Seven doors appear randomly around the world. If one opens for you, would you enter?

Meet Me at the Crossroads ask this and so much more. It’s a story centered around family and faith through themes of grief, guilt, and growth.

Told in three parts, we see the bond of twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia tested. When the doors arrive everyone is curious, but over time there are those who have faith in the doors and others who consider them pointless. It’s intricate and powerful to see the way that Ayanna and Olivia fall on different sides of this spectrum and navigate their own sisterhood, as well as that of their differing and divorced parents.

Tension is only heightened when Olivia, a non believer, is the one to go missing after an exploration of the doors. Ayanna finds herself more alone than ever left to grieve her twin while watching her family unravel around her. A majority of the story is the inner monologue, reflection, and journey of Ayanna as the surviving twin.

This is a highly emotional and lyrical read. The initial concept is one that will hook many readers. Though I would recommend this for fans of literary fiction. The pacing is intentionally slow and begging to be read with care. There are so many readers who will connect to Ayanna and revel in the world of curiosity and connection that Giddings has built

Meet Me at the Crossroads is a haunting, lyrical exploration of choice, grief, and identity. Megan Giddings weaves speculative elements with emotional depth, creating a story that lingers long after the final page. Powerful, thought-provoking, and utterly original.

Twins Ayanna and Olivia couldn’t be more different. Raised apart after their parents’ divorce, their bond isn’t what you’d expect from twins. After a heartbreaking tragedy, Ayanna and her family are left to navigate grief, each in their own way. Over time, while her birth family falls apart, Ayanna builds a new one that gives her strength and belonging. Eventually, she decides not to let grief define her, and that choice leads her to the closure she truly needs.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick, engaging read. I love a story that involves a found family, one of my favorite themes.

Although ultimately not what I was expecting, or wanting really, this did feel like it did what it set out to do. I was thinking this would be much more focused on the “doors” to other worlds and the speculative nature surrounding these. This plays a small part in the beginning, with the majority of the story taking place after an accident that our MC blames herself for. The story is about her journey with grief, shame, and self-imposed blame as well as external. It is about her trying to find the beauty in her life as is and accepting that she is deserving of happiness.

Although slow and a bit meandering through the middle, I did appreciate her journey. There were some lovely meditations on life and humanity and faith throughout. I like Giddings’s writing and will continue to pick up their work, but I need to remember to not expect something specific going in.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to the author, @amistadbooks, & @hearourvoicestours for my gifted copy‼️

Delivering a mind-bending speculative fiction novel that ventures into faith, religion, love, loss, and grief. Giddings presents readers with a rare premise that’s both intriguing and thought provoking but feels just a little bit off.

The heart of the novel surrounds the appearance of seven mysterious doors that lead to other worlds. These dimensions appear welcoming with its unique beauty and magical resources but what truly lies beyond the unknown is danger. Twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia would soon find out what’s on the other side of those doors. Leaving one sister lost forever and the other drowning in grief.

Olivia and Ayanna were very different to be twins. With each of them growing up in different households their complex traits and upbringing make it hard for them to connect. Olivia was only present briefly and of the twins she seemed the most normal. Ayanna’s upbringing resulted in her having this weird mysterious personality just think of Carrie. And with her being a central figure in the plot the book has this strange uncanny feeling the entire time.

But the book posed two questions for me: Why was there a culture of door worshippers? What causes people to be so drawn to the unknown?

Once Olivia disappears Ayanna is driven by faith that her sister will return yet she struggles the entire time holding on to that belief. It’s also evident that them entering the portal attached something spiritually to Ayanna when she returned. The relationship with her parents is practically nonexistent. It’s evident in her mother’s behavior that she wished it was her instead.

Overall, the book was like nothing I’ve ever read before. Giddings has a unique writing style that’s very detailed but also leaves something to ponder on if that makes sense. Delving deep into the fate of family, the consequences of curiosity, the struggle to find meaning, human nature, accepting faith, and self-identity if you’re a fan of Megan Giddings prior work you’ll enjoy this book‼️

First, let me say that I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of this fascinating book.

When the book began, the idea grabbed me. A supernatural phenomenon occurs, and a group of people decide to build a religion around it - cool. Then, tragedy strikes, and the world of our MFC, Ayanna, comes crashing down. From there, it becomes a series of experiences that bear some resemblance to the movie The Sixth Sense.

It was dark, full of heartbreak and sadness, but well written. The pacing for me was rough, so I found myself taking longer to read it because I would often fall asleep. However, the resolution at the end was, in my opinion, satisfying. I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Amistad, and Megan Giddings for the advance reader's copy of "Meet Me at the Crossroads".

3Stars – A Fascinating Premise That Lost Me a Bit

Meet Me at the Crossroads has a premise that immediately drew me in, magical portal doors, twin sisters, and the idea that each door is interpreted differently by each person. It’s such an imaginative concept, and I loved how it explored themes of choice, fate, and personal perception through that lens.
However, the book wasn’t quite the right fit for me. I went into it expecting more fantasy elements, and while there are definitely fantastical aspects, they often felt flat. At times, I found myself confused about who I was following in the narrative. The shifting perspectives and fragmented structure made it difficult to stay grounded in the story, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters because of it.
That said, Megan Giddings has crafted something bold and ambitious here. The twisted, sometimes disorienting tone might really work for readers who enjoy speculative fiction. It just didn’t hit the notes I was hoping for, though I absolutely respect the creativity behind it.

3.75 stars rounded up. Overall, the book was gorgeously written and thought-provoking, with the book’s greatest strength is its atmospheric, dreamlike setting. The premise, a sudden appearance of mysterious doors to another world, was unique and interesting, coupled with the coming of age story that explored family dynamics and cultural dynamics around race, religion, and education.

However, the novel falls short slightly in its structure and focus. The narrative tends to wander, shifting between themes and threads in ways that can feel disjointed. I acknowledge that this may appeal to readers with different styles, but wasn’t for me personally!

For fans of speculative fiction, literary, portal fantasy, and contemporary, I definitely recommend picking it up.

Thank you NetGalley and Amistad for an advance copy. It’s out now - opinions are my own!

On a summer morning, seven doors pop up across the world. When they open, they show different worlds. Ayanna and Olivia are twin sisters who have differing views about what these other worlds are. Ayanna sides with her dad, who is a prominent member of a religion surrounding the doors. Olivia is more wary of the doors and the worlds they lead to, siding with her mom. Since their parents split up, Ayanna lives with their dad and Olivia with their mom. The teens come together at a pivotal point in Ayanna's life, but one of them won't be there after. Will the remaining twin succeed on her own and find out what happened to the missing twin?

The synopsis is what sold me on Megan Gidding’s new novel, Meet me at the Crossroads. I mean: portal fantasy with an air of family drama involving twin sisters (one of them missing).

While I liked this book in the end (enough to give it a high rating on goodreads), I think the synopsis gave me the wrong impression, which initially clouded how I viewed the story. Let me explain.

Meet me at the Crossroads was portal fantasy, but it also wasn’t at the same time. The portal aspect had a presence in the story but much smaller than I assumed it would be. And that’s on me for assuming. The portals (the mysterious doors) inhabited an almost metaphorical role. While, if I look at the story from a more literary fiction angle, then the way it handles its subject and theming makes more sense to me.

Meet Me at the Crossroad was, essentially, a study of characters, grief, and depression—or the study of grief and complicated relationships through the novel’s characters. It was also kind of a haunting as well as a story about the aftermath of tragedy (how it can destroy a life and tear apart a family; and it did go to some dark places).

And, I don’t mean that as a criticism, though. I think the book did well with those aspects, especially since I was, by the end, far more interested in the characters and the resolution of the interpersonal relationships than I was about the doors specifically.

In terms of the doors, by the end, they were fine. They were a subject often not just discussed between the characters but also researched/theorized throughout the story. But, it was also an experience that impacted them in a myriad of ways, whether good or bad—creating extraordinary circumstances or some of the worst tragedies (and sometimes the lines blurred so much it often felt like a combination of the two).

While I had a somewhat rocky start, the complexity of Ayanna’s story was something I loved!

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Amistad) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Seven mysterious doors suddenly appear that may lead to another world. Ayanna and Olive, twin sisters have different ideas of what the doors might be due to growing up being raised by divorced parents. Olive goes missing after an exploration at the doors and Ayanna is left to deal with the fallout in her own life.

Megan Giddings is such a talented author and this was a very ambitious book. It is a beautiful and unique story about love, family and faith. We follow Ayanna through her life attempting to deal with the grief of losing her sister and mother in very different ways. I look forward to doing an audio reread of this book soon. Megan is an auto buy author for me and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not sure how I even feel about this. At times I was all about it and loved what I was reading, then two pages later I'd be ready to DNF. Back and forth like this for the whole thing.

The writing was lovely and melancholy, but there were too many times I wanted to stop to rate this much higher.

“When the winters sleeted in, the doors were meant to hibernate” ARC review TY NG & Megan Giddings

This book is definitely for a certain audience. I enjoyed many parts of the book. It was just very slow for me at points. I found myself enjoying the poetic analogy’s the most.

The concept of this book is amazing and I think I would have been more compelled with less filler words in certain areas. The family dynamic and story of grief is beautiful though.

Although this book wasn’t necessarily my cup of brew, I can definitely see how it will be for others.

Fast read too.

Goodreads -https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7619205768

🚪 Book Review: Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings
⭐️⭐️.5/5

This one had such a compelling concept—seven mysterious doors appearing around the world, offering a glimpse into another dimension? I was hooked by the premise. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the intrigue for me.

The middle of the book dragged considerably, and I found myself skimming through large sections. It leaned heavily into emotional introspection and character dynamics, which overwhelmed the sci-fi/mystery elements I was hoping for. The pacing felt off, and the story could’ve easily been much tighter.

There was also a strong emphasis on the characters’ racial identity, which is absolutely valid and relevant—but it felt overemphasized in a way that started to feel more divisive than insightful. It almost distracted from the plot rather than adding depth.

I truly wanted to enjoy this more, especially with such an original premise and thoughtful writing in places. But overall, it just didn’t work for me.

Readers of Lakewood will enjoy getting into the mind of the sister who remains when one of the twins goes missing.

This book intertwines new and old religions, a tough family dynamic, and the grief of loss.

I wish certain elements surrounding the doors had been explored more but appreciate the authors focus on the impacted sister.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read the synopsis for this book and was immediately intrigued. Unfortunately, as I was reading, I struggled to connect to the plot. The beginning was repetitive and touched on subjects that certain groups and ethnicities would be familiar with because of life experiences. It’s almost as if the beginning of the book was “Religion 101” and “Introduction to Race Relations.” I found myself wanting to move along from the teaching and get to the mission of the twins.
2.5⭐️
Ayanna was amazing to me and I wanted to get to know her more. I loved that she questioned things, respectfully, and saw that her sister was very stunted in her growth as a person.
Olivia was interesting and I am so curious to see how she turns out.
The sister’s conversations in the beginning were the best parts of the novel for me. I needed more conversation between them and less inner monologues and teaching.

I love a slow burn…however, the pacing was too slow and it took too long to get to the plot of the story. I may revisit later but unfortunately this one was not for me right now.

Meet Me at the Crossroads starts with an irresistible hook: seven mysterious doors appear around the world, offering an escape, or a trap. The premise is rich, and Megan Giddings writes with lyrical intensity, especially when exploring the bond between twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia. The themes of faith, family, and the limits of love are compelling and timely.

But while the setup pulled me in, the pacing often dragged, and I found myself wanting more clarity and structure in the worldbuilding. The otherworldly realm felt more symbolic than lived-in, and at times that made it hard to stay grounded in the stakes. Olivia and Ayanna’s emotional arcs were powerful, but I wanted to see more complexity in the supporting characters and their motivations.

Still, Giddings has a unique voice and big ideas, and I admire the ambition behind this novel. If you like quiet, introspective speculative fiction with a focus on relationships over action, this might work better for you.

I'm a big fan of Megan Giddings, and I really appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC! Unfortunately I don't think I was the right audience for this book. I was very engaged by the concept, and the beautiful cover, but the book itself left me pretty cold. I would recommend this to litfic readers who are interested in exploring themes of grief, faith, religion, and philosophy within a lightly SFF framework. I think many SFF readers might go into this book expecting it to have more emphasis on the science fictional or fantasy elements then it actually does.

My favorite thing about this book was the exploration of Ayanna's experience as a Black woman, and the ways she has had to grapple with whiteness and racism throughout her life. This perspective is very movingly written and I really appreciated that aspect of it.

What worked less well for me was the prose, pacing, and plot. I found the book to be slow going, even though it was fairly short, and I struggled with the storytelling and the style of writing.

I think this was just a reader mismatch. While this one wasn't for me, I very much look forward to reading Giddings’ next novel. 2.5 stars.

Huge thanks to Megan Giddings, Amistad, and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC for review!

For this to be the author’s third novel, the writing immediately read as novice. It sounded like it was setting the scene of a children’s book, and it also seemed as if Giddings was trying to set up a Disney fantasy. I couldn’t get myself to read more. This was disappointing.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings is a third person-POV speculative novel centered around two sisters. Twins Ayanna and Olivia were raised in different homes after their parents’ divorce but remain close over the years. When seven mysterious doors that lead to another door appear, the two consider what is behind those doors and start to move in different directions.

There are a lot of explorations of modern culture that I really appreciated. For one, Ayanna’s friend Jane asks a lot of questions about empathy, specifically if empathy on its own is enough if we don’t question who we are empathizing with and why. We also get explorations of how different kinds of white people view Black people and how that plays a part in the broader culture, such as white individuals marrying someone who is Black and then being offended when their child identifies as Black and ‘erases their whiteness,’ ignoring that while, yes, the child is biracial, the culture the child exists in treats them as Black and that does impact how they move through the world. The part I liked the most was the exploration of Black joy through Ayanna mentioning how much she loved seeing young Black children with beads in their hair and how she views it as a sign of love and affection from their parents. It’s a small detail, but it’s one I’ve never considered and now I can’t unsee it because it does take a long time to bead someone’s hair.

Another really cool exploration was one of faith. Olivia is raised Christian and continues to attend mass over the years while Ayanna and her father explore their spirituality in different ways, including making their own traditions that center on themes like joy. These differences are pushed further with the appearance of the doors as the two sisters wonder if it leads to the afterlife and what the afterlife would even look like. Faith is such a complicated topic and it is one that is usually fraught with strong emotions because it is often a key component in how people determine their morals, so I’m always a fan of a book that explores different ideas of religion and spirituality without saying explicitly who is right and who is wrong.

This is a fairly quick read in terms of page count but has a much slower pacing as it delves into its themes in order to do them justice and tie back into the larger narrative. The narrative is more on the literary side and the doors are more of a device (instead of a hard sci-fi element) that allows Megan Giddings to explore her themes further. It’s certainly not a portal fantasy nor is it looking to explore a million new worlds and kill monsters as the book is more interested in the possibility of the implications of these doors.
Content warnings for mentions of racism

I would recommend this to fans of speculative fiction exploring themes of race and religion and readers of literary fiction that have speculative elements