As always, Ava Reid’s prose is just utterly breathtaking!! This story was so uniquely crafted and had such an interesting plot. I loved the characters and the way Reid crafted such a detailed setting. Like in her other novels, Reid makes you feel like you’re living and breathing the atmosphere of the novel.

While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as her previous works, I would say that anyone that’s a fan of Ava Reid would love this new release!

I had to sit on this review for a few days (like, two weeks actually) because this book was so incredibly meaningful to me. I went into this a little unsure, because the beginning just felt a bit slow to me. But I realized that the slow beginning was necessary for the incredible build up we got in the end.

I have anxiety, and I am often second-guessing myself because I simply can't be true. Other people are more right than me, so I should listen to them instead. If a situation is wrong in the beginning, it must've been a terrible decision I made and I should just give up right then. Effy felt so very relatable in all of these moments, and it made my heart break for both her and younger me.

The journey she went through to accept herself, her flaws, and her situation was a delight to watch (if incredibly difficult at the same time). The sexual harassment was very poignant and hard to read, but necessary, as it's a terrible reality for so many young women.

Overall, my favorite quote of the book that I can't stop thinking about was actually a chapter header, from Angharad.

What wisdom do you want from a death-marked girl? I can say only this: in the end I learned that the water was in me. It was a ghost that could not be exorcised. But a guest, even uninvited, must be attended to. You make up a bed for them. You pour from your best bottle of wine. If you can learn to love that which despises you, that which terrifies you, you can dance on the shore and play in the waves again, like you did when you were young. Before the ocean is friend or foe, it simply is. And so are you.

I didn't think I would cry, but I'm crying again just re-reading that snippet. Thank you so much for the review copy, and the book as a whole.

"A Study in Drowning" is a remarkable and multifaceted novel that delves into profound themes of institutional sexism, ownership of narratives, and the struggle to reclaim one's voice. This dark academia tale of mystery and romance takes place in a decaying old house perched on a cliff, skillfully interweaving religious folklore and academic agnosticism. As readers journey through this narrative, they will be compelled to question perceptions of reality and grapple with the uncertainties of truth and belief.

At the heart of this captivating story is Effy Sayre, the main character who defies stereotypes and showcases the strength found in softness. Effy's relatability and authenticity make her a truly remarkable protagonist. She represents the anxiety-filled individuals, the ones who rehearse their Starbucks orders in line and often find their fight-or-flight response leaning heavily towards flight for survival. Effy's journey highlights that survival itself is an act of bravery, and her character demonstrates that there is strength in vulnerability. She isn't a flawless heroine with all the answers, but her flaws make her genuine and allow room for meaningful growth.

From the very beginning, it was clear that "A Study in Drowning" would not be a book I could simply approach with indifference. Effy captured my heart, and her story resonated deeply with me. I felt a genuine connection to her, as she represented aspects of my own experiences. This novel holds a special place in my heart, alongside other impactful books like VE Schwab's "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and John Green's "Turtles All the Way Down." The personal nature of this story elevates an already fantastic book, making it an exceptional reading experience.

The power of stories is a central theme explored within the narrative, and the author's ability to capture emotions and evoke empathy is a testament to their skill. The quote, "This is the way it feels to me. Can you understand what I'm saying? Does it feel this way to you?" reflects the connection between the characters and readers themselves. Like a ship on the horizon, I signal back that this story resonates deeply with me. The authenticity and personal touch embedded in the writing create a sense of shared understanding and leave an indelible mark on the reader.

In conclusion, "A Study in Drowning" is a beautifully crafted novel that tackles complex themes of identity, strength, and the transformative power of stories. It successfully combines elements of mystery, romance, and dark academia to create an enthralling narrative. Effy Sayre is a protagonist who will capture your heart and inspire you with her resilience. With its profound impact and ability to evoke strong emotions, this book deserves five stars and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on all who delve into its pages.

A Study in Drowning is a lush, claustrophobic gothic romance with a fairy tale for its heart that follows Effy, an architecture student who dreams of being admitted into the mens-only literature college at her university, as she attempts to design an impossible manor house for the son of her literary idol, Myrddin, alongside Preston, a literature student who has made it his academic mission to prove Myrddin's authorship of his most famous text a sham.

While A Study in Drowning is compelling, the novel has a deep paucity of worldbuilding that makes the foundation of the story truly precarious. Reid has painted a thin veneer of second-world fantasy over a pastiche of late 1950's Ireland and Wales. The central figure of the recently deceased Myrddin is part Lord Dunsany, part Kennith Morris, and The Drowning is an obvious parallel to the Great Hunger. So little worldbuilding exists to prop up the novel, with no mention is made of the world outside the tiny countries of Llyr and Argant, that the reader is left to paint in the gaps with whatever they imagine know of Welsh cliffsides and tiny Irish fishing towns. It honestly felt like Reid initially planned to set the story in Ireland or possibly Wales, but shifted gears when it became clear that she didn't have either the historical background or the inclination to deal with the ramifications of writing a story that tears down the legacy of a beloved Welsh or Irish author, even a fictional one.

In addition, the fairy tale logic of A Study in Drowning was deeply inconsistent. Selkies are established fact, if hunted to extinction, but believing in The Fairy King is a Southern superstition. The pills doctors prescribe work perfectly well to keep the fair folk away, but no right-thinking physician believes them to be anything but hallucinations. If this had more of a grounding in an actual time period, perhaps these inconsistencies could have been smoothed over or ignored, but in a completely second-world setting, with so few details to be found anywhere, they stood out like burrs, catching my imagination in an unpleasant way.

Ultimately, I was unable to enjoy A Study in Drowning because of these issues, which is a shame, because the gothic romance at its heart was something I really did want to love.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC of A Study in Drowning, provided in exchange for an honest review.

A Study in Drowning was absolutely fantastic! Ava Reid wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

I LOVED this book!! I only docked it a little bit of points because it did feel a little predictable at times. This was my first read by Ava Reid. I fell in love with Effy and her character through the book, and I feel like she would be relatable for a lot of people. I loved the mystery in the book and the setting, it was quite different than any book I have ever read. Definitely recommend! I can’t wait to read more by this author!!

Admittedly I was kind of torn between a 4 star and a 5 star, but the climax and ending made up for the slower parts that lost me in the very beginning.

At first I really didn’t care for the story because it felt like there was so much being thrown at me at once. This is the first Ava Reid I have read and I must say she is very good at painting a picture, but sometimes the details made pages feel tedious or sequences in general. Overall, I did end up enjoying it! It just took me a moment to get used to the writing style.

Also this book being categorized as YA seems odd to me and doesn’t feel right? But I guess I can understand it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Effy Sayre is a failing architecture student who dreams of being in the literature college that is for men only. When she gets the opportunity to help rebuild her favorite late author's estate, she jumps at the chance. But she has to deal with a broody literature student trying to tear down the author's legacy, and the author's strange son in a falling apart house in this gothic/dark academia setting. The house is not all it seems and Effy will have to figure out what is real and what is in her imagination.

The good: I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The themes of feminism, gothic lit, discrimination, fairy tales, and mental health were strong throughout the book. Effy was a relatable character (I, too, want to cry at every small and large inconvenience) who went through many struggles in her world. This is very character-driven, and Effy stands out as a realistic heroine. The writing was beautiful and the setting very haunting.

The meh: This did feel relatively YA which isn't my favorite. I would've loved an adult take on this book. At the end, it felt like there was a lot of explaining and telling which was a lost opportunity for the pair to do some more detective work and figure things out for themselves. Instead, we're told the entire mystery's resolution in a few pages.

The verdict: You will like this book if you like gothic settings, mental health and medicine taking rep, YA, literature and dark academia, and light enemies to lovers romance.

A StoryGraph review will be posted now and an Instagram post will be made the week of publication. Thank you again!

Young adult, romance debut by Reids that turned out to be much more than premise and promise. I will start with an official statement: I do not like romance books. I will read the genre only on specific occasions, when I feel like it, not when it is recommended to me. Also, if any story, from any genre has cheesy, horny people who strive towards each other, I wanna die by thousand deaths as they would be less painful. The Fourth Wing is the best example of that. But about this masterpiece in another post.

In this book we meet Effy who lives in the world where women mean nothing. They face blunt discrimination and contempt on every corner. Effy as a first woman in architecture college must find her own voice and space as she's vied as nothing more than a pretty piece of flesh. When opportunity arises, she submits her project for a remodeling competition created by the son of a famous writer whose work is very personal to Effy. There she met a literature student who wants to discover how much the work of the late author was authentic. Both find themselves in the place of fairy tale with gothic vibe full of dark mystery and constant dull weather. It's not a secret we have enemies to lover trope here.

With this book, that I gave 5 stars without hesitation (I rarely do that, bite me latest TikTok drama). The only problem I had was the pacing of the romance as it often occurs in YA novels. Everything else hits exactly right cords in my heart. I felt like reading Zafon's Marina with a hint of dark academia. The writing is stunning and the first time I really didn't need the audiobook to keep me focused. Also, the characters were very well-built with hints here and there about their motivations. Of course, there were sporadic plot holes and I was questioning how it makes sense, yet it didn't ruin my fun at all. The idea for the story was enough to keep my captivated and I see it as a perfect material for possible TV series. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Ava Reid's debut YA novel is powerfully written and thematically ambitious. Effy is yet another Reid protagonist who bucks traditional trends of strength in feminist narratives, highlighting the relationship between a society that dehumanizes and silences women and their subsequent reduction to vessels for male fantasies. The entire story reflects a harrowing narrative of disdain and dismissal that has haunted real female artists and writers throughout history. Included in Reid's acknowledgments is a brief nod to Zelda Fitzgerald, whose presence recontectualized some of the real world parallels in the novel I had missed. TW for sexual assault, none of which is depicted on page but contributes to a thoughtful exploration of trauma, PTSD, and the history of violence embedded within academia.

This is also the first novel of Reid's which, true to her forward, reads as definite love story. While Effy and Preston's romance is not the central axis upon which the story turns, it is a tender tale of two vastly different people finding love in common ground. It helps that their dynamic is set against a gorgeously bleak seaside gothic, in a crumbling manor dripping with salt and secrets. The location and the world, are beautifully imagined, with an intriguing mix of modern conveniences and old-world superstitions. .

My one main issue with the story is somewhat minor and personal but reflects a broader trend in YA novels that makes me very, very uncomfortable: the romanticization of cigarettes and smoking. I have no problem with this is stories targeting adults, but the love interest is frequently shown smoking and sharing a cigarette is notable romantic interaction at one point early on. I credit literature that aestheticized smoking in this way with a narrow miss with nicotine in my late teenage years, and find it very unfortunate to see it promoted thusly in a novel directed at young adults. .

I haven’t read a well-done, character-driven gothic read in such a long time. And boy oh boy, did this book deliver!!! The story immediately sweeps you off your feet the first few chapters and keeps you guessing till the very end. The writing style definitely added to the gothic atmosphere and the characters were so fascinating! I couldn’t tear my eyes off of them for a moment! I know we are nowhere near the fall, but this book will immediately transport you to cold nights and eerie adventures. If this sounds interesting to you, then I recommend picking up this read!

This is a tricky one. My quick review is that I absolutely loved this book, but my feelings are more complicated than that.

Let me start off by saying I am a sucker for dark academia, books about books, and gothic settings, so this book would have had to try hard to disappoint. I'm glad to say that wasn't the case. The decaying almost-haunted house atop a cliff setting was visceral, the enemies-to-lovers romance was incredibly satisfying, and the themes of institutional sexism in academia, the relationship between author and reader, and space for old-world beliefs in a modern world all worked wonderfully.

That said, I still can't help but feel like something was missing. Almost like a new partner tried cooking your favorite childhood dish and although the meal was absolutely delicious and filling in its own right, you can still tell an ingredient was missing‚ even if you can't tell which.

Perhaps that was the intention. This book is about questioning reality—not knowing who or what to believe—and perhaps that applies not just to the story, but to the author's actual writing as well. The story moves along quickly, almost conveniently, setting up only what needs to happen. As I was reading, I felt like key details were being omitted or perhaps happening just offscreen. I knew there was more—a larger world, a larger story—but I wasn't privy to it. At least not yet. Just like Effy, I had to question whether to believe what I was being told or believe what I knew I was seeing. I'm still questioning it. So, I guess in that regard, the book was successful.

Haunting and beautifully written, this book is something special.

Thanks to HarperCollins/HarperTeen and NetGalley for allowing me to read this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone say thank you to Ava Reid for this book. A Study in Drowning is beautifully written and so engrossing that I could not put the book down the moment I started it. You have everything: dark academia, academic rivals, a spooky manor by the sea, and so much more. I loved this book and I absolutely cannot wait for it to be the book of the fall!

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of A Study in Drowning thanks to NetGalley! This is my first Ava Reid book.

Effy is a first year student at the only college that accepts women: architecture. While she would rather study literature, she’s making the most of the academic environment…despite her unstable mindset caused by harassment and a possible childhood encounter with the Fair Folk.

Reid provides intriguing world building from the first chapter. Llyr and Argant are two warring countries sharing a border each with their own folklore and superstitions.

The story read like Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries with its literature-within-literature format, scholarly protagonists, and fae inspiration.

I enjoyed the metaphor between Effy’s PTSD being described as the “deep water place” and the literal “drowning” of the southern portion of Llyr. Reid provides beautiful descriptions that make me think she based Effy’s experience on her own.

The actual defeat of the Fairy King should have been extended. It needed more angst between the King and Effy. It was over too fast. And too easy. In a way Effy was defeating her demons and nay-sayers in this moment so I wish it had been extended.

I’m happy to say that I had an inclination that Myrrdin’s widow was the true author of <i>Angharad</i> in the beginning of the book. This is confirmed in chapter sixteen but the author wrote it perfectly so that the readers would be suspicious but some might not see it until then.

Overall a beautiful story about female agency and oppression.
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Content Warnings: implied sexual harassment/abuse, prescription medication use

This was my first time reading anything from Ava Reid, and while I don't think it really changed my life, I really enjoyed a lot of elements in it and found it to be an enjoyable read.
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Things I really liked:
- It has all of the eerie, atmospheric touches that we all love in the dark academia genre that make you feel like you're reading in a creepy abandoned manor by candlelight instead tucked up in bed with your kindle
- The plot was engaging. You are alongside the main character as she untangles the mystery revolving around her favorite author as well as the mysteries of her own mind and self .
- Preston (he's adorable in his own way)
- Effy was complicated, she carried around a lot of trauma, and existed in a constant state of survival that we may not be able to relate to, but can definitely understand. There are a lot of powerful sentiments surrounded womanhood and how history has treated women (I loved all of the eerie ocean quotes).
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It did start off a bit slow for me - and I really did not like the way that Effy was characterized at first. She sort of got repetitive, it just seemed like every other page 'tears welled in her eyes' or 'her face was warming' and I kind of just started envisioning her as a sniffling little tomato. I didn't want or expect more from her per se, but I wish her personality could have been developed in a way that, to me, felt less tedious. She pulled it together quite a bit and I started to root for her toward the end but I had a hard time getting past that. The ending itself also felt really sudden and rushed and I wish it had been a bit more gradual.
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**Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review**

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I almost put this down multiple times, despite the fact that there was so much about it that I loved: the academic setting, the pseudo-Welsh setting, the slow romance, the Gothic vibes. I just couldn't get on board with Effy's character for the longest time. I wanted her to be stronger, to stop apologizing, to stop hiding. But her growth through the story really pulled me in, and I definitely changed my mind about her by the end. By the end of this novel, I was completely in love with it and will definitely be adding it to my shelves on release day.

3.5/5

As a long-time Ava Reid fan, I was really excited to get my hands on this ARC!

This piece is unlike The Wolf & The Woodsman and Juniper & Thorn in the way that it is a more YA-focused dark academia novel, rather than an adult fantasy novel. I enjoyed seeing Reid explore a new genre, and I believe that she captured the spirit of dark academia quite well. I always enjoy a hard-hitting female-focused storyline, and Effy was certainly a powerful character in both her perseverance and bravery.

Ava Reid always manages to write extremely likable protagonists, and I especially enjoyed Preston's character: I love that he was a shining light in a world seemingly filled with cruel and wicked men.

Overall, I thought that the plot was well-rounded, but there were also moments that could have used slightly better pacing. I thought that the climax and resolution felt a little bit rushed, and I wish there had been a bit more of a gradual conclusion.

I always really enjoy Reid's writing style and prose, and she definitely continued to express her talents in this book! Overall, I enjoyed this book and am very excited to see what she comes up with in the future!

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review - thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins!

A Study in Drowning is in the style of a classic fairytale, which is to say it is dark.

Effy has been told since she was a child that her sightings of the fairy king were hallucinations, that she needed to be a "good girl" and take her medicine, to the point that her mother asks her if she's taking her medication when she shows strong emotions, like being on the edge of crying. As a first-year student in the architecture college who dreamed of being admitted to the literature college (despite them not accepting any women), Effy couldn't resist the opportunity to design a manor in honor of her absolute favorite author just six months after his death. Imagine her surprise when she winds up staying at the manor, working with the author's son on her design for the manor!

Imagine her surprise, when Effy encounters P. Héloury (her self-styled nemesis that checked out every single library book on Myrddin that she'd wanted to use to research her architectural design) there on behalf of the literature college.

Imagine her surprise as the world she's been told is fake begins to collide with the world she's been told is real, as she begins to question everything.

TWs for abuse of power, mention of & brief (non-graphic) descriptions of sexual assault by an authority figure.

I had many theories and thoughts and was trying to put some things together as I was reading through - this definitely kept me hooked!

<spoiler>I swore early on that I would throw a fit if Effy was ""fixed by"" (or had) a romance by the end of the story - and somehow Reid convinced me with Preston's gentleness and kindness that, yes. Effy knows this doesn't repair her trauma. But she deserves that kind of gentle kindness and it's ok for that to be in a romantic relationship. So well done on Reid's part! You convinced me and also I ship it.</spoiler>

Effy Sayre is a first year architecture student who would rather be studying literature. At the beginning of her story, she finds a poster for a design contest to redesign the estate of Emrys Myrddin, her favorite author. If she can't study his works, she'll at least enter the design contest to see his home in southern Llyr.
Upon arriving, she finds a decrepit, waterlogged manor on a cliffside and is greeted by an academic rival, Preston Héloury whose thesis she disagrees with. Regardless of their differences, they band together to solve the mystery of Myrddin's principle work, Angharad, in the face of natural and supernatural forces at play.
My scholarly heart was filled with joy reading this Gothic/dark academia/young adult mystery. Can I just say how much it pleases me to puzzle out the little details in Reid's works? Like Llyr is Wales while Argant is possibly Brittany? The university is in Caer-Isel, the mythical sunken city of Ys, and Llyr went through a "Drowning" a little over 200 years earlier in the story. Emrys Myrddin? *Kind of a spoiler* Immortal Bard?! We also get some nods to Marlovian theory going on later in the plot, and the publisher of the famed novel at the center of the mystery is called Marlowe! *Chef kiss*
The themes of ASiD are numerous and complex: superstition, fairies, misogyny, women's roles in academia. But the one that stuck out to me most was mental illness. Effy questions her reality throughout the book as she confronts visions of the Fairy King and dang, if that ain't a trauma response. Even her resilience as she struggles and survives is a sign of her past trauma.
Misogyny and its trappings are the other themes that stuck out to me. Effy is barred from the college of literature since women "have not, as a sex, demonstrated great strength in the faculties of literary analysis or understanding."
First of all, ugh. Every man except for Preston says something misogynistic to her. Ugh. Second, it was interesting to see the internal rebellion Effy had in the face of such outright misogyny. Eventually, she was able to stick up for herself in a way that made the ending satisfying.
The atmosphere of the story was immaculate! The crumbling Gothic manor on a cliff by the sea, the stormy weather, the gruff and helpful harbinger in town. I. Ate. It. Up.
There's also outright romance and romantic tropes in the book that I haven't seen in Reid's other works. I enjoyed the way she incorporated them and molded them to her style.
I can't recommend this book enough. I hope my review has convinced you to read it, and that you'll pick it up when it's released in September!
Also, many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am an Ava Reid stan. She can do absolutely no wrong in my mind, and this book is just as incredible as Woodsman and Juniper. The writing in this book is absolutely immaculate and I am obsessed with effy. However, I do think that Reid is generally better suited to writing adult fiction.