, and I definitely had strong feelings about them. Although some twists were predictable, I still enjoyed the overall mystery, and the ending took me by surprise.
This book is perfect for fans of YA mysteries with supernatural elements.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is out on August 25th.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to review The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls.
September 16, 2026
There is a content warning page. Please read it and mind them. It is accurate.
I really enjoyed this. It was spooky, the writing was good, the storyline was solid and the characters had depth and individuality. I loved the setting and the feel of the book's atmosphere
My biggest issue was I would have liked this more if the romance aspect had been between Grace and Rosie. I don't think this is a spoiler because I think it's important for people to know that even though Rose is bi and there are hints that Cooper is also gay, the main relationships in this book are straight. I felt a little like I was led to believe this would be queer horror and it wasn't.
I really enjoyed this. It was spooky, the writing was good, the storyline was solid and the characters had depth and individuality. I loved the setting and the feel of the book's atmosphere
My biggest issue was I would have liked this more if the romance aspect had been between Grace and Rosie. I don't think this is a spoiler because I think it's important for people to know that even though Rose is bi and there are hints that Cooper is also gay, the main relationships in this book are straight. I felt a little like I was led to believe this would be queer horror and it wasn't.
August 28, 2026
3.5⭐️
THE HARROW HOUSE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS is an intriguing mix of historical fiction and the paranormal. Atmospheric and creepy combine to create an entertaining story with just the right amount of suspense for readers (like me) who prefer their scary books without significant body horror.
Set in the 1940s, the Harrow House was once a home where unwed pregnant teenagers were hidden away during their confinement. Conditions were harsh and the girls were treated poorly at the hands of Mr. Harrow. The property has been sold to a developer planning to turn it into a hotel. An unlikely friendship forms between Grace Harrow who was raised in the home and Rosie, the daughter of the new owner, when they both notice a spirit on the property.
This is a YA novel and the twists were mostly predictable, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan and both deliver fantastic performances.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook as part of the Early Listener Program. All opinions are my own.
THE HARROW HOUSE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS is an intriguing mix of historical fiction and the paranormal. Atmospheric and creepy combine to create an entertaining story with just the right amount of suspense for readers (like me) who prefer their scary books without significant body horror.
Set in the 1940s, the Harrow House was once a home where unwed pregnant teenagers were hidden away during their confinement. Conditions were harsh and the girls were treated poorly at the hands of Mr. Harrow. The property has been sold to a developer planning to turn it into a hotel. An unlikely friendship forms between Grace Harrow who was raised in the home and Rosie, the daughter of the new owner, when they both notice a spirit on the property.
This is a YA novel and the twists were mostly predictable, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan and both deliver fantastic performances.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook as part of the Early Listener Program. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2026
This is my first time reading anything from this Author and I was not disappointed. The writing, the storyline, the plot, the characters and the concept kept me intrigued and listening. This story takes place in the late 1940’s where girls were sent away if they became pregnant and gave their babies up for adoption the return to normal lives, I do believe that these types of homes were prevalent in those times. The father in this book was despicable and abusive and it was just so frustrating.
I loved the creepiness of the house because there is some serious secrets hidden within the walls and a ghost in the mirrors. I also loved how the main characters did their own investigation to find out the truth. Can’t wait to read more from Jessica Spotswood!
I loved the creepiness of the house because there is some serious secrets hidden within the walls and a ghost in the mirrors. I also loved how the main characters did their own investigation to find out the truth. Can’t wait to read more from Jessica Spotswood!
September 3, 2026
Thank you @macmillan.audio #MacmillanAudio2026 for the gifted audiobook...this is my honest review.
🎧 10 hrs 59 min
🗣️ Gail Shalan | Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
👻 Ghostly
🔪 Revenge
🕰️ Historical
🤰Teenage pregnancy
🏞️ Atmospheric
🫖 THE TEA
In 1947, Grace Harrow and new arrival Rose form an unlikely bond at the former home for pregnant teens. But the vengeful spirit of a girl who never left remains in the shadows. To uncover the truth behind the home’s cruel history, they must work together before the dark secrets destroy them both.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this one. I like a good YA read every now and then, and these flawed, compelling characters kept me fully vested.
The plot and mystery were well written.
Coming off a heavy dose of thrillers, I found myself craving a bit more bite, a little extra detail on the domestic tension and ghostly elements to push it over the edge for me. But honestly, that is a total “me” thing. As a YA paranormal thriller, I think Spotswood nails the assignment and it lands on the darker side of the YA genre in a solid way.
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?!
The dual narration was well done. Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw brought these young adults to life with great pacing and tone. The production elevated the whole story.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 3.5 🌟
I liked it. An entertaining read and a strong YA pick. Rounding up to 4 stars on Goodreads for the strong audio production and that incredible cover art. It’s a yes for me.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
🎧 10 hrs 59 min
🗣️ Gail Shalan | Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
👻 Ghostly
🔪 Revenge
🕰️ Historical
🤰Teenage pregnancy
🏞️ Atmospheric
🫖 THE TEA
In 1947, Grace Harrow and new arrival Rose form an unlikely bond at the former home for pregnant teens. But the vengeful spirit of a girl who never left remains in the shadows. To uncover the truth behind the home’s cruel history, they must work together before the dark secrets destroy them both.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this one. I like a good YA read every now and then, and these flawed, compelling characters kept me fully vested.
The plot and mystery were well written.
Coming off a heavy dose of thrillers, I found myself craving a bit more bite, a little extra detail on the domestic tension and ghostly elements to push it over the edge for me. But honestly, that is a total “me” thing. As a YA paranormal thriller, I think Spotswood nails the assignment and it lands on the darker side of the YA genre in a solid way.
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?!
The dual narration was well done. Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw brought these young adults to life with great pacing and tone. The production elevated the whole story.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 3.5 🌟
I liked it. An entertaining read and a strong YA pick. Rounding up to 4 stars on Goodreads for the strong audio production and that incredible cover art. It’s a yes for me.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
July 29, 2026
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.
Grace and her twin brother grew up in a home for young pregnant girls. It's the 40's and such things are quite frowned upon. Many of the characters in this are, 'of their time', ie misogynistic, abusive, abrasively rude. That said the main characters are a little more modern with women trying to have some agency and queer side stories. Grace is trying to figure out whether her mother was one of the girls in the home and why she and the other girls keep seeing what they think might be a ghost of a girl who lived in the facility.
This is one of those stories that makes a modern woman angry. Grace's boyfriend is awful. I was listening while packing boxes so I kept going even though at times I wanted to strangle some characters. It was worth getting to the end, I thought for a while I had things figured out, but there was a late twist that turned everything on its head.
Grace and her twin brother grew up in a home for young pregnant girls. It's the 40's and such things are quite frowned upon. Many of the characters in this are, 'of their time', ie misogynistic, abusive, abrasively rude. That said the main characters are a little more modern with women trying to have some agency and queer side stories. Grace is trying to figure out whether her mother was one of the girls in the home and why she and the other girls keep seeing what they think might be a ghost of a girl who lived in the facility.
This is one of those stories that makes a modern woman angry. Grace's boyfriend is awful. I was listening while packing boxes so I kept going even though at times I wanted to strangle some characters. It was worth getting to the end, I thought for a while I had things figured out, but there was a late twist that turned everything on its head.
