I really enjoyed this book! It definitely took me by surprise (in a good way) and once I'd started it I found it very hard to put down.

It was brutal, impactful, and dark. Definitely one of those books that sticks with you, I still think about it frequently! My first read by this author and it won't be the last.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Mia Ballard has done it again. I don’t have the words to describe what I just read, but all I can say is I did not expect anything that happened in the book. It was a harrowing, emotional story with gore and grief throughout. Two things that freak me out in horror: eyeballs and teeth….. this has both.

The first thing you need to know about this book is this: I am a different person after finishing it and I’ve barely been able to focus on anything since.

I am notoriously not a body horror girly. I make a conscious effort to read a variety of horror but phew it’s a tough one for me. Sooo imagine my hesitation at the trigger warning(s) at the beginning of the book. Nevertheless, I was so intrigued I couldn’t help but continue.

Despite the amount of uncomfortable squirming, audible gasps and reading through my fingers, I reallllly enjoyed this one!

Gia was such a relatable character and a strong voice to carry the plot. I liked the emerging sugar daddy relationship and was already so engaged that once everything went off the rails I couldn’t put the book down.

If you’re hoping to dive into this one please don’t sleep on the warning(s) in the beginning. The events that unfold are a stark contrast to the pastel cover of the book.

Thank you to @victoryeditingngc @galaxygrlmia and @netgalley for making an eARC available to me in exchange for an honest review.

Shy Girl is out today!

4⭐️

Woof.

A moment for the dedication please:
“To the girls who bite back”

This book blew me away. I was sat in a coffee shop a few weeks ago with a friend and, at the time, I was bout 30% into this book. I was trying to give a summary of events in the book to date and I got SOME LOOKS from a guy in the queue. It’s bold and unabashed in delving into some dark places, is it taboo? Or is it just an author giving voice to the rage and resilience in response to the control and restraint, too often forced on women all around the world.

Shy Girl looks at some big questions around body autonomy, trauma, and exploitation (to name a few). It’s a situation that seems far from reality but is written in such a way that you understand the claustrophobia, fears and gut-punch reality with every turn of the page. As a reader, it’s clear the care and tenderness the author has for Gia - the ending a reclamation of self and a version of a happy ending.

This book accelerates from 0-100 very quickly and I could not put it down. It made me sad, angry, hopeful, and everything in between. Time has a different sense in this book, the jumps in narrative are at times disorientating but I feel it perfectly mirrors Gia’s lapse into oppresive captivity. Is it a week or a year, who knows. Events towards the end of the book again will make you question what is real and I’ve tried to think of how to put this in a more eloquent way but in essence: is she crazy? Great for you. A little madness goes a long way in the breaking of chains. I’m all for the feminine descent (or more often, ascent).

For fans of body horror, women taking back the narrative, and short reads. Check content warnings because I appreciate there may be sections that are too much for people.

An exceptional new addition to the feminine rage sub-genre.

Gia is down on her luck and desperate for something new. She’s broke, jobless, and on the verge of eviction when she stumbles upon a mysterious opportunity on a sugar daddy website: live as a man’s pet for eight hours a day, and all her debts will be erased. Desperate, she takes the offer. But instead of an escape, Gia finds herself trapped, and in a harrowing battle for power, control, resilience, and survival.

Whew! Shy Girl is terrifying, and incredibly visceral. The horror is extreme—squeamishly so—and the story is unsettling. Ballard explores themes of oppression, gendered violence and bodily autonomy in a story that is both deeply uncomfortable and disturbingly compelling—even as it veers into fantastical. It’s raw, shocking, and yet somehow strangely cathartic.

My only critique is the repetitive use of phrases (“curling into myself,” “curling around me,” etc.), but this is minor and doesn’t detract from its success.

This is a must-read for those who wanted more from Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder and are looking for something that leans into horror. The author’s note is also a powerful companion, and I recommend reading it alongside the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holy fucking shit….this was one wild ride that I enjoyed! First you see the cover and you think “oh what a pretty cover” and then you read the summary and you think “oh, ok…this could be good. Interesting.” And then you’re reading it and all you’re think is “holy fucking shit what did I just read”

You have Gia, this 30 year old woman that is down on her luck, jobless and has severe OCD. On the other side you have Nathan, a sugar daddy with sinister intentions. I looooooved how the power dynamic shifted in this story and the pace most of all. Because it was almost like Nathan has to break Gia both mentally and physically for her to be “free”.

Goddamn the manipulation that she goes through was almost suffocating at how easy he was able to do it. Like a predator. This story is very poignant to what is going on now with women having their choice stripped away, and how society is towards women. Very clever. A super unique take on sexism & misogyny.

There’s a warning in the beginning of the book, but it bears repeating: Don’t be fooled by the adorable cover; this isn’t for the faint of heart!

Shy Girl is about a young woman named Gia who finds herself in a desperate situation after losing her job and falling behind on her rent. She creates a sugar dating profile in an attempt to get a lot of money in a hurry, and ends up meeting a man whose kink is women behaving as his literal pet.

The story moves very quickly from here and is full of visceral feminine rage. (Again, the cute cover is hiding a lot of dark things underneath - please check trigger warnings!) Gia starts as a quiet person ruled by her fears and insecurities, and struggling with OCD. Throughout the course of the book, as she reaches her breaking point, she becomes stronger (and angrier - I think I mentioned rage, right?), and begins to take back her autonomy.

Despite being on the shorter side, it packs a punch. I couldn’t put it down, and it stuck with me for a while after I’d finished reading.

Thank you NetGalley, Mia Ballard, and Galaxy Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my full and honest review.

I cannot even begin to describe how much I devoured this book. I took my time reading chapter by chapter over the past week, until one lunch break when I found myself hunched over my desk, unable to put it down.

Gia, a woman who can’t seem to catch a break in life, meets Nathan, who makes her an offer she simply can’t refuse. But she quickly realizes she may have agreed to her own prison.

The levels of disgust, frustration, and anxiety this book made me feel in such a short amount of time are an achievement in themselves. I was truly terrified for Gia. And while her decisions often made me want to shake some sense into her, Ballard’s careful portrayal of Gia’s mental state helps the reader understand why she makes the choices she does.

Ballard’s writing is hard-hitting, raw, unflinching, and hauntingly beautiful. I cannot wait to read more of her work. Gia’s fight for autonomy and freedom after years of servitude left me both cringing away from the page and salaciously craving more. As much as I’d love to dive into the details, this book is best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible.

If you’re a fan of weird, nasty horror, Shy Girl is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Galaxy Press for this ARC!

Calling all camp horror girlies this is for you!! Such a fun read I actually wish it was a bit longer. This book won't be for everyone, but those that love some gore and something sick and twisted will enjoy it. Write this down for spooky season (or now!).

“It’s like staring at a box with DO NOT OPEN: Bad Decisions Inside stamped across the front, already knowing my hands will tear at the lid. Already knowing I’ll pry it open just to see how bad it can get.“

Another winner from Mia Ballard, this one even more jacked up than SUGAR.

Seriously, this entire book is one giant WTF. Talk about weird lit/horror—in the best way. I couldn’t put it down and read it in just over a day.

I’m so rarely physically repulsed while reading horror. But SHY GIRL is officially added to the ranks alongside THE TROOP, THE RUINS, etc. Jeepers!

Shy Girl explores desperation, misogyny, self deprecation, and manipulation in such a unique way. It shows the lengths that one will go to feel safe, even if it is to our own detriment. Mia did it again and made a book like no other out there. Her writing is dark, gritty, honest, but above all else, thought provoking and poetic. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book has left me speechless honestly, in the best of ways. I feel validated, insane, empowered, grief-stricken, all at once. Ballard has managed to create a story so visceral in its emotions that leaves me bewildered in my thoughts. The way the story is set up as if it could be a romance in the first third and dives straight into bloody depravity right after is the closest I’ve felt to whiplash from a book. I know Gia’s story will stick with me for a long time, and I am grateful to have experienced it.

Shy Girl is a wild, twisted, and unsettling ride! I went in with zero expectations, and honestly, I had no clue where the story was heading. I've seen it compared to Night Bitch, which makes sense, but for me, the key difference is that I actually liked Shy Girl! It also gave me a bit of a Behind Closed Doors vibe by B.A. Paris—especially when the big twist hits, it's like a punch to the gut.

Shy Girl definitely belongs in the "unhinged novel" category. It comes with a clear content warning at the start (which I appreciated), but I dove in fully aware of how messed up it was going to be. It’s not a flawless book—the writing can feel a bit amateur at times, and there are moments when things seem rushed. Not that I wanted to linger too long in the dark world of Shy Girl, but still, the story kept me hooked.
Despite some predictability in the ending, I really enjoyed it. The book is disturbing, genuinely terrifying, and deeply unsettling. Mia Ballard clearly knows how to write a horrifying story and I can’t wait to read more twisted stories from her. If you’re brave, give it a read when it drops on March 1!

Gia is feeling lonely, financially strained, and severely depressed. She is unemployed and facing eviction from her apartment. Desperate for a way out, Gia decides to sign up for a sugar daddy website. There, she meets Nathan, who has an unconventional proposal: he wants her to be his pet.

This book will definitely make you think twice about signing up for a sugar daddy website. I originally requested it based on the beautiful cover, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the story. The plot feels unique and is truly entertaining. I'm typically hard to gross out, but this book managed to do the trick. I don’t believe the inclusion of OCD was a significant aspect of the story, at least not enough to warrant being mentioned in the blurb. I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to review this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Galaxy Press for the ARC of this book! Literally after page 1, I was hooked. This book was right up my alley - creepy, weird, intense, emotional, gag-worthy (my stomach was literally churning at parts). I loved this book. If the horror and "good for her" genres had a baby...this book would be it! I was rooting for Gia the entire time, through her good and bad decisions! I will absolutely be recommending this book every chance I get! An easy 5 stars!

If you see this review...this is your sign...read it!



(My review has been posted to Goodreads and to Storygraph as of today.)

I’ve read some incredibly unhinged books in the last few years - books I don’t typically recommend unless I’m sure that reader won’t unfriend me 😆, well Mia Ballard’s SHY GIRL is now on That list 😮

Thanks to @netgalley and @galaxy_press and the author @galaxygrlmia for this fantastic arc opportunity. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone looking for something that will shock & amaze you.

This book is for the 'looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill you' girlies. Do not be deceived by the cutesy cover, this is feminine, primal, RAGE at its best.

Gia has OCD, she is depressed and broke. As a way to make an income, she joins a sugar dating site and meets the mysterious and affluent Nathan. All Gia wants is a sugar daddy to help her make ends meet. All Nathan wants is a pet dog.
As Gia's internal fight response manifests itself, we are shown a personal journey of strength, survival and hope. Mia Ballard's representation of Gia's mental and physical state throughout this novel is almost... therapeutic? I've seen many people relate this to Nightbitch [Rachel Yoder], but I feel it is actually The Vegetarian's [Han Kang] younger, CRAZIER sister. Both are about the extremes a woman will go to in order to fight for her mind, identity and body. Ballard has written the ultimate horror depiction of the power dynamic between man and woman, all wrapped up in a pretty cover and I am HERE for it. Please check the trigger warnings - this book is not for the faint hearted.

This story is quite a lot to unpack. It is vile and romantic all at the same time. I have not read anything quite like this before. It is beautifully written. One of the better revenge stories out there. However, the ending was so abrupt and quick, but it somehow worked. This is definitely a story that will stick with you for years.

#NetGalley #ShyGirl

Gia turns to a sugar dating website to deal with financial troubles and meets Nathan. Nathan offers a deal to erase her debt if she acts as his pet.

This one is so wild! I was not expecting it to get as dark and crazy as it did, but I was there for it. I read it in one day and just devoured it. It is a very fast read especially once the captivity begins.

“I have a problem with men. I am either obsessed with them, or I want nothing to do with them at all, depending on the state of my life at the moment.”

Shy Girl comes out 3/1.

oooooOOooooooooOO we all know i love weird girl lit. horror mixed in? absolutely yes.

shy girl was one of the most unsettling books i’ve read in a while. to summmmmarizeeeeee, gia is broke, desperate, and running out of options when she meets nathan, a sugar daddy who, of course, requests that she be his pet. what starts as a transactional relationship quickly becomes something much darker. it gives nightbitch vibe, but imo? better.

this book is deeply disturbing in the best way. mia ballard forces you to sit in the horror with gia and you feel every second of it. it is not an easy read but it is absolutely worth it. if you love psychological horror that makes you feel something, if you’re craving rage, nausea, or despair, this is your girl.