A Guide to the Dark was a hauntingly beautiful paranormal mystery. It was creepy, unnerving, and had me on the edge of my seat. A wonderful YA read.

This whole book, I wanted to like, but I just couldn't. It had everything I like in a book, but not enough of that.

"A Guide to the Dark" by Meriam Metoui delivers an exhilarating experience in the realm of young adult horror. With expertly crafted suspense and a captivating storyline, this book keeps you engaged from start to finish. Metoui's knack for creating an eerie atmosphere makes it a perfect choice for horror enthusiasts in the YA genre. Brace yourself for a chilling journey that's bound to keep you hooked.

A road trip goes wrong as Mira and Layla have car trouble and are forced to stay a shady motel. Mira starts seeing her brother's ghost and they start looking into deaths that occurred at the motel. This is a story of grief and dealing with guilt while also navigating queer feelings. The addition of the photos were interesting but did not serve a point in the story. The motel was not really scary and I expected more horror elements.

Wow. This book came into my life at troubling time. Without giving too much away it really did make me feel better about my current life situation and see what exactly holding on certain emotions can do to you. This book follows Layla and Mira as they enjoy their spring break, they break down in a small town and end up in room 9 at the wild wood motel. Elliot comes into their lives and the mystery begins, it was like the modern day Scooby doo gang trying to figure out the pull of room 9 and its dark history. At times I found the book slow but I did enjoy it. Izzy is my favorite supporting character and the pictures thru out the book were a nice touch.

4 Stars

A Guide to the Dark is an eerie story that explores themes of how grief and guilt can drown us if we allow them to have power over us. Mira grapples with her overwhelming sense of grief and Layla’s conflicting feeling clashing with her parents’ expectations of her. Despite these struggles, Metoui beautifully executes Mira and Layla’s romantic feelings begin to grow for each other. The story manages to portray the journey of healing and the act of forgiving yourself. Through the juxtaposition of beautiful prose and haunting black & white photographs, Metoui manages to fully immerse the reader.

Layla and Mira’s spring break college-visit road trip comes to a sudden end with a hard-raining nighttime car crash ending in a ditch. The tow truck driver tells them that there is a motel nearby as the car is not drivable. Layla and Mira get the last room at the Wildwood Motel. They get the last room available which is Room Nine. The clerk is hesitant to let them have the room but his mom the owner says to do it. Will he do it? Little do they know that Wildwood Motel’s Room Nine, their impromptu lodging, has been taking lives for decades. Layla is worried that she will miss the chance to show her portfolio at her dream college, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, at an event the following day. the same parents Egyptian American Layla can’t come out to for fear of losing their love). But Mira—deeply grieving her younger brother’s drowning death last summer during a visit to family in Tunisia—immediately feels the wrongness of the room and starts experiencing impossible things. While trying to figure out if it’s concussion, grief, or something else, Mira befriends the teenage son (the clerk) of the Motel Wildwood. As their investigation deepens, so does the sense of doom and danger. Will they find what causes Room Nine to have the people disappear? They just have to find the connection before Mira becomes the ninth.

The novel is a bone-chilling story about grief, guilt, and what happens when our deepest secrets refuse to stay hidden in the dark. Terrifying, creepy, and compulsive reading. I loved this haunting book. I don’t think Readers won't be able to put down this tender thriller that includes over thirty interior black and white photos by the author.

When I first started this book, I was incredibly excited for it. It’s one of my most anticipated releases of 2023! And the beginning of the book was great! It started off very creepy and mysterious! The character development was good. The exploration of grief in this story was very impactful. I loved the mixed media format and how photographs were included in the novel. And the chapters from the motel room’s point of view were so creepy, I was excited to find out what was going on! But sadly, I had to DNF at 55%.

After the first few chapters, most of the time this did not feel like a mystery or horror book. There was way too much emphasis on a romantic subplot and it really took me out of the story and bored me. There was more pining than mystery. I don’t usually mind if there’s a little romantic subplot in my spooky books, but the two main characters pining took over the whole story. It was interesting at first but it just got exhausting when the story wasn’t moving forward, it was just all about romantic thoughts. It also seems like these characters don’t really care about their lives! At one point they learn about all the deaths in the room, they know there’s something sinister going on, and they still choose to stay there! That is very unrealistic to me. At about 49% into the story I decided to put it down for a week or so to focus on books that I was enjoying more. I eventually picked it back up to read more, got to 55%, and I just have no motivation to finish. I kind of care what happens at the end, but not enough to read 45% more pining instead of mystery. Maybe one day I’ll come back and try to finish, but not today.

