This was truly a haunting read. Emma has to deal with the aftermath of the disappearance of her sister and mother. Everyone seems to have given up except for her. Is it connected to the mystery of the Moss?? This book was made for a gloomy October weekend. The scenery was beautifully descriptive and it really set the tone for the haunting story.

★ ★ ★ ½

I've always been a sucker for houses that hold history, and I can say confidently that The Moss has delivered—sharing with me its own little folktale of the rips in the seams between this world and one that is not-quite-ours, tethered by hope and want and the unwavering resolve to not give up on those we love. Driven by an urge to find the fate that befell her presumed-dead sister and mother, protagonist Emma Carver provides a distinct determination that feels real to us: that doesn't cross over into the realm of "badass for the sake of it" like some other young adult FMCs I've come across. Though the writing feels simple, as is characteristic of YA, it also works in this book's favor—especially as it doesn't try to preach moral pedantry to its readers and lets the themes of the story speak for themselves.

More than anything, I appreciate that this book didn't try to overstay its welcome or try to be something too lofty and then fail to deliver. Its simplicity works well, and allows it to devote more time to the smaller, emotional moments that really flesh out the characters and their worries (and, of course, the hauntings in the bog). With that said, the environment seemed more eerie than downright scary, which—though incredible to build the atmosphere that creeped into the hearts of the Carver family—lent itself to me not feeling as impacted by the climactic scenes of the novel as I could have. Overall a great title, but perhaps may resonate more with those less acclimated to horror as a genre.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I'm a huge fan of eco-horror in general and this novel was a great introduction to bog horror. I really enjoyed the atmosphere---the gothic house, the sinister bog that lures people in, the town that thinks this family is haunted/cursed, etc. This'll be a great creepy read for autumn!

It did drag a little in the middle but overall it was still enjoyable!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Moss” by Lisa Lueddecke is a haunting, atmospheric YA thriller that sinks its tendrils into you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. With gothic undertones and a creeping sense of dread, it’s a story that’s equal parts supernatural mystery and emotional exploration of grief, sisterhood, and the enduring pull of the past.

Set in the eerie town of Scarrow, Maine, the book centers around 17-year-old Emma, whose life has been upended by the mysterious disappearances of both her mother and older sister, Eve. A year after Eve vanishes, Emma returns home from Los Angeles, drawn back to the boggy, moss-covered land surrounding her childhood home. The Moss is more than just a setting here. It pulses with unsettling energy, an entity unto itself that lures, whispers, and threatens to consume.

Lueddecke’s prose is lush and lyrical, the kind that paints pictures in your mind and conjures goosebumps on your skin. From the creaking old house to the spectral sightings and strange dreams, the atmosphere is thick with unease. There’s a slow, deliberate pacing to the narrative that might test some readers' patience, but it serves a purpose -- building a dense fog of suspense before plunging you into the heart of the mystery. By the time Emma ventures into the Moss, the dread is palpable and inescapable.

The emotional core of the book lies in the bond between Emma and Eve. Even in absence, their relationship drives the story forward. Emma’s unwavering belief that her sister might still be alive, somewhere inside the Moss, lends the story a tragic urgency. Her journey is as much about confronting personal grief as it is about surviving a supernatural threat.

The horror here isn’t flashy; it’s subtle and psychological, with a few well-placed jump-scares and a deeply unsettling tone that lingers long after the final page. At times, it reads like a dark fairytale or long-lost legend, filled with whispers in the dark and shadowy figures in the fog. Readers who enjoy atmospheric stories will feel right at home and equally unnerved.

While some parts of the middle section drag slightly, and you may crave more immediate answers, the payoff is well worth the wait. The final act delivers both emotional and narrative closure, with a twisty, evocative ending that stays true to the story’s dreamlike, nightmarish feel.

Overall, “The Moss” is a gorgeously written, deeply eerie tale about loss, love, and the darkness we carry with us. It’s a slow-burn ghost story for those who love atmosphere, sisterly bonds, and supernatural forces rooted in nature. Just don’t read it near a swamp or alone at night.

Alert! Bog horror, bog horror!

Okay, now that that's out of my system, let's talk about Emma, our seventeen-year-old protagonist who’s basically living my worst nightmare: stuck in a creaky old house in Maine next to a bog called the Moss that’s so eerie it might as well have its own horror movie soundtrack. I mean, a misty, sinister bog? That’s the kind of place where I’d lose my favorite scrunchie and my sanity in one go. Emma’s dealing with ghosts—literal and figurative—because her sister vanished into this bog, and her mom disappeared too. The vibes? Straight-up gothic, like if Jane Eyre got lost in a Stephen King novel. I was hooked.

Lueddecke’s writing is where this book shines like a full moon on a foggy night. It’s lush, atmospheric, and so vivid I could practically smell the peat and hear the creak of that haunted house. I read most of this curled up on my recliner, and I swear I kept glancing at my windows expecting to see some shadowy figure staring back. The way she weaves the bond between Emma and her missing sister had me tearing up—ugh, my heart! It’s like, I wanted to hug Emma and also maybe sage the entire house for her. Sisterly love wrapped in creeping dread? Yes, please.

It’s a slow burn, and I mean ~slow~. Like, I get it, we’re building tension, but sometimes I was like, “Emma, girl, can we speed-run this ghost hunt? I have laundry to do.” The horror elements are deliciously spooky, but a few jump-scares felt like they were trying too hard, like a Halloween pop-up store animatronic. Still, when the chills hit, they hit.

What I loved most, though, was how the story felt like a long-lost fable, all rich and dreamy. It’s not just a ghost story; it’s about grief, family, and facing your fears. I was rooting for Emma so hard, though I won’t lie, I wanted a birmore closure. Like, throw me a bone, Lisa, I’m emotionally invested here!

The Moss is a gorgeous, spooky read that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good haunted house tale with heart or a good bog horror (yes, that is a genre!). I could’ve done with one less “what was that shadow?” moment, but it’s so atmospheric and heartfelt I couldn’t put it down. Read it, love it, and maybe don’t go near any bogs, swamps, marshes, or fens afterward.


(Yes, I was googling the differences between wetlands halfway through this novel).

⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE MOSS by Lisa Lueddecke

Thank you Netgalley and Simon&Shuester (SimonTeen) for the earc (Sept 30)

A year after the disappearance of her sister, Emma returns home. With no leads on her sister's disappearance Emma is left wondering what happened. The Moss calls to her, pulling her in as things lurk in the shadows. Emma can't help but wonder if the Moss called to her sister too.
What initially drew me into THE MOSS was the cover and description. With its eeriness, plant-like/environment-y atmosphere, I immediately thought this sounded something that Amy Goldsmith and Ginny Myers Sain would write (both of which are very talented authors who create gothic-y, very moody, atmospheres). Safe to say, with its chilling atmosphere, descriptions like pictures being painted, and something like the Moss itself, this book hit those notes.
THE MOSS is utterly creepy. This YA thriller has notes of horror that really left me on edge and with a lot of questions. I wanted to know EVERYTHING. What Emma was seeing, what happened to her sister, is the Moss a living thing? Throughout the entirety of this book, that's what I was thinking. Parts of this book felt a little dragged out, specifically toward the middle. I think---for the most part---that's because I wanted to know the answers to those questions I listed, and I wanted to know them asap. Like wanting the book to be over kind of asap---but not in a bad way. Despite that, I liked this book. I thought the characters were likeable, and that it was all out interesting. This book comes out just in time for Halloween with all its thrills and chills.

Ahh, a gothic thriller perfect for all year round spooky time? Absolutely count me in. This was so atmospheric and good I cannot even. I will definitely be recommending it to everyone come fall. :D

I’m all in when an author invites me into the chilling halls of a haunted, sinister, gothic house—one that gives me shivers, makes me hide under the covers, and yet keeps me compulsively flipping pages long past midnight. There’s nothing quite like that creeping dread and heart-pounding suspense to get the adrenaline pumping—and this YA paranormal horror mystery delivers everything I crave.

Set in a ghostly town in northern Maine—a place that feels straight out of Stephen King’s eerie universe—this story has serious “Haunting of Hill House” vibes, complete with a sprawling, moss-covered property that feels alive in the most terrifying way. The bog itself, known as the Moss, becomes a character of its own: vast, mysterious, and utterly menacing.

The book opens with a strong, atmospheric scene of two young sisters, Eve and Emma, playing in their strange childhood home in Scarrow when a bird hits the window. What follows—an act of kindness and the appearance of a spectral deer—sets the tone perfectly. I was hooked from page one. There’s a constant sense of foreboding, and I just knew something wasn’t right.

Fast-forward: tragedy has struck. Their mother is gone, and now Eve has disappeared too—leaving behind only a cryptic warning to avoid the Sedge Man, a chilling figure shrouded in mystery. With nowhere else to turn, their father sends Emma to live in Los Angeles with an aunt, far from the whispers and trauma of their hometown. But distance doesn’t bring peace. The past still haunts Emma—until, 368 days later, she makes the bold decision to return home.

Almost instantly, Emma is plagued by strange visions: a ghostly girl she doesn’t recognize appears on the plane, and upon landing, she’s met by Jordan, the boy who once confessed his feelings to her. While her emotions are in turmoil, her mission is clear—find Eve, uncover the truth, and face whatever darkness has taken root in their home. But the closer she gets, the more the moss seems to tighten its grip. Her dreams blur with reality, and the house seems to pulse with secrets. What really happened to Eve? What became of their mother? And most haunting of all—will Emma be next?

The ending was a showstopper—jaw-dropping and unexpected in the best way. While the pacing unfolds slowly, it builds tension in a perfectly haunting rhythm. This is a dark, eerie, gorgeously written tale filled with sisterly bonds, secrets, and supernatural suspense. If you're a horror fan who loves ghost stories with depth and dread, this is your next must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Goosebump-inducing, sisterhood-powered stars!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing me with this deliciously dark digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I loved every minute of the dread!

This was an okay read. I love a good gothic fiction read, but this one did not really wow me in any capacity. It was not bad at all, but not great.

The atmosphere of this book was really good, it gave the perfect vibe for a horror story. The haunted house that seemed to have this dark presence looming over it, the bog luring people in, and the madness of how the bog seeped into people’s very souls. The eerie vibes were great. It did drag out a bit in the middle but the start of the story was good and the ending was worth the read.

Plot: 8/10
Pace: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Enjoyability: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character: Emma

Favorite Quote: ❝ I’m happy to let its darkness burn, and let the starlight and sunshine and the light that comes with hope flood the shadows until they vanish like frost in the dawn. ❞

Ohhhh my god. I have started a new section on my shelf with gothic reads that have dripping prose and feel like sticky summers and as soon as I get my hands on a physical copy, that is where this is going. If you like Ginny Myers Sain or Skyla Arndt, this is absolutely the book for you. These images will stick in my head for a long time.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the galley in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was really good. Gothic atmosphere, horror/ thriller… had me on the edge of my seat at times. A must read come the fall!

What AN INTERESTING book! I haven't read anything by this author, and I loved this book, being my first! The story was fast paced and captivating, the word choice was wonderful, and the plot had me gripping the edge of my blanket!

Thank you to Simon teen and netgalley for the arc. All thoughts are my own. This was creepy, mysterious, and all around a good ya horror book. I was intrigued by what the was moss and how everything would play out and wasn't disappointed.

After Emily's sister Eve goes missing in the moss next to their house. Her dad sends her away for a year but now she's back. The moss calls to her and her dad is afraid to lose her as well. There's many mysteries with the moss. This book was so mysterious I had to keep reading.