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greyreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
catharsis's review
4.0
It Will Just Be Us is a beautifully haunting, atmospheric quiet horror story.
This is such a personal story, for the characters involved and the history of Wakefield Manor and the surrounding Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. It takes a typical haunted house story and makes it personal. It's so warm, mystical, and it lulls you into a feeling of safety and retrospection - on the horrors of the past and the desire to overcome them, and respect them.
There are a few moments of true horror which creepily followed me after reading, however they are not particularly overwhelming and would be appropriate for someone that is not used to reading horror or thriller books.
A well executed first person narrative forms the majority of the story. I loved the more literary, yet accessible, writing. When we are taken into the history of the house and the swamp the perspective changes, but these sections are tackled well and for me did not disturb the momentum.
This is a gentle, well paced read and should absolutely be read on a cold rainy day.
[This eARC was generously provided to me by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
This is such a personal story, for the characters involved and the history of Wakefield Manor and the surrounding Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. It takes a typical haunted house story and makes it personal. It's so warm, mystical, and it lulls you into a feeling of safety and retrospection - on the horrors of the past and the desire to overcome them, and respect them.
There are a few moments of true horror which creepily followed me after reading, however they are not particularly overwhelming and would be appropriate for someone that is not used to reading horror or thriller books.
A well executed first person narrative forms the majority of the story. I loved the more literary, yet accessible, writing. When we are taken into the history of the house and the swamp the perspective changes, but these sections are tackled well and for me did not disturb the momentum.
This is a gentle, well paced read and should absolutely be read on a cold rainy day.
[This eARC was generously provided to me by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
lesliewatwar's review
This is one of those books that I really want to see the movie made. That's not a bad thing either, I just really want to see the story develop in front of me.
It was a bit hard to follow because the main character sees the memories of the house, and there are alot. It's a house and land with a deeply haunted history.
The only reason I gave it a 3 three was because I had to go back over some passages to find out how we got to where we did in the story. I also felt like the main character was portrayed younger than she was supposed to be.
Other than those things, it was a really creepy haunting story. I would read more by the author.
Thanks NetGalley for the read in exchange for an honest review.
It was a bit hard to follow because the main character sees the memories of the house, and there are alot. It's a house and land with a deeply haunted history.
The only reason I gave it a 3 three was because I had to go back over some passages to find out how we got to where we did in the story. I also felt like the main character was portrayed younger than she was supposed to be.
Other than those things, it was a really creepy haunting story. I would read more by the author.
Thanks NetGalley for the read in exchange for an honest review.
jen286's review
3.0
3.5 stars
When I first started reading this story I really enjoyed it. It was that perfect gothic spooky house, feels old timey thing that I like. And the ghosts were fun, the faceless boy was spooky, I was really enjoying it. Then...things flattened out. Not so much creepy stuff, lots of overly descriptive things that were meh for me, I wanted more of the faceless boy! I wanted more spooky things to happen! I wanted more. And the end left me with a meh feeling so overall just an okay read.
When I first started reading this story I really enjoyed it. It was that perfect gothic spooky house, feels old timey thing that I like. And the ghosts were fun, the faceless boy was spooky, I was really enjoying it. Then...things flattened out. Not so much creepy stuff, lots of overly descriptive things that were meh for me, I wanted more of the faceless boy! I wanted more spooky things to happen! I wanted more. And the end left me with a meh feeling so overall just an okay read.
lecreigh's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
seang81's review
4.0
A Gothic, slow moving horror novel that reminds me of the Haunting of Hill House but with its own twists. I really enjoyed the slow pace, allowing the characters to be fully fleshed out leading to a point where I had to keep reading constantly as I needed to know what happened! Recommended for ghost and horror fans.
questsandcrimes's review
5.0
A decaying mansion on the edge of a swamp. Two sisters who have had a falling out living under the same roof. One of them is pregnant. Mom is a bit of an alcoholic. A house filled with ghosts. One of those ghost a faceless boy who tortured animals and might have a connection to the family. What could go wrong?
I loved this book. When I think I’ve gothic horror novels, this will be the one I think of. The slow burn pacing gives you time to sink into the true horror of the story and the mansion. This story is layered and so well done. The last third of this book will leave you truly terrified.
The setting for this books was so perfect. I would
I loved this book. When I think I’ve gothic horror novels, this will be the one I think of. The slow burn pacing gives you time to sink into the true horror of the story and the mansion. This story is layered and so well done. The last third of this book will leave you truly terrified.
The setting for this books was so perfect. I would
eamwilliams504's review
4.0
Read my review on The Scariest Things!
https://scariesthings.com/2020/05/01/lizs-book-report-it-will-be-just-us/
It Will Be Just Us is the story of Samantha Wakefield, a young woman who returns to her childhood home after being violently mugged. The house is a crumbling mansion on the edge of a Virginia swamp currently occupied by her constantly imbibing mother who shares the space with the ghosts of generations of Wakefields. Sam has always had the gift to see the ghosts who haunt the house and surrounding swampland playing out memories of the past as if no time has elapsed.
When Sam’s sister Elizabeth returns home very pregnant seeking solace after having left her husband, the energy of the house begins to shift, and Sam is haunted by a new figure wandering the halls- one that she believes is a malevolent manifestation of the future and not from the past.
Locked doors, impossible spaces, and a swamp witch all contribute to the dizzying fever pitch of this well written novel. Kaplan elevates the haunted house genre and gives readers a perfectly creepy family drama that had me hooked from the opening pages and that horror fans will really enjoy. This is a book that needs to be read with the lights on!
https://scariesthings.com/2020/05/01/lizs-book-report-it-will-be-just-us/
It Will Be Just Us is the story of Samantha Wakefield, a young woman who returns to her childhood home after being violently mugged. The house is a crumbling mansion on the edge of a Virginia swamp currently occupied by her constantly imbibing mother who shares the space with the ghosts of generations of Wakefields. Sam has always had the gift to see the ghosts who haunt the house and surrounding swampland playing out memories of the past as if no time has elapsed.
When Sam’s sister Elizabeth returns home very pregnant seeking solace after having left her husband, the energy of the house begins to shift, and Sam is haunted by a new figure wandering the halls- one that she believes is a malevolent manifestation of the future and not from the past.
Locked doors, impossible spaces, and a swamp witch all contribute to the dizzying fever pitch of this well written novel. Kaplan elevates the haunted house genre and gives readers a perfectly creepy family drama that had me hooked from the opening pages and that horror fans will really enjoy. This is a book that needs to be read with the lights on!
greeneyedbookworm's review
3.0
3 started out a little sluggish, but definitely picked up by the end!