Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Unfortunately I have to give it a 3/5, rounded up from 2.5. I think the idea for the book was really interesting and the summary immediately caught my attention, but there were several aspects that I found lacking. There was a very small amount of backstory given of the characters so I felt as though I didn't really know them at all. I think if i was emotionally invested I would have been able to enjoy it more. It took me a solid 8 chapters to even understand the direction. The introductions were really short and it wasn't enthralling me.
Overall it was not a book I would read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

I'm not always a fan of fantasy elements in thrillers, but I enjoyed the way people were able to relive the past. I was really looking forward to the reunion of former friends at a remote location, as I'm a big fan of Lucy Foley and similar books. However, I felt that the book lacked sufficient backstory for each character, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with them and understand the events that unfolded. It would have been more satisfying to have more insight into the characters' past before delving into their future. I did however like the premise and will be keeping an eye out for future books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers below!

You need to know that it took me 5.5 hours to read this book. I stopped in the middle of the day to grab lunch with a friend and spent the whole time wondering what was going to happen next. So to say this book gripped me is an understatement.

The premise of this book is what drew me in. And it delivered. Harrison writes in her acknowledgments that this book is 35 years in the making. I can feel the care she put into this novel. It’s unique, totally inspired, and masterfully written. Writing in two timelines could be tricky, but Harrison handles it masterfully.

She weaves the late 1980s with 2014 in a way that makes sense. There were maybe one or two places where my brain got a little addled, but she makes such a clear distinction between the two times that I felt like I was reading a cast of 11 different characters, instead of the 6 we see on the page.

And I really enjoyed the characters! (Except one. He was annoying. You’ll know when you know.) Sonia and Byron, our two POVs, are both strong and fleshed-out characters with their own motivations for solving the mystery of Jennet’s death. Harrison writes them with nuance and heart. I even liked Auraleigh—an easy-to-hate character—because I found the humanization in her motivations. I think it would have been easy to lose these characters in the plot, but the work put into them shines through.

And the plot. It’s so clever. I found my eyes drifting to the ‘percentage read’ at the bottom of my e-reader screen wondering how Harrison was going to write her way out of this twist and that twist and the other twist. And they weren’t cheap twists! They were well-thought out and so smart. The way she wraps up this complex, but rewarding, plot will keep you glued to the page until the very last word.

Overall, this was an incredible book. The plot, the pacing, the characters—all of it was so well done. This novel took her so long to right, but I think this iteration was nearly perfect.

I highly recommend this book.
Look for it on September 24, 2024!

2.5 ⭐️

I was so excited to get this ARC because of the synopsis but it's not so good 😭. The idea of this book was AMAZING but the execution was just POOR. It was marketed as a second chance-past lives-thriller kind of story wherein there's a fantasy element mixed into it which was called "sogging"—going to the future & to the past, you "sog" into them. All the fantasy elements such as this concept was messily explained throughout the book & most of the time I truly just felt lost within the story.

The timeline of the story was also very messy: I had to keep going back a few pages to realize what timeline i'm at: Past, Future, or Present. There weren't any clear indications of where you are at that part in the timeline which i didn't enjoy.

Lastly, I was mainly excited to solve Jennet's death (that was the only part that kept me going which says a lot) and it was not even clearly resolved which was very disappointing!

This is a beautifully written book that, like many introspective works of fiction, is difficult to categorize. It has time travel of a sort, but it isn't really sci-fi; it has a lot of personal conversations and confrontations, but it isn't really a drawing-room comedy. Many of the most romantic bits are with someone who doesn't currently exist, but it isn't really a ghost story.

It is a story about perception and remembrance and friendships from youth that persist.

(Also, be advised that it clearly does not take place at a college in Cambridge. *cough*)

Margot Harrison is a marvelous storyteller. I loved the premise. Would you change the past if you had the chance? Very atmospheric thanks to the author’s gorgeous descriptions. Many passages have stayed with me—Every moment counts. I also enjoyed the author sharing the story behind writing this novel. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

I read this book fairly quickly and what a ride - there is a lot of back and forth, flashbacks, etc so you have to keep up and keep sharp! I went into it thinking it was a thriller type book? But while it does have a mystery feel as the characters are trying to find out what happened to their friend, it was a lot more fantastical than I had expected. I truly enjoyed the read. I like the characters, "sog" the time travel drug, and the overall cadence of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for the ARC!

