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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed House of Beth. I went into it expecting more Rebecca vibes but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got instead. There are some eerie moments and gorey descriptions, but I wasn't scared or disturbed at any point. About 70% of the way through, the plot kicks up a notch and it's a little unexpected— it felt like we skipped a chapter or 2, but ultimately I was glad for the new elements that it brought. The writing is intensely readable & the stories of these two women unfold in an interesting way. Even though there isn't a ton of action, I almost wish House of Beth was 100 pages longer, but maybe it's more impactful this way.
Read cw. Thanks so much to Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for this e-arc of House of Beth!
Read cw. Thanks so much to Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for this e-arc of House of Beth!
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a wild ride. I don’t want to say much about the plot as I think this is a book best experienced blind.
I loved our very flawed protagonist Cassie. She brought a realness to the story that was so needed during the more ethereal parts of the book. The novel felt a bit like an enjoyable fever dream. The writing was well done and I particularly loved the OCD representation. Highly recommend to readers who like a bit of weirdness to their books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this physical ARC! I was intrigued by the cover, and I can’t resist new takes on the haunted house story.
This was pitched in the galley email as "A ghost story unlike any other." I honestly can’t sum it up any better than that. This was the most unique take on the haunted house story I’ve ever read. For the first time ever, I felt as if I read something true, real, possible, and yet it was paranormal. Of course there are notes of horror and thriller, but this really exists as its own thing. It’s not trying to chill or scare, it’s not blood pounding or jump scaring. Yet there is a sort of creeping eeriness to it, but that for me, came from the mundanity of her everyday tasks.
Cassie retreats from a shocking breakup and incident at work to her hometown. She’s crashing at her father’s old place while figuring it out when she runs into her ex best friend. Things reignite, things that had previously led to their falling out, however this time, there’s no significant other in the way. This struck me as odd, because frankly, his wife had died and I thought it was quite recent. The first 50-70 pages shocked me in that way, all the things taking place seemed to come at you far too fast, too easily. But I think their familiarity, as well as her dire straits, are what led to it reading as almost effortless. And that’s why I carried on…well that, and the fact that I was waiting for the ghostly shoe to drop.
The chapters from Beth’s somewhat-ethereal perspective gripped me the further I got into this read and I felt myself genuinely craving to know more. Cassie was interesting and dealing with a lot, but what had happened with Beth? I had to know. And honestly, who was involved—because at that point in the story, I wasn’t trusting anybody. What surprised me the most though, was how unassuming and almost laidback Beth was. It was a side to ghosts and death that I don’t feel is often portrayed. In a way it reminded me of The Ghosts of Thorwald Place by Helen Power as Beth becomes more cognizant.
I really ended up enjoying this one as it made the mundane daily tasks of a stepparent seem much more alarming than your home or person being possessed by a ghost. That, and the calming nature of her presence against that of Cassie’s harm OCD, flooding the reader with random depictions of extreme blood and bodily harm.
Mildly spoilery beneath…
I don’t know if this was an actual plot point of the author’s, but it continues to hold worth that you NEVER trust your partner’s “don’t worry about them” person. It just never seems to end well.
Also a modern book finally mentioned pop punk? Might be the first time I’ve seen it, and I respect it.
This was pitched in the galley email as "A ghost story unlike any other." I honestly can’t sum it up any better than that. This was the most unique take on the haunted house story I’ve ever read. For the first time ever, I felt as if I read something true, real, possible, and yet it was paranormal. Of course there are notes of horror and thriller, but this really exists as its own thing. It’s not trying to chill or scare, it’s not blood pounding or jump scaring. Yet there is a sort of creeping eeriness to it, but that for me, came from the mundanity of her everyday tasks.
Cassie retreats from a shocking breakup and incident at work to her hometown. She’s crashing at her father’s old place while figuring it out when she runs into her ex best friend. Things reignite, things that had previously led to their falling out, however this time, there’s no significant other in the way. This struck me as odd, because frankly, his wife had died and I thought it was quite recent. The first 50-70 pages shocked me in that way, all the things taking place seemed to come at you far too fast, too easily. But I think their familiarity, as well as her dire straits, are what led to it reading as almost effortless. And that’s why I carried on…well that, and the fact that I was waiting for the ghostly shoe to drop.
The chapters from Beth’s somewhat-ethereal perspective gripped me the further I got into this read and I felt myself genuinely craving to know more. Cassie was interesting and dealing with a lot, but what had happened with Beth? I had to know. And honestly, who was involved—because at that point in the story, I wasn’t trusting anybody. What surprised me the most though, was how unassuming and almost laidback Beth was. It was a side to ghosts and death that I don’t feel is often portrayed. In a way it reminded me of The Ghosts of Thorwald Place by Helen Power as Beth becomes more cognizant.
I really ended up enjoying this one as it made the mundane daily tasks of a stepparent seem much more alarming than your home or person being possessed by a ghost. That, and the calming nature of her presence against that of Cassie’s harm OCD, flooding the reader with random depictions of extreme blood and bodily harm.
Mildly spoilery beneath…
I don’t know if this was an actual plot point of the author’s, but it continues to hold worth that you NEVER trust your partner’s “don’t worry about them” person. It just never seems to end well.
Also a modern book finally mentioned pop punk? Might be the first time I’ve seen it, and I respect it.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
House of Beth is the queer ghost story I didn’t know I needed. We follow Cassie fresh off the heels of her most intimate break up. She abandons her life after an odd occurrence at her job as a strained assistant at a literary agency and moves back to her hometown in New Jersey. Rather quickly Cassie remembers she did not leave home on good terms, leaving all her relationships in the past. Soon she reconnects with her high school best friend Eli and the two catch up. Cassie learns that Eli is a widowed father of two grappling with life with children without his wife. Eventually the two rekindle their bond and Cassie is trading her fast paced city life to be a glorified housewife.
But life isn’t what Cassie thought it would be when she fled. She yearns for her ex girlfriend while combating harm OCD constantly being disturbed by graphic and gore filled images. Secluded in the woods after moving into Eli’s home Cassie tries to find peace, but sees Eli’s late wife Beth’s ghost everywhere. Including in her mind. There is no escaping Beth’s memory and soon Cassie is uncovering the truth of her untimely passing.
House of Beth is a gorgeous metaphor of discovering self love at any cost. It’s about coming to terms with who you are, what you believe and how you got there. Looking face to face at the trauma your body may house and choosing to love it all. It’s a story about queer love, lust and yearning without any shame attached. Cullen’s writing is dark, lyrical and ethereal. It’s literary fiction with slashes of gothic horror undertones. I would file this juicy tale in the good for her literary universe, I just know Cassie and Beth will live in my mind rent free for a long time.
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy! House of Beth is our July 15 2025.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC, and Simon & Schuster for the physical early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Not your average ghost story, that's for certain. Cassie has run from her life in NYC, back to her small home town in Jersey, and fallen back in love with her childhood best friend. She is feeling like slipping into the role Beth, his late wife, once occupied will never work. Then, she starts to recieve help she never expected. The story feels very gothic, in the Rebecca or Jane Eyre way - the new wife obsessed with the late, perhaps a madwoman in the attic. This woman just happens to be trapped in her brain. Cassie's restlessness is visceral throughout the entirety of the story - Cullen crafted her character beautifully. From the rawness of her OCD to the ache she feels when slipping into this life, feeling like it's a too tight pair of shoes.
I would say this is less horror and more literary fiction with gothic, horror undertones, but that's not me complaining. I love a ghost story in any format I can get it. And what makes it all the better? It's gay.
Not your average ghost story, that's for certain. Cassie has run from her life in NYC, back to her small home town in Jersey, and fallen back in love with her childhood best friend. She is feeling like slipping into the role Beth, his late wife, once occupied will never work. Then, she starts to recieve help she never expected. The story feels very gothic, in the Rebecca or Jane Eyre way - the new wife obsessed with the late, perhaps a madwoman in the attic. This woman just happens to be trapped in her brain. Cassie's restlessness is visceral throughout the entirety of the story - Cullen crafted her character beautifully. From the rawness of her OCD to the ache she feels when slipping into this life, feeling like it's a too tight pair of shoes.
I would say this is less horror and more literary fiction with gothic, horror undertones, but that's not me complaining. I love a ghost story in any format I can get it. And what makes it all the better? It's gay.