Author: Nina Laurin

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire | September 7, 2021

Description: When Isabella Brixton is forced to move from New York City to a tiny town, she's not thrilled. The silver lining is the gorgeous old mansion she now calls home. As the former residence of a glamorous patron of the arts and muse who died many decades ago, the house has its quirks: whole floors are boarded up, old paintings are covered, and cell reception is nonexistent.

Isa is ready to hate her new life, but things turn around when her classmate Alexa, a skilled photographer, suggests they start an Instagram account featuring portraits of Isa inside the mansion. Wearing gowns and jewelry hidden away in the house, Isa looks perfect in the unfiltered photos—almost unnaturally so—and they quickly go viral. Soon she's got a new best friend, a potential boyfriend, and is surrounded by a group of girls who want the photoshoots and fame for themselves. But there's a darkness in the house, and a darkness growing in Isa, too. When girls start getting hurt, it's clear that something—or someone—in the house is growing in power, with deadly intentions.

Isa's Picks: I don't see a lot of books with the main character's name as "Isabella". So when I picked this up I was excited to see where it'd take me. To say the least, I was very impressed. The dark academia setting, the way you can sense the shift to a more darker vibe. As you go on you start to realize more and more, which makes it impossible to put the book down.