This is my first book from Caitlin Starling.

I was intrigued by the story of Meg, a young woman who has an autoimmune disease. She checks into Graceview Memorial hoping that their experimental treatment will cure her. After a day or two in the hospital, things aren’t exactly as they seem.

I had a hard time with this book. I found myself not really looking forward to coming back to it. I would say that this is a psychological horror story and there came a point when the reader (and Meg herself) didn’t know if what she was seeing or doing was real. I’m sure that was by design but I struggled with it. Some stories leave the reader with a lot of questions and this was a story like that. The ending was abrupt, there was no real resolution for any of the characters, perhaps setting up a sequel? I have to say if a sequel came out for this book I would not pick it up. I needed more than I got from this story. What happened to Isobel? Did Meg survive? What was all of the goo on the floor?

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC for review.

The Graceview Patient
is a claustrophobic, locked -ish door thriller with a little bit of horror.

Meg suffers from a rare autoimmune disease when she’s offered a chance at a clinical trial. As the trial progresses, the lines between what’s real and what’s an hallucination blur.

The book started out strong but I felt it was as such a slow burn. I did enjoy the ending!

Caitlin Starling is really great at atmosphere - sometimes her books are just hardcore vibes and the story is really carried by the spooky setting. I really loved The Death of Jane Lawrence for its gothic imagery, Yellow Jessamine was a short read with a heavy Yellow Wallpaper vibe, and Luminous Dead carried over into creepy science fiction. The Graceview Patient is a bit deranged in the best way. I really appreciate her range in story and if you liked her other books, I think you'll like this one as well. The chapters are very short which helps it flow quickly. It's hard to really delve deep into the story without spoiling anything, but if you like spooky hospitals and the loss of control inherent in gothic feminist storytelling, you'll enjoy this one too.

Medical horror scares the crap out of me, holy cow! This had a creeping, sinister aspect to it that truly made it a gripping, suspenseful horror novel. You could truly feel the paranoia as well as the dread that the author was going for. It reminded me somewhat of Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and that is a compliment. I’m spooked

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "The Graceview Patient" by Caitlin Starling. This was an atmospheric thriller set against the backdrop of a clinical trial at an old/decaying hospital. Margaret ("Meg") suffers from a rare disorder and is desperate for a cure when a clinical trial of a new medication/protocol is offered to her. Without giving too much away, the narrative weaves between what is real and what is a side effect of isolation in a dark and depressing setting.

There’s something deeply unnerving about being at the mercy of your own body—and The Graceview Patient taps into that fear with scalpel-sharp precision. What drew me in most was how the novel balances clinical realism with psychological unease, crafting a medical horror experience that feels both grounded and surreal.

From the start, I was impressed by the novel’s immersive atmosphere. The hospital doesn’t just serve as a backdrop—it pulses with tension, ambiguity, and dread. Margaret, the protagonist, is portrayed with an almost aching vulnerability. Her desperation, her fear, and her fragile hope felt palpable. I appreciated how Caitlin Starling didn’t shy away from the complexities of chronic illness, especially the emotional toll it takes. That emotional grounding made the more horrifying elements all the more impactful.

That said, the pacing early on leans heavy on procedural detail. It worked for me because it enhanced the realism, but I could see it being a barrier for readers looking for quicker thrills. And while I admired the novel’s ambition and ambiguity in the final act, I found myself wishing for just a little more clarity about certain outcomes. Still, the uncertainty lingers in a way that feels intentional and thematically resonant.

What makes this book stand out is how it blends horror, science, and psychological trauma without ever tipping into sensationalism. It respects the reader’s intelligence. It made me feel uncomfortable in all the right ways—and I mean that as a compliment.

If you’re looking for a story that explores illness, autonomy, and perception in an unsettling yet thoughtful way, The Graceview Patient is absolutely worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A lot of claustophobia in this book. Does a good job making you feel like the walls are closing in on you.
Creepy at times.
overall well done and enjoyable.
Better than I thought.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this arc

Really enjoyed this medical body-horror! It felt like a fever dream and I live for that! You can feel the paranoia our MC experiences and it makes you question what’s real and what isn’t. It’s a bit of a slow burn and the ending left me wanting more, but it was a fun and dark ride nonetheless!

The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling follows Margaret (Meg), a young woman who has been living with a rare disease for quite some time. Upon hearing of an experimental trial at Graceview Memorial, Meg agrees to have her immune system destroyed and reconstructed, leaving her stranded in the care of Graceview's staff. As her treatment continues, the lines between terror and reality begin to blur, leaving Meg to wonder if she's truly safe at Graceview.

I really enjoyed the beginning of The Graceview Patient! It began with a vaguely ominous atmosphere, creating a really suspenseful start! There is a sense of so much happening behind the scenes that the reader (and Meg herself) is unaware of, which ratcheted up the tension. Unfortunately, I felt like much of the suspense was lost as the book progressed and it became more clear what was happening to Meg. I would've really liked to see this head in a much more wild direction,

This book came so close to being outstanding. The story was just creepy and mysterious enough to keep me invested and the descriptions of the hospital were revolting and absurd enough to tie in so well with the story that I am still trying to figure out if they were real, or if our heroine was out of her mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is my second book by Caitlin Starling and I think she definitely has a knack for writing slow, isolating thrillers. The writing style is great and I loved the descriptions of Meg's physical illness and the horror around her.

After so much development, the ending felt abrupt and open ended. While I didn't think the ending was perfect, I'd definitely still recommend this book for anyone looking for a medical/psychological thriller with horror elements.

The Graceview Patient is my second Caitlin Starling book that I received in eARC format this year. My girl is flying through the publishing process.

Meg is sick. Really sick. The kind of sick that most people cannot fathom. When she is offered a clinical trial that aims to break down and rebuild her immune system, she decides that she has nothing left to lose and sets off for the long-term hospital stay. Things in the hospital appear normal - if a little boring - until one day Meg meets her new nurse, Isobel. Isobel is no-nonsense and has only one message for Margaret - GET OUT.

I was skeptical of this book. The Death of Jane Lawrence was one of my biggest let-downs in 2021 and I was prepared for my heart to be broken again by this title. Caitlin Starling has clearly come a long way in her writing, because this book sunk its teeth in, shook me like a dog, and dropped me when it was done [compliment].

I personally suffer from a random assortment of chronic illnesses. None are quite as serious as what Meg is going through, but I could relate to her frustration and isolation. There is a scene where she describes how many of her friends gave up on her after numerous canceled social plans that broke my heart a little. Even without that medical connection, though, Meg is likable. She's been caught in the wheels of something bigger than she is, which is something most of us can relate to. Whether it's a job, school, a hospital stay, or even just a quick visit to the ER, we have all been at the mercy of some gaping maw of industry that we are forced to kowtow to. We all know how frustrating it is to see a problem and not be able to get anyone to meaningfully listen to you about it.

I'm a personal fan of books set in hospitals, and I felt this one really captured the hum-drum of existing inside of one. Granted, there is a lot more spooky shit going on than in your local medical facility (I hope) but the more mundane aspects like blood draws, IVs, and trying to get ahold of a doctor that is far too busy to be bothered with you felt pretty standard for the medical experience.

As far as the horror aspects of this book, I think that this will be the part that divides the most people. The Graceview Patient is one of those books where you just need to go along with where the book takes you. It's a weird, fever dream of a ride and there are not perfect answers to the mysteries that the reader is presented with. I found the descriptions to be pretty gnarly at times and really liked where the story ended up, but I think that some people definitely will be annoyed with the fact that much of the details are left up for interpretation.

I would definitely recommend this book to people looking for a fresh, new horror title for the year. Horror tropes happening in a hospital certainly aren't new, but the aspects that the author chose to add in make for a really fun, tense, claustrophobic story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book. The premise was good, and I thought the writing was great. The last 25% of the book got a bit off the rails in my opinion, and it went in a direction that was a bit too “out there” for me.

3.5 stars rounded up

This took me a long time to get through, but I'm glad I stuck through it. It was atmospheric and claustrophobic, which I enjoyed in this setting. However, I found the ending was abrupt and disappointing, as there were many unanswered questions.

As someone with an autoimmune disease - The Graceview Patient really captured all of the fear and uncertainty one experiences throughout the process of diagnosis / treatment. I can see the ambiguous ending ruffling some feathers.

Book reviews by the very nature of their subjectivity are hard to write. I’m a great fan of “closed circle” settings. This entire novel’s setting, for the most part, is a hospital room. A+. I’m a great fan of books that concentrate on character development to propel the plot rather than a lot of action. Not to say this book doesn’t have its share of movement and tension that’s built beautifully by the author. A. I’m a great fan of multi faceted characters. Neither all good, nor all evil. Neither unabashed hero nor dastardly villain. At times confidence, at times self doubting and unsure. In other words, human. A.
Some may find this novel slow moving but that’s ultimately the interesting aspect of art, it’s subjectivity.
Personally, I couldn’t wait to get back to enjoying it.

This made me feel all kinds of icky and gross. Especially, and I won't spoil it entirely because if I have to suffer than so does everyone else, that goddamn shower scene is incredibly graphic. I actually almost puked. So congratulations, Caitlin Starling, you win.

Whether it's a medieval stone castle facing starvation and monsters (as in the Starving Saints, my introduction to the author) or a creepy hospital room, Starling skillfully immerses the reader from the very beginning. Luring you to this liminal space before forcing you into a choke hold of body horror and hallucinatory experiments.

Having your autonomy stripped from you is a nightmare all its own, but to be in a hospital with no sense of familiarity or comfort or support outside of the medical staff and something strange happening to your body that you can't predict or control is...what's worse than hell? Because it's definitely whatever that is. This book really, truly reminds me to be so grateful for the relatively minor health pitfalls I face, at least compared to someone like Meg. It's terrifying because it reminds the reader that medical disability can happen to anyone, that THIS can happen to you or me at any time.

I loved the uncertainty of the narrator's reality. We're certain things are happening because that is what she's  experiencing, but we're also told with certainty that none of it is real. The story and ending are ambiguous enough that you're never quite sure if there was any malicious intentions at all.

The Graceview Patient is slow to get into, but once it ramps up, you can't put it down. You don't want to, because you need to know what happens to Meg. To Isobel.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and
Caitlin Starling for the advanced digital copy.

I loved the creepy ,claustrophobic hospital setting of The Graceview Patient.
This was super eerie and gave me a feeling of dread that kept me wanting more. It’s a mind bending and suspenseful dive that will have you wondering what is real and what is imagined.

This was my first Starling book and I cannot wait to read another!

Margaret has an unfortunate life and a rare disease that keeps her constantly ill. A unique opportunity presents itself as she’s accepted into a study to destroy the body that’s keeping her sick and totally rebuild her immune system to cure her. As she begins this road the meds and research take a toll and she can’t begin to tell if it’s a hallucination or real life. A book that keeps you guessing till the end and then still wondering it was a wild ride. 3.5 stars.

This book had a slow burn that reminded me of Mexican Gothic. It made you truly question what was reality and was imagination. Once it hit a fever pitch I could not put it down and read the last 100 pages in one sitting.