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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Thank you to Penguin Books for sending me a copy of this.
Jack and Sydney manage to buy a house in London - they can't believe their good fortune. It's a little old fashioned and comes with all the junk from the previous owner who has emigrated but to own a house in London is a dream come true. But Jack makes a grisly discovery in the attic. And that's when things take a sinister turn for the worst.
I have flown through this - it is not what I expected from the blurb on the back but it has been a thrilling and shocking ride, which has lived up to its promise.
Jack and Sydney manage to buy a house in London - they can't believe their good fortune. It's a little old fashioned and comes with all the junk from the previous owner who has emigrated but to own a house in London is a dream come true. But Jack makes a grisly discovery in the attic. And that's when things take a sinister turn for the worst.
I have flown through this - it is not what I expected from the blurb on the back but it has been a thrilling and shocking ride, which has lived up to its promise.
To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement. I guess I relied so much on this book to be different and the beginning of the book misled me.
My full review: https://tinyurl.com/y9cedp7j
My full review: https://tinyurl.com/y9cedp7j
I was really disappointed with the book. I didn't find any suspense or thriller with this book. The book was mainly written by Jack and Sydney in diary form.
I read the book so fast expecting something exciting to happen but nothing.
I read the book so fast expecting something exciting to happen but nothing.
Mixed feelings with this one. The beginning got me hooked but the plot twists let me down a bit. Not a bad read but not as good as I was expecting??
Thank you to Penguin Books UK for granting my wish on Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. This book was not at all what I expected but I really enjoyed it. Life has never been good for Syd but when she moves into her own house in London with her boyfriend her past comes back to haunt her
The House centres around Jack and Sydney who are hopeful that they’ll get a house in London. They have been saving for a while and looking for their dream home. One day, they attend an Open Day of a house that ticks all of their boxes. The owner has gone to Australia to be with someone he met online. The owner has left the house completely furnished. Jack and Sydney put in an offer not expecting to get the house. Totally unexpectedly, Jack and Sydney get the house. Jack feels uncomfortable about the house and his feelings don’t change, especially when he finds stuff in the attic…
Jack and Sydney tell their story in the form of journal entries. The narration is different because it’s clear that the couple are writing for the purpose of showing someone. I really enjoyed the narration in The House. I loved how we got to see the story from each point of view and I particularly enjoyed the moments when they spoke to each other within their entry. Using this narration, meant the story unfolded slowly. It was clear that something had happened and for quite some time the reader doesn’t know. I think this definitely helped to keep my interest. Through this medium, the reader learns about many events both past and present. We learn that Sydney had an awful childhood and that she has lost her sister (I don’t want to say too much about this as it will spoil the reading experience!) Sydney befriends a little girl called Evie who reminds her of herself when she was younger. They go through very similar experiences and Sydney is determined to help Evie before it’s too late.
I was creeped out by this book at many points, it’s in no way a scary book, but there are some very unsettling things that happen. I hate (but really love) when I don’t know who to trust and that was totally the case with this book.
This book has really dark themes. There’s strong language, drug use and some quite explicit content. It’s about how something in the past can impact on your present day life. I was gripped at the start and the unique narration kept me turning the pages. The writing is good and the pace is quick. It’s certainly an easy book to read. I did guess who was responsible for some of the incidents in the book which was a shame, but I didn’t necessarily see the ending coming!
Jack and Sydney tell their story in the form of journal entries. The narration is different because it’s clear that the couple are writing for the purpose of showing someone. I really enjoyed the narration in The House. I loved how we got to see the story from each point of view and I particularly enjoyed the moments when they spoke to each other within their entry. Using this narration, meant the story unfolded slowly. It was clear that something had happened and for quite some time the reader doesn’t know. I think this definitely helped to keep my interest. Through this medium, the reader learns about many events both past and present. We learn that Sydney had an awful childhood and that she has lost her sister (I don’t want to say too much about this as it will spoil the reading experience!) Sydney befriends a little girl called Evie who reminds her of herself when she was younger. They go through very similar experiences and Sydney is determined to help Evie before it’s too late.
I was creeped out by this book at many points, it’s in no way a scary book, but there are some very unsettling things that happen. I hate (but really love) when I don’t know who to trust and that was totally the case with this book.
This book has really dark themes. There’s strong language, drug use and some quite explicit content. It’s about how something in the past can impact on your present day life. I was gripped at the start and the unique narration kept me turning the pages. The writing is good and the pace is quick. It’s certainly an easy book to read. I did guess who was responsible for some of the incidents in the book which was a shame, but I didn’t necessarily see the ending coming!
When Berkley Pub approached me to join this blog tour for THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic, I was immediately intrigued. Between the plot to this novel and that gorgeous cover, I knew I had to jump onboard and I am so glad I did. This novel is dark, brutally morose, and masked with an electrifying intensity. I love a psychological suspense novel and this one does not hold back.
The plot to this novel is not only terrifying and chilling, but effectively maneuvers around some rather intense social issues that are sprinkled throughout this novel. I found the alternating chapters between Jack and Sydney not only brilliantly effective to the novel, but the short chapters really kept me interested and before I knew it, this novel was flying by and I couldn't get enough. Not only are the twists and turns in this novel unremarkable, but they fly at you before you can even begin to wrap your mind around what is happening. The pacing with this novel is done so well, light and a bit comedic between Jack and Sydney in the beginning and then the eerie factor slowly and surely settles itself into the novel and does not hold off until the brutal ending that left my jaw hanging in shock and petrification.
