This is my first novel from Justine Champine and I'm really impressed! Needle Lake begins as a slow-burn character-driven mystery that slowly turns into a thriller. It's told through the eyes of Ida, an autistic 14 year old girl who's world is shaken by the arrival of her cousin Elna--who is harboring some dark secrets.

Ida was a very interesting and fresh protagonist. The handling of a neurodivergent character was done with so much care and attention. She is a compelling narrator with so many rich thoughts and feelings. She kept my attention throughout the whole novel and the novel benefits from her unique perspectives.

I thought the story itself was really well-done as well. It's a slow burn but has such a rewarding payoff. The depth of the story is amazing, the themes of coming of age, girlhood, and family ties culminate into a well-executed story.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this novel. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own*

4.5 rounded

I read the author’s debut novel, Knife River, and really enjoyed it, so I was thrilled to get my hands on her second book. Once again, Justine proves she has a real talent for crafting richly developed, character-driven stories that pull you in.

First off, the cover art is absolutely stunning—one of those books you’re proud to display on your shelf. But it’s what’s inside that really shines. Justine has a keen eye for emotional nuance and layered storytelling. Her characters are deeply human and fully realized, and she allows their relationships and inner lives to unfold gradually, which gives the novel a wonderfully immersive quality.

This is very much a slow burn in terms of pacing—if you’re looking for instant action or dramatic twists right out of the gate, you won’t find them here. But what you will find is a deeply rewarding, thoughtful story that takes its time and earns every emotional payoff. The intricacies of the plot and the depth of the characters make the journey well worth it.

I’m really impressed by Justine’s growth as a writer, and I’ll be eagerly watching for whatever she writes next. Check this one out on publication day, December 2nd and in the meantime, Knife River.

Elna and Ida are cousins living on opposite ends of the girlhood spectrum. When life brings them together in Ida’s small town of Mineral, she’s sucked into the mysterious charisma of her older cousin, who’s keeping secrets and burying a darkness.

Needle Lake was a slow, dreadful burn. Through the eyes of Ida, an autistic teenage girl, the world is cruel and doesn’t understand her. Every feeling and thought is visceral. The depiction of her autism in this time period is bittersweet, and made me feel so much empathy and anger all at once. Empathy for the brilliant and confused girl; anger for the way she’s been treated.

Elna was the perfect contrast to Ida. Filled with mischief, darkness, and secrets, she shows Ida a whole new world. Playing the part of the cool girl, this character really makes you consider how circumstances shape people and their perspectives.

Overall, I really enjoyed Needle Lake and the insight into autism in women that it provided. I loved how dread-inducing it was. It was a more character-driven read than I was anticipating, and I think I loved that about it. The second half did feel a little rushed compared to the first half, but I don’t think that took very much away from the whole experience. I also adored Justine Champine’s writing in this. It was beautiful!

This book was okay. The description/plot seemed interesting. It was easy to get into the story, and it was an easy read. It also contained some neurodivergent representation. This book was more character-driven than plot-driven, which is not my preferred style. Sometimes, there was too much description; it could have been reduced and made the story seem less heavy. It would have also helped with the pacing issue. The pacing was all over the place. What could have saved this book was the ending, but it did not deliver. Also related to the pacing issue, the ending was rushed and didn't add much to the story. None of the consequences for the actions of the MC are shown.

I'm so glad this one is being marketed as general adult fiction and not a thriller. While there is a shocking death, this is, at its heart, a character-driven family saga. The protagonists are two very different cousins, who come to life on the page. The author has done a wonderful job of crafting an entertaining narrative that examines what it means to grow up as a girl. Arresting and evocative, NEEDLE LAKE is another great novel from Justine Champine (author of KNIFE RIVER), who writes with an elegant sophistication that I admire.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

What a great book. I really enjoyed it. It’s a pretty short book but had a great story. Not a book full of action but more like a drama. Ida and Elna are cousin who have a bunch of adventures.

Thank you for the advanced copy NetGalley, Justine Champine and Random House. I appreciate it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Ida was born with a heart condition that limits her ability to participate in physical activities. Ida’s cousin Elna who has a completely different upbringing, is coming to stay with them for a few weeks. Elna is more carefree and daring but she still treats Ida like an equal. Something happens that puts a strain on Ida and Elna’s newly forming relationship, which changes how they perceive each other and their surroundings.

This is a compelling read, once it gets going, but it did start off quite slowly. The writing is beautiful and very descriptive, but sometimes a bit too much. This is an emotional and reflective read and gives perspective on growing up and interacting with someone who changes your worldview. I recommend this book if you’re interested in the premise. It does make you think it’s going to have some thrilling elements, but it’s more of a family drama/suspense. I will check out more books from this author.

I am unfortunately DNFing this book. I have not DNFed an ARC before but unfortunately I can't finish. I've tried multiple times to read and I'm currently on page 70 and I'm not getting pulled in. There's nothing going on besides the girls hanging out. There's no excitement. And being this far in, in such a short book there should be by now.

I received an ARC of this novel from netgalley, and I found it to be a quick, engaging read. This story is really about girlhood, honestly, and follows two very different teenage girls as they explore their relationships with the world, and the one they are forming with each other. We get some atmospheric settings, some family angst and drama, and a little bit of thriller thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed this read and appreciated the brevity as well as how the story was told.

Justine Champine's "Needle Lake" is a quietly compelling read, distinguished by its thoughtful and well-crafted prose. Champine possesses a keen eye for detail, painting vivid pictures of the natural setting and the inner lives of her characters without resorting to unnecessary embellishment. The narrative unfolds with a deliberate pace, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere and the nuances of the relationships explored.

What stands out most is Champine's ability to convey complex emotions and subtle tensions through her precise and evocative language. The dialogue feels authentic, and the internal monologues offer insightful glimpses into the characters' motivations and struggles. While the plot may not be overtly action-packed, the emotional depth and the beauty of the writing create a captivating experience.

Huge thank-you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for giving me a chance to review this ARC! 🥀🖤

Darkly profound (and first New Adult genre) read 👀 with tremendous depth, morbid curiosity and chaotic uncertainty that holds your attention until the very, very end! The story is heartwrenching, emotional, and eloquently written as Justine's writing transcends you into the nostalgic and uncomfortable period of adolescence— through a truly sensory visercal experience, and beautifully spotlights neurodiverse representation in literature, in particular those internal soul-searching thoughts and questions faced during this extremely sensitive period in girlhood.

Captivating, easy to read, and attention grabbing chapters keep you engaged and gripped to the pages and I felt the pacing was well balanced to really keep you on the edge of your seat, until that gut-punching reveal...

🎉👏🏻 Seriously, I want to shout out and give kudos to this reading experience 😭🥹 It has certainly put Justine Champine's books on my radar and I can't wait to read more of her work😍

This book does touch on some heavy subject matter, so reader discretion advised! ⚠️

Ida, fourteen, has a heart problem that excludes her from large swaths of her life and has made her a target for teasing and bullying. Perfectly happy to go to the library and study geography during her PE period, other students view her as strange and punish her for it. When her older cousin Elna comes to visit, Ida is excited at the prospect of a new friend and confidant.

I really enjoyed author Champine's descriptors and prose. When I read I use my Kindle to highlight particularly good passages and I found myself marking up (digitally only, don't fret Booksta friends) a good portion of the book so that I could revisit the beautiful language at a later date. 4.25 stars for this lovely/ arresting story that takes place in the densely populated logging towns in Washington State.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The narrator of this novel is Ida, an autistic, highly intelligent, sheltered, 14 year old girl from a logging town north of Seattle.
Wired differently and socially inept, she seeks comfort in the predictably of her books, maps and flags. She is a deep thinker , but is also physically and emotionally fragile, friendless and lonely.

Her carefully constructed world jumps the rails when her steely, tempered cousin Elna, moves in for an extended stay.


Elna is calloused and cynical…toughened by adversity, matured far beyond her 16 years by a difficult and disappointing life.

Ida is easily lured into Elna’s mesmerizing web, and, as you can imagine, troubles ensue.


Ida’s POV reads like a disorienting fever dream.
The journey into her unique mind is brilliantly written.
The way she focuses on minor details , the way she obsessed over one aspect of a setting or situation… closing out other components of the experience.

It feels like a slow-burn novel, layered with emotion, honest in its prose and perspective.

But as Ida is pulled into some dark misadventures, it actually shifts gears into a compelling page-turner, almost a thriller, with surprising twists and an unexpected finale.

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley and Justine Champine for the honor of reading this novel before its release date. Very enjoyable.

Needle Lake by Justine Champine follows the story of 14 year old, Ida over the Christmas holidays in her rural logging town of Mineral, Washington. When an unexpected visit from her older city cousin, Elna occurs both girls lives are changed in ways no one ever expected. This is a coming of age story culminating in a man's death and the revelation of hidden family secrets. I really liked Ida's character as a high spectrum autistic teenager struggling to understand and fit into the world around her. Justine has done a great job of giving a glimpse into the way an autistic person views and experiences the world. Ida's character is naive,likeable,trusting and seeking acceptance. On the other hand, Elna is manipulative, self-serving, and wields her sexuality as a weapon. Justine descriptive narrative slowly reveals the characters and the storyline. However, I wish there was more dialogue between the characters and not so much reliance on the narrative. It was a slower paced story than I usually like. That said , there were some unexpected twists and turns that kept my interest to the satisfying end. Thank you Netgalley and the Dial Press for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This short novel was wonderfully written and beautifully captures what it feels like to be a young girl different from everyone around her and who doesn’t quite fit in no matter how hard she tries.

The descriptions of simple overwhelm that anyone highly sensitive to lights or sounds feels were spot on, as was the description of attachment that any young tween may feel towards the first person that shows any kindness to them.

At some points, I wasn’t sure where this story was going or where it would end up, and overall, it was a satisfying and quick read with a diverse set of characters.

Needle Lake offers a moody, introspective glimpse into a pivotal winter in the life of fourteen-year-old Ida, a fragile but sharp girl whose quiet world is upended by the arrival of her enigmatic cousin, Elna. The novel is at its best when it lingers in Ida’s internal world—her obsession with maps, her yearning for connection, and the way she watches Elna with a mix of admiration and unease. The setting, a damp and isolating Washington logging town, adds to the story’s quietly oppressive tone, serving as a fitting backdrop to a tale of adolescent longing and hidden danger.

The writing is lyrical and observant, with a slow burn that leans heavily on atmosphere and character over plot. While the novel captures the tension and intensity of early teenage emotions—especially those sparked by admiration and identity—it sometimes struggles to maintain narrative momentum. The central mystery, involving a man’s death in the woods, unfolds more as a backdrop than a driving force, which may leave some readers wanting a bit more urgency or clarity in the payoff.

Still, Needle Lake succeeds in painting a vivid, if somewhat meandering, portrait of girlhood on the cusp of transformation. Ida is a compelling narrator, and her shifting perception of Elna—between awe and suspicion—is nuanced and believable. The novel may not deliver high drama, but its emotional undercurrents run deep for those patient enough to sink into its quiet shadows.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Needle Lake! It is set in a small logging town in Washington State in 1990, complete with all of our favorite millennial references. Ida is a fourteen year old autistic girl who is struggling with figuring out why she experienced life differently than others. Her sixteen year old cousin comes to visit and Ida is fascinated by her.
I thought the author did a great job of getting Ida's thoughts, feelings, and experiences on the page. I didn't feel like there was unnecessary dialogue or descriptions and everything in the book supported or moved the story. You really felt like you were in Washington in the 90's and like you were truly seeing the world through Ida's eyes. Highly recommend this book, especially if you were ever a teenager or grew up in the 90's.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

What a beautiful, haunting story of adolescence and family. I devoured this novel, and now, a few days later, am still thinking about it. The writing is incredible; every word feels deliberate, and the descriptions of the PNW made me feel like I was there, watching Ida navigate her life, her town, and her identity. The characters are complex and representative, and while Ida's story is unique, I found a lot of familiarity in her relationships and those around her. While the story is about Ida, my thoughts keep coming back to the tangled family web and how Ida's family navigated it. I feel like I can't say more without spoilers, but this truly might be one of the best books I've ever read, and I can't wait until it's published so I can buy copies for everyone I know.

Coming of age story set in a logging town. The book overall was good but I found for myself the story lagging just a bit. Initially I was sucked into the story at the beginning. Pace was a little slow for me and found myself skimming some of the story to see how it progressed and ended.


Thank you to NetGalley, author Justine Champine and Random House | The Dial Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

Knife River, Justine Champion's debut novel, was my favorite novel of 2024 so I was excited for her new novel, Needle Lake. Champine did not disappoint with this coming of age story about 14 year old Ida. Ida is living with her mother in the logging town of Mineral, Oregon. Her life changes when her older cousin Elna shows up and takes her under her wing. In a world where Ida is treated as "other"- Elna becomes the old sister and confidant that she craves. All is not what is seems here and as the well paced novel progresses the sense of foreboding increases. Champions writing is lyrical and I could not stop reading. Readers of liz Moore will love Justine Champion's storytelling. Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy.