Our Dark Unravelling

by Margot McGovern

When Jude Sinclair is killed in a hunting accident, Lyssa and George feel like their lives have been upended. George is angry – she and Jude have unfinished business – while Lyssa is bereft, unable to accept that he’s gone.

In the wake of his death, Lyssa’s behaviour becomes strange. She disappears at night and seems increasingly exhausted and sick. When George questions her, Lyssa confides that she’s spending her nights with Jude, and an escalating series of disturbing events convinces their classmates that Jude has returned.

George assumes Lyssa is responsible for the ‘hauntings’ and decides to follow her at night. She is horrified about what she learns and knows that if it continues, it’s sure to cost Lyssa her life. . .

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller, Audiobook

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2026

About the author

Margot McGovern lives in Adelaide and has a creative writing PhD from Flinders University. Her debut novel, Neverland, was shortlisted for the Text Prize and the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.

Her second novel, This Stays Between Us, will be published in March 2025.

Margot's short horror fiction has appeared in issues of The Dark and the Aurealis-Award-shortlisted anthology Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales.

You can find Margot on Instagram: @margot.mcgovern

Reviews

[Taya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for the gifted copy of this book!!

This had a bit of a slow start but I was absolutely hooked because there is nothing that gets me more involved in a book than a secret I, as the reader, am not privy to.

This story had literally everything I love in a YA! We are talking boarding school, found family (ish?), supernatural themes and of course a murder.

I think this did a fantastic job at tackling some pretty serious themes around abusive relationships at a teenage level, because yes it does happen and needs to be discussed a LOT more (I mean check out the news recently regarding teenage boys sexually assaulting their female classmates).

I demolished this in literally a day, and if you add this to your tbr and read it when it comes out on Sep 8 2026, you will smash it out quickly too!!

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Our Dark Unravelling by Margot McGovern is a bewitching, dark and atmospheric YA gothic horror that’s set in a prestigious school nestled in the Adelaide Hills, Australia. I was hooked!

When student Jude Sinclair is killed in a freak accident Lyssa and George who are roommates at the school feel as though their lives have been turned inside out.

Lyssa a scholarship student is grieving Jude’s death and starts behaving strangely and disappearing at night into the Wilds, meanwhile her roommate who hated Jude is angry.

When Jude manipulates Lyssa beyond the grave the girls find themselves in a dangerous place.

I loved the creepy gothic vibes and dual perspectives. A wonderful and disturbing paranormal and coming of age story that involves manipulation and complex relationships. The story is very well written, creepy and entertaining. I can’t wait to read more by Margot McGovern.

Publication Day 08 September 2026
Publisher Imprint Penguin

Thank you so much Penguin Teen Australia/Penguin Books Australia for a copy of the book.

[Sasha (sashasbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay coming from a strictly non-horror girlie…. This was GREAT and I thoroughly enjoyed this!!

This book was so nostalgic in the best (and sometimes worst) ways. Being set in Adelaide, I loved seeing references to our local spots and it was honestly spot on right down to the weather patterns… and I really enjoyed the boarding school setting. I feel like boarding schools give so many opportunities for creepy and strange occurrences, and this book took full advantage of that!!

As somebody who is an avid avoider of the horror genre, I found this book to be the perfect level of creepy. The story absolutely had me on the edge of my seat and turning around to check behind me while I was listening… but wasn’t extreme to the point of keeping me up at night. My favourite parts (and the parts that creeped me out the most) were definitely when Lyssa ‘let jude in’ so to speak (if you know you know) and at these points, I will say I was absolutely enraptured🙈

Lyssa and George’s dynamic was so interesting, and seeing them handle the grief of losing Jude (and the subsequent haunting) in such different ways was intriguing. I enjoyed watching both girls eventually team up to… solve the problem? Even though they were reluctant and distrustful at first.