May 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for this early edition. I really enjoyed this book! It gave To Kill A Mockingbird (one of my favorite classics) vibes but darker and a more twisted ending. Grace and Cooper remind me of Scout and Jem; Rose and her siblings reminded me of Dill; all just a little more grown up and a lot more haunted. However, Mr. Harrow is no Atticus Finch and Boo Radley may actually be a ghost—The small town summer feel brought a little nostalgia which pairs well with a novel to simmer in. I thought it was really well written and over all a super enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley for this early edition. I really enjoyed this book! It gave To Kill A Mockingbird (one of my favorite classics) vibes but darker and a more twisted ending. Grace and Cooper remind me of Scout and Jem; Rose and her siblings reminded me of Dill; all just a little more grown up and a lot more haunted. However, Mr. Harrow is no Atticus Finch and Boo Radley may actually be a ghost—The small town summer feel brought a little nostalgia which pairs well with a novel to simmer in. I thought it was really well written and over all a super enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2026
It may still be summer, but I've officially entered into my spooky era.
The setting. The characters. The past history and who inhabited The Harrow Home and what Grace and Rose are experiencing are all just a handful of reasons to dive into this story that felt supernatural mixed with historical fiction. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is set in the late 1940's after the Home is sold to Rose's family. The home once housed young women that became pregnant and gave up their children for adoption. Now, Grace and her twin brother aren't sure what to expect with the new owners, but something is haunting the house. Perhaps someone that once lived there. But Rose and Grace are the only ones to see it. Or are they?
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw who gave life to our two female protagonists that initially tolerated one another, and soon started to work together to find answers to what was haunting them. They are flawed characters, still finding themselves but felt all the more real because of it. I enjoyed watching them navigate the mysteries of the Home while uncovering truths that had long been buried.
Overall, the audio was the star of this story for me. Great production and performances, but as far as the story goes, I wanted more of the haunting. Of the ghostly aspect. The mystery was good and made sense for the historical gothic vibes, I just wanted more.
The setting. The characters. The past history and who inhabited The Harrow Home and what Grace and Rose are experiencing are all just a handful of reasons to dive into this story that felt supernatural mixed with historical fiction. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is set in the late 1940's after the Home is sold to Rose's family. The home once housed young women that became pregnant and gave up their children for adoption. Now, Grace and her twin brother aren't sure what to expect with the new owners, but something is haunting the house. Perhaps someone that once lived there. But Rose and Grace are the only ones to see it. Or are they?
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw who gave life to our two female protagonists that initially tolerated one another, and soon started to work together to find answers to what was haunting them. They are flawed characters, still finding themselves but felt all the more real because of it. I enjoyed watching them navigate the mysteries of the Home while uncovering truths that had long been buried.
Overall, the audio was the star of this story for me. Great production and performances, but as far as the story goes, I wanted more of the haunting. Of the ghostly aspect. The mystery was good and made sense for the historical gothic vibes, I just wanted more.
September 18, 2026
A lot of folks seem to find this to be a middle of the road book but I really enjoyed it. I had a great time listening and was spooked a bit while listening and driving in the foggy dark morning one day.
I did expect this to be a sapphic story but I wasn't mad that it didn't turn out that way. I love bisexual rep and wouldve liked to see Coopers reaction to Rose's history.
Overall a high 4 star book for me and would definitely read more from this author.
I did expect this to be a sapphic story but I wasn't mad that it didn't turn out that way. I love bisexual rep and wouldve liked to see Coopers reaction to Rose's history.
Overall a high 4 star book for me and would definitely read more from this author.
August 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! I listened to the audio and I really feel like it brought it to life.
I’m not often someone who reads historical books or period pieces, but I did not mind that this was set in the 40s.
It was spooky, sad, and mysterious. It was really interesting to see how everything ended up being tied together, and I definitely did not expect a few of the twists.
I’m not often someone who reads historical books or period pieces, but I did not mind that this was set in the 40s.
It was spooky, sad, and mysterious. It was really interesting to see how everything ended up being tied together, and I definitely did not expect a few of the twists.
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026DNF 20% - I really kept trying but this book is so boring to me and I cannot picture forcing myself through almost three more hours of listening to it, even on 3x
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for this ALC in exchange for my honest review
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for this ALC in exchange for my honest review
August 2, 2026
I really enjoyed the creepy and atmospheric ambience this story brought. A once home for girls in trouble starts going under construction to become a hotel disturbs a spirt. It seems only the young girls can see her and eventually they must uncover who this girl is. Secrets are uncovered and through out people end up dead.
I think this def hit the mark for historical. The lingo plus descriptions of clothing, hair, etc really created a vivid picture. Also, the narration was really good. However, I wish there was more of a haunting instead of just flashes of the ghost here and there until the very end. This book did cover some hard topics so please read triggers before hand.
Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the gifted audiobook.
I think this def hit the mark for historical. The lingo plus descriptions of clothing, hair, etc really created a vivid picture. Also, the narration was really good. However, I wish there was more of a haunting instead of just flashes of the ghost here and there until the very end. This book did cover some hard topics so please read triggers before hand.
Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the gifted audiobook.
July 30, 2026
Thank you Macmillan audio for my ALC!
This was an amazing read especially on audio that carried the spooky, gothic vibes immaculately through the narrations. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is an incredibly atmospheric read set in a historic timeline, a Wayward house turned hotel of sorts but the place is haunted by the ghosts of past literally and figurativley.
My absolute favorite part of the story has to be the super strong portrayal of two young girls trying to find their place in a world everything they do is judged harshly. They are flawed but the character arcs in the end made it up for that, the mystery is carefully woven.Grace and Rose slowly unravels it slowly to uncover hidden truths and buried bodies. Between vengeful ghosts and awful human beings, there is camaraderie, sisterhood and determined characters that want to set things straight.
The issues I had was the fact that the twists were kind of predictable and as the story progressed the spook/ gothic aspects take a little step down. I really wished that ambiance was carried out till the end, overall it will be a great read for the Autumn season. Highly recommend going for the audio.
This was an amazing read especially on audio that carried the spooky, gothic vibes immaculately through the narrations. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is an incredibly atmospheric read set in a historic timeline, a Wayward house turned hotel of sorts but the place is haunted by the ghosts of past literally and figurativley.
My absolute favorite part of the story has to be the super strong portrayal of two young girls trying to find their place in a world everything they do is judged harshly. They are flawed but the character arcs in the end made it up for that, the mystery is carefully woven.Grace and Rose slowly unravels it slowly to uncover hidden truths and buried bodies. Between vengeful ghosts and awful human beings, there is camaraderie, sisterhood and determined characters that want to set things straight.
The issues I had was the fact that the twists were kind of predictable and as the story progressed the spook/ gothic aspects take a little step down. I really wished that ambiance was carried out till the end, overall it will be a great read for the Autumn season. Highly recommend going for the audio.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of the audiobook via NetGalley! The following is my honest review:
3.5 stars rounded up
The blurb, the striking cover, even early praise in the news, all strongly highlight the gothic aspects of The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls, bringing me to expect the story of a haunting within the eery confines of the secluded Harrow estate. Yet the ghostly, gothic aspects of the story are very much secondary, and I find myself surprised by the emphasis.
At its core this is historical fiction. Transporting the reader to 1947, The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls offers a searing exploration of societal norms in post-war America. The authors writing is detailed and rich with the nuance of the period, truly evoking the era. From hair and lipstick choices, to portrayals of common pastimes, the backdrop of the story is vivid. And while there are paranormal elements, they're skimmed over without the expected eeriness or dread synonymous with a ghostly sighting.
Still, the story is deeply unsettling, with a looming sense of foreboding and discomfort that escalates with each chapter. Yet it is not the result of possessions and apparitions; the female experience is the true horror. Young female bodies that exist for the male gaze. The stifling lack of female autonomy that transcends class divides. Judgment that excuses male behavior while demanding female accountability. The girls of the story, in their varying ages and class, are haunted by their choices- both those they've made and those that are unavailable to them.
For the best reading experience it's best to have the expectation going in that this book is not primarily a ghost story. I consider it historical fiction with paranormal elements. Though it is a haunting tale, just not in the way the marketing leads you to believe. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is deeply feminist, an exploration of the power of female friendship as resistance. It is the story of entirely different girls who are strong in their own right, but truly powerful when supporting one another. A heavy but hopeful read.
A note on the format: I was able to listen early to the audiobook and highly recommend it if this book is on your TBR. It is a Dual POV narration performed by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan, who both did a wonderful job bringing the two main characters to life. They truly captured the essence of the characters with dynamic and emotive performances. I especially loved Mia Hutchinson-Shaw's depiction of Rose- her portrayal felt truly grounded in the 1940's era, exuding an air of dignity and elegance through voice and intonation that was so authentic to a woman of Rose's station. Always poised, always composed. It was masterfully done!
A note on the content: Particularly for YA readers I strongly recommend checking the content warnings before picking up this one. It explores some heavy themes that are particularly uncomfortable given the ages of the characters involved. The publisher recommended age is 14+ I personally would recommend higher at 16+. I've included content warnings below for those that find them helpful.
Content Warnings:
(All in the context of the mid-20th century timeframe)
- Institutional abuse
- Sexual abuse: pedophilia in the context of grown men targeting a 14 year old girl because 'she doesn't look 14.' Multiple instances, multiple men. -- - Dubious consent. Adult engaged to a minor.
- Strong misogyny
- Domestic and intimate partner violence, including coercive control dynamics towards a teen.
- Secret adoptions
- Depictions of mental illness, including mentions of lobotomy as treatment
- Homophobia: hateful labels such a 'deviant'
- Language, mild
3.5 stars rounded up
The blurb, the striking cover, even early praise in the news, all strongly highlight the gothic aspects of The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls, bringing me to expect the story of a haunting within the eery confines of the secluded Harrow estate. Yet the ghostly, gothic aspects of the story are very much secondary, and I find myself surprised by the emphasis.
At its core this is historical fiction. Transporting the reader to 1947, The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls offers a searing exploration of societal norms in post-war America. The authors writing is detailed and rich with the nuance of the period, truly evoking the era. From hair and lipstick choices, to portrayals of common pastimes, the backdrop of the story is vivid. And while there are paranormal elements, they're skimmed over without the expected eeriness or dread synonymous with a ghostly sighting.
Still, the story is deeply unsettling, with a looming sense of foreboding and discomfort that escalates with each chapter. Yet it is not the result of possessions and apparitions; the female experience is the true horror. Young female bodies that exist for the male gaze. The stifling lack of female autonomy that transcends class divides. Judgment that excuses male behavior while demanding female accountability. The girls of the story, in their varying ages and class, are haunted by their choices- both those they've made and those that are unavailable to them.
For the best reading experience it's best to have the expectation going in that this book is not primarily a ghost story. I consider it historical fiction with paranormal elements. Though it is a haunting tale, just not in the way the marketing leads you to believe. The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls is deeply feminist, an exploration of the power of female friendship as resistance. It is the story of entirely different girls who are strong in their own right, but truly powerful when supporting one another. A heavy but hopeful read.
A note on the format: I was able to listen early to the audiobook and highly recommend it if this book is on your TBR. It is a Dual POV narration performed by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan, who both did a wonderful job bringing the two main characters to life. They truly captured the essence of the characters with dynamic and emotive performances. I especially loved Mia Hutchinson-Shaw's depiction of Rose- her portrayal felt truly grounded in the 1940's era, exuding an air of dignity and elegance through voice and intonation that was so authentic to a woman of Rose's station. Always poised, always composed. It was masterfully done!
A note on the content: Particularly for YA readers I strongly recommend checking the content warnings before picking up this one. It explores some heavy themes that are particularly uncomfortable given the ages of the characters involved. The publisher recommended age is 14+ I personally would recommend higher at 16+. I've included content warnings below for those that find them helpful.
Content Warnings:
(All in the context of the mid-20th century timeframe)
- Institutional abuse
- Sexual abuse: pedophilia in the context of grown men targeting a 14 year old girl because 'she doesn't look 14.' Multiple instances, multiple men. -- - Dubious consent. Adult engaged to a minor.
- Strong misogyny
- Domestic and intimate partner violence, including coercive control dynamics towards a teen.
- Secret adoptions
- Depictions of mental illness, including mentions of lobotomy as treatment
- Homophobia: hateful labels such a 'deviant'
- Language, mild
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Oh my spooky goodness! This was another read that I just jumped into blind, and as soon as an angry ghost appeared in a mirror silently screaming at one of our heroines I knew I was going to enjoy this!
Set in the summer of 1947 we meet Grace Harrow who has grown up in the Harrow Home, an estate where young girls in a "family way" were secreted away during their pregnancies. The home has just been sold and Grace is adjusting to the changes. We also meet Rose, whose father has just purchased the Harrow Home and is converting it into a hotel. Grace is determined to dislike Rose until she discovers that Rose can also see the face of screaming young woman in all the reflective surfaces around the house. Scared, the two girls set out to discover who the woman was and what happened to her before her screaming face and her residual anger drive them both crazy.
This was the YA Gothic historical mystery my hot August days needed. I love a good story of a haunted house, and making a former home for girls haunted doesn't feel at all like a stretch. I can only imagine the vestiges of fear and anger and hurt homes like that would hold. It was a perfect backdrop to this mystery and it broke my heart knowing that homes like this actually existed.
I also loved the friendship that was at the core of this mystery as Rose and Grace worked to discover who the ghost was and why she's haunting them. Author Jessica Spotswood clearly understood the myriad of ways a young woman could be silenced and/or discredited and threw so many obstacles at both characters. I loved seeing Rose and Grace not only tackle each obstacle but also learn and grow as characters and as friends as they did. While I couldn't relate to their experiences and circumstances (thank heaven), I could absolutely relate to needing a strong friendship to help me through harrowing moments, and I loved that.
And oh the feminine rage in this. I love good simmering warranted feminine rage and this absolutely nailed it! I feel this is the moment I should warn readers that there are a lot of triggers in this novel. This is a novel set in a home where women were hidden and shamed for becoming pregnant out of wedlock and it's set in a moment of time where women technically had rights, but in reality women were at the mercy of the men in their lives. Both Grace and Rose live under the power of their fathers and fear the decisions those men might make about their futures. Add in some post-war trauma and male entitlement and a fair amount of misogyny and you're left with women in untenable circumstances and a lot of pent-up rage. It was hard to listen to at moments, but also deeply satisfying in certain moments.
I listened to the audiobook and narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan do a wonderful job bringing Grace and Rose to life and portraying some of the accents and affectations of the era! They both definitely enhanced the listening experience.
