I had so much fun with this book! The characters were so quirky and I really enjoyed their chemistry. The stark differences between Gwen and Edwin really made their relationship intriguing and I loved when she gave him crap for his British ways.

This is a fast read with a dash of a spicy, sweet romance, and an added flare of the paranormal. I’ll admit I did predict the ending pretty early on, but I still enjoyed it. And given how it turned out, the decisions of the FMC make much more sense.

Wow, okay. I honestly only requested this book because I thought the cover was retro and cool and the premise sounded okay and it was a short book and I needed to get up my book count for this year! 😅

BUT THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!

Honestly, this has become one of my favourite books of ALL TIME.

I have no idea how I missed this the first time round. I can not recommend this book enough to anyone who is into anything a little weird, steamy and/or gothic!

This book was just so brilliant. Give it a read, you will NOT be disappointed!

I loved this! Great storytelling, lovely romance, The Headmaster gave big Atticus Finch vibes which is always a win.

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Circle Press for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Headmaster by Tiffany Reisz originally came out in 2014, and on September 3rd, 2024 it is getting re-released with a new expanded edition with black and white illustrations. Gwen Ashby has come unstuck from her life and is looking for an escape. On the road to Chicago, she comes across the William Marshal Academy, a gothic boarding school stuck in time, run by the equally painfully noble and sexy headmaster Edwin Yorke.

She’s given a trial position as an English literature teacher when the mysteries begin to unravel. Atmospheric and beguiling, this book brought me to tears at the ending. 5/5 Stars!

This 220-page book (ISBN: 9781949769678) will be available on 9/3/24 for $15.99 from major retailers. Thank you again to NetGalley and 8th Circle Press for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

gmpotter.com review live now.
YouTube review live on 8/8/24

All your gothic romance vibes come true!

I really enjoyed this book! It hits all the old-school gothic tropes. It just a fun, fluffy read. If you enjoy a gothic twist to your romances, grab this book. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

This gave Kindle Unlimited vibes. I thought the retro cover was very cool. I love gothic, romantic and creepy Appalachia themes. I would not get behind the fmc and her crush for the mmc. All she did was go on about how attractive he was. It was annoying, and I was uninvested.

Something about the writing style of this just did not jive with me. I really couldn't make it very far in this novel at all. I was drawn initially because the cover was giving Nancy Drew to me, but that's really all this book did for me.

I reread this because it’s getting a 10 year anniversary reprint: newly updated and expanded, with revised text and black-and-white illustrations throughout. I love this gothic romance, it’s short and sweet and just gives me all the feels. Even knowing where the story was going I got goosebumps and was near tears. 😅

Gwen Ashby is driving through the Appalachian Mountains when she stops at a diner. While there she hears about The William Marshal Academy and is intrigued enough to drive there and see if they’re hiring teachers. Some things happen along the way but she ends up meeting the headmaster, Edwin Yorke, and all the charming students at the all boys school. This romance moves fast and you get swept right along with Gwen & Edwin and all the characters. I love the setting and the romance is just the sweetest (but still delivers on steam). I am obsessed with the new cover and the added illustrations throughout the story with the new print!

“Be a good girl,” he said.
“You always have to be in charge, don’t you?” she asked.
“I’m the headmaster. I am in charge.”

I received an ARC of the new 10th anniversary edition, all thoughts in this review are my own.

A gothic romance with a new teacher at a mysterious boarding school with a mysterious headmaster and a mysterious Bride roaming the grounds.

I'm a sucker for these modern books with vintage style covers - I was drawn in by that and Tiffany Reisz who was once of my first romance reads (starting in the genre with The Original Sinners is... something).

I loved the atmosphere of this book. You can tell pretty quickly that something's not quite right -- and I had my theories while reading -- but it's hard to identify exactly what and why it's not right.

The relationship between Gwen and Edwin is a little insta-lusty and definitely pursued by her, but I'm not mad. There are several spicy scenes for a short book, but honestly that's what I was hoping for with this author.

When things come to a head and are revealed, it all happens quickly. Which feels appropriate to me. This is a fast, short read, if you want something a little spicy and a little spooky.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a slow burn, gothic suspense. It's a novella so it's a pretty quick read. I loved all the spooky and eerie vibes, I do wish it was a littttttle bit spicier, but that's just my preference.

I enjoyed this little modern gothic horror novella. I found it predictable, but didn’t mind because it was almost comforting in its simplicity.

I actually want a fan of the sex scenes. They felt rushed and kinda pointless. Also it’s not a “dark academia”, it’s gothic horror. I really wish we’d stop doing trends and following booktok crap.

Having just finished Ann Radcliffe’s ‘The Italian’, I spotted a modern Gothic/horror book available to review. The book is ‘The Headmaster’ by Tiffany Reisz. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was that there would be some very descriptive spicy chapters, but I blushed my way through and think the book stands up in its own right.

The idea for the book is sound. Gwen Ashby’s life has fallen apart and she’s off to couch-surf and hopefully find work. However, at a rest stop, she hears that a nearby school might be hiring and decides to check it out. Despite crashing her car to avoid hitting a deer, she ends up on a one week trial at a suitably atmospheric boarding school.

The students are unusually attentive, the school buildings have an ominous flavour, and there’s a woman in white who haunts the walls. It’s like Shirley Jackson, but with some rather fun dialogue between a flirtatious Gwen and the school’s headmaster.

Just over the halfway point, things get quite erotic. Things are getting buried with quite stunning frequency, and we’re not talking about being thrown alive into a coffin. Stylistically, things are raunchy and very detailed. Certainly enough to bring some colour to your cheeks.

These pages don’t prevent progress towards a growing feeling that something at the school isn’t right and the ending provides a satisfying conclusion (narrative, rather than the multiple satisfying conclusions scattered throughout the story).

This is a winner in terms of the eerie atmosphere and it certainly ticks off many of the elements you’d expect from a Gothic novel, it just dials up from the classic heaving bosom and constantly fainting protagonists with a heroine who isn’t particularly shy.

the headmaster by Tiffany Reisz* [ad/gifted]🎓

*thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. despite being gifted an e-arc of this book, all views and opinions are my own.

this book has a great premise and some really intriguing plot points: mystery, horror, sexy headmaster, a chance encounter? this books seems to check a lot of the boxes that make a suspenseful, interesting and steamy romance/horror books👩🏻‍🎓

rating: ⭐️⭐️.5 (2.5 stars out of 5 stars)

unfortunately for me, this book just fell a little flat. I found the romance to be super sudden and based solely on looks which isn’t my type of vibe, although the spice in this book was pretty good!🌶️

the ending also knocked the rating down a little for me too. I didn’t like how the characters stories ended and the big reveal was a little disappointing for me- no spoilers here though!🙅🏼‍♀️

overall, I really liked the spice in this book and the setting was super interesting and added so much to the eerie, creepy, intense vibes that this book was giving. it’s also a super quick read and I read it all in less than 24hrs although I did feel that the plot slowed a little in some parts🌱

let me know if you’ve read this book or if you’re planning on picking it up! i don’t think my review should put you off at all because the vibes of this book were really interesting, it just didn’t work for me personally and that’s okay!🖤

I enjoyed this book. I love the spooky academic atmosphere. It could have been spicier. The woman in white reveal was kind of anticlimactic.

I adore Tiffany Reisz and jump at any new books she releases. The Headmaster was a spooky gothic romance and is a perfect autumn read. The story follows Gwen whose life is a bit out of sorts at the beginning. She ends up with a teaching position at William Marshall School for boys. Edwin and Gwen’s story was fun to read. Loved the mystery and spice! Highly recommend and look forward to more from this Tiffany Reisz! Thank you for the ARC

This is an enchanting gothic romance that won't be new to some. I believe we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of its initial release, but it hasn't dated and is still a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I loved Gwen and her spirit - she seemed to be a lovely mixture of forthright and guileless. And Edwin the Headmaster is just what one once from a gothic hero - a little mysterious, a bit starchy and very sexy.

The children in the book provide some lovely comic relief and everything comes together in the end in a delightfully spooky way.

A great, quick read perfect for Autumn.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“The Headmaster” by Tiffany Reisz is a wonderfully charming old-fashioned romantic gothic—and it is set in a mysterious and remote boarding school. And, who, really, does not love a boarding school gothic? It has the smoldering passion of the classic romantic gothic as well as mystery, and it also has supernatural elements. It is deliciously entertaining and genuinely well written.

The plot involves an attractive young woman, Gwen Ashby, who is 25, alone in the world, and looking for a job—she’s educated and a former college English teaching assistant at a Georgia university. But a series of unfortunate events, including being dumped by her boyfriend, have left her broke and heading toward a friend’s house hundreds of miles away to couch-surf. Everything she owns is in her car. She has no family and even the friend who offered the couch is not that close to Gwen. In other words, she’s on her own.

When she overhears a chance conversation at a diner about a boarding school that might be hiring teachers, she gets directions from a waitress. Soon she follows a nearly impassable, all but hidden road until she finally lands at William Marshall Academy, at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. The school is lovely, though a bit overgrown, and with a kind of gothic cathedral look to the buildings. Gwen is surprised, enchanted—and more than a little nervous.

Before she stops her car, a deer jumps in front of her, and she crashes her car, hitting her head. Not long after, she wakes up in a lavish bedroom which turns out to belong to the headmaster, Edwin Yorke. Edwin is aloof toward her, but also caring. She feels a definite attraction to the man and why not—he is handsome, educated, refined, and so very well mannered. Rather than transport her to a hospital, Edwin cares for and soon she meets and is utterly charmed by the boy students at the remote school.

Soon enough, she convinces an initially reluctant Edwin to give her a trial as an English teacher at the school. This, of course, leads to her being hired and she is the only female on the campus. Well, almost. There’s a strange, ethereal white-clad female that roams the school silently at night.
From that beginning, nature takes it course so to speak with the smoldering passion between Gwen and Edwin. But so many things just don’t add up—and there’s that white-draped figure of a woman wandering the campus too.

That there is a supernatural element in the story is suggested once the spectral vision of the mysterious other woman shows up. But hold on—the climax and ending will settle the matter rather intriguingly.

This is a fun read, escapist sure, but why not transport yourself into this ivy-covered gothic school with charming students, a winsome can-do heroine, a haunted, handsome man, and plenty of smoldering passion? It is also a 10th Anniversary updated, expanded print edition of Tiffany Reisz’s gothic romance, and contains black-and-white illustrations that add to the considerable charm of the book. A Romance Writers of America RITA Award Finalist, this is one to indulge in and enjoy. The anniversary copy will only be available in hardback and trade paperback.

I received a Netgally advanced readers copy but this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Circle for the ARC.

Count me as turned on and spooked, in the BEST way. I loved this book and will be reading more from this author. It was a fast read, too. A great book for those who might be in a slump. This will definitely pull you out.

The copy I received is a special 10th anniversary edition with illustrations by Andrew Shaffer. Those illustrations really helped me get into the story and made the book scarier!

Gwen Ashby is looking for a teaching position and on her way to check out on she had a lead on, she got into a car accident. She woke up shortly with a headache in a beautiful room. It turns out to be the Headmaster's room. The boys at the all-boys (including the staff) school welcome her and immediately start setting her up with the headmaster, which she's secretly okay with because he is HOT. She lands herself a trial period at the academy and that's when things start to get weird... Another lady is appearing on campus and Gwen is certain it's the ghost of the previous literature teacher. The Headmaster is a gothic dark academia novel that will keep you guessing and distract you with spicy scenes. The illustrations will pull you in and make you feel like you're at William Marshal Academy.

Gwen finds herself at the William Marshall Academy, a boarding school, where there are twists and turns every corner. The book follows Gwen on her journey to becoming a teacher while many things are happening in her background, including love and academia.
I think this book did a lot with the limited amount of pages, and the storyline was well fleshed out for such a quick read. I did enjoy it, but there is not much to add to it, it did no impact me or made me think past finishing this book. While the end was intriguing, I just don't think we had the time to connect with the characters for me to rate it higher.
The animations were my favorite part; they added so much to the book and made it more fast-paced, as well as helped with imagination.

The cover of this one drew me in—I'm a sucker for a campy, gothic story, and that's what this looked like. That's also kind of what it is, but I found it to be shallow and uninteresting. I wanted the gothic stuff to be turned up and would've been happier with a longer book that could have given more development.