Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I’ve read so many books about rich and power hungry individuals sacrificing women to magical creatures and they are always so interesting and different!

This book balances the horror themes with the themes of privilege and classism very well. There is plenty of social commentary with the horror which is my favorite type of book.

Loved every second of this book! Ann Dávila Cardinal is so clever and this was such a fun twist on the Cthulhu mythos. Loved the idea of this taking place in the Hamptons. As a Puerto Rican Long Islander it was extra special to enjoy this story.

This was a quick, creepy read. It definitely felt like it was written about and for teenagers, which is great in YA. The setting was so atmospheric and there was an awesome creepy tension that grew throughout. I liked that we got a bit of history and the exploration of close friendships and how they can become complicated as people grow up.

This was definitely a fun read even if it was a bit of a slow start and a bit cheesy. Gabi is an anxiety ridden and anti social main character who loves horror and is easy to relate to. The Cthulu concept of the tentacle beast behind drownings was intriguing as well as the bit of history we get around her. Definitely an adventurous and fun read! The plot was a bit predictable but it was an easy, cheesy and fun read altogether!

I flew through this book! If you like your books to have an angsty, emo, queer main character and an eight-legged monster, definitely check this book out. The writing style was easy to read and engaging. The story had the perfect amount of horror and the characters will steal your heart!

An intriguing read, we’ll done and good for middle grade readers who want something a little different. Would be great for reluctant readers.

You've Awoken Her

"You've Awoken Her" by Ann Davila Cardinal is a thrilling YA horror set in the land where fame and fortune get you whatever you want -- The Hamptons.

I really enjoyed this story -- anxiety-ridden teen goes and visits his recently rich childhood bff only to discover an unknown monster killing locals and the news not even paying attention -- So. Much. Fun!

While some of the plot was predictable, I still really enjoyed the characters, setting, and overall story. This would be a great read for teens and YA looking for a horror story that isn't too graphic, but still includes creepy elements. Four stars. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

YA Eldritch Horror

<i>Forced</i> into spending a summer in the Hamptons, Gabi seriously regrets following his best friend Ruth's wealthy family to their new home by ocean. He doesn't belong there... he just doesn't. An awkward, goth, and nerdishly bookish boy, he feels even more on the outs as Ruth flourishes in this new environment, surrounded by all these shiny new people.

And as if an impending friend breakup isn't enough of an implosion on his terrible summer, people are turning up dead. Like way too many people to be a coincidence. Something sinister stalks the beaches of the Hamptons, and an even more horrifyingly outlandish entity resides beneath the waves. An avid fan of the horror genre, Gabi has no intention of being caught unawares.

The writing style is very evocative of Paul Tremblay's <i>The Pallbearers Club</i> but aimed at a younger audience. Due to this, I didn't have the best time reading; however the myriad of fans who love that style of narrative will be delighted here, I'm sure. What saved this for me was the continous digs at the wealthy elite... and the promise of something eldritch awaiting in the deep.

I finished this for you Cthulhu!!!

I really loathe stories that rely heavily on readers being told what is happening rather than having a chance to <i>experience </i> the narrative ourselves. When done well, a stream of consciousness narrative provides a dizzying glimpse into a character's declining mental state. Here, it just felt like boxes without substance were being checked off of things that needed to occur. The connection—for me at least—wasn't there, and I so rarely cared.

Additionally this had way, way, way too many pop culture references for my taste. Like yes Gabi is a weird boy, but we don't need continuous mentions of interests he falsely believes to be niche to prove this point. It makes him come off as shallow and lacking true character development. His entire being is that meme from <i>Riverdale</i> about being a weirdo and sort of liking the idea of the Horror genre.

When the narrative shifted to focus on the tentacles and uncovering just what's happening in the Hamptons, the story became significantly more enjoyable to me. Ultimately, I did enjoy the end of this novel enough to bump up the rating and do believe the narrative is solid. This style isn't quite for me, however that hardly means it's bad. If you've enjoyed Tremblay's work or are someone looking to get into horror without something too gorey, give this one a try... afterall she's awake now and waiting for you 🐙

I really do enjoy YA horror, and this book was a good one! This was an addictive read. It was a quick read and while the pacing could have been faster in some parts, it was still good!
We follow Gabriel, who is a true homebody and wants to stay home for the summer, but his friend Ruth has convinced him to go with her to the Hamptons. But while there, there are dead bodies. This one had good vibes and trying to figure out the mystery will leave you baffled.

First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book as an ARC! I greatly appreciate it!

More YA horror, please! This was fast-paced and super fun once you get past the first few chapters! I really liked Gabi, and the writing style was super voicey, which is always fun! Despite the incredibly lame title, which was almost enough to make me not pick it up at all, I had a good time with this book!

Four stars out of five for You've Awakened Her!

You’ve Awoken Her is an atmospheric, immersive, and strangely addicting YA Horror. I enjoy the YA branch of horror specifically, and this book delivered in every aspect that I enjoy within the genre. There was mystery woven throughout, and although it was definitely emotional and unsettling during some parts, overall it was more atmospheric or eerie than scary. The pacing could have been faster, and there were portions of this book where I found the main character difficult to relate to - but I think that is mostly because of the age of these characters. This was unique and a fun read that I would definitely recommend for fans of YA Horror.

You've Awoken Her is a take on the Lovecraftian story of cthulhu except in this story, the monster is taking vengeance on the Hamptons. Gabi is going to visit his best friend Ruth for the summer, but things aren't the same between them since she and her family moved from solidly middle class Queens to the Hamptons. Gabi doesn't really recognize Ruth anymore, and he definitely doesn't fit in with her rich friends. Throw a tentacled monster and strange disappearances in the mix, and you have a recipe for more than just normal teen angst. I will be adding this to my high school library.

I have had this book approved for a few weeks so I picked it up. I did not realize this was a children's book rather than YA when I requested it. I do not think I am in the mood for this particular read at the moment.

That being said, I really like the cover, I enjoyed the writing style, the beginning pulled me in, I just did not find myself interested in the characters or plot itself, and I want to pick this book back up at a different time. I heavily enjoyed the portion I did sample, but I want to make sure I read this when I truly am in the right mood for it and I can have the full experience.

Thank you for allowing me to sample this wonderful eARC! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

I have been reading so much ya horror recently and I cannot get enough. This book was so exception. Highly recommend.

You've Awoken Her by Ann Dàvila Cardinal is an excellent and quick read. The story follows two best friends separated by circumstance (and money) as they attempt to reconnect over summer vacation.

I've been reading a bunch of YA horror books as of late and this one may be my favorite of the bunch. Does it have Cthulhu in the Hamptons? Yes. Are you interested? Don't lie. You are.

I found the twist on weird horror interesting and accessible in a way that Lovecraftian horror usually isn't.

very casually horror with some interesting vibes that feels like a bit of a romp. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

YOU'VE AWOKEN HER by Ann Davila Cardinal

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Childrens for the earc (Jun 17)

Gabriel is a homebody. For summer, he just wants to stay home. But he can't. His mother and best friend, Ruth, have convinced him to go stay with Ruth in the Hamptons. When things take a turn: warnings and dead bodies, Gabi teams up with a local to uncover and stop what is happening.
The way I felt about this book was up and down. I loved the mystery that was entwined with the supernatural world. It reminded me of Amy Goldsmith's work: atmospheric and gothic. YOU'VE AWOKEN HER was also fast-paced with never a dull moment. However, the characters, specifically Ruth, were unlikeable. I mean, come on, Gabriel was there to see her and she kept shutting him down when he knew something was going on.
Despite how I felt about the characters, I really loved the vibes of this one, and how quick of a read this was. It was interesting, and though not your typical whodunit (because this was obvious from the get-go) figuring out the why it was done was where I was left baffled.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I really enjoyed this story. It was really good and I enjoyed the characters so much.

You've Awoken Her is the strange tale of Gabriel's summer visit to his best friend's house in the Hamptons and the dangerous people that that friend has surrounded herself with since her move from New York City. There is an ancient sea god that has been awoken, there have been a string of mysterious disappearances (deaths), and now it seems that these friends are going to be next. I had a hard time connecting with these characters. Gabriel had a huge chip on his shoulder, and while there was a lot of suspense and danger, he spent a lot of time whining about his friendship and his family. The solution to the sea monster trouble wrapped up in a paragraph and left me literally saying, "That's it!?" I would recommend this book for older teens as there is a lot of strong language and mature themes.

I received an advance reader copy for free. All opinions are my own.

A fun YA horror with a storyline that I absolutely loved. I adored pur protagonist and the writing style was on a different level; it didn't feel like I was reading any typical YA story. 4.75 out of 5 stars. Full review to come soon.