Thank you to Skyla and her team for providing me with an early copy of this book as part of her street team! Be sure to check this out when it releases Sept. 2nd!

This book delivers all the dark academia, spooky, paranormal vibes that make it perfect as we transition into the fall. This eerie school setting was so fun, and I really enjoyed the addition of the whole elite secret society.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend going into this book primarily for the romance. While I enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters, I didn’t feel like there was enough development for it to fully land/make sense. Still, the way love and its conditions were explored throughout the story added an intriguing layer.

I would categorize this more as a murder mystery with slight thrilling aspects. I haven’t read much horror before, and I was expecting a little more intensity, but this is YA, so not sure what I was hoping for. I do think this was appropriate for being YA, nothing too graphic or disturbing, and any darker moments were quick and and were vital to the story.

Overall, I think I wish this story could’ve benefited from being a little longer, giving more time to develop the main mystery as well as the romance. I think this also could’ve helped push the eerie/ thrilling feeling even more as a reader. But I am definitely not mad at the reading experience at all, I still had a lot of fun!

If you are looking for a short, fun mystery/ light horror book, this is definitely the one for you to pick up this fall to read!

so...the pdf format of the book is not exactly friendly to read or easy on the eyes so ill be waiting to reas this until i can get my hands on a finalized version. still really excited about it though!

just as I predicted, I am in love.

<blockquote>“There once was a girl
whose heart was much too big,
much too broken,
so she dug within the garden of her ribs
and ripped it right out”</blockquote>

🥀 alice in wonderland vibes
🥀 masquerade balls
🥀 forbidden romance
🥀 haunted & wealthy boarding schools
🥀 enemies to lovers
🥀 secret societies
🥀 SOULMATES
🥀 murder mysteries
🥀 maxton hall / the cruel prince vibes

I’ve obsessed over this book since the day Skyla announced it, and now that I’ve read it, I’m even MORE obsessed!!! This book was everything I could have dreamed of: a spooky boarding school setting, a tragic romance and a BOY WHO YEARNS 😩😩 all of my favourite tropes and themes all at once. If you’ve seen my insta posts, you’ll know just how high my expectations were for this as a lover of Alice in Wonderland, and now you know that this book has certainly exceeded them!!

Skyla’s prose was so incredibly beautiful. I loved how it managed to be contemporary (set in modern times) but also lush and haunting, transporting you from the realities of school life into a dark tale of tragedy and romance. I reread so many of the scenes, heart racing, tears forming, because they were just SO good. (btw I devoured this in a DAY like I could not physically put it down 😩)

I only wish it was longerrrr!!! I love Calvin and Violet and their dynamic so much, and the scenes between them were AMAZING, like I cannot stress how much I highlighted and reread them again and again. Their banter, tension, and YEARNING is unparalleled and I wish we got more time alone with them 🥹 I also really loved Anastasia and how unreliable she was, she really was just a girl in love with a boy and that ruined her ☹️

<i>Thank you to the author for letting me be on her street team and Netgalley for the arc! This is my honest opinion.</i>

“House of Hearts” by Skyla Arndt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 hauntingly beautiful stars
Pub date: September 2, 2025

Dark, lyrical, and dripping with gothic atmosphere, “House of Hearts” was an eerie ride I couldn’t put down. From the very first page, Arndt creates a world that feels both beautiful and unsettling, like walking through a crumbling mansion where every shadow has a story to tell.

This book gave me everything I crave in a gothic read - haunted characters, secrets that twist tighter with every chapter, and prose that feels almost spell-like. It’s slow-burn in the best way, letting you sink into the dread and anticipation until you can’t look away.

What I loved most: the complexity of the relationships. Nothing here is simple, and every bond felt heavy with tension, grief, and desire. It’s messy and human, which made the darker elements hit even harder.

🌹 If you’re a fan of Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus”, “House of Hearts” is worth adding adding to your TBR.

🕯️ Thank you Netgalley, Viking, Penguin Random house and Skyla Arndt for this Advanced readers copy.

This is a fast-paced, atmospheric, emotionally rich read that combines romance, danger, secrets, and supernatural thrills in one addictive package. If you love your mysteries with a side of ghosts and forbidden attraction, don't miss this one!
A very big thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP
Penguin Young Readers Group / Viking Books for Young Readers for sharing this alluring digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

4.25 stars! I flew through this book in 3 hours. The writing style was fast paced and easy to follow, the characters were intriguing, and the storyline was so spooky!

Before we even get into the story—can we take a moment for the cover? It’s genuinely a work of art. Frame-worthy.

Now, onto the book: House of Hearts is a deliciously eerie, gothic gem that reads like Alice in Wonderland took a wrong turn into a dark academia murder mystery—and I loved every second of it.

At the heart of it all is Violet, a scholarship student stepping into an elite academy dripping in secrets and old money. But she’s not just here to study—she’s here for answers. Her best friend Emoree died under suspicious circumstances, and Violet’s determined to uncover the truth.

What starts as a quest for revenge unravels into something far more twisted. Violet’s path is dangerous and she must tread carefully—or risk losing her life… and quite literally, her heart.

The atmosphere is impeccable. Think gothic towers, haunted hedge mazes, secret societies, ancient curses, shadowy masquerades—each detail written in prose so lush you feel like you’re there, eavesdropping in candlelit hallways.

The mystery is layered and sharp, keeping you guessing as Violet dives deeper into the academy’s secrets. But it’s not just the plot—it’s the people. Found family, hilarious banter, enemies-to-lovers tension, and that growing connection that cuts through all the chaos.

Ruled by grief, driven by vengeance, and tangled in a web of secrets, Violet’s journey is equal parts haunting and heartful. This one’s for the dark academia lovers, the romantasy readers, and anyone who loves falling down the rabbit hole—without knowing what they’ll find at the bottom.

House of Hearts releases on September 2 — so run, don’t walk, to preorder this hauntingly beautiful read.
Huge thank you to @penguinteen, @arndtskyla & @netgalley for the ARC! And I’m so thrilled to be a part of The Cards Street Team — what a dream.

Thank you NetGalley, Viking and Penguin Teen for this arc!

4⭐️ | Out Sep 2nd, 2025

This is my first dark academia book and what a book to start it with!

This sophomore release by Skylar Arndt is incredible and I was gripped by the story from the first page!

If you love a murder mystery set in an academy this book is the one for you. This book is advertised as a loose retelling of Alice in Wonderland and I can definitely see some elements of this! If I wasn’t told this I probably would have not picked up on it - not that it affected my enjoyment of the book.

Violet is our cold hearted FMC who gets in to an elite boarding school to solve her friend Em’s murder; even though her death is labelled as a freak accident.

Full of games, deceit and ghosts the story is so compelling you will not want to put this down! My only complaint is that I needed 50 or so more pages of this book it ended too soon and I wish the conclusion was fleshed out a bit more!!

This was an engaging and well-written book that kept my interest throughout. The author delivered strong ideas and storytelling, with memorable moments that made it stand out. While there were a few areas that could have been expanded or polished further, overall it was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I would recommend it to others looking for a thoughtful and rewarding experience.

The cover initially drew me in, and overall, this was a solid read; however, I wasn't quite as sold as I initially thought I would be. The premise was great, but the execution did not fully land. I appreciated how determined Violet was to uncover exactly what happened to her friend, going so far as to infiltrate a secret society, but then it turned into an almost Scooby-Doo gang-type deal and got a tad weird. There were some creepy moments, but it wasn't as dark academia as I would have liked. I would still recommend this to my high school students who like spooky books with paranormal/dark vibes.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I love some good dark academia. Add in a secret society of friends and a family curse and I'm hooked.
At first I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book. I will admit, There were a few plot holes I wasn't too thrilled with. I had to suspend my disbelief to engage with the story. Once I did that, I really got into the plot and all it's intricacies.
The book gives gothic romance vibes with some ghostly hauntings. I really liked this part of the plot. The push and pull of a family curse when two people are drawn to each other but destined to ruin each other. Forbidden love!
This one is definitely firmly in the YA realm. So the writing was easy to read and the pacing was fast.
I enjoyed all the relationships between the characters. While I was not so sure I would like them at first, they definitely grew on me. And there is definitely a good romance with chemistry that grows throughout the book.
The atmosphere of the book is very dark. It did not strike horror in me, as I thought it might, but it there were definitely spooky moments that had me on my toes.
This book is filled with plot twists and turns you won't be expecting. Overall it was a fun experience and I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a book filled with secret societies, paranormal hauntings, and doomed romance.

A secret society with a deep secret, forbidden lovers, running from a vengeful ghost! YES! sign me up!
I really loved the flow of this book the character development was 10/10

Thank you Net Galley and Publisher for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC! ♥

House of Hearts follows Violet, who is looking to investigate her best friend's death at an academy. Along the way, she joins a not-so secret society, creates unlikely friendships, uncovers curses, mysteries, and other deeply mysterious experiences.

Admittedly, it was difficult to get into this book. The writing style wasn't for me, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't care for their relationships with one another, and unfortunately the romance subplot just wasn't believable and happened too quickly with hardly any interactions between Violet and the MMC.

I did find there to be a lack of details as well since the story moved so quickly. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and for a dark academia book there was literally no school involved. Not one class, no sort of mysteries with any of the faculty besides the headmistress who only got involved towards the end, and overall, I just wish there was more chemistry between the characters.

Now, there are things I did still enjoy! The setting. I love a deeply unsettling hedge maze and gothic towers/mausoleums. It definitely puts the reader in a spooky fall mood which is perfect.
It was also an easy read, which is always nice!

Gothic romance + murder mystery in a dark academia setting??? LOVED the vibes of this book. The plot hooked me instantly, and I really loved the characters and the atmosphere the author created. Such a perfect book for the fall.

YA can be hit or miss for me, but it worked for me in this book. I do wish the book was longer and the romance was built out a bit more, but overall I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

House of Hearts was such a good read. The mix of dark academia, romance, horror, and mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. Violet is a strong main character, and I liked how determined she was to uncover the truth about her best friend’s death. The setting at the boarding school was perfect, and the secret society aspect added a lot of suspense. I also enjoyed the diverse cast and the chemistry between Violet and Calvin. Overall, this was fast-paced, creepy in the right ways, and really entertaining. Solid 5 stars!

The cover for this book grabbed my attention right away, but sadly the story ended up being just ok for me. The set up had a lot of potential and the gothic/dark academia vibes were spot on, but I struggled with the characters and the pacing. The story went from infiltrate the exclusive secret society to the Scooby-Doo gang trying to break a curse. It was strange that after everything that happened, everyone just went on with their lives and didn’t think about it anymore!? I’m sure many will enjoy this one, but I think perhaps my YA reading days are numbered.

The audiobook narration by Amanda Dolan was great and she voiced all the different characters well. She added just the right amount of creepy when needed and I’m not sure I would have finished this one without the audio.

Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 2.5 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

The plot of this story was excellent. I really liked the idea behind it! But the execution didn’t land for me. The biggest issue was the pacing.. some parts dragged, while others felt rushed and over too soon.

The book was only 270 pages I think which is pretty short for a fantasy book (even for YA), and I think that’s where it lost some potential. Fantasy usually shines with rich detail and lots of world-building, but this book didn’t quite deliver enough of that to me.

Regardless, it would be good for an interesting fall read. The gothic murder-mystery vibe mixed with a YA, dark academia, almost Alice in Wonderland type of vibe is what kept me hooked in the story. I definitely enjoyed it, it just could’ve been executed a little better.

Also, random side note: I was low key creeped out when I realized Emoree and I have the same birthday 😩😂 Not related to my rating, but definitely a weird little tidbit 😭

Thank you so much the NetGalley, Skyla Arndt, and Penguin Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Violet is a woman on a mission. Her best friend Emory died suddenly severa months prior and then one day in the mail a package showed up with a locket and a note that says if anything happens to me please find Percy.
Now she finds herself at the same school that Emory attended trying to uncover the clues as to what happened that night because there is no way her friend would have killed herself.

She manages to get into the same dorm room and most of the same classes, now she just has to find her way into The Cards a cryptic secret society run by the Lockwells who happen to be Percy's family.

She has to deal with Percy's irrogant, stuck up younger brother Calvin, who thinks he's Gods gift to women. Supposedly a curse is upon the Lockwells. One that causes them to kill their true loves and rip out their hearts to sacrifice to Anastastia their distant relative. Somehow the cards have to find a way to break the curse because the rules of the curse are changing and things are about to get very dangerous for Violet.

Thank you to #Netgalley for the chance to read #HouseofHearts by #SkylaArndt in return for a fair and honest review.

An extremely fun dark academic Wonderland-infused mystery with secret societies and boarding school, and very unfortunate love curses.

I had so much fun reading this book; I burned through it. My only gripe was that I thought we were going to go to Wonderland, but we didn't really; still, it was a great read.

So grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this book.


📜Dark Academia
⚰️Horror Elements
🪦Paranormal
🩸Revenge
🗝️Secret Society

This book is perfect for spooky season with ghostly elements, dark atmosphere and familial curses! Violet enters an elite private school to investigate the death of her best friend. Following all the clues that were left behind, with the help of some unexpected allies, Violet learns there is so much more going on than she originally thought.

While I felt some aspects could have been expanded on a little bit more, or were a tiny bit rushed, this book was an incredibly enjoyable read. I loved the whimsy the nods to Alice in Wonderland added and how it fit so well with the characters and storyline. The ghost story was chilling and enchanting and one of my favorite parts of the entire story, when we dived deeper towards the end I was swept away by Anastasia’s story.