Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
One thing about me is that I love a haunted house story. I find them so fun, and I liked seeing Henry's take on the trope. I thought she blended paranormal horror elements with family drama so well. I liked Jessie as the main character. She goes through so much tragedy within the book, and instead of letting it break her, she uses it as fuel to stop it from happening again. The history behind the house was interesting and led to some pretty gory moments. The horror wasn't too over the top, but was just gross enough to make me feel a little squeamish. The climax felt a bit rushed, but other than that, I thought this was a solid read.
I loved this twisty take on Little Women. It was so fresh and unique. I thought Bernet did a nice job of respecting the original story while making it wholly her own. I loved getting to see all four sisters' POVs, and I thought they each had such a distinct voice. Bernet's writing was descriptive yet to the point. The fast-paced nature, coupled with the short chapters, made me fly through this, eager to see who the killer was. Each character was hiding something, so I was side-eyeing all of them the entire time. The reveal was slightly predictable, but I was so entertained that I didn't even mind. If you're a fan of Little Women or are just looking for a fun thriller to read, I recommend checking it out.
A Box Full of Darkness- Simone St. James: The Esmie siblings-- Violet, Vail, and Dodie-- haven't been back to their childhood home in Fell, NY in years. It was a miserable and sad place to grow up, with each being haunted by terrifying visions, but the final straw for the siblings was the disappearance of their youngest sibling, Ben, during a game of hide-and-seek. The police and their parents didn't seem concerned, but Violet, Vail, and Dodie never gave up hope that Ben would be found. Now, two decades later, visions of Ben call the Esmie siblings back home, and they won't rest until they find out what happened to their little brother.
St. James's books can be hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this one. I'm always intrigued by a haunted house element, and I thought this one was pretty well done. The three Esmie siblings weren't super likable, but their dynamic felt realistic, and some of their interactions (especially between Vail and Dodie) reminded me of how my brother and I act. I also appreciated getting all of their perspectives since each of them had a different experience with the house and was able to see how it affected them. I always enjoy seeing how St. James blends thriller and paranormal elements together, and while I was able to figure out the ghost aspect, I still enjoyed seeing it all come together. If you don't mind a slightly slower-paced read, then I'd recommend checking it out.
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| Pub Date: 11-4-25 Adult - Horror |
The Place Where They Buried Your Heart- Christina Henry: Everyone who lives on Jessie Campanelli's block is familiar with the McIntyre house. The house has sat abandoned for years after a tragic incident, and has become a local legend. Parents are quick to warn their kids away from the house, but children never listen. Jessie did what all kids do and dared her younger brother, Paul, to go in, but unlike the others, Paul never returned. His two best friends, who went in with him, said the house had eaten him, but the adults were quick to brush that ridiculous notion aside. But Jessie listened and made it her mission to discover the truth behind what happened to her brother, and what exactly is hiding within the house's walls.
One thing about me is that I love a haunted house story. I find them so fun, and I liked seeing Henry's take on the trope. I thought she blended paranormal horror elements with family drama so well. I liked Jessie as the main character. She goes through so much tragedy within the book, and instead of letting it break her, she uses it as fuel to stop it from happening again. The history behind the house was interesting and led to some pretty gory moments. The horror wasn't too over the top, but was just gross enough to make me feel a little squeamish. The climax felt a bit rushed, but other than that, I thought this was a solid read.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 1-15-26 YA - Thriller |
Beth is Dead- Katie Bernet: Ever since their father wrote a bestselling book about their lives, the March sisters have been under scrutiny. Whether they like it or not, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy have been thrust into the public eye and have to deal with all that comes with it. Out of all the sisters, Beth is the one most desperate to change her narrative and prove to the world that, despite her father's book, she's very much alive. But when her body is found in the woods on New Year's Day, her sisters take it upon themselves to find her killer. Once they begin their investigations, it becomes clear that Beth's murder was committed by someone close to the family, and it doesn't take long for the sisters to suspect one another.
I loved this twisty take on Little Women. It was so fresh and unique. I thought Bernet did a nice job of respecting the original story while making it wholly her own. I loved getting to see all four sisters' POVs, and I thought they each had such a distinct voice. Bernet's writing was descriptive yet to the point. The fast-paced nature, coupled with the short chapters, made me fly through this, eager to see who the killer was. Each character was hiding something, so I was side-eyeing all of them the entire time. The reveal was slightly predictable, but I was so entertained that I didn't even mind. If you're a fan of Little Women or are just looking for a fun thriller to read, I recommend checking it out.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 1-20-26 Adult - Thriller |
St. James's books can be hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this one. I'm always intrigued by a haunted house element, and I thought this one was pretty well done. The three Esmie siblings weren't super likable, but their dynamic felt realistic, and some of their interactions (especially between Vail and Dodie) reminded me of how my brother and I act. I also appreciated getting all of their perspectives since each of them had a different experience with the house and was able to see how it affected them. I always enjoy seeing how St. James blends thriller and paranormal elements together, and while I was able to figure out the ghost aspect, I still enjoyed seeing it all come together. If you don't mind a slightly slower-paced read, then I'd recommend checking it out.
Rating: 3/5
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