We Already Dug the Grave: A Novel

by Emma C. Wells

From the USA Today bestselling author of This Girl's a Killer, comes a southern gothic thriller with the bite of Sharp Objects and a dash of Practical Magic, following two estranged sisters who will do anything to protect each other – even murder. Again.

Milly can't divine the future anymore, and maybe that's a good thing. Lately, her life has been bleak enough, she doesn't need the now-silent tea leaves to tell her. Meanwhile, her estranged younger sister thrives miles away in a shiny new life with a shiny new marriage. Milly doesn't blame Francis for wanting nothing to do with her. Not after what happened in that Tennessee meadow a decade before.

But when Francis shows up on Milly's doorstep with a black eye and a plea for help – Milly can't say no. Especially when the tea leaves are finally crystal if the sisters don't kill Francis's husband, he'll kill her.

And if they're going to plot a murder, the sisters have no choice but to return to the one place they'd left behind. A place where another body – and a multitude of secrets – were buried. Because this isn't the first time the sisters have needed to dispose of a bad man. In fact, they might be pretty good at it.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Gothic, Crime

Audible Audio

First published September 8, 2026

About the author

Emma C. Wells is the USA Today bestselling author of This Girl's A Killer and the forthcoming We Already Dug The Grave.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog


⭐⭐⭐
We Already Dug the Grave
Emma C. Wells
Publication Date: September 8th, 2026
Poisoned Pen Press
416 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction

This is described as a dark, witchy Southern Gothic thriller—and it is that. It mixes family drama with a witchy background.

The story is about Milly and Frances, two sisters who have lived away from each other for a long time because of a terrible incident in Tennessee. Milly has the ability to read the future, but she hasn't been able to lately, so she's just living a normal life as a waitress. Frances shows up at Milly's unannounced, looking pretty beaten up. It turns out Frances's husband is an abuser and he has the means to spend money looking for her, so she needs a place to hide.

All of a sudden, Milly is able to read tea leaves again, and they tell the sisters to kill Frances's husband or he will kill her. The sisters decide to go back to their childhood home to see their aunts, because the aunts know how to get rid of dangerous men.

If the plot sounds familiar, it is; Alice Hoffman did it with Practical Magic. The author and publisher do not shy away from acknowledging this. However, I felt this story was more of a psychological thriller. The atmospheric Southern setting and folk magic mixed well with the dark humour throughout.

I loved the sisters' bond and was confused as to why they hadn't spoken in so long—I couldn't imagine not speaking to my two siblings. I love a good vigilante story, especially when domestic violence is involved, and the family drama kept the pace going well... until it didn't.

The middle of the book started to drag because there was a lot of going down memory lane, and I was more interested in the present. The twists weren't that surprising, and I wish the author had used the magical realism elements more. I wanted to learn about how Milly reads tea leaves and had hoped it would have been used in the ending somehow.

Don't get me wrong, it was an entertaining read, but no one can write like Alice Hoffman, so it didn't knock my socks off.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.



Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dark, uncomfortable, emotional, and surprisingly addictive. I really enjoyed the overall story and the way it slowly peeled back the layers of these sisters’ lives. There’s so much buried between them, and I loved the feeling that every chapter was bringing another piece of their complicated past to the surface.

Milly is already living a pretty lonely and unhappy life when her sister suddenly comes back needing her help. Seeing these two reconnect after everything that happened between them was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. Their relationship is complicated in the best way, they clearly love each other, but there’s also so much anger, guilt, and hurt standing between them.

The story does a great job showing how the past can follow you, even when you’ve spent years trying to leave it behind. Going back to the place they once escaped brought up so many old wounds and secrets, and I really liked how that history shaped the decisions they were making in the present.

And then there’s Milly’s ability to read tea leaves. I thought that was such a unique addition to the story, especially because she can no longer see what’s coming. When that ability suddenly returns with a warning, it gives the whole story an eerie feeling of something bad is coming, and there may be no way to stop it.

My biggest issue was that I figured out a lot of the plot before the characters got there. I had several things predicted pretty early, including some of the reveals, so I didn't get quite the shock factor I was hoping for. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell, “Come on, I already know!”

