I loved this book. I was so excited for it when I saw it on Penguin's upcoming releases and was so excited when I got the arc. This was such an interesting story. It was such a beautiful gothic and paranormal story. Not only was it a great paranormal story, it had themes of parental abuse, grief, and cultism. I feel like the author did a beautiful job of blending those themes together. I love the relationship between Wil and Elwood as it is friends to enemies to lovers. This is such a great debut novel and I'm so glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid YA gothic horror book. It definitely feels comparative to something like Rory Powers or Erin Craig. This book was a solid three star book for me, I think this book is going to appeal to lots of readers who like murder mysteries as well as young love and gothic romance.

The plot was interesting -- it features the two main characters trying to take down a cult and solve the mystery of Wil's mothers disappearance. I loved the paranormal elements that were worked in, it gave very creepy vibes. I will admit the beginning of the book was a little bit slow, but it did eventually start picking up.

I also liked the writing in this book, it definitely evoked emotions and made you think, especially considering the dark topics that it touches on. And there were dark topics in this book.

The ending of this book was excellent, I very much like how it played out through the book, and the conclusion.

Overall, this was a spooky, dark, gothic horror mystery/thriller that teens will enjoy.

Two ex-best friends work together to stop a cult and uncover long hidden secrets about their town. Will the truth set them free or destroy them? Let’s find out!

Read if you like: YA paranormal romance, YA suspense/horror, town secrets, creepy stories, friends to enemies to lovers, mystery, cool magic, fast paced plot, big personal growth.

Wil’s mother went missing last year and she thinks her former bestie’s family had something to do with it. She has proof that Elwood’s father is doing some weird rituals in the forest and no one will listen to her. Elwood’s life is a ticking clock. He knows on his 18th birthday he will have to fully dedicate his life to their secretive church. But when he realizes that his role is not as a leader but a sacrifice, he turns to the only person who will believe him. Wil agrees to hide him if they also find out what happened to her mom. They soon realize that the secrets protect a strange power not only in the forest, but also growing inside Elwood…

This book was really cool and creepy. Wil and El are that classic weirdo duo with a lot of baggage and of course they’re living in a completely isolated and equally weird small town. The little homegrown cult has their hands in most of the town’s business so for everyone else it’s ‘turn a blind eye and business as usual’ until someone gets a little to close to knowing the truth. You get that familiar mystery/suspense story but all the pieces are unique so you’re constantly wondering what is real and what is imagined and just how it will pan out.

This is a short read and very fast paced. Sometimes it’s a bit too fast so I wouldn’t have minded a little more transition, background, or worldbuilding to fill out some of the edges. But your questions are answered and you are left hoping that good things will happen for our duo. Their relationship is as much of the story as unravelling the truth which makes it a good balance between downright horror and romantic suspense. A great little read when you are in the mood for something different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyla Arndt for a copy of this book for review.

It has honestly been a while since I've read a true young adult novel and I'm glad this was my first dive back into the genre. Together We Rot is fast-paced, weird, and wonderfully written. And in all honestly, I didn't read the synopsis truly before diving in and half-expected this to be a zombie novel based on the title and cover; I was pleasantly surprised and it helped me become further immersed in the story.

Skyla Arndt's writing and prose is both beautiful and haunting. For readers searching for novels to devour during autumn and Halloween, this novel is the perfect place to start.

Although fast paced and rushed at points, the story was laid out well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wish there were clearer moments of explanation and background but the moments got the point across and I felt connected to the characters nevertheless. The ending was beautiful and did make me tear up. I will likely reread the final piece to see how much has changed! Thank you for the opportunity NetGalley and Publisher!

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting, it was captivating and really held my interest. I loved Elwood and Wil and thought their characters were great, the plot was lovely and really pulled me into the story. Highly recommend this book!

From the moment I saw this beautiful cover I knew I had to read this. This story follows two former bestfriends Elwood and Wil. Will’s mother has disappeared and Elwood’s fathers cult like church has something to do with it or so Wil thinks. This book blends horror/thriller/romance and mystery all into one. I loved the book, the chapters switch between wil and Elwood both narrating. My favorite passage is “ Mom said dark thoughts were ships passing in the night. You can choose to watch them go. You don’t need to sail away with each one” Read this book you won’t regret it!

“Come find me in the trees. I’ll wait for you.”

if you like:
- spooky forests
- religious cults dabbling in sacrifice
- he falls first and falls hard
- so much pining
- mothman

Prepare yourself for Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt out 8/29

4.5 star rating rounded up.

