Member Reviews

If you liked Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty you will like this book.

I don't know much about astrology but this book really lets you know the accurate references for astrology the author definitely did their work. I didn't feel like there was alot of thrills or mystery. I felt that it dragged and just not something that keeps you wanting to know more.

I feel like it definitely is a slow burn, loved the rich people problems always there for that theme and there are multiple POV which i like in a book.

I will try this author again for the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Was this review helpful?

In The Astrology House, four connected couples go to Stars Harbor, a retreat that focuses on astrology. Margot is looking to reconnect with her brother and gain some insight into her struggles with getting pregnant. Rini, their host, has an ulterior motive with this group and secrets of her own. There is also a storm on the way, adding to the eerie setting.

The story is told from multiple POVs and at first, the characters are a little difficult to keep track of but the beginning of each chapter lists the character narrating the chapter and how they are related to several others. Most of the characters aren't likeable which makes it hard for me to get into a story. It's also quite slow paced in the beginning. Near the end; however, it picks up tremendously and becomes much more captivating. When the storm and the story line pick up, I wasn't able to put the book down and had to know how it ended.

Was this review helpful?

I really appreciated the accurate astrology references, down to the detailed charts at the beginning of each chapter. However, I felt like The Astrology House was missing the thrills and suspense that I was looking for. The story started to drag, and it felt more like a contemporary fiction/drama than a thriller.

I would definitely recommend this to people who liked Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty.

This is Carinn Jade's debut, so I would still be curious to see what she writes next.

🌜Astrology-themed retreat
🌜Rich people problems
🌜Multiple POVs
🌜Slow Burn
🌜Soapy

Rating: ⭐⭐💫

Thank you Netgalley, Carinn Jade, and Atria Books for the eARC.

Was this review helpful?

If you like astrology then you should pick up this book. The plot had promise to me, but it wasn't what I thought. There were way too many characters for me to care and invest myself in understanding them. It was more of an astrology textbook than anything else in my opinion and it seemed to drag on with that.

Was this review helpful?

For all the astrology babes out there, this book blends the zodiac and a thrilling mystery, so it was right up my alley. Smart and quick!

Was this review helpful?

I thought this one was just ok . It didn’t hold my interest and felt it was like a lot of books already out there with similar tropes.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me

Was this review helpful?

This one did not work for me. I liked the idea of a group of people going to a retreat. Unfortunately there were so many people that I couldn't really care about any of them.

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited to get the chance to read this book. I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy from Net Galley and Atria Books, so a huge thanks to them.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The first is that I found it refreshing to have a newer take on the plot. I don't usually see a lot of full-on astrology in books and it was a new way to add in a lot of tension and push emotions over the edge. It was used creatively in the story and I appreciated that.

This story is told from the guests' and Rini's viewpoints. I normally don't care for books in this style, but this one worked for me. I think part of this is that the reader sees things from Rini's perspective, and from the synopsis, we know that she has an agenda for her guests. So when we see snippets from each guest's perspective, it ties into the overall story.

Another clever aspect I liked was that Rini has these little guest cheat sheets. It was a nice tie-in to the story, but as a reader, it also helped me get a reminder of the characters in the beginning. I usually do not enjoy stories with many characters introduced all at once since I sometimes forget who is who. These cheat sheets furthered the story and brought the characters back to the front of my mind.

The ending of this story was a bit of a letdown for me. It felt a bit too chaotic and I think had some secrets been revealed a little earlier, it would have helped the end feel more cohesive.

Regardless, I enjoyed this story a lot. I recommend this if you're into astrology, slow-burns, and domestic thrillers. This debut from Carinn Jade was well-executed and I'm excited to read her future works.

Was this review helpful?

This was a good one but not great!
A lot of characters and POV’s to keep up with,
And the storylines were a bit confusing.
I feel like the “reveals” weren’t actually reveals, as most of them were very predictable. I did like the setting and the use of zodiac/astrology/“fate”. Very cool to see the character’s zodiac signs and star charts listed in the book.
Overall a quick, enjoyable 3 star read.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria/Simon Books for the advanced copy!

Was this review helpful?

Anytime a book mentions a group of wealthy women, I know it's bound to be juicy. They seem to have more drama hidden behind a flashy outer shield than any other group. This group is no different!

I think this retreat sounds interesting and I'd definitely take friends and go on a retreat like this, but hopefully with a better outcome. You'll have to read it to know what I mean! It's worth it!

Was this review helpful?

Entertaining suspense thriller.

The 4 couples and friends just wanted a fun weekend away and Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat sounds like a lovely place for them to hang out. Farrah and Joe, Aimee and Adam, Eden and Rick, and Margot and Ted are not that big into astrology but are quite surprised by some of the revelations they experience when Rini starts doing their readings. Lots of the usual secrets and lies that are just lurking and ready to bust out.

Sounds like many of these people have things they don’t want to come out and, what a surprise, Rini has her own agenda. And then, the hurricane.

This was fun and fast and quite predictable with all the couples at the retreat. The narrative alternates points of view so the reader knows what each is thinking and feeling. I liked some of the characters more than others and the conclusion was not really unexpected as I had anticipated that turn of events. I guess you can never really know anyone as well as you think or hope.

I don’t know much about astrology other than basic zodiac signs so that part was quite interesting and made me actually want to look up my own chart. Alas, no Rini here to interpret for me!

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked that the production had a large cast so as to make the voices and personalities distinct. I definitely liked some of the voices more than others. But, as always, the dual approach made me enjoy the novel that much more.

Was this review helpful?

A juicy drama reminiscent of Lucy Foley with multiple POVs and an astrology undertone, The Astrology House was a really fun listen with a tremendous narrator!

Was this review helpful?

This book honestly caught me off-guard. I didn’t think I would like as much I did, But it ended up leaving me utterly speechless. The writing is phenomenal, the multiple POVs constantly kept me on edge, and the character development was exceptional. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 rounded up.

Definitely a different thriller. Very creative storyline and unique for sure.

Didn’t particularly enjoy all the astrology references myself, but made it through. Told from multiple characters point of view, found it easy to follow though. Every character has flaws and isn’t really likeable in numerous ways. Definitely didn’t have me thinking about the characters or story when I wasn’t reading.

Enjoyed the big reveal and didn’t quite see it coming. Great twists at the end but the middle was a bit slow.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

So I am quite sure that this book was made specifically for me!!! The setting, the D R A M A , multiple pov, the unreliable narrator(s), the astrology, the “locked in a creepy situation with nowhere to go” troupe!!! I really couldn’t have asked for a better book to get out of a horrendous reading slump!!! @carinnjade ‘s writing had me needing was more once I turned that last page!!!!

4.75⭐️

Thank you to @atriabooks for the gifted finished copy of this book and my newest prized possession 🥰

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars. I was intrigued by the premise of The Astrology House, an astrology themed retreat thriller? This sounds like a unique premise. Sign me up!
This story was told in a way that kept me curious to find out the secrets of each of the guests and our gracious host, Rini. While some small secrets slip through throughout the book, the big reveal doesn't come until the end. And while the details are shocking and horrible, other than one crucial scene, it lacked a feeling of suspense.
I thought this was a good debut from a new author and I think the potential is there for greatness in future works.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Was this review helpful?

I was actually disappointed with this book. I expected it to be better than it was. It dragged for the first 2/3 of the book and didn't really pick up until then last 1/3 of the book. The astrology portion was the most interesting portion of the book - the author is either really well versed in astrology or really researched it well.

Was this review helpful?

“The Astrology House" by Carinn Jade is a captivating read with strong character development and a great setting. The book follows a group of friends embarking on a retreat at Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat. The retreat promises rest and relaxation, against the backdrop of an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house and nightly astrology readings.
The characters, including Margot, her brother Adam, his wife Aimee, their friend Farah, and the mysterious astrologer host Rini, are well-developed and each harbors their own secrets and struggles. The setting of the retreat provides a picturesque backdrop for the unfolding drama and tensions among the characters.
As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and dark pasts come to light. Rini's ominous plan adds a layer of suspense and mystery to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Overall, "The Astrology House" is a compelling novel that expertly weaves together strong character development, a captivating setting, and a suspenseful plot. I was pleasantly surprised to find this a 5 star read for me!

Was this review helpful?

First, I'd like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

The first thing that pulled me in with the astrology premise mixed within a thriller seemed highly intriguing so I went in with lots of excitement.

That said, I'm not sure where the author intended to go but it felt a bit, disjointed and rushed.

I was going to go into detail regarding this but decided against it. The story had to parts in my opinion, the first half felt interesting and mysterious, the second, felt chaotic (not in a good way) and rushed. Overall, I did find enjoyment of this book. The ending was...well, you would have to read it to understand. My biggest issue was the characters being flat. I'll stop there. I did like the writing style and would read from this author again. I just wish the other half of the book wasn't so stuffed with shock factors.

My Rating: 2 Stars

Was this review helpful?