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Your Beloved Remains
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Expected 6 Oct 26As fascination turns to obsession, two women drag each other into an academic horror of forgery, murder, and rage, destined to be devoured by readers of Plain Bad Heroines and If We Were Villains.
Archivist Celia Kiel has spent her life on the remote campus of Basin College in the Southern Ozarks. Once a jewel of women’s higher education in the South, the school now molders on its mountaintop, its endowment thinly supported by the bequeathed estate of 19th century writer, Beatrice Donahue. Celia guards the legacy of this venerated, yet scandalous author, who has been the object of her illicit desire since childhood.
When the administration announces the college's imminent closure, Celia discovers a manuscript pickled in formaldehyde, and with it, a chance to save the only home she's ever known. She will forge Beatrice's infamous lost work, a spellbinding horror written toward her life's tumultuous end. To do it, she is forced to recruit her professional rival, literature postdoc Joan Harriot, who has both an astounding talent for mimicry and a dark secret of her own. As their world closes in and the ghosts of the Victorian past encroach, their creative collaboration spirals into an obsession more twisted than even their beloved Beatrice could have penned.
Archivist Celia Kiel has spent her life on the remote campus of Basin College in the Southern Ozarks. Once a jewel of women’s higher education in the South, the school now molders on its mountaintop, its endowment thinly supported by the bequeathed estate of 19th century writer, Beatrice Donahue. Celia guards the legacy of this venerated, yet scandalous author, who has been the object of her illicit desire since childhood.
When the administration announces the college's imminent closure, Celia discovers a manuscript pickled in formaldehyde, and with it, a chance to save the only home she's ever known. She will forge Beatrice's infamous lost work, a spellbinding horror written toward her life's tumultuous end. To do it, she is forced to recruit her professional rival, literature postdoc Joan Harriot, who has both an astounding talent for mimicry and a dark secret of her own. As their world closes in and the ghosts of the Victorian past encroach, their creative collaboration spirals into an obsession more twisted than even their beloved Beatrice could have penned.
10 pages, Audiobook
Expected publication October 6, 2026
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March 6, 2026I blurbed this one!
"It's not often I find a novel where I know from the first page that it'll climb in my heart and head and won't ever leave, but Your Beloved Remains is one of them. Dark, transgressive, and beautifully written; a rare and perfect novel."
"It's not often I find a novel where I know from the first page that it'll climb in my heart and head and won't ever leave, but Your Beloved Remains is one of them. Dark, transgressive, and beautifully written; a rare and perfect novel."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
While it isn't a perfect book (so few are) I was engaged with the story throughout and truly was unsure how it would end up to the final page. This is a dark academia novel of obsession, with a slight sapphic storyline (bit of a cliche in which they keep denying the obvious, even after it has occurred), and a very interesting backstory to the fictional author it's all centered around.
Summary:
Celia Kiel has spent her entire life in the Southern Ozarks on the remote campus of Basin College, where she grew up as the College President's daughter and has spent her adult life as the archivist for the Beatrice Donahue collection. Beatrice Donahue was a famous author who started the college as a place for women's higher education and bequeathed her estate to the school upon her death. While Celia lives her life dedicated to Beatrice (or Tris as Celia feels entitled to call her), other remember the author for the scandals surrounding the end of her and her lovers' lives. Celia has loved Beatrice her entire life and sees herself as the rightful and anointed gatekeeper of everything related to the woman.
When rumors of the college's imminent closure begin to reach Celias ears, she finds a possible solution in the form of the lost manuscript of Beatrice Donahue, pickled in formaldehyde. The work is incomplete and parts have disintegrated, but Celia is sure that as the number one fan of Beatrice, she can forge an acceptable version. Her talents only stretch as far as admiration however, and she must recruit Joan Harriot, who she considers her professional rival, in order to achieve her goals. With Harriot's grasp of the written word and past studying Beatrice Donahue's writing paired with Celia's intimate knowledge of the area and Beatrice's life, the two are sure they will succeed. But when the two stay on the remote campus over winter break to complete the work, the isolation may get to them, and they will have to determine what is real, what is imagined, and what really matters in all of this.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
While it isn't a perfect book (so few are) I was engaged with the story throughout and truly was unsure how it would end up to the final page. This is a dark academia novel of obsession, with a slight sapphic storyline (bit of a cliche in which they keep denying the obvious, even after it has occurred), and a very interesting backstory to the fictional author it's all centered around.
Summary:
Celia Kiel has spent her entire life in the Southern Ozarks on the remote campus of Basin College, where she grew up as the College President's daughter and has spent her adult life as the archivist for the Beatrice Donahue collection. Beatrice Donahue was a famous author who started the college as a place for women's higher education and bequeathed her estate to the school upon her death. While Celia lives her life dedicated to Beatrice (or Tris as Celia feels entitled to call her), other remember the author for the scandals surrounding the end of her and her lovers' lives. Celia has loved Beatrice her entire life and sees herself as the rightful and anointed gatekeeper of everything related to the woman.
When rumors of the college's imminent closure begin to reach Celias ears, she finds a possible solution in the form of the lost manuscript of Beatrice Donahue, pickled in formaldehyde. The work is incomplete and parts have disintegrated, but Celia is sure that as the number one fan of Beatrice, she can forge an acceptable version. Her talents only stretch as far as admiration however, and she must recruit Joan Harriot, who she considers her professional rival, in order to achieve her goals. With Harriot's grasp of the written word and past studying Beatrice Donahue's writing paired with Celia's intimate knowledge of the area and Beatrice's life, the two are sure they will succeed. But when the two stay on the remote campus over winter break to complete the work, the isolation may get to them, and they will have to determine what is real, what is imagined, and what really matters in all of this.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Did Not Finish
September 9, 2026Advanced copy received from publisher.
Unfortunately, the style of writing wasn’t for me. It tried to capture an “old world” feel, but came across as convoluted. This book is definitely for someone though! I am going to find it a good home, to someone who will have a better experience.
Unfortunately, the style of writing wasn’t for me. It tried to capture an “old world” feel, but came across as convoluted. This book is definitely for someone though! I am going to find it a good home, to someone who will have a better experience.
September 10, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much to Goodreads and Quinn Connor for hosting this giveaway and allowing me to win this ARC of Your Beloved Remains. The story follows Celia Kiel who has spent her whole life at Basin College. She was born here and her parents worked here. She too works here as an archival, keeping the legacies of the late author, Beatrice Donahue, preserved. Everything she has worked for is soon in trouble as Basin College struggles financially and has no choice but to close the college. Celia uncovers a manuscript, the last Beatrice ever wrote, hidden deep within the mountain and steeping in a jar filled with formaldehyde. Upon her findings, the story is incomplete and she enlists Joan Harriot, professional rival and literature post doc at Basin College, to help her finish the ending.
We first experience Celia and her devotion to her work aka her devotion and connection to Beatrice. What starts out as a deep fascination to Beatrice seemingly turns into a complete obsession to the late author. She has loved her since she was first introduced to her writings as a child. Celia has catered her whole life to the author in rapt attention and uses her to fuel and fulfill her livelihood.
Joan Harriet is new to the college and there are tensions between her and Celia which started through literary disagreements regarding Donahue years ago. She also shares a deep understanding of Donahue and thus also is connected to Celia.
The story slowly descends into darkness, eeriness, and complete obsession and you begin to uncover the secrets so embedded in Basin College and Beatrice Donahue. Secrets that too plaque Celia and Harriet. The authors do such a great job of bringing in these elements and really allow our characters to tell us their part in the story and their connections to the college, to Beatrice, to each other. Some of these elements remind me of the movie, Last night in soho and the book, The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I love our characters and their chemistry with one another. I really enjoyed the style of the writing as well and it adds/ties into our characters with this rich literary style. I was immersively enthralled and enjoyed every single minute of this book! The ending was just so absolute and indelible. Anyone who loves literary horror will definitely have an appreciation for this story and will be able to dive deep into this hauntingly enriching atmosphere. 4.5/5 ⭐️
We first experience Celia and her devotion to her work aka her devotion and connection to Beatrice. What starts out as a deep fascination to Beatrice seemingly turns into a complete obsession to the late author. She has loved her since she was first introduced to her writings as a child. Celia has catered her whole life to the author in rapt attention and uses her to fuel and fulfill her livelihood.
Joan Harriet is new to the college and there are tensions between her and Celia which started through literary disagreements regarding Donahue years ago. She also shares a deep understanding of Donahue and thus also is connected to Celia.
The story slowly descends into darkness, eeriness, and complete obsession and you begin to uncover the secrets so embedded in Basin College and Beatrice Donahue. Secrets that too plaque Celia and Harriet. The authors do such a great job of bringing in these elements and really allow our characters to tell us their part in the story and their connections to the college, to Beatrice, to each other. Some of these elements remind me of the movie, Last night in soho and the book, The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I love our characters and their chemistry with one another. I really enjoyed the style of the writing as well and it adds/ties into our characters with this rich literary style. I was immersively enthralled and enjoyed every single minute of this book! The ending was just so absolute and indelible. Anyone who loves literary horror will definitely have an appreciation for this story and will be able to dive deep into this hauntingly enriching atmosphere. 4.5/5 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25 stars. Dark academia and horror combine in a story about obsession and connection.
Celia Kiel has lived all her life at Basin College located in the Southern Ozarks. Her father had been dean and her mother a professor. The college founded by the flamboyant Beatrice Donahue, a 19th C writer known for her scandalous ways and writings, may soon be closing which Celia feels would be devastating as Celia is obsessed by Beatrice’s works and having finally been named archivist wants her works to live one. When she discovers a preserved manuscript of Beatrice’s Celia believes she’s found something that could revive the college. She calls upon her once rival Joan Heriot to help her. Their partnership becomes sinister and threatening. What had once been an obsession could be deadly.
I’m not sure if I’m a fan of dark academia but it is atmospheric and a bit creepy which is true in this book and is a positive. Celia is weirdly strange and deeply devoid of emotional connection until she and Joan start working together at which point Celia’s obsession with Beatrice takes on new meaning - which added to the book’s atmospheric dark vibe. But the constant shifting between first and third person in the first three parts drive me nuts and confused me. I liked the surprising ending but overall I was not fully engaged in the story.
This book should appeal to readers who like dark academia that focuses on obsession and its dark edges.
My thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Celia Kiel has lived all her life at Basin College located in the Southern Ozarks. Her father had been dean and her mother a professor. The college founded by the flamboyant Beatrice Donahue, a 19th C writer known for her scandalous ways and writings, may soon be closing which Celia feels would be devastating as Celia is obsessed by Beatrice’s works and having finally been named archivist wants her works to live one. When she discovers a preserved manuscript of Beatrice’s Celia believes she’s found something that could revive the college. She calls upon her once rival Joan Heriot to help her. Their partnership becomes sinister and threatening. What had once been an obsession could be deadly.
I’m not sure if I’m a fan of dark academia but it is atmospheric and a bit creepy which is true in this book and is a positive. Celia is weirdly strange and deeply devoid of emotional connection until she and Joan start working together at which point Celia’s obsession with Beatrice takes on new meaning - which added to the book’s atmospheric dark vibe. But the constant shifting between first and third person in the first three parts drive me nuts and confused me. I liked the surprising ending but overall I was not fully engaged in the story.
This book should appeal to readers who like dark academia that focuses on obsession and its dark edges.
My thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to begin this review with the clarification that Dark Academia is pretty much my favorite genre. On one hand, perhaps this makes me positively biased towards high ratings for DA books. On the other hand, I have read a LOT of DA at this point and haven't loved all of them.
I loved Your Beloved Remains. It's probably a 4 or 4.5 star read due to a couple plot points I wasn't totally sure on, but I am giving it 5 stars because I thought the whole fever dream quality of the ending was so well done.
Celia is our heroine. She is a total weirdo, an archivist in the 1980s at a remote college in the Ozarks who is obsessed - literally - with the founder of the college, a 19th century writer named Beatrice Donahue. All POVs that are from Celia are told in 2nd person, and she speaks directly to Beatrice in her mind at all times. Celia is a delightful basket case with a likely personality disorder. Add to this that Beatrice Donahue is famous more for her disturbing and shocking behavior than for her writing, and it's clear why Celia basically has no friends.
Our second MC is "Harry" - Joan Harriot - a doctoral student newly employed at the college. Harry and Celia clash instantly because Harry is skeptical of the genius of Beatrice's writing - unforgivable in Celia's eyes.
Celia stumbles upon a lost manuscript of Beatrice's, one which had famously existed but no one knew what had become of it. She knows the impact this will have on the literary world, and the timing is excellent as she has been given a tip that the college is likely to be shut down.
To reveal more would ruin the fun of reading the story, but suffice to say that Celia reluctantly enlists Harry to help her with the restoration of the old text. The book takes a sharp turn at a certain point and becomes a true horror story. This is a standard element of DA, but in this case it feels very gothic, which works so well. The author has clearly read The Secret History, the grandmama of all gothic DA. I loved the ending, and all of the twists. The final portion of the book has a claustrophobic sense of doom hanging over it - excellent atmosphere.
DA with major themes of romantic obsession and undertones of feminist rage - subtle, yet compelling. Loved this one! Thank you NetGalley.
I loved Your Beloved Remains. It's probably a 4 or 4.5 star read due to a couple plot points I wasn't totally sure on, but I am giving it 5 stars because I thought the whole fever dream quality of the ending was so well done.
Celia is our heroine. She is a total weirdo, an archivist in the 1980s at a remote college in the Ozarks who is obsessed - literally - with the founder of the college, a 19th century writer named Beatrice Donahue. All POVs that are from Celia are told in 2nd person, and she speaks directly to Beatrice in her mind at all times. Celia is a delightful basket case with a likely personality disorder. Add to this that Beatrice Donahue is famous more for her disturbing and shocking behavior than for her writing, and it's clear why Celia basically has no friends.
Our second MC is "Harry" - Joan Harriot - a doctoral student newly employed at the college. Harry and Celia clash instantly because Harry is skeptical of the genius of Beatrice's writing - unforgivable in Celia's eyes.
Celia stumbles upon a lost manuscript of Beatrice's, one which had famously existed but no one knew what had become of it. She knows the impact this will have on the literary world, and the timing is excellent as she has been given a tip that the college is likely to be shut down.
To reveal more would ruin the fun of reading the story, but suffice to say that Celia reluctantly enlists Harry to help her with the restoration of the old text. The book takes a sharp turn at a certain point and becomes a true horror story. This is a standard element of DA, but in this case it feels very gothic, which works so well. The author has clearly read The Secret History, the grandmama of all gothic DA. I loved the ending, and all of the twists. The final portion of the book has a claustrophobic sense of doom hanging over it - excellent atmosphere.
DA with major themes of romantic obsession and undertones of feminist rage - subtle, yet compelling. Loved this one! Thank you NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Your Beloved Remains!~
Two of my book pet peeves are stories about writers and second person perspective. This book is rife with both and... an exception to my usual preferences. The writer is more of a ghost in the story (ha! A ghostwriter), and the epistolary nature of the prose works with the second person perspective here.
Both POV characters have a distinct voice while telling a cohesive story. I like that Celia is writing to Beatrice while Harriot is writing to Celia. It highlights the sort of obsessive delusion that Celia holds for Beatrice.
The Ozark mountain, foggy winter aesthetic is the perfect spooky backdrop here, because it's unsettling and isolated from the getgo. The sort of looming but familiar danger keeps the narrative both on edge and also complacent at the same time.
The subtle way Beatrice's story mirrors the events of the present day are woven in seamlessly and bolster the impact of all the creepy happenings. The beloved remains for which the book is named made me feel so delightfully disturbed. This isn't splatterpunk; the gruesome aspects are just enough to make you shudder without pushing it over the edge of disgusting. An excellent balance, in my opinion.
I love that the horror market is getting sapphic additions like this. Masterfully done. I'm going to feel slightly odd about baths and beds for a while now.
Two of my book pet peeves are stories about writers and second person perspective. This book is rife with both and... an exception to my usual preferences. The writer is more of a ghost in the story (ha! A ghostwriter), and the epistolary nature of the prose works with the second person perspective here.
Both POV characters have a distinct voice while telling a cohesive story. I like that Celia is writing to Beatrice while Harriot is writing to Celia. It highlights the sort of obsessive delusion that Celia holds for Beatrice.
The Ozark mountain, foggy winter aesthetic is the perfect spooky backdrop here, because it's unsettling and isolated from the getgo. The sort of looming but familiar danger keeps the narrative both on edge and also complacent at the same time.
The subtle way Beatrice's story mirrors the events of the present day are woven in seamlessly and bolster the impact of all the creepy happenings. The beloved remains for which the book is named made me feel so delightfully disturbed. This isn't splatterpunk; the gruesome aspects are just enough to make you shudder without pushing it over the edge of disgusting. An excellent balance, in my opinion.
I love that the horror market is getting sapphic additions like this. Masterfully done. I'm going to feel slightly odd about baths and beds for a while now.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Review: Your Beloved Remains by Quinn Connor
This was a creepy tale with unique characters and some twists and turns. I was interested in the atmosphere, but I was swept up in the story. This one focuses on the story of two women who find themselves deep in the process of rebuilding an unfinished work of literature by a favorite writer. One of the women is so completely engrossed in the life and relationships of the late author that it makes it difficult for her to find community with others, as they don't quite share in the same zealous appreciation. The way the project plays out becomes a way to explore themes of grief, feminism, queer experiences, friendship, and the ways that academia can shelter and insulate power from the people who are in the midst of the hard work.
Oh! One of the more unique aspects of the narrative is that it is written in the rare second person POV. While I'm very partial to third person omniscient, I did enjoy stepping out of the normal and experimenting with this kind of perspective. And I think the persuasive, academic, and personal nature of some of the passages lend themselves well to this sort of viewpoint.
I was extremely lucky to receive an advanced reader copy, and I'd like to thank Goodreads, Flatiron Books, and Quinn Connor for being able to read this one early - thank you!
4 out of 5 stars
Read: September 2026
This was a creepy tale with unique characters and some twists and turns. I was interested in the atmosphere, but I was swept up in the story. This one focuses on the story of two women who find themselves deep in the process of rebuilding an unfinished work of literature by a favorite writer. One of the women is so completely engrossed in the life and relationships of the late author that it makes it difficult for her to find community with others, as they don't quite share in the same zealous appreciation. The way the project plays out becomes a way to explore themes of grief, feminism, queer experiences, friendship, and the ways that academia can shelter and insulate power from the people who are in the midst of the hard work.
Oh! One of the more unique aspects of the narrative is that it is written in the rare second person POV. While I'm very partial to third person omniscient, I did enjoy stepping out of the normal and experimenting with this kind of perspective. And I think the persuasive, academic, and personal nature of some of the passages lend themselves well to this sort of viewpoint.
I was extremely lucky to receive an advanced reader copy, and I'd like to thank Goodreads, Flatiron Books, and Quinn Connor for being able to read this one early - thank you!
4 out of 5 stars
Read: September 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed my time reading this book!
I will say that the story takes some time to build, so it certainly took patience on my part for the book to click; but once it did, I was hooked!
I loved the creepy vibes of this book. I’m a big dark academia fan, and this book delivered on that for sure. I also appreciate how this story explores important topics such as grief, feminism, friendship, power in academia, and queer experiences.
There were a lot of twists and turns in this book that I wasn’t expecting, which was nice.
The characters were also great. We mainly follow two women through their journey deep into the process of rebuilding an unfinished work of literature by a favorite writer. Their dynamic was really interesting to read about, as you could tell one was more devoted to the writer than the other.
I thought the writing was fine—it was easy enough to read. I thought it was interesting that the story was written in second-person POV at times, as it’s not something I’ve really read before.
All in all, I found this novel to be enjoyable, and I think others will too!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flatiron Books | Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar for allowing me to read the eARC!
I will say that the story takes some time to build, so it certainly took patience on my part for the book to click; but once it did, I was hooked!
I loved the creepy vibes of this book. I’m a big dark academia fan, and this book delivered on that for sure. I also appreciate how this story explores important topics such as grief, feminism, friendship, power in academia, and queer experiences.
There were a lot of twists and turns in this book that I wasn’t expecting, which was nice.
The characters were also great. We mainly follow two women through their journey deep into the process of rebuilding an unfinished work of literature by a favorite writer. Their dynamic was really interesting to read about, as you could tell one was more devoted to the writer than the other.
I thought the writing was fine—it was easy enough to read. I thought it was interesting that the story was written in second-person POV at times, as it’s not something I’ve really read before.
All in all, I found this novel to be enjoyable, and I think others will too!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flatiron Books | Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you're a fan of weird-girl fiction, this is the book for you. There's absolutely no doubt that Celia is about as weird as they come, in large part due to her obsession with the life and work of Beatrice Donahue, the in-world famous Gothic writer and college founder who made her home in the Ozarks and was herself one weird girl. Throw in a contentious work relationship with a postdoc full of secrets, an isolated winter college, and some spooky caves and ghostly encounters and you've got a whole delicious mess of weird that was impossible to put down.
The narrative structure is also worthy of some note. It's told in dual first-person, but with a bit of an unusual twist in that each of the two characters is narrating their portion of the story to a very specific person (in Celia's case, Beatrice, and in Harriot's case, Celia). This added an extra dimension to the story that really becomes effective in highlighting each narrator's psyche particularly in the later chapters.
Thank you to Flatiron Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The narrative structure is also worthy of some note. It's told in dual first-person, but with a bit of an unusual twist in that each of the two characters is narrating their portion of the story to a very specific person (in Celia's case, Beatrice, and in Harriot's case, Celia). This added an extra dimension to the story that really becomes effective in highlighting each narrator's psyche particularly in the later chapters.
Thank you to Flatiron Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
September 16, 2026DNF @ 33%. This started really promising, but it lost me at the POV change. I kept going for a while, but my interest definitely waned.
This starts with Celia who is obsessed with a dead writer whose archive she manages. Like TRULY obsessed. Not a well person. Her rival of sorts, Joan Harriot, is on campus when Celia finds a new work by the dead writer. To save the college, they are going to piece together this long lost manuscript.
I really enjoyed the academia of it all, but that aspect is put to the side as the story progresses. My sense is that a sapphic romance of sorts will happen (not that this book is a romance or that I would expect a HEA), and things will get paranormal and destructive.
I thought Celia's narration was great. I love a weird girl, and she's definitely weird. But then I had to switch to Harriot. I can tell it's for *reasons*, but I didn't care about the cast of characters in Harriot's life, and I wanted to experience the story again from Celia's POV. It switches back and forth between the two, so it suffers from the fact that I only want one of the POVs. I think I could love this in movie form!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This starts with Celia who is obsessed with a dead writer whose archive she manages. Like TRULY obsessed. Not a well person. Her rival of sorts, Joan Harriot, is on campus when Celia finds a new work by the dead writer. To save the college, they are going to piece together this long lost manuscript.
I really enjoyed the academia of it all, but that aspect is put to the side as the story progresses. My sense is that a sapphic romance of sorts will happen (not that this book is a romance or that I would expect a HEA), and things will get paranormal and destructive.
I thought Celia's narration was great. I love a weird girl, and she's definitely weird. But then I had to switch to Harriot. I can tell it's for *reasons*, but I didn't care about the cast of characters in Harriot's life, and I wanted to experience the story again from Celia's POV. It switches back and forth between the two, so it suffers from the fact that I only want one of the POVs. I think I could love this in movie form!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
I’ll be honest, this was a slow-burn for me in more ways than one. I didn’t immediately connect with Your Beloved Remains, and for the first part of the book I found myself wondering when it was going to fully pull me in. It took me a while to settle into the writing, the characters, and the overall atmosphere.
But somewhere along the way, it finally clicked.
Once I got invested in the characters and understood what the story was trying to do, I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. There’s something about the atmosphere and emotional weight of this book that really sneaks up on you. What started as a hesitant read slowly became one that I genuinely cared about.
I think this is definitely a book that requires a little patience. If you’re someone who needs to be hooked immediately, the beginning might be a struggle. But if you give it time, there’s a lot here to appreciate.
Not an instant love for me, but definitely one that grew on me — and honestly, sometimes those are the books that end up sticking with you the longest. 🖤
But somewhere along the way, it finally clicked.
Once I got invested in the characters and understood what the story was trying to do, I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. There’s something about the atmosphere and emotional weight of this book that really sneaks up on you. What started as a hesitant read slowly became one that I genuinely cared about.
I think this is definitely a book that requires a little patience. If you’re someone who needs to be hooked immediately, the beginning might be a struggle. But if you give it time, there’s a lot here to appreciate.
Not an instant love for me, but definitely one that grew on me — and honestly, sometimes those are the books that end up sticking with you the longest. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a toxic, atmospheric, rival type of story. I would not at all consider this romance-so beware if that’s how you’re seeing it spoken about.
We are following Celia who has an actual obsession with this 19th century writer…. And I do mean obsessed 😬 she works/lives in the college than writer did and when the college is going to be closed she must do something about it. In steps Harriot-her academic rival to help her.
Things turn dark and twisty from there. Celia’s obsession affects everything she does. Her perspective on life, how she treats others, and what she is willing to do to get what she wants. Very unlikeable, so of course I found that fascinating.
If you like tragic, dark, sapphic toxic stories-i’d recommend this one.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
We are following Celia who has an actual obsession with this 19th century writer…. And I do mean obsessed 😬 she works/lives in the college than writer did and when the college is going to be closed she must do something about it. In steps Harriot-her academic rival to help her.
Things turn dark and twisty from there. Celia’s obsession affects everything she does. Her perspective on life, how she treats others, and what she is willing to do to get what she wants. Very unlikeable, so of course I found that fascinating.
If you like tragic, dark, sapphic toxic stories-i’d recommend this one.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
September 14, 2026
I have been consumed and all that remains is charred ash. There was much lip biting, finger nail nibbling, and shirt clutching as the words poured from page to eyes to brain.
Whilst running errands today I proclaimed to my husband we needed to hurry so I could get back to my book. He, poor fool, asked for a TL;DR of what I’m reading. I took a deep breath and proceeded to tell him everything over the course of our 10 min drive. I’m not really sure I took another breath during that time, nor do I think I was fully aware of my driving. Anyways, not sure he will ask me that again.
Thank you magnificent duo that makes Quinn Connor for this breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful tragic book. Thank you netgalley & Flatiron Pine & Cedar for the ARC.
Whilst running errands today I proclaimed to my husband we needed to hurry so I could get back to my book. He, poor fool, asked for a TL;DR of what I’m reading. I took a deep breath and proceeded to tell him everything over the course of our 10 min drive. I’m not really sure I took another breath during that time, nor do I think I was fully aware of my driving. Anyways, not sure he will ask me that again.
Thank you magnificent duo that makes Quinn Connor for this breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful tragic book. Thank you netgalley & Flatiron Pine & Cedar for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Your Beloved Remains is going to be one of those books that you either love it or you just really don't. Celia has spent her entire life at Basin College, obsessed with legendary writer Beatrice Donahue, and there are no lengths she won't go to protect both Beatrice's reputation and the college's success, which seemingly go hand-in-hand. This book is like one long, torturous fever dream that you both can't and don't want to wake from. If you're able to suspend belief as a reader, and you're looking for something that is simultaneously fascinating and horrifying, it just might be what you're looking for this upcoming spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really wanted to love this and there were so many aspects that I adore in books. Unfortunately, I just didn't like the characters. This is a story about undying love, with a great history aspect and a fantastic dark academia setting. This was dark and brooding and did, in fact, pull me in to it's depths, with a twisted co-dependency and entrancing writing.
This author duo is incredible and I have LOVED everything else they have written. This story packs a punch and gets right under your skin, but through the vessel of the specific two main characters, I just couldn’t connect. It was a lot of telling us this is how they feel, but not letting us see that for ourselves.
This author duo is incredible and I have LOVED everything else they have written. This story packs a punch and gets right under your skin, but through the vessel of the specific two main characters, I just couldn’t connect. It was a lot of telling us this is how they feel, but not letting us see that for ourselves.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
A spooky author situation!
This book follows a few people who are trying to save a school with historic significance with the mysterious newfound work of an iconic historical author.
This book is very vibey (and that vibey-ness was done so well). I did find it more vibey than action-packed, so I did want a bit more oomph in that department. But I still really quite liked this.
And I really dig the cover!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
A spooky author situation!
This book follows a few people who are trying to save a school with historic significance with the mysterious newfound work of an iconic historical author.
This book is very vibey (and that vibey-ness was done so well). I did find it more vibey than action-packed, so I did want a bit more oomph in that department. But I still really quite liked this.
And I really dig the cover!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Did Not Finish
September 4, 2026DNF at 15% (Read Through Chapter 9)
After reading the first 40 pages of the eARC, I just couldn’t get into this story, unfortunately.
The writing style just wasn’t working for me—it took me a beat to figure out who the protagonist was speaking to whenever she said “you”. But even once I worked that out, I never felt truly immersed in the story overall.
I can see a lot of people liking this story. It’s just not for me.
After reading the first 40 pages of the eARC, I just couldn’t get into this story, unfortunately.
The writing style just wasn’t working for me—it took me a beat to figure out who the protagonist was speaking to whenever she said “you”. But even once I worked that out, I never felt truly immersed in the story overall.
I can see a lot of people liking this story. It’s just not for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I already pre-ordered this book - and I am so excited to have this banger on my shelf!
I'm still not quite sure what I read. Dual first person narrative enhances the reader's experience. Some really GREAT body horror in here!
The relationship between Celia and Harriot - the complexity of unearthing a dead author's last work, obsession, and all the pressures of academia and life just combust.
Astounding.
I'm still not quite sure what I read. Dual first person narrative enhances the reader's experience. Some really GREAT body horror in here!
The relationship between Celia and Harriot - the complexity of unearthing a dead author's last work, obsession, and all the pressures of academia and life just combust.
Astounding.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book kept me interested from start to finish. I enjoyed the dark academia pretentious setting. It reads like a fever dream. I was lucky enough to have both the audiobook and the ebook, thank you to both Macmillian Audio and Flatiron books for the immersive experience. The narration was very well done. It has a gothic feel, so it is a slow read. I would give this a try if you like weird girl lit fic, centered around obsession.
4.5 rounded up
4.5 rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Celia was such a strange character, and I had a hard time liking her. Her obsession with Beatrice was interesting.
I did struggle with the switching between first and third person, though. It confused me and pulled me out of the story more than once. I liked the ending because I didn't see that coming at all!
I just never felt completely invested in the story. This book isn't my type of read, but I gave it a shot.
Celia was such a strange character, and I had a hard time liking her. Her obsession with Beatrice was interesting.
I did struggle with the switching between first and third person, though. It confused me and pulled me out of the story more than once. I liked the ending because I didn't see that coming at all!
I just never felt completely invested in the story. This book isn't my type of read, but I gave it a shot.
September 16, 2026
ALC provided by NetGalley
3.5/5 ⭐️
Your Beloved Remains was strange, unsettling, and just a the right amount of unhinged. While I always appreciate Feminine Rage, I found the story's conclusion disappointing.
The dual narration was fantastic! I’m not sure I would have enjoyed the story nearly as much if I’d read it instead of listened to it.
Tropes/Microtropes
🖤Dark Academia
🖤Rivals to Lovers
🖤Southern Gothic
3.5/5 ⭐️
Your Beloved Remains was strange, unsettling, and just a the right amount of unhinged. While I always appreciate Feminine Rage, I found the story's conclusion disappointing.
The dual narration was fantastic! I’m not sure I would have enjoyed the story nearly as much if I’d read it instead of listened to it.
Tropes/Microtropes
🖤Dark Academia
🖤Rivals to Lovers
🖤Southern Gothic
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this knowing literally nothing about it except that it was written by an author I really like and I wasn't disappointed! This story is a bit of a slow build, but not in a bad way. It's messy, it's Sapphic, it's spooky. My only eh was the ending. I knew it was building to something like that, but I was left wanting a little bit more.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc!
Thanks NetGalley for the arc!
Currently Reading
September 4, 2026Thank you for picking me for an advanced readers copy! So excited to read and review. Detailed review to come in the following month after receiving! Again much appreciated! Can't wait to read!
Edited review to follow.
Edited review to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75
Setting: Arkansas
Rep: sapphic protagonists
Dark, gothic, claustrophobic, intense, unexpectedly erotic - this was a great read, a gothic horror dark academia about obsession. I really enjoyed the writing style and never would have guessed that Quinn Connor is a pen name for two authors!
Setting: Arkansas
Rep: sapphic protagonists
Dark, gothic, claustrophobic, intense, unexpectedly erotic - this was a great read, a gothic horror dark academia about obsession. I really enjoyed the writing style and never would have guessed that Quinn Connor is a pen name for two authors!
Review of advance copy
✨ALC Review✨
Gothic, academic, haunting and intriguing.
Two academic rivals, working together in forgery.
Attraction turns deadly, and secrets starts to unravel. This a deep and dark obsession that eats away at you.
Gothic, academic, haunting and intriguing.
Two academic rivals, working together in forgery.
Attraction turns deadly, and secrets starts to unravel. This a deep and dark obsession that eats away at you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sapphic, obsessive, and dark. I was willing to give it a chance on audio because of Natalie Naudus (always great), but I would probably have gotten more out of it reading with my eyes. Still, this has the perfect vibes for a weird girl spooky season.
September 6, 2026
I’d give this 3.5*. It wasn’t quite what I expected. The writing was quite good, I just didn’t love the story.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This was a DNF for me. Didn't find the characters that interesting or engaging. A little too dry.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love it when authors write a book especially for me.
Now, I know Quinn Connor didn't really set out to write this book with me in mind, but this includes everything I love in a gothic book so they might as well have:
- sapphism;
- obsession in general, but especially with a dead author, death in general, a living woman you hate but also yearn for, and a specific place or building
- a dead author who was just fucking weird, and then it includes excerpts of that author's work;
- the beauty and horrors of academia;
- a beautiful writing style.
I also loved how the whole book was written in second person. I'd love to see that used more.
10/10 no notes from me.
Now, I know Quinn Connor didn't really set out to write this book with me in mind, but this includes everything I love in a gothic book so they might as well have:
- sapphism;
- obsession in general, but especially with a dead author, death in general, a living woman you hate but also yearn for, and a specific place or building
- a dead author who was just fucking weird, and then it includes excerpts of that author's work;
- the beauty and horrors of academia;
- a beautiful writing style.
I also loved how the whole book was written in second person. I'd love to see that used more.
10/10 no notes from me.
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