ARC review; I got this through NetGalley! Very grateful for it.

This was GORGEOUS, STUNNING!

We follow Opal (I liked her immediately), a young woman working hard to give her brother a better life away from their town. When the opportunity arises to work at Starling House, the creepy house full of mystery and tragedy, she takes it and finds more than just a job; she finds herself, love, and her own purpose in this world.

I loved this from the get-go. I got the ARC for the audiobook and the ebook, but I decided to go with the audiobook and I think that was a great choice. The narrator has the most soothing, beautiful voice, and she fully immersed me in this contemporary gothic tale.

The vibes are immaculate, the pacing is great, the characters are likable and nuanced, we get multiple POVs, which I always love, and the writing is beautiful and very atmospheric. There's also romance in this, a lovely slow burn (my favorite!!!) so I enjoyed it A LOT.

This was an instant favorite for me, a perfect October read.