I'm glad this wasn't a long read. The mystery of the white painting and the missing sister had me going. But overall, it was just a slow race to the end. The parts with the history of our side kick gave more, than I think the current times. It build up to the conclusion, which was very obvious very fast. The characters felt kind of shallow, and not very interesting, typical teenagers, and very very contemporary. It helped, that there was quite a lot of action and moving around, but at the same time, a lot of repetitiveness - making sure the points of the missing sister, and how much she is missed are ingraned.

Overall, not for me, Not spooky enough for a YA horror book. But I hear there might be a follow up?

I feel like the first half and second half of this book are wildly different. I had a hard time really getting into the story, especially believing that this girl whose sister is fully missing would trust the random stranger from next door enough to talk to him, let alone go on a road trip to a random location with him. I definitely had to suspend my disbelief, and putting all of that aside, the second half of PORTRAIT is much stronger than the first, in my opinion. I had a hard time putting the book down after I started learning more about the characters, which is normal, it just happened to happen later than expected. Overall I did enjoy this book, and I definitely was caught off-guard with the major plot twist revealed in the third act. The ending is set up so that a sequel is theoretically possible, and I would be interested enough to pick that up as well.

This one definitely gave me vibes of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Not really a retelling, but you can easily see the influence. The book follows our main character looking for her missing sister and then finding out an old painting has become a big focus for her sister. The book is primarily a mystery with horror elements, but I think it works well.

This book is similar in vibes to her first book, A Guide to the Dark, but I definitely think it's an improvement!

This book gives off very Dorian Grey vibes especially in that what lies beneath the painting isn't always pretty.. Mae goes to her missing sister Inez's apartment to try to see if she can figure out why Inez just disappeared. What she finds is a white painted, peeling canvas in an elegant frame and a bunch of research about white painted canvases through history. Mae gets help from her sister's neighbor in trying to track down her sister's last steps and why Inez has a painting that she could not possibly afford.

I enjoyed this book but at the same time, it did make me very sad. Let's just say mysterious paintings are never good. There's this whole sordid origin story that gives it depth, but what does it have to do with Inez? And where is she?

Eventually, some stories end where they began.

2.5 Stars
Like many other reviewers, I found this book to have such a good idea, but not great execution. The writing was wonderful, the story jsut didn't match that. It was disappointing.

Thank you to the publisher and Net galley for providing me with an arc.

I was initially very excited to read this book as it sounded like The Picture of Dorian Gray retelling. Unfortunately this was so disappointing for me.

The story is only primarily centered around Mae, who is searching for her sister who mysteriously vanished one evening. When packing up her apartment she realizes that her sister was deep into research of an antique painting. Off she goes on a journey to discover what happened to her sister all those months ago, along with her sisters *handsome* neighbor.

Okay I couldn't take this book seriously. Your sister is missing, your family is falling apart, and her thoughts are solely on how soft Dev's lips look? I get that she's 18 but no one who is racked with guilt over the loss of her sister and the potential loss of her family unit, is going to be so enthralled by a guy she just met. She knows nothing about him, and yet she is so willing to go on a road trip and even sleep in the same room as him. This is so unrealistic. Not to mention, her sister has a journal that clearly holds a lot of secrets in it (because she kept it hidden in a loose floorboard), and she doesn't think to read it until like 48 hours later. Seriously?

The only interesting part of this story was the timeline that focuses on the history of Nik, Dev, and Ravi. I wanted to know more about that timeline because it felt far more intentional and thought out than Mae's timeline.

I had high hopes for this book, unfortunately it felt unfinished. The ending left off like it might continue on with another book, but I don't think I will continue.

I was really excited about the premise of this book, but the execution was more of a mixed bag for me. Portrait of a Shadow is a contemporary YA paranormal / light horror novel drawing on elements from The Picture of Dorian Gray. It follows a recent high school graduate trying to figure out why her older sister disappeared months earlier. When she goes to clear her sisters things from her apartment, she finds a strange white painting and meets a boy who was her sisters neighbor before getting pulled into a mystery that goes back many years.

It's a cool concept and there are parts of the book that really work, but it feels kind of under-developed. Some of the flashback scenes are clunky, some reveals are over-explained to us once things are pretty obvious what's going on, and some character choices don't make a ton of sense. I think there is a good story here, it just feels like it needs some polishing. The painting is kind of creepy, but I wanted a bit more from it. Overall I liked this, but I think it could have been a stronger book. That said, I will keep reading from this author because I think she's doing some cool things and it's interesting to have Middle Eastern and South Asian main characters is this genre. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

4/5✨

Mysterious characters. A seemingly haunted painting. Missing people...this book has everything I love in a book.

The overall story is wonderful with lots of action. It does read like a teen/YA thriller with light romance and discovering one's self but it added to the dimension of the characters.

I found the ending refreshing and hope for more!

Thank you to NetGalley Henry Holt and Co. for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about the premise of this book, and the cover drew me in more. I loved getting the dual timelines throughout the book, and it was a great way to slowly give us information in regard to the characters. I enjoyed the plot twist at the end. It wasn’t too obvious and life-altering, but it did keep the story engaging.

I didn’t enjoy that the MC Mae immediately goes on a trip to find out about the painting and her missing sister with her sister’s neighbor she just met. They literally knew each other for 30 seconds before they agreed to go. I think I would’ve enjoyed this a bit more if everything hadn’t happened so quickly with little build up.

CW: injury/injury detail, cursing, death, toxic relationship

"Portrait of a Shadow" by Meriam Metoui is an intriguing mystery that artfully blends elements of suspense, familial bonds, and historical secrets. The story revolves around Mae, who is determined to uncover the truth behind her sister Inez's disappearance. This quest leads her to a mysterious painting and a trail of clues that hint at a hidden past.

Metoui's writing is compelling, particularly in her vivid descriptions of the painting and the eerie atmosphere surrounding it. The novel excels in building tension and curiosity, making readers eager to discover the secrets concealed beneath the layers of paint. Mae's determination and emotional journey are well-portrayed, offering a relatable and engaging protagonist.

However, the novel falters in its pacing and character development. While the mystery surrounding the painting is intriguing, the progression of the plot can feel slow at times, and certain revelations are predictable. The relationship between Mae and the mysterious boy she enlists for help lacks depth, and his reluctance to answer her questions can be frustrating rather than intriguing.

Despite these shortcomings, "Portrait of a Shadow" is a decent read for those who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of the supernatural. The novel's exploration of family dynamics and the lengths one will go to for a loved one adds a heartfelt dimension to the story. While it may not be a standout in the genre, it offers a satisfying and atmospheric mystery that keeps readers engaged until the final page.

2.5 stars

This isn't exactly a retelling of "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", but you can't help but think of that when you read it. Mae's sister, Inez, has gone missing and left behind a mysterious white painting and notebooks full of research on its history. Mae teams up with Dev, Inez's mysterious and handsome neighbor, to follow the trail of the painting's past purchases in an attempt to solve her sister's disappearance. As they learn the fates of the past owners of the painting, Mae begins to worry there's something sinister to the piece of art that can't be explained by logic. 

This book jumps around between timelines following different owners of the painting between chapters of Mae and her present-day story so that you learn more about its background as she searches. My problem was that I didn't really connect with the characters, particularly in the flashback scenes, so while I really loved the author's beautiful and atmospheric writing, I wasn't really driven to keep reading, despite this book being very short. There was a lot of background info about Mae's upbringing and her relationship with her parents that I kept waiting to become relevant to the main plot because of how often it was mentioned, and yet as soon as she left on a roadtrip with a boy she just met (hello?!?!?!) they were barely mentioned. She was supposed to be gone for less than a day to pack her sister's apartment up and yet despite this and their stated overprotectiveness, it wasn't much of an issue for her to not return home. I saw the twist coming and the romance subplot was written well but I could not get past Mae's immediate trust of this random boy. Maybe I just overthought this one, but alas. I also wonder if there's a sequel planned, based on how it ended. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A spectacular and weird thriller with heavy dark-academia influences and an engaging mystery at its heart. I loved this book. Mae's beloved older sister Inez has been missing for several months. The police are out of leads and her Arab-Tunisian parents have given up, especially since their relationship was Inez was deeply strained already. Mae, however, knows that anything lost can be found. And she knows that she knows her sister better than anyone in the world, and so if anyone can find a clue that was missed, she can. Her parents are sending in people to clean out the apartment and Mae knows this is her last chance, so she heads into the heart of New York City to clean up first and find the clues she knows are there. In the apartment, she finds them. A notebook full of detailed art history notes, a mysterious all-white painting, and a neighbor that claims he was good friends with Inez. Mae and the neighbor, a cute boy named Dev, take the painting and the notes and set off on an impromptu road trip to track the painting's history and maybe track Inez's steps too.
It was so good. Spectacular. The slow reveals, the way the pieces fell into place, the twists?? Incredible. It's a short book, and every bit is sharp and well-written, and it was so hard to put down.

An okay read! I finished this one feeling a bit unsatisfied but after thinking about it, I wonder if that was the point? I think it’s very possible this book will end up with a sequel, which is fine, I’m definitely interested, I just wish it would’ve felt more complete. It was also kinda disappointing to see the twist coming pretty early on in the book, I’d hoped I was wrong about it but I wasn’t.

However, Meriam’s writing is stunning. The flow of her books are so natural and beautiful that you can’t help but find yourself lost within the first few pages. Her books read as if you are a character in the story and I couldn’t love that more!

While this wasn’t a new favorite, I am grateful for the reading opportunity. Thank you to the publisher! I also look forward to whatever is next from the author.

In Portrait of a Shadow Mae is searching for her missing sister, Inez, and comes across a white canvas painting with a beautiful gilt frame in her apartment with a mysterious past. With the help of the cute neighbor boy, Dev, they go in search of her sister through the clues that they find.

I was looking forward to a decent horror, but didn't find it here. More of a mystery with a very small bit of creepiness involved. I had a hard time liking the characters and the fact that Mae goes on a 6 hour road trip with the cute neighbor boy she just met and knows nothing about just because he claims to have known her sister well? That's just asking for trouble. He was evasive with the answers of so many questions that she asked him and she still didn't get suspicious enough to do anything about it.

There were a lot of shifts in narrator, as well as shifts in time. While the chapters did give you a date/time for each one, it did not list who the narrator would be until you started reading. Mae also made a comment about using the internet to search for the art dealer, but did not mention internet searches at any other time that it would have made sense. I guess I just didn't feel like the story flowed well or, really, in a way that I cared about what happened.

I had to DNF this book at the fifty percent mark. I don't usually make it that far without at least skimming the rest, but honestly, I just didn't care. Nothing happens in this book. Very boring. This is supposed to be a YA horror book but nothing even remotely creepy, scary, or atmospheric happens!!!

A missing sister, a boy with secrets, and a painting that is much more sinister than it seems. A touch of Dorian Gray and a modern day mystery, one girl will do anything to find her sister and her only lead is the mysterious neighbor who has keys to her sister's apartment and whose's smile is just as intriguing as his secrets. Yet when the secrets reveal themselves, Mae will find herself way in over her head and finding her sister might prove to be impossible. This modern day spin on Dorian Gray was definitely an interesting read and I think young adult readers will have fun with it. The twist was interesting enough and I do think it definitely is a fun read for anyone who loves the classic story but wants a new twist for a modern day.

Release Date: July 16,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I enjoyed Meriam’s first book and I was excited about being able to read this one early since it took me FOREVER to read her last one.

What I liked: the time lapsing where we go back and forth to see different people with the painting. I also really enjoyed the parts with Dev, Ravi, & Nik. They were such an interesting trio and even though there was resentment on Ravi’s part but there was so much love it made my heart warm.


What I didn’t like:
Mae trusting Dev and going on a cross state road trip with him after an hour of knowing him when he was hanging out in her missing sister’s apartment. She had no proof he knew her sister. She had no proof he was there for the right reason. She let him drive her dad’s car which she made a point to say was so new and precious she shouldn’t even have been driving it. What if HE had kidnapped her sister?? Mae was such an unbelievable character. You can barely blame it on her age either was is 18. I was just flabbergasted with her whole thought process.

I thought I knew the twist at the end but the ending was the best part. It was multiple levels of messed up and I loved it. This had such potential to be a wild story and it just never went there enough. It didn’t even register as horror in any way to me.

I also see Meriam loves open endings and this one has so many questions that need to be answered. I would love to see more of this from the author so we can see what happens next. If not, I’m excited to see more of this author on all her future projects!

Short and Sweet Review
Mae’s sister Inez is missing, but she has a feeling that she can be found. It’s been awhile and her parents are moving on and even the police case has come to a halt. Mae drives down to Inez’s studio apartment to clean it out and finds a canvas with a peeling corner, not only that but a strange boy is also in the apartment. Dev was Inez’s neighbor and when Mae decides to trace Inez’s lasts steps he comes along for the ride.
Portrait of a Shadow is a retelling of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” which I haven’t read which is probably why I found the synopsis so interesting. When Mae finds the canvas she also finds Inez’s notes about it and also shows that she became somewhat obsessed with it. We have chapters that are interludes which shows people getting enticed by the canvas and eventually sucked into it. We also see chapters from the past which include Dev, his brother, and a friend. I did like that the chapters from the past show how big a role classism played between the three boys and how it ended up influencing some of the decisions that were made. This is a relatively short book and we learn about the characters along the way, I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters so there was a big disconnect there for me. This book is described as horror but there wasn’t anything like that, at least in my eyes, if there was anything scary it was pretty mild. The ending was pretty surprising, I wasn’t expecting what happened so that was a plus to me.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book the way I thought I would. Portrait of a Shadow has all of the elements to make a great story but it just fell short and I think it may have something to do with the length, there wasn’t enough time to really do a deep dive into these characters. The ending makes it seem like there could be a sequel and I would be interested to see what could happen next.

Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui promises an intriguing blend of mystery and art, but ultimately falls short of its potential. The premise is captivating: a missing sister, a mysterious painting, and the clues that unravel a centuries-old secret. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. Mae's journey to uncover the truth about her sister Inez is marred by a slow and meandering plot that fails to maintain suspense. The narrative often gets bogged down in unnecessary details, making it difficult for readers to stay engaged. Despite the promising setup, the pacing issues and lack of a cohesive storyline detract significantly from the overall reading experience.

The characters, while initially intriguing, lack depth and development. Mae's desperation to find her sister is palpable, but her interactions with the enigmatic boy who claims to have known Inez feel forced and lack genuine chemistry. Their dynamic, which should have added layers to the story, instead comes off as clichéd and predictable. The book's climax, hinging on the mysterious painting, is disappointingly underwhelming, with revelations that feel more contrived than shocking. While the novel attempts to weave together themes of loss, art, and hidden truths, it ultimately struggles to deliver a satisfying conclusion, leaving readers with more questions than answers. Portrait of a Shadow is a novel with an intriguing concept that, unfortunately, fails to live up to its promise.

DNF at 46%

⭐️ | Didn’t Finish, Predictable Ending

Portrait of a Shadow failed to keep my interest. I found it quite boring and ended up skipping to the end, only to find it played out exactly as I had predicted. The plot lacked excitement and the characters didn’t engage me enough to continue. Not a book I’d recommend.