First off, this book has a lot of bugs in it. Insects play a key role in the story, and while I loved the depth achieved with bugs, I know some may not feel the same.

I loved the depth to the characters. The cast moved so authentically through the plot, and it was very easy to be drawn into the narrative and feel as if I were there. They were all messy people with messy lives and mistakes and things to learn, and I enjoyed getting to know them.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced ecopy of this book! Opinions are entirely my own.

Such a fun and entertaining concept.
Characters were likeable & challenging at times.
The mystery that unfolds is so entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat. The plot was beautifully written and thought out. I have enjoyed the ride.

4/5 The Mystery was epic
0/5 Spice

3/5 Over All

This was so creepy and atmospheric! YA horror done right! I really enjoyed it and loved Libby and Vivi.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing story!
I’m obsessed with this book. A YA Horror that has layer upon layer to it. At first I thought I wouldn’t enjoy this book, but after the first 30 or so pages, I had a hard time putting it down. It was creepy and eerie. I felt like every chapter had a new element. A new mystery to uncover. It kept me hooked until the very end. I couldn’t figure out what was happening next and it kept throwing me off what I thought would happen. The author has a way of making you feel like you’re there, going through whatever these characters are going through. I felt claustrophobic, scared, happy, horrified. This book is so unique and unlike anything I have ever read. I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who will listen to me!

A Place for Vanishing is about a teen girl and her family who move back into her mother's childhood home but they discover that the house's strange beauty may disguise a dark past. This was a gothic creepy horror novel that had me turning pages till the very end. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author and this one was written really good. The characters were great and the story gets more interesting with every chapter, Haunted houses, creepy mask, spirits and so much more. I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend this one to any reader who loves horror. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this book in exchange of my review of A Place for Vanishing.

This was a gothic horror and I devoured it. I couldn't put this down. It was like reading a scary movie instead of watching one. Libby and her family move back to her moms childhood home for a fresh start and all these creepy things start happening. The house isn't what it seems, it's haunted, but Libby's mom doesn't want to hear it. I read this in one sitting, it was so good, I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for this review.

Apologies for my delay, I’ve had a very hectic few months.

I sorta stopped reading this halfway throug because I lost interest, but I might pick it up again and give it another chance because the premise is very intriguing.

This book was awesome. I loved the idea of the masks and how they could transform the person wearing them. The mental health representation was well done as well.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Well, the name of the house was cool. To say that you live in the House of Masks would be awesome. Too bad that that house used to be the home of a crazy medium who twisted the house she lived in into a bug oriented one with many secrets. I really admire Libby, who despite her recent bipolar diagnosis was able to handle that house and all the things that went sideways. She is such a strong character against the odds and with help of the cute boy next door who also moonlights a medium. Perfect for when you live in such a haunted house as Libby and her family. I must admit some of the things that happened with the masks were kind of cool, though it teaches a good lesson that masks only mask the issue and you must learn to rely on your own strength to really solve the problems.

So, a fun book to read with creepy scary things but also a good lesson.

Bugs, bugs, bugs and more bugs.
After being released from a mental hospital, Libby moves with her mom and sister into her mother's childhood home. The family is hoping for a fresh start together while Libby copes with her new Bipolar III diagnosis. However, there is a reason that Libby's mom left this old mansion behind years ago- it's a place where surrounded by rumors of hauntings and strange happenings, and more than one person has vanished from the house entirely over the years.
This book is a great example of young adult horror for those that love the genre, and I will definitely have it available in my library for students who love things that go bump in the night, but for me personally, it was a bit too long and a bit too buggy.

If you’re a fan of mental health fiction with a twist of haunts and creepy happenings, you’re gonna love this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend!

I love a good haunted house story and this book did not disappoint. Libby family moves to her mom’s childhood home, which is full of mystery and people who disappeared. It had spooky vibes and was a great read.
Thank you!

Hot damn! This is what YA horror should be. When I say this book gave me goosebumps multiple times. When I say I was convinced there was no way our heroes were gonna survive.

Let me tell you. If you are afraid of bugs - maybe skip this one, but if you think you can handle it it's so good! When I say bugs I mean: roaches, beetles, wasps, ants, praying mantis - but also some pretty butterflies.

I found the mental health to be handled really well and I loved how Libby grew stronger in herself as she fought off the very real monsters that she was surrounded by.

I've enjoyed both of Fraistat's book so far and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Libby is a teenager recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This diagnosis prompted her mom to move the family to her childhood home, a creepy estate that is full of secrets. This is a creepy, atmospheric read that features a cast of characters that truly resonate with the audience. I loved Libby and Vivi, and how the house began to take on a life of its own as a character. I also loved the attention the author paid to truly creating an aura of mystery and tension throughout the story. This was a well-written gothic horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

A Place for Vanishing is my first read by Ann Fraistat but it certainly won't be the last. This YA horror has a bit of everything: a creepy house, mystery, séances, and bugs; lots and lots of bugs. I can guarantee that even if you've read lots of books with those same themes, there is nothing like this book out there.

As with any good gothic horror, the setting is the perfect backdrop for this story. At first, it seems charmingly dilapidated with its strange blue roses and beautiful insect-themed stained glass windows containing masks of said insects. Sure, the house needs some love. The crumbling Victorian has good bones but hasn't had upkeep in decades. From its faded, peeling bug-patterned wallpaper, to its boarded-up windows, it's a strange place with a myriad of different types of insects despite fumigation. There are weird noises from the attic rooms and the grandparent's oddly locked bedroom door. For years, Libby's mom has avoided living in this house and instead chose to live in a small apartment but why? When Libby's new diagnosis means she feels they all need a fresh start in a new town, off they pop to the entomology motific house.

I can't speak to Libby's diagnosis and whether the author did well with presenting a person with bipolar disorder. Mental health affects not only the person but those who love and care for them as well. In this, I believe the author strived to portray an honesty that isn't often in fiction regarding mental illness. Libby seems especially laid bare and her emotions are visceral which lends credibility to her character. It was nice to see her relationship with her younger sister, Vivi, grow and ultimately thrive. Flynn makes a great wingman but I'm glad to see any romance takes a backseat to the mystery.

A Place for Vanishing doesn't give you much time to breathe. Weird stuff starts happening immediately and only accelerates from there. At first, the changes are somewhat extraordinary and bewitching but as time passes, the creepiness and wrongness only snowballs. While this horror is less "Boo I'm a ghost" and more paranormal, there's certainly plenty of body horror to entertain. And bugs. Lots and lots of bugs.

First, thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy of this book.

Now, why this book took so long for me to read. I almost DNF'd this one several times during the first half. The idea behind this? Actually quite interesting. The plot, once we actually got there? Good. What made it so bad? The clear lack of mental health knowledge from the author.

The first half-ish of the book focuses more on our main character and her interactions with her family during their first days in the new home, delving into her mind and allowing us a view of her internal monologue and thoughts. The bipolar III and depression were done poorly and did not add to the novel in any way. The author could've thrown out that entire aspect of the book and kept this as straight thriller/horror and it would've been a great read.

All in all, I gave this a 2.5 of 5, rounded down to 2 for GR. The second half of the story was good. We delved into the action, the lore, the history of things and everyone's interactions seemed more real, more fluid. I just wish it had been like this the whole way through.

It was alright. Not the best thing I’ve read in a long time but I’ve definitely read worse.

Content Warning: Mental illness themes, suicide attempt, horror themes


Many thanks to @tbrbeyondtours and @annfrai for my copy of this book!

TW: Attempted Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts, Depression

Libby was recently diagnosed with bipolar III, and due to many related struggles, her mom decided to move her and her sister back to the house her mom grew up in for a fresh start. But there’s nothing fresh about the house – bugs roam the rooms, doors are locked, and there are depictions of violence and unsettling things throughout the house. Not to mention the rumors that Libby runs across when she tries to interact with the mysterious boy next door. As things get weirder, Libby tries to encourage her mom to leave, but her mom refuses. Can Libby uncover the house’s secrets before something tragic happens?

The premise of this book is fascinating, and I love the analogy with the masks and how it was used throughout the book to build tension. The house setting was creepy and there were some fascinating aspects included that added to the tension and overall atmosphere. I also appreciated how the author chose to include bipolar III and how it’s based on the author’s personal experience with it. The characters were decently written, though all characters other than Libby felt like they were a little lacking in the development department.

I think this book would be much stronger if it were trimmed down some. The thoughts of the characters and their working toward a solution became rather repetitive and took away from the atmosphere and tension that was present. There were also instances where the author was trying to get a point across, and it became too repetitive to be as impactful as it could have been.

If you’re interested in a slow burn YA horror that includes seances and bugs, then you might enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is 13 Ghosts meets Delicious Monsters. It was a little slow to start but once it picked up it was hard to put down. The last third of the book really had me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I finally had it figured out, the whole thing flipped on me. I loved it!

Creepy, gothic, romance. Oh and family history of demons. Nothing major. Except people have a tendency to go missing in their family home. Including the cute boy's father.
Libby's mom decides to bring them to her family's home for Libby to recover - forcing her younger sister to leave behind dance classes and friends.
Libby has been recovering from a bipolar diagnosis - complicated by a suicide attempt. This Fraistat does an amazing job tackling this high trigger complex mental health reality. The internal voices, Battles against highs and lows. Self image, self confidence. Family. Guilt.
Woven in the legends of the family lore - gorgeous.