Comfort Me With Apples

By Catherynne M. Valente

Comfort Me With Apples is a terrifying new thriller from bestseller Catherynne M. Valente, for fans of Gone Girl and Spinning Silver

A Shirley Jackson Award finalist!
A Locus Award finalist!

Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect.

It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect.

But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze....

But everything is perfect. Isn't it?

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250816207

Catherynne M. Valente

Catherynne M. Valente is the New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen works of fiction and poetry, including Palimpsest, the Orphan’s Tales series, Deathless, Radiance, and the crowdfunded phenomenon The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (and the four books that followed it). She is the winner of the Andre Norton, Tiptree, Sturgeon, Eugie Foster Memorial, Mythopoeic, Rhysling, Lambda, Locus, and Hugo awards, as well as the Prix Imaginales. Valente has also been a finalist for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards. She lives on an island off the coast of Maine with a small but growing menagerie of beasts, some of which are human. Find out more on her website and on Twitter!

Book preview

AMBROSIA

The Following Agreement is made this first day of the first month between the members of the Arcadia Gardens Homeowners Association [hereinafter known as the Association] and the titleholders of 1 Cedar Drive [hereinafter known as the Residents and the Property, respectively].

The Association, acting through any and whatever such proxies as may be delegated, pursuant to its previously filed Declaration of Intent to Incorporate, in consideration of, and dependent upon, the mutual promises contained herein, desires to appoint the undersigned Residents exclusively to manage the aforementioned Arcadia Gardens property in perpetuity.

---

Welcome to a new world of luxury living in Arcadia Gardens, an exclusive, upscale gated community! Every thought and care has been taken to provide the ultimate in amenities, privacy, serenity, and, most important, safety for you and yours. Enjoy the benefits of round-the-clock security and access to community gardens and pools. Stroll at your leisure through lovingly designed streets, parks, and common areas. Get to know your friendly neighbors. Most of all, rest soundly knowing the outside world cannot trouble you here.

Your new Arcadia Gardens home boasts the absolute latest in worry-free convenience. Anything you desire can be provided with ease; anything you lack is but a call away. It is important to us that you be happy here. Our goal is pure, sustainable, and entirely self-sufficient contentment, so that you can get on with your vital work without the niggling unpleasantries of everyday dissatisfactions gnawing away at your peace of mind.

In order to create this unique environment of domestic bliss and year-round tranquility, the Association has, in concert with its Board of Directors, set a few simple, easy-to-follow rules. Abide by them, and your new life in Arcadia Gardens will be all anyone could dream of.

Should you wish to personalize your dwelling, the following paint colors are acceptable: Virgin White, Eggshell, Purity, First Snow, Antique Porcelain, Morning Star, Fresh Cream, Mother’s Milk, and Innocence.

No outdoor cooking, ovens, grills, smoke pits, or other open fires.

Lawns must be kept to a grass height of not less than one point five (1.5) inches and not more than two (2) inches at all times.

Keep sidewalks free of clutter, including but not limited to: chalk drawings, handprints, memetic representations of any kind, sporting equipment, stray rubbish, unsightly leaves, liquids, or snow piles, toys, and any personal belongings not listed above.

No overnight guests.

All parks, gardens, pools, and other common areas close at sunset. Guards will be posted.

Tranquility hours strictly enforced after 10:00 p.m. and all day Sunday.

WINESAP

I was made for him.

It is morning, which is to say, it is the beginning of all things. It is bright and it is sharp and it is perfect and so is Sophia, who wakes alone to this singular thought, as she does every morning; to this honeyed, liquid thought and sunlight and sparrowsong and the softness of green shadows in a house that is far too big for her. Not that she complains—oh no, never, not Sophia, in whom the organ of dissatisfaction was somehow absent from birth. Her husband spoils her and she is grateful. But she never needed anything so grand! None of the other houses on their street are half as luxurious or imposing. And it is a long street, very long and very fine.

Sophia runs her hand over the place beside her where her husband so rarely sleeps these days and thinks it again, with as much joy:

I was made for him.

She moves in this echoing house like a flicker of a goldfish in the depthless trenches of the sea. Her long hair, bright and fine as cherry bark, snakes through a mountain of pillows. The dawn comes dancing in, as gold as you please, through vast crosshatched windows curtained in tapestries. Her bedside candle has burned down through the small hours to a thick, craggy nub. Her colorful blanket, still smooth and neat, for Sophia never has never had an anxious dream in all the deep violet nights of her life, streams away from her in all directions: a vast, peaceful province peopled by intricate embroidered roses, tatted lace peonies, quilted moonflowers, trailing ribbon-stitched clover, and the little cliffs and hollows of Sophia’s rich body beneath the down.

