happy pub day!!
thank you so much @galaxygrlmia & @netgalley for theARC. Great book. I read this is ONE sitting. I was HOOKED. I am shocked, horrified, satisfied??), very horrified and Mia's writing style is just too good. highly recommend! But read the trigger warnings and the authors note.

I want to start this review by saying that I received an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Usually I say thank you but I’m not sure I want thank anyone for what I just read. Was it well written? Absolutely. The first 1/4 of the book was a little slow but it ended up picking up. As I was reading it was giving Misery by Stephen King but instead of a crazed fan, it’s a man who has a weird dog fetish and kidnaps a woman and makes her pretend to be a dog. Then it got weird and extremely gory to the point where I almost threw up. THEN it got lame when our FMC starts to morph into an actual dog?? Hated that, it felt forced to me. The story is already weird and fucked up enough as is, we didn’t need that. And then finally the fuckery ends. Truly don’t know how to feel, I know I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. 🤷‍♀️

Shy Girl by Mia Ballard is an absolute wild ride of a feminine rage horror novel. This is one of those books that I wish I could read again for the first time. This book is not for the faint of heart so please check the trigger warnings. Don't let the cutesy cover fool you, this is brutal at times.

Gia is down on her luck after losing her job months earlier. When she is faced with an eviction notice, Gia reluctantly joins a sugar daddy dating website. Here she meets Nathan. When Nathan makes her an offer to spend eight hours each day as his pet, Gia hesitantly agrees. But what happens when Nathan decides he wants to keep Gia as his pet forever? Buckle up because it gets crazy!

I absolutely devoured this book! The range of emotions I felt went from disgust and anxiety to "good for her" so fast it gave me whiplash. Ballard's writing is hauntingly beautiful and raw, exploring misogyny and desperation in a poetic way. This book will absolutely stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Ballard, and Galaxy Press for this ARC. Publication date is March 1st 2025.

This same review is published on my GoodReads account, which is linked on my NetGalley profile.

Without a doubt the most disgusting and vile thing I have ever read in my life. I genuinely had to pause reading and skim a particular scene because it was so gross (the scene after the rat situation if you’re curious). I think this is a book that’ll have to sit with me for a while before I can concretely decide how I feel about it. The comparison I have seen with this book the most is of course Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, and while I think this book was better, rather than rating this higher than I did Nightbitch, I am actually going to lower Nightbitch’s rating. I think objectively this book was very good, but I am struggling to decide my feelings. This is definitely not a book I would recommend to everyone, and I think reading the trigger warnings if you have anything you avoid reading are a requirement for this book. That being said, if you enjoyed Nightbitch then I think you should also read this (dependent on the trigger warnings you avoid), and even if you were disappointed by Nightbitch, but you liked the premise, I think this one could be worth the try.

Current rating: 3.5/5 (may be lowered to 3 or raised to 4 later)

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC!

I am not exaggerating when I say I had to go outside and touch grass after finishing this book. It made me feel claustrophobic and uneasy in the most amazingly immersive way.

To me, this was a masterclass in portraying emotions and thoughts onto the written page. Not many books have made me feel so passionate for a fictional main character (Gia) as this one has succeeded in doing, and I am truly wowed by the character evolution as a result of the trials and tribulations she faces throughout.

Shy Girl is certainly not for the faint hearted, however I feel that the line was towed between literary fiction and horror perfectly; this not being just another book which is churned out for shock value, but instead a shining example of a well thought out story line with the effective usage of more disturbing scenes throughout.

This is already one of my favourite books of the year, and I am extremely intrigued to look into more works by Ballard.

This was my first Mia Ballard novel, and while I was excited based on the premise, I was not anticipating the absolute wild rollercoaster ride of emotions this book took me on.
While things start out grim, but unfortunately relatable, it very quickly takes a sharp, dark turn into twisted depravity. The moment Mia realized she was a captive was so chillingly shocking I was on the verge of panicking. Her treatment was so ruthless and uncomfortable, especially upon her realization of how unhygienic being treated like a dog was, knowing her struggle with OCD.
The psychological tension throughout was brilliant and horrifying. My shock and despair increased with the passing years. Nathan’s threatening presence was ever hovering, the depths of his evil frequently increasing through new discoveries, like the camera’s true function, and both scenes with Cupcake.
The internal struggles Gia faces are so realistic, desperate to rationalize the bleak reality of her circumstances. Her slow transformation into entirely unhinged was so satisfying, and without giving too much away, I absolutely lived for her outcrazying Nathan’s crazy.

