I tried so hard to read this book but the writing just didn't work for me. It is extremely detailed and heavy. I skipped a whole page on her describing food. There are some serious heavy topic and hopefully when it comes out there are trigger warnings included. It is a short read which is great but sadly I just couldn't finish the book because the writing style was so off putting. The book also drops you right in, which I love but I did want background of the main character and instead was given descriptions of everything else.

I would recommend this to people who.are fans of women's fiction and indie movies!

I was so excited when I saw I was approved for Creep, but as I started I found myself immediately turned off by the writing style. While it's a fantastic concept, the execution rubbed my brain the wrong way, and I ended up DNFing around 45 pages in.

Luckily, I noticed a “Disclaimer” mentioned in the table of contents, so I hope the final version of this book includes the necessary trigger warnings: self-harm, eating disorders, body hatred and fatphobia, blood, and stalking.
I struggled to get through the first 50 pages. The writing style is definitely intense—highly descriptive and occasionally grating. That said, it does an excellent job of immersing you in the main character’s mind. After battling through those initial pages, I set the book aside and switched to lighter reads because Creep just wasn’t working for me at the time. A few days later, I picked it up again and couldn’t put it down.
I don’t think the pacing changed; rather, I was in a better headspace to dive into a story about a woman unraveling. Once I was ready to be creeped out, the book delivered. I felt disgusted and ashamed for Alice, the protagonist. While not much happens plot-wise, the book excels as a character study of a woman with severe trauma making all the wrong choices.
I have to admit, reading Creep left me feeling mentally unwell for a while, both during and after finishing it.
This book reminded me a bit of I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel, combined with Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan.

Thank you to the publisher Harper Perennial for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley. Available Feb. 25 2025

I loved the premise of this book but, unfortunately, I could not get into it because I couldn't handle the first-person narrative, stream of consciousness writing style. I didn't really. understand the narrators motives and it didn't really feel like a lot was at stake for her.

Incredible concept.

I started this one with lots of hope but wound up slogging my way through it - the writing style came across as annoying (to me), I found the plot unengaging and it never picked up for me.



Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the DRC

Three and a half stars.

Emma does a great job creating a creepy stalker. The story is fun to read with how cringy you feel along the way. I wish there was either a twist or more of a story here.

This book is titled perfectly because honestly, it gave me the creeps at times. But in all reality, this book was really good. I liked the author’s writing style and the way she fully made you feel your skin crawl. This book the hairs on my neck standing up just thinking about how the main character acted! Overall, a great read.

The writing in this felt overdone and overtly edge, as if it was trying to guide the reader to make predetermined judgements about the characters. It was easy to read, but definitely won't be for everyone.

"Creep" is crazy, and fun, and bizarre, and dark. It feels like "He's Just Not That Into You" meets "Baby Reindeer".

It was creepy, I will give you that. Hiring a cleaner has never been less appealing. It should have been compelling but I felt like it dragged and I was reading it forever. It was bogged down by repetitive details I didn't think added much. We get it, you have bodily functions! You're obsessed! What else?

Rating 3/5

Alice and Tom are meant to be in every way. They are perfect for each other, except they have never met.

The narration of this story is captivating. I truly felt stuck in Alice's delusions. The first half of this novel was brilliant - Alice comes off morally grey and unlikeable but relatable. The last half felt rushed to explain Alice's backstory in a sort of hushed rationale and created a sense of pity that felt undeserved. I think the story started to lose its path the longer Alice created stories in her head without ever explaining why she does this, until the very end. I believe the classism, the genderism, and racism themes would have stood out more if it wasn't all pushed at the "resolution" of the book. Beautiful writing, nonetheless!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC!*

The premise of this book was so intriguing. A woman obessed with the man who she cleans for. What could be better?!
Unfortunately, after about 25 percent of the book, I had to put it down. While the concept was interesting, I struggled with the author’s writing style.

The main character’s thoughts were too detailed, and the stream of consciousness style was so hard for me to follow. It was exhausting, and I don’t think it will get better. For my sanity, I had to stop.

I appreciate that the author tackled the nuances of mental health struggles, and feel like this would be a great book if there were some breaks from the heavy internal dialogue. I may try to pick it up again later on.

Thank you to Emma van Straaten, Harper Perennial and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book for an honest review.

The premise is SO intriguing, but the execution left much to be desired.
The writing style is so inaccessible. At the very beginning, I felt overwhelmed and it just never got better.

3.5 - I wanted to like this more than I did. I truly enjoyed most of it. I loved the unhinged plot, the unraveling main character, and the general insanity of it all. I struggled a bit with the writing style - while beautifully written it went on and on which made the book feel much much longer than it actually was. While I was still invested in the story, I noticed myself starting to skim a bit because I wanted to know what was happening but felt it was being told in too many words. Despite this, I did enjoy the general chaos of it all and recommend this to anyone who enjoys obsession and unhinged MCs.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the ARC.

Alice is hopelessly, desperately in love with Tom (read: obsessed). The problem is the two have never met. Alice cleans Tom’s flat once a week and spends her time there perusing his items, allowing herself to imagine a life with him. In Creep, readers watch Alice spiral in to madness and it’s impossible to look away.

I loved the intentional capitalization of “Him”—referring to Tom—as we read this story from Alice’s perspective, placing Tom at the very top of some made-up hierarchy. The writing felt tedious at times but there is no denying that Creep is addicting, disturbing, and stressful, yet deeply satisfying.

Thank you Harper Perennial for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Feb. 25 2025

This book was off putting in all the best ways. It was incredibly strange, but also heartbreaking. The unreliably depressing narrator was amazing, and the ending really got me despite thinking it would be coming.

I made it 40% into this book and just had to stop to maintain my own sanity.

This is a book about a young woman who cleans a man's apartment weekly as she becomes obsessed with him. While cleaning she touches his things, reads his emails, and even more inappropriate invasions of privacy. The writing itself was very good. I usually like a more easy read/free-flowing and straightforward style, but the main character's fanciful ruminations of everything she's experiencing were very descriptive and almost poetic. However, the lines she was crossing with her intense fixation became so disturbing to read that I almost felt like I was losing my mind along with her.

Thank you to the publisher Harper Perennial for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

This was really not for me. The concept sounded so amazing. Unfortunately the writing style was very difficult for me to handle. I did not enjoy reading every thought in Alice's head. It was too detailed and too mentally exhausting.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Creep by Emma Van Straaten because the premise was so intriguing. I’m no stranger to unlikable characters, and usually, they don’t deter me from enjoying a book. However, in this case, the main character’s unlikability, combined with their intense focus on mental health struggles, made finishing the story feel more like a chore than an escape. That said, Emma Van Straaten is undoubtedly a talented writer. With stronger supporting characters or more variety to balance the heavy internal monologues, this could have been a much more enjoyable read. While this book wasn’t for me, I’d be open to giving another of her works a try in the future.

This was a strange book. Alice was a creep for sure. She was obsessive and twisted. The writing style was different. I am not sure if I disliked it but I did not love it. This book made me want to keep reading because I had to know what would happen but it is not for everyone. It is kind of scary but thrilling but also strange.