Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read Completed 2/14/23 | 2.75 stars
Another book with rave reviews, and another disappointing read to me. This was similar to my experience reading Look Closer but it really surprised me since I loved Tess Stimson's previous book, One In Three.
THE NEW HOUSE really wasn't about the new house at all, so that was pretty disappointing as well. I expected there to be something wild that happened there and the characters find out about it... The houses didn't need to be there at all. Lift that out and substitute something else and we had the same exact story.
I also really hated the involvement of three couples. Harper's involvement was really not necessary at all and I didn't feel it added much to the book. I also didn't need the switching back and forth of POVs. I would have liked it much better as just Millie telling the story. Following the other voices made things a bit too muddy and complicated and took time away from the main points. Also, having listened to this on audio, it really suffered from not having multiple audiobook narrators, especially when one POV is in first person and the others in third.
Mostly, I just didn't connect to the characters. Too many admit to and are accused of being psychopaths and there just wasn't a lot of emotion there. That was intentional, but I really had a hard time connecting to anyone when everyone was either cold, annoying, or kept intentionally out of the foreground to cast suspicion. The writing style just wasn't for me in that respect.
The plot just also wasn't surprising to me at all. There were supposed to be wild rides, big twists, crazy reveals.... eh. It's nothing I haven't read before and was predictable enough. Not caring for the characters meant I really didn't care what happened in the end either. This one just didn't stick with me and I'll go ahead and be the odd person out here!
Rounding up to three stars because it wasn't a bad book and it wasn't poorly written... it just wasn't something I connected to in any way.
Another book with rave reviews, and another disappointing read to me. This was similar to my experience reading Look Closer but it really surprised me since I loved Tess Stimson's previous book, One In Three.
THE NEW HOUSE really wasn't about the new house at all, so that was pretty disappointing as well. I expected there to be something wild that happened there and the characters find out about it... The houses didn't need to be there at all. Lift that out and substitute something else and we had the same exact story.
I also really hated the involvement of three couples. Harper's involvement was really not necessary at all and I didn't feel it added much to the book. I also didn't need the switching back and forth of POVs. I would have liked it much better as just Millie telling the story. Following the other voices made things a bit too muddy and complicated and took time away from the main points. Also, having listened to this on audio, it really suffered from not having multiple audiobook narrators, especially when one POV is in first person and the others in third.
Mostly, I just didn't connect to the characters. Too many admit to and are accused of being psychopaths and there just wasn't a lot of emotion there. That was intentional, but I really had a hard time connecting to anyone when everyone was either cold, annoying, or kept intentionally out of the foreground to cast suspicion. The writing style just wasn't for me in that respect.
The plot just also wasn't surprising to me at all. There were supposed to be wild rides, big twists, crazy reveals.... eh. It's nothing I haven't read before and was predictable enough. Not caring for the characters meant I really didn't care what happened in the end either. This one just didn't stick with me and I'll go ahead and be the odd person out here!
Rounding up to three stars because it wasn't a bad book and it wasn't poorly written... it just wasn't something I connected to in any way.
If ever the phrase "Be careful what you wish for" was fit to be used, this would surely be right up there with the best of them.
Stacey and Felix Porter own the Glass House, an architecturally unique property that Millie Downton has had her eyes on ever since she surreptitiously "visited" and walked around inside it one night. That's another story. She and her husband, Tom, have a free pass list of properties that if one of them ever becomes available, the other spouse has no choice but to say yes to purchasing it. Now that the Glass House is on the market, Millie's not going to take no for an answer.
Harper and Kyle Conway are YouTube influencers, under the name "Kyperlife", and Harper wants Millie and Tom's house as much as Millie wants Stacey and Felix's. She also won't take no for an answer, as she just knows it's going to look great on their vlogs and boost their social profile.
On the surface everyone should be happy to be getting what they want, right? Well, throw some psychopathy into the mix and things get a little more complicated! All bets are off when one part of the buyer's chain starts to backtrack on the deal.
Normal people would probably move on, but "normal" isn't on the table with this group. What's the game being played and who is playing who? All I can say is that it's a wickedly fun and tangled story that Tess Stimson has written, and I never thought I'd enjoy spending so much time in the mind of a psychopath! Through the fictitious SETTalks (like TEDTalks), I actually learned a surprising amount on the subject.
I listened to this on audio and Penelope Rawlins was pitch perfect in her voicing of the characters. She brought this bunch and all their personalities to life deliciously! Her voicing of Millie and Harper was particularly good.
As with her prior book, Stolen, Stimson loves a good dramatic ending, and she certainly delivered with this one as well. I highly recommend a read or listen ... just never do business with anyone like them!
★★★★ ½
Stacey and Felix Porter own the Glass House, an architecturally unique property that Millie Downton has had her eyes on ever since she surreptitiously "visited" and walked around inside it one night. That's another story. She and her husband, Tom, have a free pass list of properties that if one of them ever becomes available, the other spouse has no choice but to say yes to purchasing it. Now that the Glass House is on the market, Millie's not going to take no for an answer.
Harper and Kyle Conway are YouTube influencers, under the name "Kyperlife", and Harper wants Millie and Tom's house as much as Millie wants Stacey and Felix's. She also won't take no for an answer, as she just knows it's going to look great on their vlogs and boost their social profile.
On the surface everyone should be happy to be getting what they want, right? Well, throw some psychopathy into the mix and things get a little more complicated! All bets are off when one part of the buyer's chain starts to backtrack on the deal.
Normal people would probably move on, but "normal" isn't on the table with this group. What's the game being played and who is playing who? All I can say is that it's a wickedly fun and tangled story that Tess Stimson has written, and I never thought I'd enjoy spending so much time in the mind of a psychopath! Through the fictitious SETTalks (like TEDTalks), I actually learned a surprising amount on the subject.
I listened to this on audio and Penelope Rawlins was pitch perfect in her voicing of the characters. She brought this bunch and all their personalities to life deliciously! Her voicing of Millie and Harper was particularly good.
As with her prior book, Stolen, Stimson loves a good dramatic ending, and she certainly delivered with this one as well. I highly recommend a read or listen ... just never do business with anyone like them!
★★★★ ½
dark
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great thriller, unique plot.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes