by Christina Henry

A Horror, 2025 by Berkley, 305 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The romance with Alex didn’t ever really work. It read like it was intended to read, as a throwaway that only rushed to the particular character we needed for the story to take that turn. 
• The ending felt rushed. While I don’t know how else it could’ve ended, which means the ending was perfect, I wanted it to have a bit more page time. 
• This is a minor one, at the end of the story someone asks the narrator to call them by another name. Then, in the final chapter, she only ever uses the original name to describe them. After everything, it’s literally the LEAST she could’ve done. 

What I Did Like:

• Great opening line. Sets the mood, shows a bit about the narrator’s voice, and adds intrigues. That’s a lot of work for one line. Impressive.
• The emotional punch of the grief is beautifully written. From the relationship and the strain of the deaths on the mother and daughter to the physical grief we see at the house, this does a great job of bringing that to life.
• The horror aspects are very well done. Paranormal but believable, dark but somehow rooted in realism, and terrifying.

Who Should Read This One:

• Horror fans, this one packs a good punch. 
• Contemporary fans who like family drama stories, this one was a surprise in that department. At the root of this haunted house story is really a family torn apart. It will resonate with those readers, assuming you can handle a little paranormal drama too. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

• This blend of horror and contemporary family drama came together well enough to honor both genres, and that’s not easy! Definitely recommended.