Member Reviews

Harry Adams can easily be described as a fan of horror movies, so when a job opportunity comes her way–cleaning the home of a successful director of horror movies–Harry jumps at the chance. Javier Castillo lives at Bright Horses, a giant mansion located in Chicago, which is full of movie props, costumes and awards. Sadly Javier has not directed a new movie in quite some time, not since a scandal and death rocked his family and his world. Due to his past Javier demands complete discretion, something that Harry has never had any difficulty with; that is until she starts to hear voices coming from behind a locked door to a room she is not allowed to enter, voices that almost seem to be asking for her help, and it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain her complete and total discretion, especially when it might have a negative affect on her son.

Sadly The House That Horror Built was extremely predictable for the most part; there was very little within this novel that surprised me. The story itself is rather fast-paced–I flew through it relatively quickly–but it honestly lacked any real horror; I expected a novel called The House That Horror Built to have a lot more actual horror than this novel contained. I think the most twisted thing about the entire narrative was Javier himself. I also felt as though the ending was rather abrupt and left a lot of unanswered questions about the events or what was in store for the characters; it was almost like Henry didn’t know how to end the novel. Overall The House That Horror Built fell a little flat for me.

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What I liked:
✨Atmospheric Setting: I love the haunted house trope! This story is set in Chicago, and the house is filled with horror movie props that seem to have come to life, adding an extra layer of eeriness. Being from Chicago, I was thrilled with all the references to my hometown.
✨MC Backstories: The story unfolds in two timelines, keeping me intrigued throughout the story. While I liked both timelines, I became increasingly drawn to the past as secrets unfolded. The balance between the two timelines is well executed, providing good character development.
✨Narration: I've always enjoyed Lisa Flanagan's narrations. She perfectly captures Harry's determination to provide Gabe with a better life while conveying her dread about working at the haunted house. Flanagan’s portrayal of Gabe's tween voice is also spot on. Absolutely perfect!

The House That Horror Built is a good introduction to the horror genre, featuring a more eerie atmosphere rather than outright scares. While I liked it, I wished there was a bit more fear and gore, although it's worth noting that there's no gore in the book. Overall, it's a quick read that is perfect for the beach or pool.

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Spooky house, mysterious boss, exhausted single mom doing her best to make ends meet… sign me up! I really loved Harry and her son and their relationship, and liked the rest of the characters in their specific roles - the character development and dialogue was great. I think the atmosphere was also creepy in a way but not too much. I think the storyline was unique and I enjoyed the dual timelines, but I did find that I wanted more horror out of it. This one also had a slow build up to what felt like a very rushed ending but overall I still enjoyed the book and will read more from Christina Henry. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for my eARC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 is available now.

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This was a 3.5 for me. This was fine all things considered. I read Near the Bone about two years ago and it is one of my favorite books by this author. Unfortunately nothing else I’ve read by the author has enveloped me quite like Near the Bone. I think if you’re new to horror this could be a good…entry book? Nothing about it is very crazy or shocking or really revolutionary so if you don’t have a lot of experience in the horror genre this could still be a lot of fun. I’d maybeeee recommend for people who liked spite house? I think it would be an easy hand sell for fans of maybe Paul Tremblay as well.

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Last year I fell in love with Henry’s release, Good Girls Don’t Die. I haven’t had much time to dig into her backlist, but I couldn’t resist checking out her latest the minute I could get my hands on a copy.

I mean, what horror lover doesn’t want to read a book where they get to step into the house of a mysterious, reclusive horror movie director?

The House That Horror Built serves up a Gothic vibe as we start to explore the mysterious mansion known as Bright Horses. Alongside Harry, readers start to notice something isn’t right about the house. Javier is clearly hiding some secrets, but just what they are comes towards the end of the book in a creepy and tense reveal.

While I found myself dedicated to reading this book and able to read it quite quickly, I will say that I found it repetitive at times. Harry is poor…we know this, but still it’s drilled in over and over. Javier is too intense and the world is waiting to know what happened with his family…we know this, but still it’s drilled in over and over. I would have preferred a shorter story with a faster pace, which I think could have been achieved by cutting some of the details that circle back to these points.

Overall, Henry has delivered another well written story that vividly transports readers into a tense situation filled with unease and dread.

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I was completely intrigued when I first started this book, and it did hold my interest throughout the whole story. But I constantly felt there was something lacking. The premise was great! But it could have been, should have been terrifying, and it wasn't.
I am looking forward to reading something else from Christina Henry and feel some real magic from her storytelling as I know she her stories are loved by many. And I definitely got a glimpse of it.
Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

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This one has all the feels of those 80s horror movies and I can easily see it being made into one. A director of beloved horror movies as a recluse in a haunted house. I could visualize all his movie memorabilia. It hovers over the line between horror and paranormal as I tried to figure out what or who was haunting the house.

This one has a lot to build up the tension. Things that go bump in the night. Puppets that move on their own. That one locked room you can’t enter. Voices when there is no one else around. The director’s family that disappeared long ago. And while these things do bump it up and the mystery was intriguing, this really feels more about the characters to me. I picked it up for the horror aspect, but I continued reading for the characters I wanted to know more about.

I liked Harry and her son Gabriel and I felt sorry for their circumstances. I grew pretty attached to them from the start and wanted to keep learning more about them. I did not like Javier, the director, from the start. And the more I learned of him, the less I liked him.

If you pick this up solely for the horror or paranormal aspect, you might be a little disappointed as the ending did not live up to the buildup, but if you pick it up to focus on the great characters with a side of the rest, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t mind seeing Harry and Gabe again.

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Happy Pub Day 🥳🥳🥳 3.5 stars A huge thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for my early copy of The House that Horror Built by Christina Henry. If you’re looking for a not so scary book yet dark and creepy look no further. This is the book for you!! Also, movie buffs … this one is most definitely for you!! Lots of movie chatter and spooky props. I enjoyed this one but the ending felt a little too abrupt for me … or it just left me wanting more I can’t decide! Either way Christina Henry is an auto buy author for me. That storytelling is always so riveting and keeps me intrigued to the very last page. Pick up today and get lost in another gothic supernatural story! Can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next!!

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This gothic paranormal horror story was an enjoyable read. Harry Adams loves all things horror and when an opportunity arises to work for horror-movie director Javier Castillo, she takes it cleaning his house after his wife and son disappeared. Harry starts to hear voices coming from the rooms as she cleans. This tale was creepy, even though I was able to figure out the twist pretty early on.

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What a fun, horror read! Creepy and dark, but not too spooky (exactly what I like). I loved the main character, Harry. She is a strong single mom who would do anything for her son, Gabe. The setting was so fun and interesting. A quick, suspenseful read!!

*Thank you partner @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

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A down-on-her-luck woman gets a job as a housekeeper in the mansion of a reclusive horror movie director. Interesting premise but the slow-moving and not very scary story falls flat. Harry is not a really interesting or even sympathetic character. She comes off as dour and powerless, and overthinks things. The story does get interesting at the end, but the abrupt conclusion leaves the reader wondering about some things.

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This story had me engaged from almost the beginning. There was enough creepy elements to keep me wanting more. I did like that it wasn’t the typical person from a scary movie who makes dumb decisions lol. I did find myself wondering if all the horror was exactly what it seemed, which I liked that about it. I liked both Harry and Gabe and found their relationship to be sweet. The setting made for a great spooky read! I went back and forth if I liked Javier or not, but I believe that is the point.

This book was a quick read and even if you don’t love horror or haven’t read much I think you would enjoy this without being too creeped out! I did think there could have been more horror elements in this story, and maybe a twist or two more. I read it in one sitting and still thought it was a fun, faced paced read. Overall I rated this one 3.5 stars

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Read if you like:
👻 Creepy Reads
🔥 Slow burn plots
🏠 House Centered plot
🤰🏼 Single Mom’s

Lots of character development, dialogue, and chapters bouncing from past to present timelines regarding Harry’s backstory and her boss’s backstory. So there was a lot going on with this book!

This story was a love letter to horror enthusiasts and parts of it did creep me out. I loved the writing and the descriptions and the (minimal) spooky scenes, but this left a lot to be desired with its slow pacing and lack of plot development as it was really character driven.

Thanks so much Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my review!

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This book was an atmospheric, paranormal horror story that really drew me in. I loved the setting of a horror movie director’s home where he kept props from all of his creepy movies. Harry was a great character, and I enjoyed her relationship with her son, Gabe. It felt honest and realistic for a single mother/teenage son dynamic. Their love of horror movies, especially the ones directed by the reclusive horror movie director, Javier, really made this story come together.

One thing I was hoping for was more of a scare factor. I love books set in creepy houses, and this had so much potential for being a fantastic haunted house story. There was some suspense, but I would have liked it to be more intense. The ending took a weird turn for me, and I really didn’t love it. I preferred the first 75% of the book with the slow build up and the mystery of what happened to Javier’s son and wife over the ending.

I loved the references to other horror movies and thought that was a nice touch to this story. If you’re looking for an eerie horror story this might be the book for you.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I loved everything about The House That Horror Built. When Harry takes a job cleaning for the reclusive horror filmmaker, Javier Castillo, she gets a little more than she bargains for when a film prop begins to show signs of live. Add in the knocking and strange voices, and Harry is a little freaked out, but she needs the job to provide for her son. When Harry and Gabe are forced to move into Javier Castillo's house, that's when things really get interesting, and I was frantically flipping pages, because I was at the point where I needed to know. When everything is revealed, it's the ultimate horror movie ending. No spoilers, but it was perfect.

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Henry's writing is easy to get lost in - it's captivating and keeps you hooked. However, I feel like the entire middle section of this book could've been cut out, or Harry and Gabe should've moved into the house sooner. The interesting bits didn't pick up until the last two chapters and the ending felt detached from the characters.

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Do you like to watch or read horror stories but too scaredycat to do it?

If yes, then The House that Horror Built is for you! Don’t let the title fool you! I swear that the scare factor is very low — there’s just enough chills and thrills to spook you, but nothing too extreme. I had a good time reading this paranormal mystery. Love the creepy mansion with horror movie props and posters! I would have liked to visit it if it opened as a museum. I also loved MC Harry and her relationship with her son, Gabe. My only complaint was that the ending was too abrupt for me. I would have appreciated an epilogue to tie the ending up nicely. Otherwise, this book was an entertaining mild horror story. Thanks to @berkleypub @netgalley for my eARC. This book is out today!💕

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This is my first book by this author, and unfortunately, it was just okay. I found it repetitive and boring. If you are OK with a character-driven story, this may be for you. I was expecting more horror than we got.

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The House that Horror Built by Christina Henry is brilliant horror, playing on familiar tropes and twisting them in new directions. She has a way of pulling you into the world she builds from the very first sentence and you empathize with Harry Adams immediately. The story builds slowly but that allows the dread and intrigue to bubble up and develop as the reader gains insight into the truths of the house.
One of the elements I loved the most was the use of movie references, how reminiscent the description of Javier’s films sound to other directors of horror, and how the genre is explored and discussed within the context of the novel. I also love how Daniel feels like a direct reference to a very familiar actor that I adore. I won’t tell you who but see if the character reminds you of anyone in the film industry. The use of movies and references to horror are part of what makes the narrative work, including the final revelations which are frankly brilliant. It is also brilliant the exposition in how women are treated by the media and by those in privilege, considered for their children or for how they can serve others rather than being seen for themselves and how often women convince themselves they are lesser than they deserve. The layers of the real world utilized within the novel are intriguing and will make readers think.
If you love stories with ghosts and intrigue, with a pacing that will make your heart race, then I know you will love Christina Henry’s The House that Horror Built. It is brilliant horror with smart exploration of themes of privilege and horror film references. The ending is a creepy revelation and I love the characters, especially as both Javier and Harry’s pasts are unveiled for the reader. It is a novel that will keep you up at night.

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“Resentment is a familiar meal when you can’t afford contentment.”

Oh man I wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it based on the synopsis but this one just failed to grab me. I am easily spooked and I have read some books that make me feel unsafe at night with the lights off. This one did not do that for me. Nothing really happens for the majority of the book and then it’s a rush to the finish.

Lisa Flanagan narrates the audiobook and she did a fabulous job! I think her narration is why I kept going with this story to be honest.

Thanks to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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