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The Last Beautiful Girl
BLACK MIRROR meets Darcy Coates in this exploration of the dangerous, dark side of beauty in the digital age, with a gothic, haunted-house setting.
When Izzy is dragged from Brooklyn to a tiny town for her parents' new job, she's not thrilled. The silver lining is the gorgeous old mansion she's moved into: the former home of an artist's muse who died tragically in a fire. But the house has its quirks: whole floors are closed off, paintings are covered up, and cell reception is nonexistent.
Izzy throws herself into starting an Instagram fashion account using the gowns and jewelry she finds hidden away in the house. She looks perfect in the photos--almost unnaturally perfect--and they quickly go viral. Soon she's got a new best friend, a potential boyfriend, and is surrounded by a group of girls who want the photoshoots and fame for themselves. But there's a darkness in the house, and a darkness growing in Izzy, too. When girls start dying, it's clear that something--or someone--in the house is growing in power, with deadly intentions.
When Izzy is dragged from Brooklyn to a tiny town for her parents' new job, she's not thrilled. The silver lining is the gorgeous old mansion she's moved into: the former home of an artist's muse who died tragically in a fire. But the house has its quirks: whole floors are closed off, paintings are covered up, and cell reception is nonexistent.
Izzy throws herself into starting an Instagram fashion account using the gowns and jewelry she finds hidden away in the house. She looks perfect in the photos--almost unnaturally perfect--and they quickly go viral. Soon she's got a new best friend, a potential boyfriend, and is surrounded by a group of girls who want the photoshoots and fame for themselves. But there's a darkness in the house, and a darkness growing in Izzy, too. When girls start dying, it's clear that something--or someone--in the house is growing in power, with deadly intentions.
348 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 12, 2022
Oh boy! Of course this breathtaking cover and blurb tells us this story is something between scary Darcy Coates stories and Black Mirror episodes sealed the deal! I was sold at first sight!
The opening was good: introducing sixteen year old, promising drama student Izzy who is not so pleased to leave big city life for moving to a small town. As a constellation price they start living in a big mansion where a muse of artist died tragically.
The spooky vibes are already lurking around the place! Their not so dreamy house has no cell reception and needs a lot of restoration! But thankfully Izzy finds a better hobby: the jewelry and old gowns she finds in the house can be so resourceful to boost her fashion insta account. This virtual popularity also helps her to find new friends, even a hot boyfriend. But something in the house haunts her. A darkness uncontrollably starts growing inside of her. She starts changing, turning into someone dangerous as people start to die!
Scary side effects of social media is realistically discussed in this book. That’s why we’re getting some Black Mirror vibes. But it’s not a mind blowing, shocking horror novel as it’s implied ( at least there is no resemblance of Darcy Coates stories which are fascinatingly scary)
I think this book is much more retelling of Picture of Dorian Gray. The plot’s pacing and direction have so many similarities and the mysterious death of muse who has been portrayed on several canvases at the house gives you the impression you’re reading a haunted house and ghost story. Only the difference is the social media is also thrown into the equation.
It was not spectacular but okay read for me. I was planning to give more stars but I found the ending a little abrupt with plot holes and so I stick with three solid stars.
It was still interesting, creative, modern approach to the classic story. I actually enjoyed some parts which made me want to read more works of the author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The opening was good: introducing sixteen year old, promising drama student Izzy who is not so pleased to leave big city life for moving to a small town. As a constellation price they start living in a big mansion where a muse of artist died tragically.
The spooky vibes are already lurking around the place! Their not so dreamy house has no cell reception and needs a lot of restoration! But thankfully Izzy finds a better hobby: the jewelry and old gowns she finds in the house can be so resourceful to boost her fashion insta account. This virtual popularity also helps her to find new friends, even a hot boyfriend. But something in the house haunts her. A darkness uncontrollably starts growing inside of her. She starts changing, turning into someone dangerous as people start to die!
Scary side effects of social media is realistically discussed in this book. That’s why we’re getting some Black Mirror vibes. But it’s not a mind blowing, shocking horror novel as it’s implied ( at least there is no resemblance of Darcy Coates stories which are fascinatingly scary)
I think this book is much more retelling of Picture of Dorian Gray. The plot’s pacing and direction have so many similarities and the mysterious death of muse who has been portrayed on several canvases at the house gives you the impression you’re reading a haunted house and ghost story. Only the difference is the social media is also thrown into the equation.
It was not spectacular but okay read for me. I was planning to give more stars but I found the ending a little abrupt with plot holes and so I stick with three solid stars.
It was still interesting, creative, modern approach to the classic story. I actually enjoyed some parts which made me want to read more works of the author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
July 12, 2024
The Last Beautiful Girl was a solidly okay read. Nothing outstanding. It very much read like perhaps this author’s first book? The blurb compares it to Black Mirror, but I didn’t quite feel like that comparison was accurate apart from it revolving around the darker side of the internet. I suppose this was more like a modern-day retelling of Dorian Grey (one of my favourite books of all time) for the social-media-age. The main character even references that book early on in this story. I really wanted to enjoy this one more because of the creepy, haunted-house setting!
Is social media fame all its cracked up to be for the main character, Izzy? She suddenly starts going viral online after posting in some gowns and jewellery she found in an old Manor House she has moved into with her family. She suddenly gets a new best friend and a new love interest, things seem to be going well for her as the new kid. But, will the darkness that’s inside this old house, grow inside Izzy too?
3 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Is social media fame all its cracked up to be for the main character, Izzy? She suddenly starts going viral online after posting in some gowns and jewellery she found in an old Manor House she has moved into with her family. She suddenly gets a new best friend and a new love interest, things seem to be going well for her as the new kid. But, will the darkness that’s inside this old house, grow inside Izzy too?
3 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 10, 2021
Decadent and eerie. Perfect spooky season read!
October 14, 2021
I seriously need from publishing houses to stop misleading us with their book comparations. This story does not resemble Black Mirror one bit and that was the main reason I was excited to read it. (Well, that and the absolutely breathtaking cover.)
Overall, The Last Beautiful Girl was decent. I'm a sucker for a creepy, old house in a creepy, small town settings. The writing was also nice.
The characters, not so much.
Which might be why I didn't care what happened to them in the end.
Not that the ending would impress me either way—it felt rushed and, even though you could tell the author tried her best to make it intense and scary, it felt like a Scooby Doo episode. (Okay, maybe not that childish, but it definitely read like a children's "horror" book...or worse, it reminded me of the laughable Mexican Gothic ending.)
As for the story in general, I feel like the idea was interesting but execution fell somewhat flat. I wasn't spooked, I wasn't really intrigued, the story bits I was actually curious about let me down.
On a positive note, this book was a fast read and I might read author's future work.
Overall, The Last Beautiful Girl was decent. I'm a sucker for a creepy, old house in a creepy, small town settings. The writing was also nice.
The characters, not so much.
Which might be why I didn't care what happened to them in the end.
Not that the ending would impress me either way—it felt rushed and, even though you could tell the author tried her best to make it intense and scary, it felt like a Scooby Doo episode. (Okay, maybe not that childish, but it definitely read like a children's "horror" book...or worse, it reminded me of the laughable Mexican Gothic ending.)
As for the story in general, I feel like the idea was interesting but execution fell somewhat flat. I wasn't spooked, I wasn't really intrigued, the story bits I was actually curious about let me down.
On a positive note, this book was a fast read and I might read author's future work.
October 31, 2021
fun premise, delivered like a mid 2000s/early 2010s ya paranormal romance and featuring a protagonist who's definitely "not like other girls" and everyone who isn't her is just a vapid airhead. last decade called and it wants its internalized misogyny back
July 12, 2021
I loved this book!!
I can understand completely why some people didn't like it, and I do think there were some things that weren't explained too well, some characters that knew more than they maybe should, or appeared out of nowhere. I don't think this book is perfect, but I still LOVED it!!
The MC is unlikeable throughout the whole book, but her development with the stuff that happens to her was perfect to me.
The spookiness level kept increasing until the end, which was super fast paced and creepy.
It had a lot of what I loved in Horrid (the spooky vibes, haunted house) and it didn't fall in the trap that some others fell for me, of becoming a fantasy book (obviously it has speculative elements, but it's a thriller/horror, not a fantasy).
I definitely recommend it, I hope more people will love it too!!
I can understand completely why some people didn't like it, and I do think there were some things that weren't explained too well, some characters that knew more than they maybe should, or appeared out of nowhere. I don't think this book is perfect, but I still LOVED it!!
The MC is unlikeable throughout the whole book, but her development with the stuff that happens to her was perfect to me.
The spookiness level kept increasing until the end, which was super fast paced and creepy.
It had a lot of what I loved in Horrid (the spooky vibes, haunted house) and it didn't fall in the trap that some others fell for me, of becoming a fantasy book (obviously it has speculative elements, but it's a thriller/horror, not a fantasy).
I definitely recommend it, I hope more people will love it too!!
April 13, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Last Beautiful Girl in exchange for an honest review.
While I think The Last Beautiful Girl was an interesting idea, I think it was missing a not of nuance that was really, really needed to execute this properly. The book's description starts with a comparison to Black Mirror which is inevitably going to let down readers because Black Mirror is known for how good it is at subtlety revealing plot clues until it all comes together for a shocking reveal. There's also not really a "mystery" or reveal here at all. It's made very clear from the get-go what's going on (including a lot of heavy-handed scenes where Isa literally points out to the reader that a thought she just had seemed to come from someone else) which makes what could have been a really interesting decent into apparent madness and obsession a lot less interesting to read.
While I think The Last Beautiful Girl was an interesting idea, I think it was missing a not of nuance that was really, really needed to execute this properly. The book's description starts with a comparison to Black Mirror which is inevitably going to let down readers because Black Mirror is known for how good it is at subtlety revealing plot clues until it all comes together for a shocking reveal. There's also not really a "mystery" or reveal here at all. It's made very clear from the get-go what's going on (including a lot of heavy-handed scenes where Isa literally points out to the reader that a thought she just had seemed to come from someone else) which makes what could have been a really interesting decent into apparent madness and obsession a lot less interesting to read.
August 22, 2022
I’m getting tired of old people writing YA books, because they are seriously out of touch.
1. I kid you not, a popular girl at school has ballet flats from Milan that everyone is jealous of. No one wears ballet flats anymore. Further, the protagonist wears MISMATCHING CONVERSE on the first day at a new school and has the audacity to look down on what other people are wearing. Teenagers don’t wear mismatching converse in high school.
2. They use “hashtag,” “TBH,” and other internet slang that makes no sense within the context of human dialogue. Internet speak is not how teenagers talk in real life, and the fact it’s completely unironic makes it even worse.
3. The action scenes of this book are so boring and awfully written.
4. This book goes on and on and on without any good reason.
5. Characters are very one dimensional and I didn’t leave this book caring about a single one of them. Even the “heartthrob” guy is boring and doesn’t have a physical description to match. What the hell?
6. Why is this book marketed as “Black Mirror-esque” when it has NOTHING to do with anything that Black Mirror is about? It’s not science fiction, it’s not dystopian. It’s a crappy gothic book that doesn’t even dive deeply into the historical implications of the ghost antagonist or the environmental setting. Seriously bad work here. If you’re looking for a genuine new gothic book, I would recommend Mexican Gothic over this trash.
7. full of plot holes and really convenient bits that are added out of nowhere. Parents out of town out of nowhere, Nick Swain’s dead cousin never fully explored, Eve is so hot and cold that I couldn’t even tell she was a genuine friend until the last few chapters, the theater aspect of the book is so half-assed, Alexa just dies and her body is old? what? Am I supposed to presume that Isabella sucks out her soul for vitality or something?
Lazy writing, I will never trust barnes & noble blind date with a book ever again. waste of money
1. I kid you not, a popular girl at school has ballet flats from Milan that everyone is jealous of. No one wears ballet flats anymore. Further, the protagonist wears MISMATCHING CONVERSE on the first day at a new school and has the audacity to look down on what other people are wearing. Teenagers don’t wear mismatching converse in high school.
2. They use “hashtag,” “TBH,” and other internet slang that makes no sense within the context of human dialogue. Internet speak is not how teenagers talk in real life, and the fact it’s completely unironic makes it even worse.
3. The action scenes of this book are so boring and awfully written.
4. This book goes on and on and on without any good reason.
5. Characters are very one dimensional and I didn’t leave this book caring about a single one of them. Even the “heartthrob” guy is boring and doesn’t have a physical description to match. What the hell?
6. Why is this book marketed as “Black Mirror-esque” when it has NOTHING to do with anything that Black Mirror is about? It’s not science fiction, it’s not dystopian. It’s a crappy gothic book that doesn’t even dive deeply into the historical implications of the ghost antagonist or the environmental setting. Seriously bad work here. If you’re looking for a genuine new gothic book, I would recommend Mexican Gothic over this trash.
7. full of plot holes and really convenient bits that are added out of nowhere. Parents out of town out of nowhere, Nick Swain’s dead cousin never fully explored, Eve is so hot and cold that I couldn’t even tell she was a genuine friend until the last few chapters, the theater aspect of the book is so half-assed, Alexa just dies and her body is old? what? Am I supposed to presume that Isabella sucks out her soul for vitality or something?
Lazy writing, I will never trust barnes & noble blind date with a book ever again. waste of money
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2023
beautiful cover, mediocre story, and the "darcy coates meets black mirror" pitch is such an overstatement lol. there were some creepy parts & i def wanna read Dorian Grey now, but im really glad im done with this book
July 11, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Beautiful Girl started off pretty interestingly. Especially after meeting Izzy, the main character, who isn't pleased about the big move from the city to a small town. At sixteen, I can see why she wasn't exactly excited about this. If I was moving somewhere at the age, I doubt I would be either. The only good thing out of this move was a giant house but it does come with some spooky vibes.
With the house being super mysterious, I was very intrigued with what was going to be slowly revealed. It was also interesting to see how she would change and adapt to it all as well. Now I knew that this was going to give certain Black Mirror vibes before diving into it. I will admit that it did a very good job of weaving those throughout the book. Definitely made me want to stop everything and rewatch that show but I had to see how things would end.
In the end, the mystery and haunted house vibes were intriguing enough but I was expecting something a bit, well, more. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. I totally did. It was easy enough to devour within a sitting. I just felt like it had potential to be something more. Especially when it came to certain twists thrown our way.
Still, I'm really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. Will definitely be on the lookout for what Nina writes next!
The Last Beautiful Girl started off pretty interestingly. Especially after meeting Izzy, the main character, who isn't pleased about the big move from the city to a small town. At sixteen, I can see why she wasn't exactly excited about this. If I was moving somewhere at the age, I doubt I would be either. The only good thing out of this move was a giant house but it does come with some spooky vibes.
With the house being super mysterious, I was very intrigued with what was going to be slowly revealed. It was also interesting to see how she would change and adapt to it all as well. Now I knew that this was going to give certain Black Mirror vibes before diving into it. I will admit that it did a very good job of weaving those throughout the book. Definitely made me want to stop everything and rewatch that show but I had to see how things would end.
In the end, the mystery and haunted house vibes were intriguing enough but I was expecting something a bit, well, more. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. I totally did. It was easy enough to devour within a sitting. I just felt like it had potential to be something more. Especially when it came to certain twists thrown our way.
Still, I'm really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. Will definitely be on the lookout for what Nina writes next!
September 12, 2021
The beginning of The Last Beautiful Girl reminded me so much of Horrid by Katrina Leno. They had a very similar setup of a girl moving to a new school, everyone knowing the history of her house but not telling her what it is, and the weird dynamic with the mom. Unfortunately, I think the similarities probably pulled me out of The Last Beautiful Girl. I couldn't help but compare.
The Last Beautiful Girl did eventually stand on it's own, and I loved all of the references to The Picture of Dorian Gray.
I feel like this is one of those books that might work for other people where it didn't quite come together for me. There's supposed to be a change in the main character, but I had a hard time rooting for her because I wasn't really a fan of the character to begin with. This is actually true of all of the characters now that I think about it.
The cover of The Last Beautiful Girl is one of my favorites for the year, but the story sadly didn't make it on to my list.
Review copy provided by publisher
The Last Beautiful Girl did eventually stand on it's own, and I loved all of the references to The Picture of Dorian Gray.
I feel like this is one of those books that might work for other people where it didn't quite come together for me. There's supposed to be a change in the main character, but I had a hard time rooting for her because I wasn't really a fan of the character to begin with. This is actually true of all of the characters now that I think about it.
The cover of The Last Beautiful Girl is one of my favorites for the year, but the story sadly didn't make it on to my list.
Review copy provided by publisher
September 4, 2021
Review to come!
November 26, 2021
This book was a classic reason of why I should read the synopsis before picking something up. Because when I started this, I was expecting a contemporary romance. Not a thriller with paranormal elements. I really enjoyed it, it was just super far from what I was expecting.
My favorite thing about this one was definitely how atmospheric it was. It sucked you right into its world, and wouldn't let you leave. Every single picture Alexa and Isa took was so vibrant in my mind, the descriptions were so bewitching.
Other than that, it's hard to explain why I like this one. Because quite frankly, I disliked the characters. That was obviously intentional, it just makes it hard to talk about. Instead of raving about how much I loved them, or how relatable they were, I'm ranting about how unlikable they were. About how toxic these friendships were. About how delusional these characters were. It was hard to read, but part of why I enjoyed this.
My one complaint might have to be the pacing. The first 250 pages built such a beautiful story, and then the ending almost felt like a let down. It was all so rushed. I wanted to be caught up in it, and instead, it all came together way too quickly. Not a big deal, but just something that kept the book from being a 5 star read
Although this one couldn't have been farther from what I was expected, I really enjoyed it. The beautiful cover caught my eye, but the plot kept me reading.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
My favorite thing about this one was definitely how atmospheric it was. It sucked you right into its world, and wouldn't let you leave. Every single picture Alexa and Isa took was so vibrant in my mind, the descriptions were so bewitching.
Other than that, it's hard to explain why I like this one. Because quite frankly, I disliked the characters. That was obviously intentional, it just makes it hard to talk about. Instead of raving about how much I loved them, or how relatable they were, I'm ranting about how unlikable they were. About how toxic these friendships were. About how delusional these characters were. It was hard to read, but part of why I enjoyed this.
My one complaint might have to be the pacing. The first 250 pages built such a beautiful story, and then the ending almost felt like a let down. It was all so rushed. I wanted to be caught up in it, and instead, it all came together way too quickly. Not a big deal, but just something that kept the book from being a 5 star read
Although this one couldn't have been farther from what I was expected, I really enjoyed it. The beautiful cover caught my eye, but the plot kept me reading.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 16, 2024
This could've been great, had it:
1) been set in college
2) gotten rid of all those cringe worthy pop culture references.
1) been set in college
2) gotten rid of all those cringe worthy pop culture references.
January 18, 2022
Isa is absolutely heartbroken when she discovers that her parents intend to move the family out of Brooklyn, leaving behind her friends, her hobbies and the life she has mapped out for herself, to live in Amory, a small town where everyone knows everyone and no one has entered the twenty-first century. When her father gets a new job at the university, it requires them to move into a dilapidated mansion that once belonged to the beautiful Isabella Granger, a socialite and artist's muse some hundred years ago, that the university is now seeking to renovate. Filled with hundreds of portraits of the late Isabella Granger, Isa is at first incredibly ill at ease in the mansion and begins thinking that she can see things moving in the shadows, as the house creaks and settles in to its new occupants.
At her new school, Isa befriends an alternative goth girl called Alexa who loves photography, and convinces Isa to let her take her picture at different locations around the mansion. Less scared and more inspired, the two of them begin taking photos inspired by the many paintings of Isabella Granger and uploading them to what becomes an almost viral overnight Instagram account. As their excitement grows, they continues their new found project, and with her new found stardom something in Isa begins to change. Something in the house has latched onto her ego and does not plan on letting her go.
I heard modern retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray and I was there for it. This is an atmospheric YA possession horror with some really beautiful descriptions that set the scene for a gothic revival of a classic. This was a solid 3.5 stars but I've rounded up because despite some of the issues I had with it, I still really enjoyed the read.
Isa and the cast of side characters were all somewhat dislikeable but obviously written to be that way, however it makes it sort of difficult to explain why that means I liked them so much. The friendships and parental relationships in this book are all quite toxic, though I suppose that's all a part of being a teenager and rebelling against the world around you, so all of it was very relatable too.
My only real complaint is that the pacing was a little bit all over the place. The first half of the book is a well written, engaging slow burn that manages to drop a lot of clues as to what is happening in the house without handing the information to you on a silver platter, but unfortunately the second half does a complete 180 and speeds up to the point of feeling rushed at numerous points. It wasn't distracting to the point of completely ruining the book but it did feel somewhat jarring, and I wish especially that the final resolution had been dragged out beyond a page and a bit that didn't do the tension justice.
There isn't a lot of mystery in The Last Beautiful Girl, it's made clear from the beginning what's going on and there are some overly heavy handed scenes which I don't think do Isa's story much justice, and I think that with a little more nuance this could have been quite terrifying in places, but I understand why Laurin chose to go down the path she did with her writing given her target audience.
Overall I think this would be a great entry to horror for YA audiences who might not quite know where to start. It's a well written, relatable story based on a well known premise with a little bit of body horror and a little bit of gore but not enough to shock you to the core. That said, it was nothing like Black Mirror so don't go into this expecting some kind of relevance, the marketing has dropped the ball on that comparison.
At her new school, Isa befriends an alternative goth girl called Alexa who loves photography, and convinces Isa to let her take her picture at different locations around the mansion. Less scared and more inspired, the two of them begin taking photos inspired by the many paintings of Isabella Granger and uploading them to what becomes an almost viral overnight Instagram account. As their excitement grows, they continues their new found project, and with her new found stardom something in Isa begins to change. Something in the house has latched onto her ego and does not plan on letting her go.
I heard modern retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray and I was there for it. This is an atmospheric YA possession horror with some really beautiful descriptions that set the scene for a gothic revival of a classic. This was a solid 3.5 stars but I've rounded up because despite some of the issues I had with it, I still really enjoyed the read.
Isa and the cast of side characters were all somewhat dislikeable but obviously written to be that way, however it makes it sort of difficult to explain why that means I liked them so much. The friendships and parental relationships in this book are all quite toxic, though I suppose that's all a part of being a teenager and rebelling against the world around you, so all of it was very relatable too.
My only real complaint is that the pacing was a little bit all over the place. The first half of the book is a well written, engaging slow burn that manages to drop a lot of clues as to what is happening in the house without handing the information to you on a silver platter, but unfortunately the second half does a complete 180 and speeds up to the point of feeling rushed at numerous points. It wasn't distracting to the point of completely ruining the book but it did feel somewhat jarring, and I wish especially that the final resolution had been dragged out beyond a page and a bit that didn't do the tension justice.
There isn't a lot of mystery in The Last Beautiful Girl, it's made clear from the beginning what's going on and there are some overly heavy handed scenes which I don't think do Isa's story much justice, and I think that with a little more nuance this could have been quite terrifying in places, but I understand why Laurin chose to go down the path she did with her writing given her target audience.
Overall I think this would be a great entry to horror for YA audiences who might not quite know where to start. It's a well written, relatable story based on a well known premise with a little bit of body horror and a little bit of gore but not enough to shock you to the core. That said, it was nothing like Black Mirror so don't go into this expecting some kind of relevance, the marketing has dropped the ball on that comparison.
January 1, 2022
Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley, for allowing me access to this title in exchange for my honest review!
TW: Murder, obsession, possession & self-esteem
Think Dorian Gray with possession vibes set in the self-obsessed world of social media.
The highly refreshing storyline shows how a dislikeable character can change for good THEN can become even more unlikeable. Still, you start to wonder if the character development is downhill or possession from a darker force.
This book is an excellent job balancing between supernatural and creepy usual reality and problems. I also think it did a good job jumping into another pov to show how bad the situation truly is getting from the outside.
That opening ending did bother me, though, because I WANTED TO KNOW if the characters were alive or if the evil was truly gone or not.
TW: Murder, obsession, possession & self-esteem
Think Dorian Gray with possession vibes set in the self-obsessed world of social media.
The highly refreshing storyline shows how a dislikeable character can change for good THEN can become even more unlikeable. Still, you start to wonder if the character development is downhill or possession from a darker force.
This book is an excellent job balancing between supernatural and creepy usual reality and problems. I also think it did a good job jumping into another pov to show how bad the situation truly is getting from the outside.
That opening ending did bother me, though, because I WANTED TO KNOW if the characters were alive or if the evil was truly gone or not.
July 11, 2021
this book was honestly kind of meh for me. nothing really happened, and the ‘scary’ aspect wasn’t really scary at all. i think this story had great potential but it just wasn’t reached in this book. it was a fun read, but still a let down.
December 19, 2022
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite books so it was cool to find out it played such a huge role in this book... That’s probably my favorite thing about it. It was a really easy read and an incredibly cringey read. Kind of a train-wreck you couldn’t look away from. The potential was really there but eh
The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite books so it was cool to find out it played such a huge role in this book... That’s probably my favorite thing about it. It was a really easy read and an incredibly cringey read. Kind of a train-wreck you couldn’t look away from. The potential was really there but eh
April 3, 2021
trigger warning
At first, Isa is outraged about her parent's decision to move town - in the middle of school year, no less! But then the new house, which is an old villa that belongs to the university that now employs both her parents, begins to grow on her.
This is a loose retelling of the Picture of Doran Gray. Please, don't expect any gay content, there is none. But the other elements are all there: Obsession with beauty, an unlikeable character who becomes meaner and meaner while achieving ethereal beauty, loads and loads of portraits - and of course, since it's kind of set in contemporary times, selfies.
In the beginning, I had fun especially as it looked like we have a haunted house on our hands. Not going to comment more on that aspect, because finding out if it is or if it is not is part of the fun.
The second half of the book nearly read itself, it felt like; it was too thrilling to put it aside.
The ending felt a bit too convenient, and some chunks appear to be missing. Suddenly
So, yeah, the last part was the worst of the book, but I had too much fun overall to give it a bad mark.
I liked the epilogue, though, it reminds me a bit of Jumanji where the game is shown stranded on a beach and two people are nearing it while ominous drums are being played.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
At first, Isa is outraged about her parent's decision to move town - in the middle of school year, no less! But then the new house, which is an old villa that belongs to the university that now employs both her parents, begins to grow on her.
This is a loose retelling of the Picture of Doran Gray. Please, don't expect any gay content, there is none. But the other elements are all there: Obsession with beauty, an unlikeable character who becomes meaner and meaner while achieving ethereal beauty, loads and loads of portraits - and of course, since it's kind of set in contemporary times, selfies.
In the beginning, I had fun especially as it looked like we have a haunted house on our hands. Not going to comment more on that aspect, because finding out if it is or if it is not is part of the fun.
The second half of the book nearly read itself, it felt like; it was too thrilling to put it aside.
The ending felt a bit too convenient, and some chunks appear to be missing. Suddenly
So, yeah, the last part was the worst of the book, but I had too much fun overall to give it a bad mark.
I liked the epilogue, though, it reminds me a bit of Jumanji where the game is shown stranded on a beach and two people are nearing it while ominous drums are being played.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
January 11, 2022
I had no idea what this book was about but the cover made me want to read it! So I borrowed it from the library. By chapter three I'd decided I needed a copy of my own, I was enjoying it so much, and the feeling never changed.
This is the story of a house that possesses people, rather than the other way around. It's like a living thing, granting corrupted wishes to the most beautiful girls it knows throughout the years. But you always have to be careful what you wish for...because you just might get it.
There was a creepy atmosphere throughout the book and some legit scares that made me gasp out loud. I enjoyed all the characters. This book could have been twice as long and I'd still want to read about them and their adventures in the haunted house that even GPS won't acknowledge exists.
The writing was beautiful. But if I had any critique at all, it's that maybe the author's knowledge was bleeding too far onto the page. The teenagers in this book frequently throw around words like sfumato. They understand what "pre-Raphaelite" and "Louis XV-style" mean. They know the composition of Edwardian makeup products, for crying out loud! If they were college students studying a specific field I'd believe it, but they're kids in public school.
That aside, the writing drew me in immediately. I loved reading this book and it's going to leave a void now that it's over.
This is the story of a house that possesses people, rather than the other way around. It's like a living thing, granting corrupted wishes to the most beautiful girls it knows throughout the years. But you always have to be careful what you wish for...because you just might get it.
There was a creepy atmosphere throughout the book and some legit scares that made me gasp out loud. I enjoyed all the characters. This book could have been twice as long and I'd still want to read about them and their adventures in the haunted house that even GPS won't acknowledge exists.
The writing was beautiful. But if I had any critique at all, it's that maybe the author's knowledge was bleeding too far onto the page. The teenagers in this book frequently throw around words like sfumato. They understand what "pre-Raphaelite" and "Louis XV-style" mean. They know the composition of Edwardian makeup products, for crying out loud! If they were college students studying a specific field I'd believe it, but they're kids in public school.
That aside, the writing drew me in immediately. I loved reading this book and it's going to leave a void now that it's over.
April 27, 2022
cringe writing tbh. also, i wanted to see the main character be like actually bad and a terrible person from her pov, but as soon as she like actually got possessed entirely, it switched to a different pov. also, randomly having chapters from a different pov is so confusing!! i get it’s like foreshadowing like whoever gets their own chapter gets killed by isabella but it was just confusing and i didn’t even figure out the foreshadowing until literally when i started that sentence. however i did enjoy the story as i always love a good haunted house possession story. the end sucked tho i would have loved for isa to die in the house with the spirit of isabella but i suppose i can’t always get what i want
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2021
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Last Beautiful Girl by Nina Laurin is a spooky YA thriller set in a social media age. When I saw that the description compares this book to a cross between Black Mirror and Darcy Coates, I knew that I had to add it to my TBR list right away. Black Mirror is one of my favorite shows, and I also love thrillers about haunted locations. The plot revolves around Izzy, who moves into a Gothic mansion and starts an Instagram account using the vintage clothes that she finds around the place. She soon gains #influencer status and a ton of followers. But is all of this fame too good to be true? Is there something darker hiding in the mansion?
Here is a spine-tingling excerpt from the prologue:
"With a sigh of relief, Desiree turns back to her reflection.
Only it’s not there. Nothing’s there.
And then, just as quickly, there is something. It takes Desiree a beat to figure out what—or whom—she’s looking at. Auburn hair still snakes around a face in wild curls.
But the face is gone. In its place, a smeared wax mask with black holes where its nose should be. Exposed teeth jut out of grey gums. Only the eyes are alive. Locking onto her own.
Choking on a shriek, Desiree stumbles back, away and away until she trips over the hem of her pilfered velvet gown and topples to the floor. She doesn’t hear the house creak and groan like a waking beast. She can only look and look and look, her gaze forever fixated on the mirror.
...
Like the ones before her, and the ones after, Desiree never sees it coming."
Overall, The Last Beautiful Girl is a stunning YA thriller that will appeal to fans of social media thrillers like Influence by Sara Shepard or slightly fantastical contemporary YA books like the upcoming Mercury Boys. I loved the idea of starting a viral Instagram account, and I'm sure many readers will relate to that aspect as well. What sets this book apart from other YA thrillers are the spooky sequences involving the old Gothic locale. I'm sure I will have trouble sleeping tonight, because some parts seriously scared me. I could not stop reading and ended up finishing this book in a day. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of thrillers set in creepy locations (like me), then you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in September!
The Last Beautiful Girl by Nina Laurin is a spooky YA thriller set in a social media age. When I saw that the description compares this book to a cross between Black Mirror and Darcy Coates, I knew that I had to add it to my TBR list right away. Black Mirror is one of my favorite shows, and I also love thrillers about haunted locations. The plot revolves around Izzy, who moves into a Gothic mansion and starts an Instagram account using the vintage clothes that she finds around the place. She soon gains #influencer status and a ton of followers. But is all of this fame too good to be true? Is there something darker hiding in the mansion?
Here is a spine-tingling excerpt from the prologue:
"With a sigh of relief, Desiree turns back to her reflection.
Only it’s not there. Nothing’s there.
And then, just as quickly, there is something. It takes Desiree a beat to figure out what—or whom—she’s looking at. Auburn hair still snakes around a face in wild curls.
But the face is gone. In its place, a smeared wax mask with black holes where its nose should be. Exposed teeth jut out of grey gums. Only the eyes are alive. Locking onto her own.
Choking on a shriek, Desiree stumbles back, away and away until she trips over the hem of her pilfered velvet gown and topples to the floor. She doesn’t hear the house creak and groan like a waking beast. She can only look and look and look, her gaze forever fixated on the mirror.
...
Like the ones before her, and the ones after, Desiree never sees it coming."
Overall, The Last Beautiful Girl is a stunning YA thriller that will appeal to fans of social media thrillers like Influence by Sara Shepard or slightly fantastical contemporary YA books like the upcoming Mercury Boys. I loved the idea of starting a viral Instagram account, and I'm sure many readers will relate to that aspect as well. What sets this book apart from other YA thrillers are the spooky sequences involving the old Gothic locale. I'm sure I will have trouble sleeping tonight, because some parts seriously scared me. I could not stop reading and ended up finishing this book in a day. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of thrillers set in creepy locations (like me), then you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in September!
August 25, 2021
I received an eARC copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was a crazy experience. Firstly, as soon as this novel started mentioning the idea of beauty and society's expectations of youth, I knew I was getting some Picture of Dorian Gray shit and I was instantly hooked on this book. Isabella's portraits scattered around the house and changing in a ghostly way - here for it (if you did not know, The Picture of Dorian Gray is my favourite classic of all time)! Much like the source material, I think the examination of the relevant themes were actually extremely well done and worked fantastically as a haunted house/ghost possession story. The beats of the classic were hit in this modern take, and even though I had a slight idea of how this story would go, I was completely engaged the entire way through. And also incredibly spooked out. Like, I couldn't look at the mirror in my bathroom from my bed because I was scared I would see Isabella Granger staring back at me. To be honest, the books ending was definitely the weakest point for me. There were characters who had disappeared or had no actual role in the novel (Nick & Eve) suddenly there to help save the day. It felt really rushed and did not have a satisfying and complete ending in my opinion. So while the ending disappointed me, I think the way this book scared me and its similarities to the og text were enough to make me really enjoy this read!
