A Study in Drowning had the perfect gothic and academic setting for an epic romantasy. We follow our main character Effy and her self-termed "nemesis" Preston as they work to uncover the truth about their favorite author, a recently deceased Emrys Myrddin. Despite this intriguing premise, I can't help but feel like A Study in Drowning fell flat. Maybe I should even reword this to say, "BECAUSE of how intriguing the premise and world, the rest of the book fell flat."

Effy and Preston live in a country where the north is constantly on the brink of war with its neighbor and the south is slowly being sloughed off into the sea. The nation's most acclaimed southern author, Myrddin, has recently passed and our two students find themselves embarking on a journey south, determined to know more about the man and the mythical fairytales he left behind.

From this description alone, I would expect this book to be 5 stars or more. However, my brief summary above feels just as in depth as Ava Reid goes at times. We are gifted such an amazing world but are only allowed to look at it through the eye of a needle. I finished the book thinking, but what about this oncoming and ongoing war? (For relevancy context, the love interest is from the warring country.) Does Effy ever speak to her mother again? How do her feelings and relationship change once she has concurred her demons at the end of the book? What do Effy and Preston think of the South once all is said and done? What do they think of

Effy is smart. I cannot argue against this because it was told to us multiple times, though only shown to us maybe twice. After being rejected from the literature program due to her gender, Effy uses her top scores to enter the entirely male architecture school since it is considered the second most prestigious to literature. With her obvious intellect, I was desperately missing any and all introspection she would have the events and world around her. She does not question anything or anyone, nor delve into the complexities of her world or relationships. The most introspection we truly get from Effy is in her focus on Preston. Having loved the idea of two students exploring literature and the history of their favorite author, I couldn't believe there was such minimal analysis and almost no witty debates. Instead of thrilling banter, I felt like we were left with a lot of childish bickering between the two main characters. And to make matters worse, I often left this bickering thinking Effy was acting immature rather than the intelligent character I kept waiting for her to be.

Every male character in the book also had a strange fascination with Effy. I kept waiting for this to be "explained" as I couldn't understand why there would be so much attention called to almost every single man commenting on Effy's effortless beauty or "innocence" for no good reason. It felt like every single interaction Effy had with someone was predatory, but the interaction would never be discussed or viewed by Effy as predatory. I'm not sure I have explained it well here, I can't say more without risk of spoilers. I do recommend you be cognizant of my trigger warnings at the bottom.

I wonder if the author will write a companion book to A Study in Drowning following different characters in this same world. I have a hard time accepting that Ava Reid created such an interesting world but then refused to provide us with some of the most compelling details. I don't want more of Effy (I think I would be okay with more of Preston) but I am desperate for more of this unique world.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: I would also like to make an important note that my ARC did not contain any mention of trigger warnings. I would like to add my own warning that this book deals with sexual assault/sexual harassment as well as parental neglect. I personally did not like the way sexual assault/harassment was treated in this book. I would consider it a major plot point as it greatly influenced our characters and their actions. However, there is never any discussion or retrospection by Effy on the matter. My dislike of how this issue was handled was emphasized even more by my earlier mention of the way every man was interested in Effy's looks.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything like this book before. When I try to describe it, two words come to mind: weird… and engrossing. This book made me think of Wuthering Heights many times - a creepy old house out in the middle of formidable and scary surroundings with a grouchy dude roaming around the halls… but with some magical realism thrown in as well as a super precious romance (the kind of romance that I almost never enjoy).

Let’s start with what I loved about this book. It’s a gothic tale with a feminist twist with some of the best atmospheric writing I’ve ever read. There was just a perpetual creepiness throughout the whole novel that was irresistible to me. So many times I would think to myself how weird this story was… and then it would be an hour later and I still couldn’t put the book down. I felt seen with the mental illness rep and the feminist bent, and I loved the main character Effy. This girl has been through the ringer. She’s dealt with an emotionally unavailable mother, a traumatic childhood experience, grooming, sexual assault, public shaming, and a systemic misogynistic society that refuses to allow her to be seen as worthy in any capacity. She loves literature and truly feels saved by her favorite stories and author - so many readers will see themselves in Effy, and I am included in that group. I don’t want to talk too much about the ending, but I loved that too!

Now the things I didn’t enjoy. This story takes place in a different world that alludes to politics and war, but nothing is truly fleshed out. The book feels very Victorian (this may have been because of the connections I kept making to Wuthering Heights), but there are jarring modern elements like cars and telephones which would snap me out of the story. I also found the male lead, Preston, to be incredibly bland and boring. I was hoping there would be some sort of twist to make this character more complex to me, but that never occurred.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down, but there were a couple of elements that drove me crazy at the same time. This book is unique, and I loved the message it conveyed, but I wish it had committed more fully to a dark and fantastical tale instead of watering it down with sweet romance and modern references. Grades 9+

"I was a woman when it was convenient to blame me, and a girl when they wanted to use me."

A Study in Drowning was an avalanche of themes in a story of what we popularly call modern gothic fantasy. We return to a world of academia, where sexism is palpable and women are considered "frivolous" and incapable of lofty arguments but are skilled seductresses of men who are not only twice their age but hold a position of power.

The novel follows Effy, the only architecture student at the university, who ends up at the mansion of her favorite (recently) deceased writer to remodel it. Soon, however, we are drawn into the magical atmosphere of the mansion itself and Bottom Hundred, a town threatened by a second flood and the clutches of the Fairy King. At the estate, she is in the company of the writer's disturbing son and Preston, a pragmatic literature student with a hint of arrogance.

By its academic nature, "A Study in Drowning" brings us closer to the Dark Academia vibes, plus the Rivals to Lovers, which I like very much. Also, the folklore around the Fae Folk plays a vital role in the plot. I just couldn't put the book down, it had everything I needed to have me itching and beyond, including depictions of hallucinations and anxiety.

I was a little hesitant to read this book, because my previous encounter with Reid's novels (The Wolf and the Woodsman) was rather lacking, but in the end I have to say that I'm really glad I did. It's not a complete 5 star read for me, but it is a good story with lyrical writing, fascinating world-building, and a fascinating plot. I don't think anyone can argue that Reid lacks imagination, because every time I hear about one of her stories I think "huh, never heard of something like that before", and now having finished another of her books I can say "huh, never read anything quite like that before". The world is both similar enough to our own that it's fairly easy to envision, while being different enough that you really want to just wander around in it for hours because you know there's just so much more to it that what you're seeing on the page. In fact, if Reid told me she was coming back to this world and expanding on it I would be thrilled, because I feel like there's so much here that's gone unexplored I would love to more of it. Her writing is lush and lyrical, and while I didn't end up highlighting anything while I was reading I would love to go back over the story and do that, because I'm sure my copy would be full of sections that spoke to me. Honestly for me the only real hiccup with things in this book was our main character. For the most part she was great, but everything seemed to make her cry, and it just didn't feel like it fit well with who she was. After everything she had been through (both in the story and before it started) the idea that she would cry just because she spoke to some random student seemed wrong to me. I also have to say it was slightly exhausting. So much so I did think about giving up on this book less than 100 pages in, but in the end I stuck it out, and I'm glad I did. I'm sure this is sure to be a big hit in the YA world, probably even more so with older teens and adults, and I will happily direct people to it who are looking for something unique. I look forward to hand-selling this, especially as the holidays get closer, and somehow Reid has managed to pull me back from the brink of being an author I just ended up avoiding, so bravo to that.

As my introduction to Ava Reid and her writing style, I found A Study in Drowning to not be a great place for me to "jump off the diving board".

Ava's passages are written smoothly. The story of A Study of Drowning is unique but I found it to be ordinarily so.

Effy is the only woman in the architecture program at her college in Caer-Isle. And with that has come some advances and trauma from a member of staff there. She is severely traumatized, constantly envisioning the incident over and over. Looking through Effy's eyes is like looking through a fractured mirror. Nothing is clear, or as it seems. It is very warped, strange, and shattered. It almost makes her an unreliable narrator.

So when an opportunity arises to work on her favorite author's home. While hesitant, she finds that it would be a great way to leave it all behind.

Many will feel this is a "romantasy". And while there is some romance it isn't at the forefront of the story.

"Your only enemy is the sea"

The dedication to this book reads: “This is a love story” and (mean this will all love) It is NOT. Now, fantasy stories are not all about romance for me, and I am not one to complain about a fantasy book having too little romance. But, when you start the story and get this dedication, it sets the wrong tone for the book.

