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hannanni41's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
The biggest twist is barely even forecasted, so it makes very little sense. The POV character sucks and I think the author seriously misunderstood how to write a good unreliable narrator. However, it was still a pretty decent read that I didn't have to think too hard about. Just go with the flow on this one and read if you're in the mood for an entertaining popcorn thriller
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Confinement
boomwormbrittany's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
The House Across the Lake follows actress Casey Fletcher whose life hasn't been the best. She recently lost her husband and jeopardized her career after getting caught in bad tabloid headlines. She's retreated to her families lake house to escape all the publicity. But when she saves the life of a supermodel and starts to spy on the model and her husband's house across the lake, things start to turn upside down.
I really liked this book. I had heard that if you liked Home Before Dark that this will be a Riley Sager book you will really enjoy and I did. This book had my head and mind spinning in so many different directions.
First off, there is an element in this book that Riliey Sager leaned into that I loved. I won't say what it is as I don't want to spoil anyone but it was one that I had hoped he would lean into in another book and he did in this. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing till the end. Every time I thought I had the answers, there was a new twist thrown in and they all worked so perfectly. There was a lot going on in this book but I never felt overwhelmed by it.
I thought every character was so distinct and interesting. I wanted to know all their life stories and they way they played into this tangled web that was woven. Casey's story really intrigued me and I was hooked from the beginning to the end.
The only reason this book got a four stars from me is that I'm not a huge fan of the unreliable narrator via drinking trope. It's just one that I feel has been used a ton and there are better ways to make an unreliable narrator. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story what so ever but it's just a trope that I don't enjoy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It made me even more excited to read more Riley Sager this year and continue reading new thrillers.
I really liked this book. I had heard that if you liked Home Before Dark that this will be a Riley Sager book you will really enjoy and I did. This book had my head and mind spinning in so many different directions.
First off, there is an element in this book that Riliey Sager leaned into that I loved. I won't say what it is as I don't want to spoil anyone but it was one that I had hoped he would lean into in another book and he did in this. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing till the end. Every time I thought I had the answers, there was a new twist thrown in and they all worked so perfectly. There was a lot going on in this book but I never felt overwhelmed by it.
I thought every character was so distinct and interesting. I wanted to know all their life stories and they way they played into this tangled web that was woven. Casey's story really intrigued me and I was hooked from the beginning to the end.
The only reason this book got a four stars from me is that I'm not a huge fan of the unreliable narrator via drinking trope. It's just one that I feel has been used a ton and there are better ways to make an unreliable narrator. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story what so ever but it's just a trope that I don't enjoy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It made me even more excited to read more Riley Sager this year and continue reading new thrillers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Gaslighting
jaylee_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Confinement, Murder, Grief, Alcohol, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content
sarahmaemae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Stalking, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
burdasnest's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were a few books, like Lock Every Door and Home Before Dark, that had me so impressed as Sager's ability to write young women. But this is definitely not one of them, and not just because the protagonist is in her thirties (not middle-aged, per many descriptions). I also prefer mysteries that have is-it-isn't-it supernatural elements to have more in-depth lore, like several of Sager's other books. If you enjoyed this book, however, I think you would really enjoy The Drowning Kind by McMahon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Suicide
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rating★★★☆☆
“At night, you can’t see your reflection on the water. Centuries ago, before people knew any better, it was a common belief that reflective surfaces could trap the souls of the dead.”
The settings in Sager's novels are such a powerful element. They draw you in, and the story would not be the same if they happened in other places. In this case, it is Green Lake. It's impossible not to imagine being at the lake spying on the neighbors with Casey. Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears.
“The lake is darker than a coffin with the lid shut,” she’d say. “And as deep as the ocean. If you sink under, you’ll never come back up again. You’ll be trapped forever.”
Casey is the typical unreliable narrator who drinks heavily and ends up obsessed with the couple who live in the house across the lake. I dislike these types of stories because they bore me, and I find them tedious. I also don't like it when the main character becomes obsessed with someone younger and prettier than her.
“The worst part about drinking too much—other than, you know, drinking too much”
The first part of the book is slow and dull. Things begin to take off slowly in the second half and become interesting. I didn't see the first plot twist coming. It was a twist that woke me up from the lethargy that the rest of the story had caused me. The plot twist was over the top, but I like it.
(view spoiler)
“there’s no such thing as happily ever after. There’s only happy for a short period of time before everything falls apart.”
This book has elements that sound ridiculous and excessive but somehow work.
Books I have read by this author
Final Girls ★★★☆☆
The Last Time I Lied ★★★★ ½
Home Before Dark ★★★★☆
Survive the Night ★☆☆☆☆
If you like this book, try this book
The Girl on the Train
Storygraph | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
“At night, you can’t see your reflection on the water. Centuries ago, before people knew any better, it was a common belief that reflective surfaces could trap the souls of the dead.”
The settings in Sager's novels are such a powerful element. They draw you in, and the story would not be the same if they happened in other places. In this case, it is Green Lake. It's impossible not to imagine being at the lake spying on the neighbors with Casey. Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears.
“The lake is darker than a coffin with the lid shut,” she’d say. “And as deep as the ocean. If you sink under, you’ll never come back up again. You’ll be trapped forever.”
Casey is the typical unreliable narrator who drinks heavily and ends up obsessed with the couple who live in the house across the lake. I dislike these types of stories because they bore me, and I find them tedious. I also don't like it when the main character becomes obsessed with someone younger and prettier than her.
“The worst part about drinking too much—other than, you know, drinking too much”
The first part of the book is slow and dull. Things begin to take off slowly in the second half and become interesting. I didn't see the first plot twist coming. It was a twist that woke me up from the lethargy that the rest of the story had caused me. The plot twist was over the top, but I like it.
(view spoiler)
“there’s no such thing as happily ever after. There’s only happy for a short period of time before everything falls apart.”
This book has elements that sound ridiculous and excessive but somehow work.
Books I have read by this author
Final Girls ★★★☆☆
The Last Time I Lied ★★★★ ½
Home Before Dark ★★★★☆
Survive the Night ★☆☆☆☆
If you like this book, try this book
The Girl on the Train
Storygraph | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
mallory10100's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
this was so insanely twisty i had absolutely no idea where it was going
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Drug use, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Cursing
Minor: Blood, Infidelity, and Vomit
vicwaltz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, and Murder
jennramsdell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was into this murder-mystery thriller until the last 1/4 of the book, when there was a supernatural plot twist that was just lame and unnecessary. The constant mention of the main character’s alcohol consumption was also so unnecessary and again, just felt very unnecessary and tired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, and Violence
sydneyj's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Murder
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gore, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, and Confinement