This academic fairytale reads more like magical realism and horror than it does as a fantasy.

To be honest, I had a hard time getting into this one. A large part of that was the protagonist treating herself as a victim of multiple offenses and wallowing in her own anger, bitterness, and helplessness. This goes on for about 50% or more of the story. Fortunately, after that point the story picks up and the character growth begins. The arc of going from victim to taking agency of one's own life is development I wanted to see.

The story lore was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the academic rivals' different worldviews representing the contrast of belief in the supernatural and belief in only that which can be proven.

Content: open door, fairly descriptive sexual content. Unwelcome sexual advances and SA. Grotesque descriptions.

Thank you to Harper Adio and Netgalley for an advanced review copy to listen to.

I'm am still not very sure what this book was even about. The audio book narrator mad it feel like the female was very whiny. I understand that this is supposed to take place where women were less valued, but jeez. I kept having to go read the description again to see if I could understand more of the story. I finished but it wad hard to keep my interest.

I am not going to lie, I didn’t love this book when I first started it. But, I was drawn into the story. There is an unsettling event that the MC alludes to but doesn’t describe but it was enough to leave me feeling icky. However, as I kept reading, I discovered it was written with a purpose.

Something I did love was the way this story straddles the line of supernatural and madness. It was very Edgar Allen Poe in that regard and I loved that element.

I also really enjoyed the academia vibes despite being taken out of a collegiate setting early on in the book.

The audiobook only enriched my reading experience. I loved the narrator and I feel like spooky books are only better as audiobooks and this was no exception.

Overall, this book really grew on me and ended up being a story that really resonated with me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I genuinely adored the vast majority of this book. A young woman is offered a once in a lifetime oppertunity to work on a very important project. Redesigning a portions of her idol's home. The recently deceased author is a national icon, highly revered and recently interred with the highest honors. Effy is a student in the architecture college, the second best program at her university, after literature which refuses to accept female students. She is failing her classes, and the topic of a recent scandal involving her handsy advisor. In an effort to run away from the abuse, she works on site at the home. The author's son is more than happy for her company. The other student from the literature college who is also staying at the home for research is less ecstatic. As the two students learn more about the author's famous book, and its history, they learn legends and fairy tales are more real than some might believe. Though Effy has always believed, her missing ring finger stolen when she was young, is a daily reminder.

This is another beautiful book by Reid who writes such stunning prose its almost poetry. The way Effy's trauma, her history, and her experiences are handled. How the descriptions shift as Effy becomes more confident, and how there's never any shame associated with taking the antipsychotic drugs her mother insists on due to Effy's "imaginings", and just the overall grace that Effy as a character is handled. It's just stunning. Reid has said this is a book for the girls who don't get believed. I think it's also for the girls who never see themself as the main character of their own story. Girls who would rather hide and run away than face the hard truth of what happened to them. Girls who are entirely valid to do so. I've always through Reid's characters are so realistic and well-rounded. Effy is by far my favorite though.

The story as it evolves is also so perfectly done. The mystery, but then when the reader has already figured most of it out, the way it unravels for Preston and Effy. You never get frustrated that they haven't figured out what you already have. The way Effy automatically knows the heart of it, if not the whole thing. The way they frustratingly make choices that put them in danger to find the truth of the story. And the way Effy's heart was dashed when she learns the truth about the man who wrote the book that helped her survive. It was so raw and painful while still being beautiful.

My only problem was towards the end. A character is explaining something, and while telling the story, they speak in the strangest way. It's as though I'm Reid forgot she was writing dialogue and not prose. It's very awkward and not how anyone has spoken until this point. It talks about emotions or descriptions like they're dialogue tags and not someone describing their life story. It's just very bizarre. It reads like a memory and not someone remembering their life. Really took me out of the story, but was also my only qualm with the whole book.

Overall, a masterpiece, and I can't wait to read Reid's next work.

This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and dark academia. The story features a mysterious seaside home where two academic rivals happen to be conducting research that eventually brings them closer together and uncovers deep unsettling truths to the surface.

The tale is enchanting and haunting, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. I loved the way Ava Reid has woven together different elements of the story to create a truly unique and captivating reading experience where I was not sure what was and was not real till the end.

Even though the book is considered YA, it definitely touches on heavier topics and features darker undertones. Therefore, I believe this story can be enjoyed by a range of readers of various ages, far beyond young adults alone. I devoured it in just a short few days.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

If you are looking for a gothic mystery with a bit of fantasy thrown in, this book is for you. The writing is beautiful. Ava Reid truly has a gift in that department. I did find the story to start out much slower than I expected and am used to. It was worth the wait, however, when the story really picked up and I found it much harder to put the story down (maybe 60% through?).

This is my first Ava Reid book and I was very glad to meet her wonderful characters, especially Effy and Preston.

atmospheric, immersive, and captivating. A Study in Drowning is a perfect read for fans of fantasy, dark academia, and stories that feature a mysterious seaside home where your academic rival happens to be conducting research. though the book is considered YA, it definitely touches on heavier topics and features darker undertones. therefore, i believe this story is one that can be enjoyed by a spectrum of readers of various ages, far beyond young adults alone. the story was the perfect length and i devoured it in just a short few days. i would definitely recommend A Study in Drowning to readers that are looking for an enchanting story with beautifully haunting vibes.

I would like to thank Harper Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

A Study in Drowning is a deeply atmospheric novel that follows themes of one's own voice and how it can be used or how it can be taken away. This book is overwhelmingly about women's voices and how those voices can be ignored or taken by those with more power. But it also about fighting for and taking control of your own voice and story. Reid has created some interesting characters that are enjoyable to follow through their story. The world was excellently crafted. The story is complex and handles characters, narration, and themes in a wonderful manner that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. This was an excellent book that is aimed at the upper end of YA and I'm sure that many readers will enjoy.

This was such a good read. I also read the ebook version, but wanted to give the audio version a try. I just really love these characters a lot, and the setting is so atmospheric. Ava Reid is such a good writer and uses some incredibly beautiful descriptions. This was my first book by the. But I will definitely be reading more. I would recommend to those interested in folk stories and magic and a dark academia vibe.

Effie has always seen things that no one else can see. The most common of her hallucinations is the Fairy King. After a childhood of horror and nightmares, she is finally put on medication to eliminate these bizarre hallucinations. Now as an adult, Effie is an architecture student who dreams of being a literature student at a college where only males are literature students.
When the opportunity arises to head South, into the lands where people believe in the fae, to build an architectural dream of a house for Effie’s favorite deceased author, she jumps at the opportunity to prove herself.
Once Effie arrives, she is surrounded by mystery and people who try to warn her of the Fairy Kings manipulation.

This book had me gripped from the very beginning, it is a slow and mysterious read. I found myself frustrated at Effie and her hot-headed behavior, but we all need those types of characters to remind us to be patient and keep our eyes open. Watching the relationship between Effie and Preston develop was so intriguing and I love that Effie is a strong girl who is out to make a path for herself and fight for her future, no matter who… or what, gets in her way. Go Effie!

I love a good book that has you wondering what is real and what isn’t, Ava does such an amazing job in this book and with her prose-like writing, ugh, I couldn’t get enough! What is the Fairy King? Is he real? Is he a metaphor for her trauma?

Thank you to Harper Teen, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I was extremely excited to be approved for this audiobook as “A Study In Drowning” has been on my wishlist for some time. The cover is beautiful and I wholeheartedly loved how atmospheric and descriptive the setting and story were. The allure of dark academia, rivals to lovers romance and a fantastical mystery were all such a draw.. I do feel like it was a touch slow for me, and I am not sure if part of that had to do with the AI narrator of the audio ARC causing my attention to drift, I really do believe that a different audio experience would have made it easier to follow (or reading it in ebook format/print).

Sadly, I did not realize this was an audiobook and I have auditory processing issues, so can't fairly rate this book. SOrry! But I do love Ava Reid a lot, so I have the highest hopes! Excited to get to this one once there is an ebook or physical arc.

This book was absolutely beautiful. Ava Reid’s writing is so atmospheric, and the tone of her writing is always so interesting; they have one of my favourite narrative voices, and all of their books are just so well written! This book is definitely my favourite from Ava Reid so far. I loved the setting, and the characters were so well written and relatable; they were very human and very realistic, and they worked really well together. The chemistry between Effy and Preston was done very well, and I loved their banter and dynamic. The storyline was also so fascinating, and the folklore and mystery made this book one of my favourites of the year so far! I remain convinced that Ava Reid cannot write a bad book.

4.5⭐️ rounded up.

This turned out to have so much more substance than I expected. What a lovely story- and what a lovely protagonist we have in Effy. And Preston is a great supporting (in more ways than one) character as well.

A Study in Drowning is a near-perfect combination of fantasy, reality, allegory, romance, and feminist critique of patriarchal institutions. I highly recommend giving this a read if any of those things appeal to you.

Thank you to author Ava Reid, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is absolutely beautiful. Ava Reid has a way of writing that fully puts you in the same headspace and atmosphere as Effy, and I was truly *drowning* in all of this book's glory.

We start at a university with Effy, an architecture student who wishes she could study literature despite the school not accepting women. Effy is the only woman in the architecture school, and she has a rumored reputation that follows and haunts her. To try and prove her worth to herself and her classmates, she submits a bid for an architecture competition. Her project is chosen, and she travels to the opposite side of the country to work on this project, which is where the novel really takes off.

Reid has a well-known history of writing about difficult and dark topics, and this book is no different. This book really dives into the emotional turmoil Effy's experience has on her, and it brought me back to the dark place I once lived in while working through similar issues I have experienced. This book made me feel heard, appreciated, and not alone.

This book is also a romance, and it truly made my heart soar. The reader is right alongside Effy the entire time as she learns to understand, appreciate, and eventually, love the love interest. Reid does an amazing job of showing how Effy's fears and trust issues appear in the beginning of this relationship, and I truly felt I had grown alongside Effy the entire time.

This book has numerous content warnings that I think should be considered before reading, though the majority of them take place off the page. This book deals with the aftermath of sexual assault, though the assault itself is not described in detail. There are numerous instances of sexual harassment, as well. Each piece truly adds to the story, and is not gratuitous in any way. There is also one small piece of body horror, though it is not graphic.

This book was truly beautiful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to read it. Another beautiful piece by Reid.

I understand that the use of AI was for review purposes only ... but I really hope that a version of this is produced with an actual narrator when it comes time for the title's release. While the AI voice doesn't sound like a robot, the flat affect that is consistent throughout made the story hard to emotionally engage with, connect with, and follow. As the intended audience for this is teens ... I think they would also have the same time connecting with the AI generated audio if that was the final version of this title put out into the world. As a librarian (and avid audiobook listener), I listen to multiple audios a day (sometimes upwards of 3) on 3x speed ... and I had to slow this way down, start it from the beginning multiple times, and eventually just gave up on fully connecting with the story.

This is the review I posted on Goodreads:
"I accepted this ALC as an experiment. I already had this title on my TBR so I thought that I would give it a shot. This was risky because the ALC is narrated by AI instead of an audiobook narrator. I understand why a publishing house might send out ALCs read by AI because they are less money upfront and can be sent out to reviewers while a narrator is recording the actual audio. But boy, let me tell you ... I think that I did myself a disservice by listening to this one. It took multiple attempts to get into the story and then my mind kept losing focus. While the AI narrator DOES NOT sound like a robot, it's flat affect made following the story so hard ... everything sounded the same. I listen to multiple audiobooks a day, usually on 3x speed, and I had to slow this WAY down in an attempt to follow the storyline.

Other than that, I think that had I read this on page, I would have been raving the same way that the other reviewers are. The story is interesting and fresh. The characters are dealing with their own trauma while attempting to solve a mystery. There's magic and it's set in a richly established/troubled world. I think teen fantasy readers are going to be super into this.

But yea. Not a fan of AI ALCs. Not for me."

Wow. I just finished A Study in Drowning, and honestly, I know I should sit with my thoughts before penning a review, but I cannot. This story is a deep dive into so many societal issues. Most glaringly obvious is sexism within academia. It is tragic, raw, and beautiful at times. A must-read for lovers of fantasy, academic rivals to lovers, spellbinding prose, and/or stories that will stay with you long after you have finished them.

I absolutely ADORED A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid. The gothic, dreary atmosphere is lovely and the mystery mixed with dark academia. Effy was a lovable character, her flaws do present themselves, but they make her seem more human and make her easier relate to rather than being an excuse for why she makes certain decisions. The deeper messages woven throughout this story contribute to its beauty and I think this is the perfect book to listen to so you can really take in Reid's prose.

A bit of a slow start for me, I almost gave up, but ultimately enjoyed the journey. Once I got to know the characters I was captivated by the story.

This story follows architecture student Effy in her journey to overcome expectations and prove herself in the eyes of a society that won't accept a female literature expert. She meets obstacles at every turn: her college dean, her unusual employer, her mother, and visions that have haunted her all her life. For fans of fairytale retellings, this story offers a fresh take in an original fairytale whose origins are being studied by our protagonists, and whose treacherous Fairy King may be more real than one could imagine.