She Haunts Me Still

by De Elizabeth

These violent delights have violent ends.

After surviving a shadowed childhood, Mallory Webb is ready to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater, a sanitarium turned liberal arts university in Rhode Island. Landing the lead role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet feels like a dream—until the blood-soaked wraith that caused her mother’s death resurfaces after years of quiet. With nothing to go on but cryptic symbols in an old college notebook, Mallory hopes the reason behind her mother’s haunting lies somewhere on campus, and resolves to find answers before she meets the same fate.

She’s surprised to make an unexpected ally in Ezra Pierce, the magnetic fourth year directing the play, and takes solace in their undeniable chemistry. But Ezra is a master secret keeper, and it’s clear he knows more than he’s letting on about Saskia Garin, Mallory’s elusive understudy whose past eerily mirrors her own.

When an ancient, bloodthirsty evil calls to collect a bargain that dates back to the New England vampire panic, Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia will have to untangle the tragic ways in which their histories are linked—and face the devastating consequences of their own star-crossed love story.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Dark Academia, Vampires, Queer, Lesbian, Gothic

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

De Elizabeth is a dark fantasy and horror author, writing both YA and adult. She is passionate about creating emotionally resonant stories featuring bisexual representation, genre blends, unhinged villains, chaotic third acts, and characters with big feelings. Her debut YA novel, This Raging Sea, was published in 2025. Her upcoming books include an adult romantic horror novel titled She Haunts Me Still, and a forthcoming YA dark fantasy, A Death Kissed Song. You can follow her on Instagram @WordsByDe.

Reviews

[lost in epilogue | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What haunts you doesn’t define you.”

such an enjoyable, moody, atmospheric fall read for the horror-loving theater kids. set in gothic new england at shore college, a dark history lurks underneath the halls.

something that has followed mallory her whole life... maybe even before then.

mal feels herself unraveling as a ghostly woman who haunted her childhood suddenly reappears. v reminiscent of 2000s horror films like the ring and gothika, mal digs into the dark past of shore college answers with the assistant director of her play, ezra, who's own dark secrets may hold answers.

throw in some phantom of the opera for an ominous love interest and backstage accidents. as a former theater kid, it was nostalgic to vicariously experience the hectic juggling of demanding rehearsal schedules. at least i didn't have ghosts and demons to contend with during my hell weeks 👹

overall, i enjoyed this love letter hodge podge to theater and horror. it's not so dark that you need to be a die hard horror lover to endure it (a little body horror and ghostly/demon possessions), but it'll certainly set the mood for summerween or fall when you're wanting something to cozy up to on a dark and stormy night to get your heart rate up a little. the romance was also pretty sexy... both of them 🤭 (love triangle haters, look away)

my only critique is the second romance was a hard juggle, mostly bc it comes to close on the heels of the first. i'd have suggestions, but there'd be too many spoilers. i will always love me some bisexual rep tho <3

“To being afraid and doing it, anyway.”

an honest arc review ✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) ༉‧ ♡*.✧

[Dione (RickEveScrolls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before going in, all I knew was: theatre setting, possible vampires… curses? ghosts? and dreamy love interests. That alone sold me because I already trust De’s writing — and yep, I was absolutely right. This book wasn’t just iconic, it was incredibly addictive.

Every chapter ends with something insane that makes you go wtf… okay fine, one more chapter, and somehow the stakes keep escalating until you reach the end completely speechless. I was so hooked and immersed in the storytelling that putting the book down felt impossible. If I hadn’t been on holiday, I genuinely would’ve locked myself in my room and finished this in one sitting.

The atmosphere is one of this book’s biggest strengths, its eerie, theatrical, and layered with supernatural tension. De’s prose is achingly beautiful, the kind that makes you understand every character’s motivations even when you know they’re walking straight red flags. I found myself agreeing with decisions I normally wouldn’t, simply because the writing pulls you so deeply into the characters’ emotional worlds.

Ezra is easily one of the most compelling characters here; complex, secretive, and frustratingly magnetic. It’s established early on that he’s hiding things (not a spoiler), yet every time he deflects or dodges questions, you still want to believe him. He leaves you with more questions than answers, and that ambiguity only makes him more fascinating. Saskia is another standout; pretty, badass, and wrapped in mystery. The blurb reveals very little about them, and discovering their character organically was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. And then there’s Mallory, our main character, who truly goes through an emotional whirlwind. She may trust and fall a little quickly, but honestly, I understood her. The tension, the vulnerability, and the emotional circumstances surrounding her choices made them feel believable. Plus, if you witnessed the charm and intensity of these love interests firsthand, you’d probably fold too. I kept telling myself nah, couldn’t be me, only to immediately go okay wait… that was smooth.

The horror elements create vivid, cinematic imagery that feels almost tangible. With my horror media brain, I kept paralleling moments to The Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Lights Out, Black Swan, and Abigail; haunting, psychological, and beautifully unsettling. Emotionally, the story takes you through Mallory’s desperation, the slow unraveling of her situation, and the overwhelming mysteries she faces while trying to hold onto her sanity.

I buddy-read this, and we were constantly spiraling - forming theories, second-guessing everything, and still being surprised by how the story unfolded. The plot feels fresh and intriguing, encouraging you to surrender to the narrative rather than overthinking it. Between Ezra’s charm, the ominous atmosphere surrounding Mallory, and the secrets lurking within Shore College, there’s always something pulling your attention forward. So pick a thematic playlist, sit back, and let the book consume you ;)

I would absolutely love to see this adapted into a movie, it would translate so well with the visuals, atmosphere and the dialoguessss ahhhh!!! i’ve been completely obsessed with this book, and honestly, I don’t think that feeling is leaving anytime soon.

Thank you so much to Dutton Books and De Elizabeth's team for the e-arc Netgalley copy! <3

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Current rating: 4.5 stars

I didn't expect to be able to finish She Haunts Me Still as quickly as I did?? This book kept me up all night, and since it was already so late, I figured it would be fitting to finish this book at 3:33 AM.

SHMS was packed with complex characters, twists + reveals, horror, and deliciously dark theatre vibes, all of which kept me turning the pages, excited to see how my notes app theories held up. Somehow, I managed to figure almost everything out, but I still wouldn't say this book was predictable! While sleep-deprived, I started drawing fun parallels to different pieces of media: horror films, plays, musicals, etc. The Point of No Return from The Phantom of the Opera was playing in my head at one point, iykyk!!

Loved the characters, starting with our main character Mallory! I was rooting for her throughout and really felt for her and her situation.
I'll admit that I did want to dive in to stop her from trusting some ppl so quickly, but she learned and grew from it. And to be fair, Ezra and Saskia were both very intriguing. I won't say much about those two because it's definitely more fun to go in blind and discover these characters and all the mysteries for yourself. I will say that I was very satisfied with the ending!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Fanni · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I wanted to love this book alright, I really did. The concept and the lore was intriguing with a perfect theater related setting.

