Gaslit

By Megan Davidhizar

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey

Plagued by recent migraines, Ella has to ditch her bestie and their New Year’s Eve plans. When she begins feeling better and her aunt calls, Ella agrees to babysit her cousin at the last minute. Arriving less than an hour later, she finds three collapsed bodies and their house smelling strongly of gas. By New Year’s morning, someone is dead.

Gaslit is the second novel from American author Megan Davidhizar. Cozy crime meets existential crisis, this book will make you question everything you think about the bonds of family, and everything you believe you know about what’s happening in your own world.

When Ella isn’t satisfied with the police findings about the gas leak, she launches her own investigation. Confiding in her older cousin, getting help from his mysterious neighbour with a bad boy rep, and avoiding telling her parents anything at all costs, Ella finds lies woven through more lies. She’s certain the truth is there somewhere, and if she could only focus she would definitely be able to work it out.

Just when you get comfortable and think you’ve got it figured out, Gaslit spins another strand in the web that doesn’t seem connected in any way, and Davidhazir does a great job keeping you guessing right until the final chapter. Not only will you be left second guessing what you remember already having read, but also your perception of everyone you know and love. Highlighting the struggles of teenage illness and the need to still be treated like everyone else, Gaslit looks at what can happen when you’re keeping too many secrets and you lose track of who knows what.

Gaslit is suitable for all ages of young adult readers, especially those who enjoyed the Eleanor Jones trilogy and We Were Liars. But probably best not reading it too close to New Year’s Eve – you know, just in case…

Harper Fire 2026

Megan Davidhizar