Without giving away too much, this is the novel that has it all. An ominous and haunting plot, phenomenal characterization, and twists and turns that grab you and refuse to let go until you rapidly approach the chilling conclusion that leaves this novel in destruction and its characters in the aftermath. Such a fun and quick read, this is a perfect binge read for a rainy day...and by day, I mean in one sitting because you won't want to put this one down. Get your caffeine, a warm blanket, and lock the doors.
Special thanks to Berkley Pub for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The plot to this novel is not only terrifying and chilling, but effectively maneuvers around some rather intense social issues that are sprinkled throughout this novel. I found the alternating chapters between Jack and Sydney not only brilliantly effective to the novel, but the short chapters really kept me interested and before I knew it, this novel was flying by and I couldn't get enough. Not only are the twists and turns in this novel unremarkable, but they fly at you before you can even begin to wrap your mind around what is happening. The pacing with this novel is done so well, light and a bit comedic between Jack and Sydney in the beginning and then the eerie factor slowly and surely settles itself into the novel and does not hold off until the brutal ending that left my jaw hanging in shock and petrification.
Without giving away too much, this is the novel that has it all. An ominous and haunting plot, phenomenal characterization, and twists and turns that grab you and refuse to let go until you rapidly approach the chilling conclusion that leaves this novel in destruction and its characters in the aftermath. Such a fun and quick read, this is a perfect binge read for a rainy day...and by day, I mean in one sitting because you won't want to put this one down. Get your caffeine, a warm blanket, and lock the doors.
Special thanks to Berkley Pub for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Not sure how too review this book as it was a little weird and confusing at times.
It was written from 2 points of view Jack and Syd who have just moved into their dream home.
The writing style is confusing, are the couple writing a diary of events too each other but although initially confusing it does make compelling reading. The qwerkinish of the couple writing too each other was interesting and amusing.
Then the book took a dark turn, the story turned creepy. Is this a ghost story in the making or a psychological thriller then the premise offered.
Then the story interestingly changed and the elements of childhood trauma, domestic violence and revenge were brought into the story mix which delivered a clever and intriguing psychological suspense story based on human relationships.
Interesting read. Although I was expecting a hard-core ghost story
It was written from 2 points of view Jack and Syd who have just moved into their dream home.
The writing style is confusing, are the couple writing a diary of events too each other but although initially confusing it does make compelling reading. The qwerkinish of the couple writing too each other was interesting and amusing.
Then the book took a dark turn, the story turned creepy. Is this a ghost story in the making or a psychological thriller then the premise offered.
Then the story interestingly changed and the elements of childhood trauma, domestic violence and revenge were brought into the story mix which delivered a clever and intriguing psychological suspense story based on human relationships.
Interesting read. Although I was expecting a hard-core ghost story
I flew through this book as the first chapter easily had me gripped. The characters were normal enough to relate to but their situation intriguing.
The story was well paced and plenty of hooks to keep those pages turning.
The story was well paced and plenty of hooks to keep those pages turning.
Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2017 prompt: Book published in 2017
Are you sure you've locked the door? Are you sure you're alone?
These are the sentences which introduce us to The House, by Simon Lelic. Having now read the novel, I'm not sure whether these properly represent the story within.
The premise of the novel was good, and the first few chapters were certainly chilling. Jack and Syd have finally moved into a dream home, securing a deal which is almost too good to be true. Yet something is amiss, and Jack's descriptions of the incidents which occur create a wonderful sense of unease and terror, which is seemingly originating from within their new home. The continual future references to what has happened since the initial occurences adds to the fear and intrigue. What malevolent force is causing all of this? The added tension of the situation Syd finds a young neighbour Elsie in also points to something strange going on in their small corner of London.
Unfortunately, after the exploration of Syd's abusive childhood, the cause behind the chilling events became obvious, with a very definitive confirmation by her mother. After this point in particular, there seemed to be a less focused movement to the novel, with almost boring pages of dialogue in places. The final revelations too were things which are likely to have crossed the reader's mind as they did mine.
A brilliant start, but it became a little predictable and less chilling unfortunately.
Are you sure you've locked the door? Are you sure you're alone?
These are the sentences which introduce us to The House, by Simon Lelic. Having now read the novel, I'm not sure whether these properly represent the story within.
The premise of the novel was good, and the first few chapters were certainly chilling. Jack and Syd have finally moved into a dream home, securing a deal which is almost too good to be true. Yet something is amiss, and Jack's descriptions of the incidents which occur create a wonderful sense of unease and terror, which is seemingly originating from within their new home. The continual future references to what has happened since the initial occurences adds to the fear and intrigue. What malevolent force is causing all of this? The added tension of the situation Syd finds a young neighbour Elsie in also points to something strange going on in their small corner of London.
Unfortunately, after the exploration of Syd's abusive childhood, the cause behind the chilling events became obvious, with a very definitive confirmation by her mother. After this point in particular, there seemed to be a less focused movement to the novel, with almost boring pages of dialogue in places. The final revelations too were things which are likely to have crossed the reader's mind as they did mine.
A brilliant start, but it became a little predictable and less chilling unfortunately.