A New Kind of Clean is a surreal psychological horror that follows Missy, an aspiring actress desperate for her big break. When what seems like a career-changing audition turns into something increasingly strange and unsettling, the line between reality and illusion begins to disappear, forcing her to confront just how much she's willing to sacrifice for the life she's always wanted.

It's quietly unnerving, atmospheric, and intentionally ambiguous, inviting you to interpret its meaning rather than handing you clear answers. The writing style makes every scene feel purposeful, and the growing sense of dread is impossible to shake.

It effectively captured the desperation that can come with chasing a dream. Missy's determination, self-doubt, and need to prove herself felt painfully authentic, making the increasingly bizarre events feel even more impactful.

This won't be for readers who want everything neatly explained, still if you enjoy surreal horror that explores ambition, identity, memory, and the cost of "success", this one is absolutely worth experiencing. Also, it's a short, quick read.

Thank you @simonschusterca Iain Reid, Ellie Foumbi & NetGalley for the #gifted earc. All opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Iain Reid is an auto-read author for me, and A New Kind of Clean reminded me why. This is a short but incredibly layered novel. What starts as an acting audition slowly unravels into something deeply unsettling, and the final pages completely changed the way I looked at everything that came before.

Reid never overexplains, and that's part of what I enjoy most. The story leaves plenty of room for interpretation, making it the kind of book I immediately wanted to reread to catch everything I missed. The atmosphere is eerie, the writing is restrained but effective, and the collaboration with Ellie Foumbi adds a fresh dimension.

This is psychological horror at its best: unsettling, thought-provoking, and the kind of story that stays with you long after you've finished.

Pub Date 6 Oct 2026

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can't say much about this book because it is a quick read. Try to go in with as little knowledge/preconceived notions as possible.

This is going to be a weird review because it is a five-star novel, but I truly don't know what I read. I *think* I get the themes/message, but the actual content/logistics are so ambiguous. However, this is not too different from other Iain Reid books (and I should note, Reid is my favourite author) in the way it trusts the reader to take away what they need/want from the writing. I think Ellie Foumbi added a really interesting visual atmosphere to this novel. I would love to know more about their working relationship in the creation of this book.

I am excited for more people to read this book because I want to hear other people's perspectives on what was going on in this novel. There are so many elements where I feel like I know what was going on, but could be swayed to think in completely different ways.