A true YA dark academia horror fantasy novel, inspired by Alice in Wonderland in a dark academia setting, with soulmate curses and ghostly masquerade balls, and secret societies. It was a short and quick read which I thoroughly enjoyed reading in less than a few hours in the morning. Immersive world-building, ways to follow prose and captivating narrative made me enjoy reading this book! Definitely recommend to readers who love dark academia with a romantic subplot!

House of Hearts is a young adult paranormal mystery about a high school senior who attends an exclusive private prep school to investigate the death of her friend.

Violet’s best friend, Emoree, was thrilled to be accepted at Hart Academy, an elite East Coast prep school. Once there, she quickly fell for the headmistress’s son, Percy Lockwell, and joined a mysterious secret society called “The Cards.” But when Emoree falls to her death and Percy disappears, Violet isn’t convinced it was an accident. By securing a scholarship just in time for her senior year, Violet is able to attend Hart and dig into the truth behind Emoree’s death, as well as the secrets surrounding Hart Academy, The Cards, and the Lockwell family.

This book started out feeling like a dark academic mystery but quickly turned into a paranormal tale that reaches deep into the Lockwell family’s past. Nothing is what it seems on the surface, and Violet will have to rely on her wits if she’s going to survive Hart Academy. For romance fans, there’s also an intriguing spark between Violet and Percy’s younger brother, Calvin.

I enjoyed House of Hearts. The plot was twisty and romantic, and Violet was a funny, smart main character to follow. I especially liked how resourceful she was and how far she went to get justice for her friend.

4⭐️ 0🌶️

Review:

This was a very fun read! Very Alice in Wonderland coded like it said it would be which made this fun. Although it was another family secrets, dark academia book, this one still stands its own. The mystery was very intriguing, and wasn’t completely predictable. Also, for being YA the tension was still there in parts. I could not put it down once the climax finally hit!

Summary:

Violet knew that her bestie Emorie would never have just ended her life, and if no one else was gonna believe her, she would just have to prove it. But enrolling into Hart academy and joining their secret society would be a challenge. Almost as challenging as dealing with the secrets and curse that killed her friend. But none of that compared to the feeling she was started to get towards Calvin. But would getting close to him be the end of her?

Favorite Quote:

“Why did he let himself fall in love with Emoree? I don’t think it works that way. Doesn’t it? No, that’s why it’s called falling. You’d have to be insane to jump in the first place.“

Tropes:
•murder mystery
•dark academia
•YA
•family secrets/curses
•secret society
•hauntings

One of my most anticipated reads of the year! After reading Together We Rot, I knew Skyla was the kind of author that I’d want to follow for years.

House of Hearts delivers in its spooky ambiance, chilling moments and deadly love story. “I didn’t come to Hart Academy for a $40,000 high school diploma, but something tells me “cold-blooded revenge” would’ve looked bad on my admissions essay.” With an opening line like that, I knew I was in for a delightfully mysterious story filled with snarky comebacks and hidden agendas.

One part boarding school, one part murder mystery, and one part nod to Alice In Wonderland I was captivated by the lore as well as the ever evolving relationship dynamics. While having a few spine chilling moments and a few smooches, House of Hearts stays nicely in the YA category and is a story I’d be happy recommending to my children and friends kids.

There are a few moments I wish had been fleshed out more regarding the curse, but otherwise this was a well told story!

First; I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to be an ARC reader. My review is unbiased and my real opinions.

I was first intrigued by the cover, it was very alluring and gave me haunting vibes.

We go in with the FMC Violet who attends a boarding school where her friend died at. She’s there on a scholarship and is trying to uncover the truth behind her friends death. Bring in Calvin, our MMC with your typical “i have rich family” vibes.

They go through alot and in the end is their HEA. Very appropriate for YA readers and I highly recommend this book for beginner readers and/or readers of gothic academia romance

I really didn’t have any standout moments but I’d give it a 3.5/5 star read. 4 on Goodreads.

I gave House of Hearts 3.5 out of 5 stars! Slight spoilers in the review section.

Premise:
After the tragic death—ruled an accident—of her best friend, Emoree, Violet Harper is sure that Emoree was murdered. Violet resolves to enroll in Emoree’s elite boarding school to infiltrate the secret society at the heart of it all and bring the killer to justice.

But a curse that spans back decades upon decades may be Violet’s undoing; that, or her handsome classmate who infuriates her at every turn…

I thought that House of Hearts was a solid sophomore novel! One of the elements that really shined was the main character Violet’s snappy internal narration. Her sardonic, jaded approach to the world gives a lot of voice to the story, and the modern references throughout the book aid rather than hamper the tone of House of Hearts.

That said, I was a little underwhelmed by the romance, which is deeply important to the plot. The two leads had solid chemistry; I just think that their romance needed a little bit more time to cook. Tangentially, I would have liked more solid arcs for a few of the important tertiary characters, as I think that would have lended well to the book as a whole.

Additionally, toward the end, the main plot was resolved a bit too conveniently, and some of the supernatural aspects weren’t clearly defined enough. On the flip side, I think the author used that vagueness to create ambience and mood in interesting ways.

This was a pretty good short read that’s perfect for the start of spooky season. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, YA paranormal mystery with some romance and a moody campus setting.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The beginning of this book is intriguing enough and got me hooked, but pretty soon after that I was no longer interested in the story or the characters. Where House of Hearts falls flat is that it’s supposed to be a YA horror academia romance that is missing all of those elements.

Skylar Arndt had me hooked with *Together We Rot*, so I already knew I’d vibe with her style - and wow, she did not disappoint. There’s just something about the way she writes angst: sharp, lyrical, and burning straight through every page.

This book is gothic boarding-school drama at its best—think secret societies, cursed bloodlines, and a ghost whispering warnings in the dark. Violet is determined to uncover the truth about her best friend’s so-called “accident,” and that obsession drags her into corridors lined with secrets and boys she really shouldn’t be kissing. (Yes, Calvin, I’m talking about you.) He’s infuriatingly privileged, dangerously magnetic, and the kind of character you know is a bad idea… but can’t stop turning pages for.

What makes this story so delicious is the balance of spooky chills and emotional weight. Arndt doesn’t just give us jump scares... she digs into the lingering shadow of past violence, the way tragedy echoes down through generations, and how love can be both salvation and curse. The ghostly hauntings had me side-eyeing my hallway at night, while the unraveling mystery kept me gasping at every reveal.

This isn’t just a paranormal thriller - it’s a story about grief, vengeance, and the messy, sometimes dangerous lengths we’ll go for the people we love. And yet, it’s fun. Sharp. Addictive. The kind of book that begs to be read in one stormy weekend, preferably with the lights dimmed low. This book proves Skylar Arndt is a rising queen of YA horror-fantasy. She knows exactly how to lace beauty with dread - and I’ll be first in line for whatever twisted tale she spins next.

Creepy book, perfect for spooky fall vibes 🎃

Violet transfers to a fancy prep school for her senior year after her friend mysteriously dies there the previous year. Violet vows to find the culprits and bring them to justice. What she finds is a haunted school, and a crazy family curse.

This book is definitely for a younger audience 🤔 I often still read YA novels but sometimes I find the characters to be too immature. That was the case for this book unfortunately. I did enjoy the story and the plot, however for me the characters and dialogue was just too juvenile. I do think that if I was younger and I read this book it would have been a higher rating, I just couldn't get past some of the teen angst and silly conversations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. This review was written voluntarily.

I would recommend this book more to middle school students who want to read a book for romance/horror vibes. 👍🏻😉

5/5
Thank you to NetGalley andViking Books for Young Readers for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is everything I want from a horromance. There’s a bit of a murder mystery, ghosts, exclusive clubs, and a dark academia background, with a very charming romance to top it off. I will note that while this technically has the plot points of a ghost story, it really feels more like a fractured fairytale (probably of Alice in Wonderland but I don’t remember enough of the original story to be sure.). This could just be because the protagonist frequently compare the situation to various myths and plays though.

Regardless! I absolutely adored the romance. Calvin is the classic playboy/family disappointment which I will fall for hook line and sinker 100% of the time. Violet is snarky (mostly just to him which he does usually deserve) and a very compelling protagonist in general. Skyla Arndt also did a great job balancing the romance with the main plotline, where the story feels fleshed out in its own right, but also works to complement the romance plot.

***Check your TWs***

Tropes:
-YA
-thriller
-suspense/mystery
-PNR
-dark academia
-gothic vibes
-family curse
-enemies to lovers
-soulmates
-secret society

This book gripped me from the very start and wouldn’t let me go. I had to finish it because I was dying to know the ending. The dark academia, gothic, spooky vibes were on point. It set the stage for the suspenseful mystery that the students are trying to solve. If any of these tropes sounds like something you would enjoy, I highly recommend this one. This was a short and addictive read.

Side note: can we talk about this cover? It is absolutely what sold me on reading this one.

Quotes:
You don’t stop loving someone when they die. Your grief is your love and they live forever in your hearts.

Book Review: House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt
Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded down)
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, House of Hearts just wasn’t for me. While I typically enjoy ghost stories and anything with a paranormal twist, this book didn’t deliver the eerie, supernatural atmosphere I was hoping for. It’s not that the book was bad—the writing had potential, and I can see how others might enjoy the emotional depth or themes explored—but it felt like it was missing the core of what makes a paranormal story compelling.

I went into this expecting a ghost-driven narrative, but the paranormal elements felt more like background noise than a driving force. As a result, the story left me wanting more in terms of suspense, mystery, and that otherworldly vibe I love in this genre.

Ultimately, this might work better for readers looking for a light brush with the supernatural rather than a full-on ghost story. It just didn’t hit the mark for me personally.

House of Hearts is a perfect read for this time of year!!

I was immediately pulled into this book. The dark academia setting is one of my favourites, and it did not disappoint in this story. I found it to be really immersive and the kind of hauntingly beautiful backdrop for a book this time of year.
I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Violet and Calvin. Their banter was written so well - I could feel their chemistry through the page!

While the first half of the book was really immersive and fast-paced, I struggled with the second half. The pacing was a lot slower and there wasn't enough intrigue to motivate me to keep going.

But overall, this was a solid read and I'd recommend it if you're craving something moody and mysterious!

This was a wonderfully delicious piece of dark academia; with mystery, ghosts, and just the right dose of creepiness. Honestly, what’s not to love? Perfect for the fall months coming up, it has that “curl up with a blanket and finish it in one sitting” energy (and you’ll want to).

I adored Violet’s character, and the banter with Calvin gave me life as the self-proclaimed banter girl I am. Add in a romance subplot tangled up with a chilling mystery, and you’ve basically checked all my boxes.

Reading this felt like watching a wonderfully campy horror movie in the best possible way. It’s atmospheric, fun, and eerie all at once. I had such a blast with this one!

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

House of Hearts just released & I loved every minute of this book. The suspense and mystery was so good, that it had to itching to read more. It’s a book that is easily bingeable. The atmosphere was so haunting that it had Violet (fmc) questioning what’s fact and fiction. She’s trying to figure out who or what murderëd her best friend. You won’t regret picking this book up!

This is so perfect for the upcoming season. This definitely is a great read for the "ber" months! I loved the atmosphere and the spooky academia vibes that the author created. I am a sucker for anything that involves magic and academia.

I loved Violet and Calvin's banter, however, I wish that the romance would have been slightly more fleshed out and developed. I know it is more a subplot but I would have appreciated a few more scenes with them and more of their relationship dynamic. As I really enjoyed the idea of them together. I also enjoyed the story so much, that I wish it would have been a little longer so that more of the relationships between characters and some plot points could have been expanded on. I just wanted more of these characters when we got to the end of the book!!

None of this is meant to detract from the story as I thoroughly enjoyed it! I just wasn't ready to leave the world or characters. I will definitely be picking up the authors previous book to try and anything that they publish in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This was my first intro to Skyla and her writing and I was absolutely blown away by the eerie atmosphere that Hart Academy has with its darkness hiding in the unknowning corners and the haintingly beautiful charm it has. This book is full of breathtaking imagery, so mucu so that I think of Hart Academy often. If you love dark academia, mystery, ghosts and a touch of Alice in Wonderland with your reads you’re going to devour this story! An astounding 5 star read 🕯️

4 stars!🫀

As always, the book cover drives me in and the plot keeps me reading. This is my first impression of Skyla Arndt and I am in love!

I was captivated by this book within the first 10%. Anything with a deck of cards in it and Alice in Wonderland references I WILL read. The secret society, dark academia boarding school, ancient curses, and deadly ghosts elements kept me so immersed and attentive. The tension between characters and the dramatics were chef's kiss. Skyla's writing also flowed so smoothly and was as natural as a book with supernatural elements can be.

Our main character Violet is so determined to discover what truly happened to her best friend and willing to go through any lengths that I started rooting for her automatically. It was so fun reading in her POV because her thoughts were SO witty and sharp I always laughed. Especially when she banters with Calvin (SWOON!) The atmosphere if this book fits the upcoming fall season completely--there were parts in this book where I genuinely got scared. I'd describe this book as CAMPY for sure.

The only thing I wished was for this book to be longer and more developed. The pacing of the book in the beginning was nice until Violet makes that shocking discovery which shakes everything up. I also wished we had more moments of Violet and Calvin! The chemistry was there but they definitely could've been built up to be more impactful. Also, I had a hard time getting used to the amount of modern references this book had because I forgot about how it was still contemporary despite the magical elements HOWEVER Skyla did an amazing job mixing the two and I quickly acclimated to the world!

Overall, this book was a lovely journey and a great start for the fall reading season.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review!

i LOVED this. this gothic horror mystery had me in a freaking chokehold. it was haunting, beautiful and mesmerizing. i was really in the mood for a dark academia and this did not disappoint. vengeful ghosts, secret society, curses, forbidden love, murder mystery, PLEEEAASSSE what more could you possibly want!? this was so freaking good and i am definitely going to read more by this author, her writing and plot structure is stunning and absolutely perfect. highly recommend this book! Calvin and Violet were EVERYTHING

House of Hearts has a gorgeous, eye-catching cover that immediately draws you in, but unfortunately, the story inside doesn’t quite live up to its promise. The premise, murder, secret societies, forbidden romance, and a vengeful ghost, sounds thrilling, yet the execution feels uneven, with pacing that drags in places and character dynamics that never fully click. Violet’s determination is compelling, but the romance leans into cliché and the supernatural elements never deliver the haunting punch they could have. While there are glimmers of intrigue and atmosphere, the book ultimately feels like one with all the right ingredients but lacking sufficient cohesion to truly shine.