this was seriously so good! i was hooked from the very beginning. i think i might reread it in the fall because the spooky vibes were spectacular! it's definitely a sit by a fire on a rainy day kind of book! also just the little aspects in the book were good. the gay rep, the friendships, the paranormal vibes, everything!!

"The truth is a vicious thing, and so am I."

The Narrow has a lot of good things going for it--a spooky boarding school setting, a local legend of The Drowning Girl, mysterious illness, isolation and at least one occult ritual. Take all of these things and put them in an adult novel and I would be having your babies. Buttttt, the flavor is a little different when the story is YA.

Eden returns for her last year at Atwood after a particularly troubling summer. However when she returns, she finds that her parents have not paid her tuition, and the only way she can stay at school is to board in an isolated dorm with Delphine, a girl who fell into The Narrow and survived, but is now sick and can die when she comes in contact with unpurified water. Eden's job is to keep Delphine company and keep the water out. But there are more things trying to get in than just water.

I really enjoyed this one, but it wasn't my favorite KAM, just because there were times when the YA was very present and I always want darker. Otherwise, an engaging read.

This story takes place in a boarding school and has some dark academia aspects. Eden, the main character is put in a tough financial situation and takes an offer to live with a fellow student who has a mysterious illness and can’t leave the house. Eden starts to investigate and unburies even more issues. I loved the friend relationships she had and how she dealt with each of them as they uncovered the past. Overall, this was a great quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is a voluntary honest review.

The Narrow is a horror novel about a girl who drowned in a river near her boarding school and got back to life with not one but two souls. I do like the whole concept of the story, but I wouldn't say I like the protagonist's thought process, which was so unrealistic many times.

Eden was a student at Atwood School. Eden's family was a total mess. They never really cared about her, and she has been so used to it that she forgets their true nature and keeps justifying their actions.

Eden's friends are good, but she never opens up with them about the trauma she faced that summer. I don't blame her for not trusting her friends because she has been so used to people not validating her feelings. But I am glad, at last, she understood her friends for who they were.

Coming to the ghost part, I like the book's creepy vibes. But some things don't make sense. For instance, Eden desperately wanted to help a ghost who had been hurting her multiple times. Also, she wanted it to have a happily ever after ending even though she(the ghost) died decades ago. To be very honest, I don't like this plot at all.

Moreover, I find it unsettling how Eden consistently tries to provide justifications for the abuser, regardless of whether they are a human or a ghost. She did that in every chapter, and it was so annoying. The writing style was excellent, so I wish the story was executed differently.

This was a wild ride of twists and turns. It gave me all the feels. I found it heartwarming, bittersweet and thrilling. It follows the story of Eden. She has a pretty troubled home life and ends up having to stay at Abigail House because she can’t pay her tuition. At Abigail House she finds herself becoming the companion to the mysterious Delphine. Delphine once fell into the infamous Narrow. A mysterious fast moving river that runs behind Atwood school. The Narrow drowns all who fall into it but strangely Delphine lives after her accident. Del and Eden become very close but they soon find that something is haunting Del and they start to unravel the mysteries surrounding Del and The Narrow.

The plot starts off a little slower but I found that it was the perfect kind of slow build up. As a mystery/ thriller story all is not as it seems and every time I thought I had the truth figured out the plot would twist. I couldn’t put this book down and I loved this creepy paranormal elements. This story isn’t just a spooky mystery. It’s about finding yourself, trusting your friends, overcoming abuse and finding love while being queer. It really has a little bit of everything without feeling overwhelming. If you’re a fan of spooky paranormal mysteries then I highly recommend this fun YA story.

Thank you Penguin Teen for providing me with an eARC.

This is the first YA book I’ve read by Kate Alice Marshall and I loved it. She made it so easy to suspend disbelief. This was suspenseful while also being very emotional. The Narrow is sapphic ghost story and one that keeps you completely invested.

The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall

Marshall is incapable of writing anything I don’t like.

I loved the well thought out characters, the disquieting eerie vibe and the dark academia setting!

My thanks to Penguin Teen for this gifted DRC!

This is my third Kate Alice Marshall (KAM) book. First one was Rules for Vanishing (which I need to reread and review) and These Fleeting Shadows. I think Shadows is sort of the best one (so far) because I do love a haunted house + family story (it was also comped to The Haunting of Hill House – which is like one of my favourite tv shows ever). So The Narrow comes a close second to that.

I was so sucked into the book I could imagine that I was there myself – which is not technically something you actually want with a horror book. I felt connected to the characters – their personalities, their growth. I was especially pleased by how the friendship group stayed by Eden. They cared about her, they made sure she knew she was loved and appreciated – and I loved that because I really enjoy seeing positive female friendships in books.

Eden was a great main character. I think she’s what you call a ‘quiet character’? Which is nice when you’re like me and read a lot of fantasies where characters are usually a bit… louder. But even though Eden was quiet that didn’t mean she was a pushover – which I liked to see as well.

Delphine is the other character named in the synopsis and she’s also a quiet character -but also she lives alone in a small house on school grounds so of course that’s a reason too. I liked her and then I didn’t like her (unlike Eden whom I liked from the start. She did have a full personality (so it wasn’t an issue of it not being fleshed-out), but I didn’t connect to her like I did for Eden.

I loved everything to do with The Drowning Girl. All the lore we got and then the backstory as we learnt more of it. Even how KAM managed to tie it up to the present. How sometimes stories change and are twisted – either by human design or because as time goes on; details tend to fade away.

Eden is a really complex character, with many layers to her, and so much going on in her head, and her life, that she deserves so much praise for dragging herself through each day. When her parents forget to pay her tuition and she finds herself suddenly reliant on the pay-out from Delphine’s mother to be a companion to the isolated girl, it’s another challenge for her to deal with at first.

Yet as they get to know one another, and despite all the barriers in their way, Eden and Del stumble into becoming friends, and then find themselves falling in love. I adored how tender and kind they became to one another, from an unconventional start to holding space and love for one another in the middle of all the ghostly happenings.

The book is set over a short period of time, and we see emotions building and spiraling to match the passions that flourish for teenagers in these pressure-cooker environments. As the Drowning Girl ghost starts attacking Eden more viciously, they seem to both know they’re running out of time. There’s only so much information they can gather, but slowly they put the pieces together to reveal a horrifying truth.

Eden’s friends – Veronica, Zoya and Ruth – are a wonderful unit, balancing one another out with their personalities and, most of all, their unifying love for Eden. Even when she is pushing them away, and testing the absolute limits of their dedication, they are there for her, and are the absolute examples of the best friends anyone could wish for.

It’s a hugely emotive novel, tugging your heart in all different directions, and having you crying out for a happily ever after. A story that will stay with you, and characters that will haunt you for a time to come.

I feel like I am entering my spooky season a little early this year and The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall was the perfect kickoff. Thank you Penguin Teen for the egalley!

This story had queer love and ghosts at a boarding school and gave off spooky and eerie vibes. I really liked how it feels like water was a character in the novel.

This is not like anything else I’ve read lately and I love that. I never was able to see the twists coming. The story was so well written that I was immersed in the story and not the need to keep guessing at the mystery. I am going to have to immediately put more of the authors books on hold.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (4.5/5)

Wow, this book was something else. I absolutely TORE through this book, had me hooked from the first few chapters. I love a good ghost story but a ghost story where the ghosts come in and interact with everyday life?? Ten times better. Also, even though the characters in this book were younger, in their teens, I did not find any of them unbearable and actually really enjoyed all of Eden’s friends which is a very rare thing in YA novels.

I loved Eden as a character. How she was so strong but also so willing to sacrifice herself to save others at the same time. I also loved how supportive and open her friends were, none of that turning on her bs. The story was also enhanced even further by including a sapphic love story. Overall, this was an excellent read and i am now an even bigger fan of katie alice marshall.

