In a small town like Presnick, nothing stays buried forever…

PLOT SUMMARY:

Ava Germaine has learned her see something, don’t say something. Cast out at school, the only place she can find peace is Restoration Acres, the town’s animal sanctuary. Though the place sometimes seems more like an animal graveyard than a rehabilitation center, Ava’s job there is at least a constant distraction from the night everything went wrong—and the boy she still holds responsible.

Micah Harding is always prepared for the worst. As the sheriff’s son, he tries not to do things that reflect poorly on his family, especially since his dad helped him cover up his worst mistake yet. But he knows his secret is bound to come out.

Hailey Wagner is sick of being judged. And finally, things are going according to plan—until Ava Germaine starts talking. So if Hailey has to shut her up…she will.

As a strange entity begins to stir, ready to awaken—Ava, Micah, and Hailey find themselves wrapped in a centuries-old exchange, while barreling towards the truth of what ties their fates together.

GRADE: A

REVIEW:

Mindy McGinnis is back—and she’s as fierce as ever. What Rough Beast immediately brought to mind The Female of the Species, with its simmering current of female rage, but this time there’s an added layer of eerie, folklore-tinged supernatural elements that deepen the story’s edge.

At the heart of the novel are three protagonists Ava, Micah, and Hailey, who feel strikingly real. Their voices are raw, their choices messy, and their emotions unmistakably teenage in the most authentic way. McGinnis excels at capturing that intensity, and as their lives begin to intertwine in unexpected ways, the tension only grows.

The story weaves together small-town drama with the shadow of a centuries-old curse, creating a mystery that slowly unravels. Watching the pieces connect is part of the thrill, and it kept me fully hooked from start to finish.

I won’t give away any plot details, but if you’re familiar with McGinnis’s work, this is her at her boldest—darker, stranger, and even more gripping than before. Pick this one up, you won’t regret it!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & HarperCollins for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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