Glass Girls has so much going on in the best way. Thanks to Shokoohi’s storytelling, the mythologies around witches - at least in the Glass family - as well as ghosts and poltergeists, are interesting and easy to follow. Glass Girls primarily follows the story of Beau (or Alice, as she’s primarily known) and Bronwyn, sisters and witches, through surviving the curse which afflicts the Glass family, not to mention the generational trauma which presents as abuse at the hands of their mother. On top of that, Glass Girls is an effectively scary ghost story, as Alice (and later her niece) are haunted by earth-bound spirits by virtue of their innate powers as mediums. The relationship between Alice and her boyfriend was the only one that felt a little flat - but I think that may be because the blood-bound relationships were so much more complex and interesting, and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I love a combination of drama thriller can’t put the down down type of read thank you so much for this read I loved it so much family trauma is the hardest but when that plot thickens it come full speed ahead lol thank you

Childhood trauma and the paranormal. Alice turned her back on her family and built a life where she tries her best to not use her gifts. She breaks that when she agreed to help her niece. It crosses genres but leans in on the horror/paranormal. Alice is an interesting character but the story itself wasn't for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Make no mistake, that's one because this is well written and I recommend it to others.

Content Warning: This novel contains depictions of childhood trauma, self-harm, abuse, and intense supernatural violence.

The writing in this novel is exceptionally strong, marked by immersive and visceral prose that pulls the reader into a haunting narrative and refuses to let go. Structured with shifts between past and present, the story maintains clarity even as it layers its timelines and perspectives.

While marketed more as a thriller, the tone and content of the book are decidedly rooted in horror, with vivid portrayals of poltergeist phenomena and emotional and physical trauma. The darker themes are handled with weight and intensity, making for a deeply affecting reading experience.

For readers drawn to paranormal fiction with a psychological edge, this novel is a compelling and emotionally resonant entry. Its powerful conclusion leaves a lasting impression, earning it a place among the more memorable contemporary "witchy" narratives.

Isabeau was once a child medium in a family of witches, but she ran away from her past and changed her name to Alice. Now, she lives a privileged life with a normal boyfriend, but her life is upended when her sister finds her and threatens her so that she will return home and help deal with the ghost of her niece. Alice and Bronwyn must confront their past and shared trauma in order to save Bronwyn’s still-living daughter.

I really enjoyed reading this thriller. It’s a combination of paranormal, horror, and mystery as well, and balances all the genres well. A key theme in this book is trauma and the way it impacts us when we are older, as is seen by the quote from Bessel van der Kolk, psychologist and author of The Body Keeps the Score in the opening of the novel. This is the best-written debut novel I’ve read in a long time.

The novel goes between reflective descriptions of the pasts of the girls in the novel and the trauma they endured at the hands of their mother, Gisele, and tense plot-focused sections. I think it did a great job of highlighting how someone who is traumatized can be utterly transported from their everyday life by intrusive flashbacks. Although Gisele does horrible things to her children and grandchildren, you can easily see how the generational curse and her own mothering warped her into behaving the way that she did. She’s certainly not likeable — I’m actually not sure I’d say any of the adult characters in this novel are likeable, so if that is a turn off for you I’d advise staying away — but you do eventually understand why she turned out the way she did.

This novel is very potentially triggering with graphic descriptions of child abuse and of self-harm, so that is also something to be wary of. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel regardless, though, and I don’t believe any of the descriptions were excessive. Sometimes authors shy away from fully showing the horrors of the things they are writing about, and that was not the case in this book.

Included on June issue of the BookTrib Chill Quill: Beach Reads with a Body Count: https://booktrib.com/2025/06/17/the-chill-quill-beach-reads-with-a-body-count/

A woman must use her long lost gifts to save her niece from a poltergeist – spooky! Not my typical genre, but as part of my internal Gillian Flynn Books imprint challenge, I simply had to pick it up. The writing in this book is really beautiful, and I loved the conversation around family bonds and healing after trauma. I can’t vouch for the validity of any of the witchy stuff, but I enjoyed those topics as well. Would recommend picking it up if it sounds like it'd interest you!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for exchanging an e-ARC of this book for an unbiased review.

goes to show that whether you are magical or have curses amongst you or whether you are simply like us and human. that whatever and whoever you are you really do carry all similar troubles to do with family, the ties that bind us and what we think we owe people we love or people we want to be loved by.
at first when i read the blurb i was thinking it would be like a grown up me reading a grown up charmed series. as that was the show of my formative years. and boy was it an upgrade. but i had all the same feelings of absolutely loving it. it didnt shy away from the dark stuff though. and at time i wasnt expecting to be quite so scared rather than thrilled over it. but that didnt put a shadow over the plot and actually only added to the level this book took what this family and woman were going through or went through. i liked how we got to know them in the present but also learnt of how they got to be who they are today with looks to the past. and this part was easy enough to decipher which again is another plus point.
this book pulled me in with its mysterious aura and dint let go. i really enjoyed it and books like this make me so happy because i decided to read it after wanting to dip my toe out of my norm picks. and this one succeeded all my needs to keep being brave and trying new things/books.

This was a 5-star-read!! I loved everything about this book: the plot, the writing, the characters - everything! This is a talented author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Glass Girls has a lyrical, emotional style that captures the pain and beauty of its characters’ journeys. Danie Shokoohi writes with honesty and sensitivity, especially around themes of trauma and friendship. However, the pacing felt uneven, and some parts of the story lost momentum. A thoughtful read, though it didn’t fully come together for me..

Thanks to NetGalley and Zando publishing for the ARC.

Glass Girls is available June 24, 2025

"A former child medium is forced to face her deadly past and the ghosts she left behind in this electrifying debut.

Alice Haserot thought she'd escaped the curse. For sixteen years, she's lived far from her family and the ghosts she used to conjure. But her past isn't so easily left behind.

When Alice discovers she's pregnant and her estranged sister, Bronwyn, turns up on her doorstep, her carefully built new life begins to unravel. Bronwyn offers an ultimatum: one of her daughters is trying to possess the other, and only Alice has the power to save them. If Alice refuses, Bronwyn will go to their abusive mother and expose her location.

Forced to confront the terrors of her childhood, Alice returns home to face the inheritance of her family curse. Tautly paced and gorgeously written, Glass Girls explores the deep, complicated bonds of family and the shadows that follow us, no matter how far we run."

Former. Child. Medium. Everything else is gravy.

This was so good. I couldn’t put it down. I hope more people read this. It was a wild ride and I’m excited to see what else this author puts out.

This book was a little dark for me. I do think it was beautifully written but due to the trigger warnings, I wasn’t able to finish the book. I definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings before you read this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Danie and Zando Publishing for the eARC!

Rating: ✨✨ ✨
Publication Date: June 24 2025

#GlassGirls #NetGalley

I was shocked to see this was a debut author and then dismayed that I didn't have the rest of her ouevre to work through immediately after closing this book! This taut novel explores family trauma: what we owe the people we love who we have wronged. And it does so in such a compelling way--exploring the various talents of the women and how it wreaks havoc upon their lives. All of this, propelled by a fantastically alluring plot, makes this a must read for both mystery and witchcraft fans. And if you're both? You're in for a treat and some sleepless nights!

This advanced reader's novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Glass Girls by Danie Shokoohi is a haunting and emotionally charged novel that explores the fragility of identity, relationships, and hidden trauma. From the opening pages, Shokoohi creates an atmosphere of quiet tension, weaving together past and present as the protagonist confronts the ghosts of her past. The writing is lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in a story that is as much about healing as it is about uncovering the truth.

The characters are layered and complex, particularly the protagonist, whose journey of self-discovery is raw and compelling. Shokoohi does an excellent job of portraying the emotional weight of fractured relationships and long-buried secrets. While some side characters could have been fleshed out more, the emotional core of the story remains strong, and the gradual unfolding of the mystery keeps the tension steady.

The pacing is measured, with a few slower moments in the middle, but the final act delivers a powerful and satisfying resolution. Glass Girls is a beautifully written exploration of vulnerability and strength, blending psychological depth with a gripping narrative. A solid 4-star read—perfect for readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven mysteries with a haunting edge.

I really liked reading this book! The whole idea of mediums and the supernatural are so interesting and intriguing. I do think this story was well written, and it was interesting. I did love the mystery and thriller vibes!


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!