Sixteen-year-old Luce Shelley lives with her mother Gloria, her brother Roo, and her invalid aunt Gem in Red Grove, a secluded community comprised mostly of women in the ancient redwood forest of northern California. This community provides a safe haven for women; they are told that they will always be safe from the dangers of society, especially the violence of men. Interwoven with Luce’s story, set in 1997, is the community’s origin story dating back to 1853.

One day Gloria goes missing. Luce knows that her mother wouldn’t just abandon them, especially not her twin sister who lives in a state of “unresponsive wakefulness” and relies on Gloria for her care. As Luce looks for her mother, she uncovers secrets about Red Grove. She discovers that her home may not really be as safe as she’s been taught.

One of the book’s central ideas is inter-connectedness. The trees are connected by a mycorrhizal network: “the roots of the redwood trees reaching as wide as the trees were tall, [were] passing sugars and water back and forth, feeding the weak, holding the tallest of them upright, flashing memories to one another along the mycorrhizal network.” But Luce later suggests that the women are also “embedded in the network of this forest.” She is asked, “’Did you know it isn’t just all the plant roots that are connected in the dirt. That it’s all the animals and bugs and people in the Red Grove too? Even the dead ones.’” The later parts of the novel suggest communication is possible between humans and nature and that even the dead can use this network to communicate.

Of course, the message is also that the community of Red Grove gains its strength from the connections among its members. Though they are told that their community has a magical protective shield, “the truth of their power, which was within them, their actions and tenderness [was] so much stronger than a myth.”

There’s a mystery of course: what happened to Gloria? But the book is also very much a coming-of-age story. Luce is very much devoted to Red Grove, its mission, rituals, and myths. In fact, she is being groomed to be the next leader, though Gloria has reservations. She has issues with Una, the current leader, believing that “any isolated community, no matter how noble its intentions, restricted you. It made the world too small.” For instance, she worries that Luce and Roo think of themselves as impervious to harm in Red Grove. When Luce uncovers secrets long hidden about events at Red Grove, she has to decide whether to keep those secrets or reveal them. She loses her innocence as she learns about the place that has been her home for half her life. And her understanding of her relationship with her mother matures.

Pacing is a problem. The book begins very slowly. Even after Gloria vanishes, nothing much happens. Only two-thirds of the way through the book is there any real tension. The chapters of the origin story, though interesting, do little to add to the suspense. Then the closing chapters are vague and will leave many readers feeling unsatisfied.

What bothered me as well is the magic realism/ supernatural elements. Some of the communication that occurs I did not find convincing. The so-called mother-tree hypothesis is very appealing, but the author implies a whole new purpose of these networks and I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief. Then we are supposed to believe that “’There is no such thing as coincidence. . . . Coincidence is communication. It always means something’”? The scenes involving the mummy are just too much! Each time the mummy was mentioned, my interest lessened.

The novel has some interesting ideas. It inspires thinking about how women are viewed when they take control of their own lives and whether isolated communities such as Red Grove can be successful or are even a good idea. However, the novel’s pacing and its more outlandish elements definitely affected my enjoyment.

The premise of the book had me excited and intrigued. It sounded like a unique story but sadly I ended up DNFing. I got about 70 pages in and still didn’t feel fully immersed or engaged. It’s very slow paced and not something I was feeling drawn to read. After setting it aside a few times, I just don’t feel like going back to it. I’ll definitely recommend to some that I know would enjoy it more than me and will look for future books by the author but sadly this one just wasn’t for me

The writing style was captivating. It was spooky and intense. Some aspects of the plot were easy to guess but that didn't impact my overall enjoyment. I enjoyed the supernatural spooky bits! Those are always a fun time.

Thank you to the publisher and the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a rollercoaster of a book! I loved the mystery. It's a book that asks us all to reexamine the stories that we have been told. Great debut!

Rating 3.5 stars.

The Red Grove is a story of bravery, strength and community in the face of violence and the power that a shared history can have over group of people.

In a secluded forest community primarily comprised of women, teenager Luce Shelley and her family are safe and happy living amongst the redwood trees and far away from the dangers of modern society. They are self-sufficient and self-governed and whenever a new woman shows up with her own burden or past of violence, she is welcomed with open arms. This beautiful existence falls apart when a stranger appears on Luce's doorstep and soon after her mother disappears. As Luce works to find what her mother, she discovers that The Red Grove has many secrets and has to decide which to pursue and which are best kept buried.

The Red Grove was amazing to read about - it was similar to M.Night Shyamalan's 'The Village' in theme. The origin story of the community was heartbreaking and fascinating, and weaving it throughout Luce's main story accentuated that it wasn't just thrilling as a standalone tale but also really did wonders for heightening the anticipation for what could possibly come next. A few of the plot points were a bit too ambiguous even after reaching the end of the book, but altogether this was a highly moving tale of choices, grief, love, and survival.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars

’The trees soon revealed startling secrets. I discovered that they are in a web of interdependence, linked by a system of underground channels, where they perceive and connect and relate with an ancient intricacy and wisdom that can no longer be denied … They pass their wisdom to their kin, generation after generation, sharing the knowledge of what helps and what harms.’
- Suzanne Simard, ’Finding the Mother Tree’

’The women asked: Who is safe?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: The women who shelter in
this red grove are safe.
The women asked: How are they safe?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: In this red grove, no woman
can be harmed. No violence may come upon her. No
injury to her flesh from the flesh of another.
The women asked: Who is welcome?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: Those who can walk in
darkness are welcome and those who affix to the deeply
woven roots are free.
-The Story of the Sisters, Welcoming Incantation

This is a beautifully written story about women, the things they endure, and the bonds they form to keep one another safe. Set in Northern California, this is an atmospheric read, the setting is more or less a commune of women who are drawn to nature, although there are men who are part of this story, this is essentially a story of and about women.

