This book has been on my list since I first saw it on Amazons first reads. I was excited when I saw that it was available as an ARC through NetGalley. But I had a really hard time getting into this book. The start was slow and so many parts could have been left out completely. Once Delia got to Salthouse it felt like a lot of pointless details about wellness and self help.

It wasn’t until the 50% mark that I finally started to see some movement in the story line. There were a lot of twists and turns and “revelations” within the second half of the book that ended up jumbled up and confusing. Nicklin’s role got completely lost when Jenny kills him and they both die together.

Then the final chapter, Delia casually asks Tom about Zee and he spills an entire confession. Then he acts surprised that Delia is upset. The sudden confession with no cause felt forced. Then Delia pushes him and there is no struggle, he’s just gone.

Overall the story wasn’t what I was hoping for. I was very disappointed by it.

Three teen girls go into the water but only two come out that day. Nobody knows what happened to Zee and the mystery haunts Cara and Delia. Years later, when Cara goes missing, Delia decides to infiltrate a cult that Cara is a part of to try to find her. I love a good cult storyline but this one was hard to get through. Some parts were confusing and there were a couple plot holes that didn't make sense. I did enjoy the twist at the end. Overall, 'Salthouse Place' was just okay for me.

I am a sucker for Bookstagram...

When I see everyone posting something I have yet to experience myself, my FOMO sets in and I become determined to get my hands on a copy as well.

Salthouse Place, is worth every bit of the hype and more.

Jamie Lee Sogn, is coming in HOT with her debut novel. The amount of detail that went into the book, shows. The writing style is fluid and will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I haven't read many books on cults so it was a nice treat to try something new and I loved every minute of it. This book right here is "all consuming" so make sure to cancel your plans before you dive on in, there is no way you will put this one down once you pick it up.

This might just be one of my new favorite books.

Don't believe me? Check out this teaser :

Longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.

From debut author Jamie Sogn comes a twisty thriller about the allure of the past and the danger of the truth as a young woman dives headlong into a cult in a desperate search for answers.

In the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest, three best friends spend a day at the lake…but only two come home.

Ten years later, Delia Albio is tormented by the mystery of what happened to fifteen-year-old Zee on the lake that day. When she receives an email from Cara, the remaining friend in the trio, she can’t resist the pull of the “life-changing” news in the message. Delia, hopeful for answers, travels home to see her old friend.

But Cara is gone by the time she gets there, setting off another mystery. When Delia hears about the women’s empowerment group that Cara joined, she sets out for the group’s retreat property on the Oregon coast to find her. Delia feels this could be her chance to reconnect with Cara and reckon with that fateful day at the lake.

Instead, Delia uncovers a possessive group with a dark agenda. As their leadership closes in, Delia hurtles ever closer to the truth—if only she can survive a cult that will protect its secrets at any cost.

I wanted to like this book but unfortunately this read did not work for me. I could not connect to the main protagonist. The plot had a real potential but somehow it was not reached I feel. Right from the start there were the cult vibes but somehow it did not work for me

I would love to read more books by the author.
Thanks for the ARC.

Super fun, super fast read. Stories about cults are irresistible to me, so Salthouse Place was already on my radar. Sogn’s gripping plot kept me turning the pages. Excited to see what she writes next!

Salthouse Place starts off very strong. While the reader sees what happens at the lake, the story quickly moves to present time, where it really takes off. Delia's return home and the subsequent unraveling of what happened to Cara held my attention for the first half of the book.

However, the second half — particularly the last 20% — really dragged out. The author set up so many intriguing mysteries, but the resolutions didn't feel satisfying. In addition to the pacing, it seemed like there were two completely separate stories that were trying to be tied together, but just didn't fit.

There are a lot of great aspects to Salthouse Place, including the writing itself, but the ending felt expected, and after bringing readers along for such a rollercoaster of a plot, I was hoping for a bit more.

"Salthouse Place" by Jamie Lee Sogn presents a gripping thriller that immediately captures the reader's attention with its mysterious and intriguing premise. The story revolves around Delia Albio, who is haunted by the unresolved mystery of her friend's disappearance ten years ago.

The author skillfully sets the stage by introducing the characters and their history, creating a sense of nostalgia and curiosity. Delia's quest to uncover the truth about what happened to her friend, Zee, and her determination to find Cara, the last remaining friend from that fateful day, promises an emotionally charged and suspenseful narrative.

The story takes a compelling turn when Delia discovers that Cara has joined a women's empowerment group with a hidden agenda. The idea of a possessive and secretive cult on the Oregon coast adds an element of danger and intrigue, making the reader eager to uncover the group's secrets alongside Delia.

"Salthouse Place" explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the impact of the past on the present. It also delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of characters dealing with unresolved trauma. These themes promise a depth of storytelling that goes beyond a typical thriller.

Overall, based on the description, "Salthouse Place" appears to be a suspenseful and thought-provoking thriller that combines elements of mystery, psychological tension, and the allure of the past. Readers who enjoy stories of suspense, intrigue, and complex characters will likely find this book an engaging and captivating read.

Jamie Lee Sogn's "Salthouse Place" is a heartfelt and intricately woven novel that skillfully explores the complexities of family, identity, and the power of secrets. This book is a compelling and emotionally resonant tale that will leave readers captivated and moved.

At its heart, "Salthouse Place" is a story of family dynamics and the intricate web of relationships that shape our lives. Sogn's characters are beautifully fleshed out, each with their own flaws and virtues. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into the lives of the Salthouse family, and it becomes evident that beneath the facade of a seemingly perfect family lie hidden truths and untold stories.

Sogn adeptly navigates the delicate balance between revelation and concealment, drawing readers into a world where buried truths have the potential to both heal and wound. The slow unraveling of family secrets adds depth and suspense, keeping readers eagerly turning pages.

The novel's setting, a coastal town with its own history and mysteries, provides a rich and immersive backdrop for the story. Sogn's vivid descriptions create a sense of place that envelops the reader, making them feel like a part of the Salthouse family's world.

"Salthouse Place" is also a poignant examination of personal growth and self-discovery. The characters' journeys of self-realization and the reevaluation of their roles within the family are relatable and thought-provoking. Readers will find themselves empathizing with the characters as they confront their own limitations and desires.

Jamie Lee Sogn's writing is elegant and evocative, with a lyrical quality. Her ability to convey the characters' emotions and inner conflicts is masterful, creating a genuine and heartfelt connection with the reader.

It is a narrative that draws readers into a world of hidden truths, personal growth, and the enduring bonds of family. "Salthouse Place" is a tale that reminds us that within the complexities of family, there is both pain and redemption, and that the journey of self-discovery is an essential part of our shared human experience.

This has some bad reviews but I am glad I read it. A fast thrill of a mystery centering on where an out of touch child hood friend has disappeared to. A Cult like self help community for women is all too real. The story gets a bit predictable and wraps cup neatly. However, it was a fun and fast read.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I enjoyed this book, it was quickly paced and had a good story. If you like stories about cults, be sure to pick this up. Some parts were predictable but others had me guessing to keep me interested throughout the book. I felt that this was a quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC

There are a couple of different mysteries going on this one. First, there’s the story behind the tragedy that happened when Delia was a teenager. Which, of course, has affected every aspect of her life since then. So when she gets a mysterious message from a long lost friend, she immediately sets out for a reunion only to discover that she’s missing. This leads Delia to a weird cult-like group of women…where her friend Cara was last seen. Another mystery as she works to uncover the darkness surrounding the group while at the same time getting pulled in by their brainwashing. This was a good story, somewhere between three and four starts for me. At times it tried to be too much with a few strange twists but ended decently.

I found this book a little confusing as there were too many characters for me to keep up with. I ended up making notes about them and this distracted me from enjoying it.

What happened to Zee? Delia is determined to find out, even if is means going into the "wellness" cult her old friend Cara is involved with. This has some twists but it's not the best of the trope. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but the characters almost felt immature at times. With that in mind, it was a good story overall.

I absolutely devoured this book! The twists in this thriller were fabulous! At times I thought I had this figured out, but of course the author had more twists and turns leaving me guessing. I had a hard time putting this book down and literally read it in under 24 hours! There were a couple things that I would have like to have seen, however still a solid read. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Delia,Cara,and Zee were childhood friends. When a tragic accident occurs, everyone has to assume that Zee is dead. Years later,Delia received a message from Cara and heads back to her old hometown. She fears Cara has gotten involved with a group of potentially dangerous women and decides to play detective. She signs up for a group seminar and winds up, going back-and-forth between wanting to belong and fearing something awful is going on with this group.
Like Delia,I went back-and-forth between enjoying parts of the story, then shaking my head in disbelief. 10 years have passed since Zee disappeared but sometimes, I felt like Delia was still 15 years old.
I didn’t love or hate Salthouse Place. Unfortunately, a lot of things just didn’t make sense to me and I fear this will be a book that I forget quickly.

Lots of twists and turns and an interesting plot. A definite must read.

Thanks lake union and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else

A fast paced read following Delia as she investigates her childhood friend's disappearance after she has joined a cult disguised as a women's empowerment group. The childhood mystery of the drowning of their third friend in the trio was interesting, but it felt a little disjointed from the main plot. I found myself not really enjoying the rest of the novel once we were fully sucked into the wellness group as there were too many characters and it seemed like the author was trying to cast suspicion on every single one with little care or reason, before throwing in a wild card at the end of the book.

I was really sucked in to the story in the beginning but it kind of fell apart for me. I feel the trying to find out what happened to their friend fell to the wayside. Then it went into some inconsistencies in the plot. Was it worth reading? Yes. Was it the best? No.

Salthouse Place didn't 'wow' me like I thought it would. The main character drops everything in her life to join a wellness cult in order to find a childhood friend that she hasn't talked to in ten years. The mystery of what happened to the third member of their high school trio when they were around 15 was pretty much irrelevant.
This book started out pretty strong but unfortunately started to lose me around the middle. It gives NXIVM vibes so if you were at all intrigued by that group this will be worth the read.