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Dark and morbid, it repurposes the familiar fairytale frame of a child-eating witch in the wood and twists it into something far more discomforting.

The book narrowly edged by a “so-so” …though I also wonder if I‘ll judge it more harshly with time/once the dust settles?

The absolute dread I felt as the story moved toward the end was spine chilling. This is a graphic, horrific book about cannibalism, grief, and mommy issues. I was horrified, disgusted, and mesmerized. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well that was an interesting one. Lots of cannibalism🥩

I think as a short story or novella I would have really loved this, but as a novel it didn't grab me plot-wise. I think the cannibalism as metaphor maybe doesn't work for me in a sustained way. Beautiful writing about grotesque subjects.

This one seems to have been getting a lot of attention. The prose is good, the story interesting, a damning condemnation of child safeguarding fails, but something about the style just didn‘t click with me. My scientific brain found the metaphor to be far too overplayed.

Growing up is hard. Craving your mother‘s love and not getting it is hard. All of it is harder and darker and grosser for Margot. She‘s being raised by a cannibal mother with an insatiable appetite. So freaking dark.

A low pick. The POV is that of a child, where her mother is a cannibal who traps “strays” along the forest road near their secluded cabin, cooks them, and feeds them to her daughter. It‘s gross, it really is. But the saddest part is that young Margot longs for love and acceptance from her mother, and no matter what she does, she can never be as important as her mother‘s hunger. It‘s a good debut, but could be tighter, more solid, more emotive.

This has been the best book I‘ve read this year. Margot lives in a tiny cottage in the middle of the woods with her forlorn mother, Ruth. Her father abandoned them years ago, and Ruth does what she can to keep their hunger at bay… including picking up strays. An unlikely woman finds the duo nestled in their little home, and their life quickly changes.

I couldnt put this down. It is ultimately a story about love and passion and grief. It‘s beautifully told, like an ancient dark fairytle. It would fit right into a book about a witch cooking children. Or an ugly sister who cuts off her toes. The cannibalism doesn‘t really take away from the fabulous story. I don‘t recommend trying to eat eggs while reading about sucking the meat off of freshly fried fingers. It‘s a lot gory right from page one.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. Its descriptions are quite graphic. It is a story of a mother and daughter who are both cannibals. They live in the middle of nowhere and prey on vulnerable walkers and people who are lost.
They invite Eden into their home with devastating consequences.

Here are my #camplitsy2025 nominations!
Sorry... I put 5 instead of 4 because I'm TERRIBLE AT THIS SORT OF THING.

- The Lamb by Lucy Rose
- Who Wants To Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose
- The Ladie Upstairs by Jessie Elland
- I Want to Go Home but I'm Already There by Roisín Lanigan
- Fair Play by Louise Hegarty

Check out these synopses!!!!! What do you think??

I'm also up for The Dream Hotel, but it's already been nominated lots!

I liked the writing style, it was easy to follow. This is a sad, disgusting story. Licking mold off the walls bothered me more than the cannibalism.

I love an independent bookstore. They always check the books before you buy them, in case there is a wrinkled page. They hold them in such a delicate way. And you know it‘s going to be a great read when they give you the nod of approval as they judge your purchase.