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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Reviews
Subjunctive Mood takes a different approach from most psychological thrillers and focuses more on atmosphere and inner tension than on fast plot development. I appreciated the originality and the theme of obsession running through the story, but at times I found it slightly difficult to fully connect with what was happening. The pacing is quite slow and a lot is left open. Still, it’s clearly a carefully written and distinctive book that will appeal to readers looking for something less conventi
What kept me reading Subjunctive Mood was the way Bianca’s situation slowly becomes more unsettling, while Ramón’s perspective adds a completely different layer to the story. Their storylines feel separate at first but gradually create a sense that something larger is going on. The characters feel distinct, and their decisions don’t always follow typical thriller logic, which makes the book feel less predictable. It’s clearly the start of a series, and I’m interested to see how Bianca, Ramón and
Subjunctive Mood begins with Bianca, who is confronted with the situation that her husband, believed to be dead, appears again. That in itself isn't original, but it creates unease, because nothing is ever fully explained and you are never completely sure what is real. Gradually does the connection to the Spanish language school emerge, adding another layer of tension. The restrained writing style works very well here, as much is implied rather than stated directly. It's intelligently written.
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.
What I appreciated most about Subjunctive Mood is how controlled everything feels. The story never becomes loud or exaggerated, yet there is a constant sense that something is not quite right. The familiar idea of a supposedly dead husband returning is used in a way that focuses more on uncertainty and perception than on shock value. The narrative is very restrained, which makes small details feel more important. It trusts the reader and avoids obvious genre clichés, and that made it stand out.