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themysterymaven's review against another edition
5.0
Most likely an unpopular opinion, but I loved this story! Goodreads has it rated about mid-level, and that’s ok. For me, it hit all the marks that I genuinely enjoy in a mystery/thriller.
I thought the setting was very cool - an octagon-shape of a murder house left abandoned in the woods; children with each passing generation manage to find it through the hand-me-downs of local lore. You have shifts between characters and past and present as the main protagonist must face what happened in the house all those years ago, when she and her three friends first found its location. (The mysterious appearance of a doll on the basement stairs continues to haunt the few who actually see it down in the dark depths.) And part of her reckoning involves the original murders there, the origin story of sorts that created the legend of The Octagon House.
I think some readers disliked the pace of the book; rather, I really relished all the detail and backstory. And while the twisty ending isn’t explicitly spelled out, I thought it was made quite clear even through inference and didn’t detract from my liking of the conclusion at all. I can agree that there was perhaps one plot point I wish had been further explored - no spoilers - but overall, I found it all to be an eerie experience entering into The Octagon House to discover what lurks beneath the stairs.
I thought the setting was very cool - an octagon-shape of a murder house left abandoned in the woods; children with each passing generation manage to find it through the hand-me-downs of local lore. You have shifts between characters and past and present as the main protagonist must face what happened in the house all those years ago, when she and her three friends first found its location. (The mysterious appearance of a doll on the basement stairs continues to haunt the few who actually see it down in the dark depths.) And part of her reckoning involves the original murders there, the origin story of sorts that created the legend of The Octagon House.
I think some readers disliked the pace of the book; rather, I really relished all the detail and backstory. And while the twisty ending isn’t explicitly spelled out, I thought it was made quite clear even through inference and didn’t detract from my liking of the conclusion at all. I can agree that there was perhaps one plot point I wish had been further explored - no spoilers - but overall, I found it all to be an eerie experience entering into The Octagon House to discover what lurks beneath the stairs.
geauxgetlit's review against another edition
3.0
In the summer of 88 12 year old girls Claire, Abby and Lori decided to go into a haunted octagon house that was on Lori’s family land. Rumor has it a husband 30 years before went crazy and killed his wife and daughters in the house. Abby and Claire was pulled by the basement, which has a door that opens and closes it seems by itself.
Told from 4 time periods revolving the situations of this house. The girls are reunited again and need to find the answers before anyone else gets hurt.
The plot was interesting and I did enjoy it, however, I felt it could have used a some other twists and turns along the way.
Read this if you enjoy a focused plot thriller.
Thank you for my gifted copy.
Told from 4 time periods revolving the situations of this house. The girls are reunited again and need to find the answers before anyone else gets hurt.
The plot was interesting and I did enjoy it, however, I felt it could have used a some other twists and turns along the way.
Read this if you enjoy a focused plot thriller.
Thank you for my gifted copy.
mrsbishopreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse
booksthrilljessica's review against another edition
4.0
Deep in the woods of Sumner’s Mills there lies an abandoned Octagon House. As with all local lore this house is the town's haunted home that no one dares enter. That is until one night Clare and her best friend, Abby, sneak inside the home daring to go where others are too afraid to go. But something happened to them inside that house. It is as if something or someone had devoured a part of their soul.
Now all grown up, Clare discovers that Abby returned to the Octagon House searching for what was lost which has put Abby in a coma. Clare must find out what happened to her childhood best friend. Does this house have a hold on anyone who enters it, or does it have something to do with its haunting past?
Overall rating 4/5
I was pleasantly creeped out by this book and was dying to find out about the history of the house’s origins. The forced love story bogged down the pace of the book in my opinion. I was also craving more haunting moments within the house. Or more of the dynamic between the little girl and step aunts interactions before the incidents. I do appreciate the backstory of the house which made a full circle moment explaining what was happening to Clare and Abby in the present.
*Thank you to Jennifer Fawcett, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
Now all grown up, Clare discovers that Abby returned to the Octagon House searching for what was lost which has put Abby in a coma. Clare must find out what happened to her childhood best friend. Does this house have a hold on anyone who enters it, or does it have something to do with its haunting past?
Overall rating 4/5
I was pleasantly creeped out by this book and was dying to find out about the history of the house’s origins. The forced love story bogged down the pace of the book in my opinion. I was also craving more haunting moments within the house. Or more of the dynamic between the little girl and step aunts interactions before the incidents. I do appreciate the backstory of the house which made a full circle moment explaining what was happening to Clare and Abby in the present.
*Thank you to Jennifer Fawcett, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
megansnextread's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
betweenthelinesbookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
This book gave me the creeps.
At one point I could feel my heart beating and goose bumps rising.
I need more books like this!
At one point I could feel my heart beating and goose bumps rising.
I need more books like this!
kiwi82's review against another edition
3.0
It was really good and then it kept being really good until the ending.
I feel like the house burning at the end could have had more somehow, like it felt like the author was too focused on the after and the before but not the during I feel like that the gasoline part was weird like I feel like she should’ve had just more of a fuck that house kind of ending.
I really wish that Ben could’ve fully known what happened there, I feel like he deserved to know. The way it was written unfortunately felt like it was rushed.
Overall I enjoyed the book and had plenty of twists and great suspense.
I feel like the house burning at the end could have had more somehow, like it felt like the author was too focused on the after and the before but not the during I feel like that the gasoline part was weird like I feel like she should’ve had just more of a fuck that house kind of ending.
I really wish that Ben could’ve fully known what happened there, I feel like he deserved to know. The way it was written unfortunately felt like it was rushed.
Overall I enjoyed the book and had plenty of twists and great suspense.
lexluther99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0