Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - A House with Good Bones

Samantha receives a call from her brother asking her to visit their mom in North Carolina, because he is worried about her. Sam learns her brother is right and their mom is acting weird. She seems to be worried about saying anything bad her grandmother and has made the house exactly how Sam’s grandmother had it, 5os and racist décor. Also, unsettling things are happening like pictures falling, lady bugs, and weird images like ghostly hands appearing in pictures, but Sam is a rational explanation kind of person.

This is my second T King Fisher I have read (I listened to the book on audio book via Libby app.) and I enjoyed it. The setting got my attention first and the premise intrigued me. A story about generational trauma also got me interested, especially with a southern family. Most people would probably argue for rational explanations in a situation like this, like our man character does, but when I know there will be a supernatural angle, I get frustrated when the main character argues that every time something weird happens. I liked that we had a main character that was considered fat, but in the present of the story, she accepts that and isn’t insecure about her weight. It does come up when we learn that her grandmother would call her piggy and point out that’s why she was alone. The grandmother is racist and bully, who thinks she doesn’t owe anyone and that just because she’s the mother that automatically means she’s right all the time. She’s also a perfectionist. We see the racist mentality of her generation through her and one of the other’s neighbors. I liked Phil and Gale’s characters. Phil is easy going and will be supportive, not dismissing things as crazy right away. He goes with the flow and tries to help in whatever way he can. This probably isn’t a fair of me to say, but the narrator’s voice for Phil made me think he was an old man, but there’s a funny moment when Sam notices how “ripped” he is, and I realized he’s supposed to be her age. A couple of other funny moments were when she first meets Phil and threatens him, because she thinks he's a burglar. I also thought the scene when she has to talk to his father/grandfather so she can talk to Phil. Gale is the grandmother Sam should have had. She’s wise, nurturing, and supportive of Sam and her mother. I also stories that include a character that’s a Wiccan. A lot of us can relate to generational differences causing us to have divides between children, parents, and grandparents. It wouldn’t call this scary just suspenseful, creepy, and unsettling. There are a creepy elements such as images of a hand in a photograph, voices whispering in Sam’s ear, and vultures. There also bugs particularly lady bugs. I like the moments when Sam is learning her family history about her grandfather. I had a good time with listening to this story and I was good with the narrator, despite my petty quibble with her male voice.

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jackie_marion's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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sandreline's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

"I could not pity the adult she had become, but I could pity the girl she had been."

✨generational trauma✨

What a fun little popcorn horror! You think you know what's going on, but there are lots of twists and turns to keep it interesting right up until the end. Sam is delightful and funny and the allegories are strong.

The narrator for the audiobook is fantastic.

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ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

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apollo0325's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

An incredible exploration of family, generational trauma, vultures and bugs, and how we perceive our particularly cruel and horrible relatives with a dash of supernatural elements. T. Kingfisher’s books are always infused with humor and heart despite the horrific circumstances many of our characters find themselves in. Sam was an excellent protagonist, and I felt for her even more going into my thirties, relationship-less and fat than if I had been 23. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but I think Sam was easy for me to connect with because I too love telling people silly fun facts about the stuff I love (for Sam, it’s bugs. For me, it’s mythology). I also really enjoyed Sam’s understanding of her grandmother and the relationship Sam had with her mom felt so real and warm; I love them.

I’ve read 3 T. Kingfisher books now and I can tell you with full confidence, she is now an instant buy author for me.

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esterie's review against another edition

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

a story of generational abuse, breaking the cycle, and dismantling the institution even if it hurts and is hard work. the horror in here wasn't effective (to me, but then again i'm VERY picky when it comes to horror), but as a tale tinged in tragedy it worked great. something about the ending and the overall theme really tugged at my heartstrings even though it's thankfully something i've never gone through.

similar to the only other t. kingfisher book i've read (nettle & bone) there's nothing i outright dislike about this book. it was solid. the writing was kinda ~quirky~ being in the mc's head, didn't hate it but i think in a longer book it would have gotten grating. LOVED that she was a bug girl though. and as someone that has lived thru multiple invasive lady beetle swarms in their life, fuck that all the way off!!!!!

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annamary54's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

I really enjoyed this book, i found myself laughing, and at the same time regretting my choice to stay up late and read this. Honestly the suspense throughout is more scary than the actual horror parts of the book. I rolled my eyes at a few millennial-isms, but also realized I was raised on millennial humor, and laughed quite a bit. don’t talk to me until i’ve had my boxed wine. I found the main character Sam very relatable overall, mostly because I too am a fat white woman with a specialized degree, a worldview that polarizes me from my family, and too much self awareness that it almost wraps around to being self un-aware. I am still unsure about how to feel about the ending, I can say for certain I did not see it coming. I liked

the witchy aspect, i just wish it were touched upon earlier and in more depth than “witchy estranged neighbor.” The whole action went from 0 to 100 really quick, which yes in horror that’s how it works, but I kinda wanted more spooky bits than just sleep paralysis and hand in photo. Maybe more underground children content earlier.

I will say I was thoroughly entertained and didn’t want to stop reading.

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lyla_lynn's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A fun, mysterious, spooky read that takes place in one of the most boring places on earth: a cookie cutter house development from the 1990s. I didn't go into this with any expectations of it being a great horror and I think that's the best way to go. There is horror, but there is much more humor as Sam, our main character and archaroentomolgist, tries to figure out why her mom has started to act oddly. Now am I biased as an archaeologist? Obviously, but it was a fun read! Sam's struggle to come to terms with what could be happening is interesting to read and everything wraps up pretty nearly, and probably with a lot of PTSD for the characters, which is the best you can hope for in a horror novel.

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