Holy fucking shit….this was one wild ride that I enjoyed! First you see the cover and you think “oh what a pretty cover” and then you read the summary and you think “oh, ok…this could be good. Interesting.” And then you’re reading it and all you’re think is “holy fucking shit what did I just read”

You have Gia, this 30 year old woman that is down on her luck, jobless and has severe OCD. On the other side you have Nathan, a sugar daddy with sinister intentions. I looooooved how the power dynamic shifted in this story and the pace most of all. Because it was almost like Nathan has to break Gia both mentally and physically for her to be “free”.

Goddamn the manipulation that she goes through was almost suffocating at how easy he was able to do it. Like a predator. This story is very poignant to what is going on now with women having their choice stripped away, and how society is towards women. Very clever. A super unique take on sexism & misogyny.

There’s a warning in the beginning of the book, but it bears repeating: Don’t be fooled by the adorable cover; this isn’t for the faint of heart!

Shy Girl is about a young woman named Gia who finds herself in a desperate situation after losing her job and falling behind on her rent. She creates a sugar dating profile in an attempt to get a lot of money in a hurry, and ends up meeting a man whose kink is women behaving as his literal pet.

The story moves very quickly from here and is full of visceral feminine rage. (Again, the cute cover is hiding a lot of dark things underneath - please check trigger warnings!) Gia starts as a quiet person ruled by her fears and insecurities, and struggling with OCD. Throughout the course of the book, as she reaches her breaking point, she becomes stronger (and angrier - I think I mentioned rage, right?), and begins to take back her autonomy.

Despite being on the shorter side, it packs a punch. I couldn’t put it down, and it stuck with me for a while after I’d finished reading.

Thank you NetGalley, Mia Ballard, and Galaxy Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my full and honest review.

I cannot even begin to describe how much I devoured this book. I took my time reading chapter by chapter over the past week, until one lunch break when I found myself hunched over my desk, unable to put it down.

Gia, a woman who can’t seem to catch a break in life, meets Nathan, who makes her an offer she simply can’t refuse. But she quickly realizes she may have agreed to her own prison.

The levels of disgust, frustration, and anxiety this book made me feel in such a short amount of time are an achievement in themselves. I was truly terrified for Gia. And while her decisions often made me want to shake some sense into her, Ballard’s careful portrayal of Gia’s mental state helps the reader understand why she makes the choices she does.

Ballard’s writing is hard-hitting, raw, unflinching, and hauntingly beautiful. I cannot wait to read more of her work. Gia’s fight for autonomy and freedom after years of servitude left me both cringing away from the page and salaciously craving more. As much as I’d love to dive into the details, this book is best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible.

If you’re a fan of weird, nasty horror, Shy Girl is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Galaxy Press for this ARC!

Calling all camp horror girlies this is for you!! Such a fun read I actually wish it was a bit longer. This book won't be for everyone, but those that love some gore and something sick and twisted will enjoy it. Write this down for spooky season (or now!).

“It’s like staring at a box with DO NOT OPEN: Bad Decisions Inside stamped across the front, already knowing my hands will tear at the lid. Already knowing I’ll pry it open just to see how bad it can get.“

Another winner from Mia Ballard, this one even more jacked up than SUGAR.

Seriously, this entire book is one giant WTF. Talk about weird lit/horror—in the best way. I couldn’t put it down and read it in just over a day.

I’m so rarely physically repulsed while reading horror. But SHY GIRL is officially added to the ranks alongside THE TROOP, THE RUINS, etc. Jeepers!

Shy Girl explores desperation, misogyny, self deprecation, and manipulation in such a unique way. It shows the lengths that one will go to feel safe, even if it is to our own detriment. Mia did it again and made a book like no other out there. Her writing is dark, gritty, honest, but above all else, thought provoking and poetic. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book has left me speechless honestly, in the best of ways. I feel validated, insane, empowered, grief-stricken, all at once. Ballard has managed to create a story so visceral in its emotions that leaves me bewildered in my thoughts. The way the story is set up as if it could be a romance in the first third and dives straight into bloody depravity right after is the closest I’ve felt to whiplash from a book. I know Gia’s story will stick with me for a long time, and I am grateful to have experienced it.

Shy Girl is a wild, twisted, and unsettling ride! I went in with zero expectations, and honestly, I had no clue where the story was heading. I've seen it compared to Night Bitch, which makes sense, but for me, the key difference is that I actually liked Shy Girl! It also gave me a bit of a Behind Closed Doors vibe by B.A. Paris—especially when the big twist hits, it's like a punch to the gut.

Shy Girl definitely belongs in the "unhinged novel" category. It comes with a clear content warning at the start (which I appreciated), but I dove in fully aware of how messed up it was going to be. It’s not a flawless book—the writing can feel a bit amateur at times, and there are moments when things seem rushed. Not that I wanted to linger too long in the dark world of Shy Girl, but still, the story kept me hooked.
Despite some predictability in the ending, I really enjoyed it. The book is disturbing, genuinely terrifying, and deeply unsettling. Mia Ballard clearly knows how to write a horrifying story and I can’t wait to read more twisted stories from her. If you’re brave, give it a read when it drops on March 1!

Gia is feeling lonely, financially strained, and severely depressed. She is unemployed and facing eviction from her apartment. Desperate for a way out, Gia decides to sign up for a sugar daddy website. There, she meets Nathan, who has an unconventional proposal: he wants her to be his pet.

This book will definitely make you think twice about signing up for a sugar daddy website. I originally requested it based on the beautiful cover, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the story. The plot feels unique and is truly entertaining. I'm typically hard to gross out, but this book managed to do the trick. I don’t believe the inclusion of OCD was a significant aspect of the story, at least not enough to warrant being mentioned in the blurb. I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to review this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the ARC of this book! Literally after page 1, I was hooked. This book was right up my alley - creepy, weird, intense, emotional, gag-worthy (my stomach was literally churning at parts). I loved this book. If the horror and "good for her" genres had a baby...this book would be it! I was rooting for Gia the entire time, through her good and bad decisions! I will absolutely be recommending this book every chance I get! An easy 5 stars!

If you see this review...this is your sign...read it!



(My review has been posted to Goodreads and to Storygraph as of today.)

I’ve read some incredibly unhinged books in the last few years - books I don’t typically recommend unless I’m sure that reader won’t unfriend me 😆, well Mia Ballard’s SHY GIRL is now on That list 😮

Thanks to @netgalley and @galaxy_press and the author @galaxygrlmia for this fantastic arc opportunity. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone looking for something that will shock & amaze you.

This book is for the 'looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you' girlies. Do not be deceived by the cutesy cover, this is feminine, primal, RAGE at its best.

Gia has OCD, she is depressed and broke. As a way to make an income, she joins a sugar dating site and meets the mysterious and affluent Nathan. All Gia wants is a sugar daddy to help her make ends meet. All Nathan wants is a pet dog.
As Gia's internal fight response manifests itself, we are shown a personal journey of strength, survival and hope. Mia Ballard's representation of Gia's mental and physical state throughout this novel is almost... therapeutic? I've seen many people relate this to Nightbitch [Rachel Yoder], but I feel it is actually The Vegetarian's [Han Kang] younger, CRAZIER sister. Both are about the extremes a woman will go to in order to fight for her mind, identity and body. Ballard has written the ultimate horror depiction of the power dynamic between man and woman, all wrapped up in a pretty cover and I am HERE for it. Please check the trigger warnings - this book is not for the faint hearted.

This story is quite a lot to unpack. It is vile and romantic all at the same time. I have not read anything quite like this before. It is beautifully written. One of the better revenge stories out there. However, the ending was so abrupt and quick, but it somehow worked. This is definitely a story that will stick with you for years.

#NetGalley #ShyGirl

Gia turns to a sugar dating website to deal with financial troubles and meets Nathan. Nathan offers a deal to erase her debt if she acts as his pet.

This one is so wild! I was not expecting it to get as dark and crazy as it did, but I was there for it. I read it in one day and just devoured it. It is a very fast read especially once the captivity begins.

“I have a problem with men. I am either obsessed with them, or I want nothing to do with them at all, depending on the state of my life at the moment.”

