Violet is a high schooler at basically an elite performing arts school on an island. Last school year, she had a severe anxiety attack while onstage for her acting final so she came back this year determined to be a writer instead. Then, as required by her program, she auditions for their Halloween play- A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She scores a lead role but she feels like she’s been plunged in a nightmare as she struggles to feel like she belongs.
My Thoughts:
-The characters are imperfect and it makes them more real.
-The storyline was a bit slow to gain momentum but once it did, I didn’t want to put it down!
-Has the typical angst and cringe of high school books but balances it out with resolution.
I would recommend this book for any former theater kid or anyone who likes reading boarding school books but with less spice and/or magic.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before its release! Riley has a very unique voice, and a very strong talent from what I’ve read here. I really enjoyed this book, and I’d like to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for this ARC! I’ll start by saying this book was not at all what I expected. I went in anticipating more mystery and supernatural elements, but it really turned out to be a story about theatre kids doing theatre kid things.

That said, I did have fun with it. There’s nothing I truly disliked, but it also didn’t wow me or give me much reason to care. I loved the pretentious school setting, it made for a perfect autumnal/back-to-school read. If you’re looking for a dark academia book that isn’t actually all that dark, this could be the one for you.

I enjoyed the use of mixed media, but I agree with other reviewers that the footnotes weren’t necessary. Eventually, I just started skipping them since they didn’t add much to the story. Overall, this was a fun read, but not one I’ll be thinking about for long.

This book was not what I expected or wanted it to be, and not in a good way. DNF. Definitely not for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Annick Press for the advanced reader copy. Voluntary review, all thoughts are my own.

3.5/5 stars
So this book drew me in with the cool cover and Dark Academia vibes. I think this is a great book for younger readers to step into the dark academia category. The addition of newspaper clippings, playlists, announcements and more was really cool to me. I liked the mystery and enjoyed seeing how it ended!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

The Dark Cove Theatre Society is a dark, gothic YA debut that mixes spooky boarding school vibes with a dash of the supernatural. A lot of readers loved the moody atmosphere, the diverse cast, and how it digs into themes like ambition and self-doubt. The letters and footnotes make it feel unique, though some people thought they were a bit overdone. The pacing can drag in the beginning and then wrap up too fast, but if you’re into dark academia with a slightly eerie twist, this one’s worth checking out.

"To be born a girl, we both know by now, is a prison sentence."
i really enjoyed reading this book, i love how atmospheric it was, and i really liked all the representation that came along with it
3.5 stars

"An aspiring young actor must find her place at a cutthroat arts boarding school in this gothic YA debut for fans of Ace of Spades and If We Were Villains.

Violet Costantino knows she is already on thin ice this school year: her scholarship has taken a significant hit due to her panic attack during her final performance in acting class last semester - which simultaneously shattered her dreams of becoming a leading lady. This year, she is determined to keep her head down and just get through unscathed. But the school seems to have other plans for Violet: to her extreme foreboding, she is cast as one of the leads in the annual Halloween play. What's worse, the beautiful, infuriatingly talented Frankie Lin and Violet's ex-crush, Hunter Kinsey, are both cast as her love interests. Despite her initial reluctance, Violet is drawn in by the glamor of the Dark Cove Theatre Society, and she cautiously starts believing that maybe she is cut out for this after all. But lurking in the shadows of Violet's fragile self-confidence is the rumor of the Society curse, which is said to cause one cast member to drop out before opening night every year, mysteriously and without reason.

In this captivating YA debut, The Dark Cove Theatre Society illustrates both the intoxicating and insidious nature of success and the price we are often forced to pay for it. Passages of found text - glimpses of the school's handbook, secret letters, and other peeks into life at the Academy - seamlessly woven into the plot will immerse readers even further into the lush, magnetic world of Dark Cove."

Drop out or are taken out? Just saying, dark academia has it's price...

Spooky and atmospheric. It might be too much for most of my current middle school readers, but high school theater kids would enjoy it. The characters are engaging and realistic and the book deals with big ideas about bullying, friendship, acceptance, and fighting the patriarchy.

The school year has just begun at the Dark Cove Arts Academy, where the illustrious Dark Cove Theatre Society reigns supreme. As a scholarship student, Violet must constantly prove herself not only to her classmates but to the school leadership, as well, and because her end of term performance last year did not go so well, Violet is walking on thin ice. Violet is cast in the Halloween play, but she soon believes she is the target of a fabled curse that will undoubtedly end in disaster. Luckily, Violet’s best friend and roommate Kay is there to support her, and with each forward step, Violet begins to discover where she feels most comfortable in her life. This gothic-style novel is highly descriptive and incorporates innumerable details about both the setting and Violet’s experiences. Footnotes appear with frequency, offering readers deeper insight into the Dark Cove Arts Society’s inner workings. Additionally, letters and other visual supporting documents are placed throughout the book to draw the reader’s attention to particular characters or moments in time. With so many features, the book feels complex and nuanced, and readers are frequently wondering which elements will become important as the narrative progresses. A diversity of characters is featured in the novel, with sexuality and gender identity at the forefront, and the straightforward way the narrative is delivered makes these qualities weave seamlessly into the plot. Though slow to start, the narrative deepens over time, paralleling Violet’s exploration into her own identity as the story unfolds. Mature young adult readers, especially those with a background in theatre history and performance, will particularly warm to this book. It is a unique and contemplative addition to upper young adult gothic fiction collections.

With its atmospheric setting, intriguing premise, and a cast of characters that seemed poised to shine, The Dark Cove Theatre Society had all the ingredients for a standout dark academia novel with a theatrical twist. Unfortunately, it never quite delivered. While character development did eventually happen, the pacing felt sluggish, and the plot moved forward without ever truly building to a satisfying crescendo. I wanted to love this one — it had so much potential — but despite the promising setup, the execution fell flat for me.

I really enjoyed this book! As a lover of the supernatural, theater, and YA novels, this was right in my wheelhouse.

The book starts off strong and readers who enjoy immersive storytelling will appreciate the book’s use of mixed media like - letters, newspaper clippings, emails, scripts, maps etc. These found-text elements enrich the atmosphere and make the academy feel like a real, breathing place, though a few footnotes could feel unnecessary.

The story balances the glamour and pressure of the theatre world with Violet’s personal journey toward reclaiming her confidence. Her relationships—with her crush Hunter, the captivating Frankie, and her loyal best friend Kay—add emotional depth, though some readers may wish Frankie and Kay had more time in the spotlight. The dynamics within the Theatre Society create engaging tension, especially as the cast braces for someone to mysteriously drop out before opening night.

Fans of theater, dark academia, and stories of friendship under pressure will find much to enjoy in The Dark Cove Theatre Society.

There were parts of this that I positively loved this YA dark academia, and then there were other moments where I both didn't know what direction it would take and wasn't certain about it. Overall it turned out to be an enjoyable YA dark academia story with likable characters and a plot twist that made it worth staring till the end.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

The Dark Cove Theater Society blends dark academia with a modern feel and paranormal elements: an isolated island, a curse, and the pressures of thriving at a prestigious academy.

The main pro to this book being YA is that it makes introduction to classic literature feel more accessible. It’s not uncommon for ancient Greek plays to feel intimidating to younger readers, but this book does a great job of working them into the story in a way that’s interesting and adds to the plot. However, there’s a sense of incompleteness in the story. The twist was great, but the events after its conclusion felt rushed and disconnected.

Some things I enjoyed in the book were the mixed media and humor that the mentions of pop culture adds. It makes the characters feel more realistic and human against the backdrop of the academy. Overall, the book was quite engaging. I would recommend this to those looking for a story driven by obsession and drama at an arts academy, with the added intrigue of a curse.

This book was good, but it started off slow. You hear about a "curse" but for most of the book, it's mostly character interactions and the curse seems more psychological than supernatural. It all fits together in the end and the last part of the book, I was committed and needed to know what was happening. The book does end rather abruptly, but the things you don't see do get explained.

“Look what happens when you dream.”
~
The Dark Cove Theatre Society is unlike most books I would normally read, yet I found myself staying engaged and wanting to see where it led. The story stays true to the YA dark academia theme, while still feeling lighthearted and comedic when appropriate. I think the author did a great job at displaying the importance of how many opportunities are in your reach when you step outside of your comfort zone.

As engaged as I was with the story, the formatting is messy. The ARC’s ebook has many issues. The issues consisted of sentences getting cut off between paragraphs, font changes, jumbled text, and typos. Additionally, I found the footnotes to be entertaining at first but quickly became distracting and overdone.

I enjoyed reading this YA debut. I think the story and characters are great, but there are things that need work.
Thank you Annick Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was a fun read, and one that i’d get for my classroom. The characters were fun- I loved Kay and Frankie. Violet was a well-conceived character, but sometimes being in her head got extremely negative, which would get frustrating. I just didn’t want her to be so down on herself all the time. It bothered me that when Mags would be outright nasty to her face, no one around (including Kay or Frankie) really stood up for her. Also, and I may have missed something, but did the mystery of the missing campers storyline just disappear halfway through the story? I feel like there was never closure there. Overall though, I think this is a great read for upper middle school/high schoolers, and is a story they will be able to relate to.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE DARK COVE THEATRE SOCIETY by Sierra Marilyn Riley (Oct 7)

Thank you Netgalley and Annick Press for the earc

Violet is on scholarship, and it has been cut down due to academic probation---she had a panic attack on stage and ran out. This year, she plans to keep her head down, but after auditioning for the Halloween play, she is cast as love interest to Frankie Lin and her ex-crush Hunter Kinsey. Violet is drawn to the Dark Cove Theatre, but the Society curse is lurking in the shadows---ready to strike.
THE DARK COVE THEATRE SOCIETY is a YA dark academia riddled with eerieness from the school's location---which sets the scene nicely--drama, and a society of theater students. I don't know how to describe this book. The first thing that stood out to be, besides the creepy cover, were the footnotes. I love that inclusion because it was nice having phrases and such I was unsure about explained to me. I mean, this book is really good, but that was one of my favorite things about it. Also, loved the shorter chapters.
If you know me, you know I love dark academia,especially at the hands of societies, so I was excited to see what this society was going to do...I do wish it was more, but as the conspiracy unraveled---and more about the curse was revealed---I realized everything wasn't as it seems.
THE DARK COVE THEATRE SOCIETY is a beautifully written book. From the descriptions that paint a picture, the way the scene is set, and everything in between. This is definitely a must-read for those wanting to immerse themselves in an eerie location that is drama-filled, mysterious with a would-be curse, and a book that is just all out interesting.

this was a cozy read with an unique storyline, but it didn’t really love it. there were definitely moments where i was sitting at the edge of my seat, but the constant footnotes pulled me out of the story (and they got kind of annoying after a while). the pacing also dragged in places and then the ending felt rushed, like everything that happened throughout the novel was fixed with a snap of your fingers.