I thought that this was a great YA creepy and spooky ghost book. I loved the traditions of the school and how they tied in with the ghost stories and the plot. I thought the main character was flawed (in a good way) and very realistic. The author crafter a creepy atmosphere that made me wish I read this in October. It’s a great story with great characters.

So we all know I’m a horror girlie, but I usually don’t go in much for ghost story horror. Most of them are just so cliché and boring to me that I don’t want to read them. I’m also that way with horror films – in fact, there are only a couple of ghost-based horror movies I really like. So the fact that I gave The Narrow a 5 star rating, should tell you something.

Characters
First, I love the characters. I love Delphine. I love Eden. I love the way Eden, Veronica, Zoya, and Ruth interact with each other. They’re all strong characters. We get back story for those we need (Delphine, Eden, Maeve, and Grace) and no back story for the ones that don’t matter as much (Veronica, Zoya, Ruth, and the adults).

Atmosphere
This book had a great, creepy setting. A boarding school with a history of being haunted that exists near a raging river… and it rains a lot here, or does it? A dorm that is specially outfitted for a student with an extremely rare allergy… this one just has all the pieces for a great setting.

Writing
Kate Alice Marshall’s writing style is amazing. It is easy to read, fast paced, and doesn’t overly describe things like my all-time favorite horror author tends to. Reading this takes hardly any effort – you don’t have to think too hard, you just read and relax.

Plot
This one takes a unique plot for a ghost-based horror novel. It takes possession to a different level by executing it in a different way. Add to this a love story and it becomes a great story that keeps readers interested and wanting to know more. At least it kept this reader wanting to know more.

Intrigue
If there’s one thing every thriller or horror novel needs, it is intrigue. You have to have a reason to want to know what happens next. And trust me, with The Narrow, you need to know what happens next. You can’t just leave it alone. The intrigue is amazing in this book. It just works so well.

Relationships
The relationships in this book are complicated but at the same time, not. For some relationships they seem to get more complicated as the book goes on, while others seem to get less complicated. I love the interactions between Eden and Delphine, Eden and Grace, and Eden and her friends.

Ending
The ending to this book actually made me a bit sad. I understand why it has to end the way it does, and I’m grateful that it does end the way it does. But it still made me a bit sad because the person Eden fell in love with is one person she simply cannot have. It is amazing, beautiful, and sad all at once.

I highly recommend this book to those looking for a ghost story that isn’t your typical ghost story. I also recommend this 5 star read to those looking to get started in YA Horror with something that isn’t too terribly scary.

This was a creepy and interesting read that I read fairly quickly. It had relatable characters with complex backgrounds that added great dimension to the story. I really liked the supernatural elements and the small twists were intriguing and while I thought the story would go one way, it went in an entirely different direction. I would consider the ending bittersweet and I really enjoyed reading the book.

Did someone say sapphic dark academia with ghosts?? The Narrow has all of that and more. Eden is returning to the boarding school she has attended since she was eleven after a hellish summer. Eager to return to a life of comfortable lies and trying to forget the summer she had, Eden is ready to spend her senior year with her best friends. Except, her parents have not paid her tuition for the year and Eden knows she can't go to them after everything that happened that summer. Her last resort? Abigail House. There, Delphine, Eden's freshman year roommate lives secluded and unable to leave due to a mysterious illness. Delphine's mother pays the tuition for one person every year to live as a companion to Delphine at Abigail House.

Every year there is a tradition at Atwood School where the students jump the gap across the Narrow, the deadly river that runs behind the school. As long as they follow the rules, only jump in the day and when it's dry and so on, it is safe. Everyone knows that what the river takes never returns. Eden knows that's not true. She saw Delphine fall into the Narrow and live one fateful night. Now she must live with her and that night that still haunts her if she wants to stay at school and avoid her home life.

Delphine is not what she expected. Eden is drawn to her and the mysterious things happening at Abigail House. The wet footprints and the rain. Delphine is being haunted and now Eden is the only one who can figure out what is really going on.

The Narrow was completely gripping and the most unique paranormal story I have ever read. Everything typical ghost stories do the author takes and made them her own. It was just the right amount of creepy with lots of atmosphere and depth. Even with all the hauntings some of the most disturbing aspects of the story pertain to reality. This is a story about love in all forms-- young love, first love, deadly love, friendship, motherhood, deep crushes, and overwhelming, toxic love. I devoured this book and never knew what to expect. If you want a haunting thriller with many sapphic love interests to consume you, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Viking Books/Penguin Books for Young Readers for a copy of The Narrow in exchange for an honest review. 

Shock and Awe

The Narrow made me gasp. And it's not often a book surprises me. (#SorryNotSorry but I'm one of the many who can guess the next sentence of a movie, ya know?) And I don't say this to pat my own back or toot my own horn. Just that I love when art pulls the rug out from under me. I cannot tell you how Kate Alice Marshall's The Narrow does this without giving the twist away, and this is not a book to be spoiled. 

Suffice it to say, I was blown out of the water (terrible pun intended). The best part is the twist makes complete sense in retrospect. It's not an Ah-ha! Gotcha! Marshall weaves a story that needs to be told, not one to pull one over on her audience. 

A Sensory Experience

As with her last book, These Fleeting Shadows, Marshall shows extreme command over spooky and visual writing in The Narrow. It's so visual it's visceral. But beyond that, the sense of touch, of feeling, is prevalent here. While not all five senses are equally at play, the book is a feast for the senses.

I remember I'd wanted to watch These Fleeting Shadows as a movie, but I don't think I'd like to see The Narrow. This novel may be too disturbing on screen: That or the disturbing nature wouldn't translate. Either way, the written word is the perfect medium for it. 

Should You Read It?

Absolutely. While this is another "read-the-content-warnings-first" recommendation, it's a whole-hearted, 1,000 percent recommendation. If you like a good romance, or if you like a good ghost story, The Narrow is for you. After tapping the final page, I still wanted more. It's not that The Narrow doesn't satisfy; it's that it is that good. 

The Narrow is out on August 1, 2023. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚👻🚰

Kate Alice Marshall never fails to write the most hauntingly heartbreaking stories, and each one becomes my new favorite.

The Narrow is a tragically spooky love story set at a boarding school full of secrets. I absolutely flew through this one and loved it so much 🥹

It takes place in a boarding school where each year upperclassman jump across a deep and dangerous river, The Narrow. No one who has ever fallen in has survived…until Delphine.

Eden, the MC, is tasked with watching over Delphine at Abigail House, but it suddenly haunted by the ghost of The Drowning Girl.

The cover definitely has a vibe that carries over into the story. I love a good paranormal/chill horror story and this one did not disappoint. Eden, as a character, is well fleshed out, and it keeps you turning the page to see what happens next.

Read if you like:
Dark academia
Paranormal
YA horror
Sapphic romance
Mysteries

Boarding school thrillers… um yes please! I live twisty, turns, and mysteries that take place in schools. Maybe because I’ve never experienced it myself, lol.

The Narrow is a river that runs behind Atwood School. It is said that anyone who falls in doesn’t survive. Eden doesn’t believe the tales as she’s seen someone fall in and survive. She’s never told anyone, but kept the secrets to herself as who would believe her. But as much as Eden doesn’t believe the myths, strange things start to happen and she has no explanations for as to why.

This was the perfect book to get me into spooky season. It’s atmospheric and creepy and makes a good ghostly story. It’s definitely that paranormal mystery mixed with sapphic romance, which I didn’t see but made the story more. It’s one of those that you don’t know if it’s real or in her head until you read it.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story. It was definitely different from what I’ve read in awhile and was enjoyable.

look: horror has always been queer, but so much of our horror is dominated by the straights! i mean, what's up with that? so it was truly a joy to watch kate alice mitchell return to horror's queer roots with a good, creepy sapphic tale. the pacing was a bit interesting -- i thought this would be a solid 3.5 star read until about 30% -- but as soon as the queer becomes canon, the plot quickly finds its footing and it's a race to the end. frankly, i didn't have the brain space to write notes because all i could think of at a certain point was "dear god if they don't get a good ending" which ... oh boy. the only note i have is "it's giving the deterioration of the body due to patriarchy and heteronormativity" which i absolutely stand by. i still think the conclusion is a bit too rushed (due to the wonky pacing), but overall? a great addition to all those queer horror books out there. much love to the lesbians <3

Well that was not the ending I wanted.
YA thrillers are some of my favorite reads- they often are incredibly emotional and my inner teenager feels seen.

