Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Just Like Home

Wow. Yes, it was a slow build-up. And the twist is wild. I loved the atmosphere the author creates with her words. And I am so glad I read the acknowledgements at the end. They are almost like an epilogue and wrap up the story's lingering emotions.

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emlittle's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

You know what really sucks? When a book wasn’t bad, but had the potential to be great. [Slight spoilers ahead] ‘Just Like Home’s premise was promising enough: a woman having to return home and face the remnants of the childhood that was shattered by her father’s crimes and exploited by her mother. I was hugely excited going into it.

Vera was a compelling enough character. The story was told in a series of present day and flashback scenes, and we get to learn the most about Vera aka the daddy’s girl who was equally adored by her father. We slowly learn about her father’s dark side and her own darkness even at the age of 11. We get to watch her parent’s dysfunction (to put it mildly) shape her. Her evolution as the character that we never *really* know is so fun.

BUT. But. The story completely fell apart for me when Gailey introduced a supernatural explanation that didn’t actually explain much. Without giving away what it is, it felt so half baked and out of place, it overshadowed the elements of the story I thoroughly enjoyed. It honestly pissed me off. ‘Just Like Home’ would’ve been such a strong thriller otherwise.

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kbaker20's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

Childhood trauma, family dysfunction, and a creepy house are a common combination for horror. However, the directional flows and pathways of these aspects in this book are a little different. This is revealed slowly to the reader as our main character returns to her childhood home and starts to face what she had tried her hardest to forget. Trauma becomes relative though when there are so many sources of the anguish. Vera’s return to the house forces her to relive and remember, offering another opportunity to succumb to or heal from these old wounds.

I saw the story as a new angle on the haunted house in the vein of a “good for her” storyline. Not quite feminine rage level, but you can see the hope of the spark. Movies/shows for comparison, I would say an aspect of The Haunting of Hill House with some Frailty vibes woven in.

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falchionm's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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sandreline's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I feel the urge to justify 5 stars, like it needs to be a literary masterpiece. In reality, I just enjoyed it thoroughly and the themes resonated with me.

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