[this review will be up on September 22, 2018 on my blog acquadimore.wordpress.com]

I like to keep my TBR under 200 books. My favorite way to decide whether or not a book is worth keeping is reading the preview. But I don't always have access to one - especially if the book hasn't been published yet. I've been on the fence about Sawkill Girls for a while, and then I realized I could read an excerpt on netgalley.

Sawkill Girls is a YA horror book set on the island of Sawkill Rock, a mysterious place where girls seem to disappear often. From this preview, I already see that this will be an atmospheric, creepy book in which the setting is really important, which is something I usually really like - some aspects of this reminded me of The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton, a paranormal book I read (and liked) earlier this year.

This book is told in three PoVs, and this preview was three chapters long, one from every girl. The first main character we meet is Marion, a girl who has recently moved to the island after her father's death. Then we see Zoey, a black girl who has recently lost a friend, Thora, in a mysterious way. The third is Val, a popular girl who has a secret - this beginning was already full of secrets, and I really want to know what is going on. Also, apparently there's asexual and bisexual representation here.

I haven't read any book by Claire Legrand yet, but now I definitely want to get to this novel and her Empirium trilogy.

Samplers are a double-edged sword. They offer insight into books to check out, but if they’re good it’s infuriating to only get an excerpt. Sawkill Girls falls firmly in the latter category.
There’s something mysterious on this island. Something dark. As expected, the sampler gives little away and yet I felt I got a clear introduction to our three main characters.
I really want to know more...

I had a sneak peak at the first three chapters of the book and I'm very intrigued to read more. Each chapter is told from a perspective of a different Sawkill girl, each of them very unique. The first few chapters set a mysterious and chilling atmosphere and it is obvious that something is going on in the Sawkill island as young girls have been disappearing here for years. The excerpt left me wanting to read more and discover the full story behind Sawkill Girls.

I love it, brilliantly eerie start to the book. I like the split person narratives and how it seems that one of the narrators is the antagonist, adds an interesting element to the book. Definitely will have to check this one out when it comes out in full!

The first 3 chapters of Sawkill girls are definitely interesting! I liked the drip-feed of information about the island – a seemingly unnerved population, a mystery unsolved, and a very intriguing set of characters. One in particular signs off the sampler with some rather captivating narrative about herself giving rise to a new mystery.
This sampler has certainly given me a desire to read the full book!
It seems that prior to the book’s setting a lot has happened, and this level of “action” doesn’t look to be slowing down for the characters. I really think this will be a great read!

After reading "Furyborn" by Claire Legrand earlier this year and loving it, "Sawkill Girls" is another anticipated release for me.

I loved the first 3 chapters of this sampler. I like that the story is told through 3 perspectives and I love the mystery aspect, I can't wait to see what happens next!

It is always complicated to have an idea of what the book will be like with only 3 chapters to read. But you met the 3 main characters and the 3 girls seems differents but all interesting. The writing style is amazing and I love the creepy vibes I got. I will check the book when it get released

Woah! I almost never bother with samplers, but I think I may have to change my ways. These three chapters of Sawkill Girls were totally mesmerising. I love the multiple POV characters, the creepy tone, and the atmospheric writing. If I hadn't already preordered this, I'd be doing it now!

I'm definitely intrigued after reading this sampler. I really want to know what is going on and find out more about Val and discover why she's so... creepy.
The writing is beautiful and atmospheric and pulls you into the story and this seems like it could be the perfect book to devour over Halloween. I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy.

I wish this was more than a snippet, because this story is captivating! You instantly get a feel for Marion, Val and Zoey, and their voices are distinct and realistic. The writing is gorgeous - easy to read with an undercurrent of creepiness, and I cannot wait to pick up the full book to find out more about these three girls and the mysteries of Sawkill Rock.

So this is only a preview of the book and therefore this is only a review of what I read.

Sawkill Girls starts of creepy and mysterious before sucking you right into the story. You have three very different protagonists who all seem interesting and you straight off wonder more about them.

I enjoyed what I read and definitely want to read more.

Although I didn't gel immediately with the writing style of this, I think it shows a lot of promise. I know there's LGBT+ elements I haven't reached yet, which is the driving force behind me reading this, really. I also think there are strong characters already- they are distinct already, and I think Val shows a lot of promise being a morally grey and quite creepy character. I'm not sure if I like how quickly we got to see Val's POV, as it would have been interesting seeing it extended further, but I think this will be an interesting read and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a final copy!

This sneak peak of Sawkill Girls sets up an idiosyncratic island setting, three very different girls who will clearly have to learn to come together, and a looming, mysterious horror. Marion is new to the island and her perspective allows the reader into the closed world, Zoey is an outsider with an interest in fandoms and clearly some fractured relationships in her past, and Val is the popular one who is hiding a secret. One chapter from each of their perspectives suggests this will be a classic teen horror that will use perspective and phrasing to play with the narrative. It seems likely to be a book for anyone who likes a combination of horror, female power, and unlikely friendships.