Effy and Preston’s romance is underdeveloped at best. The entire conflict between them is one-sided anger over something stupid. Then it's like Effy flips a switch and decides she wants him. There are a few moments of sudden pining, that were probably supposed to be tension, and suddenly they're together.

While I would say A Study in Drowning has a great plot, it isn't necessarily driven by the plot but more so by Effy and her beliefs. Typically I am a character-driven person (and if you are too this would be a great read) but I couldn't find a minuscule amount of caring for these characters. Effy while obviously mentally going through something serious, feels a little too childlike, giving A Study in Drowning an overly YA feel.

“Everything ancient must decay”

Beyond this, it is slow-paced, and there are major holes and details missing in the story that never really get explained. There are mentions of magic but again, it never gets explained, so you are left feeling like you are missing something. The book could have had an additional 50 pages to flush it out a little more adequately.

The ending felt as if it didn't quite fit. The Faerie King is resolved way too easily, especially given everything he represents in Effy’s life. I also was left with major questions. 1. Why was Drowning a capitalized word? What does the sleeper magic entail? What does hearing the bells mean?

“That was the cruelest irony: the more you did to save yourself, the less you became a person worth saving.”

So then the question is, do I think you should read it? While I say yes. I will also say no (and yes I will tell you why).

A Study in Drowning is a good story packaged in a way that is easily digestible. In addition, the story has great potential. If you go into it without setting yourself up with expectations (skip the dedication page) I think you will enjoy it. In turn, I say no because the story is basic and lackluster. I am not saying that every story needs to be poignant and thoughtful (some of the best stories aren't) but I read for escappy (escape in Dori's mind). Wanting to get swept up in a great time and feeling like I am not reading.

I felt like A Study in Drowning wasn't enough of a great time until the very latter half of the book while winding down the story. So it gets 3 stars. I will explore Ava's other reads. A Study in Drowning just wasn't for me. I do recommend, it for the Gothic fans though.

Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book immediately grabbed me, and I read the first half super quickly! It didn't turn out to be the book I thought it would be. I thought there would be a lot more of the house itself being the evil, but it ending up being what it was was very interesting. Overall a pretty good YA read.

This book was amazing, and lived up to every expectation I had set. The overall idea is incredibly unique, and its execution was satisfying. This book embodies the YA genre (if you’re not a big fan of YA you might not enjoy it as much) and I adored it every step of the way

From the very beginning of the book we learn a lot about Effy, her from mannerisms and ideas, that propels the first chapter forward while explaining the word she lives in. This to me was engaging and kept me reading without becoming bored.

Effy represents a very real character with complex human emotions that come from her specific experiences. The character development in this book is absolutely breathtaking. The intricacies of each character are clearly shown, and characters that were relatable and easy to understand were showcased. In addition to this the discussion of anxiety, and trauma is well develop and it was incredible seeing Effy work through her internal struggles.

The chapters do seem to have time jumps where you have to continue reading to understand where you are. I know this is not everyones jam, however, I adored it as there was always interesting hooks to the time jump and I felt like it really propelled the beginning chapters which are often drawn out in other books. I felt like the pacing overall was amazing and the logical progression of the book was great. Nothing included felt unimportant, and the book easily follows an engaging sequence of events that didn’t create a stalemate in the book.

I got the honor of reading an ARC of this book and I was not disappointed. I adored this book so much. The characters, and story itself, were amazing and I hope other see the beauty in it.

I love the way that Ava Reid writes. This was extremely lyrical and I have read it twice since receiving this ARC. The story is very gripping and the dark academia vibe is something that I needed in YA form and I'm glad Reid wrote it. The prose is fantastic and the background of Effy is beautifully haunting. I spent most of my time questioning the reality of everything in this book. The idea of Effy's favorite author being a farce? Executed perfectly. The lore behind the house and the crumbling foundation and how that all relates to the story as a whole.

I started to sell this book in June and having already seen pre-orders of it come by!

5/5 Stars

TL;DR - Lyrical, haunting, and deceptively enchanting, this book is a masterpiece of YA literature. A deeply feminist exploration all the ways men invade womens’ lives and take credit for their brilliance, and how the women are silenced and confined and ultimately, forgotten. Just enough magic and mystery to sate this avid fantasy reader, as well as stark and authentic looks into trauma, grief, and all the ways we let others dictate the rules of our realities.

Big thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

***Trigger warnings for: sexism/misogyny, a sexually-exploitative power imbalance, grooming, rape and dubcon, ableism, mental illness, an emotionally abusive parent, alcoholism, PTSD and intrusive memories, mnetiones of drowning, and child abandonment.***

"But didn’t all drownings begin with a harmless dribble of water?"

‘A Study in Drowning’ by Ava Reid is a dark academia, magical realism novel about Euphemia “Effy” Sayre, a first-year architecture student who would much rather be studying literature at her university, if only women were allowed into the program. She’s been obsessed for years with the works of Emrys Myrriden, the late author most-known for his epic tale ‘Angharad’, the story of a woman who falls in love with The Fairy King, when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arises to write herself into his story, albeit posthumously. Effy wins a competition to renovate the author’s family estate, but venturing to the remote Hiraeth Manor offers more questions than answers, and something is hiding in the drowning mansion - something that knows her name.

Holy freaking wow, this book. I was so incredibly excited to get approved for an ARC of this - I’ve heard good things about Ava Reid and was eager to see her work for myself - and I have to say, she did not disappoint! She might genuinely be my new favorite author - brb, adding her other books to my TBR.

I can’t talk about this book without first talking about how profoundly feminist it is. Like the sea into Hiraeth Manor, it’s dripping from every crack and crevice, and I am HERE for it. It’s such a timely, poignant exploration of how (historically and presently) womens’ genius always plays second fiddle to the aspirations of men, and how time and again, women are forced to take a backseat in their own brilliance, and ultimately, their own lives and legacies. I cannot possibly express how much this book filled me with righteous feminine rage, on Effy’s behalf and that of other female characters, and on behalf of all the women who will never see their names as anything more than footnotes in the annals of patriarchal history. Ava, thank you so much for giving voices to these women with your own.

In that vein, this book explores some pretty dark things, as you can see from the trigger warnings. And yet, I didn’t feel bogged down by these themes as I normally do - rather, I found them inspiring in my own journey with trauma and healing. I really appreciate the author’s care around sensitive subjects, and that they were explored thoughtfully and realistically. I found the depictions of PTSD and intrusive memories in particular very relatable, and I am always glad to see it portrayed correctly and respectfully. Again, Ava, thank you.

That aside, this book is genuinely GOOD. The writing is simple and clean, and subtly beautiful. It’s atmospheric to the max, equal parts character study and spooky mystery - absolutely checking all the boxes for a Gothic novel. As a bonus, it gives very subtle 'Howl’s Moving Castle' vibes, even if it’s low-magic, and that makes it all the more charming. And let me tell you, this book is LAYERED. So many things that seem mundane at first, but in hindsight, they’re all cohesive threads in a tapestry that weave together into something magnificent. A lot of things to think about, maybe too many to grasp in just one read-through, but boy am I excited to pick this up again in the near future and see all the little things I missed.

I love the excerpts from different in-universe books at the beginning of each chapter. It’s a little stylistic choice that I greatly enjoy, and it really adds flavor and context to the world and the story that we wouldn’t get naturally otherwise. I am a sucker for fictional academic works in books, though.

"Effie was no great designer, but she was an excellent escape artist. She was always chipping away at the architecture of her life until there was a crack big enough to slip through. Whenever she was faced with danger, her mind manifested a secret doorway, a hole in the floorboards, somewhere she could hide or run to."

Effy is amazing and I would die for her. She’s so clever, so strong, and even though she’s dealing with a lot mentally and emotionally, she carries with all with such grace - and she’s also not afraid to break down when it becomes too much, something I deeply appreciate as someone who’s dealt with some of the things she does. Girl has fire and drive, and I stan.

To Preston I give the rare accolade of *chef’s kiss*. I’m a sucker for soft scholarly bois, but he’s just, perfection. Sure, he can be conceited (something Effy calls him out on, you go, queen!) and arrogant and he does talk and talk, but as someone whose partner is also a scholarly soft boi, it reads as fully accurate and endearing to me. Okay, maybe I’m biased, but he’s still amazing. He’s kind and empathetic, and he doesn’t question Effy’s strength or her merit (at least, not once he gets to know her, this is rivals-to-lovers after all!). I could go on and on, but suffice to say, I really love him as a love interest.

In that vein, I really did like the romance in this. Maybe to could have gone a little harder on the “rivals” part, but that’s purely subjective and what’s there is still very satisfying. It gives very Scully and Mulder (from The X-Files) vibes, a non-believer and a believer having arguments over reality and fantasy, which is something I just adore. The chemistry is believable to me, and the course of their falling for each other was extremely enjoyable. Give me more male love interests who are genuine cinnamon rolls, please!

If I had to name something that I didn’t like about this book (and I am hard-pressed, believe me), it would be that it’s a bit hard to nail down when exactly this story is supposed to take place, albeit in a fictional capacity. First I thought it was late Victorian, maybe turn-of-the-century, but then cars are mentioned, so I amended my inner imagining to the late 20s, maybe early 30s. But then television is mentioned, and sure, it was invented in the late 20s, but it didn’t become a household thing until (by my limited research), the early 50s. The person who owned the TV was well-to-do, so owning one earlier is believable, but it still threw me for a loop. If I had to guess, I would say mid-40s in Earth-years, but I would have appreciated some more clarity. But that’s literally it, no more nit-picky things (I know, I’m shocked too!).

Final Thoughts:

Ugh, this was so good! I will not be hesitating to add a physical copy of this to my shelves, and I think I’m actually lucky enough that one of the pretty-book subscription boxes will be doing a fancy edition - yes, please!

A Study in Drowning is a Young Adult/New Adult novel that explores several dark themes. Effy Sayre is a young woman who has suffered trauma in her life. She is a voracious reader with a vivid imagination, and her real life visions of the Fairy King she reads about earn her the label of being mentally unstable. She is given pills to keep the visions away and help her sleep, and because women are not permitted to study literature, she enrolls in the architectural college. When she wins a competition to design a manor home in honor of her favorite deceased author she is overjoyed, but, like a fairy tale, the job comes with three conditions: the manor house must have room for all of the author’s relatives, it must be large enough to house all of the author’s books, and it must reflect the spirit of the writer.

When Effy arrives at the mysterious seaside cliff to begin her work, she meets Preston, a literature student from the country’s most prestigious college who is working on a biography of the author. Preston and Effy are at odds regarding life and work of the author, and sparks fly even as the two students are physically drawn to each other as they uncover mysterious details from the landscape and the past.

This book is full of Gothic details that will delight audiences who enjoy dark academic tones. Like the best dark academia, A Study in Drowning presents the aesthetic appeal of university life and creative pursuits while also revealing its heavy underside. This is a great choice for readers interested in an atmospheric read that uses supernatural elements to explore how stored trauma from the past can permeate the present.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books. All opinions expressed are my own!

Initially I tried to listen to an audiobook version of this story, but with the heaviness of the themes an audiobook version just wasn't for me. But once I started reading the text, I found it as bewitching and sharp as the sea, or the Fairy King himself. In fact, I think that analogy holds even further: A Study in Drowning feels tempestuous and unsafe, and yet deeply and wholly true. It is not always a pleasant and almost never a comfortable voyage, but a compelling one. For sensitive readers, the themes of misogyny and sexual assault are continuous and prevalent, so please be mindful of that when picking up this book. Most references to sex and sex acts are mentioned in euphemistic or indirect terms, though not all. I would definitely recommend this book, though it might be too heavy for some people to read casually.

A Study in Drowning starts off with a relatable scene of Effy Sayre feeling overwhelmed during her first semester of college. Effy then travels to the suffocating, dilapidated estate of her late favorite author after winning a contest to redesign the house, which is where the rest of the book takes place.

Throughout, Reid captures unflinchingly the feeling of being haunted by traumatic relationships and predatory men. The rivals to lovers is also well done; Preston is perfect and protective and- most importantly- believes in her ability to succeed even in a world where women are not often allowed the chance.

This book and Reid's depiction of early womanhood made me feel seen, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of her works.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

DNF @ 25%

I was reading it May/June ish and struggling through it, then realized I had a few months before it came out, so I moved on to other things and just ... had absolutely no desire to pick it back up.

Two major things bugged me about it:
1. The sexism in the world (it just didn't feel fully built into the world, but more like "I need there to be obstacles, so we'll go with a classic")
2. Effy. I just did not vibe with her at all.

I did like Preston, he seemed interesting and was almost enough to carry me through the book, and if I pick it up again one day he'd be the reason. But for right now, the poor boy just wasn't enough.

Content Warnings: references to a past sexual assault/grooming situation that continues to affect the MC's life. Probably also one of the reasons I didn't continue, only because sometimes I'm not in a mindset to read that kind of content.

I love Ava Reid’s work and I have been waiting for this book for years! Read it for a YA assignment and loved every moment.

A Study in Drowning has everything I want in a dark academia novel: rivals-to-lovers, rich folklore and world building, and poignant prose. Reid tackled so much in this story, and I'm here for it.

Effy is well-developed and deeply haunted, both by the Fairy King and by her experiences as a girl in academia. Reid doesn't shy away from addressing sexism in academic institutions or the trauma that can result from abuse of power, which are foundational to Effy's journey. Laced within visceral, lyrical prose, Effy's story comes to life as she, a first year architectural student, is impossibly selected to design a house in memory of her favorite author. I loved Effy's perspective and the way she sees the world through the lens of literature, namely stories everyone else sees as fairytales, but she knows to be true.

Once she arrives as Hiraeth, she discovers she's not the only student to reside there, but her rival, Preston, is working on his thesis to challenge the authorship of Effy's favorite story by her favorite author. Preston is logical and reasonable, everything Effy's been told she's not. Their relationship slowly grows (developing into one of my favorite I've yet to read) as they face an impossible mystery backed by a force, both real and magical, that's bent on keeping the secret.

This book isn't heart-pounding and fast-paced, but it's layered and complex, filled with believable characters in a world that feels so visceral that I could almost reach out and touch it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Survival is bravery, too”

This book was so beautifully written I’m almost at a loss for words. It was so stunningly atmospheric and rich with folklore and magic that made me unable to put it down. It’s a beautiful and haunting story that shines a light on Women’s voices being heard, and the constant dismissal of Women’s stories.

What this book has:
-Dark academia
-Welsh folklore
-Academic enemies to lovers
-Hauntingly beautiful writing
-Mental Health representation

I can’t recommend this book enough, and it’s the perfect Fall read!

I loved this book to pieces. The cover is beautiful. The characters are haunting, and the book is a gothic wonderland. I loved the #metoo representation in this book.

A Study in Drowning is an absolute gem of a novel, filled with stunning imagery, complex characters, and important themes. Ava Reid has done an outstanding job weaving together a haunting, dreamlike, and atmospheric setting that completely immerses the reader. From the descriptions of the rugged coastline to the decrepit Hiraeth Manor, everything is gorgeously detailed and sets the perfect mood for the book.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the representation of mental health issues. The main character, Effy, suffers from PTSD and panic attacks. The way Reid portrays Effy's struggles and mental health journey is incredibly nuanced and authentic, showcasing how difficult it can be to process and overcome trauma, especially when it comes from someone you should have been able to trust. The book also tackles important issues such as sexual assault and harassment, which are not always obvious and can be further complicated by power imbalances.

Overall, I was completely swept away by A Study In Drowning. Although it's marketed as a "YA Debut," it feels more like a New Adult book and is sure to appeal to readers of all ages. It flawlessly fits into the Dark Academia genre, which makes it a perfect autumn read.

I want to start by saying Ava Reid writes about such interesting and important topics and themes. Her writing is beautiful and I do find her characters compelling.

This is my third book by her and I feel the same about all of them. While the premises always pull me in, I find them to be missing something for me.

A Study in Drowning is a gothic story that follows Effy as she navigates her trauma and finds her strength. While I loved the way this was done, it left me wanting so much more.

The first half was a slow build up and the second half happened too fast. I got a bit of whiplash by the end with how quickly both the romance and Effy's arc progressed in such a short time. The end felt rushed and a bit spoon fed to you - not as organic as the first half.

This world she created could have been fleshed out more as there were many interesting details brought up that I would have loved to learn more about. These were pushed aside quickly without real impact that I would have enjoyed reading about.

So many people already love this and I know that most others will as well. For me though, this was a good read but nothing that will stand out in the long run.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the e arc.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of A STUDY IN DROWNING by Ava Reid. Reid is just a master of atmospheric writing and the motif of drowning in this book was beautifully done. I think since it's YA, it's a little less intense than her other books, while still being very dark and brooding in a way I liked. The romance was so sweet, one that grew slowly until it overtook you, even with some horrible stuff happening all around them. I called some of the twists before they happened, but in a good way, like I was being led there and allowed to feel smart. I took me about half the book before I really started to get pulled along by the plot, but overall I really loved this story and kept underlining beautiful sentences and I fully enjoyed myself.