Aurora Davis, expert crocheter, lives an ordinary life… until a mysterious crochet shawl appears at the store where she works, Yarn Emporium. The Briars and Roses Shawl, which claimed the life of its previous owner, pulls Auri under its spell. Unable to stop crocheting, she embarks on a quest to break the curse.Catherine Bishop has a hard enough time fighting her OCD every day without a curse being thrown into the mix. But when her beloved grandmother dies, Cat suspects there’s something more to her death. Her investigation leads her to Auri… whom she’s been crushing on for months.Auri and Cat plunge into a magical world where ancient curses tangle together and faeries seek revenge. As they navigate Feylinn and their blossoming romance, it soon becomes clear that Auri is in serious danger… and her life isn’t the only one at stake.
Claire Olivia Golden likes books, yarn, and the Oxford comma. She graduated summa cum laude from Portland State University with a B.A. in French and English and is an author and fiber artist. Claire lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their cats Persephone and Eleanor.
Hello uh I wrote this one and it has a little piece of my soul. It's an #ownvoices story about faeries, OCD, and figuring out who you are, and there are pigeons and crochet. I hope you will connect with Cat and Auri's story and that this book will give you a little bit of escape.
Unraveled was originally published by Gurt Dog Press in December 2020. It's being rereleased by Fractured Mirror Publishing in March 2025 with a new cover and edits!
Content Note: This book contains mental health prejudice, anxiety, OCD, depression, suicide (off-page), mention of domestic abuse, and possibly more.
Can I give 6 stars? Because this book deserves more 🌟 TL;DR review: The mental illness rep in this book was so good. Seriously. Same for the queer aspect and coming out. Some bits really made me go 🙈 but in a good way (I laughed a lot). The magic and faeries part felt so genuine, so natural, it was a bliss to read. And the crochet? Refreshing! And while I have zero skill (I tried as a kid/teen), this book makes me want to try it again.
Longer, more in-depth review:
On mental illness: It talks about OCD mostly, because the MC Cat has that, but there is also mention of depression and suicide. There were several instances where the discussions reminded me of my own therapy sessions, and it was so nice to see similar conversation in a book ♥ Auri's reaction to Cat having OCD was one of support, genuine interest, and caring. There was no judgement and it really made me want to hug the characters--and the book--close. The way it spoke of suicide was also refreshing.
On LGBTQ+: Auri's brother comes out as gay pretty early in the book and in such a way you can't help but laugh and find it cute. Auri is left wondering how she could've missed it--which really makes it even funnier because she has yet to realise her own orientation. This happens later in the book and in such a way I exclaimed out loud because of the situation (you'll understand once you read the book and you get there). There is one character who has doubts about being accepted for who they are, but there is nothing but acceptance in this book ♥ It's so lovely and made me very happy.
On magic and fey: The magical side of this book was of a kind I had never seen before. A cursed shawl? But it was so well-done and I just loved the uniqueness as it really helped make this book that more special and stand out ♥ (And it also makes you want to crochet your own curse-free version of this magical shawl.) Every chapter is headed by a little quote of a book on faeries and at first I thought this was an actual, published book. It took me probably a lot longer than it'll take most to realise those are snippets from a book within the Unraveled universe. The snippets really added to the lore and the feel/atmosphere of the entire world. (And also, I now want to make a faerie garden again and practise magic...)
On style: The book is in first person and switches between Auri and Cat every chapter. Normally, I find switching POVs like that confusing, but it was well-done and even once the characters are together, it was easy to keep up in whose head you were in that chapter. Every chapter notes which character's POV you will be reading, and has either a ball of yarn or a little faerie bottle, which not only looks pretty, but also makes it even easier to know whose POV you'll be reading. Because the book is in first person, you get to experience the inner turmoil even better. This was especially nice for Cat, as it helped give a that much better insight into her OCD.
Final notes: I loved this book and would rate it 6 stars if I could. I think this story demonstrates just how important OWN VOICES are, because I seriously doubt anyone not having had the same struggles as Cat could have written her this well. I also think this book needs to be read to help spread more awareness about mental illness, and those suffering from them--even if they don't have OCD but something else--can find solace within the pages of this book. So thank you Claire for writing this and sharing it with the world ♥ I'm certain it'll help a lot of people.
I really enjoyed this book. It started really sweet but then did take a dark turn, however the author handled this with so much care and among all the horror that is life and loss, there were still so many sweet and funny moments. I loved the relationship between Auri and Cat and their time in this magical kingdom was such an adventure. I felt like a child again, living life through a fairytale! Particularly loved little Jack! That was fun.
Cat was extremely relatable too. This book focuses heavily on her mental health struggles and it was so realistic and probably one of the best representations of this particular struggle that I've ever read. I appreciated that it was always mentioned because this is exactly how it is! It doesn't go away even when you're among the fairies!
Despite the heavy themes, this book really fits in the lovely and cosy category! It hits all the emotions. That conversation with grandma towards the end did make me tear up, but I was back smiling by the end.
I also loved all the comments / quotes at the beginning of each chapter about fairies and such.
A very nuanced take on OCD and Mental Health weaved enticingly with lore and Fantasy!
I immediately fell in love with the setting, cause I love these cosy settings. Like small towns, seaside villages, etc. And the Yarn Emporium has a very cosy comfy vibe.
So the setting of the first half was just... Chef's kiss!
Auri and Cat are both characters I somehow related to even though I don't have clinical OCD or Anxiety. But the way Claire has written them, you intrinsically grasp mammoth mental problems without too much mental gymnastics.
Grandma was... Let's just say I was shocked and angry when she died. Shocked because it came out of the blue. And angry because I didn't want her to die. I wanted Grandma to teach me more about the Faeries.
Yarn emporium reminded me of something out of Harry Potter, uniquely memorable and beautifully realised.
I loved how Grandma's funeral and gave us a glimpse into how ignorance can lead to the exacerbation of many mental illnesses. It is all in my head... But that's the freaking point!!! I can't just switch it off and on! It is an actual illness a disease. And how clueless and just plain idiotic Cat's family was made me wanna strangle people... But it also gave a very good look into why mental illness is so misunderstood.
Now the Shawl... Believe it or not, I've done crocheting (very little, I made a scarf) when I was in my early teens. I've forgotten everything, but I know the feeling of wanting to knit. So even though that urge was nowhere near the urge of the Briars and Roses shawl I know how cool it feels to see you create some tangible from just thread and a needle. The Shawl was a very good vehicle to make people understand the concept of compulsion.
Now to the post-interval turn of events and just bizarre turn that the story took from the kidnapping to the Well... Wellll that's a way to turn the whole world upside down, isn't it??? At first, I was a bit discombobulated, especially because my expectations were subverted when Auri turned out to be a Fae and not Cat!
But then hemlock entered and I had another thing to fixate on. Even though their role was only that of escorting Auri to the Palace. I kinda loved their Groot like presence.
So I liked the second half, but I have a very small criticism and it's very subjective and I've come to realise it'd just ruin the book if the author listened to me.
I wanted a bit more meat on the world-building bones of The Fae world. Not a lot, but a bit more, maybe I wanted to see more mythical creatures and a little more of the breathtaking awe. But that's because I've been spoiled silly by reading a lot of high fantasy books in my teens.
But doing that would've taken away from the most important aspect of the whole story and I'll come to that soon. But first, I liked the take on fairy tales and curses being real and being a source of energy for the world to survive on. Jack and the beanstalk, Rapunzel, added a sense of familiarity to the story.
Now on to what is at the centre of this story, our couple... They are the perfect examples of how you treat a person who is going through mental problems. They also show the apprehension, the anxiety one feels when they aren't sure how to proceed. Yet, even if they don't know what storm is brewing in someone's mind, they won't shy away or abandon each other. So the way Auri Handles Cat's OCD is sweet to the core and I love it!
What I also loved was how much emphasis was given to the exploration of their sexuality. We knew they both were into each other, long before they let their selves realise that and the part with the Sirens at the Aethelney river was such a great example of being forced to come out and break privacy. It happens and it's real.
They both are considerate towards each other so much but never in an overly cheesy or corny way. It adds a lot of value to the overall read.
But after finishing it... I felt good, I felt satisfied, I felt like I've read something that'll stay with me for a long, long time. After reading it and thinking about it for few days. I've come to a conclusion...
The story isn't about the climax, it isn't about the flash at the end and the small glimpse we catch of Grandma. The book isn't about unravelling the secret of the Fae world, and its intricacies. It's much much different and difficult. It is the unravelling of the human mind and its intricacies through the beautiful art of storytelling.
Somehow, Claire has done that without being a psychiatrist/psychologist or a therapist... She has picked up on nuances(from personal experiences no doubt) and presented them in such an easy to understand and digest way.
10/10 phenomenally enjoyable read and would recommend to my friends!
Aptly titled and highly imaginative, this magical debut novel unravels concepts of love, self-doubt, expectations, and happily-ever-after. Main characters Auri and Cat are brought together by, of all things, a cursed crochet shawl. Desperate to break the curse before it claims another victim, they travel to a dying fairy land where they must overcome much more than their captors. Navigating this truly foreign world, they confront personal loss and physical challenges. They battle doing what works with doing what's right. And they do so while dealing with personal demons in the midst of a blossoming romance. In order to save this fantasy world from the brink of disaster, it will take courage and selflessness that not even Auri or Cat could have expected. Packed with excitement, empathy, inventiveness, and identification on every page, Unraveled will have you hooked.
So excited to have gotten the chance to read this before the publication. Thank you to Gurt Dog Press and the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book came at a good time for me! I always get back into knitting and crocheting around the holidays, so there was nothing better than working on a sweater while reading about cursed crocheting projects. I found myself loving both of the main characters. Cat and Auri are both relatable and unique in their own ways. Cat has OCD and I appreciated how it was explained so that we understood what was happening, but the book was not about her “overcoming” her mental illness or hiding it from those she loved. There is also sapphic rep, which was done perfectly!
Not only did this book have fantastic representation, it had a great storyline. The characters are all interconnected and their relationships are believable. I found it a little confusing when they discovered that faeries were actually real and some of the worldbuilding there, but overall it was done well and I liked the way that the author put her own twist on the themes that we see in fairytales.
Overall, this is a fantastic read, and I hope that you get a chance to check it out.
I’ve never reviewed a book on goodreads before but I just had to contribute to the hype train a little.
This is a fantastic book. It’s relatable for the target audience but can appeal to a wide age range, and the mental illness rep makes it pretty informative, as an added bonus. It’s humorous and lighthearted at times, but you get attached to the characters in a way that makes you feel for them every time they struggle. The main characters, Cat and Auri, have very distinct and likable voices, and you can see their development as characters throughout the book. Also their friendship develops realistically and it’s very well paced.
Go read this book. And the sequel whenever it comes out, I’m already looking forward to it.
An inviting story with characters that drew me in, instantly. I really liked the perspectives shown here. I loved the way the story genuinely surprised me as far as where the story was going. I’m not a knitter so some of that stuff went over my head but don’t worry if you’re not. It doesn’t make the story any less interesting or understandable. It’s just interesting texture into a world I don’t know much about.
Delighted for the opportunity to review this work before publication. As a parent to a child with OCD, there are many relatable elements that are woven into a cozy and ethereal world of fantasy. I honour the author's ability to weave in an LGBTQ character into the mix in a meaningful way. I also appreciated the way the OCD was framed: "But people with OCD…their brain can't filter out the icky thoughts like people without OCD. So we fixate on them. And we do compulsions to make them go away." This invites the reader to consider that if they are battling with this condition, they are not their thoughts.
One of my Favourite books! absolutely FANTASTIC!! a sort of John Green meet Rainbow Rowell vibe:) Claire Golden did amazing. I loved every bit of this book from the characters, to the plot, to the fantasy universe Golden created for all of us- I felt like I was apart of this book. amazing, truly a masterpiece!
This book was so wonderful and so sweet! A cute sapphic romance with adventure started by a craft project. Along with having a soft spot for the part of the main plot revolving around crochet, I also fell in love with the characters. Auri and Cat were so sweet and I couldn't help but root for them through the whole thing. And Auri's process of figuring out she's bi was relatable, minus the fantastic setting. When you haven't figured out your bi yet, and you just REALLY want to be that girl's BEST friend. Yeah, the whole thing was highly relatable in the sweetest way.
This book has a rather dark beginning, starting pretty early on with the suicide of Cat's grandmother. Cat also has OCD which is an own voices portrayal by the author. This book was cute, but I think it was also amazing in that it didn't skirt around the very real issues of depression, OCD, and grief. Golden did a wonderful job of outlining what OCD is and is NOT in this book without taking you out of the story. Cat has OCD, it's part of her life, it also doesn't define her, and she's not miraculously cured by the end either.
I definitely recommend this one if you want a sapphic fantasy adventure with crochet at it's center that also does the important work of breaking down painful mental health stereotypes! Definitely pick up a copy of Unraveled which is available now on Barnes & Noble and Amazon!
I received a digital copy of this book from B Proud PR and the author as part of my participation in their tour. ____________
Representation: lesbian MC, bi MC, MC with OCD, gay SC, non-binary SC
Content Warnings: suicide, death of a parent, kidnapping, fantasy violence, drugging
Really enjoyed this super cute fairy tale retelling. I absolutely adore when modern stories pull from legends, myths, and fairy tales, but puts that twist on it by bringing in diversity and representation that we so desperately need more of in media. As someone who experiences similar mental health struggles to the characters, I found those parts refreshing. And I fell absolutely in love with Feylin, and would love to know more about that world. Hard to say why without adding spoilers.
A great read for anyone looking for a light hearted romance that doesn’t shy away from the real world, yet nicely balances the fine line between too whimsical and too serious.
I have just finished "Unraveled," and I want to thank you for this book. I think that the literature is the best and maybe the only way to make people aware of mental issues. What did I know about OCD before? Only what was written on Wikipedia. This information is also helpful, of course, but it doesn't touch my heart. I could feel and understand almost nothing about the inner world of person with OCD. And after reading your book I did
If you liked Fablehaven and Sisters Grimm, you'll like Unraveled. I would categorize it as a YA novel. Oh, and if you like needle crafts, this book will hit home. There is even a pattern for the cursed shawl at the end of the book. This is Golden's first book and I am sure she will write another. Congratulations, Claire!
What a whimsical and heartfelt adventure! The mental heath rep was done so well and I enjoyed learning about crocheting while on a fantastical journey.
A cosy sapphic fae story, with OCD and anxiety rep, plus realistic depictions of the addictive power of crochet! Great for readers who like to be transported by portal fantasy.