DNF at 45%. Did I expect to start my reading year off with a DNF? No. But is it going to help me get through ARC backlists? Yes.

This book from what I read was meh. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing and the characters were giving flatness. If you’re into paranormal romances that give early 2000s this would probably be your vibe but for me, not it. I was struggling to get through and eventually just am giving up because I know it’s not going to be a high rated read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

You had me at library and devil.

I love dark academia and this one hits all the marks. We hosted Tori at our book club and she was wonderful.

I did find the beginning to be slow going but I greatly enjoyed the super intense horror scenes and descriptive creepiness.

I do wish that I'd had more background story about the devil. I like a less ambiguous villain but overall this was a lovely novel.

Tess and Elliot are great and I would for sure pick up and recommend more books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy to review.

Three stars

The synopsis had me HOOKED the moment I read it. I mean demons, magic, and the main character who wants to be left alone? My kind of book.

Now you see three stars and immediately think I wasn't that into it. But I did enjoy this book. I just wish it was longer. It has all the makings to be a brilliant book, but I needed more. It felt like it deserved more.

Eliot is officially one of the loves of my life. He was everything I love in a love interest. And Tess, I loved her right from the start.

The book was creepy and I lived for every single scary moment. I wouldn't just classify this book as horror, it had thriller aspects as well. Which is why I think I enjoyed it so much.

But this book would have been much more enjoyable if it was a full-fledge adult novel. And that is all I can think about.

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

I blurbed this - a wonderful, creepy and macabre book with fantastic characters. I look forward to seeing what Tori Bovalino does next!

This book is dark, chilling, and vividly imagined. I'd highly recommend it for fans of dark academia, creative contemporary fantasy, and books that don't fit the average YA mold. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Bovalino's haunting take on library ghosts and ghouls was so captivating and eerie. I was horrified on a number of occasions while reading this book and it genuinely scared me at certain points to keep reading (I'm looking at you, 'zombie' chase scene). I also really loved the pacing of this book and managed to zip through it in just a couple of sittings. The way that Bovalino introduces new information from our characters' pasts periodically over the book fully kept me engaged and wanting to know more about our protagonists. The protagonists themselves were very lovable in my opinion, even though they made some nerve-wracking decisions sometimes.

I definitely cannot wait to read more from Tori Bovalino.

What an utterly perfect read!! A brilliant blend of romance and dark academia, this book truly unites everything I love in a good book. The writing is beautiful, the characters and their relationships well-crafted, and the story just the right kind of creepy. I could live in the world of this story forever, that's how incredible the atmosphere Tori Bovalino creates is. If you're a fan of the Dark Academia genre or well-crafted stories in general, I can only urge you to pick up this book. Perfect if you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's "Ninth House" or Maggie Stiefvater's "Raven Boys".

I wasn't really aware of this book at all, and I'm not sure why I initially requested it, but I decided to try a few chapters to see if I was still interested in reading this book. Oh man am I glad that I did because this was one of the best YA books that I've read this year! It has all the topes I adore: dark academia, sinister library, light magic, reluctant allies to lovers, soft boy and edgy girl-- everything I could ever want!

I know all the reviews say this book is very simple, and the synopsis is literally the entire book with no added surprises, but I'm a simple girl and when the vibes of a book are impeccable, I fall hard. Seriously though, this book is so atmospheric, It’s dark and eerie and slightly spooky and you feel these things around you as you read. Tess's encounters with the devil left me chilled, and the use of red ink as blood was so clever and on point with the dark academia vibes.

I seriously can't get over how much I loved this book, and I will 100% read anything the author writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy of The Devil Makes Three! It was honestly a little hard for me to get into, and I love dark academia and magic and horror. I enjoyed the writing style, I think maybe just the plot fell short for me.

This was a suitably creepy and interesting read that kept me entertained throughout. I thought the characters were well drawn and believable and there were moments of true peril, which I appreciated. The plot was interesting and the pacing was great, ensuring a fun and enjoyable ride. I would definitely read from this author in the future.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I thought this was okay! There were lots of scary, gory moments I really appreciated for sure, but I'm not sold on the need for Eliot to have magic? And I kept feeling like there was supposed to be more with the parents and the sister. Maybe it needed a second pass through on editing?

The Devil Makes Three dares to ask the question: what would happen if you let teens play with occult forces and summon a devil. Bovalino answeres said question in this fun but spooky tale. Perfect for those who are fans of dark academia.

First, as always, thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much going for it. I'm an absolute sucker for a library setting, devils/demons and some excellent characters. The Devil Makes Three had all of that and more. I cannot emphasize enough how much I adored Tess and Eliot as characters. They were so well rounded with very realistic flaws and ideals, and I was rooting for the both of them to overcome and find their way.

The creepy elements were great. It's YA so there's nothing too gruesome, but the spooky elements were fun without being too gory. I think it's perfect for a teen audience looking to dive into the horror genre.

The pacing was a bit off though. The beginning took a while to get going and the ending felt rushed. Also the romance happened a little too fast.

TLDR: It's a fun, creepy time that's good for the fall season.

In this book by Tori Bovalino, we have a strong female protagonist, a sweet British boy who also happens to be a witch, an ancient library, and an ancient devil.. Tessa and Eliot while searching for some books on witchcraft, accidentally leave the devil loose in the Matheson Library and now the devil only wants to find a suitable body to live and kill..
I loved the premise, but the execution.. Not so much. It had the potential to blow my mind but it just ended up being a good windy day with the beautiful skies..
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This one drew me in right from the start. I loved the gradual development of Tess and Eliot’s relationship. It felt more genuine and believable as their feelings for each other grew. The creepy and suspenseful imagery of the devil’s hauntings created the perfect eerie ambiance. The dark academia aspect of the novel is more imagery and less practice, but the devil itself was an interesting character and altogether I really just enjoyed the read. The only things taking away from a 5 star were the slow paced start and what felt more like a college setting rather than high school. If you love dark academia settings, creepy/spooky vibes, and a bit of romance, then this is the book for you.

The Devil Makes Three is one of the most engaging thrillers I have ever read. The story perfectly blends dark magic with an academic setting, creating the ideal atmosphere for a haunting tale! I have been disappointed by many young adult thrillers in the past, and after reading The Devil Makes Three, I now know why. Those other lackluster thrillers couldn’t compare to the excitement, and fear that was packed into every page of The Devil Makes Three. This book would be the perfect read for fans of If We Were Villains or The Dead Poets Society!

The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino sounds like the perfect blend of horror and dark academia. A devil unleashed in the stacks of a library -- sign me up! Unfortunately, I did not finish (DNF) this novel. I made it about forty percent of the way through before setting it down for the final time. While the writing was well done, and the characters were interesting and well developed, I really struggled with the pacing and the overall atmosphere of the book. The pacing was too slow, not a lot happens in the first thirty-to-forty percent of the book, and when the devil does finally arrive, it wasn't as dark or as ominous as I was hoping it would be. I do think this book would be a good choice for other readers who are interested in dark academia, unfortunately it just didn't quite work me.

Thank you to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced eARC!

Enjoyment: 3/5
Execution: 3/5
Final: 3/5

Two teens accidentally unleash the devil after stumbling upon a forbidden grimoire in a haunted library.

While the writing was very easy to read, it felt stilted and it took a while for the pacing to pick up. I had a hard time getting into the story and engaging with it. However, it is spooky, creepy, and contains one of the most fascinating magic systems, and I really enjoyed reading the ink scenes.

The main characters Tess and Elliot are nuanced and interesting, and I liked the secondary characters as well, especially Anna, who is a ray of sunshine, and Lucille. I would have loved more interactions between them all, especially as a group. While I wasn't a fan of the romance between the two MCs because I wanted more development, I thought they worked well together, and some of the moments between them are very tender.

I think that fans of YA horror will enjoy this book, especially given the start of the spooky season!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC through Turn the Page tours.

Content warnings (may contain spoilers, may be incomplete):
Gore, body horror, knives/stabbing, non consensual self harm, murder, death of secondary characters, corpses, parental abuse and neglect, parent with terminal illness (brain cancer), off screen parental death, minor relationship between professor and student, infidelity