The Uninvited coming December 16th, 2025 from Delacorte Press; 288 pages
Content Warning: Sexual assault, violence, racism, suicidal intent, murder
About the Author: “I’ve washed buses, worked in retail and in libraries, designed for print, art-directed, and co-owned a bookstore. I lived in France for several years, and I still regret that I didn’t taste all the pastries. I’m fascinated by how we use the creatures of lore and legend to process our biggest fears. I live in Denver with my husband and dog” (Bio from author’s website).
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When seventeen-year-old Tosh Reeves and her father pack up their lives and make the big move from Portland, Oregon to Paris, France, it’s her dream come true. When Tosh meets Nick, he introduces her to the art, lights, and architecture that Paris has to offer, and Tosh begins to finally see a place she can call home. As the two begin their sweet romance and Tosh meets Nick’s friends, everything seems to be going perfectly—that is, until whispers of violent attacks on young women start spreading in the streets, triggering Tosh’s memories of her past in Portland. Once she discovers that there are vampires in Paris and the enemy is much closer than she thought, everything changes. Tosh’s whole world collapses as she enters a war with evil and experiences a loss of power when targeted by a vampire. Tempted by corrupt forces, Tosh must navigate Paris’ vampire underground and save herself from the darkness surrounding her.
I originally assumed this would be a vampire romance, but I was so wrong. This story incorporates themes of empowerment in a fresh and clever manner. Upon beginning the story, I was annoyed with Tosh because of her touristy romanticization of Paris. However, I grew to admire her character as I slowly learned more about her past in Portland and why Paris was so important to her. The story acts as an allegory for sexual assault and autonomy, which was intelligently woven into the plot. I thought back to a blog I wrote recently regarding the supernatural, where I discussed vampires and their frequent lack of consent, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that be represented in this story. This isn’t the typical ‘girl falls in love with vampire’ story, but instead it’s ‘girl vs. vampire,’ and explores Tosh’s sexual assault, her desire for control, and belonging, which I admired. There are many messages entwined in the novel; some of my personal favorites explored the idea of the abused becoming the abuser, and depression growing from a loss of control due to sexual violence. I also loved the tropes of fledgling vampirism, especially the dumpster dive scene. There is beautiful prose scattered throughout the novel, and an artistic, loveable, and intellectual friend group that blossomed as they joined together to fight against vampire violence. I especially liked Tosh’s newfound Parisian friend Noor, who deals with issues like racism and artistic identity.
The Uninvited releases on December 16th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer