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Seeds Between Her Teeth: A Psychological Horror Novel of Memory and Obsession
Four years ago, Claire Donnelly left Adam Vick after a night neither of them remembers the same way.
She remembers her purse out of reach. Adam in the doorway. A knife that was in the drying rack until somehow it wasn't. She remembers blood, a scar, and the certainty that something happened in that kitchen she has never been able to prove. Then Tessa Lang messages her.
Did you date Adam Vick?
Adam has been telling someone else about Claire. About the knife. About the woman he says he was afraid of. Claire wants one usable version of what happened. Instead, she finds Nell Bell, a woman outside Savannah with a hedge of impossible blackberries and an offer Claire should walk away from.
Eat one berry. Become someone else. As Juliet "Ju" Dunn, Claire can get close to Adam without being recognized. She can hear what he says when he doesn't know his ex is listening. She can test the man she remembers against the man standing in front of her now.
But Ju's body is not neutral.
Every return leaves something behind. Every answer leads Claire toward another woman, another history, another piece of evidence that proves everything except the one thing she needs to know. And the closer Claire gets to certainty, the harder it becomes to tell whether she is uncovering what Adam did to her or building a version of him she can finally punish.
Because an open door is still an exit.
And eventually, Claire will have to decide whether knowing the truth matters more than what she is willing to do with it.
She remembers her purse out of reach. Adam in the doorway. A knife that was in the drying rack until somehow it wasn't. She remembers blood, a scar, and the certainty that something happened in that kitchen she has never been able to prove. Then Tessa Lang messages her.
Did you date Adam Vick?
Adam has been telling someone else about Claire. About the knife. About the woman he says he was afraid of. Claire wants one usable version of what happened. Instead, she finds Nell Bell, a woman outside Savannah with a hedge of impossible blackberries and an offer Claire should walk away from.
Eat one berry. Become someone else. As Juliet "Ju" Dunn, Claire can get close to Adam without being recognized. She can hear what he says when he doesn't know his ex is listening. She can test the man she remembers against the man standing in front of her now.
But Ju's body is not neutral.
Every return leaves something behind. Every answer leads Claire toward another woman, another history, another piece of evidence that proves everything except the one thing she needs to know. And the closer Claire gets to certainty, the harder it becomes to tell whether she is uncovering what Adam did to her or building a version of him she can finally punish.
Because an open door is still an exit.
And eventually, Claire will have to decide whether knowing the truth matters more than what she is willing to do with it.
- GenresHorror
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
M. Boudreaux
10 books27 followersM. Boudreaux is a Louisiana-based author of psychological horror, suspense, dark thrillers, and Southern Gothic fiction. Her stories live in the places where grief, obsession, trauma, memory, fear, and fractured trust start changing what people believe about themselves and each other.
She found her way into horror almost by accident. While writing through years of personal trauma, every attempt at something lighter seemed to turn unsettling, sad, or quietly wrong. Eventually, she stopped trying to pull the stories somewhere safer and started writing the books she actually wanted to read.
Her published work includes The Listener, a psychological horror novel about childhood secrets, grief, and a presence that knows exactly which voice someone would follow into the dark; The Grief Counselor, where a trusted grief counselor's understanding of loss becomes something far more dangerous; The Kettle, a Southern Gothic horror novella built around family history, disappearance, and the things a small town would rather leave buried; and Play Dead, a dark psychological thriller about missing children, online audiences, obsession, and a mother who recognizes something everyone else has overlooked.
Her fiction is especially interested in emotional vulnerability and what happens when it becomes dangerous. Grief can be manipulated. Memory can lie. Love can become leverage. The person offering safety may be the one you should fear most. Even when the horror becomes supernatural, the thing underneath it usually begins somewhere painfully human.
Boudreaux writes across interconnected thrillers, standalone horror, psychological suspense, and darker experimental fiction, which means there is almost never only one manuscript open on her computer. Living with ADHD has made peace with that arrangement considerably easier.
She is also the creator of The Unsettled Shelf, a home for her books, upcoming releases, dark fiction, and the readers who like their stories unsettling enough to follow them after the last page.
M. Boudreaux lives in Louisiana, where she continues writing books about terrible decisions, complicated women, buried secrets, and the uncomfortable possibility that the explanation you were hoping for might be worse than the thing you feared.
Find M. Boudreaux online:
The Unsettled Shelf
Amazon Author Page
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 1, 2026
I cannot believe that I am rating this as low as possible but at 30% through I do not believe that this book was written or edited by a human. This is littered with mistakes, referring to the wrong person "he didn't know I knew" followed by "he didn't know" insert thing about himself that he definitely knows and it's clear it was meant to be another "he didn't know I knew". Things were referred to as "unbroken" with the changes even though beforehand said detail was also, not broken? A character filled a kettle twice after a sentence or two, even though they had just filled it. A voice was referred to as rough because this person drank more water than coffee? That makes no sense at all.
The worst part is these are just some of the parts I specifically noted down but there were so many things that just didn't make sense in the way they were worded or what they were implying. This book does not feel ready for publishing at all and I'm really upset about it because the premise was excellent, and I was grabbed on page one.
Do yourself a favour and skip this book unless you want to be shaking your head in confusion chapter after chapter.
The worst part is these are just some of the parts I specifically noted down but there were so many things that just didn't make sense in the way they were worded or what they were implying. This book does not feel ready for publishing at all and I'm really upset about it because the premise was excellent, and I was grabbed on page one.
Do yourself a favour and skip this book unless you want to be shaking your head in confusion chapter after chapter.
September 20, 2026
RTC.. I need to gather my thoughts 💆🏻♀️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The reason I couldn’t finish this book was the writing and inconsistencies in the timeline.
October 21, 2026
Seeds Between Her Teeth by M. Boudreaux is a chilling tale of betrayal and manipulation. What I found most horrifying was that, at times, I couldn’t tell whether Claire was the instigator or if she had simply been pushed to a breaking point and become the very thing she’d been accused of being.
One berry transforms Claire into someone else, someone her ex would desire, giving her a way to get close to him and uncover what really happened that night in the kitchen. Was she drunk? Did she grab the knife, or did he? Did he stop her from leaving because she had been drinking, or was he using it as another way to control her? Was she the one at fault, or was there something more sinister going on?
As someone who has survived narcissistic abuse and continues to struggle with PTSD, I find that books like this often stir up complicated feelings. Even years later, there are moments when I replay events in my mind and wonder if I could have handled things differently—if I might have come out in a better light, or if there was truly no right choice at all. That kind of self-doubt lingers, making it hard to fully trust my own perspective. The uncertainty and second-guessing never really go away, and this book captures that sense of ambiguity so well. Reading Claire’s story reminded me of the ways trauma can cloud your sense of reality and make even your own actions feel suspect.
Claire is one of those morally grey characters who evokes a mix of empathy and frustration. At times I wanted to love her, at other moments I wanted to hate her—or maybe just shake her and urge her to wake up and move on. But I also recognize that people probably felt that way about me, too. That’s one of the most confusing aspects of abusive relationships: when you’re caught in the middle, it becomes incredibly difficult to untangle the abuse from your own reactions to it. From the outside, the person who started it all can sometimes look like the victim, while the person pushed to their breaking point looks like the aggressor.
That uncertainty is what makes stories like this so unsettling. Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t knowing what happened. It’s trying to make sense of it afterward.
This book has so many fascinating elements, from body horror and magic to psychological horror, and they all showcase what a compelling storyteller M. Boudreaux is. As with Play Dead, there were some dialogue-heavy sections where I lost track of who was speaking. These are the kinds of issues that could be cleaned up with some editing, though.
For me, the bones of a story matter most. The heart of it, the plot, the ideas that pull you in and keep you thinking long after you’ve finished reading. If those things are missing, even the best editing in the world can’t save a book. But when the storytelling is strong, a few rough edges aren’t necessarily dealbreakers. A compelling story can overcome a few editing issues, and that’s what determined my rating.
Ultimately, Seeds Between Her Teeth is the kind of book that lingers after the final page—messy, haunting, and honest in its portrayal of trauma and survival. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re drawn to stories that blur moral lines and leave you questioning what you’d do in the same situation, it’s well worth the read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
For a cottagecore soul with a gothic heart, there’s always room for another reader at the table. Come join me at TheDravenRahl.com and stay awhile.
One berry transforms Claire into someone else, someone her ex would desire, giving her a way to get close to him and uncover what really happened that night in the kitchen. Was she drunk? Did she grab the knife, or did he? Did he stop her from leaving because she had been drinking, or was he using it as another way to control her? Was she the one at fault, or was there something more sinister going on?
As someone who has survived narcissistic abuse and continues to struggle with PTSD, I find that books like this often stir up complicated feelings. Even years later, there are moments when I replay events in my mind and wonder if I could have handled things differently—if I might have come out in a better light, or if there was truly no right choice at all. That kind of self-doubt lingers, making it hard to fully trust my own perspective. The uncertainty and second-guessing never really go away, and this book captures that sense of ambiguity so well. Reading Claire’s story reminded me of the ways trauma can cloud your sense of reality and make even your own actions feel suspect.
Claire is one of those morally grey characters who evokes a mix of empathy and frustration. At times I wanted to love her, at other moments I wanted to hate her—or maybe just shake her and urge her to wake up and move on. But I also recognize that people probably felt that way about me, too. That’s one of the most confusing aspects of abusive relationships: when you’re caught in the middle, it becomes incredibly difficult to untangle the abuse from your own reactions to it. From the outside, the person who started it all can sometimes look like the victim, while the person pushed to their breaking point looks like the aggressor.
That uncertainty is what makes stories like this so unsettling. Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t knowing what happened. It’s trying to make sense of it afterward.
This book has so many fascinating elements, from body horror and magic to psychological horror, and they all showcase what a compelling storyteller M. Boudreaux is. As with Play Dead, there were some dialogue-heavy sections where I lost track of who was speaking. These are the kinds of issues that could be cleaned up with some editing, though.
For me, the bones of a story matter most. The heart of it, the plot, the ideas that pull you in and keep you thinking long after you’ve finished reading. If those things are missing, even the best editing in the world can’t save a book. But when the storytelling is strong, a few rough edges aren’t necessarily dealbreakers. A compelling story can overcome a few editing issues, and that’s what determined my rating.
Ultimately, Seeds Between Her Teeth is the kind of book that lingers after the final page—messy, haunting, and honest in its portrayal of trauma and survival. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re drawn to stories that blur moral lines and leave you questioning what you’d do in the same situation, it’s well worth the read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
For a cottagecore soul with a gothic heart, there’s always room for another reader at the table. Come join me at TheDravenRahl.com and stay awhile.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an incredibly interesting read that I'm certain will sit with me for a bit.
We have Claire, a woman hell bent on trying to fill in the gaps of a memory with a knife that isn't complete, but the only way to find out is through her ex of whom she hasn't seen in four years, and she's certain that even if he remembers, he's not telling the story honestly. So what would he say to her if he didn't know he was speaking to Claire?
His truth? Hers? Something else entirely?
Throughout the story you can feel Claire's obsession driving her actions, logging everything like it's evidence because of a fear of misremembering, of having things twisted, and one can almost empathise with her need to know what happened for the sake of closure from a traumatic experience with a man she believes made her life a nightmare. Not knowing is frustrating.
However, as the story progresses, I really found it difficult to like Claire. I don't know if it was the dialogue or the formatting of the writing exactly, but nearly every conversation she had with someone just felt bizarre. Either unnecessarily clever for the moment or clipped, like someone taking notes rather than talking, and at times I felt a bit lost because the conversations didn't quite make sense to me from a lack of emotive expression or punctuation. The text messages and emails lined into narration as well which doesn't make them stand out, as a reader, I don't find that it flows well.
Despite that, I was really gripped to know how things progressed, I was almost frantic at half way through realising Clair hadn't got her answers after three uses! The author definitely knows how to create a hook that grabs you, because I found myself needing to know what happened next. Why was Adam so different to what she remembered? What would he tell Ju?
Nell is fascinating too. I wish there was more elaboration on her connection to the story, beyond the little snippets you get, her home and abilities had plenty of cool details that I'd love to have been able to explore.
The final chapters really filled me with the suspense and tension I know the author can create from having ARC read "Play Dead", Claire constantly taking note of things in the hotel room, the precipice of decision after her confrontation, she feels like an unreliable narrator almost and I believe that's why I felt more for Adam than her. Getting so caught up trying to prove something she doesn't know the truth to and getting lost in the fact a person can change after being toxic, it leaves an uncomfortable feeling behind which lingers after the book is done. I was shocked by her decision in the hotel room, and it felt like a prime example of what happens when you let someone else consume you.
Overall, it was a great read that takes a bit of warming up to get into, filled with suspense and moments that make you want to question the character and yell at her a bit lol. The formatting does make it difficult to read if you're someone who has to take a breath at the end of a full stop but I still enjoyed this thoroughly.
Thankyou for the opportunity to have this ARC 🖤
We have Claire, a woman hell bent on trying to fill in the gaps of a memory with a knife that isn't complete, but the only way to find out is through her ex of whom she hasn't seen in four years, and she's certain that even if he remembers, he's not telling the story honestly. So what would he say to her if he didn't know he was speaking to Claire?
His truth? Hers? Something else entirely?
Throughout the story you can feel Claire's obsession driving her actions, logging everything like it's evidence because of a fear of misremembering, of having things twisted, and one can almost empathise with her need to know what happened for the sake of closure from a traumatic experience with a man she believes made her life a nightmare. Not knowing is frustrating.
However, as the story progresses, I really found it difficult to like Claire. I don't know if it was the dialogue or the formatting of the writing exactly, but nearly every conversation she had with someone just felt bizarre. Either unnecessarily clever for the moment or clipped, like someone taking notes rather than talking, and at times I felt a bit lost because the conversations didn't quite make sense to me from a lack of emotive expression or punctuation. The text messages and emails lined into narration as well which doesn't make them stand out, as a reader, I don't find that it flows well.
Despite that, I was really gripped to know how things progressed, I was almost frantic at half way through realising Clair hadn't got her answers after three uses! The author definitely knows how to create a hook that grabs you, because I found myself needing to know what happened next. Why was Adam so different to what she remembered? What would he tell Ju?
Nell is fascinating too. I wish there was more elaboration on her connection to the story, beyond the little snippets you get, her home and abilities had plenty of cool details that I'd love to have been able to explore.
The final chapters really filled me with the suspense and tension I know the author can create from having ARC read "Play Dead", Claire constantly taking note of things in the hotel room, the precipice of decision after her confrontation, she feels like an unreliable narrator almost and I believe that's why I felt more for Adam than her. Getting so caught up trying to prove something she doesn't know the truth to and getting lost in the fact a person can change after being toxic, it leaves an uncomfortable feeling behind which lingers after the book is done. I was shocked by her decision in the hotel room, and it felt like a prime example of what happens when you let someone else consume you.
Overall, it was a great read that takes a bit of warming up to get into, filled with suspense and moments that make you want to question the character and yell at her a bit lol. The formatting does make it difficult to read if you're someone who has to take a breath at the end of a full stop but I still enjoyed this thoroughly.
Thankyou for the opportunity to have this ARC 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was addicting in a unexplainable way. You get to meet Claire in a way that opens curiosity for the situation in which she is in, and creates intrigue to keep finding out what happened. You know Claire was in a relationship with Adam, where things happened but there is uncertainty and a lack of clarity over the truth. Throughout the book you go in this journey with Claire in the most unconventional way to find the truth, or what she believes is the truth.
I found that throughout the book you are on the journey with Claire, and can truly feel the obsession to find the truth, as well as the parts where she loses herself. There's also some events that happen to Claire where you can see doubt set in for her, where she starts to question herself, who she is, and who she wants to be and the way in which she acts, talks and behaves. In this aspect it helped create unease for me in the story and Claire herself. You sometimes want to root for the main character in the story, and in this story I felt on the fence about Claire, and actively doubting her or even doubting myself if I was interpreting her behavior or the information correctly which made for an interesting dilemma as a reader. You can feel the sense of rushing through processes in order to find the truth, jumping ahead, giving up information too early causing problems between her and several characters in the story. The repeated questions, and her need to get the right answers or her need to get other characters to say the right thing, was probably the most interesting dynamic in the book, it felt like she was messing around and playing mind games, which felt infuriating and understandable at the same time.
I enjoyed the journey this book took me on because it was unexpected and the premise of the book itself, was intriguing, I didn't really know what to expect next, however I did also feel like when I finished the book I was left with even more questions. I also kept thinking about several things that happened in the book after it was done meaning it stuck with me. It left it at a point where there is so much unanswered, and things that we didn't get to exactly figure out or see through the process that left me wanting more. It reminded me of Claire in a funny way, around the need to tie up loose ends. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I found that throughout the book you are on the journey with Claire, and can truly feel the obsession to find the truth, as well as the parts where she loses herself. There's also some events that happen to Claire where you can see doubt set in for her, where she starts to question herself, who she is, and who she wants to be and the way in which she acts, talks and behaves. In this aspect it helped create unease for me in the story and Claire herself. You sometimes want to root for the main character in the story, and in this story I felt on the fence about Claire, and actively doubting her or even doubting myself if I was interpreting her behavior or the information correctly which made for an interesting dilemma as a reader. You can feel the sense of rushing through processes in order to find the truth, jumping ahead, giving up information too early causing problems between her and several characters in the story. The repeated questions, and her need to get the right answers or her need to get other characters to say the right thing, was probably the most interesting dynamic in the book, it felt like she was messing around and playing mind games, which felt infuriating and understandable at the same time.
I enjoyed the journey this book took me on because it was unexpected and the premise of the book itself, was intriguing, I didn't really know what to expect next, however I did also feel like when I finished the book I was left with even more questions. I also kept thinking about several things that happened in the book after it was done meaning it stuck with me. It left it at a point where there is so much unanswered, and things that we didn't get to exactly figure out or see through the process that left me wanting more. It reminded me of Claire in a funny way, around the need to tie up loose ends. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for something to satisfy your thirst for female revenge, this book may just be for you. The story takes you on a wild ride as Claire tries to piece together a night she can't seem to remember. With her memory glitching on important aspects, she wonders if the events between her and her ex-boyfriend Adam were really as terrible as she remembers. As the years have passed, Claire does her best to live a mundane life; until Tessa gets involved, then her obsession about the past with Adam grows bigger.
I honestly felt like I was Claire while reading this story. Maybe that says more about me than it should, but the premise of this book hits close to home. I've been the girl obsessing over every detail in an argument where things just don't make sense, how did we get from x to z? After going over what it was like to date Adam with Tessa, Claire gets the brightest idea ever: get herself answers by any means necessary.
It honestly feels like the dumbest choice to use a business card given to her by a friend with no real information. But you're already invested in trying to figure out how unreliable could this narrator be. Once she finds the mysterious stranger Nell, Claire learns all it takes is some borrowed body parts and blackberries.
With a ticket back into her ex's personal space, everything really picks up. I found myself walking the line of obsession with Claire wanting to know if Adam was really the man in her memories or was she just unreliable? I held onto every interaction trying to dissect it as if Adam had wronged me.
While I was low-key cheering on all her bad decision, I also wanted to shake Claire by the shoulders and maybe smack her in the face. She seemed to gloss over all the red flags putting her own well-being on the backburner under the guise of finding out the truth to one lost night.
I honestly felt like I was Claire while reading this story. Maybe that says more about me than it should, but the premise of this book hits close to home. I've been the girl obsessing over every detail in an argument where things just don't make sense, how did we get from x to z? After going over what it was like to date Adam with Tessa, Claire gets the brightest idea ever: get herself answers by any means necessary.
It honestly feels like the dumbest choice to use a business card given to her by a friend with no real information. But you're already invested in trying to figure out how unreliable could this narrator be. Once she finds the mysterious stranger Nell, Claire learns all it takes is some borrowed body parts and blackberries.
With a ticket back into her ex's personal space, everything really picks up. I found myself walking the line of obsession with Claire wanting to know if Adam was really the man in her memories or was she just unreliable? I held onto every interaction trying to dissect it as if Adam had wronged me.
While I was low-key cheering on all her bad decision, I also wanted to shake Claire by the shoulders and maybe smack her in the face. She seemed to gloss over all the red flags putting her own well-being on the backburner under the guise of finding out the truth to one lost night.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Seeds Between Her Teeth was an incredibly easy book to get lost in. Despite some much darker themes around coercion and unhealthy relationships running underneath the story, the writing itself felt surprisingly light and accessible, and I found myself flying through it.
The magic was one of my favourite elements. It felt original and intriguing, without becoming overly complicated, and I particularly enjoyed Nell as a character. The prose was also really engaging and kept me wanting to read on.
I really enjoyed the uncertainty surrounding some of the characters. I frequently found myself questioning how I felt about them and whether I could trust my own impressions, which became increasingly interesting as the story progressed. There were several moments where I genuinely wasn't sure where the book was going next.
My main criticism was the formatting of messages within the story. They weren't always visually distinct enough from Claire's thoughts, which occasionally meant I had to reread a section before realising I was reading a message rather than her internal narration. I also felt that the introduction of an additional character later in the book required a little more investment at a point when there was already a lot happening.
Overall, this was an original, compelling read that tackled some serious themes while remaining surprisingly easy to devour. I finished it far quicker than I expected, and the final portion certainly gave me plenty to think about.
Seeds Between Her Teeth was an incredibly easy book to get lost in. Despite some much darker themes around coercion and unhealthy relationships running underneath the story, the writing itself felt surprisingly light and accessible, and I found myself flying through it.
The magic was one of my favourite elements. It felt original and intriguing, without becoming overly complicated, and I particularly enjoyed Nell as a character. The prose was also really engaging and kept me wanting to read on.
I really enjoyed the uncertainty surrounding some of the characters. I frequently found myself questioning how I felt about them and whether I could trust my own impressions, which became increasingly interesting as the story progressed. There were several moments where I genuinely wasn't sure where the book was going next.
My main criticism was the formatting of messages within the story. They weren't always visually distinct enough from Claire's thoughts, which occasionally meant I had to reread a section before realising I was reading a message rather than her internal narration. I also felt that the introduction of an additional character later in the book required a little more investment at a point when there was already a lot happening.
Overall, this was an original, compelling read that tackled some serious themes while remaining surprisingly easy to devour. I finished it far quicker than I expected, and the final portion certainly gave me plenty to think about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Claire's certainty that something happened that night in the kitchen, the knife, the blood, the scar, never wavered, but the fact that she couldn't prove any of it ate at her for four years. When Tessa Lang's message dragged her back into Adam's orbit, I felt her desperation to finally get one usable version of the truth. Eating Nell's berries to become Ju was such a bizarre, unsettling premise, but I was completely hooked watching Claire get close enough to test the man she remembered against the man standing in front of her. Every transformation left something behind, and those seeds she kept counting became such a haunting image of obsession. The Rebecca storyline genuinely shocked me, learning Nell's help had already ended in a dead woman once before recolored everything. The hotel scene wrecked me, Claire glitching mid conversation, Adam's face falling apart. No clean hero, no clean villain, just a woman who became someone else chasing proof, and an ending I never saw coming.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
October 12, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
Premise
A woman uses magic with the help of a witch to get to the truth of a traumatic past relationship.
Liked
* Navigates the nature of gaslighting vs. truth
* Destabilizing answers about asserting dominance
* Very character-driven and dialogue-heavy; every exchange feels like an exchange at court
* Ponders if people can truly change, and do we even want them to?
* What happens if the villain can no longer be found?
* “Two things can be true without one being a verdict on the other.”
Not for Me
* Ambiguous ending
* Who’s the villain?
Closing Comment
This is a slow-burning, character-driven revenge fantasy that dissects modern relationships when we are no longer sure of the reason behind their breakdown. The main character goes through a journey of soul-searching and discovery over the course of the novel, but a lot of the answers remain unresolved all the way to the end. A deeply affecting psychological thriller for anyone with an ex that they just cannot let go.
Premise
A woman uses magic with the help of a witch to get to the truth of a traumatic past relationship.
Liked
* Navigates the nature of gaslighting vs. truth
* Destabilizing answers about asserting dominance
* Very character-driven and dialogue-heavy; every exchange feels like an exchange at court
* Ponders if people can truly change, and do we even want them to?
* What happens if the villain can no longer be found?
* “Two things can be true without one being a verdict on the other.”
Not for Me
* Ambiguous ending
* Who’s the villain?
Closing Comment
This is a slow-burning, character-driven revenge fantasy that dissects modern relationships when we are no longer sure of the reason behind their breakdown. The main character goes through a journey of soul-searching and discovery over the course of the novel, but a lot of the answers remain unresolved all the way to the end. A deeply affecting psychological thriller for anyone with an ex that they just cannot let go.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Seeds Between Her Teeth.
Claire is obsessed with the ending of her relationship with Adam, she needs to know what actually happened their last time together. The time that ended with a knife and a scar on her cheek. Memories haunt her, but are they real or are they what she wants to remember. Desperate she turns to Nell, someone who listens, someone who can help. Claire transforms into someone new that Adam desires so she can finally remember what actually happened, but memories are complicated and Claire may not like what she remembers.
I was not the biggest fan of this one, the plot is so intriguing but the story just didn't do it for me. I appreciated M. Bourdeaux writing style, but it becomes incredibly repetitive and the story dragged a bit. None of the characters were likeable and I actually ended up feeling the most empathy for Adam. M. Bourdeaux is clearly a talented writer but this one was just not for me.
3 out of 5 stars
Claire is obsessed with the ending of her relationship with Adam, she needs to know what actually happened their last time together. The time that ended with a knife and a scar on her cheek. Memories haunt her, but are they real or are they what she wants to remember. Desperate she turns to Nell, someone who listens, someone who can help. Claire transforms into someone new that Adam desires so she can finally remember what actually happened, but memories are complicated and Claire may not like what she remembers.
I was not the biggest fan of this one, the plot is so intriguing but the story just didn't do it for me. I appreciated M. Bourdeaux writing style, but it becomes incredibly repetitive and the story dragged a bit. None of the characters were likeable and I actually ended up feeling the most empathy for Adam. M. Bourdeaux is clearly a talented writer but this one was just not for me.
3 out of 5 stars
October 11, 2026
We all yearn for answers, even if they might never come. Claire, fixated on a relationship that ended four years ago, is jolted back to reality by a message from a girl claiming to have dated her ex-boyfriend. Desperate for clarity, she visits Nell, who offers her a chance to transform into someone Adam desires. This experiment aims to uncover the truth behind her hazy memories. Claire assumes the persona of Juliet or Ju, adopting a new identity that piques Adam’s interest. She pushes his boundaries, hoping to discern if he’s the man she remembers. This gripping novel is hard to put down, leaving you eager to see how far Claire’s quest will take her. M.Boudreaux’s writing style is distinct, with conversations that are more straightforward than typical prose. She masterfully intersperses questions and answers, making them easily understandable without much effort. I highly recommend exploring her books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*review of advance copy from NetGalley*
This was definitely an interesting read. It follows Claire, a woman who is fixated on a relationship that ended four years ago, and wants to get the truth out of what really happened. She goes to a woman who helps her by using magic which allows her to transform into another woman...very weird! But there was a lot of uncertainty around the characters and really the overall story. Sometimes I got a little lost with the dialogue; there were certain times where there would be a text message or something, but there wasn't really a clear distinction of what it was so I did have to reread a few passages to make it make sense. And this book left me wondering who the actual villain was, especially with that ambiguous ending, but overall this was a solid psychological thriller
This was definitely an interesting read. It follows Claire, a woman who is fixated on a relationship that ended four years ago, and wants to get the truth out of what really happened. She goes to a woman who helps her by using magic which allows her to transform into another woman...very weird! But there was a lot of uncertainty around the characters and really the overall story. Sometimes I got a little lost with the dialogue; there were certain times where there would be a text message or something, but there wasn't really a clear distinction of what it was so I did have to reread a few passages to make it make sense. And this book left me wondering who the actual villain was, especially with that ambiguous ending, but overall this was a solid psychological thriller
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Seeds Between Her Teeth seriously got under my skin. I loved the way it played with memory, obsession, and that awful feeling of not knowing whether you can trust what you remember. The supernatural element made everything even more unsettling, and some of the body horror was seriously disturbing in the best way.
I was constantly questioning what was real and what Claire was willing to believe because she needed answers so badly. The further she went, the darker and more twisted it became, and I loved how uncomfortable the whole thing made me.
This was exactly the kind of psychological horror I enjoy—creepy, strange, disturbing, and with plenty to think about after turning the last page. Definitely one that stayed with me.
I was constantly questioning what was real and what Claire was willing to believe because she needed answers so badly. The further she went, the darker and more twisted it became, and I loved how uncomfortable the whole thing made me.
This was exactly the kind of psychological horror I enjoy—creepy, strange, disturbing, and with plenty to think about after turning the last page. Definitely one that stayed with me.
October 20, 2026
This read was such a journey, going through Claire's life and her story. Claire trying to figure out what happened in the past and her obsession for truth the whole time.
It is very hard for me to feel like Claire is a likeable character. Her obsession overtakes her most of the time, her need to be right and needing evidence to prove that she's right makes her toxic. I also thought it was really interesting that her view of Adam was that he was toxic, but she doesn't see that she was so hung up on the old Adam that she became the toxic one. She had it in her head the whole time that she needed to catch him slipping up and doing the things he used to do. Claire must have been in denial that people can change especially in four years, that's a long time.
It is very hard for me to feel like Claire is a likeable character. Her obsession overtakes her most of the time, her need to be right and needing evidence to prove that she's right makes her toxic. I also thought it was really interesting that her view of Adam was that he was toxic, but she doesn't see that she was so hung up on the old Adam that she became the toxic one. She had it in her head the whole time that she needed to catch him slipping up and doing the things he used to do. Claire must have been in denial that people can change especially in four years, that's a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my third book Ive read by M. Boudreaux. The first 2 Play Dead and Play Along were amazing. I couldn't put them down. This book I made it half way and stopped. It didn't grab my attention it felt like it drug on. I struggled with this one.
The main character wants answers about her ex and to remember what happened the night in the kitchen. She changes her appearance to date her ex for answers.
The main character wants answers about her ex and to remember what happened the night in the kitchen. She changes her appearance to date her ex for answers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed the story, and following Claire in her journey for the truth of what happened to her. Although I did feel lost at times when reading that Claire was somewhere and then with no indication she was talking about what she did before getting to that destination. I also felt a little lost when the dialogue was long cause it was not written who was saying what and i would have to reread it a couple times to figure it out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall good read.
I kept putting it down because it became confusing, and kept returning because i needed to know.
The confusion plays into Claire's obsession for answers, and the drive of her actions.
The paranormal of shape shifting type magic was interesting, and i do like a good ol' revenge snoop for gossip.
I kept putting it down because it became confusing, and kept returning because i needed to know.
The confusion plays into Claire's obsession for answers, and the drive of her actions.
The paranormal of shape shifting type magic was interesting, and i do like a good ol' revenge snoop for gossip.
Review of advance copy received from Author
How does the author come up with this stuff? I find her books so unique and not the same ol story we read over and over again!
Once again another hit! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Imagine being someone else and seeking revenge?!?! YES PLEASE! Once you start reading this you won’t want to stop! I loved the MFC! I loved the storyline, so unique!
I highly recommend this book! Her best so far for me!
Once again another hit! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Imagine being someone else and seeking revenge?!?! YES PLEASE! Once you start reading this you won’t want to stop! I loved the MFC! I loved the storyline, so unique!
I highly recommend this book! Her best so far for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my second book by M. Boudreaux and I can honestly say I was impressed. I really like their writing style.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 20, 2026
Very interesting read that I will be thinking about for a while. Can be a bit confusing at times and repetitive but because of how the story is, that is necessary. We have Claire who needs to find out what happened between her and her ex boyfriend Adam ans by doing this, she takes the forms of different bodies.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Claire can't remember what happened four years ago with her ex-boyfriend. She has discovered a way she can get what she wants, but is it worth it. Full of suspense and unique characters.
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