Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: September 26th, 2023
Pages: 272
Publisher: Penguin Random House – Ballatine (Bantam)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.
Sarah Slade is starting over. As the new owner of the infamous Black Wood House—the scene of a grisly murder-suicide—she’s determined that the fixer-upper will help reach a new audience on her successful lifestyle blog, and distract her from her failing marriage.
But as Sarah paints over the house’s horrifying past, she knows better than anyone that a new façade can’t conceal every secret. Then the builders start acting erratically and experiencing bizarre accidents—and Sarah knows there’s only so long she can continue to sleep in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and suffer the mysterious footsteps she hears from the attic.
When menacing notes start appearing everywhere, Sarah becomes convinced that someone or something is out to kill her—her husband, her neighbors, maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels Black Wood House, the angrier it seems to become.
With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. Though she desperately clings to the lies she’s crafted to conceal her own secrets, Sarah Slade must wonder . . . was it all worth it? Or will this house be her final unraveling?”
My Review:
Wow, what an experience! This book was just everything I never expected and knew I wanted from a horror story. I never thought a book could affect me and actually make me as scared as I was while reading this.
The premise is super eerie and immediately caught my attention. From the first few pages I already knew I was going to love it. The writing is impeccable, so vivid and compelling.
Our main characters have a marriage in turmoil. They are not good people … and yet somehow the author had me rooting for them nonetheless, which had me so conflicted and I loved that. The humor is stark and so witty.
The visceral insight into Sarah’s perspective was so stark, in your face, and shocking. This author doesn’t hold back or hide the darkest parts of Sarah, which made it feel so much more real and gritty. She is not trying to make Sarah out to be anything other than her flawed (maybe slightly psychotic) self to us – a therapist who delights in her clients’ misfortunes because it makes her feel not so bad about her own. There are moments of pettiness that had me saying well damn, wow girl, you need to get it together lol. Matlin has a talent for showing us the depth of a person and immersing us into the story.
The personification of the house was terrifying in the best way. The bizarre, creepy, both supernatural and humanly evil events that begin to occur are dark, ominous, and haunting.
Definitely don’t recommend reading this at night! This was a fantastic read and an author I would love to read from again!
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
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