2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I found this a fairly interesting read overall, but think it was horribly mismarketed as horror. I'm not even entirely sure what a more appropriate category would be, but I feel like "horror" did this a complete disservice.

"A House at the Bottom of a Lake" by Josh Malerman is a mesmerizing dive into the unknown, blending romance with spine-tingling suspense. Malerman, acclaimed for his novel "Bird Box," once again showcases his mastery of atmospheric storytelling, drawing readers into a world where secrets lurk beneath tranquil waters. With his signature flair for the eerie and the unexpected, Malerman crafts a haunting narrative that lingers long after the final page. Fans of his previous works will delight in this latest offering, while newcomers will be captivated by his unique blend of horror and heart.

Although the trope of young love and boy meets girl are not unique, the main characters' obsession with the house at the bottom of the lake made me read the novel in one sitting. I loved this book so much and thought the twist ending was masterful. I loved the magical realism feeling of the book.

I never quite know what to expect when it comes to this author and this definitely stayed true to form. I really enjoyed this novella and the parallels that it presented in regards to young love and first dates. This author is really great at creating something eerie and unsettling. I was on edge each time they were in the house, especially when things started to change and the visits revealed more. The house becomes central to their relationship and becomes an obsession. I really liked the ending and will think about this story for a long time. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Very interesting and different. I love a short novella that leaves me thinking about it for days after reading it. This novella is gripping, and made me read more Josh Malerman novels.

This was a 2nd attempt for me.

My first read, I got less than half way before DNF. This time I did finish it.

It was...okay.

I didn't like our two teens very much. I wanted more horror and less puppy love and angst.

That being said, I liked the concept. I just didn't care if they lived or died.

Still, unfortunately, not really for me.

So. I really enjoyed this. I will say I went in thinking this was more in the horror genre. Unfortunately it wasn't. So my expectations of that may affect the rating. I love endings I don't expect...and while the ending left me like...huh...I do find myself thinking about it on a regular basis. I think this a great intro to this author.

Strange and slow...

Two teenagers go on a date on a lake and discover a house submerges under a secret lake.

Weird things begin to happen. It was creepy and unusual but that ending - not sure what to make of it.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake is a story of two teenagers who form a strong connection to each other after venturing out into a lake and finding a house underneath the lake. The house seems to have a force about it that draws them in and causes them to obsess over it. Over time they visit the house more frequently and fall head over heels for each other as they investigate the house. At first they embrace their discovery then become increasingly frightened of it and overwhelmed by their feelings for each other at the same time. I was intrigued and confused as the book progressed towards the end. I wasn’t sure what they were going to find in the house or if something there was putting them in harms way. But I’m thankful they were able to survive the ordeal and stick with each other despite the obstacles that they overcame. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title!

A quick, intense read from Malerman that alternately thrills and chills. I was more disturbed by this than I thought I would be. I wish there was more to the ending, but I respect it for what it is.

First I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for a chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really quick read! I was immediately drawn into the story. Two 17 year old kids in the beginning of a summer romance find a house at the bottom of a hardly ever visited lake. And they explore it! The title alone gave me the impression I would like it as I find large lakes to be a bit creepy as you can never tell what is below. That being said, it was definitely a YA summer romance/fantasy/thriller. A nice change of pace from what I normally read.

I'm going to be frank: I think this is more of a romance than a horror story. There is nothing wrong with that! It's also a short novel, and while I definitely would have welcomed a longer story I don't mind having to imagine what comes next. With that said, it's got some frightening parts but as a whole I think it's a story that readers who aren't that much into REALLY scary horror can handle.

This book kept me interested all the way through. I did predict the twist but nevertheless I did not want to put the book down. I would recommend this book to thriller readers

What a wonderful read! Two great main characters fully realized and the house. Suspenseful, scary, sad, serious all describe this story. A coming of age story with scuba gear. Highly recommended.

This one was promising, but just sort of didn't go much of anywhere and wasn't particularly scary. Built a great, eerie feeling early on but didn't deliver. It just read too much like horny teenage boy YA at times as well.

Not a big fan of the ending so the book is going to lose a star. But I should have known the author was going to have an open ending since their other novel did too.

I gave this a four out of five stars. This was a short book but I really enjoyed it. I liked the main characters and the adventure the author took me on. I wish the ending part was a bit different. I also wish I got more at the ending but I really enjoyed it very much and so glad to have a finished copy in my collection. I absolutely recommend you to read this.

What can I say about the House at the Bottom of the Lake? Parts were just so cringe as the kids say. I had high hopes for this one and was unfortunately underwhelmed. I was expecting to be creeped out, to have to keep a light on as I slept, if I slept at all. This book turned out to be not horror filled at all. I think this is a book to make you think, especially with that ending, but it overall was not executed as well as it could have been in my opinion. The teen romance interspersed with the adventures (if you can call them that) in the house at the bottom of the lake was a little over the top and was the most cringey part of the story for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Del Rey for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this story although not as much as I liked Bird Box. There were some plot points that didn't jive well with me.

I'm rounding this up to a 4 star because while I hated the ending as I hate open ended stories I did actually enjoy myself. The whole concept of diving and finding an underwater house and all the creepiness of the exploration of it was quite cool! The little romance was meh and the characters were a bit annoying in my opinion but I feel like that is not the stories fault but just in keeping with the young age of the characters.