Not being a fan of science fiction or fantasy, it was difficult to read this story because it’s not in my nature to suspend disbelief. However, the premise is so intriguing and the characters so charming and flawed that I felt compelled to see it through to the end. I’m so glad I did, because this metaphorical tale full of magical realism about a family of artists whose drawings influence life is unique, thought-provoking, and ultimately redemptive. I had so many questions along the way, and I’m still not sure I found satisfactory answers to some of them. There were also a couple of decisions that the main character Keryth made that I wished had been different, but that’s the prerogative of the author.

It’s not possible to give a clear synopsis of this book given the twists and turns it takes, but the appendix of book discussion questions helped me make more sense of what I read and can share without spoilers. Ultimately, this book is about “the act of creating, and the role of a creator in defining—both successfully and not—what they’re trying to bring into the world.” In this case, it makes the reader think about the choices creators make, whether it be fine artists or tech gurus, the ethical considerations behind their ideas, and the impacts (both positive and negative) their work has on the people around them and, sometimes, all of humanity. It makes us think about the choices we’d make if we had the opportunity to revive someone we’ve lost, rekindle an old love, or hold tight to something that wants or needs to be set free. It also makes us reflect on the lessons we’ve been taught by our parents and the ways we interpret them, sometimes wrongly. This impactful story will stick with me for awhile, thinking about the life choices I’ve made, the people I’ve loved and lost, and the way I might reimagine my future. Kudos to author Audrey Burges!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Ace Berkley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was such a uniquely beautiful story! I was drawn in right away by the writing as well as the mystery behind what was happening to the main character, Keryth. It was fascinating to see what would happen next and how the story would twist and turn. I enjoyed the epistolary content mixed in between the chapters as well. This is a story you want to read slowly and savor.

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and Ace Publisher for providing me an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to it because of the cover but I stayed to the end because the story was so interesting and tumultuous at times. Keryth is a woman who has everything; a wealthy life, a husband who seems to want to connect with her, and her two daughters. However, Keryth woke up one more and her hand has vanished. She can still use it, but it seems to be invisible to the world.

This incident triggers her need to find her father, a man who disappeared when she was younger, The only places she has to start looking are all of the old houses he drew into life for them to live in. Though she doesn't have addresses or pictures, she has memories that draw her along her path to uncovering her past and pulling her back into completion.

There is so much depth and symbolism in this book and I often hate talking about those things if the author didn't specifically say, "yes, this cardinal was a representation of XYZ," as an example. I truly enjoyed the way this novel played out and will be recommending it to my audience soon. It's not a light read, so be prepared for some relationship issues, mental issues, and self sabotaging.

A Youtube review will be coming on the channel Coffee,Books, and Rain in the next week or so.

In the book a house like an accordion by Audrey Burgess we meet Careth Who wakes up and while brushing her teeth her hand goes missing and because of this one thing she knows the father that walked out years ago is still alive. This puts Carith on a path to discover unknown parts of her past and brings it to meet her present. I don’t want to give too much away because I think like another reviewer said the less you know the better the book will be. With magical realism in original story and great riding Audrey Burgess has created a real gift for fiction fans I knew after reading the title I was in for a treat but wasn’t prepared for the greatness that is this book. I want to say so much about this awesome book in carrot her family her dad Neil even Toby and wish everyone would read this book because OMG it was so good and I loved it and it has such a great storyline especially the execution of the story is superb. This is a book I definitely recommend to anyone who loves books and great storytelling this is original one-of-a-kind and a real heartfelt tale. I want to think Berkeley publishing for my free ARC copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

In A House Like An Accordian by Audrey Burges, the author has created an insightful and beautiful narrative that delves into the nature of love, relationships, grief and death. From the very beginning, the story pulled me into the story, and I was absorbed by the fantastical and strange secrets of Keryth Miller as she searches for her father.
One of the reasons the story is so powerful is the very nature of what is happening to Keryth. Not only is there distance in her marriage but now she’s literally disappearing. Could there be a better metaphor for what happens at times in marriages, especially to women? In any relationship, there are good times but there are also times you take the other for granted and this novel does a profoundly good job of putting readers into that landscape. And that is only one facet of this amazingly complex story. It also explores what it is to be family and how those ties bind a family together. And as Keryth traces her father, the story shows us how his past and his parents shaped her family as well, as they dealt with loss and grief, the narrative also illustrates how different people try to hold onto loss while others learn to live in the face of that grief.
If you like supernatural stories that are layered, insightful and beautiful, then A House Like an Accordian is for you. It is a joy to read as it flows through time and takes you on a journey of family and love as Keryth searches for her father. But she doesn’t just find him, she also finds herself. Strange and wondrous, this narrative is just phenomenal.

I received a gifted galley of A HOUSE LIKE AN ACCORDION by Audrey Burges for an honest review. Thank you to PRH Audio, Berkley Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

A HOUSE LIKE AN ACCORDION begins with Keryth, a woman who is slowly disappearing. Literally. She’s used to feeling a bit lost in her life with strained relationships with her husband and her teenage daughters, but the fact that she can’t see her hand is new. She knows her father has the ability to draw things that actually take from life, so she makes the connection to her new issue and realizes that her father must be alive out there for her to find. She heads out in search of answers to questions from her past with a hope to save herself from disappearing.

Magical realism can be very hit or miss for me, but I wound up really enjoying the way the author played with the concept of art drawing from life throughout this book. I thought it wound up being a beautifully atmospheric story.

I think this is a book where you need to go in with a pretty open mind because it takes some very weird turns. There were a few places where the story lost me a little bit as the characters shifted directions, but it kept drawing me back in. I appreciated the symbolism of losing oneself literally as one beings to drift in the real world as well.

A HOUSE LIKE AN ACCORDION is out today!

“ I was brushing my teeth when my hand disappeared.”

Have you not read a more interesting opening line to a story?

When I read the synopsis of this book I knew I really wanted to read it. The story sounded so unique and it really was and honestly was even more strange, interesting, and weird than I thought it ever could be but in the best way.

“We usually can’t control the things that make us unique”

There is a main character, Kerryth, and her family that is so…quirky and eccentric. This is a story of family dynamics and finding your calling with elements of magical realism and some tiny world building.

I found myself constantly thinking about this story when I wasn’t reading it and I love stories like that.

This one is out tomorrow and I highly recommend it.

5 stars

I am to trying to write a review about this book and the words are hard to find to explain this story. So I will simply State.
It is unique and I enjoyed reading it and I think you will find it a good book and after thinking about it share with others.

I don't know how to describe this book, only that I loved it. I was hooked from the very first page. The concept of drawing things into and out of the world was fascinating and I kept developing more questions about the mechanics of the world as the book went on, most of which were answered by the end. The generational gift/curse of drawing was a really good plot point, and helped drive the story along as more information was uncovered. The writing reminded me somewhat of The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd, in terms of narrative devices and similarity in the way things exist/do not exist in the real world. Very well done, I would love to read more by this author!

This is the epitome of a whimsical, cozy, magical realism novel. When the main character, Kerryth, wakes up one morning to discover that her arm has disappeared, she begins a frantic pursuit of her lost father. As a child, whatever her father would draw got stuck in his sketchbook. This could only mean that her father has begun drawing her. The last time she saw her father was the day of her brother's accident when he abandoned her as she was placed into the foster care system. All of these years later, Kerryth must retrace as much of her childhood as she can remember to stop him before it is too late; however, will her pursuit of her father mean abandoning her husband and two daughters?

I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy with minimal world-building. It is easy to get lost in this world, and addicted to Kerryth's search.

This book had a unique hook and explored the feelings we have toward our pasts and our futures. Thoughtful and creative, the writing was sharp and made for a good read.

A really nice concept. I recommend for those who enjoyed the Night Circus and other magical realism novels. I do think this is a little under developed.

If you like surrealism that's grounded in real-world trauma and complicated family dynamics, this is the book for you. I was hooked by the mystery, magic and humor contained within its pages.

I am still struggling to describe my feelings about this title. I go back and forth figuring out if I despise the protagonist, or adore her. She is completely awful to her family, but her reasoning for it makes sense, in some vague way, I guess. But the book itself is just. so. excellent. I can’t wait to recommend this book.
So there you have my terribly written review of this really great book.

A House Like an Accordion was a spell-binding, sweet, cozy fantasy. Family is the true heart of this book, and I loved the route the winding story took! This book is incredibly unique: we follow Keryth on her journey to find her father, and it’s a magical, heartwarming treasure hunt from start to finish. I’d recommend this to this who love the fantasy genre but might be looking for something less high-stakes.

For readers who enjoy magical realism, this is a terrific choice. Keryth and her husband are super wealthy, having founded a successful AI company. But Keryth has a secret -- she is from a family that has a disturbing power to be able to draw things and either capture them, or make them real. They don't have much control over this power, and it seems to hurt them as much as help them. Keryth finds herself literally becoming invisible, and most likely because her estranged father is still out there somewhere, using his powers. She embarks on a mission to find him, and discover herself -- before she completely disappears. A great title, very creative and different, with characters you care about and a well paced plot. I look forward to recommending this title.

Where would fiction be without troubled marriages, difficult parents and children, and deeply buried conflicts, both internal and external? Yet even literary heroines seldom face the existential trauma that afflicts Keryth Miller one morning as she is brushing her teeth.

Keryth, named after a legendary princess, has a good life on the surface. She married her college sweetheart, whose AI technology made them both a fortune she could not have imagined in her cash-strapped youth. They have two daughters whom she loves, and they live in a magnificent modern mansion overlooking the California coast. But on that morning in the bathroom, thirty-nine-year-old Keryth notices that her hand has disappeared. She realizes rightaway that her father, whom she thought long gone, is alive, that he is drawing her, and that if she can’t track him down and make him stop, she will cease to exist.

The result is a long and intricate journey into Keryth’s complicated history, in which we discover the fates of her family members and the particular gift passed down through her family. It’s a fast-paced and ultimately rewarding tale, driven by what reads almost like a conversation between her present and her past. And if at times, Keryth appears to be her own worst enemy, by the time you reach the end of this richly imagined and densely plotted work, you will understand how all the pieces fit together and why she could not, in fact, react in any other way.

I plan to interview this author on my blog (link below) later this year.

Keryth Miller is on the edge of burnout from all part of life. One morning she wakes up to find her body is slowly disapearing. Totally freaked out she must find her missing father to reslove her magical past. LOVED THIS BOOK!

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

I liked this book but I had the hardest time liking and connecting with the main character. I didn't know how to feel about the main character Keryth. When the book started I didn't know how I felt about her because she felt distant. She was distant with her husband and children and she was distant as a character from me as well. I couldn't figure her out. As we learned more and more about her I understood her better but I still don't know if I even like her. I usually like magical realism in a novel and I liked this as well because it was very integral to the story itself. The story unfolds on itself and we go on a journey with Keryth to discover the secrets of her past and learn who she really is.