I loved Bird Box so much I got everyone from my friends to my therapist to read it. I also assumed Malerman's other books would be five-star reads. Not the case. If A House at the Bottom of the Lake wasn't such a short novella, I would have thrown it on the DNF pile and called it a day.

Here's the thing: this is a re-release. The book was originally published by a small press in 2016 and is being republished by Random House in 2021. For that reason, I was baffled that they hadn't already edited out the poor transitions, the head hopping, and all of the other novice mistakes that didn't seem like they would fly with a top five publishing house. That said, my copy is an ARC, so there's a good chance the final version that hits the shelf in 2021 won't be so rough around the edges.

While this is marketed as horror, it's really a story that explores what happens when two people fall in love. My biggest issue with the story is that I wasn't convinced there was any chemistry between the two main characters at all. The dialogue fell flat and too much of the story relied on internal monologues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ⁣⁣⠀
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This was an eerily odd book. It gives you that weird disturbing vibe, that something just isn’t right. It has hints of scary moments and moments that are just perplexing. ⁣⁣⠀
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Two teens on a date, find a house at the bottom of a lake. Intrigued by the discovery, they decide to explore it. Using scuba gear, they investigate and they find the house in pristine condition. There is no water damage as one would expect, and objects are not floating around. Kitchenware, books, tables are all in a position as if this house was in a normal neighborhood, and not underwater. ⁣⁣⠀
How this could be is a mystery. ⁣⁣⠀
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The teens spend most of their time together, falling in love, and hanging out on the lake exploring the mysteries of the house under. Intrigue quickly turns into obsession, for both of them. ⁣⁣⠀
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Even as some scary things begin to happen in the house, and away from it, the couple can’t help but come back. ⁣⁣⠀
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This is a short book, only about 200 pages. I’m not sure if it’s a novella or perhaps a longer short story. It’s a quick read that leaves you wondering what just happened.⁣⁣⠀
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The end was interesting. I’m not exactly sure what it was meant to convey. I’m still trying to figure it out. ⁣⁣⠀
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Overall, it was a quick creepy read with a lot left open to interpretation. It was my mysterious enough that I’m ok with it not having a conclusive ending. ⁣⁣⠀
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This would be a great book to read and discuss. ⁣⁣⠀
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Ummm...I don’t really know what to say. I found myself rereading at different parts of the story because I thought I missed something.
Two teenagers falling in love for the first time. A summer romance that takes place on a lake. Amelia and James are on a date paddling in the water when they look down and see a roof and then upon further inspection a house at the bottom of a lake! It consumes them and they don’t know if the love they feel is for each other or for this secret house that they are exploring. and without this adventure, who are they?
It was a short book and left way too much unanswered throughout and at the end. That being said, if you enjoy drawing your own conclusions about different scenes in a book, then go for it.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a creepy, quick read. I was pulled in from the beginning, but I was left wanting to know more.

An earlier work by Malerman, and really more of a novella. The story is magical and spooky with a great setting — only wish there was more.

"It was true then; they'd both seen it. A house. Submerged. A rooftop beneath the surface. And yet, it was so dark down there..."

Man oh man, what did I just read?! This novella is very difficult to review, let me tell you. At some places it feels almost like a YA novella, at some places it feels like a horror, but mostly it feels like an eerie romance novella. Originally I would have given this one 3.5 stars but the fact that I keep reminiscing over it combined with the fact that I could not put it down has prompted me to give it 4 stars.

Two teenagers James and Amelia, go canoeing on a lake for their first date in the summer. Both are extremely nervous and excited. They discover a hidden lake off a set of lakes they are canoeing on and decide to check it out. It is perfect. Serene, quaint, beautiful and it is all theirs. The perfect spot for young love. They discover a secret that changes everything, a house below the lake. An entire house just sitting beneath them underwater. Naturally they want to explore it and learn more. However, the more they explore the more it feels as if they are being watched.

This novella kept me engaged the whole way through. It is very reminiscent of a Stephen King or Joe Hill novella. I kept wanting to explore this mysterious house with James and Amelia and learn its secrets with them. The eeriness and uncertainty of what was down there kept me flying through the pages waiting for something spooky to happen.

I'm having a hard time determining who the intended audience should be. If you are looking for something different and light, this is for you. I cannot say that it is a YA romance and I cannot say that it is a horror, but perhaps it is some odd hybrid of the two. I have been a huge fan of Josh Malerman for some time now. Birdbox, Inspection and Unbury Carol are all amazing novels in their own right and something very unique to themselves. The same goes for A House at the Bottom of a Lake. It is very unique, in itself and among his other works. I will definitely be pondering over this one for some time. Over the subject, the mystery of the house, and that ending...

3.5/5

James and Amelia, both seventeen years old, meet at James' father's hardware store. James has seen Amelia before and finally works up the courage to ask her on a date. The two decide to go canoeing on his uncle's lake - a private spot that overlooks the mountains.

On their date, they venture to an adjacent lake and realize that if they can maneuver the canoe through a large pipe, a third lake may be on the other end. Risking getting stuck and damaging the canoe, the teens go for it and after some struggle, end up in a third, even more secluded lake.

At first, the third lake seems unimpressive compared to the others. It has an old smell, like something unused and the views aren't nearly as spectacular. However, as they paddle around, they soon realize there is a house under the water. It has been completely submerged though there are no other signs of life or residences nearby. Intrigued, James and Amelia decide to explore further, jumping in and venturing as far as their lungs will allow. It becomes readily apparent that they'll need scuba gear in order to explore more, and when Amelia realizes that the house is fully furnished, the teens decide to do whatever it takes to get back to their underwater house.

As the teens spend more and more time at the lake and beneath the water exploring the house, their attitudes start to change as if a magnetic pull is keeping them by the water. They start spending nights on a hand built raft and feel an ache whenever they have to leave. But something dark seems to be watching them as well. It's unclear if the house has some darker force within it and because the teens vowed not to ask 'how' or 'why', they may never know how the house ended up beneath the lake or why it seems to have mysterious powers.

This was an incredibly intriguing novella. I was hooked from the first page and basically read it in a single sitting. However, it left me wanting more. There was a lot of suspense but I'm not really sure what it built up to. I'm also not entirely sure I understand what happened - but maybe that's the point?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novella.

Thank you to Random House for this copy to review.

Josh Malerman sure does creepy well. Every step of the way you’re asking how. How could this house be at the bottom of the lake? How could the house be intact? How? How? He always keeps you wanting more and leaves you wondering what happens next.

The idea is intriguing the execution was unrealistic. Maybe if this had been a full size novel there would be more explanation for some of the characters actions, motivations, and behaviors; and more history of the lake and house would have giving the story more depth. As is, its a quick read, somewhat entertaining but nothing I would recommend.

This is not a novel but a novella, which I didn't realize since I got this to read on my kindle app. I like this author so I just jumped in without really looking at the length. Initially this formed a bit of a disconnect for me as there is no backstory at all on the characters - we just start off with the action and go from there. This never changes - throughout the story there is no explanation for how two 17 year olds spend nights on a lake and have no apparent parental supervision. For a novella, this lack of depth all made a lot more sense.

This is really an allegory for first love. It's not a horror story, which it is billed as. It's slightly creepy at times but those moments are never given any true depth of horror. I enjoyed reading it, although I understand the reviews that found it frustrating. Just bear in mind it's not really horror, and it's a novella so don't expect everything to be explained fully or to have neat resolution. Expect symbolism. Lots of it.

I liked the ending. Another reviewer commented that this story reminded them of No End House, season 2 of Channel Zero. I got the same vibe while reading it.

I actually read this novella two years ago, but was under the impression it had been extended for this Random House release. Why? Well, for starters, several Net Galley reviews mentioned its page count being over 200, and I could have sworn it was more like 100. I then went onto the publisher's website to look up its details, which showed a page count over 200. However, the Goodreads profile for its original release was around 80 pages shorter. So, you can see how I got confused. But here's the thing - I didn't notice anything different. Had I known nothing was extended, I wouldn't have read this again. Let me tell you why.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake features an interesting premise that doubles as a wonderful backdrop for a coming-of-age tale. In other words, this could have been a really striking story if done a bit differently. The problem I had throughout this cute novella is that it tended to drag. There were too many scenes that were solid, but lacking excitement. It's not that this having a love story is any issue - it's that the love story is a little too naive and youthful. It seemed like I was reading about thirteen year olds, not high school seniors.

It also feels like very little happens when it comes to the mysterious house. It takes too long for anything to really develop, and once it does, there still isn't enough coming from it. And the ending? I'm not sure if I like it or hate it. I've read this book twice now and I'm still torn.

If you're a diehard Malerman fan (there are plenty out there), chances are you'll love this one. For people like me - who haven't yet been blown away by his work - then this probably won't be the book to it. I'm still waiting for my 5 star experience. As far as this one stands, A House at the Bottom of a Lake is solid, but not satisfying enough for shelf recommendation.

i'm not sure if this is a revised, re-release of the 2016 version or not. my copy is labeled as an uncorrected proof.

i like malerman. i like his style and use of language. i think his concepts, in general, are intriguing, though all of them seem just shy of being fully realized; it's almost like he's seen the phrase "show, don't tell" and decided that he just won't tell you anything at all. much like black mad wheel, a house at the bottom of a lake veers too close to incomprehensible. i like when characters are in the dark, when they don't know or understand and therefore the entire plot isn't handed to the reader on a plate, but i also enjoy a sense of clarity - the lack of resolution, of a point solidly made, hinders the story some.

it's not really a convincing marriage of the two genres - romance and paranormal - either. the supernatural elements are actually quite sparse, while the 'romance' is melodramatic and, for me, too forced. i would've liked more of a balance, more of an exploration of amelia and james's dynamic, only for the ending to be so lackluster and jarring.

but like i said: i like malerman. his work is interesting. this is my third book of his, the third in a row i've rated a three. there's potential in his ideas; i just always want something a little more from his novels.

This is a fast=paced novella that had me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what would happen. This was a quick read that I wouldn't classify as horror, but there was a lot of mystery and suspense.

James and Amelia set out on their first date, at age 17, to explore the a couple lakes. They discover a third and canoe over to explore, only to find there's a house at the bottom of the lake. The story follows their decisions of whether to explore it, keep it a secret, and of course -- explore their romance.

There isn't a lot of background to the characters, so the story really just jumped right into the plot line. The characters and imagery were well-described and it was easy to imagine what was happening. The open-ending makes me wish there's a second novella!

Review: A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman

James and Amelia are on their first date, deciding to take a canoe out on the two connecting lakes to have a little picnic while seeing the beautiful surrounding scenery. When they find a third connecting lake, something darker, dirtier, hidden and foul, things take a turn. Just under the surface of the water, James and Amelia make out the roof of a rather large (impossible?) house. In deciding to explore the rest of it, they find much more than they were expecting.

This book just worked for me, and while many might not consider this to be horror, I could see where the horror lied based off of my personal fears. I’ve mentioned this before, but I have one major fear: submechanophobia, which is the fear of man-made objects submerged in water. This book creeped me out just knowing there was a whole damn house underneath the water’s surface. No thank you, I’m already disturbed.

Josh Malerman did an exceptional job creating an eerie atmosphere with this claustrophobic setting, one where I felt like I was trapped myself. For me, there were several unnerving moments, and two that made my skin crawl. I don’t think a book has ever done that to me before. I also thought that James and Amelia truly read as if they were 17 year olds just discovering who they are, and embarking on new discoveries, which I really appreciated. I love how this story isn’t spoon-fed to the reader, which could be a reason for the mixed reviews, as there are so many readers who do prefer things being wrapped up in a neat way with no loose ends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s something I love sometimes, too, but in this case ambiguous just worked!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Spooky, eerie...but in a way that snatches at your imagination. The writing captures a dreamy feeling of things just <i>being</i>, of things one <i>must do</i>. "No hows, no whys" is the rule for exploring the house, and that is carried over to you the reader. You don't get to ask how or why, or at least you can ask but you won't be answered. The book is an experience, and one that's going to lap at my mind like the waves of a lake.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure I would classify this as horror. In fact, I’m not sure what I’d call it. I don’t know how this author wrote Bird Box but also wrote Malerie and this novella. The writing seems different, especially the dialogue. All of this to say, I didn’t care for this. It could’ve been a decent plot under a different author (sorry), because there were definitely some spooky moments. But I don’t love novellas and the characters were flat with stilted dialogue.

So this was a reread for me, which I don’t often do. But I remember really enjoying the creepiness of this one a lot. As for the second time around, I’m just as creeped out.

I feel like I would have taken one look at the roof and been like, NOPE!! Not going in there!! But I assume there’s a pull like moths to a flame, which freaks me out. As if there was no other choice than to go inside. To be scared and have to proceed anyway.

James and Amelia are almost sickeningly cute together. I guess when you’re experiencing that sort of thing together, it changes your relationship and brings you closer together, but damn... [hide spoiler] That was apparently all they had!!!! It makes me sad that they had all this love that just flattened without the house. Like they couldn’t even be around each other without it.

And let’s discuss the ending momentarily. What in the hell?!?! They find the house above water?!?! That is also a hard no for me!!! So why do I get the feeling that they’re dying to go inside and explore it to see if it’s the same. To find a blob person living inside with random dresses floating in the air like other blob people are wearing them??? (hide spoiler)] Hence the hell no!!!

I’m sure many people aren’t scared by this book and I wouldn’t say I was scared, but freaked out. I kept shaking my head and telling them not to go on. I do love a book that can give me chills and pull me in as much as Josh Malerman’s books can. I recommend this as suspense, not horror and I’m eager to read some more of Malerman’s works!!

Amazon review pending approval.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake was a quick read and was different from what I expected. The story is mysterious and vivid, mixing romance and horror. This seemed different from other work I've read of Malerman's, but I enjoyed it and would read more like this in the future.

Delightfully eerie, yet also sweetly nostalgic, a unique combination for a very original novella. Malermann perfectly captures the sincerity of first love.

Not what I expected after reading Bird Box from this author. I had a hard time getting into at first but I worked through it. Towards the middle I started to really enjoy it. However ending was a bit “Eh”. I would not say it’s bad just different.