Set in a community where the premise is to provide a safe place for these women living there, and to provide an ‘open door’ to any women who need a safe haven, and within this community are welcomed, they place their faith in knowing that they can do anything, and leave their fears behind them.

I loved this from the first pages, loved how easily this flowed, how beautifully written, and how the story came together at the end.


Pub Date: 14 May 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The dangers of the rest of the world can’t touch them in The Red Grove. Luce believes in the power of their community, but when her mother goes missing, she learns more than she bargained for about the place she calls home.

I thought this was well written and very poignant. The idea behind it is incredibly intriguing to me, a safe place for women, where no harm can touch them from the hands of another. An apt idea for the danger and violence women face everyday in the world.

But, at what cost? Luce must go on a journey of self discovery, while caring for her little brother and her invalid aunt, seeking the truth of her mother’s whereabouts. This was eerie and whimsical. The atmosphere was fantastic and the message loud and clear.

Immersive, unexpected, beautifully written. "The women can do anything. They do not need to be afraid ever again." Cinematic, probing themes of gender and violence, utopia/dystopia, the natural world. A fever dream of writing, reminds me why I love literary fiction. Thank you, Tessa Fontaine and FSG.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title!

This book exceeded all of my expectations. It’s atmospheric, compelling, and beautifully written. I wasn’t sure if I would like it in the beginning, but the unique elements of supernatural horror and mystery/thriller interwoven into the plot captivated me very quickly and I was unable to put it down until I read the entire thing.

What I loved about the plot was that it goes so far beyond its premise. There’s so much depth to the story, from the historical context to the aspects of magical realism, and the way everything feels so purposeful and intertwined. The way Fontaine incorporated so much rich background into her plot and characters, more so with Luce than the others, was so impressive. I loved the psychological complexity given to Luce’s character as well, and the exploration of her childhood and her relationship with her mother added so much depth to the narrative.

I feel like I could go on and on about the little details that made this book so intriguing. First of all, dual point-of-view? So fascinating and well-written. Then there was the underlying dystopian/utopian parallel and juxtaposition throughout the novel, and all the parallels in general, which really heightened the isolation and mysticism of the Red Grove. I’m also still thinking about the supernatural elements tied not only into the community’s folklore but the characters themselves, and how effectively that horror and fear for something unknown was conveyed. Really, there’s just so much to talk about.

Despite all of this, however, I did find myself getting lost in the dense writing from time to time, which kind of impacted my reading experience and maybe even my understanding of the plot. So while I loved the depth, the way it was delivered was a bit hard to consistently follow. Furthermore, I liked the mystery and its twists, but I’m not entirely a fan of the ending of the novel, and some of the details surrounding how the main conflict was resolved. It did feel a little vague when compared to the other parts of the novel, but it’s still good.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I can definitely see myself re-reading it to pick up on more of its intricate details. This is such a thought-provoking novel that is a great read for anyone who enjoys mystery/thriller imbued with history and the fine line that operates between reality and the supernatural. As a first-time reader of Tessa Fontaine, I’m really impressed, and I’d love to read more of her work in the future.

I deeply enjoyed this book. The descriptions read a bit like a movie, and the character development was really satisfying. There were some plot twists I wasn’t expecting, which is always fun, and I loved Tamsen’s storyline and the way it helped unravel the mystery of the grove and Gloria’s disappearance. Looking forward to reading more from Fontaine!

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

There was much to love in this story. I found myself having a bit of a hard time getting into the story and then I found myself drifting away from it. In the end, it was beautifully written, just needed a tiny bit of an edit to keep the reader immersed.

This beautiful and I am so proud of the author, but I couldn't immerse myself in it. I do not know why. It is well written. I just didn't feel myself there.
I look forward to the next book the author writers.

Luce Shelley, a true crime loving teenager lives with mom Gloria, little brother Roo and aunt Gem in an isolated women’s refuge located in a redwood forest. Founded by settler Tamsen Nightingale, the refuge has existed for almost one hundred years and now has a population of almost two hundred (some men are allowed). Gem has been catatonic since she was attacked by a boyfriend years ago, now she and Gloria work together as a psychic team. When one of the sisters’ “seekers” dies at their home his son wants revenge. Then Gloria disappears and Luce relies on help from Una, the community’s leader and her own wits to try to locate her mother.

Interesting book. While reading I almost had the sense that Luce and her family were indigenous people versus residents in a women’s refuge, and I don’t know why I kept feeling that way. I loved the back story with Tamsen Nightingale, those sections of the book were my favorites and felt more “real” to me than those set in modern day. Overall good but not great, I guess.

I think that this was a well written novel, but it was not for me. I was very underwhelmed and quite disappointed.