A Place for Vanishing was a thoroughly creepy novel—if you have a problem with insects, definitely don't read this! I liked the setting and the masks element, but I thought the romance felt a bit forced and the pace dragged for me in the beginning. A solid 3-star read.

Not gonna lie…. This book scared me a little, and I need this to be turned into a movie.

It's 13 Ghosts, meets Mexican Gothic.

The plot:

A new start, in a new town, in a very old house with a checkered past… sounds fun. After a bad year, Libby’s mom moves Libby along with her sister Vivi into a house she's owned for years, but never mentioned. The house is odd, with strange features, and an even stranger history. Libby doesn't believe in ghosts, but something isn’t right about the house, so she enlists the help of her broodingly handsome neighbor, Flynn to dig into the house’s disappearances and convince her mom to leave… until she realizes something has a hold on her mother that will never let her leave.

The good:

I adored the characters. They're so easy to fall in love with and cheer for. I’m so sad that my time with them is done. I thought I knew what was going to happen during the first chapter of this book, but boy I was wrong. The concept is interesting and its obvious the author spent time thinking this through thoroughly. I got seriously creeped out a few times… you know… the running and jumping on the bed after turning out the lights kind of creeped out. I love a good haunted house story! They're difficult to pull off, but this author nailed it!!

The bad:

There were places I felt the author gave too much detail, and Libby’s inner dialog rambled on unnecessarily in some places. The beginning of the book moved very slowly for me… I feel like it took me forever to get into it, but it was worth it.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good haunted house, or spooky read. It's well-written, unique, and captivating.

“𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤-𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞.”

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
(2.5 rounded up for the albeit gross- uniqueness)


Thank you @netgalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover is gorgeous and the premise intriguing.
Unfortunately, the first half of the book was a slog to get through before finally picking up and becoming interesting. However, it became really far fetched and pretty difficult to trudge through at the end.

The authors understanding of bipolar III/cyclothymic disorder was also off, and poorly researched.

The paranormal seance trope is not new, but the bugs? 🐜 🤢, spot on for a fresh twist on the usual.

#aplaceforvanishing

Great, creepy horror with ominous insect vibes. the protag felt so relatable and i was so creeped out by this mask house. thanks for the arc.

Read if you enjoy:
Supernatural Horror, Lite
Haunted Houses
Fantasy
Family Drama/Dynamics
(Great) Mental Health Representation

For at least 3/4 of this book, I wasnt sure where it was heading i.e. what was real... but I was enjoying the ride. The imagery was fantastic. A great partnership between horror and whimsy. Each chapter was laced with an eerie undertone. The inner conflicts, mental health issues and family dynamics were well represented.
Nearly 5 stars for me, but the ending finished up a little too quickly, skipping right over some obivous "but how are you going to explain THAT?" moments.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!

*3.5 STARS*

Content Warning: insect horror, body horror, attempted suicide

+ I really enjoyed the author’s other book What We Harvest and so I wanted to see what A Place for Vanishing would be about and I was not disappointed. I was horrified with all the insects in this book! It’s entertaining as heck but I was grossed out with so many scenes.

+ The place Libby and her family have moved to is called the House of Masks. Thing is, it was where her mom grew up and it’s eerie and creepy! It’s an old house, and each room has a theme, and a mask. As the story goes on we find out more about the history about the house and how it used to be a place for séances. It has a dark history as Libby finds out through research and help from a new friend, Flynn.

+ I like that the story brings up Libby’s bi-polar III diagnosis and the reasons they had to move away from their old town. Her mom and younger sister are coping with it in different ways but I like how it touches on the challenges that come with mental illness. Of course, living in a house this scary, only makes Libby feel even more off-kilter but she actually finds strength in figuring out what’s happening in the house and helping to save her family.

~ Bugs. If you do not like insects (ants, beetles, cockroaches, centipedes, etc…) do not read! I live on a tropical island so I can’t get away from insects but oh man did this book trigger so much horror for me because I hate cockroaches, centipedes, praying mantis’ and wasps. And the bugs in this book get life-sized – ugh. I’m actually surprised I finished the book!

My Thoughts:

I think the horror fans will like this one – especially if you like insect horror! I found the House of Masks very fascinating and wanted to see how the story would end despite me cringing in horror at some of the scenes. I think What We Harvest was more my speed – this one was a bit too horrifying for me but I’ll definitely read more books from this author.

This creepy horror novel gave me the CHILLS!!! The insects gave me the absolute creeps! A truly amazing story

I truly loved this book. It’s been a minute since I’ve been so captivated by a book that everything around me stops existing. I was invested in this book right away.

It was creepy, haunted and gave me chills. It will definitely be a top read in 2024 for me, it is going to stick with me hardcore. I highly recommend this if you are into YA gothic, horror, paranormal, etc.

I was intrigued by the book's description, especially because I enjoy a good horror/suspense book. This book is geared towards a younger audience, so I definitely wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, while I liked the horror/suspense aspect of the book, I strongly disliked the Mental health aspect. As a licensed mental health therapist it was very obvious from the onset of the book that the author has little to no knowledge of mental health, and that any research on the matter was less than subpar. The author wrote about Cyclothymia (Bipolar III Disorder) in a way that was inaccurate and then looped in symptoms more in alignment (barely) with Schizophrenia, but more as if it was based off of inaccurate stigmatized beliefs about these disorders. Cyclothymia is actually the more manageable of the bipolar mood disorders, yet the character describes experiencing the opposite. The mom and sister interact with the main character as if she's experiencing psychosis yet that has nothing to do with her "diagnosis." On top of that it is written that she drank alcohol which triggered a hypomanic episode...*big sigh*...I don't even want to bog this review down with explaining the fallacies with thus so I'll move on. Suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were also poorly written about as well--again without the understanding or respect for those who have experienced it. Incorrect use and description of "night terrors" versus "nightmares" and other key details that should have been properly researched. Trauma, overall, in this book is poorly described and further perpetuates misinformation that has plagued mental health for generations. The description of the interactions with the therapist and treatment interventions also were poorly researched and written almost as if the author did a Google search and threw whatever popped up first into the story. The description of the mom's trauma and the alleged interventions she was using to interact with her daughter had the same issue. It was obvious that no research was done regarding psychiatric hospitalization or that process because it was written about as if based off of what the author saw in a TV show or movie. I love when authors bring awareness to mental health in an informed, positive way that improves knowledge and understanding. This book is doing the opposite and is, basically, exploiting mental health to make the narrator seem unreliable. I am very disappointed and annoyed.

This book will send shivers down your spine, and haunt you in the most incredible way!

A dark, gothic vibe, featuring a sinister house and emotionally broken characters. It’s the perfect eerily haunting read with intricate character development and strong mental health themes.

This will keep you hooked from beginning to end!

This book was so incredibly amazing! I cannot thank NetGalley enough for giving me the opportunity to read this. Libby is written so well when it comes to mental health and finding strength within yourself. The gothic horror/body horror of this was written so incredibly well and had me lowkey regret finishing this at 2:30 am. I need everyone to read this book so I have so many people to talk about it with

A Place For Vanishing is a story unlike any that I’ve read. We meet Libby, her sister Vivi, and their mother after they move into their mom’s childhood home in the aftermath of Libby attempting suicide. Their family dynamic is shaken to the core, and we see how each member is affected.
The beginning of the book starts as a haunted house, but with its own quirks and history that Libby must uncover. Around 60% it when the book really sank its teeth in, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what truly was going on here.
Haunted house, creepy family history that must be figured out in time, and saving those who matter the most. If you have any qualms about insects, I would stay away as there is a lot of bug stuff going on in this book, but otherwise, I would recommend this highly!

Big thank you to Netgallery for the ARC; all opinions are my own!

I’ve found lately that books that involve big, mysterious houses are definitely ones I want to be reading. Bonus points if there are enough descriptive details that I can envision the mansion easily. Most of the time these books involve some sort of mystery, so that makes it even more up my alley. A Place for Vanishing hit a little different though, and I think it was just not quite realistic enough for my taste.

First, I would like to address the fact that the protagonist in this book, Libby, is very transparent about dealing with a mental health diagnosis and her time in a psych ward. I was impressed that the author added some of the difficult details right away and peppered the rest throughout the book, making the story of Libby’s recent past and diagnosis of bipolar III seem like a life-changing event, (which it was) but also possibly a metaphor for the healing she is going through in stages as time moves on.

The main reason Libby, her younger sister Vivi, and their mom moved to the big old house that was their mother’s childhood home is to escape the memories of some recent incidents they’d rather forget. It seemed like the perfect opportunity: a need for a change and an old house inherited. Sounds like fate, right?

Unfortunately, the mother didn’t strike me as super stable and responsible. She’s doing the best with what she has, but sometimes she takes on more than she can handle…like moving to a huge, possibly haunted, house. Apparently, the fact that her parents possibly disappeared rather than died (as she was told) and several other people have disappeared from the house aren’t anything concerning to the mother. Or maybe she doesn’t believe that they were disappearances in the first place. The more the whole family learns about the house and its history, the creepier the story gets, with séances and secret ceremonies and a past that is filled with shadows and uncertainty.

All in all, this book mixes reality and a world of spirits and ghosts quite successfully, in my opinion. I appreciate that while Libby is fighting mental battles she’s also fighting these fantastical physical battles simultaneously. A Place for Vanishing captured my attention and held it until the very last page.

Review of a Digital Advance Readers Copy from Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press

This was really wild! A family looking for a fresh start, a strange house where people tend to go missing, seances and spirits, and bugs. Lots of bugs. This was definitely creepy and a little grotesque. I was super engrossed in the mystery of the house and its sinister history and it made the book really fly by.

This honestly just got crazier and crazier as it went on. Some of the descriptions especially involving the bugs actually had my jaw dropping. I enjoyed the characters and the little hint of romance was cute as well.

The depiction of mental illness and the way it affects the people around you was very well done, but definitely check trigger warnings. Overall a really unique & well written contemporary gothic horror.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC!

3.5 stars

The best way to describe this story is UNIQUE - I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like it.

16-year-old Libby has recently been diagnosed and treated for Bipolar III after a suicide attempt; as a result she, her 13-year-old sister Vivi, and their mother are moving back into mom's creepy childhood home. There's something not quite right about this place - insect/bug masks in every room along with stained glass windows depicting the aforementioned...not to mention the myriad of creepy crawlies infesting the place despite multiple fumigations -- but that isn't even the worst part. The formerly abandoned home has a long history of folks vanishing. With the help of her cute neighbor Flynn, Libby and Vivi plan to get to the bottom of these disappearances and understand what's going on in this house a little better.

This book does a great job representing Libby's mental state and the highs and lows of her mental illness - along with showing what it's like for family members of folks with mental illness.

Once you start reading you're definitely in for a wild ride - there is a lot to unpack on this adventure.

Folks who enjoy horror, paranormal activity, supernatural beings, and all around great story-telling will enjoy this book.

Thank you so much to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I look forward to consuming more material from Ann Fraistat.

Libby her mom and little sister Vivi are moving back to her mom‘s childhood home a place they never even visited do to the bad memories and things her mom doesn’t want to speak about. However they need a new start ever since Libby was found trying to OD in the bathroom and has been diagnosed with bipolar type three. her family treats her different now and she understands and knows why she has stopped acting but her sister Vivi has also stopped her ballet something Libby cannot forgive her self for and worries about. Soon after they move in to the Home it doesn’t take long before they realize the strange house they’re now living in they first find a plaque saying the house of mask which is odd but something they blow off the nails until they take the boards off the windows every window is made of stain glass but nothing quite so lovely as the one you say at a church these windows have Beatles butterflies and even a table with 12 attendees at assailants which is the same table that sits in their backyard. When Libby tries to learn more about this strange and weird home they now live in she meets a boy at the library named Flynn due to his rude attitude she figures it won’t be a lasting friendship but little does Lily know he will be the key to finding out all the secrets the house has to offer and why does every rum come with the tone mask. I not only that but what about the room her mom doesn’t want her to go in, so many unanswered questions and Libby is going to try and figure it out. Can she do it without making her mom thinks she has totally lost her mind and will her and Vivy ever be close sisters again? I know some people will read this modern day Gothic story and see a lot of tropes we see another haunted house stories but I think this was a very imaginative gripping tail but I couldn’t turn away from and didn’t want to put down. I found them to be such a lovely family and the mystery in their place and all the missing people from the house made it that much more intriguing. there is so much still to know about this great story so don’t think I have given too much away because I have hardly scratched the surface this is a great solid read and one I definitely recommend. I want to thank Random House publishing kids and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Her mother's childhood home, which has sat empty since her grandparent's accident when her mom was a child, was supposed to be a fresh start for Libby, her younger sister, Vivi, and their mom. A way to find a new normal after a recent tragedy and Libby's subsequent bipolar III diagnosis. Libby is trying to keep an open mind about their new home, but the house isn't making it easy. A never-ending bug infestation, stained-glass windows with bone-chilling designs with eerie masks, and haunting landscaping with a impossible blue rose hedge maze are just the beginning of Libby's concerns. As she dives deeper into the mysteries and history of her new home, she uncovers disappearances that span back a century thanks to a peculiar boy who seems to know more about her creepy house than the surface rumors she found in her own research.

There are secrets swirling around Libby and the deeper she goes, the more concerned she is, especially when her mom and sister seemed to be acting odd. Using the masks she and Vivi find in their rooms, she attempts to find the key to unlocking the truth. We all wear masks to make us strong or brave or shield ourselves from the world. But will the ones Libby wears lead her to uncover secrets or to lose everyone she loves.

The representation of mental health in this book was incredible. Libby's journey was beautifully written, as was the internal processing of the mood highs and lows she was experiencing. You could feel the emotion in the words as Libby experienced these different waves. I loved how Fraistat detailed the interactions between Libby and her family as they worked to grow back together after the tragedy and diagnosis that led them to seek out a fresh start, especially the relationship between Libby and Vivi. Mental health diagnoses affect not only the individual but the family around them, and the inclusion of this fact was appreciated.

These characters had layers and were a mystery in themselves as they experience their own journeys that are intertwined to the secrets of the house. Libby's strength was one to be admired as she struggles to find herself and repair the relationship with her sister. Vivi was bright and vibrant and tenacious. The enigmatic Flynn was a perfect addition to this sister duo as they dive deeper and deeper into the chilling history of the house.

The gothic horror atmosphere gave me just the perfect amount of chills. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, heart-racing, and fingers flipping the pages as fast as possible to reach the end. The balance of family dynamics, mental health representation, a touch of young love, incredible character development, and a creepy mystery makes it the perfect book for those who love spooky stories that hold a deeper meaning.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for this advance copy.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this amazing book! I fell in love with the house for sure! It has exceeded my expectations! You won't be sorry, this is a great read!

★ ★ ★ ★ • 4

Gothic young adult, paranormal-horror that starts off as a family moving into the mother’s childhood home for a fresh start after the older daughter attempted suicide as a result of a mental health crisis. Goes without saying, TW for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and heavy themes of mental illness and trauma. Additionally, (but unrelated to the other TW) I would absolutely not recommend this book to anyone who has any bug related phobias.

From the very beginning the book builds an increasingly unsettling and eerie tone, as the main character (Libby) takes in the new home. At first questioning if, while creepy, there’s anything actually inherently wrong with the house or if it’s just her imagination… Only to find out that the house has a very tangible history of disappearances.

At some point the book does quickly depart from the suspenseful build-up and take a sudden turn that I did not anticipate, and the ending came a bit too easy and abruptly… But that aside, A Place for Vanishing was a pretty decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving an ARC for review!

I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately drawn in by the aesthetic of the house that was described in the book, and I was intrigued by the air of mystery surrounding it. There was a huge unknown secret surrounding the house that Libby and her family moved into and it was a very delightful experience to see how that secret kept unraveling until you were shown the truth! I also really liked the macabre and grotesque aspects of the story and the way it made you feel uneasy and almost disgusted at times. That really enhanced the point that the author was trying to get across with this book. The only thing I will say is that some readers might not enjoy this book if they really don’t like bugs or are afraid of bugs, but if you don’t mind bugs then I highly recommend this book! A Place For Vanishing is a must read book and I will definitely buy my own copy when it comes out.