Shy Girl has a gorgeous cover; a beautiful exterior containing a horrific story inside.

Gia is in dire financial trouble; recently unemployed and helplessly watching the debts pile up and the bills go unpaid. She turns to an online sugar daddy forum to keep her from losing her apartment, and quickly meets a man who has a specific request. She agrees, and this request quickly spirals out of control as Gia is forced to watch her humanity slip away.

Sick and shocking, I could not look away from this one. It’s been a long time since a book made me feel physically ill, but this book manages it several times! Horrifying, “weird girl”, feminine rage lit turned up to full volume. The things that Gia goes through will be forever stuck in my head whether I want them to or not! If you liked Tender is the Flesh, I think this book is right up your alley. Woof!

Thank you NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the ARC!

An unraveling 30-something, with glimpses of how we got here and internal dialogue, Gia told in first person follows a routine of job search, overdue rents, and nightly cries. The only solution: a sugar daddy and a… fetish? Go into this one blind.

Gia’s beginning is a sad tale, with glimpses of some depression, post traumatic stress, and some OCD that doesn’t get really explored once the horror truly begins. The author does include trigger warnings at the beginning, which I appreciate and thought was the best. The thought of treating dating as survival, felt pretty realistic and the appreciation I had for the quick turn of what she was really looking for in a date. I loved it. What this novel grows to, is unexpected and shows the things people will do when lead by desperation.

This is a good read for a novella, if you enjoy self reflection and a detailed journey of it. The darkness that can come from your lowest points and just looking for that glimmer of hope and the spiral that can take you over. This story packs so much into so little and is a hard read- don’t let that cover fool you; this is creepy and disturbing. Splatter punk type horror readers only.

Gia needs stability. More than that, actually, she needs a way to cover this month's rent...and all the months after that. With no path to security in plain sight for the foreseeable future, Gia registers for a Sugar Daddy dating website in the hopes of finding the no strings attached, transactional relationship that'll see her through.

Enter Nathan: older, but not too old. Forward, but not too forward. On a whim, Gia meets Nathan at a public place and lays out her financial need. Somewhat convinced Nathan isn't a sociopathic serial killer, she agrees to return to his place. And it turns out, Gia's right: Nathan's not a serial killer.

Unfortunately, he's a lot worse than that.

Oh, how to summarize "Shy Girl" in a way that doesn't deter readers from it, but at the same time adequately captures the visceral, horrifying darkness that is this book. Take notes, readers, that this is a book you absolutely cannot judge by the cover: it's so far from pretty pastel, sad-girl fiction that we might even say it's "Nightbitch" (on a metaphoric level) and "The Substance" (on a body horror level) put together. To spoil the jaw-dropping direction that "Shy Girl" goes in is to spoil it's real power; it's not a perfect book by any means, but at it's best parts it was compelling, and at its weakest parts it was a literary car accident that was impossible to stop reading because of shock factor alone.

Proceed at your own risk ladies, and know that when all is said and done with "Shy Girl," you'll close the cover and say "Good for her."

Oh. My. God.

I was obsessed with this book from the moment I picked it up. I devoured it as fast as I could!
I LOVE feminine rage horror novels, they are probably one of my favorite niche genres. This book hit everything that I wanted out of a horror novel.

Mia Ballard has quickly become one of my favorite authors EVER. If she writes it, I will read it.

Please read through the content warnings before reading this book. This book is heavy and gory, make sure you are prepared before you start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for an eARC of this book!

What started out gently enough, turned into possibly the most unhinged piece of writing I've ever encountered. Something this dark shouldn't be this easy to read (well.. most of it at least), but Mia Ballard's exquisite writing helps it go down smoothly. Her writing evokes the emotion and desperation the main character, Gia, is feeling first from her financial crisis, and then from the new situation she finds herself in as Nathan's pet. This story centers around obsession, loss of control, and the torment of getting control back. It will make you say WTF more than once, and then when it takes a turn, you'll never see it coming until just before it happens. None of it is for the faint of heart, but the twist will be way too much for some.

This was an intense, unwell, weirdo piece of lit fic, and while I felt pulled into the story really quickly, I do have to say that parts of the writing felt a bit rushed. Some of the descriptions felt a little repetitive at times, but it didn't feel like it was done intentionally. I'm really excited to see what else Mia Ballard does in the future though, because while her writing is dark, I think her future is bright.

Thank you to NetGalley, Galaxy Press, and Mia Ballard for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication!

I had a boyfriend once that physically recoiled when I told him Gone Girl was one of my favourite books/movies. I can still see the horror on his face, and still remember the arguing that followed. I wonder what he’d think if he knew I loved this.
I devoured this with a grim desperation, and felt it all over my body: I felt sick, I felt seen, and observed, but overall elated. I could compare it to Nightbitch but it would be a disservice, as that story is nowhere near this. In fact, this is exactly and more what I hoped Nightbitch would be. A fairer comparison would maybe be Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter.
In short, please read the author’s warning at the beginning and proceed with caution, care, possibly a strong drink and definitely an open heart.
Mia Ballard, I love you. Netgalley and Galaxy Press, thank you for allowing me the pleasure of reading this. Woof.
“And I wonder late at night (…): 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.”

New addition to the “Good for Her” canon!

Shy Girl is a story about how trauma changes us and the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Specially as women in this world that often isn’t kind to us.

As horrific as Gia’s circumstances were, there’s some stuff she goes through that I’m glad the author didn’t go into too much detail on, as I believe it would come across as exploitative. You can tell Ballard had so much care for her character while writing this book.

That being said, do not take the trigger warnings lightly! I hadn’t physically recoiled from reading a book in so long. Sometimes it was hard to read but it was also hard for me to look away. It was very cathartic.

My only other thoughts have to do with the transformation aspect. I probably would’ve enjoyed seeing more of it.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and Mia Ballard has gained a new fan.

You would also enjoy this if you like your horror to be very bloody and grotesque; and if you like stories about women taking back the power that was stolen from them.

Make sure to check the content warnings before reading! The cover is very cute, and this was not a lighthearted read at all.

Very vague summary: this is a strange book with fantastical elements, about female rage.

At times, it can be hard to read (specifically if you’re squeamish like me!) and hard to put down. The prose is simple enough paired with moderate pacing to keep you intrigued.
I couldn’t tell what was going to happen, occasionally having to shake my head like an etch-a-sketch to erase images from my mind.

My only major nit-pick was the ending could have been better executed, however, I understand the point that was being made.

Are you looking for something psychologically messed up and all together grotesque to live in your brain and resurface sporadically through the day? This might be for you!

This book may have been short, but it certainly took me on a journey. It was a bit different, and far darker, than the book I was expecting it to be. I appreciated the author's note in the beginning, letting me know what I was getting into. I found this book to be gripping. In the midst of a reading slump, this book held my attention - it can't not hold the reader's attention with how bleak the main character's situation is. I couldn't help thinking about the captivity we are all in, living in late capitalism, and what it would feel like to escape. I loved the writing style, and the themes of female rage. My only issue was that the time jumps felt a bit abrupt - I think we could have dwelled more in each period of time before jumping ahead, especially as the second act moved into the third act. Overall, however, this was a great read!

Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for the advance copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC.

This was definitely a different book and far more gory than I usually read. However, I oddly liked it. It was refreshingly weird and very well written.

By the description you know you are in for a weird ride for sure and take notes of the trigger warnings, this is dark and this is gory.

Gia definitely took "out crazying, crazy" to heart and this really explores what happens when you lose yourself. Sure, you most likely won't lose yourself this much, but the situation could be translated just as well.

If you are up for something different and can handle a body horror (think something like the movie Flesh), then give it a try. It's short and it's a quick read. I almost wished it was longer and more fleshed out but then I think it also might have been too much.

Overall I'm glad I gave something different a chance!

I saw the cover and knew I had to read this. I skimmed the synopsis and mashed the request button. I read the disclaimer at the beginning, and couldn't start soon enough…
This book was… insane. This one is for my buddies who like the dark reads, do not be fooled by the sweet and adorable cover.
In short - this book is about a woman who is down on her luck, so she signs up for a sugar dating website. She meets Nathan and is drawn to his odd request - that Gia becomes his pet dog. Sounds simple, eh? 🥲
The horror doesn't start right away. The anticipation of what's to come is thick, tangible even. The build up makes the peak so much more intense.
The last 20%, I felt like my skin was elevated two inches off my body. I didn't breathe. I couldn't breathe. My heart was racing. By the end, I was physically shaking and I cannot remember the last time a book generated an actual reaction like that.
I used phrases like “rocketed me into fucking outer space” and “I cannot pretend to be normal” after finishing it.
I know this book won't be for everyone but I think I've made it very clear that this book was for me.

5 big giant woofs outta 5. 🐶

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Mia Ballard and Galaxy Press for creating an instant fan in me. I cannot wait to explore more of Mia's work!!

this was everything I wanted and so so much more! I know when I see a cute/soft cover like this in horror the book is going to absolutely slap and that is exactly what this book did! I loved everything about this. It was dark and gory and heart wrenching. Ballard out did herself with this one! She didn't shy away from anything and I loved that! I would hands down recommend this so any horror lover.

Rating: 4.5/5, brilliant!
Publishing date: 01/03/2025
Thank you, Mia Ballard and Galaxy Press, for the digital copy via NetGalley.

"Sometimes, justice isn’t quiet or clean; it's feral and bloody and unapologetic."

Shy Girl by Mia Ballard is an intense, unsettling, and deeply psychological novel that explores manipulation, violence, sexual assault, and so much more. Be warned about the trigger warnings—there are too many to list, and I’ll refrain from naming all to avoid spoilers.

Gia is lonely and depressed, with a serious case of OCD that is exacerbated by the fact that she has no money, no job, and no one to lean on. Every day is a struggle. She has been searching for a job for the past five months with no success, and her savings have dried up.

“Reality creeps back in, messy and unwelcome. The mental list reassembles itself. Today, I need to apply for more jobs. Again. My cover letters have become mechanical, tweaked and polished until the words feel like they belong to someone else."

Desperate for money, she creates a profile on a sugar baby website, where she meets Nathan, a sugar daddy with a kinky proposition: to be his pet in exchange for financial support. With an eviction notice looming over her, Gia reluctantly agrees—only to find herself trapped in a situation she could never have imagined.

Mia Ballard does an outstanding job of portraying Gia’s internal struggles. Her OCD is handled with both care and ruthless precision, particularly in one scene where she realises that being treated like a dog is far from hygienic. These moments are visceral, making the reader feel her discomfort and pain through Ballard’s vivid prose. The psychological tension in Shy Girl is a highlight for me—brilliantly executed. Nathan’s presence is suffocating and ever-present; he circles and traps, dominates and subdues.

“But his words are still there, circling like vultures, their wings heavy with meaning. They loop endlessly, setting deeper each time, carving out a hollow I don't know how to fill.”

Nathan is terrifying, not just for what he does but for how Gia perceives him. She gaslights herself, trying to rationalise her situation, unable to see him as the predator he truly is. Ballard writes about these internal struggles brilliantly. Gia undermines herself, twisting reality in an attempt to make sense of the nightmare she is trapped in.

“I tell myself it’s nothing, that it’s just him testing me. Pushing my limits. A first-day trial to see if I’m worth the effort. This is what I repeat, over and over, like a mantra. This is fine. This is normal. He’s testing me.”

Ballard’s prose is haunting, poetic, and unflinching. Every sentence carries weight, drawing the reader deeper into the suffocating atmosphere of Gia’s mind. The writing is both beautiful and harrowing. This story will linger—it is thought-provoking and should be reflected upon beyond the situation's absurdity. The violence, both psychological and physical, is unforgiving but executed with prowess. The tension builds at a perfect pace, making it impossible to look away—like watching a car crash unfold. I dare you to! The characters are emotionally complex and tragic—Nathan is not a one-dimensional villain, and Gia is not completely submissive. What’s fascinating is observing how Ballard handled the nuances in the character’s behaviour and power dynamics.

Ballard’s narration feels claustrophobic and tense, forcing the reader to stare, gasp, and hyperventilate while navigating the emotional chaos of Gia’s captivity. The novel also touches on themes of control and self-harm—when people feel powerless, they often resort to self-harm as a way to regain agency. This is particularly evident when Gia contemplates a moment that feels devastating yet tragically inevitable.

