This was a really compelling and in places, tough to read story. I thought the author did a really good job with the topic of domestic violence and the way in which it pervades every aspect of the victim's life. I also thought the witchy elements of the story were well handled, giving a grown-up 'The Craft' vibe, which I appreciated. I did find the ending a little bit of a damp squib, but overall, I enjoyed this book a lot.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In this wry, eerie debut, a young woman desperate to banish memories of her ex tries a hex inspired by her teenage neighbor’s occult rituals. What starts as a quirky attempt at self-liberation turns dark as supernatural forces blur reality, making her ex’s presence feel disturbingly real. Fans of Boy Parts and My Year of Rest and Relaxation will enjoy this razor-sharp look at how trauma and relationships linger in haunting ways.

Disturbance follows an unnamed 26 year old narrator who, haunted by her own trauma, tries to step in and help her younger neighbour who she believes to be in an abusive relationship. What comes next is an entanglement of obsession as she interweaves herself into her life and becomes entrenched in a messy world of witchcraft which she has previously never known.

While it is not a horror in the normal sense of the word, more a very dark domestic noir with witchy vibes, the atmosphere is clawing and claustrophobic from the beginning.

By using a very closed POV. Clarke very cleverly portrays the effects of domestic violence, including its intense all encompassing nature and how it can alter one’s perceptions on reality and events.

While I enjoyed the feeling of the book and storyline, I did find the ending a tad anticlimactic and felt there was a little too much left open to interpretation.

A very thought provoking read but one which will leave you with many unanswered questions.

If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more

Jenna Clarke's "Disturbance" is a disquieting and thought-provoking novel that subverts expectations. Going in, I anticipated a conventional horror read, but what I encountered was something far more unsettling – a visceral exploration of the aftermath of abusive relationships and the insidious grip of PTSD.

Clarke's narrative is deliberately disorienting, mirroring the fractured psyche of her protagonist as she grapples with the lingering trauma of her past. The timeline shifts abruptly, without clear delineations, leaving the reader unmoored and struggling to separate reality from the haunting echoes of abuse. This disjointed structure is both challenging and effective, immersing the audience in the disorienting labyrinth of the character's mind.

While the nonlinear storytelling can be disruptive, it serves to underscore the book's central theme – the enduring psychological scars inflicted by toxic relationships. Clarke doesn't shy away from the visceral details, unflinchingly portraying the devastating impact of emotional and physical abuse. Her haunting prose captures the indelible imprint of violence on the human psyche, forcing readers to confront the disturbing realities that too often remain hidden from view.

"Disturbance" is a challenging and confronting read, but one that ultimately rewards with its powerful commentary on abuse, trauma, and the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

Clake's evocative verses create a vivid tapestry of emotions and introspection make this one of my favorite reads of the year,.

Disturbance - Jenna Clake

A very interesting read with topics such as mental health, abusive relationships and PTSD. I like the hints to a witchy undertone, and thought this was a refreshing aspect. I personally would have liked a more definitive ending but still worth a read, as it is very different to anything that I have read recently. Thanks so much Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Trapeze for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

A novel that made me think and I liked. The path of a woman to empowerment and overcoming the abuse she suffered.
Magic as empowerment and a path to freedom.
A well plotted and intriguing novel.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Disturbance is a short but powerful read, original and affecting with themes of domestic abuse and mental illness.

Our unnamed narrator feels haunted in her flat by strange noises and disturbing thoughts about her ex. A man who was extremely abusive in every way. Concerned about her young neighbour and wanting to erase her past, she finds herself casting spells in a bid to cleanse the presence in her flat and to protect her vulnerable neighbour.

As she reflects on her previous relationship, she begins to feel stronger and seeks help in the form of therapy - a more helpful method than casting spells.

Languid and understated, this is a powerful and reflective novel and leaves us on a more optimistic note.

Disturbance was a spooky and exciting thrill of a read. Whilst dealing with the very heavy topic of domestic abuse, Clake somehow keeps the mood light and exciting and even darkly humorous at times in a dazzling narrative of a seemingly unhinged woman in her mid-twenties, desperately trying to recover from the aftermath of her dangerously toxic relationship. She falls in with a couple of teenage girls who guide her in the ways of witchcraft- beginning as a last-ditch attempt to rid herself of her demons but spiralling into inevitable chaos, ultimately culminating in nearly catastrophic misunderstanding.
The development of the characters is exceptional and the exploration of life in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship is poignant and raw, gut-wrenching in it's honesty. This was a truly exceptional read and I will be recommending it to anyone who is interested in books exploring mental health and abuse, and the addition of a little bit of magic adds another layer of depth to make this truly a unique read.

Disturbance centres around our unnamed narrator, a 26 year old women, who’s just moved into a flat, after leaving an abusive relationship. She oversees her teenage neighbour, seemingly doing spells in the garden, in an attempt to hex her boyfriend, and becomes intrigued. Could she do that too, and banish the presence of her ex?

While this book definitely touches on the witchy themes, it’s certainly more grounded in reality, and the real narrative here is her coming to terms with her previous relationship, and the how brutal it became. Whether there was supernatural goings on in the flat, or if the hexes worked, or not, is certainly left ambiguous enough that you could take it either way, but the main thread is the absolutely the abuse, and how desperately the narrator wants to move on from that, to the point of getting involved with teenagers and their candle lit rituals.

I think it was very well done - the horror I was expecting didn’t really come from the magic and spells, it truly was the horrors of what someone can do to a person, and the slow gradual power of moving away from that, the undoing of being the person they turned you into, and the revival of yourself. I thought it was very well executed.

Also, shout out to Eddie. A good egg.

Obvious trigger warnings for abusive relationships, gaslighting, and domestic violence.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the early copy to review. And

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC! I was really interested to read this when I saw that it was recommended for fans of Boy Parts, one of my favourite books of the last couple of years. Disturbance takes a deep dive into exploring mental health and PTSD following an abusive relationship and I thought it was a really interesting read. It reminded me a bit of Motherthing and I think this will become a popular bookstagram book.

Description:
A woman who's recently left her abusive ex-boyfriend spends most of her time cowering in an apartment that seems to be haunted by a malevolent presence. When she sees her next-door neighbour cast a spell to banish her own shitty ex, she tries to learn more.

Liked:
The teenagers actually feel like teenagers, which seems rare. The protagonist manages to be both frustrating and endearing, and the author manages to avoid melodrama despite the intensity of trauma. The whole thing is an utterly believable meditation on recovery. It's also nicely atmospheric, with lots of quite bodily description - scents and heat. I really liked it.

Disliked:
Could have done with slightly more resolution. Whilst I liked the final paragraph, I would have liked to have known a little more about how Chelsea and Jess got on.

Would Recommend. Remarkably fresh.

Like a stone thrown in calm water the ripples following abuse spread and grow wider.

Clake does an interesting job of portraying the aftermath of domestic abuse and the mental anguish that follows removal from the immediate danger. The self gaslighting, fractured self esteem and shaken confidence make for tumultuous foundation on which to rebuild a life.

But as with Hitchcock’s Rear Window, how much of what you see is a reflection of your trauma?

These triggering moments are handled with the relevant care and attention, but it’s everything around this that seems to fall flat - there’s a subplot about witchcraft that doesn’t ever fully materialise and as the book concludes we’re left with many questions unanswered.

An interesting and engaging take on the after effects of an abusive relationship, and how the PTSD can manifest in the survivor, long after they have escaped the situation. The unnamed female narrator lives alone in an apartment that she moved to after finally leaving her abusive boyfriend after an intense relationship marked by constant mental abuse, that occasionally spilled into the physical.
She feels haunted by the relationship, constantly on edge, jumping at the slightest noise, and becomes increasingly convinced that her flat is haunted by a malevolent presence. When she witnesses her teenage neighbour and her best friend performing a magic ritual in their garden, she becomes intrigued / obsessed with their lives and their powers, wondering if she can channel their powers to resolve her issues.
What follows is an interesting mixture of mild horror / psychological thrills, where you're unsure of reality. How much is PTSD, how much is weird coincidences (electrical outages / fly infestations) and how much is genuinely supernatural spookiness?
I had a lot of unanswered questions by the end of the book, as the ending didn't really do a good job of explaining everything that happened, and actually seemed to ignore a lot of what had happened, but that was a relatively small gripe, as there was enough here to keep me entertained and intrigued.

Disturbance by Jenna Clake depicts how the aftermath of having been trapped in an abusive relationship affects a woman's mental health and her relationship with her living environment and neighbours. I think fans of Jenn Ashworth and Ainslie Hogarth would also appreciate it.