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The Cove
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100 copies available
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Midsommar meets Fear Street in this modern, sea-soaked folk horror debut about fighting to survive and fighting to be yourself.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.
When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.
As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.
When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.
As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 5, 2026
11447 people want to read
About the author
Claire Rose
2 books68 followersClaire Rose was born and raised in New Jersey but moved to the UK to study children's literature and fell in love with horror instead. She is a queer Jewish writer who works primarily in the intersection of fantasy, horror, and literary fiction, and can usually be found in the nearest bookstore or coffee shop. She also writes adult fiction as Claire Schultz. A PhD student by day, she lives in Edinburgh with her haunted cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Wow! This definitely had some serious Stephen King vibes as well as some early 2000s style tean horror! I loved every minute of it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Claire Rose delivers a killer YA debut, blending Nancy Drew with gothic/folk horror. The Cove will lure you in for a deadly good time.
February 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This started off really well, I thought for sure I was really going to enjoy it. Once she left the boarding school though, it really went downhill.
It took way too long to get into the story. I know it needs some build up, but I was pretty bored in the beginning and it never found its footing as it went on.
The plot was just too all over the place. It was focusing on her being a bad student, then it was sending her to the reform camp, but then it’s switched over to the cult aspect of the Cove and it threw in romance throughout. There was also a mystical aspect to it that may or may not have actually been magic. Which I am never a fan of that when it comes to books. It just wasn’t cohesive.
I liked Lindsay as a main character. She was sassy and had a lot of funny lines and thoughts! I thought it was interesting that the fourth wall was broken throughout the story. Sometimes it fit really well, and other times it was very jarring and kind of sounded dumb. When Lindsay referenced us as readers it was a fun little twist, but sometimes it was like the author was shoving something down our throats by saying word for word what she was implying, and that was weird to me.
I like Dalton and Lindsay’s banter. They were cute together, but I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I just knew the author wanted us to want them together, and it was kind of like, why not?
I liked that there was a found family aspect, but I also feel like we didn’t get to know the characters enough and see their relationship build to really actually care about them. It was a more so told they were a found family than actual found family. But I didn’t dislike any of the group so that is a plus at least.
There was a lot I didn’t like about this book. It touched on things that I don’t play around with, like tarot cards. But it also had a lot of animals being murdered which I do NOT want to read about. I know this was a horror/cult book, so it supposed to be a little disturbing, but I still am not okay with it by any means. It was in graphic detail too.
It threw me off that the twins were barely in it, especially for how quickly Lindsay trusted them. I know she doesn’t trust Irene so of course she would want to believe other people who are against her, but the twins were also complete strangers so why would you just take their word at face value. I wish we got more of who they are as characters, so we would maybe want to root for them. There was never a moment of us maybe thinking the cult was better for Lindsay than Irene. All of them were pretty bad. I can see where the novel pulls from “Midsommer” but it didn’t work in this book.
Her parents were horrible and neglectful, but at the end they were just better people at the flip of a switch with no real consequence which threw me off too. Everything just wrapped up so neatly and it was all super rushed.
It sounded very cool in theory, but was just did not work for me.
This started off really well, I thought for sure I was really going to enjoy it. Once she left the boarding school though, it really went downhill.
It took way too long to get into the story. I know it needs some build up, but I was pretty bored in the beginning and it never found its footing as it went on.
The plot was just too all over the place. It was focusing on her being a bad student, then it was sending her to the reform camp, but then it’s switched over to the cult aspect of the Cove and it threw in romance throughout. There was also a mystical aspect to it that may or may not have actually been magic. Which I am never a fan of that when it comes to books. It just wasn’t cohesive.
I liked Lindsay as a main character. She was sassy and had a lot of funny lines and thoughts! I thought it was interesting that the fourth wall was broken throughout the story. Sometimes it fit really well, and other times it was very jarring and kind of sounded dumb. When Lindsay referenced us as readers it was a fun little twist, but sometimes it was like the author was shoving something down our throats by saying word for word what she was implying, and that was weird to me.
I like Dalton and Lindsay’s banter. They were cute together, but I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. I just knew the author wanted us to want them together, and it was kind of like, why not?
I liked that there was a found family aspect, but I also feel like we didn’t get to know the characters enough and see their relationship build to really actually care about them. It was a more so told they were a found family than actual found family. But I didn’t dislike any of the group so that is a plus at least.
There was a lot I didn’t like about this book. It touched on things that I don’t play around with, like tarot cards. But it also had a lot of animals being murdered which I do NOT want to read about. I know this was a horror/cult book, so it supposed to be a little disturbing, but I still am not okay with it by any means. It was in graphic detail too.
It threw me off that the twins were barely in it, especially for how quickly Lindsay trusted them. I know she doesn’t trust Irene so of course she would want to believe other people who are against her, but the twins were also complete strangers so why would you just take their word at face value. I wish we got more of who they are as characters, so we would maybe want to root for them. There was never a moment of us maybe thinking the cult was better for Lindsay than Irene. All of them were pretty bad. I can see where the novel pulls from “Midsommer” but it didn’t work in this book.
Her parents were horrible and neglectful, but at the end they were just better people at the flip of a switch with no real consequence which threw me off too. Everything just wrapped up so neatly and it was all super rushed.
It sounded very cool in theory, but was just did not work for me.
December 12, 2025
Beware the siren call of the sea….
Teenage angst has nothing on Lindsey, daughter of an aspiring senator who has committed her last act of rebellion to get herself kicked out of her private school and sent to Haven House, a tiny home on the coast that promises to rehabilitate children to be perfect members of society and to her suprise it’s ran by her aunt and uncle. With the latter away on business, Aunt Irene welcomes Lindsey to join the other group of kids to work hard and avoid leaving the farm but when a beach party invite crosses their paths they sneak out and find themselves in the middle of something far bigger, and much older than anything they could have prepared for and if they’re not careful they may find themselves washed away with the tides.
I’m a big fan of the creepy small town legend like monsters and this book feeds into that pretty well. We have this beautiful landscape that is just begging to be explored but you soon realize the adventure is actually a hunt. There were a few moments where I got lost with everyone around and not sure who was friend or foe and I might have to go back to double check a few but overall it kept interest and maintained this unsettling atmosphere that kept you on edge to see what was happening and who, if anyone would survive.
The characters were fine, again I got lost in some parts keeping track of people who seemed to flip in and out of the plot when necessary. Lindsey is a strong character who is clearly hurting and trying to get any attention so her struggles and strive to be the one to be chosen for once seems to bite her later but she forms real connections with the group that really grounds her in a way she needed. I wish we got more of everyone else because some of the romance aspects felt a little out of left field because they didn’t have a lot of time to feel organic but that could also be because I was so focused on figuring out the plot, the other build up didn’t stick in my head.
