Scan barcode
afiys's review against another edition
dnf @ 27% , i dont think i can enjoy this one
hypevoy's review
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? Yes
2.0
1jessml's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.0
wynplus1's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.5
A very simple premise expanded upon by an interesting and ambitious character voice! I love the mix of first person and second person - I liked how the author really makes you feel like a participant in the horror.
That said, the novel could've gone through another round of edits. The characters felt flat, but I can forgive that for the fact that we're viewing them through their pre-determined roles and assumptions. The dialogue and character interactions didn't always feel believable though - I kept thinking as I read, "this isn't how real people act." Still a good read though.
That said, the novel could've gone through another round of edits. The characters felt flat, but I can forgive that for the fact that we're viewing them through their pre-determined roles and assumptions. The dialogue and character interactions didn't always feel believable though - I kept thinking as I read, "this isn't how real people act." Still a good read though.
helloclarisse's review against another edition
3.0
I have a love/hate relationship with home invasion books because I think they’re terrifying and also because I think they’re terrifying.
I would describe this book as an instruction manual on how to do a home invasion. The first third of this book had my heart RACING, but by the time the actual invasion started I lost interest. The second person narration was hard to follow at times and the lack of names for characters also made it difficult to keep track of people. Although I think I know the commentary this book is trying to make, I didn’t like all the references to and quotes from other horror media.
I would rate this lower, because overall I didn’t like most of the book and I wouldn’t recommend it, but I bumped it up a star because of the terror I was in when reading the first act of the book. It’s too bad that momentum didn’t continue through the rest of the book.
I would describe this book as an instruction manual on how to do a home invasion. The first third of this book had my heart RACING, but by the time the actual invasion started I lost interest. The second person narration was hard to follow at times and the lack of names for characters also made it difficult to keep track of people. Although I think I know the commentary this book is trying to make, I didn’t like all the references to and quotes from other horror media.
I would rate this lower, because overall I didn’t like most of the book and I wouldn’t recommend it, but I bumped it up a star because of the terror I was in when reading the first act of the book. It’s too bad that momentum didn’t continue through the rest of the book.
mellove's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
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
2.5
lyc4nthropes's review against another edition
4.0
“if it was too much, what kept you from looking away? why did you watch the rest of it? … what i ask is, quite simply, do you feel as though you might be consumed?”
the spectacle of horror and true crime have had the curtains pulled back on them by lovers and creators of the genres for decades now. ‘anybody home?’ utilizes an intriguing mode of storytelling to get its point across to the reader: by involving you as much as possible. told in 3rd person perspective, the book follows a serial invader as they teach the main character (simply referred to as “you”) the complex art of home invasions. following the main character every step of the way, the narrator imparts the sheer importance of constructing the perfect performance for the consumption of a cult audience. the question is: “why are you doing this to us?” the answer given to the family is something cliche but effective. maybe something straight from the script of ‘the strangers’ (2008), for instance: “because you were home.” but to the main character and the narrator both, the real answer is simply this: we see, in you, a performance that audiences are going to love.
this is my first seidlinger, and it definitely won’t be my last. utterly unique and unsettling. there were moments in this book that genuinely creeped me out, and anybody that knows me knows that’s kinda hard to do.
i’m really glad this didn’t fly under my radar as easily as it could have.
the spectacle of horror and true crime have had the curtains pulled back on them by lovers and creators of the genres for decades now. ‘anybody home?’ utilizes an intriguing mode of storytelling to get its point across to the reader: by involving you as much as possible. told in 3rd person perspective, the book follows a serial invader as they teach the main character (simply referred to as “you”) the complex art of home invasions. following the main character every step of the way, the narrator imparts the sheer importance of constructing the perfect performance for the consumption of a cult audience. the question is: “why are you doing this to us?” the answer given to the family is something cliche but effective. maybe something straight from the script of ‘the strangers’ (2008), for instance: “because you were home.” but to the main character and the narrator both, the real answer is simply this: we see, in you, a performance that audiences are going to love.
this is my first seidlinger, and it definitely won’t be my last. utterly unique and unsettling. there were moments in this book that genuinely creeped me out, and anybody that knows me knows that’s kinda hard to do.
i’m really glad this didn’t fly under my radar as easily as it could have.
kayglo90's review
dark
slow-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
1.0
roxiehrt's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Interesting concept. I think it probably would have been better if it was shorter. There’s a ton of info dumping that is just for effect that left me thinking, “yeah we get it”. If the narrative was a little tighter the final beats of the story would have landed better. But it was well written, I just felt that it could have been more intentional at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Torture, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Infidelity, and Kidnapping
impaulbert's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Animal death, Rape, and Torture