A review by hlbayles23
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

That was amazing! I’m shocked this was a debut novel, and sad because I was fully ready to go read every other Lisa M. Matlin book. 

I was sucked in right away and couldn’t stop reading. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and when I’d be able to read more.

Sarah is a marriage therapist/struggling social media influencer, who buys an old house where a grizzly murder took place decades earlier. Her plan is to renovate the controversial home, while documenting it on social media. The end goal is to grow a larger following, get brand deals, then sell the house for way more than it was purchased for after reno. But, of course the house has a different plan for Sarah.

The twists and turns through this book were wild! At some points I felt like I was losing my mind right along with Sarah. I can’t wait for any other book that Lisa writes because I’m buying them all! 

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.