*I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio; this review is entirely my own.
Set in the summer of 1947 we meet Grace Harrow who has grown up in the Harrow Home, an estate where young girls in a "family way" were secreted away during their pregnancies. The home has just been sold and Grace is adjusting to the changes. We also meet Rose, whose father has just purchased the Harrow Home and is converting it into a hotel. Grace is determined to dislike Rose until she discovers that Rose can also see the face of screaming young woman in all the reflective surfaces around the house. Scared, the two girls set out to discover who the woman was and what happened to her before her screaming face and her residual anger drive them both crazy.
This was the YA Gothic historical mystery my hot August days needed. I love a good story of a haunted house, and making a former home for girls haunted doesn't feel at all like a stretch. I can only imagine the vestiges of fear and anger and hurt homes like that would hold. It was a perfect backdrop to this mystery and it broke my heart knowing that homes like this actually existed.
I also loved the friendship that was at the core of this mystery as Rose and Grace worked to discover who the ghost was and why she's haunting them. Author Jessica Spotswood clearly understood the myriad of ways a young woman could be silenced and/or discredited and threw so many obstacles at both characters. I loved seeing Rose and Grace not only tackle each obstacle but also learn and grow as characters and as friends as they did. While I couldn't relate to their experiences and circumstances (thank heaven), I could absolutely relate to needing a strong friendship to help me through harrowing moments, and I loved that.
And oh the feminine rage in this. I love good simmering warranted feminine rage and this absolutely nailed it! I feel this is the moment I should warn readers that there are a lot of triggers in this novel. This is a novel set in a home where women were hidden and shamed for becoming pregnant out of wedlock and it's set in a moment of time where women technically had rights, but in reality women were at the mercy of the men in their lives. Both Grace and Rose live under the power of their fathers and fear the decisions those men might make about their futures. Add in some post-war trauma and male entitlement and a fair amount of misogyny and you're left with women in untenable circumstances and a lot of pent-up rage. It was hard to listen to at moments, but also deeply satisfying in certain moments.
I listened to the audiobook and narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Gail Shalan do a wonderful job bringing Grace and Rose to life and portraying some of the accents and affectations of the era! They both definitely enhanced the listening experience.
*I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio; this review is entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am so glad that this was the next book for me to read, after reading a previous book that I didn’t enjoy it tossed me into a little of a reading slump however #TheHarrowHomeforWaywardGirls pulled me right out of it! I truly hope you give this book a chance!
I am a sucker for a spooky book, while this one wasn’t super spooky it did keep me guessing as to exactly what was happening. The characters are pretty well put together and Jessica does a great job making you despise Joe Harrow the previous owner of The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls. He is a character very much stuck in time when things are changing now that its 1947. His daughter Grace is highly intelligent and wants nothing more than to get away from town and go to college but to do that she has to be able to survive her father and that comes at a cost. That cost is Stanley yet another sexist who thinks that women belong under a man's thumb.
Things are changing for Grace when their home is sold to a wealthy hotelier and they are moved to the cottage so her mother can stay on as a cook. Cooper Grace’s brother has noticed something off about her. She is angry more often and has hurt him by accident in her anger. He fears for what may be happening to her mind.
Grace has a secret that she has told no one because she isn’t sure if what she is seeing and feeling is real. In any reflection on any surface she keeps seeing a woman with dark bobbed hair and bloody red lips who screams and is very angry. She has only been able to avoid her when she is outside the home but the day that Rose and her sisters show up she starts seeing the woman in reflections outside the home as well.
Grace is determined that something is amiss in the hotel, all her life she was told stories of the woman who supposedly haunted the hall of Harrow Home. Girls who died in childbirth or girls that killed themselves because of their circumstances. She needs to find out why this one spirit is so angry and refuses to move on. Although a drastic difference in their circumstances Grace and Rose strike up a shaky friendship and the two of them after sharing confidences about what both are seeing decide to solve this mystery together.
There are things about The Harrow Home that are better left buried. Things that Grace’s Father Joe would rather be forgotten about. Even a Father can have a breaking point and with Joe it doesn't take much for him to get there. Grace knows that just because she is his daughter it won’t save her from him but she can’t live with herself if she doesn’t figure out who is haunting her.
Thank you to #Netgalley for the chance to read an eArc of #TheHarrowHomeforWaywardGirls by #JessicaSpotswood in return for a fair and honest review.
I am a sucker for a spooky book, while this one wasn’t super spooky it did keep me guessing as to exactly what was happening. The characters are pretty well put together and Jessica does a great job making you despise Joe Harrow the previous owner of The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls. He is a character very much stuck in time when things are changing now that its 1947. His daughter Grace is highly intelligent and wants nothing more than to get away from town and go to college but to do that she has to be able to survive her father and that comes at a cost. That cost is Stanley yet another sexist who thinks that women belong under a man's thumb.
Things are changing for Grace when their home is sold to a wealthy hotelier and they are moved to the cottage so her mother can stay on as a cook. Cooper Grace’s brother has noticed something off about her. She is angry more often and has hurt him by accident in her anger. He fears for what may be happening to her mind.
Grace has a secret that she has told no one because she isn’t sure if what she is seeing and feeling is real. In any reflection on any surface she keeps seeing a woman with dark bobbed hair and bloody red lips who screams and is very angry. She has only been able to avoid her when she is outside the home but the day that Rose and her sisters show up she starts seeing the woman in reflections outside the home as well.
Grace is determined that something is amiss in the hotel, all her life she was told stories of the woman who supposedly haunted the hall of Harrow Home. Girls who died in childbirth or girls that killed themselves because of their circumstances. She needs to find out why this one spirit is so angry and refuses to move on. Although a drastic difference in their circumstances Grace and Rose strike up a shaky friendship and the two of them after sharing confidences about what both are seeing decide to solve this mystery together.
There are things about The Harrow Home that are better left buried. Things that Grace’s Father Joe would rather be forgotten about. Even a Father can have a breaking point and with Joe it doesn't take much for him to get there. Grace knows that just because she is his daughter it won’t save her from him but she can’t live with herself if she doesn’t figure out who is haunting her.
Thank you to #Netgalley for the chance to read an eArc of #TheHarrowHomeforWaywardGirls by #JessicaSpotswood in return for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book free of charge from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is the perfect level of spooky, with twists and turns that keep you reaching for it.
Okay, so here is the thing you should know about me. I love light horror, but I am absolutely terrified of the real stuff. You will never catch me at a horror movie, and I am definitely not watching one at home with the lights off. I grew up in the era of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and I read my Christopher Pike books over and over again as a pre-teen. I want the twists, the turns, and just enough scariness to keep my heart racing. What I do not want is the kind of fear that has me afraid to turn out the lights at night.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls hit that sweet spot for me perfectly. It was the exact right amount of creepy. The ambiance and world building were so well done that I could practically feel the chill in the hallways of the hotel, and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming... at all.
Through each chapter I found myself guessing about who the girl in the mirror was, and who Grace and Cooper's biological mother was. That need to know is what kept me picking the book back up.
On the surface it is a fabulous historical fiction ghost story, but it is so much more than that. At its heart, this is a story about siblings, about the love they carry for each other, and about friendships between unlikely pairings.
I absolutely adored the four teenage characters at the center of this story. Spotswood did such a beautiful job capturing the sibling bonds between Ella and Rose, and twins Grace and Cooper. I especially loved the slow burn friendship between Grace and Rose, and watching Grace realize that she could trust Rose as their friendship progressed.
The author also made me truly HATE Stanley and Mr. Harrow. When a writer can make you feel that strongly, you know the characters are working.
This book was a little reminiscent of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, in that it is also a horror novel set in a home for girls experiencing teenage pregnancy, girls whose parents have shipped them off. That said, I preferred The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls. I think part of it is that this story was written by a woman, and I have always felt it can be hard for an author to truly capture what it is like to be a teenage girl if they have never been one. That authenticity really came through here.
If you love a creepy ghost story with heart, rich atmosphere, and characters you will root for, this is a wonderful one to curl up with. I definitely recommend adding The Harrow Home For Wayward Girls to your spooky season reading list!
This book is the perfect level of spooky, with twists and turns that keep you reaching for it.
Okay, so here is the thing you should know about me. I love light horror, but I am absolutely terrified of the real stuff. You will never catch me at a horror movie, and I am definitely not watching one at home with the lights off. I grew up in the era of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and I read my Christopher Pike books over and over again as a pre-teen. I want the twists, the turns, and just enough scariness to keep my heart racing. What I do not want is the kind of fear that has me afraid to turn out the lights at night.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls hit that sweet spot for me perfectly. It was the exact right amount of creepy. The ambiance and world building were so well done that I could practically feel the chill in the hallways of the hotel, and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming... at all.
Through each chapter I found myself guessing about who the girl in the mirror was, and who Grace and Cooper's biological mother was. That need to know is what kept me picking the book back up.
On the surface it is a fabulous historical fiction ghost story, but it is so much more than that. At its heart, this is a story about siblings, about the love they carry for each other, and about friendships between unlikely pairings.
I absolutely adored the four teenage characters at the center of this story. Spotswood did such a beautiful job capturing the sibling bonds between Ella and Rose, and twins Grace and Cooper. I especially loved the slow burn friendship between Grace and Rose, and watching Grace realize that she could trust Rose as their friendship progressed.
The author also made me truly HATE Stanley and Mr. Harrow. When a writer can make you feel that strongly, you know the characters are working.
This book was a little reminiscent of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, in that it is also a horror novel set in a home for girls experiencing teenage pregnancy, girls whose parents have shipped them off. That said, I preferred The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls. I think part of it is that this story was written by a woman, and I have always felt it can be hard for an author to truly capture what it is like to be a teenage girl if they have never been one. That authenticity really came through here.
If you love a creepy ghost story with heart, rich atmosphere, and characters you will root for, this is a wonderful one to curl up with. I definitely recommend adding The Harrow Home For Wayward Girls to your spooky season reading list!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read this book in two days, which is always one of the clearest signs that a story has completely pulled me in.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls blends gothic atmosphere, family secrets, and mystery into a historical YA fantasy that kept me invested from beginning to end. The pacing throughout most of the novel is excellent, steadily revealing clues and answers without ever feeling too slow or overwhelming. Every revelation naturally led to new questions, making it difficult to put down.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its cast of characters. Whether I liked them or not, they felt fully realized and believable. The relationships between the characters, particularly the questions surrounding family, motherhood, identity, and belonging, gave the story emotional depth beyond the central mystery.
The mystery itself is carefully constructed. Looking back, the clues are present throughout the novel, but they are woven into the narrative in a way that allows the reader to enjoy the process of uncovering the truth alongside the characters. The author balances suspense, drama, and lighter moments well, creating a reading experience that remains engaging throughout.
My primary criticism lies with the final portion of the novel. The ending successfully answers the major questions and provides satisfying resolutions to the central mysteries, but it feels noticeably faster than the rest of the book. Several characters and emotional storylines would have benefited from additional page time. I found myself wanting more opportunity to sit with the emotional consequences of the revelations rather than moving through them so quickly.
In particular, the ghosts role in the story felt so significant that I wanted a more emotionally satisfying farewell. Likewise, some of the late-stage character revelations felt important enough to warrant additional exploration before the novel concluded.
Despite those criticisms, this was an immersive and highly engaging read. The atmosphere, mystery, and character work kept me invested from the first page, and the fact that my biggest complaint is wanting more time with these characters speaks to how effective the story was overall.
The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls blends gothic atmosphere, family secrets, and mystery into a historical YA fantasy that kept me invested from beginning to end. The pacing throughout most of the novel is excellent, steadily revealing clues and answers without ever feeling too slow or overwhelming. Every revelation naturally led to new questions, making it difficult to put down.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its cast of characters. Whether I liked them or not, they felt fully realized and believable. The relationships between the characters, particularly the questions surrounding family, motherhood, identity, and belonging, gave the story emotional depth beyond the central mystery.
The mystery itself is carefully constructed. Looking back, the clues are present throughout the novel, but they are woven into the narrative in a way that allows the reader to enjoy the process of uncovering the truth alongside the characters. The author balances suspense, drama, and lighter moments well, creating a reading experience that remains engaging throughout.
My primary criticism lies with the final portion of the novel. The ending successfully answers the major questions and provides satisfying resolutions to the central mysteries, but it feels noticeably faster than the rest of the book. Several characters and emotional storylines would have benefited from additional page time. I found myself wanting more opportunity to sit with the emotional consequences of the revelations rather than moving through them so quickly.
In particular, the ghosts role in the story felt so significant that I wanted a more emotionally satisfying farewell. Likewise, some of the late-stage character revelations felt important enough to warrant additional exploration before the novel concluded.
Despite those criticisms, this was an immersive and highly engaging read. The atmosphere, mystery, and character work kept me invested from the first page, and the fact that my biggest complaint is wanting more time with these characters speaks to how effective the story was overall.
September 1, 2026
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook, these honest opinions are all my own.
This was a pretty quick read for me. I started off thinking this was good and a really easy three stars, but as the story went on, I was becoming quite desperate for how this was going to end. This is the second book I have read about wayward girls and I think I really enjoy them. This one began to give me the feels I would get in the other book as well. The only way to describe it is rage. I do not understand and will never understand why women are held at a different standard than men. Reading these allows me to explore those feelings.
While I let myself be in these feels, it also felt good to share some of these same emotions with the characters. And that brings me to Grace and Rose, and their unlikely but beautiful, while not easy, carefully constructed friendship. I could not get enough of these two because they are so different but really enhanced each other. Not always, but overall these girls were a powerhouse.
Major point- if you are more scared to admit to kissing a girl than you are to possible murder, I think we have a problem.
The men in the book, most of them, I loathed and do not even want to talk about them; however they play a big role in the storyline and huge incidences, especially Grace's father. There are so many secrets and a paranormal aspect that I welcomed with open arms. The twist at the end is what gave the solid four stars from me. I did not see it coming and thought it was utterly fantastic. This was a good story that kept me guessing and engaged.
The narrators, Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, did such a great job with these characters.
꧁𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼꧂
𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩.
𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩, 𝙅𝙤𝙚.
This was a pretty quick read for me. I started off thinking this was good and a really easy three stars, but as the story went on, I was becoming quite desperate for how this was going to end. This is the second book I have read about wayward girls and I think I really enjoy them. This one began to give me the feels I would get in the other book as well. The only way to describe it is rage. I do not understand and will never understand why women are held at a different standard than men. Reading these allows me to explore those feelings.
While I let myself be in these feels, it also felt good to share some of these same emotions with the characters. And that brings me to Grace and Rose, and their unlikely but beautiful, while not easy, carefully constructed friendship. I could not get enough of these two because they are so different but really enhanced each other. Not always, but overall these girls were a powerhouse.
Major point- if you are more scared to admit to kissing a girl than you are to possible murder, I think we have a problem.
The men in the book, most of them, I loathed and do not even want to talk about them; however they play a big role in the storyline and huge incidences, especially Grace's father. There are so many secrets and a paranormal aspect that I welcomed with open arms. The twist at the end is what gave the solid four stars from me. I did not see it coming and thought it was utterly fantastic. This was a good story that kept me guessing and engaged.
The narrators, Gail Shalan and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, did such a great job with these characters.
꧁𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼꧂
𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩.
𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩, 𝙅𝙤𝙚.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—my honest thoughts, as always, are my own. Now let's descend into the shadows...
There’s something especially sinister about places that claim to “fix” you.
Reform schools, homes for wayward girls, institutions built on control disguised as care—I love when horror leans into that quiet cruelty. And The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls absolutely thrives in that space. This isn’t loud, chaotic horror… it’s controlled, suffocating, and all the more terrifying because of it.
The dread here builds slowly, like a tightening grip. Every rule, every watchful eye, every forced moment of “correction” feels heavier than the last. There’s a constant sense that something is wrong beneath the surface—but no one is allowed to say it out loud. And that silence? That’s where the horror really lives.
What makes this story hit is how grounded it feels. The fear isn’t just in what might be lurking in the shadows—it’s in the loss of autonomy, the forced obedience, the way identity is slowly stripped away piece by piece. It’s unsettling in a way that lingers, because it doesn’t feel all that far removed from reality.
And when the darker elements begin to creep in, they don’t feel out of place—they feel inevitable.
This is creeping dread done right: quiet, oppressive, and deeply uncomfortable in all the best ways.
**Content Warning:** Institutional abuse, psychological distress, control/manipulation, and themes of identity suppression.
If you’re drawn to horror that simmers beneath the surface and tightens slowly around you, this one will absolutely leave its mark.
🕸️I’m that weird girl who reads the shadows—and you’ll follow willingly.🕸️
There’s something especially sinister about places that claim to “fix” you.
Reform schools, homes for wayward girls, institutions built on control disguised as care—I love when horror leans into that quiet cruelty. And The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls absolutely thrives in that space. This isn’t loud, chaotic horror… it’s controlled, suffocating, and all the more terrifying because of it.
The dread here builds slowly, like a tightening grip. Every rule, every watchful eye, every forced moment of “correction” feels heavier than the last. There’s a constant sense that something is wrong beneath the surface—but no one is allowed to say it out loud. And that silence? That’s where the horror really lives.
What makes this story hit is how grounded it feels. The fear isn’t just in what might be lurking in the shadows—it’s in the loss of autonomy, the forced obedience, the way identity is slowly stripped away piece by piece. It’s unsettling in a way that lingers, because it doesn’t feel all that far removed from reality.
And when the darker elements begin to creep in, they don’t feel out of place—they feel inevitable.
This is creeping dread done right: quiet, oppressive, and deeply uncomfortable in all the best ways.
**Content Warning:** Institutional abuse, psychological distress, control/manipulation, and themes of identity suppression.
If you’re drawn to horror that simmers beneath the surface and tightens slowly around you, this one will absolutely leave its mark.
🕸️I’m that weird girl who reads the shadows—and you’ll follow willingly.🕸️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such an entertaining story!
There was so much to love about this YA historical fantasy. The blend of gothic atmosphere, mystery, and family secrets was right up my alley, and the story delivered on all fronts. I also appreciate that this book kept a steady pace for the most part—revealing clues and answers without doing too much or too little. It was a joy to follow along with each revelation, which led to new questions that kept me turning the page. The balance of suspense, drama, and lighter moments was also well done.
One of my favorite elements of the book was the characters. Some were likeable and others were not, but they all felt real and believable to me, which I loved. The relationships and dynamics between the characters were so compelling to explore, especially as they pertained to family, motherhood, identity, and belonging. The emotional depth was definitely there in this story.
I also thought the mystery was well executed. The clues were present in the novel, but not in a way that was too obvious. It was fun to unravel the truth with the characters, and to also look back at the clues I missed after I finished reading.
While I appreciate how the ending answered the major questions surrounding the central mystery, I do wish that we had more time to process the emotional consequences of the various revelations. That was the one place in the book where the pacing moved a bit faster than I would’ve liked.
But I still really enjoyed this novel overall, and I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone looking for an immersive, engaging story!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to listen to the audiobook!
There was so much to love about this YA historical fantasy. The blend of gothic atmosphere, mystery, and family secrets was right up my alley, and the story delivered on all fronts. I also appreciate that this book kept a steady pace for the most part—revealing clues and answers without doing too much or too little. It was a joy to follow along with each revelation, which led to new questions that kept me turning the page. The balance of suspense, drama, and lighter moments was also well done.
One of my favorite elements of the book was the characters. Some were likeable and others were not, but they all felt real and believable to me, which I loved. The relationships and dynamics between the characters were so compelling to explore, especially as they pertained to family, motherhood, identity, and belonging. The emotional depth was definitely there in this story.
I also thought the mystery was well executed. The clues were present in the novel, but not in a way that was too obvious. It was fun to unravel the truth with the characters, and to also look back at the clues I missed after I finished reading.
While I appreciate how the ending answered the major questions surrounding the central mystery, I do wish that we had more time to process the emotional consequences of the various revelations. That was the one place in the book where the pacing moved a bit faster than I would’ve liked.
But I still really enjoyed this novel overall, and I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone looking for an immersive, engaging story!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to listen to the audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the story and the plot. The haunted house provided the perfect creepy atmosphere for the tale to unfold. Grace and Rose are two of my favorite characters I've read this year. They've got great chemistry and they're smart, competent, gritty, relatable, etc. These two are exactly the kinds of characters that I love to read about, especially in feminine rage stories. If the story was just these two, the sisters, the ghost, and the shitty men, I'd have loved it. Perfect, no notes.
What really detracted from the book was the romance subplot. This was largely unnecessary, not adding to either of the characters or advancing the plot, and the characters lacked chemistry. If it wasn't for other characters telling me, "X has never looked at anyone like that before," I don't think that I'd have realized what the author was trying to do. I also didn't love the way the character's bisexuality was explored. Prior to the book, Rose had kissed several boys trying to prove to herself that she wasn't a lesbian, but never enjoyed those kisses the way she did kisses with girls. The way this was framed didn't truly feel like bisexuality to me but "straight for you" and "she just hadn't found the right boy yet" when the romance started developing.
Another thing that made me a little uncomfortable was the way Cooper was presented. Specifically the way that he's presented as "not like other boys." He might not be drunk, violent, or overtly cruel the way many of the other male characters were, but his character is still rooted in misogyny, especially in the way he doubts and doesn't really listen to his sister. I feel like he kind of gets a free pass because of his relationships with Rose and Grace.
Thanks to Macmillian audio for the ARC.