Shy Girl is not for the faint of heart, but for readers who appreciate psychological horror that delves deep into the rotest aspects of human experience, this is an unforgettable read. The novel is deeply disturbing and I highly recommend it for those looking to drop their jaws on this female rage spree.

I really wanted to like this, but I got about halfway through and it just felt predictable and dull. The OCD rep felt very one note, and then all that traumatic buildup on a stupid decision for just a blip of revenge at the end?

I run to anything with female rage and revenge, but this one's just not for me. Still, thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I judged this book by its cover. And that was a mistake. There is brutality and pain on these pages. This story examines misogyny and how we value ourselves, what value and price we put on our own lives (self-worth), the power dynamics between men and women and the misconstruing of the word "concent". There is a warning in the foreword and it definitely belongs there for the graphic imagery but also the abuse. That said, this book really does a good job of being a female rage and revenge tale. I could almost guarantee Coralie Fargeat (The Substance, Revenge) and Julia Ducournau (Titane, Raw) would enjoy this read.
Now I have to go back and read Mia Ballard's other works.

Interesting in premise, I found the writing to be hard to follow and I was not a fan of the main character. there were one or two supporting characters that stood out to me but all in all, one that I will not revisit.

this was by no means an easy read, but an impactful one. i’ll definitely keep my eye on Mia Ballard’s future releases. What starts as a grim but relatable story of financial and emotional vulnerability quickly turns into something much darker. This book is filled with feminine rage, digging deep into control, power, and survival in a way that’s brutal but impossible to look away from

horrific and should be marketed as such. i could appreciate the messaging but this one was not for me.. too gorey, too descriptive (‘i feel this way’ instead of actually telling me what was going on). i felt like it had a lot of potential to be a spooky literary fiction but instead it’s way more horror leaning. please consider that when recommending this book.

I’m speechless.

First of all, thank you to both Mia Ballard and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of Shy Girl. This is a title that will sit with me for a very long time.

The story follows our main character, Gia who we meet when she is 30 years old and in an incredibly rough spot and looking for anything that will help her out of it. After exercising all available resources she turns to a sugar dating app in hopes of perusing something with ease and as little attachment as possible, before too long after her inbox starts getting flooded by messages she meets with her first match which seems too good to be true. He’s real and normal enough, not trying too hard to impress or promise her anything that seems out of reach, and he’s willing to compensate her for her time. They meet a couple of times and after an audition for the role he’s hoping she’ll fill he pays her overdue rent, a few days later she accepts the offer and that’s when things take a disturbing and quickly disastrous turn for Gia.

Shy Girl begins with very real themes and depictions of depression and mental illness and then quickly becomes an incredibly engaging story of doing what you can to survive. “When that autonomy is stripped away, revenge becomes less about vengeance and more about rewriting a narrative in which women refuse to remain victims.” I couldn’t put it down for long and was absolutely floored.

Being able to read it early was such a pleasure, I was ready to order it as soon as the synopsis was released.

hey so that was insane actually

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy

oh boy where do I start with this one. I genuinely have no words because this has to be one of the most shocking, jaw dropping books I’ve read.

Our story centers around Gia, a 30 year old OCD unemployed woman just trying to make ends meet. Out of desperation Gia signs up for an online sugar daddy website where she meets Nathan, who offers her a considerate amount of money for her to act like dog for 8 hours a day. The lines blur as Gia accepts his offer, and starts to question her own humanity.

I think honestly going into this book blind would be best. But I highly HIGHLY suggest checking trigger warnings. The cover is stunning and absolutely is a red herring. This is a horror book with detailed descriptions of body horror, and dark content matter.

It took me about 15% of this book before I was hooked. I kept telling myself I’ll put it down when I get to a certain percentage and I genuinely couldn’t.

Every turn of the page I was shocked and shit get really crazy from about 70% on like even crazier than what’s already happened. At the 91% mark, my jaw literally hit the floor and stayed there till I finished. This book is unhinged, brutal, and honestly a little bit empowering. When you finish please read the authors note because it’s probably the most insightful part of the book.

If you think you’re up to it for this book I highly recommend but please be cautious!