In the wake of a recent bipolar disorder diagnosis and a life-altering scare, Libby's world is left trembling. Seeking a fresh start, her mother relocates Libby and her younger sister Vivi to their ancestral home, a sprawling historical marvel that harbors unsettling secrets.

The story commences with an unsettling aura, brought on by the enigmatic masks that adorn each room and a deluge of insects that infest the ancient structure. What truly sends shivers down Libby's spine, however, is how the entire town, including the enigmatic Flynn, seems to be well-versed in the ominous history of the house, with tales of people mysteriously vanishing from its depths.

It becomes clear that something in this house craves attention, longs to be unleashed, and Libby, Vivi, and their mother stand perilously close to its dark desires.

One aspect that truly shines in this book is the portrayal of mental health. While the author's sources of reference and experience remain a mystery due to the absence of acknowledgments in my early copy, it's evident that the topic was handled with care and honesty. The narrative delves deep into the family's journey with mental illness, painting both the struggles and the triumphs in vivid strokes. The narrative interweaves this exploration of mental health with a sinister undertone, creating a narrative tension that is both compelling and unnerving. While not every decision made by Libby's mother sat well with me, the explanations ultimately satisfied my curiosity.

Having previously read Ann Fraistat's "What We Harvest," I was already enamored with her storytelling prowess. "A Place for Vanishing" is no exception. When Libby and her family step into her mother's childhood home, they unwittingly step into a house with a history fraught with darkness and disappearance. "Madame Clery's House of Masks" has seen its fair share of unsettling events, and Libby takes it upon herself to unearth the secrets hidden beneath the masks that populate the property.

The narrative's success lies in its ability to conjure an eerie atmosphere, particularly within the House of Masks. The house, with its stained glass windows, concealed staircases, and locked doors, exudes an irresistible charm while simultaneously concealing its dark enigmas. The vivid descriptions are immersive, and I found myself yearning for illustrations of the windows scattered throughout the house and the mural in the kitchen. The presence of insects adds an unexpected layer of creepiness that complements the house's enigmatic history.

All in all, "A Place for Vanishing" is a compelling read that expertly blends the elements of mental health, family dynamics, and supernatural intrigue. It's a captivating journey through a world where the lines between reality and the fantastical blur. The characters are deeply fleshed out, their struggles and fears resonating with authenticity. This book tackles heavy topics, so do be mindful of trigger warnings.

To sum it up, "A Place for Vanishing" is a thrilling way to kick off the spooky season. It's a tale that is both eerie and atmospheric, offering a gripping narrative from start to finish. The fine balance between reality and the supernatural, coupled with unreliable narration, creates a chilling and spellbinding atmosphere. The characters are complex, and their personal journeys are deftly intertwined with the house's mysteries, resulting in a narrative that is both chilling and enthralling.

If you're seeking a story that blends a haunted house with intricate character development and mental health themes, this book comes highly recommended. It's a fantasy horror tale that will keep you hooked from beginning to end, making it a perfect choice for those who relish the thrill of a well-crafted spooky story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Delacorte Press for providing me this amazing book's digitial reviewer copy in exchange my honest opinions.

Eerily atmospheric and with stunning prose you won’t soon forget, A Place for Vanishing is the perfect spooky read for October. This gothic horror boasts all of my favorite tropes — mysterious love interests, creepy houses with secrets, and spine-tingling hauntings — and perfectly pairs it with a fresh twist on contemporary elements of the genre.

As a seasoned fan of the haunted house genre, I thought I knew what I was in for when I started this book, but Fraistat surprised me at every turn. Every bug-riddled, mask-filled page of A Place for Vanishing is vivid, original, and absolutely compelling.

Amazing! I love Ann Fraistat’s book ‘What We Harvest,’ so I had to get this one as soon as possible. I think I like this one even more! I was hooked from the very beginning of the story. A Place for Vanishing is the perfect contemporary gothic horror story. Libby and her family return to her mother’s childhood home. This isn’t an ordinary house. This house is a relic, a haunted house people believe. People that have lived in this house have vanished. Bugs and blue roses cover the property inside and out. Libby, Vivi, and their mother uncover the boarded up windows. Each window is a stained glass image. Each one a type of insect, and a blue rose stained glass window in their mother’s room. Most of the windows are missing the mask they should have hooked on them. All of them except Libby, Vivi, and their mother’s windows. As time goes on Libby learns more and more about the history of the house.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire story.

*thank you to NetGalley for an arc.

A teen girl and her family return to her mother's childhood home, only to discover that the house's strange beauty may disguise a sinister past, in this contemporary gothic horror from the author of What We Harvest.

Y.A. gothic horror is my favorite niche genre and this is an excellent edition to the genre.

I really enjoyed this book! It gave a lot of chills and moments of genuine shock and all but I really joined such a grounded take on mental health and what it does to the people around you. Great job!

After a recent bipolar disorder diagnosis and a major fatal scare, Libby is reeling. Longing for a new start, her mother moved Libby and Libby’s younger sister Vivi to her childhood home, a sprawling historical landmark.

It starts with an uneasy feeling, the strange masks adorning each of the rooms, and the copious amounts of insects infesting the home, but it’s the way that everyone in town, including handsome Flynn, seems to know about the lore of the house and its long run with people disappearing from it that truly starts to scare Libby.

There is something in this house that wants to be seen, wants to be released and Libby, Vivi and their mom could be in real danger.

I really liked the mental health portrayal in this book. I read an early copy and acknowledgments weren’t included, so I’m unsure what references or experiences the author pulled from. It was done with care and honesty, though. There is a lot of talk about how the family copes with a mental illness, good and bad. There is a lot of grief and healing done throughout the book, alongside this other really sinister storyline and they worked well together. I didn’t like every decision made, especially by Libby’s mother, but it is explained in a way that ultimately satisfied me.

A Place for Vanishing is the perfect spooky read!

I read Ann Fraistat's book, What We Harvest last year and was captivated on how unique the story was. A Place for Vanishing is no different. When Libby and her family returns to her mother's childhood home, she soon finds out that their home has a sinister and deadly past. Madame Clery's House of Masks has been the site of several disappearances throughout its history. Libby decides to figure out what truly is going on in the house and what secrets are behind the masks hidden throughout the property.

I loved the eerie atmosphere of this book and the House of Masks. The House with its stain glass windows, hidden stairwells and its locked doors was captivating and full of secrets. The descriptions were amazing, and I wished we had some illustrations of the windows placed throughout the house and the mural in the kitchen. The bugs added an extra level of creepiness that I was not prepared for but added to the story of the house and it's past that I enjoyed. Overall, I immensely enjoyed this book, even if I didn't want to turn off the lights when I was done.

Please be aware that this book does discuss mental illness and suicide.

A Place for Vanishing comes out January 16th!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to review A Place for Vanishing. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“A Place for Vanishing” by Ann Fraistat is a gothic horror tale about a girl named Libby and her family. After a traumatic suicide attempt driven by her bipolar disorder, Libby, her mother, and her younger sister Vivi relocate to her mother's ancestral family home. Libby isn’t sure if she likes the house with its weird décor and mysterious history of being a ghost house where 9 people were murdered or disappeared. When things turn sinister Libby, Vivi, and the neighbor boy Flynn must stop the cycle before it’s too late.

I really liked the book, mainly because I was in love with the imagery or the homes décor, the bugs, and the ghosts. Its “Coraline” meets “The Haunted Mansion”, which is spooky and perfect. I connected with Libby and her mental health and her strained relationships with her family. Its whimsy, cottage core vibes, witchy, and Victorian in the perfect combo. I could picture it all so well. 5 out of 5 stars, perfect.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. A Place for Vanishing is instantly holding a place amongst my favorite horror reads. Ms. Fraistat has such a way with words, especially when setting a creepy and dark atmospheric tone. The way that she describes the house that the MC moves in to made me physically uncomfortable (in the best way), and the interactions with her sister and mother made me unsettled. I fell in love with her writing in her first novel What We Harvest, and this book just proves that she gets better and better with each work! I loved the premise, and the unpredictability of events, as it kept me guessing until the last page. Ms. Fraistat will remain an auto-buy author for me!

"A Place for Vanishing" was a perfect way to start spooky season off right. This book was eerie, atmospheric and gripping!

From start to finish the author's storytelling and intricate world they wove pulled me into the story. This tale is a relentless rollercoaster of mystery and suspense. The skillful pacing left me on the edge of my seat both eager and nervous to unravel the mysteries lurking within the pages.

I personally love when the fine line between reality and the supernatural is blurred. Mentally it's a tug-of-war between accepting the rational explanation or the fantastical one. Add in a narrator that may not be reliable and the whole atmosphere of your story becomes a bit more chilling and alluring.

The characters were so well-developed. Their struggles, hardships, fears and reservations really brought them to life with such depth and authenticity. I would check Trigger Warnings because this book does tough on a few very heavy topics.

Overall this was a fantastic read and I will be recommending it!

Thank you Ann Fraistat , Net Galley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: horror, fantasy horror, ghosts, spooky reads, haunted house

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 10/1 and will be posted to my book blog and Instagram on 10/12.

TW suicide attempt, suicidal ideation

I read Fraistat's debut, What We Harvest last year and really enjoyed it, so I was excited when this book was announced. Both of them fall into that middle category of 'horror' and 'fantasy' that I can tolerate without getting (too) freaked out.

This story focuses on the new house Libby and her family move into. Or, rather, the old house that's new to them. The house has been in the family for generations, but was left largely abandoned after Libby's grandparents died when her mom was a child. From there the mysteries grow. Doors that close on their own, stained glass windows as beautiful as they are creepy, the bugs that just don't seem to die, and, of course, the way people seem to simply vanish from the house itself. The main plotline revolves around the mysteries of the house. It's 'haunted' in an odd sort of way, but there's a magical sort of wonder to it as well. I enjoyed learning how the bugs and the masks and the disappearances all tied together, and was surprised at the mystery.

Libby, despite her many misgivings, wants things to be alright. Her family has already had a rough time of the past couple of months, and while everything in her rebels against staying in the house, she's determined to do it for her mom and younger sister, Vivi. Vivi and Libby are, or were, clearly very close, and it comes through just how much Libby loves her younger sister. Libby is struggling with more than just the house though. After weeks/months of spiraling that culminated in a suicide attempt, Libby is now trying to find her way back to stability. While she's enrolled in therapy and taking medication to help with her cyclothymia, there's no quick road to recovery and Libby still has moments when those darker impulses intrude.

Vivi is several years younger than Libby, and has a fairly bubbly, optimistic personality. She's eager to still believe in magic, and while she's as wary of the house as Libby, she's also captivated by the strange masks around the house. Despite her loving nature, she's fairly angry at Libby at the start of the book, though part of this anger is a desperate attempt to reach her sister and try to understand and reconnect. Vivi has a ferociousness about her that comes out as the book progresses, and it's clear she has a deep love for her mom and sister, with the bravery to prove it.

Flynn, the next door neighbor boy, immediately gives off weird vibes. He knows more about the house than he should, and more about the spirit world than he lets on. It was kind of hard to like him at first, what with all that gaslighting going on, but he ended up being a good guy. Once they're past all that, Flynn comes across as someone who genuinely cares and has a softness about him that peeks through even when he's not at his best. His connection to the house is similar to Libby's, and once they've teamed up, the secrets of the house begin to reveal themselves.

This book is definitely a haunted house book, and like all good hauntings, the ghosts of the house mirror the ghosts in the characters' heads. I enjoyed the symmetry between the masks and the personal demons each character had to face inside themselves. I also appreciated how the haunting acted alongside and in conjunction with the internal character arcs for most of the characters.

Overall, this is a nice spooky story and I'm glad I got the ARC around spooky season. The story mainly deals with a creepy, haunted house and mental health. There's some light possession but honestly....that's kind of the least of anyone's worries, lol. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good fantasy horror story.

A great horror and eerie tale from Fraistat. Moreover, I liked the overall atmosphere of the whole story and how some scenes actually made my skin crawl. Mental illness was well connected to the storyline and I loved all the characters portrayals as well as the creepy house elements. Overall, a good read.

Although I liked the premise when I initially requested the book, I don't feel as though my kids will gravitate toward it. It felt a little long, and I wasn't able to get attached to Libby. I will definitely try another novel, but this one was not a hit for me.

I cannot resist a small-town haunted house/family returning to their roots story, so I inhaled this book in the span of 24 hours and begrudged my sleep in the middle. Did it live up to my expectations? For the most part, yes. It's very wild, and it gets *very* out there, but I loved how MANY things Fraistat threw at the wall and made stick. The ultimate reveals might not be the most shocking for this sub-genre, but the journey there is certainly a wild ride, and some of the elements were totally new to me. (I'll perhaps never look at stained glass the same way again, which is awesome). The ending didn't fully work for me, but I certainly didn't hate it, and I can't wait to read more from this author. (I will say I'm shocked that the cover doesn't incorporate blue more aggressively, given how much the blue roses feature in the story. The cover and title are a bit more generic than I think the novel deserves.)

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect blend of creepy, mysterious, and gross that I wanted. A house and family with a dark past, and a narrator who doesn't even know if she can trust the things she sees. A Place for Vanishing was great and I loved the writing.

Brimming with eerie atmosphere and insects most foul, A PLACE FOR VANISHING gave me the best shivers! I loved exploring the hidden stairwells and long kept secrets of Madame Clery’s House of Masks and so will you.

Another great horror from Ann Fraistat! In particular, I really liked the way that mental illness was depicted in this book for the main character Libby, as well as how that tied into the particulars of the haunted house. The "backstory" of the house was fully fleshed out in a way that I don't see too much in the YA Horror genre. At the same time, the actual scary scenes were so creepy, I had to read this with the lights on. I'm really excited to see what Fraistat does next.

Fantastically gothic and just truly enchanting. It felt so fresh and bold, but also familiar in a really good way. Recommended to all readers.

A great and spooky read. I definitely did not see where this one was going at all. This was such an original angle, and I absolutely loved it.