What really detracted from the book was the romance subplot. This was largely unnecessary, not adding to either of the characters or advancing the plot, and the characters lacked chemistry. If it wasn't for other characters telling me, "X has never looked at anyone like that before," I don't think that I'd have realized what the author was trying to do. I also didn't love the way the character's bisexuality was explored. Prior to the book, Rose had kissed several boys trying to prove to herself that she wasn't a lesbian, but never enjoyed those kisses the way she did kisses with girls. The way this was framed didn't truly feel like bisexuality to me but "straight for you" and "she just hadn't found the right boy yet" when the romance started developing.
Another thing that made me a little uncomfortable was the way Cooper was presented. Specifically the way that he's presented as "not like other boys." He might not be drunk, violent, or overtly cruel the way many of the other male characters were, but his character is still rooted in misogyny, especially in the way he doubts and doesn't really listen to his sister. I feel like he kind of gets a free pass because of his relationships with Rose and Grace.
Thanks to Macmillian audio for the ARC.
August 30, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and I find I do particularly enjoy stories from this time period, especially when they involve women going against the grain as this story did! I found the characters to mostly act appropriate for the time period, being appropriately likable or unlikable in some of their cases. The mystery element kept me engaged and developing all the theories and kept me pushing on to find answers! I enjoyed the segments of Rose & Grace hunting for answers and uncovering secrets! My only real complaints are that the middle section moved a little slower paced than everything else and felt a bit like a lull. In comparison, I felt everything towards the end with the climax and conflict wrapped up a little too quickly and also everything just seemed to work out a little TOO perfectly, if that makes sense? Everyone just went along with everything in the protagonist’s favor with no kickback it seemed, just to wrap things up in a nice little bow for the ending. I would’ve liked it to be a little more drawn out, in my opinion.
Overall, the concept is one that isn’t revolutionary or terribly unique, but I felt it was pretty well done and I’d definitely recommend to my friends who love a good mystery!
Fair trigger warnings: this book takes place in the mid 1900s, so with that there are instances of homophobia, sexism, sexual assault, and grooming of young girls which were commonplace and accepted back then and serve a purpose to help the story fit the time period, but may be triggering for others to read.
I really enjoyed this story and I find I do particularly enjoy stories from this time period, especially when they involve women going against the grain as this story did! I found the characters to mostly act appropriate for the time period, being appropriately likable or unlikable in some of their cases. The mystery element kept me engaged and developing all the theories and kept me pushing on to find answers! I enjoyed the segments of Rose & Grace hunting for answers and uncovering secrets! My only real complaints are that the middle section moved a little slower paced than everything else and felt a bit like a lull. In comparison, I felt everything towards the end with the climax and conflict wrapped up a little too quickly and also everything just seemed to work out a little TOO perfectly, if that makes sense? Everyone just went along with everything in the protagonist’s favor with no kickback it seemed, just to wrap things up in a nice little bow for the ending. I would’ve liked it to be a little more drawn out, in my opinion.
Overall, the concept is one that isn’t revolutionary or terribly unique, but I felt it was pretty well done and I’d definitely recommend to my friends who love a good mystery!
Fair trigger warnings: this book takes place in the mid 1900s, so with that there are instances of homophobia, sexism, sexual assault, and grooming of young girls which were commonplace and accepted back then and serve a purpose to help the story fit the time period, but may be triggering for others to read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls without knowing fully what to expect and slightly nervous. I'm always intrigued by the concept of thrillers and mysteries involving the facilities used to house the then-named "wayward girls" but I tend to find them too detailed when it comes to the birth part, which immediately ruins the book for me. If that's also a concern for you, I'm here to assure you that this book IS SAFE from all but the briefest of mentions around birth/labor.
Jessica Spotswood has given us a well-crafted commentary on so many things such as historical treatment of young, unwed mothers, mental illness as it has impacted women, predatory views on young women ((and women in general)), sexuality, stunted men obsessed with the concept of "virtue" in determining value, horrifying truths around institutions created in the name of "fixing" people... I could honestly go on and on because Grace was right and we are just not angry enough. While the story of Harrow House is a compelling, atmospheric mystery, at its core it's simmering with female rage and the craving for ((well deserved and long overdue)) vengeance, and that's a story I can stand behind every damn time.
Ultimately, this is a completely bingeable read and I will absolutely be adding a physical copy to my personal library.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Jessica Spotswood for this complimentary copy.))
Jessica Spotswood has given us a well-crafted commentary on so many things such as historical treatment of young, unwed mothers, mental illness as it has impacted women, predatory views on young women ((and women in general)), sexuality, stunted men obsessed with the concept of "virtue" in determining value, horrifying truths around institutions created in the name of "fixing" people... I could honestly go on and on because Grace was right and we are just not angry enough. While the story of Harrow House is a compelling, atmospheric mystery, at its core it's simmering with female rage and the craving for ((well deserved and long overdue)) vengeance, and that's a story I can stand behind every damn time.
Ultimately, this is a completely bingeable read and I will absolutely be adding a physical copy to my personal library.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Jessica Spotswood for this complimentary copy.))
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
I requested this book on a whim. I love YA and especially horror. This mixes horror, historical fiction, and some incredible fun with gothic elements in an appealing package full of developed characters.
Harrow Home for Wayward Girls used to house young folks "in trouble," aka pregnant to the chagrin of their families, but those days are over. The forthcoming hotel will have a totally different role. Or will it? This place cannot escape its past so easily, and neither can the inhabitants (living and dead alike).
Grace and Rose work together as representatives of the old and new life of this place to determine what the heck is up with that WOMAN THEY KEEP SEEING EVERYWHERE. THE DEAD ONE! She's in mirrors, the pool, and sometimes even more sinister locations. She is not pleased, and they want to know why. They are also looking for other answers and helping Spotswood assert some intriguing commentary about women's identities and opportunities over time.
The gothic elements brought me here, but it's the character development that kept me engaged. I enjoyed this read and am excited to have a representative of the genre to share with students. Looking forward to more from this author for sure.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I requested this book on a whim. I love YA and especially horror. This mixes horror, historical fiction, and some incredible fun with gothic elements in an appealing package full of developed characters.
Harrow Home for Wayward Girls used to house young folks "in trouble," aka pregnant to the chagrin of their families, but those days are over. The forthcoming hotel will have a totally different role. Or will it? This place cannot escape its past so easily, and neither can the inhabitants (living and dead alike).
Grace and Rose work together as representatives of the old and new life of this place to determine what the heck is up with that WOMAN THEY KEEP SEEING EVERYWHERE. THE DEAD ONE! She's in mirrors, the pool, and sometimes even more sinister locations. She is not pleased, and they want to know why. They are also looking for other answers and helping Spotswood assert some intriguing commentary about women's identities and opportunities over time.
The gothic elements brought me here, but it's the character development that kept me engaged. I enjoyed this read and am excited to have a representative of the genre to share with students. Looking forward to more from this author for sure.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title:The Harrow Home For Wayward Girls
Author: Jessica Spotswood- new to me author
Genre: Historical Fic, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, YA
Trope: ghosts, gothic, hidden secrets, LGBTQIA+, family drama
TW: homophobia, bullying, abuse, secret pregnancy, S/A, murder, stillborn, infertility, classism
Format: e-book 384 pgs.
