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badmom's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The writing is taut yet descriptive enough to bring us fully into a contemporary young couple’s tense world. Chapters alternate points of view so we slowly come to understand what their marriage is like and how they’ve arrived at the decision to buy an unsettling old house far from their friends & former city life.
Tension & dread builds quickly + powerfully; creepy circumstances unfold and start to have historical connections but then are largely left at symbolic meaning for the couple.
I was left considering how I would react in their situation and pondering my own relationship but would have preferred a more concrete conclusion. But, discomfort in the unknown might be the point.
Tension & dread builds quickly + powerfully; creepy circumstances unfold and start to have historical connections but then are largely left at symbolic meaning for the couple.
I was left considering how I would react in their situation and pondering my own relationship but would have preferred a more concrete conclusion. But, discomfort in the unknown might be the point.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Emotional abuse
savvylit's review
dark
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
4.5
The Grip of It is literary horror at its finest. Through the perspectives of both Julie and James, Jemc builds a creeping dread that feels entirely too realistic. Like Julie & James, I found myself second-guessing the creepy occurrences. Maybe there really was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the hidden rooms in the house or the drawings on the walls? Their attempts to explain away the supernatural while simultaneously losing their minds were so terrifying. I couldn't put this book down because I became obsessed with discovering the next scary detail.
Highly recommend to fellow fans of literary horror and haunted house tropes!
Highly recommend to fellow fans of literary horror and haunted house tropes!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol and Addiction
angryoppossum's review
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? No
5.0
only issue with the book i had was chapters are usually back and forth POV from the husband and wife (ex: chapter 1 - wife, chapter 2 - husband) but some chapters differed from this format and left me confused at one point unsure if intentional by the author, it would make sense, i’m just not 100% certain. a tad bit disappointed that there really is no answer of what was going on, but do love that the main characters just sold off the house for other people to deal with lmao
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Child death, and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol and Grief
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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
I think this book had a lot of potential and I liked how it started but it quickly went from being spooky and mysterious (with a similar vibe to house of leaves) to feeling tedious. This book is a prime example of an author telling rather than showing. It was written in a way that felt detached rather than immersive. I think this style would have worked better if it was written in verse or as a long poem. I didn't hate the book. I found the writing to be very pretty at times. I just feel like a lot of incredible ideas were introduced and then not fully explored. It all felt anticlimactic.
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Alcohol, and Murder
The characters move into the house to start over after a gambling addiction. There's one or two sex scenes. Child death and murder are talked about but not seen in detail. Mental illness is a theme throughout the book as the characters wonder if they're haunted or going crazy. Characters drink alcohol socially throughout the book.
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