thank you to netgalley, mia ballard, and the publisher for the arc of this book!!

first of all, gia going crazy? love that for her. this book sucked me in, shocked me, and had me hooked. i almost forgot i was reading a horror until the second half of the book cut in and then it really hit. although gia went through so much, she got her own version of a happy ending, and i love the way mia wrote that for her.

this is the second book i’ve read and had an arc for by mia ballard and it’s safe to say i’ll be picking up whatever she writes in the future!!

Nightbitch walked so that Shy Girl could run!!!! I was OBSESSED with this from the moment I started reading, it is exactly my kind of book. The author’s note states “sometimes justice isn’t quiet or clean; it’s feral and bloody and unapologetic” and I think that sums Shy Girl up exactly.

It is perfectly paced, perfectly written and my jaw was actually dropping by the last few pages. Will definitely be buying this for my bookshelf when it comes out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the ARC - one of my favourite reads so far this year.

Mia says it herself, but I feel it needs to be said again.. do NOT be fooled by the cutesy cover and make sure you read the warning/triggers before going into this story.
With that being said, this was an INSANE read. I don’t even know where to begin or end with my review, as my thoughts and emotions haven’t stopped raging ever since I finished the book. When I started dipping my toes into the Horror genre, THIS is what I was looking for.
Mia Ballard’s writing style is so smooth and flawless, I was quickly obsessed, and already have her other 2 books Sugar and We All Rot Eventually in the cart.
The way she portrays OCD, toxic relationships, the things that women go through on a daily basis, and the pure animalistic female RAGE that comes out of it all.. I couldn’t have been more impressed, seriously. I will think about this book, probably for the rest of my life, and continue to ponder on all of the deeper meanings hidden within it.

Favorite quotes:
• “‘Thank you,’ I say to the waitress reflexively. She widens her eyes at me. Get a load of this guy. I smile and cartoonishly widen my eyes back at her before she leaves the table. I love how we can telepathically converse like that. It was one of the only things women had that men couldn't take away.”
• “Rage. The word cuts through my thoughts like a knife. The sound of his voice, the sight of his face, the casual ease with which he dismisses everything he's done—it fuels the fire inside me until it consumes everything else.”
• “Women have always been cast as caretakers, peacekeepers, and forgivers. We're told to endure, to adapt, to rise above. But sometimes, the only way to heal is to rage. Sometimes, justice isn't quiet or clean; it's feral and bloody and unapologetic.”

Thank you to Mia Ballard for writing this amazing piece of art, and thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the ARC.

Woof! A wild ride, very intense and splashes of grotesque descriptions. Thought provoking in its approach. This story is about more than just a girl who agrees to an arrangement because money is tight. It tackles themes of control both within ourselves and how other people can abuse it so easily. Tough at times, but so rewarding.

Not really my thing. I didn't see how the OCD was relevant, which is what brought me to read this book. It definitely wasn't a bad book at all; I can certainly see it doing really well and finding its correct audience. Simply put, it's just not to my liking or the type of storytelling that I enjoy. However, I will recommend it.

thank you netgalley for the ARC! this was an extremely tough read about trauma, captivity, and female rage. it was extremely disturbing and difficult to read, but i just kept reading in horror. please check trigger warnings before reading this.

This short horror novel really packs a punch. If you have the stomach for body horror, there are a lot of interesting comments on gender relationships and our economy buried in Shy Girl. The cover art is incredible, and highlights something I think others have overlooked: this story is incredibly sad. Yes, there is redemption, but there is deep loneliness and desperation. Shy Girl ends up painting a very realistic depiction of sex trafficking and should not be picked up without some forefront.

This being said, the novel is propulsive and hard to put down. Thank you to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m glad to have Galaxy Press on my radar in the publishing world!

Wowwww!! I was not expecting this to be such a great read! Feminine rage at its finest!! I love this and everything about.

WOW! Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC! I finished this book in a day. It was Nightbitch (another 5 star for me) on steroids. Everything, from the first page to the last had me hooked! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys feminine rage/weird girl books 🖤

So, when I heard my friend talking about this book and how she was unable to put it down or look away I knew I had to get my hands on it.

As soon as my NetGalley request was accepted I went in and LORD I was not prepared.

What starts off as a relatively normal spirals quickly into madness. And just when you think it can’t get any more disturbing, it does. I could not put this one down or look away from the madness unfolding in front of my eyes. There were scenes where I caught myself clenching my jaw and I had to remind myself that I would mention “not for people with a weak stomach” in my review.

The underlaying message in this book is a strong one and the story is incredible original and well written.
A dark, disturbing and not your everyday “revenge” packed novel which I would recommend picking up and giving a go “Woof!”.

Where to even begin with this book?? Don’t let the beautiful, calm, peaceful cover fool you…this is *not* for the faint of heart.

Having read Mia Ballard’s debut novel Sugar last year, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I might be getting myself into here. This was backed up by the content warning at the start of Shy Girl. And despite all that…forewarned was definitely *not* forearmed!

The second half of this novel is insane. Violent, bloody, gross, fucked up and satisfying to the point where you want to scream in victory. It is feminine rage, good-for-her stuff but like you’ve never seen it before. There’s a tooth extraction scene that had my toes curled, a set piece with tweezers that actually made me moan with revulsion when I read it, and a finale that makes the elevators in Kubrick’s version of The Shining seem dry as a bone.

So it’s something of a shock at how calm the first half is. Still unpleasant though - the dread that builds and the looming sense of threat as Gia, our desperate main character, meets Nathan from a sugar daddy website in the hope of solving all her financial woes. You sense something bad is on the horizon, but the whole setup is icky and uncomfortable more than anything.

Then it goes off and, wow, it’s quite something. Gia agrees to live as Nathan’s dog for eight hours a day, before realising that this new life arrangement is a lot more permanent. The moment that prompts Nathan to waver does the same for me - disgusting, sickening, brilliant horror…and that’s without mentioning the rat!

As an exploration and examination of control, of trauma, of power, it is fascinating. As a portrait of the resilience of women, of escape, of taking the power back it is stunning.

In two releases, Mia Ballard has established herself as a force of nature and a vital new voice in horror. I am terrified and excited by what might come from her next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Shy Girl by Mia Ballard initially captivated me with its intriguing premise, and I was drawn in by the character development and emotional depth. I found myself invested in the story and excited to see where it would go. However, as the plot unfolded, I found that the body horror elements, particularly the amount of gore, became too overwhelming for me. While I can see how this would appeal to readers who enjoy intense, graphic body horror, it just wasn’t for me. It’s a shame, as I was really enjoying it up until that point. For those who are fans of body horror, I think this book will definitely find its audience, but personally, it wasn’t a good fit.

This is probably a classic case of “not for me,” so I’m not being as harsh on the star rating as I am inclined to be. But honestly, the purple prose was a bit much for me and I found it really hard to dive in to this story.

I love this authors writing ! So poetic in the most gruesome beautiful way! And how she expresses women’s woes and converts it into rage is just iconic! Definitely a wild ride and I loved it

Devoured this in a day! Quick, sharp, depraved: I couldn’t have asked for more. Ballard’s voice is pointed and jarring, i couldn’t look away. Sooooo good

I really wanted to love this book, as the description is right up my alley and the reviews are so overwhelmingly positive! Unfortunately this read like a first draft to me. Yes the horror elements are there, with one truly excellent moment, and the concept is well thought out. However, I think the Gia, Nathan, and even Cupcake needed more development. Gia's constant interiority felt repetitive in a non-intentional way and often dull/frustrating. The horror scenes are the strongest, the rest fall flat. There are nice elements here but I think it could have benefitted from more development. This animal/female rage niche is quite popular atm and I don't know if this is carving out as much of a space for itself as it could. I just wanted more from it, and more from and for Gia!

Thank you very much for the ARC!

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
Release Date: March 1, 2025

𝓢𝓱𝔂 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘥 is a horror and women’s literary fiction book that explores the darker side of being a sugar baby.

Gia has just lost her job, and all her efforts to find a new one have failed her. Distressed, lonely, and at her wits end - she joins an online forum for sugar babies. Nathan reaches out and Gia senses something different about him, and agrees to meet him. Nathan’s offer is unusual: Gia is to live as his beloved pet and in exchange all her debts will be relieved. Hesitant but desperate, she agrees. What unfolds is an intense story about endurance, autonomy, and instinct.

As everyone before me has stated, do not be fooled by the unassuming cover, this book is heavy in ways you don’t see coming. I could have easily read this book in one sitting but Im so glad I savored it instead. Kind of a slow burn, this book ended with multiple gut punches and I happily took each blow. Without revealing too much, I recommend this book to those who seek a narrative in which the creature inside us refuses to be tamed.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

*This book isn’t for the faint of heart, please read the TW before deciding to dive in*

Thank you to @netgalley, Galaxy Press, and Mia Ballard for the opportunity to read and review this eBook in exchange for my honest review. #NetGalley #ShyGirl

an incredible story with amazing prose. this was my first book of ballard’s and it was an Experience in the best way. this book had a strong grip on me and i am going to be thinking about it for a long time. that man deserved what was coming, and gia had every right to do what she did ‼️

thank you to netgalley and galaxy press.

This is not a book that classifies itself as horror and falls flat.
Mia Ballard beautifully sets the tone, builds anticipation and does not disappoint when the opportunity arises to be cruel, unexpected, imaginative, and gruesome.

From the authors note: “Sometimes, the only way to heal is to rage. Sometimes, justice isn’t quiet or clean; it’s feral and bloody and unapologetic.”

Shy Girl follows a woman named Gia who agrees to a sugar baby deal pretending to be a dog. Interesting enough, she finds herself intrigued and even looking forward to this idea; the looming manipulation, abuse and false promises, unbeknownst to her.
Who hasn’t worn rose-coloured glasses during a relationship or started a job that’s masking it’s true, dark colours?
Reading Shy Girl made me think about the roles that we transform ourselves into in order to survive. When faced with an abuser, it’s common to turn into a submissive fawn, but in this case, she becomes exactly what he created: a feral animal raised in captivity.
I have never read female rage like this.
And I have never been more satisfied.

“Who did he want in the first place? A girl pretending to be a dog? Or a dog pretending to be a girl? And I wonder which one I am.”

Thank you so much NetGalley, Galaxy Press and Mia for the Arc!

Okay wow umm this was very disturbing! Don’t let the cute cover fool you.

It was a wild ride and pretty gross at times, but I couldn’t stop reading it! At times I was like what am I reading?? But the writing was very good. I’ll definitely have to check out the authors other books. If you’re a horror fan, definitely check this book out! It’s not for the light hearted that’s for sure!