I have had this book approved for a few weeks so I picked it up. I did not realize this was a children's book rather than YA when I requested it. I do not think I am in the mood for this particular read at the moment.

That being said, I really like the cover, I enjoyed the writing style, the beginning pulled me in, I just did not find myself interested in the characters or plot itself, and I want to pick this book back up at a different time. I heavily enjoyed the portion I did sample, but I want to make sure I read this when I truly am in the right mood for it and I can have the full experience.

Thank you for allowing me to sample this wonderful eARC! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

I have been reading so much ya horror recently and I cannot get enough. This book was so exception. Highly recommend.

You've Awoken Her by Ann Dàvila Cardinal is an excellent and quick read. The story follows two best friends separated by circumstance (and money) as they attempt to reconnect over summer vacation.

I've been reading a bunch of YA horror books as of late and this one may be my favorite of the bunch. Does it have Cthulhu in the Hamptons? Yes. Are you interested? Don't lie. You are.

I found the twist on weird horror interesting and accessible in a way that Lovecraftian horror usually isn't.

very casually horror with some interesting vibes that feels like a bit of a romp. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

YOU'VE AWOKEN HER by Ann Davila Cardinal

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Childrens for the earc (Jun 17)

Gabriel is a homebody. For summer, he just wants to stay home. But he can't. His mother and best friend, Ruth, have convinced him to go stay with Ruth in the Hamptons. When things take a turn: warnings and dead bodies, Gabi teams up with a local to uncover and stop what is happening.
The way I felt about this book was up and down. I loved the mystery that was entwined with the supernatural world. It reminded me of Amy Goldsmith's work: atmospheric and gothic. YOU'VE AWOKEN HER was also fast-paced with never a dull moment. However, the characters, specifically Ruth, were unlikeable. I mean, come on, Gabriel was there to see her and she kept shutting him down when he knew something was going on.
Despite how I felt about the characters, I really loved the vibes of this one, and how quick of a read this was. It was interesting, and though not your typical whodunit (because this was obvious from the get-go) figuring out the why it was done was where I was left baffled.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I really enjoyed this story. It was really good and I enjoyed the characters so much.

You've Awoken Her is the strange tale of Gabriel's summer visit to his best friend's house in the Hamptons and the dangerous people that that friend has surrounded herself with since her move from New York City. There is an ancient sea god that has been awoken, there have been a string of mysterious disappearances (deaths), and now it seems that these friends are going to be next. I had a hard time connecting with these characters. Gabriel had a huge chip on his shoulder, and while there was a lot of suspense and danger, he spent a lot of time whining about his friendship and his family. The solution to the sea monster trouble wrapped up in a paragraph and left me literally saying, "That's it!?" I would recommend this book for older teens as there is a lot of strong language and mature themes.

I received an advance reader copy for free. All opinions are my own.

A fun YA horror with a storyline that I absolutely loved. I adored pur protagonist and the writing style was on a different level; it didn't feel like I was reading any typical YA story. 4.75 out of 5 stars. Full review to come soon.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC and exchange for an honest review!

Ann Dávila Cardinal’s “You’ve Awoken Her” is a fresh and compelling take on Lovecraftian horror, blending supernatural terror with social commentary on privilege and gentrification. With eerie seaside settings, chilling disappearances, and an ancient malevolent force lurking beneath the waves, this book offers a fast-paced and unique YA horror experience that is as much about personal growth as it is about monsters.

The story follows Gabriel “Gabi” Moreno, a goth Puerto Rican horror geek from Queens, who would rather spend his summer indoors with his Funko Pop collection than in the Hamptons. But with his mother traveling, he’s sent to stay with his childhood best friend, Ruth, whose family’s newfound wealth has strained their once-tight bond. The Hamptons is the last place Gabi wants to be—especially as Ruth’s personality shifts to fit in with her privileged surroundings, including her arrogant boyfriend, Frost Thurston. However, when Gabi starts witnessing strange occurrences—whispers in the wind, mysterious tentacles in the water, and a woman being dragged beneath the waves—he realizes something sinister is happening in the seemingly perfect beach town.

