Customer Reviews
I read this in one sitting. I’ve read several books where an “old friend” invites a person (or people) on a getaway, vacation, or to a party which the old friend kind of hopes for a reconciliation, a chance to clear the air and move on, or for some sweet revenge. It hasn’t really worked out. To those who are tempted when you get an opportunity like that, just say no!!! LOL!! I’ll keep reading though … because it’s a fairly crazy ride 😂
'Mayra' was an intricate gothic literary horror novel. I loved the prose and the slow burn of encroaching dread. The house becomes its own character within the novel. Themes of friendship, memory, and identity are explored. 4.5 stars.
This book had me feeling unsettled by the atmosphere alone. Told through Ingrid’s perspective, we follow her trip to a remote swamp house to reconnect with her childhood friend, Mayra. The house itself feels dilapidated and suffocating, and her time there with Mayra and Mayra’s boyfriend is filled with awkward, tense interactions.As Ingrid reflects on the carefree, risk-taking Mayra she once admired, she realizes the woman in front of her doesn’t quite match the friend she remembers. Is something wrong with Mayra—or is her new relationship to blame? Adding to the unease, Ingrid discovers a journal from another woman who once lived in the house, linking her own experiences to something more disturbing.By the end, I felt the book carried a strong message about friendships growing apart and learning to move forward. While it wasn’t outright scary and took me a while to get through, it nailed that eerie stillness that gothic novels thrive on. If you liked I’m Thinking of Ending Things, this might be right up your alley.4⭐️Thank you to netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the gifted copy of this book.
This is one of those books where the atmosphere and characters take center stage over a fast-moving plot—and I really enjoyed that. The writing creates a deep, menacing vibe that lingers, the kind that makes you want to keep reading even when the story takes its time.The flashbacks were a real highlight for me. They gave so much nuance to Ingrid and Mayra, adding layers to their choices and relationships. Even though the overall pacing isn’t quick, those moments made me eager to keep turning the pages, because I wanted to understand them better.The characters are real and flawed, likeable but also stubborn and frustrating at times. That balance made them feel like people I might actually know, which is rare and special. It makes for the kind of storytelling that sticks with me long after I finish, and it’s why I can see myself returning to this book again in the future.Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and longed for more the moment it ended. It's a beautifully written, haunting story about the complexities of childhood friendships growing into adulthood, with a constant undertone of uncertainty and dread.
