Welcome to Litsy!

Picked this up on a whim yesterday, and it had me hooked.

To be fair it dragged in the third half of the book, and a lot of the events could have been summarized in a chapter or two. But, towards the end the book picked up the pace again and the very ending was extremely satisfying.

The gothic horror delivered well enough, although Italy isn't really ideal for a “scary book“ Maybe that's just me.

This had some very interesting plot twists, especially in the last quarter of the book . However, could the author have written at least one likable character in the story? These are all pretty terrible people.

#hauntedshelf #trappedinaspookyhouse #bookspinbingo #skeletoncrew

🎃 No atmosphere, no vibes, definitely not gothic. I was rooting for the ghost to wipe all the terrible out in this book. One half terrible,
Privileged rich family with no redeeming qualities. The second half a non interesting spirit. Hot mess@of a book!

So creepy. I loved it.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I love a snarky character and Diavola‘s main character is nearly all snark! Her family is horrible, she‘s now dealing with some sort of vicious haunting, and she somehow keeps her sense of humor 🤣. In all seriousness, though, this did have some pretty unnerving parts, which I loved, but most of the characters were truly insufferable and annoying. All in all not a bad read but nothing life changing 🤷🏼‍♀️. 🌟🌟🌟

I liked the dysfunctional family dynamic in this book paired with the contrast of a Gothic horror. It kept me reading.

2.25⭐
VIBES
-horror of the haunting variety
-gothic atmosphere
-family drama
-a remote villa in Italy
-an unlikable MC
PROS
-It did have some thoroughly creepy moments
-The narrator did a good job and she is one of my favs.
CONS
-All the petty family crap took me out of the story and left me confused when things actually started ramping up. I eventually just wanted it to end since it wasn‘t working for me.

Scary with a bit of humor. A family on vacation at a haunted villa in Italy. There could have been more character development but I appreciate that th faster pace kept the tension high. And the end wasn‘t as predictable as I expected. Recommended for a quick creepy read.

Sometimes family
Is a horror in itself
Toxically insane
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#haikureview #horror #gothic #hauntedhouse

While the ghost parts didn't necessarily freak me out, the dysfunctional behavior of this family certainly did.

I really enjoyed this book. There were really good chills. I think Anna entered the book a little haunted already by the family dynamics. 4.5 stars.
#ReadAway2024
@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Reading out on the deck 🙌🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Extended family vacations can literally be hell! 😆 Haunted house stories aren‘t always my thing, but this one had an amazing Italian setting, really interesting family dynamics, and a serious creep factor. It was so cinematic - I could see the book play in my mind like a movie. My brain immediately cast The White Lotus actors as these characters, with the brilliant Aubrey Plaza as Anna.

I loved this gothic horror and plan on recommending it to all my friends. #aardvark didn‘t miss on this one.
Book 20 of 2024

Anna felt malice wrap around her, sharp as an itchy sweater now, that awful grating feeling, chalk on her fingers, eyebrow hairs being tweezed too quickly, the music they play when you‘re on hold for customer support.

#aardvarkbookclub #jointoday

I'm reading Diavola while my mom reads the #NancyDrewBR for May.
@Librarybelle

This is my library hoard from the last 2 months. I'm slowly getting through it, now that I'm feeling better.
@emz711

“You know you‘re supposed to put money in the tin for every candle. This is the Catholic Church, Anna, prayers ain‘t free.”

“Everything is fun if you are fun.”

Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family mythology.

#aardvarkbookclub #jointoday

I couldn‘t resist the #aardvark picks this month!

#Aardvark has there books up. This was an easy pick this month. Diavola is a haunted house story and A Sweet Sting of Salt is a retelling of the selkie wife 🤎
I may skip #BOTM this month. I wasn't as impressed by their choices.

Also got two #Aardvark picks this month! I already had “James” on hold from the library 🙂

..annnndd my #aardvark choices for April!!
I just couldn't resist 😁

@AardvarkBookClub

even the cover gives me the creeps…#audiophile #readinggoal #readinglife