Started: 8/23/26 | Finished: 8/23/26
POV: 1st person multiple
Setting: Maryland, 1947
Summary: The estate housed one hundred pregnant teens that haunted Grace Harrow's childhood. Harrow Home is sold to a wealthy hotelier Mr. Thorpe w/ plans and a family. Grace meets his eldest daughter Rose and she is jealous of Grace, but they form an unlikely friendship as one girl lingers in shadows looking for vengeance. Grace and Rose unravel hidden secrets and cruelty as Grace's father Mr. Harrow, who will do anything to keep his skeletons in the closet.
Heroine: Grace Harrow-17, investigates her heritage
Heroine: Rose Thorpe-aspiring writer, kissed a girl, rumored to be gay
Side Characters:
Ella Thorpe-14, Rose's middle sister
Lou Thorpe-5, Rose's youngest sister
Cooper Harrow-17, Grace's twin brother
Robert Thorpe-Rose's father, new hotel owner w/new wife Lena
Mrs. Langsford-Rose's aunt
Joseph Harrow-Grace's father, hotel manager
Martha Harrow-Grace's mother, cook and housekeeper
Maggie Sutton-Grace's "cousin," pregnant
Stanley-Grace's boyfriend, a soldier back from war
Emmeline Harrow -Joseph's younger sister-deceased
Daisy Wheeler- "the ghost" was a Harrow girl
Likes/Dislikes:
-Cooper and Grace's relationship
-Rose relationship w/ her sisters
-Joe Harrow's secrets
-The reveal at the end-awesome!
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing| Henry Holt and Co (BYR), and Jessica Spotswood for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Author: Jessica Spotswood- new to me author
Genre: Historical Fic, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, YA
Trope: ghosts, gothic, hidden secrets, LGBTQIA+, family drama
TW: homophobia, bullying, abuse, secret pregnancy, S/A, murder, stillborn, infertility, classism
Format: e-book 384 pgs.
Started: 8/23/26 | Finished: 8/23/26
POV: 1st person multiple
Setting: Maryland, 1947
Summary: The estate housed one hundred pregnant teens that haunted Grace Harrow's childhood. Harrow Home is sold to a wealthy hotelier Mr. Thorpe w/ plans and a family. Grace meets his eldest daughter Rose and she is jealous of Grace, but they form an unlikely friendship as one girl lingers in shadows looking for vengeance. Grace and Rose unravel hidden secrets and cruelty as Grace's father Mr. Harrow, who will do anything to keep his skeletons in the closet.
Heroine: Grace Harrow-17, investigates her heritage
Heroine: Rose Thorpe-aspiring writer, kissed a girl, rumored to be gay
Side Characters:
Ella Thorpe-14, Rose's middle sister
Lou Thorpe-5, Rose's youngest sister
Cooper Harrow-17, Grace's twin brother
Robert Thorpe-Rose's father, new hotel owner w/new wife Lena
Mrs. Langsford-Rose's aunt
Joseph Harrow-Grace's father, hotel manager
Martha Harrow-Grace's mother, cook and housekeeper
Maggie Sutton-Grace's "cousin," pregnant
Stanley-Grace's boyfriend, a soldier back from war
Emmeline Harrow -Joseph's younger sister-deceased
Daisy Wheeler- "the ghost" was a Harrow girl
Likes/Dislikes:
-Cooper and Grace's relationship
-Rose relationship w/ her sisters
-Joe Harrow's secrets
-The reveal at the end-awesome!
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing| Henry Holt and Co (BYR), and Jessica Spotswood for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
August 27, 2026
The setting absolutely made this for me. Harrow Home in 1947 Maryland has that perfect gothic atmosphere where the house itself feels like it’s keeping secrets. Add Grace Harrow, Rose Thorpe, a lingering ghost, buried history, and generations of women being told what they’re allowed to do with their own lives, and yeah… the female rage is VERY much present.
Grace and Rose were really the heart of it for me. They come from completely different circumstances, but watching them slowly piece together what happened at Harrow Home while also dealing with the men trying to control their futures gave the story so much more weight than just a paranormal mystery. Cooper was also such a bright spot in an otherwise very heavy world.
It is definitely a slower burn, especially in the beginning, but once the mystery really starts unfolding, I was invested. There’s horror here, but honestly some of the darkest parts have nothing to do with the ghost. It’s the misogyny, abuse, secrecy, and what women were expected to quietly endure that hit hardest.
I listened to the audiobook and Mia Hutchinson Shaw and Gail Shalan did such a good job bringing Grace and Rose to life. Their performances really fit the setting and added to the eerie atmosphere.
Gothic historical fiction, ghosts, mystery, female friendship, and a very justified dose of feminine rage. Solid 3.75⭐️ for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 🖤
Grace and Rose were really the heart of it for me. They come from completely different circumstances, but watching them slowly piece together what happened at Harrow Home while also dealing with the men trying to control their futures gave the story so much more weight than just a paranormal mystery. Cooper was also such a bright spot in an otherwise very heavy world.
It is definitely a slower burn, especially in the beginning, but once the mystery really starts unfolding, I was invested. There’s horror here, but honestly some of the darkest parts have nothing to do with the ghost. It’s the misogyny, abuse, secrecy, and what women were expected to quietly endure that hit hardest.
I listened to the audiobook and Mia Hutchinson Shaw and Gail Shalan did such a good job bringing Grace and Rose to life. Their performances really fit the setting and added to the eerie atmosphere.
Gothic historical fiction, ghosts, mystery, female friendship, and a very justified dose of feminine rage. Solid 3.75⭐️ for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this coming of age paranormal ghost story that is set after WWII. The story explores gender roles, sexual identity and abuse in a thought-provoking way.
I have read many books written by Jessica and I recognised her writing style straight away. She always manages to make me feel every emotion imaginable. Within the first three pages, I already hated one of the characters and this continued on throughout the book, filling me with so much rage I fear the ghost might have been possessing me too!!
The friendships throughout the book felt so real. They weren't perfect and the fallouts felt believable rather than overdramatic, capturing the ups and downs of teenage friendships in such an authentic way. The friendship between Grace and Rose was written in such a beautiful way and made me wish I had one of these girls as a friend growing up. Let's not forget Coop who was honestly the sweetest and swoon-worthy!
The story was well written and had twists and jaw-dropping moments which kept me on my toes. The ending was very satisfying and empowering, one of those 'YES! You go girl!' moments.
Favourite quote: 'Kissing him is like slipping into a warm bubble bath, or drinking a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream, or taking a nap in a puddle of sunshine on a wintry day. I feel full of light.'
I have read many books written by Jessica and I recognised her writing style straight away. She always manages to make me feel every emotion imaginable. Within the first three pages, I already hated one of the characters and this continued on throughout the book, filling me with so much rage I fear the ghost might have been possessing me too!!
The friendships throughout the book felt so real. They weren't perfect and the fallouts felt believable rather than overdramatic, capturing the ups and downs of teenage friendships in such an authentic way. The friendship between Grace and Rose was written in such a beautiful way and made me wish I had one of these girls as a friend growing up. Let's not forget Coop who was honestly the sweetest and swoon-worthy!
The story was well written and had twists and jaw-dropping moments which kept me on my toes. The ending was very satisfying and empowering, one of those 'YES! You go girl!' moments.
Favourite quote: 'Kissing him is like slipping into a warm bubble bath, or drinking a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream, or taking a nap in a puddle of sunshine on a wintry day. I feel full of light.'
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