Book Gush: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. 

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You know those books you see everywhere, that everyone either loves or hates, that take you forever to read out of fear they won’t live up to the hype–and then you wind up fucking LOVING them? Mexican Gothic.

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❗️Mild spoilers ahead!❗️

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❤️THINGS I LOVED❤️
❤️ The setting–every element of it. The condemned house with its creepy oil paintings and ruined silver, the 1950s outfits and questioned gender expectations, and how candidly it wove in the appalling racism of the time–all layered perfectly, making it credible and meaningful as well as fun and silly.
❤️ On a lighter note: how gross it was! The way repulsive way certain things moved, the stomach-turning finale, and every description of slimy Doyle… Incredibly, perfectly disgusting.
❤️ Noemí! She was quick, and clever, and confident, and brave–she’s the perfect modern answer to that vapid quality a lot of typical Gothic heroines have, and she was not only a joy to read, but someone to root for. I adored her.

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💖THE THING I LOVED BEST💖
💖 The atmosphere. This book is so atmospheric: that gloom, the claustrophobia from the house, the walls-closing-in feeling, the dread and gripping sort of terror, the fog, the isolation… There were times when I’d look up from the pages and be surprised by the daylight of reality–and if that’s not a compliment, I don’t know what is.

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🌟THE HIGHLIGHTS🌟
🌟Favourite character: Noemí. Evelyn Hugo in a different backdrop.
🌟Favourite quote: ‘”Go to sleep,” she said, but in her mind she thought fuck you, and her tone plainly indicated that.’
🌟Favourite moment: Any time Noemí thought deservedly bitchy thoughts about the Doyle clan.

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This book is:
A standalone🔶Part of a duology🔶Part of a trilogy🔶Part of a series

It’s also:
Action-packed🔶Charming🔶Clever🔶Comforting🔶Creepy🔶Dark🔶Emotional🔶Funny🔶Gripping🔶Haunting🔶Heartbreaking🔶Intense🔶Mysterious🔶Powerful🔶Quirky🔶Romantic🔶Sad🔶Scary🔶Sweet🔶Tear-jerking🔶Tense🔶Touching🔶Twisted🔶Violent🔶Witty

It’s:
Middle Grade🔶YA🔶Adult