Another Skyla Arndt banger! I love this author's work and think she's severely underrated in the YA space. This book was lush and dark in all the right places and I can't wait to see what she does next.

In all honesty, this book is beautiful. Reads very much like an artful work of dark academia with a deep emotional core. Even without the supernatural aspect of the story, it is a very strong mystery with a strong FMC for whom you'll always root. The romance between was something I wholeheartedly enjoyed. That is saying something something, cause I tend to not like romances. I did want to smack him from time to time though. Love the grief rep that was so wonderfully done. I enjoyed every part of the book. That ending has me on my knees.

Prepare to fall down the rabbit hole when you read this beautifully eerie Alice in Wonderland-inspired book. With her sophomore novel, author Skyla Arndt cements her place as the current queen of YA Horrormance. House of Hearts has it all- a creepy school with a possibly haunted hedge maze, secret societies, female rage in the form of a girl out for vengeance, a mysterious bad-boy love interest (…or is he?), and, of course, dark, dark secrets. While I felt the story could have been longer, I really enjoyed this haunted dark academia meets doomed love story, and I am excited to see what stories we see from the author moving forward.

I would recommend House of Hearts to readers who enjoy dark academia, horrormance, and creepy stories inspired by your favorite children’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Group for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own

This is a case where I definitely judged a book by its cover and was so pleased to get it! Thankfully for the most part it lived up to that cover but full disclosure I instead to read the finished copy and update my review due to this being such an early galley which clearly needs a bunch of editing. Usually with eARCs you get a smattering of spelling or other minor typos that will get caught in the finally proofing but this has a bunch of significant errors which impact the story itself.

That being said, I’m confident that they will be addressed before publication and I did enjoy the story well enough that doing a reread won’t be a bother.

This book combines several of my favorite subgenres all into one. It’s Young Adult, dark academia, “secret” society and paranormal all rolled into one. My biggest criticism of the book is that it was too short at only 288 pages. It couldn’t have easily been 75-100 pages longer and really fleshed out the plot to have a better execution. For the most part the story flowed but that was driven by me wanting to know what happened because there were times where it needed better transitions between sub plots. There was much that was richly detailed but other sections that it was lacking, particularly the “romance” for two “soulmates” that literally has zero basis or explanation. So “uneven” is a good description.

However, I still really enjoyed the premise and the ride the author took us on. We just needed more for the book to be fully executed as if it was it has the potential to be a 5 ⭐️ read. So, to be continued after I read it again….



I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Viking Young Readers through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

4.25⭐

The story, it's very intriguing, a dark fairytale like all true childhood stories. I loved the Alice and Wonderland inspiration, the dark fairytale inspiration, and the morbid urban legends all wrapped up in this book. The mystery was intriguing, and there were quite a few twists and turns, some I saw coming and others surprised me.

The characters were all enjoyable as well - the ones you were supposed to like at least. The relationship between Violet and Em was probably the most powerful and poignant in the story, and relationships between other characters, often not in scene, still felt real and earnest.

Violet is a strong-minded bull of a heroine, charging in; she’s smart, but also angry, and she’s ready to rip everything down in her way to find the truth of what happened to her friend. She’s logic-minded, making the new world of spectral ghosts and curses a challenge for her to navigate.
Calvin is a carefree playboy with no worries or troubles - or so he appears to be. Slowly, we see the mask drop and the desperate horror and grief that haunt him.
I enjoyed Calvin and Violet’s interactions so much! They were always witty and matched each other for clever retorts. However, I would say that Clavin and Violet's relationship wasn't as flushed out as I would have liked it to be. They spent a lot of time bantering (which I loved), but I also understand that it took a long time for them to trust one another, and that a relationship is something that has to grow. I think also that while this book does have romance in it, Clavin and Violet are not the only relationship. We have Calvin and Violet, but also Em and Percy, and Ana and Oleander, and then Ana and Helen, but the most prominent and important is probably Em and Violet. I enjoyed this book so much.

Thank you netgalley for the arc.

when i first started reading this book, i was immediately drawn in by the whole idea of an alice in wonderland twist on gothic suspense. i loved the dynamic between calvin and violet and the setting of the book was so creepy (in a good way)! i didn't really love how the supernatural aspect was brought in really early into the novel, because, to be honest, i was just confused. overall, i think if you're into dark academia along with dark fantasy, this book is definitely worth picking up.

I thought this book was amazing! I love a good boarding school murder mystery, and this one did not disappoint. Violet transfers to a fancy boarding school after the death of her best friend, Emoree, to try and solve what she is positive is a murder. She becomes the roommate Emoree's former roommate, Birdie, and she seeks to get to the bottom of Emoree's murder at the hands of the Lockwells, a rich family whose matriarch is the Headmistress at Hart. While there, Percy, the eldest Lockwell, is missing and his twin siblings Sadie and Calvin remain enigmatic. Calvin takes a special interest in Violet, and invites her to Joker Night where she has the chance to join the mysterious House of Hearts. The H of H is a secret society that seems to be full of privileged students who are not beholden to normal rules, but has as its core mission the motivation to solve the mystery of Anastasia Hart and end the curse on the Lockwell family. The story is full of suspense as Violet gets deeply embroiled in a paranormal mystery, as well as the normal mundane issues that come with high school. She's a likable protagonist and the reader will be rooting her to solve the mystery. The story was full of intrigue and twists and turns, so I would fully recommend this to fans of the genre!

I didn’t click with this story at all but was curious enough about the ending to skim after the 50% mark.

The characters weren’t captivating to me. The writing style also just didn’t work for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read early

3.5 ⭐️! This is the book that sent me spiraling into my fall reading era! The story follows Violet, who attends an elite boarding school in hopes of joining a secret society and solving her best friend’s murder. Her friend, who was also a member of the society, died under mysterious circumstances that were officially ruled an “accident.” Violet believes the truth lies within the people who knew her friend and the secrets of the society, so she begins putting the puzzle pieces together. But when she meets Calvin, the brother of her prime suspect, and becomes more entangled in the school and its students, she finds herself slipping down the same rabbit hole her friend once did.

I genuinely had the BEST time reading this! It’s such a fun young adult dark academia with amazing vibes, a spooky school, a perfectly moody sad-boy romance, and a compelling mystery. I’m still obsessing over this line from the love interest:

“In the light of the stained-glass window, he’s a fallen angel, his beauty a sin in itself. Some gorgeous abomination.”

It was a 3.5 for me mostly because it leaned pretty heavily into the YA voice, which meant things were sometimes over-explained. I also felt that several intense plot moments were delivered all at once. I wish they had been spread out more so I had time to absorb them.

Despite that, I still really loved this book. The campus descriptions made me feel like I was right there. I’ll definitely read more from this author. I already pre-ordered a physical copy because, I mean… look at that cover. Absolutely gorgeous!

Highly recommend checking this one out when it releases on September 2nd and adding it to your fall TBR! 🍂 Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt completely drew me in with its dark, atmospheric vibes and haunting mystery. With elements of dark academia, murder, curses, and forbidden love—it had everything I love in a spooky read. The slow burn romance was everything and the chemistry between the FMC and MMC was chef’s kiss.

The pacing dipped a bit in the middle, but overall, I really enjoyed this story. And the cover? Absolutely STUNNING.

If you’re looking for a gothic, romantic mystery with a touch of magic, this one’s for you! 🖤

So thankful to be on the ARC team for this!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gothic, standalone, YA novel set in a boarding school. The protagonist, Violet gets a scholarship to Hart in order to investigate the murder of her best friend.

The setting and atmosphere in this story was great, there were points where I was genuinely spooked and it kept me engaged with the story throughout.

The romance element started off strong for me, I felt like Violet never abandoned her mission or lost sight of why she was there because of Calvin and there was so much potential. There was great banter and chemistry but it suddenly skipped some steps and escalated really quickly, leaving me unsure how they got there.

The only other sticking point for me was that the ending felt like it wrapped up too quickly.

Essentially, I really loved the story, characters and writing, it just needed to be longer to fully develop the romance and conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Skyla Arndt’s “House of Hearts” is a lush, gothic thrill ride that brings together dark academia, supernatural horror, and slow-burn romance into a tantalizing YA debut. With murder, curses, secret societies, and ghostly hauntings all under one ivy-covered roof, this novel delivers a moody boarding school mystery that keeps the pages turning even if you occasionally wish there were more of them.

We follow Violet Harper, a scholarship student transferring to the prestigious Hart Academy under a veil of grief and suspicion. Her best friend Emoree has died in what the school claims was a suicide, but Violet isn’t buying it. Determined to uncover the truth, she dives into the shadows of Hart Academy, unearthing rumors of a centuries-old curse, a secret society hiding in plain sight, and a deeply buried legacy of power, privilege, and violence.

At the heart of this tangled web is Calvin Lockwell, the gruff and guarded younger brother of the school’s golden boy and a potential suspect in Emoree’s death. What begins as tension-filled suspicion between Violet and Calvin slowly shifts into something deeper, complicated by the fact that Calvin’s family is tied to a deadly generational curse that may have claimed Emoree’s life. Their dynamic is a highlight of the novel: enemies-to-lovers flirtation, emotional vulnerability, and just enough snark to keep things lively. Though the romance was a bit cliché, Calvin’s character development gives the romance surprising weight.

The gothic setting is gorgeously rendered from haunted hedge mazes and candlelit hallways to masquerade balls that blur the line between the living and the dead. Arndt’s prose drips with eerie atmosphere, drawing you into a world where ancient curses feel right at home alongside academic elitism and social manipulation. There's even a ghost with a bleeding heart—literally—who walks the halls, lending a tragic and unsettling edge to the mystery.

The secret society element, while not exactly “secret” since it’s basically sanctioned by the headmaster, adds an intriguing layer of intrigue and privilege. Members wield quiet power and are bound to a mission to end the curse that’s twisted generations of Lockwells. There’s something deliciously unhinged about the whole system, one that echoes Alice in Wonderland in its logic-defying whimsy and creeping madness.

However, “House of Hearts” isn’t without its flaws. The pacing is brisk—sometimes too brisk. At under 300 pages, the story feels like it’s sprinting toward the finish line, leaving some plot threads and character moments underdeveloped. Violet’s grief, the mystery surrounding Emoree’s death, and the origins of the curse all beg for more time to breathe. The emotional impact is there, but it could have gone deeper. The final twist may be predictable for some, but the payoff is still emotional and satisfying, turning a story of vengeance into one about healing and letting go.

Overall, “House of Hearts” is a beautifully imagined, fast-paced gothic mystery that combines the drama of elite academia with ghost stories, family curses, and a complicated romance. While it may not dig as deep as it could, it has enough heart, atmosphere, and twists to satisfy fans of paranormal thrillers and dark academia.

A big thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC and YABC for providing a physical ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Prepare to be scared, with this twisty dark academia novel that is perfect for the spooky season reading.

House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt is a YA gothic thriller about a girl that gets caught up in a slew of secrets while trying to solve her best friend's murder. Violet Harper knows her best friend was murdered. Even if everyone else has labeled her death a “freak accident,” Vi is sure she’d been trying to tell her something right before she died. Cryptic messages about her friend’s elite boarding school, her whirlwind romance, and the mysterious secret society she was entangled in all point to a more sinister fate. So, Violet does what no one else seems willing to do: She transfers to the same fancy school to dig into the society’s murky history and find out what really happened to her friend. She knows the truth might not be pretty, but what she doesn’t bargain for is the handsome boy at the center of it all—Calvin Lockwell, the brother of her prime suspect and descendant of the school’s founder. He’s obnoxious and privileged, and Violet can’t deny their haunting attraction. It soon becomes clear his family is hiding a dark secret that may not be of this world, and suddenly Violet’s following her friend’s doomed footsteps down the rabbit hole. Even as details emerge of a deadly curse plaguing the school, she can’t escape her true feelings for Calvin. But loving him may be the last thing she ever does.

I LOVED Arndt's debut novel, Together We Rot, and I was over the moon excited to read her next gothic novel, and I CANNOT thank YABC enough for gifting me an ARC. What I loved most about House of Hearts is the sheer fact that it took my favorite elements of the eery gothic and mixed it with Alice in Wonderland (a favorite classic of mine). All whilst still harking on the whole horror aspect, as is expected with Arndt's works. I also really loved the romance that buds between Violet and Calvin, as it can be quite tricky to feature a romance in the midst of a spooky story without making the romance itself creepy.

One thing I found a little troubling with this book, was it's general pacing. At times it felt like the plot was happening too fast. While at other times, it felt like everything was at a standstill despite there be a looming threat that created a sense of urgency in both the reader and the character. Also I felt like some questions were left unanswered at the end, and I know there are currently no plans for this to have a sequel title.

Regardless, House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt is a thrill YA gothic dark academia novel fill with thrills and chills that is absolutely perfect for anyone looking for a recommendation for spooky season.

This is a spoiler-free review! House of Hearts will be available on September 2, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group / Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been itching for a gothic dark academia book, and when this standalone popped up, I knew I had to dive in. With Violet searching for answers after her best friend passes away at an exclusive school, she is determined to attend and finally set the record straight - was her friend murdered, or was there something more at play?

As Violet assimilates herself into the school environment and meets the students she believes played a role in her friend's passing, she soon discovers that there is much more than what meets the eye when it comes to the secret society's true intentions. She forms an unusual yet enticing bond with Clavin Lockwood - the brother of the very boy she believes killed her friend or at least had a hand to play in the "freak accident" that lead to her demise. As Calvin and Violet interact, it is clear that their relationship will certainly have an interesting course.

The "intermission" chapters from Anastasia definitely added an extra element to the story that allowed readers to take a step back from the story at hand and look at the origins of what is driving this society's interests. As Violet's journey progresses, the information that we learn from these interlude chapters sheds light on information Violet uncovers and leaves little clues on where her story is headed and what revelations she will make as she works with Calvin. It would have been interesting to see even more development on Anastasia and Helen's sisterly relationship and what caused such a riff between the two - while we do get brief glances, more interactions would have beneficial for the significance of what plays out.

This book was a lot shorter than I expected, and I honestly wish it was longer - to no fault to the author, the plot moved very quickly, and I would have loved to see the background lore expanded upon, along with Calvin and Violet's banter and back-and-forth to develop as a more will-they-won't-they situation. That being said, I flew through this book in just about two hours, and the writing did have me locked into the story. I do think that the side characters, while important, did take up a lot of story space that could have been dedicated to more intriguing plot points.

This book has the same vibes as Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell and We Are Villains by Kacen Callender but with a touch of paranormal whimsy that is seen in Bunny by Mona Awad and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I had a fun time reading this and truly enjoyed the paranormal aspects that the author added it to the story - it made the stakes higher and drew me in to understand how everything would turn out for Violet, Calvin, and the rest of the Lockwoods.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the arc!

I enjoyed this one. 3.5 ⭐️ but rounded up. The setting and vibes were on point and as described in the summary. I loved the haunted maze, curse storyline and paranormal aspects. I definitely felt invested in the story as the book progressed and at times didn’t want to stop reading.

My only complaint is that while it was a quick read, it almost felt too fast paced. I would have liked to see more complications along the way and more of Calvin and Violet working together to break the curse. I think that also would have helped their relationship build and segue from ‘I don’t think I like you’ to ‘soulmates’ a little better too.

Overall would recommend the read. Especially if you like paranormal mysteries and academia settings.

The trope of a best friend going to the board school their friend was murdered at to figure out what happened to them is an auto read for me. I love that. The bond between friends was so strong that one is willing to put themselves in danger to figure out what happened to their best friend. I really enjoyed that this diverged from the norm by adding in a supernatural element. It was really well done and refreshing to see that there wasn’t a divide between rich and poor and using people. It was really enjoyable that at the core of this mystery was love. It’s very fast paced and I think the attraction and love between Calvin and Violet could’ve been a little more flushed out, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Okay… House of Hearts totally delivered the moody, mysterious, curse-filled boarding school vibes I was hoping for.

This book was dark, twisty, and so much fun. I loved Violet as a main character—she’s stubborn, sharp, and refuses to let anyone gaslight her out of the truth. The whole secret society / cursed bloodline / suspiciously hot suspect’s brother situation? Yeah. I’m all in. Calvin Lockwell is exactly the kind of broody, complicated love interest I want haunting my morally questionable mysteries.

It had a little The Secret History, a little Crimson Peak, and just enough paranormal chaos to keep me flipping pages late into the night. If you’re into eerie curses, elite secrets, and enemies-to-kinda-more romance, definitely give this one a read.

This was good kept me intrigued from start to finish. I liked this author’s first book a bit better, but this one was definitely a page turner. The romance was a little flat though for me. I loved all the spooky aspects! I look forward to reading more by this author soon.

This book is perfect for fans of gothic romance and dark academia with a great mystery woven in!

Overall the book had fun characters, interesting dynamics, and a plot that will keep you guessing. The setting and atmosphere of the book is spooky and unhinged. The enemies-to-lovers is a great storyline as well.

It is on the shorter side of novels so you can read it quickly and it is fast paced. Would absolutely recommend!