2026 ARC Reviews

Spoiler-free early reviews of the most anticipated upcoming releases.

Cover for Possession Island
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Possession Island

Sarah McCarry

Suspense, Literary Fiction • Dec 1, 2026

Angela Bell never had an easy childhood on Possession Island, the isolated Pacific Northwest locale made famous by her late mother’s blockbuster vampire book. Coming back from college is hard enough, but it becomes a nightmare when her estranged best friend, Mo, turns up dead. While navigating this fresh grief, Angela suddenly finds herself the primary focus of a highly flawed local police inquiry.
Across town, Sally Raleigh is desperate to escape the island but remains anchored by her ailing father and her fierce loyalty to her twin brother, Adrian. Seeing her old high school rival Angela return is the last thing Sally wants. However, shattered by the loss of Mo, Sally decides to put their bitter history aside and reluctantly teams up with Angela to track down the culprit.
Digging into the island's dangerous undercurrents forces both women to figure out exactly what they are willing to risk for the people they care about most. As their makeshift investigation deepens, it becomes clear that the dark secrets they are hiding from one another are on the verge of being exposed.

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4 / 5

Possession Island by Sarah McCarry is a deeply moving exploration of love, life, and friendship that relies on emotional resonance. The chapters are long and the timeline jumps around frequently between the past and present, which can get a bit confusing at times and makes the present-day plot feel like a slow burn. However, the gorgeous writing and depth of feeling more than make up for the slower pacing. Even though the overarching mystery takes a backseat to the character dynamics for most of the journey, it remains an underlying thread that pays off beautifully in the end. When all the pieces finally come together, the book delivers a great, high-stakes twist that feels much more akin to a traditional thriller. It is a beautifully crafted, thoughtful read that succeeds because it takes its time building history before delivering a highly satisfying conclusion. #NetGalley #SaturdayBooks

What is an ARC?

An ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) is a pre-publication version of a book provided by publishers so reviewers can share early feedback. Our spoiler-free reviews help you decide which upcoming titles to add to your pre-order list!

Advance copies reviewed on SpoilThePlot are securely sourced through industry partners, including NetGalley and Inside Story.