Someone that knows going into the story that romantic thoughts are a heavy focus of this story and that it’s more character driven than plot driven might have a better time with it. I was just expecting paranormal mystery with little to no romance. But if you enjoy romantic plots in your spooky books, this could be a good read for you!

Thanks you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: death of a family member, car accident, drowning, parental neglect

An exciting horror that reminds me in ways of Shirley Jackson, that evoke the same claustrophobic intimateness of SHE IS A HAUNTING. It is an excellent addition to YA horror, and Metoui's command of character is something to be watched.

This book gave me so many goosebumps. I enjoyed this paranormal mystery book about two friends who get drawn in by the darkness on a road trip before college. It was creepy and unnerving at times. A good book for and YA fan.

Schedules to post 8/1/23.

I don’t think I’ve ever not enjoyed slow simmer horror before, but I’m finding more and more appreciation for it the more I read of it. A GUIDE TO THE DARK helped hit that home. The horror starts in fits and spurts, a feeling, a nightmare, eyes boring into a back. What really hit me was the distortion in the photos. That was creepy. I like the idea that technology can see things in our world that we can’t, and that was Layla’s camera.

Both Layla and Mira were immediately great characters that popped off the page. Their voices were engaging and the way they told both of their stories immediately had me hooked. Of course I was totally here for how they just kept missing the mark on each other, over and over again. I wouldn’t call it a miscommunication trope, but an omission of information, and understandably so. But just because I liked the execution of it doesn’t mean my heart wasn’t breaking every time it occurred. I just wanted them together!

There’s no real resolution for what this thing is or where it came from, but based on how the book ended, that seems to be the point. Where there is human misery will be this thing that feeds off of it. Whether it’s in room nine of the Wildwood Motel or anywhere else. That’s the real terror, that as long as you carry this weight, you’re susceptible to it.

Ellis was a great character. While the story took place on a very truncated timeline, his interaction with Mira and Layla felt natural. He fit into their lives the way he needed to and they worked together (with Izzy) to solve the problem of the room. What made it even better was how unobtrusive he was when it came to Mira. Yeah, it was clear he had a crush on her, but it never went anywhere. Once everyone settled into problem-solving mode, that’s what Ellis focused on, not getting into Mira’s pants (not that was really his goal to begin with, but his character could have gone south quick and he didn’t).

A great addition to the pantheon of YA horror, I’d read A GUIDE TO THE DARK helps to fill a void in the genre. I also loved the photos that were telling the story along with the words. It just added to the ambiance of the small town, roadside horror that existed. If you’re looking for something subtle and slow-building, but packs a punch at the end, look no further.

4.5

The plot of this story is amazing but i feel like the romance wasn’t fully developed. The story would have been okay without it. It also has too many lose ends. Nothing is resolved so we have no clue what happens or why it happened. Thats a vital part of every haunting, why?! Overall its a good book.

You can check out of Room 9, but you can never leave...

I really enjoyed this coming of age paranormal mystery about two best friends who get drawn in by The Darkness on a road trip before college. Between complex family dynamics, grief, secret crushes, and the mystery of the hotel, even if they are able to leave, will they ever truly escape?

This YA novel describes as The Haunting of Hill House and Nina LaCour is full of mystery, spookiness, and heart.

This YA horror is also spooky, scary, and perfect for adults as well.
Layla and Mira are enjoying a moment of independence as they strike out on a college tour during their senior Spring Break. The two come from a similar conservative Arabic background that can often stifle the two best friends. This trip means a lot to them both so when their car skids one rainy night, the idea of being stuck in the middle of nowhere is especially unwelcome. Forced to take refuge at the Wildwood Motel, the two find themselves pulled into a dark world that plagues Mira but mysteriously doesn’t touch Lyla. The only thing she can see is the slight warping in the pictures she is taking and that probably just means she needs to adjust her lens. Is there actually something sinister in Room 9 or is a deep, provocative grief overcoming Mira?
Supernatural horror is mixed with psychological horror in this queer-forward novel by Meriam Metoui. The picture of death and loss is evident from the first chapters setting the reader up instantly for what is to come. What is not as instant is the deep dive into human’s tendency to guilt and shame in relation to death, mental health, sexuality, and more. While not a new idea in the field of horror, these negative emotions are super powerful adding an emotionally moving undercurrent to the novel.
The author includes photos taken by herself that match scenes in the book. The photos add little emotion. There are a few photos that are awesome but most just take advantage of the psychic phenomenon mentioned. While the photos didn’t move me emotionally, they were never the less cool to have; a little something different to make the book stand up on its own.
I enjoyed this thought-provoking horror movie. But don’t read it in a hotel room.

