This was a wild one.
But can I just say, for a really smart molecular biologist of a main character, she’s dumb as bricks.
Part psychological thriller, part almost fantasy with myths and lore driving the plot behind the scenes.
I can’t really say I enjoyed this one, it was more of a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from. Grace, the main character is finishing her post grad degree and meets one of her students, Lir, who immediately catches her attention. She starts to stalk him, going to the gym hoping to catch sight of him at swim practice, trying to find him on social media, asking another student about him, looking for him everywhere she goes. She’s stalking him and thinks she’s in love with him before they’ve even spoken to each other.
On the flip side, quiet, strange, mysterious, Lir turns out to be stalking her right back, only it seems he has a lot more practice at it.
Somehow this doesn’t set off alarm bells and they end up dating, practically moving in with each other.
But this whole time there’s strange happenings going on around them: mysterious attacks in the town, leading to murders. But what’s happening and where they are is starting to add up to something frightening.
But maybe it’s all just a strange coincidence?

If you like psychological horror with toxic relationships and a bit of love of lore, myths, and legends thrown in, this is the book for you. It’s a quick easy read and definitely leaves you feeling unsettled and not quite sure what you’ve just read.

"A troubled mind, a creeping obsession and a sea that’s full of secrets."

Such a mysterious, dark, twisted, well written and addictive story! Brilliant storytelling.

Trigger Warning: Mental imbalance, suicide, gory/uncomfortable details.

Grace is lonely, pursuing her Ph.D, when she notices Lir, one of his lab (marine biology) students. She instantly falls for him, to the extent of obsession. Lir, an extraordinary swimmer and insanely obsessed by sea, is so quiet, aloof and mysterious. Unable to strike up a conversation, she begins to stalk him. To her immense joy, it turns out he has the same feelings for her.

But then, some strange things and attacks start to occur all through the town. At the same time, Lir's behaviour turns a little odd and erratic.

I won't tell you more about the story. It is, primarily a love story, so well written. It's beautiful even though it's disgusting at certain point. Not utterly unpredictable yet there's a sense of mystery and apprehension that keeps you hooked. Sometimes unbelievable yet so believable. And the ending ―it's probably ridiculous and uncalled for, and yet you couldn't think of any other way to end it.

One of my favourites this year.

A troubled mind, a creeping obsession, and a sea that’s full of secrets.

A queer gothic suspense story that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go. Highly recommended!

Liked that this book is categorized as a dark Gothic fantasy, as that accurately describes it and sets the expectation that it's not your typical vanilla romance.

Pros: The premise of this was very interesting. Very nice touch including the "defining moments" of Lir's life from his point of view. This gives readers insight to his state of mind and let's them know that, whatever his actions may be, Lir is not at his core an evil person. Though he is a walking red flag, I liked that he has a complex character. He does understand the difference between right and wrong, which I feel is an important distinction as it allows for potential character growth once he snaps out of his delusion. He is also able to create and maintain relationships. Despite many of the things he has done, readers can't help but empathize somewhat with Lir. That is a credit to the author, as it is not easy to make readers understanding toward his plight knowing what they know.

Cons: Grace, the MC, of this novel is very dry and lacks flavor. This creates a bit of an issue as most of the novel is told from her POV. She is a doctorate student who actively helps out with research and is a thesis submission away from finishing her degree. Given that fact, one would think she'd be smart. One would be wrong. She chooses to ignore warnings from literally everyone. This novel would have been over very early on if she had just listened to what Terry, her neighbor, told her. It isn't until after the not so big reveal that she admits she knew the "coincidences" were more than that. Though she claims to be lonely there are people who care for her, though I don't know if she actually cares for them back. She gets her supposed loved ones roped into her drama. Grace plays the victim rather than own up to choices and how she feels, she hides this fact from even her closest friends. Her personality is seriously flawed, but not in an endearing sort of way. This honestly made it hard to get through some parts of the novel, I found it dragged at times. Biggest con for me was what transpired with Tom, my favorite character in this novel. I'll just leave it at that since I don't want to give anything away.
Overall though, this was a pretty good read. A bit predictable but not in a bad way. I look forward to reading other works by this author.

I read this book for free on NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The review above are my own thoughts, others may feel differently than I do.

Grace Ferguson, a molecular biologist/Ph.D student and Lir Murphy, a competitive swimmer, fundamentally have three things in common:
1. A love of the sea
2. Aversion to socialization
3. A deep, transcendent, and startling obsession with the uncommon love that they share

What’s interesting about this book is the way that it differentiates Grace and Lir based on how they approach the above.

I will admit: I approached this book with a great deal of apprehension, but I hoped it would be truly Gothic as opposed to merely dark. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

Fundamentally, I’m a fan of pseudo romances, which aren’t exactly the same as dark ones. (Think Ambition by Kia Ayesha Sinan, as opposed to Haunting Adeline). This book delivered on the pseudo romance promise for me. It begins as a romance, but achieves eyebrow-raising levels of obsession in a sharply swift, skillfully achieved transition. This is a book that will make you panic, and sigh, and gasp, and most of all shake your head. It’s twisty and twisted and the ending will incense you (in the absolutely best of ways).
The mythology aspect was also blindingly unique, and very, very well played.

I loved this book for these reasons. It feels like a proper Gothic novel, and they’re startlingly rare these days. If you’re a fan of psychological, Gothic romances, then this book is for you!

Tl:dr - A new and unique (yet appropriate) addition, to a long and storied tradition. 4 stars.

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Within the captivating pages of 'Beneath the Surface' by Haley Macfarlane, I found myself submerged in a thrilling narrative that masterfully weaves a tale of mystery, obsession, and danger. Grace Ferguson, the marine biology student, serves as a relatable and curious protagonist whose encounters with the enigmatic Lir draw readers into the depths of the unknown. The narrative brilliantly juxtaposes the beauty of marine life with the sinister undercurrents of a growing obsession.

As the plot unravels, and a wave of brutal murders surges through the country, the story takes an ominous turn, and Grace's world becomes increasingly perilous. 'Beneath the Surface' weaves a complex tapestry of intrigue, blending elements of psychological suspense with a sinister undercurrent of dark secrets and hidden motives.

The novel's ability to maintain suspense throughout is commendable, as I was kept on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to unravel the truth behind Lir's obsession and the looming danger Grace faces. Haley Macfarlane skillfully navigates the line between romance, suspense, and mystery, resulting in a narrative that's both chilling and evocative.

'Beneath the Surface' isn't just a gripping thriller but also a tale of discovering the darkness within those we trust. It's a roller-coaster ride of emotions that leaves readers questioning the boundaries of love and obsession. This book is a must-read for anyone who relishes a good mystery with well-drawn characters and an engrossing plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.

This is a spine-tingling, suspenseful novel about Grace, a steady, serious scientist and Lir, a boy fascinated with the sea. Their story was perfectly paced, with just a touch of the paranormal that really rounded everything out. Plus, that push and pull was

I never expected the twists that this story took, but I enjoyed them nevertheless. The author so masterfully mapped the maze of their story, and I was absolutely enthralled by the new sides that the author brought to Grace and Lir’s love. All the subtle side touches that tied together into such an unexpected conclusion. The ending was poetic, and absolutely heartrending.

It was morbidly beautiful, in a way, to read about how love really triumphs all. This was a masterpiece, and I’m looking forward to poring through the rest of this author’s works!

Okay, I don’t even know where to start. This book was a wild ride, even when I was guessing what might happen next, or I was screaming at Grace for being so blind. Macfarlane does such a fantastic job visualizing the story and explaining Grace’s emotions. It was very similar to being pushed back and forth in the tides — you could predict what would happen and it would still take you by surprise.

I will admit, this is my first psychological, thriller type read, and I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy the gothic romance it provided. Pleasantly, I was surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and all of the emotions that came with it. It was dark and beautiful and the backdrop of the story was absolutely gorgeous to hear about and picture while you’re reading.

Lir was, at his core, a walking red flag from the start. And while I constantly yelled at Grace for being a blind idiot, I also saw his appeal and understood why she was so drawn to him. What’s not to excite from dark curls and soft, lilting accents? A boy who seems soft and is obsessed with the sea? A recipe for romance.

A wonderful, enthralling read if I had ever seen one.

Story dragged at times- I found myself rereading some paragraphs because they drug on without really adding anything to the plot. That being said, it wasn't so often that I felt the need to stop reading. Things were predictable, but I was still compelled to read until the end.

Lir's character felt well fleshed out, and I feel that the author conveyed his psychosis well. I could truly understand why Grace felt the way she did about him.

Grace, on the other hand, didn't feel quite as fleshed out. She is overly pessimistic and self-deprecating, which gets annoying after a while. I also feel like her personality and thoughts revolved too heavily around Lir, to the detriment of her own character. I can see how this would be intentional, but I feel it'd be the cause of underlying problems…not anxiety and low self-esteem.

In all, it was a good read. The writing style is beautiful, and I love that she used UK terms that are still easy to figure out for readers not as familiar with them.

An excellent dark horror love story! I was addicted to Lir just as much as Grace was, from the very start. What a wonderfully compelling, fascinating and dark tale! Can't wait to read more from this author..

Grace is an introvert. She would rather be at home than at the pub. She meets a boy while teaching a marine biology lab.
I really need to start reading these descriptions better 😂, I was caught off guard because I missed psychology horror and mess-ed up relationships in the description.I finished this book in less than 24 hours.