We've been talking a lot about speculative fiction lately, and it's so interesting to see books that experiment with that form, especially ones that only hover slightly at the line of horror/supernatural - which, it sounds like this one does! Your thoughts on this book sound intriguing, it's inspiring us to pick it up!
I LOVE THIS BOOK. But I had to step outside my horror expectations to get there. It is quietly horrifying in its own way, but I think it’s more just a love story. Reframing it changed my perspective entirely!
Also I actually did spend extra to purchase the UK cover when it first came out and I do not regret it — I feel like the US cover looks like the book takes place on mars 😂
The cover is an important signal as to what audience the book wants to appeal to. The way you've described the book, the first cover (pink) is the way better one.
Can't wait to read this one! I like this reframing of the genre. I read The Other Black Girl fully expecting a thriller and that was just bad marketing, but it did effect my reading experience negatively.
Our Wives Under the Sea is one of my all time favorite books, it’s so beautifully written. I didn’t go into it expected a lot of horror but I see why the marketing misled some people. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it, it’s such a hauntingly lovely book and like you said very much deserves to be read!!
I read this book last year and was felt disappointed! It wasn’t what I thought it would be, I was definitely waiting for horror and steered in the wrong direction. I think I was waiting for a monster to appear hahah.
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention again. It sounds great. I’m currently reading an ARC of The Garden by Clare Beams and similarly, it has a touch of gothic horror, but I think when people start reading a literary novel promoted as horror (or thriller) the overly high expectations for high drama/scares/thrills can undercut the pleasure of reading a thoughtful and atmospheric literary novel. Ah, marketing!
We've been talking a lot about speculative fiction lately, and it's so interesting to see books that experiment with that form, especially ones that only hover slightly at the line of horror/supernatural - which, it sounds like this one does! Your thoughts on this book sound intriguing, it's inspiring us to pick it up!
I LOVE THIS BOOK. But I had to step outside my horror expectations to get there. It is quietly horrifying in its own way, but I think it’s more just a love story. Reframing it changed my perspective entirely!
Also I actually did spend extra to purchase the UK cover when it first came out and I do not regret it — I feel like the US cover looks like the book takes place on mars 😂
so looking forward to read this one!
The cover is an important signal as to what audience the book wants to appeal to. The way you've described the book, the first cover (pink) is the way better one.
Can't wait to read this one! I like this reframing of the genre. I read The Other Black Girl fully expecting a thriller and that was just bad marketing, but it did effect my reading experience negatively.
Our Wives Under the Sea is one of my all time favorite books, it’s so beautifully written. I didn’t go into it expected a lot of horror but I see why the marketing misled some people. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it, it’s such a hauntingly lovely book and like you said very much deserves to be read!!
I read this book last year and was felt disappointed! It wasn’t what I thought it would be, I was definitely waiting for horror and steered in the wrong direction. I think I was waiting for a monster to appear hahah.
UK cover supremacy on this one for SURE!
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention again. It sounds great. I’m currently reading an ARC of The Garden by Clare Beams and similarly, it has a touch of gothic horror, but I think when people start reading a literary novel promoted as horror (or thriller) the overly high expectations for high drama/scares/thrills can undercut the pleasure of reading a thoughtful and atmospheric literary novel. Ah, marketing!
Be honest: how much of this book is about PTSD?
Yeah, I could see if you thought this was horror, you’d be disappointed. Hard to describe the exact genre, but I loved it.