I think this is prefect mystery/horror light histoical ficiton read. I would give this book 3.75 for review. I found this book to be a prefect mix of light horror and mystey. It read to me like a histocal fiction book with a twist. I also really liked the light saphic elements in this story. I think the end was a bit rushed but i ahd a fun time!!

Picked this book originally because I naturally gravitate towards dark academia (the cover drew me in as well, stunning!) but stayed for Izzy and Gwen’s sisterhood. I thought the school was such an interesting concept, especially with the writing room and its lore. The creature that lurked in the shadow was super eerie, especially with how it didn’t mind killing children if they were to not listen to the rules in place. But I did wish peacock and Izzy’s link was explained more towards the end as well as the fate of the men. Wonderful Arc to ever begin with, thank you so much for letting me read

This book kept me on my toes wanting to know what was happening to all of the girls and why they were so different when they left. I enjoyed the characters and their connections to one another.

A great YA thriller with a touch of supernatural horror. I'm familiar with Greek mythology so had an idea of where the story was going, but there were still some surprises! I loved the girls and their friendships. The epilogue did a great job of tying up loose ends.

Izzy Donovan returns from the Delphi School for Girls a sad imitation of herself. She was sent there to learn how to behave like a respectable lady but after a quickie marriage to a boring, parent approved guy it’s clear to Izzy’s sister Gwen that Izzy hasn’t just matured, she’s been completely altered. Gwen hatches a plan to find out what’s really going on at Delphi but when she gets there to find walls lined with creepy books and students who live in fear of the shadows it’s clear that Delphi is no ordinary school and Gwen is going to need a lot more than some Nancy Drew detective work to save her sister, her friends and herself.

This was a mixed bag for me but I’m never going to get down on a book that tackles feminist issues with horror and friendship. Essentially, this book is about how men use up women for their own gain and breaking that cycle to embrace your own power. If a young girl reads this book and has more fuel to smash the patriarchy then I’m all in, would highly recommend.

The pros:
Spooky atmosphere
Unique premise
Saphic subplot

The cons:
Jumped the shark
Not enough character development
Slow read

Thank you NetGalley & Delacorte Press 🔥

This is a great story of sisterhood and mystery with some fabulous mythology mixed in. I enjoyed the setting and the main characters, and the intrigue of secrets woven throughout the novel. Great level of romance for YA readers.

I loved The Library of Lost Girls! The plotline really captured my attention and I couldn’t put it down.

The story centers around Gwen, whose sister comes back from a refining school much different from when she left home. Gwen decides to go to the school herself, and works to unravel the mystery of what’s really going on in the shadowy corridors.

I loved the relationships and friendships struck up between the girls at the boarding school. It was nice that there was an emphasis on that being different isn’t bad and that women can be powerful and have an impact on the world. The creeping dread of the shadows in this book was perfect- I’m sure we can all remember being kids running back to our beds in the dark with that feeling that something will grab us from the shadows- that feeling is what this book evokes! I like that there was an element of romance without it being graphic so that it remains appropriate for a true YA audience.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is an excellent YA book that will certainly appeal to adults as well! It is fast-paced and has great subtle clues throughout the story. I highly recommend this book!! Excellent

The Library of Lost Girls is a dark, twisty journey into mystery and sisterly devotion that kept me on the edge of my seat! Kristen Pipps masterfully blends eerie atmospherics with a compelling, rebellious protagonist in Gwen, who’s determined to uncover the truth behind her sister Izzy’s transformation—and the sinister secrets lurking on that icy island. From the moment Gwen sneaks into Delphi, the atmosphere thickens with suspense. The school’s forbidding walls, the mysterious books with girls’ names on their spines, and the whisper of secrets in every shadow create a haunting backdrop that’s both chilling and intriguing. Pipps’ writing keeps you guessing: what’s real? What’s a nightmare? And how far will Gwen go to rescue her sister? The story is packed with twists, secret societies, and a dash of girl-power that makes it hard to put down. While I’d love a little more depth in some characters, the atmospheric tension and clever plot twists more than make up for it. An ideal read for anyone who loves a good Gothic mystery with a dash of the supernatural—and perhaps a few secret passages along the way!

Creepy and atmospheric. I liked the mix of fairy tale and real life. It was a little slow in parts, but the writing was beautiful and the story stuck with me.

Creepy but just the right sort of creepy for me. Thank goodness because I wasn't prepared for it. I did like it and finished it so that makes it a good book as in general I don't do extra creepy or scary books.

I really enjoyed this one!
Library Of Lost Girls has themes that I've come across a lot (boarding school, rebellious girl, empowerment), yet it still felt unique to me. It was dark and compelling and kept me guessing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review

There are a lot of girls mentioned, I only made sure to focus on the main girl and her love interest and maybe another character as well as the main girls sister other than that, the names of the other girls were just that: names. I couldn't picture their faces, wasn't interested in them. It felt like they were just background characters who once they spoke their one or two lines you immediately forget they were ever there in the first place. It's a pretty slow paced book but the plot and secrets being discovered make up for it somewhat.

3.5 stars. I thought this was an okay read, but it did not really draw me in completely. I could have done without the more supernatural elements.

“Keep to the light. Avoid the shadows.” Gwen Donovan doesn’t know what to make of the Trustee’s cryptic warning when she is cast out of her family home and sent to the Delphi School for Girls. Months earlier, her older sister, Izzy, graduated from the same finishing school but returned a complete stranger. Although the school was meant to quell Izzy’s rebellious nature, Gwen doesn’t recognize this version of her sister, who has returned home. Determined to help Izzy and find out why she seems broken, Gwen pulls off a dramatic and crazy public stunt that results in her ‘dismissal’ the next day. Trustees escort Gwen to the school, which is hidden away on a desolate, snow-covered island. Immediately, Gwen can feel that something isn’t right at Delphi, and people make cryptic comments about “pulling out the evil.” She feels something lurking in the shadows, and she doesn’t understand why the walls are made completely from bookshelves. Can Gwen bond with the other students at Delphi and uncover what happened to her sister? Or will Gwen fall prey to the sinister presence she feels at the school?

I absolutely loved this novel. It was suspenseful, dark, exhilarating, and thought-provoking. Most importantly, it felt unique as there were plot points I hadn’t seen before. Although the title was what drew me in at the outset, I stayed for the creative world-building and character development. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was its setting. The beginning takes place in New York City in 1893, and readers are introduced to the opulence that characterized the Gilded Age, a term coined by Mark Twain. The term wasn’t a compliment, but a metaphor that alluded to the true nature of the times. Although everything looked prosperous and glittering, underneath it all festered rot and corruption. This is such a fitting setting for this novel. The combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery, coupled with the fresh storyline, has moved this title to my “must” purchase list for my 6-12th grade school library.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House, for the advanced reader copy of this novel that I received in exchange for a review. My opinions are my own.

Izzy returned from a preparatory school just a few months ago completely changed; she is no longer the wild, rebellious sister Gwen remembers. Determined to figure out what happened to her sister Gwen rebels at her sister's Izzy's wedding and promptly sent to the same place, Delphi School for Girls. There she is met with halls lined with bookshelves and shadows that seem to reach for the girls when their backs are turned. While this school is supposed to reform troubled girls, it seems there is something much darker at play and when Gwen finds a note from her sister everything changes.

"The Library of Lost Girls" by Kristen Pipps is a twisting, dark academia story full of corruption and sisterhood. While Gwen feels isolated in the beginning she meets a tight group of girls that really portray a sisterhood. I loved Pipps' way of cueing the reader into things the main characters were forgetting and having a deeper understanding of the overall story. This book will be published just in time for Halloween and it's the perfect haunting read.

I was hooked from the beginning! Gwen ends up at the mysterious girls' school her sister attended to learn what happened to her. Isolated island. Dark halls, only lit by lanterns and candles. Girls with strange powers. A room where no one can remember what happened after leaving. Secret notes. Shadows that seem alive. Books from decades past that make no sense. Pipps excellently builds the mysterious school world and creates characters that make the reader feel the chill of walking down the hallways in the dark. Everything about this book makes it an awesome selection for young adults and adults alike.

The Library of Lost Girls by Kristen Pipps is meticulously crafted gothic fiction that deftly intertwines elements of horror and suspense. The narrative unfolds within the eerie confines of the Delphi School for Girls, where Gwen Donovan sets out to uncover the strange transformation in her sister Izzy, after she returns from school. The novel's complex plot and suspenseful unfolding captivate readers as they move along dark corridors and forbidden libraries filled with cryptic books bearing the names of former students. While its spooky atmosphere and chilling shocks may not be to every reader's taste, readers who appreciate a well-written gothic mystery will find it engrossing and unforgettable. It's a book that stays with you, prompting readers to ponder long after the final page is read.