I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. It was pretty good. Wasn’t expecting the ending. Character development was good. Different kind of “mystery”. Overall enjoyable.

The Astrology House exceeded my expectations in all the best ways! Wow!

It was a fast paced thriller with interesting twists and turns the whole way through. Caring Jade put very thoughtful detail into using astrology as a plot device and it works beautifully. All the characters interconnectedness was fascinating.

Bonus points for the beautiful graphics of the astrology pages with the profiles of each guest.

Question

How do you feel when you get approved for your most sought after book of the year?

Scream
Kiss your Kindle
Do a little twirl…

Then you dive on in and push your priorities aside.

After about 3 hours in I had a full bladder and a pulse that could qualify for an ER visit. I skipped the toilet and kept on going.

The anxiety! My goodness, Jade!

I’ll never think of astrology the same again, after this one.

Trust?
Non-existent.
I will never trust another soul ever again.

Jade, took a machete to my soul and didn’t once let me catch my breath. God, I love this little lady.

There was a ton of different “secrets revealed” and each time I thought I had it all figured out, I was thrown for a loop.

I read another review for this book and the reviewer mentioned they had it figured out early on…. Lies.

It’s literally impossible to connect these dots and when it all comes together you’ll have the ultimate shock factor.

Check out this teaser :

A group of wealthy Manhattanites escape to an astrology-themed retreat, where simmering resentments and long-held secrets lead to a shocking death in this fresh, twisty, and suspenseful debut in the vein of Liane Moriarty and Katy Hays.

Margot needs a minute. She’s been working eighty-hour weeks as a newly minted partner at her law firm. She’s disconnected from her brother, the only family she has left. And she’s still not pregnant after years of trying.

Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat promises rest, relaxation, and wisdom for Margot and her friends. With Instagram-worthy views and nightly astrology readings in an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house, this getaway should be nothing but idyllic fun.

For Margot’s brother, Adam, it’s the perfect opportunity to rekindle the romance that fuels his writing. But his wife, Aimee, hides the darkness of her past with a beautiful social media feed. Their friend, Farah, is a successful doctor who cannot admit that she’s losing control.

Yet no one holds a greater secret than their astrologer host, Rini. She has a plan for all of her guests, and one of them won’t be leaving Stars Harbor alive.

The write up compares it to Liann Moriarty and that definitely holds true. But the twists are good (some predictable and one very much not) and its a quick read. Once I put it down I definitely wanted to get back to reading to finish it up. I thought I'd been done with this genre, but I enjoyed that! Recommended..

I love the astrological ties to everything in this book. Astrology and a shocking plot twist. What could be better?

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
3.75 rounded up to 4

Margot and her group of friends need a getaway weekend! Margot finds the Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat and promises a wonderful weekend. With all of them arriving and ready for this break from their families and jobs, no one can prepare for the secrets that will come out and the fact that one of them will not be leaving alive.

What I enjoyed:
* Multiple POVs
* The astrology and learning about the different signs
* Unique and a debut novel!
* The twist at the end!

Told from multiple POV’s we learn about each of the characters, their flaws, triumphs and that each of them have something to hide in their life. I enjoyed many things about this novel but found that when I got to the end I was missing a couple things. I felt like one of the sub plots was never addressed or finalized, if you will, at the end. I did not expect the big reveal or the end to be what it was, that being said, I also did not see the twist coming but it was great.

The author shares each character chart before introducing them with their signs, who they are with and who they are friends with. I do wish there was a chart like this in the front for reference but I wrote down my own and that helped with their being so many characters!

Margot married to Ted; Sister to Adam

Aimee married to Adam; Best friends with Farah

Farah married to Joe; Best friends with Aimee

Joe married to Farrah

Ted married to Margot; Best Friends with Rick

Adam married to Aimee; Brother to Margot

Rick married to Eden; Best Friends with Ted

Eden married to Rick

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books Publishing for an copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Past indiscretions and current troubles collide when a group of friends and family attend a retreat weekend at the home of a renowned astrologer with an agenda that ends in one of their deaths.

Margot and Adam are brother and sister, made close by their parents’ untimely demise. Adam is married to mommy influencer Aimee, who befriends her obstetrician, Farah. Farah’s marriage is failing and she feels like a bad mother for struggling with her son’s emerging behavioral issues. Unlike Aimee, who always seems to have the answers to all questions relating to motherhood, Farah doubts her instincts. She has also developed a crush on her former patient turned best friend and a good amount of the novel is her reflecting on what could be, if only she could admit her feelings. Aimee’s husband, Adam, has had affairs. Three children later, Aimee struggles to gain her romance novelist husband’s attention and wonders what she needs to do to get back to the couple they were before becoming a family. Is he still cheating? You’ll have to read to find out. Then there’s Ted and Eden, fellow attendees of the weekend retreat, their host, Rini, and her sister Andi. What do the stars predict for this large and troubled cast? And what is the role of fate?

The writing style of The Astrology House hooked me off the bat on a couple of fronts: the mystery at a unique venue and astrology, which I love. Each character is struggling with something that made me wonder how each of their arcs would pan out. One of them is connected to the host, Rini, but who and how doesn’t become clear until the final act. I immediately mined for critical clues.

Add the threat of a storm, Rini’s romantic connection to her contractor, the question of what happened to her sister, and how the various plot threads might converge and The Astrology House is a bonafide page-turner full of potential.

But… I began to doubt the setup when it became clear that this tight-knit group didn’t like each other all that much. Yes, they’re interconnected, but do they come across as the sort to take regular group vacations? I would have liked to see a more cohesive beginning for the group as a whole before the infighting and obvious tension.

The cast is huge. For a debut novelist, it was handled quite well, but the multiple first-person points of view made it hard for me to figure out whose perspective I was in until about a third of the way through the novel. Third-person points of view might have sacrificed some inner monologue and intimacy but perhaps for the betterment of the novel as a whole. Several characters are glossed over to the plot’s detriment. If every chapter must either advance the plot or character, I question a few that made the final cut.

For as well-written as much of this book is, the exposition is clunky where backstory and a weird twist into a deer dream are concerned. I’m not sure that Margot and Adam’s parents’ demise deserved as much page time as it was given, or many of the characters’ observations on parenthood (getting pregnant and raising children are key topics in several points of view as Margot struggles with infertility, Farah doubts her skill at motherhood, and Aimee focuses on mommy influencing) when key characters such as Ted and Eden are glossed over. The book accomplishes a lot but fails on several points, which makes the reveal feel more contrived than it needed to be. I had a real issue with Andi’s story when it came to light and wondered if one more point of view might have saved what felt like a forced and underdeveloped subplot.

Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. It’s a fun read in a clever setting with a powder keg of potential issues if you suspend disbelief. Carinn Jade has written a commendable debut novel with common first-novel issues. I look forward to her next release and to watching her grow into what The Astrology House promises will be a must-read novelist. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
The Astrology House tells the story of four couples that vacation together for the weekend at a house that offers astrology weekends. You get your own astrology reading and a compatibility reading with your spouse, as well as other New-Age thingies that sounded boring to me. But the food sounded great.
Anywho...the beginning is an exploration into each character and his/her issues. This was told from different view points and it became confusing trying to remember who was "talking" and who each of the characters were married to. Or maybe I'm just old. The early parts seemed to go slowly for me and I wasn't really invested in any of the characters (except maybe Farrah). None of them were very likable. The twist took me by surprise and I did find myself enjoying it at that point. But it was too late in the game to really make up for the earlier chapters. Overall, meh. Nothing super but it's not terrible.

this one reminded me of Lucy Foley’s work and the pregnancy darkness of Verity by Colleen Hoover. Page turning! I wish there was more astrology wrapped in at the end. There is one storyline I wanted wrapped up and it was not. I really enjoyed reading it!

I was hooked from the beginning, and absolutely devoured this book.

To start, I love the idea of a retreat near home that’s filled with both luxury and astrology readings. While I don’t always believe my horoscope, I’m intrigued by astrology.

Second, the writing was sharp. I wanted to keep reading. I was invested in the story and the characters. Did I like any of them? None except Margot. Did I want to know everything about them? Yes. Was I surprised that they were all terrible people? No. And were they well-written enough that I loved reading about them? 100%.

While this wasn’t a true thriller (I’d put it in the domestic suspense category), I was engaged for the duration. It didn’t drag, there was always something happening, and Rini—being the host that she was—kept the weekend moving forward with her schedule.

"Secrets are the driving engine of a good story... we need to know our hero has a secret, and we turn the pages to find out what it is..."

I enjoyed this! There were five characters at the retreat who took turns with 1st person narration chapters, and they were mostly easy to keep track of (I actually confused Aimee and Margot a few times, I felt they were the most similar). I enjoyed the astrology element and that it was mostly in the background. This book has some twists and I saw a few coming (if you look at the chapter titles, you may know what to expect) but there was one that really surprised me at the end. I also appreciate that in books like this, most characters aren't super likeable - someone has to die, so there's an element of nastiness over all the events - but these characters were very grey and getting snippets into their past was important to understand the ending.

Dialogue can be hard to write, but Jade has a good ear for it. I felt it was natural and realistic. I also like that social media is so present here!

This might be a good TV mini series!

This book was INCREDIBLE. The characters, despite there being several, were well developed and I was truly invested in each of their stories!

Did I predict the big reveal? Not quite. But I DID successfully predict the true villain. That didn't make me enjoy this any less. To say I devoured this book is an understatement! I will DEFINITELY read more from this author.

Also in a fun twist of fate, the publication date is my birthday! Which really drove home all the fun cosmic twists for me!

Carinn Jade’s debut novel, “The Astrology’s House,” certainly took a hair-pin turn halfway through that I didn’t expect and certainly wish hadn’t because what began as a fun, intriguing, fast-paced, and rather humorous dialogue-driven story, soon transitioned into a slog-fest due to its determination in changing themes.

A hint of mystery and intrigue is always fun; however, a complete 180-degree turn into unpredictable lunacy isn’t. That’s why overall, this psychological thriller drama wannabe did not work for me.

Juxtaposing thematically first from a light-hearted story about star-charting personal compatibilities to one of multiple twisted murders for revenge to ultimately metaphysical life-after-death and rebirth experiences is just pushing the limits too far in one fictional universe.

All of these, all at once, just bogged down what began as a well-paced enjoyable story, and turned it into a tale that I had to force myself to finish because I was no longer interested.

Furthermore, this was such a ‘nepotistic’ storyline of interactive characters that it was frustrating and mind boggling trying to keep track of who was whom, and which ones were related, married and/or cheating on who with whom—ugh!

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Carrin Jade, and Publisher Atria Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster: Celebrating 100 Years of Publishing in 2024, for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This was such a fun, thrilling ride from start to finish. As someone deep into astrology and tarot, this book was right up my alley. The story was captivating and I kept waiting for every new chapter and POV. Never once lost my interest. Great book.

This review has been posted on my Goodreads account...

Do humans act according to fate or free will?

Brief Summary-
Margot and her group of friends all need a getaway vacation. So Margot books a weekend away at Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, that promises rest and relaxation with some added astrology fun. Including readings, etc. Hanging out in a house full of your friends sounds like a great idea right? Well with everyone having a secret to hide, being in close proximity can lead to some drama and even a murder.

What To Expect-
🌖Astrology Themed Retreat
🌖Multiple POVS
🌖Rich People Behaving Badly
🌖A Shocking Twist At The End

Content Warnings-
🌖Pregancy Struggles
🌖Forced Abortion

“Your future will not be free until you right the past”

My Thoughts-
I loved this book. It’s such a unique story. The added astrology trope to the mystery/thriller was such an interesting spin. I was engaged throughout the story. I was never bored. I devoured this book in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. There was so many intricate layers to the story, so many secrets. I just needed to know where the plot was going to lead. The big reveal had my jaw on the floor. Actually my jaw was pretty much unhinged the last 20% of the book. I just couldn’t not believe it.

The writing and pacing were excellent. This book had me hooked from the first chapter.

There is a lot of characters and dynamics but the author did a wonderful job distinguishing each individual. When I think of the the friends group I can describe them as whole.. delulu, selfish, neurotic, aloof, desperate. I did like a few of the characters. Some of them did not stand out to me. I liked reading about each persons signs and hearing about their birth charts. Before the author introduces the characters POV in the beginning you get to read sun, moon and rising sign on an astrology card along with some other personality traits. Which I found very fun and helpful. There is a lot of information in the beginning which some may find confusing. But it all click’s at one point.

♓️Margot married to Ted.
♑️Occupation: Lawyer
♒️Sister to Adam

♋️Aimee married to Adam.
♎️Occupation: Social Media Influencer
♍️Best friends with Farah

♍️Farah married to Joe.
♎️Occupation: Doctor, Obgyn
♌️Best friends with Aimee

♒️Ted married to Margot.
♑️Occupation: Investment Banker
♊️Best Friends with Rick

♏️Adam married to Aimee.
♏️ Occupation: Writer
♈️Brother to Margot

♌️Rick married to Eden
♈️ Occupation: Investment Banker
♊️Best Friends with Ted

♈️Eden married to Rick
♏️Occupation: Jewelry Designer
♊️Frieds with the group because she is married to Rick

With a friends group like that, you can expect some drama.

Overall-
I think this is an awesome debut book. I can’t wait to check out the Authors future work. There were some connections and twist and turns I didn’t see coming , that made this novel very hard to put down. All my astrology friends who enjoy reading Mystery/Thrillers add this book to your TBR expeditiously.

Playlist-
✨Gypsy- Fleetwood Mac
✨Crystal- Stevie Nicks
✨Young & Beautiful- Lana Del Rey
✨Witchy Woman- Eagles
✨Dream- Fleetwood Mac
✨All The Good Girls Go To Hell- Billie Eliish
✨Third Eye- Florence The Machine
✨Aint No Rest For The Wicked- Cage The Elephant
✨Rhiannon- Fleetwood Mac
✨Stargirl Interlude- The Weekend
✨Triggered - Jhene Aiko
✨In My Feelings- Lana Del Rey
✨Mr. Brightside- The Killers
✨Dont Hurt Yourself- Beyonce
✨Watermelon Sugar- Harry Styles
✨Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond
✨Energy- Tyla Jane
✨Season Of The Witch- Lana Del Rey

🌛Thanks to NetGalley, Carinn Jade, and Atria Books Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review🌜

This was a great read that had me flipping pages til the very end. It’s a unique, fresh take on the suspense mystery and I was hooked from page one. Really good writing, great plot and good character development with twists and turns that kept me guessing til the end. If you’re into mysteries and astrology…pick this one up! Plus…astrology and tarot-need I say more?!

This book drew me in by the cover, but then kept my interest with its plot. The Astrology components are new to me, but it made for a unique plot point in a twisty thriller. The plot twist truly showed how complex lives can be amongst groups of adults. The character depth in the writing was so well thought. This was an excellent thriller, fantastic read!

This book was so much fun! I didn't have many expectations going in besides the astrology aspect. At times, I felt that there wasn't much going on, but once the book picked up, it PICKED UP! The last hundred pages were so interesting, and I wish we had more time to experience the creepiness of Stars Harbor. Even though the premise is about an astrological retreat, it's not a major theme of the book. I think this book would still be enjoyable to all thriller lovers even if you don't believe in astrology, as it wasn't an overwhelming amount. It just added some more fun, but I would have enjoyed this book without astrology as well!

Potential spoiler: One thing that I wish was mentioned was the synastry between the sun and moon of certain characters. There was a slight hint towards it, but nothing really concrete.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very intrigued by the concept of this book and, while some of the astrology aspects were a little confusing and unknown, I don't feel that that detracted from the overall premise of the book. However, about 75% of the way through, the plot lines started to feel disjointed to me. I enjoyed the twist, even if it did seem outlandish. All in all, I did enjoy this book. I just wish that I could have felt like I was rooting for more of the characters and that there was a tiny bit more cohesion across character plot lines.

Did not feel like the writing was very strong. The descriptions were poor. There is one one scene where the sneakers are have loose laces all over the place but then they said the laces are knotted? That didn’t make any sense. The people all sounded alike. I really liked the idea but it just didn’t really gel for me. Maybe someone with more experience if this is her first book, do a better job or a better job in the future. Texted you about it