Elwood is one of my favorite MMCs ever! He is so anxious and honest and adorable. Even with a demon riding passenger in him, he is just so *good*. He pines so hard for Wil. Hes just a little nerd obsessed with moths and this wild girl. I adore him.

Also Wil is up there with my fave FMC because she is simply so broken and unhinged. A wonderful combination. She got such "come at me bro" energy and she will fight to the end for what she thinks is right. She has such a one track mind that she barely sees herself falling for Elwood and its so amazing when she finally realizes.

One of my favorite things is when characters don’t forgive people. Shitty parents, friends, whoever it is. You don’t have to forgive the people who have traumatized you. Arndt gives us this with Elwoods father (and he gets the best kind of comeuppance) but she also gives us the repairing of Wil’s relationship with her dad. One had me cheering and then other had me crying, it was wonderful.

Arndt is going to be one to watch. Her writing is haunting, visceral, and beautiful. She so perfectly created the macabre air of this book. I have a hard time reading books with themes of religious trauma, and a few of the scenes were a little heavy for me but she handled them in such a perfect way.

As someone who reads a lot of big fantasy books, I was esctatic to be reading a book that was less than 300 pages. This was such a fast read, it was absolutely bingeable. The pacing was quick and easy to fall into. The plot was so perfectly crafted and I adore how Arndt chose to end the book (I cried again).

I am so excited to see what else Skyla Arndt puts on shelves! And I can't wait to grab a physical copy of Together We Rot once it comes out!

Arc received in exchanged for an honest review!

this was okay, but read a little juvenile and i didn't feel connected to the characters or what happens to them at all. i can see other reader enjoying this a lot tho!

— thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free digital ARC.

It totally tracks that Arndt’s mentor is Ava Reid because I was totally getting that vibe this entire story. YA Gothic Horror Romance is the genre mashup of my dreams. Cursed small town, creepy cult disguised as a church, missing parent and the daughter still searching for her, estranged childhood friends who have spent years yearning for each other. It was so good! The plot unfolds over the course of a couple days and had a gripping, cinematic quality. As with most gothic stories, this one is pretty bleak and bittersweet. I fell in love with the characters eventually but wish it was a bit longer to really flesh everything out or started at an earlier point. On the flip side, the book is on the shorter side so the action starts pretty quickly despite the romance being slow burn. Overall, an enjoyable read and totally recommend if you enjoy this genre.

(( 2.5 ))
This book missed the mark for me. I think it was well written & the imagery was top tier. I did look up all the butterflies/moths mentioned & that was a cool touch. I was not invested in the love story, the cult wasn't as fleshed out as I would have liked & at no points was it angsty. The climax was anti-climatic. This book is less than 300 pages & took me a few weeks to read. Even though this book was not for me, it may be for a younger audience looking for a slightly paranormal romance with a splash of horror/light mystery.

I did receive an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

I don’t know what to write. I ADORED this book. I’m absolutely heartbroken and totally in love at the same time. The prose was beautifull. The characters amazing. The ending an absolute delight. This book made me feel multiple emotions and that’s always a good thing when it comes to my sensitive ass. The way it was written feels poetic (think schwab or starless sea but not as heavy) but fluent, the storyline was great and the story very well paced. Elwood & Wil are gonna roam around in my head for a very long time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My opinion however is entirely my own.

What a weird and wonderful book! Short and punchy, Together We Rot brought together a story of two teenagers, Wil and Elwood, discovering the dark secrets their small town is harbouring. I’m not the biggest urban fantasy fan but I enjoyed the horror elements and though the characters were very well developed for the length of the story. The cult aspects, spooky imagery and fast paced were all really captivating. I do wish there was more romance all around, as the cover suggests, but with so much happening there really wasn’t time for too much kissing. Overall, this was a fun quick read that will definitely appeal to YA readers looking for a touch of horror in their fantasy.

Wow. Where to even start? What a strange, hauntingly beautiful gothic, ya novel. It dives deep into the forest allegories but the prose in this book were so beautiful at times, it literally stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away. Trigger warnings should be checked as it does look deeply into parental abuse (physical and emotional) but take away the cult activity, and the feelings of loneliness and despair were so relatable for my teenage self (and I won’t lie, my adult self at times as well but for different reasons) that I wish this book existed when I was a kid for me to hold onto for dear life. If you feel the slightest connection with the Earth around you, this book will hit you in ways others never have. Elwood is captivating and magical and such a light. Wil was difficult for me to tolerate at times but honestly, she reminded me of myself at her age …so full of rage and loneliness and just desperate for answers and to have someone in her corner. The ending left me in a stream of tears that I momentarily thought I was going to drown in. Seriously, well done. I felt this book deep in my bones and it won’t be leaving my soul anytime soon.

