🕯️ Book Review: What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver
A haunting dual-timeline psychological thriller that explores obsession, grief, and the eerie pull of a house with a dark past.

Lauren Oliver, acclaimed for Before I Fall and Panic, returns with What Happened to Lucy Vale, a chilling and emotionally layered novel set in small-town Indiana. With a Goodreads rating of 3.46/5 from early readers, this upcoming release (expected September 1, 2025) is already sparking intrigue for its blend of gothic atmosphere and modern suspense.

🧠 Plot Overview

Sixteen years ago, Nina Faraday vanished from her home in Woodward, Indiana. Her mother was later found hanging from an apple tree in the yard. The house—Faraday House—became a local legend, steeped in rumors and fear.

Now, Rachel Vale and her daughter Lucy arrive in town and move into the infamous house. Their arrival stirs up old gossip, especially among the town’s teens, who become fixated on Lucy. When Lucy’s romance with a popular swim team star turns tragic, the community begins asking the same question they did years ago: What happened to Lucy Vale?

As the parallel mysteries of Nina and Lucy unfold, Rachel must confront the truth—about the house, her daughter, and the secrets she’s been keeping.

🔍 Why It Stands Out

• Dual Timelines: The novel weaves together two generations of missing girls, creating a layered mystery that slowly converges.
• Mother-Daughter Dynamics: Rachel’s perspective adds emotional depth, exploring the lengths a mother will go to protect—and uncover—the truth.
• Small-Town Suspicion: The story captures the claustrophobic intensity of a community obsessed with scandal and speculation.
• Modern Gothic Vibes: With its eerie setting and psychological tension, the book evokes classic gothic tropes with a contemporary twist.

💬 Early Praise

• “Original, compelling, and memorable. Especially recommended.” — Midwest Book Review
• “A brutally funny satire with a dark mystery nestled in its core… uniquely ambitious, complex, and comic.” — E.

🏁 Final Verdict

What Happened to Lucy Vale is a slow-burning, atmospheric thriller that examines how stories—true or not—can shape lives and haunt generations. If you enjoy psychological suspense with emotional depth and a touch of the uncanny, this one promises a gripping read.