Even the bed is so much bigger than she could ever need. Especially since she sleeps alone more nights than not. Her husband has important work and it never ends. Even when he is with her, he is always on call. Sophia does not mind. She has never minded. She keeps her own company very snugly and very well. There is something decadent in having this sea of silk and wool and wood all to herself. Sailing it into the unconquered country of her sleep like a pilgrim of the night. It feels like getting away with something, to have so

Reviews for Comfort Me With Apples

[Alyce Wonderland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an amazing story so I wish it was longer!!

[iris · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

kind of a banger, i love bible study lol ?

[ella talbot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At first, I wasn’t sure about the writing style, but I quickly grew to love it. It was very descriptive and well thought out; every word was intentional, and every plot point had its purpose. I cared about the main character and what was happening to her, which is VERY important for me. Loved the side characters and the way they interacted. The dialogue was super interesting, and everything felt so misty and sparkly in this world. Most of all, love the overall feeling of Comfort Me with Apples. Even when it seemed normal, I felt tense. I listened to Grenadine by Vincent Delerm while reading this, and it pairs so nicely!! I almost got the same feeling that I did while reading Coraline. Anyways, 4.5/5

[Marina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved, loved, loved this novella. Completely blown away. Excellent pacing, terrific world building and just generally so clever and interesting. The "twist" was completely unexpected. Read this short book!!

[Ava Dbrg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my heavens... The most unexpected retelling ever. I'm shocked and somehow I wish it was longer or shorter or I don't know, I just didn't expect this. Omg

[micareads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

She was made for him…she knows that for a fact..she was made for him. Sophia wakes up every day believing that her home was made for her and that she was made for her husband. She thinks all this until she finds the brush with the dark coarse hair and until she finds the piece of a finger she finds in the knife block - this is when she begins to wonder what has happened. I received this recommendation from the Currently Reading podcast during a monthly episode of the Indie Press List. The description and the podcast hosts sounded so in love with this book that I was immediately intrigued. I ran to my Libby app and downloaded it from my library. It is a very short book (about 100 pages) and can be read in one sitting with little exception. This was a book I was not ready for. I will leave it to you to read the story and make your own decision on whether it was brilliant or odd.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 In the vein of Stepford Wives or The Handmaid‘s Tale, this perfect society begins to crack as Sophia discovers small things about her structured neighborhood that don’t add up. This is a short, quick read with a twist that I won’t reveal. There’s a great sense of tension though it’s over descriptive for my taste. Not horror at all, but a twisty little story that’s incredibly clever the more I think about it.

[dcoward_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Creepy little novella.

[zoes_human · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

That was disturbing and beautiful and delightful and I said "what the fuck" all the way through to the end. I devoured it in one sitting, and it was everything I want from a story.

[glennis.leblanc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sophia seems to have a wonderful life, a loving husband, a beautiful home in a tightly regimented HOA, and lovely neighbors who entertain. Except Sophia is home alone quite a bit and her husband doesn’t want her to go into the basement because she can be hurt. But as the story progresses it seems that not everything is quite right, the house and furniture seem to be made for someone much larger than her and then she starts finding bits of bone when she is cleaning the house. The story starting off with a Bluebeard vibe to it but by the end it tips it hand as to the what the root inspiration of the story was. No telling here so not to give it away but it was an enjoyable read.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss

[wanderlustlover_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fall 2021 (October);
~ Netgally Arc

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Catherynne M. Valente, and Netgalley for this advanced reader audio copy of Comfort Me With Apples, narrated by Karis Campbell, for an honest review.

I will always jump at the chance for any Valente book reviewing.

This book is so well done. It's incredibly atmospheric in the happiness, beauty, and, of course, right from the beginning -- menace. The chapter titles all as apples are delightful and the first hint of the ultimate outcome, which I missed until it really was staring me right in the face. The sections being demarcated by the rules of The Community was brilliant, constantly chilling with its strange, esoteric rules, especially done in Karis' high, sharp, professional sweet voice.

It's a delightful cross between the Bluebeard Myth, Stepford Wives, Animal Farm, Margaret Attwood & then a glorious hodgepodge of Greek & Biblical Mythology tossed on top of that. I *still* didn't see the end coming. It was so incredibly chilling and well revealed, and sadly there's so little more I can say about this one without spoiling something.

[andy5185 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What on earth did I just read? I have no idea but I can say that this story was suspenseful, odd, eerie and very similar to a nightmare version of The Truman Show. Was it a metaphor? Is it an alternate reality? Read it and come to your own conclusion!

[beserene · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne Valente is not at all what I thought it would be, but is a slow, delicious unfolding of clues that creates all kinds of unsettled feelings as you wend your way through this novella, which feels longer than it is but not in a bad way. What it is... if I can pin it down... is mostly mythic allegory (what kind, I cannot say, because spoilers) with a dash of Stepford Wives for flavor. Unexpected and well worth the short read.

[wdwilson3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't know how to say anything about this little book without saying too much. Everything would turn some people away, attract others. Read it for yourself.

[krau0098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley.Thoughts: I love Valente's writing style and this was amazingly well written. This is such a creepy, excellent, mystery thriller but still has heavy fantasy/mythology tones to it. This was beautifully done and completely engaging. This book focuses on Sophia, a woman who is supposed to be perfectly pleasant, who was built just for her husband. I loved watching Sophia unwrap the mystery of the town she lives in and of her place there. I loved the twists at the end as well; there is a lot of irony here and the story was cleverly put together.Of course the whole book is written in Valente’s amazingly lush and beautiful writing style. The imagery in here is amazing and the story strikes a perfect tone of dark creepiness while at the same time questioning mythology, religion, and the place of women in both.My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing read, that I absolutely adored. If you are a Valente fan you’ll love this. If you enjoy creepy stories that poke at traditional mythology you’ll enjoy this too. This is amazing and less abstract than a lot of Valente’s books, making it much more accessible to a larger group of readers.

[spaceandsorcery · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Valente is an author I’ve seen quoted often by my fellow bloggers, and the impression I received from their reviews was that of a writer with a good number of narrative “voices” at her disposal. So far, my experience with her works had been limited to a short story, so that I did not know much about what to expect here: Comfort Me With Apples taught me, once again, that going into a book with no expectations whatsoever can give me much more than I hoped for.From the very opening, this novella inspires a sense of ominous foreboding, listing the very strict regulations enforced by the gated community of Arcadia Gardens, where the main character, Sophia, lives: those regulations (which can be found at the start of each chapter) made me think more or a prison than a safe enclave where families could live their lives in comfort and peace, and once we are made privy to Sophia’s thoughts that sense of foreboding intensifies. Those thoughts are focused on how happy she is, how wonderful the life her perfect husband offers her, how beautiful her house and friendly her neighbors: it was impossible for me not to think about the Stepford Wives as alarm bells started sounding with increasingly loud tones, Sophia’s passivity and unquestioning acceptance of her situation making her look more like a well-programmed automaton than a flesh-and-blood creature.And yet the perfect picture begins to crack, almost imperceptibly, as Sophia finds a lock of hair - clearly not her own - in a dresser drawer she had never opened before: a minor incident, granted, but one that keeps preying on her mind and starts to shatter her hypnosis-like complacency. The find is only the first of many, each one more sinister than the other, in a growing buildup that together with the husband’s prohibition of visiting the basement and the village dwellers’ seeming obsession with Sophia’s happiness made me think about some dark secret concerning that often absent, literally larger-than-life husband: at this point I was thinking more about Bluebeard than the Stepford Wives as the inspiration for this story, but once again Catherynne Valente was waving another series of red herrings under my nose…The reveal is quite unexpected - with hindsight it’s easy to see how the author peppered the road with unobtrusive clues, like the names of Sophia’s neighbors for example - but it’s done with such skill that the solution really came out of the blue and if I have to pinpoint any problems with it, they would be in the swiftness with which the resolution comes along: given the measured buildup, I would have expected something less hurried, less… thunderclap-like, if I’m making any sense.Still, I quite enjoyed this novella and I am in awe of Ms. Valente’s authorial skills, so this will certainly not be the last of her works I will visit.

[qaphsiel-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You are livin' the dream. Perfect devotion to your husband. Perfect, if overly large, house. Safe, gated community. Never mind that the rules go a bit too far at times. They keep you and your neighbors safe and serene. Sure, your husband words a lot. He's away as often as not.

But then you start finding human remains hidden away. You can't never-mind those. You're not supposed to appear anything other than happy -- that's one of the community rules -- but that's getting touch now that you think your husband is a serial killer.

And now there's a silver-tongued guy named Cascavel who says he can give you the skinny. You just have to ask, though he seems not to want you to...

Valente builds from distaste to distrust to horror at just the right pace in this surreal novelette. With a little insight (or the right obscure knowledge) you can figure out what's going on -- it's a mystery the reader can solve before the reveal -- but I think the story satisfies equally well either way.