A review by nerdydeathwitch
The September House by Carissa Orlando

challenging dark funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

I loved this book and while I guessed some of the twists, it was really about the psychological journey of the main character who finds herself in a very haunted house, and in that regard, it really pays off. The book opens with a lot of dark humor, but gets more serious as it progresses and you learn more about the back story of the home owner and the ghostly inhabitants. Towards the end the pace picks up as does the level of body horror. The final quarter is pretty gruesome in a way that will be very satisfying for people who appreciate visceral horror. The writing itself is great, incredibly descriptive and on point for the reality of what it takes to survive abuse as an ongoing lived experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Abandonment

This is a horror novel so there should be no surprise that it contains lots of blood and murdered ghosts. But FYI, the writing is very descriptive. You will be told about wounds and the experience of being murdered in graphic detail.

If you have a background with DV, CPTSD, or are a child of alcoholics, this book could be both validating and triggering so just know what you're getting into. The family dynamics are incredibly accurate and the MC's self identity and worldview is shaped by abuse.