Scan barcode
chris_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Violence
Minor: Stalking and Self harm
lucyford's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Gaslighting, Police brutality, Bullying, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Cursing, and Stalking
booklvrkat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Layer upon layer is revealed in this horror-slash-psychological thriller. Sarah makes a remarkable number of bad decisions that will make you wonder if she is truly unstable. Unreliable narrators have become the *chefs kiss* of storytelling and this tale by debut author, Lisa M. Matlin, excelled at this technique. There are disturbing moments, a cat named Reaper (foreshadowing?), and some uninvited visitors to which we aren’t introduced. Leaning more to the horror side, this story at once pushed me away and then gripped me so hard I didn’t want to stop. If you like to guess story endings this one is going to surprise you, and I’m interested to hear what you think.
Moderate: Gaslighting, Murder, and Mental illness
lovelymisanthrope's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"The Stranger Upstairs" is a haunted house story that follows Sarah Slade. Looking for a fresh start, Sarah and her husband buy the infamous Black Wood House, a home in which a grizzly murder-suicide took place decades before. None of the neighbors seem to want the Saldes there, and the house also seems to be resisting them. But Sarah is determined to make this investment work. Unfortunately, something sinister is interfering with her plans, and she might not actually make it out alive.
I was slightly disappointed in this story. At the beginning I was really hooked, and I was invested in Sarah's story as well as what was happening in the house. However, as the story progressed, and more was revealed, I got bored with the story. I did ultimately appreciate the ending, but it was not an impressive enough twist for me that it completely saved my reading experience.
The ultimate reveal that the house was emitting carbon monoxide was really clever and very well done. I did not see that coming until right before it was revealed to us. Sarah's descent into madness and symptoms from the carbon monoxide poisoning were so easily explained by other things in her life.
The idea that the house is actually haunted was a little under whelming and I felt like it was not fleshed out enough to be a plausible excuse for what was happening. This could have been a really interesting twist to the story, that the house is poisoning its residents because it does not want new owners, but the author did not do enough with it. All that is really touched upon is that when people enter the house, they feel that the house does not want them there.
Overall, this was a fine book, and I would recommend reading it during spooky season. I do think it is executed amateurly, but I am still interested to see what Lisa M. Matlin writes next.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Self harm and Infidelity
readingonfordearlife's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Mental illness
walenchao's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit
beckyremillard's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Mental illness, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Infidelity, Murder, Self harm, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Alcoholism
louiepotterbook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Self harm, Death, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
yalibrarianjen's review
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Stalking, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
maregred's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent