4 stars

Angelina Yves is a very much struggling singer/songwriter who has just gotten fired from her barista job in LA when she’s offered the chance of a lifetime - sponsorship and a life in residence by the biggest band in the world, Black Idyll. Life on the compound is amazing (if monochromatic) and soon Angelina falls for Jasper Idyll, the lead singer. But is everything what it seems to be?

Angelina, the first thing I would have done would have been to have searched for people who were successful AFTER the house to make sure they were still alive, OK (I know you don’t have any money, because the real first thing I would do is always my first instinct….call my lawyers!)

Anyway, the place sounds incredible, it would be great if there were such places. The end was quite rushed and a small letdown (for me) but I enjoyed the book overall. I have several Dawson books on my list so I’m glad to have finally read one of her books. Many thanks for the ARC.

Midsommar meets Hollywood rockstars in this fast-paced, sun-drenched cult horror that had me fully hypnotized from page one. I devoured it in a single sitting like I was being initiated.

This book gave serious:
🔪 "What if Dani from Midsommar traded in Swedish flower cults for Malibu wellness retreats?"
🎸 "What if Jim Morrison came back from the dead and started a commune in the Hollywood Hills?"
vibes, and honestly? I was living for it.

The tension builds like a slow-burning acid trip until it spirals into full-blown chaos, and I couldn’t look away. There’s glitz, there’s guru energy, there’s something not-right-in-the-organic-sushi...

The main character? ICONIC. The vibe? 💀🔥. The pacing? So fast, it felt like my Kindle was melting.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for this eARC. I will absolutely be recommending this to anyone who likes their horror with a side of sunstroke, stardust, and stylish dread.

Would 100% join the cult if it came with a killer soundtrack and an LA view. (jk… unless?)

I really enjoy Dawson's horror novellas, and House of Idyll reminded me a lot of both It Will Only Hurt for a Moment and Guillotine. She does such a great job depicting mildly cult-like settings. Angelina was a great main character: the first chapter with her working in the coffee shop had me laughing out loud. I liked how the first half of the book really lulls you into a false sense of security; you know that something bad is going to happen just from the knowledge of it being a horror story, but everyone is being so nice, and everything seems to be working out so perfectly for Angelina.

OH MY GOD.
Oh my god?????
I absolutely LOVED this book. I went into it completely blind and I’m so glad I did. I didn’t know what was going to happen next but I couldn’t put it down and flew through it in less than 24 hrs. Delilah is becoming an autobuy author for me. All of her books are top tier and I cannot wait to read more.
This book gave midsommer vibes - cult type, eerie, puts you on edge, just all the good stuff! The hidden meaning behind it was beautiful. It was written so so well & the ending had me absolutely SHOOK. I want more omg!!!!
I will not stop thinking about it for a while. Highly HIGHLY recommend you read this when it’s out!

Delilah Dawson is writing incredible books across so many different genres and target ages. Between House of Idyll and Ride or Die, she now has two of my favorite books coming out just this year!

House of Idyll follows Angelina, a down on her luck aspiring singer who on a really bad day gets the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of an artists commune led by the frontman of her favorite band of all time.

Of course, all is not what it seems and it gets very surreal and very dangerous. But Angelina is not a victim and she responds very differently than is expected in this short, fantastic book.

To go into further detail would have to include spoilers but I will say, I love how Dawson takes her time, establishing characters and setting the scene beautifully for the third act. I definitely recommend this one!

The first word that comes to mind for this book is weird. I’ve read other stories by Dawson, and I don’t always vibe with her writing style. However this book was very interesting, and I finished it in one sitting. The atmosphere was creepy, and I liked the sinister Hollywood feel.

I'm not even a fan of rock star or fame-centered stories, but if Delilah S. Dawson writes it, I read it, and this method has yet to disappoint me. If the whole rock star thing usually bothers you too, I can report that the book isn't that heavy on that part. The main character is an amateur singer-songwriter and gets involved with a famous band, but the story doesn't take place on stage or on tour or anything. Instead it's set almost entirely at this artist compound founded by the band. That's also where the protagonist Angelina Yves ends up. Jobless and homeless, she is randomly picked up by a gorgeous man and brought to the compound where she gets free housing, free food, free clothes, free everything, and doesn't even have to work to earn any of it. How lucky, right? Everyone is beautiful and talented and clad in all-white, and everyone is meditating or doing yoga or enjoying nature until they are struck by inspiration. Absolutely nothing wrong with that and totally not a cult, I don't know what you're talking about.

It's a novella and therefore a fairly short and fast-moving story. Angelina arrives at the compound, is a bit weirded out at first but gets dragged into this way of living more and more. I am actually impressed that the book feels somewhat relaxing at first but is increasingly interwoven with unsettling undertones. From the cover I thought that it would be similar to "Guillotine" by the same author, a book that is all gas and no breaks, but it's actually closer to "Bloom", especially structure-wise. I am not complaining, because "Bloom" was one of my top favorite reads last year. "House of Idyll" also feels strangely calm and features a main character facing a new situation that is seemingly very good for them. There are red flags everywhere if you look for them, but constant reassurance that everything is fine and normal. Eventually the situation gets dire to a point of no return and then the book ends rather abruptly. The ending didn't really answer any questions, but I liked it anyway (and honestly, good for her). Overall, an easy recommendation for everyone who has read from Delilah S. Dawson before.

The book also delivered on that unicorn cover, for your information.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like the adult version of reading a fanfic where the band you’re obsessed with kidnaps you, and I mean that in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE. this books twists and turns were truly fun to read, as it went in a completely different direction than what I was expecting ❤️ my only thing I didn’t like was that the end was very rushed to be resolved. It was a good ending, but it left me wanting bonus chapters.

5/5 ⭐️

**recommended to:**
- if you like rock n roll
- if cults interests you

**tropes**
- deal with a demon
- celebrity crush

**my thoughts**
I got this as an ARC from NetGalley and was very happy because Delilah S Dawson has become and auto buy author for me harcoreeeee! After reading guillotine I was like this lady knows what my brain wants and this was just another win! The story is really compelling because it plays on the “what would you do to make all your dreams come true” and it does it in a way that was very original. The setting of the cult in SoCal was rad and I loved that is where she chose because it makes the nightmarish quality all the more believable imo. The band boys were definitely a big plus for this book for me as well because as a fellow high school emo in my past the four of them would have really done something for me. I like the little touches of mixed media with the song lyrics and the little kind of booklet page setup for the books that come with a CD. The pacing was well done I was enamored the entire time at no point did it feel dragging. Her writing is just perfect imo descriptive but not bogging you down with too much. Overall a really amazing read from a really great author.

**triggers**
- drug usage
- murder
- suicide
- parental neglect

Overall when this comes out September 9th of this year I totally recommend people check it out if you’re a horror girlie like I am.

HOUSE OF IDYLL felt like the perfect mash-up of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX meets JENNIFER'S BODY meets Jonestown. As always, Delilah S. Dawson's prose is razor sharp. She's a master at building suspense and casually throwing in little zingers of sentences that completely change what you thought was going on. Loved it!

Imagine one of those fanfics “Sold to One Direction” except is abducted/adopted by One Direction, and the band is more like My Chemical Romance, but in a chic/runway models aesthetic. And they take you to a compound in the American Idol bootcamp style, mixed with the Hollywood version of wellness, Gwyneth Paltrow’s style.
And then there’s also creepy/ritualistic shit going on.
She asks if it’s a cult. Nope, but it’s kinda worst.

Anyways, do read this book. It’s good. I’m gonna go read the author’s other work now.

I was so incredibly lucky to receive an arc of this book so thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books!

Delilah does not play when it comes to writing some of my favourite horror reads! And I now class her as one of my all time favourite authors too!

House of Idyll is another chilling triumph from Delilah S. Dawson. I’ve always admired her writing style, there’s something about the way she crafts a slow, creeping build-up that keeps me turning the pages long after I should be asleep. And just when you think you know where it’s going, she hits you with a wild, chaotic ending that’s as satisfying as it is unexpected.

One of my favorite elements in this novel is the protagonist! Such a strong, badass female character who doesn’t flinch in the face of darkness. She’s exactly the kind of character I love to root for (and in my opinion, a perfect final girl)

I’ll admit, the “celebrity/fame” trope usually isn’t my thing, but House of Idyll took that theme and twisted it into something uniquely disturbing and compelling. The cult aspects and graphic content add a gritty edge that made this story really stand out for me. It’s uncomfortable in all the right ways, and it lingers.

Why not five stars?!?! Just a personal taste thing, while I loved the atmosphere and characters, the fame-focused plot still isn’t my favorite trope, even when it’s done this well.

All in all, this is a gripping, gritty and wild read that fans of psychological horror, culty vibes, and feminine rage to its absolute finest! will definitely want to check out when it releases in September.

Stunning! Dawson is an expert at crafting the perfect level of unease and tension that is incredibly unsettling. Utterly satisfying and absolutely terrifying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and evoke this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

I love her books. And I’m still so honored to read an early copy of this one. But.. what was that?

I do not like books with SA and borderline nonconsent. And this book is full of it. It was so cringy and uncomfortable. The MC asked tons of times if she was in a cult. Um, girl you’re in a s3x cult and it is unbelievable how dumb you are. I wish she had more of a spine and personality, and as the reader I wish I felt more of the “support women’s wrongs!” Vibes but just felt like I watched her get taken advantage of.

Felt like I needed to boil my brain clean after this one. Not my favorite. 2 stars is generous. 🫣

A HUGE thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Delilah S. Dawson is an auto-buy author for me -- and with House of Idyll, she's absolutely nailed it again.

This is a story of desire, greed, want, hunger... A story of a young woman plucked from a less-than-ideal life into an idyllic oasis where creativity flows and you can have anything you want or need at your fingertips.

We follow Angelina, a singer-songwriter, who is struggling to break through the industry. When a chance encounter leads her to meet someone poised to intervene, she finds herself in an all-expenses paid artist's haven -- where her only job is to create. And maybe... more?

Dawson marvelously builds a sense of dread interwoven with moments of extreme comfort with a twist at the end that had my jaw on the floor.

House of Idyll is a top read of this year. I highly recommend it.

House of Idyll had me almost the whole way through. The setup is strong—washed-up musician gets invited to a mysterious artist commune run by world-famous rock stars, complete with dreamy creative freedom and unsettling cult vibes. There’s a steady thread of tension and unease, and the writing style fits the mood: dark, seductive, and just off-kilter enough to keep you wondering if something is really wrong.

The problem is, the story never quite follows through. There’s horror imagery—screaming horses, mutilated bodies, dream sequences that blur reality—but it all stays surface-level. Things happen, but the consequences and explanations feel half-buried. Even by the end, I still couldn’t tell you exactly what the House of Idyll is or how it works. It left me with more questions than answers—and not in the satisfying, “let’s unpack this” kind of way.

If you like vibe-heavy, slightly surreal reads with culty undertones, this might work for you. But if you’re hoping for a clear resolution or a horror plot that actually lands, this one might frustrate you.

Is this a cult, it feels like a cult?!!

Rockstars, unicorns and defo cult vibes! House of Idyll is every person who dreamt of being seen by their favourite band and then sprinkle in some absolute fever dream scenarios to realise maybe the lifestyle of the rich and famous is not everything you once hoped for.

Angelina is a well thought out main character who never loses herself despite everything that falls at her feet. And the atmosphere, although not terrifying, is unsettling. Dawson’s writing is impeccable and there were moments I felt so isolated and uneasy reading this even with a house full of people.

Loved this and devoured it in one sitting!!

House of Idyll by Delilah S. Dawson is a slick, atmospheric horror novel that explores the dark underbelly of fame and the cult-like power of charisma. It follows Angelina, a down-on-her-luck singer who gets invited into the orbit of a legendary band, only to find herself trapped in a surreal, predatory nightmare. The story plays out like Almost Famous meets Midsommar, but with less depth than either. The writing is punchy and fast-paced, with plenty of dread and a few genuinely disturbing images, but the characters—especially the protagonist—feel thin, and the plot unfolds in a way that’s more predictable than haunting. It’s enjoyable in the moment, but doesn’t linger long after the final page. If you’re in the mood for a quick, glossy hit of horror with cult vibes and rockstar aesthetics, it’ll scratch that itch—but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Imagine meeting your favourite band from your teenage years.
Imagine them inviting you to be part of their world, where they would nurture your talent and support your fledgling career.
Now Imagine that it all feels too good to be true, but you ignore that little fluttering of unease in your belly. And you ignore the strange things you see here and there.
This is that story, where at the very end, you get slapped with a twist so unexpected, you re-read the last couple of chapters in case you missed something!

A good fun ride, and a whole different kind of unicorn.

Delilah S. Dawson’s House of Idyll is a chilling, atmospheric descent into beauty, dread, and seduction. If you were captivated by Dawson’s Guillotine or are drawn to the psychological dread of films like Hereditary and Midsommar, this novel was written for you.

This is a final girl story at its core. Dawson creates a dreamlike, otherworldly setting that feels too good to question, and therein lies the genius of her protagonist. As a reader, you rarely feel the urge to scream at her to run. Even as things begin to unravel, her decisions remain painfully relatable and, most importantly, reasonable. You understand why she stays. You might even stay too if it were you.

The characters are likeable, the pacing is steady, and the writing is both lyrical (pun intended) and raw. Dawson is not afraid to jar the reader with crude or cutting language, using it as a powerful contrast to her usually elegant writing style. This creates moments that are deeply unsettling, giving weight to the horrors without relying on cheap scares.

The atmosphere of House of Idyll lingers. It’s beautiful, but it bites. It offers comfort, but always with a whisper of unease. And as the story spirals toward its climax, there’s a perfect moment when you know it’s time to go, but you also understand why she doesn’t. That emotional clarity is rare in horror, and Dawson nails it.

House of Idyll is a standout horror in 2025. Smart, stylish, and deeply unsettling, it's a must read for fans of dark fiction.

Thank you to the author, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.