Shy Girl comes out 3/1.

oooooOOooooooooOO we all know i love weird girl lit. horror mixed in? absolutely yes.

shy girl was one of the most unsettling books i’ve read in a while. to summmmmarizeeeeee, gia is broke, desperate, and running out of options when she meets nathan, a sugar daddy who, of course, requests that she be his pet. what starts as a transactional relationship quickly becomes something much darker. it gives nightbitch vibe, but imo? better.

this book is deeply disturbing in the best way. mia ballard forces you to sit in the horror with gia and you feel every second of it. it is not an easy read but it is absolutely worth it. if you love psychological horror that makes you feel something, if you’re craving rage, nausea, or despair, this is your girl.

I am a Mia Ballard stan at this point. I’d read a phone by her. While this isn’t my favorite out of her current releases it still solidifies she’s one of my favorite authors. Daring to go into territory where others won’t and striking hearts down to the core.

Mia Ballard’s Shy Girl is a tender, introspective novel that delicately explores themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the quiet power of finding one’s voice. With a narrative that is both intimate and deeply resonant, Ballard crafts a story that feels as much like a whispered confession as it does a journey of self-discovery.

The novel shines in its portrayal of the protagonist—a young woman navigating the complexities of social anxiety, relationships, and the desire to be understood. Ballard’s writing is subtle yet poignant, capturing the small but significant moments that define personal growth. Every interaction, every hesitation, and every fleeting thought feels authentic, making Shy Girl a novel that speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place in their own skin.

What sets this book apart is its quiet strength. Instead of relying on grand, dramatic twists, Ballard allows the story to unfold naturally, focusing on the emotional landscape of her characters. The result is a deeply empathetic and immersive experience that lingers long after the final page.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that Shy Girl moves at a gentle, unhurried pace. Some readers may wish for a bit more external conflict or resolution, but for those who appreciate introspective storytelling, the novel’s quiet intensity is its greatest strength.

With its beautifully drawn characters and heartfelt prose, Shy Girl is a moving exploration of vulnerability and the courage it takes to step into the world. Mia Ballard has crafted a novel that is as soft-spoken as its protagonist—but just as unforgettable.

“I chose the man who wanted not who I was, but who I could become.”

Mia is 100% an autobuy author for me now. This was visceral, raw, and salted deep into the wounds of powerlessness.

This is a messed up, gory take on the lengths people will go when met with impossible circumstances (intentionally and unintentionally ). The majority of this story is Gia’s captivity, but it’s rooted in her resilience and how she reclaims herself.

The imagery and emotional expression in this was insane. There are parts of this book that will live rent free in my head forever. When I was finished, I had to sit and stare at the wall for a minute. Reorient myself to reality!!

“This is who I am now. A pet. A shape carved by someone else’s hands, a thing devoured piece by piece, until there is nothing left but obedience, the quiet, and the hurt. Until hurt is all that remains.”

It was sad, it was bleak, it was bad ass, and I loved every minute.

I would suggest this to anyone that likes weird girl litfic with a healthy dose of horror.

Like everyone has said before, don’t let the cute cover fool you… please check the trigger warnings and always read horror responsibly

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Galaxy Press, and Mia Ballard for the copy to review! I am so grateful for the opportunity!

*slight spoilers ahead*

A lot of contemporary horror falls into the trap of high-academia/navel-gazing - I hesitate to say, especially feminist horror. But holy shit. Shy Girl is so refreshingly terrifying both in the actual text on the page, but also in the plague of cruelty directed at women, and the trap of manipulation, that it highlights. Nathan is an amalgamation of the men who seek an obedient pet, not a partner, and see women as beneath them in all ways that matter. (Also demonstrated by his apparent gaggle of viewers.). Gia's nuance and compulsions and eventual transformations also align in a way that allows us, the reader, to understand Ballard's message while still cringing in disgust at what takes place on the page.

This was a practically flawless read to me until the reappearance of Cupcake at the end, with the kind of on-the-nose "I killed your rapist" scene. While I understand why it was included, I don't think it added to an otherwise really fucking incredible book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am obsessed!!! This book was so insanely wild and good I've never read anything quite like that. I will think about Gias story for a long time for sure and will not stop recommending this book. Need to read her other books asap.