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mehitabels's review
3.0
I did like this gentle book. The mix of old house, history, and a believable protagonist kept me coming back and reading in spurts. There was an overall creepiness and mystery that drew me in, and then I had to finish it to get rid of the feeling of being watched by unknown eyes. And, perhaps best of all, I was honestly and very surprised when the explanation came. Always a nice addition.
I didn't love it with the passion I hold for some of my favorite authors, but I would recommend it. She also accurately writes the new baby and mother experience, which brought back many half-remembered memories. Also adding to the shudder effect.
Well played, Arsenault, well played.
I didn't love it with the passion I hold for some of my favorite authors, but I would recommend it. She also accurately writes the new baby and mother experience, which brought back many half-remembered memories. Also adding to the shudder effect.
Well played, Arsenault, well played.
tawnsolo's review
3.0
This book was interesting and had a lot of potential, but at the end I'm left with too many unanswered questions. It could have ended a lot better.
mary_r_m's review against another edition
3.0
3 3/4 stars
Book Club read.
When I first started reading it I thoug h it would scare the crap out of me. However, I was able to sleep without too many weird dreams. The story was interesting, but ended too abruptly for my liking.
Book Club read.
When I first started reading it I thoug h it would scare the crap out of me. However, I was able to sleep without too many weird dreams. The story was interesting, but ended too abruptly for my liking.
larissarose's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rglossner's review
3.0
This is a ghost story, a mystery story, and a exploration of young motherhood, told by Abby in the 21st century and Frances in the 19th, both living in the same house. Abby hears unexplained shushing sounds on her baby monitor, and becomes obsessed with finding out the story of the house, This brings her to the diary of Frances, and more questions about what Frances did, and what she knew. Abby brought her own ghost to the house and as she uncovers the truth about Frances she also begins to face down the ghost of her college roommate. A quick and satisfying read, and a well told tale
cowboylikepaola's review
3.0
3.5 stars!
Pretty good! but I don’t think the ending connected the Abby’s supernatural storyline with Frances’s life and what she went through :/
Writing was great tho it kept me hooked
Pretty good! but I don’t think the ending connected the Abby’s supernatural storyline with Frances’s life and what she went through :/
Writing was great tho it kept me hooked
mazza57's review against another edition
3.0
This was an easy to listen to audio book. Narrated by 2 women who sounded very alike . An easy story but really lacked something in the suspense it was trying to create. Told in 2 main timelines
19th and 21st century with a vignette in the 20th century university life of Abby.
19th and 21st century with a vignette in the 20th century university life of Abby.
zosiablue's review
4.0
This was a well-done mystery that switched timelines between a real-life crime in the late 1800s and a present-day mom who is completely losing her shit. I love an epistolary novel, I really do. While the mystery was compelling, I have one I-wish and one complaint: I can’t believe I’m saying this because I love every ghost, but this story didn’t need the ghost framing. It was distracting. The complaint: There was a fatphobic chapter out of nowhere, for no reason, and that sucked. It’s such a buzzkill when authors do this. It took me out of the story for like 50 pages.
Beyond that, it was fun. Though I now realize I don’t know what the title means!
Beyond that, it was fun. Though I now realize I don’t know what the title means!
mcipher's review
3.0
I love Emily Arsenault’s other books - this one not as much. I think I might just be kind of over gothic heroines - at least, the ones that are a little helpless and whiny and so ridiculous nonsensical dramatic things because they’re scared. It was just a bit over the top - so exactly what you probably want in this kind of book, but not what I wanted to read. I liked the side characters a lot, though - they felt very real and detailed and interesting (though the husband, oddly, was less defined).