A dark gothic thriller. Just Like Home is as unsettling and disturbing as expected, but it's a layered type of horror, one that requires multiple readings to understand and appreciate. On the surface, it's easy to dismiss this book as boring and slow, which are valid complaints, I have issues with the pacing in the beginning and believe there's a lot of side stories and monologues that could be trimmed down. But after the midpoint, the story evolves into a jaw-dropping, heart-racing sprint to the end.
Not only is it genuinely scary, but it's a fascinating study on the lengths we go to protect ourselves from childhood trauma, how the monsters we loved influence us, and accepting that we will never outrun our past no matter how hard we try. It's a well-done mix of thought provoking and chilling, and is the perfect book for fellow psych thriller/horror lovers. I loved it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a totally immersive and so well written. I enjoyed every minute, can’t wait to handsell at work.

I really enjoyed this! It was unlike anything I’ve read before and not at all what I was expecting. At its core, Just Like Home is a story about love and family — the things we do for them and the lengths we’ll go for their acceptance; to shield them from pain, disappointment or failure; and how the course of our lives are influenced by them. It’s a beautiful story wrapped up in a scary, disturbing package.

This is my first book by Sarah Gailey, so I look forward to reading a lot more from her in the future!

Pretty good view on the trauma some families can pass down onto their kids. Spooky, thrilling and intense in some parts. Nicely done.

I've enjoyed other books by Sarah Gailey, so I was really excited to read this. I loved the slow-build creepiness of the first half of the book, but after that it tipped into silliness for me. The ending wasn't satisfying and it just seemed more like a spoof than anything.

WOW! I wasn't sure really what to expect but this book was REALLY good. Spooky. Sad. Bizarre.

Vera is summoned home by her dying mother. She hasn't been home since she was 18 after her mother made it clear that her obligation to take care of her was over and she was on her own. Living with the fact that her mother didn't love her and that her father was a serial killer wasn't easy for Vera. Especially because her mother blamed her for her father going to prison. But, back home she went to clear out the house that she grew up in while her mother lay dying. Throw in a weird artist and a town that hates you and you've got yourself quite a story!

The ending of this book was delightfully weird. Not giving anything away - you've got to read it yourself!

This is an absolutely stunning horror novel exploring trauma and its effects on a family. For those who like descriptive horror and horror that says something, this is for you.

Just Like Home got me hooked on reading again! I was in a real slump and from the first page Gailey had me intrigued. It’s been a long time since I’ve read something unique, and while I didn’t jive with every element in this book, I appreciate it as a work of literature and enjoyed the ride. It is a true slow burn with a mix of horror, true crime, and supernatural all rolled into one.

Gailey’s ability to write shines through with her descriptive language which builds unbearable suspense throughout the novel. I am not a huge fan of slow burns or overly descriptive language, but I still appreciated her skill in both realms. The quality of the writing made it feel like a novel on the syllabus of a university literature class, which is not always the case in the suspense/thriller/horror genres.

I don’t want to reveal too much, but overall it was a provoking and interesting read. The fact that I enjoyed it speaks volumes as I don’t read much in the horror/supernatural genre. Will definitely try another Sarah Gailey book!

Thanks to Tor books and NetGalley for a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Things were going along quite nicely when, all of the sudden, the was a drastic, nearly cataclysmic, shift at, I kid you not, 90% of the way into this book. The strange thing is it actually really works.

With suspense and secrets, this compulsive page-turner from Sarah Gailey will satisfy your horror, thriller and gothic itch. The story centers on past & present Vera Crowder who is returning to her childhood home. Vera must face the memories and fall out of her father who was a serial killer-- her relationship with her mother, how she is received by residents of her hometown, etc. The Crowder house is essentially a character in itself, with a haunted aspect prevailing over the storyline. This read was a departure from Gailey's previous work but in a wonderfully well-done and interesting way. I'm already anticipating her next release. Highly recommend.

Do not read this book at night, this is not a joke, this book is terrifying, creepy and eerie but also totally engrossing! When Vera is called home by her dying mother after years of estrangement she dreads dealing with her mother but relishes the idea of returning to her family home that her beloved father built. What follows is as dark and disturbed tale as I have ever read and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t say much more for fear of giving it all away but a last minute twist will have you actually yelling WTH and wondering how you got there! A great read!

“𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛.“

This story, built on love, loyalty, despair, and dysfunction, is one that I will be thinking about for a very long time. Told through the POV of Vera Crowder, as both adult and child, we first meet her when she returns to the very special house her father built.

“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢
𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚝.“

This story is incredibly captivating and the writing is absolutely phenomenal. Through lyrical prose and visceral imagery, Gailey is able to evoke so many emotions; everything feeling dreamlike, surreal.

“𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚏𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎‘𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎
𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.“

The first half of this book reveals itself very slowly, laying breadcrumbs of dread at your feet. The second half goes from 0-60 in seconds and takes you on one wild ride. You will begin this read thinking you know what to expect but, trust me, you have no idea what awaits in the house that Francis Crowder built.

Wow, this is good. Sticky and seeping, you think you're reading one thing but the real horror unfurls without you realizing it until it's too late. Despite the small cast of characters and the rather slow unfolding of the story, I was riveted the entire time.

I'll start by saying that I enjoy Sarah Gailey's writing, and I've read several of their works before. I was looking forward to this book, but I think I was expecting a thriller and instead I got a Jodi Picoult style drama. I mean, it's fine if that's what you're looking for, but for me it was a slow, slow start and spent so long waiting for the tension to ramp up. I'll read more of Gailey's books, for certain, but this one missed the mark for me. Its a shame because the premise is really gripping. Returning to the childhood home and facing the demons, both present and looming in the spaces around the characters, has so much potential. Sadly I just don't feel like it came together. Lovely writing style though, as always.

Ok, so my whole Bookstagram is about concise, succinct reviews. But it’s really hard not to ramble on about this book - I’ll try my best 😆

This book is SO hard for me to review. First let me say, I do NOT like Sci-Fi AT ALL. I happened to get THE ECHO WIFE last year, not realizing it was Sci-Fi and I LOVED it! So weird, I know… Anyway, since I loved that one so much, I could not wait to read this one.

Here’s the hard part… the book is a brilliant piece of writing. This author’s talent is seriously astounding. She is truly one of the most talented authors I have EVER read. I can’t imagine what it is like living in her mind. Her use of descriptive language, painting what’s in her mind will leave your mouth hanging open.

All that being said… I didn’t like this one as much as THE ECHO WIFE, but ONLY because it is a little more out in the Sci-Fi realm. It is 100% about my personal preferences in reading, NOT about the quality of the story or the writing. I know many of you like a bit (or a lot) of Sci-Fi in your books, and if you do, you will love this one. Gailey is a veritable master at her craft.

I mean this kindly: Sarah Gailey, WHAT THE EFF.

I've read several of Gailey's work of the years; their books have always been fun genre escapes with crisp writing and enjoyable characters. Without really reading the summary, I assumed Just Like Home would be a thriller in the vein of The Echo Wife. Readers, this is hard horror. As a horror veteran, I have high resistances toward gore and disturbing plots. Nevertheless, the depths to which "Just Like Home" dragged me surprised me. Overall, I found this more messed up than truly scary - although there were definitely spooky moments! - and it's a long, slowburning tale about abuse, legacy, and fractured family relationships. I'm not certain that the final twist landed - it was a little abstract for me - but overall, if you're in the mood for a deep, dark, crawlingly-slow, grotesquely layered little haunted house story that functions as a character study, I recommend this one.

I can honestly say I hated the beginning of the book, the way it was written made me feel like I was eavesdropping on a conversation I was meant to overhear about inside jokes and never getting an explanation of them. Everyone you met in the beginning of the book knew the history of the Crowder House and about the Duvall families involvement with Vera's past, but the reader didn't get any of this information. I just felt desperately out of the loop and frustrated.
But, once you are finally let into the circle of information, the book takes off and I absolutely loved it!! It's such a different take on a monster/love story that it held my complete attention almost all the way through, and the ending was absolutely perfect!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.75 Stars, rounded up.

Vera receives a call from her mother asking her to come home. The home where her father had taken lives and she was always scared. Making her way home was difficult. Vera and her mother were not on the best terms but her mom was dying and she felt like she could maybe mend some of that relationship while she was there.

When she arrives home, she realizes her mother has moved someone else in the shed in the back and she also realizes the house has a LOT of secrets hidden.

I thought this book was really intriguing! I was so into the creepy aspects of it and the things she'd hear. the writing was poetic and there is so much symbolism.
The ending was beautiful which is why I rounded up but I did feel that some parts of the book were drawn out or just unnecessary to get the point across.

Overall, I really did enjoy this piece!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC on this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Gailey is magical because all of their books are somehow a different genre but every single one is riveting and wonderful in different ways. I love every single one of their books and this one is no different. They've done it again, I am floored.

I cannot wait to buy this book in print. And to shove it in everyone's face.

Sarah Gailey's writing style makes my body and mind hum in the best way. This is horror elevated. This is a classic haunted house story. This is an original take on the monster under the bed.

Will be reading all of Gailey's work with high expectations and getting a copy (or two) for the library collection.