If there's one thing I've learned from my recent horror reads, it's that you should never ever accept a suspiciously cheap house in a small town. It's obvious that the main character of Gothictown hasn't read the same books, however, because if she had she would have deleted that spam email so fast. And who moves to small town Georgia based on a spam email anyway?? Billie Hope (she was destined to live in the south with that name, amirite?) is the queen of questionable decisions, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

This novel is entertaining-ish. The main character isn't particularly likeable – she drives drunk and is a terrible pet owner and enjoys snogging men who aren't her husband – but she's more likeable than most of the other characters, I guess. The plot is all over the place and doesn't have a lot of depth to it, but there was enough action and suspense to keep me reading and curious about where things were headed. And Juliana is definitely a creepy place – the phrase “gentle Juliana” made me physically cringe every time I read it.

I'd love know how Juliana funded the “Initiative,” by the way. For a town that doesn't even have a proper restaurant and apparently (view spoiler), they sure do have a lot of money to be handing out $100 houses and business grants.

The ending has a completely different vibe than the rest of the book – this is a horror(ish) read with the ending of a cozy mystery. And it's very much an “everybody clapped” sort of situation. (I mean that literally. Everyone really does clap.) Apparently the bar for (view spoiler) is very, very low. Like “I've lived here for approximately six minutes and know how to cook pancakes” low.

So, I dunno. Did I love it? Not exactly. But there's some supernatural bits and some thriller-y shenanigans and a murder or two, so it's … interesting. There are no “echoes of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery” (despite what the blurb says) and it's not fine literature, but if you're looking for a light but unsettling read, this one might be a decent choice. 3.35 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 25, 2025.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, for the ARC of Gothictown.

It was a little slow in the beginning but did pick up towards the middle. I enjoyed this suspense book.

Billie Hope needs some (don’t look at me, I didn’t name her!). Then she gets an email that makes her an incredible offer - for $100 she can purchase a Victorian home in Juliana, Georgia. I, would naturally assume they mean the former U.S.S.R., and, of course, they would, and that would be the end.

No, in this crazy world they mean the U.S. state of Georgia, and why you figure out in what world that could possibly happen, Billie is signing up. She had to shut down her NYC restaurant during the pandemic and she and her husband Peter are struggling to pay rent and provide for six year old Meredith. Billie decides this is exactly what they need to start over.

At first it’s great, they are only two hours outside Atlanta, she is ready to start the new restaurant and the weather is wonderful. But then Billie and Peter start to have bad dreams, they aren’t getting along and the influence e the town elders have over the town seems odd. Is there something wrong with Juliana?

Well, um, yes. This was all destined for sorrow, and only an idiot would have believed the hype. Two hours from Atlanta? Please, girl! The story was “meh.” Ending was OK. Whole thing was about a hundred pages too long. I would like to have breakfast at her restaurant, though.

Gothictown

When Billie receives an email inviting her to buy a house in tiny Juliana Georgia, she is intrigued. She recently closed her incredibly popular New York City restaurant due to the pandemic and she is looking for a change, and another chance at opening a new eatery. Her husband is quickly persuaded and they move to the quaint little Georgia town with their six year old daughter Meredith.

The family is charmed by the new town, and Billie is given a large grant and beautiful space to open her new cafe. But things quickly start to fall apart as they notice that Juliana is a lot more sinister they ever could have believed.

Juliana is filled with well drawn, quirky characters that make it a fun read before it along with a good dose of creepy. With a lots of twists and turns, the book is a fast paced thrills that I enjoyed. If you are looking for a dark, chilling mystery, I definitely recommend it.

I received this free advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Billie and her family receive the offer of a lifetime and even though it sounds too good to be true, they can’t let it pass by. A small town named Juliana, Georgia has created the Initiative, a program to bring in new residents to help their economy. Not only can they purchase a large home for only $100, but she can open a new restaurant thanks to a generous business grant. Her previous restaurant closed due to the pandemic, and she’s been dying to get back to work. They check the program out, even fly down to ensure it’s not a scam, and amazingly, it’s all on the up and up. Considering they currently live in an apartment in New York City, of course, they’d want to move to the quaint idyllic town, and they waste no time doing so.

Billie’s gets her restaurant up and running thanks to the generosity of the locals. There’s not much they won’t do to help out and Billie can’t believe her good luck. So ok, her marriage is suffering a bit. Her husband Peter gets sporadic sleep and when he’s not keeping her awake, she has nightmares. But that happens, right? Their young daughter Mere becomes terrified of their pet cat Ramsey, but maybe he’s just adjusting to outside cat life. And where is that uncapped well on their property that they were warned about but have been unable to locate? And why are there town elders in this day and nowadays that everyone is so subservient to? Why does it seem like something is just…off?

The readers know, as it’s surprisingly revealed in a prologue why Juliana is how it is. It’s not as horrifying as it should be, because the suspense isn’t built throughout the story but just given matter-of-factly right away. So there’s really no suspense to the story except for seeing how badly Billie’s family spirals and waiting for them to uncover the truth.

Billie’s character wasn’t likable to me, continually acknowledging that her behavior is terrible but doing nothing to change it. The subplot with her mother felt a bit forced like it was there only to provide a reason for Billie being so driven and focused on work. I also can’t help wondering about the title, why is the book called “Gothictown” and not “Juliana” or “Gentle Juliana”? The town isn’t described as Gothic, so it’s really puzzling.

I love this author and she’s adept at creating an atmosphere that you can truly visualize and immerse yourself in. I felt like I was right there in Juliana, in love with the natural beauty but unable to ignore the sinister cloud hanging over the town. And unlike Billie’s family, I’d be hightailing it out of there!

I really enjoyed this book, though I think it's a bit of a reach selling itself as a combination of Shirley Jackson and Gillian Flynn. Still, it was a cozy southern gothic and I thought it was well-paced.

Pros: The writing is well done, the story is interesting, the characters are easy to keep track of, and the big twist really got me.
I felt like the premise was unique and the book didn't waste time with moving the story along.
The ending gives you closure. Very "Good for her"
I liked the main character - Billie. I felt like she was well fleshed out.

Cons: Once again, a couple in a horror novel struggles to communicate and stay loyal to each other. I almost quit reading at a certain point, because their relationship was driving me crazy, but I pushed through.
The climax felt rushed - a row of bad guys standing in a row explaining their motives.
The six year old acted more like a tween. Just a personal pet peeve of mine when children in books don't actually act their age.
I was also a little disappointed in the 'real reason' behind a lot of the experiences.

Opinions: Personally I think revealing the history of the town right off the bat to the reader takes away from the reveal at the end, I would've kept the bits with the sacrifices but not explained the behavior until Billie/the reader pieced more of it together.

Overall, I will be recommending this book and I look forward to seeing more work from Emily Carpenter!

*I received this book as an ARC, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

As someone who goes back and forth between Atlanta and a small, country North GA mountain town, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, and was so grateful to Netgally and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.... I literally could not put this one down. Obviously, so really shady (okay, tragic and horrifying) things happened in Julianna, but because of where I live half of the year, I could understand why people acted the way they did in this book, and I didn't really have to even suspend any disbelief. I was a little sad with Peter's storyline, but I feel like it had to go the way it did for the greater good of the story. I really was into the author's writing style, and there wasn't much I'd change about this book, even if I could. The ending made me happy, for the most part. If nothing else, it was wrapped up in a satisfying way. I don't want to give too much away, but I can say I will absolutely be recommending this one, especially to my neighbors! Can't wait to see where Emily Carpenter goes in the future.

I started the book without any expectations, but what a delightful surprise it turned out to be!

The story follows a New York family that is offered a stunning house in a charming Southern town for just $100. At first, they are a bit skeptical, but they ultimately decide to take the plunge and move. Billie, the mother, even receives a grant to open her own restaurant, which seems to promise a slower, more fulfilling life in Juliana. The warm welcome they get from the locals makes it feel like they’ve found their new home, but as time goes on, it becomes clear that things aren't as perfect as they seem.

As the plot unfolds, the reality of Juliana begins to reveal itself. The town is controlled by three prominent families, known as the "old guards," who are the descendants of its founders. They harbor a significant and dark secret that casts a shadow over the community. Billie is full of energy and hope, while her husband Peter starts to spiral into paranoia, plagued by nightmares and insomnia. To make matters worse, their cat becomes increasingly wild, and their house is covered in a strange white dust that adds to the growing sense of unease.

This book fits well within the Southern Gothic genre, which often explores the sins of the past in the American South. It features eccentric characters, and decaying settings, and touches on themes of crime and violence.

The story does an excellent job of capturing the themes of belonging and family. Billie and Peter, despite being fundamentally good people, are deeply flawed and make questionable choices throughout the narrative. Their mistakes, along with the shame and regret that follow, leave them vulnerable to the sinister forces at play in Juliana.

The dark dealings of Juliana are run by these three elite families, while the average citizen remains blissfully unaware of the corruption surrounding them. The townspeople are so desperate to maintain their normal lives, untouched by darkness or trouble, that they fail to hold their leaders accountable. This blind acceptance allows the old guards to operate without scrutiny, ultimately leading to dire consequences for everyone involved.

The fact that Juliana lacks a bookstore speaks volumes about the town's rigidity and resistance to new ideas. In this place, education and open-mindedness seem irrelevant; only the rules set by the old guards matter.

Overall, this book is a brilliant read that draws you in and keeps you engaged. It explores the complexities of human nature and the dynamics of community, all while weaving a captivating tale that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page.

I loved this book! It was the perfect mix of history and cult like superstition. I will definitely be recommending this book.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, for the ARC of Gothictown. While a little slow in the beginning, it did manage to pick up towards the middle and finish with a pretty good ending. I wish it was a little bit more of a suprise-suspese ending, I definitely had figured out what was going to happen fairly quickly through.