Scan barcode
kingsteph's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
schnaucl's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was well written, but not my favorite of Sarah Gailey's novels.
It was strange to me that even as a child Vera never once thought that murder was wrong. I get that she thought her dad was saving the men he killed, but she was old enough to understand what murder was and that it was wrong. And dealing with the tension between love of her father and what it would mean to turn him in might have been an interesting thing to explore.
I did think having the house as an actual physical thing that protected her (and needed protection in return) was interesting.
I did think having the house as an actual physical thing that protected her (and needed protection in return) was interesting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Stalking, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Bullying, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship
madelinequinne's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve been in a reading slump for the past two months, but this book pulled me out of it and i’m very grateful for that.
This was so interesting, i’ve never read anything like it before. You go into the book expecting your usual true crime serial killer novel, but i was pleasantly surprised by how emotional and reflective this story was. The conversations about family, growing up, mummy issues and what drives someone to do bad things was so well written and explored, and i was absolutely gripped the entire time.
I think this book would make an excellent horror movie, i could picture each scene in my head so vividly which is a great example of how descriptive the writing was.
Highly highly recommend
This was so interesting, i’ve never read anything like it before. You go into the book expecting your usual true crime serial killer novel, but i was pleasantly surprised by how emotional and reflective this story was. The conversations about family, growing up, mummy issues and what drives someone to do bad things was so well written and explored, and i was absolutely gripped the entire time.
I think this book would make an excellent horror movie, i could picture each scene in my head so vividly which is a great example of how descriptive the writing was.
Highly highly recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Torture, Death, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
ohhthehorrors's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
kswartz's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow, this was intense. I thought it was going one way, and then it subverted expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Torture
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Toxic relationship
mitziibee's review
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? Yes
3.75
There were a few repeat paragraphs that made me feel as though I was reading the same page over a million times. But overall, this book is a fun read. It is a slow start with flashes to the back.
Gradually everything collides and the picture is complete.
We all deserve love and we all deserve a home who loves us too.
Gradually everything collides and the picture is complete.
We all deserve love and we all deserve a home who loves us too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Violence
rorikae's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
'Just Like Home' by Sarah Gailey is a slow, deeply unsettling look at one woman's childhood and her relationship with her serial killer father, distant mother, and childhood home.
Vera Crowder is coming home to the Crowder House. Her mother is dying and after quite an estrangement, has finally called her daughter home. But the Crowder House isn't a happy place for Vera. It reminds her of her father, a notorious serial killer, and the strained relationship with her mother. It also doesn't help that there is an artist living in the garden shed, seeking inspiration in her family home. As Vera returns home, she has to face her past and the present space her family home still takes up. But things are amiss in the Crowder House and they stalk Vera as she starts the journey to clean the house to eventually sell it.
This novel is extremely slow and I can understand why many people may not like it. It's marketed as a thriller but it is much more a slow and methodical unpacking of one woman's trauma and her broken relationships. Vera isn't a likable character but I still found it easy to care for her. She has gone through a lot and it's clear how this has warped her own sense of self. Gailey unpacks this through Vera's conversations with her mother, her moments in the house, and her conversations with the artist living in the garden shed. There were a few moments where scenes felt a little bit too slow. Descriptions dragged on particularly in moments where Vera was stuck in bed at night but ultimately, I think this story is successful in what it is trying to do. This is a slow look at one woman and her childhood, how it has shaped her and twisted her own recollections. There is a supernatural element that I did really like though I can understand how some could find it off-putting. I agree with comments saying that Gailey could have leaned further into the weirdness. I would have liked to see where that could have gone. Even so, this continues my great experiences with Gailey's work. They are one of my favorite authors for a reason.
Vera Crowder is coming home to the Crowder House. Her mother is dying and after quite an estrangement, has finally called her daughter home. But the Crowder House isn't a happy place for Vera. It reminds her of her father, a notorious serial killer, and the strained relationship with her mother. It also doesn't help that there is an artist living in the garden shed, seeking inspiration in her family home. As Vera returns home, she has to face her past and the present space her family home still takes up. But things are amiss in the Crowder House and they stalk Vera as she starts the journey to clean the house to eventually sell it.
This novel is extremely slow and I can understand why many people may not like it. It's marketed as a thriller but it is much more a slow and methodical unpacking of one woman's trauma and her broken relationships. Vera isn't a likable character but I still found it easy to care for her. She has gone through a lot and it's clear how this has warped her own sense of self. Gailey unpacks this through Vera's conversations with her mother, her moments in the house, and her conversations with the artist living in the garden shed. There were a few moments where scenes felt a little bit too slow. Descriptions dragged on particularly in moments where Vera was stuck in bed at night but ultimately, I think this story is successful in what it is trying to do. This is a slow look at one woman and her childhood, how it has shaped her and twisted her own recollections. There is a supernatural element that I did really like though I can understand how some could find it off-putting. I agree with comments saying that Gailey could have leaned further into the weirdness. I would have liked to see where that could have gone. Even so, this continues my great experiences with Gailey's work. They are one of my favorite authors for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Torture, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Confinement
weeta's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't remember when I added this audiobook to my library holds list, and it arrived during a string of unlikeable, uninspired narrators and half-finished stories I really wanted to like more. I had low expectations, and didn't remember anything about the book or why I added it to my list. But Xe Sands began reading this to me and suddenly this story and Sands' perfect narration took over several days of my life. It's a dreadful (in a good way) mix of true crime feels and unaddressed family issues rising up late in adulthood...and then you realize there is a LOT more going on in the basement. So much wtf. I loved it so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent
riereeds's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m not always a horror reader. But this was a great read. It was creepy and did a great job of having those moments but not over doing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit