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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Murder
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide
priscillarobock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Self harm, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Vomit, Blood, and Body horror
rae91rae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Cursing, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Blood
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
After Margaret and her husband move into their dream house, they discover that it is haunted every September. The house becomes too much for Margaret's husband and he decides to leave. Margaret, on the other hand, learns how to deal with the house's eccentricities, like blood pouring down the walls and ghosts that bite when you get too close. But when Margaret's daughter Katherine discovers that her father has gone missing, she shows up at the house to search for him and discovers that her mother is not living a normal, happy life.
'The September House' is a fascinating story that delves into one woman learning how to live in a haunted house and what this says about her life. The house is very much a metaphor for her larger life situation but delving into that further would be a bit of a spoiler. I appreciate when an author uses a speculative element to discuss something nonspeculative and Orlando does that quite well in this novel. Margaret's situation and what she has been going through is slowly revealed throughout the book and there were a few points that could be considered twists as the story veered into unexpected territory. I really got on with the writing style and the humor of the book. The story veers from more satirical at the beginning to more straight horror toward the middle and end. If you are looking for a thought provoking book that delves into one woman's situation using a speculative element, then definitely check out 'The September House.'
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Mental illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Grief, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
rebeshelton's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Margaret, our fearless heroine, is the kind of character you can't help but root for. She's got this dream Victorian house on Hawthorn Street, which, surprise surprise, turns out to be haunted. Think walls dripping blood every September, and ghosts that are more scared than scary. It's this unique blend of serious horror with an almost campy, humorous edge that makes this book stand out. I found myself laughing out loud several times, which is not something you'd expect from a haunted house story! It's very akin to Grady Hendrix's style of writing.
What really struck a chord with me, though, was the underlying theme of domestic violence. It's handled with such care and depth. Margaret's journey from being gaslit and abused to finding her strength and standing her ground in this bizarre, haunted house is nothing short of inspiring. It's a powerful narrative that resonates deeply, especially in those heart-wrenching moments where she's doubted by the police and even starts doubting herself.
I absolutely loved this read and was incredibly connected to all the characters!
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Addiction, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, Alcoholism, and Gore
Moderate: Cannibalism
heartofhorrors's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Murder, Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, Physical abuse, Vomit, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Torture, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Medical trauma, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal death, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Vomit
thegayestghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child death, Blood, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Vomit, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Gaslighting, Gore, and Mental illness
killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
... and for me, this one fell a bit flat.
Despite being full of gore, this read like a PG13 horror movie - perhaps its the narration style, but it was severly lacking in the fear and anxiety I always seek out in a good haunted house novel. That is what caused this to be a 4 star read for me.
I still very much enjoyed it. The story is fun, the characters are perfectly atrocious, and I truly loved both of the plot twists. It was well written, and the ending was a trip. I would LOVE to see a movie made out of this honestly, it would translate beautifully, and will definitely pick up more books by this author.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Alcoholism, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Alcohol, Child death, Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, Cursing, Vomit, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, and Torture