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A review by enchantressreads
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There needs to be a specific genre entitled “traumatized person comes back to the source of their trauma in order to heal when some crazy shit happens” because I will read everything in it.
I’ve loved everything Sarah Gailey has written, and when Just Like Home was released, I was so excited to get my hands on it. I mean, a horror book with a pink cover? With that description? Written by Sarah Gailey? Sign me up.
And it was everything I hoped for, and more.
Vera Crowder left her childhood home as soon as possible. She’s been gone for twelve years, but her mother Daphne has called because she’s dying. We know pretty quickly that there’s some tension between Daphne, but soon it’s shown that Vera isn’t popular around town, either. The only person that gives her the benefit of the doubt is artist James Duvall, who is staying in the guest house while he works on art inspired by the Crowder House.
What makes a house truly haunted? Is it the land, the house itself, or what happens within its walls?
While settling her mother’s affairs, Vera learns quickly that she will have to face not only her trauma, but the demons of the house. The house holds trauma just like human bodies do.
“Some things, Vera knew, were made to die.”
I related a lot to Vera, for various reasons I won’t explain here. Gailey seems to write characters that I can relate to in most of their works, and I’m really thankful for that. Their characters are not perfect, are easily flawed, but are determined to work through their trauma to break generational chains. There’s also a very satisfying ending that, while symbolic, feels like a breath of fresh air.
I highly recommend not just Just Like Home, but all of Sarah Gailey’s works. I’m so glad they’ve gone more into the horror genre, and I can’t wait to see what else they release.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
CW for blood, gore, body horror, emotional abuse, murder, death of a parent, grief, chronic illness/hospital/medical setting, and generational trauma
I’ve loved everything Sarah Gailey has written, and when Just Like Home was released, I was so excited to get my hands on it. I mean, a horror book with a pink cover? With that description? Written by Sarah Gailey? Sign me up.
And it was everything I hoped for, and more.
Vera Crowder left her childhood home as soon as possible. She’s been gone for twelve years, but her mother Daphne has called because she’s dying. We know pretty quickly that there’s some tension between Daphne, but soon it’s shown that Vera isn’t popular around town, either. The only person that gives her the benefit of the doubt is artist James Duvall, who is staying in the guest house while he works on art inspired by the Crowder House.
What makes a house truly haunted? Is it the land, the house itself, or what happens within its walls?
While settling her mother’s affairs, Vera learns quickly that she will have to face not only her trauma, but the demons of the house. The house holds trauma just like human bodies do.
“Some things, Vera knew, were made to die.”
I related a lot to Vera, for various reasons I won’t explain here. Gailey seems to write characters that I can relate to in most of their works, and I’m really thankful for that. Their characters are not perfect, are easily flawed, but are determined to work through their trauma to break generational chains. There’s also a very satisfying ending that, while symbolic, feels like a breath of fresh air.
I highly recommend not just Just Like Home, but all of Sarah Gailey’s works. I’m so glad they’ve gone more into the horror genre, and I can’t wait to see what else they release.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
CW for blood, gore, body horror, emotional abuse, murder, death of a parent, grief, chronic illness/hospital/medical setting, and generational trauma
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness