An enjoyable read, although slightly forgettable. Definitely will read more by this author though! Overall worth it.

I struggled to maintain the curiosity of what will happen to the characters. The beginning hooked me but it started to meander after the first third of the book.

I'm a big fan of Jo Nesbo and was so excited to see how they'd do writing horror. Definitely a different take from the Harry Hole crime series Nesbo is so well known for, but still a great read. I was sucked in all the way to the end!

The Night House was cool because of how it was formatted. The first half of the book was a book within the book, but was set up in the way for the reader to not know so. It was such an interesting concept for the book.
Overall, it felt very Stephen King.

I read this back in September 2023. Apologies for the late review.

So my review on Goodreads was one line: Welcome to the mind of a horror writer.

That is literally how I felt after I read this book, because I related to the writing so much.

This was my first Jo Nesbo and I loved this book so much.

Review from Instagram:
Talk about unreliable narrator. There are three parts to this story. Each part is creepier than the last. You think you know what happens in this scary tale, but then you don't.

Enter the mind of a horror writer. This is what it looks like, and I related to it way too much. I don't think you realize what's going on until the end, but it was scary as hell all the way through. Of course, that may be a spoiler, but I don't think most will catch on that this is the horror, wrapped into another horror, wrapped into another that goes on in the mind of a horror writer.

The trauma we work through when we write. *shudders*

This book reminded me a little bit of Jack in The Shining. The writer part, that is.

Sprinkle a little Inception on top, and that's The Night House.

I tried this book three times and could not get into it. It was not nearly as scary as I hoped for. I really was looking for me out of this author and book.

I would like to thank Random House for allowing me to read The Night House by Jo Nesbo.
To start, I would like to say that there was nothing wrong with this book and what the author was trying to do, I just realized about 30% into the book that it was not for me.

‘The Night House’ is a game of progression, both in its intensity and creativity, and almost as a map of a horror reader’s growth journey.

Part one is fast paced and more tame, almost reading like YA horror.

Part two feels more like a genre staple, utilizing trademark building dread and a twist that, while nothing revolutionary in horror, works exceptionally well in its place. It feels very much like accessible entry-level adult horror.

Part three, however, is where Nesbø truly shines as an expert of his craft. The suspense, the delivery, the plotting; it’s all incredible.

Roll all that up with some truly spectacularly written scenes throughout, and you’ve got one hell of a horror novel.

Deepest appreciation to Netgalley and Knopf for the e-arc I recieved in exchange for my honest opinion.

Far more cerebral than I was expecting, making it all the more interesting to read, The Night House is a book I’ll long remember. Spooky, fun, heartbreaking, and strangely hopeful, I’ll be sure to pass on a recommendation for it to many of my closest friends and family. Well done!

What a wild ride! This page turner is full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming! I'd love to see it made into a movie. It definitely has strong coming of age adventure vibes like the classics It and The Body from The King 👑. Loses a star because of fatphobia throughout, otherwise would've been a Five Star Read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Knopf for this ARC.

This was a lot to unpack in a relatively short story. Phew. This was my first Jo Nesbo book so I am unfamiliar with the writing style and author choices, but am not sure I would read another one if the others are similar to this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @ 20%

this main character is insufferable and utterly intolerable for me. he reminds me of holden caufield and as much as im curious about the plot, its not enough for me to keep reading.

the book is also v reminiscent of a stephen king meets malice house.

Nesbos writing is sharp and atmospheric, drawing readers into a web of secrets and lies. The plot is intricately woven, with unexpected twists that keep you guessing until the final page. The protagonist's complex character adds depth to the narrative, making the story as much about personal redemption as it is about solving the crime.

"The Night House" excels in creating a tense and immersive reading experience. Nesbos skillful storytelling and well-developed characters ensure that this novel will linger in the minds of readers long after they turn the last page.

I wanted to love this but it didn’t hit the mark for me. The cover gave me all the right feels but the content did not deliver. Love this author though!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook. It was interesting in the beginning, then lost me in keeping me hooked. I liked the writing and will check out other books too. The plot and execution was good.

Okay, so sometimes in books insults and events that were not cool with will come up. The question then becomes “is it the author or the character?”, when the character, “did it contribute to developing the character?”….sure, it did. Is character building so great if it’s pulling you out of the story so much though?

I will say that this story kept my interest and was a relatively fast read, always wanting to know what happened. That’s something I certainly look for with a desire to feel engaged, however I also left feeling like I overlooked something and felt I was left with a few loose ends. There are aspects I enjoyed, including the pacing, I just didn’t walk away totally fulfilled. 2-2.5

This was my first foray into the author's work, and while I had certain expectations based on Nesbo's reputation for thrillers and crime novels, this book took me into full-fledged horror territory.

The novel was okay overall. One of its strengths was the nostalgia it evoked, which added a layer of personal resonance to the experience. The way the story taps into memories and past emotions was well-executed and provided a nice touch of sentiment.

However, the book didn’t quite live up to my hopes. Some parts of the story felt a bit silly and detracted from the overall impact. The shift from Nesbo's typical thriller style to horror didn’t always work seamlessly, and there were moments where the horror elements seemed a bit over-the-top or out of place.

On the positive side, the shorter length of the novel was a benefit, allowing it to be a quick read without dragging on.

Jo Nesbo is truly a fantastic writer with a gift. Many times I found myself biting my nails in intrigue to see what would happen next. I love thriller / horror and mysteries and this was no exception to my never ending list of books I love within the genres. Highly recommend!

It’s the outpouring of an unwell mind, and I found no one to empathize with. Too odd for words, yet I don’t feel it was a waste of time to read. I did want to know how things turned out for the main character.

DNF'd at 10%. Way too much fat shaming and I understand the language was juvenile given the age of the main character, but I could just not get over it.