Unfortunately, I really did not enjoy this one and felt that it was a step down from the author's last release, which I thought showed a lot of potential. I just felt that this didn't work on many levels, and I was especially frustrated by the reliance on skipping over huge amounts of time and implying character development had occurred during this period, rather than writing the actual character development. I also did not care for most of the horror sequences and found them underwhelming, except for the rat scene. There were definitely some good moments and good points in here, but it just fell short for me in ways I couldn't get past, and it took me a really long time to finish it despite it being very short.

Shy Girl was a really intense and haunting read that stayed with me long after I finished it. Gia’s situation is unsettling from the start, and watching her navigate this strange, controlling arrangement with Nathan had me constantly on edge. The story dives deep into themes of autonomy, survival, and power in ways that feel raw and unflinching, showing the psychological toll of her choices and circumstances. Gia is such a well-developed character, and I found myself empathizing with her even when I was disturbed by what she was going through. The writing is sharp and immersive, pulling you straight into her perspective and her conflicted emotions. It’s not an easy read, but it’s compelling, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant—a book that really makes you think about agency, control, and resilience.

this book was horrific… in the best way. completely not what i expected- we love an unhinged woman and a feminist novel wrapped up in violence and straight up insanity

Shy Girl by Mia Ballard is a charming and heartfelt contemporary romance that immediately drew me in. I loved how the story captured the quiet strength of the heroine and the slow, sweet buildup of the romance. The characters felt genuine and relatable, making their journey feel real and engaging. It’s a cozy, feel-good read that left me smiling long after finishing.

This was absolutely a wild ride. I have never read something so unique and horrifying. The dynamic between the FMC and her alter ego as they morph into one animalistic creature is insane.

Let me first say, that at the beginning of this book, I was thinking, eh it will be ok - nothing crazy... but then, something changed... and when I tell you that I have NEVER had a book make me FEEL so much - anxiety, dread, absolutely SICK TO MY STOMACH... I have never read anything like it and I don't think I ever will again... what Mia Ballard manages to put into only 247 pages is absolutely wild and beyond my comprehension - but that's what makes it so... damn... good. And because I can't eloquently put into words just how, I don't even know the words to describe it... I am going to quote some of the authors note in the back that will make it all the more real while not giving away any spoilers even though I will put a spoiler tag just because I dont want to be that person. You can't really go into the story blind because the blurb gives it away but I PROMISE you will never see what's coming once you get into the *meat* of the story... see what I did there? ;) This is God Tier, top #1 horror book for me -- taking place of Stephen King's IT which should say everything I can't in the best way.

"It's a visceral dive into the claustrophobic grip of captivity and the psychological toll of manipulation - a situation far too many women around the world have faced in one form or another.

At it's core, this is a story about reclaiming agency. About revenge not as an act of malice, but as an assertion of autonomy in a world that often strips women of choice, dignity, and freedom. It is about confronting systems - be they societal, relational, or internal - that silence and oppress, and dismantling them piece by piece, no matter how messy or unpalatable the process might be.

Women have always been cast as caretakers, peacekeepers, and forgivers. We're told to endure, to adapt, to rise above. But sometimes, the only way to heal is rage. Sometimes, justice isn't quiet or clean; it's feral and bloody and unapologetic.

Shy Girl holds a mirror to the darkest parts of control and trauma while also asking questions about survival and resistance. What does it mean to escape a cage, whether physical or metaphorical? How do you reconcile the parts of yourself shaped by those cages? And what does freedom truly cost?

More importantly, it's a reminder: Women deserve to own their stories, theirs bodies, their futures - on THEIR terms. And when that autonomy is stripped away, revenge becomes less about vengeance and more about rewriting a narrative in which women refuse to remain victims." - Mia Ballard, Shy Girl

Let me say, PLEASEEEEEE check trigger warnings... this is NOT an easy read. In fact, it's the hardest read of my life so far....but it's important. Especially with the way our world is right now. Women, every single day, are seen as victims instead of survivors, and we have to change that narrative for ourselves. We have to support one another because even though we are all different - different races, different opinions, different mindset, different religions or beliefs - we are still WOMEN. that right there should band us together against the evil in the world. We need to stop tearing each other down and instead look inside one another and see each other for the amazing, strong, miraculous beings that we are.

As someone who is a survivor herself, due to something that happened when I was a child and had no control.. to even now, as an adult that got caught in another web of abuse, just differently, but now with the power to take back my control -- this book is special, and it gives me hope that one day I will always claim my own freedom from someone who's tried to strip me of my self.

So, thank you Mia Ballard... for reminding me of what it is to be a woman, to be strong, to be capable, to be worthy.... that is a gift that will never be able to be repaid, but I hope you see this review and know just how grateful I am that you wrote this important, although terrifying and horror filled story -- I have a feeling it's going to change my life. Thank you 1000s times over and PLEASE - write another soon!! I just know that brilliant mind of yours is holding so many amazing stories that are waiting to be told.

Also, I want to add - I am absolutely heartbroken that I didn't just go ahead and purchase the physical copy of this book... I'm not sure if it's being traditionally published or what but I BEG YOU not to change the cover. It's absolutely stunning and I would give my left foot to have a copy of it but I'm unable to find it anywhere. If anyone has a copy they don't want.... PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! This is a book I NEED to have on my shelf, for when I need a reminder of just how strong and worthy I am of true freedom.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Ballard, and Galaxy Press for gifting me with this eArc. All thoughts and opinions are of my own. Unfortunately, I am unable to write reviews anywhere but on my social medias and Amazon (pending review) but once it's available again, I am ABSOLUTELY writing down my thoughts.

this book was A RIDE! Woof the hype (iykyk) i personally didn’t expect the book to be this way. It caught me off guard and i absolutely loved it. The events escalated really fast and there were so many parts of the book that made me sick to my stomach. The ending was incredible and such a “final girl” ish moment. I would totally recommend this book:

What a wild crazy ride of a book. If I have said it once I’ll say it 1000 times more - unhinged women is my all time favourite genre. And by the GODS did Gia give us unhinged, rage and gore, and I LOVED every minute of it.

This is a truly horrifying book that is BEAUTIFULLY written. when a book makes me want to double check if I locked my doors, I know the horror was extremely well done. I finished the book satisfied, yet scared and angry. This is a masterpiece of its genre.

Okay, this book, here we f—ing go!
The book starts with Gia, an extremely shy and pretty mentally unwell girl, looking for a way to get out of her financial hardship. She searches for sugar daddies, figuring it might be an easy way to make a decent amount of money. However, her search leads her to Nathan, a seemingly great guy who has an unconventional desire. For her to be his pet.
What starts off as an unusual fetish exploration takes several twisted turns into the weird, bizarre and frankly horrifying world of Shy Girl.
I knew this book was considered ‘weird girl horror’ when I picked it up but I’m not sure I was prepared for the full extent of what that meant. At no point do you feel like Ballard is pulling any punches when it comes to describing the things happening to Gia. You are right there with her in every terrible moment. I love some weird girl horror so of course I really enjoyed this read, even the few times I had to put it down to take some deep breaths. This genre isn’t for everyone though, if you think it might not be for you, you’re probably right.
That being said, if you watched Tusk and thought ‘wow, that was a really interesting film’ instead of crying or barfing…pick up Shy Girl!

Oh my god!! This book was phenomenal!! 5+ stars! First, the way we’re inside the main characters head. Not much happens at the beginning, but the inside of her mind is so compelling and well written, it kept me hooked. Then the horrifying and sickening part of the book starts. It’s a grotesque nightmare. The way the author hinted at what was to happen then pulled away and gave you relief only to come hurtling back with something even worse.

I will forever support, follow, and read everything and anything Mia Ballard writes! Will forever support her!!!

I absolutely loved this. it's not a genre I usually read but I got into this really quick and I loved it. its a weird one were I cant say too much without spoiling the plot, would definitely recommend

My god.

What a page turner. Gruesome, psychologically disturbing, and overall messed up. I’ve been binge watching Criminal Minds and I think that added to my enjoyment of this. I need to know what happened to this man to lead him to being a true sicko asshole… Mia we need a prequel!!

What I liked:
The build up to Gia taking the “job” was well put together in my opinion. I liked spending her monotonous days with her and learning what lead her to this awful predicament. The introduction of Nathan was also dread inducing… you knew the bad shit was coming but when and what extent. The actual captivity had me hooked too (for the most part).

What I didn’t like:
The timelines were kinda all over. I wish there was a bit more explanation of what was happening in each year, whether that be more details on her body changes, mental changes, etc.. I also didn’t love the ending. I wanted more of an explanation on whyyyyyyy. It could’ve been a little longer too. It felt abrupt… like what about her dad and her friend??? And wtf Cupcake???

Overall I had a good time (even if I felt sick to my stomach and stressed af multiple times in the second half lol). I love Mia’s characters and her ability to draw you into her stories!

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝐒𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥
𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐝
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰
𝟓⭐️

Short and sweet review time, not going to go into full detail about this book because if you’ve read author @galaxygrlmia before then you know how wild her books are. I LOVED @galaxygrlmia’s previous book 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫, so I could not wait to get my hands on this one. Thank you @galaxy_press for the early copy.

Do not be fooled by this cute pastel cover. 𝐒𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 is far from a cute story, it is not for the faint of the heart, and it is truly mind blowing. This is a HORROR, female rage, seriously disturbing, uncomfortable, read-probably has been the most uncomfortable book I’ve ever read. This tiny book (less than 300 pages) can be read in a day because you WONT be able to put it down.

100% reccomend this book if your looking for a wild horror book! If you haven’t read author Mia Ballard yet I reccomend reading 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 first so you get an idea about this authors style.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬✨•

#shygirl#miaballard#galaxypress
#bookstagram#bookstagrammer
#horrorbooks#bookreview
#bookrecommendations

This is one of my favorite reads this year. So brutal, creepy and wonderful!
The writing style is perfect. I actually son't have a bad word to say about this book at all.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh I loved this! It started off quite slow and took me until about 20% to fully get info it but once it kicked off I was HOOKED!

Feral, unhinged, female rage, femgore vibes 🤌🏻

Shy Girl was so entirely worth the hype. Sometimes, there are worse things than being flat broke. Sometimes, being made to act like a dog, to woof for praise and to sleep in a cage is much, much worse.
Weird girl horror is a new obsession of mine. Usually it only takes a few pages for me to work out if a book is going to be for me. Reading the prologue made it even shorter! With a few sentences, I was fully in. I had a sense of dread and found myself edging closer and closer to the edge of my seat. There is a sense of thrill to Shy Girl that made me really reconsider the pros to online dating, because at the end of the day, there could be a sexy man just waiting to make you his "bitch."

Shy Girl is a twisted, unforgettable ride, equal parts horror and strange empowerment! Mia Ballard drops you into a desperate mind under extreme circumstances. It’s brutal, unsettling, and oddly cathartic. The body horror gets under your skin, and the chaos is strangely compelling. Think: weird, brave, and horrifyingly! If you like feminine‑rage horror that sticks with you, even after the last page, you’ll be hooked. A book for the weird girlies!

I cant lie the cover drew me right in, exquisite! This story was definitely disturbing & filled with social commentary. Unfortunately I think it fell flat a little at the end & I was a bit dissapointed in that.