Thank you Netgalley and Anya Mora for the ARC of Glennmare Girls.

First of Mora's books and I don't think it will be the last. Glennmare is a dark twisty tale of love, obsession with a little bit of folklore mixed in, It is a slow burn, starting with the strange disappearance of an 18 yr old girl from Glennmare school. To a Teacher, Wells, coming around in hospital with amnesia . A cook, who seems to know everyones secrets and a love triangle. There are some dark moments in this book, especially as the detectives who are investigating the case start to unravel what's going on.

The pace of the book is slow but gathers momentum as the story unfolds and it does grab you and make you want to read until the end. Glennmare Girls is a nice whodunit book, that isn't quite a cosy mystery but leans towards some darker elements.

3.5 stars

First and foremost, lets take a step back and just admire this stunning cover...

The Glennmare Girls

I requested this one based on just the cover alone but when I read the description, I knew right there, this was a must read.

There is nothing more dangerous than a cattle of school girls...

This book is all consuming. Clear your schedule, put up your feet and grab your coffee/wine, depending on the time.

Check out this teaser :

Kitty Calloway is a beautiful, sweet girl — she’s everyone’s favorite. Kitty Calloway is a dangerous manipulator. Kitty Calloway is gone.

At Glennmare Academy, an elite boarding school off the coast of Seattle, five girls develop an unhealthy infatuation. Their twenty-five-year-old literature professor, Wells Halifax, has changed their lives. And they will do anything for him.

Then one of the girls goes missing. And Wells Halifax is found unconscious on the beach after a riding accident. He remembers nothing of that fateful night.

But the four remaining girls remember everything. They have sworn to keep their friend’s secrets — even if it kills them.

But is Kitty Calloway worth protecting?

Thankyou NetGalley and Joffe Books for this eCopy to review

this was an OK gothic suspense novel. It was quite slow which made it hard to read along with lots and lots of different points of view. This meant it was hard to connect with any of the characters. A teenage private schoolgirl goes missing from her remote unconnected school (Kitty). On the same night her teacher (Wells) is found fallen from his horse with amnesia and cannot remember the last 6 months. What happened that night? What happened with his supposed best friends Tippy and Freddy during that time?

If this was the focus of the book then it might have been OK, but there was just too much incest, bestiality, teenage pregnancy, suicide, mental health problems that are glossed over, underage drinking and drugs for me to really like the story

Read from December 5th to December 14th, 2023. Written on December 19th, 2023.

What an interesting story! With great plot twists, multiple character POVs and really good writing with short chapters.

This book is great for the fans of suspense and thrilling stories, with its gripping pages and unusual characters. It was heartbreaking and shocking, addictive and insane. The plot was not what I expected and the details just surpassed the idea that I had of what this book would be.

I am amazed. The Glennmare Girls came out yesterday, December 18th.

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Joffe Books that I chose to review after reading)

What a boring batch of overwrought and underdrawn psychopaths. There are things I like about the cover but that's all you're getting from me.

The writing, as is typical with many of these mystery-thrillers, is almost childish. Mora seems intent to build suspense and intrigue, but the "creepy" dialogue and narrative style are trying too hard to be dark and sinister, which has the opposite effect. The dialogue is fine, the plot is fine, the characters are fine--but there is nothing really worthwhile about the novel.

Thank you so much to Anya Mora and Joffe Books for the Digital ARC of this book. This book is great for people who love mystery thrillers. You get multiple point of views and you never know who you can trust. I really think you will either love this book or not be the biggest fan of this book. Quick read.

This is an instance, where I wished I could've tried a chapter before requesting the book.
The writing style is so clunky, I can't stand it. The characters are just telling the readers about their lifes as if they'd need to explain it to themselves etc.

This book surprised me with its twists, multi POV which led the story in various directions and the characters who you never knew if you could trust.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery thriller, it had suspense and many questions to try and figure out what happened to Katherine.

The story gives you characters that hold more secrets than you initially think. I had no idea what the outcome would be and that was exciting, some thrillers you can guess at some point what might happen, but this really did give me no clue. The school was multi layered it felt very gothic and cult like in its abandonment of outside connections to shelter the girls and have them focus on their studies.

At points I was shocked, the boundaries of relationships are really tested in this story and I thoroughly disliked some characters including the victims. This story is a powerful reminder how manipulation and obsession mixed with desire and misplaced trust can go so wrong. I will say though I loved the detective and his partner quite a bit, their interactions had depth and humour.

I really do look forward to reading more from this author!

This book was so boring...I'm not sure this book was for me :/
There are mentions of suicide and other potentially triggering topics in the book, but there was no trigger warning prior to starting the book.

I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Joffee Books, and Anya Mora for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author, publishers Joffe Books and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

A girl is missing from a strange rural all girls school. One of her teachers was injured the same night and has no memory of the past six months. As old friends of his come to the island to help in his recovery they begin to wonder if they really know him or how far he would go.

If you find it difficult to suspend your belief, are thrown by clunky exposition and convoluted soap opera-esque plots, walk away now.

For two-thirds of the book I was on board with it as an unrealistic but readable thriller. The kind of book that I could read without having to think much more about it. But, the final resolution and the clunkily delivered exposition, of the final third had me rolling my eyes in frustration. And more than once uttering an exasperated expletive at formulaic and forced ‘reveals’.

A riveting mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Excellent red herrings and fingers pointing in different directions. This was so captivating; Mora really hit this out of the park.

Kitty, Bernie, Coretta, Diane, & Jolie, were all best friends - they met at Glennmare Academy. an elite boarding school on an island off the coast of Seattle. Glennmare was a place where the unruly daughters of affluent East Coast families were exiled. Those five girls were obsessed with their twenty-five-year-old teacher who quoted obscure poetry and worked in the stables, but also understands each of them so perfectly. Now one of those girls is missing, and the teacher was found with a head injury so severe, he has no memory of the past few months. So where is their friend? And what will he say when he begins to remember?

This book is told in the alternating viewpoints of the various cast of characters, including the detectives investigating the case. As Will struggles to regain his memory, there are clues that are popping up all over his cabin which seem to point the finger at him. The cook seems to know more than she is letting on. The other girls seem to know more than they are willing to say, as well, and they seem desperate for Will to regain his memory. This will keep you guessing right up until the end.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Mean Girls meets the Virgin Suicides meets … Harry Potter? Teen girls going wild and weird in remote places isn’t the most original of tropes - I can think of a handful or so titles off the top of my head which handle similar narratives - but stories don’t have to be original to be enjoyable, and this one is very much so.
There’s layers and layers here - some the reader will probably see coming, and some they perhaps won’t - I found this a quick and easy read, that did manage to surprise me in places. Certainly one to recommend in its genre.

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"THE GLENNMARE GIRLS" by Anya Mora is a dark and twisty novel set in the foreboding atmosphere of Glennmare Academy, an elite boarding school on a windswept island off the coast of Seattle. This gripping story delves into the lives of five roommates – Kitty, Bernie, Coretta, Diane, and Jolie – bound together more like sisters than friends, united by their shared experiences and secrets.

Mora's storytelling is captivating, effortlessly weaving a tale of intrigue and obsession. The setting of Glennmare Academy is effectively used to create an atmosphere of isolation and mystery. Each character is richly developed, with their own complexities and secrets, adding depth to the narrative. The disappearance of Kitty, one of the girls, sets off a chain of events that unravel the dark undercurrents within the school.

The novel excels in its exploration of themes such as the loss of innocence, the power dynamics in relationships, and the intense bonds formed in adolescence. The suspense is masterfully built, with twists and turns that keep the reader engrossed. Mora’s writing style is fluid and evocative, capturing the emotional turmoil and the psychological depth of the characters.

However, readers who prefer lighter, more straightforward narratives may find the novel's dark themes and complex plot challenging. The focus on the psychological aspects and the intricacies of the girls' relationships might not appeal to those looking for a fast-paced thriller.

Content warnings for themes of obsession, psychological drama, and the complexities of adolescent relationships are appropriate. "THE GLENNMARE GIRLS" will appeal most to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and stories that delve deep into character dynamics and the darker aspects of elite boarding school life.

In conclusion, "THE GLENNMARE GIRLS" by Anya Mora is a compelling and psychologically rich novel that offers an engrossing journey into the secretive world of an elite boarding school. Its combination of suspense, well-developed characters, and dark themes make it a gripping read for fans of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC of this book.

"The Glennmare Girls" by Anya Mora is a psychological thriller that immerses readers in the intriguing lives of five teenage girls at Glennmare Academy, an elite boarding school on a windswept island off the coast of Seattle. Kitty, Bernie, Coretta, Diane, and Jolie form a tight-knit sisterhood amidst the challenges of their privileged but isolating environment. The novel deftly explores the complexities of their relationships, highlighting the blurred lines between friendship, loyalty, and the dangers of obsession.

Mora's storytelling is captivating as she introduces the mysterious literature professor, Wells Halifax, who becomes a central figure in the girls' lives. The author skillfully navigates the narrative, intertwining elements of manipulation and secrecy that keep the readers guessing about the true nature of the characters and their relationships. The use of Glennmare Academy as a backdrop adds an atmospheric quality, creating an eerie setting for the unfolding drama.

The disappearance of Kitty becomes the catalyst for the novel's suspenseful twists and turns. As the remaining girls grapple with the aftermath and the weight of a dark secret, the tension escalates. Mora expertly builds anticipation, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the mysteries that shroud the characters.

Anya Mora's writing style is both evocative and enthralling, drawing readers into the psychological depths of the characters. The exploration of teenage friendships, the power dynamics between students and teachers, and the consequences of hidden truths adds layers of complexity to the narrative. The novel's shocking ending delivers a powerful impact, leaving readers breathless and contemplating the intricacies of the story long after the final pages.

In summary, "The Glennmare Girls" is a meticulously crafted psychological thriller that seamlessly blends elements of friendship, loyalty, manipulation, and obsession. Anya Mora's storytelling prowess shines through, making this novel a compelling and unforgettable read for fans of the genre.

I think this just wasn't for me. It is weird and I like weird but this is a different weird. We have step siblings who sleep together, beastiality, and people who aren't doing all that much to find a missing teenager. It isn't a bad book at all. I just didn't feel it.
I can't wait to see what the author does next.

This didn't catch me like I thought it would. The chapters were quite short and there were so many POVs that made it hard to connect. I think the tense that it was written in also threw me off. Overall it wasn't bad, it just wasn't my thing.

3.5 stars rounded down - I received an arc of this book and while I really enjoyed the overall plot and the twists at the end of the book, there were some issues in the writing that led me to not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

I usually love multiple POV’s but this book had way too many and some had very little character development. Some chapters had singular POV’s from one of Kitty’s roommates while other chapters had them as a collective POV. By the end of the book, I still don’t really have any details to distinguish each of the roommates. It felt like an area that should have been developed more if they were all going to be identified and sometimes given their own chapters.

There were also a few sub-plots that felt a little unnecessary to the over-arching story. Overall, I enjoyed the story but the above issues lead to it being a lot longer than it really needed to be and a little hard to get through as a reader.

A mystery at a remote girls boarding school. I think there were too many narrator shifts here. It made it hard to for me to shift between and for thrillers, I find more than two or three narrators really takes away from the suspense.