Okay.. 3.5 ⭐️
Where to begin? It kept me interested, and wanting more.. but it was still a slow burn. I felt like there were a few events that kept getting brought up, so I’m gonna give trigger warnings for animal abuse, and grooming.

The end twist, was one I definitely did not see coming. I also had a love/hate relationship with all of the different POVs. It set a scene, and the whole book takes place over 4 days and it seemed so much longer.

All in all, kept my attention and I didn’t see the twist so it was one I would recommend.

This book does include descriptions of self-harm, suicide, mild gore, bestiality, inappropriate familial relations, and inappropriate student/teacher relations. Just a head's up for other readers.

Alright, let's start with what I liked about this novel. I actually really enjoyed the core mystery and the multiple POV storyline. It felt like a fast-paced investigation. The author did a very good job of making the stakes feel very real, and I was invested in what happened. It was a very quick read, and honestly, I didn't expect the ending, which was nice.

Now for the bad. The worst thing about this book is it felt like the author used an AI generator or picked out plot points from a hat. Every other page, a character was making a startling revelation about their lives FOR NO REASON. I get that maybe it was to build motive or place red herrings, but it honestly just seemed bonkers. All the characters that are directly involved with the school (the headmaster, Johanna the cook, the girls, Wells, Tippy, and Freddy) are incredibly unlikeable. I was kind of hoping they would all kill each other or the school would explode. The plot had so many weird character revelations that this honestly could have happened. At one point, I genuinely thought that Johanna might blow the school up because of how unappreciated she felt.

This book also has some irresponsible descriptions of mental health. One of the characters is diagnosed bipolar and stops taking their medication. The description of the manic episode that follows is what I would consider to be a Hollywood description of a manic episode and villainizes the very real risks of suddenly stopping medication. Not to mention that the character that stops taking the medication is depicted as being manipulative, controlling, obsessive, and delusional. It wasn't necessary to add a mental illness to the mix and is actually (in my opinion) a very harmful depiction of a mental illness.

I haven't even touched on the semi-incestuous relationship. Freddy and Tippy are step-siblings that have slept together multiple times. Sure, their parents didn't get married until they were teenagers. And Freddy had a crush on Tippy before she was his stepsister. But it's still icky that after being related by marriage for over a decade they start sleeping together. It also didn't add to the plot. They didn't need to be related at all. The only thing it added to the story was it was gross.

While the main plot was interesting, there was way too much going on for me to like this book. It's a no for me, dog.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
What an interesting read, so different! I.liked the chapters featuring the many characters, with their take on the case of the missing girl as the story goes to the surprising ending.
None of the characters are particularly likeable, except the two.police officers. But that didn't matter at all, the book was great, I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Glennmare Girls.

Glennmare Girls follows the story of a mysterious disappearance at an exclusive private school on a secluded island in the Puget Sound, near Seattle.

This book is for you if you enjoy dark, gothic academia novels with a thriller twist.

I thought that the authors take on the multiple POVs was an interesting approach and I enjoyed the insights into all of the characters.

I unfortunately did not finish this book as I couldn't get into the author's writing style. I made it roughly 40% of the way into the book.

I really wanted to enjoy this book because the premise was so intriguing, but between my own issues with the writing style and some of the darker themes (step-sibling relationships, SA, self-harm), I just couldn't finish it.

I read this book within 24 hours, because I was dying to know how it ended. About 75% of the way through, I figured out whodunit, and I have to say, I was disappointed. It seemed a bit lackluster to me, especially the reasoning. I was hoping for a big surprise that would have shocked me. I also found the chapters for The Girls to be really strange.
I'm glad everything was all wrapped up, and there were no loose ends. I always hate when thrillers leave you with questions. This book left me with none!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Glennmare Girls releases December 18, 2023

Located on an island off of Seattle, Glennmare Academy is a place for the unruly daughters of affluent East Coast families and abides by a no-technology way of teaching.

Told through multiple pov’s (one of which has no memory of the last six months), we unravel the mystery of a missing girl from Glennmare.

This is an academic mystery with strong themes including a stepsibling relationship, teacher/student dynamics, and mentions of SA, self-harm (cutting), eating disorder, bipolar disorder, and suicide.

The short chapters and remote setting had me hooked. I’m usually hit or miss with academic based reads, but this one was really enticing.

I wasn’t sure about this book at first because of the multiple character pov’s but I am glad I stuck with it. This was a great story of lies, deceit, murder and friendship. I never would have predicted the ending! This was a really unique book and storyline and would definitely recommend. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book.

"Need something stronger?"

"I do," Freddy says, walking to the kitchen. he returns with a bottle of scotch.....

Need something stronger? Ummmm......yep, yep I do. Something that will wash away the emotions, the images, the terrible anxiety....something stronger, yes, precisely what the moment calls for.

What the heck?!?!? What the actual heck did I just read?? Was I even prepared for this? Maybe? Maybe I thought the book would be an interesting thriller, a mystery. I mean a missing girl on a remote island, at an elite and prestigious school for written off trust-fund girls. But what the actual heck did I just read??????!!!!!!!!

Rating this book for me is difficult. First off - the subject matter on the surface is a mystery surrounding a missing girl - possibly a murder. But there is so much more tucked in here and themes explored that are disturbing. How far does one go for a person they love, to prove loyalty to friends. When do healthy bonds become trauma bonds. When is too far, too far. When lines are drawn in sand are they too easily moved? Suicide, murder, old rites that date back hundreds of years, sex, unwanted pregnancies, betrayals, blackmail, love triangles, obsessions, and so much more. There are honestly parts of this book I want to erase from my mind. However, that being said - it is a psychological thriller and that is precisely what this author skillfully pulled off.

Warning - if you pick this book up you will not want to put it down. At just under 300 pages it is easy to finish in a weekend - and the anxiety it causes will drive you to finish it is quickly as possible!!

First off - this book is one of the most unique uses of multiple POV I have seen in a long bit. EVERY character has at least one chapter from their POV. And while this might seem overwhelming as you read that - it is essential to the story. IF this story had been told from a limited amount of POV instead of each character the tension would have been lost. The anxiety of the situations, the gravity of the lies and secrets, the intricacy of the woven relationships would have been lost. So to this - Kudos, Anya Mora. And - The most disturbing POV comes at the very end!! I just want to wipe my brain free of the entire second half of this book!

Now the story. Well, many stories, woven into one. All interlocking, overlapping a wonderfully woven tapestry of anguish, hurt, loss, betrayal, friendships, loyalty, coming of age, losing ones way and those who help us find our way. A story of hidden things, secrets among friends, things that maybe are best left forgotten.

A young teacher with no memory following a horse accident? (or was it an accident at all really). A headmaster of a school who has his own secrets. A cook who spies on everyone, imagines herself as a mother figure and confidante. A group of girls that want to step back into town and are controlled by one girl who is larger than life. And - a missing girl - the leader of the group of girls. A single father dectective and his partner.

Everyone has secrets, everyone has a past they want to outrun, or leave behind. Everyone has hopes for something better.......but how one gets to the better matters. And what one does in the past sets in motion things that can't be avoided. But can a person ever see that in the moment? "I don't want to think about it," she says. "I just...want to back to before." - But can this ever truly happen. Because, the truth usually is that secrets, dark secrets, tend to destroy, to eat away at the fabric of life. "We could have told the police, the teachers, {her} parents - told them everything. We didn't. We held our secrets close to our chests out of loyalty. out of fear"

"Maybe if we hadn't spent so many months separated from the rest of the world or if we hadn't been living at Glennmare without families we wouldn't have agreed. But we were living in distinctly unique universe where bonds strengthened faster, deeper and more fully than in the real world." And this sets the scene for a story that is so twisted - and honestly gross in many aspects - and yet this is at the end of the book. Isolation from reality is a recipe for disaster if it the isolation is filled with broken, hurting people seeking ways to change their own reality. It's a setting for the writing of stories that should be left alone when .... "as a child I always wanted to be someone else. Wanted a different life, I never acted without selfish ambition...>"

I just reviewed THE GLENNMARE GIRLS by Anya Mora. #THEGLENNMAREGIRLS #NetGalley

QUOTES

"Enjoy the view for as long as you can," Baker says, her burger box in hand. "Soon the tide will change and it will never look like this again."

Besides, we're just girls. GIRLS! What do we know anyways except how to french-braid hair and draw heart eyes on our feelings?!

We don't actually love him. It was the idea of him. OF someone choosing us.
Our hearts are equally broken, we've picked up the shards. But I don't want to fight with pieces of glass.

Our hearts are equally broken, we've picked up the shards. But I don't want to fight with pieces of glass.

The sad truth is most girls are lost. And by the time they are found, it's too late.

My back burns. I want the water to wash away my sins, scour out my horrific thougths.

....and I close my eyes, praying that what is behind this screen is anything other than the desperate truth. But the truth is inescapable, and it always catches up.

I can't say that aloud, of course; some things are too private to tell even your closest friends. Some desires to forbidden. - Wells' POV

The girls began sobbing as they realized that there were limits to what one would do for the person they loved.

"We could have told the police, the teachers, {her} parents - told them everything. We didn't. We held our secrets close to our chests out of loyalty. out of fear"

Maybe if we hadn't spent so many months separated from the rest of the world or if we hadn't been living at Glennmare without families we wouldn't have agreed. But we were living in distinctly unique universe where bonds strengthened faster, deeper and more fully than in the real world."

It is shocking the things you will do when you love someone. We were willing to clean up Kitt's mess, even if it meant the blood was on our hands.

we buried the sacrifice in the well with tear-streaked eyes and hands shaking and hearts ripped out.

As much as I love multiple narratives I think this jumped around a bit too much, because the chapters are short and it changed perspective after every chapter you didn’t have time to be invested in the individual people, especially “The Girls” chapters where it was around 4 people at once.

The characters didn’t draw me in as much as I would like (possibly because of the constant jumping) and the story was only intriguing at times, some parts felt like “filler” or added just to confuse you.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This book was absolutely crazy. Just when you think things are about to calm down in this story, some crazy new plot twist is introduced. I read this story in literally one day because it was so entertaining and gripping. I NEEDED to know what happened.

Basically the story line follows three adult friends that are in a weird love triangle, one of which works at a boarding school. All of these friends have boundary issues in one way or another which gets them in trouble. Said boarding school doesn't allow any technology which lets their students get into trouble as well. With both of these components, some real demented stuff happens.

I loved how the perspectives changed between every character in this story. It gave a great insight into each aspect of the plot because there was SO much going on. This also really helped get connected to the characters since they all played a huge part in the storyline. There really aren't any "side characters". For me this really felt like solving one of those murder mystery games. Except there was no way that I was going to be able to solve this with all of the plot twists. Truly a great thriller/mystery vibe.

My only real criticism is that there should be a trigger warning on this bad boy. So many messed up things happen that this may not be for everyone.