This book was so good! Unlike some of the previous books I have read by this author, this was such and interesting premise and took me on a wild ride from start to finish. The story follows Meg, who has a rare autoimmune disease, and is chosen to take part in a paid trial in order to better treat her illness. The book was at time compelling, exciting, scary, and engrossing. I absolutely tore my way through this book and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good horror/thriller book and is looking for something interest and new that you haven't seen anything like before.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Creepy, claustrophobic, and totally gripping. A perfect blend of medical horror and gothic dread—Margaret’s descent into the unknown will haunt you long after the final page.

The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling terrified me.

Meg has no money and a rare autoimmune disease, so when she’s offered a spot in a paid medical trial she takes it. The trial will destroy her immune system before rebuilding it…leaving her essentially trapped. What is she actually being treated for? What does she hear all around her in the hospital? What happened to the only other patient she met?

I saw this described as a “hospital gothic” and that’s exactly the vibe that hooked me. Meg’s isolation and lack of control was chilling. I highly recommend this if you like a unique, beautifully-written, genre-bending read.

This is my third book by Starling and, unfortunately, probably my least favorite. While I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the general plot by the end I was ready for it to be over. It felt anticlimactic and honestly I’m not even totally sure what the last chunk was even supposed to mean. Overall, I was left with no answers.

No trigger warnings given, suggested medical gaslighting in the first chapter? I don't enjoy reading books without trigger warnings given by the author and will not be finishing.

After I devoured "The Starving Saints," I was ravenous for more Caitlin Starling. The Graceview Patient did not disappoint. The character work was as rich and compelling as I've come to expect and I'll be including a public review and social media push closer to the release date.

I've only read "The Starving Saints" last week and I must have liked it a lot, because I'm right back with the next Caitlin Starling. Both books turned out to be fever dreams (one medieval, one medical), but they are ultimately very different and I wouldn't necessarily recommend one if you liked the other. "The Graceview Patient" takes place in modern times and follows 26-year-old Margaret Culpepper as she starts experimental treatment for her rare autoimmune disorder. She's admitted into Graceview Memorial Hospital with the goal of the complete destruction of her weak immune system and the rebuilding of a healthy new one. I can't say that I've read many books that solely take place in a hospital and I thought it an intriguing setting. All the medical talk is difficult to understand for me, though, with English not being my first language, but that's not the book's fault. I probably wouldn't understand it much better in German either. It wasn't that much of a problem anyway, because Margaret's perspective is too marked by confusion. She's a character who never fully understands what's happening to her. She's dependent on the medical staff, but nobody ever tells her the truth about what's actually going on inside the hospital. Everyone seems to only get sicker and never healthier, and other patients bring up more questions than they answer. Still, there is very little plot in this book. It's really mostly about Margaret suffering - from her disease and from the treatment. The suffering is interwoven with trippy episodes and hallucinations, and there were some body horror elements. It's not a super thrilling read, but I wanted to find out what's happening and it kept me going steadily. But in the end there was very little pay-off and I can't say that the book was really worth reading. The ending was weird and unsatisfying with very little explanation for anything. There was nothing to hate on here, but nothing to love either. Entirely middle-of-the-road, so 2.5 stars.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to start off by saying that I was very excited to have been approved for early access to this book, as I recently read ‘The Starving Saints’ by Caitlin Starling, and I loved it! And though my excitement waned as I kept reading ‘The Graceview Patient’, I am still very thankful and very happy I got the privilege of experiencing this story before other people.
That being said, this opinion is coming from someone who considers themselves a moderate horror fan, enjoying the genre a lot more than the average person, but not all the way there to call themselves a ‘true’ horror fan; I’m not sure if this makes me an outlier when it comes to reviewing this book, but unfortunately, this story missed the mark for me in a lot of ways.

I will start off by listing off the positive things that I did enjoy from this book:
1. Margaret and Isobel's bond: I felt like the strong bond between them and their moments together were very refreshing from the often depressing and oppressive ambiance of the setting and pacing of this book.
2. The description of the horror bits, and the change of scenery from a normal hospital, to something else: Caitlin does a good job at conveying the viscera in this book, and I would go as far as to say that in this aspect, it’s reminiscent of one of my favorite video game franchises: Silent Hill. Going from a foggy town, to something that’s not entirely there, but also horrifying. I really enjoyed that and I applaud Caitlin for being able to convey that!
3. Loss of independence when being a patient, general commentary on being a patient with a chronic illness or serious condition: Though I don’t suffer from a chronic disease that requires inpatient care, I do have a chronic condition, and I also lived through a particularly traumatic event at a young age which left me bedridden for six months and a half, and I can say with certainty that there were points in this book where I could feel my younger self reflected in Margaret’s experience as a patient. The loss of independence, the not being able to bathe by yourself, the anger and the lashing out at those that are healthier than you; ALL of those things rang true in me and gave me a sort of comfort that I didn’t think I still needed. In this, I think the author did a REALLY good job of conveying the feelings and the mental wear-down of people who go through very rigorous medical care.

Other than these things, there truly wasn’t much that I enjoyed from this book, which I will list below:
1. The pacing: The pacing was off for me the entire time. It started off slow, which is completely fine by me, I can take a slow burn, but this was painstakingly slow. And not just that, but it was really boring for a large portion of the book, so much so, that by Chapter 29 I was basically forcing myself to get to the finish line. There were moments between that would make me interested, and then completely let me down again because of the unreliability of the narrator. Which brings me to my next point.
2. Unreliable narrator: Margaret is obviously being put through a mysterious medical trial, but she is also extremely unreliable as a narrator, so much so, that it was honestly grating on me how much a lot of the events just weren’t all there. It made my reading experience relatively exhausting because of it, and as much as I desperately wanted to enjoy the story, her unreliability felt like it was holding the potential for this story back.
3. Cosmic horror: I love cosmic horror as much as the next guy, but this felt a little… too on the nose? The horrors persist, and they exist, and they simply are, I get that, but I don’t think that in this story it was done in a way that made me feel disturbed or scared, it only left me confused with a lot more questions, rather than the feeling of dread you’d normally get from this sort of twist, or reveal. It didn't feel fleshed out enough in my opinion. The concept is there but the execution was not the greatest.
4. The ending: I can’t explain how anticlimactic the ending for this story was. It reached it’s peak of action, and it finally made me somewhat interested in what would happen next, and then it completely pulled the rug from under me but turning another page and just basically going: “The End”. I was left feeling very disappointed and just sort of empty after finishing this book.

I wouldn’t say the story is all bad, I obviously think it had its strong points, and I think the overarching theme of medical trauma, abuse, and neglect came across, but as a fully horror book or novel, it wasn’t what I expected and left me wanting for more; the weaker points really overshadowed the stronger points for me. Overall, I don't think this book was for me, but I think it could be good for someone else.

A CURE FOR WELLNESS meets THE YELLOW WALLPAPER in this medical horror that is completely unhinged in the best way. I couldn't put it down. The author captures the isolation of having an invisible illness/disability and takes it to the extreme. Margaret is a sympathetic main character I wanted to protect while at the same time being an unreliable narrator (we find out in the first chapter that something terrible happened and she had something to do with it before she begins to narrate the events leading up to that point). The ending was open for interpretation and I will undoubtedly be revisiting THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT in the future, because I think it will stand up to rereads. A claustrophobic masterpiece. If you are scared of hospitals, proceed with caution. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This creeper a bit more into horror than I expected but I still enjoyed the read over all! It was definitely “out there” but had great pacing.

If you're looking for a book that will absolutely mess with your head, look no further than The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling! 🤯 This psychological horror novel plunges you into the terrifying experience of Meg, a woman with a rare autoimmune disorder who enters an experimental, full-time treatment program at Graceview Memorial Hospital.

From the moment Meg starts treatment, her grip on reality begins to fray. Is it the intense medication? The grueling procedures? Or is there something truly sinister lurking within the hospital walls? As Meg's immune system is systematically broken down and rebuilt, so too is her sense of what's real and what's a delusion.

Starling masterfully crafts a claustrophobic and unsettling atmosphere. You'll find yourself questioning everything alongside Meg, constantly wondering who to trust (and if she can even trust herself!). This book is a chilling blend of body horror, medical paranoia, and a gothic suspense that will keep you on edge until the very last page. Fans of unreliable narrators and deeply disturbing thrillers, this one's for you!

This was unlike anything I have ever read before. The story was very graphic and dark. I could not put it down. The main character Margaret, A.K.A. Meg, finds herself in a very scary situation after going into it with high hopes. My main feeling was hopefulness that she would make it through the situation she ended up in.

This was a dark book, but was very unique. I liked the story but I did have some trouble with the very graphic medical information that was embedded throughout. It centers on Meg, who has a rare disease and is invited to be part of an experimental medical trial. The process involves breaking down her immune system and building it back up again, a process which is hard on both the body and mind. Meg is constantly threatened by various people and things and it's hard for the reader to figure out what is real.

I saw another review refer to the book as a fever dream and that is kind of what it felt like. It was hard to tell whether Meg was hallucinating things or if they were really happening, and you get the idea that what goes on in her head might not have been that stable to begin with. The writing style definitely kept me reading late into the night, as I just never knew what was going to happen next and where the storyline would take me. I did struggle with some of the very detailed descriptions of the medical things that were happening, but I am squeamish about stuff like that and not sure if it would hit everyone the same way (or if it was actually intended to ignite that level of queasiness). I thought the end of the book was OK but did feel like there were some loose ends that could have been tied up a little more cleanly.

Overall, I can't really say I loved this book because I found it to be a tense read, but I enjoyed the uncertainty and really appreciated the unique storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was already a big Caitlin Starling fan, but this might be slmekf her best work! At no point did I fully know what was happening, which at first frustrated me but then made me realize that's what made this book so damn scary. The scene toward the end where Meg rips her own port out? Insanity. I loved it so much, I rarely get scared anymore but this sure as hell did it!!

This book drops you into the depths of a fever dream, leaving you as dazed and confused as its main character, Margaret. It's a journey where the lines between reality and delusion blur, making for a truly immersive experience.

The core concept, an experimental medical trial riddled with a pervasive sense of 'something not quite right,' is something I've rarely encountered, and it's executed beautifully here.

Following Margaret as she grapples with whether her unsettling experiences are due to adverse medication reactions, a well-earned paranoia, or a genuine conspiracy is an amazing ride. The author masterfully keeps you guessing, pulling you deeper into Margaret's bewildering world.

My only significant critique lies with the ending. I felt some storylines could've been explored further to provide a more satisfying resolution. It's a minor complaint in the grand scheme, but it was a glaring issue that left a few noticeable plot holes. Still, despite this, I would highly recommend this book and would gladly read it again.

I absolutely loved this book! I had been in a slump and barely reading.
The concept of this experimental treatment in a horror book had me intrigued. And the fact I have ordered another book by this author.

This book had me hooked from the first page. Starling wrote in a way that I felt all the emotions that Meg was feeling throughout the novel and I was confused along side her. I was happy to just be in her brain as I read the book.

I gave the book a 4.5. The ending felt a bit rushed for me and I wanted a bit more but overall I really enjoyed myself!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Caitlin Starling is a fantastic writer, but I am generally not a fan of books that don’t answer the central question by the end, in this case which of her hallucinations were actually hallucinations. Just a little too vague an ending for my taste, but if you don’t mind that, this book definitely draws you in and has a good take on the classic “crazy people confined” story. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC, I am providing this review of my own choice.

This book was AMAZING. It was super unique and I loved every second of it! Truly a creepy and wonderful read.

•Margaret lives with a very rare autoimmune disorder. There is no cure, it has left her isolated & she has lost hope- until she is provided with the opportunity to be part of an experimental medical procedure at Graceview Hospital. With this treatment, she will lose practically all of her immune system & then rebuild it from the ground up. During her stay, things turn sinister, what is real and what is delusion?


I was so excited to receive this ARC because I love an asylum/lockdown suffocating story. I found this to be extremely unique, like nothing I’ve ever read before. I was totally intrigued the entire time and the build up was slow & consistent- but lead to nothing lol. The entire time I read this I was waiting for some huge reveal that never came. I can appreciate a cliffhanger in any horror story, I do feel that, when done correctly, it adds to the experience. This one had SO MUCH POTENTIAL, then missed the mark for me.