Compelling and strange, Idle Grounds is a story about a group of young cousins at a summertime family get-together in 1980s New England. When one of the cousins, a three-year-old named Abi, disappears into the woods bordering the property, the rest venture off to find her – a journey that leads to some unsettling discoveries.

Written mostly in the first-person plural, as the cousins reminisce on the events as adults, Idle Grounds is a singular reading experience. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that captures the magic, peculiarity, and well, menace of childhood quite like this one does. Krystelle Bamford’s writing is incredible; she evokes a strong sense of time and place, and her prose manages to be both lyrical and full of foreboding. This is an unsettling, atmospheric read that left me feeling wrong-footed throughout. Everything feels kind of…slippery, if that makes sense. Like you’re reading the story through some kind of veil – which is actually so fitting, since that’s precisely how it feels to look back on childhood sometimes.

Bamford explores family secrets from the perspective of the children in the family, and it’s incredibly effective. The complicated relationships among the adults are juxtaposed with the more innocent interactions of the young cousins, although you still get the sense that some of the children are harboring secrets of their own. There’s a lot happening beneath the surface of the “missing cousin” story, is what I’m saying.

Idle Grounds is a short novel, but it’s just about the right length. Any longer and it would have felt like too much; any shorter, and a lot of the subtext would be missing. Even so, I’m not sure I caught or understood everything that was happening. Finishing the book felt like waking from a fever dream; it completely immersed me in its strange, ethereal world while I was reading it, and I can still kind of feel it lingering on my skin. Thank you to Scribner for the complimentary reading opportunity.

This is an ethereal, odd read. It's short and strangely compelling, but it also wasn't as gripping for me as it could have been.

This is a book set in the 1980s, where an extended family gets together. The cousins are hanging out, and their 3-year-old cousin Abi runs off into the woods. The group of them head out to find her, and they end up in a situation none of them could have imagined.

Again, this is a very strange book. The feel is very foreboding, yet also kind of detached. Our narrator is telling about something that happened in their childhood, so we know at least somewhat things turn out all right, but also we experience it in the time along with these children.

The writing is stellar. The author's turns of phrase are beautiful and very atmospheric, with a true sense of time and place. However, that doesn't make up for the really strange plot. I think that people will either really resonate with this book or they will just not get it. I do find myself a bit in the middle, but mostly that's because it was short. If it was any longer I probably would have given up.

this book is so strange and yet i had to keep reading to find out where on earth it was going to end up, the hallmark of a good book right?

Started off very strong for me--loved the vibe, loved the writing, and was drawn into the fever dream/Greek Chorus style of narration. I'm in the same age range as this group of cousins (the story was set in 1989), so that added to the appeal for me as well. But somewhere along the way this novel really started to drag for me, and while there are a lot of sentences that are little gems, the writing was no longer carrying me easily through the story. Towards the end, events happen that propel things along but by that point I was ready to get things over with. Overall, I did like this and would be interested in reading more from the author, but I wish this one had kept my attention more evenly throughout.

@scribnerbooks | #gifted 𝗜𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦 by Krystelle Bamford is a book that’s not easy to classify or even describe, but don’t let that deter you. It follows a group of cousins, all gathered at their single aunt’s house for her birthday party. The adults are busy and the kids left largely to entertain themselves. When the youngest among them disappears, the rest set out on a quest to find her. In that way it’s a bit of a mystery and a bit of an adventure, but there’s more.⁣
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As strangely bizarre things happen during their search the story also has elements of magical realism, even a touch of horror. It’s also a family history, as the cousin who narrates (looking back from a future point) gives an overall picture of not just the cousins’ parents, but their deceased grandparents, too. The story is primarily told in the collective “we” which doesn’t always work for me, but this time was exactly what was called for.⁣
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I was drawn to 𝘐𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 because its description reminded me very much of 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 by Lydia Millet, a top book for me in 2020. Indeed, the two books had many parallels: a group of children, distracted adults, a foray into the woods, magical elements, etc. I honestly think in this case having loved 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 was a detriment for me with Bamford’s debut. While there was much I liked about the story, I’d given it very big shoes to fill, and they just didn’t quite fit as expected. Still, 𝘐𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 was an overall win and I’ll be very curious to see how other readers feel about this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⭐️

Set in upstate New York in 1989, Idle Grounds follows a young group of cousins who witness something strange during a family party. After the youngest cousin goes missing, the children band together to search the woods for her while the adults remain oblivious. We start with the foreword drawing unexpected comparisons between this family and the Romanovs and that’s when I knew I was locked in. Narrated in first-person plural, the story is told from a child’s perspective while the adult version reflects on this pivotal moment in their lives, drawing out the tension and creating a sense of unease. Bamford’s writing is playful and ominous as she beautifully captures the bewilderment of childhood, the slipperiness of memory, and the effects of generational trauma. This is a book that grows on you the longer you sit with it and I applaud Bamford’s creative stylistic choices. The cover perfectly sums up the disorienting feeling you’ll have when reading so if you’re okay with that, I highly recommend it! A striking debut that is eerie, riveting, and surprising all at once.

An interesting meditation on being both literally and figuratively lost.

The story tells of a group of cousins who have lost one of their own in the woods. Ignored by the adults in their lives and unsure of what has occurred, they decided to risk the unknown and search for answers themselves.

It’s a solid jumping off point for this style of fantasy, though it’s more of, again, a meditation than a truly narrative story. There’s a dreamlike quality to the narration that is intriguing and prettily done, but the woods, here a metaphor for danger and the unknown, feel like more of a fever dream than a menace.

While I’m open to this approach conceptually, fairy tale-style tellings do a better job of conveying the dangers of wandering into mysterious territory. Though there is real “danger” here; that’s more apparent in the reveal at the end than in the getting there.

This is told in first person plural, which is hard to pull off, and while it works better here than in most examples, the unidentified “we” narrating the story takes some of the air out of the story. This felt a little like a Lydia Millet novel, though admittedly less burdened with the kind of frustrating invention of fact that feels more like nonsense than fantasy.

It’s a short book and worth a read, though I think the writing holds a lot more value than the story.

I'll admit it. I requested it for the cover. And then I started reading it. I've been picking up mixed genre books lately, and sometimes those work and sometimes they don't. This one works. It also needs to be one of the most read books of 2025, because it's that kind of year. Already.

The book is narrated in the first person by a bunch of kids. Yes. Another unusual narrative voice. Sometimes the kids are funny but mostly just kids until they get creepy. Their parents are all siblings, so this little pack of cousins is left unsupervised and that is what starts the whole thing. Interspersed with life stories about the siblings' mother.

I liked the time period it was set in, Reagan-era 80's. I liked how the book was written, the dialogue, the descriptions. I hung on every word, and yet, I'm not sure exactly what I read, when I got to the end. I can't wait to see what this author does next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review a digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine, and freely given.

this was a very cool and interesting book about a very cool and interesting concept. i liked it a lot and admired how much it did in so few pages, but i somehow did want more.

Claire Fuller called this book "puckish" and wow is that fitting. There is nothing scarier than the woods and people with too much privilege and Bamford enscapsulates that on every page. I loved this.

Idle Grounds by Krystelle Bamford

I was drawn to this book as someone who has a lot of cousins. Idle Grounds covers so many topics in such a unique way. I loved that the book seemed to be narrated by the cousins as a whole, which gave it an interesting voice and tone. Because the ages ranged for the cousins, the more challenging topics (see cws below) were communicated and processed in a way that was accessible and from a somewhat younger POV.
I’ve included the summary, but at its core, I felt that Idle Grounds is about the impact that older generations can have on their family, especially when emotional abuse occurs.
Overall I found this to be incredibly nostalgic and really enjoyed the voice!
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advance copy
@scribnerbooks

CWs:
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse (sibling to sibling), and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Animal Excrement

It is extremely impressive how well Krystelle Bamford manages to portray the perspective of children in her upcoming novel. Even the backdrop of the 80s is visceral in a way that I did not realize you can depict a decade through visual descriptions alone. I think readers who enjoy a family-centered novel will like this one. Ann Patchett’s novels certainly came to mind for me.

Unfortunately, I didn’t jive with the author’s writing style. I found it a bit too cumbersome to enjoy or follow easily. What I think many experienced as a sense of disease came through as frustration for me as I lost track of plot lines and character intent.

This book was very confusing. The writing style is so jumbled and disjointed. It's hard to tell who is narrating the story/plot. I really wanted to like this because the synopsis sounded so intriguing. I love novels about dysfunctional families, but this one just left feeling frustrated. The tone was strange, and I pretty much skimmed the last 50 pages. This was such a chore to get through. Not a good reading experience.

Book Review: Idle Grounds by Krystelle Bamford

Idle Grounds by Krystelle Bamford is an intriguing novel that, while enjoyable, left me with a sense of uncertainty about its purpose and themes. The story is slow-moving for most of its duration, and much of what happens seems more focused on atmosphere and mood than plot progression. At times, I found myself wondering what exactly the author was trying to convey. While the book doesn’t exactly rush toward any significant event, its unique style kept me invested in the narrative, even though the overall story arc felt elusive.

One of the things that truly stood out to me was Bamford’s writing style. The unnamed narrator, who is clearly an adult reflecting on a childhood event, has a cadence and tone that reminded me a lot of Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series, which I absolutely adore. The narrator’s perspective gives a sense of youthful innocence and curiosity, which creates an engaging and sometimes whimsical atmosphere. The narrative voice feels very much rooted in the child’s perspective, but there is a maturity and reflection that comes through when the narrator comments on these past events from adulthood. The style is playful but tinged with nostalgia, making the book feel both timeless and contemporary in its emotional resonance.

Another aspect that kept me hooked was the ambiguity that permeates much of the story. Bamford allows a lot of the children’s experiences to be left up to interpretation. The line between what actually happened, what was the result of their overactive imaginations, and what has been distorted over time is deliberately blurred. This uncertainty adds a layer of mystery to the book, as the reader is constantly questioning the truth of what’s unfolding. This ambiguity was one of the things that kept me turning pages; I found myself wanting to know what was real and what was merely a product of memory and imagination.

However, the book does have its flaws. The plot itself feels somewhat meandering, and it seemed as if there was a lot of unnecessary filler. The story could have been told more concisely in a much shorter format without losing its emotional impact. The slower pacing and lack of significant events throughout much of the novel might leave some readers frustrated, as not much actually happens until the final chapters.

Despite these critiques, I can’t deny that I enjoyed Idle Grounds overall. The writing style was captivating, and the way Bamford keeps the readers questioning the reality of the story gives it a unique, almost dreamlike quality. I was drawn in by the narrator’s voice and by the way the children’s experiences were framed, even if the ultimate meaning remained somewhat elusive.

While Idle Grounds wasn’t exactly what I expected going into it, I think that worked in the book’s favor. The uncertainty of where the story was going and what was truly happening added a sense of intrigue that kept me engaged. If you enjoy books that explore the blurry lines between memory, imagination, and reality, this one is definitely worth reading. I’m curious to see what Bamford comes up with next, and I would certainly keep an eye out for more from this author in the future.

A novel where you're never really sure what's happening or happened. Know that this is written in the second person/first person plural and that it has intermezzos. It's an unusual construction to tell the story of what happens to a group of children-cousins-while their parents bicker. One little girl, Abi, wanders off and her brother goes looking for her but then doesn't come back. What happened? It's light on character and heavy on mystery of sorts. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This becomes a page turner.

Thank you Netgalley & Scribner for an eARC ♥️❤️

What. A. Ride!It's like a time capsule of 80s New England, but with a dark, twisty vibe.
The story starts with a bunch of kid cousins hanging out at a family birthday party. Sounds innocent enough, right? But then, the eldest cousin, Travis, convinces them to follow him on a wild goose chase through the house and into the garden.
That's when things get weird. They see something strange, and the youngest cousin, Abi, takes off after it. The rest of the kids are hot on her heels, and that's when the real adventure begins.
Here's the thing: I'm a total wimp when it comes to woods. Like, I'm talking irrational fear. So, when the kids ventured into the woods, I was literally on edge. I mean, what's lurking in those trees?! The author's descriptions of the woods were so vivid🤯
Each chapter is like a new clue in a puzzle, and I was hooked from start to finish. Krystelle Bamford’s writing is a masterclass in suspense - it's playful, quirky, and downright sinister at times.
If you're looking for a book that's a little bit different, a little bit dark, and a whole lot of fun, then this is the one for you. Just don't read it alone in the woods... trust me on that one 😵‍💫

40/100 or 2.0 stars

I was expecting to really like this one, as the desciption was promising as hell. I was disappointed to say the least. I couldn't get into the writing style at all. I understand what the author was doing, but it just didn't work for me, since I didn't really get into or care about the characters. It is not a long story, but it was getting to the point where I would finish it just to finish it. Then, I would have to go to other platforms and give a neagative review, when if I were being honest, I should have just stopped reading. That why I did have to DNF at 31%.

Please note that this review will not publish at the provided link until 2/11/25 at 12pm eastern time.

Title: Idle Grounds
Author: Krystelle Bamford
Source: DRC via NetGalley (Scribner) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Why did I choose to read this book?

I haven't read this kind of story in a while, but I'm a sucker for a thriller/horror that has a group of kids as the main characters. Watching them try to navigate a terrifying scenario with their kid logic adds a whole extra level of anxiety and frustration to the mix.

What is this book about?

Okay so I know what Goodreads and the New York Times and Amazon SAY this book is about, but I don't think it really is what this book is about. In fact, I think that depending on your childhood and general life experience, this book may seem to be about something different than another person. But even that is going to hide what this story is about, and if you read a little too fast or if your eyes skip even one little line, you will miss it. So read carefully and go find out what this book means to YOU.

What is notable about this story?

This story is a fucking rubix cube, and I'm not even kidding. Or maybe the better analogy would be one of those magic eye pictures where if you put your nose up to it and slowly back away without focusing your eyes a shape pops out? It has hills and valleys and depending on who you are, certain parts will feel boring while others will feel tense. I could feel the plot flexing toward me and away when I hit parts that meant something to my lived experience.

This was also a rare situation where I didn't care very much about any of the characters but the journey and the storytelling was so good that it carried me through. If you've read my reviews you know that this is rare for me - usually I need to be invested in the characters to care about what is happening to them. Here, that simply wasn't necessary.

Was anything not so great?

There is a greater mystery in this book than what the kids are doing. It's happening above their heads like a lingering fog and the story shows how they are just barely realizing what is going on and I don't think they even connect the dots about what has happened BUT YOU WILL if you are paying attention. I almost missed it, I had to go back and re-read a chapter because I felt like I had missed something and holy crap. I mean, technically this is something good about the book and something that wasn't so great, because I wouldn't want anyone to miss this.

What's the verdict?

4 stars on Goodreads, mostly because it felt like I got taken through one of those art installations where the floor and ceiling are mirrors but the walls are disco balls and you have to walk from one end to the other and experience the vibes?? This book is truly something different, definitely check it out.

This book was "Brutes" meets "God of the Woods." I think the writing was very good but the plot didn't hold my interest. There was a lot of random pop culture references at times that took me out of the story. This book is narrated in first person plural, which made sense for this story, however it is not my favorite point of views.

Kind of a messy read. Like a rambling livejournal post written by a second grader. Yet still slightly compelling.