
Member Reviews

I sadly DNF'd the book at 37%.
I really liked the concept of this book and the underlying story it tries to tell, BUT I feel like the way it was written made it too confusing to be enjoyed.
From the first chapter we get a very confusing conversation and I found myself unable to follow the dialogue between the characters. The insane amount of descriptions and comparisons, made everything very complicated to visualize and almost too cluttered.
Another aspect I did find confusing and almost misplaced, were the various philosophical discussions between the adults and these very young children (the oldest is 12!). I am almost 30 y/o and couldn't follow half of what was being discussed, yet these children could? Once or twice I get it, but in one of the chapters I read, there were MULTIPLE discussions in a row!
NOt to mention we were left in the dark about everything. Nothing was explained or contextualised to us. There is a part where the adult has to perform a ritual and we are never told why this is happening and what it means. It's just glossed over! And this happens regarding most interactions!
It got to a point where I was so lost and confused, I just couldn't bear it anymore.
I do think it's a book that requires a lot of brainpower and it's better indicated for lovers of philosophical queries, and this should be mentioned in the blurb. On the other hand, if it's a teen book, then maybe things should be made more clear and simple, instead of such complex and confusing rhetoric.
It just was not for me but I hope it finds it's audience!

I tried to read this book, but it just came across really confusing and I wasn't quit sure what was happening so I DNF'd.

It was an interesting premise. But I DNF'd at 60%. Both the plot and the writing were confusing. If I am over halfway through a book and not hooked, I don't have an incentive to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
The synopsis for Overmorrow was really intriguing and made me want to give this book a go.
Overmorrow is a book full of magic and intrigue. This story had a lot of complex imagery and went into detail while describing the world.
I became very confused reading this book - there were so many characters being introduced that it was hard to remember who everyone was. Also I confused about the ages of the children as they did things that were child appropriate then were acting like adults.
Whilst I did make it to the end of this book I could happily have dnf'd at any point as I was not connected to any of the characters or the plot.

i didn’t get very far into this book, simply because i felt completely lost the whole time. i don’t know if that’s the books fault or mine, but either way it just wasn’t very enjoyable for me. i’m so thankful for the ARC though!

Combining speculative fiction and magical realism, Overmorrow is a mysterious novel. Time, destiny, and the occult are interesting themes. However, the structure of the story is hard to comprehend.

This book was clever and not a regular read for me. I did really enjoy it. I thought it was creative and original. I think that if you like authors like Madeleine L’Engle, then you may like this one!

Lancelot Schaubert’s Overmorrow is a quietly ambitious novel that probes the tension between memory and desire. Overmorrow aims for emotional depth and literary nuance but often gets lost in its own introspection. Schaubert’s writing is stylised, occasionally to a fault. The language can overshadow the story, making it feel more like a mood piece than a fully engaging narrative. The pacing occasionally stalls in mid–narrative digressions, and some secondary characters lack depth
However, the central themes are intriguing.
Unfortunately not for me. But might please readers who are looking for something different, atypical.

Netgalley Arc Read Review
2.5/ star read
I would like to thank the publisher for the early access read of this book. I read a few chapters but quickly realized this book was not for me. The writing style is not for me. Though, I believe this would be a great read for the right audience. What drew me to the book was that it sounded like such a unique idea and could be a great book, as well I had loved the cover.

I chose this to pre-read for my middle grade daughter and our co-op classes. Saldy, I read about 15% in and had to put it down. In addition to inappropriate behavior and verbiage and the overall commotion and dark concepts (but not actual concepts, they were figments of one's imagination running rampant), I immediately knew this would not be a good fit for any of my students. This was a DNF for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for access to this eARC.

Overmorrow is a contemporary fantasy that feels like a blend of urban myth and coming-of-age adventure. The writing has a lyrical, almost fable-like quality, and the story mixes real emotional stakes with magical elements. Ellie is a determined protagonist whose search for her brother is both literal and symbolic, touching on ideas about memory, loss, and how forgetting can be dangerous.
The book moves quickly and has plenty of inventive imagery, especially the concept of magical rain changing people’s perceptions. At times, the plot can feel a bit abstract or metaphor-heavy, but if you enjoy stories that combine wonder with a sense of creeping menace, you’ll probably be into it.
Overall: A creative, heartfelt fantasy with strong themes and some surreal touches. Recommended for readers who like Neil Gaiman, Madeleine L’Engle, or modern fairy tales with deeper ideas beneath the surface.
shout out to Netgalley for providing this ARC 🫶🏻

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. This had an interesting premise...and THAT is about the only good thing I can say about this hot mess of a dumpster fire. This was really bad, like really bad. I couldn't get emotionally attached to any of these characters...the writing was bad, the grammar was inferior at times. I don't understand how you can use so many words to say so much absolute nothing. I was really really disappointed in this title, if it's a planned series I for sure WON'T be continuing it.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
The premise of Overmorrow was really intriguing (and the cover caught my eye right away!). According to Ellie, the mysterious “Overmorrow” has taken her older brother Charlie, and together with her two remaining siblings, she sets out to uncover the truth behind his disappearance.
Unfortunately, I had to DNF the book at around 43%. The middle school-aged kids behaved more like adults, while the adults acted like children — which made it hard for me to stay immersed in the story.
I could sense where the author was trying to go thematically, and I appreciate the ambition behind it, but in my opinion, the execution didn’t quite work.
Still, I’m grateful I had the chance to read it early, and I think it could resonate better with other readers who enjoy surreal or symbolic storytelling.

At its heart, Overmorrow is a story about loss and longing: a girl’s quest to find her missing brother. But as young Ellie’s journey deepens, so does the story, expanding into a surreal, cerebral exploration of memory, meaning, and the thin line between imagination and truth.
A World Unlike Any Other
Ellie is the curious, determined middle child of two overseas ambassadors. When her elder brother disappears, she’s convinced a magical monster named Oblivion has taken him—planning to use him as a kind of backup memory drive. As wild as it sounds, Schaubert makes it feel hauntingly plausible. The world he’s built is strange, poetic, and philosophical—a city transformed by magical rain called Overmorrow that wakes New Yorkers up to the wonders all around them.
Yes, it gave me Narnia vibes. But more than that, it reminded me of how much magic children can find in a world adults have stopped seeing.
The world-building is rich and intricate, sometimes challenging, but made accessible through the eyes of Ellie and her companions—who are just as new to this world as we are. Learning alongside them creates an immersive experience that’s both wonder-filled and unsettling.
Ellie: A Mind That Won’t Stop Turning
Ellie’s voice is sharp, inquisitive, and full of life. Her imagination is unstoppable. She dissects every little thing, hunting for symbols, secrets, and significance. It’s this relentless need to understand that makes her such a compelling narrator—and one that readers of all ages will find themselves rooting for.
Favorite Quote
“Books are portable imaginations.”
Themes & Vibes
🌀 Surrealism & Symbolism
🧠 Memory & Identity
📚 Books & Imagination
🌧️ Magical Realism / Fantasy
🧒 Child protagonist with a sharp, philosophical mind
💔 Grief, Loss, and Finding Meaning
🕳️ Monsters as metaphors
🧭 Narnia-esque sense of discovery
🕯️ Thought-provoking and dreamlike
Final Thoughts
Overmorrow is not your typical fantasy novel. It’s whimsical, cerebral, emotionally resonant, and deeply original. If you enjoy stories that challenge perception, reward attention, and explore profound truths through magical metaphors—this book is for you.
Just know that it asks a lot of you as a reader. But if you’re ready to follow Ellie down the rabbit hole, you’ll emerge changed.
Highly recommended for fans of A Wrinkle in Time, Coraline, or The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

The story cleverly opens with a hint that everything might be unfolding within a dream, adding another layer of intrigue and prompting you to question the very nature of reality from the outset.
The core concept echoes Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass and Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, and some intriguing similarities with Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police; exploring themes of loss, memory, and the fragility of reality. Our protagonist possesses a wonderfully overactive imagination. She dissects every detail, searching for meaning, and is irresistibly drawn to the unusual and unexplained.
Also there were a few moments that felt a tad bizarre and ambiguous. For example, one particular scene left me wondering if I was witnessing a baptism or some kind of arcane spell casting. Ultimately, I had to put it down before finishing. The sheer density of ideas and the constant demand for mental flexibility became a bit frustrating.
This is definitely geared towards readers who enjoy philosophical explorations and thought-provoking science fiction. Just be prepared to give it your undivided attention because it requires a significant investment of mental energy.

Interesting world and could be a fun story, just wasn't really clicking with me. Maybe if I was a younger (like a young teen) I would have enjoyed this book more.

DNF halfway through Chapter Two . The book is boring me and far too confusing—it’s giving Alice In Wonderland weirdness in Mary Poppin times. The author has thrown lots of things in and some big plot things happened in the first chapter, but I don’t care enough about the characters yet to be impacted.
I received a free ARC e-book copy of this book thanks to NetGalley.

I regret requesting this book. Unfortunately, it was so surreal and imaginatively confusing that it would have been more work to wade through than I am willing to give as an unpaid reader.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
Such an imaginative and a unique read! Very original.

An interesting read. The story follows three children as they navigate the solution of a mystery. The story has a level of strangeness and intrigue that has the ability to capture its audience although there are a few plot holes I am unsure of.
The cover is beautiful and although it has some intriguing magical elements I find myself unsure on the book as a whole.