The story started well with a good plot and suspense, but as the book progressed it became twisted to confusing and unbelievable proportions. Some characters are just left off and others brought on suddenly and the core events of the past over which the whole story revolves around is told in a few lines in the conclusion with no explanation. I enjoyed the author’s previous book but this one made me roll my eyes. Sorry 2.5 stars

Thirteen people go in, but only twelve come out.
That’s what Amber notices on her ring camera while spying on her own open house. Did she count correctly? She’s sure she did. It’s this moment she regrets not paying for the subscription with the added features of recording on her home security camera. Where could the last viewer have gone? Is he hiding in her home, waiting for her to come back? As if noting one less person leaving your home wasn’t disturbing enough. Strange things start happening around Amber’s home. Belongings are going missing or turning up in places they weren’t placed, loud noises can be heard through the house, and one of her sons has a reoccurring nightmare. Could all of this somehow be linked? Should she be scared for her and her family or is she imagining these events due to the overwhelming stress she has been experiencing lately?
I absolutely loved this book! I tried so hard to guess the outcome of the story and I failed miserably. I could have never guessed this ending and was loved how flawlessly Sam Carrington pieced everything together. I don’t have a single question left unanswered and am eager to read more work by this author. She definitely has a talent for drawing people in and making them want to know more! I highly recommend this to fellow Psychological Thriller fans.

Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.

When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.

But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.

Loved the concept of this book. An easy read with plenty of twists to hold your attention. There were a lot of characters in this book though which I found hard to keep track of. The ending was a surprise too.

Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amber and Nick are divorcing and Amber is looking to start afresh in other area and is trying to sell the marital home. Struggling to find a buyer, she reluctantly agrees to an open house but is alarmed when, discovering remotely via her ring doorbell that whilst 13 people entered only 12 left.

I like twisty tales and was easily drawn into this book initially and whilst I liked that there were so many iffy characters and suspects it was difficult to work out who, what, where, when. It became a little incredulous especially in the latter part of the book. I found myself having to re-read parts in utter disbelief to follow it and the resolution was beyond me.

Others may like the level of twists and confusion and can suspend belief maybe better than I can so, on the whole thus is worth a read

This is my first book by this author and I will try another book but in the hope that they are less "busy" in their plots and subplots.

Thanks to netgalley UK and Avon books UK for a free Arc copy of the book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review

The Open House is a great read,creepy, gripping with never ending twists and turns .You would think that selling your house would be simple when you and your husband split up but nothing is as it seems,everyone is trying to block the sale but why ? I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though the unexpected ending was a little on the unlikely side.Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NeGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review .

I really enjoyed this book. Amber and Nick are splitting up and have their house on the market. However, there doesn't seem to be much interest, so the estate agent arranges an open house viewing. All well and good, but 13 people go in to the house but only 12 come out. This is a far fetched story but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

One house, One family, a community full of mysteries.

When Amber puts her home on the market while going through a divorce she never would have imagined the chaos that would immediately ensue. Her mother-in-laws meddling, her neighbors nosing around, strange things happening in her home and a realtor that cannot be trusted. This thriller filled with family drama galore had me staying up late, and reading in every moment of downtime I could find.

While the plot (as well as the twists and turns) were often predictable, either because of well laid out foreshadowing, or simply progression of the book, it was still highly enjoyable. Most of the characters were well developed, likeable (or deliciously detestable), and it flowed well.

Overall it did keep me entertained, but I was disappointed in the end. I felt as though many of the smaller side stories needed more depth to their endings, and didn’t like how rushed it all felt. And I never truly appreciate a nice and tidy happily ever after at the end of a thriller. Just seems too forced.

Solid 3.5/5 Stars for me

Thank you to Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I so wanted to love the book, the tag line and the cover instantly draw you in but what a strange book, badly written and the chapters are so short I was confused as to whether this book had a plot until the far fetched story kicked in. A strange book, I’m not sure exactly what the authors trying to convey.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon UK For giving me an advanced copy.

Thank you to Avon books U.K., @netgalley and @samcarringtonauthor for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is absolutely the definition of page turned just to find out what on earth is going on.

Amber is recently separated and on a new relationship unsuccessfully trying to sell her house to start a new life with her children and new partner. I was not sure if I liked Amber. She is nasty to her neighbours, and her mother in law. And a very strict parent not allowing the boys to watch the Simpsons or eat Coco-pops more than once a week.

Was not very sure what to make of her or her mother in law Barb.

But there was something very odd going on at home. Why is her house not selling? And what is going on with her nosy neighbour and her invisible husband?

This novel had me devouring the chapters until I reached the end. But I was not sure of the ending which is why its 4 stars and not 4.

Doesn’t make it a bad book – just the ending detracts from everything else going on.

Score rounded up from 4.5 stars.

I could not put this book down and devoured it in just over a day!

Chapters are told from either Amber or Barb’s (Mother-in-Law) point of view and each one was short and full of atmosphere.

Amber watches people enter her house on the Smart doorbell during the open house. She counts 13 people go in but only 12 come out. From then on strange things start to happen around the house, things go missing, items move and then her son says he saw a man watching him in the night! My heart was racing during these chapters as the author really captured the chilling nature of it and I was scared with Amber as to what she might discover.

Throughout the book Amber is trying to figure out if there really is someone in her house and who is trying to sabotage the selling of it which ultimately leads to a vast array of suspects and a whole host of unexpecting twists!

Speaking of twists, this book is packed full to the brim with them. I just couldn’t work it out and then once one is revealed, another one is thrown into the mix. These were really enjoyable and they did shock me, however I did knock half a star off because there were some things that happened at the end that didn’t entirely make sense to me regarding a character and how I thought they would behave. It was just a little confusing.

Apart from that though I thoroughly enjoyed this, it was brilliant fun to read and kept me on my toes until the very very end!

I struggled a little with this book, but the fault there is with me, not the author. It is written in the present tense and I have a real issue with books using that device. So, putting that to one side, what is the book like? Well, there are a LOT of twists here - probably too many if I'm honest. There is a good story here, but for me it's hidden behind the overly convoluted plot. Characterisation is generally good but there are a few odd anomalies from time to time. This is by no means a bad book, but for me at least neither is it a particularly good one - it's just OK and not something that makes me think I'll return to this author. Sorry. :(

I found this book a little slow to begin with, but picked up after the first couple of chapters, to the point I did not want to put it down. I enjoyed how the author introduced characters and built up the story which has great plot twists at the end, anyone could have done it!. did a great job at keeping you thinking, not knowing who to trust. I recommend this book.

This book was quite a ride, and it really was enjoyable. It all starts when Amber, who is going to sell her house, decides to agree to an open house event. That day, through a security camera app installed on her phone, she sees that 13 people enter her house to visit but only 12 leave it. From that day on, she’s convinced that the 13th viewer is still inside the house. Strange things start happening and she soon finds out that she can’t trust anybody anymore. The premises of this book are brilliant and original, and it really has you hooked throughout the reading. It is a real page turner and you just can’t put it down because you want to know if Amber is imagining things or if something is off for real. I really enjoyed this book, although I found the last quarter of it a bit overwhelming. Too much is going on in the last chapters and all these twists don’t really make for a 5-star book. When a crime novel has such a good start, I’m usually quite scared that I’d be disappointed in the end. I can’t say the ending disappointed me, but it does not level up to the standards the book had set up at the beginning. Still, it is a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I would definitely recommend.

•Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review•

This was quite the page turner! I couldn’t put it down for the first half, anticipating what was to come. After that it dragged just a bit but the author wrapped it up well with some surprises. I will definitely read this author again. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! 3.5 stars

Exactly what I was looking for in a book like this. Oh my! Unputdownable!!!!! Definitely will recommend to friends.

A twisty-turny intrigue, The Open House was a quick, refreshing, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the shadowy sense of something sinister lurking in the house, it gave an eerie aspect to the story I really enjoyed.

The premise of the book is somewhat different to the usual spousal intrigue, and being an avid crime/thriller reader, I enjoyed the concept of something new. I loved the shorter, punchy chapters as well, it makes you want to read 'just one more.'

The ending was a surprise, although I do think the very last twist in the tail could have been omitted. The characters are very likeable, and I will definitely be looking up more of Sam Carrington's offerings, she writes in an engaging, girly-chat-over-a-cup-of-tea kind of way.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Sam Carrington for my ARC.

I am an avid reader of physiological thrillers; this one is one of my top reads! I was hooked from the the first few pages until the unforseen finish. An ordinary family going through a split - always difficult when young children are involved - with a mother-in-law who has ulterior motive. I had to read this in a day...couldn't put it down! Very clever twists and turns which I tried to solve as I read - but got it completely wrong, which I love!

Sam Carrington is an author that I no longer need the blurb for, I know that I need to read her books. The Open House is a fantastic page turner, full of twists and unlikeable characters.. it is hard to know who to believe. It kept me up late into the night as ai had to know how it was going to finish,,, and absolutely no regrets 😃

Amber and Nick are splitting up and selling the family home. She wants the house sold so she can move away and start again with her new man. Her mother in law is not so keen to have it sold and tries everything she can to prevent it. When the realtor suggests an Open House, Amber is nervous but gives the go ahead. This is where the nightmare begins, believing that one of the visitors did not Ileave the house that day. Strange things start to happen but is she just paranoid?

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

The Open House by Sam Carrington is a very twisty and intriguing thriller. Not scary but it really makes you think throughout the whole book.

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!!!

Amber and her 2 sons are living in her soon to be ex-husband, Nick’s, childhood home. Embarking on a new relationship and trying to sell the family house has Amber a bit stressed.
Add on a mother-in-law, Barb, who is willing to do whatever needed to keep her family together and in the family home. After having an open house, Amber and her sons start to notice strange goings on. This sets Amber on a chase to figure out what and why all this is going on.

This book switches back and forth from Amber and Barb’s POV along with a few pop ins from an unknown character. Switching between these POVs gives the reader insight into the dynamic relationship this family and town has.

This book started out a bit slow for me. There were a few times that I had to sit back and think through the information given to keep all of Ambers thoughts straight. Towards the middle of the book the story line picked up quickly and from there I didn’t want to put it down.

I loved how there were so many connections between the people. Small towns tend to have connections in all sort of places and this feel was definitely included in this book.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves suspenseful and non-spooky books!

A huge thank you to @Netgalley and @Avonbooks for the free earc for my honest review!

Everyone's welcome. But not everyone leaves.

Nick and Amber are splitting up and trying to sell their house. But for some reason, the house isn't moving, and it's unclear why. The realtor convinces Amber to have an open house to attract potential buyers, and she agrees even though she's uncomfortable with the idea. She watches the visitors enter the house through her doorbell camera. Thirteen enter but only twelve leave. The tag line and blurb grabbed me, making me think someone was killed in the process of the open house. But this wasn't the case at all. A far more convoluted, confusing story was at play in this thriller.

The author did well creating a feeling of suspense and urgency, but I struggled with most of the book being Amber's repetitive internal dialogue. It’s a lot of telling vs showing; there’s not a lot of imagery built up.

Things started off well giving a few options to who is causing Amber's angst. But too many additional characters were later brought in, making things overcomplicated and confusing. Early on I figured out the critical aspects of the plot. In the end, this was a "beach read" thriller without a lot of true thriller substance.