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The Mirror House Girls
An isolated compound. A so-called family. A collision course with unthinkable violence.
When Winona rents a room at the eccentric Mirror House, she hopes to make new friends. What she gets instead is a “family” led by the charismatic psychologist Simon Spellmeyer.
But if she wants to stay at Mirror House, Winona must join in following Simon’s strange protocols for self-improvement. Warning bells chime inside her, but she ignores them. Yes, his methods are disturbing, but the results are undeniable.
Soon, Simon’s vision for their future spirals in a darker direction. The group relocates, expands, and Winona’s once-close bond with her housemates grows fractured by mistrust until she’s trapped among people she hardly recognizes. Including herself.
Can Winona wake up to the true cost of Simon’s vision in time to get out alive? Or will the utopian dream turn into a tragic nightmare?
When Winona rents a room at the eccentric Mirror House, she hopes to make new friends. What she gets instead is a “family” led by the charismatic psychologist Simon Spellmeyer.
But if she wants to stay at Mirror House, Winona must join in following Simon’s strange protocols for self-improvement. Warning bells chime inside her, but she ignores them. Yes, his methods are disturbing, but the results are undeniable.
Soon, Simon’s vision for their future spirals in a darker direction. The group relocates, expands, and Winona’s once-close bond with her housemates grows fractured by mistrust until she’s trapped among people she hardly recognizes. Including herself.
Can Winona wake up to the true cost of Simon’s vision in time to get out alive? Or will the utopian dream turn into a tragic nightmare?
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2025
3832 people are currently reading
29505 people want to read
About the author
Faith Gardner
20 books818 followersFaith Gardner is the author of adult suspense and YA novels. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,046 reviews
January 3, 2025
WOWZA!!!!! Faith Gardner has delivered another mesmerizing, gripping, and riveting book! I had a hard time putting down The Mirror House Girls as I was glued to the pages both wanting and dreading what would happen next. I loved the tension and the feeling of unease that this book evoked in me. This book touches on the need to belong, the need to be accepted, the need to dominate, power, and manipulation.
Winona rents a room at Mirror House hoping to make friends. What she finds is a 'family' of sorts and begins working with Simon Spellmeyer, the 'group’s leader who insists on self-improvement through exposure exercises. She is uncomfortable yet intrigued and soon finds herself as part of a 'found family' and moves with them....
Holy Moly! This book was good. I loved how Gardner wove the story showing how the cult changed and grew. What felt so welcoming to Winona soon spiraled as Simon became more controlling, more demanding, and the group dynamics changed. I thought Gardner did an excellent job showing cult group dynamics, how a charismatic leader can manipulate and prey on others. I was on the edge of my seat with my fingers crossed for several of the characters. I hoped for the best for all of them (except for one) while dreading what could happen.
I also loved the of a documentary paired with music and how Gardner utilized them to enhance the story. Although I could have done without how the lyrics were shown on the page. I'm not a big fan of writing going down the center of the page and having to read that way. But the rest of the book was so exceptional that I was able to overlook that aspect.
Whew! This book was excellent and is now my favorite Faith Gardner book. I loved the nod to Jolvix in this book. Very clever! This book was wonderfully written, well thought out, atmospheric and thought provoking.
Highly Recommend!
Thank you to Mirror House Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Winona rents a room at Mirror House hoping to make friends. What she finds is a 'family' of sorts and begins working with Simon Spellmeyer, the 'group’s leader who insists on self-improvement through exposure exercises. She is uncomfortable yet intrigued and soon finds herself as part of a 'found family' and moves with them....
Holy Moly! This book was good. I loved how Gardner wove the story showing how the cult changed and grew. What felt so welcoming to Winona soon spiraled as Simon became more controlling, more demanding, and the group dynamics changed. I thought Gardner did an excellent job showing cult group dynamics, how a charismatic leader can manipulate and prey on others. I was on the edge of my seat with my fingers crossed for several of the characters. I hoped for the best for all of them (except for one) while dreading what could happen.
I also loved the of a documentary paired with music and how Gardner utilized them to enhance the story. Although I could have done without how the lyrics were shown on the page. I'm not a big fan of writing going down the center of the page and having to read that way. But the rest of the book was so exceptional that I was able to overlook that aspect.
Whew! This book was excellent and is now my favorite Faith Gardner book. I loved the nod to Jolvix in this book. Very clever! This book was wonderfully written, well thought out, atmospheric and thought provoking.
Highly Recommend!
Thank you to Mirror House Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
February 17, 2025
What a delicious mind-f*** of a book! From the get-go of The Mirror House Girls, Faith Gardner had me completely and undeniably enthralled. Mesmerizing, hypnotic, and thought-provoking in the extreme, I was both horrified by the events that took place, while I also came to understand how a cult’s poison can coil around and swallow the naïve. And, boy, were these characters well-written. Realistically searching for a place to call home, Simon took their love and twisted it as he deemed fit. What was even better, however, were the authentic group dynamics and believable plotting. The climax felt inevitable, dark, and damning—all of which made it utterly sing.
With palpable tension and ever ratcheting foreboding, the plot itself was a sign of a master behind the well-guided pen. After all, while the first half was decidedly slower than I might’ve expected, it felt wholly true-to-life even if it did seem more like a tale of drama or suspense versus a fast-paced psychological thriller. That’s not to say that I didn’t love every word. Centering around the cult trope, it was easily one of the best and most compelling novels that I’ve read in a while. Throw in a character I loved to hate and another I was rooting for from the very first page? Well, all I can say is there wasn’t a thing missing—up to and including a bonus chapter that wrapped everything up with a nice, pretty, little bow.
All said and done, Ms. Gardner has successfully blown me away yet again. From the short, addictive chapters to the powerfully written first-person narration, the path that the storyline took was not only dead on perfection—it left me at a total loss for words. I honestly don’t know if there is another book more suited to be chosen as a book club selection. Certain to stir up plenty of emotions, the poignant observations of human nature left me chilled to the bone. Finally, if you love a good documentary side plot, you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s one of those too. Interwoven into the main storyline, it set up the conclusion with exacting precision, which managed to give me everything I wanted and more. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When Winona rents a room at the eccentric Mirror House, she hopes to make new friends. What she gets instead is a “family” led by the charismatic psychologist Simon Spellmeyer.
But if she wants to stay at Mirror House, Winona must join in following Simon’s strange protocols for self-improvement. Warning bells chime inside her, yet the allure of transformation keeps her there. His methods are disturbing, but the results are undeniable.
Soon, Simon’s vision for their future spirals in a darker direction. The group relocates, expands, and Winona’s once-close bond with her housemates grows fractured by mistrust until she’s trapped among people she hardly recognizes. Including herself.
Can Winona wake up to the true cost of Simon’s vision in time to get out alive? Or will the utopian dream descend into a tragic nightmare?
Thank you to Faith Gardner and Mirror House Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 23, 2025
Content warning: drug and alcohol use, cult, gaslighting, mention of: suicide, murder
With palpable tension and ever ratcheting foreboding, the plot itself was a sign of a master behind the well-guided pen. After all, while the first half was decidedly slower than I might’ve expected, it felt wholly true-to-life even if it did seem more like a tale of drama or suspense versus a fast-paced psychological thriller. That’s not to say that I didn’t love every word. Centering around the cult trope, it was easily one of the best and most compelling novels that I’ve read in a while. Throw in a character I loved to hate and another I was rooting for from the very first page? Well, all I can say is there wasn’t a thing missing—up to and including a bonus chapter that wrapped everything up with a nice, pretty, little bow.
All said and done, Ms. Gardner has successfully blown me away yet again. From the short, addictive chapters to the powerfully written first-person narration, the path that the storyline took was not only dead on perfection—it left me at a total loss for words. I honestly don’t know if there is another book more suited to be chosen as a book club selection. Certain to stir up plenty of emotions, the poignant observations of human nature left me chilled to the bone. Finally, if you love a good documentary side plot, you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s one of those too. Interwoven into the main storyline, it set up the conclusion with exacting precision, which managed to give me everything I wanted and more. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When Winona rents a room at the eccentric Mirror House, she hopes to make new friends. What she gets instead is a “family” led by the charismatic psychologist Simon Spellmeyer.
But if she wants to stay at Mirror House, Winona must join in following Simon’s strange protocols for self-improvement. Warning bells chime inside her, yet the allure of transformation keeps her there. His methods are disturbing, but the results are undeniable.
Soon, Simon’s vision for their future spirals in a darker direction. The group relocates, expands, and Winona’s once-close bond with her housemates grows fractured by mistrust until she’s trapped among people she hardly recognizes. Including herself.
Can Winona wake up to the true cost of Simon’s vision in time to get out alive? Or will the utopian dream descend into a tragic nightmare?
Thank you to Faith Gardner and Mirror House Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 23, 2025
Content warning: drug and alcohol use, cult, gaslighting, mention of: suicide, murder
December 20, 2024
When I discover there’s a new Gardner book out, I just have to read it asap. Her effortless style makes you turn the pages as if your fingers were on fire, and I always find myself engaged and intrigued.
In her newest novel, we follow a cult through the eyes of the main character Winona. Her desperate need to belong and find a home, oozed from the pages, and the author manages to convey that longing perfectly. The most interesting aspect however, was how I was drawn in as well. I could very much see why people grew attached and felt at home. By the description you understood that it isn’t always black and white, and how easy one slides into the comfort of community, drowning whatever doubt might manifest itself. It also felt like that author must have researched cults well, as she described some manipulation techniques I think many charismatic leaders have. What I also liked was the short interviews with a person who didn’t stay in the group for the whole duration, it built suspense and made you wonder what would happen next.
Overall a very interesting and thrilling read that will stay with me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
In her newest novel, we follow a cult through the eyes of the main character Winona. Her desperate need to belong and find a home, oozed from the pages, and the author manages to convey that longing perfectly. The most interesting aspect however, was how I was drawn in as well. I could very much see why people grew attached and felt at home. By the description you understood that it isn’t always black and white, and how easy one slides into the comfort of community, drowning whatever doubt might manifest itself. It also felt like that author must have researched cults well, as she described some manipulation techniques I think many charismatic leaders have. What I also liked was the short interviews with a person who didn’t stay in the group for the whole duration, it built suspense and made you wonder what would happen next.
Overall a very interesting and thrilling read that will stay with me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 28, 2025
4.25 stars - great cult thriller. Available on kindle unlimited
Full review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYt8seQ1/
Featured in:
Should’ve Hyped Up More: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2g7Joms/
Thrillers not surrounding an murder or missing persons case (part 3): https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2vtyTq8/
Full review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYt8seQ1/
Featured in:
Should’ve Hyped Up More: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2g7Joms/
Thrillers not surrounding an murder or missing persons case (part 3): https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2vtyTq8/
January 24, 2025
I don't read a lot psychological thrillers, they're generally just ok for me. This one, however, hooked me in and didn't let go, I had to know where it was going.
I liked the main character which I found easy to get invested in and plausible. The way the characters progressed made sense and it was often heartbreaking in how real it all felt. The main story is interspersed with descriptions of scenes from a documentary, and it really added to the tension.
I liked the main character which I found easy to get invested in and plausible. The way the characters progressed made sense and it was often heartbreaking in how real it all felt. The main story is interspersed with descriptions of scenes from a documentary, and it really added to the tension.
January 22, 2025
4.5⭐️
A chance meeting between twenty-two-year-old Winona and a young woman named in a grief counseling group eventually leads to her renting a room at the infamous “Mirror House” – a rental property decorated on the outside by its residents with mirrors - where she hopes to find friends and a sense of family. Simon Spellmeyer, an eccentric former psychologist who leads the group, employs his own unconventional methods for self-improvement that the Mirror House boarders must be willing to accept. Winona, despite her misgivings, convinces herself that giving in to Simon’s methods is the best option for her. We follow Winona as she navigates the shifting dynamics within the group and Simon’s leadership and his eccentricity. As she begins to buckle under the personal and psychological pressure of being a “Mirror House girl,” will she be able to extricate herself from the hold that Simon and her new “family” have on her and if so, at what cost?
Smartly crafted with an interesting premise, unsettling and suspenseful, this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting. The premise of the novel might not strike you as entirely original but Faith Gardner is a master storyteller and with her expertly sketched characters, intricate plotting ( with more than a few shocking turns along the way) and insightful exploration of cult mentality – the power, influence, psychological and emotional manipulation, and complex interpersonal and group dynamics - renders this novel an intense and absorbing read. The author does a commendable job of depicting the psychology of cult dynamics, Simon’s “Simonisms” with which he takes advantage others' vulnerabilities thereby exerting control over the group and Winona’s inner struggles – her insecurities and low sense of self - as she tries to make sense of what is truly happening inside Mirror House.
The narrative structure is interesting with most of the story presented from the first-person perspective of Winona following her journey at Mirror House and excerpts from a documentary on the Mirror House (a year after the events described by Winona) interspersed throughout the narrative. The accompanying music was a brilliant addition to the narrative, making for an overall entertaining experience.
Overall, I found The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner to be a riveting read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Though not a part of the author’s Jolvix series, I did enjoy the blink-and-you-miss-it reference to the same.
I always enjoy the bonus chapters in which the author ends her stories and “Home” was no exception!
I eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and Mirror House Press for the digital ARC of this novel via BookSirens. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
A chance meeting between twenty-two-year-old Winona and a young woman named in a grief counseling group eventually leads to her renting a room at the infamous “Mirror House” – a rental property decorated on the outside by its residents with mirrors - where she hopes to find friends and a sense of family. Simon Spellmeyer, an eccentric former psychologist who leads the group, employs his own unconventional methods for self-improvement that the Mirror House boarders must be willing to accept. Winona, despite her misgivings, convinces herself that giving in to Simon’s methods is the best option for her. We follow Winona as she navigates the shifting dynamics within the group and Simon’s leadership and his eccentricity. As she begins to buckle under the personal and psychological pressure of being a “Mirror House girl,” will she be able to extricate herself from the hold that Simon and her new “family” have on her and if so, at what cost?
Smartly crafted with an interesting premise, unsettling and suspenseful, this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting. The premise of the novel might not strike you as entirely original but Faith Gardner is a master storyteller and with her expertly sketched characters, intricate plotting ( with more than a few shocking turns along the way) and insightful exploration of cult mentality – the power, influence, psychological and emotional manipulation, and complex interpersonal and group dynamics - renders this novel an intense and absorbing read. The author does a commendable job of depicting the psychology of cult dynamics, Simon’s “Simonisms” with which he takes advantage others' vulnerabilities thereby exerting control over the group and Winona’s inner struggles – her insecurities and low sense of self - as she tries to make sense of what is truly happening inside Mirror House.
The narrative structure is interesting with most of the story presented from the first-person perspective of Winona following her journey at Mirror House and excerpts from a documentary on the Mirror House (a year after the events described by Winona) interspersed throughout the narrative. The accompanying music was a brilliant addition to the narrative, making for an overall entertaining experience.
Overall, I found The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner to be a riveting read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Though not a part of the author’s Jolvix series, I did enjoy the blink-and-you-miss-it reference to the same.
I always enjoy the bonus chapters in which the author ends her stories and “Home” was no exception!
I eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and Mirror House Press for the digital ARC of this novel via BookSirens. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
January 15, 2025
Simon says:
"If it's not hard work, it's not worth doing."
Winona agrees to rent a room at Mirror House, hoping to make new friends. Instead, she gets a new "family" led by former psychologist Simon Spellmeyer. If she wants to stay there, she must follow Simon's unorthodox protocols for self-improvement. His methods are disturbing and unconventional, but the results are undeniably successful.
When Simon's visions lead the housemates in a very dark direction, Winona finds herself at the center of a cult. Can she trust the people she loves?
I recently read a few of Faith Gardner's Jolvix Episodes and really enjoyed them, so l was excited to read her newest psychological thriller. I really enjoy Gardner's writing and appreciate that she always finds a clever way to connect her books. It was fun to learn that one of the characters in The Mirror House Girls works for Jolvix!
I always enjoy a good character driven cult plot, and this one did not disappoint! The hysteria slowly mounts to a frenetic climax and ends with a twist! This cult felt very modern, and it was helpful to me to picture this happening in 2025. She includes a link at the end of the book to read the hidden last chapter (but by accessing it, you agree to sign up for her newsletter). The book would have been incomplete for me without that chapter, so I highly recommend reading it. A QR code is also included to listen to Scarlett’s songs on YouTube. I really enjoyed these “technical enhancements” to the novel.
I highly recommend The Mirror House Girls if you are in the mood for a good psychological thriller about cults!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 1/23/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House press for the ARC of The Mirror House Girls in exchange for an honest review.
"If it's not hard work, it's not worth doing."
Winona agrees to rent a room at Mirror House, hoping to make new friends. Instead, she gets a new "family" led by former psychologist Simon Spellmeyer. If she wants to stay there, she must follow Simon's unorthodox protocols for self-improvement. His methods are disturbing and unconventional, but the results are undeniably successful.
When Simon's visions lead the housemates in a very dark direction, Winona finds herself at the center of a cult. Can she trust the people she loves?
I recently read a few of Faith Gardner's Jolvix Episodes and really enjoyed them, so l was excited to read her newest psychological thriller. I really enjoy Gardner's writing and appreciate that she always finds a clever way to connect her books. It was fun to learn that one of the characters in The Mirror House Girls works for Jolvix!
