I received a digital ARC via NetGalley from Penguin Young Readers Group. In this gothic thriller Margot has nowhere to go after the sudden death of her family. A family acquaintance takes her in to be a companion to their ailing daughter on their remote country estate. What follows is Margot facing her own family demons as well as the mysteries of the Copeland Family that surround the gardens and wings of this large and lavish estate that has many secrets buried in its walls.

Overall, this was atmospheric and I kept turning the pages. I enjoyed the scenes in the garden outside the estate and I was really struck by Agatha and what could be ailing her. However, there was nothing new and amazing in this YA fiction. The last 10 pages brought in some revelations for the main character Margot that I was happy to see, but it was long and didn’t give me any major goosebumps. It was just a decent addition to the genre.

After the sudden death of her family, Margot finds herself in an orphanage. The Sutton family show up one day and offer to adopt her. But there's a catch, Margot is to be the companion to their catatonic daughter, Agatha. But not all is as it seems in the Sutton house.

I liked the setting of this, the estate in the isolated plot was spooky and could have been utilized better. I wanted to know more about Copeland Hall and the history of the family. The book has some eerie moments, but it was extremely predictable, which definitely brought the enjoyment down for me. I was intrigued at the beginning but the plot dragged a bit in the middle and became very repetitive. I did like Margot as a main character, she was very caring and I liked how she was with Agatha. One of the biggest complaints I had about the book was the romance, it felt extremely forced and unneeded to the overall story line. I think if Barrett hadn't been included it would have been a lot better in the long run.

Overall, it was okay, but a bit too predictable for me.

I really enjoyed the first 50%; in fact, I didn’t want to put it down. Margot was starting to figure some things out, and seemed like she was getting through to Agatha. I liked the tension with Laura, the support from Barrett (though could have done without the immediate romance), and the giant house waiting to be explored.

However, the second half was so frustrating! Margot is a little too passive for me. I get that she started the book with a lot of indifference because of what happened with her family, but if all of a sudden my health was changing—I was waking up groggy and disoriented, losing time, etc.—I would be giving more thought to why.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but Margot missed some very obvious signs and, even when she had more solid proof about things, she was still aloof or purposefully ignorant. She would wave away doubt, not take Agatha seriously, and even when she knew she didn’t want to be there, she was intent on being a “good orphan.” She just focused on less important things and barely did any investigating/exploring (unless a Dream told her to... seriously?)

The ending was also rushed and a little silly (was there paranormal/magic/something else going on? The ghost of Lily helping Margot out? Or something?? Still don’t really get it).

ARGH, it was promising and I did like the setting/characters enough that I finished the book. But it was a bit disappointing in the end.

YA thrillers are quickly becoming my favorite genre to pick up when I’m not sure what I’m in the mood for because they always deliver; The Companion is the perfect example of that. This book was mysterious, face pasted, and kept me on my toes the entire time.

I’ve read a lot of creepy books this year (more than I ever have!), and this one fits right at the top with the creep factor. Margot loses her parents and sister in a tragic car accident and becomes an orphan. But one day, a rich family decides to take her in so she can be a companion to their sick daughter. They live in an enormous house and Margot reluctantly takes on her role. It becomes obvious quite quickly that something more is going on, and Margot has to figure out what it is.

This is definitely a creepy nook that held my attention, but I also felt like nothing much happened for much of the book. I was too invested to give up, but I wish the pace would have been a bit faster. I could see many of the twists long before they were revealed, but it was still enjoyable enough.

Thank you to Netgalley for my eARC, and to Penguin Teen for my ARC of this book I read during Spooktober 2020!

First things first, even though this book is YA I had higher hopes for she "spook" factor, but it would make the perfect book for my friends who more-so enjoy the idea of being spooked more than actually being scared. Now that we got that out of the way, let's unpack this fun and creepy book! I read it for a virtual book club I am apart of, and it was fun hearing the differing opinions on this one.

The scene sets on a newly orphaned Margot, who is living at a government home, awaiting potential adoption or to be aged out of the system. Margot's family recently died in a tragic car accident, and she continuously awakes in night terrors, due to her screams. She considers herself a bit of a lost hope, and assumes she will live out her last two years until 18 in the home. That is, until a wealthy and notable family adopt her! As she meets the family, and drives up to the monstrous mansion, we can't all help but feel it's too good to be true.

Her adopted mother admits they did indeed adopt her under false pretenses of sorts, as they have a daughter, Agatha, around her age who needs a companion. Agatha was a normal teenage girl until recently, until she mysteriously stopped speaking, and conducting herself in a seemingly normal fashion. She now spends her days dormant, medicated, and mute. The family hopes having Margot at home will brighten Agatha's spirits, and also bring Margot comfort as well.

The home, and the family members themselves, seem to have a lot to hide. We can only hope Margot can uncover the secrets, in enough time. "Margot’s bad dreams may have stopped when she came to live with Agatha – but the real nightmare has just begun."

I loved the characters, the house (ALWAYS down for a spooky house with secrets in it's walls), and the mystery behind it all - but still wish it was a tad scarier. Most definitely very enjoyable, and would recommend. 3.5 Stars.

This was such a disappointment for me. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading. Early on I figured out a likely scenario and I was just hoping that I was wrong and I would have a surprise ending. Unfortunately that was not the case. Despite me figuring out the ending I still couldn’t put the book down. While I really enjoyed the aspect that I couldn’t put it down, the book was far too long for a predictable ending. I was really let down when I was done. I wanted more from the ending and the relationships to be explained a little more.

I love me a creepy old house full of rich people with questionable motives and this was no exception! While the plot itself was predictable, I still enjoyed the journey getting to the end and the conclusion was completely satisfying.

My threshold for scary is probably higher than most people so I wasn’t super creeped out by this one but I loved the setting and the characters regardless. I don’t think I really needed a midway romance thrown in though. I didn’t dislike it per se but I just didn’t feel like it was necessary or added anything.

This one absolutely packed a punch for me. A friend recommended it, and I am so glad she did. What a twisted novel.

I've read lots of adult books like this, so I guessed the twist pretty quickly on but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy it! If anything, I think the romance didn't add much, but this is a fast paced thriller that I think teens will gobble up.

I loved this! I thought the writing was really great. The story was so atmospheric and I could picture everything perfectly. I really loved Margot as a main character. I also loved her strange friendship with Agatha. This story had a great amount of spooky vibes. I definitely want to read more from this author!

This was the perfect Halloween read! The story follows Margot, a teen girl who can't seem to catch a break. After she loses her entire family in an accident, a family who claims to have been close with her dad takes her in. While with the Suttons, Margot is asked to take care of Agatha, their youngest daughter, and be her companion since her condition has caused her to lose her friends and way of life. But soon Margot realizes that this wealthy, perfect family is not what they appear to be and her life may be in danger. The Companion is eerie and keeps you on your toes! I love that the characters aren't your typical one note thriller characters. They have many layers with complex backgrounds that add to the story. I highly recommend this dark and thrilling read!

Katie Alender's THE COMPANION is an exciting, spooky, and ultimately hopeful read. In the story, Margot has lost her whole family in a tragic car accident, she is the sole survivor. After being in a home and a series of unsuccessful placements, an old classmate of her father's takes her in. But it's not all it seems. Margot's job is less of being a teen girl and more of being a companion to the family's oldest daughter, who is unwell. The story has the reader questioning Margot's sanity, the condition of the daughter, and if Margot truly belongs.

After hearing some great buzz for this book, I was very interested to read it, despite it not being my typical genre. White reading, I found it compelling and spooky! I had to read it during the daytime and not at night! At the same time, I found it to be somewhat predictable. About halfway thru, I said aloud what I suspected was going on, and I was proven right. All in all, that didn't dampen my reading experience and this is a book I'd recommend to others.

Margot was the sole survivor of a car accident that killed her family. She has been left an orphan with no one to take her in until one day she receives word that a wealthy family wants to adopt her. Tucked away in a remote country estate, Margot finds that maybe she wasn’t such a lucky orphan after all. The Sutton family want Margot to be the companion to their mysterious, silent daughter, Agatha. Plagued by disturbing nightmares, loss of time, and a house that feels anything like home, Margot finds herself in an unthinkable situation.

Call me crazy, but I’m always going to think being whisked away to any remote location screams red flag! Margot certainly doesn’t trust the motives of the Sutton family for choosing to adopt her. Ultimately she has little choice, but to go along with the move. What she finds is something that was beyond both of our wildest imaginations. I definitely thought that this book was headed in one direction and then took a turn for something else in the best way possible.

Alender has chosen to write THE COMPANION through a series of short chapters told through Margot’s eyes. Margot is written in a way that the reader immediately bonds with her and wants to hope for the best outcome in her adoption, but there is this overall strangeness that can’t be shaken. At various points Margot becomes a bit of an unreliable narrator in a way that doesn’t make the reader outright lose trust in her, but instead it builds your concern for her wellbeing. The secondary characters, largely made up of the Sutton family, are an interesting bunch! It’s tough to know who to trust because through various character traits you simply don’t have the chance or don’t have the interest in knowing more about them.

My favorite part about THE COMPANION is how Alender uses the Sutton estate almost as a character who becomes integral to the plot. The house holds a lot of secrets, but it’s willing to give them up if Margot can learn where to look. I loved exploring the estate and being disturbed by what was found. In addition to being a major plot driver, the house also sets an incredible atmospheric quality to the story. There is isolation and dread caused simply from the estate, which truly makes this story sing.

THE COMPANION may be a YA horror story, but it’s one that works across audiences. There are certainly times when parts are more on the juvenile side, but that comes about from having a sixteen-year-old narrator, as opposed to the overall story. If you’re looking for something to creep you out and make you second guess everything then add THE COMPANION to your TBR!

I thoroughly enjoyed this totally twisted story. Although i did see a lot of it coming, it was still a mind f*ck and it was so much fun? I don’t know if that’s really the right word but i highly recommend!

Wowwww this book was incredibly creepy! I loved the descriptions and atmosphere so, so much. Haunted old mansion, an orphan with nowhere else to go, and a weird family. I love the way the author set up Margot's character, situation, and motivation. She's proactive and sticks up for herself, while also (very understandably) doing her best not to ruin her only choice for a living situation. Her grief at the event that left her orphaned was also poignant, while not overshadowing the mystery aspects of the story. Overall, this was a great, haunting read!

Thank you Penguin Teen via Netgalley for a free advanced electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books that has you really in for a ride.

Is there something supernatural or sinister going on in this house that our main character has been taken into? I most certainly loved that it had a Gothic horror vibe to it.

- creepy, rich house
- daughter who is either faking an illness, possessed, or actually ill
- mother who is either cruel or possessed
- secrets and lies

The reason that I mark it down is I thought the writing was a bit too loose. I understand it is a YA book, I just thought it could be a bit tighter.

Other than that, it's a perfect October read.

The Companion is a contemporary gothic story that is genuinely so unsettling. It follows a teenage girl named Margot, who is left orphaned after her parents and younger sisters die in a car accident, and she is taken in by a wealthy couple, John and Laura Suttons, to be a “companion” to their catatonic daughter Agatha. This book has a lot of the makings of a classic horror story–a gorgeous old mansion called Copeland Hall with macabre history lurking in its walls, super private current inhabitants who are definitely hiding something, and of course, Agatha’s condition which appears to be inexplicable. Don’t expect paranormal activity or jump scares, but you will be asking yourself “what is WRONG with this house and this family?!” throughout.

Unlike many gothic/horror authors, Alender doesn’t lay out everything from the get-go, so instead of figuring out the twists before Margot and simply watching her as she pieces everything together, you’re experiencing everything along with her. The Companion is a chunky book at nearly 500 pages long, but believe me when I say that I could not put it down. I just had to know what happened next, and figure out what was going on with the Sutton family. Everything, from the remoteness of the historic mansion, to the dark history of the family that has occupied it for generations that Margot uncovers, to Laura Sutton’s attempt to get close to Margot despite her unsettling secretiveness, to the mystery surrounding how Agatha ended up in her catatonic condition, was perfectly creepy. With fall and spooky season coming up, The Companion is the perfect book to keep you up at night.

I was sent this ebook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and I am so happy I was. I am generally skeptical of any YA novel even in a genre I love so much such as thrillers, but this book pleasantly surprised me and was much better and interesting than I expected it to be. Despite not liking the characters much at the beginning and coming to hate some as the book progressed I really enjoyed my time in the world of this book and found myself thinking about it, excited to pick it up again when I wasn't reading it. It had so many things / tropes I guess the best word would be that I love to see in my media on top of the book just being generally weird, but in the best ways. I was always interested in uncovering more of the story and I think the author did a great job at building suspense for a great ending with one of my favorite quotes/notions that I've ever read in a novel. If you're looking for something similar to Verity by Colleen Hoover, whether you enjoyed that novel or not, I think this would be the worth the read for you. It served so many 'looks' from books and movies that I love without feeling like a carbon copy and I think the author is amazing for that alone.

Creeeepy and so fun! The romance was a little unnecessary, but the forbidden rooms, the mansion where everything is just a little bit...off...perfection!