This was a good, quick read. The love story between James and Amelia is different than most, which was a nice change. The description made it easy to visualize the story while reading it. The ending fell just a little short for me, I wanted more so thats why 4 stars instead of 5. Overall I really enjoyed this mystery romance.

This is an interesting novel, although I would not classify it as horror. I had some unanswered questions where the story did not flow well but the premise of the plot was good.
Many thanks to Random House publishing Group and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Published in the UK (small press) in 2016; published by Del Rey on January 19, 2021

The title encapsulates the plot. Two 17-year-old virgins go canoeing on a date. They paddle from one lake to a second lake, where they find a tunnel that leads to a third, swampier lake. There they find a perfectly preserved house at the bottom of the lake. Its roof is visible from the lake’s surface but the house is apparently a secret. They decide that the underwater house would be a great place to lose their virginity.

James and Amelia feel drawn to the house, as if by a supernatural force. They eventually get some scuba gear so they can spend time exploring the house and each other. They even build a raft so they can sleep on the lake. They don’t want to know how or why the house exists, how or why its furniture and teacups remain perfectly in place rather than floating away, how or why rugs stay flat on the floor and show no sign of damage, how and why dresses are moving through the water as if worn by an invisible woman. Apparently, they are worried that rational thought would destroy the magic. Eventually the magic is destroyed by the onset of creepiness. There’s a monster or a presence or a something in the house because how could there not be?

The House at the Bottom of a Lake isn’t marketed as YA fiction but I would only recommend it to young adults. The plot is unsophisticated. The young lovers are the only characters of any importance and almost the only characters to appear. The sex is far from graphic. Josh Malerman’s prose is simple (almost juvenile). All of which is fine if you’re fifteen and wondering what it would be like to lose your cherry underwater, although the absence of pain and blood won’t give kids a realistic view of virginity’s loss.

Is The House a horror novel? Probably, but it’s too dull to be frightening. Is The House a love story? Too much of it is — and a sappy love story, at that — but the idea of seventeen-year-olds bonding over a house at the bottom of a lake is so unconvincing that I was unmoved by their puppy love. The ending attempts to make a dramatic statement about the ephemeral nature of young love but the story is so lacking in drama that adult readers are likely to shrug their shoulders and hope that the next book they read will be better.

The novel’s first climax suggests what the house is made from but doesn’t explain its existence because no explanation is possible. The novel’s final climax is silly and anticlimactic. The story is too simplistic to hold the interest of most adult readers.

Horror novels are based on fear, not rationality, although the best horror novels are based on rational fears. I don’t necessarily expect a horror novel to make sense (apart from the internal logic that the author constructs) but I do expect a horror novel to be frightening. This one isn’t. We’re often told that James is “more scared than he’s ever been” but we don’t feel the fear. Nor did I ever get the sense that James and Amelia were particularly imperiled. Maybe a YA audience would react differently, but since the book isn’t marketed as YA fiction, I can’t recommend it.

NOT RECOMMENDED

I read this book in less than 4 hours on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. It was quiet, I was freaked out, and every little noise in the house made me jump.
But…
First of all, this book is not for everyone. I know a lot of people will hate it with all their hearts.
Second of all, this is one of the weirdest horror books I’ve ever read. I felt a kind of fear that is very hard to describe.
OK, now let me try to talk about this book:
The title says it all. A couple of seventeen-year-olds go explore on a canoe and end up in a lake where there’s a huge house at the bottom.
Of course, they HAVE to explore it. They go back with the proper equipment and they spend days in the house, exploring every room. The house has all the normal furniture but nothing is floating. How? And why is it in the bottom of a lake? Who lived there?
Please note: this book was written to be enjoyed without much thinking. Don’t expect reasonable explanations. If you’re a logical person, you’ll probably be disappointed.
This book is by the same author as Bird Box which I know is a hit or miss book and movie. I can see the same happening with this one.
I think it freaked me out so much because of the claustrophobic feeling, forgetting to breathe, ANDDD… I’m terrified of eels.

Have you ever encountered something that you couldn't explain, that no matter what you did you couldn't escape it? Such is the case for young James and Amelia, a pair of teenagers that stumble across something that redirects the course of their entire summer.

On their first date, our two young protagonist are enjoying a day on the lake, surrounded by motor boats and water skiers, the two enjoy their time in the row boat, James suggests that they venture to the more serene second lake at the far end of this one, so they continue the journey. Once arrived they enjoy the peace, no disturbances, bu they notice that their is still uncharted territory. A third lake, through a drain pipe, which is in place to form a bridge for the service road. The tunnel is more than accepting at first, yet as they move forward it is clear that it is narrowing, as they scratch and scrape the sides of the boat, but they make it through, on to their discovery.

This is my first long piece of fiction from Josh Malerman, sure, I've watched Bird Box, but it doesn't compare to the prose that Malerman creates within this tale is hauntingly beautiful, and wispy. There is no looking back when you start to read this story, it seems that it was almost effortless in creation, the way that it engrosses you completely. No denying what comes next, you have to know and you cannot disobey its will. The descriptions of the landscapes alone can draw you in, the setting of the third lake, mystery completely enshrouds your thoughts. I have quite a few of his works that I have yet to experience, but after this it is safe to say that I will be delving into them much sooner than I originally anticipated.

The characters in this story are well developed, they cause you to wonder if things really were that awkward at that age. The bond that they share is flattering, and despite everything that unfolds as the story progresses they still tend to stick by one another, even as they try to walk away from it all. I still find my self wondering the dreamscape created at the third lake.

I recommend this to those who aren't looking for deliberate in your face scares, they're subtle, but are there and the dread that creeps into the readers mind is real.

I would like to extend a huge thank you, Net Galley, and Del Rey for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️/5

“You wanna check it out, don’t you?”
Amelia shrugged. She didn’t want to say no anything. Not today.

A House At The Bottom Of The Sea is one word: claustrophobic. I was gasping for air myself when they would go down to explore this literal house. Malerman’s writing was atmospheric to the point where I needed to come up for air. It has a vintage feel to it that really reminds you of the scary books you used to read underneath a blanket with a flashlight as a child.

Honestly, all I could think about was Lake Lanier. IFKYK. Yes, Lake Lanier is cursed. Yes, it’s haunted. NO, DO NOT swim there 😂.

This is definitely a book that is going to have some opinions. You’re either going to love the ending and therefore, the book, or the opposite. I personally really enjoyed it. It was such a unique premise. There was so much symbolism and parallels to this new, unknown, young love that it just..worked. It just worked.

A House at the Bottom of the Lake is eerie, suspenseful, yet innocent, all at the same time. Thank you to the wonderful folks at Penguin for the gifted copy. This is out now!

“We could have shaped it into anything we wanted it to be.”

I am receivied this arc by Josh Malerman and netgalley for a honest and fair review #AHouseattheBottomofaLake #NetGalley

Let me preface this review by a silly little anecdote. My wife and I both live orange juice. For me there is nothing better than an ice cold glass of OJ that has so much pulp it literally sticks it's delicious Orange happiness to each ice cube. She on the other hand HATES 'chewing' her drinks as she puts it, and I will drink pulp free orange juice but I really don't like it.
the reason I give you this useless little window into my life is kind of how I feel about not only Josh Malerman, but this book in particular. It wasn't the flavor per se but it just felt lacking those yummy little chunks for me to chew over while I continue my beverage.
I can say his writing is quite good, his plotter getting better and better and he has some damn good prose.
But, like the pulp free OJ it just wasn't exactly for me. I loved the idea I feel it could have been offended from James and Amelia having a little more history. The first date idea is school but so much more can be done with some trust/resentment issues cuz the amalgamation of exploration trust and just the sixth sense that comes with getting to know someone would add imo. Because let's be honest how much do you really care about that person on your first date.


All in all it's not that it was a bad book it's just not for me 2.5


Don't take a 2.5 as meaning bad. I usually taste books that are bad /could not finish 1. Books that were just okay, more meh then whoa 2. Books that were good but I will most likely l read another or a sequel 3
Books that I thought were great 4.
And books that I found absolutely amazing, and will recommend to everyone 5

Thank you for the opportunity to review #NetGalley and #JoshMalerman

Goal this year is to try to get a bit more into this who book review thing.

The author of the book can pull you in so you want to see the next sentence. The description of the house and the area you can easily picture each and every aspect of what is seen around the teens.
Would definitely encourage reading this and all of Josh Malerman's books. Next on my list will be Birdbox.