As Gabi digs deeper, he discovers a dark secret buried under years of wealth and power: an ancient entity demands a blood price, and with each new disappearance, it grows hungrier. The town’s elite have kept this dark pact hidden for generations, and now, it’s up to Gabi to uncover the truth before he becomes the next victim. The book intertwines classic horror elements with themes of social inequality, showing how the rich manipulate and exploit others—even to the point of feeding them to monsters.

Cardinal’s writing is sharp, atmospheric, and immersive, creating an eerie sense of unease that builds throughout the novel. The book strikes a balance between being genuinely unsettling and accessible for younger YA readers, offering a “cozy horror” feel despite its darker themes. Gabi is a relatable protagonist, grappling with both supernatural horrors and the emotional struggles of feeling left behind by a friend. His dynamic with Ruth evolves in a satisfying way, making their friendship one of the book’s standout elements. Though Ruth is frustrating at times—especially in how she changes herself for Frost—her character growth adds depth to the story.

While the pacing starts slow and some mysteries could have been revealed sooner, the fast-paced latter half delivers a thrilling and rewarding conclusion. There’s even a hint at a possible sequel, with Gabi’s journey potentially continuing in Puerto Rico as he explores his supernatural heritage. The book also cleverly reclaims Lovecraftian horror from its racist and exclusionary origins, weaving in a Latine perspective that enriches the story rather than feeling preachy.

“You’ve Awoken Her” is a compelling YA horror-thriller that offers eerie suspense, social critique, and an engaging protagonist. If you enjoy stories of creeping dread, dark secrets, and monstrous forces lurking just beneath the surface—both literally and figuratively—this is a book worth diving into.

I need more YA horror in my life as I'm really starting to fall in love with this genre. I thought this was so unique and different. I never would have thought of Chtuhlu in the Hamptons but this just really worked. The author wrote this to honor the influence of Lovecraft in her love for the genre but also reclaim the legends of the racist and sexist author from a Latine lens, and I think she really accomplished that goal with this fun book.

Gabriel and Ruth were inseparable childhood friends, until growing up and Ruth's family lucking into wealth made them grow apart. Gabriel is a goth Puerto Rican horror geek (a refreshing representation, I need to see more POC representation that defies stereotypes) from Queens who would much rather hole up in his cave with his Funko Pop collection and his movies. Ruth invites him to spend the summer with him in the Hamptons, but it becomes even more obvious how much they're different now. Ruth is dating a rich asshole and weird shit keeps happening in the beach resort town, and Gabe keeps seeing tentacles in the water.

The tone could be so casual and breezy that the scary parts could feel cartoonish rather than scary, but this gave it a cozy horror feel that I think really worked against the backdrop of spooky gentrification and class divides. I think this would easily appeal to a middle grade audience as well.

A fun, lighthearted romp in which a horror geek confronts his fears of sea monsters that just might be real, unlike what his abusive and distant father made him believe. This is a story about learning to trust your instincts and to listen and honor your ancestors, above all. I enjoyed the twist that flipped Lovecraftian monsters on their head and made them cultural appropriation. But it was never preachy, it was a celebration of cultural mythos and outcasts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First off, this cover was AMAZING. It immediately drew me in. This lovecraftian YA horror novel has a main character that feels isolated and out of place, but has so much to do and experience. A town that should be paradise and where he wants to be, is not at all. I really liked the disguising of the terrible events as accidents, and the main character dealing with being the canary in the coal mine that no one is listening to. I thought this was a really unique read and I enjoyed it a lot.

I reviewed an ARC of You've Awoken Her by Ann Davila Cardinal from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

This books is a mixed bag of thoughts and feelings. Overall, I liked this book.
The main characters weren't ones I could really fall in love with but yet you still wanted to follow them and know how they progressed. The bad guys were easy to dislike from the beginning.

The beginning of this story was slow. Just when you thought it would pick up speed, it would fizzle back into a slower read. Every time you thought you got clues to progress the story, it would feel like the story would loop back around the other direction (so frustrating).

The story was easy to follow and read, hard to put down, and overall unique. While maybe not quite scary horror, this is definitely one thriller that's a blast to read.