Instead, what I felt the most was annoyance.

This should had been a YA, the biggest weakness of the book is the lack of nuance in characterizations, creating sample, irritating cast of characters and the excessive amount of exposition, which is actually killing the horror suspense.

An another thing, I have noticed which annoyed me greatly is the constant anachronism throughout the book. The story is supposed to set in the 90’s but reads like something from the current times. One word that absolutely threw me off was “headcanon”. After doing a quick research I was saddened to see that I was right. Authors should do a bit more research when not choosing an absolutely contemporary time.

I actually learned a great deal concerning the vampire crisis of New England, of which I previously had no idea about. I wish the book would have inserted more details or flashbacks from the time Lily was alive.

[BookishKB]

🕯️🥀 She Haunts Me Still 🥀🕯️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Gothic Horror
• Haunted University
• Ghosts
• Queer Romance
• Ancient Curse
• Dark Academia
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[m y r · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75★ rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the E-ARC!

I love me a good feminine rage book. She Haunts Me Still is an addicting gothic horror novel that follows Mallory, a girl with a traumatic childhood, who attends Shore University to pursue theatre, but in reality, her real pursuit ends up finding haunting truths about her family bloodline and the dark events that surround it. Her love of theatre, how she declares it a passion and needs it in her life, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more of it. It felt more of a background plot, rather than a major atmosphere like it's being marketed as.

I did love the horror mystery that these characters explored. I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat, wondering what was real, what was the mystery that created these haunted spirits, etc. Something I wasn't really a fan of was some of the dialogue. Mallory meets a sad haunted boy, and it felt very insta-lust/love and he's very quickly claiming she's "ruined him." It just gave me the ick. Saskia is a queen, I loved her character, but again with how quickly Mallory and her declared "you're mine," it just took me out of the story (reader preference!). Some other characters kind of felt forgotten at times until all of a sudden, then they re-appeared (her aunt, for instance).

But overall, I did enjoy this! Especially towards the end when the chaos ensued and the mystery began to unravel. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good gothic setting and a haunting mystery. ❤

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to act normal about this book. It’s very rare that I give something 6 stars, but this??? This is one of those rare occasions. I could not put it down. I inhaled it. Binge read it. Neglected responsibilities for it. And now that I’ve finished I’m genuinely unwell. I’m grieving the story. I’m grieving the characters. I miss them already.The book is about Mallory Webb who survives a deeply traumatic childhood and heads to a liberal arts university in Rhode Island (a former sanitarium which is already creepy) to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater. She lands the lead in Romeo and Juliet, which should feel like a dream but instead the blood soaked wraith connected to her mother’s death resurfaces. Armed only with cryptic symbols in her mom’s old college notebook Mallory starts digging for answers on campus before history repeats itself.She teams up with Ezra Pierce the fourth year directing the play and there is chemistry. But Ezra is keeping secrets especially about Saskia Garin Mallory’s mysterious understudy whose past eerily mirrors her own. As if that’s not enough an ancient bloodthirsty evil tied to the New England vampire panic resurfaces to collect on a centuries old bargain. Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia have to unravel how their histories are tangled together and face the consequences of their own star crossed love story.You’re telling me this is a queer horror inspired by the New England vampire panic paired with theater kid drama, tragic romance, and generational trauma? I was ALL up in that. The vibes are dark academia meets gothic horror. It’s romantic and horrifying. I am going to be feral when I get my hands on a physical copy because this is going straight to my favorites shelf. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love horror. If this sounds even remotely like your thing, read it. Just be prepared to finish it and sit there staring at the wall for a while after. Because I did.

[ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Madison (madinotmaddiereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

All my thanks to Dutton Books for the advanced reader copy in exchanged for my honest thoughts 💌

This was my first encounter with De Elizabeth’s writing and I am thoroughly entranced! I’ve already purchased a copy of her debut because I can’t get enough.

She Haunts Me Still has a lot of moving parts. A historical setting. A New England atmosphere. An exclusive college in a town with a bloody past. Accusations of vampirism. A lonely girl from a family line full of secrets. A very cursed production of Romeo & Juliet. A love triangle so tantalizing you will have every nail bitten off every finger.

And the way all these elements were woven together was absolute art! De’s prose gives clear voice and direction to the story while still remaining consistent in evoking the right emotion to fit the stakes of the story. Every chapter ending had my eyes the size of saucers and I sacrificed precious hours of sleep to find some solace in knowing these characters would find their peace. This reads like a true mystery and I loved the feeling of needing to eagerly turn the page to keep from my losing my mind from needing to know what happened next.

The romance?! Top notchhhh! We are promised a love triangle and it absolutely delivers in the gut wrenching way I always want a love triangle to. The chemistry was palpable, the details in all the lingering glances and brushes of fingertips had my body temperature skyrocketing.

My *very* few gripes are wishing the secondary romance plot had been developed just the teensiest bit more before having them act or speak on any bigger feelings. To me, it felt sudden and I would have felt more impact in the love confessions had their initial development after recognizing their mutual attraction been played out longer. Secondly, I think things got a little convoluted towards the 80% mark. I had a harder time following and found myself struggling to keep up with the plot points that were introduced so I’d recommend taking your time here to make sure no details are missed.

Overall though, I really loved this book and am so excited to have found an authors whose writing I absolutely adore!

[rachel x]

"A suspenseful and romantic queer horror novel inspired by the New England vampire panic about three college theater students racing against time to break a devastating curse—and the vengeful, supernatural entities that could either force them closer together, or toward a tragic end."

[Ali (Taylor’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“So thank you for everything, Mal. I hope your world is beautiful under the ghost light”

Terminé este libro ayer a las casi dos de la mañana y, la verdad, es que he acabado emocionándome leyendo los agradecimientos y todo...

She haunts me still de De Elizabeth habla sobre Mal, una chica la cual, tras la fatal pérdida de su madre, la única manera que encuentra de sobrevivir es en el teatro es siendo otra persona y adentrándose en historias que no sean su tragedia personal.

“We don’t have to be ourselves today. Who would you like to be instead?”

Pero lo que no se esperaba era que su tragedia se iba a volver un poco... romántica, paranormal y... digamos... comedia? durante como... tres palabras y media?
En fin, que si a la chiquilla no la sigue el mal por todas partes no es porque no lo ha intentado lo suficiente lol.
Y, ahora que ha llegado a la antigua universidad donde estudió su madre, ha revivido antiguos fantasmas y ha descubierto unos cuantos esqueletos en el armario, en lo único que puede pensar es que necesita resolver el porqué de la muerte de su madre, aunque eso le encamine más hacia la misma...

