I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Jess has always been a runner—always looking for an escape, no matter how many detention centers or “special schools” she’s been sent to. So when she receives a scholarship to the illustrious Danvers-Cutteridge in the mountains of West Virginia, her first plan of action is to find the fastest exit.

But Jess soon learns that this new school has secrets hidden beyond the grand staircases and storied past. A student has gone missing, and Jess’s new friends suspect that they haven’t been told the truth about the disappearance.

As Jess helps search for answers (and a way out), she discovers more of Danvers-Cutteridge’s unsettling history. The abuses and mutilations inflicted on past residents. The strange authority in the headmaster’s celebrated family tree. And the fearsome legend that has haunted the valley for decades—a mysterious girl, dressed in green.

Soon, Jess’s search will take her down into the heart of the school, through the closed-off parts of its history left forgotten in the dark. But walls and iron aren’t enough to keep the hungry darkness at bay…

Short and Sweet Review

Jess has spent most of her life running away from one place to the next, so when she gets a scholarship to Danvers-Cutteridge, an elite boarding school hidden in the mountains of West Virginia, her first thought is figuring out how to leave. But the school is hiding much more than its beautiful halls and strict rules. A student has gone missing, strange things are happening around the school, and the more Jess learns about its history, the darker things become. Danvers-Cutteridge was once a psychiatric hospital where horrific things happened, and now Jess and her friends are uncovering the secrets that were left behind, including the legend of a mysterious girl in green who may be much more than just a story.

The setting was easily my favorite part of this book. The old psychiatric hospital, isolated mountains, fog, underground tunnels, abandoned rooms, and all the creepy history surrounding the school created such an unsettling atmosphere. There were definitely times when I had to put the book down because I was reading it at night and thinking, “Yeah…maybe I don’t need to be reading this right now.” There’s something especially creepy about characters exploring places they obviously should not be exploring, and this book had plenty of those moments. Danvers-Cutteridge really felt like its own character, and I loved the feeling that there was always something hiding around the next corner. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the school and the girl in green. The more Jess uncovers about the history of the hospital and the people who were connected to it, the more questions come up. I liked trying to piece together what happened in the past and how it connected to what was happening in the present. Once the story really got going, it became a very quick read for me because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. That said, I didn’t connect with the characters quite as much as I wanted to. Jess has an interesting backstory, but I felt like there were times when there could have been more depth to her character. Some of the other characters also felt a little underdeveloped, which made some of the more emotional moments and deaths less impactful than they could have been. There is also a small romance subplot, but it wasn’t really something I cared about, and I think the story could have easily worked without it. The horror was definitely the stronger part of the story for me. I liked the unsettling history, the supernatural elements, and the way the mystery slowly turned into something much darker. Some of the horror itself felt a little familiar, but the atmosphere made up for it. Once the story reached the final act, things really started moving, and I liked how everything came together. The ending also leaves the door open for a sequel, and honestly, I’d definitely read it. There are still a few things I’d love to see explored more, especially after where the story leaves us.

Overall, The Girl in Green was a creepy and entertaining YA horror read with an amazing setting and plenty of dark secrets to uncover. The characters could have used a little more development, but I was completely invested in the mystery and the history of Danvers-Cutteridge. If you enjoy creepy boarding schools, abandoned psychiatric hospitals, supernatural horror, hidden tunnels, monsters, and atmospheric mysteries, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.