3.5 rounding up I think. I liked what this one was trying to do. Ward has a very fever dream type writing style, that keeps me reading even when I am becoming a bit bored. I think the synopsis really did this one a disservice, and made me feel like the pacing was off. I didn't expect so much to be about young Wilder and coming of age, and those parts bored me. I did like the way it came together.

I thought the audio was well done. I liked the different narrators for the different parts. It really helped me keep track of what was going on.

Wonderfully twisted and morally grey. This was an atmospheric, eerie read made even better by the narrator's performance. It's rare to find a book so unpredictable and immersive.

This was underwhelming. I have tried to read other books by this author since, and they don’t really do it for me either. So maybe it’s just me.

Looking Glass Sound follows Wilder (my favorite name btw) as he enjoys a memorable summer by the beach with his two new friends. Unfortunately, the summer of his dreams quickly becomes overshadowed by a serial killer hitting close to home. Years later, he returns to the Sound to re-open that chapter of his life. I LOVED the first part of this and the twisty turny ending. However, the middle section fell kind of short for me and I didn’t love this as much as Last House on Needless Street. I really wish there had been more with the serial killer than just the short bit. However, a year later it still sticks in my head. I definitely think it’s worth a read!

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved The Last House on Needless Street and had to read this one because I saw some really great reviews. I was super into it in the beginning but then I was like what is happening and then it ending and I have no idea.

But seriously, what did I just read?

My suggestion, if you want to read this one, read it with someone else so you can discuss.

4 stars.

"Looking Glass Sound" by Catriona Ward is a weird, wild, twisty-turny genre-blender of a book. I'm still not entirely sure I know exactly what happened, but I know that I mostly enjoyed it (?!?). This book will make you work for every fiber of its ending and will likely make you feel a little dumb in the process. If you miss something, even something small, you're likely to miss a big part of what's going on. I had to back the audiobook up a few times to make sure I had the facts straight. All of the pieces seem disconnected, or a figment of someone's imagination, until they aren't. Add on characters who are writers and narrators who are unreliable and you're in for one serious mind-f~! There is quite a bit going on in this story, many moving parts, some of which might not even be real, or might be a manifestation, or might be real but are changed within the context of the books the characters write. Like I said, MANY moving parts! It's part serial killer mystery, part psychological thriller/horror, part ghost story, part coming-of-age drama. Ward implores an expert use of an eerie, unsettling tone throughout the novel. You're not really sure what to believe, you're never quite positive about what is real. It can be spooky, it can be confusing, it can be jaw-dropping, it can be a little silly.... but it all adds up to something far better and much more different than what I was expecting! Pay close attention to the timelines, to the names of the characters, and to the details that seem insignificant. And for the love of god, don't google anything about this book! Let it happen to you, baby! I really enjoyed the narrators of this book as well. I think they do a great job bringing this convoluted story to life. Some readers won't think this book is worth it because of all of the minutiae and twists and turns, but I think it's definitely worth reading. It is a bit long, though.

Thank you to NetGalley, Catriona Ward, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

The lines between reality and fiction slowly blur in Catriona Ward’s new release Looking Glass Sound. To reveal any more of its plot, other than what’s written on the book’s back cover, would be a real disservice.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook to review.

Narration: The audiobook readers/VO actors did a great job of reading clearly and in a pace that wasn't too slow or too fast. I felt they embodied their characters and did a good job at differentiating voices for other characters as well. Overall, I think the narration was great. I didn't rate this book low due to narration issues.

Plot: [No Spoilers] The plot of this book is rather convoluted and I don't think solely relying on audiobook allows for one to track all the details of the story. My suggestion would be, if you do decide to listen to audiobook, is to also read the book. I found myself losing track of the story towards the middle and end and I think it would've been easier to focus or catch everything had I been reading the book. Ultimately, I think it's up to your preferential form of reading, but since this book is a bit hard to casually follow I do think it requires intentional listening rather than listening in the background while multi-tasking.

I honestly had a hard time following this story, and it ended up being too layered & complicated for my own liking. Therefore, this is unfortunately a 3 star read for me.

The audio narrator was AMAZING, and had no bearing on this. I was very impressed by the narrator's ability to give characters their "own voice".

This book really had me hooked until the first shift of timeline/reality. We went from what was basically a memoir written by our main character, and then went to his real life? The back and forth on this was not clear to me, and therefore it did not work for me.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Catriona Ward for the advanced audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I never know what to expect from a new Catriona Ward book, other than it’s sure to be complex and different, and Looking Glass Sound is no exception. This story is many things: a coming-of-age tale, a murder mystery, a tragic love story and a story of betrayal. It’s also hiding a secret within its pages. What seems like one thing in the beginning turns out to be a lie, and then that lie becomes another lie. By the end it’s almost impossible to untangle the truth, and the reader is left with a sense of both awe and confusion. Yes, I enjoyed this book, but it’s not a story you want to rush through. I’m glad I’m in the habit of taking notes while I read, and later writing them down (Looking Glass Sound is five pages of notes!), because it gives me a chance to “read” the book a second time. This is one of those stories where you want to go back to the beginning after you’ve finished, because you’ve most certainly missed something important.

In the end, Looking Glass Sound is a weird little tale that does some clever things. I’m still thinking about the book days after finishing it, turning over the bits of story in my head to see what I might have missed.

4.5 ⭐️
My head feels like it could spin off my body after finishing. While I have had Catriona Ward on my radar for a while, this was my first read by her and I seriously cannot wait to read the rest of her novels. I was provided an ARC of the audiobook by NetGalley but I read a kindle version of this while listening to the audiobook. I’m glad I did because I think too many details of the story would be passed over with the audiobook alone.
The layers to Looking Glass Sound are unlike any thriller or horror book I’ve read in a long time. While the time jumps can be discombobulating at times and I found Wilder’s character really annoying, I loved how twisty and dizzying this one was. My jaw could not stay up because it seemed like there was constantly a new twist making for a gripping page turner. The plot does the absolute most but in the end it checked a lot of boxes for me.
Highly recommended to basically anyone but especially fans of Saltburn, The Secret History, Shirley Jackson and Gillian Flynn.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook!

I loved the idea of this audiobook but I really had a hard time getting into it and when I went back I couldn’t follow along, It was well written, it just wasn't for me.

Though not my favorite book by Ward, LOOKING GLASS SOUND delivered the thrills and chills I expect from the author. The author has a gift for playing with her characters' minds and in this book, she pushes that to the limits. Wilder is a fabulous character and the unraveling of his world was a quite compelling read.

Looking Glass Sound is a solid addition to Catriona Ward's body of work, offering a suspenseful journey into the unknown. While the book showcases the author's talent for mind-bending horror and maintains a level of intrigue, the challenges in navigating timelines might affect some readers' engagement. Nevertheless, Ward's storytelling prowess and the overall suspenseful atmosphere make this a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Looking Glass Sound provides a complex and suspenseful experience with some navigational challenges in its timelines. For those who appreciate Ward's unique brand of horror, the book offers a satisfying exploration into the mysterious and unexpected.
Thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of Looking Glass Sound

Catriona Ward continues to impress with her imagination and storytelling prowess. She can use genre tropes without being stagnant or limiting the story. I look forward to all of her new releases.

I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books and was so excited to read LOOKING GLASS SOUND! It was quite a bit different in both the writing style and pacing for me, but I was intrigued by the serial killer plot.

I listened as an audiobook format and enjoyed the narration.

*many thanks to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy

I absolutely loved Cateiona Ward’s previous book. I wanted to love this one too but it didn’t captivate me in the same way. From a literary stance, it was interesting and I loved the textual play…it needed something more to really hit, however. This author is fantastic and if she continues to create an aweaome story (like her earlier book) and combine it with her mastery of textual devices, we will see it a masterpiece from her soon.

*2 stars* I really like the premise for Catriona Ward's books but somewhere, someway, they get lost for me. This has been my least favorite from them. I am always intrigued, enjoy the writing, but they never pan out.

I was really wrapped up in the story and really intrigued by the serial killer thing. But at some point i got a bit confused on what was actually happening and just felt a bit lost. Some went over my head

I found this book to be semi-hard to understand at times but the payoff at the end was worth it. It just wasn't my favorite.