NetGalley ARC | A Place for Vanishing

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Libby and her sister Vivi return with their mother to her childhood home seeking a fresh start. Libby was recently diagnosed with Bipolar III, brought about by a tragic, shocking event. The family will have to navigate this new normal while settling into their new home that is not what it seems - or maybe it is EXACTLY what it seems.

Look, I hate bugs. Absolutely hate them and they are yucky. So the fact that various insects play a huge role in the book in numerous ways was not a lot of fun for me. But I stuck with it and I am SO glad I did because this book is fucking fiiiiire.

Libby's mom is content to live in blissful ignorance about the strange goings-on, even as Libby uncovers more and more information that makes it clear this is not the easy fresh start they need. Rumors abound regarding the house, mainly about the many disappearances that have occurred in its 100-year history, and the masked seances the original owners supposedly held on the grounds, surrounded by beautiful, impossibly blue roses.

I loved how the author developed the house practically as its own character. This created such a sense of foreboding and tension throughout the novel because there is no escape from it, this is their home now. The atmosphere created is suffocating at times, and I couldn't stop reading because I had to know what was coming next. The eeriness of the atmosphere made Libby's discoveries about the house's history all the more sinister.

Given Libby's bipolar diagnosis, mental health can't help but play a role in the story. I feel like this was well-done and we see the impact of the disorder on decisions Libby makes throughout the story, going through the cycles of hypomanic and depressive episodes. This does make Libby and unreliable narrator at times, but I don't think this is done in a malicious way; it was honest. While I was frustrated with Libby's mom at times, in the end it is clear why she made the decisions she did.

The cast of characters is small, which enabled fantastic character devlopment and we really got to know each individual. In addition to Libby, her mom, and sister, we meet Finn - the boy next door, so to speak, who has his own reasons for wanting to uncover the truth about The House of Masks.

The story progressed quickly, the atmosphere intense, the house threatening to consume everyone. I could not put this book down and it was a well-crafted story from start to finish.

Highly recommended.