While I feel like this type of book is not something I would typically be drawn to, I'm glad I read it. Extremely fast pased and well articulated. I agree with a lot of people when they say this is great for someone delving into fantasy (not my typical genre).

This is a very dark book but fascinating. Ann is the perfect daughter, but killed by her mother Diana as Diana was trying to protect her from the devil. Diana stands trial and we learn about the friends and family she has and how they are all connected and the peculiarities of each person. A book that is definitely for adults.

The writing of this book was so immersive, I felt like I was there with the characters. The story was so captivating I really enjoyed this book.

Marie and Maddie, both were amazing characters in this book. the way they communicate touches my heart. I seldom pick this kind of genre to read and it's definitely not my genre. This book was written beautifully accordingly to the genre with the main theme in this book about trauma, I would classify it as mental illness and recommended audience would be an adult. Dark, creepy makes your heart beat faster.

Thanks to Noah and Netgalley for this advance copy.

I remember you”
The Hive was privileged to meet H. Noah during the inception of the social media app Clubhouse. (Fear not, we do have plans of returning) As we learned of the impending release of their debut novel “Bluebird At My Window” it was a no-brainer that LitBuzz had to cover what would no doubt be a thoughtful and explorative work.

H. Noah has included a content warning for the book that I think demands praise, “Please be kind to yourself and put the book back if you are not in a good place to read any of the things mentioned above.” This book tackles difficult subjects, that are far more realistic in this setting than in the dark romances I am used to reading. Bluebird At My Window explores the different manifestations of mental illness, those that may be inherent from birth and those that are the result of trauma.

The first chapter is a shocking introduction, where we see the death of a young girl at the hands of someone who should have been her ultimate protector. While it is difficult to read, if you are in the place to do so, I encourage you to continue as it is the catalyst for the bigger story that shows the impact that one tragedy can have on so many people.

“She may be dead, but her story still mattered.”
This is presented in multiple POVs that allows the reader to see how the affects of loss and neglect can be far reaching, even to those who had no regular contact with the victim. Those who are tasked with investigating come face to face with the reality that the systems that exist to protect the most vulnerable members of society are broken and lead to tragedies that could have been prevented.

Noah was able to write the characters flawlessly, each had a unique identity that made following the story seamless. I have read other books where trying to keep-up with a fast-paced story from multiple POVs can make your head spin, but the short chapters in this were perfectly timed to create a flow that was easy to follow.

This is another book that I hesitate to give too much detail on as I think it would be appreciated best receiving all the details from the author as they are presented. The progression of each character’s story is subtle but intentional as they slowly feel the repercussions of decisions made long before they were apart of the story.

I knew that Bluebird at my Window would be a success based on the Hive’s interactions with H. Noah and that is a gross understatement. I was thoroughly impressed with their ability to create a fast-paced story that dealt with such delicate topics so masterfully. While the trigger warnings should be heeded, I do not think that it was so overly dark or graphic that it can not be appreciated by those not normally drawn to these topics.

I cannot wait to see what H. Noah has in store for us next, congratulations on an amazing debut release!

A multi-character study on how trauma affects a small group of people involved in a court trial. I appreciated the trigger warnings at the start. In some ways, this story reminded me of 'Requirn for a Dream'.

Interesting enough to keep reading but a tad boring overall. It kept me entertained enough to keep reading until the very end but it still didn’t amaze me.

Thanks to the publisher -IBPA for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

4/5 stars

I'd started reading Bluebird At My Window by H. Noah towards the end of January, hoping to finish it before its publishing date as it was a short read but, ended up keeping it aside for a later time. the reason for doing so was that, back then, I was not enjoying this book and don't know why it was taking longer to get through every page of it making me think it'd take me longer than I'd anticipated to complete it. You know, it so happens many a time that it might not be the right time for a book, so you keep it aside for some time and pick it up later, and happen to enjoy the book in a way you think you wouldn't have enjoyed the first time. This is the very thing it happened to me with this book. This time, I really enjoyed every bit of the story.

Bluebird At My Window is written from the angle of multi-perspective POV. Fast-paced as it was, it was like riding through the pages. The writing style was easy, simple, flowing. One thing I like about books is ones with short chapters that make me want to read more than those with long ones.

There are a lot of trigger warnings for you to check out before you want to dive into the story. Most importantly, it was a trauma that I saw more in the story. It was powerful. One thing I can say for sure, H. Noah is one hell of a bold writer who isn't a bit shy to work with the tough stuff in her story. But, to pack so many of those into a single book, is, I think too much for a reader, the reason why I'm cutting that one star for.

Release Date: 15 Feb 2022.

Review Posted: 19 Mar 2022.

I have tried to get motivated to read this book but struggle with the writing & the tone. The subject matter sounded interesting & maybe if I check this out via audiobook format I would have a better time enjoying the story. This is fully my own fault & is not to say that the author is poorly - I suppose I've just not been in the mindset to delve in.

Take heed to the trigger warnings the author gives at the beginning of this novel. It's a heavy, realistic look at various kinds of trauma and how it affects both the victim and those who love them.
A religiously delusional mother tortures and kills her daughter to 'save' her.
She's deemed mentally unfit and sent to a mental health facility. This outcome infuriates one of the men prosecuting the case. Two women in love find their love tested in the most extreme of ways after one suffers a horrible attack while the other tries to pick up the pieces.
This one is written in the first person POV's of the five main characters. At first this is a little disconcerting as I struggled to keep them straight. As the story continues though the five distinct voices become integral to the story as they express the various affects trauma has on people. The way this book is crafted is a credit to the author. I loved the frantic, poetic prose of the mother as she experiences her delusions. The voices of the two lovers are real and compelling. There's empathy to be found for all of them though there is sadness as well. I wasn't expecting the outcome of one of the characters but in hindsight it's logical and possible.
Again, take heed to the trigger warnings but with that said, I highly recommend this examination of the psyche of those who come in direct contact with trauma in one way or another.

First off - I have to acknowledge the trigger warning at the start of the book and thank the author for providing one. For people who have suffered traumatic events, this warning is so so important and much appreciated.

This was a break neck story that had me hooked from the get-to. I loved the alternating first person perspectives, allowing the reader to see the events through each person's eyes and listen to their internal monologue. My empathy towards each character changed significantly as the story unfolded and I had no way to predict how I would feel as the book came to a close.

I finished this book days ago and yet my heart still hurts when I think of Maddie and Marie. I was so invested in their story and was rooting so hard for them. Noah really created some complex and fleshed out characters.
The only part that didn't do it for me was the incarcerated mother. I still don't see why we needed her perspective - her chapters gave me the impression that there was going to be something big at the end, and I was let down.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of dark psychological horror. I gave it 4 stars on my Goodreads - many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

When Diane, driven by religious delusion, kills her daughter Ann, the lives of four people are set to change in this dark, emotional story.

This is an intense read, and I appreciate the inclusion of content warnings. The premise itself is dark, with the very first scene the murder of a young girl by her own mother. Themes of sexual assault, homophobia, hate crimes, PTSD, and addiction are all discussed and explored.

It took me a while to begin to connect with the characters, and for a while I couldn't remember who was who. Once I did get into the story, however, I was riveted, and grew to love the four POV characters. Maddie and Marie were such a sweet couple and I loved seeing their relationship develop. Their moments together were the more uplifting aspects of the story, something that was needed in a story so heavy.

The exploration of PTSD after an attempted rape by a group of men is treated with the seriousness it entails, and fits into the larger themes of trauma and its impacts. The recovery from the attack is realistic and is shown to be life-altering. It's not merely a matter of physically healing, but the emotional trauma as well, and this cannot always fully heal. Its impact on their relationship is explored in a very realistic way, as they love each other but struggle to live together in a way that is emotionally healthy for both.

The last few chapters went in a direction I wasn't expecting, and did not foresee such a conclusion to Arthur's character arc. We see his slow descent over the course of the story, beginning with his rage over Diane being sent to a mental hospital rather than imprisoned and continuing as he falls deep into alcoholism. Even seeing this, what eventually happens was something I didn't predict at all.

Diane was treated in a nuanced way, with an examination of her thought process and how in a twisted way she believed what she was doing was right. The story doesn't excuse her actions but does explore the psychology of how someone may be driven to such a delusion as to kill their own child. I felt for her, despite also being revolted by what she did.

You can really see the ways in which trauma and harm are perpetuated, as people who are hurt and angry then hurt others.

This is a very heavy book to get through and deals with many disturbing topics, but I felt that it handled them well and realistically. I was impressed by this debut.

Bluebird At My Window is…just wow. It is dark. Deep in the trenches of dark emotions and mental illness you will wallow. Breathing is in short pants. And windows close as you look feverishly for that stupid bird to bring you some light. Seriously dark stuff here folks. Dark and delicious.

H. Noah is…I have no words at the moment. The story started around Arthur’s journey and grew from there according to the Author. Arthur’s story alone is enough to make you feel for every prosecutor out there. I was right there with Arthur during Ann’s case and beyond. Then add in the diversity of characters and points of views and just…damn. I know this isn’t a helpful review, but seriously Noah’s writing is really good.

Noah evokes all of the emotions that people feel when a trauma happens, even when they are only on the edges of it. Then adds another trauma that everyone feels. All the while continuing the ongoing story of the first trauma. Noah showcases how mental health is dealt with in the criminal justice system and how it is dealt with in society and families. What people will do to save themselves and to save others. The people we drag down into our quagmire of emotions so that they end up with just as many scars. Noah writes bares all of this to readers and it hurts in such a good way.

The individual stories alone are absorbing but put them together and you have Bluebird At My Window - a phenomenal jump into the deep end of trauma fiction.

I received an ARC of this book, and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

This book is a punch to the gut, it will make you dig deep down and face things you may not have even known were relevant in your own life. It will make you question your own views on how you both deal with or react to someone else's way of dealing with trauma and grief.

I loved how this book was set up, showcasing each character. As the story unfolds, you get longer and more detailed chapters. Honestly, this was genius for this book, it just made so much sense and added even more depth to each character storyline. It was a little hard to keep up with at first, but it got easier as the story went on, and we learned more about each character.

This book is incredible. I could not put it down!

The writing is remarkable, poignant, gritty, and unforgettable. The way the formatting changes with the characters’ emotional state was phenomenal. I’m still not over it, and I know this book will stay with me for a very long time.

And I have never seen a content warning page so detailed and informative before, it was wonderful to read before going into the book.

This is not a happy book. It is a story about the different effects of trauma, and the ways lives are changed because of it.

The characters were created brilliantly, the plot was vivid, and the psychological true-crime style is amazing.

I loved this book so much, and if you are comfortable with reading darker themes, I absolutely recommend it!

The story is a fast-paced, dark young adult fiction. It turned out to be more interesting and more emotionally engaging than I expected it to be.

This book is perfect for someone who wants to start reading fantasy as well as for the avid readers who wants to enjoy a short, emotional dark read in one sitting. Yes, it's that investing.

Regarding the characters, they are quite expressive and their presence is strong in the entire story. That's the highlight. I am impressed with the character involvement and their character development.

The writing is totally engaging from the very beginning. It's thrilling. I feel that the chapters are well planned. The writing balances well the plot and the unexpected writing in verse in some parts (hello, Diane Loucks!). You will love this one.

I just love this book!

Please do not forget to read the content warning at the beginning of the book.

Thank you, author, for the advance reading copy.

Shout out to the author for doing TW. There were TW both before I downloaded the book, and when I opened the book. They really made sure you knew what to expect which is something that should be more prevalent in everything, but especially horror. This book is about the ripple effects of trauma, and how it can effect people directly and indirectly involved in events, and generational trauma. This was one of my first reads of 2022 and I really enjoyed it. The multi POV and short chapters made me want to keep reading to see what happened. Very interesting read that was not what I expected it to be.

I like the different perspectives even if I was a little confused at first. My favorite part of this book was the relationship between Marie and Maddie. Overall, I am glad I read this.

In the first third of this book, I was marginally overwhelmed by how many points of view the story was being told from. It was not necessarily difficult to keep them separate in my mind, but rather I felt like we were jumping around a bit too much. By the second third, I felt more comfortable with the shifts in perspective, and was growing to care for each person in turn - at which point I started getting concerned about how this book has EVERYTHING. Racism, mental illness, homicide, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, queer hatred/abuse/trauma, adoption trauma, sexual trauma, police abuse, street violence, religious trauma, and I kid you not when I say the list goes on. But then something incredibly important happened - just as I was thinking how unfeasible this would be in one story - I took a step back and looked at my own life and my own circle and I was shocked, and deeply moved, to find that this book could be my biography with a few characters switched out here and there. It made me see how complicated the web of our own lives is and how in the center is each one of us. The last third of the book hit me hard. Not just with what the arch of the story is, but with how I'd grown to care for and understand each character like the very people who surround me.

It was beautifully written, it was powerful, and horrible, and moving, and real. You could tell that H. Noah is a genuine feeler, an empath, a thinker; a storyteller looking to shed light on hard topics and not one to shy away from the tough stuff. I highly recommend, but not without every trigger warning imaginable.

Bluebird At My Window is not my usual cup of tea but I'm glad that I read it!

I had some trouble in the beginning telling the characters apart, the starting chapters are very short and introduces us to our cast in small steps, but the chapters getting longer and longer as the story goes on. The more I think about it, the more I actually love this formatting decision.

Without a doubt, Maddie and Marie's relationship was my favorite thing about this book. I have more opinions about a certain character but I can't really talk about them at all without feeling like I'm spoiling the story. Let's just say they almost made me give this 3 stars instead of 4 because of how visceral my reaction to them was by the end of it.

All in all, this is a book about trauma, about how it effects us as well as the people around us, and shows us different avenues of how people can respond.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Bluebird At My Window in exchange for an honest review.