Format: Hardcover and ebook

Rating: 4/5 jumps over the narrow

To sum up:
This is a queer ghost story horror set at a remote private school where it’s tradition every year to jump over The Narrow, a leapable gap over a fast and dangerous flowing river. It’s said that what falls in the narrow never comes back, but the characters in this story find out that isn’t always true. Haunted by someone that may have been claimed by the narrow in the past, and a mysterious ill girl that our MC lives with on campus in the present, this story is full of twists, secrets, and love that is trying to survive despite all odds.

Review:
I really enjoyed this! I love how Marshall lays the groundwork for the mystery and weaves themes of queer identity, trauma, and friendship into what could be a superficial horror/thriller. Her characters have great depth in this which makes you root for them. The horror parts are truly terrifying also which is great (a drowned ghost girl with horrific injuries capable of causing the same injuries when she touches you? No thank you). I saw the main mystery coming, but overall, I enjoyed this!

Listen the moment I hear some sort of boarding school is involved in a book I'm sold. This was so creepy and very eerie. I felt so bad for the main character and everything she had been through. This book is a lot but you can tell how dedicated she is to the people she cares about. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything. I was not excepting that ending. I think that really added to my enjoyment of the book. I'll be reading more from Kate Alice Marshall.

Kate Alice Marshall is probably my favorite YA Horror writer. I just can’t get enough and really need to get to all her books because I enjoy them so much. I really liked the dark academia setting of this one. It was eerie and left you with many questions. Especially about those lost to the Narrow and the Drowning Girl.

Eden is back at Atwood after a very dark summer at home only to find that her parents have forgotten to pay her tuition. The options she’s given are to either call her parents or move into the house at the edge of campus. The stipulation for residing in the house is to keep Delphine company. No one knows what happened to her six years ago, except for Eden.

Eden has a suspicion that what she witnessed 6 years earlier has something to do with why Delphine can’t come into contact with water. When she moves into the house Eden is provided with some strange rules. One of which has to do with not allowing any water into the home. As weird as this rule is Eden soon finds out exactly why it’s in place.

Eden and Delphine form a bond with each other over the weeks to come but they may not be the only resident. Eden keeps secrets from her friends about her family life but when it threatens to come to the surface she’s not sure they’ll ever forgive her. She’s also not sure they’ll believe her when they find out really what’s going on at Atwood.

This is probably my new favorite of Marshall’s books and I can’t wait to read more!

The Narrow is a book I didn’t want to put down once I started reading, and because of that, I didn’t make a ton of notes like I usually do. So this review is unfortunately not going to be much of a review.

Things were bizarre, there were secrets I needed to uncover, and it was all wrapped up in the perfect boarding school setting. I liked Eden and her group of friends. Ruth was my favorite. She was funny and relatable, and I would love an entire book with her as the main character.

I liked Delphine, and my heart broke for what she had to go through. But I don’t feel it’s something I can discuss because this book is carefully plotted out, and it’s in that carefulness that the story unfolds. A reader needs to experience it for themselves without it being spoiled.

With the paranormal, mystery, and horror elements, the story ticks off so many boxes for the reader. And it’s sapphic! This was a super fun read from start to finish—another fantastic read from author Marshall.

The Narrow was a haunting and mysterious read that I really enjoyed. Kate Alice Marshall knows how to create a spine-chilling story that will make you want to sleep with the lights on. This was such a quick read and I was so engrossed in this book that I finished it in two days (which is fast for me!).

I loved the mystery and it kept me guessing until the end. There were some intense and heartbreaking moments throughout the book, and I thought the ending was perfect. I definitely recommend this book, especially for fans of paranormal horror.

4.5/5 stars

Every year I look forward to the YA Horror by Kate Alice Marshall. I was really excited to get my hands on this book!

And this one has grown so much in writing, but I also feel it has changed a bit in style. I usually really love the spookiness of her books, and this one just didn't deliver that for me.

This book is a bit of dark academia, since the setting is a boarding school. Our main girl, Eden gets to live in a special house, where another girl is staying. She cannot leave the building due to a mysterious illness, where outside water could kill her literally. Eden is there as a companion, as well as a keeper. But eventually Eden figures out that this mysterious illness is connected to a local ghost - the Drowning Girl. She is bent on figuring out what is happening.

Usually Marhall's books leave things mysterious - you're not completely sure if it was real or a dream. But in this book she takes the paranormal to the "real" level. The ghosts are real, people believe in them, they see them. I feel like that took a bit of spookiness out of the experience more. Also, this book is very much more focused on romance than her previous books. It is the big part of the story.

I did like how trauma is big part of the theme, and how not dealing with it actually creates more problems. I did like that there are solutions due to communication and explaining/hearing each other, rather than being scared to bring up one's problems. It showed a lot of good relationships. It just made my heart happy.

Overall a very well written book. I just wasn't here for the romance, and I wanted more spooky. BUT that's just me.

I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to both young adults and older adults who love the paranormal!

Thank you Penguin for this ARC
4.5 stars
Tense, mysterious, and queer, The Narrow is must read horror novel that will leave you gasping for air.
We follow Eden, returning to her boarding school and discovering that her parents chose not to pay her tuition. (Key word: chose!) Her only option is a scholarship by way of being a companion to the mysterious Delphine, a student confined to her quarters because of her mysterious illness. The house that is odd, locks all over the doors, cameras and one very important rule. Don't let the water in.
I will never get tired of reading horror books that have to do with water and drowning. Like bread and butter, it just goes together so well.
It took me a second to get into the story, but once I got past the beginning I found it very thrilling and and full of suspense. We are given enough breadcrumbs and clues to kind of piece together the mystery, but there were still still so many twists and turns that kept me on my toes.
I really interpreted a lot of the story to be symbolism for abusive relationships. Eden is so constantly making excuses for other people and her family. Even with the support of her friends she still falls into a bad situation, and seems to think she deserves it, and they aren't meaning her harm. She ends up very isolated and alone, and even gets to the point of failing her classes. Eden is so intent on hiding the pain she is in that it takes a good chunk of the book for her to even go to the hospital and get a splint for her arm. (Also the tooth scene creeped me out...gross!)
Queer horror is a genre that I have been dipping my toe in lately, and this book does it so well. Not only is Eden queer and we some lovely sapphic romance, but it is a core component of the whole plot. Whether it be homophobia, or presuming what you know about strangers, it really pulled the rug out from under me. When the reveal happened at the end, I COULD NOT HANDLE IT! I had to facetime my friend and freak out because I was so shocked!
One of the aspects I found most enjoyable was the friendship group that Eden had. It is always so refreshing to healthy and supportive friendships, and I loved how they were trying so hard to be there for Eden. There was a very beautiful quote that Veronica tells to her that really stuck with me: "You fall in love with all your friends. It's kind of a beautiful thing about you." That really just hit the nail on the head in regards to Edens' personality. She doesn't realise it, but she is truly such a caring and good person who just loves so deeply and purely. She will love someone to the point where she will let herself be harmed, because as long as they say they love her, or she assumes that they do, she would let them do anything to her.
I can honestly say I truly didn't know who was going to survive till the end. Usually in mystery/horror books I can get a good guess and suss out the plot, and while I did get a few things right to my great enjoyment the ending was still one I didn't see coming.
A great sapphic thriller book rec, I recommend this one and I am definitely going to check out Kate Alice Marshalls' other books.
Also. I just want to say that Eden having a crush on that one teacher was so relatable.

Holy sh*t what did I just read?! My mind is blown, in a good way. This book was fantastic it. I was drowning in it for sure. It kept my attention even in e copy form. This is a huge thing for me.

The pacing was lovely and the writing was like poetry at moments. The lines about love really hit me in my core.

I was so nervous that the ending would ruin the 5 stars I had in my mind. However, I believe the ending was done very well.

If you are looking for sapphic, thriller, friends to lovers with ghosts this is for you.