Cute small town meets horror movie. After her father's death, Kit and her mother travel to the small town of Rosemont, her father's hometown, and to meet the grandmother he always claimed was dead. When they arrive the town seems charming and quaint, but Kit quickly realizes that the town has secrets...and they center on her family.

I found this story to be slow starting, but once I hit around 30% things really began to take off and secrets began to unravel. It activated a lot of latent teen/feminine rage about not being believed and wanting to burn something down that you never agreed to. I found the underlying premise pretty interesting and unique. This is going to go great on my gothic/spooky shelf. 4 stars.

STARLINGS is worth your time. Amanda Linsmeier breathes fresh life into creepy YA with this thrilling, unsettling paranormal mystery. I loved it, and you will too.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The words and opinions in this review are entirely my own.


This book is a wonderfully creepy book full of suspense, mystery, drama, and romantic flings. This book includes topics of death, suicide, depression, and anxiety. Personally I think the author does a great job at incorporating these topics without making them the whole story or talking about them without addressing healthy ways to deal with these mental health issues.

The story has very similar vibes to House of Hollow all while being incredibly different. (It felt like a mixture of House of Hollow, This Poison Heart, and Dark and Shallow Lies) However, I personally would rate this book as a 3.5. My reason for this is that the start of the story is slow and hard to connect with. The story does pick up relatively quickly after Kit arrives to town. This story has tons of twists and turns, creepy suspense and mystery, and monsters. Once I got into this story, I could not put it down. I finished this book in 2 days.
However, my problem with this book is the ending. There was so much build up. So much leading up to a fantastic twist of an ending with a beautiful redemption story. That ending just never showed up. :(
Don't get me wrong, this book does have an ending and is concluded, it just wasn't the ending I was expecting and hoping for. The ending felt kind of rushed and left me with disappointment. There were so many unanswered questions. I had so many questions that the book pointed out as you read, however, they were just left completely unanswered and ignored with the ending. Unfortunately :(

However, I would definitely read this book again and recommend others to read it.

This cover is absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed this! I was hooked by the super cool synopsis, so I was really hoping the contents would live up to those expectations. My expectations were largely satisfied. There were definitely parts that felt a bit under-explained or rushed through, that really would have served the story better had they been fleshed out. I loved Kit as a main character, and the overall spooky vibes were really solid and fun. A solid read and I cannot wait for my library to get physical copies of this! I can't wait to promote it!

Starlings is such a great read. This book will be added to my monthly October read fest. The vibes are spooky and we are here for it.
I would give it a solid 3.7 stars and rounded up because the cover is stunning.

The storyline is great but there are parts I felt were rushed or not explained out as well as I’d liked. What I did love about Kit was her tenacity and she really became such a strong character by the end of the book.

#Starlings #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc copy of this novel. Great book for the teens in your life.

OMG, this book!

This is the perfect blending of a small town with things that go bump in the night. This gave me Stars Hallow but spooky and dark and I was HERE FOR IT.
The mystery grabbed me right away and wouldn't let go until the very end.
The creep/dark factor is just perfect and I will be purchasing this book to have on my shelf (thank you NetGalley for the arc) trophies.
Basically, if you love a dark creepy mystery that will have you guessing until the end, and even with guessing you are still SHOCKED? This is the book for you!

This book exuded such creepy and mysterious vibes.. Consumed by grief over the recent loss of her father, Kit is hoping to discover answers when she arrives in Rosemont to visit her grandmother who she has never met. Instead she finds that she has even more questions, Like why does the town of Rosemont hold the Starling name in such high regard and what is the "family legacy" that her grandmother is referring to? Not only is her family full of secrets, the town of Rosemont has some dark secrets of its own.

Overall, this was a book that I enjoyed reading. I found the ending to be a bit rushed though, I liked the character of Kit and her loyalty to the ones that she loves. There were different things in the book that I wish the author would have elaborated on more, such as the "creatures" that are briefly mentioned in Rosemont. I would give this book 3.5 stars and I would recommend it to readers who liked "House of Hollow."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I didn't really enjoy this one. The pacing was off for me and it felt like the end kind of rushed things. Also not a fan of how instaloveish the relationships the main character had. (They were there a week!!!)

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and full of mystery. I thought Kit was a well written, strong willed main character. I love the authors writing in the way that the book flowed. This book is definitely creepy and would be a great book to read in the fall! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Starlings tells the story of Kit Starling, a girl with a family legacy that delves into horror. When she and her mom visit her grandma’s small town, something isn’t quite right. It’s paranormal and eerie, feeling like a modern-day girl-snatched-by-the-goblin-king myth. It’s perfect for fans of Small Favors by Erin Craig.

"The Starlings" was a fascinating read with a couple of unforeseen plot twists. Personally, I am not a horror reader, and this definitely had a creepy vibe to it. Despite my preference, I did have trouble putting the book down, especially since the love interest has a dark twist. I am sure those who like horror will enjoy this. I did get frustrated at times with the lack of explanation of how some of the dark magic developed in the story. Otherwise, I did find it a story difficult to not finish.

This book was good. I really liked the trippy aspects of it, and I liked the majority of the characters. I wasn’t a huge fan of the whole plot, as I felt it was a little rushed at times. However, the story itself reminded me of my favorite movie, so I did enjoy it!

Overall, I give this 3.5/5 stars.

Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier is an entertaining book about Kit Starling, who—after the sudden loss of her father—visits the grandmother she thought was dead and finds herself in a bit of a horror story. The book addresses themes of human selfishness: a town’s horrid history of murder and cannibalism finds its parallel in the residents’ traditional sacrifice of young women in order to maintain their own wealth and comfort. Over and over, they continue the cycle—‘others must die so that I can live. So that I can live as I would like.’ And all the while, they treat the Starlings with a disingenuous reverence. There is a lot to talk about thematically with this book. The twists were a bit predictable, but there is a compelling depth to the story, and Kit is a fairly well-written main character.

Additionally, the author handles the aftermath of suicide well. She explores Kit’s struggle with feeling abandoned by her father, a realistic feeling after the suicide of a loved one, and she does it without casting him as a villain.

The primary problem with this book was the pacing. The romance between Kit and Bear happens really fast, and then the relationship between Kit and Sabelle is even more jarring. I ended the book feeling like these two characters didn’t even know each other well enough to form a friendship, much less to start kissing in the woods. The ending is just as abrupt. The climax passes quickly. The denouement just drops you on the floor like a rag doll. It’s not falling action. It is plummeting action. Literally, Kit’s mother wakes up from being asleep, is told that a demon kidnapped her and tried to take her child as a bride, then learns that her daughter murdered the demon, and just kind of says, “By the way, I promise to stop parentifying you now. How about we get some therapy?” The story ended on a really strange note, and it felt like the resolution was an afterthought.

We also never got some answers to conflicts that seemed pretty important but then were just abandoned. How did Juliet die? Was Jack killing the Starling women when he was done with them? Did Daniel really never tell his wife about Rosemont? Why would the mom actually agree to take Kit there to see Agatha? It seems like an irresponsible choice, whether she knew or not. If she knew, WTF?!?! If she didn’t know, she still knew that her husband had claimed all his life that his family was dead and then been haunted by monsters from his past to the degree that he ended his own life. I would never have taken my child there. And so what if Agatha threatened to reach out on her own? Let her. I would still never take my child there. We never get an answer, and I waited for one until the very end.

This book is a must-read for 2023.
Linsmeier explores cycles of generational trauma and abuse with a gentle, intentional touch in this gothic YA fantasy about a girl seeking answers about her deceased father.
You will fall in love with angsty Kit Starling and obsess over the creepy residents of Rosemont, home of the eternal roses and rife with legends of monsters who go bump in the night. The story is filled with twists, betrayals, and toe-curling kisses that will leave you flipping pages into the wee hours of the morning.
Crossing my fingers for a prequel or two that follow some of the incredible Starling ladies.

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“I don’t look for frightening things anymore. Except somewhere, in the deepest recesses of my bones, I feel like they still look for me.”

First of all, this book is beautifully written. It flows beautifully, almost like a song. The story was written in a way that wasn’t obvious as to how it would end. (Then again, maybe it was obvious and I’m just dumb). This book fits into so many categories and blends each one seamlessly. Contemporary, mystery, thriller, paranormal, and fantasy, all rolled up into one twisty knot.

This book is written as a standalone and at first I was concerned as to how the hell it was going to get wrapped up in such a short book (300ish pages?) but it did. Nothing felt rushed and the story had a natural feel the whole time. I fully expect this book to become the next booktok obsession, so be ready for it.

Let’s quick talk about representation and any triggers.
LGBTQ?- yep. We have a bi main character, a gay florist, and a hottie monster.
POC?- some, but only one specifically named.
Disabled persons?- not that I saw
Neurodivergence?- possibly, depression is hinted but not explicitly stated.

And now for the triggers-
Abuse, domestic violence, forced relationships, narcissistic behavior, death of a parent, death of a relative, kidnapping, m*rder, and self unaliving.

This book is listed as 12+ but I would say 14+ is better simply because of some language and mature themes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me this copy and this opportunity

TL;DR- Kit decides to confront generational trauma by fighting a god

Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier

This book was so creepy! From the moment Kit and her mom drive into Rosemont something feels off. The place is too perfect. They take a trip to the pleasantly perfect town to visit the grandmother Kit never knew she had. All anyone in town can talk about are the eternal roses and Crowning Day. Everywhere Kit goes she gets strange looks and people whispering about her behind her back. She finds out that her family, the Starlings, are famous for saving the town when it was first founded.

During their visit a lot of strange events start to occur around town. Children are found dead in the surrounding woods. Kit and her mom start to experience headaches and bodily pain. Halfway through the visit, Kit's mom even goes missing and no one takes it seriously. Even stranger is that her grandmother doesn’t seem to be worried at all. She even seems happy that Kit will most likely be staying for Crowning Day after all. This leads Kit to not trust her grandmother at all as well as question what is so important about the town’s upcoming festival.

One of the few comforts Kit has while in town is meeting Bear. He is a charming guy who happens to like many of the same things Kit does. He is even willing to help her break into the town museum to find answers about the town, her family, and her mom's disappearance.

Just as Kit is beginning to trust a few other people around town she learns that not everyone in town is who they say they are… Some are not even what they appear to be…

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good horror mystery! Thank you NetGalley, Amanda Linsmeier, and Random House Children’s Books for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Starlings! Also, I absolutely loved the look of the cover!

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

Wow. WowwowWOW! This was one hell of a thrill ride! More of a creepy fantasy haunted house ride with mild scares, but that didn’t change the impact of the mood of the mystery… I was dying to know what was at the very root of things the entire time! There was just this underlying air of sinister energy the whole book! Sure, a few things were easily guessable, but the rest? NOPE. I cannot wait to check out more from this author! I loved how well she wove fantastical elements with the horror elements! It was nothing short of masterful.

I was wholly & truly impressed! I also loved that the author made the MC Bi! Bisexuality never gets near enough representation in books!

All in all I cannot recommend this enough!

A huge thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s Publishing for the ARC! This in no way changed my opinion or review!

Starlings has all the makings of a good YA horror--parental secrets, strange happenings, weird/cute small town, flowers no one can explain, and historical tragedy. It starts out strong with Kit and her mother going to visit the grandmother she's never known, whom her father said was dead. But after her father's suicide, Kit is called to the family seat in Rosemont to get to know the grandmother she never knew.

Then her mother disappears, leaving behind an uncharacteristic note that sends all of Kit's alarm bells ringing. Unfortunately nearly no one else seems to care about this, including grandma. Determined to find her mother, Kit unwittingly unearths Rosemont's terrible history and the curse that keeps it from further doom--one that she is intricately connected to.

All together, I mostly liked this. It has a Midsommer vibe and the mystery of the Starling family kept me interested. I do feel like Kit spun her wheels too often--like nothing she ever attempted seemed to amount to much and the climax was so easily dealt with that it undercuts the story a bit. I also didn't think the plot could support a love triangle and felt that about 80% of the romance could have been cut out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book. Unfortunately, I will not be reading this to completion. I don't really like the writing style of this book. It's one of those "It's not you, it's me" situations. However, I don't feel it right to mark down the book because I couldn't get into the writing style, so I'm giving it a 3 star.