I quite enjoyed Daffodil's character, her sarcasm and wit. She was endearing in her self deprecation and honesty. She also deals with intense social anxiety, which does not help her in the current predicament she finds herself in, as she isolates herself from her loved ones and others in the town close by the house. There were points in the novel when I could feel the unease, the claustrophobia of the house, and the intense feeling of loneliness on Daffodil's part. My heart would race and wonder what the heck was going on. And also, I kept wondering if school was really important enough to stay in a house that held such menace. Definitely, the scratching parts had me clinging to my chair and screaming at Daffodil to leave. So, I cannot say much about the ending, except that some people may be unimpressed with the route the author takes. I, however, thought it was a such a unique take on a "ghost" story and loved how Daffodil's narration took us to the end. This is one of those stories where the narrator may not be trustworthy, or they may not know everything themselves as they reveal the story. Which is a trope I thoroughly enjoy! Unreliable narrators keep readers guessing at every turn and often lead astray either maliciously or unintentionally. The desolate mansion becomes a character within itself, and each person she meets in connection with the house seems sinister in some way, or influenced by the house. There is a lot at play, a lot of guilt, regret, and self flagellation. The mansion acts as both a respite from Daffodil's past and as a reminder of everything she left behind. The book also raises the question of how people end up where they do. Was Daffodil meant to be in this isolated place? Or, did she run away from a truth she was afraid of? How do our actions, inactions, our conscious or unconscious decisions, affect where we find ourselves? How do we learn to forgive ourselves? A really quirky, but interesting read. Full of drama, jump scares, and, surprisingly, love. A great read during the fall months. The audiobook worked well to lend a voice to Daffodil, displaying her in all her witty glory. Thank you to HarperTeen for allowing me to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
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