Book Review: Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

When reading psychological horror goes horribly wrong 😰

Disclaimer: This is a very critical review - if you loved this book, feel free to skip! 💕

by The Book Pup on October 24, 2025

I picked up Don't Let Her Stay without realizing it was psychological horror, and let me tell you, that was a mistake. This book was a confusing, disturbing mess from start to finish.

The biggest issue was how confusing the plot was. I couldn't figure out who the actual villain was supposed to be, what was really happening versus what was in someone's head, why a character kept ignoring and neglecting the protagonist, or how any of the pieces fit together. The writing style made everything feel disjointed and unclear, which might work for some readers but left me completely lost and frustrated.

Beyond the confusion, the content was deeply disturbing in ways that didn't feel purposeful or meaningful - just unpleasant. As someone who isn't typically drawn to psychological horror, this confirmed exactly why it's not my genre. The psychological elements felt manipulative rather than clever, and the disturbing scenes seemed gratuitous rather than serving the story.

The pacing was all over the place, dragging through confusing middle sections only to rush through what should have been a satisfying conclusion. And speaking of the ending - it was incredibly rushed and unsatisfying. After slogging through all that confusion and discomfort, the payoff was essentially a cliffhanger where the villain is still alive, on the loose, and somehow living in the protagonist's house. It felt like a punishment for finishing the book rather than any kind of resolution.

I understand psychological horror has its audience, but this missed the mark entirely for me. A good thriller should challenge you while still making sense. This just left me disturbed, confused, and wishing I'd picked literally anything else.

1/5 🐾 - Not recommended, especially if psychological horror isn't your thing

Perfect for: Maybe fans of extremely ambiguous, disturbing psychological horror? But even then, proceed with caution.

You can find the book on Goodreads here.

Best,

The Book Pup

P.S. Looking for horror-free recommendations? Check out our October blog post, which is not only filled with 8 series recommendations and other standalones, but also includes, challenges, reading tips, and a little advice.

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