This book was not what I expected. It was a story about young love and magical realism and some scary parts along the way. I sadly wasn’t a big fan of the main characters but I thought the story had an interesting concept. For some reason I’d see this as a good movie but not from the present.

This book is... confusing. I’m not sure if I’m missing all of the symbolism, or if I’m just not smart enough to see the big picture. The ending seemed like a totally different book, and on a different thought process than the book. I wouldn’t call it horror, but if you fear the water, then I can see it being spooky. It’s a fast read about two horny teenagers and figuring out the world on dates.

I don't know what I just read but it was terrible. I have no idea what kind of a story it was, certainly not horror or even thriller. The writing was amature and clunky and like does he have any idea what hes talking about? Even setting aside the paranormal aspect for now, nothing is believable. These kids seemingly live in a small town, one small enough to have a family owned hardware store and an independent small grocery, have extended family all living in the same town, and walk from one side of town to the other, and it seems that they've both lived their all their lives or a long time anyway but they've never met until now? Impossible. I grew up in that kind of a town and I knew every single person in the whole town let alone my class of 36 kids. I now live in a town big enough to have a chain hardware and a chain grocery and there's still less than 100 kids per grade. So unless she just moved into town which it seems like she didn't, there's no way they don't know each other. Then what about their parents? They are only 17 and they just disappear all day and all night and no one is looking for them? Nope. And also in this small town they just magically have scuba gear and lessons available? Come on. I live among tons of lakes I can walk to 2 from my house and there are no scuba places. I'm not even going to get into the horrible ending but let's just say it should have at least been a real ghost and they could have researched it and learned about some horrible story behind the house and then maybe I would have forgiven how stupid the rest of it was.

On their first date, Amelia and James explore a hidden lake where they find a submerged house. They decide they must go into the house and explore it from top to bottom. As their relationship develops, so does their obsession with the house, even as strange things start happening inside the house.

I truly enjoyed this reading experience. The writing, especially the descriptions, was beautiful. While this is nowhere near the scariest book I have ever read, I think the beautiful writing helped to make the reading experience eerier. I loved the descriptions of James and Amelia’s relationship. The descriptions of their first date perfectly captured the awkwardness of that experience, especially for two seventeen-year-olds. I also enjoyed how the developments in the relationship storyline were perfectly entwined with the house exploration storyline. This was genius. Towards the end of the book, I started to lose some interest with the repetition, especially with how short this book was, but the ending was amazing and made up for the lulls. I feel like I need to add a disclaimer though, which is hard without spoiling anything, that I think a lot of people will actually hate the ending.

This not the normal type of book I pick up, but wow am I glad I read it. Definitely proceed with caution and at your own risk with this one, it is a wild ride. Scary and beautiful at the same time.

A House At The Bottom of the Lake by Josh Malerman

The story begins with two teenagers on their first date. A canoe ride on the lake. They find a an abandoned house in the lake.

This book was very different for me. The descriptions of the house and the two teens feelings about it were well-written. I am not happy with the ending. The story kept building throughout the book and then just dropped you at the end, with many questions.


Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I have been on a roll with my recent reading choices, having read a number of unexpectedly great books recently, and this definitely fits within that category

I have never read anything else by Josh Malerman, but having seen the recent adaptation of Bird Box, I was pretty sure he wrote my kind of books, and I was right. This novel is the story of a teenage couple who discover a house completely submerged in a lake near their homes. They discover the house when they first meet, and as they explore this house they fall in love with each other. But there is something not quite right about the house, and soon something evil seems to be following them out of the lake.

Nicely creepy, a page-turner and definitely a fun read.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for providing me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley.

#AHouseattheBottomofaLake #NetGalley #RandomHouse #Ballantine

A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman is a satisfying horror novel where the titular house remains an enigma. The protagonists are a pair of 17-year-olds in the last Summer before adulthood, with more courage than common sense. Their relationship grows in importance to them, and in proportion to what they learn of the geography of the house underwater in the third lake, the lake you can only get to by following a tunnel.

Everything that the teenagers encounter in the mysterious house is dream-like, slow, and and unexplained. The mysteries of the heart are no clearer to the people encountering them for the first time.

The House at the Bottom of the Lake is a beautiful love story between James and Amelia. It starts with a first date, a canoe ride on the local lake. After finding a mysterious third lake hidden past a tunnel, the pair find a house, a solid complete house, at the bottom of the lake. WTH? No one had ever mentioned this before.

So they explore this mystery. They have one rule: Don't ask why or how.

Ok, let's stop here for a second. There is a house. At the bottom of the lake. Complete with furnishings. And I can't ask how or why? I'm not okay with this. This seems like a setup.

So James and Amelia spend their days and often nights at the house under the lake. They become deeper invested in each other and their "home". Their love is gentle and sweet and then there is an awkward sex scene.

*Spoiler*
They have sex in the house at the bottom of the lake. They lose their virginity to each other at the bottom of the lake. Let me tell you where I have an issue with this; virgins do not just stick it in and go to town. Girls need to be warmed into it or things get very painful. Frankly, men shouldn't write sex scenes where men orgasm and women are left with nothing. I mean he actually spent the time to describe the semen in the water, but Amelia can't get a little cunnilingus?
*End Spoiler*

Eventually, the house starts acting weird and then fully disappears. Everything would be all wrapped up nicely except, Malerman didn't explain anything. We don't have a creature, or deity, or curse. There is no reason for this house to act this way, and that bothers me. I need to know *something*. Why is there a pool in the basement? Was that just to serve as a metaphor to show them falling deeper for each other?

With all these questions left unanswered, I had to give The House at the Bottom of the Lake 3 stars.

Excellent book and excellent plot. I was interested the entire time and felt engaged! It was very detailed and kept me wanting to read more and more! I would recommend this one and I am excited for future reads from this author.

Amelia and James have decided on the perfect first date: borrowing a canoe and paddling around interconnected lakes. As they explore, they find themselves in a hitherto unexplored lake, and find something that is really going to set this first date apart from all the other ones and which becomes the title of Josh Malerman's novella, A House at the Bottom of a Lake.

The title really says it all. The premise is matter-of-fact, and in such a short novella, there's no time for deviations. Malerman has not, however, taken to heart advice to ensure that every word counts in a novella—the dialogue, particularly at the beginning, is hideously clunky and a chore to read. This is my first Malerman (haven't even watched Bird Box), so I'm not sure whether this is an issue with his writing style or whether he used dialogue to pad out the novella since he didn't have enough story to do so.

Thankfully, dialogue takes a back seat as we get further into the book. The writing ripens into achingly beautiful prose as James and Amelia explore their newfound house and imagine the possibilities. In this middle section, which features diving forays into the house, Malerman does an excellent job developing the atmosphere, and I felt genuine dread as strange things began to happen. The suspense and terror he evokes was something that I haven't experienced to its full effect in a horror novel for quite awhile, which was key to my enjoyment of this novella.

I did feel let-down by the ending, but I'm not sure how this story would have ended in a satisfying way; it's not a mystery that can easily be solved, so perhaps it would have felt too gimmicky to do so; at the same time, it would be difficult to wind down since, with its atmospheric focus, it doesn't have much in terms of rising action or key events. However, I do think that I could've done without Chapters 35 and onward, and would have been more satisfied with an ending at Chapter 34.

This is absolutely worth picking up, I think it was an awesome exploration of setting even if the storytelling was a little off at points. A House at the Bottom of a Lake is available in paperback and ebook today.

“Curiosity killed the cat and the snooping seventeen-year-old girl.”


Like everyone else, I've been obsessed with Josh Malerman since I read BIRD BOX, and I've been happily devouring everything with his name on it ever since. When I saw A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE was being rereleased, I jumped at the chance to request it on NetGalley. I wasn't quite sure what it was about aside from it being a horror tale about a house literally at the bottom of a lake, but it did have Malerman's name on it so I was sure I'd like it to some degree. While it turned out just a little differently than what I expected, it was still enjoyable nonetheless.

This little short story isn't exactly horror and it isn't exactly a thriller, falling instead in some weird grey area between the two. There are a few moments where you expect to be given a frgiht and Malerman delivers, albeit very, very subtly. Where this little gem shines though is in it's ability to make you think and wonder with its use of metaphors and symbolism. I'm pretty sure the entire premise is one big psychological metaphor, and I'm still left deciphering it and questioning parts of it days after I've finished.

All told, A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE is a weird little gem of a story that gives readers plenty of things to think about and chew on. But be warned -- if you're looking for the traditional thrills and chills kind of horror, you won't find it here.

*eARC received courtesy of NetGalley and Del Rey Books.