A review by libraryoflanelle
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was very excited to receive an audiobook arc of "Diavola" by Jennifer Thorne, narrated by Andi Arndt.

Friends, this was such a fun time; you need to pick it up ASAP, and I highly recommend the audiobook specifically.

I absolutely inhaled this one… or more accurately, I guess it inhaled me. Jennifer perfectly balances a slowly developing plot with an engrossing overarching storyline that is almost impossible to put down. I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time and will definitely be revisiting it.

The book follows Anna and her family spending their annual holiday in a beautiful Italian villa, but fairly soon things start to get weird, and then just when you think you’re on board, they get even weirder… This book truly delivered on what you would expect from this setting and so much more. As always with this genre, I would highly recommend going in not knowing too much more but be sure to always check CWs. 

I really enjoyed the family dynamics and getting to know Anna, who is a perfectly flawed and chronically underestimated character.

I’m not usually one to compare books to other media, but I could not help but picture this perfectly slotted into the Flanaverse. The family dynamics, flawed characters, and overall haunted vibe had me thinking of "The Haunting of Hill House" on multiple occasions.

I can see this being the ‘vacation horror’ of the summer. I’m going to need someone to read this while camped out in a spooky Italian villa because that is 100% how this book would be best enjoyed. Please report back if you do! 

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook arc. All opinions are my own.
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