Whoever said Secret History meets One of us is Lying was spot on! Having enjoyed Niven's writing previousely, I was delighted to receive an ARC for When We Were Monsters.

The dark academia vibes are strong and I personally enjoyed the dual POVs. Meredith was well fleshed out but I perhaps needed more for some of the other secondary characters. Tht is not to say the ensemble wasn't good, it will definitely make you reflect on life, love, loss, ambition, friendship and so much more. The manor and overall worldbuilding were brilliantly executed and delivered, the vibes were vibing. Some plot twists for good measure, add a side sprinkle of romance and boom!

Was it the most original book I ever read? No. Did I feel it borrowed a bit from here and there? Perhaps. But it was a fun read, I was hooked and invested so for me it's a winner. I can see the YA audience, with this cover and the title, frothing this one up!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

I stayed up until 2 am finishing this read!
It was so good and suspenseful, the characters were great and they all connected really well.
Brighton and hove house was a great setting, dark and mysterious with woods near by and near the sea too.
This is a great book about looking within to find the courage to be you and embrace all the fears but also knowing when someone is taking advantage when you are at your most vulnerable.
Although you only see this from 2 points of view it was such an unputdownable read.

The blurb describes this book as The Secret History meets One of Us is Lying. This is an apt description for this lively Dark Academia thriller that is teenage in tone but full of literary allusions. There is something here to engage fans of both.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Upon publication I will post my short review and an extract from the blurb on my blog.