Beautiful Cover? - Check
Queer Horror? - Check.
Creepy Motels? - Check.
Ghosts? - Check.

This book had many things I love in a YA horror. It was creepy without being terrifying (perfect for an introduction into a horror genre as it isn't an all-out-horror), but, I would say this seemed to be marketed as a sapphic horror romance, and I found it more to be a coming-of-age YA psychological horror as this novel navigates the MCs grief and it becomes a main plot point in the story.

All in all, this was a good book. I think that there were things about the story that bothered me (the most blatant one being Layla's jealousy, it drove me mental) but they didn't outshine the parts I enjoyed. Would recommend.

Guilt and shame will eat you alive, if you let it make a home within you.

Massive thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook. I enjoyed this story quite a bit.

Some parts of the story felt a little disconnected for me, but overall I really liked this book.

DNF
It was a lovely book, but I found it a little slow based off the description. I do look forward to future novels by the writer.

I absolutely love the spooky ghost angle in this young adult horror. The main character, Mira, was very likable and I feel much empathy for her through her grief. Trigger warning: suicide and I will say the author handles in with care and explores how grief affects us in so many ways throughout our lives and the journey to acceptance.

Thank you, RB Media and NetGalley, for providing me with an ALC of A Guide to the Dark in exchange for an honest review.

In my opinion, A Guide to the Dark was an average read. While it had an interesting plot, the execution of it felt lacking. One aspect that I did appreciate was the book's diversity. However, I found it difficult to distinguish between the characters, as they all seemed too similar.

Layla & Mira are two best friends who go on a road trip to tour their preferred university campuses. On the way, an unexpected short cut turns into a haunted mystery. They stay at a motel in the middle of nowhere that has a history of people vanishing!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

What you’ll find in A Guide to the Dark:
- Great character development
- Sapphic
- Muslim MCs
- Survivor’s Guilt
- Creepy Vibes
- Each character had their own voice and the multiple POV was easy to follow

3.5/5 Stars

After crashing their car, Mira and Layla are stranded at the Wildwood Motel in Indiana. Mira senses something wrong about the room they are staying in, and begins experiencing weird things while there. Layla doesn't notice anything strange about Room 9, but is desperate to protect her friend. Then they learn 8 people died in the same room, who may all be connected in some way. They team up with a few others at the motel, to ensure Mira doesn't become the 9th victim.

I listened to this on audio, and I did enjoy the narrators! I liked how the room had it's own voice as well. I thought the concept of this book was very intriguing, I liked the exploration of grief and guilt, but something about it didn't hook me the way I wanted it to. I think it may have been Layla, who is hopelessly in love with Mira, who is unaware of her affections. Layla is so insanely jealous about EVERYTHING when it pertains to Mira and it rubbed me the wrong way. The book was a quick read though, and I finished it in one sitting.

Overall, it was an interesting read about processing grief, but I definitely would not categorize it as a horror in my books.

Thank you Netgalley RB Media and Recorded Books for a copy of A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui. In exchange for an honest review.

I really liked listening to this audiobook.
The narrator was really good and it made me finish it in two days.
I loved the sapphic horror vibes, definitely a 5 stars book.

This book was fine. I think the narrator may have thrown off my enjoyment of the story. However, I also didn't care about the characters and the central relationship between the two protagonists seemed forced. While I am all for showing backstory and motivations, it felt like a bit of dump in the beginning to get to the "more interesting" parts. I think plenty of people would enjoy this. I like the premise.

This was a really interesting book.
I enjoyed the dual perspective, and the way the story unfolded.
The horror aspects were really well done, and it was something that I think can truly happen. The author manages to pull you in as well as keep you hooked, and spooked, throughout the entire story, as well as leaving a suspension of disbelief.
The audio was also fantastic, and that absolutely helps.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book promised me something like a sapphic Supernatural episode set in a haunted motel room with a body count. Eight people have died in mysterious circumstances, mostly suicides. However, when Mira and Layla—two best friends embarking on a road trip before college—find themselves obligated to stay in room 9 after their car broke down on the road, it's the only room available in the motel.

When strange things start happening to them, they team up with the son of the motel owner, whose dad committed suicide in room 9 and has been investigating the place, trying to cope with his grief and seeking an explanation for his father's death.

The theme of grief recurs in the story since Mira is also dealing with grief. However, I didn't feel it was explored in depth; I couldn't connect with their pain, and the portrayal of sadness and grief felt somewhat superficial.

Another recurring theme is the protagonists' sexualities. They have feelings for each other, but due to the fear of rejection and potentially ruining their friendship, coupled with the fact that they are both Muslims and their families may not accept their relationship, it becomes a subject they acknowledge but don't discuss. It felt like we circled around this issue repeatedly without gaining any insights. Additionally, one of the girls was consistently jealous of her friend, which I found frustrating.

Lastly, the horror and mystery of the haunted room were disappointing; it lacked any real sense of fear.

So overall, it was a really interesting concept for a book, but it failed in its execution for me.

Very well written story with intriguing characters. The audio book was perfectly narrated and definitely kept me hooked.

I really enjoyed listening 🎧 to this book. It kept my attention throughout the book, wondering what is gonna happen next. Very well written.

The premise of this book checked off so many boxes for me…
road trip gone wrong ✔️
creepy hotels ✔️
YA Horror ✔️
Contemporary cover ✔️(yep I am a sucker for covers)
But it sadly just did not do it for me. The two Mc’s were flat and annoying. And it was not creepy at all. Overall I found myself bored, but very confused with how quickly it all came to a head in the end. Still not really sure I fully I understood what went down but didn’t care enough to go back and listen again.

Having listened to the audio version I wonder if I would’ve enjoyed it more had I read it? I had a hard time differentiating between the two MC’s and to me they sounded a little too childish.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for Audiobook of  A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui. The book is perfect for Autumn, it has all the necessary ingredients: creepy hotel, small town, best friends trying to solve mystery. The narration was great, enjoyed Audiobook a lot. Missed more character/relationship development from main characters.

Thank you Netgalley, RB Media and Recorded Books for a copy of A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui. In exchange for an honest review.


A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui delivers a spine-tingling blend of paranormal mystery and emotional exploration. Mira and Layla, best friends on a college road trip, stumble upon the enigmatic Wildwood Motel, where Room 9 holds more than meets the eye. Mira is plagued by haunting nightmares of her deceased brother within the room's walls, while Layla remains oblivious to the eerie occurrences. As their bond and the room's secrets intertwine, they uncover a chilling history that ties their experiences together. Metoui's novel skillfully weaves together a ghostly mystery with the profound emotions of grief and loss, creating a captivating narrative that lingers with readers. "A Guide to the Dark" is a haunting and introspective journey that seamlessly blends the supernatural with poignant introspection.

Good old ghost stories can provide some of the coziest atmospheres, especially as the autumn season continues the move in--and the same can be said about ghost hunting stories. I was very intrigued to listen to the audiobook of Metoui's "A Guide to the Dark" as these sorts of stories can be especially interesting if the ghost hunting is sort of thrusted upon the characters as opposed to them actively seeking it out. However, while the mystery presented to the protagonists is interesting, unfortunately what fails the book is the characterization of some of the main characters and the cliché formula.

Mira is a compelling character due to her backstory and the way she approaches every scene, but it is difficult to want to follow Layla's POV as she comes across as self-centered from her immediate jealousy of Mira even potentially being interested in other people and her lack of concern when Mira (her friend she has realized to be developing feelings for) shows signs of duress. Much of her POV is focused on these feelings, and as the reader is trying to unravel the mystery alongside Mira the juxtaposition gets rather irritating.

The prose is, also, rather slow and can feel boring at times despite the narrator's giving a great performance as the characters. What doesn't help is that the set-up for everything is very similar to other stories before it. Having similarities to other spooky stories isn't inherently bad, but in the way it appears in this novel just feels like those formulaic moments of getting stranded and forced to stay in a sketchy motel as opposed to putting something new to it to make it its own.

Metoui does show to have potential, and so her books in the future may be tales to consider. Simply, "A Guide to the Dark" felt lackluster.

Strange things happen at in room 9 at the Wildwood Motel. Mysterious deaths, people committed after a stay, all attached to this one room. Story was ok. Characters were interesting.

Thank you NetGalley for another ARC,

A Guide to the Dark, by Meriam Metoui, is a YA, queer, horror story about grief and what it can do to us.

I felt very lukewarm the entire time while reading it, and the ending didn't make any sense to me, it felt forced and out of place. The narrators were very good, their voices were very distinct, but sometimes I had a little trouble telling the main characters apart, which isn’t the narrators fault, either I wasn’t paying enough attention or the characters read very similarly.

But, if you are searching for a book with: arab rep, queer (lesbian and bisexual) rep and small town spookiness, you might want to check it out A Guide to the Dark.

I loved this book and I’m so grateful for the chance to read it. I have been looking forward to this book when I saw it by chance on Booktopia and I can’t wait to buy a physical copy.