Hablemos de los personajes!
Tanto Ezra como Saskia y Mal me han gustado bastante! Realmente no sabía hacia donde me iban a llevar con tanto giro de trama y verdades reveladas y todo el drama, pero he disfrutado leyéndolos. Torturados y tristes, como me gustan.
Ezra como personaje me ha parecido de los más complicados (ya entiendo porqué le costó tanto a De terminar el libro... vaya personajito que me trae...). Al prinicipio es el típico bad boy, luego el badboy torturado... y después digamos que es solo torturado porque al pobre no le paran de caer palos y palos. La verdad es que no sabía por donde iba a ir y, aunque me hubiera gustado saber más de él, ha estado chulón.

“You’re haunted?
I’m possessed!”

(esta es una de mis frases favoritas, por favor, apreciad la obra maestra!)

Mal es una buena FMC, aunque había veces en donde la pobre chiquilla se repetía demasiado. Entendible si un fantasma te persigue como si le debieras dinero, pero girrrll corta el rollo durante solo dos palabras y fíjate en lo que tienes delante... COMO SASKIA!
Yo sé que cuando D.E. dice que va a escribir un libro con representación bi lo hace. Y lo hace con ganas. Se me ha hecho un poquito plana y predecible este hilo romántico, pero siempre se aprecia leer tan buena representación. Ella viene a devorar y punto (Y TAAANTO QUE DEVORARON-leeros el libro y lo entendéis anda por favor)

Y hablando de devorar. Esto es un libro gótico con romance oscuro. Está hecho para ADULTOS. Tenedlo en cuenta! Los TW están listados al inicio del libro y en la web de la autora <3
Y no digo que sea adulto por el contenido sexual, que lo hay, sino por otros palos oscuros que toca que quizá no esté hecho para todo tipo de lectores.

En cuanto a ambientación, no os voy a mentir, llegó un momento a la noche que yo me asusté leyendo... Y SÉEE QUE NO ES DE MIEDO, pero este no es el género que suelo leer y yo aquí me imagino cualquier cosa. Vamos, que la ambientación estaba de 10... o incluso 11. De hecho creo que es lo mejor del libro fr.

“Her final role she’s always been meant to play: a lifeless girl with a missing heart”

Para mí todo la ambientación de teatro (muy The Phatom of the Opera btw- Y AMO ESE MUSICAL) ha sido de lo mejorcito. The point of no return vibes fr

La trama se me ha quedado un poquillo floja. Aunque he disfrutado el libro igualmente (y me lo he terminado incluso un día antes de lo esperado, ENGANCHADA ES DECIR POCO) el misterio no me ha volado la cabeza, ni ha sido nada del otro mundo. Quizás ha sido casualidad o que ya leyendo dos libros de la autora (los dos únicos que tiene publicados) ya me espero que va a pasar... pero bueno. Eso, que me he visto el final desde... vamos a decir casi el inicio.
Obvio he ido barajando distintas formas de cómo acabaría, no soy yo aquí megamind, pero eso, que para mí ha sido predecible aunque interesante.

En fin, que si te van los personajes torturados, los misterios en universidades...encantadas?, lo paranomal y el ultra bi panic; este libro es para ti!
Y si no, también!!!

“I hate you”
“Show me how much”

besiiiisssssss

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a little different than what i normally read but i enjoyed it , i really liked the eerie haunting settings of this book and as someone who is a little scared of ghost things i did feel on edge at moments. i do wish ezra and mallory their story at the beginning was explored abit more than the insta love / lust feeling but that is also just more of a personal preference, i however did love the bi representation and her relationship with saskia. i love saskia so much !

this book definitely had alot of emotions packed in and i will always love that about books, her wanting to just been seen felt so relatable:’) also the ghostlight moment at the end was super lovely i really liked that moment and the thought of the ghost light !

overall i did enjoy the book and would recommend it !


thank you to Bedford Square Publishers for the arc !

[⭐︎• Perla •⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟

She Haunts Me Still follows Mallory when she enrolls in the same school that played a large role in her mother’s death. Mallory spends her time at Shore trying to piece together the secrets of her mother’s past; The atmosphere is bleak, you feel you are being watched at every turn and the whispers that follow you in dark corridors.

SHMS is a gothic dark paranormal mystery with a touch of vampirism and a dash of bisexual panic. Don’t forget the theater setting! De Elizabeth does a great job of constructing a mystery while still keeping one guessing till the end. I loved the gothic, dark gothic atmosphere of a haunted theater school, and the added supernatural elements were worked very naturally into the story and the setting, leaving us, the readers, with a constant sense of doom.

The pacing was done well, building so much dark tension and dread, and the reveals hit perfectly. The story has a great sense of female rage, grief, and horror; I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book.

My one thing that stopped me from rating this a 5-star is the love story was advertised as a “love triangle," but I don’t think that accurate at all. I define a Love Triangle as Person A being interested in Person B and Person C at the same time (bonus if they also have some tension between them), but in SHMS, Mallory develops feelings for someone after she has pretty much lost feelings for the other person. I also feel there was not a lot of yearning; it was more Insta-love/Insta-lust. I think the romantic storylines could have been intertwined; it felt like portions of that storyline disappeared through the ending.

Overall, It was a very unique premise, and I think I will be picking up another De Elizabeth book in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dutton Books, and De Elizabeth for the ARC ! Thank you especially to De for allowing me the honor of being on their street team!

[Cathán · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️
2.5🔥
Thank you (sm) to NetGalley for this ARC copy! I had predicted this would be a 5-star and oh I was right 🙂‍↕️ The incorporation of the title?? We love to see it.
From the spooky atmosphere to the chilling reveals along the way, this book was everything a dark academia is supposed to be.
This genre, in my opinion, is one of the hardest to write about because it’s mainly just vibes, and it’s up to the author to bring it to life. Unlike a mystery or a romance, where there’s an end goal (the killer is revealed, the couple gets a HEA) dark academia relies very heavily on the pacing, atmosphere and a believable backstory, and having an end goal alone isn’t going suffice.

I loved how, beneath the spooky atmosphere, Elizabeth also wrote about complex and noteworthy topics.
The theme of female generational trauma really stood out to me, as it’s something that’s not nearly discussed enough. Women (especially WOC) are far too often dismissed or believed to be crazy by misogynistic men (case in point, the Salem Witch Trials), and the effects of this are still seen when female patients are read off or told ‘it’s just anxiety’ by male medics.
So having this be a central point in the novel was really important, and the author actually showed (not just told) how these women had been affected by decades of silence.
This book is sapphic, and Mallory is coming to terms with being bisexual. Her sexuality isn’t something that’s brushed off or only partly mentioned - the author addresses it with care where it’s actually discussed.

Something else I loved was the consistent spooky atmosphere throughout. Not once did things falter or become too slow - I was (to be cliché) on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every reveal actually led to something rather than tapering off and becoming background noise. It felt like every character was fully embedded in the story and had a role, rather than just existing for the sake of the plot.

