Such Pretty Flowers by K. L. Cerra, caught me because of the cover and plot summery but it lost me with the execution of it. I am interested in reading more from this author.

"Such Pretty Flowers" by KL Cerra is a stunning read that’s both haunting and beautiful. This book weaves a captivating tale that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Cerra’s writing is so vivid and evocative—it’s like you’re right there, smelling the flowers and feeling the chill.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with their own unique charm and depth. The protagonist is especially intriguing—her journey through the tangled web of mystery and beauty is so compelling. You’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way.

The pacing is spot-on, balancing moments of suspense with those of quiet introspection. Cerra’s ability to blend the eerie with the beautiful is simply mesmerizing. It’s a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you’re looking for a book that’s both enchanting and chilling, "Such Pretty Flowers" is a perfect pick. It’s a beautiful, thought-provoking read that’s hard to put down.

I was expecting some crazy turns and twists but about halfway through, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. But it definitely is a gothic horror that takes you on a journey that will send chills down your spine. That creepy eerie vibe that settles over a location or town was fully felt during this read.

In Such Pretty Flowers, we meet Holly, a woman whose brother just died. What started as a sudden and strange psychiatric condition became rapid mental deterioration, ending in a gruesome suicide (content warning for body horror). Holly and Dane were always close, but his recent entanglement with his new girlfriend, Maura, put some distance between them. Holly amplified that distance when his mental health made her uncomfortable; she hated seeing what was becoming of him. And then there's the alarming text Holly got from Dane the night he died: he reported that Maura wanted to play a weird game, and he texted his sister so she'd know "just in case."

In the aftermath of Dane's funeral, Holly struggles to believe how all this could have happened. Her parents are each grieving in their own ways, and her best friend/roommate seems more interested in moving her own life forward (quite literally talking to her fiancee about moving out) than being there for Holly. But Holly can't move on without getting to the bottom of what happened to Dane. She's certain there's more to the story, starting with his erstwhile girlfriend. To dig up more on Maura, Holly ends up befriending her and even becoming her new roommate. This perfect opportunity to snoop also brings them closer, leaving Holly confused and at war with herself. This horror/thriller takes the queer concept of "do I want to be her or do I want to date her?" and adds in a third option-- or do I want to investigate her in case she had a role in my brother's death because she's hella creepy and suspicious under the surface? *whew* That was a lot. Holly's battling an attraction to Maura, her guilt about it, and the way Maura's moods swing from vulnerable to controlling to furious.

The florist's magnificent but creepy mansion and her equally mesmerizing but dangerous plants ensure the story plays out with perfect ambiance. The book delivers multiple styles of scary at once-- from the gaslighting and other mind games to the skin-crawling explanation for Dane's death. Was I a bit too scared to function at certain points? Yes. I am a giant baby. But that's part of how I measured the book's success.

I'm not often a horror reader, so take my review in that light. I try to get out of my comfort zone sometimes because even if it doesn't become my new favorite book, I get something unexpected out of the experience. This book ticks that box. I think this is a great queer installment in the horror genre, and I'll just try not to think too hard about what happened here when I'm home alone after dark. Thanks to Bantam for my copy to read and review!

This book took a much darker but overall sort of predictable turn than I had first imagined. When the book began, I was expecting some really crazy turns and by about halfway through, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. That's not to say that it is a bad book ,but simply it isn't in league to be one of the greats, either. It's a mediocre kind of horror meet thriller book for me, and while I'd certainly give this author another try when they've had some time to really hone in on the plot twists, this one won't be making top books for the year.

This cover is amazing and what drew me in to read this one. A gothic horror that takes you on a journey that will send chills down your spine. That creepy eerie vibe that settles over a location or town was fully felt during this read. I would have liked the pacing to pick up a bit in places but honestly enjoyed it still. I didn't see the ending coming as it wasn't what I expected!

This was a lot creepier than I expected though I didn't care much for the protagonist. There were a lot of eyeroll moments for me.

While rather predictable, I did find the spooky and gothic atmosphere to be compelling. I just wish the mystery had been more interesting and the characters more relatable.

I really gotta stop reading debut thrillers. It's not that they're ever bad, it's just that they're also never good. As with most, this is just mediocre. Cerra needs a little more time to hone her craft.

A little slow but it sucks you in about 30% in. It has a similar feel to it as House of Hollow. Just like Holly, you won't be able to stop thinking about Maura! I loved the gothic vibe to the descriptions of the setting and surroundings.

A slow and twisty tale that you will completely forget in an hour of finishing it. Just not enough meat on the bones here to make it worth recommending.

**Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the eARC**

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

What a dark, twisty ride. I really appreciated Cerra's fresh voice in the genre. I felt I was seeing situations and locations that hadn't been done to death. The intrigue carried me along, and the personal dynamics between the characters felt real (and made me quite uncomfortable...in a good way). My only problem was that I felt the ending happend a little too quickly and felt unclimactic. I was expecting a bigger finish from such a great tense buildup throughout the book.
But I am definitely looking forward to Cerra's next book. Maybe they'll stick the landing a little better on the next one.

In 'Such Pretty Flowers', author K. L. Cerra delivers a spine-tingling psychological thriller that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Holly's quest for the truth about her brother's death leads her down a twisted path of obsession and deception as she delves into the dark world of his enigmatic girlfriend, Maura. As the lines between reality and paranoia blur, Holly draws deeper into Maura's seductive web, haunted by the eerie black roses that seem to symbolize something far more sinister. With its atmospheric setting and chilling plot twists, 'Black-Eyed Roses' is a gripping tale of secrets, lies, and the dangerous allure of forbidden desires. Cerra crafts a haunting narrative that will keep readers guessing until the final, shocking revelation.

I tried to like this. The premise was good but somewhere it lost me. I did not finish at about half. I liked the spooky idea behind it but I think it just didnt stick with me enough to finish.

After many attempts to get into this, it's time for me to admit defeat. I enjoyed the writing style, however, something just didn't click for me. I'm not quite sure what it was but unfortunately I couldn't find myself caring enough to continue.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This type of book is not my normal grab but I really enjoyed this one. It does read slow but if you stick with it you’ll be rewarded with a very eloquent gothic tale

I love a character with a few quirks, and Holly sure does have a few! She just lost her brother to suicide and she can't help but keep questioning herself on why she didn't answer his texts. Then she meets his new girlfriend Maura and starts to wonder what really happened? Maura is a bit off. This was such an interesting book and I could not put it down until I finished the very last sentence! Can't wait to read more by this author!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, wow. This cover was what really drew me in and then I saw the synopsis. Still, I had zero regrets when it came to requesting this book and then none when I eventually dove into it. At the moment, my mind is still reeling with what actually went down. From the very beginning, I had so many questions and honestly those didn't stop forming until the very end.

Which, of course, is when I was getting the answers. I was slowly starting to demand more information after the first few chapters. Honestly, probably after the prologue. Then there's the characters that were just off. Suspicious, not making sense, and driving me nuts. The murder mystery and the flowers kept me hooked.

In the end, I'm so glad that I was completely sucked in and read this within 24 hours. I have regrets about any of it. Especially since we can all officially rest from the chaos. I can't wait for my next mystery thriller.