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cleverkrowreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
horrorgravy's review against another edition
5.0
A story about the scariest thing imaginable....HOAs!
I'm not convinced this is fiction. It seems entirely believable. All jokes aside this book ruled and was creepy as hell. If you hate authoritarian elitists you'll love this book.
I'm not convinced this is fiction. It seems entirely believable. All jokes aside this book ruled and was creepy as hell. If you hate authoritarian elitists you'll love this book.
kkehoe's review against another edition
4.0
Although for most of the book, I felt like Little was pulling punches compared to other works, the climax made it all worthwhile. The slower burn on this one pays off.
junglefish's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
caeri's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
maxgardner's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book, and it was difficult to put down most of the time. Little has a great grasp of pacing and plot, and he pushes the reader along through a series of progressively horrifying and unbelievable scenarios as Barry and Maureen realize just how dire of a situation they've contractually put themselves into. Now, if you're looking for something closer to realism that requires no suspension of disbelief, this is not the story for you—the red flags against the Bonita Vista Homeowner's Association are plentiful and alarming from the start, and some may not be able to understand how Barry and Maureen don't start looking for an out much sooner. But I think—aside from it serving the plot progression—this is because Little is interested in the way certain factors can impact our perception of risk and danger as well as what we're willing to endure. For the first half of the book, Barry and Maureen are unhappy with the Homeowner's Association, but their pride along with the daunting effort that would be required to relocate are enough for them to overlook these annoyances (and their suspicions/fears regarding the more disturbing possibilities as increasingly horrifying events unfold that seem tied to the Association). By the time they actually want out, when they can no longer compartmentalize the mounting evidence of exactly how scary the Association is and the danger they're in, they are trapped by the possibility of financial ruin—is a life outside of the Association, where they'd start over with essentially nothing, worth it? Can they ever actually escape? This in addition to the exploration of peer pressure and group dynamics that challenge and break down the bounds of individuals' empathy and humanity leave the reader with some interesting ideas to consider. And while Little flirts with the idea of the supernatural all throughout, he unapologetically commits to it toward the end, which adds a bit of cheesiness but fun to the story. All in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for something entertaining to read that will keep them interested to the end.
valmox's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
goobersmom57's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
I don't normally read books that fit into the horror genre, but I made an exception this time, and I'm glad I did. This is a book that will keep you interested, and you'll hope the good guys come out on top. There's no certainty that they will.
If you or someone you know ever bought a house in a community overseen by a homeowners’ association, you may be able to relate, at least in small measure, to this book. Even those of us who rent have found circumstances in which we wish we had paid more attention to that darn lease! When you finish this book, you may reconsider your reluctance at being a full-blown Libertarian. But I grossly digress. Let me try to explain:
Parts of this book seem almost prophetic. The two main characters are fleeing Southern California for what they assume will be a better life in southern Utah. Barry and Maureen are certain they've found the perfect dream house. It is only a few miles by car from Cedar City and St. George, and it is adjacent to a small, quiet community. Better still, it's a home with a beautiful view inside a gated community. For reasons the couple can't explain, the seller is eager to unload the house. The young couple even get a $15,000 cut on the price. They move in. For a few days, there lives are idyllic.
Well, their lives are almost idyllic. Barry finds a dead cat in their mailbox, and the cat has ants crawling in and out of its eye sockets. He manages to dispose of it before Maureen finds out. But it worries him. And it should. Not long after they move in, a small stray cat adopts them. They feed it; It stays. Then they find the cat's dead body a few days later. About that same time, nasty notes start appearing. Someone pins the notes to the door or puts them in the mailbox. They inform Barry and Maureen of violations to the covenants, conditions, and restrictions associated with the gated community. The notices pile up. They make no sense at all. The HOA is critical of Maureen's landscaping efforts. They don't want Barry to work from his house as a writer. He writes horror novels. He must find an office in the nearby community, and the residents there don't particularly like folks who live in Bonita Vista. Things aren't always as they appear with the residents either. There's a growing undercurrent of revolt against the HOA. When Barry's neighbor, ray, pushes one too many buttons among the HOA faithful, the association finds a way to murder him and make it look like an accident.
This book just gets creepier and creepier as you read it. You will nearly scream when you see the abuses of authority that this association levies at Barry and Maureen. When the couple become pregnant, the association alerted to a CC&R that specifically says no one in the gated community can be pregnant or adopt children. The association grandfathers those who have children before the ruling.
There is a lot here that is satirical and silly. I can't say I was scared a whole lot by this book, but it was creepy. I can see as we look back at this from 2022, that there are those who would love to abuse the authority they have and make life horrible for those who don't agree with them. It's going to make me take a lot closer look at the small print in my next lease when I must sign that. Parts of this are just satirical and silly, but the end is memorable by any measure.
(This is another product of Microsoft's dictation abilities. If you find glaring grammatical or structural errors, I blame Microsoft dictation and me to a lesser extent for not catching it.
If you or someone you know ever bought a house in a community overseen by a homeowners’ association, you may be able to relate, at least in small measure, to this book. Even those of us who rent have found circumstances in which we wish we had paid more attention to that darn lease! When you finish this book, you may reconsider your reluctance at being a full-blown Libertarian. But I grossly digress. Let me try to explain:
Parts of this book seem almost prophetic. The two main characters are fleeing Southern California for what they assume will be a better life in southern Utah. Barry and Maureen are certain they've found the perfect dream house. It is only a few miles by car from Cedar City and St. George, and it is adjacent to a small, quiet community. Better still, it's a home with a beautiful view inside a gated community. For reasons the couple can't explain, the seller is eager to unload the house. The young couple even get a $15,000 cut on the price. They move in. For a few days, there lives are idyllic.
Well, their lives are almost idyllic. Barry finds a dead cat in their mailbox, and the cat has ants crawling in and out of its eye sockets. He manages to dispose of it before Maureen finds out. But it worries him. And it should. Not long after they move in, a small stray cat adopts them. They feed it; It stays. Then they find the cat's dead body a few days later. About that same time, nasty notes start appearing. Someone pins the notes to the door or puts them in the mailbox. They inform Barry and Maureen of violations to the covenants, conditions, and restrictions associated with the gated community. The notices pile up. They make no sense at all. The HOA is critical of Maureen's landscaping efforts. They don't want Barry to work from his house as a writer. He writes horror novels. He must find an office in the nearby community, and the residents there don't particularly like folks who live in Bonita Vista. Things aren't always as they appear with the residents either. There's a growing undercurrent of revolt against the HOA. When Barry's neighbor, ray, pushes one too many buttons among the HOA faithful, the association finds a way to murder him and make it look like an accident.
This book just gets creepier and creepier as you read it. You will nearly scream when you see the abuses of authority that this association levies at Barry and Maureen. When the couple become pregnant, the association alerted to a CC&R that specifically says no one in the gated community can be pregnant or adopt children. The association grandfathers those who have children before the ruling.
There is a lot here that is satirical and silly. I can't say I was scared a whole lot by this book, but it was creepy. I can see as we look back at this from 2022, that there are those who would love to abuse the authority they have and make life horrible for those who don't agree with them. It's going to make me take a lot closer look at the small print in my next lease when I must sign that. Parts of this are just satirical and silly, but the end is memorable by any measure.
(This is another product of Microsoft's dictation abilities. If you find glaring grammatical or structural errors, I blame Microsoft dictation and me to a lesser extent for not catching it.