Bloom

A fresh start for a young professional takes a shockingly dark direction in this hypnotic page-turner, great for fans of Eric LaRocca and Catriona Ward. Rosemary, known as Ro, has left the hustle and bustle of NYC and her recent ex to teach at the University of Georgia. She is quickly charmed by her new environment, and during a trip to the local farmers market she becomes utterly captivated by a beautiful and mysterious vendor of homemade soaps, candles, and more. Ro is pulled willingly into Ash’s orbit with an immediate need to impress her and to please her. Amid lush, fairytale-esque imagery, Ro’s infatuation grows, despite—or perhaps because of—increasing uncertainty. What begins as a sweet romance quickly becomes something much darker. Beautiful language with expertly placed details that inspire both wonder and dread will leave readers breathless, and a shocking third act is the cherry on top of a horrifying sundae.