And! This author is from Montreal (like me)! And graduated from Concordia University (like me)! So I couldn't help but not want to like this and support her.
This was a crazy experience. Firstly, as soon as this novel started mentioning the idea of beauty and society's expectations of youth, I knew I was getting some Picture of Dorian Gray shit and I was instantly hooked on this book. Isabella's portraits scattered around the house and changing in a ghostly way - here for it (if you did not know, The Picture of Dorian Gray is my favourite classic of all time)! Much like the source material, I think the examination of the relevant themes were actually extremely well done and worked fantastically as a haunted house/ghost possession story. The beats of the classic were hit in this modern take, and even though I had a slight idea of how this story would go, I was completely engaged the entire way through. And also incredibly spooked out. Like, I couldn't look at the mirror in my bathroom from my bed because I was scared I would see Isabella Granger staring back at me. To be honest, the books ending was definitely the weakest point for me. There were characters who had disappeared or had no actual role in the novel (Nick & Eve) suddenly there to help save the day. It felt really rushed and did not have a satisfying and complete ending in my opinion. So while the ending disappointed me, I think the way this book scared me and its similarities to the og text were enough to make me really enjoy this read!
And! This author is from Montreal (like me)! And graduated from Concordia University (like me)! So I couldn't help but not want to like this and support her.
April 29, 2022
atmospheric, spooky, and immersive, this was everything i wanted
Horrid
to be but didn't deliver. i've looked for ages for a book that captured the eerie mystery spirit of the film Nancy Drew starring Emma Roberts and have finally found it. with blends of American Horror Story season 1 this book hit a really sweet spot for me.
set in a turn-of-the-century-era house built by a former artist's muse, the haunted setting of this book was truly such a highlight. the imagery of the original architecture, fixtures, and belongings of the late homeowners' painted a vivid picture that added charm to its spooky backdrop. the deterioration of the MC from the beginning to the end was so organic and subtle that i felt like i was descending into madness alongside the characters. laurin does a great job of artfully revealing bits of the overarching mystery throughout the story without overwhelming the reader. and with a commentary on the darker side of social media and its addictive properties weaved among the mystery, it has a lot of undertones to keep readers' interest.
while none of the characters are particularly likeable and the ending is fairly abrupt, i really loved the pacing of this book and laurin's writing style. i would've gladly devoured a longer version of this book if it could've fleshed out a few of the characters more. i'm definitely left with some questions after finishing this, but overall i was satisfied. this is the first time a modern book has made me want to read a classic and i can see myself picking up its inspiration The Picture of Dorian Gray in the future.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
set in a turn-of-the-century-era house built by a former artist's muse, the haunted setting of this book was truly such a highlight. the imagery of the original architecture, fixtures, and belongings of the late homeowners' painted a vivid picture that added charm to its spooky backdrop. the deterioration of the MC from the beginning to the end was so organic and subtle that i felt like i was descending into madness alongside the characters. laurin does a great job of artfully revealing bits of the overarching mystery throughout the story without overwhelming the reader. and with a commentary on the darker side of social media and its addictive properties weaved among the mystery, it has a lot of undertones to keep readers' interest.
while none of the characters are particularly likeable and the ending is fairly abrupt, i really loved the pacing of this book and laurin's writing style. i would've gladly devoured a longer version of this book if it could've fleshed out a few of the characters more. i'm definitely left with some questions after finishing this, but overall i was satisfied. this is the first time a modern book has made me want to read a classic and i can see myself picking up its inspiration The Picture of Dorian Gray in the future.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
August 18, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5
I honestly don't remember what made me request this book besides the fact that I love the cover, but this was a surprisingly great read!
I would say that The Last Beautiful Girl is a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and a really good one at that! I was hooked from the very beginning and as unlikable as the main character was, I still found her to be a relatable character that I was rooting for!
I do love the ending, but some plot holes weren't resolved, which is why I couldn't give this the full 5 stars.
I read this book in one sitting in the middle of the night, and oh boy was I getting the creeps! It was exactly the book I was in the mood to read!
This book deals with social media and digital beauty, and it's all set in a haunted house, and wow was the atmosphere just amazing! I don't even know what else to say about this besides that it was exactly the kind of book that I was in the mood to read and it was wonderful!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly don't remember what made me request this book besides the fact that I love the cover, but this was a surprisingly great read!
I would say that The Last Beautiful Girl is a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and a really good one at that! I was hooked from the very beginning and as unlikable as the main character was, I still found her to be a relatable character that I was rooting for!
I do love the ending, but some plot holes weren't resolved, which is why I couldn't give this the full 5 stars.
I read this book in one sitting in the middle of the night, and oh boy was I getting the creeps! It was exactly the book I was in the mood to read!
This book deals with social media and digital beauty, and it's all set in a haunted house, and wow was the atmosphere just amazing! I don't even know what else to say about this besides that it was exactly the kind of book that I was in the mood to read and it was wonderful!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 29, 2021
The Last Beautiful Girl by Nina Laurin isn’t the picturesque beautiful happy tale the cover makes it out to be… quite fitting for the book itself.
5/5 stars
Isa doesn’t want to move to Amory, it’s a small town. She has friends, the leading role in a play, and her life mapped out, unfortunately for her, the move is happening anyway. The new mansion she lives in is massive, and owned by the university, former home to Isabella, a muse of her time. The house is covered in paintings of her, and has a hidden dark side. Her and her friend Alexa decide to start doing photography cosplaying Isabella. Isa starts to act more and more unnaturally… things aren’t always what they seem…
This book was thrilling, it was well done. None of the reveals were super jaw dropping, but there were so well done and so fascisnating. The writing style was very well done, and the characters were fun to read and so relatable.
I binge read this book as I absolutely couldn’t get enough. I just wish we had more answers at the ending, instead of the questions I do have.
A perfect thriller for spooky season!
5/5 stars
Isa doesn’t want to move to Amory, it’s a small town. She has friends, the leading role in a play, and her life mapped out, unfortunately for her, the move is happening anyway. The new mansion she lives in is massive, and owned by the university, former home to Isabella, a muse of her time. The house is covered in paintings of her, and has a hidden dark side. Her and her friend Alexa decide to start doing photography cosplaying Isabella. Isa starts to act more and more unnaturally… things aren’t always what they seem…
This book was thrilling, it was well done. None of the reveals were super jaw dropping, but there were so well done and so fascisnating. The writing style was very well done, and the characters were fun to read and so relatable.
I binge read this book as I absolutely couldn’t get enough. I just wish we had more answers at the ending, instead of the questions I do have.
A perfect thriller for spooky season!
July 20, 2021
4.5/5 stars. To be released October 2021.
The Last Beautiful Girl had some major creep factor. Isa's family moves into an old mansion that once belonged to a socialite, also named Isabella, but has been abandoned and fallen into decay. Isa's family moves in to restore it while they work at the local university. Portraits of the socialite fill the home and Isa and her new friend, Alexa, start a viral Instagram account where they recreate the paintings. But the more popular the photos become, the more Isa becomes attached to the house and to Isabella.
There were so many moments in this book that raised the hair on the back of my neck. The author does a great job and writing some chilling scenes as well as the change in Isa's behavior as she becomes more attached and defensive of the house. There were a few scenes, the creepiest ones, that I wish has been more explored or explained later on. It was still an enjoyable creepy, haunted house book that will be perfect for fall/Halloween reads.
The Last Beautiful Girl had some major creep factor. Isa's family moves into an old mansion that once belonged to a socialite, also named Isabella, but has been abandoned and fallen into decay. Isa's family moves in to restore it while they work at the local university. Portraits of the socialite fill the home and Isa and her new friend, Alexa, start a viral Instagram account where they recreate the paintings. But the more popular the photos become, the more Isa becomes attached to the house and to Isabella.
There were so many moments in this book that raised the hair on the back of my neck. The author does a great job and writing some chilling scenes as well as the change in Isa's behavior as she becomes more attached and defensive of the house. There were a few scenes, the creepiest ones, that I wish has been more explored or explained later on. It was still an enjoyable creepy, haunted house book that will be perfect for fall/Halloween reads.
May 10, 2021
*this book was given to me through netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really liked the base plot, it was interesting and I couldn't wait to dive into the story. It was kind of special in the beginning, while we get to know the town of Amory, the history of the house and Isabella. Moving into a Victorian house that belonged to a Muse, and then it turns out that the house is haunted.
Unfortunately after around half of the book, I kind of started to get annoyed from our main character Isa. I understand that her life got turned out different and it is natural that she changes, but it was just so annoying for me. Unfortunately the twist was predictable, and it didn't bring that much of an excitement for me.
This book overall was a really interesting read, I felt like that the interesting plot somehow lacked a better or more interesting ending. I found it just so easily solved and I kind of disliked for this part.
I really liked the base plot, it was interesting and I couldn't wait to dive into the story. It was kind of special in the beginning, while we get to know the town of Amory, the history of the house and Isabella. Moving into a Victorian house that belonged to a Muse, and then it turns out that the house is haunted.
Unfortunately after around half of the book, I kind of started to get annoyed from our main character Isa. I understand that her life got turned out different and it is natural that she changes, but it was just so annoying for me. Unfortunately the twist was predictable, and it didn't bring that much of an excitement for me.
This book overall was a really interesting read, I felt like that the interesting plot somehow lacked a better or more interesting ending. I found it just so easily solved and I kind of disliked for this part.
June 24, 2021
Isabella, better known as Isa is heartbroken when she has to start her junior year in a small town, leaving behind her childhood friends, and her starring role in the theater. She starts the year miserable with the vibes in the new school and lack of internet connection, but begins to explore the historic mansion that belonged to a socialite and photographer’s muse who is also named Isabella.
When her newfound friend Alexa begins an Instagram account using lovely items from the socialite, Isa’s images go viral. Suddenly she is famous, and flawless- a living muse that everyone at school worships.
This is a deliciously written thriller with bits of ghostly chill. Recommend on a rainy day with a cup of hot tea.
https://www.netgalley.com/book/218197...
When her newfound friend Alexa begins an Instagram account using lovely items from the socialite, Isa’s images go viral. Suddenly she is famous, and flawless- a living muse that everyone at school worships.
This is a deliciously written thriller with bits of ghostly chill. Recommend on a rainy day with a cup of hot tea.
https://www.netgalley.com/book/218197...
July 14, 2021
3.5/5 stars**
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun one, I really liked the concept. A haunted house horror YA sounded like such a great time! While it wasn't perfect, I still had a great time from beginning to end. I found the switching of perspectives and narrators to be really well done. This books really dives into the toxicity of the internet and social media, which I think is an important lesson, even with the supernatural elements in this book. As the description of this book noted, it was indeed very Black Mirror-esque. That being said, there were a few plot holes, and certain characters I wish had a bit more depth. I enjoyed the ending of this one, and it made up for the times that it dragged on a bit in the middle of the novel. Overall, this was fun to read!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun one, I really liked the concept. A haunted house horror YA sounded like such a great time! While it wasn't perfect, I still had a great time from beginning to end. I found the switching of perspectives and narrators to be really well done. This books really dives into the toxicity of the internet and social media, which I think is an important lesson, even with the supernatural elements in this book. As the description of this book noted, it was indeed very Black Mirror-esque. That being said, there were a few plot holes, and certain characters I wish had a bit more depth. I enjoyed the ending of this one, and it made up for the times that it dragged on a bit in the middle of the novel. Overall, this was fun to read!
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