Unfortunately, this was not my style of book at all. I slogged through but it just wasn't for me so I'm grateful it was short enough to be considered a novella. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for a review.

Welcome to the beautiful Home Owners Association of Arcadia. So beautiful. So tranquil. So perfect. Okay … so there may be some <i>rules</i> that are questionable… don’t be out after dark… no fences … keep where everyone can see all the way through your house … don’t lock doors … no breaking rules that go in and on. But, hey! Don’t we all suffer just a little bit for the person we love? Especially when seen through rose colored glasses and just determined they are just so perfect and that we were <I>made</i> for each other … soulmates of sorts. Right? Unless maybe the strange neighbors and their cryptic messages just might mean something. Or what about that nagging don’t go in the basement rule. Hmmmmm.

For me, this very short novella was a mash up of the strangest sort by billing it as horror with the necessary … horrific discoveries, but also encompassing the realm of fantasy, (think <I>Spinning Silver</i> by Naomi Novik,) a children’s story (<I>The Three Little Bears</i>) and then all of the above smashed into the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible. Whew. Is your head spinning yet?!

I can see this being used in a book club setting for the different nuances one can pick from the story and what other meanings might lay beneath the surface. It’s also just strange enough that when you get through your left thinking … huh. Interesting premise.

This was a 3 out of 5 star novel for me. I did like it. And the length is just perfect for reading as a palette cleanser between novel genre switching or just as a fast read.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley, the publisher and the author Catherynne Valente for providing me with an electronic arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Crazy pants story, but I totally appreciated the beauty of the allegory in the end.

I'm glad I went into the reading of this book with no preconceived ideas, I had not even read the synopsis, which is highly unusual for me. That helped, because this was a very short, quick read. I listened to it as an audiobook, which was a fantastic way to experience it. Karis Campbell narrates, and she is "perfect" as Sophia. The way she conveys Sophia's naiveté in the beginning and her dawning realization that all is not the perfection she believes it to be is beautifully done.

This is definitely not a book for everyone. I fully got on board with this trippy feminist take on a very familiar story, but I know it won't connect with all readers as much as it did for me. My best advice is to just go with it--it's short enough that maybe you will love it and maybe you will hate it, but you'll want to find someone to talk to about it after you're finished regardless. It would make a very intriguing book club choice.

The nitty-gritty: A clever and surprising mystery steeped in myth, Comfort Me With Apples is told in Catherynne M. Valente's unique style.

If there’s one thing I can count on with Catherynne M. Valente, it’s that she always surprises me. Her stories are not your normal, run of the mill variety. Rather, she creates scenarios that would never occur to me, she’s that unique. Comfort Me With Apples is another weird and wonderful creation of hers and I loved it. Readers who have trouble with “weird,” though, may find the story too bizarre, but the novella length works well in this case, and Valente creates an interesting mystery that grips the reader and doesn’t let go.

And because of this mystery, there’s barely anything I can tell you about the plot. Sophia has the perfect life. She lives with her husband in an exclusive gated community called Arcadia Gardens, where strict rules keep everyone safe and happy. She wakes up each morning happy to be alive, anticipating the arrival of her husband after work. She takes pride in cleaning their house from top to bottom, preparing her husband delicious meals, and behaving perfectly in front of her neighbors.

But one day Sophia’s happiness begins to crack when she discovers something unsettling: in a locked drawer in her vanity she finds a huge, bristled hairbrush and a coarse lock of black hair, neither of which belong to her. When she discovers a small bone stuck in the kitchen knife block, Sophia begins to wonder if her perfect life isn’t so perfect after all…

Valente blends Greek and biblical mythology but twists them into her own creation. I spent most of the story trying to figure out what was going on, and even though I had some early theories, the author throws in all sorts of things that threw me off. For example, Sophia kept referring to her house as huge. She needs a step stool to get into bed. Her feet dangle when she sits at the kitchen table to eat. And climbing the stairs is a feat that seems to take hours. Other clues didn’t mesh with this idea of Sophia being “tiny,” like her neighbors who all have animal names: Mrs. Fische, Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Minke. Even more curious, the story is interspersed with the official rules of the Arcadia Gardens complex, rules that seem to get more and more ominous as the story goes along:

Should you wish to personalize your dwelling, the following paint colors are acceptable: Virgin White, Eggshell, Purity, First Snow, Antique Porcelain, Morning Star, Fresh Cream, Mother’s Milk, and Innocence.

The other characters all seem menacing, especially a music teacher named Mr. Semengelof, who appears to be overly interested in Sophia. Valente has a way of choosing her words carefully, and there is hidden meaning in practically every one. I found myself rereading certain pages because I was sure there were clues I was missing, and even at the end I wanted to go back and reread the story.

Also, make sure to pay attention to the chapter titles! It took me most of the book to figure out what Valente was doing—yes, I’m slow, lol. But trust me, it all ties together in the end.

Once Sophia has her awakening, so to speak, the pace picks up considerably, and it doesn’t take long for the author to finally reveal the true nature of Arcadia Gardens and its residents. Before we get to that point, however, there are plenty of creepy sections as Sophia makes some startling discoveries about her husband. It’s hard to pin a genre on this odd tale. Part horror, part fantasy, part fever dream, all Catherynne M. Valente. The ending was simply brilliant, at least in my opinion. I think readers are going to be divided over this one, but I personally found it extremely clever and entertaining.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

With elements of ancient origins and fairytale horror, Catherynne M. Valente has crafted Comfort Me With Apples, creating an unsettling tale of Sophia and her life in Arcadia Gardens.

From the first sentence, Arcadia Gardens makes an impression on the reader as an exclusive gated community, with intrusive and punitive rules with any infraction leading to expulsion. And in the midst of this seeming paradise, Sophia wakes each morning with the thought that she was made for her husband, and everything is perfect - until it isn’t. She goes through her daily routine in her oversized home, pleased by her husband’s status within the community but fretting with his long absences and puzzled by what she begins to find. But no matter what clues are put in her way, Sophia is not prepared for what she will find.

Comfort Me With Apples reminds me of why I need to read more of Catherynne M. Valente’s work. It tempts me to make statements like “it plumbs the depths of the Western psyche” - though that is simultaneously limiting and overblown - since I had a strong reaction at my first sighting of the title and cover and, combined with the description, immediate impressions that held true, though in ways that created a creeping dread and twisted those expectations.

Recommended.

This review refers to a temporary digital galley I voluntarily read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

I’m going to be thinking about this novella for a long time. It’s hard to say too much about it without giving it away, but the twists are worth going in blind for! It starts off Stepford Wives-esque and then shit gets weird! I loved it! And the narration on the audiobook was great.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderfully weird novella. The lyrical writing style and odd atmosphere was IMMACULATE. Something about the tone was so unsettling and intriguing. I hear "dark fairytale" fairly often but I feel like this book really captures that genre. The ending was definitely unexpected and I am all about it. I look forward to rereading this.

This was a nice change of pace for me as I normally gravitate toward science fiction & non-fiction. It's a short read, and probably technically more of a novella. The author has a beautiful, poetic style of writing.

Without giving spoilers the story shares some thought-provoking perspectives about Christianity & female empowerment. I love how the author uses that backdrop of Home Association rules to present the story. I've lived in a few communities with an HOA, and the rules, and those who enforced them, were pretty frustrating.

Overall, an enjoyable short read.

🏠 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙪𝙭𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨 🏠

Themes

* Horror Novella
* More to what meets the eye
* Constantly questioning everything

Ratings

Overall: 3/5

Feelings

Everything is perfect. Her life is perfect. Her town is perfect. Her house is perfect. Her husband is perfect. She is perfect. She stays in routine and loves her husband, even though he is gone a lot. She follows the HOA rules and listens to her husband, including not going into the basement. But is anything perfect? Is the fact that everyone looks at her strangely perfect? Is the hair found that isn’t hers perfect? Are the obvious secrets that her husband is keeping perfect? Something strange is going on in Arcadia Gardens and it may be impossible to escape.

This book was so strange. This kind of had a vibe that reminded me of Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford, where you are constantly saying “what the hell is going on?” The overall vibe feels really dark and sinister where I am just imagining everyone with these plastic, creepy smiles on their faces. Honestly I am still not sure of what exactly happened here lol.

This was a pretty average read for me and I was just like “ehh” after. I enjoyed it but I felt that it is not something I will always remember. The writing was different and really interesting but maybe not as clear as I was hoping. I would definitely give this author another try!

Comfort Me With Apples is a quick read and great for those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers with a twist at the end.

Sophia wakes up every morning loving her life. She was made for her husband and he is the best. She starts her day the same with her lovely routines, but her husband is always gone. And then she starts to notice things that don’t make sense. And everyone keeps asking if she’s happy. Why does it matter if she’s happy?

This was a very quick read and I was hooked throughout the entire story. The ending for me was definitely not what I expected and without giving away too much, gives a somewhat religious aspect but is still a twisted and dark thriller which I happen to enjoy.


I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I’m not sure what I just read. Very weird, very odd and very strange but I kind of liked it. A very short and dark thriller that I finished in one sitting.

I have read Catherynne M. Valente before and loved Deathless by her, I was engrossed in her writing style, and it is the first thing that went through my mind when I saw this title on NetGalley. It being advertised as a terrifying thriller made me want to read it even more because I usually enjoy the mystery and tension that thrillers bring. However, this novella didn’t really feel like a thriller to me, and I think it is much of a stretch to compare it to either Gone Girl or Spinning Silver.

When I first started reading, I actually thought this was going to be a Blue Beard inspired tale when the protagonist mentioned that she was not able to go into the basement of her house. Somehow, it did end up being related to the tale, but I cannot say if it was the author’s intention to do so or not. Apart from that, the mystery of it all was present at all times and I was interested in knowing how everything will be sorted out in the end. So, I can say that I enjoyed that part very much.

Then, the plot twist was revealed near the ending and it was not something that I particularly enjoyed. Sure, it was not expected, at least I did not expect it. I cannot say anything more really without spoiling the novella for everyone else.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian-Tor/Forge, Tordotcom for providing me with an eARC!

The writing was rich and it kept me guessing.

It’s way too far of a stretch to compare this to Gone Girl, though.

I wasn’t a fan of how it ended and the message that sent.

I do appreciate the authors talent.

For me, 2021 seems to be the year of the crazy-amazing horror novellas, and Comfort Me With Apples did not disappoint! Sophia thinks she has the perfect life and the perfect husband, staying safe inside the walls of the housing development where they live. But, why isn't she allowed to go into the basement? And why is there a strange brush and lock of hair in a locked vanity drawer? This story went from crazy to "what the hell?!?" in just a few pages, and I absolutely LOVED it!! Who knew the story of Adam and Eve could be so suspenseful and completely not what we thought??

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente. Too dark and weird. Lost me with the strange hostess gifts Sophia gave to her neighbors. Hard to describe, either one will like the story or not.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novella was SO GOOD. It was so well written, and the setting was excellently eerie in that way that 'utopias' often are. The gradual reveal of more and more hints at the truth was so well-handled, and like with all good thrillers/mysteries, in hindsight the truth was right there all along. The way the meaning of that one particular line changed as the story progressed was utterly creepy and so so good. The story worked brilliantly as a novella; the tension was perfectly maintained throughout, with a really excellent and lush writing style that suited the story so well. Highly recommend if you want a quick and creepy read!

In the idyllic closed-gate community of Arcadia Gardens, Sophia lives the perfect life with her perfect husband. However, he works long hours away from home and warns her to never go down into the cellar. Slowly, a gnawing curiosity starts to eat away at her as she gets the urge to uncover her husband’s secrets, and her once perfect world starts to unravel at the seams.

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente is an enthralling domestic thriller that reads like a dark fairytale in classic Valente style.

A novella may be a hard length to pull off sometimes, but it works so perfectly here. I devoured every second of it and the ending was as deliciously satisfying as a juicy, crisp apple.

I wasn’t expecting the direction this book went in at all but I liked it! The book was quick and the story was as long as it needed to be which I liked. I love the concept and it took me by surprise. I thought the writing was beautiful, and I enjoyed this book over all!

This novella explores an interesting concept/allegory that I won't spoil here but after seeing it described as a thriller and hoping for a spooky Halloween season read I was a little disappointed. Valente's prose is beautiful as always and makes this worth reading especially since it's so short but the story isn't as compelling or satisfying as I had hoped for.

The publisher provided me with a digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure if I can adequately review this without giving away too many details and spoiling the book. It's a slim little novella, so it makes for a quick read. But Valente, of course, uses every word effectively -- not only crafting the kind of beautiful prose she's become known for, but also planting subtle clues along the way that lead to the final revelation.

The fairytale comparisons are clear from the start, and readers will catch hints of Atwood and Carter here as well, in both tone and content.

I don't think that marketing the book as a thriller for fans of Gone Girl and Spinning Silver is an accurate comparison either. None of those descriptions felt true once I finished the novel. I understand that trying to find a way to describe this little book without giving away integral plot points is difficult, but those descriptions are just misleading, to say the least.