Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was drawn to this book by the cover and synopsis. Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me. The whole time I was hoping Liv would stop being frustrating and it just never happened. I think I smacked myself in the head like a cartoon character 5 or 6 times over here. It actually just kept getting worse. Something obviously very suspicious would happen and she’d just turn around and hang out with that person again the next day. Literally everyone on the ship was trying to lie and gaslight her and she would blurt out everything to them and then be surprised when they acted like they didn’t believe her. Con was a jerk the whole time but she kept making out with him when he didn’t act at all like he deserved the time of day from her and was the most suspicious person in the book! I also thought the conclusion with Will and the others would be more climatic and it wasn’t. I really liked the plot and it just felt like it was missing something for me. Definitely check it out yourself when it comes out June 27th!

As a former Greek myth obsessed child, I loved this book. The idea of being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean while sinister things take place that you are the sole witness to sounds like a truly chilling nightmare to me. Not to mention being stuck there with influencers/sirens. I do have to say Liv often annoyed me with her waffling between absolute surety and desperate rationalization. Plus it's left as a bit of a loophole that Livs parents would expect an explanation as to where their daughter went as they had not offered her up. Over all though, it was a quick read with an interesting plot and a compelling mystery.

This was a terrifying read, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

2⭐️

This absolutely GORGEOUS cover and ambiguous description of a suspicious cruise where people are going missing immediately drew me into this one. Dark secrets, suspicious characters and all of this while being stuck on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean - count me in!

But once I started reading ... the plot started to fall off for me...

Granted, this is a debut book - but I felt like it had SOOO much potential to be a creepy, paranormal YA book and then was let down massively. First off, the MC Liv is incredibly annoying. Her friend Will was rude AF to her and yet she's running all over this ship trying to find him. Everyone, literally EVERYONE in this book seems to be hiding something and yet Liv is trusting everyone and telling them what she suspects. I feel like this incredibly smart girl who won a literal scholarship to be on this boat would be smarter than to include everyone in her theories when they could all be involved. Then it was the whole delusional conspiracy theories and making her seem crazy over and over and over again... we get it.

There was such strong potential for all the Greek references and mythology. I would have loved if that would have been included more than just brief references in passing. The Sirens were interesting characters but I also felt like this wasn't developed enough and was way too obvious at what was really going on with them. I did enjoy all of the little secrets that were revealed piece by piece and how some of the characters evolved from friends to being suspicious.

The biggest thing that irked me was that there was all these little pieces that NEVER got fully explained. The book literally felt like it was missing the last few chapters where everything came together. No spoilers - but I am still unsure of WTF actually happened in the end... but maybe this is all setup for a sequel. The first half of the book was promising, then we had the same scenario of Liv looking crazy and being so back and forth with Con for the whole middle. Once things started heating up in the end I was completely invested and then it just ended??

This was a 2-star book for me... maybe YA readers will enjoy it more than I did. But there was just something about how it ended and nothing got fully explained that ruined it for me. I loved the culty, paranormal vibes it was giving off and just wished it would have been a bit more developed.

This book felt like I was reading a movie. There were so many good plot twists and it was very hard to guess what was going to happen next. I thought the main character, Liv, was a little unrelatable at times with how over the top she was, but I could understand why she was doing it. I really enjoyed all of the character's personalities and how even some of the staff members had interesting personalities when they didn't necessarily need to. I thought the writing was very interesting and there were times when I had to look up what words meant, which is very unusual for me when I read a book. I wish we would have gotten to see more of Will before he disappeared, maybe I would have been able to relate to Liv a bit more. I cannot believe that it ended on a cliff hanger and I really hope there is a second book in the future.
I would highly recommend this book to my friends as really enjoyed it.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this story, but I struggled to connect with Liv and empathize with her — which makes it hard when she’s the main driver of the story. Combined with slower pacing, it didn’t work for me. However, this might be a good fit for some teens who are really into Siren mythology, rich / elite crowds, and a MC who has to try to convince everyone that what she sees is real.

"The sea provides, but only if you feed it."

Another very creepy read! Liv is on a cruise for a Seamester with her best friend Will. Surrounded by some quite ridiculous people, rich kids and influencers, this trip isn't going great for her. When her friend Will goes missing, Liv starts down the rabbit hole to figure out what is going on with this ship.

I really liked this, but a lot of the side characters got on my nerves at times. This book has great atmosphere and spooky vibes, and it definitely serves as a reminder to always question everything.

Out June 27, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

I'm fascinated by any ocean horror so when I heard about this book I was excited to see where it went. Overall I wasn't disappointed. It's an interesting take on the genre and adds a few new things to the mix that I appreciated. The sense of "wrongness" that permeates the pages was done well, and I found myself torn more than once trying to decide if our main character was actually in the middle of something fishy (pardon my pun) or if she was just losing her mind to the stress of things, so bravo to Goldsmith for that. I think the thing I cared for the least was the romantic subplot. I know that it's almost unheard of to have a YA novel without a romance element, and I think there are some ways it could have been done that would have caused me to like it more, but as it stood the love interest just made me want to bang my head against a wall. Not only is he shallow he borders on gaslighting, and my GOD is he dense. I honestly feel like making him any other kind of character would have improved the story, but it is what it is. Love interest aside I did still have fun with this book, and will be more than happy to suggest it to anyone looking for a reason to distrust cruise ships, because let's be honest, there are a few. The ending was open enough that I would be interested to see where Goldsmith might take the story if she had the opportunity for a sequel, but even if that doesn't happen I'll keep an eye on her to see what she comes up with next.

I have a low threshold for horror and am terrified of cruises, so I'm not sure why I thought I should pick up this book, but I'm really glad I did!

Liv was chosen for SeaMester--a term aboard a cruise ship. Her best friend Will was chosen as well, and she's hopeful they'll have a chance to mend the awkwardness between them. But the first night, they have a fight--and then Will disappears. Supposedly, he's in the infirmary, having come down with some highly infectious illness. But Liv thinks the story just doesn't add up. Besides, that's not the only strange thing happening aboard the Eos.
As the days go on, she becomes more and more sure that something horrible has happened to Will, and that nothing aboard the ship is at it seems. Most of her group brushes her off, but she finds solace in Con, whose connection to another missing person intrigues her, and Cintia.

Those We Drown is unsettling and creepy, playing with the horrors of sea--both what lies below and how it affects those who sail on it. I never knew quite who to trust--including Liv's own experiences. The vibes were immaculate, and I couldn't put this book down. It made me want to read more horror, which is huge!

An incredibly fun read! I was given the opportunity to read this ARK throughout NetGalley. This is the first book I’ve read that takes place on a cruise ship. I have never been on one myself, but I was easily able to imagine myself on this one (as horrible as it was). I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, despite several typos along the way. I could not wait to keep reading! Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and a bit lackluster. I wish there had been an actual conclusion.

This would have been a high 4 star read had it not been for the ending.

I LOVED the horror bits. I do have a healthy fear of the open ocean and of boats/ships, so I was thoroughly unsettled. I also loved the Greek/myth tie-ins.

However, the romance felt forced to me and the ending felt incomplete. This isn’t a literary novel; this is a YA genre novel—you can’t end so abruptly and ambiguously! I mean obviously you can but it doesn’t work. It makes me think this will be a duology… also I wanted more of the reveal, for the why of it all it to be fleshed out better.

There were some parts that I had trouble suspending my disbelief with the protagonist and her actions, but then again, she’s 17. I thought she acted exactly like a 17 year old would.

Liv is excited to be accepted to a Seamester on a cruise ship with her best friend Will. She is hoping they can finally fix the awkwardness that has been between them for the past few weeks. Also on the ship are influencers known as the Sirens. After a raucous first night, Liv wakes up to find Will has disappeared. Others say he has been quarantined, but she can’t get a hold of him and people are acting sketchy. As she investigates, more strange things start happening. Something nefarious is happening on the ship, and Liv is determined to find out.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was spooky in a good way, and played a lot on mythology, which I enjoyed. If you struggle reading about gaslighting, probably give this one a pass. However, if you’re ok with reading about it, there is lots of great suspense and intrigue! It’s one of those creepy “I know something is wrong but what is it exactly” feelings.

My biggest critique is that the ending is so abrupt! I literally clicked back on my kindle to make sure that was the end. Yes, the unknown goes with this genre, but I think the epilogue could’ve been the Sirens. It didn’t have to be Liv! Just something to end on one last creepy note.

Overall, an enjoyable thriller/horror/suspense/take on mythology! I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Those We Drown
by Amy Goldsmith
Mystery Fantasy New Adult
NetGalley ARC
Ages 16 +

It was pure luck that Liv won an all-expense paid semester aboard a luxury cruise. But what makes it more special is her best friend Will is also going to be on the trip, and she hopes they can repair the damage they had done that one night they almost went too far.

But the first night aboard, Will gets drunk and snaps at Liv. Come morning Will has disappeared but the ship's staff claims he got extremely sick and was now in quarantine. Liv doesn't buy it because they won't let her see him, or even talk to him on the phone. After telling those in her group that she thinks something funny is going on, she is laughed at and she questions herself but doesn't stop looking for her best friend.

The book cover is cool, too bad the story didn't live up to it. The story wasn't bad, but honestly, it was boring. Liv whined about Will, that was the majority of the story. The mystery wasn't really explained in enough detail to make it interesting let alone scary, thus why I don't consider this horror. It wasn't scary, it was a mystery with vague descriptions of the heart of the mystery.

Because the author seemed to be more concerned with money, clothes, beauty, and that stuff, which Liv didn't have, what could have made this story scary with a little gore, was ignored, and instead it was a teenage drama with the MC whining all of the time. I did not care for her one bit.

If the author tossed out the influencer subplot and the female spitefulness, gave the MC an adult mentality, and worried about the 'mystery' by adding descriptions and details, this could have been a whole lot better.

Because of the drinking and drug use by minors, along with language, it is not suitable for those under 16.

2 Stars

Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
(A Spoiler-Free Review)


Apparently sea creature-based atmospheric horror is my jam because this is the second book in a row I’ve read with that theme! And, much like the last, this one did not disappoint.

Despite being just a little too slow on the pacing for my personal preference, the slowly unraveling moments of increasingly creepy uncertainty that Liv experiences aboard The Eos lends itself to a wonderful level of growing dread from page to page. The reader is left wondering how much is her own overactive imagination - not uncommon for a writer - and how much is an actual conspiracy brewing around her to the point of ship staff gaslighting her into thinking she didn’t see what she believes she did on a daily basis.

The writing weaves horror aspects that rely equally on both mythical powers and selfish human nature. The author blends these together to create an eerie atmosphere and cast of characters you can never fully trust at any given moment.

This is a wonderful tale that puts into question whether those we love are ever truly who we think they are, and explores the lengths some will go to for money, power, and youth.

After all, the sea provides… but only if you feed it.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my ARC epub! All opinions are my own. )

This one felt very much like a debut. Now that is not a bad thing. I just think that the story could have been more epic or just more. It felt like the author was trying not to over step their writing but I wish it would have gone all out. It was very surprising in some parts and in others it just wasn't. The pacing was very fast and the characters were mostly fleshed out. I just think that the story itself would have been better if it would have been just more.

Loved the synopsis of this story along with the cover art (it’s what drew me in). The horror at sea was suspenseful and atmospheric very well detailed! The characters, for me, were too stereotypical (the poor girl, the high society, social status ladder, etc), but they did their job well enough with the plot that I could over look the unoriginality. Over all, a solid YA horror read!

THOSE WE DROWN 🌊🪸🚢🦑🐚
Pub. date June 27, 2023
★★☆☆☆

Summer-y YA horror on a cruise ship, potentially overrun with sirens? By this description alone, this was one of my most anticipated summer releases. I was so so sad when this one just missed the mark for me.

Let's start with the positives! Goldsmith wrote some of the most frightening imagery I've seen. She does a phenomenal job of creating unique and terrifying scares in impressively succinct ways. I have so many highlights and notes of one-of-a-kind frights that I loved.

I also love a closed-off setting. A cruise ship is a weird liminal space that begs for horror. The images of repeating hallways and empty spaces gave major Shining vibes.

My biggest issues were with the pacing. Our main character Olivia became too unhinged too fast. From the first moment she suspected that something wasn't quite right, she went all in trying to figure out what happened. That left nowhere for her character to grow. She couldn't slowly devolve in the insanity of being trapped at sea. She was all in from day one. It felt like an emotional groundhog day of her doing the same things again and again.

Most other characters felt flat, too. The snobby rich girls were just posh and rude and that was all. Hot rich boys were just hot and rich. That led friendships to feel empty and romance plots to feel unsatisfying. I felt like I didn't really know anyone.

Beyond the characters and pacing, there wasn't much of a mystery aboard the ship. Too much was on the nose for it to be satisfyingly horrific or mysterious. A group of hot influencers named The Sirens? Wonder what's up with them. Everything on the ship being named after Greek legends and mythology left no room for originality.

I hate to write negative reviews, I really do. I know how hard it is to get a book published, and getting to this point alone is worth celebrating. However, this book sadly missed the mark for me personally. If you like mythology you might like this one, but other than that, I don't know who else would enjoy it

3.5 Stars ( I hate that GR doesn't let you do half stars)

Four stars for me means I REALLY liked the book. Three stars means it's a good book but was missing a wow factor. Both are GOOD ratings on my radar and BOTH mean I would recommend. I fell in the middle of those two ratings with this book and here's why.

While this is considered YA there's a good amount of drinking and sex talk. I love both drinking and sex talk but with that said I would rate this as Mature YA 16 and up. Not 12. But that's just me. Has nothing to do with my rating or review just wanted to put that out there.

So, this book left me with the question, is it possible to like a book while hating the MC??? Answer: Yes! I liked several things about this story. I felt the horror, mystery, cult, and body count were all good. As a seasoned cruiser the descriptions of the ship from the decor, food, entertainment, and overall atmosphere were dead on. From the overcrowded moments to the isolated dark ones. For me, it was spot on.

What I struggled with was the FMC. She was immature, dramatic, spoiled, lacked common sense, impulsive, and had communication issues. She was nosey AF for no reason and not in a cute Murder She Wrote snooping kind of way. He inability to read people and make smart choices irked me to the end.

With that said, is this the first time I've disliked an MC?? NOPE. I think I may be a little hard on my FMC's in horror stories because I want so badly to shake them, and I can't and it's frustrating. Also, I have a bad habit of siding with villains. About 60% in I had picked a side and it wasn't our girls, and I feel like that's okay.

The ending to this left me wanting more. If this were a movie, I'd be one of the three sitting through the end credits waiting for an extra reel.

Overall, I liked this book, I would recommend this book, you should read this book.

Liv thinks she has just landed an opportunity of a lifetime with an all-expenses-paid semester at sea on a luxury cruise ship. It quickly becomes clear that all is not right on this ship and the Eros and crew are hiding big secrets.

This was such a delightful debut. It was a little slow to start but once the story got it’s legs it took off running. As an anxious person I could relate to Liv so much and often times found myself wanting to yell “Run, Liv, Run!” The author did a nice job of making us question all the way until the end who knew what, who was involved, and frankly what was going to happen. I’ll definitely recommend this to the teens in my life who want a spooky read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Liv was excited to join the SeaMester program aboard a cruise ship for weeks. It was an opportunity for something that would look good for university and help mend the broken relationship with her best friend. Almost from the moment they board the ship, things seem off-kilter and strange. When her best friend suddenly disappears the same night they sail away, Liv realizes that she has to find him before it's too late.

Oof. I wanted so much to love this book, but it was barely passable. There was nothing thrilling or mysterious about this book. Everything was basically laid out for the reader from the get-go. The characters were all different stereotypes without much change. The meathead jock, the popular girls, the cool girl, the misfits, the untouchable hot guy. Everyone fits into a neat little category and stayed there.

The biggest travesty of all, other than the lack of twists, was that ending. The ending just...stops. No resolution to anything, in the middle of a scene. It didn't feel artsy or like a style design. It felt like the writer didn't know how the book should end so she just stopped writing. It was lazy.