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The Stillness Retreat
Rowan just wants to heal.
She lived through a tragic event that made her life spiral. Soon after, she arrives at a private retreat that specializes with survivors of near-death experiences. She finds herself isolated deep in the mountains, drawn by the promise of healing and peace. Rowan starts to question if she truly belongs here. Things are changing, people don’t want to let her leave and the group sessions make her feel claustrophobic. As memories of her past resurface and fellow residents confess their own suspicions, Rowan realizes The Stillness Retreat isn’t a place for healing at all. Someone or something is keeping them there.
And once you remember who you are… they come for you.
She lived through a tragic event that made her life spiral. Soon after, she arrives at a private retreat that specializes with survivors of near-death experiences. She finds herself isolated deep in the mountains, drawn by the promise of healing and peace. Rowan starts to question if she truly belongs here. Things are changing, people don’t want to let her leave and the group sessions make her feel claustrophobic. As memories of her past resurface and fellow residents confess their own suspicions, Rowan realizes The Stillness Retreat isn’t a place for healing at all. Someone or something is keeping them there.
And once you remember who you are… they come for you.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
4 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 9, 2026
LOVED!!! Such a good book and fast paced. Cannot wait to add to my shelf!!!
December 26, 2025
This book has everything you'd ever want.
January 17, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! It was very hard to put down. Looking forward to more books from this author!
January 18, 2026
I read this book in 2 sittings as it was difficult to put down. Perfect choice if you want a fast paced thriller.
January 5, 2026
I want to thank the author for reaching out to me and sending me an ARC copy of her book, it was a true honor to be an early reader!
-
This book drew me in right from page one and DID NOT let up. I had so many questions and as soon as one got answered five more popped into my mind and I could not put this book down until all of them were answered.
I liked the idea of this plot. When you read mainly only one genre, certain plots seem to overlap and become too saturated, but this was very refreshing in that aspect; however, the delivery of the plot left something to be desired. This is a plot heavy book with zero-character development, so be aware of that before entering it. The author does mention some trigger warnings but as far as those are concerned I feel the topics were discussed VERY gently and minorly.
🚨NIT PICKY DETAILS:🚨
1️⃣: (possibly just an ARC issue?)
The writing in the first chapter was really smooth and even considering this is the authors first book… and then we get to chapter two
This book is written in one POV and first person. The language kept switching from past to present tense when talking about the same thing..
I.E.:
“I stumble back from the window. I let out a high-pitched gasp as my hands ran to clutch my chest”
2️⃣:
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY do authors write the main character to guess the plot twist? On page 123, which is almost exactly the halfway mark, the FMC comes up with the same thought process I had from about page 70 and cemented for me that my guess was correct. Do I like trying to guess plots and twists YES, do I like being right???? NO, especially when I am able to guess so early on.
-
This was a page turner and even though I was rolling my eyes at the characters and grammar issues, I seriously could not put this book down. Considering this was an ARC, a debut book, and under 300 pages here are my final thoughts;
Creativeness of the plot: 5
Execution of the plot: 2
Characters: 2
Writing in ARC copy: 2 ... it was so distracting.
Pacing: 5
Predictiablity: 2 (1 being "I saw it coming from page one" and 5 being "WTF just happened")
🫡OVERALL RATING:
2.75 stars and rounding up for GRs (if writing issues were fixed this would sit at a 3.25 for me)
Would I recommend????
Yes, IF….
-You prefer heavier topics discussed VERY gently and sparsely
-You prefer more so YA thrillers or you are just getting into the thriller genre
-You are in a reading slump and need something fast pace to help
-
This book drew me in right from page one and DID NOT let up. I had so many questions and as soon as one got answered five more popped into my mind and I could not put this book down until all of them were answered.
I liked the idea of this plot. When you read mainly only one genre, certain plots seem to overlap and become too saturated, but this was very refreshing in that aspect; however, the delivery of the plot left something to be desired. This is a plot heavy book with zero-character development, so be aware of that before entering it. The author does mention some trigger warnings but as far as those are concerned I feel the topics were discussed VERY gently and minorly.
🚨NIT PICKY DETAILS:🚨
1️⃣: (possibly just an ARC issue?)
The writing in the first chapter was really smooth and even considering this is the authors first book… and then we get to chapter two
This book is written in one POV and first person. The language kept switching from past to present tense when talking about the same thing..
I.E.:
“I stumble back from the window. I let out a high-pitched gasp as my hands ran to clutch my chest”
2️⃣:
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY do authors write the main character to guess the plot twist? On page 123, which is almost exactly the halfway mark, the FMC comes up with the same thought process I had from about page 70 and cemented for me that my guess was correct. Do I like trying to guess plots and twists YES, do I like being right???? NO, especially when I am able to guess so early on.
-
This was a page turner and even though I was rolling my eyes at the characters and grammar issues, I seriously could not put this book down. Considering this was an ARC, a debut book, and under 300 pages here are my final thoughts;
Creativeness of the plot: 5
Execution of the plot: 2
Characters: 2
Writing in ARC copy: 2 ... it was so distracting.
Pacing: 5
Predictiablity: 2 (1 being "I saw it coming from page one" and 5 being "WTF just happened")
🫡OVERALL RATING:
2.75 stars and rounding up for GRs (if writing issues were fixed this would sit at a 3.25 for me)
Would I recommend????
Yes, IF….
-You prefer heavier topics discussed VERY gently and sparsely
-You prefer more so YA thrillers or you are just getting into the thriller genre
-You are in a reading slump and need something fast pace to help
January 13, 2026
Stillwater Retreat offers a quiet yet deeply unsettling psychological thriller. Rather than relying on shock value or overt violence, the novel builds its tension gradually through isolation, loss of control, and a growing sense of distrust toward both the place and the people within it.
The core concept is compelling: a therapeutic retreat designed for survivors of near-death experiences, initially presented as a haven for healing, slowly reveals itself as something far more disturbing. This slow, creeping transformation is one of the novel’s strongest elements.
Strengths:
A relatively fast pace that makes the book hard to put down, especially in the first half.
A well-crafted, atmospheric setting that plays effectively on the idea of a “safe place” that is anything but safe.
Particularly suited for readers who enjoy lighter psychological thrillers and prefer heavy themes handled gently rather than graphically.
Critical Notes:
The narrative focuses heavily on plot at the expense of character development, which makes some emotional responses feel underexplored.
Certain twists may be anticipated early by experienced genre readers, reducing the impact of the climax.
The prose is generally smooth, though deeper internal psychological layering could have elevated the protagonist’s journey.
Final Thoughts: Stillwater Retreat is a promising debut with a strong premise and engaging momentum. While it leans more on concept and pacing than on character depth, it delivers an absorbing and accessible reading experience. A solid choice for breaking a reading slump and for readers drawn to subtle, psychologically driven suspense.
—
Ehaab Elzerbawy
Author of Grey Diamond
The core concept is compelling: a therapeutic retreat designed for survivors of near-death experiences, initially presented as a haven for healing, slowly reveals itself as something far more disturbing. This slow, creeping transformation is one of the novel’s strongest elements.
Strengths:
A relatively fast pace that makes the book hard to put down, especially in the first half.
A well-crafted, atmospheric setting that plays effectively on the idea of a “safe place” that is anything but safe.
Particularly suited for readers who enjoy lighter psychological thrillers and prefer heavy themes handled gently rather than graphically.
Critical Notes:
The narrative focuses heavily on plot at the expense of character development, which makes some emotional responses feel underexplored.
Certain twists may be anticipated early by experienced genre readers, reducing the impact of the climax.
The prose is generally smooth, though deeper internal psychological layering could have elevated the protagonist’s journey.
Final Thoughts: Stillwater Retreat is a promising debut with a strong premise and engaging momentum. While it leans more on concept and pacing than on character depth, it delivers an absorbing and accessible reading experience. A solid choice for breaking a reading slump and for readers drawn to subtle, psychologically driven suspense.
—
Ehaab Elzerbawy
Author of Grey Diamond
December 27, 2025
So good! The story felt fresh and new in a genre where many tropes are overdone. This felt different and it was refreshing to read, wonderful palate cleanser when you are getting burnt out on thrillers. The twists are fun and you won’t be able to stop reading until you have answers!
December 31, 2025
I couldn’t put it down!! A must read for anyone!!!
January 15, 2026
I finished this book in one sitting!!!! First off thank you to the author for sending me an arc! My eyes were literally glued to the pages. On the more negative side of things I will say I picked up the plot twist early on, so it wasn’t as shocking for me in the end. Had a few points of lulls in the book but overall I was intrigued throughout the whole book! It was a great palate cleanser! Overall I have this 3 stars and I would recommend others read it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was so fun to write, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! (:
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews