Verse – The Shelf Life

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Publication Date: October 2025 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Lyrically presented in verse, this novel provides a short but sweet story about the power of connection.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Gospel is a Keeper of The Leaving Room, providing a place and help for those who pass on. Whether it’s playing a game, talking or cooking food, Gospel helps the children that come to her room to move on. When she meets another Keeper named Melody, things begin to change. Everything that has been routine suddenly is interrupted and the connection between Melody and Gospel becomes entangled.

My Analysis: The concept of The Leaving Room being this place where someone can pause for a moment if they need before they move on is a powerful one. I thought this was beautifully written in a verse format that suited the story. If you are not a fan of novels in verse, this one may not be for you. It does incorporate more of a poetic style than some verse writing does. I do wish there was more to this though. This is just a little snippet of a much larger idea, and if you’re accepting of that then it was well done. I however always want more background information than not, and that was not the way this book was presented. Touching on the impact of connection, I appreciated how things wrapped up at the end. Overall it is a quick and worthwhile read if you’re looking for a powerful yet fantastical story.

Wolfpack by Amelia Brunskill

Publication Date: June 2023 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: An intriguing story told in verse. If you are willing to only gain a surface level understanding of the characters and cult life, it is worth the quick read! Realistic fiction with a mystery twist.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Wolfpack shares the story of a group of girls living in a remote location that they are told is a safe haven from the outside world. Under the leadership of a man named Joseph, these girls live life by his code and readers see a glimpse into their experiences. When one of the girls goes missing and no one seems to notice, the group starts to investigate the cause of her disappearance.

My Analysis:

This book is written in verse, and is a very quick read. It is broken up into chapters each focusing on one of the ‘wolfpack’ girls, but the author does little to really dive in to each specific character. If it wasn’t indicated, each chapter could have been the same characters perspective. I wish more time had been spent getting to know the individuals, I think it would have made for a larger impact to the story overall. It is also important to note that if you are looking for a book that dives into the inner workings of cults, that this is not what you’re looking for. Although it is clear these girls have grown up in a cult environment and that is key to their story, only surface level information about the cults inner workings are revealed throughout. Overall it did hold my attention and I was curious to know the outcome of the mystery that is presented as the story unfolds. The inner thoughts of the girls at Havenwood are intriguing and their bond with one another helped to garner emotion. If the characters and the cult life went a little deeper, it definitely would have added greatly to the story.