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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this soft spoken and engaging story about loss and grief. It isn’t what you would normally think of as horror, there is no gore or slasher type monsters jumping out at you. What you do get is a very atmospheric and ghost filled house and an older heroine who is just trying to restore it.
The story is told through three perspectives. Ronnie is an older woman who has just bought a very old mansion that needs a lot of work for her to live in it. I really liked Ronnie, she felt very realistic and was totally relatable. When ghostly things start to happen, she isn’t a silly heroine who goes screaming into the night, but meets these challenges head on, just like she is dealing with the house.
The other two perspectives are from the ghosts. Bartholomew is the investigator that owned the house for a very short time, but died there. He is a weak ghost, but he relates some of the history of the house. He also feels protective of Ronnie and tries to help her. Venita is the ghost of the woman who originally owned the house. We get her story through a diary that Ronnie finds. I felt sorry for Venita, but she was a bit crazy. She also helps Ronnie out when she needs it most.
I don’t want to say too much about the story, because the less you know the better off you are going into it. The writing is superb though and the slow build of tension is perfect. The author does a great job bringing that psychological edge to the haunted house trope and then adds in a real world threat that somehow brings everything all together. The pacing got a little slow in the middle, but it was otherwise perfect.
Another great story from this author, that if you are a fan of, you will really like. If you don’t like horror, then this is a book that you might want to give a chance. It is very horror light but is very atmospheric and yet contains enough tension to make you nervous.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Decent ghost story, I liked the relationships between the characters, and the different view points and bouncing between the diary worked well.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary early release copy of It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest.
It was her house first is a slow paced read, a good majority of the book at least until you get to the half way point is descriptive bits about the houses condition and how Ronnie is going about repairing things. Once the half way point is met the story starts to introduce the haunting aspects of the house, the story picked up for me once these elements were introduced. I liked how the story went about introducing the spirits, it was slow but the way it was written made me want to keep turning the pages to figure out what was going on. The way the book went about revealing things and just the spirits aspects in general were written in a really unique way.
I enjoyed Venita’s diary entries the most, I always love when a book includes a mixed media kind of element! Venita has to be my favorite character from It Was Her House First, I just loved the way Venita carried herself and her glamour. I liked what she had brought/added to the story and I’m happy with how things had tied up with her.
After finishing the book i’m aiming at a high 3 star rating, while I did enjoy many aspects of the book I felt that things could have happened just a bit more sooner. I didn’t completely mind the descriptive house bits but they had gotten a bit repetitive after about the 30 percent mark. The book is told in first person which I don’t mind but the main character does do a talking directly to the reader bit a few times which just isn’t an aspect that I liked.
It was her house first is a slow paced read, a good majority of the book at least until you get to the half way point is descriptive bits about the houses condition and how Ronnie is going about repairing things. Once the half way point is met the story starts to introduce the haunting aspects of the house, the story picked up for me once these elements were introduced. I liked how the story went about introducing the spirits, it was slow but the way it was written made me want to keep turning the pages to figure out what was going on. The way the book went about revealing things and just the spirits aspects in general were written in a really unique way.
I enjoyed Venita’s diary entries the most, I always love when a book includes a mixed media kind of element! Venita has to be my favorite character from It Was Her House First, I just loved the way Venita carried herself and her glamour. I liked what she had brought/added to the story and I’m happy with how things had tied up with her.
After finishing the book i’m aiming at a high 3 star rating, while I did enjoy many aspects of the book I felt that things could have happened just a bit more sooner. I didn’t completely mind the descriptive house bits but they had gotten a bit repetitive after about the 30 percent mark. The book is told in first person which I don’t mind but the main character does do a talking directly to the reader bit a few times which just isn’t an aspect that I liked.
This was an interesting haunted house take! We see the story of the modern-day haunting and the past events that lead to said haunting unfold through 3 POVs. I enjoyed this aspect, and particularly enjoyed exploring Bart’s experience as a ghost!
I also appreciated hearing about Ronnie’s struggles with anxiety and the rollercoaster that can be. It made her more relatable, and helped us see how her brain works.
The pacing felt a bit slow through the first half. I could have done with less of the repetitive descriptions of how rundown the place currently is. I also could have personally done with more creepiness!
The ending was worth it though! I loved seeing the interactions between Ronnie and the ghosts, and I felt like the story wrapped up nicely! Overall, a worthy haunted house read, perfect for Summerween!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!
I also appreciated hearing about Ronnie’s struggles with anxiety and the rollercoaster that can be. It made her more relatable, and helped us see how her brain works.
The pacing felt a bit slow through the first half. I could have done with less of the repetitive descriptions of how rundown the place currently is. I also could have personally done with more creepiness!