This is the kind of book that slowly sucks you in until you can't put it down because you need to find out how it's going to end. I love the take on dark academia, mystery and suspense, with magical realism/sci-fantasy ? Hard to put in a box because it traverses the different genres well. You aren't sure what's real or not, and I started to wonder, maybe none of it is? A little slow at a few points, dark throughout, totally intriguing.

"Being young is like being on drugs. The sky is bigger and the sunsets are redder and every new outfit you buy is gonna change your life. Every new friend you make is going to be your friend forever. Time is so deep you could drown in an afternoon."
Loved this quote!

What a whirlwind this read was! I loved every moment! Old college friends relive trauma through time travel. This was beautifully written and emotional!

Wildly atmospheric and deliciously thrilling. I'm a sucker for anything boarding school or college campus. If you are too, you won't want to miss this. I struggled with the pacing a bit in the beginning but once it picks up, it picks up! 3.75, rounded up!

I'll be thinking about this book for a long, long time!

I struggled with the pacing and the characters' friendships, but once I got into it, I did greatly enjoy this one. The idea of a drug that makes you relive your memories is fascinating, and I LOVEDDDD the progression of how the drug worked and how it affected the characters. I liked the end twist, but was definitely left wanting more.

All in all, this would be a great read for fans of slow-burn mysteries and magical realism.

All the thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

I love how atmospheric this book is! I was really able to immerse myself in the story because of the descriptions which was really enjoyable! I also liked reading about the different characters and their dynamics together. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends/followers! It is the perfect read for the fall time and I can’t wait to get a physical copy and do a reread.

I just finished "The Midnight Club" by Christopher Pike, and it was such a compelling and emotional journey. The mix of mystery, horror, and the deep bond between the characters really resonated with me. Pike's ability to capture the raw emotions and vulnerabilities of the teens made it a truly unforgettable read.

This suspense novel had an incredibly attractive and compelling premise. College students, a fantastcal element, dark academia, and an interesting concept about unlocking the secret to our whole lives being already lived, and fate. It was thought provoking and great fun. Recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC copy gifted in exchange for my honest review.

Novels with college campus settings always intrigue me - especially thrillers.

From GR:
It’s been twenty-five years since The Midnight Club last convened. A tight-knit group of college friends bonded by late nights at the campus literary magazine, they’re also bonded by something darker: the death of their brilliant friend Jennet junior year. But now, decades later, a mysterious invitation has pulled them back to the pine-shrouded Vermont town where it all began.

As the estranged friends gather for a weeklong campus reunion, they soon learn that their host has an ulterior motive: she wants them to uncover the truth about the night Jennet died, and she’s provided them with an extraordinary method—a secret substance that helps them not only remember but relive the past.

But each one of the friends has something to hide. And the more they question each other, the deeper they dive into their own memories, the more they understand that nothing they thought they knew about their college years, and that fateful night, is true.

Twisty, nostalgic, and emotionally thrilling, The Midnight Club explores that innate desire to revisit our first loves, our biggest mistakes, and the gulf between who we are and who we hoped we’d be.


I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC. I have based this review rating on the plot summary.

The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison is a captivating and thought-provoking tale that delves into the allure of forbidden fantasies for intelligent individuals. This intriguing novel explores the depths of human desire and the consequences of succumbing to temptation. Harrison's storytelling is both strange and brilliant, drawing me into a world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs.

If you could revisit your past, would you? I was blown away by this highly creative and unique story! The Midnight Club is an immersive experience that makes you question everything you thought you knew.

This story is a slow burn and relies on a dreamlike and mysterious plot. I immediately emphasized with both Sonia and Byron, and was eager to discover what their minds hid from them on the night of Jennet’s death. The writing was beautiful and there was just enough information revealed to keep my interest despite the story’s slow pace. If you love atmospheric mysteries that are part dark academia and part magical realism, then this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Graydon House Books, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slow start for me. I think what was difficult for me was I didn't really care for any of the characters as time went on. The ending felt a bit rushed, and it wasn't very satisfying for me. I really enjoyed the middle of the book when they would seemingly go back in time to figure out what happened. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery of what happened.

The Midnight Club
The idea of this book is intriguing and extremely creative. And while the concept hooked me in, I found the pacing to be a distraction for me. I think this book will appeal to many as it was an enjoyable read.

It was a slow start to begin with. It was almost a DNF, but I was curious to see if the details of the death would be figured out. Once the story starts to unfold I wanted to see how it would end & if they would solve the mystery. I think this would make a great movie with all the switching of POVs & speeding up the pace of the story. It would have been a 4 star for me if the pace were quicker at the beginning.
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