This is my first time reading Adam Godfrey but I'll definitely be back for more! I picked this book up yesterday and finished it this morning. It was that hard to put down! I loved that the threat was something almost impossible to avoid, water!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital arc!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

Still not sure how I want to rate this, though it was definitely a 2 or 3 star read for me and anything I say to give my reasons for that rating will spoil the plot, so you are warned. First, the description read like a sci-Fi horror/thriller which is very much up my alley, but instead it was a sci-Fi more like the matrix, but without the dramatics of a dystopian government regime. Instead, someone wants to rewrite history for themself and (based on the ending) does so successfully while potentially bringing something truly apocalyptic with it.

The idea that everything was happening inside the main character’s head was interesting, but ultimately left me feel annoyed that I’d spent time reading the book. I understand it’s meant to be a take on processing grief in a unique and experimental way, but it just distasteful. Especially given that the main character was so desperate to change the choice he made that it seems like he sacrificed his wife’s place in reality to bring his daughter back to life, while terrifying the daughter in the process. If this had been billed better and given more of a hint at the twist, I might have liked it better, but it just felt hollow to me after the grief of losing all the characters in terrible ways only to learn they never really existed.

This was an addictive thriller with a hawk dropping twist I did not see coming.

This was so clever. The characters were all intriguing in their own right. The creepy undercurrent really pushed the suspense. This is definitely the kind of book you want to go back and read again because you'll see so many things you missed.

This was a 4* read until a sting in the tale upped it to 5* because any book that makes me go, Oh, wasn't really expecting that to happen, deserves a high rating.

Body of Water is a creepy, disturbing tale in which an eclectic group of characters face an impossible and unlikely situation. It is very addictive and very cleverly plotted, I read it in two involving sittings and had a good time reassessing it when I had the full story.

Something a bit different and that's always a good thing.

Recommended.

🌊 Body of Water
by Adam Godfrey | Pub Date: Sept 23, 2025
#NetGalley #BodyOfWater #SourcebooksLandmark

Don’t let the water drag you down.
(But good luck keeping your head above the emotional riptide this book delivers.)

What starts as a father-daughter road trip through the Appalachians becomes a surreal nightmare when a diner stop turns into a standoff and the enemy isn’t just the gunmen holding them hostage. Something is wrong with the water. And it’s alive.

Equal parts The Mist, The Last of Us, and pure psychological horror, Body of Water is a quietly unnerving and gorgeously written debut that blends supernatural dread with raw emotional depth. We’re not just fighting to survive the unknown and we’re wading through grief, regret, and the impossible weight of what we’ve lost.

🧠 Think:
• claustrophobic, character-driven horror
• unreliable perception + grief-based hallucinations
• nature-as-terror that feels both metaphorical and deadly literal
• “is this real or am I breaking?” vibes
• found family in a diner turned survival bunker
• grief, fatherhood, trauma, and the ghosts that follow

Adam Godfrey’s prose is soaked in atmosphere and melancholy. The water here isn’t just scary, it’s symbolic, representing everything Glen (our MC) refuses to face. The pacing is slow, deliberate, but if you’re a fan of literary horror that echoes long after the final page… you’ll be captivated. The dread builds quietly, then drowns you all at once.

💬 Favorite line:
"There’s no bottom to some kinds of grief. Only the slow descent."

File this under: emotionally devastating horror you didn’t see coming but won’t stop thinking about. I’ll be watching what Adam Godfrey writes next like a storm on the horizon.

#PsychologicalHorror #BodyHorror #SurvivalThriller #GriefLit #FathersAndDaughters #AtmosphericReads #AppalachianHorror #FallTBR #ComingSeptember #LiteraryHorror #HorrorBookReview #MoodyReads #NetGalleyReads #SourcebooksLandmark

3.5 Stars

Body of Water offers a fresh take on horror with a unique 'villain,' well-done body horror, and a chilling setting. While it has definite Mist and Tremors vibes, the use of water as a monster adds whole new, complicated elements to the predicament. The setting is fantastic, and although the book is a very slow burn, the plot is well crafted. The dialogue did feel quite overwrought at times, and not entirely natural (even taking into account the ending). And speaking of the ending...it's almost impossible to not give away spoilers here....I didn't dislike the ending as likely some readers will, however, I was so fascinated by the situation Godfrey created for our characters, that I would have loved to explore that more. All in all, it was a good horror story with unique elements and a great premise.

Body of Water by Adam Godfrey hit me with all the chills and feels. It’s about Glen, a dad still reeling from losing his wife, trying to reconnect with his teen daughter Lauren on a road trip through the Appalachians. What starts as a quiet trip turns into a nightmare when they get stuck in a diner with some armed strangers warning about this terrifying “living water” that’s killing people nearby. The tension is next-level as everyone’s trapped, facing both the threat outside and each other.

The story perfectly blends supernatural horror with real emotional pain—grief, trauma, and what it means to protect family. It gave me strong Stephen King vibes mixed with the rawness of The Last of Us. The claustrophobic setting and mounting dread kept me hooked. If you love horror that’s more than just scares and actually hits you in the heart, this one’s worth watching for when it drops later this year.

Glen and his daughter set off on a road trip through the rural Appalachian mountains to reconnect. The death if his wife many years ago has fractured their relationship and he hope this trip will bring them together. What the get instead is a test of courage and strength as a stop a small diner becomes a life and death situation. Two crazed men enter the diner raving about “living” water that seems both sentient and malicious. What follows is nothing short of nightmare as the water comes ever closer as Glen and Lauren try to escape to higher ground. This is a must read as the chilling ending takes the reader on a journey they will not soon forget.

This story is on the slower side; very atmospheric and more driven forward by character than plot. I really enjoyed the storyline. A majority of the characters were unbearable and made it hard to want to keep reading. There were some slow parts, but they were necessary to progress the story. Overall a good read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

This one got me. From the first few pages, I knew I was in for something different, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It’s eerie, tense, and deeply emotional in a way I didn’t see coming. There's a creeping dread that builds so naturally, you almost don’t realize how unnerved you are until you're gripping the pages like your life depends on it. And then—that ending. Totally unexpected, and it hit in the best way.

What really stuck with me was the atmosphere. That sense of being trapped, both physically and emotionally, really mirrors the characters’ grief and fear. It’s horror, but not just for the sake of scares—it digs into the way loss can leave us raw and vulnerable, and how sometimes the real monsters are the ones we carry inside.

I read a lot of horror, and I can honestly say this one felt fresh. It gave me vibes like The Mist but with more heart and a twist that absolutely floored me. If you’re looking for something dark, unique, and smart, definitely put this on your list.

This book had some ups and downs, as far as a rating goes. As I was inching towards the end, I was sure we were sitting somewhere in the 3 to 3.5 range. The ending did a lot of work in pulling this up to 4 stars. I don't consider 3.5, or even 3, to be a bad rating! So it was already a good story, and the ending just bumped it up that bit extra.

Another note on the ending; I can already tell it's going to be divisive. There will be people that hate it, and they're valid. The type of ending utilized in this book worked for me, though.

I loved the idea of this from the jump. Sentient, killer water! Those words on their own feel like a very old-school horror concept. This story is on the slower side; very atmospheric and more driven forward by character than plot (though I wouldn't call it a fullstop character story.)

There were some odd choices in phrasing here and there that took me out of the story as I was reading it. The characters read as a little pigeonholed to me, but by the end, it's revealed this is an intentional effect. Overall, though, this is a compelling Man vs Nature narrative.

An intriguing story about a father and daughter's accidental journey into chaos while traveling through Appalachia. A steady tale that lures you in and surprises you. This book seems ideal for readers who enjoy steady-paced horror that builds up and delivers a meticulous ending. The story requires the reader to pay close attention to the characters and scenes. It has a well-thought-out plot and overall is a great read. I would not consider it a story that makes me daydream in the middle of the day. However, it has a great plot, and I did find the 'water' that terrorizes the characters interesting!

The diner setting immediately made me think of 'From', it brought with it chilling tension and anticipation. We get to know the characters throughout the story and can't help but hope they make it out. The 'water' that stalks our characters is an intriguing entity, and the unease quickly builds as it gets closer to our survivors. Readers should be patient halfway through the story and pay close attention to the small details that are revealed. The ending, in my opinion, is the best part of the story. Overall, this story caught me by surprise! The foreshadowing makes the reader want to dive right back to the beginning and reread the story. I'll be rereading soon!

Final notes, for fans who enjoy a slower-paced story with lots of foreshadowing, a puzzling and inexplicable phenomenon, and plot twists.

I am in absolute disbelief. I did not see that coming. However, in retrospect, it seems so obvious. I love how the author pulled that off. This was tender at times and absolutely brutal at others. The body horror was top notch and totally disgusting. Who knew WATER could be so creepy? The plot twist I can see being controversial but alas it completely worked for me. Grief horror is some of my absolute favorite and Body of Water tackled it in a fresh and new way. The cast of characters has a little something for everyone. Glen and Lauren, as well as their relationship, were easy to become emotionally invested in.

A father/daughter trip takes a nightmarish turn when a strange body of water has a mind of its own. Perfect for Stephen King fans, this book is part horror/part thriller and all great storytelling with a killer twist that I never saw coming. Highly recommend!!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of Body of Water, the following review and thoughts are solely my own.

Part thriller part horror story, Adam Godfrey weaves a dark tale of a highly evolved sinister body of water that can kill. Perfect for fans of M. Night Shyamalan and Steve n King!

Solid 5 out of 5 star read with a ending you will never see coming!!

This was quite a unique read. I expected a similar premise to “The Mist” but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. I really enjoyed the storyline. A majority of the characters were unbearable but I understood why. The twists kept coming throughout the book which kept me engaged. I will say the ending fell a bit flat for me though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

No. I refuse. I simply refuse.

Those were my thoughts when the twist was revealed. The were followed by a hefty WTF as well.

I did not like that twist.

Loved the rest of the book. It was eerie, thrilling, and a unique homage to a certain Mr. King's 'The Mist'. I adored our characters, loved reading about our unusual baddie and wanted so much more.

And then...the twist from Hell.

To be fair, it's not out of right field. The author did seed hints to the twist throughout, though I only recognized them after the reveal.

This gets a grudging 4 stars because I really did love the rest of the book. But, man oh man, virtual book hit virtual wall. It wasn't a clever twist, it was an irritating one.

* ARC via Publisher

4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book and the storyline. I will say that the ending blew me away a bit. I love Stephen King’s The Mist, and was worried that this would follow the same basic plot. I can assure you, it went a completely different way which left me pleasantly surprised! I’d love to see this book turned into a movie or even a mini series.

The characters were a bit insufferable, but that was the point. The reveal at the ending had me replaying scenes in my head and made them make a bit more sense.

Loved the emotional tug on the heartstrings as well. I imagine a lot of people in Glen’s shoes would do the same thing.

One thing I didn’t particularly care for was the writing style. Hence the 4.5 instead of 5 stars. I enjoy more of a perspective first person writing style. The style makes sense for the story, but I don’t normally prefer it.

All in all an excellent story!

This book is about a father and a daughter who is going on a vacation or small trip, both still grieving from the loss of their wife/ mother. and they end up dining at this diner in a small town. Things get chaotic when two men come in stating there is some "live water" that is killing people and nature itself. This is a very unique concept or plot. The execution was pretty good. It gave a setting...some backstory, and then gotten to the action or chaos. The cast of characters, whether they are a main character or a minor character also had well though up backstory and personalities. Some of them change and grow...some hardly at all and some a lot. Plenty of drama and surprises around the corner. I was never bored with the book. Yeah, there were some slow parts, but they were necessary to progress the story. The ending was pretty surprising and symbolistic. I felt there could had been more to wrap the book up...was caught off guard by some stuff, but other than that, it was good.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview A Body of Water. Ok this is a mind bending novel. And I am still thinking about it
A father and daughter are on a trip to the mountains. They have suffered the loss and have not been close as a result.
They stop at a diner for a break and I guess you can say all hell breaks loose.
Not sure if this is a scy fy or supernatural but it is scary.
I don’t want to give anything away but this book is different and disturbing (in a good way). A bit more detail is provided but in retrospect there is a purpose.
Different and compelling
4 stars