I found this book so hard to get into. It was all over the place and I am not interested in fantasy/fairy stories. Not my genre !!

You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce – Publish date 4/21/20.
Five Stars.
What a brilliant novel! I wanted to read this book because of the comparison in the blurb to Sharp Objects (one of my all time favorite books), and it doesn't disappoint, although it could also be compared to the writings of Carolyn Turgeon, who writes wonderfully dark fairy tales.

I think it's hard to give a synopsis of this novel without spoiling it...truly it is best to go in blind. However, know that it involves family dysfunction, childhood abuse and trauma, fairies, magic, murder and mystery. It's really so well done with lots of psychological insight. Camilla Bruce did an amazing job with a very heavy topic and yet it is not overly graphic. (Wait...how did she do that?) I was startled after the first couple of pages, but I am so glad I kept reading. You Let Me In is a terrific, as well as terrifying, psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages and hoping it would never end. That's good writing IMO and I am very grateful for Netgalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Camilla Bruce for the opportunity.

Did not finish. Could not grasp what was suppose to be happening in this book. I was very intrigued until we got to Mr. Pepperman....?

You Let Me In is a dark fantasy that will both disturb and intrigue. Cassandra Tipp is dead...we think. Her body is nowhere to be found, but her will is left behind distributing her massive fortune and one final manuscript that tells a story Cassandra is dying to tell. This is a book that readers won't expect. It's beautifully written and will keep readers hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended to readers who are looking for a completely original read. If you enjoy fantasy, but also enjoy domestic dramas, this is the book for you! Be sure to check out You Let Me In today.

I was disappointed in this book. I couldn’t get into it and didn’t finish it. I wasn’t wild about the writing style and it just never caught my interest. I give it 2 1/2 stars but am rounding it up to 3. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I am not generally a fan of fantasy novels, and this almost crossed my line. This was eerily similar to The Brothers Grimm, with a note of mystery.

I did not like the obscure that presented itself when considering what truly happened to Cassandra Tipp. I hated the ambiguity.
When I read I like finality. I didn’t feel like I had that.

What I did like was the strong imagination of the Author. The way she created “The Pepper Man” and the story she brought to life.

I would recommend this on the basis it was extremely well written, and you have to appreciate an author who comes up with an original plot. It’s so hard to find a writer with such clever creativity.

3.5 stars for creativity, originality, and eloquent writing.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to review based on my own honest opinion.

Although a book many would likely enjoy, this just wasn’t a book I could get into. I think that, rather than it being classified as a mystery, it would more accurately fall under a horror/fantasy genre.

The writing style was engaging, especially after the beginning of the book setting the stage for a wealthy missing writer, formerly a murder suspect, who leaves a manuscript behind for her niece and nephew to read. This premise was intriguing, and it seemed that the story had a lot of potential. Sadly, once the horror and fantasy elements began, this ceased being a book I felt engaged with.

Overall I would try to read this author again, because I really liked her writing style. However, the story just had too many bizarre elements that made me question what exactly was going on, and what exactly I was reading about.

People who enjoy dark fantasy novels would likely enjoy this read and, as I said, the writing was really good. Ultimately, this just wasn’t the book for me.

As eerie and weird as all hell. An original tale which will send a chill down the spine of the most ardent creepy story fan.

Hmm...what to say about this one. It was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into it. Idk what it was between the writing or the way it was just scattered everywhere. I had hope for this one which I was disappointed in.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unsettling, captivating, different than traditional fantasy in a good way. If you’re interested in dysfunctional families and childhood trauma, it’s excellent. Great voice. I flew through this book. Love the psychological questions behind it all. Can’t wait to read the next one.

I tried. I failed. I cannot finish. Just my opinion but I gave 2 stars for the writing. I just couldn't get into this one. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for the advanced ecopy.

3 for neutral. I tried on multiple occasions to get into this book, but never got very far. It seemed to be a bit scattered and different than I was expecting, and just never grabbed me. I don’t feel comfortable rating something poorly that I did not read, so I did a 3 for neutral and will update if able to enjoy at a later date.

This book was absolutely different from what I expected. Somehow the description didn't really fit the book completely.
It was a pretty scary book, not badly written, but somehow not very great either. It felt very incoherent, all over the place. I couldnt really follow the story and in the end it felt like not everything was told. As if a part was left out.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce. The premise of this book is interesting, but I do think this is more of a "scary book", than a thriller.
An older woman, Cassandra Tipp, is missing. She is best selling author and her disappearance is very sudden. She does leave behind something for her niece and nephew - a manuscript. She has stated that it is for them in case she disappears (mmmmm and then she disappears). The book tells Cassandra's story from childhood to adulthood, and it is not a typical novel by any means.
This is quite good and some parts I would describe as horrific., Not for the weak of heart.
2.5 stars.

It is hard to describe my thoughts about this book without giving away any spoilers.  I found it to be a bit disturbing and a bit scattered.  I got the underlying storyline, but was left with many questions.  Not a book that I would recommend.

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced reading copy. This book sounded so interesting and right up my alley. Sadly, I was just wasn’t able to connect with the characters. I was easily sidetracked from reading it and finally gave up. Although I didn’t finish this book, I would still try another read from this author and hope the next one draws me in.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this one but sadly couldn’t connect with the fantasy element. Intriguing and despite not clicking with the whole plot, did enjoy the book. Definitely bizarre and different from anything I’ve read lately!

You Let Me In, Camilla Bruce‘s debut novel, is miscategorized as a mystery/thriller. It is, in fact, horror/fantasy, with plenty of violence delivered by fairies who have nothing in common with innocent Tinkerbell.

Cassie has lived her entire life in thrall to an ancient fairy called Pepper-Man, who feeds on her blood and draws her into the world of the fairies who live in the mound, a place invisible to ordinary humans. Cassie’s family, teachers, classmates — everyone around her — always considered her an evil girl, but the damage attributed to her was usually perpetrated by Pepper-Man.

Now Cassie is an old woman, a wealthy bestselling author of women’s fiction — and she has disappeared, leaving a fortune that her niece and nephew are eager to claim. First they must read Cassie’s last, unpublished manuscript and discover the magic word within it. That manuscript is the story of her life and is, for the most part, the book in the reader’s hands. Except for a period when she is able to meld both her worlds without society’s knowledge, Cassie’s life is haunted by violence, murder and the suspicion of it. Her emotional connections are to fairies, particularly Pepper-Man and one other, not to people.

The subject matter is sometimes gory, but Bruce‘s writing is gorgeous. You Let Me In will surely appeal to fans of both horror and fantasy.

Written from the perspective of seventy-four-year-old writer Cassandra Tipp, who has suddenly vanished, the bestselling novelist left behind a manuscript for her niece and nephew in case she were to ever disappear. In this manuscript, Cassandra describes her childhood and explains how she became a suspected murderer.

You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce is not at all what I was expecting. This is a dark fairy tale retelling (think Grimm), with dark, sinister writing and creepy creatures. In the end, we are left questioning whether the fairies are real or a coping mechanism Cassandra created to survive her dysfunctional family. If you do not enjoy ambiguity in your novels, I would not recommend this one.

I really loved this book. I read a lot of thrillers and this one had me surprised. I loved the twists znx and turns. The end was satisfying for me.