I won’t get into the details, but I also related HEAVILY to Lyssa and what she experienced with Jude (minus the death/haunting bit). It was actually almost disturbing how close her situation was to my own high school experience. I genuinely stood there in shock as I was listening to some parts… like did Margot just copy and paste my life into this story???🫣

Overall I absolutely loved this one! Highly recommend!

[Jessica Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so lucky to receive a finished copy from Penguin Australia, AND even luckier that Libro.FM featured Our Dark Unravelling in their September ALC programme! I listened to the audiobook alongside reading, and the narrators were BOTH AMAZING. There was something about listening to this story unfold that made the unsettling moments feel even more… well, unsettling.

And while Our Dark Unravelling could initially be seen as a love story, it is so, so much more than that. At its heart, this is a story about grief and loss — about the painful, messy and sometimes traumatic ways we cope with losing someone, and the reality of having to let them go. It also explores controlling and harmful relationships, the damage they can leave behind, and the complicated aftermath of trying to rebuild yourself once you finally escape them.

I genuinely think this is an incredibly important book for young adults to read, particularly because it tackles difficult topics that can be incredibly hard to talk about, recognise or seek help for. Margot handles these themes in a way that makes them impossible to ignore, while still giving us a genuinely gripping horror story.

And then there’s the setting. Lush, atmospheric, gothic and deeply unsettling — I absolutely LOVED the way Margot incorporated so many things I love about Australia into the story while still creating this eerie, almost dreamlike atmosphere. This was fast-paced, creepy, high-stakes and SO atmospheric, but that ending?! THAT ENDING. It genuinely came out of nowhere and had me questioning the entire last fifty pages. I immediately wanted to go back and reread it just so I could look at every tiny detail and see what the hell I had missed.

If you’re looking for a YA horror that is atmospheric, emotionally devastating, genuinely unsettling and has an ending that will make you want to immediately start over from page one… Please add Our Dark Unravelling to your TBR!

[Danisbooklife · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Our Dark Unraveling was dark, unsettling and had me constantly questioning what was really going on.

Margot McGovern has created a story that slowly gets under your skin, peeling back layers of mystery and unease until I found myself completely caught up in the unraveling of it all. There was this creeping sense that something wasn’t quite right, and honestly, I loved that feeling of never quite knowing where the story was going.

The atmosphere was one of my favourite things about this book. It felt ominous and increasingly intense, with secrets and revelations that kept pulling me further in. The more I read, the more I needed answers—and the harder they were to find.

This is definitely one for readers who enjoy dark mysteries, unsettling vibes and stories that make you question everything you think you know.

I went into this not entirely sure what to expect, but came out feeling slightly disturbed, thoroughly intrigued and very glad I picked it up.

[brydee (beebookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

when i tell you this is one of THE BEST books i’ve read this year - i am NOT exaggerating 😱

if you are looking for your next witchy and spooky this is for you 🤩

our dark unravelling is set in a dark academia high school nestled in the adelaide hills and follows george and lyssa, try to cope with their classmate’s death - when spooky hauntings start occurring 👀

i am a horror movie fanatic and i rarely get spooked by books but a few chapters in i was SCARED 😆 so many of the hauntings were unnerving i was actively stressing while reading - it read like a horror movie in the best way 🤩

this book also handles unhealthy relationships in such a nuanced way which is perfect for a ya book - especially for younger people to recognise toxic behaviours ✨

THE ENDING?!?! HELLO??? i have SO MANY QUESTIONS 😭😆

thank you penguin for the arc 🫶✨

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Grief is a demon, Lissy. It’ll drag you all the way down if you let it.”

Our Dark Unravelling by Margot McGovern is a gothic YA retelling of the Bluebeard myth, Rebecca and Jane Eyre but through the lens of two very different girls struggling with the death of the enigmatic boy they are both intertwined with at an Australian boarding school. It’s a spooky, witchy, haunting read that explores manipulation, obsession, charming monsters and abusive relationships – a very important topic for teen girls today in particular!

I enjoyed this book. I loved the messaging more than anything and I really wanted George and Lyssa to win against Jude (because who does he think he is?!). I thought there was a great note about how schools and institutions also fail girls (especially those who don’t come from money) by protecting the boys and men who have status behind their names. I loved the unlikely friendship that blossomed between George and Lyssa and the idea that women need to look out for one another and not get brainwashed by teenage boys who say they love them! I really think this book will teach a valuable lesson to any and all teen readers (and quite frankly, adults too)!

I only wish it was more lush and atmospheric and scary so we could really FEEL the high stakes. I sometimes felt like the whole D&D/nerd aspect (while very relatable) took me out of the atmosphere and felt out of place with the spooky, gothic vibes going on. But that’s just my personal reading preference.

Overall, it was a great read and I would LOVE to see this book in schools and libraries! Put it in the hands of young girls, PLEASE! 🖤

Thank you to Penguin Teen Australia for the review copy!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[THE TWISTED REVIEW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Dark Unraveling by Margot McGovern is a YA horror novel that lingers long after the final page. Set at the elite Milford boarding school, the story blends ghostly horror with emotional manipulation, toxic romance, and psychological suspense in a way that feels both gothic and deeply modern. The real strength of the novel lies in its exploration of control—specifically, how charismatic people can continue to haunt others even after they are gone.

The novel follows Lyssa, a scholarship student grieving the death of someone close to her, and her roommate, who had a far more complicated relationship with the deceased. What makes the setup so compelling is the immense influence this death continues to have on both main characters throughout the story. Through ghostly appearances and occult elements like blood magic and “tether bottles,” the novel transforms emotional abuse into a literal haunting. That metaphor gives the horror genuine emotional weight, especially for YA readers familiar with stories about toxic relationships disguised as romance.

Even though the book is classified as YA, it feels more mature than many novels within the genre. The themes surrounding identity, complicated relationships, grief, and manipulation are explored with depth and nuance. I especially appreciated how contained the setting felt; the story remains grounded within the school, which adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere instead of making the plot feel scattered. The novel also captures how emotionally complicated relationships can be at a young age, particularly while trying to discover who you are, and that emotional maturity is part of what makes the story so effective.

My only minor criticism is that some readers may find the themes darker or heavier than expected for YA fiction, but overall, the book is incredibly well written and flows naturally. I particularly enjoyed how evenly balanced the two protagonists’ perspectives were and how each POV added depth to the overall narrative. At no point did I feel bored or tempted to put the book down. It had been a while since I last read a YA novel, and this book definitely rekindled my interest in the genre.

McGovern also excels at creating a claustrophobic atmosphere of privilege and isolation. Milford Academy’s disconnect from the outside world provides the perfect backdrop for paranoia, obsession, and unraveling identities. The boarding school setting feels tailor-made for slow-burn horror, where secrets and emotional tension simmer until they become dangerous.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric YA horror with strong emotional stakes rather than nonstop scares will find plenty to appreciate here. Fans of psychological hauntings, morally messy relationships, and dark academia aesthetics should especially enjoy this novel. McGovern fully delivers on the premise, creating a contemporary YA horror story that blends supernatural terror with sharp commentary on manipulation, grief, and emotional control.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Dark Unravelling is a YA supernatural thriller following a group of students at a prestigious boarding school (in Australia, yay!) who have returned for a new school year to find their peer, Jude, has been killed in a hunting accident. His girlfriend Lyssa and her outcast roommate George both take the news hard - Lyssa because she never envisioned her life without Jude, and George because of unfinished business the pair had unbeknownst to Lyssa. After both girls have their own unsettling experience with a Ouija board following the news, Lyssa's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and George is the only one who might be able to save her.

Even though the events of this book are set in motion by Jude, I really loved that there is an unconventional female friendship (eventually) at the centre of this story. Especially being a pair of girls who are outside the social circles at school for different reasons and they both really need someone to depend on. My first impression of Lyssa and George was that they were very classic angsty teen girl stereotypes - one lovesick and one anti-social - so I loved the time and energy that went into their backstories and individual development arcs. Lyssa in particular was very reckless and did a lot of stupid shit but every single time she did, I thought “ohhh I definitely would’ve done that as a teenager”. 💀

I love YA books because of the messages like the ones in this book, *but* YA writing is obviously a scale and generally speaking the maturity of the writing matches the ages of the main characters being the target audience. In this case the characters are in year 12, so 17/18 years old, but they read much younger in my opinion and I didn’t enjoy that aspect. I also wish it leaned into the boarding school setting more because I feel like there’s much you can do with the social hierarchy there but the cast was kept really small relatively.

A couple of comp titles that come to mind are What Have They Done to Liza Mclean and When We Were Monsters - both of which I actually didn’t like 🤣 - but I did enjoy Our Dark Unravelling a bit more because it leaned into the supernatural/horror elements over a whodunnit.

Overall the story was GREAT, I just wish it read as upper-YA in line with the characters, but I’ll definitely give this author another shot! Also definitely recommend it if you’re looking for books on the darker side that celebrate female friendships.

[MichelleAriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

I am UNRAVELED.

Margot McGovern has officially cemented herself as the queen of YA gothic horror and I will not be taking questions.

From the very first chapter, McGovern drops you straight into Milford's suffocating, ivy-choked atmosphere and just... doesn't let go. A boarding school with no phones, no outside contact, just old money, old secrets, and a campus that feels like it's holding its breath? Sign. Me. Up. The dark academia vibes are IMMACULATE, every hallway, every whispered rumor, every candlelit dorm room felt so tactile I could practically smell the old books and rain-soaked wool blazers.

McGovern has this incredible way of making a place feel both achingly beautiful and quietly threatening at the same time, like beauty with rot underneath it.

And the characters?! George and Lyssa completely wrecked me. Watching two girls who've been harmed by the same magnetic, controlling boy slowly realize how entangled their stories are; it's such a sharp, devastating exploration of manipulation and the way charismatic cruelty gets excused when it's wrapped in wealth and charm. Jude Sinclair is one of those villains you love to hate, and the fact that his control doesn't end when he dies?? CHILLS. The slow-burn horror of Lyssa's decline after his death, the dread building night after night, had me reading with my heart in my throat.

This is a modern Bluebeard retelling done right, there's a real Jane Eyre-meets-Practical-Magic energy running through it and I was living for every second of it.

The pacing in the back third is where this book truly earns its horror stripes; that slow creep from "something is wrong with Lyssa" to full nervous-system dread is so well controlled. I had genuine chills.

AND THAT ENDING?? 🤯

If you love gothic horror, dark academia, morally messy boys who deserve everything coming to them, and girls who choose each other over the ghosts of their past, reclaiming power after it's been stripped from them; READ THIS BOOK. Margot McGovern, take my whole heart. 🖤🕯️

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔪"It's not enough to save yourself."🔪

📕Our Dark Unraveling
✍️Margot McGovern
🗣@randomhousekids
📅September 8th, 2026

🔥SYNOPSIS🔥
Love never dies. That's the problem.

At the ultra-elite boarding school of Milford, students sacrifice their phones, relationships, and contact with the outside world for the chance at a top-notch education . . . except Lyssa didn’t. She risked a romance with Milford's golden boy Jude Sinclair.

But when Jude dies in a freak accident, Lyssa’s world is upended. She can’t imagine her life without him—and when she discovers a way to summon his ghost, maybe she doesn’t have to. The only person Lyssa confides in is her outcast roommate George, who hated Jude . . . or so Lyssa thought. It appears the girls’ past—and present—is more intertwined than she ever knew. And as Jude’s powers from beyond the grave begin to grow, it soon becomes clear that this ghost is determined to be as controlling in death as he was in life.

From critically acclaimed author Margot McGovern comes a gripping story about desire, obsession, and the strength it takes to find the way back to yourself.

🧠My Thoughts🧠
This whole book had an eerie, gothic feel to it. It felt like I was on some creepy private school campus in the woods. It also felt like it was raining the entire time. The author did an amazing job with atmosphere and once I got to the end and read the acknowledgements I wholly understood why the book had this ambience and it made me appreciate the writing even more since it gave me those vibes before I even know it was supposed to. The story itself was bleak and sad. Suffocating and obsessive. I very much enjoyed it.

⛧Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for the advance ebook! All thoughts are my own.

💬ⓆⓄⓉⒹ: on first photo description

#ourdarkunraveling #margotmcgovern #randomhousekids #netgalley #bookreview

[Melanie Najib · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is bloody brilliant! - Pun intended. 

I was lucky enough to read an eBook advanced reader’s copy (ARC) of Our Dark Unravelling and it far exceeded my expectations. It was a rich, dense chocolate cake and I ate it all up very quickly! 

At every turn the tension turned up, the characters got deeper, the plot unfolded, the spooky level raised. It felt like I was watching a tv show. The setting was so visceral, unique, and saturated with an Australian flare. McGovern effortlessly buffered the two main characters with a great supporting cast, and nailed the dark academia aesthetic with all its traits and traditions.

While reading, it reminded me a lot of The Haunting of Hill House because of the way the horror is used in the storytelling. The scares meant something deeper, it exposed something about each character, that you were learning in reverse. It wasn’t just a gimmick but integral to the growth and healing of the characters. The plot also reminded me of Practical Magic in the sense of the male being the villain and not that deeply explored because he isn’t the point. It is a story about two women who are trying to banish a bad relationship, while harbouring secrets and their own inner turmoil.

I loved how well McGovern tackles some strong themes in this novel; she acknowledged the full kaleidoscope of issues faced by teens with grace. She didn’t deep dive into every one, yet each was acknowledged. One that is central to the story was that of red flag relationships, something usually romanticised in YA novels especially of the supernatural variety, and I’m so glad that’s not where this book went. At the same time it wasn’t preachy, and the language is very accessible for all young adults. I personally wish I had a book like this when I was young, I don’t think I would have entered or stayed in particular relationships if i did. Where McGovern also excels is in heming in the YA with a mature outlook and delivering lines of dialogue and conversations between characters that aren’t naturally occurring amongst young girls but highlights how to have them and their importance. Ushering the way for more conversations around toxic relationships to be had amongst friends when you see the signs.

I also hope this will be a school library staple and make it’s way onto the English curriculum in the future, so all young adults can learn from it’s very timely lessons in a fun and fantastical package.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the ebook!

Summary:
Lyssa is a scholarship student at the elite Milford boarding school, where the rules are strict and students are cut off from most of the outside world. When Jude, the boy she loves, dies in a freak accident, Lyssa is devastated. Then she starts seeing his ghost. She turns to her roommate George, but the more the girls uncover, the more complicated Jude, their pasts, and the haunting become.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this! It was witchy, dark, creepy, and had so much of the haunting horror that I love. The boarding school setting worked perfectly because everything already felt isolated before you even added a ghost into the mix. I loved the paranormal parts and how heavy and dark the story could get. Jude's ghost is not exactly floating around politely knocking things off shelves either. 😂 The haunting has a much darker feeling because of the control he still has even after death.
Lyssa was such a great character and really well written. There is grief here, but there is also friendship, secrets, complicated relationships, and two girls trying to understand what is actually happening around them. I especially liked that the horror wasn't just there to make the book creepy. There was something underneath it about control and the way a person can continue affecting you even when they are no longer physically there. It gave the haunting a much heavier feeling and made this more than just a fun ghost story.

Would I Recommend?
Yes! If you like YA horror, witchy books, hauntings, dark boarding school settings, ghosts, and complicated friendships, I definitely recommend this one. It was dark, fun, creepy, and exactly the kind of paranormal horror I enjoy.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book. (Sorry for the late review).

I usually keep a distance from horror, but This Stays Between Us was an incredible feminist story, exploring the rolls women are placed into in real life and stories and what happens when they refuse to be quite. So after that brilliance I was eager to read more like it, and absolutely thrilled to get accepted for the ARC of Our Dark Unravelling!

While I didn’t love it as much as This Stays Between Us, Our Dark Unravelling was still incredible. Margot McGovern dealt with the topic of possessive, abusive and unhealthy relationships so poignantly and masterfully. The atmosphere was suitably tense and spooky, and the settings of both Milford and Lyssa’s home town were so rich you easily felt like you were there.

It was a quick and easy read that drew me right in. I was eager to find out about the girls pasts and secrets and suitably squirmed at all the abusive tendencies, however veiled, of Jude. Just like This Stays Between Us, this had very important messages regarding who we are, the sort of relationships we keep and the lengths we will go to keep something alive.

I also loved how the friendships developed, it was really nice to see such a supportive healing process, however long it took. Because these things aren’t easy.

Overall another brilliant read from Margot McGovern, I am so excited to see what she writes next- I am loving all these feminist tinted, social critiques about physical and metaphorical ghosts!

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Dark Unraveling follows roommates Lyssa and George, two students at Milford, an elite boarding school in Australia. When Lyssa’s boyfriend, and fellow student, dies in a freak accident, her world is destroyed. But when she discovers it’s possible to summon his ghost, she and George delve into a world far more dangerous than they thought.

Umm, this was so fun! I would totally recommend this as a September or October read, there’s such good spooky vibes. It was super atmospheric and creepy. The haunting/ghost element was really well done and played out in a great pace.

I really loved the themes of desire and obsession in love. I felt so bad for Lyssa and George and what Jude did to them. He’s the worst kind of guy and I loved the exploration of their grief and relationship with one another. It was paired very well with the creepiness and horror.

Lyssa and George are great main characters. They’re both really easy to root for and hope that things work out for them. I really liked their character arcs and how strong they were and ended up being.

If you love boarding school books with ghosts and hauntings, definitely add this to your tbr!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc

[Annie Deo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Grief is a demon...it'll drag you all the way down if you let it."

REVIEW: 3.5 stars.

The story alternates between Lyssa, girlfriend to the deceased-but-not-departed Jude, and George who had a complicated past with him. The author treads the fine line of depicting Jude as naturally charismatic and making you understand why people loved him while also showing his subtle manipulations and the toxic patterns in his relationships without it crossing over into caricature.

The writing is beautifully moody and atmospheric, effortlessly transporting the reader to a remote school setting consumed by pine needle-scented grief, overripe blackberry nostalgia and rose petal bittersweetness. Its Gothic vibes are immaculate as our heroines deal with a haunting that starts off vague and psychologically confined before spilling over into real life with potentially deadly consequences. Stricken by her loss, Lyssa isn't troubled by the danger, but George's efforts to save her add tension and urgency as Jude's presence looms ever-larger.

OUR DARK UNRAVELING offers a measured but pointed commentary on suffocating relationships, a thoughtful arc about reclaiming your agency, plus a wonderfully complicated relationship between two girls who shouldn't be allies and yet turn to each other anyway.

Thanks to @penguinbooksaus @penguinteenaus for the ARC.

[Tahnaya (catsandpaperbacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense and haunting YA contemporary horror-thriller that I devoured in one sitting!

There is just something about Margot McGovern's writing style that tickles my brain in all the right ways. It's detailed, it's easy to read but still holds so much emotion and never seems to dip or drop off once the story gets going.

There’s two main female characters that you jump between the POV of. Lyssa and George. Then there is Lyssa’s boyfriend, Jude, but Jude dies and Lyssa falls apart. This is the beginning of things getting spooky 👻

I really loved the way you see Jude as the perfect boyfriend but once George's story begins to unravel, you quickly uncover the toxic traits of Jude. It leaves you feeling shaken up and like you want to seek vengeance for Lyssa and George (but Jude's already dead so I guess maybe just dance on his grave or something idk?). I really loved the character development of George but found myself not a huge fan of Lyssa as I definitely think she could have made some wiser decisions which makes her seem a lot younger than she is.

The story itself was a lot of fun. The past relationship and history between George and Jude slowly unravel throughout the book and it really ropes you in. The horror aspects were creepy but not as scary as if the ghost was someone they didn't know (which I'm fine with because horror is not my strong suit).

I really enjoyed this one! Perfect for everyone's spooky October tbr!

Thank you so much Penguin Books Aus for sending me a gifted copy to read and review!

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a review copy.

Our Dark Unravelling, the author says, is inspired by Rebecca (du Maurier) and Jane Eyre (Bronte) - books I love. It's a modern take and might appeal to those interested in the popular romantasy trends as it blends fantastical themes with a (toxic) romance. On the other hand, some may like to avoid the romantasy tag as it implies something more formulaic and this is about a dark relationship, not a happily ever after, and it's not emphasising hot sex scenes.

So what tropes do we instantly recognise that will draw modern audiences in, as this book DOES try to use some familiar angles to lure in the audience?

* Strong female protagonist(s)
* An enemy relationship - Lyssa and George don't really get on
* Hints of dark magic right from the start
* Jude is all you could want in a boyfriend - charming, devotedly interested in Lyssa, good looking ...

Then a tragedy ... Jude dies.

Well, this is a bit unexpected and sets this book apart from your traditional romances. We don't usually see the hunky boyfriend die so soon into the story. It's not a spoiler - it happens far too early to be a spoiler.

The story revolves around how Lyssa and George handle Jude's death. Lyssa was his boyfriend but upon his death, some information comes out - what was Jude to George? What kind of past did they have?

The story is mysterious and dark and ventures into themes of manipulation and control, beyond the grave even. However people can relate to it on the level of extremely toxic control and rivalry in relationships.

I felt the magic part of the story was a bit strange. At first there's a hint of dark magic, then there's hints that magic is just a toy and a game, nothing more than something referred to in Dungeons and Dragons, and then it comes up again as something "real". I wasn't really a fan of how this worked as it didn't make me feel that the world was sure about how it saw magic.

Much better done was the wildness and depth of Lyssa and George's feelings - we realise they don't always act in sensible ways but we understand why. I could feel Lyssa's grief and while it was terrible, I could understand how it might be all-enveloping.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one, but sadly, it just didn’t quite work for me this time around.

I found myself not fully enjoying the experience and struggling to stay engaged, which is always disappointing when you go into a book with high expectations. I listened to the audiobook, and I do wonder if that contributed—not because the narrators, Shio Elsmore and Jodie Harris, did a poor job. They both did a perfectly fine job! I think this was simply a case of me rather than the book. Sometimes, especially with horror, I connect with the story much better when I’m reading it with my eyeballs rather than listening to it.

I’m still incredibly thankful to have had complimentary access to the audiobook through the PRH Audio Influencer Program, and I don’t want my experience to overshadow the fact that I really love the premise of this book.

So, I’m not quite ready to give up on it yet. I think I may give it another chance when the physical book comes out and see if experiencing the story on the page changes things for me.

To be continued… 👀

[Jess Theworddegree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Dark Unraveling by Margot McGovern is the Australian gothic horror novel I was yearning for. It had ouija boards and old historical schools and female friendships and ghosts. The themes are broad; relationships, autonomy and freedom, but nothing felt rushed.
Interestingly I had this ARC from the wonderful @penguinbooksaus and I also had the audiobook from @librofm
All the Australianisms had been taken out of the audio. It definitely made the book sound ‘cleaner’ for lack of a better word, but I will always prefer pong to stink and torch to flashlight.
Anyway, I think you 🫵🏻 should add this to your TBR. Do it. Dooooo it.

[Rachella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved the gothic vibes and dual perspective of this book. It is dark but there are also coming of age and girl protecting girl themes that were enjoyable.

I wish I had read the first paragraph of the acknowledgements first. The story is very strong on its own. But seeing which works inspired this one added another delicious layer and led to a few "aha" moments. I think fans of classic gothic fiction may enjoy it all the more through this lens.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jude Sinclair is tragically killed in a hunting accident, roommates Lyssa and George’s lives are turned upside down

Lyssa has lost the only person she felt connected to , and while she is raw with grief she must stay focused at school to keep her scholarship

And while George hated Jude she is angry as they had unfinished business

Shortly after, Lyssa starts to behave unusually, and starts to become very unwell. When George questions her about it, Lyssa divulges that she has been meeting up with Jude at night. This also triggers random events happening at school pointing towards Jude still being around..

George is not convinced and believes Lyssa is up to something dark, but when she follows her, she finds something more sinister

What a wonderful dark, gothic, YA mystery. The setting was so atmospheric, and interesting. The dual POVs provided plenty of what ifs while McGovern still tackled many difficult and tough topics young adults can face.

And the ending…. WOW! Caught me for six! So good!

I was completely swept up in the orbit of the fantasy and magic


Thank you so much Penguin Teen for my arc copy and Libro.Fm for my ALC

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I was falling into a reading slump, so I chose to try this one. Once I started, I could not put it down. The dynamic the two main characters had was very interesting to see throughout the book. I loved seeing both perspectives of this story, from the two different ways the girls experienced everything to their shared grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!

[Elisa Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it difficult to align the location with the events taking place. In order to continue reading the book I had to suspend this aspect of the book, in my head I assigned the location somewhere more fitting to the events that were taking place.
The book was fast paced and maintained my interest throughout.
The characters were likeable and I wanted to see them succeed in their quest.
It was a great read for the spooky season.
A mix of witch craft and revenge.

[Alannah Spina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is refreshing and ENTHRALLING to read a piece of fiction set in your hometown! Margot’s writing incites familiarity whilst simultaneously transporting you to another world. My favourite thing about this story is the way in which everything unravels (no pun intended!) particularly the notion that relationships don’t end with death. It's a quietly unsettling reminder that we never truly finish knowing someone.

[Emily (the_bookdragons_den) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Dark Unravelling is a dark, gothic tale that tackles the complexities of grief. It’s an atmospheric young adult read that blends dark academia and horror with control and manipulation.

This book will definitely appeal to those who love a prestigious boarding school setting and gothic vibes. The dual perspectives of Lyssa and George makes for a creepy and entertaining read that is an intriguing exploration of grief and coming of age.

I enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the themes that McGovern tackles in this book. The complexities of school friendship groups, study and family pressure, and the serious topic of manipulative and coercive relationships were handled in a manner that YA audiences will relate to.

Personally, I would have loved a little more depth to the narrative that allowed me to connect with the characters more. But in terms of its YA target audience I can see this fast becoming a favourite with them.

Thank you to Penguin Teen Aus for a copy to review.

[KK Reads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Dark, unsettling, and a mix of paranormal and real world horror (as in, am I being haunted or is humanity just awful)
Our two main characters, Lyssa and George, are entwined in ways that not even they fully understand, and after the death of Jude, Lyssa's boyfriend, things feel more tangled, and they can't seem to find the end of the thread.
Lyssa, as the subject of our haunting, becomes increasingly more detached from reality, and George becomes more desperate to explain away the situation and also to keep Lyssa safe. There were so many moments that had me questioning our narrators, trying to work out if they were seeing things, and really feeling the isolation as things became stranger and stranger. This is really one of those stories that would be so easy to spoil so I won't say more but I think if you like the slow creep of dread and the steady spiral of a character as they lose their grip on reality, it's worth checking out!

Narrators - Jodie Harris, Siho Ellsmore
Both wonderful, but maybe a little too similar sounding at times, there were a few times where it took me a couple of minutes to realise the narrator had changed.

[Katie Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I liked George a lot but felt Lyssa lacked any real depth. She came across as very naive.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early advanced copy!

[.・゜-: ✧☾belatirx☽✧ :- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifying in the best way. The suspense of this book left me grasping for more and the charter development was beyond what I could want!! Amazing book that I would recommend for anyone looking for a supernatural thriller!!