Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for The ARC!

I ate this book up! I loved the gothic horror in this book. The book started off really well where we get to meet Violet as she transfers to the school her best friend died at to learn the truth and get revenge. Shes such a fun character that we really deep dive into her mind at times. I will say I felt like there were a bit too many plot twists in the book, and constantly made me wonder when the next one would be thrown in. They could have probably been omitted or even just flat out said to the reader. But it was still a great read nonetheless. I really enjoyed the romance, albeit at times felt a bit rushed. The overall theme of the book was delightful to immerse myself in, and the whole gothicness of it was very prominent. I really enjoyed this overall, and I hope others like it as well.

I haven’t read many spooky, murder, mystery books, and this book is making me question why I haven’t!! I ate this up! I was never bored and needed to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely loved our main characters, so much so, that I wish we had more of them! This is a true fall read. It was dark and mysterious and we had ghosts. I was truly terrified at times. So if you are looking for a book perfect for the Autumn Season add this to your TBR asap! This book was so different from any other read and it was written so well. It was such an easy read to get through. The writing just flowed so smoothly. So I also feel like it’s a great book to get you out of a reading slump. I will definitely need to check out more of Skyla Arndts books. 🙌🏼 Thank you NetGalley and Skyla for the gift 🫶🏼

House of Hearts follows Violet who transfers schools to seek the truth about her best friends death.

The atmosphere definitely gave appropriate gothic vibes as intended and I was excited about the upstate NY shoutout. However, it taking place in high school versus college truly took away from it. There aren’t secret societies in high school, so to compare this to Ninth House was not it. It was like trying to put adult situations into dumb teens and sadly didn’t work for me. Plot felt rushed at times with unbelievable relationships and cringe dialogue. I was extremely excited for this book based off synopsis and the fact i love romance with a dash of horror. I think because this was too YA , it would probably be well suited for a high schooler who wants the mystery and intrigue of a secret society murder mystery without understanding that plot doesn’t work with high schooler

4.25 stars ✨

I really enjoyed this one! It has a lot of the vibes and tropes that I love! We start off in an atmospheric, autumnal dark academia vibe as Violet comes to Hart Academy looking for revenge and to solve the mystery surrounding her best friend’s death. As she quickly finds out that there is much more to the story than she thought, the gothic, haunted vibes amplify. As we delve even deeper into the story and Violet is fighting to break the curse, it feels like a dark fairytale. The story was quite fast-paced which is perfect for a thrilling story like this! The writing style was lovely as well, and while this was my first read by Skyla Arndt, I look forward to reading more of her work!

I recommend to anyone wanting a spooky dark academia book this fall, that packs a punch without the bulk!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC!

Can I say "Gothic YA of 2025"? Yes. Yes, it is.

Words are not enough to express how much I am in awe of how this is EXACTLY how YA Gothic should be.

First of all, let's talk: The Hook. The hook is all about the mystery, right? How did Violet's BFF die? I think, this is a good hook to any mystery novel reader (such as me, myself, and I) but the next one that got me was the promise of a real Gothic, ghastly, dark academia setting and this did not disappoint!

I thought this was just gonna be like any of those "marketing stunt only" Gothic aesthetic but nope. The Gothicness is there, and I am LIVING for it.

The characters are also fire, so much so that I did an illustration for a scene. Now, I just want to draw it whole because the way Skyla Arndt wrote this made me feel like I was watching a movie in my head. I was clicking through my Kindle button just as fast as I read it because damn, the tension and horror got me.

There's the bathroom scene, I was reading this at night, by the way, and lil ol me got me pushing my back against my bed so I know no ghost is looking from behind me like that scene HAHAHAHA

Also, I love how Skyla wrote the whole final arc in the novel. Like THAT is the kind of action and tension-filled scenes with high stakes that I'm looking for in a book. Damn.

I say, if you're looking for a YA horror with beautiful haunting, Gothic vibe, this is a good book to start in.

Man! What a read! Ugh! I was only reading 11-20 chapters tonight, but this whole book got me reading fast because I just had to know what really happened. And yknow what? This is worth getting eyebags for.

Smashing work! Can't wait to see what Skyla Arndt writes next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

House of Hearts is an absolute must-read for fall—dark academia, paranormal romance, and just the right touch of light horror to make it the perfect spooky season read.

I’ll admit, I was a little wary going in since YA can be hit or miss for me. But while the story is technically set in high school, the academy/boarding school setting makes it incredibly easy to read the cast as slightly older—college-aged even—which worked perfectly for me.

The flow of the book was excellent, and I adored the main character. She’s witty, sarcastic, and refreshingly real, which made it easy to root for her. The pacing struck a great balance: the slow burn romance actually felt purposeful instead of dragging, and it unfolded in a way that made sense for the story rather than being “slow for slow’s sake.”

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. It’s atmospheric, immersive, and exactly the kind of story I want to curl up with on a crisp autumn night. House of Hearts blends moody gothic vibes with heartfelt character work, and I highly recommend it for fans of dark academia and paranormal romance.

This book was such a dark and haunting ride, and I loved how much it pulled me in. Violet was such a strong, determined character with a sharp, often humorous voice that made her stand out immediately. She never backed down, whether it was dealing with the elite kids at school or digging into the truth behind her best friend’s death, and I admired how fiercely loyal she was.

The setting and concept were fascinating. This eerie boarding school, a secret society dripping with danger, and the looming bloody curse that felt like its own character. Honestly, the House itself felt alive, full of shadows and memories, and I loved that original touch. It gave the story a dreamlike, unsettling quality that stayed with me even after I finished.

I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Violet and Calvin. Their banter was witty and their chemistry undeniable, though I do wish there had been a little more time spent developing their moments together. The side characters were all layered too, whether they were allies, rivals, or cursed heirs, and the way all their connections tied into the mystery made the story feel rich and multi-dimensional.

For me, this was the perfect blend of dark academia, mystery, and romance with just enough horror to keep me on edge. It wasn’t flawless, mainly I wanted more from the romance, but overall, it was a beautifully written, eerie, and captivating story that I’m glad I picked up.

If you like secret societies, gothic curses, and bold heroines who don’t scare easily, this one’s worth reading!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Viking Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

House of Hearts is Just Okay. I appreciated the Alice in Wonderland vibes and that Violet sounded like an actual teenager, but I really struggled with the romance. I've read a lot of excellent romance in YA, and this is not one of them. I was completely unconvinced; it was trying so hard to work and it just didn't work.

Full disclosure, horror is not my usual genre of choice; however, House of Hearts was deliciously dark and twisty with a blend of dark academia, murder mystery, paranormal activity, and a touch of romance that had me hooked from the first page. This would make an excellent movie or tv show, and I would 100% watch it immediately.

Violet, a scholarship transfer student in her senior year at the prestigious Hart Academy, investigates the murder of her best friend, Emoree, on the school's campus the prior year. Her prime suspect is the headmistress' son, Percy, who has not been seen since that night. Violet's plan is to infiltrate the school's secret society, The Cards, and get close to Percy's younger brother, Calvin Lockwell. Quickly, Violet's plans take a turn as the vengeful spirit of Anastasia Hart haunts the school grounds.

The pacing was excellent and kept the story moving as Violet unravels the web of secrets and curses surrounding the school and the Lockwell family. I loved every minute of this and would love to read even more books like this from this author in future.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up House of Hearts on September 2, 2025.

This book def put me in the mood for fall! Skyla Arndt does a great job establishing a spooky, atmospheric school setting full of curses, ghosts, and hauntings. Our main character, Violet, enrolls at Hart Academy to find out what happened to her best friend, who died a few months earlier at the school. To track down the truth, she'll have to watch out for the brother of her best friend's boyfriend, Calvin Lockwell.

House of Hearts is PERFECT for readers in the younger YA age group. I think the dialogue and prose definitely appeal to that demographic, and I fear I went into this book with different expectations for the story.

The romance, in my opinion, did a complete 180 from indifference/animosity to being *spoiler alert* fated soulmates. The chemistry just wasn't there, and their interactions felt bland and flat in my opinion. I think the book also struggled with keeping a consistent tone. The dialogue and inner thoughts of Violet were trying a little too hard to sound like a modern-day teen (which, fair, given the age group). But then we'd switch suddenly to these metaphors and similes that are trying to sound profound and literary. The balance just didn't work for me, and I wish the tone had been consistent throughout.

The plot was fine (def predictable), and the truly spooky parts did have me hooked for a bit. But then the characters fell back into their prescribed roles, and the dialogue or inner monologue would take me out of the story again.

Overall, I think this story will definitely appeal to teens or those looking for a quick, ghostly fall read.

I really wish I loved this book. I couldn't handle how immature they were. I know it is YA but it was a little too much. Nothing to me made sense and I just couldn't get myself to pick up the book. I didn't care about the plot or any of the characters.

I first stumbled across this release because I'd seen multiple people promoting it on Instagram, and the premise really drew me in. I mean, Alice In Wonderland and dark academia? Perfect for me! It's been a while since I've read something truly young adult, too, and so I was really excited to dive into this one.

I'll start with what I liked. The writing style in this book was super easy to read but also beautifully descriptive, and no matter how many issues I had with the plot, I always wanted to read more. I love good prose and this was definitely a positive reading experience in that regard. This book also had interesting letters from the POV of a certain important character that is paramount to the curse's initial existence, which was very interesting. I also liked the horror elements that kept popping up throughout the story.

Bonus points for the cover being so pretty!

The problem is that this book isn't actually very thrilling at all, nor is it really what I would consider dark academia, and the love story (which is, and I cannot stress this enough, central to the plot actually making sense) was one of the most unconvincing love stories I've ever read. I thought Calvin and Violet individually had so much potential, and their first meeting was intriguing to me, but then... they barely interacted or had moments alone together throughout the rest of the book? And I'm supposed to believe that they're each other's true love by the last 20% in order for the rest of the plot to actually work? Normally I could try look past something like this since this is not a romance book, but in this case, there simply just would not be a plot without the main characters being in love, and I truly cannot believe that they are anything more than mildly interested in one another.

Because of the aforementioned issues I had with the love story, the plot ended up really not working for me. I was into the whole murder mystery aspect that had been set up in the first two thirds of the book, but once the chaos of the third act began, it lost me quite a bit. The Alice In Wonderland vibes were strong throughout the story, which I liked (so much whimsy!), but then ghosts (??) started appearing out of nowhere and I got real confused. The resolution of the mystery felt a bit anticlimactic given my confusion (I was kind of just like... "that's it?").

I really did like Violet, Calvin, and all the side characters as individuals. The biggest issue I had was that the conflict between Birdie and Violet had a very rushed resolution (literally had a couple of paragraphs in the last few pages, which should really have been explored on page rather than recapped. Otherwise why even include it?) For some reason I also expected this book to dive a teeny bit deeper into Violet's grief about the death of her best friend and it sort of just never really went there, which was disappointing.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Skyla Arndt and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for the eARC of this. This was a perfect YA read for the fall and Halloween. This book was very well written. It is a fun and immersive read. Very quick and easy read as well.

For the best experience, I recommend reading House of Hearts late at night, with a blanket to squeal into when Calvin Lockwell is Calvin Lockwelling, and with a plushie/pet to hold when the spooks are spooking.

This book is a love letter for anyone who loves Alice in Wonderland because there were many subtle and not-so-subtle references. It has some of the whimsy and all the madness of Wonderland, but with a gothic, dark academia twist involving love curses and murder mysteries.

The tension and forbidden love (forbidden because, you know, he'll literally rip out her heart if he kisses her) were aaamazing.

This was more than just a book about true love/lovers though; it was also about the love between best friends and sisters. There are elements of grief and loss, which can be a little triggering to me, but it wasn't too heavy, and it balanced well with everything else going on.

My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer. Only because I wasn't ready to leave that world.

All my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC! My review and opinions are my own.

House of Hearts

This was an interesting paranormal themed read. Takes place in a highschool setting mixing in with the dead and an evil curse.

I found the first half of this book moved at a great pace but the last bit didn’t hold my attention the same way. Overall I liked the book and would read it again!

3 ⭐️

This was way different than I was expecting, but not in a bad way. I actually found it to be very fun and intriguing! Though I was a bit confused at the ending and I think I may have missed a few connections, I did overall enjoy this book! I liked the characters and I thought the storyline was very unique and interesting! I would recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin/Viking for the ARC copy!

The art is gorgeous. A ya romantasy for sure. Uncomplicated, easy to see goals and well paced. Balanced story and romance with a hint a spice . I loved the honest true hearted characters in this story. Of course the magic was beautiful. Overall just a good read.

I really enjoyed Skyla Arndt’s debut so jumped at the chance to read HOUSE OF HEARTS, and I absolutely adored this! It was the dark academia, spooky, Alice in wonderland boarding school mystery of my DREAMS with a spectacularly well-drawn setting, a fun but still mysterious cast of characters, and a well-developed romance that (at least for me!) stole the show. I loved Violet’s tenacity and dedication to uncovering what happened to her friend, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Can’t recommend picking up this one enough!

House of Hearts is a fast-paced, delightfully spooky read that plunges you into the elite, secretive world of an exclusive boarding school where wealth can bury anything—including the truth. Violet arrives at the academy not just as a student, but on a mission: to uncover what really happened to her best friend, whose mysterious death was swept under the rug as an “accident.” Determined to infiltrate the school’s notorious secret society, Violet finds herself entangled with the Lockwell siblings—especially Calvin, the reluctant heir with too many skeletons in his family's closet. The chemistry between Violet and Calvin crackles with tension as they dance between attraction and suspicion, uncovering old secrets and newer dangers. Their banter and emotional push-pull bring depth to a plot already brimming with suspense.

What really makes this story shine is its eerie atmosphere: ghostly whispers in darkened halls, twisted nursery rhymes, doomed love stories, and a vengeful spirit lurking just out of sight. The layers of mystery unfold through a narrative that cleverly plays with history repeating itself—loss, grief, and rage passed down like a curse.

Yes, the YA tone can feel a little on-the-nose at times, and some plot twists come fast and heavy—but honestly, that didn’t stop this from being such a fun, immersive read. Perfect for fall or Halloween season!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
3.5 stars

House of hearts was a quick and easy read. I absolutely love anything dark academia/ supernatural. The gothic atmosphere along with a murder mystery and secret society storyline, is what really sold me on this book. The plot of this book was really engaging and made me want to keep reading to find out how it ended. I also really liked how alice and the wonderland and queen of hearts played into it all, her middle name being alice, the references to rabbit holes, the secrets society being called ‘house of hearts,’ and using cards as a form of currency basically. I thought that was a really nice touch, it almost felt like a retelling.

I enjoyed the characters, I just wish we got to see more of a connection between the two. We’re told they’re soulmates but I just didn’t feel the tension, chemistry, or yearning that I was hoping to feel. Calvin’s character just fell a little bit flat for me. Violets character on the other hand was pretty well developed, and the author tackled Violets grief nicely, it felt authentic and true to her as a character.