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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
A quick read that had such an interesting premise. Thrillers are my fave at the moment particular domestic drama centered ones.
I did not like the way the story was told like first person journal entries by Jack and Sydney respectively. It made things feel unreliable and disjointed. They mention things the reader is not aware of and there are certain time jumps. It was confusing.
I found Sydney very unreliable and unstable but it was probably because of her past. I questioned that why things turned out and I am fadcinated with how couples choose to remain together despite what has happened.
The ending was surprising sure but felt like something similar to A Stranger in the House. Points for uniqueness, I was dying to know why they got the house and how did everything connect.
I did not like the way the story was told like first person journal entries by Jack and Sydney respectively. It made things feel unreliable and disjointed. They mention things the reader is not aware of and there are certain time jumps. It was confusing.
I found Sydney very unreliable and unstable but it was probably because of her past. I questioned that why things turned out and I am fadcinated with how couples choose to remain together despite what has happened.
The ending was surprising sure but felt like something similar to A Stranger in the House. Points for uniqueness, I was dying to know why they got the house and how did everything connect.
Sydney Bailey has a troubled past, including drug use, that makes it difficult for her to connect with or trust others. But she does connect with Jack, a social worker who lacks social skills. They become a couple and find what may be the perfect house for them. But is it too perfect? After all, it is beyond their price range, yet their offer is accepted by the buyer, who has reportedly left all of his belongings behind and moved away to be with the new love of his life. As soon as Syd and Jack move in, strange things begin to happen. Jack makes disturbing discoveries in the attic and Syd becomes entangled with a troubled neighbor girl, Elsie, who has no friends and an overly controlling father. Events quickly spiral out of control as details about Elsie's past are revealed and Jack finds himself in jeopardy. Or is he? The story is told from two narratives drafted by Syd and Jack which are conflicting and, frankly, confusing at times, requiring patience on the reader's part. That patience does pay off, however, as the puzzling events are gradually explained. Some readers will find the ending quite frustrating, while others will praise author Simon Lelic's inventive and thought-provoking conclusion. Deeply flawed characters who prove to be wholly unreliable narrators, bait-and-switch plot twists, and Lelic's unique style make The New Neighbors a compelling read.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Reader's Copy of the book.)
(Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Reader's Copy of the book.)
I loved how this was written as some kind of diary from both, Jacks and Syds perspective, which was definitely interesting and different.
The story itself was full of twists and most of them did hit me unexpectedly.
And still somehow this wasn't much better than a lot of others I've read before.
I did think "creepy" once and it was entertaining but never really gripping.
All in all 3,5 Stars
The story itself was full of twists and most of them did hit me unexpectedly.
And still somehow this wasn't much better than a lot of others I've read before.
I did think "creepy" once and it was entertaining but never really gripping.
All in all 3,5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Meet your new neighbors, Jack & Syd. They are a bit of an odd couple. Jack is a pretty straitlaced social worker, and Syd has sown a few wild oats in her day. They have saved up to buy their "forever house" and fall into a bit of luck in finding the perfect place at a great price. But are things too good to be true? Pretty soon after moving in, things start to go awry. To document the happenings, Jack & Syd begin a journal, which is told alternately by each. The journal documents the strange things going on as well as the unraveling of their relationship. The writing is fluid, and the tale is told seamlessly between the two. Both are very likable characters, flawed for sure, but you really do want a happy ending for them.
At first I thought this would be a paranormal thriller (not sure where I got that idea), but it isn't. It is a psychological thriller with a plot so twisty you won't be able to figure out whodunit. The subject matter does become dark, then very dark. I did consider putting it down as it seemed to slow down and the focus was on the dark side of human nature. But I had to find out how it ended and the second half of the book picks up. The plot does a U-turn in a way that I had never imagined. All in all, this was a very satisfying and suspenseful read, with a lot of creepiness thrown in.
https://wordpress.com/posts/candysplanet.wordpress.com
Meet your new neighbors, Jack & Syd. They are a bit of an odd couple. Jack is a pretty straitlaced social worker, and Syd has sown a few wild oats in her day. They have saved up to buy their "forever house" and fall into a bit of luck in finding the perfect place at a great price. But are things too good to be true? Pretty soon after moving in, things start to go awry. To document the happenings, Jack & Syd begin a journal, which is told alternately by each. The journal documents the strange things going on as well as the unraveling of their relationship. The writing is fluid, and the tale is told seamlessly between the two. Both are very likable characters, flawed for sure, but you really do want a happy ending for them.
At first I thought this would be a paranormal thriller (not sure where I got that idea), but it isn't. It is a psychological thriller with a plot so twisty you won't be able to figure out whodunit. The subject matter does become dark, then very dark. I did consider putting it down as it seemed to slow down and the focus was on the dark side of human nature. But I had to find out how it ended and the second half of the book picks up. The plot does a U-turn in a way that I had never imagined. All in all, this was a very satisfying and suspenseful read, with a lot of creepiness thrown in.
https://wordpress.com/posts/candysplanet.wordpress.com
Creepy, suspenseful, strange...I would highly recommend reading this book during the day and make sure you're not alone! I'm not going to lie I did find the ending slightly disappointing but I still found the book very enjoyable and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book is about a couple who buy their first house together and the strange things that start to go on. You really get immersed in the story and you really do wonder what is going on and who is responsible. I especially loved the back stories of the characters which meant I really got to know them, in particular, Sydney's story.
I read this book in a couple of days as I found the writing very easy to follow and I really liked the first half of the book that was written almost like diary entries. It got a bit slow in the middle but it was intriguing enough to keep me reading.
Although I said I didn't really enjoy the end (without giving anything away) I thought the twist RIGHT at the end was really good and I definitely didn't see it coming.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The book is about a couple who buy their first house together and the strange things that start to go on. You really get immersed in the story and you really do wonder what is going on and who is responsible. I especially loved the back stories of the characters which meant I really got to know them, in particular, Sydney's story.
I read this book in a couple of days as I found the writing very easy to follow and I really liked the first half of the book that was written almost like diary entries. It got a bit slow in the middle but it was intriguing enough to keep me reading.
Although I said I didn't really enjoy the end (without giving anything away) I thought the twist RIGHT at the end was really good and I definitely didn't see it coming.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I am starting to get very angry indeed at the amount of absolute rubbish that is published today. Once there were books I didn’t like, but they were still works of merit that others would.
Now the book world is filled largely with appalling stories and lazy writing, mostly involving WW2 and / or violence towards women and the minority of gems worth reading have to searched for like gold panning, or kissing a pond of frogs to find one Prince.
This novel begins with a couple moving into a creepy house, ghostly hands and strange smells, the previous persons record collection. Great ! the novel is called The House and it’s about a haunted house right ?
Wrong.
Wrong Wrong Wrong. past chapter two the house is irrelevant and barely mentioned.
Very quickly this story is merely yet another catalogue of extreme and unbelievable, misogynistic violence committed by men against women.
Dumped in the trash and will never read this horrible author again.
Avoid at all costs.
It’s vile and utter rubbish. the publishers writer and branding is deliberately misleading to make £££.
Now the book world is filled largely with appalling stories and lazy writing, mostly involving WW2 and / or violence towards women and the minority of gems worth reading have to searched for like gold panning, or kissing a pond of frogs to find one Prince.
This novel begins with a couple moving into a creepy house, ghostly hands and strange smells, the previous persons record collection. Great ! the novel is called The House and it’s about a haunted house right ?
Wrong.
Wrong Wrong Wrong. past chapter two the house is irrelevant and barely mentioned.
Very quickly this story is merely yet another catalogue of extreme and unbelievable, misogynistic violence committed by men against women.
Dumped in the trash and will never read this horrible author again.
Avoid at all costs.
It’s vile and utter rubbish. the publishers writer and branding is deliberately misleading to make £££.
This is a difficult book to review.
The House is likely not going to be what you expect. Lelic explores tough themes through the eyes of two characters, Syd and Jack, and does so admirably.
Lelic has written a great female character who is a great demonstration of emotional strength versus physical strength.
The House is likely not going to be what you expect. Lelic explores tough themes through the eyes of two characters, Syd and Jack, and does so admirably.
Lelic has written a great female character who is a great demonstration of emotional strength versus physical strength.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So, when this book started I had absolutely no idea what was going on, I couldn’t keep up with the dual narrative, couldn’t work out whether we were in present day and felt it was jumping around – in other words, what an absolutely fantastic start to The House!! I was drawn in right from the very start, wanting to know what was going on and what the heck had actually happened….and this feeling continued through to the very end!
After a chilling opening paragraph, the story is opened by Jack’s narration and we are thrown into the thick of the events with the police outside the house. Jack also gives us the background as to how they came to purchase a house full of junk and taxidermy!
Sydney (or Syd) then picks up the narration and it’s clear from the outset that she is highly annoyed by something or someone…..her anger comes across in both her tone and the number of expletives she uses in a short space of time! Jack and Syd are writing down thoughts and events but it’s not clear why they are writing things down or even what the current status of their relationship is.
Given the dual narrative, we are privy to both character’s inner most thoughts and feelings, and due to the fact that they are writing things down, these emotions are very raw and unedited. The author does a fantastic job of writing from two very different voices, both in terms of how they process their thoughts into words as well as their different personalities – Syd is highly strung and always, metaphorically, up for a fight, to jump to the defensive however Jack is more laid back – happy if Syd is happy….hence why they ended up with the house in the first place.
As well as being a fantastic psychological thriller, this book is also as creepy as hell in places…..even though Syd makes it very clear from the start that it’s not a ghost story, at times it feels just like that, waiting for someone or something to jump out of the shadows.
Lelic has crafted a thriller, brilliantly interspersed with horror elements, which cleverly unravels the story line through the dual narratives – at a point where you think you have it sussed what is going on, Lelic will throw in another curveball!
The House brilliantly written with a fascinating narration style which kept me guessing right through to the end – absolutely chilling!
After a chilling opening paragraph, the story is opened by Jack’s narration and we are thrown into the thick of the events with the police outside the house. Jack also gives us the background as to how they came to purchase a house full of junk and taxidermy!
Sydney (or Syd) then picks up the narration and it’s clear from the outset that she is highly annoyed by something or someone…..her anger comes across in both her tone and the number of expletives she uses in a short space of time! Jack and Syd are writing down thoughts and events but it’s not clear why they are writing things down or even what the current status of their relationship is.
Given the dual narrative, we are privy to both character’s inner most thoughts and feelings, and due to the fact that they are writing things down, these emotions are very raw and unedited. The author does a fantastic job of writing from two very different voices, both in terms of how they process their thoughts into words as well as their different personalities – Syd is highly strung and always, metaphorically, up for a fight, to jump to the defensive however Jack is more laid back – happy if Syd is happy….hence why they ended up with the house in the first place.
As well as being a fantastic psychological thriller, this book is also as creepy as hell in places…..even though Syd makes it very clear from the start that it’s not a ghost story, at times it feels just like that, waiting for someone or something to jump out of the shadows.
Lelic has crafted a thriller, brilliantly interspersed with horror elements, which cleverly unravels the story line through the dual narratives – at a point where you think you have it sussed what is going on, Lelic will throw in another curveball!
The House brilliantly written with a fascinating narration style which kept me guessing right through to the end – absolutely chilling!