I read some of Katie Alender's earlier stuff (such literary masterworks as Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer) when I was a preteen and it's safe to say she's improved a lot as a writer. I liked the way she used gothic elements and built up the suspense of the novel through literary elements rather than shock value. I much prefer suspense and psychological elements to body horror, so it makes sense that I connected with this book so much. It's a great book for people who want goosebumps but don't want to not be able to sleep at night, which I definitely am. I wasn't a fan of the romance, it felt a little too forced for my liking, but I thought the plot was pretty solid other than that. Getting a front row seat for Alender's growth as a writer was so rewarding and I will definitely be reading anything she puts out in the future! Sidenote, this cover is absolutely STUNNING. I would have bought it just on this principle, but it kept me hooked all the way through!