I was excited to see the Bookclub Kit for Mexican Gothic was available because it’s on the short list this month for the book club I’m in. If we end up reading Mexican Gothic, it would be nice to have a guide for the conversation.

Seeing a playlist in the kit is great! I love immersive experiences. The questions posed for discussion in the kit seem helpful, especially Question number 6. Very often our discussions in bookclub focus on the smaller details of the characters and story. We forget to discuss the overall message and purpose.

There are additional fun things in this kit I’m not sure we would use but I think the note from the author, the playlist, and the questions are what I’m most excited to use if our bookclub decides. This looks like a very helpful kit!

This is the first time that I had noticed a "Book Club Kit" available on NetGalley and will surely keep my eyes out for more especially when it comes to some of my favorite past reads that I have recommended to my library and neighborhood/social book clubs. I had previously read Mexican Gothic last year and loved it and quickly added it to my clubs "TBR" list and ironically it will be our April read so finding this worked out perfectly.
While I knew I personally enjoyed reading Mexican Gothic, having the topic questions makes meetings much more helpful. I love that Silvia Moreno-Garcia added the background information regarding the genre of gothic stories and the evolution they have made throughout the years in the kit. I found it just as fascinating as the background information on Mexican mining towns, the scars they left both internally and emotionally as well as on the landscape. Well done! Thank you to NetGalley and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for this wonderful addition to our meeting.

Love the explanation on how Gothic novels from the female perspective have changed over the decades and now have become essentially a domestic noir, with the wives fearing and hate/loving their husbands because there is something sinister or secretive about him. Overall, great book club kit and I really loved the print out option for Noemi’s different outfits to style her depending on the occasion.

I loved this book - an interesting and unusual read that was reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The unsettling atmosphere permeated the book, with every reveal more chilling than the last. A brilliant read, which I really enjoyed!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is becoming one of my favourite authors. The club file is really interesting with Q&As, activities, etc.

This Book Club Kit contains discussion questions, a letter from the author, a playlist as well as a paper cut out doll designed to accompany a book club meeting about Mexican Gothic. I really liked the interactive elements of this kit for example the playlist and dress up doll as these really help to bring the book to life. I particularly enjoyed the playlist and think it would be fun to have it playing in the background of the meeting to mirror the atmosphere of the book.

My only complaint is that I found some of the author segments extremely wordy and the text was presented as a thick block of text which was quite off-putting. I also think it would be difficult to have conversations surrounding these pages as there is too much information to try and digest in a short period of time during a book club meeting.

This was a great companion guide to the book Mexican Gothic!

I am a facilitator to a book club in my city and after reading the book and the book club kit I think it is worth it to enhance the readers experience and spark conversation!

The kit helps the reader go in depth with the backstory of the real places that inspired the setting of the novel. The discussion questions are all you would need for a fun book club meeting. More books should come out with a kit like this!

Love the explanation on how Gothic novels from the female perspective have changed over the decades and now have become essentially a domestic noir, with the wives fearing and hate/loving their husbands because there is something sinister or secretive about him. Overall, great book club kit and I really loved the print out option for Noemi’s different outfits to style her depending on the occasion.

the writing took me some time to get into, in the beginning giving flashbacks to Rebecca, but it grew on my by the end and I absolutely fell in love with a few quotes from it.

ilvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic is a stunning, atmospheric blend of horror, mystery, and gothic literature that pulls readers into the eerie heart of 1950s Mexico. It’s a genre-defying tale that takes classic gothic tropes—creepy mansions, secrets lurking in the shadows, and a brave, resourceful heroine—and breathes new life into them, all while weaving in a fresh cultural perspective and a sharp commentary on class, race, and colonialism.

Story & Setting
The novel is set in Mexico during the 1950s, a time when social stratification and post-colonial tensions were deeply felt. The story follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous, headstrong young woman from Mexico City, who is sent to the isolated, decaying mansion of her cousin, Catalina, after Catalina sends a frantic letter claiming she is in danger. What Noemí finds at the house, High Place, is a place straight out of a nightmare: decaying walls, a strange, oppressive atmosphere, and a family that seems as twisted as the house itself.

The setting is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. High Place is a character in its own right—its dark, moldy corridors, oppressive air, and decaying grandeur feel alive, almost as if it’s a haunted force conspiring against Noemí. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, suffocating, and dripping with dread, yet the beauty and richness of the Mexican landscape that surrounds the house are starkly juxtaposed with the horrors that take place within it. The mansion’s decay mirrors the corruption festering within the family that lives there, giving the novel a deeply symbolic edge.

Plot & Pacing
The plot of Mexican Gothic is a slow burn that builds tension steadily. Initially, the book feels like a traditional gothic mystery—Noemí arrives at the mansion, meets the strange inhabitants, and begins to suspect that something is deeply wrong. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is more than just a haunted house tale. The novel blends psychological horror with elements of Lovecraftian weird fiction, touching on themes of eugenics, family secrets, and the legacy of colonialism.

The pacing is deliberate, allowing the sense of unease and mystery to grow organically. The first half of the book is methodical as Noemí investigates the strange happenings in the house, but once the horrors of High Place begin to truly surface, the plot picks up dramatically. The tension reaches a boiling point toward the end, culminating in a series of truly unsettling and unforgettable scenes. Moreno-Garcia knows how to balance the psychological horror with physical terror, leading to a conclusion that is both cathartic and chilling.

Character Development
Noemí Taboada is a fantastic protagonist—bold, intelligent, and determined, yet also compassionate and vulnerable. She stands in stark contrast to the typical Gothic heroine, rejecting passivity and embracing her agency in the face of mounting terror. Noemí is a modern woman of the 1950s, one who defies the expectations placed on her by her family and society. She’s not easily intimidated and uses her wit and charm as tools to navigate the increasingly dangerous situation in High Place. Her development throughout the book is both compelling and empowering, as she uncovers not just the dark secrets of the house, but also her own strength.

The supporting cast, particularly the members of the Doyle family—Virgil, the sinister cousin, and Howard, the patriarch—are wonderfully enigmatic. They are a toxic blend of arrogance, cruelty, and oddity, and their behavior is both unsettling and repellent. Their strange hold over the mansion, as well as their twisted motivations, slowly become clear, making them both fascinating and terrifying to watch as Noemí uncovers more about their dark past.

Themes
Mexican Gothic deals with several important themes that elevate it beyond the boundaries of a typical gothic horror novel. One of the most striking themes is the critique of colonialism and the ways in which it continues to affect both individuals and societies. The Doyle family, who have roots in British colonialism, are symbolic of the colonial exploitation of Mexico and its people, and their grotesque manipulation of power echoes historical and ongoing abuses of wealth and privilege.

Another key theme is the intersection of science and superstition. The Doyles' obsession with eugenics, genetics, and bloodlines plays into this conflict, as the novel explores the lengths to which people will go in their pursuit of "purity" and power. The tension between tradition and progress, as well as the relationship between science and the supernatural, is explored in ways that are both thought-provoking and terrifying.

Writing Style & Tone
Moreno-Garcia’s writing is lush, atmospheric, and captivating. She has a gift for creating a sense of place, and her descriptions of the mansion, the people, and the surrounding landscapes are vivid and immersive. The tone of the novel is both eerie and sensual, filled with dread and dark beauty. There’s a palpable sense of danger, and the novel is genuinely unsettling, building a sense of paranoia as Noemí begins to question what’s real and what’s imagined. At times, the writing verges on the poetic, yet it never becomes too dense, allowing the reader to remain fully engaged in the creeping horror of the narrative.

The novel also strikes a delicate balance between horror and dark humor. Noemí’s sarcastic wit and boldness provide some much-needed levity amidst the dread, and her interactions with the other characters, especially with the enigmatic Doctor, are laced with a biting, almost defiant tone that contrasts beautifully with the slow-building terror around her.

Criticism
While Mexican Gothic is a brilliant novel, there are a few elements that some readers might find distracting. For one, the pacing in the middle of the book may feel a bit drawn-out, especially for those expecting a more fast-paced horror story. Some of the secondary characters could be explored a bit more, especially in terms of their motivations, though the focus on Noemí keeps the narrative tight.

Additionally, while the horror elements are gripping, some readers might feel that the plot veers into the absurd toward the end, with certain revelations and events stretching the limits of believability in a way that may not work for everyone. However, this is part of the novel’s charm—it knows how to blur the line between psychological terror and outright supernatural weirdness.

Conclusion
Mexican Gothic is an absolute triumph of gothic horror, bringing together the best elements of the genre while offering a uniquely Mexican perspective on issues of class, race, and colonialism. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is masterful, and Noemí Taboada is one of the most engaging, dynamic heroines to come along in recent memory. With its lush atmosphere, complex characters, and chilling plot, Mexican Gothic is a must-read for fans of horror, gothic fiction, and anyone looking for a thought-provoking, immersive narrative that doesn’t shy away from both social and supernatural terrors. It’s a novel that will haunt you long after the last page.

This bookclub kit was fantastic! it has the potential to spark many conversations and make you reflect even deeper on the content the book discusses. I will definitely be recommending the book this kit is apart of.

Thank you netgalley for providing this kit for use!

I enjoyed this book club kit a bit more than I enjoyed the actual book. It's an interesting tool to help you open discussions and to think deeper about the story overall

I didn't realise this wasn't the actual book, oops. But I'm hoping it'll be a five stars when I actually read it lol

Mistakenly requested this not realising it was a book club kit....had a look through it anyway after reading the book and looks like it could be useful if part of a book club

I didn’t know this wasn’t the actual book even though it clearly states it. So I guess I’ll have to read the book in order to give proper feedback.

This was an ingenious way of creating an interactive experience with the readers!!! Also, I loved the spotify playlist, what a great idea!

As a book club moderator, I found this to be an amazing kit! The playlist sets the mood and questions are very helpful!

I don't know how I feel about the cut-out paper doll portion, but all in all, this is a great resource!

This has some interesting aspects to it. I liked the playlist as it gives insight to the culture, I liked the background from the author, and I enjoyed the list of other gothic novels and descriptions. Although I liked that the author included outfits, we did not do the dress up game. It was nice that we were able to see outfits that the author thought the characters to wear as an example, but it would have been okay just showing photos and a little snippet of why this outfit was included. We all felt that the dress up game was a little childish. I would have liked to see more questions for the group to discuss as I only seen a short list. Often times the questions help readers dive deeper and really hit home on the points that the author was trying to make.

Thank you for allowing us to review Silvia Moreno-Garcia, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House.

Good adjunct to reading this highly recommended book. The historical notes are interesting, particularly the history of the British in Mexico and not too long. The paper dolls are a cute idea, even if I mainly like them for filling out my images of the book - would be very handy particularly with old novels.

I didn’t realize when I downloaded this that it is a companion to the novel but I am glad I didn’t know. This is thoughtful, and will be a great addition when I get the hard copy of the book. Also, I think this would add some levity to reading the novel because this is cute as hell and I love it!