njmenzel's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm not sure any other "horror" book I've ever read can be considered horror after reading How to Sell a Haunted House. This is all of my nightmares and worst fears, bundled together. I hated reading it, and yet, I loved this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Car accident, Body horror, Injury/injury detail, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
danaaliyalevinson's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A woman and her estranged brother have to clean out their recently deceased parent's home in preparation for selling it... but complications arise when they realize the house doesn't just have "bad vibes"... it's hopelessly haunted. I don't want to say anymore than that! I did not expect it to be a one day read at around 400 pages and some change but I couldn't put it down. Like any good horror, the book deals with much bigger themes than the situation at hand. Really, it's about grief and the stories we tell ourselves to get by. It's funny, it emotional, it's scary, and most of all, it's fucking bonkers. The tone also has a good amount of pulpy Charlaine Harris style Southern Gothic in it without ever getting too broadly painted. Really enjoyed this one and immediately went and picked up one of this author's other books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, Grief, Child death, Body horror, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/injury detail
shelby_7664's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
allyem_reads's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
4.57 CAWPILE score
Well, that was...something. You know, I just don't think Grady Hendrix is the author for me after all. Which is definitely frustrating, because I've spent a lot of time reading his books and trying to like them. And I technically did enjoy this book the most out of all of the ones I've read - I like the haunted puppet angle (even though I'm absolutely horrified of dolls and puppets) and I think the execution was pretty cool, but there were just a ton of other things that gave me the ick in this story, like Mark's characterization and the rampant fat-shaming everywhere, and the overt religious undertones as well. So, yeah. I think I'm done with Grady Hendrix.
Well, that was...something. You know, I just don't think Grady Hendrix is the author for me after all. Which is definitely frustrating, because I've spent a lot of time reading his books and trying to like them. And I technically did enjoy this book the most out of all of the ones I've read - I like the haunted puppet angle (even though I'm absolutely horrified of dolls and puppets) and I think the execution was pretty cool, but there were just a ton of other things that gave me the ick in this story, like Mark's characterization and the rampant fat-shaming everywhere, and the overt religious undertones as well. So, yeah. I think I'm done with Grady Hendrix.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Gore, and Child abuse
Moderate: Body horror, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, and Body shaming
laurenvoice's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Once again, Grady Hendrix has delivered a masterpiece.
How to Sell a Haunted House was not what I was expecting, I was expecting a creepy haunted house story, but I got a possessed doll story with an imaginary dog instead; I loved it! I don't know how Hendrix does it, but he balances creepiness with humour perfectly. And How to Sell a Haunted House was full of creepiness, fun, and a lot of family trauma.
At the start of the story, I was fully expecting to despise Mark; however, he turned out to be a decent person and brother. The big turnaround in character was due to the different perspectives Louise and Mark had experience growing up with a creepy doll. It was interesting to see how they saw their childhoods and certain events differently; if the family had a more open dialogue with each other, they might not have been so distant in the future. And it was perfect seeing Mark and Louise reunite and work together, finally building that sibling bond they needed.
Mark's backstory about his short-time at BU was an addition that shockiling brought this book together. At first, when I reached the BU backstory chapters, I was worried that it would drag the story; however, it added the layers we needed and developed Mark's character further.
Although Louise turned out to be a bit of an unreliable narrator at the start, she certainly was one resilient woman; despite all the physical trauma she went through, Louise still kept going. And like with Mark's BU backstory, Louise's early childhood backstory was necessary to help us understand why she was distant from her family; again, it added the layers that the main story needed.
The family dynamic in How to Sell a Haunted House was fascinating. It was nice to see Louise and Mark's extended family and how they fit into the Joyner family dynamic; Mercy added plenty of needed comic relief. Plus, the introduction of Barb was fun; we needed more Barb, even though, technically, she wasn't family.
The ending of How to Sell a Haunted House was faultless, and I am glad the main characters survived the events; okay, maybe someone lost an arm. I appreciated not having to experience the emotional trauma of losing a main character I liked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
jayjm94's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I read this 415 page book in one sitting. It was everything I love about Grady Hendrix— there is plenty of reflection, but it is mainly scary messed up stuff happening and men being absolutely awful to women. This is as good as a scary puppet book gets; it’s full of camp, gore and family secrets. I don’t think it dragged a bit. So much fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Child death, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Excrement, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Addiction, Body horror, and Abandonment
Minor: Excrement and Animal death
tlholmes's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Child death, Torture, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Car accident, Body horror, Violence, Medical trauma, Gore, and Blood
This is the least gory of Grady Hendrix’s books, it’s more about the plot than the goretorilynnwrites's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
I love Grady Hendrix’s other books, but this one wasn’t for me. I can’t help but feel this book was a little unpolished, and when it comes to plot, would have been a good short story instead of the long-winded struggle it was. I couldn’t suspend my belief enough when it came to these characters and the choices they made.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, Blood, and Death
kjonker's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"A puppet is a possession that possesses the possessor."
Grady Hendrix, you son of a gun, you did it again!
I've loved everything I've read of Hendrix's work. Everything he touches is gold and I think "How To Sell A Haunted House" is the best yet.
This story is so much more than a haunted/possessed puppet/house/family. This is a story of family grief and the generational ramifications of burying unresolved trauma.
In true Hendrix form, he tells this story with vivacious emotions and with vivid sensory detail. Mix all that with dynamic story telling and a bit of twisted humor and you have yourself this incredibly delicious novel.
I just finished it and I already want to read it again.
⚠️Warning: read with a box of tissues. I cried so many times throughout this book. It's real and raw and riveting.
Grady Hendrix, you son of a gun, you did it again!
I've loved everything I've read of Hendrix's work. Everything he touches is gold and I think "How To Sell A Haunted House" is the best yet.
This story is so much more than a haunted/possessed puppet/house/family. This is a story of family grief and the generational ramifications of burying unresolved trauma.
In true Hendrix form, he tells this story with vivacious emotions and with vivid sensory detail. Mix all that with dynamic story telling and a bit of twisted humor and you have yourself this incredibly delicious novel.
I just finished it and I already want to read it again.
⚠️Warning: read with a box of tissues. I cried so many times throughout this book. It's real and raw and riveting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, and Body horror
musesandmoons's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, Death, Alcoholism, Child death, and Gore