First of all, the cover is so striking and beautiful! But the inside is the true gem, this story makes me feel all kinds of emotions throughout it. I felt anxious and creeped out with no explanation and eerie when reading the beginning. The way the author goes into detail really makes the story immersive and believable, you feel as though you are in the town with Kit and her mother. It gives stepford vibes and when the plot starts to really unfold you get sucked in. I would recommend this to friends!

This book is disturbing. I have been thinking about it since I read the last page, so many creepy weird thoughts keep crossing my mind, first and foremost I've been thinking about sacrifice and what it truly means.

This book isn't about dark family secrets, it is about one secret and how keeping it means sacrificing women and girls to benefit a small, insular society.

I don't mean to make this book about politics and the reality of how American women or really, most women, in the world live, but this books should have been more shocking when I found out about what was really going on (I'm trying really hard not to give this away, no spoilers from me!) and how communities are always, always willing to sacrifice women. Their just doeasn't seem to be any hesitation to letting women fall off the edges.

Anyways, this book touches on a lot of different topics; grief, self esteem, fear, fitting in and standing out, but at the end it was a stubborn resistance to being part of a chain of misery that saves the day.

The mysteries pile up, so if you are a bit of slow reader (like me) or an easily bored reader (also me!) there is plenty to keep you flipping the pages to find out if the book is going where you think it might be, I still didn't see the reveal until about a chapter before, so it isn't some obvious scooby doo ghostie that's really the old guy who wants to buy the insert-name-of-house.

Because this book got so grim I think reading something funny might be in order afterwards.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press, for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! I've seen it described as Stars Hollow meets Midsommar with a dash of Stepford Wives, which feels pretty accurate. The creepy tension builds towards several big reveals, and although I had an idea of where the story was going, it was very satisfying.

Our main character, Kit, is in the midst of grieving her father's death. She comes to the town of Rosemont to connect with a grandmother she'd always been told was dead. But as soon as she arrives, strange things begin to happen.

I enjoyed Kit as a protagonist. She is smart, funny, and feels like a real seventeen-year-old trying to navigate the twists and turns that life has thrown at her. I loved her relationship with her mother! The lore that is revealed slowly is also incredibly interesting, and the world-building of the town of Rosemont and its past is great. I could picture Kit walking down the snowy streets of the small town that quickly turns from a hallmark movie setting to twisty stepford like town.

It's a quick, suspense-filled read with a few lovable characters that you will root for! Similar creepy levels and mild body horror to House of Hollow.

Fantastic debut, and I will definitely pick up whatever Amanda writes next!

5 stars all around. I loved everything about this darker fantasy, from the layers of intrigue and way the story left the reader with so many constant questions, all the way to the elements of loss, love and longing.

I wish we had more time with Agatha coming around to help oppose Jack, as that part felt a little rushed. I also didn’t think the romance with the monster was entirely necessary, although I do love the LBGTQ+ representation there. Having that flourish in a friendship would have worked just as well.

Finally, we didn’t really get to know the backstory about Kit’s home life or group of friends, yet she exchanged several texts with them and alluded to something that happened back home, but never received the full explanation for. Maybe a reconciliation at the bed with them? Otherwise it seemed to distract more than help.

Regardless, I loved this and devoured it over two days.

Linsmeier has crafted a haunting story that will make you think twice about the picturesque small towns you’ve visited and what may lurk beneath that beautiful exterior.
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Starlings follows Kit as she travels to Rosemont to meet her grandma for the first time. Once she arrives at the picture perfect town with a 50s vibe, she realizes there’s something off about the town. Not just the town, though, for some reason her family seems to be beloved by most of the townsfolk. The longer she stays, the more Kit is convinced something is off and her family is at the heart of the mystery. She’s determined to figure out the truth of the town and her family’s legacy.
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To start, I have to mention the cover — it’s eerily beautiful. I also don’t think I’ll ever look at a rose the same way after reading this. That’s the mark of a good story to me, when it stays with you. It also gets bonus points being set in WI, since I’m also from WI and can easily picture the town Linsmeier created. I also enjoyed learning about the town’s horrific past, her family’s legacy, and the small rebellions her family wove throughout their past. Even though they’re side characters, I absolutely adore Sabelle, Belinda, and Miles — probably more than any other character.
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The biggest struggle I had with Starlings was that the beginning of the book didn’t draw me in. It took a decent chunk into the story for me to really start to grasp what the main mystery of the Starlings was beyond a town with a vibe that’s off. However, once I passed that initial threshold, I couldn’t put it down.

This book reminded me of the movie The Invitation. It's perfectly readable YA and the cliched insta-ness of some relationships actually get explained even if I still have more questions than answers. It doesn't add much new to the genre but I think the author has potential and hope that the darkness that was tinged in this book she explores more in depth next time.

The cover of this book is absolutely stunning and I was REALLY hoping to love this book, but to me it was just okay. The basis of the plot was good and had so much more potential but in my own opinion I feel like too much of the plot was stationed in the grandmothers house and there wasn’t too much action to it, and overall it just fell flat for me. The book could have been much better served if there was more focus around Jack and the terror he caused everyone in the town.

Starlings By Amanda Linsmeier Review
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date: June 26, 2023

“People respect our family, only this doesn’t feel like respect. It feels like there are secrets I’m not a part of.”

Oh my gosh. Where do I even begin. I absolutely loved this book. From the moment you start reading, it is filled with so much intrigue. the story reveals a young girl who goes by the name, Kit. She is visiting her grandmother in a small, secluded town after the death of her father. While there, she realized something is wrong with the town. Kit comes to learn that her family is pretty famous in this town. We follow Kit throughout the story as she is unraveling the dark secrets the town and her family hold.
There are several plot twists in this story, which I absolutely loved. I love how the author uses her words to paint such a beautiful picture of the town, and how she portrays the main characters emotions in a way that is easy for the reader to feel.
This book truly had a grip on me from the moment I started reading it. The characters in this book are very easy to love, and the ones that are not, you grow to understand. That is something I love when I’m reading. I will say, however, that this book did have some downfalls for me. The main conflict in the book seemed to have a solution that was a bit too easy. I guess it was more of a solution that was hidden in plain sight. But to me, it just felt too convenient. there were also character developments that I felt came out of nowhere. However, these downfalls for me Would not stop me from recommending this book. I absolutely think that if you are into why a dark fantasy that this is a good book for you.
I will say also that I hope the author decides to write a sequel to this book. Because by the time we reached the end of the book, there are still some unsolved problems that left me with some questions.

Thank you to Amanda and NetGalley for approving this book for me and giving me such a wonderful experience while reading !!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amanda Linsmeier for this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4/5

WOW! I was absolutely blown away with this book. It had me so focused and captivated from the start. Really enjoyed this haunting mystery and can’t wait to read more of Amanda’s work.

Thank you to random house children’s for the opportunity to read this arc. It is available June 27,2023.


This book was creepy. Atmospheric and almost like the movie The Wicker Man except it is a teenaged girl who must make the sacrifice. Kit’s father inexplicably dies so she and her mother go see a grandmother they never knew in a town stuck in the 1950s but hey there’s a cute boy named Barret to show her around. Think Stepford wives where everyone is super nice but really creepy. This town reveres the Starling family especially the women. As Kit navigates this twilight zone weirdness she falls for Barrett aka Bear and that is where the cracks in the town begin to show.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fun creepy quick read.

This was very entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.
I just reviewed Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier. #Starlings #NetGalley
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This was a super cool and original story! The writing and atmosphere drew me right in and I couldn’t put it down until the very end when I had to.

Starlings had me encaptured with the first page. Kit, suffering through the burn of her father's passing, only to find out she had a secret grandma, a piece of her dad back. The moment we're introduced to Rosemont you can feel something is wrong. Everything is just too perfect. The plot twist was well done. I didn't see where it was going but I must admit there were moments that felt out of place or out of character and a bit too cheesy. However overlooking those few flaws, the plot held together strong and kept my interest. So much so , I finished in one day. Thank you for allowing me to read Starlings, it is definitely a top favorite of the year!

I devoured this story. First lets talk about how wildly gorgeous the cover is! It is PERFECT and after reading the story I love it even more. Amanda has done a brilliant job at writing a darkly atmospheric story about a teen girl struggling with generational trauma in search of answers she's not yet ready to face. The characters were fleshed out and the world was painted so vividly I felt as though I was right there along with Kit, freaking out with her with every twist thrown her way. I could not put this down and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it! So excited to own a copy and scream to everyone I know about STARLINGS! Highly recommend for lovers of dark YA fantasy. I will never look at roses the same way again. So good.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an advanced copy!

Starlings by Amanda Linsmeier was an absolute blast to read!
From the first sentence I was drawn in to a unique and wonderful story.
The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish.
The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing.
And the storytelling was thoroughly enjoyable.
Her writing was phenomenal and kept me hooked from start to finish.
This was a great YA fantasy debut. And I'm looking forward to reading more from Linsmeier in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Starlings was an interesting read that was part cult type feel and part rebellion against traditions. I personally felt like there was a lot lacking for this book. Mainly I felt disconnected from the characters, they weren't very lovable or complex, I liked the idea behind the old traditions and the Starling family holding up a horrific legacy for generations. The main idea of having to appease a cruel form of nature to keep the town thriving was really interesting and I really did like the history of Rosemont and the secrets it kept. I just didn't enjoy the present day story or how the characters played their roles.

This was a really good read. I was not expecting the twists and turns and darkness in this book but i enjoyed all of it. There is a great story line in this from Kit and her journey in figuring out where she comes from and how she exactly fits into her family history. The creepiness of the reality of that will haunt your thoughts until the ending. The only flaw I found in this read was the connection of real world and fantasy. It is almost like all of the sudden there are fantasy aspects when it needs to be intertwined better. There could have been more of a world build on the fantasy side of this story.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

I LOVED this book! The characters were well fleshed out, Rosemont actually felt like a real place, you can tell the author took a lot of care with the details and plotting. This book had a chokehold on me from the beginning and did not let go. It was such a good mix of horror and fairytale and will live rent free in my head.

Starlings is the type of book that pulls you in from the start and doesn't let you go until you are done with the story—or until the story is done with you. Kit is the ideal YA protagonist; she has the true voice of a teenager while also appealing to readers of all ages. And the setting, Rosemont, is written with such care and detail that it feels real, despite all the ways it defied nature. Overall, Starlings' best element is its awareness of genre, both in terms of horror and fairytale. It strikes a perfect balance, appealing to readers such as myself, who adore dark, grotesque fantasy stories. While my knowledge of this genre allowed me to guess plot twists slightly early, I would by no means say it was a drawback. In terms of theme, there are many YA novels that try to tackle the idea of generational curses and the specific type of violence passed from mother to daughter; Starlings is one of the few that not only does it well, but sets a new standard. Even after I turned the last page, it took time for me to let go of Kit and Rosemont. I'm still not sure I ever will.

I don’t read a ton of books in this genre, but I absolutely loved STARLINGS! It was super intriguing and well-paced, the characters felt fleshed out, and I loved the villain. If you’re a fan of YA horror or fantasy, then I’d definitely recommend this book to you!