Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy.

I have read one of Sarah Gailey’s books before and wasn’t a fan. I thought I would give her another shot. I guess I am not a fan of her writing or maybe it was the audiobook. I really didn’t like this and was bored throughout.

DNF @ 36 %

Gailey is an amazing author, but this style is just not for me. Just too morbid and slow. I kept waiting for something dramatic or enticing to happen, but I got impatient and gave up. I’ll stick to Gailey’s more energetic novels in the future.

(ALC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. Thank you.)

Life isn’t easy for the daughter of an infamous serial killer. Despite being estranged from her mother since she was a kid, Vera returns to the house built by her criminal father to settle the affairs of her dying mother, Daphne. Bad as that may be, a familiar, eerie presence still inhabits the space, and the whole town is disgusted by the family. We learn more about the events of the notorious Crowder house in chapters alternating between the past and present.

I didn’t know much about the book before diving in, so I enjoyed the full effect of the spooky, haunted house atmosphere. There were certainly creepy, alarming moments, but I wasn’t a fan of the way the story ended. It felt a little unsatisfying compared to the buildup that was well-crafted in the first half of the book.

I still enjoyed how unique the book was and liked reading from the point of view of the daughter of a serial killer. Following along how that impacted her upbringing and perspective of the world was both entertaining and unsettling.

What was this amazingly disturbing book? Thank you (I think, haha) to MacMillan Audiobook, and NetGalley, for a review copy of Just Like Home (7.19.22 publication date).

I was truly creeped out by this story of a young woman returning home to face monsters from her past, a serial killer father, a sick mother, and her own complicated relationship with the past and with the house. Vera's story is mesmerizing, the text unexpectedly lyrical, and the story is one of a kind. I can't even explain how this moody atmospheric story worked but it did, especially for horror fans and literary horror fans in particular. I have to say that the excellent voice narration from Xe Sands really elevated the experience of this narrative, I was truly impressed, and appreciative of, her ability to give resonance to the different voices, to have a pace and cadence that honored the lyrical style of the text, and her ability to generate a sense of unease with her narration. I thought her narration was truly outstanding and elevated my audiobook review to 5 stars.

If you like Chuck Wendig's House of Accidents or Stephen Graham Jones' My Heart is a Chainsaw or Grady Hendrix's books, this one might be for you!

3.75 stars

This book was a serious “what the actual f*ck did I just read??” kind of story. It was totally bizarre at several points, stomach-turning my graphic at others, and even when I briefly thought about giving up on it, something still managed to keep me more or less hooked. Super weird, creepy, disturbing, but I couldn’t look away. I’ll have to check out more from this writer.

Well, that ending left me with some serious “Haunting of Hill House” vibes! Which of course for me as a horror lover is for sure a good thing. This book started off a little slow, not really understanding Vera’s past and what to expect from her relationship with her mother. As time goes on and the back story is revealed, it all starts to make sense. A little bit thriller and a little bit horror, this led to a very unexpected ending that I thoroughly enjoyed. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Xe Sands, gave a great performance.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sarah Gailey for providing me with this gifted audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a creepy tale!

What does home mean to you? Shouldn’t home be the place where you feel safe and in control of your life? But what if something tainted that place? Would you try to overcome it or would you pack up and leave?

This story really took you through the eyes and emotions of the main character. This was such an engaging story and it was interesting to get the dual timelines going of past and present to bring up us to the now. The narrator also really added a great, gritty and darker tone to the story.

There were different things going on, but they were easy to follow along and all converged at the end. This isn’t your typical psychological revisiting of the past of the character to understand their background nor a typical straightforward haunted house.

This story really brought an eeriness to the table without being overly gory or stereotypical. I enjoyed this story and wonder what happened after the end…

Thanks to the author, Sarah Gailey, Macmillan Audio, Tor Books and NetGalley for the audio arc of this book!

I received an advanced reader’s audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review

Creepy- deeply, weird and gothic.

Very good world building where you have to root for the murderer (and his young apprentice). Always a good reminder that it’s the apaths that are inhuman. Not an easy feat.

5 heebie-jeebie bizarro stars

This was a middle of the road read for me. The narration of the story actually helped me stay engaged, but I don't think this one will stick with me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey in exchange for an honest review. This was a marvelous book! Everytime I thought what it reminded me of, there would be a twist. I was very intrigued reading about Vera and what happened in her past to cause her feelings of anxiety by the house she grew up in and her mom and the town. Sarah Gailey has a unique writing style that also feels familiar. I am excited to try more of her books.

4.5!!!!

This is one of the best horrors I have read in a while!! Sarah Gailey is not the first author I have read from to use the "my father the serial killer trope," but they succeeded in making it something fresh, engaging, and genuinely terrifying. This is a haunted house story where the house is the main character and we aren't sure if it's with us, or against us. I simply could not put it down and I lowkey don't know how I'm going to fall asleep tonight.

Sarah Gailey is a must-read author for me and she never lets me down!

The Crowder house was such an intense gothic read that I finished it in one day. The narrator did an amazing job of setting the right tone for this suspenseful book.

This story is definitely a slow burn, but then I find the best books about haunted houses are that way. The build-up and the mystery just keep the reader on edge until the climax at the end. I really liked that Gailey made the mother/daughter relationship so strenuous, but the father/daughter relationship was strong and loving. Of course, secrets are uncovered about the father as the story unfolds, but the contrast between the parents added a level of complexity to the main character that I enjoyed.

Fans of Gailey's other works will not be disappointed and if you are new to this author and you enjoy a creepy, gothic haunted house story, then pick this book up today!

3.5 stars

Readers looking for a creepy, semi-gothic encounter should check out the audio version of _Just Like Home_ where the narrator really enhances the sinister nature of this disturbing read.

Vera, the m.c., comes home in more ways than one when she returns to her childhood home to witness her mother's imminent death. Though it's clear from the synopsis *why* going home is going to be especially tough for Vera, there's much more complexity to her return than any reader - or character - can imagine.

One of the most intriguing features that Gailey employs is the flashbacks to Vera's early teens. These snapshots into her earlier life and experiences help to balance adult Vera - whom I found to be a really challenging character to get behind - and young Vera, whose early life really helps readers understand how she got *here*.

What didn't work as well for me is the connection to the home itself. There are some intriguing shades of the gothic happening here, but some of this fell apart for me a bit by the end. It's still a creepy read and one I'd recommend, but this area, for me, reflects a little bit of lost potential.

Readers looking for an engaging and chilling deep dive into a messed-up character will be pleased with this read and will get the maximum impact from the audiobook. Props to this narrator for enhancing the spooky vibes.

I'll start off by saying that I love Sarah Gailey's writing style. It took me a minute to get used to, but there is something special about it!

Just Like Home is a slow burn horror with an interesting premise. I appreciated the flashbacks to Vera's childhood and how things about her past were slowly revealed to the reader.

The last quarter of the book takes a turn and I was left feeling disoriented. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about where this story went. In some ways it was too over the top for me.

This is a book that's going to be divisive just because of the nature of the ending, which I think is part of what makes it interesting. I always appreciate a book that can create discussion!

This is one of those books that I loved but struggle to explain what it’s about. It was creepy and bizarre, in the best way. The pace was a bit slow, but that worked for this book. The characters were definitely flawed and unlikeable, but still intriguing. So if you are looking for a horror that is not too creepy and gory, but a step up from someone that is just starting to read horror, I would recommend this book.

The narration was wonderful

First of all let me say I am NOT, I repeat NOT a fan of the gothic genre. This book however, was way more than that and may have changed my mind. I really enjoyed this one. I found the authors writing style extremely smooth, poetic even. Gailey left me hungry for more with the end of each chapter, making this very hard to put down. It was a bit cliche IMO as far as the plot is concerned but having said that she spun it, made it UNIQUE and that’s what I loved most. Creepy, haunting, mysterious and beautiful are just a few words I would use to describe “Just Like Home”. Xe Sands does a wonderful job narrating this chilling tale. She portrays the dynamic cast of characters perfectly. “Just Like Home” is about family, loyalty, and the lengths we will go to for the ones we love.

Told in two time-lines, Just Like Home is an odd and interesting book. It is truly unique and original. At times I wasn't quite sure what I thought of it, but it was compelling and kept me intrigued.

Vera has returned to her childhood home - the home where she lived with her estranged mother and serial killer father. Yes, you read that right! Vera is in the house with her mother, while an artist lives in the guest house out back. He insists that he is not the one leaving notes around the house in her father's handwriting, but if he isn't leaving them then who is?

Plus, what the heck is going on with Vera's bed????

Parts of this were a little slow for me and yet, I wanted to keep reading/listening as the plot was compelling and I had to know what was going on. I did not even come close to guessing what was happening.

Thank you to Tor Books/Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This dark, gothic thriller novel is super creepy. It follows Vera as she heads to her childhood home as her mother is dying. She has not been back in years. It is also where her serial killer father buried his victims in the basement. This book is filled with several shocking twists and some terrifying imagery. I would not recommend reading in the dark ☠️

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio & @torbooks for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Books / Tantor Audio for early access to the audiobook of Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey in exchange for an honest review.

CW: murder, death, blood, knife violence, torture, death of a parent, gore, body horror, terminal illness, possession, mental illness, confinement, child abuse, emotional abuse, abandonment, see full list on StoryGraph.

Vera is returning to her childhood home, the home that her father build with his own two hands. Her mother is terminally ill and Vera is tasked with preparing the house for her eventual passing. A complicating factor: the house has been turned into a museum, a shrine to the murders that her father committed in the basement of the house. Tourists have come from far and wide to witness to horrors of the house, and some have gotten a little too close for comfort. The longer Vera stays in the house, the more answers she finds to the mysteries of her childhood and the more claustrophobic she becomes. As she unpacks her memories of her relationship with her loving father, Vera is comforted by the sins of her own past.

Gailey dedicated this book "To all those who have ever loved a monster". And how true this is. None of us knows what we are capable of. Every action makes sense in context. We are all able to dismiss a certain number of atrocities in order to maintain a loving relationship. The question is, over what threshold of evil will you break a relationship; or what would you do to keep it? Vera suffered through a lifetime of emotional abuse and gaslighting by her mother, whom she has always called 'Daphne'. In contrast, her father, the serial murderer was a caring and kind soul who treated her with gentleness and humanity and taught her so much of what she knows about life. This book explores the dark side of love and what people are driven to in order to feel that sense of belonging.

I would recommend this book to fans of Stephen King and those who enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Be warned, the body horror creeps into the narrative slowly but gets pretty grisly at the end. Overall, an enjoyable read, but I think it would have packed an even bigger punch if I head read a physical copy. I have heard audiobooks narrated by this voice actor before, and I just don't love her voice. She is gravelly and grating, particularly when voicing male characters, which definitely fits with the vibe of this book, but I found myself really irritated by it.

3.75

Sarah Gailey is such a hit and miss author for me, and that has never been more apparent than in their newest release. Just Like Home promised a creepy house story with a serial killer, and themes around parent/child relationships and it hit the mark in all of those respects, but yet somewhere it sort of fell apart for me.

I loved the first half of the book. Like with most great Gothic horror, the Crowder House as a setting feels like a character in its own right and I loved the sense of dread and atmosphere Gailey was able to create. I also think Xe Sands's narration brought an extra layer of life to the story. That being said, I did not find the ending to be a satisfying conclusion. I found myself losing interest once reveals started happening, in part because given the strength of the first half, I was expecting to be surprised by the ending but instead found that it was exactly what I guessed.

To me this book felt sort of like a modern combination of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle due to the creepy house setting and the unlikeable characters and the dynamic between them.