Subjunctive Mood is the first novel in the False Friends series — a psychological thriller inspired by the author’s own experience studying at a real language school in southern Spain.
Bianca, living in South Africa, meets Ramón, a language teacher whose fascination with grammar and control extends beyond the classroom. When she is invited to join Instituto Guerrera in Málaga, the move promises reinvention through language and belonging. What she encounters instead is a carefully balanced system of influence, dependency, and silence.
As Bianca settles into the institute, the boundaries between professional guidance and personal manipulation begin to erode. Language becomes more than a subject of study — it becomes a mechanism through which behaviour is shaped and autonomy quietly compromised.
Drawing on real observations of language-school dynamics, Subjunctive Mood explores power, suggestion, and the subtle ways environments can alter identity. It introduces a series in which grammar is not metaphor, but structure — and uncertainty is built into every decision.
Subjunctive Mood (False Friends #1)
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The story drew me in straight away, as it’s inspired by a real Spanish language school the author attended in Málaga. It starts with Bianca and immediately feels uneasy. When Ramón comes in, the tension deepens, helped by a strong but non-romantic sexual charge between them. The SA setting also feels authentic, which makes everything more believable. It’s uncomfortable, understated, and stayed with me after I finished. I'm intrigued what the school has to hide. I like the twist. Bring on book 2.
Reading Subjunctive Mood felt oddly personal because I once attended a Spanish language school myself. The book made me wonder, half jokingly and half seriously, whether my own teachers had secrets I never noticed. The story feels very intellectual and doesn’t explain everything directly. A lot is hinted at rather than clearly stated, which means you really have to pay attention and think while reading. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s clever, unsettling, and definitely memorable.
Subjunctive Mood has an interesting concept and a writing style that immediately stands out. Not everything is explained, so you actually have to think while reading, which I liked. Some of that is clearly because it’s the start of a series and answers will probably come later, but it’s also the way the book is written. The short, almost poetic sentences at the beginning are striking. It’s clever and original, though it does take a bit of getting used to.
Subjunctive Mood builds a tense, unsettling atmosphere with an original language-school setting and an interesting use of grammar as theme. Some scenes are memorable and psychologically sharp. However, the pacing can feel uneven, and the ambiguity sometimes becomes tiring rather than intriguing. Readers who enjoy slow, uncomfortable thrillers with unresolved threads will appreciate it more than those looking for clarity or momentum.
Subjunctive Mood stands out for its original premise and quiet psychological pressure. The language-school setting feels fresh, and the way grammar mirrors obsession and control is smartly done. The story unfolds slowly, but with purpose, creating a constant sense of unease. Some moments require patience, but the atmosphere and underlying menace make it a rewarding read for fans of cerebral thrillers.