The ending was worth it though! I loved seeing the interactions between Ronnie and the ghosts, and I felt like the story wrapped up nicely! Overall, a worthy haunted house read, perfect for Summerween!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!
medium-paced
Veronica "Ronnie" Mitchell bought a dilapidated house, sight unseen, at an auction. Still deep in grief after her brother died, she hopes to fix it up to have finally have a nice place to live. Like most houses that have been left to the elements, Ronnie is not the only inhabitant. Unlike most houses left to the elements, we're not just talking about rats and other critters. Many people have died in this house and not ALL of them have left. The original lady of the house and silent film darling, Venita Rost, and nationally renowned PI Bartholomew Sloan are among Ronnie's newest, ethereal housemates.
The story is told through the POVs of Ronnie, Sloan, and Venita, bouncing between Sloan's present day watch of the house and a century ago through Venita's diary. Venita has her own grief after the loss of her daughter and her rage and her own brand of justice towards Sloan, who she blames for her daughter's death. Is Sloan to blame? Sort of. Was it a series of unfortunate "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances? Yes. Venita's grief is gut-wrenching and understandable and I was waiting ready for her to be some mindless angry spirit. But she was poise and grace when Ronnie finally meets her.
This is a haunted house tale a la Crimson Peak, not The Conjuring. Grief and good old emotional exhaustion are the stars of the hour. The state of the house is such a perfect metaphor for the Ronnie we are introduced to at the beginning of the story. She is fixing herself up as much as she is the house by the end.
NOW, that is not to say that this wasn't still the atmospheric and creepy haunted house story you are looking for. No no! It was spooky and unnerving, a delicious slow burn that fakes you out a few times, drawing out the suspense. Ronnie goes down to the creepy basement, "Oh yeah here's the first spooky bit!!" WRONG. And the she's up in the gross attic, "Oh, now it's gotta start here, right?" NOPE! And then it happens, the first sighting. So small and quick. A figure in the cloud of dust that hangs in the air. A mirror falling to the floor for seemingly no reason. Ghosts in Ronnie's dreams!!
This was a slow burn, but it was executed so well! Cherie Priest takes her time building the tension and atmosphere of the house. And then she turns up the gas for a thrilling finale.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the chance to read this eARC!
The story is told through the POVs of Ronnie, Sloan, and Venita, bouncing between Sloan's present day watch of the house and a century ago through Venita's diary. Venita has her own grief after the loss of her daughter and her rage and her own brand of justice towards Sloan, who she blames for her daughter's death. Is Sloan to blame? Sort of. Was it a series of unfortunate "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances? Yes. Venita's grief is gut-wrenching and understandable and I was waiting ready for her to be some mindless angry spirit. But she was poise and grace when Ronnie finally meets her.
This is a haunted house tale a la Crimson Peak, not The Conjuring. Grief and good old emotional exhaustion are the stars of the hour. The state of the house is such a perfect metaphor for the Ronnie we are introduced to at the beginning of the story. She is fixing herself up as much as she is the house by the end.
NOW, that is not to say that this wasn't still the atmospheric and creepy haunted house story you are looking for. No no! It was spooky and unnerving, a delicious slow burn that fakes you out a few times, drawing out the suspense. Ronnie goes down to the creepy basement, "Oh yeah here's the first spooky bit!!" WRONG. And the she's up in the gross attic, "Oh, now it's gotta start here, right?" NOPE! And then it happens, the first sighting. So small and quick. A figure in the cloud of dust that hangs in the air. A mirror falling to the floor for seemingly no reason. Ghosts in Ronnie's dreams!!
This was a slow burn, but it was executed so well! Cherie Priest takes her time building the tension and atmosphere of the house. And then she turns up the gas for a thrilling finale.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the chance to read this eARC!
slow-paced
This one was a slow burn, and not in the good way. More than halfway through, and barely anything had happened. It was marketed as horror (even has a quote calling it “eerie”), but honestly? I’m not sure what book they were reading, because this wasn’t spooky, eerie, or creepy at all. The premise felt like a haunted home renovation story… just very mild on the haunting. That said, I did enjoy the characters—especially Ronnie and Venita. They were strong and well-written, and quite entertaining. Things finally picked up in the last 40 pages or so, that was pretty cool. But the ending was just okay for me. Overall, I was interested, but also bored for most of it.
I love a haunted house story.
Ronnie uses money she got when her brother passed away to buy a run down house to refurbish. Unfortunately for her the house isn’t fully empty and has quite a bit of lore surrounding the property.
I feel like this could have been good but I just didn’t jive with it. It felt like it dragged and some of the pov transitions were a little jarring/maybe felt a little unnecessary.
Thanks to netgalley and poisoned pen press for an eARC
Ronnie uses money she got when her brother passed away to buy a run down house to refurbish. Unfortunately for her the house isn’t fully empty and has quite a bit of lore surrounding the property.
I feel like this could have been good but I just didn’t jive with it. It felt like it dragged and some of the pov transitions were a little jarring/maybe felt a little unnecessary.
Thanks to netgalley and poisoned pen press for an eARC
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Cherie Priest delivers a beautifully eerie tale in It Was Her House First, weaving together atmosphere, memory, and grief into something that feels both ghostly and grounded. Set in a weathered cliffside mansion that once belonged to silent film icon Venita Rost, the novel breathes life into crumbling walls and overgrown grounds, creating a space that’s more than just haunted; it’s grieving.
At the heart of the story is Ronnie Mitchell, still raw from the loss of her brother. She arrives at the estate hoping to bring it back to life, and maybe find some sense of healing along the way. But this isn’t your average haunted house renovation. The past here doesn’t stay silent. As Ronnie works on the house, she’s pulled into strange dreams and unexplainable experiences tied to Venita and Bartholomew Sloan, a long-dead private investigator whose presence lingers like smoke in the corners.
Despite its spectral elements, this novel leans more toward the reflective than the terrifying. The horror here is soft-spoken: a quiet melancholy that seeps in rather than jumps out. Ronnie herself is a deeply relatable protagonist—not a scream queen or a fearless heroine, but someone tired, grieving, and just trying to carry on. That emotional exhaustion is mirrored in the house around her, making the story feel all the more intimate.
The narrative is told through three perspectives: Ronnie’s present-day experience, Sloan’s ghostly observations, and entries from Venita’s old journal. These layers add depth and emotional weight, with Venita’s sections standing out in particular. Her sorrow over losing her daughter is gut-wrenching, and her voice is so human in its unraveling that it’s hard not to feel for her.
While the novel delivers strong atmosphere and character work, I did come away with the sense that some plot threads were left hanging. A few elements hinted at bigger reveals that never quite materialized, leaving me with questions. Still, the journey itself felt worthwhile, and the emotional beats rang true throughout.
In the end, It Was Her House First isn’t just about ghosts; it’s about how loss clings to people and places, how it reshapes what we remember and redefines where we feel safe. If you’re drawn to subtle hauntings and stories steeped in sorrow, this quiet, aching novel is well worth picking up.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Cherie Priest, and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of the story is Ronnie Mitchell, still raw from the loss of her brother. She arrives at the estate hoping to bring it back to life, and maybe find some sense of healing along the way. But this isn’t your average haunted house renovation. The past here doesn’t stay silent. As Ronnie works on the house, she’s pulled into strange dreams and unexplainable experiences tied to Venita and Bartholomew Sloan, a long-dead private investigator whose presence lingers like smoke in the corners.
Despite its spectral elements, this novel leans more toward the reflective than the terrifying. The horror here is soft-spoken: a quiet melancholy that seeps in rather than jumps out. Ronnie herself is a deeply relatable protagonist—not a scream queen or a fearless heroine, but someone tired, grieving, and just trying to carry on. That emotional exhaustion is mirrored in the house around her, making the story feel all the more intimate.
The narrative is told through three perspectives: Ronnie’s present-day experience, Sloan’s ghostly observations, and entries from Venita’s old journal. These layers add depth and emotional weight, with Venita’s sections standing out in particular. Her sorrow over losing her daughter is gut-wrenching, and her voice is so human in its unraveling that it’s hard not to feel for her.
While the novel delivers strong atmosphere and character work, I did come away with the sense that some plot threads were left hanging. A few elements hinted at bigger reveals that never quite materialized, leaving me with questions. Still, the journey itself felt worthwhile, and the emotional beats rang true throughout.
In the end, It Was Her House First isn’t just about ghosts; it’s about how loss clings to people and places, how it reshapes what we remember and redefines where we feel safe. If you’re drawn to subtle hauntings and stories steeped in sorrow, this quiet, aching novel is well worth picking up.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Cherie Priest, and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cherie Priest presents a ghost story that seems familiar yet still brings something new to the table. Ronnie, guilt-ridden over the death of her brother, purchases a run-down mansion and starts putting in the work, only to find she is not alone. I thought this was a fun haunted house ride, especially if I didn't think too hard about the mechanisms of how the hauntings worked. I wanted to learn more about Sloan's origins, but that never concluded quite satisfactorily. I did really root for Ronnie and even enjoyed the sections focused on her work with the plumbers and electricians aiding her renovations.
emotional
mysterious
tense
I really enjoyed It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest, a modern haunted house story with a gothic-cozy feel.
Our heroine Ronnie Mitchell buys a house to renovate that belonged to silent film star Venita Rost.
A man shows up, claiming to be the great-nephew of a friend of Venita’s who died in the house…he’s friendly, but gives Ronnie the creeps.
This is a fun twist on a haunted house mystery because we have the perspective of the ghosts haunting the house.
I liked the cozy feel, and Ronnie is a wonderful character. Her anxiety is probably the closest I’ve seen to my own weird thought processes in a novel…wild.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for my review copy of this book. This releases July 22nd.
Our heroine Ronnie Mitchell buys a house to renovate that belonged to silent film star Venita Rost.
A man shows up, claiming to be the great-nephew of a friend of Venita’s who died in the house…he’s friendly, but gives Ronnie the creeps.
This is a fun twist on a haunted house mystery because we have the perspective of the ghosts haunting the house.
I liked the cozy feel, and Ronnie is a wonderful character. Her anxiety is probably the closest I’ve seen to my own weird thought processes in a novel…wild.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for my review copy of this book. This releases July 22nd.