No, this isn’t the review I said I was going to write next. The Author’s Guide to Murder didn’t pull me in the way I hoped it would and I didn’t find any of the main characters particularly likeable, so I moved on. My TBR physical pile presented quite a few options, but A Study in Drowning is the one that called to me the loudest. I’ve heard a lot of praise about this one and the second one is now out. It was time.

Summary:

Effie is the only girl at the architecture college. Her admission was an incredible achievement, but truthfully she’d rather be studying literature. Fairy tales and other stories have called to her since her brief encounter with the Fairy King as a child. She’s wanted to study them ever since. Unfortunately, that’s still not an option for girls.

She finds a way to force her reality to intersect with her interests when she finds a poster on campus seeking an architect to restore her favorite author’s estate. She never expects to win, but she has to apply. Effie has memorized every word of the late Emrys Myrddin’s writings. The winner will get to live on the grounds while finalizing designs, alongside the author’s surviving family. The opportunity to explore what he left behind will give her an entirely new insight into her idol.

When she does win, she can tell right away that none of it is what she expected. Nor did she expect another student to have already taken up residence. Surely it’s only the stress of these disappointing surprises that’s making it so much harder to distinguish between reality and her imagination?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed falling into this book every time I opened its pages. Swan diving may be a more accurate metaphor. I absolutely adored immersing myself in its haunting and wistful atmosphere. It’s vivid enough that you can almost taste the salt of the ocean spray. For me, it was very evocative of Cape Cod or coastal Maine in winter. It was perfect for this time of year when the leaves are just starting to change their colors. I’m also a big fan of stories that find a gray area between realism and fantasy, and this is a wonderful example of it.

Additionally, I really appreciated the way this book approached romance. I’m of the opinion that there’s not much room for spice in Young Adult novels. Content should be appropriate for those between the ages of 12-18 years. This book did a wonderful job of presenting and contrasting healthy and unhealthy dynamics. Characters who do become physically involved are of age and (in healthy examples) consent is clearly defined as essential. There is an open door scene, but its realism prevents it from feeling obscene. This could actually be a great introduction to open door scenes for any reader interested in trying those sorts of books for the first time.

My favorite aspect, however, was watching Effie’s character growth. During the first few chapters, she was hard to connect with, although I had sympathy for her. As she learned more about herself and what mattered to her, the more I grew to like her. I really want to see where she goes next, so I’ll need to get my hands on the second book.

Content Warnings: Sexism, Gaslighting, Medical Abuse, Emotional Neglect, Student-Professor Relationship, Asphyxiation, Dark Water, Grooming, Alcohol, Parent Loss, Panic Attacks, Sexual Content, Sexual Harassment

After I Finished A Study in Drowning

After removing another book from my physical TBR pile, it was time to dive back into my list of ARCs (Advance Reader Copies). There are a lot of books coming out this month and next, several of which I’m extremely excited for. That includes one title that’s releasing in a couple of weeks. I read the first book in the series last year and it was one of my top ten reads for all of 2024. The whole town probably heard me squealing with glee when I got the email saying I’d been accepted as an ARC reader for the sequel. I’ve really been looking forward to reading this one.

My next review will be for We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad.