Despite having potentially triggering material, this book does not include a content advisory. The following are my content warnings: violence against LGBTQ+ people in personal relationships, thoughts of suicide and attempts, mental illness (paranoia), transphobia, medical institutionalization, and food and financial hardship.

Regarding pronoun usage, Alex is addressed as she/her for the majority of the novel and as they/them at the end. Since that pronoun is used in the book's description and the change in pronouns later on ties to a significant narrative issue, I am choosing she/her.



The most fascinating aspect of the book is Alex Nguyen, the main character. Her life is impacted by multiple crossing identities, and it frequently feels emotionally authentic to follow her perspective as she navigates these identities and the tragedy of her experiences.





The narrative and speed of this book were my two biggest complaints. Every segment is laboriously paced, with minimal elements propelling the action ahead. Similarly, even though sections might be presented chronologically, they don't create a cohesive story. I may explain this by saying that Alex's perspective colors events; it feels more like a highlight reel of her experiences. The topics in each segment changed with little to no transition, and significant narrative points seemed to be dropped with little explanation, so I was still confused by the section breaks.

I want to thank NetGalley and ECW Press for this arc. "All Things Seen and Unseen" is a story about pain, with a touch of horror. I didn't find it particularly scary and I wouldn't classify it as horror, but the author got my attention from the start.

The book tells the story of Alex, a struggling queer person that accepts a job, offered by a friend, to housesitting a mansion in the middle of nowhere. Alone for the first time in a long period, Alex needs to fight against personal demons and past trauma, always questioning their sanity.

It was a great book, especially since it's the author's first novel, but it could move a little faster. And since this was an arc, there were several typos that I hope get fixed when published.

A dark and introspective story on pain, self discovery, and traumatic memories. Please read the trigger warnings before reading this book.

Alex Nguyen, a chronically ill college student, seemingly lost everything after an attempt that left her hospitalized. She is given a second chance when an old friend offers her a job to house sit an empty mansion over the summer on a remote island. Alex must find herself, with the help of the community, before dark events threaten to ruin her second chance at life.

This story paints a beautiful yet haunting picture of life when all hope is lost. It has friendship and love woven between memories of trauma and pain. I caution those who read this, as I found it hard to read at times. The ending is beautiful, as are you and your life. Take care of yourself, dear reader.

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for this ARC.

This book lacks a content advisory but features potentially triggering content. Here are my content warnings: intimate partner violence, suicide attempts & suicidal ideation, mental illness (paranoia), transphobia and other violence against LGBTQ+, medical institutionalization, financial & food insecurity.

Note on pronoun use: Alex is referred to as she/her through most of the book and they/them later. I am using she/her because that is the pronoun used in the book’s description, and the shift in pronouns later relates to a major plot point.

Alex Nguyen, the MC, is the most interesting part of the book. She has several intersecting identities that impact her life in various ways, and following her mindset as she navigates them and trauma of her experiences often feels emotionally true.

The main issues I had with this book are the pacing and plot. It drags through each section, with very little driving the action forward. Relatedly, sections may appear chronologically, but they don’t build a clear narrative. It’s feels more like a reel of highlights that Alex experiences, which I can attribute to her mindset coloring events. I still found the jumps between sections confusing as topics shifted with little transition and seemingly important plot points dropped with no explanation.

DNF - This was a case of me not being the right reader for this story. I found the beginning drag in a melodramatic way that I do not necessarily enjoy reading. With that being said, the right reader will adore this one.

This book delves into identity, wealth, and survival through Alex's compelling queer journey on a remote gulf island. The close-knit community setting adds depth, exploring race and queerness authentically. Alex's hope-filled summer job at a lavish mansion brings growth and opportunity to the narrative. It's a powerful story of overcoming adversity and embracing one's true self, making it a highly recommended, thought-provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This book definitely felt very tense with elements of darkness and suspense throughout. Definitely recommend it.