Short and spooky, WHAT HAPPED AT HAWTHORNE HOUSE is a brilliant ghost story set in a 1926 girls' orphanage.

As you would expect with a group of girls, there's a wide range of personalities, which leads to a dangerous game that is out of control. The girls are mean, but you quickly grow with each character in their development.

The book is divided up into two section, with the first section really diving into who these girls are, giving the reader a better idea of their day to day lives. There are quite a few characters, so it could be difficult to keep track of everyone.

The second part of the book is quite different, giving a completely different feeling. It's quite an eerie feeling following Andrew around as he understands Hawthorne House better.

This is a fantastic story for anyone who loves a paranormal story.

I liked the setting of "What happened at Hawthorne House" and how the book is short and a good horror snack.

It is divided into two parts and to some extent that was a problem for me. The first part was quite disorienting at the beginning. I had problems to distinguish the girls and how their dynamic worked. Especially Sarah and Mary got mixed up in my head and there was a moment when I wondered who Rosalyn was. But that got cleared quite soon and I was able to enjoy this game that spiraled out of control. The ending of this first part was gut wrenching and would have made an excellent ending allover.

But then the second part started and I was thrown out of the narrative because it was so different. It is a bold decision to change pace that abruptly and after finishing the novel I could live with that decision pretty well but at first it could have been a reason for dnf'ing if the story would have been longer. I liked how the inspector worked with the children and how even after their death they were hauntingly scary in the game of the Clover Court. His reasoning behind how he acts would have been better if shown instead of told but I liked the effect.

As a result I would like to read something else by the author even if this novel had some weaknesses I could overlook!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me this book as an E-ARC.

A deliciously creepy tale set in an orphanage where little girls are playing a dark game.

Great setting and enough tension to make for a gripping story. I appreciated how it was split in 2 parts and I enjoyed them both equally.

All in all it was a great novella. Can't wait to see more from this author!

This was an interesting story. A little slow in the beginning, it picks up the pace after a bit. There are a few passages that are nicely twisted. I was just expecting a little more. 3.5 stars.

Welcome to Hawthorne House—an orphanage where mean little girls play dangerous games to become queen.

The rules are simple: prank the other girls or get them in trouble with the Matron. At first, the tricks are harmless—tossing clothes out the window, hiding bugs in shoes. But when two sisters arrive, things turn cruel and even deadly.

These girls are nasty, and some scenes are hard to stomach. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

The first half of the book was interesting, following the girls' daily lives and their tricks. But I had trouble keeping track of who was who since they weren’t very distinct.

The second half, set years after a tragedy at Hawthorne House, had promise, but the ending felt disappointing. There wasn’t much action—it just ended. I wanted a bigger, more exciting finish. I feel like it could have been better but it was still entertaining.

Set in an orphanage that becomes a funeral pyre, This haunting story is tragic and dark. Childhood games become deadly.

Very good atmosphere rich book. I did like the unsettling vibes and the children being at odds with each other.

Gothic...and i loved every single second of it! This was so creepy and disturbing. I have a hard time finding books that actually creep me out but this...this did the job! There's something about children in an orphanage and ghosts that just had me turning the lights on at night!

A very atmospheric Gothic short novella, game gone too far! Very creepy and entertaining! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for arc of this book!

What happened at Hawthorne house by Hadassah Shiradski is told in different parts and spans various decades. The first part of the book takes place in November 1926 at an orphanage of sorts. We are introduced to three young girls, Rosalie, Marie & Sophie who live at Hawthorne house. The young girls have an active imagination and bide their time playing make believe. They love to pretend that Hawthorne house is a castle, that one of them is a queen and the rest are princesses. Two more girls named Heather and Willow also come to Hawthorne Manor and are drawn into, although hesitantly, the game of make believe and the royal court. When a game of make believe turns tragic, their games take on a more sinister turn.

