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Tiny Threads
A young woman gets her dream job working for a famous designer—and discovers the dark side of the glamorous world of fashion—in this gorgeously sinister novel of supernatural suspense.
Fashion-obsessed Samara finally has the life she’s always dreamed of: a high-powered job with legendary designer Antonio Mota. A new home in sunny California, far away from those drab Jersey winters. And an intriguing love interest, Brandon, a wealthy investor in Mota’s fashion line.
But it’s not long before Samara’s dream life begins to turn into a living nightmare, as Mota’s big fashion show approaches and the pressure on Samara turns crushing. Perhaps that’s why Samara begins hearing voices in the dark in her room at night—and seeing strange things that can’t be explained away by stress and anxiety, or by the number of drinks she consumes every night.
And it may not only be Samara’s unraveling psyche, because she soon discovers hints that her new city—and the house of Mota—may have been built on a foundation of secrets and lies. Now Samara must uncover what hideous truths lurk in the shadows of this illusory world of glamor and beauty, before those shadows claim her…
Fashion-obsessed Samara finally has the life she’s always dreamed of: a high-powered job with legendary designer Antonio Mota. A new home in sunny California, far away from those drab Jersey winters. And an intriguing love interest, Brandon, a wealthy investor in Mota’s fashion line.
But it’s not long before Samara’s dream life begins to turn into a living nightmare, as Mota’s big fashion show approaches and the pressure on Samara turns crushing. Perhaps that’s why Samara begins hearing voices in the dark in her room at night—and seeing strange things that can’t be explained away by stress and anxiety, or by the number of drinks she consumes every night.
And it may not only be Samara’s unraveling psyche, because she soon discovers hints that her new city—and the house of Mota—may have been built on a foundation of secrets and lies. Now Samara must uncover what hideous truths lurk in the shadows of this illusory world of glamor and beauty, before those shadows claim her…
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2024
57 people are currently reading
16.3k people want to read
About the author
Lilliam Rivera
29 books547 followersLilliam Rivera is an award-winning author of children’s books including her latest Never Look Back, a retelling of the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice set in New York by Bloomsbury Publishing. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Elle, to name a few. Lilliam lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
February 26, 2024
I’m very shocked by the lack of content warnings for this book. If you’re triggered by graphic depictions or descriptions of sexual abuse and assault do not read this book. I was severely unprepared due to the blatant lack of trigger or content warnings and as such my reading experience wasn’t a pleasant one. This book is marketed as a “suspenseful supernatural thriller” when in reality it is a commentary on social structure, racism, rape culture, politics, and sexual assault. Had I known that it was this sort of book I wouldn’t have picked it up. The only mention of anything “supernatural” was perhaps a handful of pages at best. I don’t recommend it if you’re actually looking for a creepy supernatural thriller as that’s not what this book is AT ALL!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2024
I was so excited for the premise of this story - like a gothic Devil Wears Prada, but with supernatural horror!! Alas, that is not what this was. Instead, we see the main character, Samara, escaping some sort of trauma, fleeing across the country to a new, stressful job and self-medicating like crazy.
Because of this, what should have been creepy horrific scenes were overshadowed by me wondering if she was suffering a psychotic break, so high that she was hallucinating, or really seeing ghosts. It was neither scary nor thrilling.
That was also partially due to the pacing. It took way too long to get into the “meat” of the story. Fully half of the book is Samara going to work, getting triggered by her caricature of a boss, putting vodka in her coffee, going home, drinking way too much, and having visions. It was repetitive and it was hard to stay interested. Then, as the fashion show gets closer, I feel like the pacing picks up and suddenly, we have a thriller! I wish the rest of the book could have had that urgency.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Because of this, what should have been creepy horrific scenes were overshadowed by me wondering if she was suffering a psychotic break, so high that she was hallucinating, or really seeing ghosts. It was neither scary nor thrilling.
That was also partially due to the pacing. It took way too long to get into the “meat” of the story. Fully half of the book is Samara going to work, getting triggered by her caricature of a boss, putting vodka in her coffee, going home, drinking way too much, and having visions. It was repetitive and it was hard to stay interested. Then, as the fashion show gets closer, I feel like the pacing picks up and suddenly, we have a thriller! I wish the rest of the book could have had that urgency.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 5, 2024
This Latina Gothic story will haunt you long after you finish the novel.
Samara has uprooted herself to California to work for a legendary designer with a legendary temper. The stress of working for the aging desinger causes Samara to drink to excess. Maybe that is why she hears voices every night or sees strange things in the office. Why don't the seamstresses like her? Why is she hearing the whispers and seeing the dark figures. Things come to a head when the big fashion show approaches and Samara needs to make a stand.
I loved this gothic story. It seeped into my bones and I am still thinking about it many days later. If you are looking for a scary tale, a fashion story or a latina flawed heroine, this is the story for you!
#randomhouse #tinythreads #lillianrivera #netgalley
Samara has uprooted herself to California to work for a legendary designer with a legendary temper. The stress of working for the aging desinger causes Samara to drink to excess. Maybe that is why she hears voices every night or sees strange things in the office. Why don't the seamstresses like her? Why is she hearing the whispers and seeing the dark figures. Things come to a head when the big fashion show approaches and Samara needs to make a stand.
I loved this gothic story. It seeped into my bones and I am still thinking about it many days later. If you are looking for a scary tale, a fashion story or a latina flawed heroine, this is the story for you!
#randomhouse #tinythreads #lillianrivera #netgalley
September 25, 2024
There's NO reason, it should take 70% of a book for something to happen, 🙄
March 29, 2024
The Devil Wears Prada but if it was produced by A24, this haunting story had the same paranoid insidious atmosphere found in Rosemary's Baby, somethings not quite right in the city of Vernon, Rivera seamlessly weaves threads ( 👀 ) of supernatural horror and the very real horrors of racism and oppression of women together in this unnerving social commentry, ambiguity plays a big role in this and the reader is left questioning if our protagonist Samara is experiencing something paranormal or if it's a product of her heavy self medicating, a unique slow burn psychological horror, burn being the operative word as the description of the stifling suffocating atmosphere of Vernon leaves cinders on your fingers as you turn the pages, highly recommend to fans of gothic horror, this wasn't what I was expecting going in but throughly enjoyed it
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December 23, 2024Fashion. Horror.
Slow to get started, this story built into something so unexpected, heartbreaking and, ultimately, revolutionary.
Slow to get started, this story built into something so unexpected, heartbreaking and, ultimately, revolutionary.
March 5, 2024
I really wanted to like this, and I did not.
Samara frustrated the heck out of me. She was so busy being ‘not like other girls’ and ‘pick me’ that I just hated her. Her background should have resonated with me, but every time she put on her ‘white voice’ (her words), I wanted to scream.
I loved that the author set this in Vernon – and if you have a minute, I invite you to go down the internet rabbit hole on that city – but it wasn’t enough. The book starts slowly and, though it picks up pace, it become even more uncomfortable (in a bad way) as you descend into the lives of the miserable. I just wished it were more entertaining.
2.5 stars because I can see what was intended. Unfortunately, I found it unsuccessful.
• ARC via Publisher
Samara frustrated the heck out of me. She was so busy being ‘not like other girls’ and ‘pick me’ that I just hated her. Her background should have resonated with me, but every time she put on her ‘white voice’ (her words), I wanted to scream.
I loved that the author set this in Vernon – and if you have a minute, I invite you to go down the internet rabbit hole on that city – but it wasn’t enough. The book starts slowly and, though it picks up pace, it become even more uncomfortable (in a bad way) as you descend into the lives of the miserable. I just wished it were more entertaining.
2.5 stars because I can see what was intended. Unfortunately, I found it unsuccessful.
• ARC via Publisher
February 29, 2024
I’m honestly unsure how to start this review. I’ll start by saying that I am extremely grateful for the opportunity provided by NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Lilliam Rivera to read this book ahead of publication.
I’m struggling to try to find things that I liked about this book outside of the cover. The synopsis provided on NG was very interesting. I had the same thought as another reviewer that this was going to be the gothic horror sister to The Devil Wears Prada. ‘Twas not, in my honest opinion. It wasn’t even close. None of the characters were really likable, Samara the least of all. I did end up not entirely disliking Delores. I think she could have benefitted from better writing. Spoiler alert: that’s how I feel about this whole book.
I have never had more of a negative reaction to a leading character than Samara. I really wanted to like her. I did, I promise. But she was so... I don’t even know. Underwhelming doesn’t even begin to really describe it. I found it interesting that she was classed as the good girl out of her friend group, not including her drinking habits, but then flipped a 180 and was honestly the most insufferable version of herself. I think her character had potential, but she quickly became a try-hard, and I hate when authors default to that characterization. There are so many ways to present a female character as strong, independent, and attention grabbing without doing what was done with Samara.
This girl literally did not know when or how to stop talking, which kind of tracks for a journalist, I guess. I feel like they’re either quiet and attentive or they just bulldoze over everything and everyone, and can we guess which category I’m putting Samara in?
I also find it interesting that I disliked the character I was inherently supposed to like more than one of the kind-of villains. Regardless of Antonio’s villain status, he felt like he was written as one. Whether that was intentional by Rivera or not, who knows, I don’t. I haven’t seen any other reviews touch on Antonio much, honestly. Antonio was not a captivating character either by any means, but I strongly disliked the almost immediate tone change that came from him at the slightest wrongdoing from Samara. It’s so overwhelmingly high school, it was almost nauseating. Which honestly just turns right back into my intense dislike for how Samara acts and strives to be so far up Antonio’s ass she can see through his mouth when he speaks. Everything she does screams ‘I wasn’t given enough attention as a child and now I’m making it everyone’s problem’, and I don’t want to read any more FMC’s with this character build.
I wouldn’t really call Brandon a love interest, either. Samara is so unreliable in how she feels about him, that I feel like he shouldn’t have even been a focal point. I get the callbacks to her cousin through him, but Brandon felt like an afterthought. Almost like Abuela Lola’s story was created and there needed to be some other tie-in to the current timeline of the book. Did I like Brandon? No, I didn’t. Was his character done basic justice by being fully developed? Also no.
I didn’t like the references to modern day social media at all. I don’t see the point in name dropping apps or referencing real life trends, when they’re going to be severely outdated within two years (maybe even less time than that, with how quickly trends die and are forgotten). That’s just a blanket statement for any book ever put in a “modern” timeline. But when TikTok was mentioned, I wanted to throw my phone. I can say with a surprising level of certainty that this book was probably written with TikTok and virality in mind. Some of the word choices scream ‘an older millennial wrote this’ and not in a good way. I could not tell you the last time I heard someone say “like a boss” unironically, and reading it from the perspective of someone younger than me made me feel extremely old and, once again, like throwing my phone.
Also, I couldn’t not see the girl from The Ring every time I read the FMC’s name. I think that might have been the scariest thing about this book. Well... Actually, I think the scariest thing about this book was the amount of plot points that had their respective foundations laid and were quickly abandoned. The pacing was odd, like really odd. I probably could have skimmed the first 20 chapters and been fine with having read only the prologue and the last 20 chapters. I did skim the last five chapters though because I was so tired of waiting for something interesting to happen, that when it finally started getting interesting the book had, ironically enough, lost every single ounce of my interest.
My initial reaction after reading the little blurb about the author was ‘maybe stick to middle grade’. Which... in hindsight sounds very mean, but there wasn’t anything in this book outside of the triggering events and the sex/sex talk and drinking that was “adult” material. Everything felt extremely juvenile, and there were zero points where I was intrigued by what I was reading. While reading, I was left increasingly more confused after each chapter because nothing was really happening and the chapters themselves felt like incomplete thoughts.
Horror and thriller/mystery are my favorite genres, and this feels like a caricature of it. And I get the underlying tones and topics that the author was going for with this book, but it’s just so far off that I’m just baffled by everything. I wouldn’t even go as far to say that this is a supernatural thriller, because it feels like a mockery of one at this point. It feels like a fever dream. It’s been two days since I finished reading the book and I still can’t really tie down my thoughts on it. I’ll probably end up going back in and elaborating on this review after a little while, but I need to get it off my desk right now.
Giving this a 2/5 purely because NG and Goodreads don’t have the same rating system as StoryGraph, unfortunately. To be completely honest, my gut wants me to give this a 1-star review. I’m not going to do that because while I definitively did not like the book, I can’t say that I disliked it enough to give it that low of a rating. It’s a solid 2.6. The ideas for a good book were there, and a default 1-star for writing a book.
Realistically, I can’t see myself recommending this book to anyone that I know, because they’ll more or less have the same issues with the book as I did. I think that this book could benefit from scrapping at least 10 chapters in the beginning and re-working it.
I would also strongly urge the author/publisher to include a trigger list in the beginning of the book. The triggering material is so abrupt, I would be, and am, genuinely concerned for anyone reading this, not knowing that SA/violent SA is who unfortunately experienced it. I’m pretty desensitized to a lot of stuff, but I was kind of taken aback by the carelessness in which these topics were brought up. It feels like they were used mainly for the shock factor aspect of horror. Which is a cheap trick and honestly, kind of disappointing considering the severity of battling them in the real world.
Thank you again to NetGalley, RH - Ballantine, and Lilliam Rivera for the opportunity to read Tiny Threads ahead of publishing. I look forward to receiving more opportunities in the future.
I’m struggling to try to find things that I liked about this book outside of the cover. The synopsis provided on NG was very interesting. I had the same thought as another reviewer that this was going to be the gothic horror sister to The Devil Wears Prada. ‘Twas not, in my honest opinion. It wasn’t even close. None of the characters were really likable, Samara the least of all. I did end up not entirely disliking Delores. I think she could have benefitted from better writing. Spoiler alert: that’s how I feel about this whole book.
I have never had more of a negative reaction to a leading character than Samara. I really wanted to like her. I did, I promise. But she was so... I don’t even know. Underwhelming doesn’t even begin to really describe it. I found it interesting that she was classed as the good girl out of her friend group, not including her drinking habits, but then flipped a 180 and was honestly the most insufferable version of herself. I think her character had potential, but she quickly became a try-hard, and I hate when authors default to that characterization. There are so many ways to present a female character as strong, independent, and attention grabbing without doing what was done with Samara.
This girl literally did not know when or how to stop talking, which kind of tracks for a journalist, I guess. I feel like they’re either quiet and attentive or they just bulldoze over everything and everyone, and can we guess which category I’m putting Samara in?
I also find it interesting that I disliked the character I was inherently supposed to like more than one of the kind-of villains. Regardless of Antonio’s villain status, he felt like he was written as one. Whether that was intentional by Rivera or not, who knows, I don’t. I haven’t seen any other reviews touch on Antonio much, honestly. Antonio was not a captivating character either by any means, but I strongly disliked the almost immediate tone change that came from him at the slightest wrongdoing from Samara. It’s so overwhelmingly high school, it was almost nauseating. Which honestly just turns right back into my intense dislike for how Samara acts and strives to be so far up Antonio’s ass she can see through his mouth when he speaks. Everything she does screams ‘I wasn’t given enough attention as a child and now I’m making it everyone’s problem’, and I don’t want to read any more FMC’s with this character build.
I wouldn’t really call Brandon a love interest, either. Samara is so unreliable in how she feels about him, that I feel like he shouldn’t have even been a focal point. I get the callbacks to her cousin through him, but Brandon felt like an afterthought. Almost like Abuela Lola’s story was created and there needed to be some other tie-in to the current timeline of the book. Did I like Brandon? No, I didn’t. Was his character done basic justice by being fully developed? Also no.
I didn’t like the references to modern day social media at all. I don’t see the point in name dropping apps or referencing real life trends, when they’re going to be severely outdated within two years (maybe even less time than that, with how quickly trends die and are forgotten). That’s just a blanket statement for any book ever put in a “modern” timeline. But when TikTok was mentioned, I wanted to throw my phone. I can say with a surprising level of certainty that this book was probably written with TikTok and virality in mind. Some of the word choices scream ‘an older millennial wrote this’ and not in a good way. I could not tell you the last time I heard someone say “like a boss” unironically, and reading it from the perspective of someone younger than me made me feel extremely old and, once again, like throwing my phone.
Also, I couldn’t not see the girl from The Ring every time I read the FMC’s name. I think that might have been the scariest thing about this book. Well... Actually, I think the scariest thing about this book was the amount of plot points that had their respective foundations laid and were quickly abandoned. The pacing was odd, like really odd. I probably could have skimmed the first 20 chapters and been fine with having read only the prologue and the last 20 chapters. I did skim the last five chapters though because I was so tired of waiting for something interesting to happen, that when it finally started getting interesting the book had, ironically enough, lost every single ounce of my interest.
My initial reaction after reading the little blurb about the author was ‘maybe stick to middle grade’. Which... in hindsight sounds very mean, but there wasn’t anything in this book outside of the triggering events and the sex/sex talk and drinking that was “adult” material. Everything felt extremely juvenile, and there were zero points where I was intrigued by what I was reading. While reading, I was left increasingly more confused after each chapter because nothing was really happening and the chapters themselves felt like incomplete thoughts.
Horror and thriller/mystery are my favorite genres, and this feels like a caricature of it. And I get the underlying tones and topics that the author was going for with this book, but it’s just so far off that I’m just baffled by everything. I wouldn’t even go as far to say that this is a supernatural thriller, because it feels like a mockery of one at this point. It feels like a fever dream. It’s been two days since I finished reading the book and I still can’t really tie down my thoughts on it. I’ll probably end up going back in and elaborating on this review after a little while, but I need to get it off my desk right now.
Giving this a 2/5 purely because NG and Goodreads don’t have the same rating system as StoryGraph, unfortunately. To be completely honest, my gut wants me to give this a 1-star review. I’m not going to do that because while I definitively did not like the book, I can’t say that I disliked it enough to give it that low of a rating. It’s a solid 2.6. The ideas for a good book were there, and a default 1-star for writing a book.
Realistically, I can’t see myself recommending this book to anyone that I know, because they’ll more or less have the same issues with the book as I did. I think that this book could benefit from scrapping at least 10 chapters in the beginning and re-working it.
I would also strongly urge the author/publisher to include a trigger list in the beginning of the book. The triggering material is so abrupt, I would be, and am, genuinely concerned for anyone reading this, not knowing that SA/violent SA is who unfortunately experienced it. I’m pretty desensitized to a lot of stuff, but I was kind of taken aback by the carelessness in which these topics were brought up. It feels like they were used mainly for the shock factor aspect of horror. Which is a cheap trick and honestly, kind of disappointing considering the severity of battling them in the real world.
Thank you again to NetGalley, RH - Ballantine, and Lilliam Rivera for the opportunity to read Tiny Threads ahead of publishing. I look forward to receiving more opportunities in the future.
November 2, 2024
TW/CW: Physical abuse, anxiety, toxic work environment, drinking, classism, alcoholism, sexual assault, drugs, eating disorder, child sexual abuse, incest, trauma
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Fashion-obsessed Samara finally has the life she’s always dreamed of: a high-powered job with legendary designer Antonio Mota. A new home in sunny California, far away from those drab Jersey winters. And an intriguing love interest, Brandon, a wealthy investor in Mota’s fashion line.
But it’s not long before Samara’s dream life begins to turn into a living nightmare, as Mota’s big fashion show approaches and the pressure on Samara turns crushing. Perhaps that’s why Samara begins hearing voices in the dark in her room at night—and seeing strange things that can’t be explained away by stress and anxiety, or by the number of drinks she consumes every night.
And it may not only be Samara’s unraveling psyche, because she soon discovers hints that her new city—and the house of Mota—may have been built on a foundation of secrets and lies. Now Samara must uncover what hideous truths lurk in the shadows of this illusory world of glamor and beauty, before those shadows claim her…
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 256
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing was good
2. Story flows
3. Love the culture references
What I Didn't Like:
1. Author seemed to lose their thought in certain places
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Final Thoughts:
I feel like this book started off at a 5 star but somewhere along the way I felt like we lost our focus with too much going on .
I liked the creepy moments that would happen and made you question your own sanity between what's real and fake.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Ballantine | Del Rey and Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Fashion-obsessed Samara finally has the life she’s always dreamed of: a high-powered job with legendary designer Antonio Mota. A new home in sunny California, far away from those drab Jersey winters. And an intriguing love interest, Brandon, a wealthy investor in Mota’s fashion line.
But it’s not long before Samara’s dream life begins to turn into a living nightmare, as Mota’s big fashion show approaches and the pressure on Samara turns crushing. Perhaps that’s why Samara begins hearing voices in the dark in her room at night—and seeing strange things that can’t be explained away by stress and anxiety, or by the number of drinks she consumes every night.
And it may not only be Samara’s unraveling psyche, because she soon discovers hints that her new city—and the house of Mota—may have been built on a foundation of secrets and lies. Now Samara must uncover what hideous truths lurk in the shadows of this illusory world of glamor and beauty, before those shadows claim her…
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 256
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing was good
2. Story flows
3. Love the culture references
What I Didn't Like:
1. Author seemed to lose their thought in certain places
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Final Thoughts:
I feel like this book started off at a 5 star but somewhere along the way I felt like we lost our focus with too much going on .
I liked the creepy moments that would happen and made you question your own sanity between what's real and fake.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Ballantine | Del Rey and Netgalley for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 3, 2024
I couldn't wait to get my hands on Tiny Threads after reading the blurb. Social horror set in the world of high fashion?! Yes please! I wanted it to read like The Devil Wears Prada as directed by Guillermo del Toro. Unfortunately, though, I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I'd hoped I would.
Tiny Threads is about a young Cuban American woman named Samara, who travels across the country to start her dream job with renowned fashion designer Antonio Mota. But she can't quite stand up to the enormous pressures of her new career, the demands placed on her as an important fashion show draws near. She begins hearing strange noises and experiencing unsettling events she can't explain. Are they a sign of her unraveling psyche, or is something more sinister going on deep in the halls of the house of Mota?
Thematically, Tiny Threads is so interesting as it delves into issues of race and class and explores the ways that the few succeed on the backs of the many -- hiding ugly truths behind glitzy, glamorous lies. It's set in the "exclusively industrial" city of Vernon, California, which really opens the narrative up for Lilliam Rivera to explore these themes. But overall, this was a frustrating reading experience because I could clearly see what Lilliam Rivera was trying to do, the connections she was trying to make -- but the execution just wasn't quite there.
All the way through, it feels like the book isn't exactly sure what kind of story it wants to tell. The pacing is uneven, spending a lot of time on Samara's self-destructive tendencies and the day-to-day minutiae of her job. Is it a character study about a woman hallucinating and having a psychotic break? Is it a commentary on how young people cope in stressful careers? Is it a supernatural horror novel? By the time a decision is made, the book is over. It could have been all of these things, but it never quite came together. And there's not nearly enough build-up throughout the book to support the conclusion.
Tiny Threads is a book that has a lot to say, but for me, it could have said those things more effectively. Thank you to Del Rey for the early reading opportunity.
Tiny Threads is about a young Cuban American woman named Samara, who travels across the country to start her dream job with renowned fashion designer Antonio Mota. But she can't quite stand up to the enormous pressures of her new career, the demands placed on her as an important fashion show draws near. She begins hearing strange noises and experiencing unsettling events she can't explain. Are they a sign of her unraveling psyche, or is something more sinister going on deep in the halls of the house of Mota?
Thematically, Tiny Threads is so interesting as it delves into issues of race and class and explores the ways that the few succeed on the backs of the many -- hiding ugly truths behind glitzy, glamorous lies. It's set in the "exclusively industrial" city of Vernon, California, which really opens the narrative up for Lilliam Rivera to explore these themes. But overall, this was a frustrating reading experience because I could clearly see what Lilliam Rivera was trying to do, the connections she was trying to make -- but the execution just wasn't quite there.
All the way through, it feels like the book isn't exactly sure what kind of story it wants to tell. The pacing is uneven, spending a lot of time on Samara's self-destructive tendencies and the day-to-day minutiae of her job. Is it a character study about a woman hallucinating and having a psychotic break? Is it a commentary on how young people cope in stressful careers? Is it a supernatural horror novel? By the time a decision is made, the book is over. It could have been all of these things, but it never quite came together. And there's not nearly enough build-up throughout the book to support the conclusion.
Tiny Threads is a book that has a lot to say, but for me, it could have said those things more effectively. Thank you to Del Rey for the early reading opportunity.
September 24, 2024
Saprophyte (noun): a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter.
Set in the world of fashion, Tiny Threads deals with social issues such as racism, violence towards women, misogyny, and sexism. There are the Gothic elements of haunted buildings, female protagonist in distress, ghosts, and suspense. The tension builds slowly and we are gifted with a satisfying climax of good versus evil.
The Saprophyte is a fashion house located in a warehouse next to a slaughterhouse (a very interesting choice). Here, the air is foul, and the street deserted. It is the city of Vernon, California which has been pegged as “The new Los Angeles”. This is where mercurial designer Antonio Moto chooses to prepare his latest line of women’s fashion. Vernon is Antonio’s hometown, and this is a symbolic return to his roots logistically and creatively. His early designs featured themes of violence and beauty. As of late, his style has become main stream, and predictable. It is possible that the juxtaposition of beauty and violence will be his inspiration and return to relevance.
Samara Martin is the new Executive Director, Global Brand Voice at The Saprophyte. She moved to Vernon from New Jersey to work with Antonio. Taking this job will give her a fresh start in a career she sees as the opportunity of a lifetime. Samara is also trying to reinvent herself; to distance herself from the grief and traumatic memories she associates with her family and New Jersey. Stressed, depressed, and having difficulty fitting in, she increasingly turns towards alcohol to get through the days...and the nights. At night she is visited by the grunts and smells of ghost pigs, and the apparition of a tragic, beautiful woman.
Over the course of several months, Samara’s life and touch with reality begin to unravel. Her past makes her vulnerable to the violent history of the area which manifests itself in paranormal events. As her boss’s capricious demands become more and more ludicrous, she sleeps less and drinks more. As it gets closer to presenting Antonio’s fashion line, Samara spirals into supernatural phenomena escapes with increasing frequency and intensity.
I would like to thank Del Rey Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Set in the world of fashion, Tiny Threads deals with social issues such as racism, violence towards women, misogyny, and sexism. There are the Gothic elements of haunted buildings, female protagonist in distress, ghosts, and suspense. The tension builds slowly and we are gifted with a satisfying climax of good versus evil.
The Saprophyte is a fashion house located in a warehouse next to a slaughterhouse (a very interesting choice). Here, the air is foul, and the street deserted. It is the city of Vernon, California which has been pegged as “The new Los Angeles”. This is where mercurial designer Antonio Moto chooses to prepare his latest line of women’s fashion. Vernon is Antonio’s hometown, and this is a symbolic return to his roots logistically and creatively. His early designs featured themes of violence and beauty. As of late, his style has become main stream, and predictable. It is possible that the juxtaposition of beauty and violence will be his inspiration and return to relevance.
Samara Martin is the new Executive Director, Global Brand Voice at The Saprophyte. She moved to Vernon from New Jersey to work with Antonio. Taking this job will give her a fresh start in a career she sees as the opportunity of a lifetime. Samara is also trying to reinvent herself; to distance herself from the grief and traumatic memories she associates with her family and New Jersey. Stressed, depressed, and having difficulty fitting in, she increasingly turns towards alcohol to get through the days...and the nights. At night she is visited by the grunts and smells of ghost pigs, and the apparition of a tragic, beautiful woman.
Over the course of several months, Samara’s life and touch with reality begin to unravel. Her past makes her vulnerable to the violent history of the area which manifests itself in paranormal events. As her boss’s capricious demands become more and more ludicrous, she sleeps less and drinks more. As it gets closer to presenting Antonio’s fashion line, Samara spirals into supernatural phenomena escapes with increasing frequency and intensity.
I would like to thank Del Rey Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 27, 2024
The commentary is commentary-ing with this one! I have a degree in fashion, so I found much of this book interesting. It ultimately goes into an emotionally intense and traumatic realm. Lots of triggers here, so be prepared. I liked our character. It’s obvious she’s struggling with some personal things and it just gets worse as we go on. I was sympathizing with her every step of the way. We do get a few good horror scenes, but it’s mostly psychological.
September 27, 2024
DNF at 30%. I’m so fucking bored.
Want to read
February 29, 2024ARC received! Thank you, Del Rey!!
I think this sounds so enticing. I'm stoked to check it out!
I think this sounds so enticing. I'm stoked to check it out!
September 24, 2024
"Tiny Threads" by Lilliam Rivera is a kind of Gothic "Devil Wears Prada" story. Though I detested all of the characters (though I came around to liking Samara more at the end when I discovered the reasons behind her poor choices), this book was entertaining from the first page until the last. I wouldn't describe it as 'terrifying' but its supernatural moments were definitely spooky and it is the perfect book to pick up as the days get shorter and Halloween approaches. Though the city of Vernon is fictional, sadly the horrific events of its past are entirely realistic. It is difficult to be a woman in a world dominated by men and I couldn't help but cheer for the women in this book who took back their power, even if they did so in chilling ways.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book.
March 8, 2024
[Blurb goes here]
Many people drink to enjoy themselves, but for Samara, it's a way to cope with the pain. A few years ago, her grandmother passed away, severing the last connection between Samara and her stubborn and sometimes difficult family.
Samara, a freelance writer, gained the attention of fashion designer Antonio Mota with her latest article about her grandmother's immigration journey and the hardships she faced.
The renowned designer has offered Samara a job in California as the head of PR. Her task is to craft a compelling story about Antonio's journey from his previous struggles to his current success. Antonio is highly respected in the fashion industry; however, nobody can hold a higher opinion of him than he does.
In her new apartment, Samara hears eerie voices and sounds at night. Could it be that she had one drink too many? Samara will be forced to confront her traumatic past as the story unravels.
Liliam Rivera's captivating prose grabs your attention from the first few pages and refuses to let go. She is a master of her craft, skillfully dropping hints without giving too much away. As the story progresses, the truth becomes apparent, resulting in a heart-wrenching experience.
Despite its veiled rawness, this book is a jewel.
I can't praise the award-winning author enough.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Many people drink to enjoy themselves, but for Samara, it's a way to cope with the pain. A few years ago, her grandmother passed away, severing the last connection between Samara and her stubborn and sometimes difficult family.
Samara, a freelance writer, gained the attention of fashion designer Antonio Mota with her latest article about her grandmother's immigration journey and the hardships she faced.
The renowned designer has offered Samara a job in California as the head of PR. Her task is to craft a compelling story about Antonio's journey from his previous struggles to his current success. Antonio is highly respected in the fashion industry; however, nobody can hold a higher opinion of him than he does.
In her new apartment, Samara hears eerie voices and sounds at night. Could it be that she had one drink too many? Samara will be forced to confront her traumatic past as the story unravels.
Liliam Rivera's captivating prose grabs your attention from the first few pages and refuses to let go. She is a master of her craft, skillfully dropping hints without giving too much away. As the story progresses, the truth becomes apparent, resulting in a heart-wrenching experience.
Despite its veiled rawness, this book is a jewel.
I can't praise the award-winning author enough.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
February 22, 2024
ARC for review. To be published September 24, 2024.
Samara lives for fashion and needs to get out of Jersey, luckily she has gotten her dream job with legendary designer Antonio Mota in Vernon, California, a newly-minted up-and-coming area outside L.A. The work is stressful and Antonio is a handful but she knows she can succeed. She also meets Brandon, an investor in Antonio’s line.
As Antonio’s big show approaches pressure on Samara ratchets up and she begins having what she believes are hallucinations and she’s hearing voices. Is this just the stress or are things not what they seem at the House of Mota?
Oh, here for the fashion, combined with the horror. What a great combination! Samara’s identity as a Latina woman is handled well as is all the cattiness I would expect to see in a fashion house. I might expect more! I enjoyed this quite a bit, but can see that others might not….all a matter of taste.
Samara lives for fashion and needs to get out of Jersey, luckily she has gotten her dream job with legendary designer Antonio Mota in Vernon, California, a newly-minted up-and-coming area outside L.A. The work is stressful and Antonio is a handful but she knows she can succeed. She also meets Brandon, an investor in Antonio’s line.
As Antonio’s big show approaches pressure on Samara ratchets up and she begins having what she believes are hallucinations and she’s hearing voices. Is this just the stress or are things not what they seem at the House of Mota?
Oh, here for the fashion, combined with the horror. What a great combination! Samara’s identity as a Latina woman is handled well as is all the cattiness I would expect to see in a fashion house. I might expect more! I enjoyed this quite a bit, but can see that others might not….all a matter of taste.
May 13, 2024
The captivating intro to this story brings you back in time to when a horrendous crime happened, many decades prior. This aspect allowed for a supernatural feel to permeate through the book.
Samara, the MC is brought to California to work for an acclaimed designer to prepare for an upcoming revival fashion show. I found Samara a little too insecure in her need to equalize every one of a similar or less fortunate background, but overall relatable.
Through the storyline of preparing for the upcoming show, is Samara cracking under the pressure? Or is something more sinister at play? The gothic feel of this novel brings the culture to life, aside from a slightly annoying MC, I enjoyed this story!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!
Samara, the MC is brought to California to work for an acclaimed designer to prepare for an upcoming revival fashion show. I found Samara a little too insecure in her need to equalize every one of a similar or less fortunate background, but overall relatable.
Through the storyline of preparing for the upcoming show, is Samara cracking under the pressure? Or is something more sinister at play? The gothic feel of this novel brings the culture to life, aside from a slightly annoying MC, I enjoyed this story!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!
September 23, 2024
This was a total departure from her middle grade book, Barely floating but I really, really enjoyed the slow burn horror story set in the NYC fashion world that has a Cuban American woman trying to impress her demanding fashion designer boss, battling alcohol addiction and inner demons. Perfect for fans of authors like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Especially great is the historical insights into the female immigrant garment workers and the terrible conditions they endured. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
October 15, 2024
Such a gripping story but I think it was a little let down by its ending.
The whole time I couldn't put this book down. I needed to know what the reason was behind the sinister happenings. .
I also felt that the climax was a little rushed and everything seemed to happen too fast.
Cannot wait to read more from this author in the future though!
The whole time I couldn't put this book down. I needed to know what the reason was behind the sinister happenings. .
I also felt that the climax was a little rushed and everything seemed to happen too fast.
Cannot wait to read more from this author in the future though!
November 23, 2024
Not sure why people aren't liking Lilliam Rivera's Tiny Threads more. I thought it was pretty cool and read it in one sitting.
The topic Tiny Threads ultimately addresses is a bit overdone in the horror genre imho, but this one was unique enough to keep my interest.
If you like slow descents into madness, then give this one a try. I read some reviews that complained about this being slow, but that was my favorite part. It goes from random unsettling things to an unhinged madness that I found enthralling.
4 out of 5 stars.
The topic Tiny Threads ultimately addresses is a bit overdone in the horror genre imho, but this one was unique enough to keep my interest.
If you like slow descents into madness, then give this one a try. I read some reviews that complained about this being slow, but that was my favorite part. It goes from random unsettling things to an unhinged madness that I found enthralling.
4 out of 5 stars.
October 5, 2024
this was a creepy read, following a main character who you really cannot tell if are hallucinating or genuinely experiencing some of these weird things. it was unsettling with some well done horror scenes (the maggots got me every time)
February 4, 2024
3.5/5 Tiny Threads
Samara is living her dream. She's accepted a job with the infamous designer Antonio Mota, been given a fancy new apartment, and is surrounded by high class clothes and people. But there's a darker side to the city of Vernon and the people who reside in it. A slaughterhouse "perfume" coats the streets, pigs squeals in the night, and Samara is having visions of a blood soaked woman.
Are these visions simply the effect of her heavy drinking mixed with the caffeine pills and drugs she's using to keep up with the high stress fashion work environment or is she truly being haunted by the ghosts of Vernon's past.
The Devil Wears Prada meets Last Night In Soho, wrapped in psychological horror - Tiny Threads shows how systemic racism and classism can be just as terrifying, if not more so, than being haunted by literal ghosts.
It took me a good eighty pages to get into the swing of this novel. The focus of the first half of the book is primarily character development and background of Samara. There are snippets of horror elements until the halfway point, when Samara begins to spiral, then more direct hauntings come into the story after that.
Samara was a difficult character to connect to for me mostly because she needed everyone to like her, she wanted to be the center of attention receiving "gold stars" with every complement, and that's my least favorite type of person. I understand that is a part of fashion industry culture and key to the novel but her anxiety about being liked didn't endear me to her until the very end.
Overall, Tiny Threads was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy psychological horror.
Samara is living her dream. She's accepted a job with the infamous designer Antonio Mota, been given a fancy new apartment, and is surrounded by high class clothes and people. But there's a darker side to the city of Vernon and the people who reside in it. A slaughterhouse "perfume" coats the streets, pigs squeals in the night, and Samara is having visions of a blood soaked woman.
Are these visions simply the effect of her heavy drinking mixed with the caffeine pills and drugs she's using to keep up with the high stress fashion work environment or is she truly being haunted by the ghosts of Vernon's past.
The Devil Wears Prada meets Last Night In Soho, wrapped in psychological horror - Tiny Threads shows how systemic racism and classism can be just as terrifying, if not more so, than being haunted by literal ghosts.
It took me a good eighty pages to get into the swing of this novel. The focus of the first half of the book is primarily character development and background of Samara. There are snippets of horror elements until the halfway point, when Samara begins to spiral, then more direct hauntings come into the story after that.
Samara was a difficult character to connect to for me mostly because she needed everyone to like her, she wanted to be the center of attention receiving "gold stars" with every complement, and that's my least favorite type of person. I understand that is a part of fashion industry culture and key to the novel but her anxiety about being liked didn't endear me to her until the very end.
Overall, Tiny Threads was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy psychological horror.
Read
November 4, 2024DNF 36%
July 8, 2024
TW: Rape, alcohol abuse, addiction, drugs
Our main character Samara moves from New Jersey to a small town about an hour from Los Angeles, California to work for a (crazy) fashion designer who's trying to reinvent himself with a fashion show in 2 months. Her grandmother passed recently and something happened that Samara isn't coping with (besides the loss). Each night, she gets woken up at 2 AM by weeping/groaning noises outside but nothing's there. Then she starts to see things that aren't there. To deal with the mounting pressures, the crazy designer, and the maybe-haunting she starts to drink and take caffeine pills, and things continue to spiral.
The author does a great job with the story's atmosphere. Something is definitely wrong with the city of Vernon but we're not sure what. Likewise, there's an unreliable narrator - is she actually hearing these noises or experiences things or is she just having a psychotic break? It added an interesting element but also took away from the story, since I wasn't sure if all the creepy stuff happening was just because Samara was having a mental breakdown.
I struggled with Samara as a character. She was doing the best that she could with race and family pressures plus the "I don't want to think about what happened" trauma from her grandmother dying - which the author did a great job of illustrating - but when her response to everything was drinking, I wanted to send her to rehab and therapy. This book reminded me a bit of watching Requiem for a Dream. It keeps getting worse the longer you watch/read.
The pacing was slow, especially for the first half or so. Samara goes to work, tries to impressive the white people while trying to connect with the Latin seamstresses, drinks heavily, experiences something creepy, doesn't sleep, and . It got very monotonous.
The resolution felt overly preachy about how hard it is to be a Latina and a woman. I'm a white woman so I might be completely off base with this comment but I was repeatedly telling the book "yes, we get it" in the last couple of chapters.
The book had various Spanish sentences and phrases throughout. Samara says she doesn't speak Spanish but her family does. The author generally gave context clues to figure out what people were saying but I imagine for a non-Spanish speaker, that will be a bit of a challenge. I found it strange that Samara understands full sentences of Spanish and can speak specific full sentences, but then doesn't know that "poco" means "a little" (but she knows "sin" = "without"). It was a very minor detail that no bearing on the story, but every time she was speaking Spanish or understanding what her family was saying, I kept coming back to not knowing "poco" when I know so many people who know 3-5 Spanish words and one is "poco". Again, no bearing on the story, just something that weirdly bothered me.
It was a creative idea but the execution was lacking.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy
Our main character Samara moves from New Jersey to a small town about an hour from Los Angeles, California to work for a (crazy) fashion designer who's trying to reinvent himself with a fashion show in 2 months. Her grandmother passed recently and something happened that Samara isn't coping with (besides the loss). Each night, she gets woken up at 2 AM by weeping/groaning noises outside but nothing's there. Then she starts to see things that aren't there. To deal with the mounting pressures, the crazy designer, and the maybe-haunting she starts to drink and take caffeine pills, and things continue to spiral.
The author does a great job with the story's atmosphere. Something is definitely wrong with the city of Vernon but we're not sure what. Likewise, there's an unreliable narrator - is she actually hearing these noises or experiences things or is she just having a psychotic break? It added an interesting element but also took away from the story, since I wasn't sure if all the creepy stuff happening was just because Samara was having a mental breakdown.
I struggled with Samara as a character. She was doing the best that she could with race and family pressures plus the "I don't want to think about what happened" trauma from her grandmother dying - which the author did a great job of illustrating - but when her response to everything was drinking, I wanted to send her to rehab and therapy. This book reminded me a bit of watching Requiem for a Dream. It keeps getting worse the longer you watch/read.
The pacing was slow, especially for the first half or so. Samara goes to work, tries to impressive the white people while trying to connect with the Latin seamstresses, drinks heavily, experiences something creepy, doesn't sleep, and . It got very monotonous.
The resolution felt overly preachy about how hard it is to be a Latina and a woman. I'm a white woman so I might be completely off base with this comment but I was repeatedly telling the book "yes, we get it" in the last couple of chapters.
The book had various Spanish sentences and phrases throughout. Samara says she doesn't speak Spanish but her family does. The author generally gave context clues to figure out what people were saying but I imagine for a non-Spanish speaker, that will be a bit of a challenge. I found it strange that Samara understands full sentences of Spanish and can speak specific full sentences, but then doesn't know that "poco" means "a little" (but she knows "sin" = "without"). It was a very minor detail that no bearing on the story, but every time she was speaking Spanish or understanding what her family was saying, I kept coming back to not knowing "poco" when I know so many people who know 3-5 Spanish words and one is "poco". Again, no bearing on the story, just something that weirdly bothered me.
It was a creative idea but the execution was lacking.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy
June 18, 2024
First, I received this book in a Giveaway.
I really wanted to like this book. The description of the book was very enticing. It just didn't deliver for me. The back of the book describes it as a story about a legendary fashion house and how leaving will be a nightmare. Secrets. So on.
It's very paranormal. Not my favorite to begin with. However, the book description doesn't really follow the plot. ****Spoilers Ahead****
The secrets have nothing to do with the fashion house. It's not even loosely tied together. This big reveal (why is our main character dealing with these delusions) happens at the very end, no real explanations, no tie ins, no closure. It's our main character clearly having a mental break, one horrible scene that isn't even fully realized in text and it's over. You have no idea what happens to the main villain. Other villains get away maybe? We leave our main character still kind of losing her mind with no idea how everything turned out. The connections between her past, the past of the ghost and the young seamstress make no sense. It feels like it could be two different ideas/books with great success. Instead, it's packed confusingly into one. You can pass this one.
I really wanted to like this book. The description of the book was very enticing. It just didn't deliver for me. The back of the book describes it as a story about a legendary fashion house and how leaving will be a nightmare. Secrets. So on.
It's very paranormal. Not my favorite to begin with. However, the book description doesn't really follow the plot. ****Spoilers Ahead****
The secrets have nothing to do with the fashion house. It's not even loosely tied together. This big reveal (why is our main character dealing with these delusions) happens at the very end, no real explanations, no tie ins, no closure. It's our main character clearly having a mental break, one horrible scene that isn't even fully realized in text and it's over. You have no idea what happens to the main villain. Other villains get away maybe? We leave our main character still kind of losing her mind with no idea how everything turned out. The connections between her past, the past of the ghost and the young seamstress make no sense. It feels like it could be two different ideas/books with great success. Instead, it's packed confusingly into one. You can pass this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
I love a good horror or supernatural story, and this book was not. I hated the main character, there was barely any horror moments, and only a touch of fashion. The plot was nothing like the description of the book indicated. It was the same thing over and over, and could have used a boost from going with more details on other characters and situations.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
October 10, 2024
3.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: Dark and weird, Tiny Threads explores racism and trauma in a glitzy fashion setting.
I loved the idea of “fashion meets horror,” but I have to confess Tiny Threads wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. There are plenty of positives for me, but I also had some issues that I’ll explain below. Still, as far as original ideas go, I have to give props to Lilliam Rivera for coming up with something different. The setting and the themes worked well together, and Rivera knows how to set up a creepy, chilling story.
Samara is a journalist who caught the attention of superstar fashion designer Antonio Mota when she wrote an article about his hometown of Vernon, California, an industrial neighborhood in Los Angeles where he runs his design business. He offers her a job working as his global brand executive director, an opportunity she just can’t pass up. Despite her close-knit Cuban family’s protestations, Samara leaves her familiar East Coast life behind and heads for Vernon, eager to prove her worth to Antonio. The timing is perfect: she’s been struggling with the death of her beloved Abuela Lola and needs the distraction of a new job to get out of her rut.
Right away, Samara seems to get off on the wrong foot. Antonio turns out to have a terrible temper and is hard to work with. Samara tries to befriend the seamstresses, who remind her of her Abuela, but they give her the cold shoulder. Everything at Mota’s is based on a hierarchy. Even though Antonio proclaims that they are “all one big happy family,” there’s clearly a divide between the creatives and the lower seamstresses and plant workers.
Samara has two months until Antonio’s big comeback fashion show to prove herself, but then she starts hearing and seeing strange things. Every night at 2:00 a.m., she’s woken up by odd grunts and other animal noises. One night she sees a bleeding woman outside her window, who soon after disappears. Then there’s the horrible smell coming from the neighborhood slaughterhouse, a blight on Antonio’s efforts to rejuvenate the town of Vernon. As the day of the show gets closer, Samara’s grip on reality starts to crack. Long buried secrets, generational trauma and an unknown supernatural entity all threaten to derail Samara’s plans of success.
My favorite thing about Tiny Threads was the atmospheric dread the reader feels from the very beginning. This is a very creepy, unsettling story, and because Samara is such an unreliable narrator, you’re never sure what’s real and what isn’t. Her apartment is within walking distance of work, and since she’s used to walking everywhere back home in New Jersey, she continues to do that in Los Angeles (not a good idea, actually!) On her walks she encounters weird things, like an artist who paints disemboweled women. I also loved the way the slaughterhouse is incorporated into the story (and don’t worry, no animals are slaughtered in this story!). Samara has dreams about pigs and hears pigs grunting every night in her apartment, and these unsettling events gave the story a sinister quality.
Rivera has some pointed commentary on crimes against women, especially rape, which is a theme that runs throughout the story. She also addresses racism in a big way, although it could have been done with a subtler touch. Samara is one of those characters who calls out the skin color of everyone she meets, which got old very quickly. I get it, she’s a woman of color who just scored an important job, but she’s also annoyed that there aren’t any other Latinas in positions like hers. She’s very aware of how her Abuela slaved away as a lowly seamstress, which is one reason she tries to befriend the seamstresses. She wants to raise up her fellow women of color, but she doesn’t go about it in the right way, unfortunately.
Which leads me to the characters. I can’t say I really liked any of them, especially Samara. And it’s a shame because I wanted to cheer her on. I don’t know about you, but when I start a new job I observe the work culture and try to fit in. Not Samara. She causes trouble by trying to upset the hierarchy, even after someone tells her to stop. She doesn’t follow rules. Worst of all, she starts drinking heavily and even starts taking her morning coffee with a dollop of whisky. It’s not long before you realize she’s ruining her chances of success and getting on everyone’s bad side, even Antonio’s. This is one of those stories, though, where the unlikable characters fit right in with the vibe. Each one is questionable in some way, which added to the overall feeling of dread.
When Samara starts doing drugs in addition to heavy drinking, things really start to go off the rails. Is she actually seeing and hearing ghosts, or is her addiction to blame? The ending doesn’t really give readers all the answers they might want, but I did love the final bloody showdown. Tiny Threads might be the strangest book I’ve read this year, but it worked enough that’ll I’d love to check out more of Lilliam Rivera’s work.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: Dark and weird, Tiny Threads explores racism and trauma in a glitzy fashion setting.
I loved the idea of “fashion meets horror,” but I have to confess Tiny Threads wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. There are plenty of positives for me, but I also had some issues that I’ll explain below. Still, as far as original ideas go, I have to give props to Lilliam Rivera for coming up with something different. The setting and the themes worked well together, and Rivera knows how to set up a creepy, chilling story.
Samara is a journalist who caught the attention of superstar fashion designer Antonio Mota when she wrote an article about his hometown of Vernon, California, an industrial neighborhood in Los Angeles where he runs his design business. He offers her a job working as his global brand executive director, an opportunity she just can’t pass up. Despite her close-knit Cuban family’s protestations, Samara leaves her familiar East Coast life behind and heads for Vernon, eager to prove her worth to Antonio. The timing is perfect: she’s been struggling with the death of her beloved Abuela Lola and needs the distraction of a new job to get out of her rut.
Right away, Samara seems to get off on the wrong foot. Antonio turns out to have a terrible temper and is hard to work with. Samara tries to befriend the seamstresses, who remind her of her Abuela, but they give her the cold shoulder. Everything at Mota’s is based on a hierarchy. Even though Antonio proclaims that they are “all one big happy family,” there’s clearly a divide between the creatives and the lower seamstresses and plant workers.
Samara has two months until Antonio’s big comeback fashion show to prove herself, but then she starts hearing and seeing strange things. Every night at 2:00 a.m., she’s woken up by odd grunts and other animal noises. One night she sees a bleeding woman outside her window, who soon after disappears. Then there’s the horrible smell coming from the neighborhood slaughterhouse, a blight on Antonio’s efforts to rejuvenate the town of Vernon. As the day of the show gets closer, Samara’s grip on reality starts to crack. Long buried secrets, generational trauma and an unknown supernatural entity all threaten to derail Samara’s plans of success.
My favorite thing about Tiny Threads was the atmospheric dread the reader feels from the very beginning. This is a very creepy, unsettling story, and because Samara is such an unreliable narrator, you’re never sure what’s real and what isn’t. Her apartment is within walking distance of work, and since she’s used to walking everywhere back home in New Jersey, she continues to do that in Los Angeles (not a good idea, actually!) On her walks she encounters weird things, like an artist who paints disemboweled women. I also loved the way the slaughterhouse is incorporated into the story (and don’t worry, no animals are slaughtered in this story!). Samara has dreams about pigs and hears pigs grunting every night in her apartment, and these unsettling events gave the story a sinister quality.
Rivera has some pointed commentary on crimes against women, especially rape, which is a theme that runs throughout the story. She also addresses racism in a big way, although it could have been done with a subtler touch. Samara is one of those characters who calls out the skin color of everyone she meets, which got old very quickly. I get it, she’s a woman of color who just scored an important job, but she’s also annoyed that there aren’t any other Latinas in positions like hers. She’s very aware of how her Abuela slaved away as a lowly seamstress, which is one reason she tries to befriend the seamstresses. She wants to raise up her fellow women of color, but she doesn’t go about it in the right way, unfortunately.
Which leads me to the characters. I can’t say I really liked any of them, especially Samara. And it’s a shame because I wanted to cheer her on. I don’t know about you, but when I start a new job I observe the work culture and try to fit in. Not Samara. She causes trouble by trying to upset the hierarchy, even after someone tells her to stop. She doesn’t follow rules. Worst of all, she starts drinking heavily and even starts taking her morning coffee with a dollop of whisky. It’s not long before you realize she’s ruining her chances of success and getting on everyone’s bad side, even Antonio’s. This is one of those stories, though, where the unlikable characters fit right in with the vibe. Each one is questionable in some way, which added to the overall feeling of dread.
When Samara starts doing drugs in addition to heavy drinking, things really start to go off the rails. Is she actually seeing and hearing ghosts, or is her addiction to blame? The ending doesn’t really give readers all the answers they might want, but I did love the final bloody showdown. Tiny Threads might be the strangest book I’ve read this year, but it worked enough that’ll I’d love to check out more of Lilliam Rivera’s work.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
August 9, 2024
3 1/2 stars
Creepy story of a young woman trapped in her first big job at a fashion house that is sucking the life blood out of the small California town. Samara is so excited to work for the famous Antonio Mota and she is a long way away from New Jersey. The town seems to be enjoying a revival but is still reminded of their roots with the smell of the slaughterhouse, the factories that use all the local cheap labor and not all the residents are thrilled with the attention they are getting. Under the stress of Mota's big runway show Samara is soon burning the candle at both ends - little sleep, too much alcohol and pills as well as plagued by hallucinations and nightmares. This shows the fascination with beauty, the cost of that beauty and the abuse of powerful men who dictate all the terms. This works as a horror novel for the beauty industry in general but also the effects of trauma , substance abuse and career stress in young people. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Creepy story of a young woman trapped in her first big job at a fashion house that is sucking the life blood out of the small California town. Samara is so excited to work for the famous Antonio Mota and she is a long way away from New Jersey. The town seems to be enjoying a revival but is still reminded of their roots with the smell of the slaughterhouse, the factories that use all the local cheap labor and not all the residents are thrilled with the attention they are getting. Under the stress of Mota's big runway show Samara is soon burning the candle at both ends - little sleep, too much alcohol and pills as well as plagued by hallucinations and nightmares. This shows the fascination with beauty, the cost of that beauty and the abuse of powerful men who dictate all the terms. This works as a horror novel for the beauty industry in general but also the effects of trauma , substance abuse and career stress in young people. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
August 24, 2024
3.5 stars
I LOVE Lilliam Rivera (those of you who haven't caught her short story "Ghosted" should really do a quick search - the full text is online - and devour that short but stellar piece). So, I couldn't wait to crack this adult debut.
Samara, the m.c., gets her dream job in a fashion house, but she spends the entire novel simultaneously working through stress, familial trauma, and her own struggles with various men. This is not a lighthearted read by any means, and readers who are sensitive to content about rape and sexual assault should know that they'll encounter that here.
Samara's journey is interesting enough, but the highest impact element of this novel is its conclusion. I love the way everything came together, though I wish that engagement and pacing could've been matched more consistently throughout the bulk.
Rivera brings an intriguing perspective to YA, and I'm looking forward to more from her for this new audience, too.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I LOVE Lilliam Rivera (those of you who haven't caught her short story "Ghosted" should really do a quick search - the full text is online - and devour that short but stellar piece). So, I couldn't wait to crack this adult debut.
Samara, the m.c., gets her dream job in a fashion house, but she spends the entire novel simultaneously working through stress, familial trauma, and her own struggles with various men. This is not a lighthearted read by any means, and readers who are sensitive to content about rape and sexual assault should know that they'll encounter that here.
Samara's journey is interesting enough, but the highest impact element of this novel is its conclusion. I love the way everything came together, though I wish that engagement and pacing could've been matched more consistently throughout the bulk.
Rivera brings an intriguing perspective to YA, and I'm looking forward to more from her for this new audience, too.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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