Hi all! 

Today I am reviewing (spoiler-free) Jo Kaplan’s debut novel, It Will Just Be Us. Not only did I receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from NetGalley, I was also given the opportunity to interview the author herself! You can check that out here. If you are interested in ordering a copy, click here. Without further ado, let’s get into the review! 

THE PLOT

Sam Wakefield’s ancestral home, is a decaying mansion built on the edge of an overgrown swamp. Built by her mad ancestors, Sam has possessed a unique gift since she was a little girl. She can witness echoes of the past; the ghosts of those that came before her. When her pregnant sister, Elizabeth, moves in with her and her mother, Sam begins to see a faceless-boy, whom she suspects is a symbolic prophecy of her unborn nephew. She is further disturbed when he starts to commit extremely disturbing acts, taunting her throughout the labyrinthine hallways of the mansion. As Elizabeth’s due date approaches, Sam is determined to prevent the innocent baby from evolving into an evil child he is destined to become. Moreover, the boy appears to be connected to a room within the mansion, that has always been locked. What will Sam find once the door finally opens. Will she be able to save her family from their dark destiny? 

THE CHARACTERS 

Sam Wakefield is our protagonist, and it is through her eyes that we gain insight into not only her life in the present, but also, the ghosts of the past. She is an archaeology teacher, with a reputation for being quite odd. Throughout the novel, we learn about her tumultuous relationship with her sister, Elizabeth, and her brother-in-law, Donovan. Sam feels incredibly connected to her home, the Wakefield history and her ancestors; having witnessed their memories and presence throughout the mansion. She lives with her alcoholic, negligent mother and strong-willed sister. The characters, both past and present, are equally important to the story itself; intertwining and creating meaning as the reader gets deeper into the plot. It is a little bit difficult to trust Sam as the narrator, purely due to her inability to discern reality from memory. Having said that, I felt she was the most developed and interesting character within the book. 

THE WRITING STYLE 

The writing style was incredibly strong, beautiful and poetic. It was almost dreamlike, yet unsettling. I found myself rather disturbed by certain moments. This is exactly what I desire from a horror novel. I want to be moved, but I also want to be scared. The author was able to evoke emotion and fear quite seamlessly. She painted such a vivid picture with her descriptions. I was utterly absorbed in the novel, to the point where I felt like I was getting lost in the hallways of the decrepit mansion. As a huge fan of the horror genre, I couldn’t recommend this story enough. It was hauntingly magnificent!

STAR RATING

I gave it an easy 5/5 stars! 

I hope you enjoyed this honest, spoiler-free review. Please order a copy from the link above.

Thank you for reading

Peace & Love xoxo