Reviews

The House by the Sea by Louise Douglas

sian_m's review against another edition

4.0

A great audiobook. Kept me interested and invested in wanting to keep listening and learning more. The scene was idyllic.

wreese1201's review against another edition

2.0

I thought it had a slow start, slow build up and alot of stuff that was unnecessary to the storyline. The last few chapters were packed with the plot and were the only part that really held my attention. It was ok overall but I did feel like I had to force myself to finish it.

danielle1996's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

lisamshardlow's review against another edition

5.0

Edie has been forced to visit Sicily with her ex-husband Joe, after Joe’s mother Anna dies and leaves them both the family villa in her will. Edie has blamed, and hated, Anna for an accident that tore their family apart 10 years ago. Edie suspects that Anna is trying to reunite herself and Joe from beyond the grave, and so Edie is determined to leave Italy as soon as possible. Before she has a chance to leave, the villa starts to reveal its mysterious secrets. Who are the two girls beside Anna in her childhood photos, and why does one of them have her face scratched out? Creepy and unexplained things start to happen, as though someone doesn’t want Edie and Joe there to unearth the past and what it might mean.

This was absolutely gripping from start to finish! I couldn’t stop reading; I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I really loved Edie and Joe; they had both been through a lot and it took a lot for them both to admit that they didn’t particularly handle the events that ripped their family apart in the best way. I was really routing for Edie and Joe to find out every last one of the villa’s secrets and to find out who it was who didn’t want them there. I also really wanted them to try to rekindle the love they had once felt for one another! In particular, I loved how Edie changed and evolved as the story progressed. There were some gothic and supernatural elements that were quite chilling but also captivating. The story was also very emotional as well as being able to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed watching all of the mysteries unravel.

I don’t think that there was anything that I didn’t love about this. It was gripping, emotional, captivating, and chilling. For all of these reasons, I give The House by the Sea 5 out of 5 stars!

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary as well as historical fiction, thrillers and mysteries, gripping stories, Italian culture, and some romance.

hanna_krik's review

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

I liked the story but the characters annoyed me.

dmratcliff's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.25

annareadsmysteries's review against another edition

3.0

A very slow burn of a book...

I've almost put it down 5 times, but because I've put down 2 other books this month already, I wanted to stick it out, hoping against all odds that the story picks up, because OMG this gets horribly dull at times. And while I get what the author tries to achieve here, I still felt bored out of my mind.

Plus, it probably would help if the protagonist would be more likeable, because my god, she's a b*tch.

Nothing happens for a long time and when I mean a long time, I mean really long, until around chapter 56 (and it only has 65 chapters)...

And even when something happens, it feels like such a tiny payoff next to the long wait you had, that it somehow doesn't satisfy the curiosity it built up. It's like... this book gives you and itch, but it doesn't scratch it and you walk away still itching.

But for all it's downfall, the actual action-lacking story is well written. So there, let's add a star for that and call it a 3.

blogginboutbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Books featuring interesting old houses always intrigue me. I'm especially fond of those with a Gothic feel. Although THE HOUSE BY THE SEA takes place in sunny Sicily, it still has a chilling Gothic vibe that gives the story a deliciously creepy, unsettling feel. The atmospheric setting is, in fact, my favorite part of this novel. The characters at its center are sympathetic and likable. Edie's extreme grief/self-pity does get annoying, but she experiences growth throughout the book, which makes her more palatable. As far as the secrets the villa is hiding, I found them pretty predictable. Only the location of the painting surprised me. Still, there was enough tension and conflict in the story to keep me reading. I would have liked more twists and turns to make the tale less predictable. In the end, then, I didn't absolutely love this book, but I did like it. I will read more by Douglas.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. Since I can't, I rounded up.

mugglemom's review against another edition

1.0

If you like books that constantly repeat about the loss of a child, absolutely non stop every other page, then you're a psycho and will love this book.

Am I the only person who wishes the main character is an unsufferable $*n+ and dies a horrible outcome? Who would put up with her!?

5 stars to the narrator, she earned her paycheck but even she couldn't make this book worth finishing.

laurac17's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5