Shy Girl is a poetic, feminine rage horror novel that is not for the faint of heart, and explores some of the darkest experiences humanity has to offer. Ballard’s prose perfectly narrates the tense and horrifying environment and I highly recommend this one for all the girly pops who just want to go a little ✨feral✨ from time to time.

Thank you so much to the author and Galaxy Press for this digital review copy via NetGalley.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the arc! Secondly, thank you to Mia Ballard for writing this!!! I’ll be billing you for my therapy!!

Literally wtf! The whole first half of the book I felt like I was waiting for the shoe to drop, the buildup was so SO good. And when that shoe dropped….it DROPPED!!!! I cannot believe how the events unfolded, and the way the story concluded.

At first I was “ugh this poor girl!!!” And then at the end or quickly turned into a “good for her!!!!!” I support Gia FOREVER!!!!!

I really enjoyed this book! It definitely took me by surprise (in a good way) and once I'd started it I found it very hard to put down.

It was brutal, impactful, and dark. Definitely one of those books that sticks with you, I still think about it frequently! My first read by this author and it won't be the last.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Mia Ballard has done it again. I don’t have the words to describe what I just read, but all I can say is I did not expect anything that happened in the book. It was a harrowing, emotional story with gore and grief throughout. Two things that freak me out in horror: eyeballs and teeth….. this has both.

The first thing you need to know about this book is this: I am a different person after finishing it and I’ve barely been able to focus on anything since.

I am notoriously not a body horror girly. I make a conscious effort to read a variety of horror but phew it’s a tough one for me. Sooo imagine my hesitation at the trigger warning(s) at the beginning of the book. Nevertheless, I was so intrigued I couldn’t help but continue.

Despite the amount of uncomfortable squirming, audible gasps and reading through my fingers, I reallllly enjoyed this one!

Gia was such a relatable character and a strong voice to carry the plot. I liked the emerging sugar daddy relationship and was already so engaged that once everything went off the rails I couldn’t put the book down.

If you’re hoping to dive into this one please don’t sleep on the warning(s) in the beginning. The events that unfold are a stark contrast to the pastel cover of the book.

Thank you to @victoryeditingngc @galaxygrlmia and @netgalley for making an eARC available to me in exchange for an honest review.

Shy Girl is out today!

4⭐️

Woof.

A moment for the dedication please:
“To the girls who bite back”

This book blew me away. I was sat in a coffee shop a few weeks ago with a friend and, at the time, I was bout 30% into this book. I was trying to give a summary of events in the book to date and I got SOME LOOKS from a guy in the queue. It’s bold and unabashed in delving into some dark places, is it taboo? Or is it just an author giving voice to the rage and resilience in response to the control and restraint, too often forced on women all around the world.

Shy Girl looks at some big questions around body autonomy, trauma, and exploitation (to name a few). It’s a situation that seems far from reality but is written in such a way that you understand the claustrophobia, fears and gut-punch reality with every turn of the page. As a reader, it’s clear the care and tenderness the author has for Gia - the ending a reclamation of self and a version of a happy ending.

This book accelerates from 0-100 very quickly and I could not put it down. It made me sad, angry, hopeful, and everything in between. Time has a different sense in this book, the jumps in narrative are at times disorientating but I feel it perfectly mirrors Gia’s lapse into oppresive captivity. Is it a week or a year, who knows. Events towards the end of the book again will make you question what is real and I’ve tried to think of how to put this in a more eloquent way but in essence: is she crazy? Great for you. A little madness goes a long way in the breaking of chains. I’m all for the feminine descent (or more often, ascent).

For fans of body horror, women taking back the narrative, and short reads. Check content warnings because I appreciate there may be sections that are too much for people.

An exceptional new addition to the feminine rage sub-genre.

Gia is down on her luck and desperate for something new. She’s broke, jobless, and on the verge of eviction when she stumbles upon a mysterious opportunity on a sugar daddy website: live as a man’s pet for eight hours a day, and all her debts will be erased. Desperate, she takes the offer. But instead of an escape, Gia finds herself trapped, and in a harrowing battle for power, control, resilience, and survival.

Whew! Shy Girl is terrifying, and incredibly visceral. The horror is extreme—squeamishly so—and the story is unsettling. Ballard explores themes of oppression, gendered violence and bodily autonomy in a story that is both deeply uncomfortable and disturbingly compelling—even as it veers into fantastical. It’s raw, shocking, and yet somehow strangely cathartic.

My only critique is the repetitive use of phrases (“curling into myself,” “curling around me,” etc.), but this is minor and doesn’t detract from its success.

This is a must-read for those who wanted more from Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder and are looking for something that leans into horror. The author’s note is also a powerful companion, and I recommend reading it alongside the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!