Also, shout out to the cover artist, that might be one of my favorite book covers of all time.

Creepy, haunting, spellbinding. The perfect fall read to keep you checking over your shoulder at night. I'm always here for a spooky forest and this delivered.

Together We Rot is an interesting book. Or maybe I should revise it- because it almost feels more fair to say that Together We Rot is an interesting short story with the ambitions of a novel.

The story itself is fascinating. Set in the isolated wilderness of the UP, the book is about two teenagers; Wil and Elwood. Wil's mother went missing unexpectedly; destroying her father and their family business in one fell swoop. It did not help that she accused her friend Elwood's family of being responsible either.

Elwood is from a hyper religious and very influential family. A year after Wil's accusation, he begins to uncover a conspiracy about his family that isn't just dark, but supernatural. If you love character with heaps and heaps of religious trauma, this is your character.

I adored the premise, the writing, and the settings of this story so much. The bones are fantastic. Skyla Arndt really has a gift for prose and sets up a gorgeously dark town with secrets you want to crack open. Unfortunately, I felt this could have been a series or much longer book. The beginning og the book starts slow, but then pretty much everything happens at once. The plot, friendships, and romance start running at breakneck speed and its super hard to emotionally catch up with it.

If you want a fun horror mystery with solid characters, I think there is a lot to love here, but I would have slowed the pace down quite a bit and given time for the characters to really grow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This breathtaking cover and Gothic/paranormal horror story meet YA romance is a great debut that you shouldn't miss!

The sensitive subjects of parental abuse, grief, alcoholism, corruption, and cultism are blended with paranormal elements and a riveting writing style that easily makes you invest in Will and Elwood's story.

''Wil Greene's mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed--they claim she skipped town and you can't find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn't just leave...and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday--in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He's not his father's successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he's grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she'll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there's a reason they need Elwood's blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn't sure if she can save the boy she can't help but love.''

I really enjoyed the vibes of the book, which the cover captures perfectly. Together We Rot is dark and creepy. It is an eerie atmospheric tale with paranormal elements and an interesting cast of characters.
The story was beautifully written, alternating between Wil's and Elwood’s POVs.

I enjoyed this debut, and I'm looking forward to reading more works from the author in the near future

I have to start with saying that this is by far one of the weirdest books I have read this year (or probably even the past several years). That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, it was a weird, wild, fast ride. I did find it short which I didn’t love because I was enjoying it. It is definitely one of those stories that will kind of stick with you because the images just won’t leave my head. I have no way of describing this story without spoilers so I will say it is about a boy and a girl who learn the hard way that their town has some pretty significant secrets it’s been keeping. The writing was very good. I loved the characters and felt they were surprisingly developed given how short this one was. The story itself does require a bit of a suspense of disbelief but I love a good urban fantasy story, and I liked that this one threw some horror int heir for good measure.

☽𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎☾

3.5/5 ✰

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC (I will provide a link with a post on social media soon).

This was a novella with the potential to become a great novel. The book started slowly, and it wasn't until later pages that I found myself thoroughly engrossed in it, desperate to solve the mystery surrounding our main protagonists. A mystery surrounds the death of a family member of the main female character. As a result, grief is a recurring motif in this piece of writing. Nevertheless, I feel the most prominently highlighted significant theme in the novel is religion. However, I must emphasise that this image of religion is inextricably linked to religious trauma.

Although the narrative started slowly, as I indicated, it ended up exploring and answering the issue at hand. Still, I felt this section was hurried. I wish it had lasted longer, especially because the prose is quite good. Furthermore, the plot is intended to take place in two days, which made it seem a little unattainable to me. I too did not anticipate the conclusion going in the route it did.

Finally, while there are some references to body horror and various gothic themes, I would have liked to see more of this.

Overall, it was an entertaining book (I love the cover too), and I believe I'd want to read more of this author in the future.

I thought that this was a very good book. The story was compelling and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. I enjoyed the shorter chapters. I also liked having the dual POVs, I felt like I could understand both characters and relate to them way better. I really liked the idea that Elwood's parents were the leader of a cult and that his father was also the pastor of the church. The ending really blew me away and I was not expecting it at all. I loved that it wasn't a basic romance book where the two live happily ever after and together forever. I would recommend this book to my audience and my friends.