I'll Be Alone For Christmas - Meyer Matthews

I'll Be Alone For Christmas by Meyer Matthews is a quick-paced, heart racing novella that explores the darker side of human nature. With themes such as terror, paranoia, and suspense, this book is not for the faint of heart.

Our main character, Romee, is excited to spend Christmas with her long-time boyfriend in a remote cabin in the woods...until he decided to break up with her. Determined to enjoy some alone time for once and gain a nice distraction, she gets to her AirBnb and is immediately greeted by a woman who lives nearby. Romee is taken aback by her presence because of how far apart the cabins are from one another, but brushes it off and labels the woman as harmless. Once inside, Romee starts to make herself feel at home. Although she is alone, she doesn't really feel alone. Romee soon discovers some odd things happening: a pair of socks she hung on the mantle are missing, there are wet foot prints outside her front door, and the yellow mug she had been using the entire time suddenly is blue. Romee assumes she is just being paranoid and even myself, as the reader, questioned what was going on with Romee. Which begs the question: is she reliable? Things finally come to a head when the power goes out at her cabin, and soon after Romee hears a knock at the door...

I found the pacing, plot, and dialogue to be excellent in this novella, and I especially enjoyed the fact that we really get to know our protagonist on a more personal level. She is no ordinary main character. Romee fights back and demands to stay alive, no matter the cost. I was continuously kept on my toes, and Matthews' exploration of the unreliable narrator worked well in this story because of the fact that Romee was in complete isolation. Romee's isolation mixed with blatant paranoia really amped up the sensations of claustrophobia, eeriness, and anxiety that practically radiated off the pages. Matthews' writing style is a perfect mix of humor and intensity and that's what I fully enjoyed about this story. 

Overall, I loved this book and I love that I was able to find a great Christmas story, but with an intense twist! I can't wait to keep up with Meyer Matthews and read more of their work in the future.

As always, thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC! #IllBeAloneForChristmas #NetGalley