"People say the kids are outside all day in all kinds of weather, and the teaching methods are ... unorthodox." The Hawthorne School is a psychological thriller about an unconventional school that is ostensibly based upon a Scandinavian nature school where children spend most of their time outside. Lurking beneath the surface however, is something a bit more sinister...

Author Sylvie Perry has created a very readable narrative that moves along at a decent clip. What kept this at three stars for me was disliking the lead protagonist, Claudia, who I found to be a bit annoying. I suspect this characterisation was intentional: "Claudia still thought of herself as a girl, not as a woman. She was sure she wasn't 'adulting' correctly, and she expected that true adults could see that." However what it meant for me as a reader was that rather than being on Team Claudia, and celebrating achievements like finally making "a parenting decision she could be proud of" I found myself siding with Zelma and the school. A byproduct of not being onside with lead character, I found myself getting exasperated that Claudia hasn't noticed things, like the school's ridiculous explanation for the complete and clearly out-of-step disappearance of Devin. While it's never the victim's fault that narcissistic people target and choose to exploit them, I really had to hold onto not blaming Claudia for being too self-absorbed and willfully naive over the course of this book. It was easy to see why the recruiter picked her...

Signposting was my other real issue. For example, Perry's signposting of the use of psychotropic drugs throughout the novel is so blatant, it robs the reader of any real sense of discovery. I knew what was going to happen before it did.

Sylvie Perry definitely pulls you in during the first half of this book. You get a creepy, something isn't right vibe from the Hawthorne School but you can't really put your finger on what is and I loved it. Give me some creepy kids and a school....yes please. BUUUUT it all started going down hill for me about 70% into the book (hell, probably even 50%) the book starts to become predictable and very cultish......."G is god". Perry did a great job developing some (SOME, not all) of these characters. You really feel for Claudia and think she is actually getting help with Henry, clearly that wasn't the case! The other half of the book I am calling Claudia an idiot for not realizing it sooner what was happened. Zemla ugggggh strongly disliked that woman with a passion. I just struggled to finish after 70% because it was just to predictable for me and for it to start off so well and build up the vibe to be rushed in the end. (2.5 stars)

Claudia's life is a struggle. Her 4 year old son Henry is "difficult" and struggles in a mainstream preschool. Henry's father left when he was a few weeks old. Claudia's one support was her mother until she passed away. She has spent her life running away, never getting settled anywhere, just picking up and starting again. That is until Henry is given a place in a prestigious school and he loves it! With his tuition paid by volunteer hours, Claudia couldn't be happier until she isn't. There is just something about this school that doesn't sit right but by the time she figures it out, there is no way to escape.

Firstly, I would like to thank #netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book! It's probably the best book I have ever been gifted by netgalley. The suspense builds throughout the story as did my anxiety. I connected with Claudia as a mum just trying to do her best and my heart broke as hers did. As the reader, you start connecting the dots quicker than Claudia does but I think that's the point. She is so blinded by the fact that she wants to belong that she can't see what is actually happening. If my kids allowed for it, I would've finished this in a day! I struggled to put it down and could not wait to get back to it. Definitely recommend!!

The Hawthorne School is my favorite genre of book. It's a twisty, gothic tale of a single mother trying to do what's best for her son. The fact that I can personally relate to many of Claudia's struggles made it that much more real to me. I can also relate to making decisions for my son that turned out to be very different than I'd bargained for, but thankfully nothing as sinister as the Hawthorne School.

I didn't realize until I'd finished the book that the author is a psychotherapist with expertise in narcissistic manipulation, but thinking back can definitely see how this expertise is expressed through the characters. The story is well told, with a satisfyingly twisty journey as Claudia learns more about the school and its staff. I won't share any spoilers!

The pacing was a bit off for me, a little slow and repetitive in the beginning, but overall a thoroughly enjoyable read. I also would have loved to have more of the school's atmosphere and pulled through the story.

Thanks to @NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

Haven't read any Riley Sager books but I intend do so, and I have this feeling his books would be a miss or a hit for me. And so when I saw that this book is perfect for Riley Sager readers, my interest was piqued and therefore I looked forward to seeing how exactly can this be perfect for long time mystery/thriller fans. This book was atmospheric, with the school bringing you that gothic and immersive vibe, I was lured in. Mysteries, questions and turns were in this book, and it was quite the ride. I'm not sure if it's something I would remember fro a long time but I can see why some people would thoroughly enjoy diving into this book.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Very captivating with amazing character development. A school that is full of children but where are the adults? It looks like such a wonderful place for this new single mom to place her son - she needs help and this is going to help her make it through life and offer her peace. Or will it? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sadly missed the mark for me. I love Riley Sager and the blurb for this one seemed interesting and right up my alley. However right away I struggled with this one finding the writing more about showing than telling and I didn't really enjoy any of the characters or find their actions believable to I struggled a lot. Then the last sentence about the house waiting instead of coming off as sinister and ominous came off as cheesy as ultimately nothing was about the Hawthorne house itself, but about the people IN it.

I think there is potential for this author, but she needs to develop characters a bit more.

In general, the idea behind this book was great, but I had issues with its execution. The first half of the book was so slow that it did not grab my attention for long. I had to make an effort to keep reading. Fortunately, the second half of the book was way better. The brainwash of Claudia (main character) was very believable, although I got frustrated with her for doing nothing once she realized she was being played. I have to say that I did see the plot twits coming, but I did not guess all the creepy details. Also, I felt that its ending was rushed. Honestly, I would only recommend this book if you do not mind that it starts slow.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, I had the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. I flew through it pretty quickly - mainly because I couldn't put it down. I had figured out much of the ending from the very start but that ruined nothing for me. I highly recommend for a good mystery thriller!

The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry is a psychological thriller that presents an interesting take on an insecure single mother's troubles. When Claudia was only twenty years old, she found out that she was pregnant. Despite her young age, she decided to keep the baby. By the time Henry, her son, turned four years old, she realized that he had behavioral issues. Despite her best efforts, she could never get the boy to behave. Being a young mother was hard on its own, but raising the child, who refused to listen to her and the teachers, was overwhelming beyond her wildest imaginations. With every passing day, she felt like a complete failure as a mother. When she heard about The Hawthorne School and its unconventional teaching methods, she found herself pulled toward it. Her apprehensions further subsided when the headmistress offered her enough options to help with her financial difficulties. As the saying goes, if something is too good to be true, it probably isn't. With this school checking off all the boxes of her checklist and then some more, was it possible that there was something sinister at play?

Sylvie Perry, the author, has created her characters so well that it seemed as if she had walked in each of their shoes. Even though the readers can sense the source of the numb, almost dead, expression of the kids in the school, Claudia took her sweet time reaching the conclusion. While some may opine that Claudia was too naive to be believable, her naivete appeared the most relatable aspect of her character. A single mother, who doubts herself every step of the way and blames herself for her son's behavioral issues, is bound to be gullible. Moreover, if we ignore this attribute of her nature and establish her as a naive woman, the intrigue of finding the headmistress' reasons for executing her methods was too powerful to resist. The cast playing the role of the teachers was written such that it was impossible to realize who was genuinely trying to help and who was simply playing games. Enough well-placed twists will further hold the audience.

The climax, however, appeared a little rushed. It was as if the author lost patience and took an easy way out toward the end. Having said that, The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry is a pageturner, which the fans of psychological thrillers will love to devour.

I found the actions of the main character frustrating. However, overall the book was decent. If you are looking for something to surprise you, though, you may want to look elsewhere.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was wonderfully written and kept me guessing through the whole thing.

A young, naive single mother finds the perfect school for her son, but things are not as perfect as they seem. I enjoyed this book, although I wanted to shake Claudia and scream "Don't you see the signs?" Perfect for fans of stories about cults, dark academia, and the pressure to be a good parent.

Quick easy read that was entertaining and really enjoyable. Good plot development, not too many characters, a some good villainous characters. There was some repetition of themes throughout, and the end seemed to wrap up a little unbelievably, but overall very enjoyable.

Rating: 3.8/5.0

The Hawthorne School follows Henry, a troubled and compassionate 4 year old, and his mother, Claudia, who enrolls Henry in Hawthorne School, after having to listen his teachers complain about his behaviour. Claudia is a single mother who would do anything for her child.

But something isn’t right at Hawthorne School.

The author spent a lot of time on the atmosphere. In an instant, I knew exactly what I was in for. It’s a castle, it’s gothic and has has beautiful details that just seem perfect for the story. I was ready for what the book had for me. I feel that setting is one of the important things in a novel. It not only sets the mood, but it creates a sense of imagination that drives the story forward.

I noticed how much time was spent on developing characters. There was a lot of background for each character, and by the end of it all, you knew them so well. You ready to dive into what was lying ahead in their story now. I felt like I was being marinated with information before getting baked in the mystery.

The plot is a slow burn. It takes its time cultivating its presence. I am a person who doesn’t have much patience. I need something to happen quickly, well in the beginning of the story. So it was a little boring for me to read the start. I did feel the need to push myself a little to go past that introductory part. The plot picks up pace after the halfway point.

If there is no exciting incident at the start of the book, the entire book is just a long introduction to nothing. It’s not gripping. For example, in Harry Potter, Harry speaks to a snake, he gets the Hogwarts letters, all in the beginning. That way we know that there is something bigger lying ahead. In Percy Jackson, he vaporises his teacher in chapter 1. Something needs to happen, even something small.

In all, it’s still an immersive and enjoyable read. It touches both, gothic and modern, in one story. It will most appeal to fans of gothic literature.

The Hawthorne School is a psychological thriller about single mother Claudia and her 4 year old son, Henry. Henry has many behavioral problems and Claudia, weary from negative reports about her child from his teachers, stumbles upon a Scandinavian nature school which is seemingly a perfect and non conventional fit for Henry. Soon, Claudia begins to suspect things are not what they seem at the school.

This plot had SO much potential and yet I am SO disappointed in how this turned out. The first 75% of the book was just a slow repeat of Claudia’s observations about odd happenings of the school. The last 25% was rushed with almost no build up. Every character was one dimensional and I didn’t care about what happened to any of them. The dialogue was incredibly flat and each “reveal” was lame and not believable.

I’ll give the author points for creating a stellar atmosphere, but sadly that’s all the 2 stars are for.

Holy. Cow.
This book.
It's taken me a bit to write this review as this book was a bit tough to swallow...unlike the green smoothies apparently.
Claudia is a single mom of a rambunctious four year old. While grieving the loss of her mom, Claudia has moved to a new city to start a new job and a new life. And things are going well, except that her son struggles in preschool. When an idea is planted in Claudia's head about a nearby private school on the edge of town...Claudia decides to take a look. OF course the school would be perfect for her Henry. And that's where the trouble starts.
Everything is very convenient, very perfect, very odd, and very....planned.
This one has some uncomfortable feels that might be hard for some readers, but definitely a great read.

Coming Soon…in December 2021

“The Hawthorn School” by Sylvie Perry

A Suspenseful Modern Gothic Paradox

A giant's magical castle with towering spires needling towards the sky is the first impression four-year-old Henry has of the exclusive private school where his mother, Claudia, enrolls him because of his difficult behavior problems.

Little does the perceptive lad, or his mother, realize that the former convent, isolated amidst acres of dense labyrinthine forests, may be very close to what he imagines.

“The Hawthorn School,” by Sylvie Perry is a page-turning paradox. Very little at the School is what it first appears.

Founded by a preeminent and innovative educator, The Hawthorn School enjoys worldwide renowned as a nature school. Students settle quickly into the novelty of adventure learning, as well as the healthy eating curriculum. An organic diet, primarily of School-grown vegetables and herbs, nourish, soothe, and can even energize those who partake.

Could The Hawthorn School’s natural approach to learning (that emphasizes fresh air; outdoor exploring; exercise; and clean eating) truly be the keys to intelligence; positivity, happiness and longevity?

Little Henry has never been as confident, nor as content as he is at the Hawthorn School. He is thriving. The Administrator and his teacher both adore him. Yet, why is his Mother, Claudia, now having second thoughts and suspicions? Is the School too good to be true?

You’ll gobble-up the pages seeking answers just like Claudia. “The Hawthorn School” by Sylvie Perry is a fun and fast read for Gothic / Suspense enthusiasts. Look for it coming this December from Publisher Crooked Lane Books / The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.

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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs
REVIEWER: J.Hunt
3 / 5 Stars

My sincere appreciation to NetGalley, Author Sylvie Perry, and Publisher Crooked Lane Books / The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC., for providing this Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for review.

This title, and others that I review, are also posted on Goodreads and Barnes & Nobel. On Goodreads alone, you can access 300+ of my book reviews. (TheBookMavenJoy)

Creepy factor-check
Gothic atmosphere-check
cults-check
I loved everything about this book! Creepy, twisty, suspenseful & isolated dark academia. Really good writing, interesting characters and a slightly bizarre ending, which I loved