Part 2 takes place years later and we are introduced to Andrew whose job is to restore what once was Hawthorne house. Andrew, who also happens to be a medium, communicates with those who lived at Hawthorne house once upon a time. Upon seeing that the precious inhabitants do not like future inhabitants in their space, Andrew comes up with a set of rules to keep those who visit safe.

If you are a fan of paranormal stories then this short novella might be for you. Special thanks to Hadassah for sending your book to NetGalley. I received it in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This novella is about a children's game that turns sinister and the consequences of the game. Contains subject matter that may be upsetting to some readers.


This book takes place at an orphanage in 1929. A group of girls come up with a game called The Clover Court, where much like real life royalty, the Queen holds the power. It starts out innocent enough. Girls vying for the position of queen, where they hold power in the game and amongst the girls in their day to day. At first I was bored. Girls being mean. Yawn. We get it. But then it turns sinister. And yes, that's where it got my attention. These girls turn violent on top of their cruelness. And it ends with their death. That held my attention.


And then we get the second half. While I love that we get what leads to the haunted house,it falls flat on the haunted house part. The house is being rebuilt and a medium is overseeing the development. His goal is the rebuild the Hawthorne House while he attempts to finish the game and set the girls free. This never happens. It just ends after a group of what I assume mediums enter, years after the house is rebuilt. Just nothing. It ends. No solution, good or bad. Very unsatisfying to a book that started out strong.


The first half had me on the edge of my seat. The second half was a struggle for me to finish. So much more could have been done to bring this novella full circle. To end it. Honestly would not read again and would only recommend you read the first half. The ending of the first half is enough to get you what you need from this novella.

3/5 rating

This gothic horror novella is set in 1920s England and follows a group of young girls at an orphanage. After establishing a rule over Hawthorne House the reader follows a cruel children's game gone too far. However, that's not all. A shift in the timeline allows us to really find out what happened at Hawthorne house.

The eerie atmosphere of this novella is perfect for fans of short horror stories and unnerving plots. A list of trigger warnings is provided in the novella.

Thank you Ntegalley, Hadassah Shiradski and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC of What Happens at Hawthorne House.

Set in an Orphanage in the 1920's, a game that goes wrong with a group girls who keep pranking each other. I found this book had an interesting premise and has great elements of dread and gothic darkness prevalent for this time period. I found the girls personalities really interesting being preteen and teens and I felt they all had individuality. The plot is medium to fast with a nice build to the pay off which makes it a fast read novella.

I loved the gothic atmosphere of this book and I felt that there was some repetition in the plot line ( going in circles ) before the pay off. I would have loved to of seen more character development with the characters rather than the plot line. Overall a really interesting gothic horror.

3.75 stars for Storygraph. 4 stars for other review sites.

This book had a good premise and I was very eager to read it, but it fell flat for me and I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. A group of mean girls playing games to become 'queen' just feels a little to ya for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC copy they provided.

What Happened at Hawthorne House was a surprisingly hard book to read. I went in expecting a typical ghost story, in essence, a tragedy, but this isn’t exactly what I found. What Happened at Hawthorne House is a tragedy, yes, but it is also a book dealing with a lot of intentional, senseless cruelty and mutual abuse. Reading this material was difficult and stomach turning at times.

That said, the fact I felt sick at heart for the characters and the actions portrayed on the page means this book is well written. Hadassah Shiradski created an emotion-packed work that will leave you feeling as any ghost story should, haunted. And with the subtle dread of a place you’ve never been and never want to go. If you are looking for a book to read in the dark and leave you with a little pit of despair and disgust in your gut, What Happened at Hawthorne House is the right book for you.

What Happened at Hawthorne House by Hadassah Shiradski is a dark, haunting, and richly atmospheric tale that explores the fragile boundaries between childhood imagination and the darker, more dangerous aspects of human nature. Set in the tumultuous year of 1926, the novel follows nine-year-old Rosalyn, a young girl in the Hawthorne House Orphanage, as she creates a make-believe game with the other girls in her dormitory. What begins as a whimsical, innocent distraction soon spirals into a chilling power struggle, with Rosalyn determined to take control at any cost.

Shiradski’s writing is immersive and evocative, drawing readers into the shadowy world of the orphanage. The game that Rosalyn invents, centered around a Royal Court, serves as a clever metaphor for the characters’ struggle for power and agency in their otherwise powerless lives. The innocence of childhood imagination quickly darkens as Rosalyn’s desire to wear the crown overtakes her, leading her to make decisions that are as morally questionable as they are bold. What starts as a playful escape turns into a battle for control and survival, and Rosalyn’s transformation from innocent girl to ruthless competitor is both compelling and unsettling.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its exploration of the human desire for power and belonging. Rosalyn’s ambition is both heartbreaking and chilling, and as her character develops, readers are left questioning how far one would be willing to go to escape their circumstances. The girls in the orphanage, each with their own personal tragedies and desires, are vividly portrayed, and their interactions—both supportive and adversarial—add layers of complexity to the story.

The atmosphere in What Happened at Hawthorne House is one of quiet dread. The orphanage itself is a haunting setting, a place where innocence and cruelty coexist. Shiradski’s ability to build tension through both the environment and the evolving dynamics between the girls makes the story increasingly suspenseful. As the stakes rise, the sense of unease intensifies, and the reader can’t help but feel the growing darkness as Rosalyn’s ambitions come to fruition.

The plot’s pacing is tight, and though the narrative unfolds with a steady, deliberate rhythm, there is always an undercurrent of tension that keeps the reader on edge. The stakes—emotional, moral, and eventually physical—build with each passing page, and the final outcome is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

What Happened at Hawthorne House is a gripping psychological drama that explores the lengths to which a young girl will go to seize power. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and unflinching exploration of ambition and morality, this novel is a deeply compelling read for fans of dark fiction and psychological thrillers.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you enjoy stories that explore the blurred lines between innocence and darkness, and that delve into the complexities of ambition and power, What Happened at Hawthorne House is a must-read. Hadassah Shiradski has created a hauntingly memorable story that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Thank you Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for an ARC of What Happened at Hawthorne House in exchange for an honest review.

In this novella we meet a group of young girls who all reside at the same dormitory at Hawthorne orphanage. With a strict guardian the girls try to occupy their time in the house as best as possible trying to make light of their situation. When one of the girls creates a royal court each try their best to become queen. As their antics start taking on higher stakes, which little girl has the willingness to become queen?

I liked this story and the way it was set up, but was left wanting more towards the end of the story. The build up of the events at Hawthorne house led me to believe we would see more events in part 2 that never really happened. Overall enjoyed the novella and can't wait to see what Hadassah writes next.

Wow. Ok. What Happened at Hawthorne House. This book left me wanting more of the second part. Part 1 was detailed and made you feel something for each girl and maybe fear them a bit also. Part 2 just felt like a rushed conclusion. This was a very enjoyable read and the writers vision for the story is very clear, I just wish there was more to part 2.

Unfortunately for me at 23% I find myself unable to continue. I don't really understand what is going on other than little girls playing a game to become Queen. It doesn't feel scary nor particularly gothic, just girls bullying other girls for a reason I can't quite fathom. The writing style is easy to follow but it has taken 5 days to get this far as I am completely uninterested in any of the characters and have found the beginning of this book rather boring and flat. This however, is more likely a me problem instead of any fault of the author or writing.
I would have liked more of a backstory to the game and the girls themselves, but as this is a short story, I understand that this would have made this book far longer.

An interesting premise, just sadly not for me.

This was a short read, but a good read. I really enjoyed how it was written as it seemed like a child was writing it. I believe that was what the author wanted and it came across exactly like that. I am really sad for the kids and wish that they could have had a better life and not such a tragic death. I’m glad that in the afterlife they are trying to have a good time with what happened. The rules of Hawthorne house at the end make me want to visit these kids and allow them to have a little more fun.