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alxisrae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really enjoyed this book for it being my first “horro” genre book. The ending was just perfect, to me, and the entirely wrapped up the “house” and Louise’s history and trauma coming to a close. 5 stars because Pupkin was too scary good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Child death
ctobs23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Gore, and Torture
wganas4's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
rready's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
potato5's review against another edition
Nothing wrong with the book itself. Death of a parent and funeral planning for them hit too close to home for me when reading it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
mairi99's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death
annieisawesome's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very good. Parts of it were predictable, but there were enough surprises that it was still interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Cursing, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Torture, Abandonment, Body shaming, Car accident, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Drug use, and Murder
readingwithmycats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death of parent, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, and Child death
chezler24's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-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
4.5
Possessed puppets, family secrets, and motherhood! OH MY!
Really enjoyed this Grady Hendrix novel. Going in I was not expecting the sheer amount of puppets involved but enjoyed the creepy yet familial feel they provided for the plot. Structuring the book around the stages of grief was a nice way of framing the family dealing with the death that opens the book along with the family secrets presented throughout. I almost wish the title reflected this aspect more than the real estate angle since selling the house seems secondary compared to other elements present. While I don't need to read another book about puppets anytime soon, reading about Mark's horrors during college with the Pupkin brigade was a totally unexpected, wild backstory and helped me understand this seemingly evil little puppet a bit better. Throughout the novel, I was constantly rooting for Louise and Poppy. I was also not expecting this book to deal with generational trauma to protect the next generation but hey that's what makes opening a book so interesting! Overall, Hendrix met my expectations for the book and I can't wait to add another of his books to my handselling rotation at the bookstore.
Really enjoyed this Grady Hendrix novel. Going in I was not expecting the sheer amount of puppets involved but enjoyed the creepy yet familial feel they provided for the plot. Structuring the book around the stages of grief was a nice way of framing the family dealing with the death that opens the book along with the family secrets presented throughout. I almost wish the title reflected this aspect more than the real estate angle since selling the house seems secondary compared to other elements present. While I don't need to read another book about puppets anytime soon, reading about Mark's horrors during college with the Pupkin brigade was a totally unexpected, wild backstory and helped me understand this seemingly evil little puppet a bit better. Throughout the novel, I was constantly rooting for Louise and Poppy. I was also not expecting this book to deal with generational trauma to protect the next generation but hey that's what makes opening a book so interesting! Overall, Hendrix met my expectations for the book and I can't wait to add another of his books to my handselling rotation at the bookstore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Body horror, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Car accident
gkazumi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
5.0
I am not a huge fan of haunted house, possession, exorcism type horror. I find that it tends to be over done and repetitive with very little room for something fresh and relatable in between.
With this said the only Grady Hendrix books I have read so far are Horrorstor, My Best Friends Exorcism, and now How to Sell a Haunted House. And with How to Sell a Haunted Hause I've come to realize that in these stories Grady Hendrix finds a way to make them feel some level of relatable.
While it is my least favorite, My Best Friends Exorcism tackles the feelings of growing up and growing apart from your best friend. Which I'm sure for many people, especially women is probably an incredibly relatable experience.
Horrorstor, while on the lower end of relatability, definitely calls to people that have worked retail after hours and at closing and how eerie and alone it can feel.
Now with How to Sell a Haunted House, the relatability comes from themes of loss, family, and the feeling of estrangement many feel to their siblings. The evolution of resentment built from childhood "misunderstandings" and the feeling of inadequacy to an understanding of each other was represented really well with Mark and Louise. I really love that as we're introduced to Louise's view on her brother our perspective of him changes as hers does but it also doesn't change the type of people they are at their core.
The same thing starts with Pupkin as you learn that he's not quite a vicious puppetbut a scared child that feels unready to move on to the afterlife.
There were many things that made me laugh, mostly in the dynamic between Louise and Mark as they rekindled their relationship over the grief and horrors of what is happening.
There were many times when I felt visceral horror and discomfort.Special mention to the part where Louise has to saw off Mark's arm. I actually had to take a break because it was so much back to back with the "fight" with Spider, to Pupkin trying to kill Louise with the hammer, and then to the amputation.
There were many times where I felt a bit of melancholy? Endearment? at the parts where Louise and Mark really felt like siblings. If I'm being honest by the end of the book I cried.
This is by far my favorite Grady Hendrix book so far. I'm not sure I'll love the next one as much or love the ones on my backlog as much but this one really resonated with me.
With this said the only Grady Hendrix books I have read so far are Horrorstor, My Best Friends Exorcism, and now How to Sell a Haunted House. And with How to Sell a Haunted Hause I've come to realize that in these stories Grady Hendrix finds a way to make them feel some level of relatable.
While it is my least favorite, My Best Friends Exorcism tackles the feelings of growing up and growing apart from your best friend. Which I'm sure for many people, especially women is probably an incredibly relatable experience.
Horrorstor, while on the lower end of relatability, definitely calls to people that have worked retail after hours and at closing and how eerie and alone it can feel.
Now with How to Sell a Haunted House, the relatability comes from themes of loss, family, and the feeling of estrangement many feel to their siblings. The evolution of resentment built from childhood "misunderstandings" and the feeling of inadequacy to an understanding of each other was represented really well with Mark and Louise. I really love that as we're introduced to Louise's view on her brother our perspective of him changes as hers does but it also doesn't change the type of people they are at their core.
The same thing starts with Pupkin as you learn that he's not quite a vicious puppet
There were many things that made me laugh, mostly in the dynamic between Louise and Mark as they rekindled their relationship over the grief and horrors of what is happening.
There were many times when I felt visceral horror and discomfort.
There were many times where I felt a bit of melancholy? Endearment? at the parts where Louise and Mark really felt like siblings. If I'm being honest by the end of the book I cried.
This is by far my favorite Grady Hendrix book so far. I'm not sure I'll love the next one as much or love the ones on my backlog as much but this one really resonated with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent