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Fiona
Fiona moves from her unstable home in Texas to take an au pair job in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, her deceased mother’s homeland and the place she has always dreamed of visiting. In this riveting, character-driven second novel, the fairy tale life Fiona imagined turns into a nightmare when a decades-old family feud resurfaces and forces her to confront the ghosts of her past—and question her own sanity.
Fiona, an independent loner with wild red hair, leaves her fractured home in Texas for a brand-new life in the Scottish Highlands to be the au pair for Poppy Mackenzie, the young daughter of her mother’s recently deceased childhood friends. Fee, as she’s called, is thrilled to be free of her less-than-ideal home life. But there’s another motive driving her eagerness to flee to the Highlands: the desire to reconnect with her mother, who succumbed to suicide after a long battle with schizophrenia when Fiona was only twelve, leaving her to live with distant relatives of her absentee father.
Fee doesn’t have much time to settle into her new home—a castle maintained by the Mackenzie family fortune—before a series of strange events starts to make her question her sanity. As the attacks on her mental health become more and more intense, Fee finds herself both the pawn and the target in a ruthless, greed-driven plot with roots that go all the way back to her mother. Alone and friendless in a foreign country and half-convinced she’s losing her mind—just like her mother—Fee must rely on her wits and her street smarts to save not only herself but also the lives of her newfound Scottish family.
Meredith Moore’s smart, classic-meets-cool storytelling style delivers fast-paced twists and gobs of drama with raw emotion and literary flair.
Fiona, an independent loner with wild red hair, leaves her fractured home in Texas for a brand-new life in the Scottish Highlands to be the au pair for Poppy Mackenzie, the young daughter of her mother’s recently deceased childhood friends. Fee, as she’s called, is thrilled to be free of her less-than-ideal home life. But there’s another motive driving her eagerness to flee to the Highlands: the desire to reconnect with her mother, who succumbed to suicide after a long battle with schizophrenia when Fiona was only twelve, leaving her to live with distant relatives of her absentee father.
Fee doesn’t have much time to settle into her new home—a castle maintained by the Mackenzie family fortune—before a series of strange events starts to make her question her sanity. As the attacks on her mental health become more and more intense, Fee finds herself both the pawn and the target in a ruthless, greed-driven plot with roots that go all the way back to her mother. Alone and friendless in a foreign country and half-convinced she’s losing her mind—just like her mother—Fee must rely on her wits and her street smarts to save not only herself but also the lives of her newfound Scottish family.
Meredith Moore’s smart, classic-meets-cool storytelling style delivers fast-paced twists and gobs of drama with raw emotion and literary flair.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
6 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Moore
8 books44 followersMeredith Moore graduated from Harvard University with a degree in History, focusing on early modern England and France. She lives in Houston, Texas, where she loves pumpkin spice lattes, 19th century British literature, and road trips. I Am Her Revenge is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 13, 2017
This book is basically Jane Eyre mashed up with Fatal Attraction and Wide Sargasso Sea. This might sound like a combination that would crash and burn, but surprisingly it works out. Of course, I’m probably partially biased because Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time, and anyone who can successfully recreate Edward Fairfax Rochester is a win-win situation, in my eyes.
Fiona Smith is a feisty, redheaded girl living in a town in the middle of nowhere, Texas. After her mother dies, she resigns herself to the fact that she’ll have to remain there for the rest of her life under the care of her resentful aunt.
Fiona then arrives in the middle of a tiny-ass village in Scotland that has only three stores and a pub (cause priorities, people). Introductions are made at the house where she’s working, which is an old Scottish castle that’s been in the family for centuries. You can already tell where this is going, can’t you?
There’s the usual stock characters such as Alice the friendly maid, Mabel the grumpy housekeeper, Albert the kindly driver/butler, and Gareth the sweet, flirtatious stableman. Poppy, Fiona’s at first unwilling charge.
Now, Fiona’s boss isn’t really her mother’s old friend, but her son, Charlie. Charlie’s in charge of the local newspaper that’s quickly going down the toilet. After being absent for the first quarter of the book, he finally makes an appearance. With the temperament of Edward Rochester
And the looks of Jamie Fraser
(No, I’m not drooling, YOU’RE drooling),
Fiona instantly falls in love with him, as will you. He basically is a teenage version of Rochester. Hey, I ain’t complaining about that now, am I? Charlie’s rough, hard drinking, and has had a lot more to deal with than other kids his age, but you can tell he truly cares about the people he loves, no matter how prickly he can become.
But alas, as with all romances, there are bound to be complications. Many complications, to be exact, because honestly some authors just want their character’s worlds to burn. For starters, Fiona starts to think she’s going insane in her new workplace when she starts hearing whispers, smelling and seeing things she shouldn’t, and generally becoming creeped out by her new job. While it’s a scary prospect for some people, it’s doubly frightening for Fiona because her mother was mentally ill with schizophrenia. That, and her mother was the daughter of a famous Scottish family before she ran off to Texas and was basically disowned. So not only does Fiona have to keep her identity a secret from her new employer, but has to convince herself that she’s not going insane.
Another of these said complications comes in the form of Blair, Charlie’s ex-girlfriend who appears to be pregnant with his child and takes an instant disliking to Fiona. Honestly, this should probably be considered a spoiler, but it’s so exceedingly obvious what Blair is trying to do that it’d take an idiot not to figure it out. Basically, she’s a teenage version of Fatal Attraction. Literally. SHE LITERALLY KILLS POPPY’S HORSE SO SHE CAN BLAME IT ON FIONA. Instead of a bunny rabbit, we have a big ass horse. Go big or go home, I guess. She acts the part perfectly as well.
At least part of it. The ending and explanation behind all the weird actions of Blair and the castle itself is equal parts head scratching and amusing, with you either thinking the author has completely lost her mind or is some sort of mad, creative genius. I kind of went with the latter, but others may find the ending a bit laughable.
One extremely positive thing about the book was the romantical tension. OHMYGOSH the romantic tension in this book was insane! Meredith Moore sure knows how to keep a
reader desperate for more romantic scenes, longing glances and things that would generally make a romance hater run straight for a trash can to throw up in.
:SWOONS GALORE:
But for those of us who hate to wait, that wait can be exceedingly unbearable. I was basically shouting at them to just admit it already!
Was this book perfect? No. The ending was just a bit too Lifetime movie, and the characters were taken from a stockpile of characters with traditional traits. But was it entertaining? Hell yes. Meredith Moore is the Victoria Holt of our generation, and this twisty, romantic Scottish romance is proof positive of that. If you’re a lover of Scotland, romantic tension, and twisted mysteries, this is the book for you!
Fiona Smith is a feisty, redheaded girl living in a town in the middle of nowhere, Texas. After her mother dies, she resigns herself to the fact that she’ll have to remain there for the rest of her life under the care of her resentful aunt.
”I would stay, resigning myself to the fact that I wouldn’t ever get out of Mulespur. That I would be surrounded by drugged-out cowboys and sunburned oilfield workers for the rest of my life. That I would never escape the stifling resentment of my aunt’s house.”So when she receives a mysterious email from an old friend of her mother’s inviting her to be an au pair for her daughter Poppy, Fee jumps at the chance to escape. Now, normally one wouldn’t say yes to an email asking them to look after the daughter of a friend of your mother’s that you don’t even know, but hey. Her life is miserable, how much more miserable could it get, right? I mean, there’s Scotland with its hot Scottish men in kilts among the highlands and more Scottish men, AMIRIGHT LADIES???
Fiona then arrives in the middle of a tiny-ass village in Scotland that has only three stores and a pub (cause priorities, people). Introductions are made at the house where she’s working, which is an old Scottish castle that’s been in the family for centuries. You can already tell where this is going, can’t you?
There’s the usual stock characters such as Alice the friendly maid, Mabel the grumpy housekeeper, Albert the kindly driver/butler, and Gareth the sweet, flirtatious stableman. Poppy, Fiona’s at first unwilling charge.
Now, Fiona’s boss isn’t really her mother’s old friend, but her son, Charlie. Charlie’s in charge of the local newspaper that’s quickly going down the toilet. After being absent for the first quarter of the book, he finally makes an appearance. With the temperament of Edward Rochester
And the looks of Jamie Fraser
(No, I’m not drooling, YOU’RE drooling),
Fiona instantly falls in love with him, as will you. He basically is a teenage version of Rochester. Hey, I ain’t complaining about that now, am I? Charlie’s rough, hard drinking, and has had a lot more to deal with than other kids his age, but you can tell he truly cares about the people he loves, no matter how prickly he can become.
But alas, as with all romances, there are bound to be complications. Many complications, to be exact, because honestly some authors just want their character’s worlds to burn. For starters, Fiona starts to think she’s going insane in her new workplace when she starts hearing whispers, smelling and seeing things she shouldn’t, and generally becoming creeped out by her new job. While it’s a scary prospect for some people, it’s doubly frightening for Fiona because her mother was mentally ill with schizophrenia. That, and her mother was the daughter of a famous Scottish family before she ran off to Texas and was basically disowned. So not only does Fiona have to keep her identity a secret from her new employer, but has to convince herself that she’s not going insane.
Another of these said complications comes in the form of Blair, Charlie’s ex-girlfriend who appears to be pregnant with his child and takes an instant disliking to Fiona. Honestly, this should probably be considered a spoiler, but it’s so exceedingly obvious what Blair is trying to do that it’d take an idiot not to figure it out. Basically, she’s a teenage version of Fatal Attraction. Literally. SHE LITERALLY KILLS POPPY’S HORSE SO SHE CAN BLAME IT ON FIONA. Instead of a bunny rabbit, we have a big ass horse. Go big or go home, I guess. She acts the part perfectly as well.
”’I want you to have never met him,’ she finally says, her voice breaking. ‘You’ve ruined everything. I’m the love of Charlie’s life. I’m the one he’s supposed to want. But day after day I had to watch him want you. And I couldn’t do a bloody thing about it.”
At least part of it. The ending and explanation behind all the weird actions of Blair and the castle itself is equal parts head scratching and amusing, with you either thinking the author has completely lost her mind or is some sort of mad, creative genius. I kind of went with the latter, but others may find the ending a bit laughable.
One extremely positive thing about the book was the romantical tension. OHMYGOSH the romantic tension in this book was insane! Meredith Moore sure knows how to keep a
reader desperate for more romantic scenes, longing glances and things that would generally make a romance hater run straight for a trash can to throw up in.
”’How about this? For every song you play, I’ll tell you a secret.’
‘A secret?’ I repeat clumsily. He’s still holding my hand.
‘One secret for one song. Then Maybe I won’t seem so unknowable.’”
:SWOONS GALORE:
But for those of us who hate to wait, that wait can be exceedingly unbearable. I was basically shouting at them to just admit it already!
”A soft touch on my neck shocks my eyes open, and my fingers stutter on the keys. He runs the side of his finger slowly, sensuously up my neck and into my hair, then holds a long curl between two fingers an caresses it.”
Was this book perfect? No. The ending was just a bit too Lifetime movie, and the characters were taken from a stockpile of characters with traditional traits. But was it entertaining? Hell yes. Meredith Moore is the Victoria Holt of our generation, and this twisty, romantic Scottish romance is proof positive of that. If you’re a lover of Scotland, romantic tension, and twisted mysteries, this is the book for you!
October 4, 2016
This book is awesome. Twisty, dark, creepy awesome. I loved Meredith's I Am Her Revenge last year, and Fiona is just as great.
Basically, this is a Jane Eyre retelling, with a few key twists. I'm not sure why it wasn't marketed as such. I think it might have drawn in some more readers. In any case, I loved seeing Meredith's interpretation of the classic Bronte tale. (And I've got to say I liked Charlie a lot better than Mr. Rochester.)
If you read Meredith's debut, you know that she can come up with some twisted, psychotic characters. She definitely didn't hold back here. Her villains are deliciously evil and conniving. There were also a couple twists at the end that I wasn't expecting, so that was a nice surprise.
Also, Meredith really captures the moodiness of the story in her prose, which I loved. The Scottish countryside comes alive, and reading Fiona made me want to go back to my favorite European country.
Bottom line: this is a suspenseful thriller, perfect for fans of classic gothic tales and a sweet romance. I can't wait to see what Meredith writes next!
Basically, this is a Jane Eyre retelling, with a few key twists. I'm not sure why it wasn't marketed as such. I think it might have drawn in some more readers. In any case, I loved seeing Meredith's interpretation of the classic Bronte tale. (And I've got to say I liked Charlie a lot better than Mr. Rochester.)
If you read Meredith's debut, you know that she can come up with some twisted, psychotic characters. She definitely didn't hold back here. Her villains are deliciously evil and conniving. There were also a couple twists at the end that I wasn't expecting, so that was a nice surprise.
Also, Meredith really captures the moodiness of the story in her prose, which I loved. The Scottish countryside comes alive, and reading Fiona made me want to go back to my favorite European country.
Bottom line: this is a suspenseful thriller, perfect for fans of classic gothic tales and a sweet romance. I can't wait to see what Meredith writes next!
June 19, 2017
Fiona is a riveting (though predictable) gothic read that filled my Rebecca-loving heart (I am certain author Meredith Moore is a Daphne Du Maurier fan; Fiona even chooses Rebecca as one of her many binge reads). After her mother’s death, Fiona spent years as the unwanted responsibility of her absent father’s sister. Out of nowhere, she gets an email from her mother’s childhood best friend, Lily. Lily lives in Scotland (her mother’s homeland) as an aristocrat complete with her own castle. Lily wants Fiona to move into her castle and be a nanny to her daughter, Poppy. Fiona lives in a dead-end Texas town and works in a dusty diner. She has nothing to do in Texas except dread that she will someday be afflicted with the schizophrenia that caused her mother’s death. Just when she decides to accept the position, she gets word that Lily and her husband have been killed in a car accident. Mabel, the head housekeeper of the castle (and the Mrs. Danvers of the book - another Rebecca nod), assures Fiona that she is still wanted. Interpreting the deaths as an omen (as she should), Fiona reluctantly travels to Scotland to begin her new life. The writing is filled with dreamy descriptions of fog-covered moors, cozy pubs, and ancient castle furnishings (the tapestries! the suits of armor! the LIBRARY!!!). As far as the plot goes, it’s a bit soap-opera-ish but that’s not a complaint. While trying to make friends with and take care of angry, broken-hearted Poppy, Fiona is trying to find her place in the castle among the staff including the foreboding Mabel, the distrustful young maid, Alice; and the hunky stable boy, Gareth. She also has to control her fierce crush on Poppy’s older brother, the playboy, Charlie. Especially when his ex-girlfriend, Blair, moves in after telling Charlie that she’s pregnant with his baby (GASP!). As Blair’s behavior becomes nasty and jealous toward Fiona and Mabel’s behavior toward Fiona becomes downright frightening, Fee knows it’s only a matter of time before something terrible happens. And boy, does it. I couldn’t put this one down but I’m not sure how teens will feel about it. I’m certain adults will enjoy it, though.
December 22, 2018
Fiona has grown up with stories from her mother about Scotland. She is surprised when she receives an email from her mother's wealthy friend Lily. Her mother had left Scotland to go with her irresponsible musician father to his home in Texas. When her mother dies she is left alone, since her father had deserted the family. She has been offered a position as au pair to Lily's young daughter. However, when she arrives at their castle in Scotland she finds out that Lily and her husband has been killed in an accident. She feels resentment from some of the people she encounters and she hears mysterious noises at night. However, she is attracted to her new boss, older brother of her charge and has also become fond of his sister. This is a somewhat entertaining story, but an improbable story.
June 1, 2022
tws: suicide, attempted suicide, blood, kidnapping, animal death, guns, absolutely TERRIBLE mental illness rep (specifically schizophrenia), miscarriage, gaslighting
this might have been three stars if it weren't for the fact that the mental illness rep in this was terrible to the point where i was confused as to how anyone thought it was okay. i'd write more about it but my own mental health is too bad right now to put in the effort. in general the characters were pretty cookie-cutter and not anything special, but it's a fast read if you're looking for one. (also there's the weird age gap of Fee being 18 but her LI being 22 (23?), which i understand came from it's Jane Eyre inspiration but it was very much Not Great™ imo). i'm also not entirely sure if the book had supernatural elements to it or not
this might have been three stars if it weren't for the fact that the mental illness rep in this was terrible to the point where i was confused as to how anyone thought it was okay. i'd write more about it but my own mental health is too bad right now to put in the effort. in general the characters were pretty cookie-cutter and not anything special, but it's a fast read if you're looking for one. (also there's the weird age gap of Fee being 18 but her LI being 22 (23?), which i understand came from it's Jane Eyre inspiration but it was very much Not Great™ imo). i'm also not entirely sure if the book had supernatural elements to it or not
April 17, 2020
5 stars...
This book started out slow, but after a few chapters it picked up and I didn't want to stop reading. I thought it was well written and the ending was really good. The story did read more like a New Adult vs. a Young Adult read, but that's what I really liked about it. I would recommend this one if you're looking for a mystery that will have you questioning even perhaps your own sanity. Great book, so glad I picked it up.
Content: No sex, some heated kisses
Language: very little- mild
This book started out slow, but after a few chapters it picked up and I didn't want to stop reading. I thought it was well written and the ending was really good. The story did read more like a New Adult vs. a Young Adult read, but that's what I really liked about it. I would recommend this one if you're looking for a mystery that will have you questioning even perhaps your own sanity. Great book, so glad I picked it up.
Content: No sex, some heated kisses
Language: very little- mild
May 12, 2017
I absolutely love this book!! It gives you insight into the world of schizophrenia while captivating you in a dark, suspenseful story. Highly recommended!
November 5, 2017
Review to come
October 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and hope to find more of her books
March 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this year. A love triangle, mystery, murder, castles, ghosts, mental health - it kind of covers it all. Read it in three nights - loved it.
July 18, 2020
Lovely setting and interesting plot lines with a bonus hint of cheesy romance but the horrid portrayal of mental illness ruined a lot of the book for me.
December 1, 2016
When I'd originally rated this book, I'd given it 5 stars, but after some time to think about it, I changed it to 4; though it probably doesn't deserve even that much, I did finish it in one sitting, so that must mean I found it to be interesting, right? And being that it is supposed to be loosely based on the story of Jane Eyre, I couldn't resist reading this.
Fiona, or Fee as she prefers to be called, is the Jane Eyre of this story. She is an American girl, product of a a deceased Scottish mother, and a musician father she has never known.
It's while she's living with her father's uncaring sister, and working at a restaurant just to make enough money to get out of Dodge, that she is contacted by her late mother's best friend in Scotland, Lily Mackenzie, and asked if she would like to go there and become the nanny of her daughter, Poppy. Fee accepts, and soon after makes her way to Scotland. Upon arriving, she learns that Lily and her husband have very recently died in a car accident, and her new employer is Poppy's older brother Charlie.
Nothing interesting really happens (that I can remember) until Charlie shows up, and pretty much right away you can see the chemistry between him and Fee, but obviously we had to have our Blanche Ingram counterpart in the form of Charlie's Blair, who is obviously up to no good as soon as she shows up and informs Charlie she is pregnant with his baby. Being the responsible guy he has decided to become after his parent's deaths, he gets back together with Blair. Fee is heartbroken, but attempts to move on and a lose herself in doing her job.
Of course, we can't forget that in Jane Eyre, there was the spookiness of the strange laughter at night, and the overall eeriness of Rochester's home, so in this, Fee begins to hear strange whispers at night that appears to be coming from the walls. Now Fee is left to fear the strange things that have started to plague her, all while fighting her feelings for Charlie...who also appears to be fighting his as well.
Being such a fan of Jane Eyre, I was really interested in the idea of a modern retelling, and since it was a modern take, I'll admit that I was relieved that Charlie was at least closer in age to Fee, because though the age difference may have worked in Victorian times, in these days, I can't help but think of Hugh Hefner and that just does not interest me.
Right, so Charlie shows up, and being a reformed bad boy, he seems so wonderful of a love interest, but with Crazy Blair's appearance, I grew frustrated with him. I don't think he ever went on any baby appointments with her...mostly because I don't think I remember her having any? I don't know, but either way, how disconnected must you be if you don't find it the least bit strange? I know he doesn't care about Crazy Blair like he does Fee, but since he did resign himself to being with Crazy Blair (sorry, can't think of her any other way), I feel like he should put forth some kind of effort, even if I incredibly dislike her. He's the idiot who dated her.
Now, when it comes to the whispers in the walls, Fee's reasons for not telling anyone about them is because of a secret she doesn't want to reveal, but it only makes things worse for her. These parts frustrate me as well, and I can't say I agree with the reasoning behind her need to keep silent.
Fee and Charlie, and especially Crazy Blair (!!!!) were all frustrating in their different ways, but I still did enjoy this book. I was surprised by a few things closing in on the end, which is another thing I couldn't help but like about this book.
Overall, I did like the author's interpretation of one my favorite books ever. There were a few things I could have lived without, but I ended up enjoying it enough to forgive those imperfections. I'd recommend this to any who were fans of Jane Eyre, or any who would like to read a modern, gothic romance.
Fiona, or Fee as she prefers to be called, is the Jane Eyre of this story. She is an American girl, product of a a deceased Scottish mother, and a musician father she has never known.
It's while she's living with her father's uncaring sister, and working at a restaurant just to make enough money to get out of Dodge, that she is contacted by her late mother's best friend in Scotland, Lily Mackenzie, and asked if she would like to go there and become the nanny of her daughter, Poppy. Fee accepts, and soon after makes her way to Scotland. Upon arriving, she learns that Lily and her husband have very recently died in a car accident, and her new employer is Poppy's older brother Charlie.
Nothing interesting really happens (that I can remember) until Charlie shows up, and pretty much right away you can see the chemistry between him and Fee, but obviously we had to have our Blanche Ingram counterpart in the form of Charlie's Blair, who is obviously up to no good as soon as she shows up and informs Charlie she is pregnant with his baby. Being the responsible guy he has decided to become after his parent's deaths, he gets back together with Blair. Fee is heartbroken, but attempts to move on and a lose herself in doing her job.
Of course, we can't forget that in Jane Eyre, there was the spookiness of the strange laughter at night, and the overall eeriness of Rochester's home, so in this, Fee begins to hear strange whispers at night that appears to be coming from the walls. Now Fee is left to fear the strange things that have started to plague her, all while fighting her feelings for Charlie...who also appears to be fighting his as well.
Being such a fan of Jane Eyre, I was really interested in the idea of a modern retelling, and since it was a modern take, I'll admit that I was relieved that Charlie was at least closer in age to Fee, because though the age difference may have worked in Victorian times, in these days, I can't help but think of Hugh Hefner and that just does not interest me.
Right, so Charlie shows up, and being a reformed bad boy, he seems so wonderful of a love interest, but with Crazy Blair's appearance, I grew frustrated with him. I don't think he ever went on any baby appointments with her...mostly because I don't think I remember her having any? I don't know, but either way, how disconnected must you be if you don't find it the least bit strange? I know he doesn't care about Crazy Blair like he does Fee, but since he did resign himself to being with Crazy Blair (sorry, can't think of her any other way), I feel like he should put forth some kind of effort, even if I incredibly dislike her. He's the idiot who dated her.
Now, when it comes to the whispers in the walls, Fee's reasons for not telling anyone about them is because of a secret she doesn't want to reveal, but it only makes things worse for her. These parts frustrate me as well, and I can't say I agree with the reasoning behind her need to keep silent.
Fee and Charlie, and especially Crazy Blair (!!!!) were all frustrating in their different ways, but I still did enjoy this book. I was surprised by a few things closing in on the end, which is another thing I couldn't help but like about this book.
Overall, I did like the author's interpretation of one my favorite books ever. There were a few things I could have lived without, but I ended up enjoying it enough to forgive those imperfections. I'd recommend this to any who were fans of Jane Eyre, or any who would like to read a modern, gothic romance.
April 7, 2016
When I first picked up, FIONA I was expecting a coming-of-age sort of story with mystery elements, but as I got deeper into the story it became this dark thriller that delves into the territory of mental illness, along with a heart-breaking romance. This book completely BLEW me away! It was awesome, amazing and brilliantly written! It was one of the books that lingered on my mind for hours after I finished.
The story starts off with Fiona, the main character, who is juggling with her own dark secrets and her mother’s death from years before, getting off a train station into a small village in Scotland. She just left Texas, leaving behind her best friend, Hex and her resentful mean aunt so that she could start a new life. Her mother’s best friend, Lily, who died with her husband a couple of weeks in a car crash prior to Fiona arriving in Scotland, offered her a job as au pair, nanny, to her daughter, Poppy. Once they died, Fiona thought the job fell through, but the housekeeper Mabel called her, saying she was still needed.
Once she’s off the train and waiting for her ride to the castle, she meets this mysterious guy in a pub, who she has an instant connection too. Later, we find out his name is Charlie and he’s Poppy’s older brother, the new head of the family. At the castle and as the story progresses, Fiona starts hearing weird noises and whispers that only she hears. She starts seeing shadows and figures that aren’t supposed to be there. Fiona thinks she’s going crazy, like her mother and she's afraid to tell anyone about the whispers and noises, especially Charlie, whom she’s falling for but knows their relationship couldn't work. As bad things keep happening to her, she starts looking into her mother’s family, trying to find out more about herself, while trying to prove to herself that she isn’t crazy. But maybe she is?
Haha, I loved this book! You go in thinking it’s such a simple book, but it turns into this complex thing that’s filled with mental illness, murder, secrets, ancient history, forbidden romance, suicide and so MUCH MORE.
Charlie was definitely book boyfriend material. Tall, dark, and mysterious with gorgeous green eyes that will have you enthralled for hours.
He tucks one of my wild curls behind my ear. “I looked up from the fire, and all of a sudden you were there, like I’d conjured you up. I think I couldn’t stop staring because I recognized something in you. Something I needed. I think even then I knew you were going to save me.”
I loved the relationship between him and Fiona. He did piss me off when his old gf comes back into the picture, but a part of me admired his gentlemanliness and his loyalty.
The ending was great. When I thought I could easily predict it, the author threw a curve ball and completely took me by surprise.
Overall, I really loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I was up until like 3:00 am trying to finish it because I had to know what happened next. The setting is beautifully described and makes me really *really* want to visit Scotland. The only negative things that I can say about the book was that some characters felt under developed--many of the secondary characters did. And the story had some predictable, cliched elements, but not very many. I'd still recommend this book to anyone who likes YA mysteries/thrillers and romance!
The story starts off with Fiona, the main character, who is juggling with her own dark secrets and her mother’s death from years before, getting off a train station into a small village in Scotland. She just left Texas, leaving behind her best friend, Hex and her resentful mean aunt so that she could start a new life. Her mother’s best friend, Lily, who died with her husband a couple of weeks in a car crash prior to Fiona arriving in Scotland, offered her a job as au pair, nanny, to her daughter, Poppy. Once they died, Fiona thought the job fell through, but the housekeeper Mabel called her, saying she was still needed.
Once she’s off the train and waiting for her ride to the castle, she meets this mysterious guy in a pub, who she has an instant connection too. Later, we find out his name is Charlie and he’s Poppy’s older brother, the new head of the family. At the castle and as the story progresses, Fiona starts hearing weird noises and whispers that only she hears. She starts seeing shadows and figures that aren’t supposed to be there. Fiona thinks she’s going crazy, like her mother and she's afraid to tell anyone about the whispers and noises, especially Charlie, whom she’s falling for but knows their relationship couldn't work. As bad things keep happening to her, she starts looking into her mother’s family, trying to find out more about herself, while trying to prove to herself that she isn’t crazy. But maybe she is?
Haha, I loved this book! You go in thinking it’s such a simple book, but it turns into this complex thing that’s filled with mental illness, murder, secrets, ancient history, forbidden romance, suicide and so MUCH MORE.
Charlie was definitely book boyfriend material. Tall, dark, and mysterious with gorgeous green eyes that will have you enthralled for hours.
He tucks one of my wild curls behind my ear. “I looked up from the fire, and all of a sudden you were there, like I’d conjured you up. I think I couldn’t stop staring because I recognized something in you. Something I needed. I think even then I knew you were going to save me.”
I loved the relationship between him and Fiona. He did piss me off when his old gf comes back into the picture, but a part of me admired his gentlemanliness and his loyalty.
The ending was great. When I thought I could easily predict it, the author threw a curve ball and completely took me by surprise.
Overall, I really loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I was up until like 3:00 am trying to finish it because I had to know what happened next. The setting is beautifully described and makes me really *really* want to visit Scotland. The only negative things that I can say about the book was that some characters felt under developed--many of the secondary characters did. And the story had some predictable, cliched elements, but not very many. I'd still recommend this book to anyone who likes YA mysteries/thrillers and romance!
November 1, 2017
Link: https://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/2...
This was honestly one of the quickest read I have stumbled upon recently. Despite it being a relatively thick book, the writing style and the prose made it a very easy and fast read. It was incredibly easy for me to get into the story with the various characters and that hint of something just not quite right.
The buildup for the book was great – I think the author did a fabulous job because there was always just that hint of something peculiar going on but you’re just not sure what exactly. There were whispers in the night, random scents in the hallways that reminded Fiona of her long-dead mother, food that tasted exactly how her mother used to make it, etc. And then there was, of course, people in the household who just obviously wanted Fiona to be gone or worse. It was all just a little odd so I kept reading because I really wanted to know what was going on. So because the book kept me on my toes and kept my interest piquing, I thought the layout and the overall flow of the story was great.
However, the one thing that was lacking in this book was the characters. Fiona, the main character, wasn’t particularly easy to relate to. Clearly, with all the weird things that was happening to her, she, understandably, thought she was going crazy. However, it didn’t help that she would sometimes freak out over nothing and it only made her seem crazier by the second. I found her sometimes a little helpless but then she would stand up for herself so it made her seem like she was very wishy-washy. It was as if she couldn’t make up her mind to whether or not to defend herself. So it was easy for others to bully her but then sometimes she would speak up and it was like this weird game of tug of war.
The other characters, Charlie, Poppy, Blair, Mabs, etc. were all a bit on the secondary side and they all had some weird-ass quirks. For example, Charlie was pretty much the teenage version of like…Mr. Darcy or something. Super moody, intense, etc. Poppy was the stereotypical pre-teen girl who pretends to hate the world but secretly adores her brother and everyone else. Also, she’s a little too trusting IMO. As for Blair, Mabs and the rest of the staff – you’ll need to read this book to really find out. Anything I say about them will almost certainly spoil the book.
While I enjoyed the buildup and the overall plot itself, I was seriously disappointed at the ending. I was expecting some intense climax and when reality hit, I was so upset that it ended up not being that big of a deal. I was expecting something like “OMG” when in reality, it was more like “oh…okay…” So definitely a little disappointed on that front.
Another thing I didn’t really understand was the relationship or romantic tension between Fiona and Charlie. I just didn’t really see any sparks between them and thought it was just a little strange, to be honest. The only time I thought their “relationship” was cute was the whole music and a secret thing. Otherwise it was very much like a random relationship that was forced into the book.
Overall, despite the fact that I was disappointed with the climax of the story, I still thought that the general book was great. I finished it with a high feeling and would still recommend it to others.
This was honestly one of the quickest read I have stumbled upon recently. Despite it being a relatively thick book, the writing style and the prose made it a very easy and fast read. It was incredibly easy for me to get into the story with the various characters and that hint of something just not quite right.
The buildup for the book was great – I think the author did a fabulous job because there was always just that hint of something peculiar going on but you’re just not sure what exactly. There were whispers in the night, random scents in the hallways that reminded Fiona of her long-dead mother, food that tasted exactly how her mother used to make it, etc. And then there was, of course, people in the household who just obviously wanted Fiona to be gone or worse. It was all just a little odd so I kept reading because I really wanted to know what was going on. So because the book kept me on my toes and kept my interest piquing, I thought the layout and the overall flow of the story was great.
However, the one thing that was lacking in this book was the characters. Fiona, the main character, wasn’t particularly easy to relate to. Clearly, with all the weird things that was happening to her, she, understandably, thought she was going crazy. However, it didn’t help that she would sometimes freak out over nothing and it only made her seem crazier by the second. I found her sometimes a little helpless but then she would stand up for herself so it made her seem like she was very wishy-washy. It was as if she couldn’t make up her mind to whether or not to defend herself. So it was easy for others to bully her but then sometimes she would speak up and it was like this weird game of tug of war.
The other characters, Charlie, Poppy, Blair, Mabs, etc. were all a bit on the secondary side and they all had some weird-ass quirks. For example, Charlie was pretty much the teenage version of like…Mr. Darcy or something. Super moody, intense, etc. Poppy was the stereotypical pre-teen girl who pretends to hate the world but secretly adores her brother and everyone else. Also, she’s a little too trusting IMO. As for Blair, Mabs and the rest of the staff – you’ll need to read this book to really find out. Anything I say about them will almost certainly spoil the book.
While I enjoyed the buildup and the overall plot itself, I was seriously disappointed at the ending. I was expecting some intense climax and when reality hit, I was so upset that it ended up not being that big of a deal. I was expecting something like “OMG” when in reality, it was more like “oh…okay…” So definitely a little disappointed on that front.
Another thing I didn’t really understand was the relationship or romantic tension between Fiona and Charlie. I just didn’t really see any sparks between them and thought it was just a little strange, to be honest. The only time I thought their “relationship” was cute was the whole music and a secret thing. Otherwise it was very much like a random relationship that was forced into the book.
Overall, despite the fact that I was disappointed with the climax of the story, I still thought that the general book was great. I finished it with a high feeling and would still recommend it to others.
February 13, 2017
I liked the setting and the overall concept, but some things, such as the writing style and harmful portrayal of mental illness, really made it hard for me to enjoy this book.
February 17, 2016
Being a fan of Meredith Moore's previous book I Am Her Revenge, I couldn't wait to devour this follow-up to the teen novel. The author sure doesn't disappoint. Fiona has everything in regards to homages done in reverence to classical novellas. Like in I Am Her Revenge which is basically Mommy Dearest meets Fatal Attraction mixed with a psychotic version of Miss Havisham and a doormat Estella from Great Expectations, Fiona basically throws in all the elements of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, and madwoman Bertha from Jane Eyre. Stir in a pot of teen angst and soap opera elements and you have fun page turning mystery. It's a complete wild ride for teens who like dark mysteries.
July 15, 2016
Fiona doesn't have anyone or anything left for her in Texas so she jumps at the opportunity to be a nanny for her late mother's friend in an old Scottish castle. But not even thing is not what seems. Is the castle haunted or is someone plotting against her.
I liked this book. I did however it all felt a little obvious. The character were good and Moore did a really good job of creating mood and setting. My problem with the story was the mystery. The basic plot felt very obvious. It took every expected plot point and there wasn't any twist or surprises. It a good book but I just didn't think that it was a great mystery.
I liked this book. I did however it all felt a little obvious. The character were good and Moore did a really good job of creating mood and setting. My problem with the story was the mystery. The basic plot felt very obvious. It took every expected plot point and there wasn't any twist or surprises. It a good book but I just didn't think that it was a great mystery.
October 5, 2018
I've never read Rebecca, so this was relatively new to me. I'm somewhat familiar with the story though so nothing was really a big surprise.
Fiona goes to Scotland to be a nanny to Poppy whose parents have died. Poppy's mom was friends with Fiona's mom. There is a handsome brother who has his own entanglements. Fiona's mom had schizophrenia and she's worried that she will have it too. Enter voices in the night, shadowy figures, a scheming fiancee and you have the makings of this mystery story.
Fiona goes to Scotland to be a nanny to Poppy whose parents have died. Poppy's mom was friends with Fiona's mom. There is a handsome brother who has his own entanglements. Fiona's mom had schizophrenia and she's worried that she will have it too. Enter voices in the night, shadowy figures, a scheming fiancee and you have the makings of this mystery story.
May 19, 2016
This was a great psychological thriller.
Fiona is a girl who moves to Scotland to take care of the daughter of her mother's friend.
Then begins a story filled with ghosts, twists and turns, and great characters.
The only reason I didn't give it a five star is because it did drag at some points.
Fiona is a girl who moves to Scotland to take care of the daughter of her mother's friend.
Then begins a story filled with ghosts, twists and turns, and great characters.
The only reason I didn't give it a five star is because it did drag at some points.
August 11, 2016
I read this book in one day and overall I enjoyed it - barely a 4 star. I love really dark mental books and this story was not as dark as I was expecting or wanted. However, there were parts that had me thinking if the whole story was in Fiona's head. Had to finish the book to find out. Honestly, the downer for me with this story was the ending. Too perfect, too predictable.
April 18, 2016
A very entertaining and compelling novel written by a friend.
April 19, 2016
Enthralling story, didn't want to put it down.
September 3, 2016
I LOVED this book!! Beautiful writing, likable characters, LOVED the setting. This is an author to watch! More books, please!
November 10, 2016
Excellent! One of my favorites! The closest to an old-fashioned gothic mystery you can get these days!
December 9, 2016
Even though this book was realistic fiction, I still really liked it. I didn't see the twist coming!
May 4, 2016
I wish there were more!
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