Eden and Del, just broke my heart. I wanted so much for them. If you need a haunting thriller that may make you tear up, then definitely give this one a read.

➽ <b>The Narrow is the perfect YA horror to read this summer!</b> It's set at Atwood, a private boarding school with its own legends and ghost stories. The titular <b>'Narrow' is a small, but viciously deep river that the students jump over for a dare</b> at the beginning of the school year - no one who fell in has ever survived. Except for Delphine, a student who's been sequestered in the infamous Abigail House ever since the incident as she's severely ill and cannot be near any water. There are more stories surrounding the Narrow, such as the Drowning Girl and her tragic love story. <b>I loved the atmosphere of the boarding school and the mysteries of the Narrow</b>, Kate Alice Marshall has a way of setting up places within her books that feel real and deep with history!

➽ <b>The protagonist is Eden, a complicated girl who I immediately rooted for</b>. Eden's parents are rich but financially irresponsible, so she starts her time at Atwood with the news that her tuition hasn't been paid. <b>Atwood is Eden's refuge from her difficult home life</b>, so she's devastated and yet not hopeful to receive any help from her parents. An <b>unconventional solution presents itself</b>, as Delphine's mother will pay her tuition if she moves into Abigail House and keeps Delphine company. Eden has her own history with the girl but agrees as it's her only option. Eden was a great, well-written character. <b>She has her friend group, but never opened up to them about her problems and has gotten good at lying to them</b>. Her Atwood and home lives are kept separate for a reason and Eden couldn't bear to tell them her story. She's always been invisible to her parents, as her brother is mentally ill and requires a lot of their energy. I liked that the author didn't demonize the brother - Eden has a complicated hate/love relationship with him - but also showed that it's not safe for Eden to be at home. She's such a <b>kind person and always tries to sacrifice her own happiness for others</b>.

➽ <b>I also loved the focus on Eden's friendships!</b> Her friends <b>Veronica, Zoya and Ruth</b> aren't happy that Eden won't live in their dorm for senior year and they have no idea about her money troubles. As Eden gets sucked deeper into the mysteries of the Narrow, Abigail House and Delphine, <b>she keeps drifting away from her friends</b>. They aren't thrilled and also grow concerned, as they don't understand why Eden's so obsessed with solving the mystery of Delphine's sickness and the story of the Drowning Girl. This is made more difficult by the fact that Eden has always been keeping secrets from them and easily feels backed into a corner. I really liked how <b>Eden was confronted with the difficult choice of opening up and being vulnerable</b> with her friends, who really want to help!

➽ <b>Last but not least, Eden's connection with Delphine was super interesting!</b> Eden knows her briefly from before her accident but hasn't really spoken to her since. Now, she's supposed to keep her company and <b>immediately feels drawn into Delphine's orbit</b>. Delphine cannot ever leave her house and all water has to be purified, otherwise she'll get severely ill and die, so she's trapped in Abigail House. She <b>appears fragile at first, but I liked that there was a sharp wit within her</b> and a sense of cunning. She's not the helpless Damsel you'd expect her to be and one of her first requests to Eden is to never lie to her. Both girls quickly grow closer together and Eden is determined to solve the mystery of the Drowning Girl in the hopes that it'll help Delphine's condition, as it seems to have been caused by the Narrow. They had great chemistry and their romance was sweet, especially as Eden found it easier to open up to Delphine, compared to her friends!

A tremendous than you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy of this novel!

The Narrow is a mysterious, paranormal, Sapphic romance that I couldn’t put down. I loved the entire atmosphere. A spooky old boarding school, some grade-A ghost encounters, and genuinely creepy moments. It’s also a Sapphic romance that is melancholy and full of longing. I personally really enjoyed that the author illustrated the complexities of relationships in an entirety. Eden struggles with her family, her friends, and romantic interests. There is a lot of gray area around a lot of the characters, and I appreciated that a lot. This novel deals with value of self, familial relationships, coming of age, queer struggles, and loneliness. All these issues are handled with grace, all wrapped up in a chilling ghost mystery. I really thought that this novel was artfully done and was a pleasure to read.

If you like ghost stories, read this book.
If you like mysteries, read this book
If you like Sapphic romance, read this book.

I genuinely believe this is a novel for both adult and YA audiences alike. Four stars from me!

Anyone who loves YA horror will recognise the incredible Kate Alice Marshall whose twisty and suspenseful past horror titles include Rules For Vanishing and These Fleeting Shadows as well as her recent adult fiction debut What Lies In The Woods from earlier this year. Returning to YA with her new horror novel The Narrow, the Queen of Scream has a deliciously creepy and unnerving tale of sapphic love and loss intertwined with dark, gritty themes of abuse and learned helplessness. And of course there are ghosts!

This author excels at creating an immersive and mesmerising mythology that feels like a half-remembered nightmare, something ghastly and familiar that our waking mind has attempted to exorcise. The Narrow introduces readers to a terrifying apparition known as The Drowning Girl, a ghost who appears to be in the process of drowning, choking and dripping water, leaving behind watery footprints as the only trace of her visit. However her sporadic appearances have recently increased in frequency and target Atwood’s Abigail House, an isolated residence where Delphine Fournier lives in seclusion with only one companion who must follow a stringent set of decontamination rules before interacting with her to prevent a relapse of her mysterious illness. When the previous companion exits the school after a so-called accident, Eden White takes her place—and unwittingly becomes the replacement fixation of The Drowning Girl.

What sets The Narrow apart from this author’s previous YA horror releases is the mystery behind the Drowning Girl’s death which leads Eden down a rabbit-hole as she tries to uncover the truth of what happened decades ago with minimal clues to work off. Instead of our protagonist’s main focus just being on the paranormal phenomena at play in their surroundings, Eden is also focused on delving into the past and identifying suspects that may have been linked to the death of the unfortunate soul who became the Drowning Girl. The suspense of this investigative storyline adds an additional layer of intrigue to engage the reader even as Eden’s compassion and desire to help lay to rest the ghost’s unresolved trauma results in her suffering ongoing injuries from contact with the Drowning Girl.

The restless dead aren’t the only ones with unresolved trauma—we meet Eden at the start of the story already injured and shying away from thinking about how she ended up bruised and battered. We see her intermittent flashbacks which slowly flesh out her summer holidays in more detail and the horrible circumstances that led to her injuries. Eden isolates herself from her friends out of fear of revealing her troubled background and the transition to Abigail House comes at the perfect time to avoid her loved ones and reduce the risk of them finding out something’s wrong with her. Throughout the story, her friends continue trying to reach out to her despite her best efforts to push them away and there is a wonderfully wholesome arc about simply accepting love from others rather than limiting the love you feel you deserve based on your own perceived self-worth. While some readers may be dissatisfied with the lack of a concrete resolution to the abuse storyline, it rings true to real life that many cases can’t be wrapped up neatly with a bow and the best-case scenario may just be for the victim to move on with a healthy support system around them.

Kate Alice Marshall has crafted a tautly plotted and emotionally sophisticated story which combines spooky fantastical elements with a more grounded examination of human relationships in all their flawed glory. The Narrow stars a compassionate-to-a-fault heroine who faces an uphill journey learning to prioritise her wellbeing, a desperate ghost with murky motivations that may cost too much to unravel and a tantalising mystery with twists and turns to keep you guessing.

This was a fun amazing thriller story that should have been released in October for the Halloween setting. I have heard amazing things about Marshall’s writing and knew I had to check this book out. Marshall has an amazing writing style that is dark and thrilling but also emotional which just makes you want more. It was hard to put down the book as the storyline was fantastically written. I enjoyed the school setting and the pacing was great.

The main characters, Eden and Delphine, were fun and I loved reading their stories. I couldn’t really connect with them but I enjoyed seeing their development in the story. Their adventure was exciting and scary which I absolutely loved. There were a good amount of side characters but none appealed to me too much. There is sapphic romance but I couldn’t feel the chemistry as they gave me more friends chemistry.

The ending was very well done and I have to say that this was a very good thriller book. The author did such an amazing job with the story that I can’t wait to see it on shelves. I do have to say that I feel like I have read a similar book to this but I can’t think of one. I did have some minor issues but I recommend checking it out.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of The Narrow!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🏫 always wanted to attend boarding school
👻 have witnessed paranormal activity
🏳️‍🌈 enjoy sapphic romances
🔍 like a good mystery

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived.

Eden White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live.

Delphine now lives in careful isolation, sealed off from the world. Even a single drop of unpurified water could be deadly to her, and no one but Eden has any idea why. Eden has never told anyone what she saw or spoken to Delphine since, but now, unable to cover her tuition, she has to make a deal: her expenses will be paid in return for serving as a live-in companion to Delphine.

Eden finds herself drawn to the strange and mysterious girl, and the two of them begin to unravel each other’s secrets. Then Eden discovers what happened to the last girl who lived with Delphine: she was found half-drowned on dry land. Suddenly Eden is waking up to wet footprints tracking to the end of her bed, the sound of rain on the windows when the skies are clear, and a ghostly silhouette in her doorway. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This one grabbed my attention right away, starting with that awesome cover! I love paranormal mysteries, so I knew that I would love this one, and it did not disappoint. I liked the fact that there was really a ghost showing herself to Eden and that it wasn’t all in her head, though I’m sure she thought she was losing it! I also enjoyed that the book showed her interactions with her friends and even told us about her home life. It really helped me get to know Eden better. Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to both young adults and older adults who love the paranormal!

No one who has fallen into the Narrow has ever lived. Except Eden's former dormmate, Delphine, who hasn't been the same since the night she almost drowned in the river behind Atwood boarding school. Delphine now has to live in sanitized isolation, as contact with even the smallest amount of unpurified water could kill her. Years later, the school has requested that Eden spend her senior year living with Delphine in her isolated dorm. While disappointed at the prospect of not rooming with her own friends, Eden is also desperately curious to speak to Delphine again and find out what actually happened to her on that night no one has talked about since.

Kate Alice Marshall has won my heart all over again with this book! She is truly becoming one of my favorite horror authors, and I love that her stories are scary enough to keep me up at night, but also heartfelt enough to make feel a real emotional connection. The pace was a bit slow at times, as with the other books of hers I've read, but the plot was perfect, the vibes were immaculate, and the horror was on point. It explores some deeper themes, includes several sapphic romances, and has just the right balance of seriousness and lighthearted teen story energy.
Can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!

I read the synopsis and knew I had to read this one. Sapphic love, ghosts, a river that takes prisoners? Yep.

I really enjoyed this one! The plot was clever, Eden and Delphine are two very well written characters, and the love story was just this side of tragic to be enjoyed.

I think the pacing was a little too slow for my particular tastes. Things could have moved a bit faster toward the middle of the book, so the end wouldn’t have been too jumbled.

Overall though I think it’s a solid thriller for young minds. Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for sending me an eARC. This review was written voluntarily, all opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS

Genre: YA horror

Synopsis:
The Narrow is a river near a boarding school where anyone who falls into it is never found. Ghosts of past missing teens begin to haunt the students.

What to expect:
⭐️sapphic romance
⭐️ dark academia setting
⭐️ paranormal activity
⭐️ ghost stories

This is a sapphic YA horror. If you are not familiar with Kate Alice Marshall’s work, she writes creepy ghost stories that are fast paced and not too scary. This one kind of reminded me of a less scary version of the movie The Ring. There are multiple sapphic love interests, some paranormal. It was a unique concept and I would recommend to anyone looking for a sapphic horror story.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC🖤!

This book gets all the stars!! It was creepy and suspenseful, heartwarming, and heartwrenching in equal measure, and had me feeling all the feelings.. even laughing out loud at some parts.
And I think I'll be having some thoughts if I come across a fast-moving body of water.. or when it rains.

I felt so much for Eden, with everything she had been through before school even started, and feeling like she has to hide what was going on. I connected to her in a lot of ways. I love the friendships, not only between Eden and her amazing friend group who try and tell her again that they love her no matter what, but also the budding friendship/relationship that grows between Eden and Delphine, the strange girl with the sickness that keeps her shut up in a house on campus, only interacting with certain people.

The Narrow had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved every moment.. Kate Alice Marshall has cemented herself as one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read whatever she comes out with next!!

I thought this was an interesting read. Some parts were a little weird. But over all I liked it a lot.