Mallory Webb, the FMC, is probably one of the favourite characters I've read about in a while. I loved her fearlessness and determination throughout, especially because her investigation is quite literally tied to her mother, someone she cared about deeply. Even though she was 19, she read like a girl in her mid-20's. There was no fluff, no 'I'm just a girl' energy from her; she went above and beyond to prove herself to others, not just to her family, but the people (specifically and obviously) men who tried to discredit and brush her off.
Ezra, the boy she meets early on, is full of secrets and has a mysterious air about him from the get-go. Mallory ends up befriending him, and they start the hunt for 'Lily', one of Mallory's family members who was taken by the curse. I really liked their relationship and Ezra as a character. It was hard to trust him at times, and the things he revealed about his father explained why he had such a haunted look. Mallory and Ezra's relationship was complex (as all are), but the added twist made it even harder to fully get on board with. But that was what made it feel real - no perfect characters or relationship, just complex family ties and too many secrets.
Saskia, I found, was the most intriguing character of the lot. We don't really know much about her, only that she got a scholarship to the college and is there to escape from her dad, who disapproves of her. At the start, when Mallory and Saskia meet, they are drawn to each other in ways they can't explain, and as Saskia opens up about her past and who she is, I came to understand her more as a reader.

The twists this book goes on are something else. There are two entirely separate backstories that end up joining together. But it's done in a way that's clearly planned and well thought out. The stories and plot points themselves have so much layered into them that I'm surprised at how the author managed to weave them together. When they do come together, though, it's really worth it, and all of the characters' pain and hardships make so much more sense.
The descriptions and language in this are gorgeous too - so many metaphors and vivid imagery, particularly around Mallory's emotions as she finds out more about her past. It wasn't just the characters who felt embedded; it was me, as a reader, because of the language Beth used, that made it feel so much more real.

Overall, I loved this book sm - from the characters to the deeply complex plot, it had my attention the entire time. Will definitley be reading more from this author in the future and see more

[jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an eARC of “She Haunts Me Still” by De Elizabeth in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 rounded up.

This is a book with a strong atmosphere based around New England history. The Vampire Panic is not a tidbit that most people would know, and it’s a good foundation for some of the lore De Elizabeth incorporates.

But beyond that, I personally don’t feel like there is anything new added to the horror genre. Multiple horror aspects were crammed into it and that made the focus feel a bit all over the place. That said, I might still recommend it to readers who want to skim the surface of the genre, but I’ve just read quite a few too many horror books to find myself unsettled or shocked by this one.

The characters were okay, if not a little formulaic. I could only see Ezra as J.D. from “Heathers”. That’s really all I have to say about them since I didn’t feel too strongly one way or the other. Though, I do think some will definitely find relatability when it comes to talks of how people who are still living can be a sort of haunting. They worked for the story, but they won’t stick with me.

No matter how “Romeo and Juliet”, I was not on board with the fast-burn love with Saskia; Ezra is a different story with a different message, so that intensity worked. Mallory and Saskia’s dynamic, though, felt like it happened in the blink of an eye, most of the time that passed of them getting to know each other casually stated instead of shown. Whether a relationship is full of tension or not, I like to see its progression. I need something to root for throughout the plot. To be able to scream at the characters to just admit to themselves how they’re feeling (for better or worse). I could also just be too asexual to care about immediate physical desire.

For a book marketed as theatre and dark academia, there was hardly any theatre or dark academia. Also, dark academia is a bit of a mislabel. As the general aesthetic, it works. But as the genre, it doesn’t since it’s supposed to explore the messed-up lengths people would go to for academics and the pitfalls of said academics. It’s not simply a dark book set at a school. I don’t even know when these characters were in class. In terms of the theatre aspect, I caught some of the parallels between these characters’ stories with “Romeo and Juliet”, but I’ll tell on myself and say it’s my least favorite Shakespeare play (probably because of the insta-love), so I couldn’t bring myself to pore over them. That’s entirely a me thing since they were done fairly well. There’s pepperings of theatre kid superstition when needed. We’re only ever really told how Mallory hides using theatre, never shown it. Chapter 33 features the most theatre and a good portion of the performing is skipped over except for one soliloquy. I wish they’d been on stage more, used some of the scenes in the play to really draw those parallels out even more.

Now that the few critiques are out of the way, let’s move on to and end with the positives.

One thing I really did like was the feminine rage. Through the history tied into this book, De Elizabeth doesn’t shy away from how many women went to a silent grave after having to lead silent lives. And some are determined to not let their afterlives be silent. That aspect was really well done, and it made me feel my own righteous rage for history’s mistreated and forgotten women.

Another thing that was done well was the clue morsels dropped throughout the plot. I was invested in finding out how Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia are tied together. The sense of needing to know was helped by rapid but impactful reveals. There never felt to be a point where the mystery side of things lagged excessively, which is key to keeping readers guessing and guessing again with new plot points.

Thirdly, there are some dazzling and also vicious lines. It is clear De Elizabeth has spent time honing her craft. The words are arranged in just the right way to be full of emotion without being too verbose.

Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, emotion, and lore De Elizabeth infused into “She Haunts Me Still”, but there were just too many things that didn’t personally click. I would not let this deter anyone who is looking for a good intro into horror-mystery with fast-burn and spicy romances.

[Sarah Drake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankly, it was a nice read and one that comes out of my usual readings, a good 3.5 stars or even 3.75

To start, we follow Mallory, a young theater student who ends up enrolling in the same university as her mother thanks to a scholarship, the latter dying very suspiciously. Mallory therefore joins this school to shed light on what happened, and avoid having the same thing happen to her
At first, I was really surprised because the book looked like it was in fast motion, Mallory met Ezra, the assistant to the director and they were getting really too close, like 15% of the book they were already confiding their whole lives and a scene of 40% smut already. Not a fan of fast burn, but I understood afterwards why it was so fast (even though I found Ezra very suspicious from the beginning and I couldn’t get into the romance, I told myself that he must be a vampire).

The story is really gripping and addictive, although I find that at some point in the book, around like 65 or 70% we do a bit of on-site level new information for my taste.
But as we follow Mallory’s gradual and inevitable descent into hell, we even end up somewhat wondering if she is not an unreliable narrator, since she regularly has visions that merge with reality.
The rhythm of the book is almost too fast sometimes, not giving us time to breathe, but at least we can’t get too bored, at least during the first 2 acts. We also have plenty of small dissiminated revelations throughout the book to keep the reader interested.
In the end, the negative points that I will reveal are the fact that I didn’t take more than that interest in people, I sometimes had a bit of compassion for Malory given the loss of his mother and the relationship they had, Ezra also for his role (never trust a man) but it was more a victim than anything else when one is in possession of all the elements. That said, I applaud the fact that the book doesn’t necessarily end with her first love interest, it’s realistic and in a little queer romance.
And so, since I didn’t get attached to the characters in a close manner, well necessarily, the revelations, although logical and coherent, did not surprise me more than that and even seemed a bit predictable and easy (like the fact that SPOILER Jacob is Ezra’s grandfather).

Brace yourself for long scenes of descriptive smut, personally I didn’t like them, also because I couldn’t love the romance created with Ezra, but also expect blood, contexts a bit unsuited for that (like a chapel)
Some moments nevertheless made me slightly stall because I found that it dragged on a bit, like the scene of the confrontation with Ezra where she thinks she’s finished with him or even the fact that in the end, even if Mallory tried to understand throughout the book, I had the impression that it was peaking at one point and that she needed other characters to intervene to save the day, I would have preferred it to be her until the end.
After, SPOILER at the end, I would also have liked Mallory to die to complete the curse and because it would have really surprised me. There we have a bit straight to the end of the cliché 'I had a good life, got a diploma and recovered from this trauma'

Overall, it was a good read, which I still devoured in 2 days, the flaws I found in the first half of the novel were corrected in the second (finally explained) but strangely I was less taken afterwards

No deep attachment for these characters (even though I felt compassion and also reacted when there were really cruel things said in the mix-ups), revelations a bit predictable and an ending a bit cliché, but overall it was nice
And it made me step out of my comfort zone with witches, curses etc (I never read about monsters, vampires or what because it’s not my thing)

Thanks for this advanced arc Netgalley, the publishing house and the author !

[Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25) Haunting, captivating, sublime. If you're looking to escape into the darker world of haunted girls and boys with occult tendencies, this book is for you.

SHMS had me hooked from page one; it's like I opened the book and Rhode Island's eerier side fell out. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy in a way I instantly fell in love with and, I have to say, De Elizabeth sure knows how to set a scene! This felt like a truly gothic modern tragedy.

Mallory has been haunted from a very young age. At first, it was only a ghost, then it became her torrid past. She is determined to find out why her mother left her alone in the world and embarks on a tumultuous semester at Shore College in her hometown to discover the root of it all. What she finds is way worse than anything she could have ever concocted. Between the dark, intriguing Assistant Director of Romeo & Juliet (of which Mal is the star) the mysteriously skittish understudy who feels all too familiar, the religious best friend she has to constantly lie to, the ghost who won't stop following her around every corner, trying to remember all of her lines, and the mother she may have never truly known, Mallory Webb's life is a mess. A haunting, blood-filled mess that as a reader I didn't want to look away from for a second!

The female rage of it all, the occultism of it all, the commentary on performance for others and yourself, the girl slipping deeper and deeper into insanity with each page - it was truly a fantastic experience. Not to mention the steaminess! Phew! Who knew blood sharing rituals could be so hot (and yes, this does in fact seem to be a trend for miss Mallory).

Why this didn't get a full 5-star from me:
For a book set in 1999, it sure felt like it could have been set whenever. In fact, there is a scene that particularly bothered me wherein a character said he "headcanon"ed something for his character - and gentle reader, it would seem the word "headcanon" wasn't entered into the public lexacon until 2007. I understand wanting a mostly cellphone-less, tactile paper files, no social media vibe, but I wish we'd stuck a little closer to the time period.

The other reason I couldn't enthusiastically give this otherwise fantastic story a 5-star rating was the insta-love feel to both romances. Even though both Ezra and Saskia were linked to Mallory in twisted ways, both attractions felt initially forced to me, unfortunately. I'd hoped, for a dark academia/gothic-toned tale, we'd have a bit more yearning and tension to the start of these attractions. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in Mallory's head as she navigated her feelings, but the start to both just lacked what I enjoy in a romance, personally. Maybe it was intended to be a nod to the congruent play, Romeo & Juliet, with its instantaneous love stories, but regardless, it wasn't my preference.

I also wish we'd gotten to see Arden and the academic advisor a bit more; it would have made the ending all the more satisfying.

Regardless of all of that, this book was amazing and gripping from start to finish (genuinely, I could hardly put it down or stop thinking about it!) I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc.

[Jess Howarth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for, I fear, a brutally honest review.

I wanted to love this so bad, but by the end I was rolling my eyes every other sentence and begging for the curtains to close.

She Haunts Me Still has the makings of a fantastic YA book- unfortunately, it's being marketed as adult horror/romantasy so I'm going to review it with this in mind. However, if you cut down the sex scenes and put this out as YA, I would definitely rate it higher.

Mallory is up there with the most frustrating protagonists (of an adult novel) that I've ever read. She's inconsistent, seems to fall in love at the drop of a hat, and melodramatic to a ludicrous degree- but then again, so are all of the leads. She's also able to jump straight to quite out there but correct deductions, while seeming to be very slow on the uptake about other things (Ezra). The book is supposedly about grief but I didn't really get any of Mallory's grief towards her mother at all - sure, she was worried about dying the same way, but the ordinary grief of losing her mother always felt absent. We are clearly meant to see some great sadness in the loss Rebecca experienced with Lily, but this was a character so incidental to the story that it did not come through.

Every line by Ezra sounded like some shadow daddy and not in a way that was believable - every time I was reminded that these characters are 19 and 20ish I found myself cringing out of my skull. The dirty talk and sex scenes between them felt out of place in a novel that was otherwise at about the maturity level of The Vampire Diaries TV series, in terms of both plot and character. Saskia, on the other hand, never seemed to have just about any discernible personality- personally devastating for me because I love a sapphic romance and was intrigued by the love triangle of this one. I wasn't rooting for her and Mallory, and while I love a uhauling lesbian as much as the next person, their 'I love you's felt unearned.

Some of the writing was good, but I think this desperately needs another round of line editing. De Elizabeth loooves to put a dialogue tag in the middle of a sentence for emphasis, but does it so often that I wanted to make a drinking game of it, and it lost effectiveness. There were also a lot of things being incongruously described as '[thing]-soaked' - fog-soaked, red-soaked, tear-soaked, ivy-soaked, hell-soaked. One or two would have been fine, but this again became a jarring pattern. The dialogue and internals were tooth-rottingly melodramatic- again, make this YA and it works, but here it does not. Similarly, the magical colour changing hair and eyes felt like something written for teens- I certainly would have been feral for it at fifteen.

A side note for anyone who happens to speak latin- you might accidentally spoil yourself early on. Admittedly not a common issue and I'm not really saying it as criticism, but just watch out.

Overall, I found this unfortunately a painfully disappointing read. I can definitely imagine there's an audience out there for this, but I think it will struggle to reach it while being marketed as adult horror.

2⭐️

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate places letting me read their ARC's because I want to devour all the books (and you know, have stuff to recommend to my customers). But I hate writing reviews. haha. I will want to talk your ear off about the book I like, but make me write it down? I just babble on. Okay, I babble on when I am talking about it too, but at least there is interaction ;)
Anywho, here we go!
I was picked to be on the street team for this particular book, so away she goes....

This book had a lot going on. It's a coming of age story of Haunted sad girl with a dark past full of secrets meets haunted sad boy, with a dark past full of secrets then meets another haunted sad girl... well you get it. They bond over their love for theatre and their personal traumas. There are ghosts & blood & hidden ravens. (I started keeping count, but I lost it.. I did like that little treasure hunt part) There are easter eggs from the authors previous book (which I hadn't read, but I love a good easter egg) and even a Heather's Musical moment(IYKYK). As a theatre nerd myself, I liked how we dipped into the theatre world a bit. I do wish there was more. Mallory (our Main sad girl - & I mean sad girl in a loving way) talked about how theatre was her way to be someone other then herself, how much it was part of her and she needed it in her life. And I think, because there was SO MUCH else going on with her - keeping secrets, growing love, & the threats to those around her- that I didn't really get to see that. Maybe if we got to hear about other productions she did and how she threw herself into those roles.
She was distracted for her rehearsals (rightly so) & didn't know her lines & as a Stage manager myself, it was frustrating. That was the point, but I guess I am just thirsty for more theatre in my horror. The images and lyrical words by the ghost light did speak to me. As did the College atmosphere in RI, because I also went to school in RI for a year and it was so lovely.

I was intrigued, I wanted to know what was happening, why our sad girls love interests were so haunted. I am trying to be very vague here.
There a lot of emotion packed into this book, with first loves, second loves, family secrets & loss, lost childhood friends, feeling of not being able to be ones self, not being seen, plus all the supernatural elements. No wonder Mal couldn't learn her lines.

All that said, if you like you stories dark, emotional, haunted, but also a bit steamy and full of big romantic feelings. You should definitely pick up She Haunts Me Still.

I also want to know more about Aunt Penelope. I wouldn't mind a Penelope prequel purrhaps?

*I was chosen for the Street Team and received the books via Net Gallery

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

To set the scene: I had recently finished the infinite star read of the showstopping debut novel A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann and fallen in love with the idea of a story that was written like a play and had the theatre aspect and dark fantasy vibes I couldn't get enough of in the pages of that book. I was scrolling through my phone and saw a new post on Instagram from De Elizabeth sharing the vibes of her new novel, and it was everything I had been looking for after falling into a book slump. It was going to have Dark Academia, Theatre, Vampires, an ill-fated production of Romeo and Juliet, and I started commenting and liking posts like it was a mission.

I was lucky enough to be approved for an early arc and began my read on a dark and stormy night, and the atmosphere outside hit me, and the setting in the plot hit me harder. It was all very Edgar Allan Poe with dark, mysterious forces, secrets, and hidden cults. I love a dark academia setting where you can picture the dark gothic spires rising into the sky from ancient architecture masterpieces that held the classrooms and the theatre where the story and the curse all began.

The plot was a constant evolution, and I never knew what direction the story was going to take. The way the mystery of the curse and its origins will leave you reeling for clues and any answer you can try to find is frustrating, but such a thrill. I loved the romance between Mallory and Ezra and the slow burn push and pull, and how they had these moments of almost and then nothing that left me gasping. Their dynamic together was full of chemistry, and multiple scenes gave me goosebumps as I read.
Ezra Pierce has the personality that all but screams, "I'd burn the world down for you." And I don't think one can ever get enough of that in their lifetime.

I lost some attention towards the end due to the second romance because it was hard for me to become invested in the new relationship and believe its depth and sincerity when she had those same feelings toward Ezra, and it seemed way too sudden and swift to move on like that, and it made the relationship less believable. I personally thought it would have wrapped up better without the second romance and been an act of desperation to save his one true love, but I still enjoyed the storyline and how it ended.

That ending twist and how the mystery unraveled was a showstopper of suspenseful writing. I honestly never saw it coming! It was dark and disturbing in the best way that makes you slightly hesitant to be alone in the dark later for fear of who might be there to bite you.

[Shanieze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for this ARC.


I went into She Haunts Me Still completely blind, and although I wasn't entirely sold at first, the deeper I delved into this sapphic supernatural horror, the more captivated I became by its haunting atmosphere. What I didn't expect was the downward spiral of our main character, Mallory, as she uncovers the dark secrets of Shore College and the sinister history that taints her bloodline.

Although Romeo and Juliet is the chosen play for Mallory's theatre class, She Haunts Me Still is anything but a love story—it's a tragedy.

I'd even go as far as to call this a coming-of-age story. Throughout the novel, Mallory discovers the history of the women who came before her. She also experiences a sexual awakening, embracing desires she had long kept hidden, including coming to terms with her attraction to both men and women. I really appreciated the bisexual representation, as it felt like another important piece of Mallory's journey towards understanding herself without overshadowing the darker, supernatural elements of the story. At its heart, this is a story of generational female rage, and while Mallory initially resists it, she eventually welcomes it with open arms.

Admittedly, I found Mallory to be quite an insufferable protagonist at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her descent into madness. As a reader, I found myself spiralling alongside her, constantly questioning, "Is this real, or is this just another dream?" That uncertainty made the reading experience all the more immersive.

It's worth noting that this is a supernatural horror novel featuring séances, demons, ghosts, and other paranormal elements. As someone who usually avoids stories centred around these themes, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the way they were woven into the narrative.

My only real criticism was an intimate scene that takes place in a chapel involving a crucifix. Personally, I found it blasphemous and distasteful but to each their own.

Overall, She Haunts Me Still is an unsettling, atmospheric tale that slowly draws you into its web, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare. It's haunting, tragic, and unsettling in all the right ways, making it a memorable read for fans of supernatural horror with a touch of mystery. As much as I despise book to screen adaptations, I’d love to see this as a film. It would be visually stunning and I can only imagine how chilling Act four would look on the big screen.

[j ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exploration of the hereditary paired with a gothic atmospheric vibe that holds a grudge in this dark academic fever dream. Sign me up, please. There's definitely an unsettling feeling about a place that contains madness. I think De Elizabeth did a nice job laying out that thick, choking tension, that makes every turn feel like you're being watched and studied. The New England vampire panic lore paired with mystery was a nice touch. Gave supernatural elements a historical weight. The setting was executed so nicely.

The heavy, clinical dread that mirrors Mallory's descent... I enjoyed the unreliable narrator elements that were sprinkled throughout... The way Mallory's visions kept bleeding into reality and continued to make me question the logic of her world and visions...What is real? What is grief? What is something so ancient and hungry for her? I liked that aspect of it a lot.

Watching the love between the three orbit one another was stressful though, LOL. For me, personally. Guys, I'm not one for love triangles, the messy feelings, but I didn't hate this! But it was INSTA-LOVE, to the MAX. Left me stressing but I think given the context of the atmosphere, it makes sense honestly.

Now, onto the theater. Yeah, I was a theater kid once upon a time and this experience sent me back years ago. The drama. The rehearsals. The way everyone is performing, even when they're offstage. Yep, it was there. It was hinted. If you know, you know. BUT... I wish there was MORE! I wish we got more of the day to day process of production, the inside jokes, the chaos of the week. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the weird superstitions that theater kids SWEAR BY. It was sprinkled throughout and it was FUN. Left me wanting more.

It would've tied into stronger to the Romeo and Juliet backdrop. Of course, it's Romeo and Juliet. The most doomed dramatic people putting on the most doomed dramatic play. The parallels were not subtle and I appreciated that they weren't. You know what's coming, you know it's going to stab your heart a little, and quite frankly there's nothing you can really do about it.

At the end of the day this was a 3.5 star read for me... the atmosphere and the theater nostalgia carried it hard. The bones are GOOD. Really good. But some of the execution left me wanting just a little more substance in places that needed it most.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC of She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some books just have the perfect setting, immaculate vibes, and interesting characters, and somehow still don't click for me.

Starting off with the aspects I loved: the promise of the dark and moody feels in a university in New England and vampires? Sign me up immediately! De Elizabeth has a beautiful writing style and manages to make the story shine with beautiful phrasing. Sadly, her writing talent did not fully translate in all plot-related aspects.

One of the main predicaments with the theatre school setting and the way this book is advertised is the fact that we got really little actual time with the play and the theatre. Even when something relating to the haunting happens during a rehearsal, we sometimes skip straight past the reactions of other cast members and the director to a completely different scene. This causes a loss of interesting scenes that could have given the mystery more seriousness and showed more of the drastic impact it had on the main character's life.

While I did enjoy our time with one love interest, I really had a problem with some other characters as well as the second love interest. Mal (the main character) is way too trusting and keeps on ignoring the glaring red flags of the love interest, and while this can partly be traced back to her desperate need to build trust with someone she feels is similiar to her, I still expected a bit more self-reflection from someone who is supposedly exceptionally good at keeping secrets.
Sure, the urge to finally lay bare her hidden past and being able to be honest is a big draw for her, but it grew increasingly frustrating that she chose the person with an obvious secret relating to said past to do so.

The treatment of her supposed best friend also had me rather confused. They both try out for the role of Juliet, and while her friend doesn't get the role because the love interest talks the director out of it because "she looks like she gets everything she wants", the fact that she didn't get the main role is never an issue or even addressed, even when Mal performs badly because of the hauntings. This potential conflict is set up but sadly never actually given attention to, and so her best friend just gets sidelined for most of the book.

However, even if I struggled with a few aspects, the story itself has potential, and the right reader will certainly find a lot of enjoyment in the plot and the beautiful vibes that surround this story.

[Cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

ultimately a fun, twisty read! I'll admit I clocked most of the reveals fairly early on in the story (namely lily's identity, saskia's connection to mal, etc.), but I was still surprised by some of the other reveals towards the end.

I think this novel would have benefitted from being just a bit shorter, as I did feel like some parts dragged a bit. specifically in the beginning, it felt like the first fourth of the book had ezra and mal just aimlessly running around in circles. which, as the book progresses, makes more sense, but there is a lot of text before you get that payoff.

I think it was worth pushing through the sections that were slow, ultimately! I think de elizabeth had some interesting insights about grieving and living alongside grief, and while I think a some of those revelations could have benefitted from more of a 'show, don't tell' methology, I didn't dislike this book! the characters were interesting, the dynamics were familiar but still had some freshness to them. I had fun reading!

I also want to add that, as a theater kid turned adult myself, I loved the inclusion of theater, and the use of 'romeo & juliet' as sort of a parallel to mal's story as well. i love shakespeare, and I think this play is often misunderstood, so I really appreciated its inclusion and relevance to the overall story!

I will additionally add there are some scenes that bordered on being dubious consent—not exactly SA, but I could see some scenes eliciting a similar feeling if someone was sensitive to that subject. if that is a trigger for you, exercise caution.

thank you to dutton for providing an eARC of this novel for review!

---

light spoiler ahead, stop reading here to avoid!

and I NEVER trusted that man either. knew immediately he was a liar and a cheat. regained a modicum of my respect at the end but MAN I was cringing through every interaction between him and mal. girl you have a perfectly beautiful and delightful lesbian right there CAN YOU NOT SEE. SHE IS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOU!!! BEEN HERE ALL ALONG!!!! anyway. loved that this was low key like. heathers (the musical) if veronica also was bisexual. which is a correct and valid retelling.

[Nikki Kossaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your horror soaked in longing, theater drama, and the kind of love that feels doomed from the first glance, She Haunts Me Still is going to get under your skin.

Mallory walks onto this campus thinking she’s starting over, but nothing about this place feels clean. A sanitarium turned college already has a pulse to it, and the story leans all the way in. You can feel the history in the walls, in the stage, in the way everything seems just a little too ready for something to go wrong. And of course it does.

The Romeo and Juliet thread isn’t subtle, but it works. It mirrors everything happening around Mallory in a way that feels inevitable instead of heavy-handed. You already know how that story ends, and this book plays with that dread beautifully. It’s not about if things fall apart. It’s about how bad it’s going to hurt when they do.

The haunting itself is mean. Not just scary, but personal. The kind that feels targeted, like it knows exactly where to press. It ties into Mallory’s past in a way that keeps everything grounded emotionally, even when things get strange and bloody. There’s grief here that doesn’t sit quietly. It claws.

Ezra is exactly the kind of character you don’t trust but can’t look away from. Charming, withholding, probably a bad idea. And Saskia adds this eerie parallel that keeps the tension tight. The relationships feel messy in a way I appreciate. No one is clean. No one is fully safe.

The New England vampire panic angle gives the story this old, rotting backbone. It makes everything feel bigger than just Mallory’s story, like she’s stepped into something that was always waiting for her. I liked that it doesn’t rush to explain everything. Some of the mystery lingers, and it should.

This is one of those books where the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s moody, a little romantic, a little dangerous. Not outright terrifying every second, but it sits with you. Especially if you like horror that’s tangled up with love, history, and bad decisions you can see coming.

It’s tragic. It’s intimate. And yeah, it haunts a little.

[Alicia (weird.reads.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank De Elizabeth for restoring my faith in the dark academia genre. Dark academia and I have a bit of a situationship at the moment. I desperately want stories that are unsettling and shrouded in mystery, but too often, stories simply slap a school setting onto a creepy trope without the necessary nuance. She Haunts Me Still actually delivers.

Pitched as a dark academia horrormance, this book features a star-crossed love triangle, bisexual representation, a tragic curse, and a doomed production of Romeo & Juliet. That is a massive checklist to tackle, but De Elizabeth handles these themes masterfully. While the romances are fast-paced, it feels entirely authentic to the nineteen-year-old college experience. Especially within the horror genre, where the urgency of the haunting often accelerates the emotions.

The atmosphere is immediate and visceral. It reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House or The Haunting of Bly Manor, where an undercurrent of uncertainty and grief is woven into every page. Our protagonist, Mallory, is a complex lead whose drive to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death, and the curse that plagued her family, is what truly drives the narrative forward.

The love interests are equally compelling. Ezra is a dark, mysterious MMC who gives off major Phantom of the Opera vibes. He would burn the world down consume Mallory. Saskia feels like his literal opposite, yet she is just as committed. The visual descriptions alone perfectly illustrate the yin-and-yang dynamic between Mallory’s lovers. However, as much as I enjoyed the spice, the mystery is what truly sucked me in. The imagery of flickering lights, appearing entities, and seances was incredibly vivid. I could easily see this being adapted for the screen (though I’d be protective of it being a true adaptation!).

This is easily one of my top reads of 2026. If you love horror, romance, obsession, and genuine dark academia, you need to pick this up. 100% recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[ruhee]

I saw the art for this book posted by the author on Instagram and I KNEW that I had to read it.

She Haunts Me Still was a gothic, macabre, deliciously written story. Centred on theatre it charted a tale of female resilience and rage against the backdrop of supernatural elements. This book was extremely readable - I flew through it and not once was I wondering how much of the book I had left. The gothic, haunting, spooky elements were great - I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I also found the supernatural lore and magic and fantasy and historical elements very well thought out and intriguing. Also big fan of queer representation and especially of messy bisexual representation.

The plot itself was simple and Elizabeth ensured that all plot details were tied up neatly - which also meant that the plot was a little predictable. Whatever I assumed was likely to be a plot point - became one which resulted in the twists not really surprising me. The characters were fine - Mallory was learning who she was, Saskia was coming to terms with herself and Ezra was strong-willed. But they all seemed to have one set facet to their personalities and that was it. The side characters could be more fleshed out too - especially Mallory's best friend. While theatre was the backdrop, I wish there were stronger links to it! More acting, more talking about acting etc. Some stronger allusions to Romeo and Juliet would have added to the whole narrative. However my biggest gripe unfortunately was the romance. It was insta-lovey - which I don't like and I get that it might be justified in this context but it didn't work for me. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the 'spice.' I actually felt that it took me out of the narrative but hey! I know there's tons of people that love this stuff so they'll be satisfied by it.

Overall though - this was a great dark fantasy romance that is going to find a permanent place in a lot of fall reading lists!

[Vampyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I would like to start the review with gratitude. I am grateful to NetGalley for my ARC. Continued thanks to Lauren (Street Team Manager) for corralling all of us bats in the Shore College belfry! Last, and most importantly to De Elizabeth, the author, without which this review, nor her book would exist.

She Haunts Me Still is a novel that encompasses a multitude of themes, topics, and tropes. Which ones you might ask? So many to list, so a few of those: dark academia, love triangle, cult/secret society, demons x vampires x witches...and some muggles for good measure.

This story is great for those who enjoy slow burn, enemies to lovers, bisexual representation (both male and female), dark mythology rooted in USA reality settings in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Thoughts on what this story's strength was: SHMS paralleled Romeo & Juliet so vividly, which is one of the inspirations of the book, so well that even one unfamiliar with Shakespeare could see these connections without doing any research, purely using cultural references. Additionally, after doing research in my undergrad on the New England Vampire Panic, I could also connect De's vampire inspiration to the story as well. Another strength that I noticed was the final section of the book...this was the most visually descriptive example of "show don't tell", that I have read in quite some time! Bravo De! Bravo!

My only critique for the entirety of the story is just a personal one...I'm not a fan of slow burn novels, but there's a significant shift in the story when it went from the remnants of a fire about to fizzle out, into a need for speed until the conclusion. I feel that those of us who aren't fans of slow burns might struggle for just a little bit, but(!) I highly implore these readers to not give up, because once the story speeds up, it practically needs a speeding ticket because the story does not let up until the final word.

[GJO AND PUPS · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc.

This is my first time returning to a dark academia novel for over a year, and I’m so glad I did. It took me a while to gather my thoughts for this review because I was left with so many emotions.

Mallory is our haunted FMC, and from the start, the mystery surrounding her mother’s death pulls you in. Attending the same art school her mother once did, Mallory’s mind begins to unravel as rapidly as the dark secrets tied to her mother’s gory death.

I quickly became invested in the intense, electrifying romance between Mallory and Ezra, our brooding and tormented MC. There’s an unsettling tension hanging over their relationship that made it impossible to stop turning the pages.
Mallory also finds an ally in Saskia, a fellow student who becomes entangled in her visions. Together, they race to uncover one dark secret after another, hoping to break a curse that seems destined to end in death.

I enjoyed the slow blossoming of attractiom between the two females. It felt natural, well paced, and believable.

This book is saturated with historical folklore, misogyny, feminine rage, and the repeated desecration of women in the pursuit of male power. You can feel both the cold dread of the supernatural and the very real terror of confronting dangerous men with narcissistic expectations. It leans heavily into “final girl” energy, blended with slow burn horror, and it works incredibly well.

By the end, I felt hollow and a little melancholic—it leaves a lasting impact if you’re truly invested in the characters’ survival.

That said, the writing does read a bit like young adult. Mallory is only 19, and her thoughts and decisions reflect that. At times I feel she walks into situations too easily, even while fully aware she’s dealing with something otherworldly.

[Ashli Wills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark academia horrormance was one of my anticipated reads for the year. And OH MY GOODNESS, De Elizabeth really did not disappoint. Words can't explain how grateful I am to Dutton for the opportunity to read this early!!!

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere/world-building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥🔥

Characters
The characters are so incredibly human. Wearing a mask. Playing a role. Fearing what comes with vulnerability and being seen. Dealing with expectations and perspectives as women. Breaking the mindset caused by generational trauma and abuse. Their strengths, good intentions, and flaws add so much complexity to the story. The people who see them and still choose to stand by them are indispensable in making it to the end.

I'm also not normally a fan of love triangles (why choose after all?). However, this one was so incredibly well done that I enjoyed it immensely.

Writing Style
The horror and mystery elements were balanced incredibly well. The horror elements made me want to read more--learn more about what was happening. Meanwhile, the mystery elements strengthened the feeling of horror playing out in the book.

I was constantly surprised and caught off guard as the story developed. Even the foreshadowing I picked up on turned into more than I had imagined.

De's use of different writing elements, small things on their own, adds an extra dimension that helps bring the story to life.

Atmosphere/world-building
Creepy, haunting, and full of history, what could be more perfect for dark academia than this sanatorium-turned-college? The theater aspects woven throughout provide the perfect backdrop for the story De Elizabeth tells.

I hadn't heard of the New England Vampire Panic before reading about She Haunts Me Still. Knowing this actually took place makes the story even more wonderfully horrific.

Spice
There are some open-door scenes throughout! It was definitely enjoyable to read, but not the main focus of the book. It also helped demonstrate the intimacy and relationship between the characters.