What can I say about The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, only wow, what an experience! This novel is a compelling blend of historical, gothic, and mystery genres that grips you right from the start. The title couldn't be more fitting, as it perfectly encapsulates the chaotic unraveling of Violet's life amidst a whirlwind of drama and horror.

A shocking and unthinkable event unfolds in the story that propels the characters down a dark, and twisted path. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the psychological turmoil of the flawed and naïve characters keeps you on the edge of your seat. The manipulations and betrayals among the cast create a palpable tension that had me racing through the pages!

Would I recommend this book? Yes! It is a must-read for those who enjoy beautifully written, dark, and twisty tales. I loved every moment!

If you're a fan of books like The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, you'll find this novel to be a delightful gem in your reading list!

This book was an earc from @netgalley and @bookmarked in return for a review. Thank you to @emilycritch for writing such an captivating novel.

This started off well but then this turned into a bit of a rage read. Which in my book, if a story makes me feel something (whether that be anger) then it’s a good book.

We follow Gillian in her lonely life in boarding school. She gets a new roommate Violet Claybourne. Violets a little odd, she has many quirks and pushes Gillian outside of her comfort zone. Gillian gets invited back to Violets home for a Christmas break, and a Christmas break she will never forget.

Gillian does a lot to impress Violets older sisters, even when that’s making fun of Violet and making her feel left out. Gilly makes a lot of very poor decisions and poor choice in friends. And she is down right awful to Violet towards the end. Honestly none of the characters are really likable.

This is a bit of a suspense mystery but the kind you know what’s going on most of the time. It was good, but I was pissed off the majority of the time.

Gillian is a private school student whose new roommate, Violet Claybourne, is a quirky breath of fresh air. Gillian falls in love with Violet’s home called Thornleigh where she visits during Christmas break. Gillian feels Violet takes for granted her home and her family, particularly her older sisters, Emmeline and Laura. Gillian is desperate for the sister’s approval even if she is uncomfortable with what they ask of her. Violet feels betrayed by her friend. Gillian returns to school, forever changed by her visit to the Claybourne family. The story continues for decades. I didn’t know what to expect from this book but it was FABULOUS! The imagery was exquisite without being overpowering. The language was simple to understand. Not all characters are fully developed but enough is written to get a good sense of their being. Not all characters are likeable. The story is woven in a way to keep you engaged, wondering how it will be resolved. Highly recommend! This book will be much talked about.

I received a free advanced reading copy from NetGalley. I leave this review voluntarily..

"For fans of Sarah Penner and The Foundling comes a slow-burn Gothic mystery following Gillian, a young girl enthralled by the enigmatic Claybourne sisters, their house at Thornleigh Hall, and the tragedy that binds them together for good.

To become a Claybourne girl, she'll have to betray one first.

1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.

But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.

Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.

With ensnaring prose and layers of friendship, privilege, mental health, and more, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a poignant book club read with characters you won't soon forget."

Hmm... I wonder if I could get my book club to read this...

I unfortunately had a really hard time getting into this book because it was pretty slow and for me the writing was a little weird and hard to get into.

Okay, so like, I totally need to talk about this book. The whole vibe of it is so dark and intense, and honestly, it was such a rollercoaster! Imagine a grand old manor that's, like, totally falling apart, but still holding onto its faded glamour. The characters? Let’s just say they're all kinds of messed up in a way that you can't help but want to know more. It’s, like, equal parts intriguing and twisted—especially when you get into the whole web of secrets and lies that the family is hiding.

Gilly is a super quiet girl, right? She’s just trying to fit in and not be totally invisible, and then Violet shows up. Violet’s, like, full of life and energy but also has these weird little quirks, and at first, Gilly’s, like, obsessed with being part of her world. But when she goes to Violet's crumbling family mansion, everything starts to unravel. There’s this tragic accident, and Gilly finds herself caught up in this huge mess where everyone's trying to protect themselves at any cost. Spoiler: it doesn't end well for anyone.

The whole thing has this gothic vibe, with all the creepy stuff that comes with old estates and, like, dark family secrets. The writing is actually so gripping—each twist and turn kept me hooked, even though most of the characters are, like, kinda unlikable. It’s one of those books where you're not really rooting for anyone, but you're still like, "What’s gonna happen next?"

Definitely a page-turner, with a lot of betrayal, manipulation, and mental health stuff that hits hard. It’s got that historical suspense feel, and the ending? Let’s just say it’s a lot to take in.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

THE UNDOING OF VIOLET CLAYBOURNE - EMILY CRITCHLEY

Historical fiction remains one of my favourite genres, and The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a must-read for fellow fans. Unlike many other historical fiction novels, which follow a dual narrative set within two different time periods, the bulk of this story is set within the past with only short visits to the present at the beginning and end.

I loved this, because I felt like I could get fully immersed along with the main character, Gilly, as she visits the very opulent and addictive world at Thornleigh Hall. At its heart, I would say that this is a historical fiction mystery novel, just as the title itself suggests. From the beginning, there are questions to answer. Who is Violet? How is she 'undone'? These mysteries keep the pace going, where secrets are revealed up to the very last page. I struggled to put this book down!

This isn't a wide-reaching treatment of the UK during the 1930s. Instead, this book is about how one moment in time - and one decision - can have far-reaching effects on so many people for their entire lives.

I found this so interesting and, if I'm honest, devastating, as I became truly invested in Gilly and the other characters. If you love characters that fall within the shades of grey category, you'll really enjoy this book. There's also a hefty helping of hidden agendas, peer pressure, deception, betrayal, treatment of the servant class vs the 'landed' class, grief, guilt and so, so much more.

For a historical fiction novel that'll have you simultaneously hooked and have you reading with a growing feeling of utter despair for the characters, I thoroughly recommend The Undoing of Violet Claybourne.

Review score: 4/5

Release date: 4 March 2025 (US)

Trigger warnings: Violence, d*ath, injury detail, postnatal depression, mental health, alcoholism

darkly atmospheric and just generally dark book about a bunch of characters, many of which are quite unlikeable. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

4/5 stars. A dark yet entertaining read with highly unlikeable characters all around. Most of it is set in 1938, first at an all-girls boarding school in England where shy, lonely, and not-so-rich Gilly rooms with daughter of Lord and Lady Claybourne, the outgoing and quirky Violet (who most certainly has undiagnosed OCD).

Most of the story takes place at Violet's family estate, Thornleigh Hall, where Gilly gets wrapped up in the lives of Violet's two older sisters and something terrible happens that changes all of the girls' lives forever. It was so hard to read about what the girls did to Violet and I hated how weak Gilly was, unable to stand up for anything she knew was right. Recommend for fans of historical mystery-esque, setting-forward books (a snowy Thornleigh Hall at Christmas was so easy to imagine) with flawed characters and a gothic vibe. But look up trigger warnings if you need to - this book pretty much has them all.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved the premise and the writing, but the pacing was on the slow side and ultimately the story was a bit bleak. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more had I read it during a week in which I wasn't in a funk. I think that is coloring my review slightly.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sourcebooks Landmark
Pub Date: 3-4-25

Thank you @netgalley, @bookmarked, and @emily.critchley for this eARC.

"If I am to remember, to truly remember, I must go back to the very beginning. I must remember not only the glamour, the decadence, and the sense of wanting so desperately to belong that I felt in the company of the Claybourne sisters, but also the darker side of our story, what really happened during that winter break, and the events that led me to flee my life as I knew it. Only then will I know what to do with the letter."

During the Christmas holidays of 1938, events unfold that set in motion a series of choices that will alter the lives of Gillian and the Claybourne sisters—Violet, Laura, and Emmeline—forever.

As I followed their journeys, I found myself wishing they would make different decisions, constantly hoping they would consider the consequences their actions would have on others.

The atmospheric setting added depth to the story, and the surprises revealed throughout kept me hooked, unable to put the book down until the full weight of the characters’ decisions became clear - reverberating for more than sixty years and impacting multiple generations.

Gillian Larkin has always been a loner. She's an only child who was sent away to school when her father remarried. She's been at school for years, and she finally has a friend the year she is 16. Violet Claybourne is a spirited girl with odd tendencies. The youngest of three sisters, she's adventurous and different from all the other girls at school. When Violet invites Gillian to Thornleigh Hall, her family home, for the holidays, she's eager to see how a family works, especially the sisters.

Thornleigh Hall was once a dazzling home, but now it is crumbling and has sections blocked off due to a fire. Gilly is quickly drawn in by Violet's older sisters, which quickly leads to tragedy—for the family, for the sisters, and mostly for Violet.

This is a family full of secrets, who have no qualms about blackmailing each other or thinking only of themselves. Gilly is suddenly part of it all, and she's torn between the two sisters, who treat her as one of their own, and her friend Violet, the strange girl with strange habits.
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It's hard to be a woman in gothic novels. There are limitations to what is acceptable by society. There are easy ways to get what you want if you have enough money. The Claybourne sisters are no different from other gothic novels' classic heroines. While the timeline of this story is post-WW1, leading directly into World War 2, this story can be placed in any timeline. It's about family, sisters, truth, and honor. It's about friendship, sisterhood, and how far secrets can go. This is the sad story of the Claybourne sisters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

In 1938, Gillian is at a boarding school and befriends her new roommate Violet. She is invited to spend Christmas with Violet's family and is desperate to fit in and be accepted by Violet's two older sisters. After an accident on the grounds of the Claybourne home, Gilly has to decide where her loyalties lie…and live with it for the next 60+ years. This was okay. I didn't love it, but I don't know why. 3 stars.

Interesting concept, setting, and overall plot points but not executed well in my opinion. Pacing was slow and dragged for majority of the book. Couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Psychological studies can be manipulative, they can be terrorizing, they can haunt and do much worse. The undoing of Violet Claybourne shared all these qualities wrapped within an often told tale. One young woman yearns to be recognized, to become more, to be admitted to that special society that is out of reach. Another born to that certain societal class just wants to be left to let out all the inner feelings she is denied while she also searches to be recognized and remembered.

Winter, 1938 marks the divide of the lives of the inhabitants and one guest of Thornleigh Hall. Told from a current POV, the reminisces of the past and the glimpses into the patterns and mysteries that make up this story are remarkable in the expectation that this is the way it is supposed to be,”Nos contra mundane, us against the world.” Until it isn’t. The ultimate realization that the past does not forget our destruction whether it to be self or others and our ultimate justification of our actions so we may “carry on.”

Well and strongly plotted and written - many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a copy.

Was excited for this one and it just felt flat. I love dark academia and really wanted more here, more mystery more ambiance. I am not sure what exactly made it less than I was expecting,but it was really hard for me to connect to these characters.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This book starts off so slow, but then around 40%, a terrible thing happens and the pace really picks up. I became invested in the story at that time and finished the remainder of the book in a day.

The characters are all wholly unlikeable, except for maybe Violet herself. However, in this case, it’s fine that they’re all unlikeable. I was just reading to see what would happen to them all…

This book is full of a lot of trauma and I feel like readers should know that going in. At the same time, I’m worried that if I identify some of the content warnings in my review, I will spoil some of the plot. So I will say…proceed with caution and if there are certain triggers you have, do research before you begin reading…

I will be creating an IG post on this one at Instagram.com/kraftykatreads and will update my review links once I do so.

3.5 stars

I loved the authors previous book One Puzzling Afternoon and jumped at the chance to get a review copy of this her latest, which releases in March 2025

The year is 1938 and Gillian Larking is sent away to school where she befriends her new roommate, Violet. Invited to Violet‘s home for the Christmas holidays Gillian‘s life as well as Violet takes a drastic change. Jump ahead 60 years later the repercussions are still felt.

This book started out with a nice grabber that kept me reading. It was great to get to know Gillian and her past while she was in England and her father in Egypt. The author took her time introducing the Thornleigh sisters, all three of them with vastly different personalities, goals, and drive to achieve what they want. At times I felt the story, which comes in at a 400 pages, a tad too long as it seemed to drag out a bit for me. And honestly, I struggled to find any characters that I really even liked.

This novel is a story of family, secrets, betrayal, and ambitions so desperate doesn’t matter who is in your way. The ending was okay but not as satisfying as I'd hoped.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While visiting a school friend for the holidays Gillian witnesses a tragedy that changes the trajectory of her friend’s family from that day forward. I went in blind and I think that is the way to go. Gave me gothic vibes as well as some more mild VC Andrew vibes. This was primarily a novel about family drama, class, and manipulation.

I enjoyed the setting of this story and the writing style mostly kept me engaged. Overall I’m glad to have read it but it didn’t stand out enough for me to be 4 stars.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

I went in blind, thinking it was a historical story, something along the lines of a mystery... But to my surprise it's quite suspenseful, so thriller leaning and I really enjoyed the ride.

I recommend, its a captivating story.