Ended up liking this book more than I originally thought. I enjoyed all the unreliable narrators and the creepy settings. I appreciated all the allusions to Frankenstien and gothic literature. I can see a lot of students enjoying this text!

I am genuinely fascinated by the fact that authors who write for teenagers continue to write books that are 400 pages long. There is a very small number, as a high school English teacher I feel I can speak with authority here, of students who will stay with a story that is very plodding for 400 pages. I really liked this author‘s other books and so I was excited for this one. I think this is her first for into this genre. I really liked the concept way too long to get there and by the time it did I was much less invested than I had been on page one. The ending leaves you feeling both as if it is too tied up with a bow and like we’ve left the door open for a sequel we don’t need.

I really enjoyed this as it was a strong psychological element that I wanted and was engaged with the suspenseful atmosphere that I was hoping for. This was a strong psychological thriller novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters were everything that I wanted in this and had that secrets that I was expecting. Jennifer Niven wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

Different than what I thought it was going to be about. Just wasn’t for me at the moment. I was bored the entire time reading

The devils in the details and sometimes that’s the fun of it all.

“We Were Monsters” brings 8 students together for a chance to have their work turned into what every art media they desire promising fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams as long as they impress their mentor, a famous author in her own right and the survivor of an attack on the school during her term but things are not as they seem and as the group gets smaller they find themselves curious as to how much is real and how much is fiction.

I loved this book! What a fun and exciting ride! A lot of literary references are made with a majority being tied to Frankenstein, however I thought the moments teasing Dorian Gray was fantastic in describing this story where the pretty portrait wilts and decays showing the true rot beneath.

All of the characters were fantastic especially as the tension rises and you see how quickly they can turn on each other with Effy and Arlo’s connection being one of the strongest. With two people having that kind of history it would have been easier to play into that pain and anxiety and it was nice to see them work through that, as well as their individual problems, while also dealing with forces that were doing their best to keep them as enemies.

I love dark academia and the psychological element or torture rather they endure is absolutely wild to read and just the eagerness to prove themselves without fully understanding the risks they are taking was such fun and there’s a little bit of a Yellowjackets like moment sprinkled in that I really enjoyed.


**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

A Gothic tale of Dark Academia with a group isolated in a mysterious house? Yes, please. Eight students are chosen to take part in an exclusive writing retreat. Their mentor, Meredith Graffam, is a highly successful and controversial figure. Soon, her teaching methods start getting curiouser and curiouser until the students fear for their sanity and safety. I loved the strange manor, where all the rooms are connected in different ways. I found the characters intriguing and, despite being privileged teenagers, I didn’t hate them. This is usually a problem with YA for me. I’m too old to have much patience with their problems. But this group was relatable enough to make me root for them. My issue with this novel is what other reviewers have mentioned: the plot was a little slow. Graffam talks to the students, mentors and manipulates them and we get the full lesson. When they talk about books and literature, I enjoyed the content. But the personal dialogues about their lives after a while got a bit tiresome and slowed down what would otherwise be a really good plot. The last part of the novel was fantastic and suspenseful. This is a solid book, if you have the patience for a slow burner.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House-Knopf.

This is a new genre for Niven, and I have really enjoyed all of her books! Her attempt to write a psychological thriller because they are what she loves to read is such a good lesson for us all! The setting development is so well done— I love the moody, January vibes and the opulent, spooky mansion they stay in, the secret notes and invitation to the writing class. I would have loved more concluding details about the characters and their personal lives, not just the professional details since they are incorporated throughout the book. Meredith is such an interesting hero vs. villain character development, and the concept of what is ethical to include in our writing is a central question of the novel.
I absolutely appreciated the variety of allusions— mythical, literary, musical, TV, pop culture, etc are woven into the concept of identity, monsters within us and around us, and fate vs. free will. I will definitely be using excepts for my classroom to teach allusions!

All the Bright Places is one of my all-time favorite books so when I saw that Jenifer Niven had a new book coming out, I was so excited! Niven tackles a genre that she loves but has never written. When We Were Monsters is a psychological thriller that explores the concept of free will and both the light and darkness that dwells in each of us. I loved the prose and the interwoven literary references such as the works of Mary Shelley and Sylvia Plath. The setting plays a huge role in providing a dark suspenseful atmosphere. I mean who doesn't love an isolated New England estate on the grounds of an elite boarding school in the middle of the winter where a murder happened many years ago. Eight students were chosen to attend a three-week immersive writing workshop under the mentorship of a highly acclaimed bestselling author, actress, director, and screenwriter. The dual POVs is very interesting especially since Effy and Arlo had a past together. It doesn't take long before it becomes apparent that Meredith, the mentor, is a bit deranged as some of her "lessons" are questionable and even dangerous. Each student feels a personal connection with Meredith, but the lines of trust become blurred as they discover they are being manipulated and pitted against one another. The stakes are high and the winning student at the end of three weeks will win a 15,000 scholarship and have their work published and produced. This is definitely a different version of Jennifer Niven but it's an enjoyable book that is hard to put down.

Everything about the premise should have been right up my alley - dark academia, writer's retreat, storm induced isolation...What i got instead had glimmers of really enjoyable story telling mired in a sand pit of occasionally incoherent vignettes with razor thin connections.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

At an elite New England boarding school, eight students are selected for an exclusive storytelling workshop, and only after quite some time do truly significant events begin to unfold.

This book feels more like a meditative drama with elements of romance and psychological tension. It’s not a thriller, I wasn’t shocked.

The atmosphere is strong, the writing is simple, and it fits well within the dark academia aesthetic. The story has dual POVs, which works well, allowing us to see different perspectives.

I found the first half boring, only around the 60% mark did things start to get more interesting.

If you enjoy stories focused on inner exploration, a group of people in an isolated place, and a hint of mystery, this might be for you. But if you’re expecting more of a thriller, this isn’t it. It’s like a short version of The Secret History.

Each character has their own secrets, traumas, and desires.

I think this one may be controversial with readers. If someone goes into this expecting a Karen McManus/Holly Jackson-esque thriller that's fast paced and full of twists, they're almost guaranteed to be disappointed. This is simply not that kind of book.

I liked the vibes/atmosphere in this, though I had different expectations than what I got. Without delving too deep into spoilers, I expected certain plot elements to happen a lot sooner in the book based on the description. Made the pacing drag for me. It doesn't help that the book opens with a prologue that spells out what's to come, yet it takes a very long time to catch up to the present. And the ending isn't anything that hasn't already been done before in previous YA thrillers, so it's hard to justify the slow pacing up until that point.

That being said, I loved the writing style. The prose is atmospheric and a healthy mix of commercial/literary, which fits perfectly in the dark academia sphere. Effy and Arlo were both enjoyable protagonists, and I found their connection very sweet. I do think there could've been more emphasis on the thriller aspects in exchange for some of the romance bits, but I respect that romance plays a big part in Jennifer Niven's stories and her fans will likely expect a large romance subplot when they pick this up.

Before diving into this one, I skimmed a few mixed reviews—but the premise had already hooked me. A dark academia setting, an eerie mansion cut off from civilization during a storm, and a group of ambitious young writers competing for a life-changing opportunity? Yes, please! Add Jennifer Niven’s name to the cover—whose past works I’ve enjoyed—and I was sold. I went in with high hopes and braced myself for a slow-burn thriller, and that’s exactly what I got (with some surprises along the way).

Interestingly, I happened to be watching Nine Perfect Strangers season two while reading this, and I couldn't ignore the uncanny similarities. This felt like a younger, more literary twist on that concept—a YA version set in a hauntingly atmospheric writing retreat instead of a wellness spa, run by a woman who’s just as enigmatic and unsettling. Eight talented students are invited to this prestigious and highly secretive program, led by the one and only Meredith Graffam—a multi-award-winning author, playwright, filmmaker, and actress with a notorious past. There’s scandal clinging to her name, from a possible wrongful conviction tied to her best friend’s death to accusations of plagiarizing her bestselling book from her ex-husband. And yet, despite the rumors (or perhaps because of them), her mystique and influence make her irresistible to young writers.

The competition she proposes is bold: one of these students will walk away with a $15,000 scholarship and the chance to see their work adapted for publication or the screen. That dream alone is enough to make anyone ignore the red flags. But as soon as the retreat begins, Meredith’s methods spiral from eccentric to extreme. She demands emotional vulnerability, confession, and fear-facing tasks that veer into the terrifying—like leaping from dangerous heights or standing in the path of speeding traffic. And those are just the milder examples.

From the very beginning, I was especially drawn to the dual POVs of Effy Green and Arlo Ellis-Noon. Effy is a character with a heavy past—her father killed her mother in a drunk driving accident, served prison time, and was recently released. She's lived a quiet, emotionally contained life with her grandmother, and writing has always been her outlet. When she gets accepted into the retreat alongside her best friend Ness (a shy, perceptive scholarship student with major wallflower vibes), she’s shocked to find Arlo there too—the boy who once humiliated her, ghosted her, and still manages to stir up complicated feelings. Their chemistry, buried history, and unresolved tension added an engaging emotional layer that I really enjoyed watching unfold.

Arlo, for his part, is a classic tortured genius: clever, sarcastic, hiding grief and guilt over the loss of his best friend Jonah. He wants redemption, maybe even reconciliation—with both his family and Effy. Their connection isn’t just romantic tension; it’s layered with heartbreak, unfinished conversations, and trust slowly being rebuilt.

The rest of the group is a mix of personalities that keeps the story on edge. There's arrogant, polished Isaac Williams—who sees the retreat as his birthright; nosy and brash Peter Tobin—who brings all the chaotic energy of a tabloid heir; Leela Kim—determined to step out of her twin’s shadow and forge her own path; Ramon Santos—queer, principled, and constantly on the outside looking in; and Joey Fiske—who, admittedly, felt a little underdeveloped and didn’t leave much of an impression.

As the days unfold and Meredith’s psychological games intensify, students begin to unravel, secrets come to light, and the boundary between mentorship and manipulation grows dangerously thin. The atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic, tension rises, and the creeping sense of dread—something I always appreciate in thrillers—settles in like fog over the estate. The looming mystery of what’s really going on keeps you guessing: is Meredith a genius with unconventional (albeit disturbing) methods, or is she completely unhinged? Is the competition even real? Or are they just pawns in some elaborate personal experiment?

While the setup was compelling and the characters intriguing, I’ll be honest—the pacing dragged quite a bit in the first half. I had to push myself through some slower sections that leaned heavily into introspection and emotional backstory. It’s not a flaw per se, but it did affect my overall engagement. That said, once the second half kicks in, the stakes intensify, the twists arrive, and the plot tightens into a suspenseful, high-stakes climax that was well worth the wait.

The strength of this novel lies in its chilling atmosphere, emotionally layered characters, and the way it plays with themes of ambition, fear, trauma, and identity. There’s a deliciously sinister edge to it all—the kind of book that makes you feel like something is watching from the shadows, waiting to pounce.

Overall, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4. This is a dark, eccentric, and moody YA thriller that will definitely appeal to readers who love locked-room mysteries, unsettling mentorship dynamics, and slow-burn psychological unravelings. If you have patience and a taste for character-driven storytelling with a touch of the macabre, it’s worth checking out.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books / Knopf Books for Young Readers for sharing this hauntingly unique digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This book was absolutely fantastic! The author wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

Everyone, including Graffam, has a compelling reason to be there—Effy, the orphan, Isaac, the legacy, Ness, the wallflower, Ramon, the outsider, and Arlo, whose unexpected arrival leaves Effy spiraling

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

Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of “All the Bright Places,” returns with “When We Were Monsters,” which is a simmering psychological thriller that peers into the darkness of ambition, artistry, and redemption. Set against the gothic backdrop of an elite New England boarding school, this book explores the dangerous line between inspiration and manipulation, talent and obsession.

Eight students are chosen for an exclusive, high-stakes storytelling workshop led by the legendary but deeply unsettling Meredith Graffam. A celebrated writer, director, and actress, Graffam is a force of charisma, mystery, and slowly unraveling mental stability. Her teaching methods are extreme, bordering on cult-like, and her demands escalate into risky, sometimes life-threatening challenges—all in the name of "creating great art." As her mentorship grows more manipulative, the students begin to suspect that her motivations are far more personal and sinister than they appear.

At the heart of the story is Effy, a sharp but vulnerable orphan trying to find her place and voice, and Arlo, the last-minute addition to the group whose presence stirs up unresolved tensions. Their complicated but sincere relationship becomes a stabilizing thread in an increasingly chaotic environment. Niven handles their dynamic with nuance, giving space for honest communication, emotional growth, and the weight of past mistakes, especially on Arlo’s part, who stands out as the story’s most distinct and likable character.

As tensions mount and secrets unravel, you are drawn into a darkly atmospheric world where ambition turns monstrous and trust is a fragile, fading thing. Through flashbacks to Graffam’s past, we gain insight into her narcissism and twisted motivations, humanizing her without excusing her manipulations. Like a puppeteer behind the curtain, she pulls the strings for her own legacy—until her students begin to pull back.

Niven’s slow-burn plot rewards patient readers, building toward a satisfying and cohesive conclusion. The emotional core of the novel lies not just in the suspense, but in its exploration of what it means to be a storyteller, exploring how far one might go for recognition, and whether redemption is possible after doing the unthinkable.

Overall, with razor-sharp psychological insight and a hauntingly elegant style, “When We Were Monsters” is a compelling look at the monsters we become in pursuit of greatness and the fragile humanity that may still remain beneath the surface.

Jennifer Niven returns with a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that cuts deep beneath the surface of ambition, art, and the secrets we bury to survive. When We Were Monsters takes readers into the snowy, isolated world of an elite New England boarding school, where eight handpicked students arrive with dreams—and demons—in tow.

At the center is the elusive Meredith Graffam, a famed writer-director whose mysterious methods turn a storytelling workshop into something far more dangerous. What begins as an artistic escape quickly unravels into a tense, claustrophobic spiral where no one—not even the powerful Graffam—is safe from the storm gathering both outside and within.

Each character is strikingly vivid and heartbreakingly real. Effy, the orphan trying to hold her grief together; Isaac, born into legacy; Ness, quiet but watchful; Ramon, who’s never quite belonged; and Arlo, the unexpected arrival who tilts the balance of everything—they all carry their own fragile truths. As they clash, connect, and come undone, Jennifer slowly peels back their layers, revealing the monsters we can become when fear, pressure, and past trauma collide.

The setting is gorgeously eerie: snow-laced woods, a storm-lashed estate, and a creeping sense of isolation that mirrors the characters’ unraveling minds. With taut pacing and psychological tension that builds like thunder, Jennifer weaves a story that is as chilling as it is heartbreaking.

This is Jennifer at her boldest and most brilliant—proving once again that her stories don’t just get under your skin; they stay there.

i really really wish i had something good to say about this book. i have previously enjoyed this authors writing, and i think it’s my fault for assuming i’d enjoy a YA romance. i was expecting there to be more mystery, but there’s not even a little glimmer of anything until the halfway point. i was completely bored the entire time i was reading. i didn’t care about any of the characters in the slightest. i think others may enjoy it, but it was not for me at all 🥲