thebookendreviews's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such an exciting one. I was hooked from the get go when we were first introduced to the main family. All characters felt flawed in certain ways making them more relatable. They all seemed to have their secrets which just added to the intrigue. I did find Corinne at times annoying to read. Her "damsel in distress" persona became grating on occasion, yet the way in which she reacted to the mysteries and discoveries created brilliant suspense. She was so highly strung but yet amazing to read!
The multiple point of view narrative allowed for an intense build up of tension, especially towards the climax of the book. Perhaps a slight slow burner, but I thought it worked well with the setup, and certainly didn’t slow me down with reading and I finished it within 24 hours.
This was a brilliantly creepy and mysterious book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved that some of my theories were completely wrong.
Having already read The Babysitter, I'm looking forward to discovering more from this author.
The multiple point of view narrative allowed for an intense build up of tension, especially towards the climax of the book. Perhaps a slight slow burner, but I thought it worked well with the setup, and certainly didn’t slow me down with reading and I finished it within 24 hours.
This was a brilliantly creepy and mysterious book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved that some of my theories were completely wrong.
Having already read The Babysitter, I'm looking forward to discovering more from this author.
sarahlouaccount's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
peritract's review
3.0
Corinne is fragile. Her father’s death hit her hard, and repeated attempts to get pregnant have trapped her in a cycle of tentative hope followed by crushing disappointment. Sometimes the world is all too much to cope with.
When strange things start happening, no one really takes her seriously. She’s just highly-strung, over-anxious. Little worrying signs that Corinne sees as part of a larger, menacing pattern seem like coincidence to everyone else.
Is Corinne being stalked by someone unknown and malevolent, or is her mind creating monsters out of nothing?
I’m not a huge fan of synopses that end in a question, but it’s the only thing that works here – The Doll House‘s central conflict is more about perception than anything else, and the driver of the first half of the novel is Corinne’s (and to a lesser extent, her sister Ashley’s) struggle with their fears and anxieties.
The Doll House doesn’t have a single focus. The first part of the novel is genre-less, focused on exploring emotions and perceptions rather than plot. Later, it shifts to become a psychological thriller, as the threats move from internal to external. At the end, The Doll House is an action thriller, with screeching sirens and races against time.
This lack of focus weakens the novel, giving it a mis-matched set-up and pay-off. If you’re bored by the slow, cautious start, then you won’t persevere until the more action-heavy ending; if you’re absorbed by the psychological shades-of-grey parts, then the ending falls flat. To my mind, the better sections are earlier on, with the portrayal of possible madness.
As an exploration of anxiety and paranoia, The Doll House is very good. Both Corinne and Ashley are filled with self-doubt and confusion, focusing and fixating on things that everyone is able to let go off. The early stages of the novel are sweet and sad, with convincing prose that makes the main characters easy to identify with. Anxiety is a difficult thing to portray in fiction – major emotional weight on externally minor things comes across as crass or overblown unless it’s very carefully handled. The Doll House pulls the trick off well.
The plot is overly complex, with layers and layers of subterfuge that don’t add as much as they need to justify themselves. It keeps you guessing right up to the big reveal, but a simpler plot would have served the themes just as well. Amongst the madness and the stalking, there’s a lot about architecture, journalism and other things that are relevant, but slow down the story and obscure the key emotions/ideas.
The Doll House is not a happy book, and it’s not exactly fun to read, but it deals with important ideas sensitively. The lack of focus does weaken the book, but the central idea, exploring fear and shifting perceptions, is one that I think should more of a topic in fiction, and it’s one that The Doll House deals with well.
When strange things start happening, no one really takes her seriously. She’s just highly-strung, over-anxious. Little worrying signs that Corinne sees as part of a larger, menacing pattern seem like coincidence to everyone else.
Is Corinne being stalked by someone unknown and malevolent, or is her mind creating monsters out of nothing?
I’m not a huge fan of synopses that end in a question, but it’s the only thing that works here – The Doll House‘s central conflict is more about perception than anything else, and the driver of the first half of the novel is Corinne’s (and to a lesser extent, her sister Ashley’s) struggle with their fears and anxieties.
The Doll House doesn’t have a single focus. The first part of the novel is genre-less, focused on exploring emotions and perceptions rather than plot. Later, it shifts to become a psychological thriller, as the threats move from internal to external. At the end, The Doll House is an action thriller, with screeching sirens and races against time.
This lack of focus weakens the novel, giving it a mis-matched set-up and pay-off. If you’re bored by the slow, cautious start, then you won’t persevere until the more action-heavy ending; if you’re absorbed by the psychological shades-of-grey parts, then the ending falls flat. To my mind, the better sections are earlier on, with the portrayal of possible madness.
As an exploration of anxiety and paranoia, The Doll House is very good. Both Corinne and Ashley are filled with self-doubt and confusion, focusing and fixating on things that everyone is able to let go off. The early stages of the novel are sweet and sad, with convincing prose that makes the main characters easy to identify with. Anxiety is a difficult thing to portray in fiction – major emotional weight on externally minor things comes across as crass or overblown unless it’s very carefully handled. The Doll House pulls the trick off well.
The plot is overly complex, with layers and layers of subterfuge that don’t add as much as they need to justify themselves. It keeps you guessing right up to the big reveal, but a simpler plot would have served the themes just as well. Amongst the madness and the stalking, there’s a lot about architecture, journalism and other things that are relevant, but slow down the story and obscure the key emotions/ideas.
The Doll House is not a happy book, and it’s not exactly fun to read, but it deals with important ideas sensitively. The lack of focus does weaken the book, but the central idea, exploring fear and shifting perceptions, is one that I think should more of a topic in fiction, and it’s one that The Doll House deals with well.
melaubs11's review
5.0
If you have not read this book... Read it!! You will not regret it.. I would give it more stars if I could. Truly amazing. Loved all the characters. Kept me thinking throughout and enjoyed every single page. I do hope there will be a book 2 to this because it is left on a cliff-hanger. The ending was brilliant!
kayleem93's review
1.0
Heaven help me I did not like this book. The characters are all just willfully obtuse do the exact opposite of what normal humans would do in any of these situations, they all act stupidly sneaky with their spouses for no reason other than the plot needs them too.
The IVF story line took up like 1/3 of the story but guess what? actually has nothing to do with the stalker or the "thriller" part of the book. Everyscene gets rehashed from every point of view so you end up hearing something about four different times *once when it happens *once when character 1 tells character 2 *once when charceter two tell her partner *once when character one thinks about it again two pages later.
Speaking of the thriller part, not thrilling. Guessed who the "baddie" was in the first 30% and WHY they were terrorising the family. I was correct by the way 100% and I did read all the way to the end hoping I was wrong. Everything was just too set up and convenient, I am fine with suspension of disbelief but none of this would happen in real life because in real life people actually talk to one another and tend to be concerned if people are leaving creppy gift for there wife.
Oh the ending, the stupid stupid "cliffhanger" ending. The book should have stopped one chapter before and it would have been two stars but no you had to do that "but it isnt over ........" thing. ugh.
Anyway, having said all that my problem was with the story and the plot so maybe I would try something from the author again. Even more likely if she changes editor.
This is just my opinion it doesn't mean you won't like the book. It doesn't mean you're wrong for liking the book. It doesn't mean I'm wrong for not liking the book. Please respect my opinion and I shall respect yours
I recieved this copy as a free ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The IVF story line took up like 1/3 of the story but guess what? actually has nothing to do with the stalker or the "thriller" part of the book. Everyscene gets rehashed from every point of view so you end up hearing something about four different times *once when it happens *once when character 1 tells character 2 *once when charceter two tell her partner *once when character one thinks about it again two pages later.
Speaking of the thriller part, not thrilling. Guessed who the "baddie" was in the first 30% and WHY they were terrorising the family. I was correct by the way 100% and I did read all the way to the end hoping I was wrong. Everything was just too set up and convenient, I am fine with suspension of disbelief but none of this would happen in real life because in real life people actually talk to one another and tend to be concerned if people are leaving creppy gift for there wife.
Oh the ending, the stupid stupid "cliffhanger" ending. The book should have stopped one chapter before and it would have been two stars but no you had to do that "but it isnt over ........" thing. ugh.
Anyway, having said all that my problem was with the story and the plot so maybe I would try something from the author again. Even more likely if she changes editor.
This is just my opinion it doesn't mean you won't like the book. It doesn't mean you're wrong for liking the book. It doesn't mean I'm wrong for not liking the book. Please respect my opinion and I shall respect yours
I recieved this copy as a free ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
courtneyy41's review
5.0
WOW I cannot believe how good this book was...First of all, I have never had a book that had me trying to figure out the ending throughout the entire story like this one did. I typically just go with the flow and let a story lead me to the end, but not with this one. The whole time I was trying to figure out who was who, and who did what, and what was going to happen...even when I wasn't reading it I was CONSTANTLY trying to figure it out. Definitely the best psychological thriller I ever read. I want a sequel! And this is the author's DEBUT NOVEL?! Incredible. I immediately want to re-read. I can tell that I will be raving about this one for a long time!!! So dang good. And it definitely was giving me Pretty Little Liars vibes the whole time except MUCH DARKER! I loved this so so much! MORE PLEASE!!!!
ihaz's review
4.0
This book was a great thriller that made me want to see to the ending as soon as possible. I thought I had it figured it, but it turned out I wasn’t even close.
Indeed, you never know who’s watching. And this is only made clear in the very end, when everything finally starts to make sense.
Through the various characters; Dominic, his girlfriend Corrine, and her sister Ashley, as well as the unknown character, we saw the story from different perspectives.
The idea of Corinne being stressed out by her three IVF-attempts into having a baby, made me as a reader question her reliability. She herself even doubted what she saw, not to say those surrounding her.
In any case, if you’re looking for a good story that makes you turn the pages quickly, this might be it.
Indeed, you never know who’s watching. And this is only made clear in the very end, when everything finally starts to make sense.
Through the various characters; Dominic, his girlfriend Corrine, and her sister Ashley, as well as the unknown character, we saw the story from different perspectives.
The idea of Corinne being stressed out by her three IVF-attempts into having a baby, made me as a reader question her reliability. She herself even doubted what she saw, not to say those surrounding her.
In any case, if you’re looking for a good story that makes you turn the pages quickly, this might be it.
abeerasad's review
5.0
Unbelievable
What a great psychological thriller! A real page turner! Can't wait to read more from Phoebe Morgan! Would truly recommend this psychological thriller!
What a great psychological thriller! A real page turner! Can't wait to read more from Phoebe Morgan! Would truly recommend this psychological thriller!
bridgit's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Well, the book failed to surprise me. I thought it would be more gripping, I found myself struggling to bring myself to read further. The most edgy part for me was the very last sentence. The plot used a lot of clichés, which I personally don't like. Like, no one's mobile works when they try to reach each other, because there's no signal (in London? Seriously?) or they simply don't pick up, because they don't notice it rings. Ha. And I feel like some of the plot isn't solved, like there's no explanation for why Dominic had to write that piece of the Carlington House. What where Allison's motives to send him - a blackmail, probably? By who and why and with what? Why was it necessary for Dominic to bring Corinne along for his visit? If Erin (and June) wanted revenge, and Erin had a knife, why didn't she killed them all instead of roping them up and hurting them? She had the chance to finish, why didn't she do it? So I still have questions.
On the bright side: It's easy to like the characters, they're everyday people, with everyday problems, it's like it can happen to anyone. The writing is fine, there's potential in Ms Morgan's work. It's an alright debut novel, I'm sure her future works will be better.
Well, the book failed to surprise me. I thought it would be more gripping, I found myself struggling to bring myself to read further. The most edgy part for me was the very last sentence. The plot used a lot of clichés, which I personally don't like. Like, no one's mobile works when they try to reach each other, because there's no signal (in London? Seriously?) or they simply don't pick up, because they don't notice it rings. Ha. And I feel like some of the plot isn't solved, like there's no explanation for why Dominic had to write that piece of the Carlington House. What where Allison's motives to send him - a blackmail, probably? By who and why and with what? Why was it necessary for Dominic to bring Corinne along for his visit? If Erin (and June) wanted revenge, and Erin had a knife, why didn't she killed them all instead of roping them up and hurting them? She had the chance to finish, why didn't she do it? So I still have questions.
On the bright side: It's easy to like the characters, they're everyday people, with everyday problems, it's like it can happen to anyone. The writing is fine, there's potential in Ms Morgan's work. It's an alright debut novel, I'm sure her future works will be better.