I did not connect with the story or the characters of this one. The main characters felt very bland to me. The plot was very predicable. I just couldn't get myself to care at what was going on. I think the author is a talented writer, though. I think if she can work on her characterizations and plot, she'll eventually land a big hit with her atmospheric writing style.

A Study in Drowning is an incredibly atmospheric read swirling with folklore and mystery. Ava Reid’s craftsmanship is evident from page 1 - beautiful storytelling, powerful messages and themes of sexism and womanhood and self-identity. Effy is presented as an unreliable narrator, struggling herself to know what is reality and what is a figment of her imagination. She is not at all your typical YA FMC, she is soft and fearful and has some trauma in her past that deeply impacts how she sees herself and the world around her. This book had all the ingredients to be a five star read for me but ended up falling a bit short. The book had a very slow start and it took way too long for the plot to take off, leaning heavily on the atmosphere and prose to carry the reader along. Even the world-building felt lack-lustre, there were so many interesting concepts and aspects of the world that were glossed over that I just wanted to know more about! But many of these threads weren’t at all related to the main storyline and it was frustrating to find that they went nowhere as the book progressed. I think my biggest issue with the book is how the character development played out and I wanted more from it. I liked seeing her slowly open up to Preston over the course of the novel and start to acknowledge some of her past traumas, but there was a sudden character shift towards the end of the book that felt quite sudden in relation to the slow growth we had seen from her this far. To compound this I found Preston to be very flat as a character, he didn’t have much personality and I wanted more from him as well.

Overall I I can see why so many love this book, the incredible gothic atmosphere, the beautiful prose are enthralling and the powerful messaging about sexism and womanhood and taking up space in a world that doesn’t acknowledge you will resonate with many.

4.5-/5
Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.

"Fear of the sea is fear of the eternal-because how can you win against something so enduring. So vast and so deep."

And just like the sea, this is one of those stories that seeps into you as you read and soon you are as swept away as are the characters in it. I love these kinds of stories where the place is as much a character are the people you interact with. This book is atmospheric, haunting, mysterious and full of the imagery of the sea. It is also a story of a young woman straining and struggling to find her place in the world as well as acceptance in a male dominated patriarchal environment that keeps trying to drown her ambitions.

"The danger was as ancient as the world. But if fairies and monsters were real, so were the women who defeated them."

This is a second world story with two countries at war and the students at the university study under the threat of continued tensions between these countries. Effy is forced to study architecture as women are not allowed in the literature program and when an opportunity comes along to design a new home for her favorite author, she jumps at the chance and then in drawn into a family and a world she is very unprepared for. She also finds she is not the only student intent on discovering more about this famous author and Preston and Effy are immediately at odds over the evidence that they begin to discover. The Myrddin estate is a water-logged, decrepit place full of ancient fairy magics and Effy and Preston soon find themselves in fear for their lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story from beginning to end as Effy faces her fears and fights for what she wants against a system built to thwart her at every turn. Preston is a wonderful character to initially face off against her and their barbs and academic disagreements help to lighten the mood. The descriptions of the house, the sea and the theme of drowning that interweave throughout the story are marvelous and it makes for a wonderful, haunting but ultimately uplifting story.

This book is hauntingly beautiful. It is a fantasy set in an imaginary time and place, but it feels more like it is set in 1960s or 70s Britain. Effy is a talented architecture student who is chosen to rebuild the home of the most well regarded epic poet in the nation. He has recently died and become a legend. Even though she would have preferred to be a literature scholar, this is only reserved for male students. Effy has resigned herself to architecture and this is her opportunity to find a happy compromise with her true dreams as well as escape a humiliating relationship with her sexually abusive advisor. Is Effy experiencing hallucinations or are her encounters with an elusive fairy king actually occurring? She has definitely experienced trauma and abuse by both her mother and toxic men in her life. Fortunately she meets Preston who both challenges, supports and respects her. She is able to overcome great obstacles with that support. She and Preston also uncover valuable secrets in their research that will have a profound impact on their existing society overturning deeply held prejudices and myths. This s compelling and well-written story.

I liked this book, but didn't love it. The world building reminds me of Divine Rivals, in that it is a fantasy realm based on an actual historical period, it's rivals to lovers, and there are two warring magical powers. That said, it falls short of the beautifully lyrical prose of Divine Rivals. Maybe if I had read Study in Drowning first, I would have liked it more. That said, I did like the spotlight it placed on misogyny. This fantasy world only allows males to study literature because women's brains can't really grasp it. The MFC also deals with being the only girl in her academic program, which opens her up to abuse and rumors. Overall a good read.

First, thank you so much for my first ever Advanced Reading Copy- this was a great opportunity for me to begin reviewing books in my preferred categories. There was so much to love about 'A Study in Drowning'. The writing style was beautiful, and made the setting of the decaying Hiraeth Manor come to life. Ironically, I felt right at home in the damp, almost eerily crumbling settings across the entire book. I also thought the pacing was great; I relieved that this wasn't a "Dark Academia" book that spent too much time at the University. The mystery elements were a little obvious, but I didn't feel like the book dragged or sagged too much to get there. While I didn't love Effy's character throughout the book, I'm glad she that she (predictably) had a satisfying arc to stand up to the professors at the end. Overall, I never once got bored reading this- I felt like the book had a spell over me that kept me engaged. I loved the themes of the book- overcoming sexism, hope, partnership, loss. I would highly recommend this.

did i add this to my tbr because of the absolutely stunning cover? yes. does the inside match the outside? double yes! there's definitely a lot going on, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. loved the world, the writing, the characters. i would read more from this author for sure

This was so boring. It was too descriptive on things that didn’t add to the plot and vague on anything that would have moved the plot forward. The main character was supposed to be a strong heroine but she came off as unsure, with small attempts of bravery. Sometimes I wanted to shake her to wake her up but she spent most of the story medicated. There was a strong message here about female empowerment but it kept getting lost.

DNF at 20%

For one of the shortest books i read this month, it felt like it was the longest. The description pulled me in, but it was just so dreary, so slow, so many extra words used... i can't. Sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of A Study in Drowning in exchange for my honest review!

This was a mixed bag for me, I still enjoyed it overall because the strengths were really STRONG. The gothic atmosphere and how Reid dealt with Effy’s trauma throughout the book were handled so well. I feel like for a YA book, sometimes trauma is handled with a magic wand, but this did feel like she genuinely grew.

Unfortunately, I felt pretty disappointed that there was not a lot of in-depth world building. I felt like I constantly was given amazing and interesting information and then it led nowhere a lot of times. The character development for Preston, in particular, could have been better as well.

Overall, I’d say a 3.5 rounded up to 4, it’s one I’ll try again down the road!

Effy and Preston find themselves slung together to find the "real story" behind one of their country's great storytellers. Did Emrys Myrddin really write the fairy tale he's famous for? Will they discover the secret before the house and its inhabitants do them in forever? I enjoyed this, but it was dense. Lots of backstory and the house/weather was its own character twisting the plot. Dark and brooding. Recommended.

This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The writing was gorgeous and the characters were very likable. The story hooked me quickly and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Effy and Preston.

Effy is a first-year architecture student. She would love to study literature instead but women are not allowed in the program. When she sees the chance to possibly work on designing the home her favorite author’s home she jumps at the chance. Once she arrives, she finds the home is in further disrepair than she imagined and there is another student doing work in the home. Preston is there as a literature student. As they look into things, they discover that they have even more questions than they thought.

I loved the characters in this book. It was obvious early on that Effy had an interesting history and I loved the way that the author gave us that background a little at a time throughout the story. Effy and Preston were a great match and I enjoyed watching them connect over the course of the story. The dark gothic setting was so well-developed that it almost came alive on the page.

I paired the audiobook with a digital copy and thought that Saskia Maarlevald did a phenomenal job with the narration. I have been a fan of her narration work in the past so I was excited to see that she was reading this story. She did a wonderful job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I thought that this was a wonderful book that will be going on my keeper shelf and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Teen.

Set in a Welsh-inspired fantasy world, this cozy-turned-dark academia tale has the smoothest flow I have ever read. It’s like being swept up in a dream - or maybe swept under by the tide - to borrow some of Ava Reid’s drowning metaphors. Every little bit carefully unfolds, no rush, no flood. It’s perfectly timed to keep you turning the pages for more.

Effy is the only woman attending the Architecture program at her country’s premier university. It’s quite the accomplishment but not what she was aiming for - the men-only Literature Studies. She’s floundering with the passionless workload and violently misogynistic colleagues. But she sees a competition poster to redesign the home of her favorite author and National hero, Emrys Myrddin. She takes every chance to pursue the project but finds that nothing is what she had believed it to be.

There is a mysticism engrained in the culture that is fascinating. For people like her colleague Preston, magic is a myth. For believers like Effy and the southern fishing communities, faery magic and guarding against its many dangers is a vital part of life. It builds up the constant argument, what is real? By the end I couldn’t decide if I wanted this to actually be a fantasy or not, because if fairies are real then Effy is doomed to die.

The book is formatted with quotes from Effy’s favorite writers before each chapter, much like Ninth House and Fourth Wing. The fictional writing Effy shares is beautiful and poignant. You learn as much from her story as you do the ‘quotes’ and her interpretations of them. Readers and poets who like to explore the folly of youth, inevitability of things, and feminine rage and loss will feast on this book. The attraction between characters is begrudging and tender. Although market as YA, they do have s*x on page although it is described very politely. There are themes of har*ssment, gr**ming, and expl*itation although the actual incidents do not happen on page. She’s also handling her mental health and neglectful mother in a way that was very relevant. It’s safe enough for most adults and I flag it as heavy themes, not triggers.

I adored this masterpiece and it balances the academia, haunting and fantastical elements so evenly that many will enjoy it. The highlight for me was how Preston and Effy talk with each other. They dive into each other’s lives so deeply. It makes their dialogue very satisfying. The final reveals will fill your cup and tie everything together nicely. You will come out of this story a little changed yourself.

Thanks to Ava Reid, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this the first time about a month ago. It was a bit of a slog, and my grandmother had just died so my focus was off and it felt like a lot of it went over my head. I gave it a few weeks to breathe, then tried it again. I'm about halfway through, and I won't be finishing it. My focus wasn't off the first time; this just isn't my kind of book.

It has a literary feel, with theme layered upon theme layered upon metaphor layered upon more themes. It began with exposition that did nothing to pull me in. When she got to the place and met Preston, and there was more dialogue and intrigue, it grabbed more of my attention and I followed along better. Still, there are aspects of this story that just baffle me.

First, why is it set in a fictional world and time? There's no good reason it needs to be; the plot doesn't span the globe, it revolves around a book and its author. It could have taken place anywhere. It's clearly meant to emulate, at least in my mind, Scotland and England in the 18th/19th centuries. So why couldn't it have been so?

Second, what the fuck is a drowning? I assumed it was just a flood, and at first it seems so, but at times it's spoken of as if it's a metaphor (such as in the title) and now I'm just not entirely sure. Was it a weather event unique to this world, or did have fantastical undercurrents? I'm having a hard time caring.

Third, for a girl who was unwillingly obsessed with the faerie king and all things faerie, Effy failed to realize that, hmm, strange, every mirror in the weird house was unable to reflect one's visage. That the mirrors in the car were turned away and useless to the driver. That her host seemed to have a dual personality. To be clear, she notices these things, and even thinks them odd, but that's it. I wanted to shake her. Reid was not subtle in her foreshadowing.

If the tone hadn't been so literary, if it had just been an engaging mystery, I might have liked it more. As it is, no thanks.

I give this book 3.5 stars.
This story really pulled me in. The imagery was fantastic and I was thoroughly spooked during the “horror” scenes. I was so addicted to this story and loved the FMC and her character traits. She was really written for us anxiety girlies. Also with being a victim of SA, I felt seen in a way that no character has made me feel before.
However, the ending felt very rushed to me. Also with how she defeats the villain, it felt a bit “too easy” for me. I thought there would be more struggle in that aspect given how big a role this villain played and the psychological aspect that went along with it.
While the ending was not up to par, this was a very entertaining read.

I've started and stopped this review like ten times and I need to just commit and get something written down. The problem is that I have so much I want to say about this book and no idea how to really say it.

Normally this review would just be me explaining why this was a great read, like the endearing characters, the compelling storyline, the sweet rivals-to-lovers romance, the stunning prose, and the perfectly eerie dark academia vibes. Then I would spend a brief moment talking about the things that prevented me from giving five stars, like struggling with the pacing or finding a certain plot twist a bit dissatisfying. And while all of this is true for this book, there's so much more that merits saying about this book and what it means to me. Because this book is so much more than all the things in the blurb and all the things I expected it to be.

At its core this book is about so many sharp things that many people will relate to. It's about institutional sexism and power dynamics. It's about how young women are simultaneously dismissed and underestimated, while also being blamed for the actions of the predatory men around them. It's about how every woman has so many stories she could share about all the small violences accrued throughout their lifetimes, all the harms they nickel-and-dime and force themselves to think nothing of because 'it could have been worse' and because they know every other woman is collecting the exact same stories. It's about mental health and anxiety and the way these things can fool us out of trusting ourselves. It's about autonomy and finding your voice and all the little ways our voices can be stifled, ripped away, returned to us. It's about finding refuge in a story and the people wrapped around that story and how jarring it can be when that safe place falls apart around you. This book is about so many important things that shape and define people and their experiences and I don't even begin to know how to voice that immense value found within these pages. I guess I should just say that I'm extremely grateful to have experienced this book and envy the younger readers getting to experience it much earlier in life than I did.

An enjoyable and important read that has a permanent place in my heart from now on. Is it the perfect read? Maybe not. But it doesn't need to be to make an impact. Highly recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for review.

Wow wow WOW!!!! I remember almost not requesting this book earlier in the year because I just wasn't feeling ANOTHER YA romantic fantasy (I just assumed based off of the cover). Thankfully... I decided against my initial thought and put in a request anyways, which was granted. And am I SO THANKFUL THAT I GOT TO READ THIS BOOK.

Ava Reid's writing had me hooked the entire time. The way she would weave small hints to Effy's experience in the background of her storytelling, making you stressed the entire time for when the truth would come out surrounding what happened to her. The slow burn build-up between Effy and Preston that feels like it takes years but is only the course of a few days (maybe a week or two?) was my perfect form of academic rivals to lovers.

The way this book touches on racism, misogyny, war, religion, class war, sexual assault, and so many other topics with such a delicate and intentional hand made me actually believe the story being told without feeling like Reid was trying too hard to push a specific agenda relevant to today's society (which can be done well but feels tiresome at some points).

I would call this book New Adult rather than YA, as there are some sexual scenes that are probably too old for the younger age of YA (aka 13-16 in my brain), but I do think everything is done so well that it can be enjoyed by many different age ranges. Highly highly HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone - it's probably in my top 10 books of the year so far. Maybe even top 5.

I've loved everything Ava Reid has written, and this one is no different. Atmospheric, mysterious, and multi-layered, this is a complex gothic/fairy tale-esque novel with dark academia vibes. It also is a critique of the misogynist mindset and treatment of females in the academe (and any place, really), so it truly was fulfilling to see the protagonist's Effy Sayre's journey throughout the novel. Loved the two main leads. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. Since it is October, the vibes for this book were spot on for Fall: dark and dreary, lurking fae, a crumbling and decaying mansion, and an air of mystery. Not only did this book contain all those things, but it contained quite a few different messages: the relationship between an author and their reader, how women’s stories and even lives are taken from them, the lack of women in academics and the misogynistic way they were viewed, and surviving sexual assault or any trauma.
Normally I like a fierce, powerful FMC, but I won’t lie, Effy made a huge impression on me and really expressed how staying “soft” and just trying to survive is equally as impressive as a FMC who can wield swords and is “hard” to the rest of the world. There’s so many ways people can be powerful, and I think that gets lost sometimes.
I also liked that the Fairy King was the VILLAIN, not the eventual love interest. And speaking of love interests, I loved the academic rivals to lovers throughout this novel. It was just the right amount of build up and Preston has my whole heart.
All in all a fantastic read that I think everyone should read once (especially you soft femmes out there, this one’s for you). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Such a fun book! I really loved the gothic atmosphere of this book. It's a rivals to lovers dark academia gothic ish tie up but also has fae elements in the more traditional sense! I also like how it touched on feminism and how it was describing effie's experience with being a student and all.