"Just Like Home is a darkly Gothic thriller from nationally bestselling author Sarah Gailey, perfect for fans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO's true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

"Come home." Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories - she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren't alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera's childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn't the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes."

Chills just thinking about moving back into your family home that also is a murder house.

Content warning: murder, torture, gore, blood, sleep paralysis demons, emotional abuse, parental terminal illness

Vera Crowder comes home to settle the estate while her mother lives out her final days. Their relationship has always been strained and it doesn’t help that her father is Francis Crowder, a storied serial killer who used the house for his deadly extracurriculars. Though her father died years ago, something else haunts the house, leaving behind notes and making sure Vera doesn’t get a wink of sleep.

Claustrophobic, melancholy, and atmospheric, this story about a woman packing up her family’s possibly haunted house is a delight for both true crime and horror fans alike.

This is a book where knowing the bare bones of the set up makes for the best experience. It’s clear that Gailey has done some of the work as far as understanding the characterization of serial killers. Francis loves his daughter while committing atrocities in the basement. He’s a boogeyman, but those details unfold as the reader becomes more familiar with Vera and the Crowder House.

Though I try my best not to read books in comparison with the author’s other bibliography, I will note is that this book’s tone is much more melancholy than Gailey’s previous work. Vera is not a character full of snark and “laughing so she doesn’t cry.” She’s exhausted by the contradiction that is her father, her mother’s coldness, the literal lack of sleep, the contradictions in her past, and the ostracization by the community. The prose is very frank about this and it really works, especially as the hauntings ramp up as the story goes on.

That being said, the prose is clever in other ways. While the age stamps make it clear when we’re reading Vera’s childhood, there are choices in vocabulary and visceral experience that make the difference between the adult and child easy to catch. It’s very deliberate, but also doesn’t infantilize Vera’s misreading or firsthand understanding of situations that had more to them. Moreover, Gailey mirrors chapters between the adult and the child to maintain the flow and pacing.

So much is best left unspoiled, but the thing that really got me invested in how Daphne, Vera’s ailing mother, might in fact be just as bad as her father without also being a serial killer. There’s a catharsis to the messed up lengths families will go to process their collective trauma, and Gailey handles it deftly.

Definitely a book to read with the lights on, when you can be sure that the shadows are, in fact, shadows.

Ok, well this is definitely not another haunted house story. But it was horrifying, grotesque, and spine-chilling. About 80% through reading, I felt like the book was either going to maintain it's 4/5 star status or it was going to crumble. And unfortunately, the story and ending left more to be desired. Gailey excellently built up her novel with intensity, gradually hinting at the atrocities that occurred at Vera Crowder's family home. I felt the characters to be less developed as I would have preferred and while I'm well aware that the reader isn't necessarily meant to like the main character, but I don't know, Vera was just kind of irritating? I really wish I ended up liking this as much as I was around that 80% mark, but I found the ending to be flat and left me lacking a reaction. Like I just closed the book and shrugged my shoulders kind of thing if that makes sense? I definitely want to reiterate the strengths within the novel and if you like a creepy, haunted house story, this is one you have to check out.

If you enjoy staying up late and peeking over your shoulder as you read a spooky story, this is the book for you. So very creepy and atmospheric.

This one has dual timelines with plenty of twists and turns and a perfectly terrifying house which was almost a character in its own right.

It does have a bit of a slower pace, but it didn’t take away from my complete fear and enjoyment.

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Modern Mrs Darcy team member (Brenna) review from our 2022 Summer Reading Guide:

Sarah Gailey’s 2022 horror release Just Like Home features an unreliable narrator, a chilling family secret in the basement, and a house that’s a character all its own… and no, I do NOT recommend finishing this book at 10pm in the dark like I did! Gailey’s talent for psychological tension is fully on display in Just Like Home; the slow-burning mental games and breadcrumb clues culminate in a shocking final chapter that will stay with me for years to come.

Vera reluctantly returns to her childhood home because her mother is dying. Her father was a serial killer, and buried bodies at the house. To amp up the creepy factor, the house seems to be haunted, there is a parasitic artist living in the guesthouse, and notes starts to appear in her dead fathers handwriting. As the story unfolds and we alternate between past and present things get even more creepy.

I have read two previous books by this author “The Echo Wife” and “Magic for Liars”. Think this author has very intriguing ideas, which sometimes fall flat on execution (Magic for Liars). However, in “Just Like Home” I think she nailed it. If you like creepy gothic books, this would be a good fit for you.

Ok, I don't sugar coat anything so I'll be brutally honest....I don't even know what to say or how I truly feel after reading Just Like Home. I shamelessly requested this from TorNightfire, so THANK YOU for the DRC!

Oddly, there was only one character I found likeable in this and it confuses the HECK out of me why it's this one...but I'm willing to guess there are other readers out there who will concur.
^SAYING THAT, I can't divulge the identity of this character without it being spoiler-ish- sorry, friends!

I have to say, there were parts I was TERRIFIED and my heart was flopping fast in my chest because I haven't ever read anything like this.

Mystifying, haunting, eerie and chilling are perfect words to describe the vibe of this book- and WEIRD. Like, so so weird. Like....a WHAT THE FLUFF did I just read?
REAL TALK: I wasn't a fan of the way the book is set up, I found it confusing to flip flop back and forth from the past to the present and the only indication that the switch occurred was usually the chapter starts (which even then, I couldn't always tell if it changed). There were also a LOT of plot holes (and I don't typically notice these in other books but some had me wondering if I missed some pages).

I am picky though, so the above may not bother many readers and even with the criticisms I had- THIS IS A BOOK THAT WILL STAY WITH ME.
I will NEVER think of lemonade or blood the same- IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW.

The ending left me with quite a bit of questions and loose ends which is my reason for the overall rating of 3 stars.

Extremely dark and spooky! I love books like this and this one did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat with every twist and turn. I was not expecting that ending at all and I cannot stop thinking about it. Great book!

Just Like Home
By: @gaileyfrey
Pub Date: 7/19/22
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 Stars

Please do me a favor with this book. Go in blind.

Just Like home will mess with your mind make you question if any of the characters are good.

I don't think any characters were likable, but that didn't detract from the book at all.

This is one of those books where you need to just trust the process and trust the plot. If something doesn't make sense, don't overthink it and keep reading!

There are quite a bit of triggers in this book socyou may want to look those up prior if this is a concern of yours.

I don't want to give too much away but readers of horror and crime books, this book is 100% worth your time!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @torbooks for the gifted eARC!

3.75 stars

When Vera Crowder was old enough she left home and never looked back. Unfortunately the past always has a way of finding her, so she has never been able to stay in one place long. Then she receives the news- her mother is dying and Vera must return to the home of a serial killer. A home that she is coming to learn, will never let her go!

Whew, this did not go like I expected it to....but not in a bad way. Quite the opposite! There are so many supernatural elements in this book and I loved it!

The story does not waste any time diving right in to the creeptastic factor. Vera heads back to her childhood home - "the house that her father built." (We are told that her father built this house a lot). She returns home because her mother is dying and she needs to take care of the house and the boarder her mother is currently housing. Just one of many "artists" that has been drawn to the gruesome history of the house.

I honestly did not connect with any of the characters in this story, but it oddly didn't matter. The story is written in such a way that not only did I want to know everything about Vera, but I needed to know it!! ("it" being the broken mother/daughter and toxic father/daughter relationships, and what the heck is going on in the house). I needed every last bit of it. It's revealed to us beautifully. This is so spooky, atmospheric and grotesque!

I won't go into detail because you really shouldn't be spoiled, but I absolutely recommend reading this one!

*Thank you to Tor Books, & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Vera arrives home for the first time in years to organize her estranged, dying mother's estate. It's a task that wouldn't normally raise eyebrows, except that Vera is the daughter of a notorious serial killer, who killed his victims in the very house she is returning to and Vera and her mother's relationship never recovered after the discovery of her father's crimes. Oh yeah, and a strange artist has moved into the shed out back. As Vera tries to navigate these obstacles, she feels a strange presence in the house, that she can't seem to interpret.

This book was an excellent semi-ghost story/semi-thriller, as it has some supernatural elements, and some real-world mysteries in it, with us trying to figure out what's actually happening in the house, and where the source of some of the issues come from. At the same time, the history of the family is slowly revealed, and we learn what lead up to Vera's fathers arrest and what his crimes entailed (though we never truly learn their full extent). I really enjoyed this blending of genres because it gave the book a nice spooky feel, while grounding it just enough to keep you focused.

The character development in the book was extremely well done. The author really lets the characters shine in this one instead of packing it with a ton of action (though there is enough going on to keep you plenty interested) so that you get a chance to really see who they are and what their relationships are like. These relationships are really the crux of the novel and are very complex.

I was so /so on the ending, which is why I went with four stars instead of five. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it, but I can live with it. I just don't know that I would have made the same choices in the end, you know? I greatly enjoyed the novel otherwise. Let me know what you think!

Fans of horror/thrillers and ghostly stories will really love this novel. It's a great genre-defying book that will be sure to please spooky-friendly crowd, me included

Just Like Home is creepy and weird, in the best ways, and gives a whole new twist on a haunted house.
Vera hasn't been home in a while, and when her mother finally calls her home because she's dying, she comes reluctantly... Growing up she had a strained relationship with her mother, which hasn't changed now that she's back. Strange things start happening almost immediately, and Vera has no one to talk to, her mother is horribly mean to her most of the time, the people in the town she lives in want her to go away, and a stranger, an artist, is living in the cottage on the property who is using her house for "inspiration."

Throughout the story, as the weird gets weirder, the relationship with her mother becomes even more strained (if that's even possible) and the tension is ramping up to this big moment and boy did it completely take me by surprise! a total WTF moment...

I can't wait to see what Sarah Gailey will write next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. So. Uh. Yeah. So. This book. I thought I knew generally where was this was gonna go, but then… I mean, I’m not really sure I saw THAT coming. What a wild ride. Deliciously creepy and soooooo very weird. I’ll probably add more to my review here later, but right now I’m just gonna… sit and think about that ending for a bit.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Well damn, what a book.

First of all, I thought this was a thriller but it's more of horror/mystery. I enjoyed the story and did not expect to be creeped out. It's not for everyone, that I am sure, as there are some scenes that made me queasy and unsettled. I loved how the mystery was held towards the end that it gave me a WTF moment.

This book is creepy, bizarre, and haunting. This is about strained family and revisiting old wounds. It reminded a lot of Mexican Gothic with how the secrets unraveled in the end. I found the story interesting and fast-paced. It kept me on my toes and my lights on.

This is my first book by Sarah Gailey and will not be the last. All my thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book in 3 words: Ghastly. Spine-chilling. Substantial. 

Vera returns to her childhood home to care for her sick mother. Difficult to be back in Crowder House, due to an estranged relationship and a serial-killer father, Vera is in for a treat. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS? IS THIS FOR REAL? THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. ALL HAIL SARAH GAILEY. 

Just Like Home is deliciously dark, sharp, and unique. I loved that this fits in both the thriller and the horror genre; truly a great starting place for anyone looking for a darker thriller. The plot is full of details and quirks that keep you guessing throughout. Told from 2 different timelines, this is one of the only books where I enjoyed the flashbacks as much or even more than the current events. I loved how this story unfolded!

The writing is superb. Sarah Gailey has a knack for writing visceral descriptions and I loved how visual the story was. There many literal jaw drop moments as well as passages that gave me goosebumps. Just Like Home is a whole experience. I 100% recommend this book; get it on your TBR. 

I received an early copy for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Just Like Home is a story about a complex mother-daughter relationship and a house with dark secrets. I absolutely loved it. It quickly became one of my top 2022 reads, maybe even my favorite. This is somewhat of a slow-burn for sure, but with plenty of intriguing mystery and dark imagery that kept me engaged along the way. A psychologically haunting, chilling book. Right up my alley.

My favorite part of this book was how the house became its own character as the story progressed. The personification of the house was so well done. This is one of my favorite horror tropes so I was thrilled to see it in this book.

Highly recommend this for fans of haunted house books and stories that unravel dark family secrets. Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my collection. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!!

This book was so good, the ending so so good, I wanted to just scream. Unfortunately, I can't because I share this space with other people who would be very angry if I screamed over a book... instead of, you know, actually being in danger. Whatever. But, this book. This is an incredible new look on horror.

Vera was called home by her mother. A home she hasn't been to in years because she was not welcome there. But, as her mother dies inside that house, Vera at last approaches her home and her past. Horror has often included grisly deaths, monsters under the bed and haunted houses, but never like this. If you are a fan of horror then I cannot recommend this enough.

TW: violence, gore, unsettling imagery

Out July 19, 2022

I love Gailey's writing, so even if she writes a book in one of my least favorite genres, horror, I'm going to read it. This was a deliciously dark and atmospheric haunted house novel. It got really weird and a little gross towards the end, but I was completely captivated by this story of a young woman, Vera, who comes home to care for her dying mother. Home just happens to be the house that her beloved serial killer father built with his own hands. Gailey does a fantastic job building tension and creating a sense of dread as she slowly reveals the secrets of the house and of Vera's past. I was glued to the page and completely emotionally involved with Vera, even when I didn't know or understand what was happening. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge Publishing for an advanced digital copy to read and review.

I was so excited for this book. I wanted to read The Echo Wife by this author but didn't. This one sounded like more up my alley anyway. This book was creepy and unsettling.