Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery here is really solid, it kept me guessing and flipping through the pages to find out the killer was and why. I really enjoyed the characters and how they all seemed to fit together. I also really enjoyed the lure and tales of the history of the hotel. The only reason that I am not giving this book a five-star review is because I wanted more.
I expected the hotel to be more prominent as a setting than it was. There are three scenes that take place at the hotel, mostly the setting is other hotels discussing history. I was also disappointed that nothing truly spooky happens in the present, unlike the past.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend.

A creepy cursed hotel that was once an asylum is a draw for Aubrey, a photographer, and for Dmitri, a content creator. But then Dmitri is found dead at the bottom of a bluff and Audrey decides to look for answers. This is well paced and appropriately twisty but honestly, I wanted to tell Aubrey to just leave and save herself. This is nicely atmospheric and well paced with a good character in Aubrey. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

🌊 ASYLUM HOTEL 🌊

ASYLUM HOTEL has been on my TBR forever, so I was floored to see a copy from @berkleypub - thank you for this gifted copy! The cover and premise were so intoxicating to me that I couldn’t wait to jump at the chance to read this one. Juliet Blackwell is a new author for me, but I’ve heard good things!

When photographer Aubrey Spencer visits the abandoned Hotel Seabrink, a once-glamorous seaside resort rumored to be haunted, just before its renovation begins, she walks into a world of trouble. After she meets fellow enthusiast Dimitri Petroff, he’s found dead the next day—and locals whisper it was no accident. As Aubrey investigates the hotel’s sinister past and Dimitri’s rivalries, she uncovers chilling parallels to an old murder and realizes someone will do anything to keep its secrets buried. Is this hotel haunted or are there people trying to make sure everyone stays away?

The book has a fantastic premise—a glamorous old hotel steeped in mystery, ghost sightings, and hidden secrets—and the setting is atmospheric. The town is charming and yet creepy as well (which was probably my favorite part of the book). However, the execution moved a bit too slowly for me and is bogged down by a lot of side plots and unresolved threads. The story moves slowly, but the reveal is quickly over. I’d categorize this as a mystery, but if you’re looking for a Simone St. James paranormal thriller, I’d look elsewhere. This one is fun at times and I definitely enjoyed it overall, but just manage your expectations. STARS: 3, PUB: 7/29

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the early release ebook. All opinions are my own.

I love a haunted setting, so I was looking forward to picking this up. The premise sounded so exciting and I am always looking for books that will scare me. I really couldn't form an emotional connection with Aubrey which made it hard to be invested with her. While her writing was very descriptive, there were parts that were just so overwritten that I lost focus. The dialogue was contrived and the ending felt rushed considering how overwritten the earlier parts were.

It could be a good spooky read in the fall but I wont be adding it to my recommendation list.

This story started off strong, delivering an eerie atmosphere rooted in the creepy history of the hotel. The haunted house vibes were solid for the first half and I was genuinely intrigued by what might be lurking behind the walls.

However, around the midway point, the began to lose momentum. I found myself questioning the FMC’s motivations…what is fueling her determination to stick around and uncover the truth? Her investment started to feel a bit forced which made it difficult to stay engaged. From there, the plot began to feel repetitive and my interest waned. The ending did not provide much relief either.

Overall, a solid setup with spooky potential, but the second half didn’t quite live up to the tension and mystery in the beginning.

An abandoned hotel of the rich and famous? That used to be an asylum?? That has a CURSE?!

Man, sign me up. I literally had to turn the light on because I ended up reading this in the dark and the attic scenes had me a little shook. Honestly the though of the baths in the basement also totally freaked me out, something about those liminal spaces really messes with you and Juliet Blackwell plays them up so well.

This plot is honestly a little ridiculous at times, in the way that good gothic horror always is. There’s so many layers to the story, and so much history to unfurl. I loved the idea that this curse follows the Seabrink Hotel for decades.

It’s the perfect small town horror, with just enough intrigue and scares to keep you on your toes!

This was a nice story full of ghostly vibes. It has just enough creepiness to keep you reading late into the night. I enjoyed the book. It will make a nice addition to your October/Halloween reading list.

"Had she known about the Seabrink curse, she might not have gone. Aubrey Spencer was on the hunt for photographs, not for ghosts."

Aubrey arrived at the Hotel Seabrink with her camera, ready to photograph the old estate. She loves photographing abandoned buildings, and this one seemed rather special. Exploring the decrepit place, she bumps into Dimitri Petroff, a Youtube creator who is also wandering the old hotel. The pair hit it off, and end up spending the entirety of the day together. Around 4AM the next morning, Dimitri leaves the hotel room and ends up a statistic - another person to perish of Dead Man's Bluff. Aubrey is upset and horrified, as well as confused. They'd only just met, but she can't believe he would commit suicide. She begins to poke around a bit, finding weird warnings among his things and soon hers as well. Who was threatening Dimitri, and now her? Better yet, why?

Read in less than 24 hours. A little mystery, a curse, and perhaps a ghost... Plenty of atmosphere, a cute little coastal town, and a whodunit. Who can you trust, who has their own agenda, and who likes arts and crafts? All important questions. Not the deepest book I've ever read, but this was fun!

The premise of this story immediately hooked me - a dilapidated luxury hotel that once hosted Hollywood elite, rumored curses, and mysterious murders/suicides. I would have read it based on the cover alone. Descriptions of the once glamorous hotel read like a love letter to those who appreciate architectural details. The charming seaside town is one I'd love to visit and spend sun-filled days exploring. Hitting the bookstore would be first on the list followed by the sticky buns bakery.

With Aubrey's camera capturing spirits unseen with the naked eye, eerie music echoing through the abandoned hotel, elevators operating without electricity, and glimpses of otherworldly apparitions, the creep factor is high - and I loved that aspect. Her love of abandoned buildings shines through, and I admired her determination to solve the mystery of Dimitri's suicide/murder, someone she barely knew.

Several seemingly unrelated events and side plots take place throughout the story, and I plowed through the book, anxious to learn how everything would tie together. But some threads are never resolved, and the identity of the villain comes out of nowhere. It was an ill-fitting puzzle for me at the end. Looking at Goodreads, reviewers are split on this, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Many readers rated it five stars.

Recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric, haunted settings, small town curses and murders, and supernatural mysteries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Review of Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

Asylum Hotel has a lot of ingredients I usually love-an eerie, crumbling setting with a haunted past, a mystery that pulls you in, and a main character who's trying to piece her life back together. It didn't totally blow me away, but it was still an entertaining and fast-paced read.

The story follows Aubrey Spencer, a photographer drawn to forgotten and abandoned places. When she hears about the long-deserted Hotel Seabrink, perched dramatically on the edge of a cliff and dripping with old Hollywood lore, she heads out for what she thinks will be a quiet solo shoot. Instead, she meets Dimitri, a charismatic internet personality who shares her love for architectural decay. They spend a strange, intense night together, and by morning, Dimitri is dead.

From there, things spiral. As Aubrey tries to make sense of what happened, she uncovers disturbing secrets about the hotel, the town, and even Dimitri himself. There’s a definite creep factor throughout-ghostly whispers, chilling history, and that constant sense that someone’s watching. I loved the atmosphere and the way the hotel practically became its own character.

That said, a few things didn’t quite work for me. The dialogue sometimes felt stiff or unnatural, and while I liked Aubrey, I never fully connected with her on an emotional level. The mystery itself had me turning pages, but the ending felt a little rushed and some twists came out of left field without enough buildup.

Still, if you're in the mood for a spooky, haunted-hotel read with moody vibes and just enough suspense to keep you guessing, Asylum Hotel is worth checking out. Just go in expecting a fun, slightly over-the-top thriller rather than a deep emotional journey.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy reading about alleged haunted buildings, you may enjoy this exciting thriller. Aubry is a courageous and determined heroine. She and her friend, Nikki, make a good team, and their friendship is quite enjoyable. However, the story is a bit overwhelming at times. There is not one but several stories about what happened in the hotel's past. At times, it's hard to keep it all straight.

The solution to what happened to Dimitri is a surprise that you are unlikely to figure out. However, that is because you were not given enough information to do so. Also, it doesn't relate enough to the main part of the story. Still, there are parts of the story's resolution that are more interesting and satisfying.

This was a solid thriller.

The Hotel Seabrink was the spot for celebrities in the 1920s. After a few mysterious deaths, the hotel was all but abandoned and has been sitting vacant all these years. Aubrey has always been interested in abandoned buildings and is wandering around the old hotel taking photos when she runs into Dimitri. Dimitri has a YouTube channel where he posts videos of abandoned buildings. It’s said there is a curse that surrounds the hotel, and when Dimitri is found dead the next morning, Aubrey is starting to wonder if maybe people are right and there is a curse. As Aubrey starts to unravel what happened, she’s thrust into a cat and mouse game that could end with her dead as well.

2.5 Stars rounded up

I was genuinely excited to dive into this book. There's something about isolated settings that always draws me in especially when there's the promise of a haunted asylum and the potential for eerie, paranormal elements. It's the kind of premise that instantly sparks curiosity and sets the stage for a chilling, atmospheric read. Unfortunately, by the time I finished, I felt let down. Despite the strong setup, the story never quite delivered on its potential.

At best, this book lands somewhere in the middle as a mediocre mystery/thriller. The supernatural elements, which initially intrigued me, quickly faded into the background and felt underdeveloped. Instead of embracing the creepiness or diving deeper into the asylum’s dark past, the plot leaned more toward a lukewarm mystery with minimal tension or suspense.

The pacing was uneven. While the beginning held promise, the story often slowed to a crawl, making it difficult to stay engaged. I found myself skimming at times, waiting for something substantial to happen. The writing style itself didn’t quite click for me it felt distant, making it hard to connect emotionally with the characters or the narrative.

Speaking of characters, the relationship between Aubrey and Dmitri felt rushed and unconvincing. There wasn't enough build-up or meaningful interaction between them to make their connection feel believable. Their relationship seemed to jump from zero to intense far too quickly, which made it hard to understand or empathize with Aubrey's motivations later on. I found myself questioning her choices and emotional investment, which weakened the impact of key plot developments.

By the end, the story just fell flat. It had all the ingredients to be a gripping, atmospheric horror-thriller, but it never committed fully to the genre. I really wish the author had leaned more heavily into the horror and paranormal elements, rather than relegating them to the background.

That said, I do want to give credit where it’s due the cover is absolutely stunning. It perfectly captures the eerie, haunted aesthetic I was hoping to find inside the pages. Visually, it's a standout, and I wish the story had lived up to the atmosphere it promised.

Overall, this book was a disappointment for me. While it had moments of intrigue and a premise with real potential, the execution left a lot to be desired. If you're looking for a chilling, immersive paranormal read, you may want to look elsewhere

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

“𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀.”

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 7/29/25

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Audrey has a love of old buildings and their history. She sets out to explore abandoned and cursed Seabrink Hotel and meets a friend Dimitri in the process. When Dimitri ends up dead, she can’t help but wonder if it’s the curse or something more sinister.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🏨 Creepy abandoned asylum/hotel
🌊 Oceanside setting
🏨 Murder mystery
🌊 Historical elements

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: I was drawn in by the synopsis and cover of this one. I loved the creepy abandoned asylum and hotel vibe. Add in history from the 1920’s and 30’s and I’m in! The first chapter introduces us to the FMC Audrey and Seabrink Hotel. The descriptions and the imagery is wonderful and eerie. I found the writing and storytelling throughout this book to be quite YA overall. Despite the characters being in their “late 30’s and early 40’s”. The dialogue and banter was juvenile and forced. I also was put off by the frequent introduction of synonyms that were inconsistent with the flow of the text. Based on the synopsis I was hoping more of the story would take place inside the hotel and involve more paranormal aspects. I was able to finish this one quickly though, and for that reason I think it would be a great addition to a road trip or flight ✈️ read.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️💫


*Thank you @NetGalley and @BerkleyPub for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

#AsylumHotel

2.5⭐️ This book had me hooked when I read the synopsis, and the cover drew me in immediately. Unfortunately, those ended up being the best parts of the book.

There were a lot of things that just didn’t work for me here. The characters lacked depth, and there were a good amount of characters that were only briefly in the story, in addition to all of the other characters; this made it challenging to keep track of everyone. I also think there was too much going on in the plot, and I could’ve done with a few less plot lines. I thought it was weird that there were things that were only vaguely mentioned, and then never brought up again, or not delved into enough. Overall this just felt kinda messy, and I wanted more of some things and less of others.

Aside from that, I do think the descriptive writing was good. The old, rundown, coastal hotel was richly detailed, and I could easily picture this creepy setting.

This was not a book for me, but I could see others liking it.

I was sold by the title and cover of this book and it did not disappoint. I loved that it had had a blend of mystery and supernatural elements. It really worked well together. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much for my gifted copy.

Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell is a richly layered tale that blends psychological suspense, gothic horror, and emotional depth with expert precision. Set in a crumbling seaside hotel that once served as an asylum, the novel hums with eerie atmosphere and slow-building dread. Blackwell masterfully evokes a sense of place—moody, decaying, and filled with secrets.

The protagonist’s journey through trauma, memory, and identity is both gripping and heartbreaking. As past and present collide, the lines between reality and delusion blur, pulling the reader deeper into the mystery of the hotel’s haunted history and the secrets it keeps.

What sets this novel apart is Blackwell’s ability to weave emotional resonance into a chilling narrative. This is not just a ghost story—it’s a story about grief, healing, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

From the moment I saw this book, I was all in. An asylum hotel? Yes, please! As a fan of anything paranormal and creepy, this one hit all the right notes for me. I loved how the story weaved together eerie supernatural elements with a string of murders that weren’t directly related to the paranormal thread—it kept things unpredictable and gripping.

While I absolutely devoured the book and gave it 5 stars, there were a couple of things that didn’t fully work for me. The police officer’s character felt a little too clueless at times—I found myself wishing he would dig deeper into some of the deaths instead of brushing them off. And Nikki’s ex being mentioned just once at the beginning and then becoming a major plot point at the end felt a bit disconnected.

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It was creepy, fast-paced, and full of twists. I’d definitely recommend it to fellow readers who love a good paranormal mystery with a dark and chilling atmosphere.

This book was fine. It was atmospheric and chilling during some parts, while others felt predictable. I loved the setting of this book and I think that is what really sealed the deal for me. Some of the characters fell a bit flat but overall this was enjoyable.

I was so excited for this but it fell flat for me. The beginning and end were interesting but the middle 200+ pages were dragging on and on. The author really did create beautiful imagery but I needed more than that in a ghost story.