Welcome to Litsy!

I love this author, and this sounds intriguing.

#apples #HumbleHarvest @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Really liked this oft-recommended super-quick read and definitely agree that going in knowing very little is a plus! Not sure whether Valente‘s backlist titles are in my wheelhouse, but I did enjoy her writing enough to consider exploring them.

This lush, unsettling horror novella may be the perfect late summer to early autumn read—and that‘s all I‘ll say! In just over 100 pages, this will linger with you much longer than it will take you to read.

At just over 100 pages this is a short, creepy read
You‘re best off going in knowing nothing about this one!
4 ⭐️

Thank you so much for this book @Reggie I absolutely loved it! It‘s such a beautiful object too, I will always treasure it. 😍 A slim 102 pages, I read it in one sitting. A creepy fairytale vibe with a mystery at its heart to figure out. I thought this was very clever and I loved trying to figure out the little clues along the way. 🙌 It‘s a national holiday here today so this was a lovely way to spend my morning.

Quick read. Thought-provoking.

Such a creepy journey…don‘t want to say too much as I think going into is blind is the best way to experience this ride. 3.5 ⭐️

Delighted that my dear friend, @BekahPat shared this with me!

The size of this was perfect for something literary and full of clues. But now who can I talk to about it and work through some of my questions?

Her home is perfect. Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Sophia‘s marriage is perfect. So what could possibly crack her perfect world? Turns out to be a locked vanity drawer.

This was disturbing. From the start, there‘s an unsettling feeling that nothing is as it seems. Not even the plot. This was creepy & dark & clever & beautifully written, but also ultimately unsatisfying. Makes me want to reread Rebecca. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

This book was quite something. I‘m still not totally sure how I feel about it. Recommend by Bookmarks bookstore in NC for the Currently Reading podcast indie press list.

In the vein of Stepford Wives or The Handmaid‘s Tale, this perfect society begins to crack as Sophia discovers small things about her structured neighborhood that don‘t add up. This is a short, quick read with a twist that I won‘t reveal. There‘s a great sense of tension though it‘s over descriptive for my taste. Not horror at all, but a twisty little story that‘s incredibly clever the more I think about it.

This caught my eye at the library this morning, and I knew I had to read it. 🤓

Not at all scary or satisfying but intriguing nonetheless. A thought-provoking, feminist retelling with lush prose and a fairytale aesthetic.

The audiobook narrator is top-notch.

My fifth and final read for #summerween (read a short nonfiction about haunted places in the US yesterday).

Well, this is a thing that I read. And I'm not really sure how to feel about it, except that I'm going to be thinking about it for a very long time. There is a lot packed into 98 pages.

It was beautifully written.
And viscerally unsettling.
And really kind of horrible.

You should read it.

My body created a new scream for this.

(2021)

Well dang Cat Valente can I have my gut back now please?

This was a weird little book with influences from the Bible, Greek myth, the Stepford Wives, and fairy tales. I thought it was interesting, but it seems people either love it or hate it. It‘s best if you go into this knowing as little about the story as possible. I‘m giving it a pick but it‘s a creepy story, just like the cover is creepy. #audiowalk

An outstanding novella, which gets creepier and creepier as you go along, drawing on well-known mythology that I won‘t reveal, because recognizing the source material is part of the reading pleasure. Valente is a consummate storyteller and performs her own audiobook with panache.

The sound of it is a knife, if a knife could kiss, and the kiss could turn the colour of mourning.

Should you wish to personalize your dwelling, the following paint colours are acceptable: Virgin White, Eggshell, Purity, First Snow, Antique Porcelain, Morning Star, Fresh Cream, Mother‘s Milk, and Innocence.

This is a strange, creepy little novella thriller. I went in knowing nothing, the book comparisons in the description are wildly inaccurate. If you are looking for a unique quick read, check it out. Great on audiobook! 4⭐️
#PopSugar - book I knew nothing about
#bookspinbingo - square

I'm between Pick and So-So with this one. I chose Pick because it was well written. It's a modern retelling of the Garden of Eden story. It's a quick read as it's around 100 pages long.

Did the audio of this since it was only just over 2 hours today while I was driving and doing errands.
Idk what I was expecting from this book but this wasn‘t it. I think it‘s one I‘ll have to sit with for awhile.

#comfortmewithapples #novella #catherynnemvalente

Finished this quick read last night - perhaps not the best choice for bedtime reading! ? Surreal, bizarre, and at times downright nightmarish... a new take on an old story that will leave you reeling. Definitely not for everyone!!! Fans of the movie "Mother!" will likely enjoy this one.

My #WeeklyForecast is slim as I know I‘ve a very busy week..
Finish Simon ( loving it )
Finish IAm I Am I Am for Friday night Bookclub
… And start tagged book.

Happy Reading week to you all ❤️
Hi Cindy 👋

Meh. It's hard to review this book without giving everything away. This short novella is well-written but it's been done before. I was really looking forward to this one but it didn't live up to my expectations. Just meh. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This novella has so much in a slim volume. A bit of fairytale meets mystery meets horror/thriller. However you want to class it, Cat Valente's writing is superb and this is some speculative fiction at its best! Definitely recommend.

It's here! Cannot wait to dive in!

A deliciously warped little novel. It was a bit slow to start, but we‘ll worth the kick ass ending. #ARC #audiobook #NetGalley

I LOVED this book. Dark, intriguing, & wonderful. It was short & not-so-sweet and left me wanting so much more. The premise is fantastic & readers should go in knowing as little as possible. The narrative is creative, interesting & plain entertaining. There is a lot packed into this little novella and I can't say much about it without giving the whole thing away. This was just brilliant and I loved it. I can't gush enough.

Wow! This is one of those “what did I just read?“ books. The storyline cannot be explained without giving something away. So if you like a bit of a mind game, I highly recommend this one.

Audiobook courtesy of #NetGalley and #Tor. Physical book courtesy of #GoodreadsGiveaways. #Comfortmewithapples

Ever since first reading IN THE NIGHT GARDEN, I‘ve been a huge fan of Valente‘s writing! I‘m always excited to see what new direction she will take with her lyrical and poetic prose! This latest novella is entrancing from the start with the extensive rules about Sophia‘s neighborhood- with a fairytale like feel that also incorporates mythology. Well-performed and offers lots to discuss! It‘s quick but powerful!

If you want a book that goes in a direction you‘ll never see coming, this is the one! If you need a little literary weirdness in your life, pick this up! If you‘re looking for a quick read, get yourself a copy of this novella! You might hate it. It‘s possible you might even find it offensive. But I‘ll tell you one thing: You are never going to forget this book!

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4067430435

The ominous excerpts from the beyond-restrictive Arcadia Gardens Homeowners Association continuously ramp up the tension in this quick read about Sophia, her husband, and her nearly perfect house. #ARC