A review by kingweirdo
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I am a big fan of Hendrix, so I'm not surprised that this was an enjoyable read for me. However, my feelings for this book are boosted beyond its literary virtue and my goodwill for the author by a wave of weird, personal coincidence. I've had an "off" reading year due to a new job and various personal matters. So I started this book early this year and just couldn't make the time to finish. Then, my Gramma died.

Fast forward two months, and my 6-year-old daughter and I are joining my mother, two younger brothers (one of whom is frustrating in ways very similar to the character of Mark), and my two nephews across the country at my gramma's house. The house is just outside a rapidly gentrifying small rural town, and we need to clear it out and figure out what to do with it. One of the biggest tasks ahead? Figuring out what to do with about 3 storage units' worth of dolls.

These are the circumstances under which I resumed reading this book. It was like a fever dream, and made for a cathartic and memorable reading experience that will likely stay with me for a long time.