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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This is a book full of weirdo, unlikeable characters, which is usually something I love — but here, they never felt fully fleshed out. House of Beth teeters on the bizarre and is just strange enough to hold your attention, but it never fully commits. It needed to lean further into the unhinged.
That said, not enough really happens for a book this short. The pacing felt off, with a middle that dragged and an ending that was both rushed and completely out of left field. It didn’t feel cohesive with the rest of the story at all. On top of that, there just weren’t enough horror elements throughout the book.
All in all, this one left me feeling unsatisfied — a classic case of a premise that exceeds its execution.
That said, not enough really happens for a book this short. The pacing felt off, with a middle that dragged and an ending that was both rushed and completely out of left field. It didn’t feel cohesive with the rest of the story at all. On top of that, there just weren’t enough horror elements throughout the book.
All in all, this one left me feeling unsatisfied — a classic case of a premise that exceeds its execution.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Torture, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Dysphoria
Minor: Animal death, Suicide, Stalking
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Marketed as a horror novel, which it is not. More character study fiction.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the premise, the writing, and the OCD representation. The story felt rushed after the halfway point, however, and the ghost’s POV and fate didn’t quite fit. I’m not sure if the ending feels earned, either.
Calling this a horror feels like a bit of a stretch! Technically there is a haunting, I suppose, but just felt like literary fiction to me!
This was an interesting read and I enjoyed the writing, but I felt like the OCD plot line was totally forgotten about by the second half, and the ending left me completely unsatisfied. It was just so… random. Also the “twist” was very predictable. It gets a meh from me.
This was an interesting read and I enjoyed the writing, but I felt like the OCD plot line was totally forgotten about by the second half, and the ending left me completely unsatisfied. It was just so… random. Also the “twist” was very predictable. It gets a meh from me.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes