When I saw this book, I had a feeling it was going to be good. And I was not disappointed. While the reading level leans heavily YA, the cadence, characters, and plot transcend genre boundaries, forming a captivating narrative that colored me impressed.

The magic of the story lies not just in its supernatural elements but in the intricate world crafted within the protagonist's house. It's a testament to Anne Fraistat's skill that a seemingly ordinary setting unfolds into a realm of unsettling wonder, adding layers to the storytelling.

What sets this book apart is its authentic representation. The asexual/aromantic and bipolar aspects are seamlessly integrated into the characters, enriching the narrative without overshadowing the plot. It's not a checkbox exercise but a sincere exploration of diverse identities.

The story unfolds with the allure of a well-kept generations-old secret, drawing readers into a world where reality and fantasy dance together. The characters feel like friends, and their struggles, joys, and complexities resonate long after the final page. And the creep factor was real - enough to make this adult woman look twice at her bedroom shadows at night.

"A Place for Vanishing" is more than a book; it's an experience. Fraistat has not just written a story; she has woven a tapestry of emotions, and getting lost in it was a creepy and beautiful journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing ARC!

I think this was sincerely one of the best ARCs I’ve ever received and was such a whirlwind enjoyable read. It had me stressed the whole second half of the book which I devoured in a matter of hours.

I haven’t read such a well done YA Horror book in years. Some of my favorites are The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff and The Devouring by Simon Holt. This is definitely entering into my top 5 for this genre.

I absolutely adored the gory descriptions in this book, they were disgusting and made my skin crawl. I was at the edge of my seat in anticipation and nail biting for the last 5%.

The little bit of romance subplot was also adorable and I don’t think it took away from the story, in fact, it added to it and felt very natural amongst the horrific things that were happening.

This was definitely an experience, I loved every minute of it, and I will be reading Ann’s other book for sure.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Delacorte Press for a ARC in return for a honest review.

What can I say other than I was blown away by this. For a YA, I was on the edge of my seat in terrified anticipation. The bugs omg the bugs. It you are squeamish, I don't recommend. The visceral response some of these scenes pulled from me were insane. I felt like I had to double-check that I didn't have bugs on me. This ya horror was everything I could have asked for.

I loved how we saw Libby grow as a person and her self-confidence along with her after her attempted suicide. I think It was important not to shy away from it and have the reader go along with her as she reconstructed her life and worldview.

Not only do we get to see how she is dealing with the aftermath we also see the effects it's had on her mother and sister ViVi.as a reader it was hard seeing the strain in the relationships and your heart yearns for libby as she tries to repair them. Though it is hard for her to do that when she has yet to understand the true effect. I think my favorite part of this was seeing her identify why her mom and sister were acting distant. Not only did that help her heal, but it allowed her to see more of the results of her actions instead of being focused on just the trauma and guilt it inflicted on herself.

I loved the addition of Flynn and think he also helped her heal and had his own demons that libby was able to identify because of similar thought patterns. I didn't think we needed the romance and would have liked to see them just be friends, but I feel like all of YA has to have a romance nowadays.

The toughest part for me to review is definitely the mental health representation. I liked that it was featured in a horror book and was excited to have it play a part. Though as someone who isn't a professional or an individual inflicted by this specific disorder, I can not comment on the representation. I feel if this is something that could be triggering to look up reviews that have first-hand experience and can give a better judgment.

The storyline was intriguing and fast-paced, and I love the paranormal elements and all the vivid depictions of the house. The creepy imagery of the kitchen floor will live rent-free in my head till the end of time. I really liked the ending and their choice to stay. I felt like it was a huge step in growth for the whole family. To stand up and not flee.

I feel like I’ve read a lot of books lately in which the author had a great idea, a great ending, and no idea how to get there. So they ramble around until they get to the end and just either blow it out of the water or lose the reader because they are just done with the whole thing. I can still not decide which is this one. The entire middle was a test of my endurance. So by the end…which did Ann Fraistat do? Still deciding.

As a person with bipolar disorder, I signed up for this book hoping for good mental health representation. What I got was the absolute opposite. I am appalled that this book was published the way it is. I am a strong believer that if you are going to publish something then you should at least learn about the topic, and it was apparent that the author did limited research into the topic and just ran rampant with it and elaborated and made things up along the way. When it comes to diseases and health conditions we should not extrapolate or make things up because it sounds good. This is appalling and horrible.

I don’t usually post such low reviews on other sites, however in this case, I am making an exception. This book needs to undergo some serious revisions and probably be read by sensitivity readers. It’s not often I make suggestions like this, especially so late in the publishing game, but in the case of this book, if published as is, I think it would be damaging to a whole community.

I’m not the only one to make this observation, other readers, including mental health professionals, have pointed this out as well.

Books like this are how stereotypes continue. Do better.

Book Name: A Palace for Vanishing
Author: Ann Fraistat

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC of A Place for Vanishing

Stars: 2
Spice: 0 YA

Standalone
Fast-Paced
FMC POV
Low Fantasy Horror with
Similar to Together We Rot

- Thoughts.
- Horror > Gothic
- Angsty Vibes
- Attempted Suicide
- Body Horror
- Mental Health
- Supernatural Horror
- Insects ….. everywhere
- Unsettling
- Slight “Romance”
- Unlikable Protagonist

felt a bit exploitative of mental health and suicide the discussion of which was almost pervasive continuous and depressing in and of itself (SERIOUS content warnings here). The romance was flat and the gothic vibes were replaced with outright supernatural horror which is enjoyable. I just felt that for a YA book, the content was too heavy and nuanced but the angst and tension were too simplistic for an adult audience. hence the low score.

Due to the low scores will not be posting this review on my social media channels

Newly diagnosed as bipolar, Libby and her family move into a new home as a fresh start. The house is teeming with bugs and there are rumors about disappearances tied to the house stretching back over a century. Libby's mother won't pay attention to anything derailing the family's new start in town, but Libby plans to. There are secrets in the house, and she's sure the bug-shaped masks scattered throughout the property are the answer. People always wear masks, after all, but if Libby keeps hers on too long, she might lose herself.

The opening line is killer and drew me in right away. From there we see the fragile connections between Libby, her mother, and her sister, and learn about the psychiatric hospitalization and cyclothymia diagnosis. Libby calls it bipolar III disorder and feels that her unstable mood and behavior are the reason why they all moved for a fresh start. But the house feels odd, neighbors are uncomfortable with them living in such a storied house, and Libby can't escape her sense of dread. There's so much unspoken between Libby and her mother, as well as Libby and her sister. It's those silences that let assumptions fester, which compounds the lows and rejection that Libby feels.

The house once belonged to a medium, who held seances on the property. Libby's mother doesn't remember much from the childhood she had in the house before her parents went missing, and it's just another thing that isn't discussed until it's too late. Instead, Libby at first fears she's hallucinating, or that the neighbor is trying to drive them out. It's not a spoiler to say that spirits are real, and she isn't told the full story of the house until it's too late. But the fight in the second half of the book makes her realize how much she truly wants to live, how much her family means to her, and that she isn't as weak or powerless as she thinks she is. She would do anything for her family, but they also would do anything for her. Strength comes in many forms, and Libby has a drive to continue. I really liked seeing that in her, and how she was able to rally when at her low points. The masks, metaphorical and literal, were a motif we can all understand. Sometimes people see us, sometimes they see only what's presented on the surface. Peeling away the layers reveals the truth, and allows a true chance to start over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for an eARC of A Place for Vanishing!

CW; bugs, body horror, attempted suicide

An atmospheric and eerie horror that will give you chills. A house that is seemingly haunted and mysterious, mental health rep (bi-polar disorder), and characters that will draw you into the story so well that you'll find yourself finishing the book before you know it.

The character development feels on the younger YA side, which made it hard for me to connect to the characters of invest in their well being, but I am adult so this negative point falls on me. I did love how mental health was explored. I think it was a good start for teen readers. We didn't go on a deep dive, but felt like a teenager and family learning how to live with this and the events that happened.

The best part of this book for me was how well the horror was done. There were so many parts that just made me uncomfortable in a good way. Not often do horror books give me the creeps and this was perfect.



Plot: 4
Setting: 3.5
Character: 3

Pacing: 2.5
Ending: 3

Genre: 5
Writing: 3.5
Vibe: 3.4

3.6 (rounded up to 4)

OMG this book was so terrifying and amazing! My first 5 star read of the year.

First things first, the cover is gorgeous and will look lovely on my bookshelf.

This is a chilling story of a haunted house and mental health disease in a teenager. It becomes increasingly difficult to tell which is which, the house or the brain causing disturbing things to happen. Then shit hits the fan and it is solid fear for the 2nd half of this book! I thought this book did an excellent job of representing mental illness, and I suspect the author has a background in psychology or a personal exposure to bipolar disorder. This book was scary AF and I recommend to all those who love the YA horror genre. The details of creepiness in this house was more intricate and terrifying than any haunted house book I have ever read. I plan on reading What We Harvest because I need to read more of this author!

*Note: If you have a fear of insects, this book might not be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. At first i wasn’t sure about it but then I slowly got drawn in and loved the ending. I’m not going to lie I did kinda hope for a last minute change in the ending. My heart grew a soft spot for some of these bugs. Especially when their story came out. But I’m happy with the ending at the same time. I loved the authors take on using bugs because they are the best and giving all the creepy vibes. I also like the spooky vibes that came with the house itself as well. Will definitely recommend this book

This was one of the most original YA books I've read in a loooonggg time. The first hundred or so pages are slow going and I almost DNFed it, but I'm glad I pushed through. I am quite familiar with bipolar disorder (ahem) and I found Libby, the MC's, portrayal of living with the illness to be quite accurate. I'm always down for a good haunted house trauma trope, but this surpassed my expectations because of its immense creativity. I don't want to spoil it by giving the mystery away, but please push through the slow start to get to the good stuff! There are LOTS of bugs so watch out if you don't like creepy crawlies!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC.

I really tried to get into this book, but I couldn’t. At first I thought I was going to like it. It was about a mysterious old house that the family moved into. Mom kept a lot of secrets about the house and I was interested in reading it. As the story went on, I lost interest. It was so far fetched, I found myself upset with the mom that she would ignore everything and keep her kids in that house. The whole bug thing was way too much for me. I know the summary mentioned the bugs, but I didn’t expect the bugs to be the way they were. This was hard to finish.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

This was the weirdest , creepiest book I've ever read. I'm not sure yet if I enjoyed it but I definitely could not stop reading and will never be able to forget this book! Very well written and ill probably have nightmares about bugs for months.

#1 question: WHYYYYYY is mom’s first response to “I keep running into this guy and he showed up in our yard at 2am” to wiggle her eyebrows and ask if the guy is cute???!!!

Look, I read a lot of horror. Using haunted house as a metaphor for family trauma and/or secrets is a pretty common trope. Personally, I’ve just read enough other books that do it *better* that I felt pretty meh about this one. The emotional arcs of the characters weren’t sustained throughout the book, and the plot twists were painfully predictable.

Also, as someone with a long history with mental health concerns—including chronic depression and suicidal ideation—the topic of Libby’s mental health didn’t ring true for me. Other people may feel differently, and I’m not making any assumptions about the author’s relationship to Bipolar III or depression, but for me it felt like a plot device that only cropped up when it served the plot or an emotional beat. It DIDN’T feel dismissive, and my indifference may be a function of the relatively direct prose. I didn’t feel like it was a bad or harmful representation of the parts of mania and depression I’m familiar with. It was just… I felt like there was a lot going on and none of it was done very well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ann Fraistat for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Place for Vanishing coming out January 16, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was really excited about the plot. I love old houses with a mystery. I wasn’t expecting some of the mystery behind the house, so it was a nice surprise. I loved the characters and thought they were interesting and well rounded. I loved the journey they went on. I thought Libby’s circumstances were really sad and tough, but I think she handled them well. There was a lot of growth for the characters. I loved it!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys spooky YA novels!

Moving into her mother’s childhood home was supposed to be a fresh start for Libby and her family. With her bipolar III diagnosis and the tragic events that happened afterward, they need this. However, with bugs haunting the halls, stained-glass windows featuring intricate masks, a garden with impossibly blue roses, and rumors that everyone who has lived in this house has disappeared stretching back to the first owners… well, it’s definitely not the fresh start that Libby was looking for. The house has a secret, and even though her mom says everything is fine, Libby feels like the masks hold the horrific truth.

“When I’d been the one spiraling, I hadn’t realized it at the time, not totally, but I had expected Mom to know how to fix me. How to save me. Every tiny thing she’d said wrong, every misguided gesture, had made me feel more alone. Impossible to help. I had hated her for that. For having a brain that worked differently from mine. For not having been through this herself so she could shepherd me through safely. What an ugly truth. It stemmed from a basic childhood fantasy: Mom always had the answers.”

There are so many bugs, so if you feel queasy at all about them, then don’t read this book. Now my thoughts: This books blended an atmospheric horror and an eerie supernatural mystery with mental health and a family reconnecting with each other. A horror story that didn’t really pull me in until 50% in, but once it did I couldn’t stop reading. There’s so many things happening that capture your attention, from Libby’s mental health and her learning how to value herself and believe in her own strength, discovering the truth behind the house and the masks on the windows, and an interesting boy that seems to have a special interest in the house. Delving into sensitive topics as we see Libby struggling with her bipolar, and how her family struggles to reconnect after a sucide attempt, please be warned and check the trigger warnings. I do feel like the author wrote about these topics with compassion, showing character growth with every family member, especially between Libby and her sister. Overall, this is a slow-burn gothic horror that makes your skin crawl with an underlying theme of mental health and family dynamics.

A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat is a captivating, thrilling, deeply haunting tale. This book is so twisty that it will give you whiplash!
The characters are well drawn and complex, and Fraistat’s prose offers some surprising twists.
Absorbing, wonderfully written, and fraught with tension, A Place for Vanishing will keep you in its grip until the very last page. Fantastic. It will leave you reeling!

Thank You NetGalley and Delacorte Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Gothic story that was so original and creepy! I could not put this one down. There were a few places were the story did seem to drag, but as a whole, it was captivating, exciting, and creepy.

The cover art was genuinely compelling, and the premise initially held significant intrigue. However, the narrative's progression in the first half felt rather sluggish, and just as it seemed poised for a more profound exploration, it ventured into somewhat implausible territory.

I was particularly disappointed by the superficial treatment of bipolar III/cyclothymic disorder, indicating a clear lack of comprehensive research on the subject.

Yet, I must commend the innovative incorporation of the seance theme, especially with the introduction of the insect motif. It added a uniquely unsettling layer to the tale.