I always enjoy a good character driven cult plot, and this one did not disappoint! The hysteria slowly mounts to a frenetic climax and ends with a twist! This cult felt very modern, and it was helpful to me to picture this happening in 2025. She includes a link at the end of the book to read the hidden last chapter (but by accessing it, you agree to sign up for her newsletter). The book would have been incomplete for me without that chapter, so I highly recommend reading it. A QR code is also included to listen to Scarlett’s songs on YouTube. I really enjoyed these “technical enhancements” to the novel.
I highly recommend The Mirror House Girls if you are in the mood for a good psychological thriller about cults!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 1/23/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House press for the ARC of The Mirror House Girls in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2024
“Ugly accidents can produce unexpected gifts.” Who would not welcome the gift of love, belonging, and acceptance? What is wrong with finally having a chosen family full of love and joy? This book shows how easy it is to be swept up and manipulated, motivated by a sense of longing. Winona is grieving a deep loss, and Mirror House is there waiting anxiously to mend her broken heart. What started out as a Utopia gradually became a place of tragedy, evil, and sorrow. “A self-righteous evil is the worst kind.” I empathized with every character except one. Once you start reading it will become evident which character left my heart cold. Make sure you have set aside enough time to devour this gripping thriller because you won't be able to put it down. It will pull you in and won't let go. Faith Gardner masterfully takes you on an intense, emotional journey you will not want to end. I highly recommend this original, captivating, compelling thriller. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.
January 13, 2025
Winona meets Dakota in a trauma group therapy session due to the deaths of their grandmothers. Feeling a connection with each other Dakota offers Winona a chance to meet her roommates who are going on a nature hike later. Winona instantly feels accepted by this group of women along with the lone male of the group, Simon. She gladly takes the offer of rooming with her new friends. In a passing thought she thinks that what is too good to be true most surely is but pushes it to the back of her mind and moves forward.
As time persists, the reader themselves can see how integrated Winona becomes within the group to the point she starts losing her self- identity into this group. I really liked how the author showed this aspect and how easy it can be to fall into a cult setting. I’m not very big into cult books, but I feel like this author did it really well. I prefer the first half of the book as the slow descent into the cult occurs. I felt the second half happened way too quick and was rushed. Maybe I just liked the dynamic of the smaller group of women than the larger group. I didn’t feel as connected to the story as I was in the beginning. Regardless of that, I still really enjoyed the book. There was also a small reference to Jolvix which made me smile. I like how the author always throws small Easter eggs in her books. If you’re a fan of this author, certainly give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As time persists, the reader themselves can see how integrated Winona becomes within the group to the point she starts losing her self- identity into this group. I really liked how the author showed this aspect and how easy it can be to fall into a cult setting. I’m not very big into cult books, but I feel like this author did it really well. I prefer the first half of the book as the slow descent into the cult occurs. I felt the second half happened way too quick and was rushed. Maybe I just liked the dynamic of the smaller group of women than the larger group. I didn’t feel as connected to the story as I was in the beginning. Regardless of that, I still really enjoyed the book. There was also a small reference to Jolvix which made me smile. I like how the author always throws small Easter eggs in her books. If you’re a fan of this author, certainly give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2025
"I played a role in it. We all did. And we thought we were doing everything for the right reasons. And that’s the worst kind of evil—the self-righteous kind."
"Fire spreads throughout me from limb to limb. I could stab this motherfucker to death and he would still somehow take credit for it.
This man is delusional. A monster who truly thinks he’s some kind of messiah. I want to destroy him. But even that wouldn’t be enough.
My anger is fire ants under my skin. My anger is a scream that never ends."
⚠️⚠️⚠️
Mass suicide
Tragic, gripping, riveting, page-turner, cultish vibes, feminine rage (yay!) 🩸🔪
I went into this completely blind and I imagined the plot to be different based on the cover art. I was somehow expecting girls made into clones or have doppelgangers or some invasion-of-body snatcheresque kinda story but it was none of those.
It is a story of how different girls met and became 'housemates', living in a gigantic bizarro house with mirrors all over it like an inside-out funhouse. They are being gaslighted, manipulated and exploited by this other member / cult leader. Sadly, not everyone will get to 'wake up' and escape. Not everyone survives and gets to tell their story. It is well-written/researched and showed how the characters were drawn into the trap of cults. Just a few chapters in and I found myself deeply immersed in the story, captivated by the characters and it also has a climactic ending. The author also provided a link on where to download the bonus chapter or epilogue titled 'Home'.
Big thanks to the publisher, Booksirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🖤
4.75 ✨
"Fire spreads throughout me from limb to limb. I could stab this motherfucker to death and he would still somehow take credit for it.
This man is delusional. A monster who truly thinks he’s some kind of messiah. I want to destroy him. But even that wouldn’t be enough.
My anger is fire ants under my skin. My anger is a scream that never ends."
⚠️⚠️⚠️
Mass suicide
Tragic, gripping, riveting, page-turner, cultish vibes, feminine rage (yay!) 🩸🔪
I went into this completely blind and I imagined the plot to be different based on the cover art. I was somehow expecting girls made into clones or have doppelgangers or some invasion-of-body snatcheresque kinda story but it was none of those.
It is a story of how different girls met and became 'housemates', living in a gigantic bizarro house with mirrors all over it like an inside-out funhouse. They are being gaslighted, manipulated and exploited by this other member / cult leader. Sadly, not everyone will get to 'wake up' and escape. Not everyone survives and gets to tell their story. It is well-written/researched and showed how the characters were drawn into the trap of cults. Just a few chapters in and I found myself deeply immersed in the story, captivated by the characters and it also has a climactic ending. The author also provided a link on where to download the bonus chapter or epilogue titled 'Home'.
Big thanks to the publisher, Booksirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🖤
4.75 ✨
May 10, 2025
Wow. This is a roller coaster ride, and I’m still dizzy with awe and wonder.
Heavy, glorious, and scary. The whole time I was reading this book, it had me questioning my beliefs and thoughts about life, relationships, and the reality of living. How a person could feel so alone in this world—without a place to belong or a house to call home—only to find sanctuary in a man’s word and doubtful teachings.
I fell in love with the women in the Mirror House. Their fears and flaws—easily manipulated by a monster in sheep’s clothing. Fooled by an aura of greatness. A monster who abuses, who hurts and destroys, but masks it as freedom and enlightenment. Who preaches about overcoming fear, when he is the monster to fear all along.
This book is a tragedy that completely obliterated my heart.
“Fear to love.”
Heavy, glorious, and scary. The whole time I was reading this book, it had me questioning my beliefs and thoughts about life, relationships, and the reality of living. How a person could feel so alone in this world—without a place to belong or a house to call home—only to find sanctuary in a man’s word and doubtful teachings.
I fell in love with the women in the Mirror House. Their fears and flaws—easily manipulated by a monster in sheep’s clothing. Fooled by an aura of greatness. A monster who abuses, who hurts and destroys, but masks it as freedom and enlightenment. Who preaches about overcoming fear, when he is the monster to fear all along.
This book is a tragedy that completely obliterated my heart.
“Fear to love.”
January 25, 2025
My Rating: 2⭐️⭐️ this dragged… I wanted excitement and I got repetition!!!
I am not going to rehash the synopsis, GR has a decent one and its pretty short. This is a pretty stock standard cult “thriller” I use inverted commas because the thrills are limited. I love me a cult story… and I lap them up so when I realised this was not in the Jolvix series and it was a cult thriller I was in.
My experiences with this author have unfortunately been more miss than hit. I loved Amen Maxine (or whatever its called now) but I haven’t really liked much else by her. I gave up a bit but then decided to give this a go. Honestly it started out really good… I was enjoying it and I was hoping for something a little different since its set in the modern day and they seemed to be allowed modern day technologies and things like that.
But Winona irked me from the start, I get that shes sad and lonely and all the things that make her a decent cult victim but… she was as dumb as a box of hammers… she just pissed me off. Not all the girls were like that… yes they were all brainwashed and so was Winona but something about her just seemed so disconnected and stupid.
Simon was your typical weasel cult leader… nothing new from him. He went from being some kind of weirdo councillor to a healer to his own version of God.. no surprises.
The girls were engaging in weird behaviour, also no surprises. I dunno, it was just a bit bland and boring and so much repeating and repeating and just repeating. We have all read this story before in some form or another and when a cult book is done well you cannot put it down… I only wanted to finish this because I needed to get this off my NG shelf. I do feel bad for saying that but … its true.
I think lots and lots of people will love this, already lots and lots do… so thats great I am glad its kicking arse for everyone else. I am in the minority here but I have read ALOT of cult thrillers and this one just didn’t do it for me.
The ending kicked into gear a little bit but it felt rushed and weird. I did like the interspersed mixed media interview that was kind of cool. But it wasn’t enough to save it. I have given it 2 stars cause there were bits that were good.. it just wasn’t good enough.
Overall, there are far better fiction cult novels out there to read.. I have a couple of 5 star recs (for me) that I could give you and if you disagree with them you can throw tomatoes at me. But yeah I wouldn’t be recommending this to anyone just because I found it lacklustre and a bit boring.
Thank you to Mirror House Press, NetGalley and Faith Gardner for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am not going to rehash the synopsis, GR has a decent one and its pretty short. This is a pretty stock standard cult “thriller” I use inverted commas because the thrills are limited. I love me a cult story… and I lap them up so when I realised this was not in the Jolvix series and it was a cult thriller I was in.
My experiences with this author have unfortunately been more miss than hit. I loved Amen Maxine (or whatever its called now) but I haven’t really liked much else by her. I gave up a bit but then decided to give this a go. Honestly it started out really good… I was enjoying it and I was hoping for something a little different since its set in the modern day and they seemed to be allowed modern day technologies and things like that.
But Winona irked me from the start, I get that shes sad and lonely and all the things that make her a decent cult victim but… she was as dumb as a box of hammers… she just pissed me off. Not all the girls were like that… yes they were all brainwashed and so was Winona but something about her just seemed so disconnected and stupid.
Simon was your typical weasel cult leader… nothing new from him. He went from being some kind of weirdo councillor to a healer to his own version of God.. no surprises.
The girls were engaging in weird behaviour, also no surprises. I dunno, it was just a bit bland and boring and so much repeating and repeating and just repeating. We have all read this story before in some form or another and when a cult book is done well you cannot put it down… I only wanted to finish this because I needed to get this off my NG shelf. I do feel bad for saying that but … its true.
I think lots and lots of people will love this, already lots and lots do… so thats great I am glad its kicking arse for everyone else. I am in the minority here but I have read ALOT of cult thrillers and this one just didn’t do it for me.
The ending kicked into gear a little bit but it felt rushed and weird. I did like the interspersed mixed media interview that was kind of cool. But it wasn’t enough to save it. I have given it 2 stars cause there were bits that were good.. it just wasn’t good enough.
Overall, there are far better fiction cult novels out there to read.. I have a couple of 5 star recs (for me) that I could give you and if you disagree with them you can throw tomatoes at me. But yeah I wouldn’t be recommending this to anyone just because I found it lacklustre and a bit boring.
Thank you to Mirror House Press, NetGalley and Faith Gardner for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some books quietly work their way under your skin, and The Mirror House Girls is one of them. It’s beautifully written, with poetic prose that never feels overdone, and it captures the slow, insidious build-up of manipulation and cult dynamics in a way that feels all too real.
The story starts a bit slow, but that pacing is deliberate, laying the groundwork for everything to come. Once the tension kicks in, it doesn’t let up. Gardner does an incredible job showing how easy it is to get swept up in something dangerous while convincing yourself it’s normal—or even good. Winona’s inner conflict was especially compelling. Watching her justify her choices while struggling with doubts felt so raw and relatable.
The addition of an interview with one of the housemates, presented years after the events of Mirror House, was a fantastic choice. It gave the story a fresh perspective and added an extra layer of suspense as you piece together what really happened.
One standout feature that makes this book so unique is the inclusion of music. One of the characters writes songs, and Gardner links to YouTube tracks for readers to listen to at specific moments. It’s such a creative way to deepen the experience and bring the story to life.
For fans of true crime, cult stories, or psychological thrillers, this is a must-read. It’s emotional, gripping, and leaves you thinking long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Some books quietly work their way under your skin, and The Mirror House Girls is one of them. It’s beautifully written, with poetic prose that never feels overdone, and it captures the slow, insidious build-up of manipulation and cult dynamics in a way that feels all too real.
The story starts a bit slow, but that pacing is deliberate, laying the groundwork for everything to come. Once the tension kicks in, it doesn’t let up. Gardner does an incredible job showing how easy it is to get swept up in something dangerous while convincing yourself it’s normal—or even good. Winona’s inner conflict was especially compelling. Watching her justify her choices while struggling with doubts felt so raw and relatable.
The addition of an interview with one of the housemates, presented years after the events of Mirror House, was a fantastic choice. It gave the story a fresh perspective and added an extra layer of suspense as you piece together what really happened.
One standout feature that makes this book so unique is the inclusion of music. One of the characters writes songs, and Gardner links to YouTube tracks for readers to listen to at specific moments. It’s such a creative way to deepen the experience and bring the story to life.
For fans of true crime, cult stories, or psychological thrillers, this is a must-read. It’s emotional, gripping, and leaves you thinking long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
January 12, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 23, 2025.
3 stars.
Bookstore employee Winona goes to a grief workshop to process the death of her grandmother for whom she was caretaker and she meets a kindred spirit. She ends up renting a room in the girl’s home, a place known as Mirror House. She lives there with four other women and former psychologist Simon Spellmayer who has free “sessions” with the women to help cure them of their fears. Commence eye rolling here.
Life at Mirror House becomes all encompassing but Winona feels love there, even as Simon’s methods become more extreme and then his vision for the house expands. What will happen to those at Mirror House?
Well, the reader actually has an idea about what will happen because the narrative is interspersed with the transcript from a documentary about Mirror House…and you just know if someone made a documentary things didn’t go well. I hardly watched “The Jinx” to hear Robert Durst proclaim himself innocent (one of the single best TV moments ever. But I digress.)
I couldn’t really relate to the women in the book because I haven’t undergone a frontal lobotomy, but I kept turning the pages.
3 stars.
Bookstore employee Winona goes to a grief workshop to process the death of her grandmother for whom she was caretaker and she meets a kindred spirit. She ends up renting a room in the girl’s home, a place known as Mirror House. She lives there with four other women and former psychologist Simon Spellmayer who has free “sessions” with the women to help cure them of their fears. Commence eye rolling here.
Life at Mirror House becomes all encompassing but Winona feels love there, even as Simon’s methods become more extreme and then his vision for the house expands. What will happen to those at Mirror House?
Well, the reader actually has an idea about what will happen because the narrative is interspersed with the transcript from a documentary about Mirror House…and you just know if someone made a documentary things didn’t go well. I hardly watched “The Jinx” to hear Robert Durst proclaim himself innocent (one of the single best TV moments ever. But I digress.)
I couldn’t really relate to the women in the book because I haven’t undergone a frontal lobotomy, but I kept turning the pages.
February 8, 2025
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡--𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙."
An utterly mesmerizing descent into a cult. I know a lot about cults because they fascinate me. In my humble opinion, 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙧 has captured with astonishing accuracy the psychological toll and damage that can happen to the point of losing one's sense of self completely to groupthink. In essence, she answers the question many have asked, "How does a person end up in a cult?" I was spellbound, unable to stop reading despite the rising dread that made me squirm in my seat. Is 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙧 a psychologist? An expert in manipulation, gaslighting and breaking down someone's sense of reality? Because 𝗪𝗢𝗪. She. 𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗. it!
Winona just wants attention, to be loved, and needs human touch, as anyone would. She seems to have found a family at Mirror House and they're all deliriously happy, at first. My heart ached for Winona on this journey of finding acceptance, only to push aside her doubts. Surely if all these people trust this incredibly intelligent man Simon, he must know what he's talking about. Right? The insidious way Simon earns absolute trust from the women he targets is horrifying yet riveting. Do disturbing, uncomfortable things happen? Erhmm 𝗬𝗘𝗦.
Dispersed throughout are excerpts from an interview with the only surviving cult member. To say there's a sense of foreboding is wildly understating it. The entire time I knew an awful violent eventuality was coming, and yet I was held captive. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 will entrap you in a hypnotic chokehold and not let go. The ending was utterly satisfying on a primal level. Be sure to snatch up this haunting psychological thriller!
____
Favorite Quotes:
"𝙐𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨."
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨--𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜."
____
Thank you Faith Gardner for my free copy. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: grief, language, alcoholism, hemophobia, claustrophobia, glossophobia, sexual situations, violence, assault, mild gore, death, Mention of: mass suicide, fatal cancer
An utterly mesmerizing descent into a cult. I know a lot about cults because they fascinate me. In my humble opinion, 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙧 has captured with astonishing accuracy the psychological toll and damage that can happen to the point of losing one's sense of self completely to groupthink. In essence, she answers the question many have asked, "How does a person end up in a cult?" I was spellbound, unable to stop reading despite the rising dread that made me squirm in my seat. Is 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙧 a psychologist? An expert in manipulation, gaslighting and breaking down someone's sense of reality? Because 𝗪𝗢𝗪. She. 𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗. it!
Winona just wants attention, to be loved, and needs human touch, as anyone would. She seems to have found a family at Mirror House and they're all deliriously happy, at first. My heart ached for Winona on this journey of finding acceptance, only to push aside her doubts. Surely if all these people trust this incredibly intelligent man Simon, he must know what he's talking about. Right? The insidious way Simon earns absolute trust from the women he targets is horrifying yet riveting. Do disturbing, uncomfortable things happen? Erhmm 𝗬𝗘𝗦.
Dispersed throughout are excerpts from an interview with the only surviving cult member. To say there's a sense of foreboding is wildly understating it. The entire time I knew an awful violent eventuality was coming, and yet I was held captive. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦 will entrap you in a hypnotic chokehold and not let go. The ending was utterly satisfying on a primal level. Be sure to snatch up this haunting psychological thriller!
____
Favorite Quotes:
"𝙐𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨."
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨--𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜."
____
Thank you Faith Gardner for my free copy. All opinions are mine.
____
Potential spoiler content warnings below.
⚠️Content Warnings: grief, language, alcoholism, hemophobia, claustrophobia, glossophobia, sexual situations, violence, assault, mild gore, death, Mention of: mass suicide, fatal cancer
March 25, 2025
I’m not gonna lie… I couldn’t put this down. But there was no…. Twist or anything. And I was hoping for a more climactic ending? It has such high potential until the ending
April 6, 2025
A dark and twisted cult thriller with a very disturbed cult leader named Simon who’s in charge of a group of girls. He is manipulative and narcissist with some outrageous “healing” techniques for the girls he has chosen. This book will leave you disturbed.
It is a slow burn with only subtle hints of cult life at the beginning that you feel like maybe this isn’t a cult and the craziness increases as the book goes on. It made me think about how cults could form in real life, slowly over a long span of time with little manipulative things over and over until you loose yourself.
It is a slow burn with only subtle hints of cult life at the beginning that you feel like maybe this isn’t a cult and the craziness increases as the book goes on. It made me think about how cults could form in real life, slowly over a long span of time with little manipulative things over and over until you loose yourself.
March 25, 2025
I never knew how intricate the world of cults could be, especially recruiting people so slowly and with much intention and manipulation. This was a story I’ll never forget. The means the cult leader will go to for ultimate glorification. Those poor girls.
February 7, 2025
Underwhelming
I was very disappointed in this book. While the author’s writing style is easy to read and the dialogue feels authentic, the story itself failed to hold my interest. The occasional snippets from a future documentary hinted at darker events to come, but without them, I likely would have DNF’d it before reaching 100 pages. It took me six weeks to finish—during which I read five other books—because there simply wasn’t enough happening to keep me engaged.
I was very disappointed in this book. While the author’s writing style is easy to read and the dialogue feels authentic, the story itself failed to hold my interest. The occasional snippets from a future documentary hinted at darker events to come, but without them, I likely would have DNF’d it before reaching 100 pages. It took me six weeks to finish—during which I read five other books—because there simply wasn’t enough happening to keep me engaged.
December 29, 2024
Finished just in time to make The Mirror House Girls my favorite book of 2024! OMG Faith Gardner, you did it again! What an addictive, compelling, and captivating story that will no doubt be the talk of booktok and bookstagram next month!
This work of fiction could be considered a true story with the attention to detail and true-to-form atmosphere it creates. Faith Gardner masterfully tells how the grief of losing a family member slowly spirals into induction of a “fear to love” preaching cult for MC, Winona. While fully embracing her new friends and way of life, Winona is naive to the reality of being in a cult- and powerless to leave. This story is told on two timelines, past and present, and through Winona’s experience and clips from a documentary about the cult.
I can only pray they make this into a movie! It has all the right things to be a best selling book and make it into the big screen. Thank you NetGalley and Mirror House Press for this ARC!
This work of fiction could be considered a true story with the attention to detail and true-to-form atmosphere it creates. Faith Gardner masterfully tells how the grief of losing a family member slowly spirals into induction of a “fear to love” preaching cult for MC, Winona. While fully embracing her new friends and way of life, Winona is naive to the reality of being in a cult- and powerless to leave. This story is told on two timelines, past and present, and through Winona’s experience and clips from a documentary about the cult.
I can only pray they make this into a movie! It has all the right things to be a best selling book and make it into the big screen. Thank you NetGalley and Mirror House Press for this ARC!
April 11, 2025
this book got me out of a two month long reading slump
March 16, 2025
If this isn’t a 5 star book then idk what is.
January 3, 2025
What does Faith Gardner put in her thrillers, because they are down right addictive! I devoured most of psychological thriller in a day! It’s so addictive that you won’t want to stop until you finish this book in one setting!
This amazing book really shows and describes how someone can get sucked into a Cult and not even know it! This is a must read and you need to add it to your TBR.
****Many thanks to Faith Gardner for my beautiful signed copy!
This amazing book really shows and describes how someone can get sucked into a Cult and not even know it! This is a must read and you need to add it to your TBR.
****Many thanks to Faith Gardner for my beautiful signed copy!
December 18, 2024
ARC•REVIEW
🆃🅷🅴 🅼🅸🆁🆁🅾🆁 🅷🅾🆄🆂🅴 🅶🅸🆁🅻🆂
@faith.gardner
Releases: January 23, 2025
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
★Worst Roommate Ever meets The Cult meets NXIVM★
𝐼 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠.
FEAR TO LOVE … FEAR TO LOVE … FEAR TO LOVE
I’m always thrilled to receive an early copy of one of Gardner’s books. The moment it arrives, I set whatever book I’m reading down and dive right in. Her latest, The Mirror House Girls (and yes, this cover deserves a mention), is an engrossing read that will keep you turning the pages. You won’t forget this plot!
I went into this book completely blind - as I do a lot of books - and quickly found myself captivated by the characters, especially Scarlett and Winona. That ending! Yaaass!
The story focuses on a group of women living in the enigmatic Mirror House, each grappling with deep-seated fears and addictions. Their charismatic leader, Simon, guides them through exposure therapy, helping them believe they can conquer the impossible. But as their confidence grows, so does their unwavering devotion to Simon, soon they won’t be able to escape him.
Winona’s mother is convinced her daughter has fallen prey to a cult. But Winona refuses to hear or see it - she’s finally found her place in the world and a community where she belongs. For fear of losing those things she cannot face the truth of her situation.
But beneath the surface, cracks are beginning to form. How will it all unravel for her?
This book is a masterful psychological suspense thriller. While this story is a little more of a slower-pace than Gardner’s other work, the deliberate buildup is essential in exploring how individuals are drawn into cults and how one manipulator is able to break them down and build them back up - reshaping their thoughts and beliefs. The first half of the book lays the foundation with chilling precision, and the second half delivers a pulse-pounding payoff that, though I don’t usually enjoy HEA, left me full of joy.
As a true-crime enthusiast and documentary fan, I found The Mirror House Girls to be quite compelling. Gardner’s ability to weave a complex story with dynamic characters and an unsettling, yet realistic, narrative makes this one of her most thought-provoking books yet.
FAT. CAT. MUST. READ. THIS. BOOK.
SIMON.SAYS.
March 27, 2025
Literally the worst book. Drawn out and predictable.
September 2, 2025
This book was twisted, disturbing, and frustrating. The elements of cults and brain washing was a reminder that this is a very real scenario pertaining to what happens in these groups.
When Winona meets Dakota she’s welcomed into the world of “The Mirror House”. After living there she’s sure she’s made friends that are more like family along with their house leader who she is completely infatuated by, Simon- who is also the so-called psychologist of the house. His teachings to the house raise red flags to her, her mom, and the world of TikTok they share their story with, yet, Winona chooses to ignore. As they relocate and expand their group, Simon’s bizarre ways of getting the group to prove their trust begins to become darker.
I LOVE a cult story. This book was jaw dropping, page gripping, and utterly disturbing. Like most brain washed people you cannot believe they fall for the absurdity of a cult, yet it happens all the time. The ending absolutely broke me but was perfect in its own way. The book I needed to start off fall.
When Winona meets Dakota she’s welcomed into the world of “The Mirror House”. After living there she’s sure she’s made friends that are more like family along with their house leader who she is completely infatuated by, Simon- who is also the so-called psychologist of the house. His teachings to the house raise red flags to her, her mom, and the world of TikTok they share their story with, yet, Winona chooses to ignore. As they relocate and expand their group, Simon’s bizarre ways of getting the group to prove their trust begins to become darker.
I LOVE a cult story. This book was jaw dropping, page gripping, and utterly disturbing. Like most brain washed people you cannot believe they fall for the absurdity of a cult, yet it happens all the time. The ending absolutely broke me but was perfect in its own way. The book I needed to start off fall.
December 15, 2024
4.5 stars rounded to 5!
The Mirror House Girls is a haunting and riveting psychological thriller that fans of mind games and manipulation will love. When Winona rents a room at The Mirror House, she finally feels like she’s found a place where she belongs—part of a “family” led by the charismatic yet controlling Simon Spellmeyer. But as the house’s strange and unsettling routines grow darker, Winona is drawn deeper into a web of control and mistrust. The book expertly builds suspense, with each twist keeping you on edge. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of trust, manipulation, and the cost of blind loyalty. With an unsettling ending that lingers long after the final page, The Mirror House Girls is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.
Thank you NetGalley & Mirror House Press for an advanced copy to read in exchange for my review.
The Mirror House Girls is a haunting and riveting psychological thriller that fans of mind games and manipulation will love. When Winona rents a room at The Mirror House, she finally feels like she’s found a place where she belongs—part of a “family” led by the charismatic yet controlling Simon Spellmeyer. But as the house’s strange and unsettling routines grow darker, Winona is drawn deeper into a web of control and mistrust. The book expertly builds suspense, with each twist keeping you on edge. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of trust, manipulation, and the cost of blind loyalty. With an unsettling ending that lingers long after the final page, The Mirror House Girls is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.
Thank you NetGalley & Mirror House Press for an advanced copy to read in exchange for my review.
December 9, 2024
The most thought provoking book I've read this year. Grieving, lonely Winona thinks she's found her own little utopia when she meets Dakota at grief therapy and is invited to live with her and her friends in the Mirror House.
We are provided snapshots of the ending of this book through transcripts provided by one of the 'woken' who left before the cult imploded. It's an interesting and effective way to read a story.
Led by the charismatic Simon, the group seems fairly innocuous at first and Winona feels happy and fully accepted for herself for the first time in her life.
When the red flags start appearing she finds a way to justify them. As a reader we are screaming at her to get out but Faith Gardner weaves the story so expertly that we truly understand why the group stays together. Their indoctrination is so gradual that they don't, and more importantly, won't recognise it as they love each other and their life together so much. They also believe that outside the group they have nothing, such is Simon's influence.
I'm so grateful to Faith Gardner and BookSirens for allowing me to read this ARC and this review is totally honest. This is one book that I'd make sure any teenager in my care would read. I tore through it in a day and loved every character in my own way, such was the depth of the descriptions.
I can't recommend it highly enough. An absolute triumph.
We are provided snapshots of the ending of this book through transcripts provided by one of the 'woken' who left before the cult imploded. It's an interesting and effective way to read a story.
Led by the charismatic Simon, the group seems fairly innocuous at first and Winona feels happy and fully accepted for herself for the first time in her life.
When the red flags start appearing she finds a way to justify them. As a reader we are screaming at her to get out but Faith Gardner weaves the story so expertly that we truly understand why the group stays together. Their indoctrination is so gradual that they don't, and more importantly, won't recognise it as they love each other and their life together so much. They also believe that outside the group they have nothing, such is Simon's influence.
I'm so grateful to Faith Gardner and BookSirens for allowing me to read this ARC and this review is totally honest. This is one book that I'd make sure any teenager in my care would read. I tore through it in a day and loved every character in my own way, such was the depth of the descriptions.
I can't recommend it highly enough. An absolute triumph.
March 14, 2025
This is about a cult that is a mix of NXIVM and the Manson Family. They live in CA in a house that has mirrors all over the house. The leader is the only male, named Simon. He is a master manipulator. The story is fiction..but not far fetched at all.
January 6, 2025
The scratched the perfect part of my brain that itches for cult content. If you've ever wondered how someone gaslights themselves into staying in a cult, this one's for you!!!
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