Not a bad book but I’m not sure how long it will stick around in my mind but I hope other readers get caught in its net!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Teenage angst has nothing on Lindsey, daughter of an aspiring senator who has committed her last act of rebellion to get herself kicked out of her private school and sent to Haven House, a tiny home on the coast that promises to rehabilitate children to be perfect members of society and to her suprise it’s ran by her aunt and uncle. With the latter away on business, Aunt Irene welcomes Lindsey to join the other group of kids to work hard and avoid leaving the farm but when a beach party invite crosses their paths they sneak out and find themselves in the middle of something far bigger, and much older than anything they could have prepared for and if they’re not careful they may find themselves washed away with the tides.
I’m a big fan of the creepy small town legend like monsters and this book feeds into that pretty well. We have this beautiful landscape that is just begging to be explored but you soon realize the adventure is actually a hunt. There were a few moments where I got lost with everyone around and not sure who was friend or foe and I might have to go back to double check a few but overall it kept interest and maintained this unsettling atmosphere that kept you on edge to see what was happening and who, if anyone would survive.
The characters were fine, again I got lost in some parts keeping track of people who seemed to flip in and out of the plot when necessary. Lindsey is a strong character who is clearly hurting and trying to get any attention so her struggles and strive to be the one to be chosen for once seems to bite her later but she forms real connections with the group that really grounds her in a way she needed. I wish we got more of everyone else because some of the romance aspects felt a little out of left field because they didn’t have a lot of time to feel organic but that could also be because I was so focused on figuring out the plot, the other build up didn’t stick in my head.
Not a bad book but I’m not sure how long it will stick around in my mind but I hope other readers get caught in its net!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
January 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked about 15% in. It had a lot of great twists, and I loved the group of “troubled” teens the story centers around. There were a few moments where it felt like a bit of information overload, especially when it came to details about the island. Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought the ending was set up well for a sequel.
I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked about 15% in. It had a lot of great twists, and I loved the group of “troubled” teens the story centers around. There were a few moments where it felt like a bit of information overload, especially when it came to details about the island. Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought the ending was set up well for a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Any folk-horror friends? This one's for you! The Cove is a book that absolutely understood the assignment when it came to vibes, characters, and seaside dread!
The Setup (aka: Welcome To Your Worst Summer Ever)
We first meet Lindsay Weinberg, a seventeen-year-old who has been yeeted out of yet another prep school and shipped off to the isolated town of Marbury, Maine. Instead of the chill uncle she remembered from her childhood and some healing farm air, she lands in a nightmare scenario: a hyper-religious reform camp run by her uncle's zealously evangelical wife. Think: no phones, no freedom, dawn wakeups, 9 PM strict bedtime, and manual labor - because nothing says "troubled teen rehabilitation" like exhaustion and control.
Things shift when Lindsay meets Phin and Cass, twins who live on a nearby island and represent freedom, rebellion, and a crack in the rigid structure Lindsay's been trapped in. One impulsive night out leads to a party they can't fully remember - just seashell tokens in their hands and the terrifying realization that one Haven House resident never made it home.
Where the Story Really Shines: The Characters
While Cass & Phin help open the door to the island and its secrets, the emotional core of this story truly belongs to Dalton, Mateo and Tash - fellow Haven House residents whose lives are far more entangled with the farm's control and consequences. Dalton is gorgeous, caring, observant and constantly clocking the dangers long before anyone else does. Mateo wears his heart on his sleeve. He's empathetic and often acts as the emotional compass of the group. Lastly, Tash, who's sharp, skeptical, and openly resistant to the ways on the farm. Together, this group carries much of the story's weight & represents different ways of surviving a system designed to break them.
The Vibes & The Horror
The Midsommar meets Fear Street comparison is spot-on. The setting is cold, isolating, and steeped in folk horror, with an ever-present sense that the town knows more than it's letting on. The horror isn't just supernatural - it's institutional, rooted in control, silence, and tradition.
Also, small but important note: I wanted to punch Lindsay's wildly non-present parents straight in the face for most of this book. Repeatedly. Right up until the very end. (IYKYK.)
The Ending
The ending ties things up in a way that felt satisfying and earned, while still leaving the door cracked open just enough for more - should Claire Rose choose to return to this world. And honestly? I'd be there immediately.
Final Thoughts
The Cove is atmospheric, unsettling, and character-driven in the best way. While the plot itself didn't completely blow me away, the characters absolutely did, and that's what pushed this to a rounded up four stars for me. If you like strange horror, mythical creatures, found family, and stories where the real monsters aren't always supernatural-this one's worth the read.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way. This book comes out May 5th, 2026 just in time for those vacay reads so make sure to pre-order when you can!
The Setup (aka: Welcome To Your Worst Summer Ever)
We first meet Lindsay Weinberg, a seventeen-year-old who has been yeeted out of yet another prep school and shipped off to the isolated town of Marbury, Maine. Instead of the chill uncle she remembered from her childhood and some healing farm air, she lands in a nightmare scenario: a hyper-religious reform camp run by her uncle's zealously evangelical wife. Think: no phones, no freedom, dawn wakeups, 9 PM strict bedtime, and manual labor - because nothing says "troubled teen rehabilitation" like exhaustion and control.
Things shift when Lindsay meets Phin and Cass, twins who live on a nearby island and represent freedom, rebellion, and a crack in the rigid structure Lindsay's been trapped in. One impulsive night out leads to a party they can't fully remember - just seashell tokens in their hands and the terrifying realization that one Haven House resident never made it home.
Where the Story Really Shines: The Characters
While Cass & Phin help open the door to the island and its secrets, the emotional core of this story truly belongs to Dalton, Mateo and Tash - fellow Haven House residents whose lives are far more entangled with the farm's control and consequences. Dalton is gorgeous, caring, observant and constantly clocking the dangers long before anyone else does. Mateo wears his heart on his sleeve. He's empathetic and often acts as the emotional compass of the group. Lastly, Tash, who's sharp, skeptical, and openly resistant to the ways on the farm. Together, this group carries much of the story's weight & represents different ways of surviving a system designed to break them.
The Vibes & The Horror
The Midsommar meets Fear Street comparison is spot-on. The setting is cold, isolating, and steeped in folk horror, with an ever-present sense that the town knows more than it's letting on. The horror isn't just supernatural - it's institutional, rooted in control, silence, and tradition.
Also, small but important note: I wanted to punch Lindsay's wildly non-present parents straight in the face for most of this book. Repeatedly. Right up until the very end. (IYKYK.)
The Ending
The ending ties things up in a way that felt satisfying and earned, while still leaving the door cracked open just enough for more - should Claire Rose choose to return to this world. And honestly? I'd be there immediately.
Final Thoughts
The Cove is atmospheric, unsettling, and character-driven in the best way. While the plot itself didn't completely blow me away, the characters absolutely did, and that's what pushed this to a rounded up four stars for me. If you like strange horror, mythical creatures, found family, and stories where the real monsters aren't always supernatural-this one's worth the read.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way. This book comes out May 5th, 2026 just in time for those vacay reads so make sure to pre-order when you can!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Claire Rose’s “The Cove” is a sea-soaked YA folk horror that traps its characters and readers in an atmosphere of isolation, paranoia, and creeping dread. Equal parts cult mystery and coming-of-age survival story, this debut lures you in with a gorgeous coastal setting before revealing just how hungry the town really is.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg initially feels like a familiar archetype: the rich, emotionally neglected senator’s daughter who acts out at school just to be noticed. Her rebellion gets her shipped off to Haven House, an isolated “behavior rehabilitation” farm in coastal Maine, run by a step-aunt she’s never met. From the start, the rules are suffocating such as no phones, no contact with the outside world, and constant labor; the mood right from the very beginning is unmistakably off. Strange rituals, dead animals, and a sense of being watched establish an unease that never fully lets up.
When Lindsay and the other teens sneak out to attend a party at The Cove, everything shifts. They wake the next morning with no memory of how they got home; there are only seashell tokens and a growing sense of terror. One camper never returns, and soon teens begin dying one by one. What follows is a twisting mystery where no one is fully trustworthy: the aunt, the cult-like islanders, the townspeople, or possibly everyone working together in service of something far older and darker. Lies pile on lies, red herrings abound, and the truth feels deliberately just out of reach.
The horror leans visceral at times, with moments of gore that underline the brutality of what’s happening. While the main plot takes its time to ignite as some major events arrive later than expected, yet the tension steadily builds, fueled by confusion, fear, and the unsettling sense that the land itself is hunting the teens. An eldritch, god-worshipping cult lurks beneath the surface, giving the story a mythic, folkloric edge that pairs beautifully with the stormy coastal setting.
Lindsay herself grows significantly over the course of the novel. What begins as attention-seeking rebellion softens into something more vulnerable as she forms a found family among the other teens. Their bonds, often laced with dark humor, ground the story emotionally, even when the plot becomes dense with secrets. There’s a touch of romance and a mild love triangle, but it never fully overtakes the horror, even if some connections feel rushed due to the story’s relentless focus on survival.
The ending wraps up more neatly than expected, yet leaves just enough unresolved to deliver a final chill, which suggests that the horror of The Cove may not be finished after all.
Overall, “The Cove” is a modern folk horror that thrives on mistrust, isolation, and the desperate need to belong. Perfect for those who love eerie small towns, cult mysteries, and stories where the sea always takes its due.
Claire Rose’s “The Cove” is a sea-soaked YA folk horror that traps its characters and readers in an atmosphere of isolation, paranoia, and creeping dread. Equal parts cult mystery and coming-of-age survival story, this debut lures you in with a gorgeous coastal setting before revealing just how hungry the town really is.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg initially feels like a familiar archetype: the rich, emotionally neglected senator’s daughter who acts out at school just to be noticed. Her rebellion gets her shipped off to Haven House, an isolated “behavior rehabilitation” farm in coastal Maine, run by a step-aunt she’s never met. From the start, the rules are suffocating such as no phones, no contact with the outside world, and constant labor; the mood right from the very beginning is unmistakably off. Strange rituals, dead animals, and a sense of being watched establish an unease that never fully lets up.
When Lindsay and the other teens sneak out to attend a party at The Cove, everything shifts. They wake the next morning with no memory of how they got home; there are only seashell tokens and a growing sense of terror. One camper never returns, and soon teens begin dying one by one. What follows is a twisting mystery where no one is fully trustworthy: the aunt, the cult-like islanders, the townspeople, or possibly everyone working together in service of something far older and darker. Lies pile on lies, red herrings abound, and the truth feels deliberately just out of reach.
The horror leans visceral at times, with moments of gore that underline the brutality of what’s happening. While the main plot takes its time to ignite as some major events arrive later than expected, yet the tension steadily builds, fueled by confusion, fear, and the unsettling sense that the land itself is hunting the teens. An eldritch, god-worshipping cult lurks beneath the surface, giving the story a mythic, folkloric edge that pairs beautifully with the stormy coastal setting.
Lindsay herself grows significantly over the course of the novel. What begins as attention-seeking rebellion softens into something more vulnerable as she forms a found family among the other teens. Their bonds, often laced with dark humor, ground the story emotionally, even when the plot becomes dense with secrets. There’s a touch of romance and a mild love triangle, but it never fully overtakes the horror, even if some connections feel rushed due to the story’s relentless focus on survival.
The ending wraps up more neatly than expected, yet leaves just enough unresolved to deliver a final chill, which suggests that the horror of The Cove may not be finished after all.
Overall, “The Cove” is a modern folk horror that thrives on mistrust, isolation, and the desperate need to belong. Perfect for those who love eerie small towns, cult mysteries, and stories where the sea always takes its due.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Great story line and mystery but the author clearly has very adult, personal opinions she's thrown in after the fact that interjected and distracted.
Overall: 4⭐
Plot: 5📍
Mystery: 5 🔍
YA - ness: 3*🍿
("spice" in this book = a couple kisses, a vague mention of same-sex hooking up off page)
Suggested Ages:
Read By: 16y/o +
Lindsay, our FMC, is highly disagreeable and for understandable reasons. And she's very, very well written - the 17 year old "I know everything and understand life" attitude oozes off the page. So her punishment after being expelled, yet again, makes perfect sense - being sent to an estranged family's farm for a societal detox. Granted, what her parents thought they were sending her to and what she was really headed towards were not the same!
I loved that the reader genuinely wasn't sure who to trust or believe throughout the entire story. The imagery was great. Supernatural or not? Real or imagined? You'll be guessing right up into the final big reveal (with a few great plot twists along the way). Ms. Rose's writing is fantastic! Her use of the senses, descriptions, all came together superbly, fully immersing the reader in whatever scene they're reading.
And Lindsay's friends are fantastic foils to her character. One, the disarmingly charming It Boy while another is the perpetually cheerful one. Another, the sweet but reserved with a big heart. Another who supposedly didn't have much to say, but spoke up plenty, and added comic relief. But the author's biases against certain religions and races are loud and clear, and her clear opinions felt like add-ons. OBTWs that checked boxes and genuinely added nothing of value to the storyline. If anything, it actually detracted from a sort of redemption arc for a later-introduced character.
And some of those subplot-themes, personally, I don't believe are appropriate for YA. Yes, typically YA is marketed towards 11y/o -15/16 year olds. However, the real, voracious readers, the ones who will actually be reading said books, will be younger.
With that in mind, the current version of the advanced proof I received, I can't recommend to younger readers who read above grade level and I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it to my own children when they're 11-16 y/o.
I won a physical copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways with the understanding I would read and review it.
All opinions are my own.
*I have a zero-spice policy for YA. Maybe a chaste smooch. Maybe. I want to see healthy emotional bonds modeled between MCs, romantic or otherwise, and positive character shaping.
I also understand many teens will be curious about "spice". Should their parents approve, go explore New Adult (16-21 y/o) with healthy relationships. Leave YA spice-free.
Overall: 4⭐
Plot: 5📍
Mystery: 5 🔍
YA - ness: 3*🍿
("spice" in this book = a couple kisses, a vague mention of same-sex hooking up off page)
Suggested Ages:
Read By: 16y/o +
Lindsay, our FMC, is highly disagreeable and for understandable reasons. And she's very, very well written - the 17 year old "I know everything and understand life" attitude oozes off the page. So her punishment after being expelled, yet again, makes perfect sense - being sent to an estranged family's farm for a societal detox. Granted, what her parents thought they were sending her to and what she was really headed towards were not the same!
I loved that the reader genuinely wasn't sure who to trust or believe throughout the entire story. The imagery was great. Supernatural or not? Real or imagined? You'll be guessing right up into the final big reveal (with a few great plot twists along the way). Ms. Rose's writing is fantastic! Her use of the senses, descriptions, all came together superbly, fully immersing the reader in whatever scene they're reading.
And Lindsay's friends are fantastic foils to her character. One, the disarmingly charming It Boy while another is the perpetually cheerful one. Another, the sweet but reserved with a big heart. Another who supposedly didn't have much to say, but spoke up plenty, and added comic relief. But the author's biases against certain religions and races are loud and clear, and her clear opinions felt like add-ons. OBTWs that checked boxes and genuinely added nothing of value to the storyline. If anything, it actually detracted from a sort of redemption arc for a later-introduced character.
And some of those subplot-themes, personally, I don't believe are appropriate for YA. Yes, typically YA is marketed towards 11y/o -15/16 year olds. However, the real, voracious readers, the ones who will actually be reading said books, will be younger.
With that in mind, the current version of the advanced proof I received, I can't recommend to younger readers who read above grade level and I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it to my own children when they're 11-16 y/o.
I won a physical copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways with the understanding I would read and review it.
All opinions are my own.
*I have a zero-spice policy for YA. Maybe a chaste smooch. Maybe. I want to see healthy emotional bonds modeled between MCs, romantic or otherwise, and positive character shaping.
I also understand many teens will be curious about "spice". Should their parents approve, go explore New Adult (16-21 y/o) with healthy relationships. Leave YA spice-free.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Cove!
I'm afraid I'm DNFing at the 55% mark. I normally adore queer folk horror, and I was excited for a coastal theme. But, I'm afraid I found the characters too 2D, the horror elements too cliché, and in general, everything too stereotypical. I was bored the whole way up until I gave in and DNF'd.
Our POV character Lindsay is emotionally neglected by her rich parents. She attempts to hide how much it hurts her by rebelling and pushing everyone away — right until she gets carted off to a Christian corrective facility for troubled teens in rural Maine. She has a strong and consistent voice throughout the novel. However, I would have liked her more had there been more depth or complexity to her character.
There's some great LGBTQ+ rep among the other teens (and with Lindsay herself, who's bi), but that aside, they're a bunch of stereotypes with limited personalities. And so, too, is everyone and everything else in the novel, from the pervy gas station attendant who Lindsay asks for help to the creepy twins in old-fashioned clothing and the order in which characters die.
While shouting at characters not to do something is a staple of the horror genre, I also found some of the characters' actions to be so illogical that it broke my immersion. For example, why did they decide not to report a murder or get help, and instead drive back to the house where they'll be locked in while someone keeps killing people and they have zero phones?
It's also worth bearing in mind that the novel starts slowly, with the plot starting to pick up at the 40% mark. However, this time is used to create atmosphere. I think had I not found the book too stereotypical to be scary or interesting, this would have worked well for me.
I'm afraid I'm DNFing at the 55% mark. I normally adore queer folk horror, and I was excited for a coastal theme. But, I'm afraid I found the characters too 2D, the horror elements too cliché, and in general, everything too stereotypical. I was bored the whole way up until I gave in and DNF'd.
Our POV character Lindsay is emotionally neglected by her rich parents. She attempts to hide how much it hurts her by rebelling and pushing everyone away — right until she gets carted off to a Christian corrective facility for troubled teens in rural Maine. She has a strong and consistent voice throughout the novel. However, I would have liked her more had there been more depth or complexity to her character.
There's some great LGBTQ+ rep among the other teens (and with Lindsay herself, who's bi), but that aside, they're a bunch of stereotypes with limited personalities. And so, too, is everyone and everything else in the novel, from the pervy gas station attendant who Lindsay asks for help to the creepy twins in old-fashioned clothing and the order in which characters die.
While shouting at characters not to do something is a staple of the horror genre, I also found some of the characters' actions to be so illogical that it broke my immersion. For example, why did they decide not to report a murder or get help, and instead drive back to the house where they'll be locked in while someone keeps killing people and they have zero phones?
It's also worth bearing in mind that the novel starts slowly, with the plot starting to pick up at the 40% mark. However, this time is used to create atmosphere. I think had I not found the book too stereotypical to be scary or interesting, this would have worked well for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Cove, by Claire Rose, from St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 2.3 ⭐
I requested an ARC of this book because the description of it led with a reference to Misdommar, which is one of the single-most disturbing folk horror films I have ever watched on my almost 60 years on this particular planet (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/).
And, yeah, I got where some of the stuff about The Cove (the place in the book) felt like that.
But, reader? Midsommar is most very definitely a movie for adults, not anybody who’s 13. (Even Precocious Teenage Kristi.) Which is relevant, because when I started looking at reviews on Goodreads, I saw that this was classified as a Teen/YA book.
Nothing in the NetGalley description said that directly, so we can't blame me for reading too quickly this time. I had already aged out of the genre by the time R.L. Stine hit the scene with a vengeance, so the mention of Fear Street went -whooshing- right past me.
Point being, I probably wouldn’t have requested this one had I realized how targeted at a juvenile audience it was. Please note that that statement is in no way meant to diss either the Teen or YA genre; I’ve read lots of books classified as such as an adult and loved them and rated them highly.
But this book was only OK. It had continuity issues, some of the characters weren’t believable at all, and it got kinda boring in parts. Of course I had to wonder if I would’ve enjoyed it as a currently modern-day teenager with the attention span of a rat on speed and parents who weren’t present and loving in my life.
We’ll never know.
Next, please.
DESCRIPTION
Midsommar meets Fear Street in this modern, sea-soaked folk horror debut about fighting to survive, and fighting to be yourself.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just gotten kicked out of another prep school, and has consequently found herself shipped to her Uncle Levi's farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine.
When Lindsay arrives at a big, old farmhouse miles from civilization, she is greeted by her uncle’s new wife, a goy with a little too much Jesus decor for Lindsay’s taste—with Uncle Levi mysteriously away on a business trip. Not only that, but Lindsay isn’t the only teen staying there. In fact, there is a small group of teens going through some kind of reform program. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones, computers or tablets.
Things start to feel hopeless until Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass. They live on an island off the Peninsula’s coast—and they have internet. Lindsay convinces the others at Haven House to sneak out for a party on the island, and the night is incredible. At least…what they can remember of it. All of them wake up in their beds with sea-shell mementos, no memory of how they got home, and wicked hangovers. All of them except one. And as the disappearances and mysteries pile up, Lindsay and the others realize that they have become involved in a terrifying fight to survive, before the Cove claims them all.
Received a complimentary copy of The Cove, by Claire Rose, from St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 2.3 ⭐
I requested an ARC of this book because the description of it led with a reference to Misdommar, which is one of the single-most disturbing folk horror films I have ever watched on my almost 60 years on this particular planet (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/).
And, yeah, I got where some of the stuff about The Cove (the place in the book) felt like that.
But, reader? Midsommar is most very definitely a movie for adults, not anybody who’s 13. (Even Precocious Teenage Kristi.) Which is relevant, because when I started looking at reviews on Goodreads, I saw that this was classified as a Teen/YA book.
Nothing in the NetGalley description said that directly, so we can't blame me for reading too quickly this time. I had already aged out of the genre by the time R.L. Stine hit the scene with a vengeance, so the mention of Fear Street went -whooshing- right past me.
Point being, I probably wouldn’t have requested this one had I realized how targeted at a juvenile audience it was. Please note that that statement is in no way meant to diss either the Teen or YA genre; I’ve read lots of books classified as such as an adult and loved them and rated them highly.
But this book was only OK. It had continuity issues, some of the characters weren’t believable at all, and it got kinda boring in parts. Of course I had to wonder if I would’ve enjoyed it as a currently modern-day teenager with the attention span of a rat on speed and parents who weren’t present and loving in my life.
We’ll never know.
Next, please.
DESCRIPTION
Midsommar meets Fear Street in this modern, sea-soaked folk horror debut about fighting to survive, and fighting to be yourself.
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just gotten kicked out of another prep school, and has consequently found herself shipped to her Uncle Levi's farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine.
When Lindsay arrives at a big, old farmhouse miles from civilization, she is greeted by her uncle’s new wife, a goy with a little too much Jesus decor for Lindsay’s taste—with Uncle Levi mysteriously away on a business trip. Not only that, but Lindsay isn’t the only teen staying there. In fact, there is a small group of teens going through some kind of reform program. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones, computers or tablets.
Things start to feel hopeless until Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass. They live on an island off the Peninsula’s coast—and they have internet. Lindsay convinces the others at Haven House to sneak out for a party on the island, and the night is incredible. At least…what they can remember of it. All of them wake up in their beds with sea-shell mementos, no memory of how they got home, and wicked hangovers. All of them except one. And as the disappearances and mysteries pile up, Lindsay and the others realize that they have become involved in a terrifying fight to survive, before the Cove claims them all.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Cove by Claire Rose
3.1⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.1/5
Cursing: min+
Format/Source: paperback from Goodreads and St Martin's Publishing Group
Genres/Tropes: folk horror
Audience: YA
Setting: Maine
Characters: Lindsay, Phin, Cass, Dalton, Irene, Levi, Mateo, Gwen, Tash
👍 short chapters, storyline, setting, ending, unique story
👎 cursing, very race/religion/sexuality focused/prejudiced
Description:
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.
When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.
As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.
I enjoyed this novel, especially the unusualness of the storyline and setting. However, I did not care for how much it focused on race, religion, money, politics, and sexuality. I felt the book to be more worried about pushing all of those agendas instead of about the horror story itself. It would have been a high 4 star rating if that was not the case.
#bookstagram #booklovers #horrorbooks #seamonster #cult
3.1⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.1/5
Cursing: min+
Format/Source: paperback from Goodreads and St Martin's Publishing Group
Genres/Tropes: folk horror
Audience: YA
Setting: Maine
Characters: Lindsay, Phin, Cass, Dalton, Irene, Levi, Mateo, Gwen, Tash
👍 short chapters, storyline, setting, ending, unique story
👎 cursing, very race/religion/sexuality focused/prejudiced
Description:
Seventeen-year-old Lindsay Weinberg has just been kicked out of yet another prep school and exiled to her uncle’s farm in the cold, isolated town of Marbury, Maine. But Uncle Levi is gone, leaving the farmhouse under the strict rule of his new zealously evangelical wife, who runs a reform camp for troubled teens. Up at dawn. Manual labor all day. No phones. No computers. No way out.
When Lindsay meets the twins, Phin and Cass, who live on a nearby island, everything changes. One reckless night, she convinces the others to sneak out for a party. The night is unforgettable—at least, the parts they can remember. The next morning, they wake in their own beds, clutching seashell tokens, hearts pounding, with no memory of how they got home. Except one camper never made it back.
As disappearances mount and dark secrets rise, Lindsay and her friends must unravel the mystery of the island—before The Cove claims them all.
I enjoyed this novel, especially the unusualness of the storyline and setting. However, I did not care for how much it focused on race, religion, money, politics, and sexuality. I felt the book to be more worried about pushing all of those agendas instead of about the horror story itself. It would have been a high 4 star rating if that was not the case.
#bookstagram #booklovers #horrorbooks #seamonster #cult
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. When Lindsay gets kicked out of another prep school she’s sent to live with her Uncle on his farm in the isolated town of Marbury Maine. When she arrives she’s met by her uncles new wife, who has a little two much Jesus decor for Lindsay’s taste. Her Uncle is mysteriously away and she finds that she’s not the only teen at the farm, there’s some kind of reform program happening. One that requires them to be up before dawn and doing manual labor and doesn’t allow for cellphones or computers. Things are looking bleak until she meets the twins, Phin and Cass. They live on the island and have internet. She convinces the other kids at the farm to sneak out to a party on the island. Things seem to be going great until they wake up in bed the next day with no memory of how they got home and hangovers. Also someone didn’t return home and as the disappearances start to pile up Lindsay realize they are in a fight to survive. Can she survive? Full of twists and turns that kept me guessing! Definitely one of those reads where who can’t tell who is trustworthy or not! Plus the seaside setting and the farm that gives you the creeps really set the scene! Claire Rose writes a gripping queer horror that is full of suspense and intrigue!
dnf
January 18, 2026DNF at 24% (Read Through Chapter 7 of eARC)
This story just isn’t drawing me in, unfortunately. The writing style is a bit young for my liking (though I’m sure there are many teen readers who will enjoy it); the characters are falling flat to me; and there’s a bit too much telling vs showing.
I appreciate the strangeness that is going on at the farm, so the vibes were good in that sense. But I was zoning out most of the time while reading this book, so I think it’s time to just set it down for good.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
This story just isn’t drawing me in, unfortunately. The writing style is a bit young for my liking (though I’m sure there are many teen readers who will enjoy it); the characters are falling flat to me; and there’s a bit too much telling vs showing.
I appreciate the strangeness that is going on at the farm, so the vibes were good in that sense. But I was zoning out most of the time while reading this book, so I think it’s time to just set it down for good.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley, Wednesday Books and the author for the eARC and the chance to read this book before its release!
I adored The Cove so much! I was initially intrigued by the summary which mixed cults and folk horror, two of my favorites. There was also a mention of the novel being Midsommar meets Fear Street which is an accurate description. I don’t usually read YA horror because it makes me feel old but this one was so worth it. Although the characters are teens, it felt like an adult novel that happened to have high school aged leads.
Lindsay was a wonderful MC. She’s snarky and witty and I adored her. I even chuckled a few times at her wry observations. Her banter with all the characters, especially Dalton, was excellent. I felt for her and all the teens, hidden away by their parents for various reasons. Lindsay, our narrator, feels abandoned by her parents who don’t seem to have time for her even when she’s expelled from yet another school. Her fellow teens are sent to Maine by their parents for being gay or trans or an addict.
I highly recommend The Cove for anyone who likes unsettling locations, cults, folk horror and a witty lead. Or really, anyone who wants a well-written, fun horror novel. 5/5, no notes.
I adored The Cove so much! I was initially intrigued by the summary which mixed cults and folk horror, two of my favorites. There was also a mention of the novel being Midsommar meets Fear Street which is an accurate description. I don’t usually read YA horror because it makes me feel old but this one was so worth it. Although the characters are teens, it felt like an adult novel that happened to have high school aged leads.
Lindsay was a wonderful MC. She’s snarky and witty and I adored her. I even chuckled a few times at her wry observations. Her banter with all the characters, especially Dalton, was excellent. I felt for her and all the teens, hidden away by their parents for various reasons. Lindsay, our narrator, feels abandoned by her parents who don’t seem to have time for her even when she’s expelled from yet another school. Her fellow teens are sent to Maine by their parents for being gay or trans or an addict.
I highly recommend The Cove for anyone who likes unsettling locations, cults, folk horror and a witty lead. Or really, anyone who wants a well-written, fun horror novel. 5/5, no notes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Cove is a dread filled, sea soaked nightmare set on a farm in northern Maine where a troubled teen camp, and a watery cult collide. Our heroine Lindsay is very good at being self sufficient, but when she's shipped to Haven House to spend her summer with her estranged uncle after being expelled from her third boarding school, nothing is as it seems.
Her Uncle's wife is a cold, hard, bible thumper...a strange suprise for Jewish Lindsay, and what she thought was staying with her uncle is actually a work camp for troubled teens. Things go from bad to worse when she realizes there is no cell reception. On an excursion into town she runs into locals who live on a nearby island and invite her to a party, she attends (along with her fellow troublemaking teens) hoping to find a way back to civilization.
Instead she wakes up the next morning covered in sand, and one of her friends is dead. From there things go from bad to much, much worse.
This is the best of atmospheric YA horror. From a cast that came to life on the page, to the cult and it's blood soaked history, it's a new favorite for anyone who loves seaside horror stories.
Her Uncle's wife is a cold, hard, bible thumper...a strange suprise for Jewish Lindsay, and what she thought was staying with her uncle is actually a work camp for troubled teens. Things go from bad to worse when she realizes there is no cell reception. On an excursion into town she runs into locals who live on a nearby island and invite her to a party, she attends (along with her fellow troublemaking teens) hoping to find a way back to civilization.
Instead she wakes up the next morning covered in sand, and one of her friends is dead. From there things go from bad to much, much worse.
This is the best of atmospheric YA horror. From a cast that came to life on the page, to the cult and it's blood soaked history, it's a new favorite for anyone who loves seaside horror stories.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A sea-soaked folk horror and a cover like that immediately grabbed my attention. The plot moved quickly enough that I kept turning pages and it kept me engrossed, but there were times I was just as disoriented as Lindsay when she was lost in the mysterious fog.
Lindsay carries a lot of trauma--parents who ignore her and pass her on for someone else to deal with which has created someone who has turned into a loner in their self-sufficient protection. Her humor is inappropriate which can be funny sometimes, but in others, it's so tone-deaf to what's happening in the scene that it's off-putting, like the tension and the tension-diffusion don't align properly. It also reflects how her narrative tells us she's not used to making friends so perhaps that's just how she's trying to relate to the other teens. I know that is only my opinion and maybe resonates with other readers.
I'd recommend for ages 14+ Seggsual content is limited to kissing, but there are a lot of f-bombs. Horror elements aren't quite as graphic as I Know What You Did Last Summer, but there is blood. A farm animal is ritually slaughtered
All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
Lindsay carries a lot of trauma--parents who ignore her and pass her on for someone else to deal with which has created someone who has turned into a loner in their self-sufficient protection. Her humor is inappropriate which can be funny sometimes, but in others, it's so tone-deaf to what's happening in the scene that it's off-putting, like the tension and the tension-diffusion don't align properly. It also reflects how her narrative tells us she's not used to making friends so perhaps that's just how she's trying to relate to the other teens. I know that is only my opinion and maybe resonates with other readers.
I'd recommend for ages 14+ Seggsual content is limited to kissing, but there are a lot of f-bombs. Horror elements aren't quite as graphic as I Know What You Did Last Summer, but there is blood. A farm animal is ritually slaughtered
All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a pretty great read overall!
The eerie, sea-socked atmosphere was one of my favorite parts for sure! It took a bit for the story to reach its true horror potential with all the isolation and paranoia and gore to some extent, but I really enjoyed all the suspense building up to it.
Lindsay was a great character to follow, as she definitely came across as a believable 17-year-old who understandably has been having trouble at school and at home with her neglectful parents. I honestly felt bad from her right from the first chapter, as I can understand why she’s as disagreeable as she is.
It was also great to try and figure out who Lindsay could and couldn’t trust as more and more characters were introduced on the page. And all the twists and turns were fun to follow along with.
I think some of the side characters could have been a bit more fleshed out personality wise. But I love that this book has queer rep (for example, Lindsay herself is bisexual), so that was a major plus.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read the eARC!
The eerie, sea-socked atmosphere was one of my favorite parts for sure! It took a bit for the story to reach its true horror potential with all the isolation and paranoia and gore to some extent, but I really enjoyed all the suspense building up to it.
Lindsay was a great character to follow, as she definitely came across as a believable 17-year-old who understandably has been having trouble at school and at home with her neglectful parents. I honestly felt bad from her right from the first chapter, as I can understand why she’s as disagreeable as she is.
It was also great to try and figure out who Lindsay could and couldn’t trust as more and more characters were introduced on the page. And all the twists and turns were fun to follow along with.
I think some of the side characters could have been a bit more fleshed out personality wise. But I love that this book has queer rep (for example, Lindsay herself is bisexual), so that was a major plus.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Lindsay Weinberg is the typical teen we often see in YA books. She is the poor little rich girl. She’s got parents that are absent and have sent her off to boarding school which she has been kicked out of…. again. Very much the teen angst. She is sent to her uncle’s house in remote Maine. When she gets there, she is greeted by her uncle’s wife, which she has never met, but her uncle’s is nowhere to be seen. She also finds out the property is a home for troubled youth. It is remote with no cell service, so what could possibly go wrong. Lindsey soon meets twins from a nearby island that are involved with a cult. Lindsay and her friends from the house go to a party one night, but one person doesn’t come back. That is where the mystery starts.
Yes, this book did have the usual tropes that you see in a YA fiction, but I have to admit, I did like the book. Lindsay is sassy, and I found her jokes and banter very funny. The other residents in the home are also very loveable. While there was a bit of romance in this book, it didn’t feel forced. This was age appropriate, and it didn’t have any spice. There is one twist I could kind of see coming, but it turned out different than I expected. This book was an enjoyable read for me. I gave it 4 stars. https://youtu.be/JmD7T5Dso3U
Yes, this book did have the usual tropes that you see in a YA fiction, but I have to admit, I did like the book. Lindsay is sassy, and I found her jokes and banter very funny. The other residents in the home are also very loveable. While there was a bit of romance in this book, it didn’t feel forced. This was age appropriate, and it didn’t have any spice. There is one twist I could kind of see coming, but it turned out different than I expected. This book was an enjoyable read for me. I gave it 4 stars. https://youtu.be/JmD7T5Dso3U
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was sent the link for The Cove today through Netgalley and immediately thought it sounded like a really interesting premise, and not necessarily a story I would usually pick up. I thought, I’ll just read the first chapter and see how I like the writing style and see if I wanted to continue reading it soon. THEN I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN. I needed to see where the story ended, I was trying to figure out where it was going and I was so invested I nearly burned my dinner because I couldn’t take my eyes off of my kindle. What a wild ride. It has mystery, intrigue, characters you never quite know who to trust/what to believe, found family. I flew through this like I said in one sitting, couldn’t go to sleep because I just needed to know how it ended. It was worth the lack of sleep I’ll get tonight, and highly recommend reading this book. I’m normally a fantasy, romantasy, rom com, monster romance reader, so again was not sure if I’d like this story and was so unbelievably surprised and delighted. Cannot wait for it to come out in May so I can get a shelf trophy to display on my bookshelf.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lindsay, who was kicked out of her most recent boarding home, is sent to her uncle's house, but it’s set up more like a rehabilitation home for teens. Secluded in the middle of nowhere coastal Maine. Lindsay and some of the other kids go to a party on a nearby island, but they all wake up the next day feeling hungover and lacking memory. Not all of the kids return either and then they start dying one by one.
This was a fun time. It was intriguing from the start and didn’t let up. Sometimes a YA horror/thriller is just as fun as an adult one and this is one of those books. It does still have some gore and it is very eerie throughout the book. There is some mystery in it for good measure. There are quite a bit of characters which become confusing at times because many of them feel very similar to each other. I had low expectations for this book going in, but I’m very glad I gave it a try because it was very entertaining.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sending me a link to read this early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! When I saw this being promoted as a Midsommar meets Fear Street I knew I had to have it. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! The book begins with Lindsay being expelled from yet another boarding school. Her parents, who are always too busy to actually parent, send her to live with an Uncle she hasn't seen in years and his new wife she has never even met. The house is very secluded on the outskirts of a very small town in rural Maine. When she arrives she doesn't find her Uncle but there is four more "troubled" teens living there with her uncles new wife. She knows there is something definitely wrong with "Haven House" but can't quite figure out exactly what.
The suspense in this novel had me itching to read the next page, the next chapter. This book was virtually impossible to put down! The plot was twisty and turny, exactly what you want in a horror thriller. I was very satisfied at how everything got wrapped up in the end. One piece of advice I will give for anyone who reads The Cove is TRUST NO ONE!
The suspense in this novel had me itching to read the next page, the next chapter. This book was virtually impossible to put down! The plot was twisty and turny, exactly what you want in a horror thriller. I was very satisfied at how everything got wrapped up in the end. One piece of advice I will give for anyone who reads The Cove is TRUST NO ONE!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Net Galley and Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book.
Equal parts funny and mysterious, "The Cove" is a great read for anyone who likes thrillers and the air of the supernatural.
Lindsay and the other teens navigating the summer under Aunt Irene grew on me throughout the story. They each felt distinct and like their responses to each crisis were genuine. I love Lindsay's snarky and witty comments; the dry humor was a nice touch in a book that's got a pretty tense plot. There were plenty of red herrings and I kept changing my theory on what I thought was really going on.
The writing at the start of the book was a little repetitive and pulled me out of the book at times. But by the 15% mark, it found its stride.
For anyone who knows that humans can be just as scary as what lies beneath the sea and who wants a mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seat, "The Cove" is for you.
Equal parts funny and mysterious, "The Cove" is a great read for anyone who likes thrillers and the air of the supernatural.
Lindsay and the other teens navigating the summer under Aunt Irene grew on me throughout the story. They each felt distinct and like their responses to each crisis were genuine. I love Lindsay's snarky and witty comments; the dry humor was a nice touch in a book that's got a pretty tense plot. There were plenty of red herrings and I kept changing my theory on what I thought was really going on.
The writing at the start of the book was a little repetitive and pulled me out of the book at times. But by the 15% mark, it found its stride.
For anyone who knows that humans can be just as scary as what lies beneath the sea and who wants a mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seat, "The Cove" is for you.
January 10, 2026
The Cove by Claire Rose
Received as an arc.
Lindsay was a smart girl just hated being boarding schools forced by her parents. So she skips classes, pranks, break rules to get expelled.
Sent to Maine to a working rehabilitation farm run by her uncle to reflect and be ready to return to school. When she meets the others all well to do teens with troubling pasts their parents wanted remedied.
She plots an escape but fails until she meets Cass and Phil and the island they live on called the cove. The kids sneak out and visit them to an odd festival where a cult like ritual begins.
They awake with no recollection of how they got back.
With a missing a friend the true chaotic nightmare begins
Lindsay and her friends are not sure who to trust and which if any stories to believe
Dark, fast, Lovecraftian
5⭐️
Received as an arc.
Lindsay was a smart girl just hated being boarding schools forced by her parents. So she skips classes, pranks, break rules to get expelled.
Sent to Maine to a working rehabilitation farm run by her uncle to reflect and be ready to return to school. When she meets the others all well to do teens with troubling pasts their parents wanted remedied.
She plots an escape but fails until she meets Cass and Phil and the island they live on called the cove. The kids sneak out and visit them to an odd festival where a cult like ritual begins.
They awake with no recollection of how they got back.
With a missing a friend the true chaotic nightmare begins
Lindsay and her friends are not sure who to trust and which if any stories to believe
Dark, fast, Lovecraftian
5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I waited to read and review this one until we finished our current homeschool book and could enjoy this together. I'm really glad I did. While it's geared towards a younger audience than myself (story of my life... ugh), I was still able to get a lot of enjoyment, nostalgia, from this one. Very reminiscent of authors I enjoyed as a teen like Lois Duncan, Dean Koontz and R.L. Stine- the author was able to bridge the gap between generations and ensure we all could immerse ourselves in this fantasy. Surprisingly, even my teenage boys flew through it without complaint... something they don't even manage to do with dinner these days.
January 3, 2026
I had a hard time putting this book down! I knew something was up from the get go, and I felt like there were a few plot holes. But all in all, this was a great mystery! Some of the words got very repetitive. (Schlep!) But all in all I enjoyed this book. ONE THING is there are a lot of dead animals mentioned. I really think there should be a trigger warning at the beginning about the animals that die, as a lot of people(myself included) do not like watching things or reading things where animals die.
January 5, 2026
I got this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
There were some interesting parts - teenagers learning to cope without being attached to their phones because there is no WiFi or even cell service on the remote Maine farm they find themselves living on. Each teenagers’ reason for being there also added to the story.
There were a lot of things that felt silly and weird. An off grid cult literally steps away from the farm that no one knew about. A entire town of people who had been ensnared by the cult.
Overall the weird and silly outweighed the interesting parts for me.
There were some interesting parts - teenagers learning to cope without being attached to their phones because there is no WiFi or even cell service on the remote Maine farm they find themselves living on. Each teenagers’ reason for being there also added to the story.
There were a lot of things that felt silly and weird. An off grid cult literally steps away from the farm that no one knew about. A entire town of people who had been ensnared by the cult.
Overall the weird and silly outweighed the interesting parts for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was invited to review this book through NetGalley and the publisher.
I enjoyed this book--not many books deal with the trauma involved in the industry of discipline camps for teens.
It was an interesting premise, with students disappearing and the mysterious inhabitants of the Cove. I just didn't buy that the farm was as bad as the MC made it out to be. The students seemed pretty one dimensional--caricatures almost. Didn't fully buy into the relationships presented. But overall it was a very enjoyable read!
I enjoyed this book--not many books deal with the trauma involved in the industry of discipline camps for teens.
It was an interesting premise, with students disappearing and the mysterious inhabitants of the Cove. I just didn't buy that the farm was as bad as the MC made it out to be. The students seemed pretty one dimensional--caricatures almost. Didn't fully buy into the relationships presented. But overall it was a very enjoyable read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 out of 5 stars
Lindsey pov
YA Mystery
Lindsey was just kicked out of another private school. But this time her parents send her to the Haven House located in nowhere Maine. The haven house is supposed to be run by her aunt and uncle but when lindesy shows up, her uncle is 'away' for work. The Haven House is a reform camp for troubled teens run by the aunt, Irena. When Lindsey meets Phin and Cass who invites them to a party on the island. Things start to go horribly wrong, with teens ending up dead... will they survive the cove or will the sea swallow them up.
Lindsey pov
YA Mystery
Lindsey was just kicked out of another private school. But this time her parents send her to the Haven House located in nowhere Maine. The haven house is supposed to be run by her aunt and uncle but when lindesy shows up, her uncle is 'away' for work. The Haven House is a reform camp for troubled teens run by the aunt, Irena. When Lindsey meets Phin and Cass who invites them to a party on the island. Things start to go horribly wrong, with teens ending up dead... will they survive the cove or will the sea swallow them up.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
First of all, YA is very far from my reading sweet spot, but horror, cult horror, and folk horror are definitely inside my sweet spot.
I thought the writing for this was really good. I zipped right through it and kept wanting to turn pages. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. I will definitely pick up Claire Rose's next novel.
I would imagine that this will be a 5 star for many, many YA horror fans.
First of all, YA is very far from my reading sweet spot, but horror, cult horror, and folk horror are definitely inside my sweet spot.
I thought the writing for this was really good. I zipped right through it and kept wanting to turn pages. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. I will definitely pick up Claire Rose's next novel.
I would imagine that this will be a 5 star for many, many YA horror fans.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW! When I first saw the book it definitely looked like a good read. After starting to read it I caught myself time and time again not being able to put it down because chapter after chapter it kept me wondering what was going to happen next so I'd just keep reading and reading. Overall I would say it is an excellent read with just the right amount of horror and suspense.
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