House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt

Title: House of Hearts

Author: Skyla Arndt

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Series: N/A

Publication: September 2, 2025, 288 pages

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *Thank you, Penguin Random House.

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Violet Harper knows her best friend was murdered. Even if everyone else has labeled her death a “freak accident,” Vi is sure she’d been trying to tell her something right before she died. Cryptic messages about her friend’s elite boarding school, her whirlwind romance, and the mysterious secret society she was entangled in all point to a more sinister fate.

So, Violet does what no one else seems willing to do: She transfers to the same fancy school to dig into the society’s murky history and find out what really happened to her friend. She knows the truth might not be pretty, but what she doesn’t bargain for is the handsome boy at the center of it all—Calvin Lockwell, the brother of her prime suspect and descendant of the school’s founder. He’s obnoxious and privileged, and Violet can’t deny their haunting attraction. It soon becomes clear his family is hiding a dark secret that may not be of this world, and suddenly Violet’s following her friend’s doomed footsteps down the rabbit hole. Even as details emerge of a deadly curse plaguing the school, she can’t escape her true feelings for Calvin. But loving him may be the last thing she ever does.

MY THOUGHTS

House of Hearts has everything I enjoy in a novel: dark academia, mystery, romance, humor, lore, and a secret society. After the death of her best friend, Violet Harper enrolls in Hart Academy to investigate and uncover her friend’s murderer. What she never expected to find, however, was a century-old curse, hauntings, and a secret society all tied to her friend’s untimely demise. If this synopsis sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. I recently read another book with a very similar premise but the story and execution in House of Hearts were done much better.

House of Hearts blends elements of the paranormal, which I love, with horror. I had never read a young adult horror novel before, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Arndt combined both elements seamlessly, pairing them with an intriguing mystery and sharp humor that made for an engaging read. The humor, which I wasn’t expecting, was tastefully done and always landed at just the right moment. Despite being a fairly short book (about 288 pages), House of Hearts had me hooked from beginning to end. The world-building and character development were also well executed. I really liked Violet; she’s not only a loyal friend but also independent, smart, brave, and pretty hilarious. The supporting characters were just as strong; each one contrasted with the others, yet they all complemented each other perfectly.

If you’re looking for a spooky read this fall with a touch of Alice in Wonderland inspiration, I definitely recommend adding House of Hearts to your list. Even though it’s a young adult novel, there were a couple of scenes that gave me genuine goosebumps. I love when a book can have that effect, it means it’s doing exactly what it set out to do. Overall, House of Hearts was a great, fast-paced read, and the story tied up nicely in this standalone package.

The Legacies by Jesscia Goodman

Title: The Legacies

Author: Jesscia Goodman

Genre: YA Thriller

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 336 pages 

Publication: July 25, 2023 by Razorbill
Source: I received a review copy in exchange for a honest review.
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Old money. New secrets. One killer party.

Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.

So it’s not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they're all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She’s a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?

The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip.

Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess. No one expects their secrets to come out. Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.

 MY THOUGHTS

The Legacies is a standalone YA mystery thriller with the perfect vibe of Gossip Girl. The story is centered around four Excelsior seniors leading up to the Legacy Club Ball, an event that will shape their entire future. The book jumps back and forth through time and multiple POV of the three main heroines, Bernie the “It” girl, Isobel the “sidekick best friend” and Tori the “scholarship girl”. The Legacies opened up with a murder that shook high society to its core, as readers discovers alongside the characters what transpired and the identity of the victim as they navigated: lies, betrayal, secrets, blackmail…all in the name of The Legacy Club.

I’m normally not a fan of multiple point-of-view but in the case of The Legacies, it worked and was integral to the story. Readers were able to see more depth and exactly what the characters were thinking because most of the time, what we think we see and know on the surface isn’t the entire story. The girls couldn’t be more different, all nominated to the club for different reasons but all with the same goal. The Legacy club is the key to opening doors that are only available for the select members. Because it's not how or what you do but who do you know.

I enjoyed The Legacies more than I expected to. The first page set the tone of the book and I was hooked right away. The story flashed back before the Legacy ball and after, sprinkled with interview snippets as we pieced the puzzle pieces on the victim’s identity and people’ motives. The mystery aspect had me on the edge of my seat with endless twists and turns I didn’t see coming! Goodman’s writing and storytelling kept me engaged the entire time, adding enough bread crumbs along the way to entice reader resulting in a satisfying conclusion. Its been awhile since I’ve read a standalone and I forgot how nice it was to reach the end with things all tied up and completed.

 

 

We Made It All Up by Margot Harrison

Title: We Made It All Up

Author: Margot Harrison 

Genre: Contemporary YA, Thriller

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 384 pages 

Publication: July 12, 2022 by Little Brown BFYR

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for honest review.
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Celeste is the talk of the town when she moves to Montana from Montreal, but the only friend she makes is Vivvy, the heir to the town’s name and a social pariah. Inspired by a passion-fueled school incident, they begin writing a love-story fan fic between the popular guy and the school stoner, one that gradually reveals Celeste’s past. While their bond makes Celeste feel safe and alive again, Vivvy keeps prodding Celeste to turn fantasy into reality. When they finally try, one drunken night on a dark mountainside, Celeste is the one who ends up kissing golden boy Joss. And Joss ends up dead.

Celeste doesn’t remember the end of that night and can’t be sure she didn’t deliver the killing blow. Could she still be that scared of getting close to a boy? Secrets are hard to keep in a small town, and even Vivvy seems to suspect her. Exploring the winding passages of the cave where Joss died, Celeste learns he had his own dark secrets, as does Vivvy. The town isn’t as innocent as it appears.

 

MY THOUGHTS

We Made It All Up is whodunit thriller mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story focused on Celeste, who recently moved to a small town called Kray in Montana. She ended up befriending the eccentric Vivvy, the town’s heir. After witnessing and obsessing over a school incident, the girls turns their obsession into fanfic; penning a story that involved their classmates. But what started as a bonding guilty pleasure and fun experiment turns into a horror story when one of the subject of their story turns up dead…murdered! What ensues was endless questions, accusations and betrayals.

I absolutely love a good thriller mystery and We Made It All Up didn’t disappoint! The story took place over the course of about two and half months as it alternated from the present and the past leading up to a shocking finale. Each time the story alternated, readers were given more clues to how the events transpired and who the killer was. I must say Harrison kept me on my toes! Just when I thought I knew who the killer was I was thrown twists where everyone started looking suspicious!

 The plot was quite complex. It was more than just two girls obsessing over the most popular boy in school. And although at the center of it all is a murder there was so much more that went behind the scene in the small pious town of Kray. In trying to fit the puzzle pieces of her lost memory of the night of Joss’s supposed murder; Celeste uncovers Kray’s sinister secrets involving the town’s legacy heirs. I  thought the story/plot was very well- written and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters were all distinct and well developed. And while I love flawed, morally gray characters I unfortunately didn’t quite connect with any of them.

Overall We Made It All up hits all the high notes for me. I enjoyed the small town murder mystery, secret society vibes. I definitely would recommend this book to those who enjoy thriller mystery more on the darker, mature YA side. Fair warning, there were a lot of sensitive subjects and triggers, so check that out before you give it a go!

 

 

Hunting November by Adriana Mather

Title: Hunting November

Author: Adriana Mather
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery
Series: Killing November # 2

Paperback, 367 pages
Publication: May 18, 2021 by Ember
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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After surviving a crash course in espionage at the mysterious Academy Absconditi, November has only one purpose: finding her missing father. Along with fellow student (and heartthrob) Ash, November follows the clues that her father left, embarking on the deadliest treasure hunt of her life. The first clue is in her hometown, where old friends beckon and unexpected enemies lurk around every corner. The second clue is in Europe, where revelations about her family's history will plunge her into an international web of deception, lies, and intrigue. The third clue is deep in enemy territory, surrounded by the most skilled assassins and master strategists, and where everyone wants her and her father dead. Can one girl with limited training infiltrate a centuries-old organization that is powerful enough to topple empires? November only knows that she'll do whatever it takes to save her father . . . or die trying.

My Thoughts

My reading choices usually comprises of mostly Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels, but once in awhile I try to mix it up with other genre. Last year I picked up Killing November, a YA thriller from Adriana Mather about a boarding school full of assassins. It was a pleasant surprise and I really enjoyed the book. So much so that when I was offered to review the sequel, Hunting November I jumped at the chance!

Hunting November takes places exactly after the events of the first book. November and Ash leaves the academy and make their way to Europe to find November’s Dad. The two race across Europe following a trail of clues while being perused by seasoned professional Strategias.

I thought the stakes were high when November’s classmates were targeting her but it was nothing in comparison to the biggest Strategia Lion family and for-hire assassins. I loved seeing Ash and November utilize their skills in the wild and outsmarting older generation Strategias. There just something about feuding families that I find so fascinating; like Strategias’ rules, traditions, and their hierarchy system. Readers are introduced to a slew of new and interesting characters but don’t worry some of the main characters from the previous book play a pivotal roles to help November on her mission; which I must say were the highlights of the book for me.

While I enjoyed the first book, I gotta say this sequel exceeded my expectations. Hunting November was action packed from beginning to end. I was constantly surprised throughout the book with the multilayered plot and all the twist and turns. Especially when November’s classmates show up in Europe to save them in the nick of time.  And the Ferryman…that was brilliant! The story wrapped up nicely with the problem solved but I do hope we get more books in the series. All in all another great novel by Mather. I highly recommend starting at the beginning with the first book, Killing November. This series is more entertaining than the movies/shows currently airing, read it, you won’t be disappointed!