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The Heart-Shaped Box
The page-turning psychological thriller novella about infatuation, revenge and the lengths we will go to for love.
“She pressed her nose gingerly to the glass, peering unblinking through the viscous liquid at her gift.”
Victorian, rural Sussex. When headstrong daughter of a rector, Constance Timothy, receives a flurry of gifts in pretty little boxes from the charming, smouldering student doctor Smith Williams, her whole family anticipates a future betrothal.
Yet beneath the exquisite pastel lids and satin bows lie macabre secrets that entice Constance into a private world of obsession and darkness, where morality becomes blurred, loyalties are tested and unthinkable acts are possible.
One secret will shake the genteel world she knows to the core...
The first book of The Carousel of Curiosities series, this haunting novella is perfect for readers of Sarah Waters, Laura Purcell and Angela Carter.
“She pressed her nose gingerly to the glass, peering unblinking through the viscous liquid at her gift.”
Victorian, rural Sussex. When headstrong daughter of a rector, Constance Timothy, receives a flurry of gifts in pretty little boxes from the charming, smouldering student doctor Smith Williams, her whole family anticipates a future betrothal.
Yet beneath the exquisite pastel lids and satin bows lie macabre secrets that entice Constance into a private world of obsession and darkness, where morality becomes blurred, loyalties are tested and unthinkable acts are possible.
One secret will shake the genteel world she knows to the core...
The first book of The Carousel of Curiosities series, this haunting novella is perfect for readers of Sarah Waters, Laura Purcell and Angela Carter.
120 pages, Paperback
Published January 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 11, 2026
This Novella is Book 1 in Lucy's Carousel of Curiosities series.
The book follows Connie who, after a walk from a suitor, starts to recieve presents from him that only get creepier and creepier.
Then; she learns some rather terrible news about the man she was hoping would propose...
This book does have Victorian vibe to too which would explain the Curiosities - do love a good historical fiction!
Connie seems a lovely character initial but as the Novella continues, it is clear is a quite odd especially given her macabre gifts.
When she learns of the terrible news, it does seem to send her 'over the edge' so to speak and the obsessive side comes come.
She wants to avenge herself, but without going into details... does she manage to do it?
The book does leave on a cliffhanger so alludes to the truth which I am hoping we find out more in Book 2!
A nice start to this novella series!
The book follows Connie who, after a walk from a suitor, starts to recieve presents from him that only get creepier and creepier.
Then; she learns some rather terrible news about the man she was hoping would propose...
This book does have Victorian vibe to too which would explain the Curiosities - do love a good historical fiction!
Connie seems a lovely character initial but as the Novella continues, it is clear is a quite odd especially given her macabre gifts.
When she learns of the terrible news, it does seem to send her 'over the edge' so to speak and the obsessive side comes come.
She wants to avenge herself, but without going into details... does she manage to do it?
The book does leave on a cliffhanger so alludes to the truth which I am hoping we find out more in Book 2!
A nice start to this novella series!
February 9, 2026
3.5 stars
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and she is definitely very good at coming up with unique story lines. This novella was interesting with a very strange premise.
Though I actually like this story I do not like when a story ends on a cliffhanger. I’d much rather a full story - especially since this is a novella why not just write a complete book?
If it wasn’t for that I’d have rated it higher.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and she is definitely very good at coming up with unique story lines. This novella was interesting with a very strange premise.
Though I actually like this story I do not like when a story ends on a cliffhanger. I’d much rather a full story - especially since this is a novella why not just write a complete book?
If it wasn’t for that I’d have rated it higher.
February 6, 2026
This novella was a quick and excellent read.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a real read in it in one sitting sort of novella. I was so intrigued, and mildly disturbed, that I just had to read on and find out what direction the story was going to go in.
The story starts off rather pleasant. Constance, a young Victorian woman, receives an invitation to walk with student doctor Smith Williams. Their relationship begins congenial and innocent. As he is away still studying, Smith sends Constance a flurry of gifts. At first these are sweet and romantic but very quickly his deliveries turn dark and disturbing.
At this point I was hooked and unsure what would happen next. The short thriller turns darker as it explores the lengths we are willing to go for love. Constance’s story is far from over, I’m excited to find out what will come next.
The story starts off rather pleasant. Constance, a young Victorian woman, receives an invitation to walk with student doctor Smith Williams. Their relationship begins congenial and innocent. As he is away still studying, Smith sends Constance a flurry of gifts. At first these are sweet and romantic but very quickly his deliveries turn dark and disturbing.
At this point I was hooked and unsure what would happen next. The short thriller turns darker as it explores the lengths we are willing to go for love. Constance’s story is far from over, I’m excited to find out what will come next.
February 6, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Heart-Shaped Box' by Lucy Kaufman
Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely brilliant page turner!!! Well done Lucy!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the extremely talented Lucy. I cannot wait to get stuck into the rest of his books as I can guarantee they are all amazing even if they are just half as good as this book they are guaranteed to be epic which means I will fly through them like I did with this book!! This is also the first book in Lucy's 'Carousel Of Curiosities' series and what an explosive introduction to a promising new series it is!
WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! What an absolutely gripping and dark novella!!! I cannot wait to read more books by this extremely talented author! This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS CHILLING, DARK AND GOTHIC PAGE TURNING NOVELLA!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!
The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the AMAZING author Lucy Kaufman! Where the hell have you been hiding all my life? As a lover of all dark, sinister, horror, psychological, thriller books I am SHOCKED I have not read your books before especially with that brilliantly vivid imagination of yours!! I absolutely LOVED it!! Thank God I have rectified that stupid mistake and read this and now I can sink my teeth into the rest of your books. I mean, if this is anything to go by then they are guaranteed to be epic!! This novella starts off as what you may think is a romance with Constance being sent gifts beautifully presented in different shaped boxes. However, soon the gifts change from a hair pin to skin and things start going from bad to worse. As this book is a novella at just 87 pages on kindle and 120 in paperback I really cannot go into the storyline as it is too risky that I will give something away and you really do need to read this yourself to get the full impact. I loved how the storyline quickly took a dark turn going from a romance to a crime!! As for THAT ending!! Well, I just HAVE to get my hands on the next book as Lucy leaves the reader on a jaw dropping cliff hanger and I NEED to know what will happen next!! I really do hope that Lucy is writing it as I am typing this. With a unique storyline packed with romance, jealousy, darkness, family, gifts, some suspense, morbid-ness, obsession and absolutely everything you could ask for and just so much more in a gripping page turning and chilling thriller what on Earth are you waiting for? I mean the concept alone is absolutely epic, fascinating and intriguing let alone the actual storyline!!! This truly is an absolutely addictive page turner with a unique storyline that will grip you from the moment you open the pages until the very end, and longer!! A huge well done to Lucy on the absolute uniqueness of this book!! I have read hundreds and hundreds of books so it is getting harder and harder to find books with a truly unique storyline but Lucy truly has smashed it out of the ballpark. She has done an absolutely brilliant job of weaving the storyline together perfectly ensuring the reader gets the bigger picture. Considering this novella is so short Lucy truly has packed so much into it!! You have truly got to grab a copy of this fantastic, dark and gothic page turner today!!! I completely devoured in it less than 2 hours as once I started I just couldn't not finish it. The beautiful cover, the intriguing synopsis and the brilliant storyline all work beautifully together and with strange characters, morbid gifts and romance gone bad you need to get your copy and get lost in Lucy's 'Carousel Of Curiosities' today!
Well done Lucy Kaufman on an absolutely addictive, gothic, unique and chilling page turner!!! Congratulations on an absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an unique, gothic and addictive romance gone bad novella!!
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Review for 'The Heart-Shaped Box' by Lucy Kaufman
Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely brilliant page turner!!! Well done Lucy!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the extremely talented Lucy. I cannot wait to get stuck into the rest of his books as I can guarantee they are all amazing even if they are just half as good as this book they are guaranteed to be epic which means I will fly through them like I did with this book!! This is also the first book in Lucy's 'Carousel Of Curiosities' series and what an explosive introduction to a promising new series it is!
WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! What an absolutely gripping and dark novella!!! I cannot wait to read more books by this extremely talented author! This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS CHILLING, DARK AND GOTHIC PAGE TURNING NOVELLA!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!
The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the AMAZING author Lucy Kaufman! Where the hell have you been hiding all my life? As a lover of all dark, sinister, horror, psychological, thriller books I am SHOCKED I have not read your books before especially with that brilliantly vivid imagination of yours!! I absolutely LOVED it!! Thank God I have rectified that stupid mistake and read this and now I can sink my teeth into the rest of your books. I mean, if this is anything to go by then they are guaranteed to be epic!! This novella starts off as what you may think is a romance with Constance being sent gifts beautifully presented in different shaped boxes. However, soon the gifts change from a hair pin to skin and things start going from bad to worse. As this book is a novella at just 87 pages on kindle and 120 in paperback I really cannot go into the storyline as it is too risky that I will give something away and you really do need to read this yourself to get the full impact. I loved how the storyline quickly took a dark turn going from a romance to a crime!! As for THAT ending!! Well, I just HAVE to get my hands on the next book as Lucy leaves the reader on a jaw dropping cliff hanger and I NEED to know what will happen next!! I really do hope that Lucy is writing it as I am typing this. With a unique storyline packed with romance, jealousy, darkness, family, gifts, some suspense, morbid-ness, obsession and absolutely everything you could ask for and just so much more in a gripping page turning and chilling thriller what on Earth are you waiting for? I mean the concept alone is absolutely epic, fascinating and intriguing let alone the actual storyline!!! This truly is an absolutely addictive page turner with a unique storyline that will grip you from the moment you open the pages until the very end, and longer!! A huge well done to Lucy on the absolute uniqueness of this book!! I have read hundreds and hundreds of books so it is getting harder and harder to find books with a truly unique storyline but Lucy truly has smashed it out of the ballpark. She has done an absolutely brilliant job of weaving the storyline together perfectly ensuring the reader gets the bigger picture. Considering this novella is so short Lucy truly has packed so much into it!! You have truly got to grab a copy of this fantastic, dark and gothic page turner today!!! I completely devoured in it less than 2 hours as once I started I just couldn't not finish it. The beautiful cover, the intriguing synopsis and the brilliant storyline all work beautifully together and with strange characters, morbid gifts and romance gone bad you need to get your copy and get lost in Lucy's 'Carousel Of Curiosities' today!
Well done Lucy Kaufman on an absolutely addictive, gothic, unique and chilling page turner!!! Congratulations on an absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an unique, gothic and addictive romance gone bad novella!!
#TheHeartShapedBox #CarouselOfCuriosities #LucyKaufman #SepiaInk #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources
@LucyKaufman @SepiaInk @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources
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February 9, 2026
All my reviews can be found at: http://www.jessicasreadingroom.com
This review will appear on my site on February 11, 2026 as a part of the blog tour.
~~~~
The Heart-Shaped Box is a short novella, just 87 pages, but it pulls you in! At first you think it’s going to have a little romance with Constance receiving gifts from her suitor Smith Williams, but then what the gifts are… The reader realizes that this novella is in fact, is going down a dark path!
The more gifts Constance receives the further into the macabre Constance goes, and she is seemingly enjoying it. As the novella progresses, there are a few unexpected twists and then the reader was left hanging: I need the second in this series as I need to know what happens! Ms. Kaufman, how many novellas will be in this series? When will novella two be released?
In addition to a potential romance this novella has topics that readers who enjoy ‘darker’ novellas will enjoy: Jealousy, the macabre, obsession, and more!
I received a copy to read and review as a part of the blog tour. I enjoyed reading this one! I just wish I had been able to sit down and read it quicker than I did
This review will appear on my site on February 11, 2026 as a part of the blog tour.
~~~~
The Heart-Shaped Box is a short novella, just 87 pages, but it pulls you in! At first you think it’s going to have a little romance with Constance receiving gifts from her suitor Smith Williams, but then what the gifts are… The reader realizes that this novella is in fact, is going down a dark path!
The more gifts Constance receives the further into the macabre Constance goes, and she is seemingly enjoying it. As the novella progresses, there are a few unexpected twists and then the reader was left hanging: I need the second in this series as I need to know what happens! Ms. Kaufman, how many novellas will be in this series? When will novella two be released?
In addition to a potential romance this novella has topics that readers who enjoy ‘darker’ novellas will enjoy: Jealousy, the macabre, obsession, and more!
I received a copy to read and review as a part of the blog tour. I enjoyed reading this one! I just wish I had been able to sit down and read it quicker than I did
January 28, 2026
The first novella in the Carousel of Curiosities Series and reads as a standalone. It was a very quick read at only 86 pages. Set in a small country village in Sussex
Briefly, Constance Timothy is the daughter of a rector and still single despite all best efforts of her family. Then one day she meets Smith Williams who is studying to become a doctor. She is smitten and he seems to feel the same way. When he returns to his studies in London she starts to receive gifts from him. Pretty gifts that become more and more bizzare!
This started off feeling like a gentle romance but as it continues it gets darker and darker. Constance is told by her brother that people consider her an odd duck, and quite frankly she is. An interesting and entertaining read. I’ll look forward to book 2.
Briefly, Constance Timothy is the daughter of a rector and still single despite all best efforts of her family. Then one day she meets Smith Williams who is studying to become a doctor. She is smitten and he seems to feel the same way. When he returns to his studies in London she starts to receive gifts from him. Pretty gifts that become more and more bizzare!
This started off feeling like a gentle romance but as it continues it gets darker and darker. Constance is told by her brother that people consider her an odd duck, and quite frankly she is. An interesting and entertaining read. I’ll look forward to book 2.
February 20, 2026
Fantastic, fast-paced mystery
Absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to read the sequel! Had shades of ‘the miniaturist’ and a little of the style of Stacey Halls with the wit of Austen thrown in. Just brilliant!
Absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to read the sequel! Had shades of ‘the miniaturist’ and a little of the style of Stacey Halls with the wit of Austen thrown in. Just brilliant!
February 12, 2026
This starts as a romance but soon becomes dark and twisty. When Constance Timothy starts receiving gifts from student doctor Smith Williams everyone thinks that there will soon be an engagement announcement. However as the gifts become more bizarre Constance becomes more pulled into a macabre situation. I found this engaging and although fairly short it didn’t feel at all rushed. I certainly wasn’t expecting how it eventually developed and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy
Constance starts receiving unusual gifts from her suitor Smith Williams. Her family is expecting a betrothal any minute. What they got was a big surprise.
This was a quick novella. It was a little dark and has a gothic feel to it. I wasn’t expecting it to end like it did.
It’s book one in this series.
This was a quick novella. It was a little dark and has a gothic feel to it. I wasn’t expecting it to end like it did.
It’s book one in this series.
Review of advance copy
The Heart-Shaped Box is the first in The Carousel of Curiosities series by Kaufman. It's a short read and was easily binged in one sitting.
Don't go into the book like I did expecting a gothic type romance...it gets so much darker than that! Most women are happy with a bunch of flowers...when Constance starts receiving gifts in pretty little boxes...be warned, it's not pretty at all!
It's a great series opener and I'm so ready for the second book!
Don't go into the book like I did expecting a gothic type romance...it gets so much darker than that! Most women are happy with a bunch of flowers...when Constance starts receiving gifts in pretty little boxes...be warned, it's not pretty at all!
It's a great series opener and I'm so ready for the second book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews