Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook arc. Shoutout to the continued CJ supremacy from my fellows. Jenn Lee did a solid job with the audio, really nailing the submissive tone as well as the more solid-ground surety from later in the novel.

I’ve got to be honest, I found myself slipping during a slow day at work and was actually reading some reviews. That’s something I never do. I had already started it, so I guess I was just curious. For whatever reason, probably some Goodreads algorithm, some of the mid-negative reviews were toward the top. People claiming it wasn’t a horror, that it didn’t deliver…and I found this interesting (interesting enough to include in a review—even though the overall vibe of the book is not at all negative FYI) because it really didn’t match up with my experience. Sometimes when you aren’t getting along with a story you check the reviews and see people felt the same and it clicks. This was not that.

When Sadie finds out she’s pregnant, she knows there’s no way in hell she’s raising her child and newborn with an abusive partner. It’s the kick in the butt she’s needed to flee. Through mild planning that’s more shove-what-we-can-in-a-suitcase, she and her daughter end up outside the L’Arpin
Hotel on Erie Lake. As we can expect from a setup like this, a desperate job interview leads to new work and a place to lay low for a while. But as Sadie cleans the hotel (while an unsuspecting elderly live-in watches her daughter) she begins to question things at every turn. From seeing someone struggling in the pool, to a tentacled nuisance in the shower, things continue to get more and more odd and no one seems to be taking her seriously.

I felt that the novel really nailed the submissive personality. The abused person’s need to apologize and explain away. To accept things you’d never accept otherwise. The continuous self-sabotaging thoughts and self blame. As a person with anxiety, the train of thought felt familiar in a way, and I think the author really sold it as a layer in the novel that made each experience of Sadie’s more complex. Does she do, think, and accept things that may appear repetitive or even annoying? Absolutely. But that being engrained as her ‘normal’ is pivotal to her story. And I love a good story that can hit home on how horrific normal life and humans can be.

From there, this does have an almost cosmic twist to its horror. It reminded me of The Sundowner’s Dance in the sense that the climax also functions as a creature feature. And while your opinion on the ending is yours to feel however you’d like, this is where I really disagreed with those reviews I read. The audiobook I received was around 10 hours. The climax itself was over an hour long. For me that certainly delivers. I didn’t think it was short or underwhelming. It could have upped the gore for me, but I don’t think that was what the author was going for.

A creeping, slithering slow burn of a cosmic horror.

⛧The Cut by C. J. Dotson - I found the story to be interesting, but honestly, not much happened to warrant a book of this length. Sadie cleaned rooms, ran around town, and snooped around the hotel, that’s it. She had shit taste in men and her parents were equally as shitty as her taste which meant she had absolutely no support system so I give her props for 1, getting the courage to leave and 2, finding any means necessary to support herself and her daughter. Even if those means meant getting violated by shower tentacles.

This audiobook is narrated by Jenn Lee

•Thank you to @macmillan.audio

I kept wanting to pick this up/keep reading to see what would happen next and that's always a good sign. I thought the story was interesting and atmospheric for sure. I don't know that the ending was the most satisfying but overall I had a lot of fun reading this. I think it would be worth waiting to read this in the fall/around Halloween time if you are a seasonal reader.

I do think The Cut told the story of an abused woman running away in a very interesting way. This poor woman had to find a way to run away with her small child, start fresh while providing for her daughter and deal with other worldly elements all while being pregnant. I loved the hotel setting and the cast of side characters.

I do wish the creature feature elements were weaved into the story a little more seamlessly. It felt like they were sprinkled in and then we were rushed into the final act. Maybe I wanted more creepy elements. I did find the villain to be a good touch.

The narration was good as well.

Overall The Cut felt like a seaside hotel Nestlings kind of vibe.

This book started off giving me “The Ruins” vibes, which I loved and then made a path all its own. The plot was pretty slow and got confusing and I found myself zoning out towards the end. The narrator did a fantastic job, though.

A chilly, creepy AF horror story involving a young pregnant mother with a toddler on the run from her abusive ex who is hiding out in a motel only to get caught up in the mysterious and deadly goings on there. This one gave me The sundown motel by Simone St. James vibes in the best ways. Nothing speeds up a mother's heart than fearing for her children and this one definitely delivered on that front. Good on audio and definitely fits the bill for readers looking for a scary read. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wasn’t a huge fan of the voice for the narration and it was slightly predictable but the suspense and fast pace kept me interested without issue. I like how on point it was with online dating and the stranger behind the keyboard. I would recommend it.

I found this audiobook to be average. It lacked substance and failed to capture my attention. I believe the concept was solid, but the pacing was subpar.

Audiobook: 3.5/5
Ebook/Overall Story: 2.5/5

I swear I’m just on a bad streak with NetGalley. This was a book I was really excited to read. I actually put off starting it because I just knew it was going to be a good time—but that just wasn’t the case.

Once again, here’s another book with a great cover, an interesting concept, and even a strong setting for the story to unfold. There was so much potential here that it’s almost painful to see how the execution didn’t meet expectations.
The story follows a young woman escaping an abusive relationship. She has a daughter she’s very close to and is currently pregnant with her second child. With no close family she can count on, she finds herself taking a job at an older hotel. But while working there, she begins to realize the hotel might not be the safe haven for her family that she hoped for.

I was really hoping to get more of a creature feature out of this book—especially since I’ve been on such a horror kick lately. I’ve been watching a lot of horror movies and had just finished rewatching Slither, so I was expecting that small-town creepy vibe to come through. While I do think the book has some solid horror elements, the pacing seriously hinders the reading experience.

I was grateful to have the audiobook for an immersive read; it definitely made it easier to finish. The narration was really good, and I think the narrator did the best they could with the material. They brought to life the innocence, naïveté, and—quite frankly—sometimes annoying energy that kids can have in moments of intense danger, while also capturing the hurt, ache, and longing the mother feels for her daughter and how far she’s willing to go to protect her children.

But I’ll be so happy to never hear the word “stinker” again.

That said, the story began to lean more toward domestic horror—honestly, in one of the most bland and boring ways. I wanted more of the creature aspect, and felt it should’ve been introduced sooner. The beginning of the story was okay and built an interesting foundation, but it was also very slow. Nothing major happens until close to the end, and by that point, I found myself questioning some of the author’s choices.

I also didn’t connect much with the mother or daughter as characters. It made me wonder if the author gave the main character a traumatic past to spark a connection with the reader. Whether that was an attempt at sympathy or clearly designating who to root for, I can’t say. Though so many of the characters weren’t fully developed leaving only their trauma to connect to. In addition, much of the dialogue was repetitive and bland, which limited the emotional engagement. Outside of the flashbacks to her previous relationship, there weren’t many moments that deepened my connection to either character.

While I understand needing a catalyst to propel our main character down her path, I think just telling readers that she was escaping abuse and highlighting how unsupportive her parents had been would’ve been enough. So when their ex pops up near the end, it feels more like a sudden attempt to inject an additional thriller element to the story, but only took me out of the read. Meanwhile, I’m sure they’ll be some readers who will appreciate that distraction from the slithering, tentacled creatures lurking around the hotel.

This story had all the potential in the world, and I can absolutely see the paths it could’ve taken. But I didn’t really enjoy the ending, and the road to get there didn’t always hold my attention. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the audiobook to enhance the experience. Without it, I likely would have struggled to finish. Some elements felt underdeveloped, and the atmosphere didn’t get played up as much as it could have.

Still, I’m thankful to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read, listen, and review this book.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/8
•
L’Arpin Hotel wasn't the ideal place to work or even stay, but this is the place that Sadie landed on after leaving her abusive ex-husband. But on the first night, strange things happened. After running outside to help a guest and they mysteriously disappear and guests who leave without checking out, Sadie begins to feel uneasy. Refusing to be gaslit, Sadie digs deep into L'Arpin Hotel and its permanent residents.
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This book was a difficult one for me to rate, because while I liked the story, i felt that it really dragged on and i really struggled with the characters. I truly did not like the majority of the characters; especially Sadie - she seemed to make some really stupid decisions for someone who made a really amazing decision to leave an abusive relationship?? The pacing felt off to me, it felt like there was too much emphasis on the potential of what the big reveal would be that once the ending came it was anticlimactic. I did enjoy the ending and where Dotson went with this story (I always enjoy a good paranormal story), I just wish that it happened sooner, or the pacing was different.
•
I listened to this via audiobook. It was easy enough to follow. Jenn Lee was a great narrator for this. Definitely worth checking out the audio if you are a horror fan!
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Overall, this just didn't hit for me the way that I expected it to. Horror fans give this one a try and see what you think! Huge thank you to C. J. Dotson, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Well that was weird and odd. Single mom. Monsters or her? I’m still not sure if I liked it or not lol. I will try this author again though.

Atmospheric and creepy. I enjoyed the supernatural bent of the book along with the overall creepy horror vibe. The audio was well-narrated, clear, and nicely acted. A creepy horror novel that will also appeal to fans of traditional mysteries because of the tight plot.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5 rounded up)

The Cut by C.J. Dotson delivered a unique and compelling concept that had me hooked from the start. I really enjoyed the crackling tension woven throughout the story—it kept the atmosphere taut and my nerves slightly frayed in the best way.

The most chilling parts, though, were the flashbacks to Sadie’s past. The scenes of domestic violence were genuinely heartbreaking and added a layer of emotional depth that made the stakes feel personal and raw.

That said, I do wish the mystery had been a bit more layered. The reveal came on fast and could’ve used more breadcrumb clues along the way. It was also fairly easy to guess who the suspect was early on, which took a little of the punch out of the finale.

Still, it was a fun and fast-paced read! I listened to the audiobook, which was quite well done and helped bring the tension to life in a visceral way.

I actually like this book. I saw the review ratings first but the summary had me hooked. Weird fiction is a vibe!

Received a free audio copy via NetGalley.

I was highly anticipating this book, so I was so excited when I got the opportunity to listen to it! I love that the setting takes place in a creepy hotel and the main character gets a job there. The workers are also very odd and weird stuff starts happening. This was a solid horror book and I was very satisfied with it.

This book was okay for me. I felt like it wasn’t completely flushed out and just didn’t keep my attention

TW/CW: Domestic abusive relationship, unwanted pregnancy, child abuse, language, drinking, toxic family relationships

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
A historic hotel long past its prime and huddled along The Cut, a questionable Lake Erie beach, isn’t Sadie Miles’ ideal place to raise a toddler while also navigating her second pregnancy. After finally fleeing her abusive ex-fiancé, though, Sadie’s new housekeeping position and free room at L’Arpin Hotel are the best she can manage.

On her first night, Sadie runs to help a guest struggling in the hotel’s pool only to find the water calm and empty when she gets there, leaving her with a lingering unease. When a guest then goes missing and her manager insists they simply left without checking out, Sadie suspects he’s covering up darker goings-on in the hotel.

After her ex, Sadie won't let anyone convince her that what she’s experiencing isn’t real again. So, she keeps digging, quickly uncovering suspicious interactions with the staff, mysteriously vanishing security cameras, more missing guests, and things that go bump in the night...and drip in the walls, slither in the tub, and squirm in the halls. Everything isn't as it seems within the dim hallways of L’Arpin. Sadie has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide; she'll need to keep her wits about her to survive and keep her toddler and unborn child safe from whatever lurks nearby.
Release Date: April 8th, 2025
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Writing style was decent
2. Monster elements

What I Didn't Like:
1. Hated the characters
2. Ridiculous things happen that
3. Book dragged

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Yeah, leave your daughter with a complete stranger.

Sadie notices that a woman disappears from the pool and then leaves her stuff in the room and one day one of a job she needs more than anything she decides to invest what happened to her. It's so stupid. No one would care that much on

These characters are driving me insane. The way they act like they have a right to see is crazy and then the way they act like they can just dictate to what she's doing. Of course Sadie drives me insane because she knows she needs this job and she has so much already on her plate but she's more worried about solving Mysteries than working.

I'm sorry but how is the hotel manager able to pretend like Melton work there for 6 months? You're going to tell me this 19-year-old did not one time you social media to post that she was at work or what she did there? The police never pinged her phone at this location? Nothing? Like it's just ridiculous. You can't just disappear nowadays and pretend like you didn't go to a job for six mon

Omg omg she would rather risk her child and future baby living in a hotel where she sees questionable worms and disappearing people becauee a room isn't spot clean. I hate Sadie. Terrible.

I am over this child talking in this book.

Girl get the hell out the hotel and get any place to live. It can not be that bad out there when you are faced with a boss that is toxic and weird stuff happening. Plus how is she cleaning without touching the water???

I don't get how she is working 6 days a week and is the only housekeeper but is able to still have time to go for walks with her daughter and hang out during the day. It's January so it's night at like 5pm.

Sadie's constant giving into to Izzy is so annoying. I'd love to stop with the child pov now.

Final Thoughts:
Do you love books where a main character does such stupid things? How about a woman that loves to put her daughter in danger and ditches her around every corner? This is the story for you!

Sadie is the character that puts all kinds of dangers on the back burner to solve a mystery from the moment she is hired on day one. She already has her own issues to work through and is struggling to get back on her feet but she throws herself into things that don't matter. Then when she is presented with a choice to leave the environment that is again toxic to her and her child she chooses to NOT leave but instead make excuses. Yes, this whole thing could be an example of how Sadie's coping skills are not so great with dealing with her ex and the dangers she was put in, but I felt no pity for a woman that pushes her child to the side over and over to save people that treat them not so great.

I hated the pov of Izzy. It was annoying and got on my nerves the way she would whine. It made me feel like I was hanging with a friend and watching her give her child anything she wanted if she even threatened to cry. I was over it.

3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.

I received an advance audiobook copy of The Cut by C.J. Dotson from netgalley.

I enjoyed the narration of The Cut. Easy to follow.

The main character has good character development throughout the story. And enough background information that you can understand her current life.

The cover is gross, and a good representation of the creepy vibes in the story.

I wouldn't so much categorize this as horror though. Nothing really scary happens. Maybe more like a suspense.

The story goes at a slow pace, and there are a few unanswered questions, at least for me.

Overall, I still enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

Macabre and twisted, a character driven horror novel with lots of ick and tension. I really enjoyed the female MC’s growth over the course of the narrative and the great pacing even with all the inner monologue that was crucial to the story. The only downside was the slightly annoying voicing of the little girl throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I was intrigued by the cover and premise of this book and sadly, it failed to deliver.
I think the idea was very solid, but the pacing really suffered. Most of the plot happened within the last 20% of the book. I found that I couldn't really connect with the characters, so by the time we got to the actual plot of the book, I didn't really care what was happening. The ending felt rushed and it lacked tension. The writing was solid, so I would be willing to try this author again. The narration was also good.