Stars: 2.5 out of 5.

The blurb for this book is what drew me in, and for the first 50% of the book I was a happy camper joyfully following the story and getting creeped out by the excellent descriptions... Then the book started to drag. The descriptions were still excellent, but there was no "meat" to them. There are episodes that didn't bring anything to the story but took up extra pages, like when Vera drives several towns over to go to a bar... only to leave because the bartender is too chatty. That added nothing to the overall story or Vera's character that we didn't' already know. And of course the ending was a total miss for me. I expected a twist, but what the author choose for a twist simply didn't work and made no sense, at least for me.

So this leaves me with a sense of frustration and disappointment. I was ready to love this book to pieces and give it my first 5 stars of 2024... then I was so mad I almost 1-stared it. But upon reflection and some cooling down, I will give it 2.5 stars for the excellent first half.

I think the biggest problem is that there are no good people in this story. Vera is an awful person. The more you read about her, the less you want to spend time with her. I mean it's one thing to have mixed feelings about how you should feel about your father. On one hand, he is a serial killer that literally tortured and murdered people in the basement of his house. On the other hand, he is still your dad, and he loved you when your mother really didn't. So I understand why Vera still loves him and clings to her memories of him, and why she feels guilty about it.

But as the book progresses and you discover more and more of Vera's past, things turn very creepy and plain wrong. Just reading about her childhood and her reactions to what her father did made me feel dirty on the inside. Not a feeling I particularly enjoy, thank you very much. Also, not a character I want to root for. And I cared less and less for Vera the more the book progressed, so I quickly lost interest.

All the other characters are just as awful and honestly got everything they deserved, but also, not interesting to follow along with. So this left me with a protagonist I ended up hating and a story I grew more and more disinterested in. So this was a miss for me.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always appreciate Gailey's writing style and narrative - it requires thought and introspection to see their metaphors and analogies and draw conclusions based on what is happening in reality. The setting of this book was definitely a great choice - who doesn't love a creepy 'haunted' house with ties to familial trauma.

I didn’t personally care for this book, but I know a lot of other people seemed to go bananas for it. I think this means it just wasn’t for me. I found it to be a bit rambling. The mystery behind what happened to the protagonist and her family and the past was intriguing. The ending didn’t land for me.

This book is captivating and twisted at the same time. As I delve into this review, I want to give you a sense of the experience of reading it without revealing too much, which is why I’ll offer you some hints in the form of other works that have a similar vibe. You might get a lot from the plot though, so consider this to be your “SPOILER” sign;

This work is an exhilarating blend of ‘Bunny’ by Mona Awad, ‘The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires’ by Grady Hendrix, elements reminiscent of Monster House, and a uniquely twisted take on Encanto. Within its pages lies a thrilling concoction of mystery and suspense that kept me engrossed, leaving me unsure of its direction but thoroughly captivated throughout. The narrative flowed smoothly, making it an effortless yet intriguing read. The characters were compelling, adding depth to the storyline. If any of the aforementioned works resonate with your tastes, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into this gripping tale.

Although I generally enjoyed the author's use of metaphor and simile to create vivid imagery of dark, disturbing, creepy things…. the writing is a little too thick with metaphors, and the writing was overly redundant.

Coming home isn't easy when your home is the location of a former serial killer... who was your father. This is where he buried the bodies. *insert goosebumps here*

Vera is struggling with returning home, which is quite literally the scene of the crime(s). To make matters worse, there are creepy notes being left around the house, in her father's handwriting. Her money is on the mysterious new renter they have living in their back guesthouse, but he swears it's not him.

There are so many secrets buried deep within this house, and Vera will discover them all, if it's the last thing she does. *dun dun dun*

I loved this book, and read it during Halloween last year! It was perfect for spooky season, and lowkey gave me nightmares (which is kind of a good thing... or at least a testament to how truly creepy it is)

5/5 Stars.

*Gifted by Netgalley & Tor Books, thank you! All opinions are my own.

Fast paced thriller, full of suspense and intrigue. I enjoyed reading this one, it did remind me of some other books I’d read but none the less a good read

The first half of this book for me was absolutely fantastic. We follow our main character, Vera, who is going back to her family home for the first time in years as her mother is passing away. You learn very early on that Vera's father was actually a serial killer, and killed his victims in that house. Vera clearly finds it difficult to deal with the fact that this was the case, while still having fond, loving memories of her father. She begins to go through things in the house to clear it out, but comes across things that take her back to these memories.

We also follow Vera as a child, around the age of 11 or 12, before she finds out her father is a serial killer, as well as after the fact. I found these parts fascinating, especially how the father reacted in certain scenarios, being such a loving father in one instance, and a ruthless killer in the next. I thought that was extremely well done.

Unfortunately, the book took a turn that I didn't particularly enjoy. It is such a shame because I went from absolutely loving it to finding it just okay. This is the first book I've picked up by Gailey, but I'd definitely give her books another go as I enjoyed the writing.

Cover is obviously one of the most beautiful covers out there right now. This story held my attention and I was incredibly invested the whole time. The writing was beautiful and oddly detached, which worked for the personality of the MC. The ending of this book will be make or break for readers. The ending wasn't for me, but didn't ruin it either.

I love Sarah Gailey. Their unique perspective on the world makes every story something completely different than any book you can read from anyone else. This book is full of atmospheric unsettling horror, with a quietly unlikable narrator and creeping dread.
Overall, the story was on the far side of bleak for my personal taste, but I would recommend it to readers who are more inclined toward grim reads. Perfect for fans of literary horror.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

This book had a good atmosphere and creepy elements. It did feel like just the run of the mill haunted house story. Not fantastic but not terrible. I’ll add it to my shelf🤣

So sadly this book was not what I expected it to be and therefore was not exactly my cup of tea.

The first 50% wS so promising - eerie, haunting. But the house becoming some weird greasy entity? Nope, too weird even for me.

1 stars ⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my fourth Sarah Gailey book and so far they're a 50/50 split on whether I've like them or not and unfortunately this one is a didn't like all that much. The premise was promising and interesting but I just wasn't able to engage with the story or the characters that much, even though Gailey's writing style is still very engaging. This feels like a short story that was stretched to novel length and gave it the impression that the storyline dragged a bit as the author tried to fill up a word count. Thanks to NetGalley & McMillan/Tor for the free e-book.

"Just Like Home" is an exceptional blend of psychological thriller and family drama, showcasing Sarah Gailey's prowess as a storyteller. It delves deep into the darkest corners of the human psyche while offering glimmers of hope and redemption. This gripping and atmospheric novel will leave readers breathless and contemplating the lasting impact of secrets and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love.

From the moment Vera steps foot in her childhood home, there is an undeniable sense of unease that permeates every page. Gailey skillfully crafts an eerie atmosphere, making the house itself feel like a character with its own haunting presence. The anticipation and dread build steadily, keeping readers guessing and engrossed in the unfolding mystery.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I thought it would have more thriller/mystery aspects but it really ended up being a haunted house story without much else to keep me interested.

Creepy haunted house and old family secrets. Was her dad really as awful as everyone made him out to be? This book was interesting and had you questioning everything you’d been told.

Thank you to Sarah, Tor Books, and Netgalley for an advance copy of Just Like Home.

After a long period of estrangement Vera has returned home at her mother’s request. Vera has tried to avoid the house and the past that it gave her - a serial killer for a father. On top of her past haunting her, there’s a new tenant in her house giving Vera all the wrong vibes. She’s convinced that he is messing with her by leaving notes in her father’s handwriting despite his claims of innocence. Vera is forced to confront her past and determine if it is the tenant or something more sinister at work in her house.

What a beautiful cover. Even if I wasn’t a fan of horror I think I would’ve picked this up based on that cover. I also was a huge fan of The Echo Wife so I knew I wanted to read the next Sarah Gailey release. It just didn’t work for me. I wanted to love this. I thought I would. But I’m stuck at 2 stars and can’t go any higher.

It was boring. It was so slow, there were pages of wasted breath, and it felt like maximum work with minimal output in the end.

A couple of positives - it was gruesome and it was creepy. There was an unsettling feeling throughout, which is a testament to a slower paced book…if only the pacing wasn’t SO off for me this could’ve been something much more. The questioning of my own sanity while reading - is it supernatural or is it the work of an evil human being? I like when books tow that line and make readers wonder if the end result will be paranormal or not.

Despite this one missing the mark for me, I will definitely read another Sarah Gailey book, because seriously The Echo Wife blew me away and I’ll continue chasing that high, but maybe sci-fi is more her realm than horror. So to end on a positive note: whether or not Just Like Home was the book for you, if you haven’t read The Echo Wife be sure to check that out ASAP.

Really enjoyed this. Found it very creepy and atmospheric. Loved the plot twist and the writing style

This was not my cup of tea. While it had its creepy moments, the story felt disjointed and confusing at times, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the plot. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, which made it hard for me to connect with them or care about their fate. While the author had some interesting ideas, the execution fell short of my expectations. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and it did not live up to the hype surrounding it in my opinion.