I enjoyed the story itself. I thought it was interesting. The "connection" between all the deaths were pretty obvious to me but it was still good. The extra point of view of the evil was a great addition! It definitely broke up the story in a good way. The flow of the book was fast paced and kept my focus as they try to unravel the mystery of Room 9. I wish this book concentrated more on the story itself than the "romance". This would have been a book way better without trying to bring a romance aspect to it.

The characters were okay. Honestly, I thought Layla and Mira's voice were so similar it was hard to tell them apart sometimes, especially since each point of view was from the first person. Neither character really connected with me and honestly I wish it was just from one point of views - mainly Mira's. I thought Layla's pining really took a lot away from the story itself. Again, why I think this book would have been better without a romance aspect.

Overall, A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui was a decent book. I liked the story itself and the mystery behind Room 9. I thought the connections between all of the victims was pretty obvious but we needed a story so it took our main characters a little. I do wish this book didn't include any romance. It took away from the main story and I just wasn't interested in it. It's not that it was badly portrayed but I think this would have been stronger for the main plot points. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a supernatural mystery but I wouldn't necessarily say this falls under horror.

TW: suicide, infant death

Did you check into room 9 at the Wildwood Motel in Indiana?

Good luck. Rumors are it's cursed.

Mira and Layla are on a spring break trip to visit colleges. On their way to Chicago, their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere in Indiana. Their only option is to check into room 9 of the Wildwood Motel. As soon as they enter, Mira feels a heavy, crushing force. Then follow nightmares of her dead brother. The next day, she sees visions of him.

Layla doesn't notice anything amiss with the room. She's making the best of the detour by challenging her photography skills and ignoring her romantic feelings for Mira.

When the friends learn from locals that eight people have died in room 9, they realize they're racing against an unseen force to ensure Mira isn't the room's next victim.

I loved the photos that Meriam Metoui took for this book. The images added something extra to the storytelling, and I'm always a fan of a good implementation of mixed media. Also, there's a FULL website that I recommend checking out once you've read the book. I also found that the author does an excellent job of exploring grief, which manifests differently for different people. Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. I do think the ending felt a little rushed, but I'll let other readers decide how they feel about it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and creepy young adult horror. Atmospheric with the creepy hotel and all the spooky vibes. At the same time there were some harder hitting topics and it was really sad to see the backstory of Mira and her brother. It wasn’t my perfect horror but it was definitely fun for the summer time and I enjoyed it the whole way through!

Doctored photos scared me, but the tension in this one doesn't stay, let alone steamroll to the end despite a few effective twists and turns and a great idea. I wonder if maybe being in first person with two people who feel very stuck around one particular thing each dooms this book to feel like it is spinning its wheels even when the plot is moving along. Will be interesting to see if teens like this one more than I do. Would absolutely read the author's next book.

Looking for a diverse representation, YA, haunted house thriller? This is it!!
Layla & Mira are two best friends who go on a road trip to tour their preferred university campuses. On the way, an unexpected short cut turns into a haunted mystery. They stay at a motel in the middle of nowhere that has a history of people vanishing!
This book is an imaginative take on the usual haunted house scenes, and I enjoyed it!! Haunted house horror / thrillers have a special place in my library and this one is a must!! Plus the naked hardcover is just gorgeous. Definitely recommend

I loved the diverse cast of characters, the eerie motel setting, and the inclusion of photos throughout. The photos reminded me of Paranormal Activity, letting us see what the characters see from a more homemade angle. I appreciated the inclusion of Mira and Layla's multicultural backgrounds, Arabic words and letters, and their experience as queer and bi characters whose parents' culture makes it difficult for them to accept.

There were certain plotting choices that didn't make sense to me and made me uncomfortable. The character, Devlin, for instance, seemed like an odd addition to the ragtag team of teens trying to figure out what is happening in Room 9. They seemed far too quick to forgive him for his stalker behavior, especially since he is a man in his late 20s-early 30s hanging around 16-17 year olds.

I have also realized that grief horror isn't a subgenre that I enjoy, but I can see an audience for this novel. I would recommend it to the right person.