That said, guessing things didn't ruin the book for me. I was still completely invested in seeing how everything played out. The emotional weight of the story kept me turning the pages, and I really wanted to see what would happen to these sisters after everything they had already been through.

What I think worked best for me was how heavy the story felt without being purely about the twists. It's really about sisterhood, complicated family ties, guilt, forgiveness, and the lengths people will go to when someone they love is in danger. These aren't perfect characters, and they don't always make the right choices, but I actually liked that about them.

There’s a sadness hanging over the entire story that I really connected with. Even when things were tense or disturbing, there was always that emotional thread underneath it all. You can feel how much these women have lost and how desperately they're trying to find a way forward.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I wish the twists had surprised me more because I was able to piece together quite a bit before it was revealed, but the characters, dark atmosphere, family secrets, and emotional storyline made up for it.

Definitely a dark and heavy 4-star read for me.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return)]

Sharp Objects meets Practical Magic? 👀🔥

Please. I hope you pull this off Emma C Wells 🙏🏼

Digital arc provided via NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All thoughts are my own

Expected Pub Date - 09/08/26

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A haunting Southern Gothic story of two sisters and their secrets, We Already Dug the Grave was not only an ode to family, but a deep dive into loyalty, trauma, and fate as well. Taking a very Practical Magic-esque tale and giving it an even darker and twistier feel, I instantly loved this small coven of morally gray witches and their deeply dysfunctional yet root-for-able dynamic. You see, it turned a supernatural family saga into an eerie murder mystery as the tough-as-nails female main characters delivered their fist-pumping form of rough justice. Don’t get me wrong, it might be best for newbies to the genre as I saw through almost every twist and turn. In spite of that, though, I had a blast riding shotgun next to the sisters and their eccentric aunts. Atmospheric and emotionally charged, it was no surprise at all that I finished this four-hundred-page book in one obsessed night of reading.

I do have to say, however, that despite the page-turning pace, vividly evocative setting, and messy cast of characters, it was the Alice Hoffman-meets-Sharp Objects vibe that made me an instant fan. Slightly whimsical and cozy but with an underlying sinister edge, the psychological ambiguity was alive and well in this much darker follow-up to Wells’ debut. With some serious subjects as the base of the plot and quite a bit of violence in the second half, this one definitely hit the far end of the thriller spectrum. That being said, the well-layered characters softened the edges and made it all darkly satisfying. So if you love small Southern towns, a couple of quirky, no-nonsense aunts, and secrets that should’ve stayed buried, give this book a try. Take a few dangerous truths, a dash of female rage, some dark magic, and…well, you’ve got quite the murder-filled tale. Rating of 4.5 stars.

P.S. Please oh please, Ms. Wells, can we have a prequel or sequel with the aunts at the center of the action? They were some truly standout characters that I utterly loved and I’d love to know more about their story!

Read it you’re a fan of:
- Supernatural elements
- Dual timelines
- Small-town settings
- A Practical Magic-like feel
- Eccentric characters
- Dark magic
- Dysfunctional families
- Family secrets
- Morally gray women
- Sinister vibes
- Southern Gothic stories
- Vigilante-ish justice
- A somewhat open ending

Thank you Emma C. Wells and Poisoned Pen Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: September 8, 2026

Content warning: adult/minor relationship, domestic abuse, physical and emotional abuse, murder, alcohol use, death, dementia, violence, gun violence, gaslighting, mention of: grooming, animal cruelty, death of a parent

[Krickette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm…. I really wanted to love this book! Sigh

We Already Dug the Grave by Emma C. Wells was anything but thrilling…
Instead was an extremely drawn out story with a wannabe witchy vibe.
So, Yes, I was a little disappointed…
I mean …It’s October people!!🙄

This southern gothic story follows two estranged sisters Millie and Francis with a dual timeline of Now and Then. Millie is our narrator.

Sisters till the end…
Sister-soul mates,
The one true love…

Although this novel is cluttered with hints of Witchcraft, family loyalty, sisterly dedication, murder and tea leaves, it misses the mark for an atmospheric thriller, but an okay story nonetheless.

Here a story unfolds about a family; one filled with remembering and storytelling … which sometimes became too much. Fast forward please…

This is mostly about two, estranged sisters finding their way back to one another. Their connection and their history woven together…
but is it what it appears to be? Funny how secrets always find a way to creep back in….

This novel, a bit disjointed from the beginning, has a mildly intriguing plot, and for the most part, a few likable characters.

Finally…one last thought… why the terrible pet names?
These just about killed me…
“Little Bird” and “Bunny”. Seriously…why?

I am giving this a generous 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️s! But Maybe it’s one you may enjoy more?

[Debbie H · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This mystery/Thriller kept me guessing. Told in a dual timeline of Then and Now, the story focuses on sisters Milly and Frances.

The girls were sent to live with their eccentric Aunts when their mom killed their abusive father and was sent to prison. Milly shares a gift with her Aunts and can read into the future with tea leaves.

Tragedy strikes again separating the sisters as they live different lives in different cities. They come together once more as Frances tries to flee her abusive rich husband.

There are unsolved murders and family mysteries to round out the story, which I really enjoyed. I did guess the twist pretty early. I liked the little surprises in the final chapters that wrapped things up nicely!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for my honest review

[Rosaline (Rosaline's Rolls & Scrolls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's not super fun reading a mystery novel with an incredibly stupid MC.
The premise sounded interesting. However, the execution left much to be desired.

Here is the gist of it:

The Good
The story itself was fun and original. I loved how basically every important character in this book is a woman and they have a beautiful bond with each other. They have each other’s backs through everything. A lovely portrayal of sisterhood by Emma C. Wells.

The Bad
However, the rest of the book is a big disappointment. The writing itself really bothered me. The dialogues read like one of those popular teen series from 2010s we used to love and now cringe at. The MC’s sister was referred to as “baby bird” a total of twenty times in the whole book and it started to get really annoying. Especially since I, for the life of me, could not figure out why she was called that. And the way things are described in the book give you pause, even simple hugs. There are moments in the book that if you were to imagine actually happening in real life (which is what most readers do) it becomes extremely comical. I really did expect much more from a bestselling author.

The Ugly
While I liked the mystery itself, I hated the conclusion of the book. I like my thriller mysteries to have a concrete, real conclusion. It’s very frustrating when the author builds up the whole thing and now, you’re in it and you’re like “omg what a twist” … and then nothing happens nor gets resolved? Yeah, not cool!
Which brings me to the worst part of this entire book: the main character. I like reading about unlikable, flawed, or even not so bright characters that are not easy to like. I am not looking for the perfect heroine. But having an extremely stupid MC in a mystery thriller book is a new form of torture. Usually when the MC is this dense, it’s because the story is not strong enough and they had to make the MC dumb just to get the book going. However, that’s not the case with We Already Dug the Grave. The story is good, and the mystery keeps you on your toes. The characters, situations, and their relationships are complicated enough to deliver a good mystery. It also warrants the MC acting the way that she does. But she is supposed to be the salutatorian in her school, therefore, I don’t believe she could realistically be as stupid as she was. When everything was right in front of her face, she still refused to understand.

Overall
So, while I liked the story itself, I feel like lots of things did not need to happen if the MC just used her brain for a second in this book. And I, personally, do not enjoy yelling at characters in my books to just please acquire a brain with cells.
This would’ve been a better book with a more… intentional writing, far better dialogues, an MC that made sense and didn’t make you want to break your e-reader, and a satisfying (not necessarily good, but SATISFYING) ending.

[Stacey]

This unfortunately did not work for me.

The premise immediately calls to mind comparisons to Practical Magic, and while that can be a compelling foundation, this felt more derivative than inspired. The core elements, being two sisters, a troubled past, and a supernatural thread tied to love and violence, never quite developed into something distinct or cohesive.

My biggest issue was with the characterization, particularly the main character. Early on, she is presented as capable and resilient, but as the story progresses, her decision-making becomes inconsistent and, at times, difficult to follow. This shift made it challenging to stay invested in her perspective.

The dynamic with her sister also raised concerns. Certain character choices and reactions felt underdeveloped or unrealistic, which made key plot points feel predictable rather than impactful.

As the story continued, the narrative became increasingly disjointed. There were multiple moments where transitions felt abrupt or unclear, and I found myself rereading passages to determine whether I had missed something. Unfortunately, this seemed to stem more from structural issues than intentional ambiguity.

The resolution left several important questions unanswered, particularly regarding character motivations and consequences. This lack of clarity made the ending feel incomplete.

There are underlying themes of grief, trauma, and sisterhood that had potential, but they were overshadowed by uneven pacing and inconsistencies in both plot and character development.

Overall, this was a promising concept that ultimately fell short in execution.

[AmdynReads · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

This was dark, creepy and just what I was craving! Not only that but it was unique and it kept me wanting to listen during every waking moment so I could see what would happen next.

What to expect:
🪾Southern Gothic Thriller
🍵a family of women with dark secrets
🍃the FMC reads tea leaves and gets visions/premonitions
🩸a terrible tragic childhood event that changes everything
👁️ TW: domestic abuse, inappropriate relationship with a minor, murder
👯‍♀️ sisters that will do anything to protect each other

This was a twisted dark read and I enjoyed every minute! I liked learning about the spiritual world of divination via tea leaves as it is something I’ve never read about. The solidarity and loyalty between the women of this family was amazing and the feminine rage was empowering, even if some of their actions were pretty twisted.

🎧Audiobook narrator: Sophie Amoss
I had to look up if she did this narration solo or not because she did all the voices so well.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an atmospheric, witchy-vibe book! The opening grabs you right away! The characters are well written, especially Milly and the aunts. But then...

Milly used to be able to divine the future, but after an incident in the past, she has been unable to do it. She is living in a small town, waitressing, and feeling like her life is simply stuck. Her sister, Frances, is living miles away and seems to have the perfect life. However, Milly is not bitter about this, and is actually happy for the life her sister has. The sisters haven't spoken or seen each other in 10 years, and Frances hasn't spoken to the aunts that raised them in that time either. She thinks it is best that she stay far away after what happened in Tennessee a decade ago.

Fran starts to see signs on her sister's social media that maybe life is not what she thought it was for her. Then the visions start to come back slowly. She fears that her sister might be in danger, but when she reaches out, Frances turns Flo away.

Then.. Frances shows up at Milly's door with bruises and a black eye pleading for Milly's help to protect her from her abusive husband, Milly cannot say no.

There were many things I liked about this book: creepy atmosphere, past/present timeline, a narrative style that had me questioning everything.

However, there were also a few things that fell flat for me, and held me back from a higher rating. I can't really get explicit without giving spoilers, but when we get to the twist, I already guessed what it was. That is not what bothered me. What bothered me is that it did not really seem to ring true to who Milly had become when she was away in the ten years. And there was no way you could gloss over one of the victims.

Overall a decent read, and I liked the way it revealed the past and present. It simply fell flat for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. THis is my honest and voluntary review.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah okay so this wasn’t my favorite book. It felt like as I was reading…it was just dragging on and on and I was so bored. Not how I enjoy my books to me. I did like the characters though! Millie was morally grey – which isn’t always something you see in a FMC. She was smart and brave and loyal, but she wasn’t perfect. I was a little annoyed that she missed all the red flags her sister exhibited. For as much as I like Millie, I disliked Francis. Just ugh. In addition, the story was just blah. There just weren’t enough “good” things going on for me to enjoy this one.

[Ari ☠︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this book was DARK. This was the perfect example of how southern gothic should be written. It was so bleak and my heart couldn’t help but shatter over and over again. There are so many layers and so much depth to the story. I absolutely LOVED the supernatural aspect of the book and that is honestly what drew me in the most. The twists and turns gave me whiplash and I just felt so bad for poor Milly. The author also did an EXCEPTIONAL job on the topic of generational trauma. Another thing I loved about this book was that it gave me total Practical Magic vibes! I would seriously do anything to get some sort or prequel about the aunties! I think that would be such an interesting story!

Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my arc of We Already Dug the Grave!

[Tini · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little less practical magic, a little more predictable.

After absolutely loving This Girl’s a Killer, I wasn’t about to pass up the chance to read Emma C. Wells’s sophomore novel. Unfortunately, while We Already Dug the Grave has many of the ingredients I enjoy - Southern gothic atmosphere, dark secrets, a cast of multi-layered women, and a healthy dose of vigilante justice - it never quite came together for me the way I hoped.

The story follows estranged sisters Milly and Francis, whose lives collide again when Francis desperately needs her sister’s help. To protect Francis, the sisters return to the place they’ve spent years trying to escape - and to the secrets, and bodies, buried there.

Wells creates a wonderfully atmospheric Southern gothic world, filled with dark undercurrents, family secrets, and sisterhood. In fact, one of the strongest elements of the novel is the way it celebrates the bonds between women - not just between Milly and Francis, but throughout the entire cast of female characters (does anyone else want a prequel featuring only the fabulous aunts?!). The themes of loyalty, survival, and taking justice into your own hands give the story a compelling edge.

Unfortunately, I never quite bought the central relationship between the sisters. Given the depth of their bond, their years-long estrangement felt difficult to reconcile, and that emotional disconnect made it harder for me to fully invest in their journey. The pacing also surprised me: despite a premise involving murder, secrets, and even supernatural elements, the story moves more slowly than expected, and the twists were easier to anticipate than I would have liked. In fact, the big reveals were so obvious that I’m starting to wonder if I should give divination a try!

Milly was also a difficult character for me to connect with. Her heart is in the right place, and her devotion to her sister is admirable, but her decisions left me questioning her judgment. Given that she missed what was right in front of her, I have my doubts about whether she is even half as smart as she claims to be, and her divination skills obviously need work.

Perhaps my biggest disappointment was the missing spark that made This Girl’s a Killer such a standout for me. That book’s dark humor and wicked energy were a huge part of its appeal, while We Already Dug the Grave takes itself much more seriously. Although the novel occasionally - and very unapologetically - reaches for Practical Magic vibes, it never quite captures that same balance of darkness, charm, and irreverence.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

„We Already Dug the Grave“ was published on September 8, 2026, and is available now.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Already Dug the Grave, a paranormal mystery/thriller

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a copy!

My immediate thoughts as I started reading this book were that it gives major Practical Magic vibes, which I absolutely loved. The two sisters, one who has the sight, the two aunts in their weird house that sell potions etc. This follows a dual timeline, with current day FMC Milly, who ran away from Puddle Creek, where her Aunts and sister Frances stayed. With each chapter that goes back and forth in time, the slow reveal of why Milly ran away is uncovered.

Milly, always an outcast, "Witchy Milly" had found a friend in Casey, who never judged her like the other kids. Milly performs tea leaf readings alongside her Aunt's, and makes sure to always follow the rules Focus, Consent, and watch out for "the curse". Ever since she left Puddle Creek, the Sight has seemingly closed it's doors to her, always giving her the same message. Unexpectedly one night, Frances shows up at her door in need of help, again. They make a plan, and go back to where it all started.

I loved the dual timeline, and the slow reveal of why Milly truly ran away. The story is rather tragic overall, so many things have gone wrong for Milly in her life, and even now Frances needs Milly's help to get rid of yet another man. Frances's husband Burt is clearly unhinged, but gets away with everything due to his money and family name. As small pieces of a puzzle Milly didn't know she hadn't solved, keep showing up, Burt becomes even more of a monster in her eyes.

The ending, oh the ending!! I loved the twist at the end, and how Milly will have to spend her life protecting her sister. Milly has such a shocking revelation, and puts all the pieces together from a lifetime of events.

You won't be able to put this one down!

Some fav quotes:
"Desperation for secrets to stay buried. To rot like bones, decaying until there was nothing left of them. Too bad secrets didn’t work that way."

"And so they explained. Balance is delicate. Those gifted with the Sight are one step ahead of fate, and fate liked to even the score. Which meant there’s a price to pay."

"Wasn’t like our childhood was typical. We were connected by more than blood. We were connected by secrets."

"Maybe the bone-laden posts should’ve given me the creeps, but it’s funny what can feel like home given enough time."

"Something was happening. I wasn’t crazy. I wasn’t imagining it."

"Frances needed me. We needed each other. And there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep us safe."

"Standing in that meadow, covered in blood, was the first time I truly understood power. Euphoric power."

"He was dead the moment he touched your sister."

[daniela weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

a dark heartfelt family drama
with a touch of witchcraft: a little
predictable but highly engaging,
full of sisterhood, and features
well-built characters. ♡

[Lauren Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

we already dug the grave by @emma.c.wells.books
📖 book review • OUT TODAY!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you @poisonedpenpress for my ARC!

the perfect spooky season read because it had a sense of eeriness the entire time I was reading 👀

milly would do anything to protect her estranged sister. so when the tea leaves say to protect her from her abusive husband, she does. but in order to protect her, they have to return to their hometown, where there mama is in prison and where they buried a body.

I had a fun time reading this. a southern gothic thriller with some magic vibes = perfect September read 🖤

read this one!! can’t wait to meet emma & other thriller authors this weekend!

[Amanda · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read such an accurate book description. It really was a mash-up of Sharp Objects and Practical Magic. It had the perfect amount of witchy Halloween vibes mixed with thriller elements, and I actually liked the unresolved ending.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This supernatural gothic thriller was about family loyalty, secrets and sisterhood! It comes with dark magic, mystery and drama. It has a dual timeline, unusual characters and is set in Tennessee. It’s definitely more of a slow paced read, where the main characters are strongly developed.

Some of the twists in this book I saw coming, while others I didn’t see coming at all. This gave me the movie, Practical Magic vibes! Overall, I give this a 3.5 (bumping it up to 4) stars out of 5! It is very well written and came with a clear thesis.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Emma C. Wells and Poisoned Pen Press publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and rating. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book releases on September 8, 2026!

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

#l⭐️⭐️⭐️½ 3.5 Stars

We Already Dug the Grave was an entertaining southern gothic thriller with a touch of Magic. I really enjoyed the story of estranged sisters Milly and Francis and the complicated bond between them. The secrets from their past, the dark atmosphere, and the mystery surrounding what happened years ago kept me interested.

I liked the sisterly relationship and how far they were willing to go to protect each other. There were plenty of twists and secrets along the way, and the story had that creepy, slightly witchy feel that I enjoy.

That being said, I did find some parts a little predictable, especially the ending.

Overall, this was a fun, atmospheric thriller with a great sister dynamic, but the predictable ending kept it from being a higher rating for me.

[Aggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s at least one psychopath in this family- and honestly, I’m here for it! ☕️🩸

Emma C. Wells has delivered another absolute win. No matter how long Milly and Francis are apart, they share the ultimate forever bond: hiding bodies! I loved the eerie family gift of seeing prophecies through tea leaf readings, though the "Sister! Sister!" chant felt a little off-putting to me. I crossed my fingers through the final page and am seriously hoping for a sequel!

A solid 4 stars!⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Raven (_birdiesbookclub_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really hoping this would be a hit for me, but sadly it fell quite short. It was decent enough, but the ending was shoved full of this and that and the way there was no accountability really frustrated me.

[Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A messy family story with secrets and disfunction at the core! I enjoyed how the chapters are broken up between the past and the present, providing background into the main characters. I loved the vibe and am in need of book 2!

[Mikayla Larlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Southern gothic atmosphere, family secrets, and strong female characters, but the slow pacing, predictable twists, and lack of connection with the sisters kept this from being a favorite. I really missed the dark humor and wicked energy of This Girl’s a Killer.

[Mohammad Anas · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

[NetGalley Read #83]
3.75 ⭐️

"I'd never loved Puddle Creek in that misty-eyed way that songwriters and poets waxed lyrical about "home." But there was something to be said about the place where the people who loved me lived. Where the soil held the secrets and bodies of generations of women in my family.
Something dark, perhaps. But something nonetheless."

This was good. Could've been longer. I liked the premise, the execution was good, but the resolution didn't do it for me. Too open-ended (maybe that's the wrong word) for my liking.

I really liked "This Girl's a Killer" by the author and maybe went in expecting something similar. There are some similar elements but the stories are very different. I liked that, in Milly's 'Now' chapters, there was more focus on the price of taking a life, the toll it takes on human psyche and the emotional ramifications of it. I would've liked a bit more focus on Frances and some more chapters from her perspective. I liked the mystery around her and picked up the hints in the earlier chapters. Just felt like I needed to spend more time with her and that penultimate chapter would've hit harder.

Characters are good. I liked the variety of characters from Hattie-May and Ruth to Milly to Casey to Bunny. Burt was a good villain for his short appearance, sowing enough doubt to set up the ending. Puddle Creek itself felt like a character too with its forests and secrets and Hattie-May's plants.

The powers/magic/Sight was alright. It felt too vague and uncertain. Maybe that's the point.

It's a short-ish book (300+ pages). Easy to read. Good prose. My enjoyment of it might've been affected by the fact that I read it in uneven intervals of time (a little bit, then a lot, then nothing for a week or two, then the final three chapters). Might be wise to read it in a single sitting.

Recommended. 👍

[Nicole Wuthering Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an atmospheric, haunting story set in a small town steeped in family secrets, generational trauma, and a dark history, with just the right sprinkling of Practical Magic style witchiness and magical realism.

At the heart of it is the messy, unhinged family drama surrounding two estranged sisters whose relationship is complicated in all the best ways. Told across dual timelines, the story slowly unravels their shared history as we piece together what really happened to Casey.

Add in morally grey characters, simmering female rage, and a healthy dose of vengeance and vigilantism, and I was completely hooked. While some of the twists were a little predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey and getting lost in the eerie, atmospheric world.

And bonus points for the eccentric aunts because I NEED MORE OF THEM.

[Books, Woofs, and Wine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Maggie O’Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sisters call each other “sister” and “baby bird”

[Monica]

I regret to say I DNFed this at about 50%.......... I am bummed honestly

My biggest struggle here was finding something to keep me hooked - I genuinely found myself getting distracted in between every chapter because I couldn't get invested. Even though the story had promise and I was interested in the characters.

Milly and Frances are sisters. This entire story revolves around them and their sisterly relationship, for better or worse. They did something bad as teens, and now a decade later are facing some ramifications of that, and potentially facing new dangers as well. Add in the fact that Milly is reading tea leaves to try to answer all of her mysteries, and this book has a lot going for it.

This is told in dual timelines, which switch with pretty much every chapter, and the chapters are short so we really aren't spending long in either timeline at a time. I think this was my disconnect, I couldn't get attached to the story because we switched too often.

By the halfway point, I just realized I had been forcing myself to keep going and I didn't want to do that anymore.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy of this book.

[Kris (I.prefer.the.villain) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

We Already Dug the Grave really hooked me with the title. I thought that was brilliant!! I did, however, expect some humor to be injected throughout the novel, and was a bit disappointed that it wasn't there.

We're following the lives of two sisters who have gone to live with their Aunts after their Mother went to prison for murdering their Father. One of the sisters carries the family magic, the ability to read tea leaves and receive visions and feelings about events before they happen, and the other one is seemingly very ordinary. As they age, the younger sister, who is perfect in the eyes of everyone around her (excellent grades in school, beautiful, extra curriculars, etc) gets herself into a world of trouble. The only one there to protect her is our FMC, her older sister. When the events of that fateful night come back to haunt them over a decade later, the sisters (who have become estranged) get back together to put a stop to what is happening once and for all.

The premise was very intriguing, however I feel like the ending fell short. I wasn't happy with the "resolution", especially after everything that had been revealed throughout the book. The ending really just felt incomplete, and it made my rating drop from a 4 star to a 3 star overall.

[Nicole | Living for the Thrills | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book. I had not heard of Emma C. Wells prior to this book, but really enjoyed her descriptive writing, the pacing, and character development in this story.
The story begins with two estranged sisters, Milly and Frances, who have not spoken since their other sister went missing years ago and are now being reunited when Frances shows up pleading for help from her abusive husband. They have to figure out how to escape her powerful husband without Frances being killed. The family bonds and witch elements provided an interesting aspect to the plot that added to the overall enjoyment of the book. There are so many twists that make this story entertaining and unique to keep you engaged in the story from beginning to end.
I will be looking for other books from Emma C. Wells hoping they are as good as this one was.